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Friday, November 21, 2008
Black Wholecuts
Friday! Already.
We are excited. Lots happened this week. All very embryonic, but you will be the first to know as soon as we have concrete news.
My favourite bespoke shoe, the wholecut. Just about to make one and it's always a pleasure. One piece of leather; one seam. How is it possible? It's the closest the shoemaker gets to alchemy. I think it is the simplest yet most elegant shoe, the quintessence of Englishness.
This model is black with a red lining and made on a very pointed last. It's going to be beautiful handmade bespoke shoe and is destined to be one of our new bespoke samples, so you may see it in our publicity material.
The insole is prepared and it's ready for lasting. The stitches are bigger than normal because it is not going to be worn and does not have to have the usual strength. On a normal shoe, it is 4 stitches to the inch. Or just under. Any smaller and you weaken the insole, which is the core strength of the shoe. If that fails, the shoe will fall apart. |
Dietary and genetic effects on low-density lipoprotein heterogeneity.
We have tested whether differences in distribution and dietary responsiveness of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) subclasses contribute to the variability in the magnitude of LDL-cholesterol reduction induced by diets low in total and saturated fat and high in carbohydrate. Our studies have focused on a common, genetically influenced metabolic profile, characterized by a predominance of small, dense LDL particles (subclass pattern B), that is associated with a two- to threefold increase in risk for coronary artery disease. We have found that healthy normolipidemic individuals with this trait show a greater reduction in LDL cholesterol and particle number in response to low-fat, high-carbohydrate diets than do unaffected individuals (subclass pattern A). Moreover, such diets result in reduced LDL particle size, with induction of pattern B in a substantial proportion of pattern A men. Recent studies have indicated that this response is under genetic influence. Future identification of the specific genes involved may lead to improved targeting of dietary therapies aimed at reducing cardiovascular disease risk. |
RanBP2 (red) anchors Epac1 (green) to the nuclear envelope in control cells (left), but RanBP2 knockdown leads to Epac1\'s enrichment in the nucleus and cytoplasm (right).The nucleoporin RanBP2 tethers a GTPase regulatory protein to nuclear pores, thereby limiting its ability to promote cell adhesion, Gloerich et al. reveal.
Epac1 is a guanine nucleotide exchange factor that activates the Rap1 GTPase to promote a variety of cellular functions, including intercellular and cell-matrix adhesion. Epac1 itself is activated by several cell signaling pathways through the second messenger cAMP. In addition, the exchange factor is anchored by various proteins to specific locations in the cell to control exactly where Rap1 is switched on.
Gloerich et al. discovered that Epac1 is anchored to the nuclear envelope by the nuclear pore protein RanBP2. However, the team found that Epac1 is kept inactive at this location because RanBP2\'s zinc fingers bind directly to the exchange factor\'s catalytic domain. Knocking down RanBP2 by RNAi released Epac1 into the cytoplasm and boosted its ability to activate Rap1 and promote cell adhesion.
cAMP was unable to free Epac1 from RanBP2\'s clutches, but the exchange factor was liberated at the onset of mitosis, when RanBP2\'s zinc fingers are phosphorylated by mitotic kinases. Senior author Johannes Bos doesn\'t yet know the identity of these kinases, but he speculates that Epac1\'s release in mitosis might help cells rapidly reestablish their contacts with neighboring cells and the extracellular matrix following cell division.
|
EDIT: I found both answers to my question to be unsatisfactory. But I think this is because the question itself is unsatisfactory, so I reworded it in order to allow a good answer.
One take on contextuality is to develop an inequality on measurement outcomes that is satisfied for any ontological noncontextual theory, and see that it is violated by quantum mechanics.
Another take would be to assume an algebraic structure and see that if one restricts the observable algebra to be commutative, the expected values of certain operators are restricted to lie in a given range, whereas if we allow non-commutativity the range is greater.
These approaches coincide? I've seen plenty of works that assume that it does, but without discussing it; in particular there is this paper by Tsirelson that states (in the particular case of Bell inequalities) that both approaches are equivalent, but without proving it. Is it too obvious?
At first sight, an ontological noncontextual theory is much more general than some theory embedded in a C*-algebraic framework. Why then can't it generate stronger correlations than theories with commuting algebras of observables?
Can one find a more direct connection between non-commutativity and the violation of a contextual inequality?
4 Answers
4
Well, a reasonable approach to local hidden variables is to require commutativity of operators on different space-like separated systems. This is pretty straight forward to motivate, since otherwise you are essentially using non-local operators, which can be seen via the relevant transform instead as a non-local hidden variable theory with local operators.
You might want to check out Scott Aaronson's paper exploring the consequence of this when taken as an axiom together with some other desirable properties of hidden variable theories (Phys. Rev. A 71, 032325).
I'm not too sure it makes sense to talk about commutativity beyond this, since we care about post-measurement outcomes it is not clear that the domain of the operator should contain its image, and so multiplication, and hence the commutator, isn't necessarily defined.
I'm afraid you didn't understand my question. Commutativity of operators on different space-like separated system is respected by QM (or AQFT, for that matter). I'm talking about commutativity of the whole algebra. In fact it may not make sense to talk about commutativity in the strict sense; I've never seen anyone construct an operator algebra to model a hidden-variable theory. But if we only care about the measurement outcome, not the post-measurement state, we have commutativity in a trivial sense, by substituting the observable by its predefined outcome, which is just a real number.
–
Mateus AraújoSep 20 '11 at 14:35
@Mateus: I think I did understand, which is what my last paragraph attempts to address.
–
Joe FitzsimonsSep 20 '11 at 14:42
Non-commutativity of operators ensures that in general we can't construct a joint probability distribution over the observables that we model using those operators. In some states and for some choices of non-commuting operators we can construct joint probability distributions, for example the vacuum state and coherent states of a quantized simple harmonic oscillator generate a positive-definite Wigner function for position and momentum, which can be taken to be a probability distribution. Of course that possibility falls apart when one considers almost any superposition of coherent states, say. The Wigner function is not positive-definite in the general case, making the interpretation of the Wigner function as a probability distribution in the special cases quite tendentious.
Conversely, if we have a commutative algebra of operators we can construct a joint probability distribution over the any subset of the observables in any state over the algebra. One could take this property as a somewhat plausible definition of classicality.
For the technical basis of this, I like best two short papers, John Baez, Letters in Mathematical Physics 13 (1987) 135-136, and Lawrence J. LANDAU, PHYSICS LETTERS A, Volume 120, number 2 (1987), which put remarkably little interpretation in the way of the mathematics, but there is a substantial literature that has tried to get at this relationship in some sort of clear way.
A literature that gives an alternative way into the relationship between non-commutativity and measurement, and that focuses on the relationship between quantum theory and classical probability theory in a way that I find helpful, albeit not conclusive, is the positive-operator valued measure approach, which is well represented by the book by Paul Busch, Marian Grabowski, and Pekka J. Lahti, Operational Quantum Physics, Springer, 1995. Searching the literature or the ArXiv for anything more recent by any of these three authors will give you something enlightening to read. To my taste, Paul Busch is always worth reading.
As far as physicality is concerned, classical physics models measurements as not affecting other measurements, so that joint probability distributions over multiple measurements are possible. In the presence of any finite level of noise ---there always is noise, everywhere (only the thermal component of the noise goes away when one is close to absolute zero, the Lorentz invariant quantum component of the noise is not controllable)--- the uncontrolled nature of the noise is something that has to be accommodated by our models of our measurements. Quantum theory accommodates the non-trivial effects of joint measurements on each other by introducing non-commutativity of the operators that are used to model the measurements, whereas classical physics models the non-trivial effects of joint measurements on each other by modeling the measurement apparatus. Contextual models are precisely models that include the measurement apparatus, or the complete experimental apparatus, in the extreme case the whole universe, not just a putative measured system.
I don't think there is a more direct connection between noncontextuality and noncommutativity for a couple of reasons. Firstly, there are noncommutaive sets of observables and states that can be simulated by a noncontextual model. Think of the Kochen-Specker model for a qubit for example. Secondly, to really answer the question of what a violation of some inequality means, you should not assume that the data you collect in the experiment is necessarily produced by quantum theory (in particular, we don't do this for Bell's inequalities). Now, there are plenty of operational theories that are contextual (in Rob Spekkens sense) but that do not have a C*-algebraic structure, e.g. the theory wherein the state space is a square. Unless you can define what it means for measurements in these theories to be "commutative", which seems unlikely because they do not have an algebraic structure, then it is clear that the relationship between commutativity and noncontextuality breaks down in this context.
Good point. It would be interesting to find an operational definition of commutativity. But allow me to be picky: I think my answer is clear on relating commutative theories and noncontextual models; what it lacks is a relation between non-commutativity and contextuality.
–
Mateus AraújoNov 7 '11 at 16:02
They can't, because ontological noncontextual theories are not more general than commuting subsets of quantum mechanics. In a nuthsell, commutative quantum mechanics is just classical probability theory, and the question whether there exists an ontological noncontextual model for quantum mechanics is precisely the question if it can be reduced to classical probability theory.
To see this, one needs Spekkens' operational definition of contextuality: an ontological noncontextual model is one where each state $\rho$ is represented by a probability distribution $\mu_\rho(\lambda)$ on an ontological space $\Lambda$, and each POVM $\{E^k\}$ by a probability distribution $\xi_{E^k}(λ)$. Then the probability of outcome $k$ will be given by $$\int \mathrm{d}λ\, \mu_\rho(λ) \xi_{E^k}(λ).$$
Now, if all $E^k$ commute, I can write $ρ$ in a basis in which they are diagonal. Then $$\mathrm{tr} (\rho E^k) = \sum_n \rho_{nn} E^k_{nn},$$ that is, the only part of $\rho$ who'll play a part in the expected value is its main diagonal, and that's just a probability distribution. If we do the identifications $\lambda \mapsto n$, $μ_ρ(λ) \mapsto ρ_{nn}$, and $\xi_{E^k}(λ) \mapsto E^k_{nn}$, we have an embedding of an ontological noncontextual model into commutative quantum mechanics.
In the particular case of nonlocality, one could see directly that a diagonal $\rho$ is always separable, and thus admits a local ontological model. The converse path, to construct a separable $\rho$ and commutative algebra from a local ontological model is essentially the same as above.
That said, I don't think my last question is answered; I'd still like to see a more direct, physical connection between non-commutativity and contextuality. |
Richard Cavendish wrote in
Man, Myth and Magic of the Druidic gathering which met at the site now
occupied by Oxford University: “It is said that in 1245 a gathering [of Druids]
was held with representatives from many parts and the objects of the Order were
agreed. A grove or group was founded, the Mount Haemus Grove which still
exists.” (p. 722)
The Cambridge Encyclopedia
states: "Oxford University The oldest university in Britain, having its origins
in informal groups of masters and students gathered in Oxford in the 12th-c...
The closure of the University of Paris to Englishmen in 1167 accelerated
Oxford's development into a universitas... University College 1249." (pp.
823-24)
A History of Pagan
Europe refers
to the Mount Haemas Grove order as the Ancient Order of Druids of Oxford: “In
1781...the Ancient Order of Druids was set up in London by Henry Hurle, as an
esoteric society patterned on Masonic lines. In 1833, a split between the
mystics and those who wanted a friendly society led to the majority forming the
United Ancient of Druids... The mystical side continued as the Albion Lodge of
the Ancient Order of Druids of Oxford, claiming descent from the Mount Haemus
Grove.” (Pennick & Jones, p. 211)
The Oxford Movement
Counter-Reformation in England
“Guided by and
receiving its impetus from Oxford University men, the movement also protested
state interference in the affairs of the church. On July 14, 1833, in response
to the English government's bill reducing bishoprics in Ireland, John Keble
preached the sermon ‘National Apostacy’ from the university pulpit. He accused
the government of infringing on ‘Christ's Church’ and of disavowing the
principle of apostolic succession of the bishops of the Church of England.
Insisting that salvation was possible only through the sacraments, Keble
defended the Church of England as a divine institution. During the same year
John Henry Newman began to publish Tracts for the Times, a series of pamphlets
by members of the University of Oxford that supported and propagated the beliefs
of the movement. They were widely circulated, and the term ‘Tractarianism’ has
often been used for the early stages of the Oxford Movement or, indeed, as a
synonym for the movement itself.
“It is ironic that
these tracts (which were supposed to argue ‘against Popery and Dissent’) would
lead some of the writers and readers into embracing the Roman Catholic Church.
These men found it increasingly impossible to adhere to church polity and
practice on Protestant terms. When Newman argued in Tract 90 (1841) that the
Thirty-nine Articles of the Church of England were in harmony with genuine Roman
Catholicism, he was attacked with such furor that the series of tracts was
brought to an end. Early in 1845, realizing that they would never be allowed to
be Anglicans while holding Roman Catholic views, several Oxford reformers joined
the Roman Catholic Church. Newman defected later that year, and by 1864 nearly
one thousand ministers, theological leaders, and Anglican church members
followed his lead. In 1864 Newman's Apologia pro Vita Sua was published,
explaining his departure from the Church of England and defending his choice of
the Roman Church as the one true church. Newman was made a Roman Catholic
cardinal in 1879.
“After the
defections in 1845 the movement was no longer dominated by Oxford men and became
more fragmented in its emphases. Edward B Pusey, professor of Hebrew at Oxford
and a contributor to Tracts, emerged as the leader of the Anglo-Catholic party,
which continued to push for doctrinal modifications and a reunion between the
Anglican and Roman churches. Other groups sought to promote High Church ritual
within Anglicanism. Many of the sympathizers the Oxford Movement had gained at
its inception (before anti - Reformation tendencies were observed) continued to
uphold the primary goals and spiritual fervor of the movement. This has had a
great significance upon the theological development, polity, and religious life
of the Church of England for over a century. Anglican eucharistic worship was
transformed, spiritual discipline and monastic orders were revived, social
concern was fostered, and an ecumenical spirit has developed in the Church of
England.” [Source:
Believe]
The Rhodes Scholars
British diamond magnate
Cecil Rhodes created the Rhodes Scholarships to bind together the elite of the
English-speaking countries by bringing promising young men to Oxford University
to “imbibe the English imperial ethos. Successive U.S. administrations (not
least Bill Clinton's) have been stuffed with Rhodes’ Scholars.”
“Quoting from Professor
Carroll Quigley's monumental history, Tragedy and Hope, [Samuel]
Blumenfeld recounts the ‘sensational impact’ that socialist professor John
Ruskin had on the young Cecil Rhodes while a student at Oxford. Later, ‘with
support from Lord Rothschild and Alfred Beit, [Rhodes] was able to monopolize
the diamond mines of South Africa’ and put his enormous, ill-gotten fortune in
diamonds and gold to work in his plan for world empire.
“To accomplish this end,
Rhodes confided to his intimate friend and executor, William T. Stead, it was
necessary to (in Rhodes’ own words) create ‘a society…supported by the
accumulated wealth of those whose aspiration is to do something.’ And this
‘something" that Rhodes had in mind for them to ‘do’ with their wealth? Nothing
less, said Rhodes, than ‘a scheme to take the government of the whole world.’
“These and other revealing
statements are found in an important article on Cecil Rhodes in the New York
Times of April 9, 1902, which Blumenfeld has reprinted in The Rhodes Legacy.
STEALTHY RECRUITING
“The secret society of
which Rhodes spoke was launched, notes Blumenfeld, on February 5, 1891. Forming
the executive committee of this society were Rhodes, Stead, Lord Esher, and
Alfred Milner. Below them was a ‘Circle of Initiates’ comprised of Lord Balfour,
Sir Harry Johnson, Lord Rothschild, Lord Grey, and other scions of Britain's
financial and aristocratic elite. According to Professor Quigley, Bill Clinton's
mentor at Georgetown University, ‘The scholarships were merely a facade to
conceal the secret society, or more accurately, they were to be one of the
instruments by which the members of the secret society could carry out his
purpose.’ ‘The Rhodes Scholarships,’ Blumenfeld writes, ‘as outlined in Rhodes’
will, became the main instrument whereby the most promising young people
throughout the English-speaking world could be recruited to serve an idea that
Rhodes thought would take 200 years to fulfill. And, says Blumenfeld:
“‘Obviously, the way the
secret society would recruit its future leaders from among the Rhodes scholars
was to dangle before them the prospects of future advancement in whatever field
they chose to pursue, be it education, politics, government, foundation work,
finance, journalism, etc. Thus, if you understood the implicit message being
given to you by your sponsors you might one day become president of Harvard,
President of the United States, a Supreme Court Judge, a US senator, or
president of the Carnegie Foundation. The road to fame and fortune was open as
long as you played the game and obeyed the rules. The Association of American
Rhodes Scholars has an alumni membership of about 1,600. They have become
leading figures in the new ruling elite in America.’” [Source:
Reviewing the Rhodes Legacy]
For nearly
twenty years the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies (OCMS) has been training a
new generation of Evangelical mission scholars and practitioners to become a key
resource to the church in mission in contemporary contexts of complexity and
diversity. It has drawn key people from Asia, Africa, Latin America and Eastern
Europe to its research and post-graduate study programmes.
Through its
publications, including the journal ‘Transformation’ and the study
programmes, OCMS has been a major influence in shaping Evangelical mission
Theology and Strategy in the growing churches of the Two-Third World.
Its
importance has largely been due to the sense of ownership of OCMS by the
Evangelical leadership of the Two-Thirds World. These leaders shape its
agenda and send their younger colleagues for training. The Centre is now
seen as an important instrument in the institutional development of
post-graduate training institutions in the Two-Third Worlds.
?Professor
Andrew Walls––
Professor of Religious Studies , Aberdeen University; Honorary Professor, Edinburgh
University
and Curator of Collections at the Centre for the Study of Christianity in the
Non-Western World:
Names from OCMS listing above
Armerding
was for many years professor of Old Testament and principal
at Regent College
[see below],
Vancouver. In 1968-9 he held a postdoctoral fellowship in archaeology in
Jerusalem. He is currently director of the Schloss Mittersill Study Centre,
Austria, and he is senior academic adviser to the Oxford
Centre for Mission Studies.
In both capacities he works extensively with theological education in the
emerging democracies of eastern Europe. Armerding has published
commentaries, a volume on Old Testament criticism and work on ancient Israel's
charismatic leadership.
Controversy
between Evangelicals and Roman Catholics has been constant since the sixteenth
century. Controversy aims to refute, that is, to show that the positions opposed
are wrong, and ought not to exist in their present form, and that those who
support them need to change. This course is a venture not in controversy but
in
dialogue,
that is, in the kind of exposition and interchange that enables those on both
sides to map in depth the nature and range of their differences, and to see how
it is that both bodies of opinion believe themselves to be discerning and
obeying God’s truth revealed in Christ in those areas where they part company.
Topics for
exploration include: the church, faith & assurance, priesthood & ministry, the
sacramental system, the eucharist, the place of Mary & canonized saints,
purgatory, indulgences, and prayers for the departed and what
Evangelicals and Catholics may and should do together.[emphasis
added]
By virtually all accounts,
J.I. Packer is one of this century's greatest Evangelical statesmen. As he
reaches the golden years of his career we notice that he has begun to take a
serious interest in conservative Christian dialogue with the hopes of forming a
common agenda for the church' s unified witness in the modern world. His work in
"Evangelical ecumenics" (to coin a phrase) began most visibly in his dialogue
with Catholics in 1995 which led to his signing the document "Evangelicals and
Catholics Together." Although his interest in Orthodoxy began much earlier, it
was not until 1995 that it took concrete expression at a conservative ecumenical
gathering of Catholics, Orthodox and Evangelicals called the "Rose Hill"
conference. It was there that Dr. Packer and the present author worked as formal
dialogue partners. At Rose Hill, Packer delivered a paper titled, "On from Orr:
Cultural Crisis, Rational Realism and Incarnational Ontology," to which I
responded with "An Eastern Orthodox Response to J.I. Packer." The dialogue was
followed up in 1997 when Packer and the author
[Bradley
Nassif, Ph.D.]
team-taught a course at Regent College titled, "Eastern Orthodoxy and
Evangelicalism in Dialogue."
PROFESSORS:
J.I. Packer
Some of Dr.
Packer’s books are: Knowing God;Christianity: The True Humanism
(with Thomas Howard), Rediscovering Holiness, Concise Theology,
and A Passion For Faithfulness. Education: Oxford University. Packer is
Director of the Anglican Studies Program
of Regent College; a signer of the Evangelicals and Catholics Together Documents
I and II; co-author of “Resolutions for Roman Catholic and Evangelical
Dialogue”; a signer
of the
Evangelical Declaration on Care of Creation [Interfaith/Earth Summit];a
member of the Board of Reference of Renovaré, a mystical movement founded and
directed by Quaker psychologist, Richard Foster. See
exposes:
Dr. James I. Packer-Rediscovering Holiness;
J.I. Packer: General Teachings/Activities]
Dr. Howard
has written twelve books, including Christianity: The True Humanism,
Evangelical is Not Enough, and On Being
Catholic.
[Ed. Note:
Thomas Howard made the following statement after visiting an Episcopal church,
an experience which led to his being confirmed the Anglican Church and
eventually joining the Roman Catholic Church:
"That time I was pierced to the heart. I was enthralled by the candles and
vestments. I felt as though my heart would break. Something had been touched
inside me, and I could not rest until I attended to it." Source:
Miles J. Stanford]
Bradley Nassif, Ph.D.
Professor, Antiochian
House of Studies (USA), a graduate program of St. John of Damascus Seminary,
Balamand University (Lebanon); Director of academic programs at Fuller
Theological Seminary, Southern California Extension; founder of the Society for
the Study of Eastern Orthodoxy and Evangelicalism. [Dr. Nassif defends Orthodox
kissing of icons in
Christianity Today]
which is
Fuller Theological Seminary's Theological Education by Extension/TEE to the
Northwest. Gasque is credited as being the co-founder of Regent College,
Vancouver, B.C., Canada. Regent College is a partner with InterVarsity
Christian Fellowship/IVCF.
Dr. Peter
Kuzmic is the Eva B. and Paul E. Toms Distinguished Professor of World
Missions and European Studies at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary
[Rockefeller-affiliated ATS member].
A native of Slovenia and a citizen of Croatia in former Yugoslavia, Dr. Kuzmic
is the foremost evangelical scholar in Eastern Europe and is considered an
authority on the subject of Christian response to Marxism and on Christian
ministry in post-Communist contexts.
Fluent in
several languages, Dr. Kuzmic completed all his studies summa cum laude. He is a
graduate of a German Bible College; received his B.A. from Southern California
College in Costa Mesa, CA [now
renamed Vangard University which is a partner with Oxford Centre for
Mission Studies];
M.A. from Wheaton Graduate School, Chicago, IL; and M.Th. and D.Th from the
University of Zagreb. In 1992 he was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity
degree by Asbury Theological Seminary
[Rockefeller-affiliated ATS member].
A former
pastor of two churches, he is a founder and currently the director of the
Evangelical Theological Seminary in Osijek, Croatia, the only evangelical
graduate theological institution in Eastern Europe and the Balkans. He is also
co-founder and chairman of the Council of the Evangelical Christians of (former)
Yugoslavia, and president of the Protestant Evangelical Council of Croatia. As
founding president of Agape and New Europe Vision (evangelical relief
ministries in Croatia and Bosnia), he takes an active role in ministering to the
physical and spiritual needs of his fellow citizens.
Dr. Kuzmic
is in great demand as a speaker. His global
platform has included plenary addresses at Lausanne II in Manila (1989), Urbana
(1990), the European Leadership Consultation (1992), the National Association of
Evangelicals Fiftieth Anniversary (1992),
as well as other international gatherings. He has ministered in more than 60
nations on every continent.
An
award-winning writer, Dr. Kuzmic has authored various articles and books
including a major study on the influence of Slavic Bible translations upon
Slavic literature, language and culture. He has also authored two textbooks, The
Gospel of John and Biblical Hermeneutics and has contributed to numerous
compendiums, handbooks and encyclopedias. A columnist for several religious and
secular newspapers, he also serves as editor of Izvori,a Christian monthly
journal in the Croatian language.
From 1986
to 1996, Dr. Kuzmic chaired the Theological Commission of the World Evangelical
Fellowship. He now chairs the Theology and Strategy Working Group of the
Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization.
He is one of the founding executives of the Council of Evangelical Christians of
Yugoslavia…
Dearborn was
educated at Fuller Theological Seminary and was a founder, with Ward
Gasque, of Fuller's Theological Education Extension program, Pacific
Association of Theological Education/PATE when it began in Seattle. At the
same time Dearborn was identified as director of World Vision's Institute for
Global Engagement, founded by then WV President Robert Seiple.
ESA
History Over the
past two decades-plus, Evangelicals for Social Action has become the primary
organizational leader for progressive evangelical voices and a primary
inspiration of renewed evangelical concern for the poor, equality for women and
minorities, and care for the environment.
ESA began
with a weekend meeting of forty prominent evangelical leaders in Chicago in
1973. Dick Ostling of Time said that weekend was the first time in the
twentieth century that a prominent group of evangelical leaders spent that much
time on social issues, and the Chicago Tribune called the meeting the most
important church-related event of 1973. The resulting document, The Chicago
Declaration of Evangelical Social Concern, was a ringing call for Christians
to challenge racial and economic injustice and work for the full dignity and
equality of women and minorities.
ESA and
ESA's founder Dr. Ronald J. Sider (Ph.D., Yale) have long been at the center of
renewed evangelical concern for the poor. Sider's book, Rich Christians in an
Age of Hunger, is now in its fourth edition with over 350,000 copies in
seven different languages. In its cover story on Sider, Christianity Today (evangelicalism's
most influential magazine)
highlighted Sider's and ESA's leadership on the question of economic justice and
listed the publication of Rich Christians along with President Jimmy Carter's
election and Pat Robertson's run for the Presidency as one of the eighteen
especially important events in the emergence of evangelical Christianity in the
last fifty years.
ESA has
played a central role in developing a new evangelical environmental movement in
the last ten years. ESA was the central leader in forming the Evangelical
Environmental Network (one of four partners along with the NCC, the U.S.
Catholic Conference, and the Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life).[Note:
The EEN web site states that only World Vision and Evangelicals for Social
Action founded this organization.]
EEN, which
ESA continues to lead, now enjoys the active participation of 14 mainstream
evangelical organizations all of whom are strengthening their environmental
work. In early 1995, when a new conservative Congress sought to drastically
weaken the Endangered Species Act, ESA and EEN played a key role in defending
the environment. At a news conference in Washington widely reported on ABC
Evening News and dozens of major newspapers across the U.S., ESA called on
Congress to preserve a strong Endangered Species Act in order to care for God's
creation. A comment by a key environmental staffer at the Sierra Club is widely
accepted in the larger environmental community: "We won this battle because of
the evangelicals."
ESA is a
strong voice for the full equality of women in church and society. ESA has
encouraged the development of Christians for Biblical Equality, the primary
evangelical feminist network, and continues to work with its leaders.
In recent
years, ESA has played a key role in the founding and development of Call to
Renewal
(a progressive network of evangelicals, Catholics, mainline Protestants, and
historic black and Hispanic Christians
coordinated by Jim Wallis),
and continues to be a leader of the evangelical wing of the Call to Renewal.
[See: Constance Cumbey on
Jim Wallis: “Wallis’
group has clearly been mainstream New Age from way back.”]
After World
War II, several of the younger leaders of American Protestant evangelicals
became concerned over what they saw as a lack of commitment among evangelicals
to the proclamation and achievement of social justice. Partly this was a legacy
of the most publicized split between the "fundamentalists" and "liberals" in the
early years of the century which made many evangelicals suspicious of the
so-called social gospel. However, in the 1960's and 1970's some evangelical
preachers, theologians, and educators began to feel that they had gotten too far
away from the Biblical injunctions on helping the poor and oppressed. Some of
these men and women gathered together in Chicago in 1973 to prepare a statement
on the need for Christian social action. According to the letter of invitation
which went out, "At a recent conference at Calvin College, a planning
committee (John Alexander, Myron Augsburger, Paul Henry, Rufus Jones, David O.
Moberg, William Pannell, Richard Pierard, Ronald J. Sider, Lewis Smedes,
and Jim Wallis
[Sojourners and
Call to Renewal]
was formed to plan a Thanksgiving Workshop on Evangelicals and Social Concern.
It is a workshop, not a conference. It will be a time for discussing, praying,
and concrete planning, not a time for listening to papers." At this workshop, a
statement called "A Declaration of Evangelical Social Concern" (also known as
the Chicago Declaration) was signed by participants. In this statement they
admitted that they had individually and corporately participated in forms of
racism and exploitation and pledged themselves, according to a press release, to
"rethink their lifestyle and work for a more just distribution of the world's
resources." Out of this workshop grew the annual meetings of Evangelicals for
Social Actions which were concerned with ways for implementing their concern.
A
Christian feminist group, the Evangelical Women's Caucus, in part grew out of
the meetings of ESA.
Additional Sider Info…
In 1969
Sider served with Bruce Nicholls on the World Evangelical Fellowship/WEF'sTheological Commission and chaired a committee at the 7th WEF General
Assembly, Consultation on a Simple Life Style [one of six consultations]
sponsored jointly by The Theology and Education Group of the Lausanne
Committee for World Evangelization [John
Stott]
and the Unit on Ethics and Society of the Theological Commission of WEF
[Ronald Sider].
Sider is a
corresponding editor for Billy Graham's Christianity Today. His
organization Evangelicals for Social Action has been the recipient of
grants from Pew Charitable Trust and ESA has been involved at the
policy-setting level for faith-based welfare reform.
The ESA
web site links to three ministries which are outworkings of ESA…
[John D.
Perkins, who is a Mission
America
co-chair with Billy Graham and Bill Bright]
?World Relief––an
affiliate of the National
Assoc. of Evangelicals/NAE.
NAE is a
regional member and founder of the World
Evangelical Fellowship/WEF.
Network
9:35 is promoting the
NACSW Convention “Building Communities and Strengthening Families” One of
the keynote speakers for this conference is Marian Wright Edelman,
founder and president of the Children’s Defense Fund/CDF.
EEN is a
unique evangelical ministry initiated
by World Vision and Evangelicals for Social Action
as part of a growing movement among Christians to respond faithfully to our
biblical mandate for caring stewardship of God's creation. EEN was formed
because we recognize many environmental problems are fundamentally spiritual
problems. EEN's flagship publication, Creation Care magazine[published by
ESA],
provides you with biblically informed and timely articles on topics ranging from
how to protect your loved ones against environmental threats to how you can more
fully praise the Creator for the wonder of His creation…
Evangelical Declaration on the Care of Creation
The
declaration is a carefully considered statement on earth stewardship. Since the
day we released it four years ago, hundreds of evangelical leaders in North
America have expressed their agreement with the principles of the declaration by
signing on.
TheEEN
brings together major evangelical ministries, such as InterVarsity Christian
Fellowship and World Vision, for fellowship and strategic planning to
integrate God's mandate for stewardship
into their efforts.
Last year we
reconnected with Evangelicals for Social Action (ESA), which for us has become a
marriage made in heaven. Since the late 70's ESA has been one of the most
respected inter-denominational evangelical voices encouraging the church to
create wholistic ministries that meet the profound needs of our world in Jesus
name (evangelism and social concern). ESA has
invited us to create a
specialized leadership development ministry to college students that allows
these students to rub shoulders with and work alongside some of the most
talented wholistic ministers in the world.
We call this ministry Koinonia Leadership Mission and our goal is to recruit and
train college students to become church related, wholistic ministry servant
leaders!
Both the
Fieldstead Institute [Howard Fieldstead Ahmanson] and the Ethics and
Public Policy Center [Elliot Abrams, CFR
and U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom/USCIRF] are
credited by Amy Sherman for the funding of her book Restorers of Hope:
…church-based ministries that work. The book was a promo for faith-based
welfare reform/charitable choice. The federal welfare legislation passed in
1996. Sherman was the change-agent sent by Manhattan Institute and Hudson
Institute to various states' church networks; advising them on compliance for
becoming FBOs [faith-based organizations]. |
Q:
How to set time zone according to location?
I have developed a website for which I want to set time according to location. I mean if my site is opened in India then time zone should be automatically set Asia/Calcutta as so on according to location.
Thanks in advance !!!
A:
You can pass timezone from your page with JavaScript:
<script src="//ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.11.0/jquery.min.js"></script>
<script type="text/javascript" src="//cdnjs.cloudflare.com/ajax/libs/jstimezonedetect/1.0.4/jstz.min.js"></script>
<script>
$(document).ready(function(){
var tz = jstz.determine();
var tzname = tz.name();
$.post("timezone.php", {timezone: tzname});
});
</script>
And then process it in PHP script timezone.php.
|
Dry Bones
Dry Bones may refer to:
The Vision of the Valley of Dry Bones, in the Book of Ezekiel
"Dem Bones", a traditional song based on Ezekiel 37:14
"Dry Bones" (folk song)
Dry Bones (comic strip), a political cartoon published in The Jerusalem Post, 1973-
"Dry Bones", a short story by William Sanders
Dry Bones, the band that later changed their name to Everdown and signed to Solid State Records
Dry Bones (character), a recurring enemy character from the Super Mario series |
Impulse response of nonlinear Schrödinger equation and its implications for pre-dispersed fiber-optic communication systems.
In the presence of pre-dispersion, an exact solution of nonlinear Schrödinger equation (NLSE) is derived for impulse input. The phase factor of the exact solution is obtained in a closed form using the exponential integral. The nonlinear interaction among periodically placed impulses launched at the input is investigated, and the condition under which these pulses do not exchange energy is examined. It is found that if the complex weights of the impulses at the input have a secant-hyperbolic envelope and a proper chirp factor, they will propagate over long distances without exchanging energy. To describe their interaction, a discrete version of NLSE is derived. The derived equation is a form of discrete self-trapping (DST) equation, which is found to admit fundamental and higher order soliton solutions in the presence of high pre-dispersion. Nonlinear eigenmodes derived here may be useful for description of signal propagation and nonlinear interaction in highly pre-dispersion fiber-optic systems. |
Background
==========
Panic disorder is one of the anxiety disorders. Anxiety is associated with locomotor activity as described in some assessment tools for anxiety, such as the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale \[[@B1]\] and the Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAM-A) \[[@B2]\], which includes items related to \"restlessness\".
There has been only one group investigating locomotor activity that objectively assessed patients with panic disorder. Clark et al. \[[@B3]\] reported that mean daily activity was higher in patients without phobic avoidance than in controls. The device for recording locomotor activity used in this previous study was attached to the lateral thigh, measured 4 × 8 × 12 cm and weighed 0.5 kg, and recorded physical activity categorized to eight levels. Therefore, the device would not be able to detect subtle changes in locomotor activity such as restlessness.
In other psychiatric diseases, such as seasonal affective disorder, major depressive disorder and attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, wrist-worn activity monitors have been used to investigate the locomotor activity pattern and have successfully detected changes in the locomotor activity pattern in these psychiatric diseases \[[@B4]-[@B6]\].
Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate for two weeks the relationship between panic disorder and locomotor activity pattern using a wrist-worn activity monitor. In addition, in order to avoid recall bias panic attacks were recorded in a watch-type computer momentarily instead of interviewing patients. Recording data such as symptoms and physical activity momentarily in natural settings have been developed as an ecological momentary assessment (EMA) technique \[[@B7]-[@B9]\]. We hypothesized that patients with more severe symptoms such as more frequent attacks and more anxiety had greater amplitude as well as mesor and that there may be some relationship between more severe symptoms and the acrophase of locomotor activity because there were some studies on change in the circadian rhythm of physiological markers or symptoms in panic disorder \[[@B10]-[@B12]\].
Methods
=======
All the procedures and materials were approved by the institutional review board of the University of Tokyo and of the Warakukai Incorporated Medical Institution, and written informed consent was obtained from all subjects before the study.
Subjects
--------
Sixteen patients with panic attacks were recruited for the study through advertisements placed on the website and in the medical office of the Research **C**enter of Panic Disorder (Akasaka Clinic) and on the website of our department. Patients who applied for participation were interviewed and screened by a well-trained physician (N.S.).
Inclusion criteria were as follows: diagnosis of panic disorder according to DSM-IV-TR criteria \[[@B13]\]; at least one panic attack during each of the last two weeks; and age ≥ 20 but ≤ 50 years. Exclusion criteria were: current other psychiatric disease assessed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview for DSM-IV criteria \[[@B14]\]; personality disorder assessed by the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV criteria \[[@B15]\]; and severe physical illness. Patients were allowed to take medications, but not allowed to change medications during the recording period.
Measurements
------------
### Psychological variables
The overall severity of panic disorder was measured by the total score on the clinician-rated Panic Disorder Severity Scale (PDSS) \[[@B16],[@B17]\]. In addition, HAM-A \[[@B2]\] was used for assessment of general clinical severity. The two scales were performed **on**the first day of the present study.
### Frequency of panic attacks
To record momentary panic attack intensity, watch-type computers (Ruputer ECOLOG; 42 g, Seiko Instruments Inc., Tokyo, Japan) were used as electronic diaries \[[@B8],[@B9]\]. The computer was equipped with a screen measuring 20 × 30 mm. and a joystick and button as input devices. Subjects were fully instructed how to use the device and given manuals before the beginning of the study period. They also practised manipulating the device with one of the authors (N.S.) until they became accustomed to its use.
Subjects wore the watch-type computers for 14 consecutive days. Event-contingent recordings were defined as recordings that were initiated by the subjects themselves when a particular event occurred \[[@B7]\]. In this study, subjects were asked to make a recording every time they had a panic attack as an event-contingent recording.
In the electronic diaries, subjects were asked questions about subjective physical symptoms. The questions were 18 items arranged to evaluate 13 panic symptoms according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. The eighteen panic symptom items included \"palpitation\", \"sweating\", \"shaking\", \"feeling of choking\", \"sensations of smothering\", \"chest pain\", \"abdominal distress\", \"feeling dizzy\", \"feeling unsteady\", \"feeling faint\", \"feelings of unreality\", \"depersonalization\", \"fear of going crazy\", \"fear of dying\", \"numbness\", \"tingling sensations\", \"chills\", and \"hot flushes\". Subjective symptoms were rated on 21-point visual analogue scales (VAS) from 0 to 100 displayed on the screen. Each word for a subjective symptom was displayed with the VAS as a question, and the anchor words \'none\' and \'most intense\' were displayed at the respective ends of the scale. By manipulating a joystick, the subjects adjusted the length of the bar so that it corresponded to their subjective symptom intensity at that moment. Panic attacks were verified by confirming that the symptoms recorded satisfied the criteria of panic attacks according to DSN-IV-TR criteria.
Because the recording periods were different among patients due to battery problems or patient convenience, the frequency of panic attacks was calculated by dividing panic attacks by the recording period instead of simply using the number of panic attacks.
### Physical activity
Wrist activity monitors were built into the watch-type computers used for recording panic attacks and worked synchronously with the computers. They were worn all day and night on the non-dominant hand for 14 consecutive days. The instrument was removed for bathing, showering or any other activity likely to cause water damage. The time the instrument was taken off and put back on was recorded by selecting \'taking off\' or \'putting on\' from the menu. The activity monitors are uni-axial piezo-electronic accelerometers with a sensitivity of 0.01 g, and are analogous in performance to the Actigraph Mini-Motionlogger (Ambulatory Monitors Inc., Ardsley, NY, USA), which has frequently been used in studies of physical activity. Zero-crossing mode was used and acceleration counts were accumulated for every epoch of 1 min.
### Data analysis
Cosinor analysis was used to assess the timing and amplitude of **the**circadian rhythm of physical activity. Because the duration of the daytime activity period is greater than the nighttime quiescent period, traditional cosinor analysis is not suitable for analyzing physical activity data. Therefore, double cosinor analysis was used in the present study, in which the simultaneous fit of two cosine functions was performed, one with a period of 24 hours and the other with a 12-hour period \[[@B6],[@B18]\]. This model yields estimates of mesor (corrected mean) and the amplitude and acrophase (time of the peak of the fit rhythm) of the circadian rhythm and 12-hour harmonic component. According to previous studies \[[@B6],[@B18]\], activity counts at 5-min intervals were analyzed using double cosinor analysis.
### Statistical analysis
Pearson\'s correlation analysis was used to investigate the relationship between panic disorder symptoms (frequency of panic attacks, PDSS, HAM-A) and locomotor activity variables calculated from the double cosinor analysis.
Results
=======
Patient characteristics (Table [1](#T1){ref-type="table"})
----------------------------------------------------------
######
Demographic and medical characteristics of the subjects
--------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
sample size n = 16 (male: n = 2, female: n = 14)
Age\* (years) 32.8 ± 5.2
Diagnosis PD with Agoraphobia: n = 16,\
PD without Agoraphobia: n = 0
Duration of panic disorder^†^(months) 61 (1 -- 267)
PDSS\* 12.0 ± 3.6
HAM-A\* 21.1 ± 8.4
Recording periods^†^(days) 14 (11--18)
Number of recorded panic attacks^†^ 3.5 (1--10)
--------------------------------------- --------------------------------------
\* Variables are shown as mean ± SD.
^†^Variables are shown as median (minimum -- maximum).
PD, panic disorder; PDSS, Panic Disorder Severity Scale; HAM-A, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale.
All patients met criteria for panic disorder with agoraphobia according to DSM-IV criteria. The patients consisted of two male and 14 female patients (32.8 ± 5.2 years). All the patients completed their recordings for at least 11 days (range, 11 to 18 days, median 14 days). All the patients recorded at least one panic attack during their recordings (range, 1 to 10 attacks, median 3.5 attacks). Three patients took no medication, four patients took a benzodiazepine, eight patients took a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) and a benzodiazepine, and one patient took a SSRI, a tricyclic antidepressant, and a benzodiazepine.
Correlations between panic disorder symptoms and locomotor activity variables from dual cosinor analysis (Table [2](#T2){ref-type="table"})
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
######
Correlations between panic disorder symptoms and locomotor activity (n = 16)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PDSS HAM-A Frequency
-------------------- ------- ------- ----------- ------ ------- ------
Mesor 0.71 0.79 0.62 0.01 0.55 0.03
Amplitude\ 0.22 0.41 0.35 0.19 0.16 0.55
(circadian)
Amplitude\ 0.00 1.00 0.42 0.10 0.46 0.08
(12 hour harmonic)
Acrophase\ 0.13 0.62 0.22 0.42 0.36 0.18
(circadian)
Acrophase\ -0.27 0.31 -0.18 0.51 -0.18 0.49
(12 hour harmonic)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
PDSS, Panic Disorder Severity Scale; HAM-A, the Hamilton Anxiety Scale; Frequency, number of panic attacks per day during the recording period.
Representative data for locomotor activity and a fitted line from double cosinor analysis are shown in Figure [1](#F1){ref-type="fig"}.
{#F1}
There were significant positive correlations between the frequency of panic attacks and mesor calculated from the double cosinor analysis of locomotor activity (r = 0.55, p = 0.03) and between HAM-A scores and mesor calculated from the double cosinor analysis of locomotor activity (r = 0.62, p = 0.01) (Figure [2](#F2){ref-type="fig"}). There were no significant correlations between any other variables and the frequency of panic attacks.
{#F2}
Discussion
==========
In the present study, significant positive correlations were found between the frequency of panic attacks and mesor calculated from the double cosinor analysis of locomotor activity and between Hamilton Anxiety Scale scores and mesor calculated from the double cosinor analysis of locomotor activity, which means that patients with more panic attacks and with more anxiety have greater mean locomotor activity levels.
The results of the present study are consistent with those of the previous study by Clark et al. \[[@B3]\], which showed that mean daily activity was higher in patients without phobic avoidance than in controls. However, the comorbidity of agoraphobia was different between the present study and the previous study. Therefore, it is difficult to compare the results between the two studies.
Previous studies showed that physical activity might be a trigger for panic attacks in patients with panic disorder \[[@B19],[@B20]\], which implies the possibility that higher locomotor activity might cause more panic attacks in the present study. However, Broman-Fulks et al. \[[@B21]\] recently reported that aerobic exercise reduced anxiety sensitivity. Therefore, further studies on the relationship between physical activity and anxiety are needed.
There was no significant correlation between amplitude and attack frequency or HAM-A or between acrophase, and attack frequency or HAM-A in the present study, contrary to our hypothesis, which suggests that more severe symptoms are not related to greater diurnal variation of locomotor activity or with the acrophase of locomotor activity. Therefore, the results in the present study suggest that patients with more severe symptoms had greater locomotor activity evenly throughout day and night without increased diurnal variation and without change in acrophase.
There are some limitations in the present study. First, the sample size was relatively small. Second, all patients took medications such as SSRI. Therefore, it is difficult to exclude the influence of medications on the relationship between panic attacks and locomotor activity, although the medications that the patients took did not change during the recording period. Third, all our patients had agoraphobia. Therefore, it is not clear if these results can be applied to patients without agoraphobia. Fourth, the temporal relationship between panic attacks and locomotor activity could not be investigated by cosinor analysis. Therefore, further studies on temporal relationship between panic attacks and locomotor activity are necessary to investigate the influence of panic attacks on locomotor activity. Finally, there were no healthy controls in the present study. Therefore, further studies are needed to investigate the difference in locomotor activity between panic disorder patients and healthy controls.
Conclusion
==========
Panic disorder patients with more panic attacks and more anxiety have greater objectively assessed locomotor activity, which may reflect the symptoms of anxiety disorders.
Competing interests
===================
The authors declare that they have no competing interests.
Authors\' contributions
=======================
NS designed the study, collected the data, interpreted the results, and drafted the manuscript. KY designed the study, analyzed the data, performed the statistical analysis, interpreted the results, and drafted the manuscript. YT designed the study, interpreted the results and drafted the manuscript. HK1 analyzed the data, performed the statistical analysis, interpreted the results, and drafted the manuscript. YY helped analyze the data, interpret the results, and draft the manuscript. HK2, HK3, and AA helped interpret the results, and draft the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
|
Carpal tunnel syndrome incidence in a general population.
To determine the incidence of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) in a general population of a restricted area in the middle part of Italy. Prospective study to identify cases of CTS, newly diagnosed on the basis of clinical symptoms and delay in distal conduction velocity of the median nerve. In the 8-year period from 1991 to 1998, cases were identified by electromyographic services in the Siena area of Local Health District No. 7 of Tuscany (Italy). This area has a population of 120,000. In the 8-year period, 3,142 cases (79.7% women and 20.3% men; mean age, 55 years; range, 13 to 97 years) were identified. The mean annual crude incidence was 329 cases per 100,000 person-years, and the standardized incidence was 276. The sex-specific incidences were 139 for men and 506 for women. The mean annual incidence for men increased moderately but significantly during the study period, whereas that for women remained constant. The age-specific incidence for women increased gradually with age, reaching a peak between 50 and 59 years, after which it declined. In men, there was a bimodal distribution with peaks between 50 and 59 years and between 70 and 79 years. Rural and industrial areas had higher crude and age- and sex-specific incidences than did urban areas. The incidence in the Siena area is about threefold that reported in the Rochester area (Minnesota) and is similar to that of Marshfield (Wisconsin). The different results with respect to US reports may depend on case inclusion criteria and occupational activities of the population at risk. |
The goal of our work is to understand the role of low-, mid-, and high- spatial frequency bands in face recognition. Using stimuli containing only partial spatial frequency information (e.g., low resolution images), our experiments seek to titrate out the contribution of the different bands by examining under what circumstances the loss of information causes a failure in recognition. It is believed that featural information is carried by the high spatial frequencies (sf) while configural information resides in the lower sf bands. This predicts that featural changes would be harder to detect than configural ones as the sf content in an image shifts towards the low frequencies. However, contrary to expectations, we find that the detectability of both configural and featural changes degrades at the same rate across this transformation. We additionally find that reaction times for recognition are higher for low-resolution images, and that observers' tolerance to image degradations is enhanced by familiarity with the individuals depicted in the images.
The pattern of results so far suggests that the human visual system might use an iterative process and prior experience with faces to compensate for missing information. This led us to implement a computational technique for information “fill-in” using a database of calibrated faces as “prior knowledge.” Relying on statistical dependencies between different parts of the image, the information missing in a given image due to, say, occlusion or blurring, can be reconstructed from the database patch-by-patch. This technique may serve as a model of cognitive processes underlying top-down influences on image analysis. |
Rigo-Fede disease: case report.
Riga-Fede disease results when an infant's instinctive tongue thrusting and raking motion over recently erupted primary mandibular incisors causes a traumatic ulceration of the tongue and/or mouth floor. The symptoms and therapeutic approach to the condition are highlighted in this case report. |
Q:
AJAX request takes too long to complete the request
I have a MySQL query which gets 17000 rows. If i execute that query directly in MySQL terminal using Putty, it takes 17 ~ 20 sec to get all rows. This is fine.
But when i tried to execute the query using PHP with an AJAX request, It takes 50 ~ 60 sec to complete the request, even this query was cached.
I am using CodeIgniter PHP framework for caching and its AJAX request.
I agree, the HTTP request and PHP execution might take time when compared to direct MySQL query execution in the terminal.
MySQL direct query execution : 20 sec
Using HTTP, php, Codeigniter and JSON format and it is cached : 60 sec.
The time difference too long i guess.
Model query that i am trying to execute:
mysql> explain SELECT col1, col2, col3, col4, IFNULL(col5,'N/A') AS 'col55', `col6`, col7, col8, col9 FROM table1 LEFT JOIN table1 ON table1.fkid_colid=`voyage id` AND table1.alias_type='voyage_display' WHERE column10='voyage';
+----+-------------+--------------+------+-------------------------------------+---------+---------+------------------------------------+-------+-------------+
| id | select_type | table | type | possible_keys | key | key_len | ref | rows | Extra |
+----+-------------+--------------+------+-------------------------------------+---------+---------+------------------------------------+-------+-------------+
| 1 | SIMPLE | table1 | ALL | NULL | NULL | NULL | NULL | 37770 | Using where |
| 1 | SIMPLE | table1 | ref | PRIMARY,fk_table1_colid_idx | PRIMARY | 4 | database.table1.column ID | 1 | Using index |
+----+-------------+--------------+------+-------------------------------------+---------+---------+------------------------------------+-------+-------------+
2 rows in set (0.00 sec)
Have any idea for this longer loading time? it would be if you suggest any optimization techniques for this?
A:
Yes. I just found the issue by profiling the controller function.
So as per the Codeigniter profiling the result as below,
Controller Execution Time : 27.7074 seconds.
And after that i looked Chrome console for the time taken to complete the request, From that i came to know one issue.
Stalled : 17.32 s
DNS Lookup: 1.000 ms
Initial connection :262.000 ms
Request/Response TIME
Request sent 0
Waiting (TTFB) 1.03 s
Content Download 29.84 s
Total time: 48.46 s
From the report, the big issue is "Stalled" time. It took 17.32 seconds. It was happened due to my side proxy issue and It cannot be avoid and it won't happen in my customer side. So it is negligible.
So,
Direct query execution 17 ~ 20 seconds
Ajax request for content download in browser side: 29 ~ 30 seconds.
So the difference is 10 seconds for 3MB content download and my customer is accepted :)
Thank you for your responses.
|
Coincheck, the Japanese cryptocurrency exchange that saw major losses in a recent hack, is reportedly being hit by another lawsuit demanding refund of cryptocurrency assets.
According to Japanese media outlet Sankei, an additional 132 investors have joined a class action suit filed with the Tokyo District Court on Feb. 27 that seeks a refund of about 228 million yen (around $2.1 million) in cryptocurrency.
The new case again puts Coincheck in the spotlight once more, as the exchange has yet to disclose details of how it plans to compensate victims who saw some $530 million-worth of NEM tokens stolen from the exchange on Jan. 26.
As reported, following the heist, Coincheck said it would refund victims with its existing capital. Yet, the claim has drawn attention from Japan’s financial watchdog, which said it will conduct an on-site inspection to determine the firm’s capability of repaying such a large amount.
Seven Coincheck customers previously filed a class action – the first against the platform – on Feb. 15, according a Reuters report.
That case sought damages of $183,000 in cryptocurrency assets, and also demanded that Coincheck pay 5 percent annualized interest on the amount until a refund is possible.
Currently, Coincheck has only reinstated the withdrawal of Japanese yen on its platform, prompting an immediate outflow equivalent to $373 million on the first day of resumption on Feb. 14.
Meanwhile, the platform’s plan for cryptocurrency withdrawals and compensation are still unclear.
Japanese yen image via Shutterstock |
Welcome back,
Menu
Conqueror’s Blade Beta Key Giveaway
Posted on: Jan 24, 2018
OnRPG has partnered with Booming Games to offer a limited number of beta keys for Conqueror’s Blade!
Produced by Booming Games following 5 years of development, Conqueror’s Blade represents a flagship sandbox PC warfare game that goes across ancient Eastern and Western civilizations. Conqueror’s Blade’s core design is innovativeness which hybrids action and tactic game plays. Player enjoys smooth hero action combat and sophisticated tactic control of corps together. The game perfectly recreates weapons, armors and corps of many civilizations such as European sword knight, and Swiss halberdier. Besides that, the game unprecedentedly ushers in splendid “world sandbox” featuring the most complimented game play in Conqueror’s Blade. In this connection, Players can acquire vast territory. With an aim of mirroring Medieval history, Conqueror’s Blade strives unremittingly to deliver immersive and authentic conqueror’s warfare experience to our players. |
129586, 129671, 129756, 129841, 129926, 130011?
85*r + 129501
What is the i'th term of 212899, 425109, 637319, 849529, 1061739, 1273949?
212210*i + 689
What is the y'th term of 453181, 905751, 1357711, 1809061, 2259801?
-305*y**2 + 453485*y + 1
What is the j'th term of 24994027, 24994026, 24994025, 24994024?
-j + 24994028
What is the s'th term of 643263, 643311, 643437, 643677, 644067?
6*s**3 + 3*s**2 - 3*s + 643257
What is the k'th term of 7654, 7580, 7584, 7672, 7850, 8124, 8500, 8984?
k**3 + 33*k**2 - 180*k + 7800
What is the d'th term of 2913, 2783, 2703, 2697, 2789, 3003, 3363?
4*d**3 + d**2 - 161*d + 3069
What is the n'th term of 113669, 113685, 113701, 113717?
16*n + 113653
What is the z'th term of -871096, -870910, -870724?
186*z - 871282
What is the o'th term of 14598, 14209, 13830, 13467, 13126, 12813, 12534?
o**3 - o**2 - 393*o + 14991
What is the t'th term of 34215287, 68430596, 102645905, 136861214, 171076523?
34215309*t - 22
What is the i'th term of 664655, 664661, 664693, 664763, 664883, 665065, 665321?
2*i**3 + i**2 - 11*i + 664663
What is the w'th term of -479791, -959576, -1439361?
-479785*w - 6
What is the m'th term of 381543, 763102, 1144661?
381559*m - 16
What is the m'th term of -6471142, -6471132, -6471114, -6471088?
4*m**2 - 2*m - 6471144
What is the x'th term of 59141, 59143, 59137, 59123, 59101, 59071?
-4*x**2 + 14*x + 59131
What is the g'th term of 53418, 52592, 51766, 50940?
-826*g + 54244
What is the z'th term of 54122, 59489, 64856?
5367*z + 48755
What is the g'th term of 896, 15695, 58320, 142685, 282704, 492291, 785360?
2319*g**3 - g**2 - 1431*g + 9
What is the h'th term of -113298977, -113298979, -113298983, -113298989, -113298997, -113299007?
-h**2 + h - 113298977
What is the t'th term of 391177, 391264, 391353, 391444, 391537?
t**2 + 84*t + 391092
What is the u'th term of 14220, 14501, 14782, 15063, 15344, 15625?
281*u + 13939
What is the f'th term of 1145834, 2291721, 3437594, 4583447, 5729274, 6875069, 8020826?
-f**3 - f**2 + 1145897*f - 61
What is the t'th term of -5656, -40831, -99456, -181531, -287056, -416031, -568456?
-11725*t**2 + 6069
What is the d'th term of -11836, -20871, -29906, -38941?
-9035*d - 2801
What is the d'th term of -104052, -416231, -936532, -1664955, -2601500?
-104061*d**2 + 4*d + 5
What is the b'th term of 537263, 1074338, 1611411, 2148482, 2685551, 3222618, 3759683?
-b**2 + 537078*b + 186
What is the n'th term of 12258, 24605, 37130, 49917, 63050, 76613?
14*n**3 + 5*n**2 + 12234*n + 5
What is the i'th term of -240, -403, -556, -693, -808, -895, -948, -961?
i**3 - i**2 - 167*i - 73
What is the s'th term of 10916439, 21832873, 32749305, 43665735?
-s**2 + 10916437*s + 3
What is the f'th term of 681176, 2724724, 6130638, 10898918, 17029564, 24522576?
681183*f**2 - f - 6
What is the h'th term of 5483, 5636, 5891, 6248?
51*h**2 + 5432
What is the l'th term of 5685, 11159, 16643, 22143, 27665?
l**3 - l**2 + 5470*l + 215
What is the s'th term of -522, -5533, -19138, -45633, -89314, -154477, -245418, -366433?
-716*s**3 - s**2 + 4*s + 191
What is the i'th term of -475, -3520, -11741, -27724, -54055?
-431*i**3 - 2*i**2 - 22*i - 20
What is the l'th term of 962713, 962722, 962731, 962740?
9*l + 962704
What is the z'th term of 2032, 2132, 2250, 2386?
9*z**2 + 73*z + 1950
What is the k'th term of 388168, 388055, 387942, 387829?
-113*k + 388281
What is the d'th term of 120766, 120838, 120958, 121126, 121342, 121606?
24*d**2 + 120742
What is the v'th term of -6472211, -6472211, -6472213, -6472217, -6472223, -6472231?
-v**2 + 3*v - 6472213
What is the f'th term of -544, -952, -882, -94, 1652?
40*f**3 - f**2 - 685*f + 102
What is the n'th term of -18463, -36708, -54953, -73198, -91443, -109688?
-18245*n - 218
What is the c'th term of 144924, 578465, 1301034, 2312631, 3613256, 5202909?
144514*c**2 - c + 411
What is the c'th term of 487, 418, 293, 82, -245, -718?
-5*c**3 + 2*c**2 - 40*c + 530
What is the y'th term of 10517, 43438, 98757, 176468, 276565, 399042?
-y**3 + 11205*y**2 - 687*y
What is the k'th term of 44886, 89681, 134476, 179271, 224066?
44795*k + 91
What is the v'th term of -193426153, -386852308, -580278463?
-193426155*v + 2
What is the l'th term of -98492, -394092, -886754, -1576478, -2463264, -3547112, -4828022?
-98531*l**2 - 7*l + 46
What is the t'th term of -103934, -208043, -312152, -416261?
-104109*t + 175
What is the c'th term of 1260312, 1260302, 1260294, 1260288, 1260284?
c**2 - 13*c + 1260324
What is the d'th term of 49417, 49196, 48975, 48754, 48533, 48312?
-221*d + 49638
What is the a'th term of 63696, 66933, 72330, 79887, 89604?
1080*a**2 - 3*a + 62619
What is the c'th term of -375133, -375074, -375003, -374920, -374825?
6*c**2 + 41*c - 375180
What is the s'th term of -6215848, -12431694, -18647540, -24863386, -31079232?
-6215846*s - 2
What is the l'th term of -9194017, -9194012, -9194007?
5*l - 9194022
What is the q'th term of -10097, -39824, -89315, -158570?
-9882*q**2 - 81*q - 134
What is the n'th term of -295, -480, -815, -1300, -1935, -2720, -3655?
-75*n**2 + 40*n - 260
What is the m'th term of -448029, -896107, -1344185, -1792263, -2240341, -2688419?
-448078*m + 49
What is the v'th term of 74617, 298444, 671483, 1193734?
74606*v**2 + 9*v + 2
What is the t'th term of 5375030, 10750061, 16125090, 21500117, 26875142, 32250165, 37625186?
-t**2 + 5375034*t - 3
What is the t'th term of 110976678, 110976683, 110976688, 110976693, 110976698, 110976703?
5*t + 110976673
What is the k'th term of -4980, -4919, -4810, -4653?
24*k**2 - 11*k - 4993
What is the m'th term of -157206, -157228, -157250, -157272, -157294, -157316?
-22*m - 157184
What is the b'th term of 130910, 262292, 393674, 525056, 656438, 787820?
131382*b - 472
What is the i'th term of -43899703, -43899709, -43899715, -43899721, -43899727, -43899733?
-6*i - 43899697
What is the b'th term of -1455759, -2911521, -4367285, -5823051, -7278819, -8734589, -10190361?
-b**2 - 1455759*b + 1
What is the j'th term of 18948667, 18948669, 18948671, 18948673, 18948675, 18948677?
2*j + 18948665
What is the z'th term of -92986, -93041, -93134, -93265?
-19*z**2 + 2*z - 92969
What is the t'th term of 5208747, 5208726, 5208719, 5208732, 5208771?
t**3 + t**2 - 31*t + 5208776
What is the o'th term of -11835256, -23670573, -35505890, -47341207?
-11835317*o + 61
What is the y'th term of -2422, -5331, -8240, -11149, -14058, -16967?
-2909*y + 487
What is the z'th term of 3255004, 3255107, 3255210?
103*z + 3254901
What is the u'th term of 1506, 1376, 944, 60, -1426, -3664, -6804?
-25*u**3 - u**2 + 48*u + 1484
What is the k'th term of 1032, 8178, 27506, 65088, 126996, 219302, 348078?
1012*k**3 + 19*k**2 + 5*k - 4
What is the k'th term of 769059, 3076215, 6921453, 12304755, 19226103?
-3*k**3 + 769059*k**2 + 3
What is the p'th term of 1732, 6393, 14166, 25051, 39048, 56157?
1556*p**2 - 7*p + 183
What is the k'th term of -34076222, -68152458, -102228694, -136304930, -170381166, -204457402?
-34076236*k + 14
What is the q'th term of 25876, 25756, 25636, 25516, 25396, 25276?
-120*q + 25996
What is the q'th term of -534700, -1069401, -1604102, -2138803, -2673504, -3208205?
-534701*q + 1
What is the a'th term of -176, -256, -216, -56, 224?
60*a**2 - 260*a + 24
What is the b'th term of -1170, -4391, -9618, -16737, -25634?
19*b**3 - 1117*b**2 - 3*b - 69
What is the a'th term of 1243247, 1243255, 1243265, 1243277?
a**2 + 5*a + 1243241
What is the t'th term of -159269551, -159269552, -159269553?
-t - 159269550
What is the m'th term of -171847, -172026, -172205, -172384?
-179*m - 171668
What is the q'th term of -20473, -40753, -61017, -81259, -101473, -121653?
q**3 + 2*q**2 - 20293*q - 183
What is the o'th term of 1042386549, 1042386550, 1042386551, 1042386552, 1042386553?
o + 1042386548
What is the h'th term of 94403, 188838, 283273, 377708, 472143, 566578?
94435*h - 32
What is the d'th term of 28, 100, 146, 94, -128, -592, -1370, -2534?
-12*d**3 + 59*d**2 - 21*d + 2
What is the g'th term of 33128, 131109, 294414, 523043, 816996, 1176273, 1600874?
32662*g**2 - 5*g + 471
What is the a'th term of 2602630, 2602682, 2602730, 2602774, 2602814, 2602850, 2602882?
-2*a**2 + 58*a + 2602574
What is the i'th term of -76121, -77293, -78453, -79595, -80713, -81801, |
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Linq;
using System.Reflection;
using Duality.IO;
namespace Duality.Backend.DotNetFramework
{
[DontSerialize]
public class SystemBackend : ISystemBackend
{
private NativeFileSystem fileSystem = new NativeFileSystem();
string IDualityBackend.Id
{
get { return "DotNetFrameworkSystemBackend"; }
}
string IDualityBackend.Name
{
get { return ".Net Framework"; }
}
int IDualityBackend.Priority
{
get { return 0; }
}
IFileSystem ISystemBackend.FileSystem
{
get { return this.fileSystem; }
}
bool IDualityBackend.CheckAvailable()
{
return true;
}
void IDualityBackend.Init() { }
void IDualityBackend.Shutdown() { }
string ISystemBackend.GetNamedPath(NamedDirectory dir)
{
string path;
switch (dir)
{
default: path = null; break;
case NamedDirectory.Current: path = System.IO.Directory.GetCurrentDirectory(); break;
case NamedDirectory.ApplicationData: path = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.ApplicationData); break;
case NamedDirectory.MyDocuments: path = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyDocuments); break;
case NamedDirectory.MyMusic: path = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyMusic); break;
case NamedDirectory.MyPictures: path = Environment.GetFolderPath(Environment.SpecialFolder.MyPictures); break;
}
return this.fileSystem.GetDualityPathFormat(path);
}
}
}
|
Tag: excerpt
The excellent folks at The Nation (who published my first-ever piece of labor journalism) have an excerpt from Necessary Trouble up, as the book continues to roll on.
The [Teaching Assistants’ Association] had already planned a rally for Valentine’s Day, in a preemptive strike against likely cuts to the university, and Hanna was deluged with emails asking her to come home. She was observing the popular revolution that had begun in Egypt in the winter of 2011, part of what came to be known as the Arab Spring. But the attacks on the union and the university were serious enough that she returned just in time for the February 14 action. The TAA led a crowd of marchers up State Street from the university campus to deliver a thousand valentines protesting Act 10 to Walker at the Capitol. It was an impressive showing, but marches were common enough in Madison that few expected this one to be different. Jenni Dye, a lawyer based in Madison, was downtown eating brunch and saw the protesters. “I thought, ‘Oh look, another Madison protest.’”
The wonderful folks at Moyers & Company have excerpted my chapter on one of my greatest obsessions, the Red Scare.
To Sawant, the victory showed that her message, and its appeal to the working class of a wealthy city, had resonance. “People don’t need some kind of detailed graduate-level economics lesson; they understand that the market is not working for them. The market is making them homeless. The market is making them cityless. And they’re fed up, and they’re angry.” Angry enough, it seemed, to take a leap of faith and support a candidate whose ideas had only recently been presumed to be unthinkable.
The wonderful people at Dame magazine (including Lisa Butterworth, who I go back to Bust days with) have run an excerpt from Necessary Trouble and I’m really pleased in particular that this chunk of the book made it online–it was a bunch of points that needed making, dots that needed connecting and I was happy with the way I did it. Check it out
The nuclear family that has been the focus of so much handwringing and moralizing in recent years was not a product of human nature but rather of a particular period in U.S capitalism. The family wage, designed to allow a male breadwinner to support a wife and children, was bargained for by the labor movement and accepted, though uneasily, by business leaders during the New Deal period. It allowed many working-class women, as well as their wealthier sisters, to stay home with their children; it built the middle class. The family wage—that is, material conditions—shaped our ideas of the male and female role in the workplace and in the home, in public and in private.
Another excerpt at another of my favorite outlets to write for: the folks at Truthout pulled from my chapter on OUR Walmart and chose yet another section about the intersectional working class. A theme, perhaps? Necessary Trouble is also a Progressive Pick there this week, meaning you can buy the book and make a donation to Truthout to support independent journalism (including my own) in the future.
The image conjured by the term “working class” in the United States has been one of mostly white men toiling in a factory, wearing hard hats and those oft-evoked blue collars. Our labor policy was shaped around those men and the assumption that workers get health insurance from their jobs, have a pension on which to retire, and make a “family wage” that allows them to support a wife, who stays home to take care of the kids and the cooking and cleaning.
The folks at Dissent, the lovely people who bring you Belabored, ran an excerpt from Necessary Trouble.
“I tried for many, many years to be ‘Mrs. All America.’” Nancy Daniel said, sitting in a coffee shop in a northern suburb of Atlanta, Georgia. “I married a guy in the military and divorced him. Had two kids. Tried to do everything right, or what I was being taught was right. And it didn’t work that way. It just didn’t.” She’d greeted me with an embrace, telling me, “I’m a hugger,” although we were there to talk about a sobering subject. Daniel, like millions of other Americans, had been struggling since 2009 to keep her home. |
Debugging XEmacs
This page is trying to lower the entry level for anybody who wants
to debug problems with the installation or operation of
XEmacs.
While the diagnosis of a flat tire is fairly intuitive (you just
rotate all four tires around the car and observe whether the fault
moves with it), debugging problems with XEmacs can be frustrating
to beginners. This is because XEmacs is not just another editor,
it's better thought of as an operating environment or system.
Following are the most obvious resources to get started with the
debugging of XEmacs. Please report any problems you may have to
access these resources.
XEmacs now has an issue tracking system
issue tracking
system,
based on the Roundup issue tracker designed by Ka-Ping Yee and
implemented by Richard Jones.
Before reporting a new bug, please check the
issue
tracker for similar issues (which may be closed,
especially if you are using a version of XEmacs which is not
current).
You can create a new issue directly in your browser by
registering as a user on the issue tracker.
If you would prefer to report by email (which does not require
preregistration but may involve some delays), please install the latest net-utils
package (>=1.23) from http://ftp.xemacs.org/packages/
or a mirror and then use one of these options:
Help->Send Bug Report...
M-x report-xemacs-bug
This will tell us enough about your XEmacs installation so that we
should be able to help you.
On some operating systems, especially some current Linux distributions,
core files have been disabled by default. Typing
ulimit -c unlimited in the shell before starting XEmacs
from it may help you in getting a core file.
If XEmacs does not build or start up, or you don't have a working
net-utils package, then please send mail to [email protected]
by other means as plain text (MIME attachments are OK, but please
don't send HTML mail). |
Oscar Insurance Founders Bring a Techie Take to Obamacare (Interview)
The technology industry likes to think of itself as working on legitimately hard problems with the potential for massive positive impact on the world. Sometimes that’s true, other times … it’s hard to make the case.
But when startups bring tech smarts and design into large, hidebound industries, the good fight may actually be getting fought. The latest such effort is Oscar, a new healthcare startup. It offers its own health insurance.
Oscar is the only new commercial health insurance provider in New York State in the last 15 years.
The Oscar service includes three free physician visits, unlimited calls to a doctor at any time of the day or night, and unlimited generic drugs. Its least-expensive plan is priced near the bottom of the market — currently the third cheapest of 17 options on the new Obamacare health insurance exchange in New York.
To be clear, Oscar has not even begun to offer its service yet (January 1 is the kickoff). It’s getting a steady stream of press due in part to a famous co-founder, but that means little for its long-term prospects.
Add the uncharted territory of health insurance to the gazillions of reasons that technology startups could fail. And the Affordable Care Act is not exactly a beacon of stability.
But here’s the Oscar pitch, honed over the last two years — which has raised $40 million from investors including General Catalyst, Khosla Ventures and Founders Fund, and is exceedingly well-timed to the launch of Obamacare — straight from the mouths of co-founders Josh Kushner and Mario Schlosser via a recent phone interview.
Health insurance in the United States is traditionally sold to employers. That misaligns incentives around care for actual people, and creates data gaps between something happening, the availability of a provider and the billing process.
By bridging the healthcare process together, Oscar thinks it can be more effective and cheaper. And, not a pain in the ass for all involved.
“We actually can make an impact because we control the relationship,” said Kushner, a real estate scion who invested in Instagram via his VC firm Thrive Capital and already has his own Wikipedia page. He and Schlosser previously co-founded the Brazilian social gaming company Vostu. “We were fortunate enough to dig into this and learn as much as we could before everything went into action.”
“There’s just a lot of startups out there that are incremental,” Kushner adds. “There’s so big many problems to solve, so why would you do anything else?”
“Originally Oscar was not contingent on the ACA,” said Schlosser. “But along the way we realized, wow, we can do so much more than be a pretty user interface.”
The company spent two years getting certified in New York, which required something like 9,000 pages worth of filings, contracts and descriptions of how the business works, he said.
Further, the company needed so much capital because it had to set aside an ever-growing amount in reserve due to regulatory mandates ($1 in reserves for every $8 in premiums). Today, $29 million of the funding is held in reserve.
“If you look really closely you realize there’s a lot of data points to grab,” said Schlosser. “Normally, when you walk in to the doctor’s office, you will get a claim from that doctor probably four weeks later.” By contrast, Oscar registers the beginning of care in its system when the patient initiates a phone call or appointment.
Or another example: Telemedicine. With traditional health insurance relationships, if a patient gets a migraine at four in the morning on a Saturday, often the best available option for care is an emergency room. That’s overkill, and expensive and inefficient for everyone involved. Better to send the patient to a doctor via telephone who can pull up her medical history and send a report to her regular provider.
Those insights come from a team of 42 people composed of techies like Foursquare co-founder Naveen Selvadurai and healthcare experts like Aran Ron, a doctor and long-time health insurance executive who was chief medical officer at Emblem in New York.
“Whenever we do something, we do it in a sound actuarial way,” Schlosser said. “Our insurance premiums were not just cooked up by our own spreadsheets.”
So what happens if Obamacare gets sacrificed amid the ongoing political meltdown? Would that have an adverse impact on Oscar? Kushner’s answer isn’t the most convincing, but he claims he’s not worried.
“I don’t think we’re the best to speak to that, but I would say no; we’re already a business,” he said.
The challenge now is getting people to sign up for Oscar. That hasn’t been helped by the repeated downtime the New York exchange had in its first week.
Kushner and Schlosser said they plan to focus on the New York market for the foreseeable future. “There are about a million people in a 50-mile radius for whom it would be a good idea to sign up for this,” Schlosser said.
“We’re treating this like a political campaign, trying to get the word out,” Kushner said. “We’re on the streets. We have a ground game.”
AllThingsD by Writer
AllThingsD.com is a Web site devoted to news, analysis and opinion on technology, the Internet and media. But it is different from other sites in this space. It is a fusion of different media styles, different topics, different formats and different sources. Read more » |
Four men who pleaded guilty to various drug charges have had their convictions vacated because their cases were linked to three corrupt East Cleveland narcotics detectives.
CLEVELAND (AP) - Four men who pleaded guilty to various drug charges have had their convictions vacated because their cases were linked to three corrupt East Cleveland narcotics detectives.
The charges against Jeffrey Brown, Khalid Dervic, Richard Hodges and Theotis Miller were dropped after the men withdrew their guilty pleas on Thursday in Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court.
Prosecutors have asked judges to overturn 40 convictions in cases investigated by Sgt. Torris Moore and detectives Antonio Malone and Eric Jones.
The officers each pleaded guilty to federal corruption-related crimes in 2015 after it was discovered that they filed bogus search warrants with false statements to steal money from suspected drug dealers. |
TEEN SPIRIT Manga
Manga Summary:
From Eclipse Scans
Hwee Kang is in a band with all his friends and is recruited by a well known company called JBL because they all have the looks of stars. However, there are high expectations. During the audition, what surprise will they give everyone, and what will Hwee Kang do? |
Batman: Arkham Knight
PC
PlayStation 4
Xbox One
Batman faces the ultimate threat against the city he is sworn to protect. The Scarecrow returns to unite an impressive roster of super villains, including Penguin, Two-Face and Harley Quinn, to destroy The Dark Knight forever. The game introduces Rocksteady's uniquely designed version of the Batmobile---drivable for the first time in the franchise. Batman: Arkham Knight offers gamers the ultimate and complete Batman experience as they tear through the streets and soar across the skyline of the entirety of Gotham City. |
Bulk cryogenic storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) gas is a recent historical development in the beverage industry. Vacuum jacketed storage containers delivering 300 pounds to 750 pounds or more of liquified CO2 gas are widely used. These containers safely deliver gaseous CO2 at pressures above 90 pounds per square inch by converting the liquid CO2 to gas using a natural conversion process through a simple temperature increase effected by ambient temperatures at the location of use.
The gas delivered from such tanks is widely used in conjunction with beverage dispensing machines of the type commonly found in restaurants, convenience stores, theaters, amusement parks and the like. The carbon dioxide (CO2) is mixed with water to produce carbonated water under pressure. The carbonated water then is mixed with a syrup at the dispensing machine to produce the finished carbonated beverage.
CO2 in its gaseous state is a tasteless, colorless, odorless gas which naturally displaces oxygen. If this gas is accumulated in sufficient density in a closed space, such as a storage room, it is hazardous, if not lethal. In facilities which initially produce CO2 gas for ultimate delivery and consumption, multiple safety procedures are employed. Among these are detectors which sense when the CO2 gas level in a particular area exceeds a safe level, to produce a warning alarm.
Bulk storage tanks, however, frequently are located in a confined area adjacent a beverage dispensing machine, frequently, in a small room one wall of which backs onto the location of the machine, or in some other area which is frequented by employees of the establishment using the beverage dispensing machine. CO2 sensors or safety devices typically are not employed where bulk storage tanks are used to supply CO2 to a beverage dispensing machine. In such situations, both employees of the establishment and customers may be exposed to unsafe levels of CO2 gas without their knowledge.
If the syrup box or container used to deliver the flavored syrup to the beverage dispensing machine is empty while the CO2 dispensing line is connected to it, the drop in pressure will allow CO2 gas to pass outwardly into the surrounding area. Also, if a leak should occur in the gas line for delivering the gaseous CO2 to the carbonator or beverage box of a beverage dispensing machine, or if for any reason there is a failure to turn off the delivery of CO2 gas, a drop in pressure, sometimes sudden, takes place at the bulk storage tank.
A sudden drop in pressure of CO2 delivered from the tank causes the liquid CO2 in the bulk container to turn into “dry ice”. When this occurs, further delivery of gaseous CO2 from the tank is precluded. This necessitates some type of a service call, since when this occurs, further operation of the beverage dispensing machine ceases. Service calls of this type are unscheduled and are expensive, driving up the operating costs of the entire system.
It is desirable to provide a safety system for bulk cryogenic storage tanks which overcomes the disadvantages of the prior art. |
/* quicklook file count */
"%@ files" = "%@ Fichers";
/* quicklook file header */
"%@ Files" = "%@ Fichiers";
/* quicklook tracker header */
"%@ Trackers" = "%@ Trackeurs";
/* quicklook web seed header */
"%@ Web Seeds" = "%@ Sources Web";
/* quicklook file count */
"1 file" = "1 Fichier";
/* quicklook file header */
"1 File" = "1 Fichier";
/* quicklook tracker header */
"1 Tracker" = "1 Trackeur";
/* quicklook web seed header */
"1 Web Seed" = "1 Source Web";
/* quicklook creation info */
"Created on %@" = "Créé le %@";
/* quicklook creation info */
"Created on %@ with %@" = "Créé le %1$@ avec %2$@";
/* quicklook creation info */
"Created with %@" = "Créé avec %@";
|
How to avoid getting ripped off on website development
Every so often, I’ll come across someone who had bright eyed
dreams about launching a website as part of their business plan, only to have
those dreams go down in flames because someone they trusted with their hard
earned money failed to deliver the desired website on time, if at all. The
average losses they suffered in terms of websites that were half done or poorly
done has been about $400-900. How could this happen?
The problem comes into play due in part to greed on behalf
of the website developer, and lack of knowledge on the part of the customer.
Usually, the potential customer asks friends for referrals to web developers or
they post on the various social media sites looking for someone. Without doing
much research, they pick a developer who sounds convincing and seems “technical.”
The developer charges anywhere from $250 to over $1,000+ to do the whole
website without providing a lot of details about what’s all involved. They
usually pressure customers to pay the entire amount up front. A few customers
try to negotiate a lower fee or pay half as a deposit, promising to pay the
other half when the site is complete.
Regardless of what price is negotiated, the outcome is often
the same: The developer starts on the site, putting up a web page or two,
adding some photos and text, and few social media links here and there, and
then poof! They vanish. The customer tries calling, but no answer or the number
is disconnected. Hundreds of their hard earned dollars gone and they’re ready
to sue.
But wait. Is there anything you could have done differently to avoid losing so much money? |
Wallaces Corner, Virginia
Wallaces Corner is an unincorporated community in Stafford County, in the U.S. state of Virginia.
References
Category:Unincorporated communities in Virginia
Category:Unincorporated communities in Stafford County, Virginia |
Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel
The Carmelite Monks or Monks of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel is a cloistered contemplative religious community of diocesan right dedicated to a humble life of prayer. They are known for their loyalty to the Magisterium of the Catholic Church and to the ancient traditions of Carmel. Their life includes strict separation from the world and the living of the cloistered Carmelite spirituality and way of life established by St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Jesus. In accord with the Carmelite Rule, they engage in manual labor and the study of Carmelite spirituality in the solitude of the mountains, with the firm hope of attaining to Union with God.
Role of Cloistered Monks in Carmel
The Carmelite Monks are cloistered Carmelite men who dedicate their lives to prayer and the pursuit of virtue so as to be a hidden leaven of grace for the Church's mission in the world. Their priests are called choir monks since their entire hidden priesthood is devoted to the following: offering daily the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the chanting of the Divine Office in the choir and pursuing the heights of the mystical life through personal holiness and contemplative prayer. Though they are completely cloistered, they also share the fruits of their solitary lives by hearing confessions and giving spiritual direction to people who may come to the monastery.
As cloistered Carmelites, they are not active friars, but pray for their fellow Carmelites who have that mission. For this reason they do not belong to either the Ancient Observance or Discalced branches of the Carmelite Order. All Carmelites originated as hermit monks, but the main branches of the order have been mendicant friars since the 13th century.
In one of the first works of the Carmelite Order, The Institutions of the First Monks, written near the beginning of the order, the charism of the Carmelites was laid out as a hidden life of contemplative prayer carried out in the solitary wilderness by a monk. The Carmelite monks follow this same solitary monastic Carmelite charism.
Cloistered Carmelite nuns also consider themselves to be cloistered monastic hermits. Their life and the life of the Carmelite Monks' are similar in that both are cloistered Carmelite contemplatives and follow many of the same customs.
Background of the Community
The Carmelite Monks were founded in 2003 by the authority of Bishop David Ricken, D.D., J.C.L. in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cheyenne, Wyoming, with Fr. Daniel Mary of Jesus Crucified, M. Carm. as the first and founding Prior of the community.
Fr. Daniel Mary was trained for eleven years in a hermitage of the Ancient Observance and through a close relationship with several houses of cloistered discalced Carmelite Nuns. Fr. Daniel Mary was clothed as a Carmelite by members of the order and lived in vows in a house of the order for many years.
The Carmelite Monks use the suffix M.Carm. to designate membership in their order, which is the abbreviation of the Latin words Monachi Carmeli. This means "Monks of Carmel" in English.
Charism
The Carmelite Monks' spirituality and life are based on four pillars that are essential to their identity. The first pillar is filial union with the Blessed Virgin; the second, the Rule of St. Albert; the third, the traditional Carmelite Liturgy, and the fourth, the Carmelite spirituality and monastic inspiration of the way of life of St. Teresa of Jesus and St. John of the Cross.
A young Carmelite Monk, Br. Simon Mary, described his community's charism in this way in a 2008 interview:
Carmelite monks are consecrated to God through the vows of obedience, chastity, and poverty. Our time is spent in prayer and penance for the salvation of souls, interceding for the Church and the world, as well as in the study of Scripture and the fathers and doctors of the Church . . . Our monks live strict constitutional enclosure -- we don't leave the monastery at all, . . . with[out] permission from the Bishop.
Traditional liturgy
The Carmelite Monks of Wyoming use the traditional Latin liturgy of the Carmelite Rite, which is similar to the Tridentine Mass. The Carmelite Rite, based on the Rite of the Holy Sepulchre, was used by the Ancient Observance branch of the Carmelite Order from the time of the first hermits on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land in the late 12th century, until Vatican II at which time the Carmelites began to celebrate the ordinary form of the Roman Rite Mass. The first Rule of Carmel was given to the Carmelites by Saint Albert of Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, who in that time was exiled in the city of Acre, Israel, from which place Mount Carmel was visible to the south.
New Mount Carmel
Separation from the world for contemplative prayer is essential to the life of the Carmelite Monks, their monasteries are founded in the mountains to ensure geographical enclosure. In modern times where noise abounds, the monks desire true silence and an atmosphere of natural solitude. The monks explain how the mountains provide this: "In the mountains, often wild and remote, the soul can make a swift journey towards union with God; the beauty of the wilderness alone raises the mind and heart to the Eternal Father who created the things of this world. In the mountains the Carmelite monks will at last be in a place conducive to their life and in keeping with their Holy Rule."
Thus Carmelite Monks have founded the New Mount Carmel, where the original Carmelite charism is being lived in the mountains of Wyoming. This reflects the continual effort of Carmelites throughout the centuries to return to the eremitical life of a hermit in the mountains in imitation of Elijah from the Book of Kings in the Old Testament. The Carmelite Monks are nearing completion of their Gothic monastery in the Rocky Mountains.
Mystic Monk Coffee
The Carmelite Monks are known for roasting and selling gourmet coffee under the name Mystic Monk Coffee. Their coffee has won awards from famous coffee reviewers and is known for its small batch quality and freshness. The Carmelite Monks' Mystic Monk Coffee business was established to help support the Carmelite Monks' monastery in the mountains of Wyoming.
See also
Carmelites
Carmelite Rule of St. Albert
Book of the First Monks
Constitutions of the Carmelite Order
Enclosed religious orders
Hermit
References and notes
External links
Carmelite Monks Home Page | Carmel of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Carmelite Monks on the New Mount Carmel
Carmelite Monks - "Chants of Carmel"
The Carmelite Vocation
Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, Monks of the
Category:Ecclesia Dei
Category:Carmelite spirituality
Most Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, Monks of the |
Is the typical Italian Country House. Made of bricks or stones, ancient, warm and full of charm. The heart of the house is the kitchen. It is always a big room with a wooden table. Here the family meets for Sunday lunch. On the table the most exquisite italian food … cheese and salami, bruschette and piadine, and the main course … la Fiorentina, a delicious and tender T-bone steak seasoned and flavoured with olive oil and salt. For dessert and for the joy of the kids… pastries and home made Gelato…. WELCOME TO OUR CASCINA, SOON IN NAIROBI! |
UK detective on trial over phone hacking
2013-01-07 22:03
London - A senior British counter-terrorism detective
committed a "gross breach" of public trust by trying to sell
information to Rupert Murdoch's News of the World about the police
investigation into the tabloid's illegal phone hacking, a prosecutor told a
court on Monday.
Detective Chief Inspector April Casburn is charged with
misconduct for allegedly phoning the newspaper and offering to pass on
information about whether London's police force would reopen its stalled
hacking investigation.
Prosecutor Mark Bryant-Heron told a jury at Southwark
Crown Court that Casburn "sought to undermine a highly sensitive and high
profile investigation" when she phoned the tabloid's news desk in
September 2010 offering to pass on the information.
"It was a gross breach of the trust that the public
places in a police officer not to disclose information on a current investigation
in an unauthorised way, or to offer to do so in the future for payment,"
he said.
Prosecutors said the newspaper did not print a story
based on her call and no money changed hands.
Casburn, 53, who headed the Metropolitan Police terrorist
financing investigation unit, denies a charge of misconduct in public office.
She also faces a charge of breaching the Official Secrets Act which will be
dealt with separately.
The prosecutor said that in a police statement Casburn
admitted phoning the newspaper but denied asking for money.
Tim Wood, the News of the World news editor who took the
call, told the court that Casburn had expressed concern that counter-terrorism
resources were being diverted to the phone hacking investigation.
He said she also complained of interference from former
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, a hacking victim and vocal Murdoch critic.
"The one thing that stands out in my mind is the
fact that she kept going on about Lord Prescott," Wood said. "Her
saying that he was pressing for them to put charges on the News of the World,
and she was saying that she felt it was wrong that he was interfering in the
scandal, so to speak, and she resented that."
Arrested for hacking
A News of the World reporter and a private investigator
were jailed in 2007 for hacking into the voicemails of royal aides. But the
newspaper denied there was a wider problem, and a police investigation did not
lead to further charges.
Police reopened the investigation in early 2011 amid new
evidence about the scale of the law-breaking.
Murdoch shut down the 168-year-old News of the World in
July 2011 after revelations that it had regularly eavesdropped on the telephone
voicemails of celebrities and crime victims in its search for scoops.
The scandal sparked a public inquiry and police
investigations into phone hacking, bribery and other illegal practices that
have seen dozens of people arrested.
Casburn is the first suspect to come to trial. Several
others have been charged and await trial, including former Murdoch executive
Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, an ex-communications chief to Prime Minister
David Cameron. |
There are few things that can be frowned out in a season with a top five ranking and a 7-1 record but with so much left to go it seems time for the Sooner Hot 11 to take inventory of the season to date. There are several faces on this mid-season list that people could have predicted prior to the kick-off of the season opening victory over North Texas. However, there are few that no one could have picked. Take a look at this week's version of the Hot 11.
11. Demarco Murray, Running Back - Stats: 80 carries for 505 yards, and nine touchdowns (long of 92 yards). 10 catches for 43 yards. 8 returns for 234 yards and one touchdown (81 yards). Analysis: It's debatable that no freshman in the country has had a bigger single-game performance than Murray against the hated Longhorns. Considering several runs were called back on penalties it's hard to imagine what kind of yardage he could have put up.Marquee Game: Texas
10. Juaquin Iglesias, Wide Receiver - Stats: 43 catches for 651 yards and four touchdowns. Eight carries for 87 yards and one touchdown. 13 returns for 369 yards.Analysis: Iglesias had a costly game against Missouri, but many have forgotten that he was a big part in waking the Sooners up against Tulsa as well as keeping things moving against Texas.Marquee Game: Tulsa
9. Reggie Smith, Cornerback - Stats: 49 tackles (40 solo), four and a half tackles for loss (21 yards), one sack (eight yards), two interceptions (returned for 48 yards), seven pass break-ups, one fumble recovery (61-yard touchdown).Analysis: Smith is another player that has been somewhat mired in the memory of one poor game, but overall has made numerous big plays for the Sooners including perhaps the play of the year on a 61-yard fumble recovery.Marquee Game: Missouri
8. Phil Loadholt, Offensive Tackle - Stats: N/A. Analysis: While the offensive line has been somewhat belittled in the past few weeks that's not to suggest that things have been all bad and there is no denying that Loadholt has lived up to his recruiting hype, and then a lot. Loadholt came in as a somewhat unappreciated tackle and has become quite possibly the best lineman in the Big 12, surpassing even his own teammate, Duke Robinson. While some are talking about Loadholt leaving this year, the difference in waiting a year could be being a first day pick instead of a first round pick.Marquee Game: Miami
7. Nic Harris, Safety - Stats: 55 tackles (31 solo), six and a half tackles for loss (37 yards), two and a half tackles for loss (21 yards), two interceptions (21 return yards), five pass break-ups, and two forced fumbles. Analysis: I've said from day one that I felt Harris was Oklahoma's best defender, he has done little to make me doubt that assertion this season. While Oklahoma may have better run or pass defenders, no one plays as big a role in both as Harris.Marquee Game: Miami
6. Demarcus Granger, Defensive Tackle - Stats: 21 tackles (nine solo), eight tackles for loss (38 yards), three and a half sacks (27 yards), one pass break-up, four quarterback hurries. Analysis: Man, if Granger keeps up his pace since the Colorado game he stands a very good chance of pushing the top three on this list at the end of the season, Granger has been unblockable through Big 12 play and I see no signs of that stopping.Marquee Game: Iowa State
5. Jermaine Gresham, Tight End - Stats: 23 catches for 286 yards and six touchdowns. Analysis: Gresham being this high on the list may surprise some people but I think his emergence near the hashmark has had a big role in opening up passing lanes for Sam Bradford and his ability on swing plays is something that has to strike fear into every secondary player in the Big 12. If he continues at this pace it will be no time at all before he is being mentioned as the school's next tight end to head to the NFL after a lengthy hiatus.Marquee Game: Texas
4. Malcolm Kelly, Wide Receiver - Stats: 31 catches for 553 yards and eight touchdowns. Analysis: Kelly has had his ups and downs this season but there is no question that he has cemented his mark as one of the nation's top receivers and possibly the best to play the position in the crimson and cream. The Sooners statuesque receiver won't lead the Sooners in receptions this year and might not even lead them in yardage but his talent and production allows others to play a much bigger role in the offense than they would without him.Marquee Game: Miami
3. Auston English , Defensive End - Stats: 31 tackles (18 solo), 12 tackles for loss (74 yards), eight and a half sacks (55 yards), three pass break-ups, and four quarterback hurries. Analysis: There is no player on Oklahoma's roster who has had a bigger 'coming out' party than the sophomore from Canadian, Texas. English has dominated each and every comer that he has faced so far this season. Included among them are some of the Big 12's most talented pass blockers. Throw in that several of the Sooners early season opponents focus on short, controlled passes and his sack total that figures to climb to double digits is even more impressive.Marquee Game: Texas
2. Sam Bradford, Quarterback - Stats: 144-of-209 for 1,872 yards and 20 touchdowns, and a pass efficiency rating of 170.93. Analysis: OK, so maybe there is one player on this roster who has been a bigger surprise than English, and that's the quarterback he spent the spring and fall taking aim at. Bradford has been accurate and intelligent throughout his first year as the Sooner starter. Many have underestimated the talents of Oklahoma's native son and have been made to pay for it. Look for him to set the NCAA record for touchdown passes in a season before this year is done, in fact if he'd like to follow in Jason White's footsteps, he might make a run at it this weekend.Marquee Game: Texas
1. Curtis Lofton, Linebacker - Stats: 93 tackles (52 solo), three and a half tackles for loss (10 yards), one interceptions (45 yard touchdown return), two pass break-ups, two forced fumbles. Analysis: So we all know I don't mind patting myself on my back when the occasion calls for it, but I can't claim for a second that I saw Lofton becoming the player he has been. I've watched Dan Connor, I've watched James Laurinaitisp and there simply isn't any linebacker in the country that clearly exceeds the junior from Kingfisher, Okla. Lofton isn't the prototypical middle linebacker but may end his career as another Butkus winner for the Sooners.Marquee Game: Missouri |
Pages
Sunday, July 27, 2014
Field Day #3
Our Field Day's this summer have been such a success that this past week the kids took part in their third Field Day! We brought back two favorites (bag races and slip n' slide races), tried a few new races, and played a game. A great morning was had by all and snoring was a big part of the afternoon.
The kids were super excited to shoot with the bow and arrow (not a real arrow for those concerned). When I told them the day before about shooting with the bow and arrow, their response was "finally! We've been waiting all summer for that!" The bow and arrow proved very difficult for them (Max was the only one who could figure it out), but they still had a great time trying.
The kids saw a bunny in the yard, stopped their race, and chased the bunny around the backyard. Max got the bow and arrow all ready "to catch that bunny!"
Matt showed the kids how to use the ribbon dancer.....it was extra special. The kids had a great time taking turns (each turn was 5 minutes long) and dancing around with the ribbon.
I got this from Target a few weeks ago for 75% off. This was an easy game for the kids to figure out, although I did have to go over safety rules of the game several times so no one got hurt with the golf balls.
The kids LOVE bag races. These took up at least a half hour of our morning. Elizabeth got to do bag races for the first time and got some help from mom (that'd be me).
She was all smiles and giggles as she raced.
Lawn mower races. Once again I used a jump rope to indicate the finish line.
The first ever cozy coupe race! The kids took turn pushing each other in the cozy coupes while running their fastest. I had to stay at the finish line and help stop the cars before the cars (and the kids in them) went into the swing set. The kids informed me this was one of their favorite races.
It may not be a race, but the kids colored the driveway with water sidewalk chalk. I filled a cup with water and the kids dipped their sidewalk chalk into the water. They liked how bright the chalk was. This kept the kids busy while they waited their turn for the slip n' slide races.
The kids had duel races and shaving cream slide races. We did the slip n' slide in the front yard this time around since the backyard is still recovering from the first time the kids did the slip n' slide. I required the hubs help with this activity since we did it in the front yard, but the kids did a great job of not running out into the street (my biggest fear) and following directions.
Elizabeth was not thrilled with the shaving cream slide!
The kids had such a busy morning running around and sliding in the water that they crashed for naps. I giggled to myself when I heard them snoring over the monitor and went in to find them crashed out on their cots with drool hanging out of their mouths! I think that's a pretty good indication of a successful morning! |
Eidos-Montreal has announced Deus Ex Universe:
Loading
“ An ongoing, expanding and connected game world built across a generation of core games.
We first heard about Deus Ex Universe through a trademark filing spotted last month, but up until now we didn't know anything about it. In a blog post , studio head David Anfossi described Deus Ex Universe as "an ongoing, expanding and connected game world built across a generation of core games."It continues, "It’s a commitment on our part to deliver meaningful content that expands the franchise on a regular basis and to deliver a deep conspiracy that will span several connected Deus Ex games, creating a more immersive and richer experience than ever before.Eidos-Montreal has apparently started production on the first product in Deus Ex Universe; a new game for PC and next-generation consoles. Anfossi also added that most of the team who worked on Deus Ex: Human Revolution have already jumped over to the new title.While we may not have a name for it just yet, we have been given a piece of concept art that supposedly shows "shows trans-humanism segregation, which is a backdrop to our vision for the next Deus Ex. It represents a "ghetto-city' voluntarily built in order to separate the classes. The people in this segregated class have reshaped their environment, nostalgic for their ideal of Cyber Renaissance. This dark and dystopian vision sets the tone for things to come in Deus Ex."Given all the talk of "an ongoing, expanding and connected game world" that'll expand "on a regular basis", the temptation is to assume this may mean a Deus Ex MMO could be on the way in the near future. Until Eidos-Montreal gives us more details though, we're just going to have to be patient.To tide us over however, the studio has announced the long-awaited Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director's Cut will be available on Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii U and PC on October 22 in North America and on October 25 in Europe and Australia.
Luke Karmali is IGN's UK Junior Editor and big MMO fan. You too can revel in mediocrity by following him on IGN and on Twitter |
Accelerated detection with prospective surveillance for cutaneous malignant melanoma in high-risk groups.
In 1983 a classification scheme was proposed for patients with atypical naevi, according to their personal and family history of melanoma and atypical naevi. To assess the predictive value of these features we undertook prospective surveillance of patients at high risk of primary melanoma. We followed up 116 patients each with 3 or more clinically atypical naevi for at least 5 years. Patients are examined and naevi are photographed every 3-6 months; lesions showing disturbing change are excised for histopathology. Among 85 patients with no personal or family history of melanoma, 5 invasive (level 2 or deeper) melanomas developed during 583 person-years of follow up. The expected number of invasive melanomas in this population would be 0.054; the increased risk is significant (p < 0.001; relative risk 92 [95% CI 30-216]). There was a similarly increased risk of new melanoma also among 24 patients with atypical naevi plus a history of previous melanoma (observed 2, expected 0.022, p < 0.001; relative risk 91 [11-328]). By comparison, no second melanoma developed among 25 patients with previous melanoma but a normal naevus pattern during 213 person-years of similarly intensive follow-up. The risk of melanoma was highest among 7 patients with atypical naevi and a family history of melanoma (observed 6, expected 0.009, p < 0.001; relative risk 444 [121-1138]). The median thickness of surveillance-detected melanomas was 0.75 mm (range 0.40-1.05 mm) in this group. This study shows the value of clinical follow-up of high-risk patients to detect early thin melanomas. |
Q:
How to remove duplicate nested objects Django REST?
How to remove duplicate nested comments Django REST?
Serializer recoursive displays comments.
In JSON duplicates comments (the third is displayed in two places):
How to get rid of it?
{
"id": 1,
"slug": "mp3kit",
"publications_date": "2019-03-19T13:49:58Z",
"tag": "Tag",
"title": "Title",
"content_preview": "Content preview",
"body": "Body",
"image_preview": null,
"image_preview_name": "mp3kit",
"comments": [
{
"name": "First",
"body": "First",
"date": "2019-06-02T15:09:16.788405Z",
"id": "57fd0069-a8ce-484f-afac-4cc609a1b70c",
"parent": null,
"reply": [
{
"name": "Third",
"body": "Third",
"date": "2019-06-02T15:09:42.512872Z",
"id": "0801ef96-796d-477b-8631-b21559527156",
"parent": "57fd0069-a8ce-484f-afac-4cc609a1b70c",
"reply": []
}
]
},
{
"name": "Second",
"body": "Second",
"date": "2019-06-02T15:09:27.209497Z",
"id": "5b2f0d25-bcd0-4b19-b05c-e6a5e7de1280",
"parent": null,
"reply": []
},
{
"name": "Third",
"body": "Third",
"date": "2019-06-02T15:09:42.512872Z",
"id": "0801ef96-796d-477b-8631-b21559527156",
"parent": "57fd0069-a8ce-484f-afac-4cc609a1b70c",
"reply": []
}
]
}
As I understand you need to put a filter on the field "comment" in ArticleSerializer, to disable output comments with parent?
Model:
class Article(models.Model):
id = models.AutoField(primary_key=True)
slug = models.SlugField()
publications_date = models.DateTimeField(blank=True, null=True, default=datetime.datetime.now)
tag = models.CharField(max_length=100, blank=True, null=True)
title = models.CharField(max_length=100, blank=True, null=True)
content_preview = models.TextField(blank=True)
body = HTMLField(blank=True, null=True)
image_preview = models.ImageField(upload_to=upload_to, blank=True)
image_preview_name = models.CharField(max_length=100, blank=True, null=True)
def __str__(self):
return self.title
@property
def comments_list(self):
return self.comments.filter()
class Comment(models.Model):
id = models.CharField(max_length=100, blank=True, unique=True, default=uuid.uuid4, primary_key=True)
date = models.DateTimeField(auto_now=True, auto_now_add=False)
name = models.CharField(max_length=100)
body = models.TextField(blank=True, null=True)
post = models.ForeignKey(Article, on_delete=models.CASCADE, blank=True,
related_name='comments', related_query_name='comment')
parent = models.ForeignKey('self', related_name='reply', null=True, blank=True, on_delete=models.PROTECT)
def __str__(self):
return f'Post - "{self.post.title}", Body - "{self.body}"'
Serializer:
class RecursiveSerializer(serializers.Serializer):
def to_representation(self, value):
serializer = self.parent.parent.__class__(value, context=self.context)
return serializer.data
class CommentSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
"""DRF Serializer For Listing Published Comment"""
reply = RecursiveSerializer(many=True, read_only=True)
class Meta:
model = Comment
fields = [
'name',
'body',
'date',
'id',
'parent',
'reply'
]
class ArticleSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
comments = CommentSerializer(many=True)
class Meta:
model = Article
lookup_field = 'slug'
fields = (
'id',
'slug',
'publications_date',
'tag',
'title',
'content_preview',
'body',
'image_preview',
'image_preview_name',
'comments'
)
Views:
class DetailArticle(generics.RetrieveUpdateDestroyAPIView):
queryset = Article.objects.all()
serializer_class = ArticleSerializer
lookup_field = 'slug'
A:
You can achieve that by using a SerializerMethodField inside your ArticleSerializer, like this:
class ArticleSerializer(serializers.ModelSerializer):
comments = serializers.SerializerMethodField()
def get_comments(self, instance):
return CommentSerializer(instance.comments.filter(parent__isnull=True), many=True).data
class Meta:
model = Article
lookup_field = 'slug'
fields = (
'id',
'slug',
'publications_date',
'tag',
'title',
'content_preview',
'body',
'image_preview',
'image_preview_name',
'comments'
)
|
Skovfarmen’s Brown Nooroo NoName
About
Glenn now lives with Sofia in Sweden. There are big plans (obedience, tracking, nose work and agility) for this little guy but the most important one is to be Sofias new best mate and companion.
You can follow the adventures of Sofia and Glenn at Sofias Blog |
List of Mexican films of 1943
A list of the films produced in Mexico in 1943 (see 1943 in film):
1943
External links
1943
Films
Category:Lists of 1943 films by country or language |
Alleged Puppy Doe abuser arraigned on new charges
The man accused of torturing Puppy Doe has pleaded innocent to charges he stole from an elderly Quincy woman in his care.
Patrick Ronan
The man accused of torturing Puppy Doe has pleaded innocent to charges he stole from an elderly Quincy woman in his care.
Radoslaw Czerkawski, 32, a Polish national, was arraigned Tuesday in Dedham Superior Court on two counts of larceny of property valued at over $250, one count of larceny of property valued at over $250 from a person over the age of 60 and one count of attempted larceny. Prosecutors allege that Czerkawski stole from the late Janina Stock, 95, of 89 Whitwell St. after he was hired by Stock's family to be her in-home caretaker.
The Norfolk County District Attorney's office said Czerkawski pretended Stock, who suffered from dementia, was his grandmother in order to convert $130,000 of her savings bonds into cash he could use.
Czerkawsi was indicted and arraigned in Norfolk Superior Court in December on a dozen counts of animal cruelty, in a case that drew worldwide attention and inspired numerous vigils by pet owners and animal rights advocates.
On Tuesday, dozens of people gathered outside Dedham Superior Court to rally for tougher penalties against animal abusers, as they have at all of Czerkawski's court appearances since his arrest in October.
Police said Stock died of natural causes on Aug. 31, the same day a brutally abused Puppy Doe was found on Carroll's Lane in Quincy. Quincy police and the Animal Rescue League asked for the public's help in finding the person responsible for torturing and starving the young female pit bull so badly that the dog had to be euthanized.
Czerkawski – who bought the dog from on Craigslist – was arrested in Connecticut in late October, after police matched him to DNA found in the Whitwell Street house where he lived with the elderly woman – who died the same day that Puppy Doe was found.
Czerkawski also faces separate charges out of New Bedford after he was accused of stealing about $6,000 from a church he was staying at, prosecutors have said.
Czerkawski is in the U.S. on an expired tourist visa and he faces deportation once his case is over in Massachusetts, federal officials have said.
David Traub, a spokesman for Norfolk County District Attorney Michael Morrissey, said Czerkawski faces up to 10 years in prison for the larceny from a person over 60 and up to five years on each of the other three larceny charges. He faces up to five years in prison on each animal cruelty charge. |
From 9ba507e076c744f4d394418e4a849e68cd426a4a Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Alex Kube <[email protected]>
Date: Wed, 23 Oct 2019 21:18:56 +0430
Subject: [PATCH 7/9] cmd/go: make GOROOT precious by default
Upstream-Status: Inappropriate [OE specific]
The go build tool normally rebuilds whatever it detects is
stale. This can be a problem when GOROOT is intended to
be read-only and the go runtime has been built as a shared
library, since we don't want every application to be rebuilding
the shared runtime - particularly in cross-build/packaging
setups, since that would lead to 'abi mismatch' runtime errors.
This patch prevents the install and linkshared actions from
installing to GOROOT unless overridden with the GOROOT_OVERRIDE
environment variable.
Adapted to Go 1.13 from patches originally submitted to
the meta/recipes-devtools/go tree by
Matt Madison <[email protected]>.
Signed-off-by: Alexander J Kube <[email protected]>
---
src/cmd/go/internal/work/action.go | 3 +++
src/cmd/go/internal/work/build.go | 6 ++++++
src/cmd/go/internal/work/exec.go | 25 +++++++++++++++++++++++++
3 files changed, 34 insertions(+)
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/action.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/action.go
@@ -670,6 +670,9 @@ func (b *Builder) addTransitiveLinkDeps(
if p1 == nil || p1.Shlib == "" || haveShlib[filepath.Base(p1.Shlib)] {
continue
}
+ if goRootPrecious && (p1.Standard || p1.Goroot) {
+ continue
+ }
haveShlib[filepath.Base(p1.Shlib)] = true
// TODO(rsc): The use of ModeInstall here is suspect, but if we only do ModeBuild,
// we'll end up building an overall library or executable that depends at runtime
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/build.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/build.go
@@ -167,6 +167,8 @@ See also: go install, go get, go clean.
const concurrentGCBackendCompilationEnabledByDefault = true
+var goRootPrecious bool = true
+
func init() {
// break init cycle
CmdBuild.Run = runBuild
@@ -179,6 +181,10 @@ func init() {
AddBuildFlags(CmdBuild, DefaultBuildFlags)
AddBuildFlags(CmdInstall, DefaultBuildFlags)
+
+ if x := os.Getenv("GOROOT_OVERRIDE"); x != "" {
+ goRootPrecious = false
+ }
}
// Note that flags consulted by other parts of the code
--- a/src/cmd/go/internal/work/exec.go
+++ b/src/cmd/go/internal/work/exec.go
@@ -468,6 +468,23 @@ func (b *Builder) build(a *Action) (err
return errors.New("binary-only packages are no longer supported")
}
+ if goRootPrecious && (a.Package.Standard || a.Package.Goroot) {
+ _, err := os.Stat(a.Package.Target)
+ if err == nil {
+ a.built = a.Package.Target
+ a.Target = a.Package.Target
+ a.buildID = b.fileHash(a.Package.Target)
+ a.Package.Stale = false
+ a.Package.StaleReason = "GOROOT-resident package"
+ return nil
+ }
+ a.Package.Stale = true
+ a.Package.StaleReason = "missing or invalid GOROOT-resident package"
+ if b.IsCmdList {
+ return nil
+ }
+ }
+
if err := b.Mkdir(a.Objdir); err != nil {
return err
}
@@ -1520,6 +1537,14 @@ func BuildInstallFunc(b *Builder, a *Act
return err
}
+ if goRootPrecious && a.Package != nil {
+ p := a.Package
+ if p.Standard || p.Goroot {
+ err := fmt.Errorf("attempting to install package %s into read-only GOROOT", p.ImportPath)
+ return err
+ }
+ }
+
if err := b.Mkdir(a.Objdir); err != nil {
return err
}
|
Two-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with overlapping absorb scaffolds: An analysis of the ABSORB EXTEND single-arm study.
Preclinical data showed that overlapping (OVP) scaffolds might result in delayed healing and strut coverage compared to nonOVP scaffold segments. Furthermore, OVP in patients could result in increased periprocedure myocardial infarction (MI) rate secondary to side branch occlusion; however, little is known whether this may have an impact on long-term clinical outcomes. ABSORB EXTEND is a prospective, single-arm, open-label clinical study in which 812 patients were enrolled at 56 sites. In this study, we compared the immediate and 2-year clinical outcomes of patients with OVP scaffolds (n = 115) to those of patients with nonOVP scaffolds (n = 697). The primary objective was the comparison of major adverse cardiac event (MACE) (cardiac death, MI and ischemic-driven target lesion revascularization [TLR]) and scaffold thrombosis (ST) rates up to 2 years. Baseline clinical and angiographic characteristics were comparable between cohorts except for longer lesions in the OVP patients as expected (16.7 ± 7.3 vs. 11.6 ± 4.4 mm, P < 0.0001), higher lesion complexity (B2) and numerically smaller vessel size. In-hospital, there was a marked increase in MACE in the OVP cohort (7.0 vs. 0.9%, P = 0.002), exclusively driven by a higher rate of periprocedure MI (7.0 vs. 0.9%, P = 0.002). Long-term MACE did not significantly differ between groups (10.4% in the OVP cohort vs. 6.6% in the no-OVP group, P = 0.1) with comparable rates of cardiac death (0.9 vs. 1.2%, P = 1.0) and ischemia-driven TLR (1.7 vs. 2.5%, P = 1.0). Cumulative incidence of MI was higher in the OVP cohort (7.8 vs. 3.0%, P = 0.02). Of note, the rate of MI between hospital discharge and 2-year follow-up was lower in the OVP cohort (0.8 vs. 2.1%, P = 0.04). Cumulative incidence of definite/probable ST was relatively low and comparable between groups (1.8 vs. 1.5%, P = 0.7). In this low-to-moderate complex population treated with the ABSORB scaffold the OVP group showed a higher incidence of periprocedure MI with no immediate or long-term increase in cardiac death, TLR or ST. |
A pilot yoga physical education curriculum to promote positive body image.
We examined the effects of a pilot yoga-based physical education (PE) curriculum by testing for change in trait body surveillance, physical self-worth, and body appreciation. Further, we examined the relationships among change in body image variables and the role of state mindfulness in predicting state body surveillance during classes. Adolescents participated in 12 weeks of yoga-based (n=20; Mage=16.45, 90% female) or traditional (n=23;Mage=14.52, 57% female) PE. Results showed significant (p=.004), moderate decreases in trait body surveillance and minimal nonsignificant (p=.11) increases in physical self-worth. Change in trait body surveillance was inversely related to change in physical self-worth and body appreciation in yoga participants. Multi-level modeling analyses revealed that more mindful students also surveyed their body less during class. Intentionally structured yoga participation may support positive body image among adolescents. |
A multitask learning model for online pattern recognition.
This paper presents a new learning algorithm for multitask pattern recognition (MTPR) problems. We consider learning multiple multiclass classification tasks online where no information is ever provided about the task category of a training example. The algorithm thus needs an automated task recognition capability to properly learn the different classification tasks. The learning mode is "online" where training examples for different tasks are mixed in a random fashion and given sequentially one after another. We assume that the classification tasks are related to each other and that both the tasks and their training examples appear in random during "online training." Thus, the learning algorithm has to continually switch from learning one task to another whenever the training examples change to a different task. This also implies that the learning algorithm has to detect task changes automatically and utilize knowledge of previous tasks for learning new tasks fast. The performance of the algorithm is evaluated for ten MTPR problems using five University of California at Irvine (UCI) data sets. The experiments verify that the proposed algorithm can indeed acquire and accumulate task knowledge and that the transfer of knowledge from tasks already learned enhances the speed of knowledge acquisition on new tasks and the final classification accuracy. In addition, the task categorization accuracy is greatly improved for all MTPR problems by introducing the reorganization process even if the presentation order of class training examples is fairly biased. |
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF APPEAL
FIRST DISTRICT, STATE OF FLORIDA
JUAN E. RIVAS, NOT FINAL UNTIL TIME EXPIRES TO
FILE MOTION FOR REHEARING AND
Appellant, DISPOSITION THEREOF IF FILED
v. CASE NO. 1D14-1440
OASIS OUTSOURCING, INC.
AND SEDGWICK CLAIMS
MANAGEMENT SERVICES,
Appellees.
_____________________________/
Opinion filed September 23, 2014.
An appeal from an order of the Judge of Compensation Claims.
John J. Lazzara, Judge.
Date of Accident: July 29, 2013.
Paul S. Rosenberg of Rosenberg & Rosenberg, P.A., Hollywood, and Kimberly A.
Hill of Kimberly A. Hill, P.L., Fort Lauderdale, for Appellant.
Rene Lopez, Miramar, for Appellees.
PER CURIAM.
In this workers’ compensation case, Claimant argues that the Judge of
Compensation Claims (JCC) erred in failing to approve a stipulation whereby the
Employer/Carrier (E/C) would pay Claimant’s attorney a $1,500 attorney’s fee,
under section 440.34(3)(a) and (7), Florida Statutes (2013), and reimburse costs in
the amount of $275. Because it appears the JCC overlooked or ignored facts in
rejecting the stipulation, we reverse and remand for further proceedings.
Claimant injured his low back and knee in the course and scope of his
employment on July 29, 2013. With the assistance of his attorney, Claimant filed a
petition for benefits (PFB) on September 10, 2013, requesting authorization for a
primary care provider and managed care coordinator as well as orthopedic care. The
E/C filed a response on September 12, 2013, asserting that Claimant was under the
care of an authorized treating orthopedic physician, Dr. Garcia. By notice filed with
the JCC on September 19, the parties agreed to privately mediate the case and
scheduled the mediation for December 13, 2013.
Nonetheless, Claimant filed a second PFB on November 22, 2013, requesting
authorization of Dr. Weinberg, D.C., as Claimant’s managed care
coordinator/primary care provider. On November 30, 2013, the E/C filed a response,
advising that it would not authorize Dr. Weinberg as Claimant’s managed care
coordinator/primary care physician; that Claimant has such a provider in Dr. Garcia;
that there is a limit on chiropractic care under Florida’s workers’ compensation law;
and that if Claimant was referred for chiropractic care, such care would be
authorized.
2
A third PFB was filed on the day of the mediation, December 13, 2013,
seeking authorization of an MRI as recommended by Dr. Weinberg in his November
23, 2013, report as well as payment of his bill in the amount of $225 for that date of
service. At the mediation the parties reached an agreement to resolve all of the issues
by settling the case for $10,000, from which Claimant would pay his attorney a fee
of $1,750 and reimburse costs in the amount of $250. In addition, the E/C agreed to
reimburse Claimant $225, the cost of the evaluation with Dr. Weinberg, and to pay
Claimant’s attorney a fee of $1,500 and costs totaling $275.
The JCC approved the $1,750 Claimant-paid attorney’s fee associated with
the settlement, but denied approval of the $1,500 E/C-paid fee. See § 440.105(3)(c),
Fla. Stat. (2013) (requiring JCC approve all attorney’s fees paid “on account of
services rendered for a person in connection with any proceedings arising under this
chapter”). In the order, the JCC stated he based his findings on a review of “the
stipulation and taking judicial notice of the appropriate relevant pleadings in the
tribunal’s computer file, otherwise known as the ‘docket.’” The JCC found that the
agreed-upon fee was based on a resolution of a claim raised in the PFB filed on
December 13, the day of the mediation; thus, he concluded, there was no evidence
the fee was “earned.” The JCC did advise the parties that they could
seek reconsideration or modification of this denial by timely motion for
rehearing, pursuant to Rule 60Q-6.112, Fla. Admin. Code, and
accompanied with appropriate documentation or explanation
addressing the above deficiencies. If any party seeks a telephonic re-
3
hearing on the issue, they may express their request in the motion and
the extraordinary circumstances which support the request for a
telephonic re-hearing.
The parties thereafter jointly filed a motion for approval of the E/C-paid fee
and attached copies of the September and November PFBs and responses to the
PFBs. The parties advised the JCC that the basis for entitlement to the medical-only
fee was not the December PFB; rather, it was the earlier-filed petitions. The parties
again requested the JCC approve the fee, or, in the alternative, schedule a telephonic
hearing should the JCC need further clarification or information.
In the order rendered in response to the joint motion, the JCC found there were
“no exceptional circumstances or good cause shown in the motion or the docket
necessitating a hearing on the motion.” Further, the JCC concluded that “counsel
for the parties have presented no additional evidence or credible arguments for the
approval of a carrier-paid attorney fee of $1,500.00.” The JCC once again denied
approval of the $1,500 E/C-paid attorney’s fee.
A JCC’s finding of facts will be upheld on appeal if it is supported by the
record and if it appears that the JCC did not overlook or ignore any
facts. See Chavarria v. Selugal Clothing, Inc., 840 So. 2d 1071, 1078-79 (Fla. 1st
DCA 2003). Section 440.34(3)(a) provides for the payment of an E/C-paid fee if a
claimant successfully asserts a PFB for medical benefits only and has not filed, nor
is entitled to file, a claim for indemnity benefits at that point in time. Section
4
440.34(7) provides that “[i]f an attorney’s fee is owed under paragraph (3)(a), the
[JCC] may approve an alternative attorney’s fee not to exceed $1,500 only once per
accident, based on a maximum hourly rate of $150 per hour.” Here, both parties
allege there were two PFBs filed prior to the December PFB which, like the
December PFB, also requested only medical benefits and both parties requested the
JCC to consider those two PFBs in determining the appropriateness of the $1,500
E/C-paid fee. Because the JCC made no mention of those PFBs in his second order,
we can only conclude that the JCC overlooked or ignored those PFBs. Accordingly,
it is appropriate that we reverse and remand this matter to the JCC for consideration
of those PFBs.
Based on the foregoing, we REVERSE and REMAND this matter for
proceedings consistent with this opinion.
WOLF, ROWE, and OSTERHAUS, JJ., CONCUR.
5
|
When Steve Rogers refuses to become a government operative, he is stripped of his uniform, title and shield, and a new Captain America is born! John Walker, the former Superpatriot and future USAgent-along with sidekick Bucky, the future Battle Star-does his best to fill the big shoes Rogers left behind.Collecting: Captain America #332-350, Iron Man #228
From the Publisher:When Steve Rogers refuses to become a government operative, he is stripped of his uniform, title and shield, and a new Captain America is born! John Walker, the former Superpatriot and future USAgent-along with sidekick Bucky, the future Battle Star-does his best to fill the big shoes Rogers left behind.Collecting: Captain America #332-350, Iron Man #228 |
Why do we Christians tend to treat God as if He was our boss? When you pray do you pray "if it is your will" or "God please" or "I'm begging you God" or "if you do this I'll do that" or "I hope you are not still mad at me" or "I hope this is a good time to ask you for something"? When Jesus prayed He never said please or begged God to answer His prayers! Jesus is our example of what being a Christian is all about. You are to come with boldness before the throne of God. None of the above examples represents any kind of boldness. God is not your boss He is your King! There is a difference between a boss and a king. The worst thing that can happen to you with your boss is that you could lose your job. The worst thing that can happen to you with a king is that you lose your life. Now lets kick it up a notch. For the unsaved, the worst thing that can happen to you with the King of Kings is that not only do you lose your earthly life but that you spend eternity in Hell. You are eternally separated from God in the lake of fire for your unrepented sinful life and you are tormented forever, the second death!
There are those Christians who try to get out of what God has called them to do thinking that they can treat Him like their boss. At work you can call in sick, get hurt on the job, go out on leave of absence, pretend that you don't know how to do it or just blow it off. That doesn't work with God because God knows your heart and knows your reasons both good and bad. I have caught myself praying God if you wish, "If you wish"? God doesn't wish, hope, dream or imagine for He is God. If God wants God gets! God is a sovereign God and King! God only has His own self-imposed limits and is not subject to anyone else's limits and/or restrictions! God is King of kings and creator of all things and deserves to be treated as such. To treat Him otherwise is to insult God.
A member of a kingdom is subject to the rules, decrees, laws, protocols and commands of the King. If you are told to do something for the King you are to do it without question. If you don't you will be punished and/or banished from the kingdom. That is the privilege of being a subject of the kingdom. As a child of the King you are not only to obey the King entirely but you carry the King's authority as an extension of His kingdom wherever you go! You are a child of the Most High God, adopted into and a member of the Royal family, a subject of His Kingdom, an ambassador and citizen of Heaven, a foreigner to this world, an alien without a country here on earth. But most of all you are a representative of God's kingdom on earth.
The question you need to ask yourself isdid I represent God's kingdom well today? That is what God asked me after I got mad at another driver one evening. We were both stopped at a traffic light both side by side at the crosswalk. This guy did his very best to block my view with his tall truck when I was trying to make a right and he was to my left and inching out every time I did. After I finally turned I had all kinds of thoughts going through my head. How I could of turned left over in front of him, or turn around and chased him, or get out of my car and go pound on him and his truck, or worst yet him and his friend get out and pound on me! I pulled into Circle K and started being convicted by the Holy Spirit for dwelling on those thoughts. That is when God asked me"How well did you represent my kingdom today?" Now when I go to sleep at night I ask myself how well did I represent His kingdom today?
The King has a signet ring that he uses when sealing letters, decrees, laws and proclamations. He makes a seal in wax with his ring. Seals were used both to seal the item to prevent tampering, as well as to provide proof that the item was actually from the sender and not a forgery. Thus the saying "seal of approval". As a child of the Most High God, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, God has given you His "seal of approval". But better yet, not only do you carry His seal of approval but God has gone one step further. Jesus, the name above all names, has been given to you to use with all power and authority of heaven that Jesus has as the Son of God and as part of the Trinity. You are an extension and representative of His kingdom and an extension of the authority and power given to Jesus Christ by God the Father who lives in you! John 14:12-14 12I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. 13And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. 14You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it. It is good to be a child of the King!
My name is Steve and I was born and raised in a good Christian home in Phoenix Arizona. In 2004 God spoke to me to let me know that He would start sharing things with me that I would share with others. Little did I know how powerful and meaningful those things would be! Thank you Lord!! |
export MakeInc_cmd=${SRCROOT}/makedefs/MakeInc.cmd
export MakeInc_def=${SRCROOT}/makedefs/MakeInc.def
export MakeInc_rule=${SRCROOT}/makedefs/MakeInc.rule
export MakeInc_dir=${SRCROOT}/makedefs/MakeInc.dir
include $(MakeInc_cmd)
include $(MakeInc_def)
INSTINC_SUBDIRS = pexpert
INSTINC_SUBDIRS_X86_64 = pexpert
INSTINC_SUBDIRS_X86_64H = pexpert
INSTINC_SUBDIRS_ARM = pexpert
INSTINC_SUBDIRS_ARM64 = pexpert
EXPINC_SUBDIRS = pexpert
EXPINC_SUBDIRS_X86_64 = pexpert
EXPINC_SUBDIRS_X86_64H = pexpert
EXPINC_SUBDIRS_ARM = pexpert
EXPINC_SUBDIRS_ARM64 = pexpert
COMP_SUBDIRS = \
conf
include $(MakeInc_rule)
include $(MakeInc_dir)
|
$NetBSD: patch-ad,v 1.3 2001/01/23 20:55:44 jtb Exp $
--- cosqb.f.orig Fri Nov 17 16:48:23 2000
+++ cosqb.f
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
SUBROUTINE COSQB (N,X,WSAVE)
- DIMENSION X(1) ,WSAVE(1)
+ DIMENSION X(*) ,WSAVE(1)
DATA TSQRT2 /2.82842712474619/
IF (N-2) 101,102,103
101 X(1) = 4.*X(1)
|
---
abstract: 'We investigated the validity of fluctuation-dissipation relations in the non-equilibrium stationary state of fluidized granular media under gravity by two independent approaches, based on theory and numerical simulations. A phenomenological Langevin-type theory describing the fluctuation of center of mass height, which was originally constructed for a one-dimensional granular gas on a vibrating bottom plate, was generalized to any dimensionality, even for the case in which the vibrating bottom plate is replaced by a thermal wall. The theory predicts a fluctuation-dissipation relation known to be satisfied at equilibrium, with a modification that replaces the equilibrium temperature by an effective temperature defined by the center of mass kinetic energy. To test the validity of the fluctuation-dissipation relation, we performed extensive and accurate event-driven molecular dynamics simulations for the model system with a thermal wall at the bottom. The power spectrum and response function of the center of mass height were measured and closely compared with theoretical predictions. It is shown that the fluctuation-dissipation relation for the granular system is satisfied, especially in the high-frequency (short time) region, for a wide range of system parameters. Finally, we describe the relationship between systematic deviations in the low-frequency (long time) region and the time scales of the driven granular system.'
author:
- 'Jun’ichi Wakou$^{1,2}$'
- 'Masaharu Isobe$^{3}$'
title: 'Fluctuation-Dissipation Relations for Motions of Center of Mass in Driven Granular Fluids under Gravity'
---
Introduction
============
Granular materials show fluid-like behavior when they are supplied sufficient energy by external vibration. Fluidized states of granular matter have been studied as interesting examples of non-equilibrium fluids. They exhibit a rich variety of phenomena such as convection, pattern formation on the surface, and segregation (see Ref. [@AransonTsimring-2006] and references therein). Besides these pattern-forming instabilities, the plain stationary state of vibrated granular fluids without complex spatial structures serves as an archetypal example of non-equilibrium stationary states (NESSs). It has been a fundamental goal for many years to find any thermodynamic-like description or to identify the common property of fluctuations in a wide variety of NESSs in nature.
One of the important issues addressed in this paper is the validity of the fluctuation-dissipation relation (FDR) in granular fluids subject to external vibration. An FDR connects the response of an equilibrium system to a small perturbation with the time correlation of spontaneous fluctuations in the system without perturbation. Recently, there has been much interest in how an FDR is violated or should be modified in ageing systems, such as glass, and in NESSs of various systems. (See Refs. [@Cugliandolo-2011; @MarconiPuglisiRondoniVulpani-2008] for recent reviews.)
For granular systems, FDRs have been studied for several situations. Much work has been devoted to the case of freely cooling granular gas, where the gas develops freely without external forces and “cools” as a result of the dissipative nature of the grain interactions. The aim has been to derive a (modified) Green-Kubo relation from which transport coefficients can be calculated [@GoldhirschVanNoije-2000; @DuftyGarzo-2001; @DuftyBrey-2002; @Dufty-BaskaranBrey-2006]. While there is no stationary state for a freely cooling granular gas, a granular gas NESS can be achieved by supplying energy from outside by means of external forcing. A typical experimental means of injecting energy is to shake a container or vibrate a bottom wall (see, e.g., Ref. [@Duran]). In the case where the shaking (or vibrating) is strong enough to inject energy to all grains by frequent collisions with the vibrating wall, the effect of the vibrating wall is often modeled using a thermal bath that couples to every particle. FDRs in such uniformly driven granular systems have been studied in Refs. [@PuglisiBaldassarriLoreto-2002; @Garzo-2004; @PuglisiBldassaryVulpiani-2007; @BuninShokefLevine-2008; @BreyRuiz-Montero-2010]. Puglisi [*et al*]{}. [@PuglisiBaldassarriLoreto-2002] carried out numerical simulations of a model of uniformly driven granular gas and studied FDRs for two different observables. They observed that the FDRs were satisfied if the equilibrium temperature in the FDR for a system at equilibrium was replaced by the granular temperature, defined as the mean-square fluctuation of the grain velocity. Garzó [@Garzo-2004] studied the diffusion of impurities immersed in a granular gas under the influence of uniform driving forces analytically. They showed that a modified form of the Einstein relation, in which the temperature of the gas is replaced by the temperature of the impurity, is violated due to the non-Maxwellian behavior of the impurity velocity distribution function. Bunin [*et al*]{}. [@BuninShokefLevine-2008] analyzed a mean-field model of uniformly driven granular gas and showed that the effective temperature defined by an FDR depends on the frequency. In the case where the shaking (or vibrating) is not strong enough to be regarded as uniform driving, energy injection through a boundary has to be explicitly considered. Brey [*et al*]{}. [@BreyRuiz-Montero-2010] studied the volume fluctuations of a vibrated low-density granular gas confined at the top by a mobile piston numerically. In this system, energy is supplied from the vibrating bottom wall. They discussed the interpretation of an effective temperature defined by requiring the same relation between fluctuations of volume and compressibility as in equilibrium systems. The FDRs and effective temperatures in much denser systems have also been studied by several authors [@MakseKurchan-2002; @BarratColizzaLoreto-2002; @OhernLiuNagel-2004; @DannaMayorBarratLoretoNori-2003]. Among these studies, we refer to an experimental study by D’Anna [*et al*]{}. [@DannaMayorBarratLoretoNori-2003], because their theory based on a Langevin equation formally has the same form as ours, although their experimental setup was very different. They performed an experiment to observe the fluctuating motion of a torsion oscillator immersed in vibration-fluidized granular matter and found that it can be described to first approximation by the formalism for Brownian motion in equilibrium, and an FDR with an effective temperature approximately holds.
We investigated the fluctuating motion of the center of mass (COM) in an NESS of granular matter fluidized by an external energy source located at a bottom wall, under the influence of gravity. Instead of using macroscopic probes such as a piston [@BreyRuiz-Montero-2010] or torsion oscillator [@DannaMayorBarratLoretoNori-2003], we focused on the position of the COM, which is observable using digital high-speed photography in experiments [@WarrHuntleyJacques-1995]. Our major motivation for studying fluctuations of the COM is that a simple (or universal) law might hold as a result of the following properties. First, the fluctuations of macrovariables such as the COM position often possess the largest time scales in the system. Second, they are expected to be Gaussian in a similar sense to the central limit theorem. (In the case of a Markovian stochastic process, the Gaussian property of macrovariables fluctuations can indeed be derived from a master equation of the Markovian process [@vanKampen] .) With this expectation, we proposed a phenomenological theory based on a simple formalism for Brownian motion that describes the motion of the COM height in the NESS of a one-dimensional vibrated granular fluid [@WakouOchiaiIsobe-2008]. We found that the important qualitative features of the dynamics of the COM in event-driven molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were all accounted for by the theory. The theory was extended to a two-dimensional granular fluid on a thermal wall [@WakouIsobe-2010]. Here, we show that when we apply the phenomenological theory to granular fluids in higher dimensions, careful consideration of time scales in granular hydrodynamics [@BreyRuiz-MonteroMoreno-2001; @BrombergLivneMeerson-2003] is necessary. Within the time range for which our theory is valid, it predicts the existence of an FDR. However, the equilibrium temperature in the FDR for an equilibrium system must be modified by the effective temperature of the COM velocity fluctuation. To test our prediction, we performed extensive and accurate event-driven MD simulations for a two-dimensional system of inelastic hard disks on a thermal wall.
Our main result is that an FDR with an effective temperature holds within statistical uncertainty for simulations in a high-frequency (short time) region, while it is violated in a low-frequency (long time) region. The effective temperature is defined by the COM kinetic energy. We observed in our simulations that the ratio between the effective temperature and the global granular temperature increases with inelasticity; the former can be more than four times larger than the latter for the highest inelasticity case.
This paper is organized as follows. In Sec. II, we describe a model granular system and discuss important time scales in the system. In Sec. III, the Langevin equation is introduced, and analytical expressions for the power spectrum and response function of the COM height are described briefly. We also remark on the FDR between these two functions. The complete derivation of the Langevin equation and detailed calculation for the power spectrum and the response function are summarized in Appendix A and B, respectively. A comparison between the theoretical predictions and an extensive event-driven MD are shown in Sec. IV. Finally, in Sec. V, we summarize the main results for FDR validity and comment on the relation between the systematic deviations in the low-frequency (long time) region and the time scales of the driven granular system.
The model system
================
System
------
As a model of grains bouncing on a vibrating bottom plate under gravity, we consider a $d$-dimensional system of $N$ inelastic particles on a “thermal” bottom wall in a constant gravitational field $g$. The particles in the system have diameter $\sigma$ and mass $m$; the total mass of particles is denoted by $M$ ($=Nm$). The thermal wall is kept at a constant temperature $T_0$, which plays the role of a heat source supplying sufficient translational energy to the particles to fluidize them. The $z$-direction is chosen to be opposite to the direction of gravity, and the thermal wall is fixed at $z=0$. For simplicity, we adopt periodic boundary conditions in horizontal directions, so as to ignore the boundary (side-wall) effects. Collisions between particles are inelastic; inelasticity of the particle collisions is characterized by a normal restitution coefficient $r$. To avoid any pattern-forming instability in the horizontal directions, we chose both the inelasticity and linear scales of the system in horizontal directions to be sufficiently small that the system remained homogeneous in the horizontal directions. These conditions are discussed in more detail in Sec. IV.
Time scales
-----------
Before discussing the important time scales in the system, we define several quantities that characterize the macroscopic properties of the system. We first define the kinetic energy per particle as $K(t)\equiv (1/N)\sum_{i=1}^{N} mv_i(t)^2/2$ and the long time average of $K(t)$ in an NESS as $\overline{K}\equiv \lim_{T\to\infty}(1/T)\int_{0}^{T}K(t)dt$ (hereafter, the overline on a quantity represents its long time average in an NESS). We also define the global granular temperature $T$ as $k_B T\equiv (2/d)\overline{K}$, where $k_B$ is the Boltzmann constant, and the thermal velocity as $c\equiv (dk_B T/m)^{1/2}=(2\overline{K}/m)^{1/2}$. A characteristic length scale of the system in the vertical direction $l$ is then defined as $l\equiv c^2/g$.
Bromberg [*et al*]{}. [@BrombergLivneMeerson-2003] have suggested that there are three important time scales in this system at the hydrodynamical level: the macroscopic oscillation time $\tau_{\rm osc}$ (referred to as the “fast time scale” in Ref. [@BrombergLivneMeerson-2003]), the relaxation time for thermal conduction $\tau_{\rm therm}$, and the relaxation time for collisional dissipation $\tau_{\rm diss}$.
For simplicity, we assume that the system is nearly homogeneous, although this is not true for small $r$ and large $N$. The time scale $\tau_{\rm osc}$ represents the period of the slowest oscillation in the vertical direction, that is, the period of the sound mode with the longest wavelength. Thus, $\tau_{\rm osc}\sim l/c_s$, where $c_s$ is the sound velocity. Assuming $c_s\sim c$, which is satisfied for a normal gas, $\tau_{\rm osc}$ can be estimated as $\tau_{\rm osc}\sim c/g$. Because $l/c_s$ also characterizes the pressure relaxation time $\tau_p$, we can regard $\tau_p$ and $\tau_{\rm osc}$ as on the same order, $\tau_p\sim\tau_{\rm osc}\sim c/g$. The relaxation time for thermal conduction $\tau_{\rm therm}$ is estimated as $\tau_{\rm therm}\sim l^2/(\kappa/\rho c_p)$, where $\kappa$ is the thermal conductivity, $\rho$ is the mass density, and $c_p$ is the specific heat at constant pressure [@LandauLifshitzFluid]. $\rho$ can be estimated as $\rho\sim M/(l A)\sim mN_z/(l \sigma^{d-1})$, where $A$ represents the area of the bottom plate in three dimensions ($A$ represents the length of the bottom plate in two dimensions and $A=1$ in one dimension) and $N_z$ represents the number of monolayers at rest. $\kappa$ and $c_p$ are obtained from kinetic theory for elastic spheres and disks [@ChapmanCawling]: $\kappa\sim k_B c/\sigma^{d-1}$ and $c_p\sim k_B/m$. Substituting these results, we obtain $\tau_{\rm therm}\sim N_z c/g$. The relaxation time for collisional dissipation $\tau_{\rm diss}$ can be estimated as the inverse of $(1-r^2)\nu$, where $\nu$ is the collision frequency between two particles. Substituting the lowest order estimation of $\nu$ based on kinetic theory, $\nu\sim \rho \sigma^{d-1} c/m\sim N_z c /l$, we obtain $\tau_{\rm diss}\sim (1-r^2)^{-1}c / (N_z g)$.
The time scales estimated above are summarized as follows: $$\begin{aligned}
&& \hspace{-0.8cm}
\tau_{\rm osc} \sim \tau_{p}\sim \frac{c}{g},
\hspace{0.5cm}
\tau_{\rm therm}\sim N_z \frac{c}{g},
\nonumber\\
&& \hspace{-0.8cm}
\tau_{\rm diss} \sim \left[N_z(1-r^2)\right]^{-1}\frac{c}{g}.
\label{timescales}\end{aligned}$$ It is important to note that all time scales, $\tau_{\rm osc}$, $\tau_{p}$, $\tau_{\rm therm}$, and $\tau_{\rm diss}$, are proportional to $c/g$. This means that for a system with given $N_z$ and $r$, the macroscopic dynamics with time scaled by $c/g$ are independent of $g$. We utilize this fact later to obtain a frequency response function in an efficient way.
There are three dimensionless parameters, obtained as the ratios between two of these three time scales. The first is $\tau_{\rm therm}/\tau_{\rm osc}\sim N_z$. The second is $\tau_{\rm osc}/\tau_{\rm diss}\sim N_z(1-r^2)$. The third is $\tau_{\rm therm}/\tau_{\rm diss}\sim N_z^2(1-r^2)$. The first and third parameters are the governing parameters for the hydrodynamic description of the system, as introduced by Bromberg [*et al*]{}. [@BrombergLivneMeerson-2003]. They showed that the steady-state profile is governed only by the parameter $$\begin{aligned}
\Lambda\equiv \frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}N_z(1-r^2)^{1/2},
\label{lambda}\end{aligned}$$ which is proportional to $(\tau_{\rm therm}/\tau_{\rm diss})^{1/2}$. If $1-r\ll 1$, the second parameter $\tau_{\rm osc}/\tau_{\rm diss}$ is related to $X\equiv N_z(1-r)$. It plays the role of the governing transition parameter from a condensed to fluidized state in a one-dimensional column of beads on a vibrating bottom plate [@LudingClementBlumenRajchenbachDuran-1994]. In our study, we consider the case $N_z\gg 1$ and assume $\tau_{\rm therm}\gg \tau_{\rm osc}$ in the following theoretical analysis.
Theoretical Derivation of the Fluctuation-dissipation Relation
==============================================================
Here, we summarize the theoretical derivation of (i) the power spectrum, (ii) the frequency response function, and (iii) the FDR between (i) and (ii). First, we introduce a Langevin equation as a first approximation that describes the fluctuating motion of the COM on the fast time scales $\tau_{\rm osc}$ and $\tau_p$. Note that the derivation of our theory has already been published in Ref. [@WakouOchiaiIsobe-2008]. We assume $\tau_{\rm therm}\gg\tau_{\rm osc}$, as mentioned above, and focus on the dynamics of the COM on the time scale $\tau_{\rm osc}$, ignoring the significant slow relaxation process of fluctuations of global granular temperature around its stationary value $(2/d)\overline{K}/k_{B}$. The effect of this slow dynamics of granular temperature and validity of our time scale assumption are discussed later.
We summarize the details of the derivation of our Langevin formalism in Appendix A and show the final result here. We denote the height of the COM of granular fluids at time $t$ as $Z(t)$, the time average of $Z(t)$ over a long time interval in an NESS as $\overline{Z}$, and small deviations of $Z(t)$ from $\overline{Z}$ as $\delta Z(t)\equiv Z(t)-\overline{Z}$. The Langevin equation for fluctuating motion of $\delta Z(t)$ is given by (see Eq. (\[langevin1\]) in Appendix A) $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{d^2\delta Z}{dt^2}=-\Omega^2\delta{Z}-\mu\frac{d \delta Z}{dt} + \frac{R(t)}{M},
\label{langevin}\end{aligned}$$ where $R(t)$ represents a random force, which is assumed to be a Gaussian white noise: $$\left<R(t)\right>=0,\quad \quad \left<R(t)R(t')\right>=I\delta(t-t').
\label{gaussianwhite}$$ The brackets $\left<\cdots\right>$ denote an average over the random force. In NESS, it is reasonable to assume $\left<Z(t)\right>_{\rm st}=\overline{Z}$, where $\left<\cdots\right>_{\rm st}$ represents the average in a stationary state. The constant $I$ represents the intensity of the random force, which is related to the second moment of the COM velocity fluctuations. This relation can be obtained by calculating the average kinetic energy of the COM motion in $z$-direction $K_{\rm COMz}\equiv \left< M V_z(t)^2/2\right>_{\rm st}$, where $V_z$ is the $z$-component of the velocity of the COM, $V_z(t)\equiv \frac{d Z(t)}{dt}$. Using an analytical solution Eq. (\[cmheight\]) of the Langevin equation, we obtain $K_{\rm COMz}=I/4M\mu$. Hence, the constant $I$ is identified as $$\begin{aligned}
I\equiv 4M\mu K_{\rm COMz}.
\label{intensity}\end{aligned}$$
This is the same procedure used to determine the noise intensity $I$ when the Langevin equation describes fluctuations in equilibrium at temperature $T$. In equilibrium, equipartition of energy implies $K_{\rm COMz}=k_B T/2$, that is, the mean kinetic energy of the COM in the $z$-direction $K_{\rm COMz}$ and the mean kinetic energy of a particle in one direction $k_B T/2$ are the same. Thus, we obtain the well-known result $I = 2M\mu k_B T$. In the case of an NESS of granular fluids, the violation of equipartition of energy is observed in various systems. A heated binary granular system (see Ref. [@WangMenon-2008] and references therein) is one notable example in which non-equipartition between the mean kinetic energies of two species has been studied. Later, we present numerical simulations that clearly show violation of equipartition, $K_{\rm COMz}\neq k_B T/2$, when we recognize $T$ as the global granular temperature.
The coefficients $\Omega$ and $\mu$ describe an angular frequency of the slowest oscillation of the COM height and frictional coefficient with respect to relative motion of the COM height against the bottom wall, respectively. According to the time scales we consider here, we assume $\Omega\sim \tau_{\rm osc}^{-1}$ and $\mu \sim \tau_{p}^{-1}$ and write them as $$\begin{aligned}
\Omega=\hat{\Omega}g/c,\hspace{0.5cm}
\mu=\hat{\mu} g/c.
\label{coefficients}\end{aligned}$$ Because values of the coefficients $\hat{\Omega}$ and $\hat{\mu}$ cannot be estimated in our phenomenological theory, they are fixed as fitting parameters when we compare results of simulations with the theoretical predictions.
[**Power Spectrum**]{} The power spectrum $S(\omega)$ that represents the fluctuations of $Z$ around the NESS is defined as the Fourier transform of the time correlation function, $$\begin{aligned}
S(\omega)\equiv \int_{-\infty}^{\infty}dt \,e^{-i\omega t}\left<\delta Z(0)\delta Z(t)\right>_{\rm st}.
\label{psdefinition}\end{aligned}$$ The derivation of $S(\omega)$ using the analytic solution of the Langevin equation is straightforward. The final expression of $S(\omega)$ in this system is $$\begin{aligned}
S(\omega)
&=&
\frac{1}{M}\frac{4\mu K_{\rm COMz}}{\left(\Omega^2-\omega^2\right)^2+\left(\mu \omega\right)^2}.
\label{powerspectrum}\end{aligned}$$ See Appendix B for a detailed derivation.
[**Response Function**]{} The frequency response function $\chi(\omega)$ that characterizes the linear response of $Z$ in the NESS against a small external force $\varepsilon f(t)$ can be defined as $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(\omega)\equiv \lim_{\varepsilon\to 0} \left<\delta \tilde{Z}(\omega)\right> / \varepsilon \tilde{f}(\omega),
\label{resdefinition}\end{aligned}$$ where $\delta \tilde{Z}(\omega)$ and $\tilde{f}(\omega)$ are the Fourier transform of $\delta Z(t)$ and $f(t)$, respectively. The analytical expression of $\chi(\omega)$ is given as $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(\omega)=\frac{1}{M}\frac{1}{\Omega^2-\omega^2+i\mu\omega}.
\label{chi}\end{aligned}$$ A detailed derivation is given in Appendix B. According to conventional definition, $\chi(\omega)$ can be decomposed into real $\chi'(\omega)$ and imaginary $\chi''(\omega)$ parts as $\chi(\omega)=\chi'(\omega)-i\chi''(\omega)$. Thus, we obtain the expression $$\begin{aligned}
\chi'(\omega)&=&\frac{1}{M}\frac{\Omega^2-\omega^2}{(\Omega^2-\omega^2)^2+(\mu\omega)^2},
\label{chi'}\end{aligned}$$ $$\begin{aligned}
\chi''(\omega)&=&\frac{1}{M}\frac{\mu\omega}{(\Omega^2-\omega^2)^2+(\mu\omega)^2}.
\label{chi"}\end{aligned}$$
[**Fluctuation Dissipation Relation**]{} Comparing Eqs. (\[powerspectrum\]) and (\[chi"\]), we obtain the FDR $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{\omega S(\omega)}{2k_B T_{eff}}=\chi''(\omega),
\label{fdt}\end{aligned}$$ where $T_{eff}$ is an effective temperature defined as $T_{eff}\equiv 2K_{\rm COMz}/k_B$. This has the same form as the FDR in an equilibrium system except for $T_{eff}$, which replaces the equilibrium temperature.
Numerical simulations
=====================
Here, we compare the three theoretical predictions described in the previous section with results of the numerical simulation of a two-dimensional granular gas system. The predictions are the power spectrum Eq. (\[powerspectrum\]), the frequency response function Eq. (\[chi\]), and the fluctuation-dissipation relation Eq. (\[fdt\]). Our system consisted of $N$ inelastic hard disks of mass $m$ and diameter $\sigma$ moving in two dimensions on a thermal wall with a fixed temperature $T_0$. Here, the $x$- and $z$-axes represent the horizontal and vertical directions of the system, respectively. The system width is denoted as $L$, and periodic boundary conditions were adopted in the horizontal direction at $x=0$ and $x=L$. The bottom wall was located at $z=0$, and there was no top wall. Gravitational force was exerted on each disk along the negative $z$-direction. Inelastic collisions between hard disks were considered by the normal restitution coefficient $r$. When a disk collided with a thermal wall at the bottom, it left with a value of $z$-component of velocity $v_z$ sampled from the probability density $$\begin{aligned}
p(v_z)=\frac{mv_z}{k_B T_0}\exp \left(-\frac{mv_z^2}{2k_B T_0}\right).\end{aligned}$$ The horizontal component of velocity did not change during the collision.
Numerical simulations were performed with an event-driven algorithm devised to enhance the speed of calculation in dense hard sphere systems [@Isobe-1999]. In the following, all simulation data are presented with mass, length, and time in units of $m$, $\sigma$, and $\sigma/(k_B T_0/m)^{1/2}$, respectively. This corresponds to choosing $k_B T_0=1$. We set $N=5000$ and $L=100$ (these parameters are unchanged throughout this paper). For our main results, $r=0.99- 0.999$ and $g =10^{-3}$ were used unless otherwise mentioned. These correspond to $N_z=50$, $0.05\le X \le 0.5$ and $1.98\le \Lambda<6.25$. A system of width $L=100$ for $r\ge 0.99$ is small enough to prevent any horizontal pattern formation (e.g., ripples or undulations). The global temperature $T$ and the thermal velocity $c$ were calculated using $T=\overline{K}/k_{B}$ and $c=(2\overline{K}/m)^{1/2}$, where $\overline{K}$ is the long time average of the kinetic energy per disk.
Macroscopic properties in the NESS
----------------------------------
In Fig. \[snapshot\] (top), we show typical snapshots of particle configurations in the system of $N=5000$ and $g=10^{-3}$ for $r=0.999$ and $0.992$. The corresponding area-fraction profiles are plotted in Fig. \[snapshot\] (bottom). For a nearly elastic case ($r=0.999$), the profile had one peak around the height $z\simeq 350$. However, the area fraction was relatively dilute (less than $~0.06$), even at the height of the peak. Many inelastic particles were raised up relatively high, like the equilibrium profile of the Boltzmann distribution. In contrast, for $r=0.992$, the profile drastically changed. Most particles condensed at a relatively low level in a cluster; the area-fraction profile showed a clear peak above the low-density region around the thermal wall. This state is known as [*density inversion state*]{} and has been observed in many experiments [@KudrolliWolpertGollub-1997; @WildmanHuntleyHansen-2001] and simulations [@LanRosato-1995; @IsobeNakanishi-1999] of vibrofluidized granular matter.
In accordance with the theoretical study by Bromberg [*et al*]{}. [@BrombergLivneMeerson-2003], which showed that the steady state is characterized by a single parameter $\Lambda$, defined in Eq. (\[lambda\]), we plotted the average kinetic energy per disk $\overline{K}$ and the average kinetic energy of the COM $\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}$ as a function of $\Lambda$ in Fig. \[kineticenergies\]. The statistical error bars with standard deviation were also plotted in all figures throughout the paper. $\Lambda=0$ (that is, $r=1$) corresponds to the equilibrium state in which equipartition of energy $2\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}=\overline{K}=k_B T_0=1$ is satisfied. The factor $2$ comes from the fact that $\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}$ is defined using only the $z$-component of the COM velocity. The horizontal component of the velocity of the COM vanished in our simulations because the horizontal component of disk velocity was unchanged on collision with the bottom wall. While $\overline{K}$ systematically decreased following a power law $\sim \Lambda^{-1.48}$, $\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}$ reached a minimum at $\Lambda\simeq 2$ ($r=0.999$) and increased with $\Lambda$ for $\Lambda > 2$. Fig. \[kineticenergies\] clearly indicates that equipartition of energy breaks down when $\Lambda > 2$ (that is, $2\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}\ne \overline{K}$). Similar behavior in much smaller systems has been reported by us [@WakouIsobe-2010]. In Ref. [@BrombergLivneMeerson-2003], it was shown that the density inversion appears above the threshold $\Lambda_c$ ($\Lambda>\Lambda_c$), where $\Lambda_c\simeq 1.06569$. In the density inversion state, which becomes pronounced for $\Lambda>2$, as shown in Fig. \[snapshot\], a low-density and high-temperature gaseous region near the bottom can cause large fluctuations of the dense cluster on top. Therefore, this violation of the equipartition of energy should be closely connected to development of the density inversion.
![\[kineticenergies\] (Color online) Kinetic energy per particle $\overline{K}$ (circles) and kinetic energy of the COM $\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}$ (squares), plotted versus $\Lambda=\frac{\sqrt{\pi}}{2}50(1-r^2)^{1/2}$ for $r=0.9999,\,0.9996,\,0.999,\,0.998,\,0.996,\,0.994,\,0.992$, and $0.99$ from left to right. The solid line gives a numerical fit of the form $1.04\times\Lambda^{-1.48}$. ](./fig2.eps){width="0.8\columnwidth"}
The relation between the long time average of the COM height $\overline{Z}$ and the kinetic energy per particle is given in Fig. 3. A linear relation $\overline{Z}=\overline{K}/mg+\mbox{const.}$ was satisfied for $\overline{K}>0.1$, even when the system had a density inversion with a relatively high density cluster. In an equilibrium system of dilute gases, the relation $\overline{Z}=\overline{K}/mg+\mbox{const.}$ holds as a result of statistical mechanics. The fact that $\overline{K}$ characterizes $\overline{Z}$ in the same way as in equilibrium suggests that the global granular temperature $T$ in the *inhomogeneous* non-equilibrium state still retains the same meaning as the equilibrium temperature, at least in a macroscopic sense.
![\[kin-pot\] (Color online) The average height of the center of mass $\overline{Z}$ versus $\overline{K}$ for $r=0.999,\,0.998,\,0.996,\,0.994,\,0.992$, and $0.99$ from right to left. The error bars are smaller than the size of the marks. The solid line gives a linear fit with the slope $(mg)^{-1}$, where $m=1$ and $g=10^{-3}$. ](./fig3.eps){width="0.8\columnwidth"}
In Fig. \[kin-G\], $\overline{K}$ is plotted as a function of the gravitational acceleration $g$. The dependence of $\overline{K}$ on $g$ turned out to be rather weak. We utilized this fact to measure the response function from simulations in an efficient way (see Sec. IV C).
![\[kin-G\] (Color online) Kinetic energy per particle $\overline{K}$ as a function of $g$. The error bars are smaller than the sizes of the marks. ](./fig4.eps){width="0.8\columnwidth"}
In Fig. \[vdistrib\], we plotted the probability distribution $P(C)$ of the scaled COM velocity $C\equiv V_z/(2 \overline{K}_{\rm COMz}/M)^{1/2}$. The data were fitted sufficiently by a Gaussian for all cases studied in this paper, as expected from the central limit theorem. This Gaussian property was consistent with our theory based on a linear Langevin equation with additive Gaussian noise.
![\[vdistrib\] (Color online) Probability distribution of the scaled COM velocity $C\equiv V_z/(2 \overline{K}_{\rm COMz}/M)^{1/2}$. The solid line is Gaussian with unity dispersion. ](./fig5.eps){width="0.8\columnwidth"}
Power spectrum of the COM height
--------------------------------
We first tested the theoretical prediction Eq. (\[powerspectrum\]) for the power spectrum of the COM height. Using the relation Eq. (\[coefficients\]), Eq. (\[powerspectrum\]) can be rewritten as $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{S}(\hat{\omega})
&\equiv&
S(\hat{\omega} g/c)/\left[ 4\left(\frac{c}{g}\right)^3 \frac{\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}}{M}\right]
\nonumber\\
&=&
\frac{\hat{\mu}}{\left(\hat{\Omega}^2-\hat{\omega}^2\right)^2+\left(\hat{\mu}\hat{\omega}\right)^2},
\label{scps}\end{aligned}$$ where $\hat{\omega}$ is the scaled angular frequency, defined by $\hat{\omega}\equiv \omega c/g$. This expression suggests that if we scale the power spectrum and the angular frequency as in Eq. (\[scps\]), it shows a universal behavior independent of any system parameters.
In Fig. \[pscom\] (top), the power spectrum $S(\omega)$ is plotted for different values of $r$. Two sharp peaks were observed; one is near zero angular frequency ($\omega=0$), the other one is at the angular frequency of the macroscopic oscillation ($\omega=\omega_{\rm osc}$), which increased as $r$ decreased. The heights of both these peaks decreased with $r$. Figure \[pscom\] (bottom) shows the scaled power spectrum $\hat{S}(\hat{\omega})$ obtained by scaling $S(\omega)$ in Fig. \[pscom\] (top), according to Eq. (\[scps\]) using $c$ and $\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}$ calculated from simulation data. The theoretical prediction Eq. (\[scps\]) with fitting numerical parameters $\hat{\mu}=0.50$, $\hat{\Omega}=1.7$ is presented as a thick solid line. It is consistent with the results of simulations for the range $0.99\le r\le 0.996$ in this region near the peak at $\hat{\omega}=\hat{\omega}_{\rm osc}\equiv\omega_{\rm osc}c/g$, where we expect our theory to serve as a first-order approximation. We found large deviations from the theoretical prediction in the region $\hat{\omega}<\hat{\omega}_{\rm osc}$ (the sharp peak near $\hat{\omega}=0$). As we illustrate below, the peak near $\hat{\omega}=0$ could be associated with slow fluctuations of global granular temperature due to thermal conduction and collisional dissipation. Because $\tau_{\rm therm}/\tau_{\rm osc}\sim N_z\gg 1$ and $\tau_{\rm diss}/\tau_{\rm osc}\sim [N_z(1-r^2)]^{-1}\ge 1.0$ for our simulations with $N_z=50$ and $r\ge 0.99$, the contributions of these two processes should appear at $\hat{\omega}<\hat{\omega}_{\rm osc}$. We also found that for $r\ge 0.998$, the simulation data in Fig. \[pscom\] (bottom) deviated from our theory, even in the region near the peak at $\hat{\omega}=\hat{\omega}_{\rm osc}$. These deviations near $\hat{\omega}_{\rm osc}$ could be attributed to the drastic change in density profiles shown in Fig. \[snapshot\] as $r$ is varied. Concerning our theory, the change in density profiles may affect the numerical coefficients $\hat{\Omega}$ and $\hat{\mu}$ in Eq. (\[coefficients\]). Furthermore, in the region $\hat{\omega}<\hat{\omega}_{\rm osc}$, the effect of global temperature fluctuations mentioned above could become pronounced for $r\ge 0.998$, because both $\tau_{\rm therm}$ and $\tau_{\rm diss}$ became much larger than $\tau_{\rm osc}$, and hence the fluctuations had long lifetimes. Nonetheless, a satisfactory explanation of these deviations for $r\ge 0.998$ has not yet been given.
Here, we show simulations suggesting that the behavior of $S(\omega)$ in the region near $\omega =0$ can be described by taking into account the slow dynamics of $K(t)$. We denote the slowly varying part of $K(t)$ as $K'(t)$ and suppose it fluctuates on a much longer time scale than $\tau_{\rm osc}$, due to thermal conduction and collisional dissipation. Then, $K'(t)/k_{B}$ can be regarded as a time-dependent global granular temperature. Similarly, we let $Z'(t)$ denote the slowly varying part of $Z(t)$ on the same time scale as $K'(t)$. We assume here that in this long time scale, $K'(t)$ and $Z'(t)$ play the same role as their long time averages $\overline{K}$ and $\overline{Z}$. That is, they satisfy the same linear relation as their long time averages observed in Fig. \[kin-pot\]: $Z'(t)=K'(t)/mg+\mbox{const.}$ with the same constant factor. If this is the case, the power spectrum of $\delta Z(t)$, $S(\omega)$, in the region near $\omega =0$ should be given by the power spectrum of $\delta K'(t)/mg$, where $\delta K'(t)=K'(t)-\overline{K}$. In Fig. \[pskin\], we show the power spectrum of $\delta K(t)/mg$, where $\delta K(t)=K(t)-\overline{K}$, and $S(\omega)$ for $r=0.999$ and $0.992$. The figure shows that the curves around the peak in $S(\omega)$ near $\omega =0$ and the peak in the power spectrum of $\delta K(t)/mg$ near $\omega =0$ are consistent. The consistency between the two curves is also observed for the other $r$ values. This result indicates that the peak in $S(\omega)$ near $\omega =0$ can be accounted for by slow dynamics of $K(t)$ due to thermal conduction and collisional dissipation. It should be emphasized that in our present theory, fluctuations of granular temperature in both space and time are ignored and only the global granular temperature $T$ is defined, using the long time average of $K(t)$. Further investigation is necessary to construct a theory that fully describes the behavior of $S(\omega)$, taking into account the effect of slow fluctuations of granular temperature.
Response functions
------------------
Next, we test the theoretical prediction Eqs. (\[chi’\]) and (\[chi"\]) for the frequency response functions of the COM. By scaling these functions in the same way as the power spectrum, we can derive universal equations $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{\chi}'(\hat{\omega})
\equiv
\chi'(\hat{\omega} g/c)Mg^2/c^2
=\frac{\hat{\Omega}^2-\hat{\omega}^2}{\left(\hat{\Omega}^2-\hat{\omega}^2\right)^2+\left(\hat{\mu}\hat{\omega}\right)^2},
\label{scaledchireal}\end{aligned}$$ $$\begin{aligned}
\hat{\chi}''(\hat{\omega})
\equiv
\chi''(\hat{\omega}g/c)Mg^2/c^2
=\frac{\hat{\mu}\hat{\omega}}{\left(\hat{\Omega}^2-\hat{\omega}^2\right)^2+\left(\hat{\mu}\hat{\omega}\right)^2}.
\label{scaledchiimag}\end{aligned}$$
The frequency response function was measured using numerical simulations via the following procedure. First, we prepared for a system in the stationary state with a given $N_z$, $r$, and $g$ after a sufficiently long relaxation time from the initial state of particles with randomly distributed positions and velocities. At $t=0$, we exerted a small constant external force on all particles in the direction of gravity and measured the height of the COM at $t>0$; from this COM relaxation process, we deduced a response function by the standard procedure given in textbooks (see, e.g., Ref. [@KuboTodaHashitsume]). In other words, we measured a response function against a step functional external force. The frequency response function was obtained as the Fourier transform of the response function.
It is important to note that in the response of the COM height against a small but finite external force in our system, *nonlinear* effects resulting from time scale changes were non-negligible. This can be seen from the fact that the relevant time scales shown in Eq. (\[timescales\]) all depended on $g$ and that exerting a constant force in the direction of gravity was equivalent to changing $g$. Therefore, a linear response could be defined only in the limit of small external force. This shows that our Langevin-type theory is different from the well-known Langevin theory for Brownian motion in a fixed harmonic potential, where the response of a Brownian particle is linear against a finite external force. Consequently, we had to exert an external force that was much smaller than the gravitational force in our system, in order to measure the linear response of the COM height. Because the fluctuation of the COM height of $5000$ particles was typically much larger than the response against such a small constant force, we needed to perform the response function measurement for a large number of systems with the same parameters $N_z$, $r$, and $g$ but different initial conditions and take an average of the response functions over all realizations. As shown later, in the case of a constant force that is $1\%$ of the gravitational force, we needed more than $10^4$ realizations to obtain sufficient statistics for clear response functions. This required relatively long CPU times that impeded long simulations with a wide range of parameters $r$, $N_z$, and $g$.
We therefore optimized the method by choosing an appropriate parameter to approximately evaluate the response function from a small number of realizations, which could be provided in an acceptable time with our computational facilities. Suppose a system with gravitational field $g$ is initially in an NESS and the gravitational acceleration is increased at $t=0$ from $g$ to $g+\Delta g$. This is equivalent to exerting a step function external force $-M\Delta g\theta(t)$ on the COM height, where $\theta(t)$ is the Heaviside unit step function. Now we define the function $\chi(t;g,g+\Delta g)$ as $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(t;g,g+\Delta g)\equiv -\frac{d\left<\delta Z\right>_{t}}{dt}/M\Delta g,
\label{chideltag}\end{aligned}$$ where $\left<\cdots\right>_{t}$ represents the average taken over the ensemble of realizations $\delta Z$ at time $t$. This is a function of $\Delta g$ in our system due to the nonlinear effects mentioned above; it would equal the response function only if $\left<\delta Z\right>_t$ were linear in $\Delta g$. We denote the Fourier transform of $\chi(t;g,g+\Delta g)$ as $\chi(\omega;g,g+\Delta g)$. According to Eq. (\[resdefinition\]), the frequency response function $\chi(\omega;g)$ for the system in the stationary state with $g$ is given by $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(\omega;g)=\lim_{\Delta g\to 0}\chi(\omega;g,g+\Delta g).
\label{chiomegag}\end{aligned}$$
We now consider the time scales that we introduced in Sec. II B, which characterize macroscopic dynamics at $t>0$. As we discussed in Sec. II B, all these time scales in the NESS depend on $g$ in the form $\tau= c(g)/g\times \mbox{const.}$, where we wrote the $g$-dependence of $c$ explicitly for the sake of clarity. Based on our observations in Fig. \[kin-G\] that $c(g)$ changed a few percent as $g$ was increased by 10%, we assumed that the thermal velocity at $t>0$ is given by $c(g)$ if $\Delta g$ is sufficiently small. Thus, these time scales at $t>0$ have the form $\tau= c(g)/(g+\Delta g) \times \mbox{const.}$, where $g+\Delta g$ is the gravitational acceleration at $t>0$. This dependence of all the characteristic time scales on $\Delta g$ leads us to the scaling relation $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(\omega;g, g+\Delta g)=\frac{1}{M}\left(\frac{c(g)}{g+\Delta g}\right)^2 \hat{\chi}\left(\omega \frac{c(g)}{g+\Delta g}\right),
\label{scaling}\end{aligned}$$ where $\hat{\chi}$ is a non-dimensional function.
As long as Eq. (\[scaling\]) holds, we can estimate the limit in Eq. (\[chiomegag\]) as $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(\omega;g)=\left(\frac{g+\Delta g}{g}\right)^2
\chi\left(\omega\frac{g+\Delta g}{g}; g, g+\Delta g\right).
\label{chi-scaled}\end{aligned}$$
To verify the validity of the scaling relation Eq. (\[scaling\]), we performed two series of simulations for $r=0.992$. First, we measured the function $\chi(\omega; g,\,g+\Delta g)$ in Eq. (\[chideltag\]) for $\Delta g/g=10^{-2}$, taking the average over $41000$ realizations. Second, we measured the frequency response function $\chi(\omega;g)$ using Eq. (\[chi-scaled\]) for $\Delta g/g=10^{-1}$, taking the average over $800$ realizations. In Figs. \[chi-r0992\], we compare the frequency response functions obtained from these two series of simulations. We found that they were consistent, although there were some discrepancies in $\chi'(\omega)$ near $\omega=0$.
More evidence of validity of the scaling relation comes from the fact that an FDR in an equilibrium system is satisfied when we measured the frequency response function using Eq. (\[chi-scaled\]). This is discussed further later (see Fig. \[fdr-r1\]).
The frequency response functions presented below were obtained using the scaling relation Eq. (\[scaling\]) (and Eq. (\[chi-scaled\])) by averaging over $800$ realizations. In Figs. \[sc-chi\], we show the real (top) and imaginary (bottom) parts of the scaled response functions $\hat{\chi}'$ and $\hat{\chi}''$ as functions of $\hat\omega$. Here, values of $c$ in Eq. (\[scaledchireal\]) and (\[scaledchiimag\]) were calculated in an NESS without perturbation.
Theoretical predictions Eqs. (\[scaledchireal\]) and (\[scaledchiimag\]) with the same (universal) fitting parameter as estimated in Fig. 6, $\hat{\mu}=0.50$ and $\hat{\Omega}=1.7$, are shown by thick lines. It appears that $\hat{\chi}(\omega)$ is consistent with the theoretical predictions if $r\le 0.996$.
Fluctuation-dissipation relation
--------------------------------
To test the FDR Eq. (\[fdt\]) predicted by our theory, we evaluate the left- and right-hand sides independently using the results of simulations on $S(\omega)$ (Sec. II B) and $\chi''(\omega)$ (Sec. II C) presented in previous subsections. Note that $\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}$ were measured in the NESS where $S(\omega)$ was measured.
First, we confirmed that the FDR held within the error bounds of the simulation result in the whole range of $\omega$ given $r=1$ in Fig. \[fdr-r1\]. The stationary state is just the equilibrium state of elastic particles on a thermal wall. In Fig. \[fdr-r0999-r099\], the left- and right-hand sides of the FDR are plotted as a function of $\omega$ for different $r$ values. For all $r$ ($0.99 \le r \le 0.999$), we found that the FDR held within the error bounds in the higher frequency range of $\omega$, including a region near the highest peak at $\omega=\omega_p$. The angular frequency of the highest peak $\omega_p$ was close to $\omega_{\rm osc}$, defined as the angular frequency of a peak in $S(\omega)$. We stress here that we defined $T_{eff}$ as $T_{eff}=2\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}/k_B$ in the FDR. The quantitative agreement in Fig. \[fdr-r0999-r099\] supports this definition of $T_{eff}$, using $\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}$ instead of using the global granular temperature $T$, because $T_{eff}$ is more than three times larger than $T$ for $r\le 0.996$ (see Fig. \[kineticenergies\]).
We found systematic deviations in the region $\omega < \omega_{p}$ for $r=0.999$ and $r\le 0.994$. These deviations were related to the fact that there was a peak near $\omega = 0$ in $S(\omega)$ (shown in Fig. \[pscom\]), while no corresponding peak near $\omega = 0$ appeared in $\chi''(\omega)$. As we discussed in Sec. IV B, the peak near $\omega= 0$ could have been connected with slow fluctuations of granular temperature due to thermal conduction and collisional dissipation. For $r=0.999$, the time scales of these two processes ($\tau_{\rm therm}$ and $\tau_{\rm diss}$) became much larger than $\tau_{\rm osc}$. Hence, the fluctuations with long lifetimes might be responsible for the deviations at small $\omega$. For $r\le 0.994$, the deviation appeared to increase as $r$ decreased. Because the system had lower granular temperature for smaller $r$, a larger heat current from the thermal wall was induced, causing larger fluctuations in global granular temperature. Further investigation is necessary to understand this violation of the FDR more precisely.
![\[fdr-r1\] (Color online) Left-hand side $\omega S(\omega)/2k_B T_{eff}$ and right-hand side $\chi''(\omega)$ of Eq. (\[fdt\]) for $r=1$. $N=5000$, $L=100$, and $g=10^{-2}$, with averages over 400 realizations for $S(\omega)$ and over 800 realizations for $\chi''(\omega)$. ](./fig10.eps){width="0.8\columnwidth"}
![\[fdr-r0999-r099\] (Color online) Left-hand side $\omega S(\omega)/2k_B T_{eff}$ and right-hand side $\chi''(\omega)$ of Eq. (\[fdt\]) for (a) $r=0.999$, (b) $r=0.998$, (c) $r=0.996$, (d) $r=0.994$, (e) $r=0.992$, and (f) $r=0.99$. $N=5000$, $L=100$, and $g=10^{-3}$, with averages over 400 realizations for $S(\omega)$ and over 800 realizations for $\chi''(\omega)$. ](./fig11.eps){width="1.0\columnwidth"}
Conclusion
==========
We studied the validity of the fluctuation-dissipation relation with regard to the COM motion in an NESS of a driven granular fluid under gravity. By neglecting the fluctuations of global temperature caused by thermal conduction and collisional dissipation, which change much slower than the macroscopic oscillation of the fluid, we derived a Langevin equation for the COM height using phenomenological considerations. This equation predicts functional forms of the correlation and response functions for the COM height that contain two phenomenological numerical constants $\hat{\mu}$ and $\hat{\Omega}$, which are used as fitting parameters. It also gives a fluctuation-dissipation relation accompanied by an effective temperature $T_{eff}$ that characterizes the agitating motion of the COM height by $T_{eff}=2\overline{K}_{\rm COMz}/k_B$.
To test the fluctuation-dissipation relation, we performed event-driven MD simulations and measured the power spectrum and response function for the COM height. While the power spectrum was consistent with our theory for $r\le 0.996$ and $\omega$ around the angular frequency of the slowest oscillation of the COM, it also showed large deviations from the theoretical predictions near $\omega=0$ for all $r$ ($0.99\le r\le 0.999$) and in the whole range of $\omega$ for $r> 0.996$. The response function agreed closely with our theory for $r\le 0.996$ but showed deviations for $r> 0.996$. Furthermore, we compared the left- and right-hand sides of the FDR. The results showed that the FDR held in a region of $\omega$ near the highest peak for all cases of $r$ we tested. It was violated near $\omega=0$ for small $r$, $r\le 0.994$, and for $r$ close to unity, $r=0.999$. For $r\le 0.994$, the violation became more pronounced as $r$ decreased. The violation of the FDR was attributed to a peak near $\omega=0$ in the power spectrum for the COM height, which was absent in the imaginary part of the frequency response function. The peak near $\omega=0$ in the power spectrum cannot be described by our theory.
We showed that these deviations near $\omega=0$ could be attributed to slow fluctuations of global temperature, defined as the slowly varying part of the kinetic energy per particle $K(t)$ due to thermal conduction and collisional dissipation. These fluctuations of global temperature were neglected in our theory. The deviations in the power spectrum and resulting violation of the FDR are expected to be accounted for by a theory that describes both $Z(t)$ and $K(t)$, which we will investigate in the future.
In Ref. [@HaradaSasa-2005] a formula that connects the violation of the FDR in an NESS with the energy dissipation, or equivalently the energy input from outside, was proposed. A theory extended to include the slow dynamics of $K(t)$ and direct measurement of energy input in our simulations might give some insight into the generality of their formula.
Finally, the basic question of whether the effective temperature $T_{eff}$ obtained here has any physical meaning in terms of thermodynamics remains. The definition of effective temperature in a system that relaxes in several time scales, typically glass, has been debated in Refs. [@CugliandoroKurchanPeliti-1997; @BerthierBarrat-2002; @Cugliandolo-2011]. It would be interesting to apply their theories to our problem with three time scales $\tau_{\rm therm}$, $\tau_{\rm diss}$, and $\tau_{\rm osc}$. It would also be interesting to investigate via simulation what happens if two systems with different effective temperatures are in contact with each other. Measuring the direction of heat flow directly might clarify the physical meaning of the effective temperature.
J. W. is grateful to H. Nakanishi, T. Sakaue, T. Saito, and C. Nakajima for their hospitality during his stay at Kyushu University, where part of this study was done. This study was supported by the Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology No. 23740293. Some of the computations for this study were performed using the facilities of the Supercomputer Center, the Institute for Solid State Physics, the University of Tokyo, and the Research Center for Computational Science (RCCS) in Okazaki, Japan.
Langevin equation
=================
In this section, we summarize the derivation [@WakouOchiaiIsobe-2008; @WakouIsobe-2010] of the Langevin equation that describes the motion of the COM of grains.
The equation of motion for the COM of the grains in the model described in Sec. II can be written as $$M\frac{d^2 Z}{dt^2}=-Mg+F_b.
\label{eqmotion}$$ The right-hand side of the equation of motion for the COM must be, in general, the sum of the external forces acting on the grains. In our model, these are the gravitational force $-Mg$ and the $z$-component of the force exerted by the bottom wall $F_b$. Thus, it is essential to understand the properties of $F_b$ for the study of COM motion.
Let us consider the reaction force $F'_b(=-F_b)$: the force exerted by grains against the bottom wall. A snapshot of the granular fluid is sketched in Fig. \[sketch\] (a). Suppose the COM is at a height $Z$ and is moving downward at velocity $V$. We now change the frame of reference to the center of mass frame (see Fig. \[sketch\] \[b\]); the bottom wall that lies a distance $Z$ away from the COM in the $z$-direction is moving upward with velocity $-V$. Now the problem is how to determine $F'_b$, the force acting on the bottom wall as a result of frequent collisions of granular particles, in the situation shown in Fig. \[sketch\] (b). There, the bottom wall is moving upward with velocity $-V$ against the macroscopically static fluid.
![\[sketch\] (a) Schematic of the system observed in the laboratory frame of reference, (b) the same system observed in the center of mass frame, (c) the Rayleigh piston: a piston that undergoes random collisions with a one-dimensional heat bath of particles. ](fig12.eps){width="8.0cm"}
This problem is similar to the problem of determining the force acting on a one-dimensional Brownian particle (the Rayleigh piston [@vanKampen]) moving in the $z$-direction with a velocity $-V$ (see Fig. \[sketch\] \[c\]). We create an expression for $F'_b$ on the basis of this analogy and assume that $F'_b$ consists of three components. The first is a systematic force $f_P(t)$ that equals the pressure multiplied by the area of the bottom wall. Because the local density near the bottom wall changes according to the motion of the COM, this force may depend on time. Apparently, the long time average of $f_P(t)$, that is, $\overline{f_P}$, must be equal to $-Mg$, the gravitational force acting on all particles. The simplest assumption for the time-dependent part of $f_P(t)$ is that it is proportional to the deviation of the COM height from its stationary value, $Z(t)-\overline{Z}$. This is because the change in local density near the bottom wall is proportional to $-(Z(t)-\overline{Z})$ if the change in the height of the COM is sufficiently small: $|Z(t)-\overline{Z}|/\overline{Z}\ll 1$. The second component is a frictional force. We assume here the simplest form of the frictional force: linear in the relative velocity $-V(t)$ of the bottom wall to the COM. The third component is a random force. We assume $$\begin{aligned}
F'_b(t)&=&-Mg + M\Omega^2\left(Z(t)-\overline{Z}\right)+M\mu V(t)+R'(t)
\nonumber\\
&=&-F_{b}(t),
\label{fbdash}\end{aligned}$$ where $\Omega$ is a coefficient that specifies the angular frequency of the slowest oscillation of the COM, and $\mu$ is the frictional coefficient. According to the discussion of characteristic time scales in Sec. II B, the time scales for macroscopic oscillation $\tau_{\rm osc}$ and that for pressure relaxation $\tau_{p}$ are $\tau_{\rm osc}\sim\tau_{p}\sim c/g$. Thus, we assume $$\begin{aligned}
\Omega=\hat{\Omega}/\tau_{\rm osc}=\hat{\Omega}g/c,\hspace{0.5cm}
\mu=\hat{\mu}/\tau_{p}=\hat{\mu} g/c.\end{aligned}$$
For the random force, we assume stationary Gaussian white noise in the same way as for the Rayleigh piston: $$\left<R'(t)\right>=0,\quad \quad \left<R'(t)R'(t')\right>=I\delta(t-t').
\label{gaussianwhite2}$$ where $I$ represents the intensity of the random force.
Substituting the $F_b$ obtained in (\[fbdash\]) into the equation of motion of the COM (\[eqmotion\]), we obtain $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{d^2\delta Z}{dt^2}=-\Omega^2\delta{Z}-\mu\frac{d \delta Z}{dt} + \frac{R(t)}{M},
\label{langevin1}\end{aligned}$$ where $\delta Z\equiv Z(t)-\overline{Z}$ and $R(t)=-R'(t)$. The random force $R(t)$ has exactly the same property described in (\[gaussianwhite2\]) as $R'(t)$. Note that the Langevin equation (\[langevin1\]) has the same form as that describing Brownian motion in a harmonic potential.
Derivation of the power spectrum and the response function
==========================================================
Derivation of the power spectrum and the response function from the Langevin equation describing Brownian motion in a harmonic potential is given in textbooks (see e.g., Ref. [@ResiboisLeener]). We therefore present only essential steps in their calculation. First, we consider the power spectrum of the fluctuating motion of the COM obeying the Langevin equation (\[langevin1\]). The formal solution of Eq. (\[langevin1\]) is written as $$\begin{aligned}
Z(t)-\overline{Z} =
\int_{-\infty}^{t}G(t-t')\frac{R(t')}{M}dt' +F_{ini}(t),
\label{cmheight}\end{aligned}$$ where the function $G(t)$ is given by $$G(t) = \frac{e^{-\frac{\mu}{2}t}}{\omega_0} \sin\left(\omega_0 t\right),
\label{gt}$$ and $\omega_0$ is defined by $\omega_0\equiv(\Omega^2-(\mu/2)^2)^{1/2}$. The last term $F_{ini}(t)$ in Eq. (\[cmheight\]) consists of those that depend on the initial conditions and vanish after a sufficient amount of time. Thus, the term is negligible when calculating long time averages of physical quantities in the stationary state.
Using this formal solution, we can calculate the two-time correlation function $\phi(t)$ in an NESS defined by $\phi(t)\equiv\lim_{t'\to \infty} \left<\delta Z(t')\delta Z(t'+t)\right>$, where the brackets $\left< \cdots\right>$ indicate an average over the random force $R(t)$. We took the limit $t'\to \infty$ to ensure that the system is in the stationary state.
The power spectrum of $\delta Z(t)$ can be obtained using the Winner-Khinchin theorem: $$\begin{aligned}
S(\omega)&=&\int^{\infty}_{-\infty} dt e^{-i\omega t} \phi (t)
\\
&=&
\frac{I}{M^2}\frac{1}{\left(\Omega^2-\omega^2\right)^2+\left(\mu \omega\right)^2}.\end{aligned}$$
Next, we consider the response function for the COM, which describes the linear response of the COM with regard to a small external force $\varepsilon f(t)$. The Langevin equation in this case is written as $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{d^2\delta Z}{dt^2}+\Omega^2\delta{Z}+\mu\frac{d \delta Z}{dt} - \frac{\varepsilon f(t)}{M} - \frac{R(t)}{M} =0.
\label{langevin2}\end{aligned}$$ Taking the average over the random force, we obtain $$\begin{aligned}
\frac{d^2\left<\delta Z\right>}{dt^2}+\Omega^2\left<\delta{Z}\right>+\mu\frac{d \left<\delta Z\right>}{dt}
- \frac{\varepsilon f(t)}{M} =0.
\label{langevin-average}\end{aligned}$$
The response function $\chi (t)$ is defined as $$\begin{aligned}
\left<\delta Z(t) \right>=\int^{t}_{-\infty} dt' \chi(t-t') \varepsilon f(t').
\label{linearresponse3}\end{aligned}$$ Here, the external force $\varepsilon f(t)$ is assumed to be infinitely small. The Fourier transform of this relation yields $\langle \delta \tilde{Z}(\omega) \rangle=\chi(\omega) \varepsilon \tilde{f}(\omega)$, and hence $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(\omega)=\lim_{\varepsilon\to 0}\left<\delta \tilde{Z}(\omega) \right>/ \varepsilon \tilde{f}(\omega).
\label{linearresponse2}\end{aligned}$$
Performing the Fourier transform of the relation (\[langevin-average\]) and comparing it with Eq. (\[linearresponse2\]), we obtain the frequency response function (complex admittance) $$\begin{aligned}
\chi(\omega)=\frac{1}{M}\frac{1}{\Omega^2-\omega^2+i\mu\omega}.\end{aligned}$$
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"I have made my peace with porn, and I'm never going back to that dark place." "What about for 100 bucks an autograph?" "Hello, dark place!" " Hey... hey, guys!" " Break's over." " Wait!" "It's here!" " What's here?" "My ghost-hunting equipment!" " Man, that's just a bat!" " No, it's a ghost bat." "You can't hit a ghost with a regular bat." "It'd go right through them." "Ghost tape recorder, ghost glasses, ghost-a-meter." "That's a rectal thermometer duct-taped to a tennis racquet." "Steve, how much did you spend on all this crap?" " $800." " What?" "Small price to pay for revenge, am I right?" "Yeah, uh..." "Steve, that reminds me." "I have this ghost mop I want to sell you." "No, thanks." "Already have one." "Well, this sucks, Malloy." "I can't believe no one wants to meet me." "There's even a line to see the fatties from Filipino Foot Fetish 5!" "[Camera shutter clicking]" "That was a surprisingly solid film, despite the fact that you didn't realize it was a prequel till the end." "I'm a joke." "I can't believe you talked me into coming here." "My legacy is dead." "Cheer up, Woody." "These porn nerds are just cheap." "Autographs now only $10." "$1.00 autographs." "[Thud]" " Okay, no one loves you." " Jesus does!" "Not after he saw the Rexerection IV Easter [Bleep]day." "Ladies and gentlemen, it is my pleasure to introduce the biggest porn star in the world!" "The God of rod, the master ass blaster, the shoe-in for this year's Boney Award!" "Duke Dick!" "[Cheers and applause]" "Hey, those are my moves!" "That's my Navajo Chap Slap and my Inverted Clam!" "[Gasps] And that's my Mr. Belvedere!" "Yo!" "Duke Dick in the hit zone!" " What time is it?" " It's time to bust ass!" "And that's my catchphrase!" "Now, who wants to see Duke do his famous move?" "The Duke Rocket!" "[Cheers and applause]" "Stop right there!" "Someone get this Queen offstage before the Duke gets filled with rage!" "You stole all of my moves, asshole!" "Asshole?" "My asshole has won five Boney Awards!" "Show some respect, son!" "Oh, I ain't your son, hombre." "I'm Rex [Bleep] Erection!" "Rex Erection was my hero until he told me I'd never make it." "What the..." ""Dear Duke, you got a small tool." "Stay in school." "Rex"." "Well, I showed you." "Now I'm on top, and you're all washed up, old man." "Not for long, because you know what I'm gonna do?" "I don't know." "Skype with your grand kids?" "No, I'm gonna come out of retirement," "I'm gonna make my own movie, I'm gonna win that Boney!" "And then I'm gonna shove it up your award-winning asshole!" "Yeah, right." "What Director would touch your washed-up white ass?" "I will." "Dude, a hairy little woodland creature can't direct a movie." "Uh, what about Peter Jackson?" "Okay, I stand corrected." "[Music]" "Alright Malloy, I snorted four lines of Levitra." "There's soup in the mushroom!" "Let's shoot this thing!" "Put a pin in that boner." "I'm still auditioning actresses." "Connie, bring them in!" "Too fat, trucker arms, flat ass." "That's a Moose." "Christ!" "Connie, bring me some real women with no self-esteem." "Sorry, Malloy, I'm just really tired." "I'm really tired too... of having a wheezing elephant seal for an assistant." "I never actually asked to be your assistant." "Connie, don't ever [Bleep] backtalk me." " I'm so sorry." " Oh, God." "What is this now?" "Do you have any idea how demeaning this is to women?" "Yes." "And, no, you cannot be in it." "I would never be in this movie." "Wait, why can't I be in this movie?" "You don't think I have trucker arms, do you?" "It is my nose?" "[Gasps] Are my boobs too small?" "You know what?" "I'm not gonna fall into your little trap." "You put me in this goddamn movie!" "Put me in!" "Malloy, put me in this movie!" "Fine, but I'm not gonna pay you." "Yes, I'm pretty." "So you're saying the only time the ghost didn't bother you was during the four weeks your daddy was in jail?" "Yeah, I guess he was too busy framing my dad for all those DUI's." "[Pounding on door]" " Ooh, you ordered us a pizza?" " No, it's a medium." " So, you ordered yourself a pizza?" " No, I got us a medium." "Oh, so we only get three slices a piece?" "You at least get some bread sticks or some shit?" "No, Denzel, a medium to help us hunt down this ghost." "How's a pizza gonna hunt down a ghost, Steve?" " Hi, I'm St..." " No, no, no, no, no." "Don't tell me about yourself." "I'll tell you about yourself." " You like to eat candy." " Yes!" " You don't have a girlfriend." " No!" "And you brought me here for some information on..." "Some subject." "Oh, my God, yes!" "I'm looking for an evil ghost." "Where do you think he is?" "Uh... ooh!" "The graveyard." "I knew it!" "Steve, can't you see this woman's playing you?" "This is bullshit!" "Oh, a non-believer." "Let me go check in with the other side." "[Gasps]" "I'm sensing..." "Your Grandmother mispronounces words like libary and bafroom." "Holy shit!" "Can I help you?" "I'm the CEO of this sperm bank, and we are very busy today." "[Stilted] Well, you're going to get even busier because I need a loan." "Ooh, I can give you a loan." "A loan bone." "Cut!" "The line is bone loan." "What the hell is a loan bone?" "I'm having a real problem understanding my character." "He wants to have sex." " Well, what's his motivation?" " To have sex." "Well, did he have a happy childhood?" "Just take off your clothes and [Bleep] her in her [Bleep] [Bleep]." "What?" "I couldn't hear you over all the beeps." "[Microwave beeps]" "Sorry." "I was making Taquitos in the microwave." "Can someone check his green card?" "And where the hell do you think you're going?" "Me?" "Oh, I'm just gonna go grab lunch while my, uh, body double steps in." "Wait, you didn't think I was gonna do a nude scene, did you?" "If I wanted a shitty actress who wouldn't show her tits," "I would have hired Kevin James." "Oh, I don't have to take this from you, Malloy." " I quit!" " Oh, no!" "How will I ever replace you?" "I could just glue two oranges to a mop." "You'll regret this!" "Nobody walks out on me, you [Bleep]!" "I'm sorry." "The shell is warm and crispy, but the Taquito is still cold on the inside." "[Music]" "Steve, you look like a Mexican Astronaut." "Thank you, but this is not about how bad ass I look." " This is about vengeance." " [Snickers] Okay." "Good luck with that vengeance." "If you need me, I'll be home, sleeping." "Boo..." "Aah!" "Aah!" "Ah!" "You ruined my life, you son of a bitch!" "Steve, Steve, hold on!" "I was just messing with you!" "You morphed into Denzel, huh?" " You shape-shifting ghost!" " Whoa, Steve, it's me!" "Ask me something only I would know." " What's my last name?" " I don't [Bleep] know." " Oh, thank God, it's you, Denzel." " Man, this is worse than I thought." "You need some therapy, Steve." "The only therapy I need is to kill this ghost." "Steve, there is no..." "[Rustling]" "Both:" "Ghost!" "Could we soften this light a little bit?" "I don't need or deserve to see every wrinkle on Woody's sac." "If that boom mic gets in the shot one more time, whoa-ho-ho, we're gonna find out what the inside of your ass sounds like." "Probably not good." "He ate a whole plate of Taquitos." "How did you get back into the country?" "Okay, action!" "What the hell is this?" "I did a bunch of coke and rewrote the whole script last night." "Just read the cue cards." "[Stilted] Any last requests, Osama Bin Laden?" "Yes, infidels, I want you to run a train on me with your seal-team dicks or I'll 69/11 you!" "What?" "This is bullshit, Malloy!" "People just want to see The Rex Rocket!" "You're right." "That was garbage." "I'm gonna rewrite the whole script... [snorts]" "Right now." "[Typing furiously]" "[Robotically] Beep-boop, beep-boop, beep." "You ordered a pizza from the future?" "[Grunts]" "Cut!" "Woody, stop breathing!" "Robots don't breathe." "This is the 100th take." "Could we stop for a minute?" " I'm tired." " You're tired?" "You've flubbed your lines so many times that" "Chastity here is starting to question her life choices." "I think I might want to go to nursing school." "I'm pretty sure they drug test." "Oh, well." "Seriously, something's wrong." "I am in real pain here." "Great!" "Use it!" "Action!" " [Thud] - [Groans]" "That was not in the script!" "[Snorts]" "But it is now." "[Typing furiously]" "You're a very lucky man, Woody." "Everything's going to be fine." "Great!" "So I can perform?" "[Laughs] Of course you can perform..." "In stage plays, Lifetime original movies." "Even black face minstrel shows." "Just not pornography." "You see, Woody, you're suffering from a rare ailment..." "Multiple scrot cysts." "I have multiple sclerosis?" "Shit!" "Oh, heavens no." "I wish you did." "I said, multiple scrot cysts, as in multiple cysts in your scrotum." "Each cyst is a little, ticking time bomb." "Every single bounce of your ball bag brings you closer to death." "Level with me, Doc." "How many thrusts do I have left?" "I can't give you an exact number, Woody, but it's somewhere between, say, 70 and 72." "So..." "Seventy one?" "[Laughs]" "If only medicine could be that precise." "[Whimpering] [Door bangs open]" "Aah!" "Aah!" "The ghost!" "He's coming for us." " Grab the ghost bats!" " Take that, you ghost!" "[Overlapping grunts]" "Take that!" "Kill that ghost!" "Kill that ghost!" " Hah!" " Aah!" "I think we got him!" "[Moans]" "Oh, no!" "Connie!" "The ghost must have beat her up!" "We beat her up, you dumb ass!" "It was Connie sleepwalking the whole time!" "I hate to tell you this, Steve, but that ghost was just your alcoholic father beating your mama up on her birthday." "Sorry, I was zoning out." "I didn't hear anything you just said." "Steve, it wasn't a ghost!" "It was your dad the whole time!" "Damn it." "Happened again." "I didn't hear anything after the word Steve." "You just had a shitty dad!" "Sorry, I was holding in a fart." "I give up." "[Squeaky fart]" "Denzel, I just realized something." "It was my dad the whole time." "There is no ghost." " [Munching] - [Shudders]" "[Munching]" "Hey, Steve, long time no see." "Remember when I stole your Christmas presents and made the bank foreclose on your house?" "[Laughs]" "Good times." "Hey, give this to you mom for me." "[Grunts]" "[Music]" "I'm sorry, Snugglewubs, but I just can't do porn anymore." "Doctor's orders." "It kills me more than anyone." "You rest up, Woody." "I completely understand." "Besides, I already found your replacement." "Yo, yo, yo, Duke Dick in the father-suckin' house." "Ooh, hell no!" "I ain't done yet!" "It's time to bust ass!" "Action!" "[Typing furiously]" "[Typing furiously]" "[Typing furiously]" "No!" "No, no, no!" "No, no, no, no, no, no!" "No, no, no, no!" "[Elephant trumpeting]" "All right, Woody, this is your final scene." "Oh, it better be." "This is the 93rd rewrite of this movie... today!" "I know you're tired, but nail this shot, and Rex Erection will never be forgotten again." "Time for The Rex Rocket." "You ready?" "[Grunts]" "It's time to... [takes deep breath]" "Bust ass!" "The Rex Rocket!" "[Thud]" "[Cheers and applause]" "Oh, my God, he's dead and still in me!" "Gross!" "And that's how you direct a snuff film." "Perfect!" "The world mourns today as beloved pornographic film star Rex Erection has died." "A true innovator, he developed specialized coitus procedures." "Like the Clam Slam..." "The Drippy Pickle..." "The Nancy Reagan." "And his signature, Rex Rocket." "One thing is for certain..." "The legacy of Rex Erection will live on forever." "We now join the Boney Awards, already in progress." "Ladies and gentlemen, here are the porn actors and actresses we lost this year." "_." "_." "_." "_." "_." "_." "And now, to present the Boney for best actor!" "Please welcome Flesh Devil, the leather-bound midget freak." "And academy award winner Susan Sarandon." "[Applause]" "Susan, it is said that a good porn actor invites the audience to come." "Yes, Flesh Devil, but a great porn actor also invites the audience to feel." "The Boney Award for best actor goes to..." "Rex Erection!" "[Applause]" "I'd like to accept this on behalf of Rex Erection." "He wasn't sexy or handsome, he was a horrible actor, but you guys will jerk off to anything." "Thank you. [Applause]" "[Grunts] [Audience gasps]" "This is bullshit!" "Everyone knows Duke is the greatest of all time!" "[Thwack] [Groans] [Thud]" "That's not the one I take home, is it?" "I can't believe Woody's gone." "Do you have any idea what he left me in his will?" "His love." "Oh, isn't that sweet?" "Hope you rot in hell, cheap old man." "Connie, what happened to you?" "Steve said a ghost got me, then Denzel said the ghost left, and there's no use investigating the situation any further." "Howdy, Rangers." "It's time to bust ass!" " What the..." " I faked my own death so Rex Erection's legacy could live on forever." "I wasn't about to let Duke Dick steal everything I worked for!" "But there was a body in the casket that we buried." "Huh?" "Oh, yeah." "That was some homeless Navajo I found passed out behind Quiznos." "What?" "I gave him 50 bucks." "Sorry we're late." "Ghost!" "Quick!" "Grab the ghost bats!" "[Groans]" |
Q:
Answer to the Hyperledger Components
What is 1. and 8. and why they are using the same Connection name? Why it is required or what does it convey?
What are these two cards i.e. 2,3 and why they are required? Can't we have single of these?
What and why are these two UserId i.e. 4,5? When are are going to use them? Can't we have single of these?
Again Business network i.e. 6,7. What and why first is NONE and Second is tutorial-network?
Why 13. is not enabled and 14. is enabled.
What is the use of redundant network with same application deployed on two Organisation?
Source:
Deploying a Hyperledger Composer blockchain business network to Hyperledger Fabric (multiple organizations)
https://hyperledger.github.io/composer/latest/tutorials/deploy-to-fabric-multi-org
A:
Playground is showing you all the cards in your card store that you used when going through the byfn tutorial. You have acted as 2 different organisations on a single machine (however in the real world you are only likely to have cards for a single organisation). Also Playground can have issues working with a multi-organisation fabric network, such as byfn, around deploying/updating business networks, so it's use with these fabrics is not recommended.
1) Connection Profiles in a network card represent the fabric you want to communicate with. Connection profiles have a name and it is this name that you are seeing. You have 2 sections with the same name because with BYFN you are pretending to be 2 organisations on the same machine and the connection profiles are different between the 2 organisations but have the same name.
2,3) The first card represents a fabric network card and has the name PeerAdmin (used for doing fabric level interaction such as deploying a business network) The second card represents a business network card for interacting with the business network as the userid shown. They are 2 different cards that provide different types of access.
4) A fabric network card doesn't connect to a business network, this is why it shows NONE. The other one is the name of the business network that the card will connect you to.
5) 13 is not enabled because a fabric network card can never connect to a business network, whereas 14, because it is a business network card can connect to a business network.
6) don't understand the question.
|
Q:
Why does IR spectroscopy specifically require a change in dipole moment, and why doesn't this apply to other types of spectroscopy?
I would really appreciate any amount of detail/depth. I do not have a background in quantum, which is probably why I don't know the answer to this. However, any answer referencing quantum concepts is welcome and appreciated; I will follow up on any resources provided.
My question is basically as follows: Why does IR absorption require a change in dipole moment, and why is it that other types of spectroscopy (UV Vis, microwave) don't have this requirement? What causes this requirement specifically for IR?
Thank you!
A:
All the types of spectroscopy you mention have a similar condition for a spectrum to be observed. This is that the molecule has to be able to interact with the radiation in the first place and then the radiation has to be of the correct energy to change the energy of the molecule from one level to another.
A plain (classical) explanation is as follows. (We implicitly assume that the radiation has the correct energy). As radiation is electric dipole in nature (it consists of oscillating electric and magnetic fields) if the molecule also generates an oscillating electric field it can interact with the radiation; energy is taken from the radiation field and enters the molecule. Thus a molecule may gain a quantum of vibrational or rotational energy or an excited state may be produced.
In the case of a vibrating diatomic molecule only if it is hetero-nuclear e.g. HCl, will it have a dipole and thus an oscillating dipole and oscillating electric field as it vibrates. Thus hetero-nuclear diatomics show an IR spectrum, homo-nuclear diatomics do not. In a polyatomic molecule vibrations can distort the molecule, e.g. benzene is distorted so that it is no longer 6 fold symmetric, so that a dipole is produced and an IR spectrum may result. What form this takes depends on the molecule's symmetry and group theory point groups are used to determine this.
In a rotating diatomic molecule we usually use a rigid-rotor model. If the molecule has a dipole then this clearly changes as the molecule rotates, produced an oscillating electric field, and so a microwave (rotational) spectrum is produced. A homo-nuclear diatomic e.g. $\ce{O2}$ has no microwave spectrum.
In a UV/visible transition an excited state may be produced but only if the electron distribution in the excited state is different from that of the ground state, i.e. a dipole is produced that can interact with the radiation. A molecule such a benzene has a forbidden first electronically excited state due to its symmetry (which is however observed weakly due to other effects) and so absorbs very little compared to aniline (amino-benzene) or many dye molecules where symmetry does not limit any electronic dipole formation.
Thus although the details vary, the underlying ideas are the same. You should understand now that the statements about spectra in your question are not all correct. The rules used to determine what transitions are allowed or not allowed (called forbidden) are called 'selection rules'.
You can read about this in more detail, as a quantum version, in most undergraduate phys. chem. textbooks.
You may realise that the vibrational frequencies of homo-nuclear molecules are known even though they have no ir spectrum and this is because they can be measured by Raman spectroscopy. This depends on the change in shape/size of the 'electron cloud' (polarisability) a molecule possesses. Electro-magnetic radiation also possesses an oscillating magnetic field but this interacts far more weakly with molecules than its electric counterpart and can often but not always be ignored, the exception being NMR spectroscopy.
A:
Lets begin with the absorption.
The probability of ANY absorption taking place is given by the the Einstein's B coefficient, which is \begin{equation}
B_{n^{\prime}n^{\prime\prime}}=\frac{8 \pi^3}{3h^2}[|\int \psi_{n^\prime}\mu_{X} \psi_{n^{\prime\prime}}d \tau|^2 + |\int \psi_{n^\prime}\mu_{Y} \psi_{n^{\prime\prime}}d \tau|^2 + |\int \psi_{n^\prime}\mu_{Z} \psi_{n^{\prime\prime}}d \tau|^2]
\end{equation}
Above equation is in complete generality, and the wave function $\psi$ is the complete wave function. $\mu_{X}$ is the dipole moment component (in X, using Cartesian coordinates). Integration is over all space.
RULE: if the dipole moment components for a given transition are zero, the absorption will not take place. (By components I mean the integral. If the integral goes to zero then no absorption for that component, if all three integrals are zero then no absorption at all) This determines the selection rules for all absorption processes (and also induced emission, but not discussing here !).
Back to absorption, the wave-function for the molecule can be expressed as
\begin{equation}
\psi= \psi_{E} \psi_{V} \psi_{R} \psi_{T}
\end{equation}
where $\psi_{E}, \psi_{V}, \psi_{R}$ and $\psi_{T}$ are the electronic, vibrational, rotational and translational wave-functions. For vibrational analysis the electronic wave function does not matter and we can safely exclude it. (This is the wave function needed for the calculation of the integral. For general understanding consider the wave function as a mathematical function whose integral gives you information about the molecule.)
The translational selection rule is that the change in the quantum number should be $\Delta n =0$ that is the quantum number does not change (while translation in space).
[At the stage we have separated the electronic and translational wave functions, and we deal with only vibrations, hence $\psi_{v}$.]
Coming to rotational and vibrational part,
If $X_{\alpha}$, $Y_{\alpha}$ and $Z_{\alpha}$ is the coordinate which moves with the molecule, then a new coordinate can be introduced which moves and also rotates with the molecule. This is say $x_{\alpha}$, $y_{\alpha}$ and $z_{\alpha}$.
The relation between $X_{\alpha}$ and $x_{\alpha}$ are governed by angles expressed as trigonometric relations, also known as direction cosines.
Advantage of this transformation is that we can separate vibration from rotation and discuss vibration.
The electric moment of the full system of molecule has three components in Cartesian coordinates, \begin{equation}
\mu_{x}=\sum_{\alpha}e_{\alpha}x_{\alpha}
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}
\mu_{y}=\sum_{\alpha}e_{\alpha}y_{\alpha}
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}
\mu_{z}=\sum_{\alpha}e_{\alpha}z_{\alpha}
\end{equation}
Now, during vibration the charged entities are moving. To be more clear I would say the nuclei are moving. The dipole moment is dynamic and changing with the vibration. The changing dipole moment can be expressed a Taylor expansion so as to include the change from equilibrium position. This expansion is carried out using the normal coordinates( normal coordinates are coordinates of the atoms which change with the vibration, when all atoms move with same frequency but different amplitudes).\begin{equation}
\mu_{x}=\mu_{x}^{0}+\mu_{x}^{1}Q_{1}+\mu_{x}^{2}Q_{2}+...
\end{equation}
where $\mu_{x}^{n}$ is the nth derivative. Generally, only the first derivative is taken and hence, \begin{equation}
\mu_{x}=\mu_{x}^{0}+ \frac{d \mu_{x}}{dQ_{1_{0}}}\hspace{1ex}Q_{1}
\end{equation}
Above result is now used with the vibrational wave function.
\begin{equation}
\int \psi_{n^\prime}\mu_{x} \psi_{n^{\prime\prime}}d\tau= \int \psi_{n^\prime} [ \mu_{x}^{0}+ \frac{d \mu_{x}}{dQ_{1_{0}}}\hspace{1ex}Q_{1} ]\psi_{n^{\prime\prime}}d\tau
\end{equation}
\begin{equation}
\int \psi_{n^\prime}\mu_{x} \psi_{n^{\prime\prime}}d\tau=\mu_{x}^{0} \int \psi_{n^\prime} \psi_{n^{\prime\prime}} d \tau + \int \psi_{n^\prime} [ \frac{d \mu_{x}}{dQ_{1_{0}}}\hspace{1ex}Q_{1} ]\psi_{n^{\prime\prime}}d \tau
\end{equation}
The first term would go to zero since the vibrational wave functions are orthogonal. In the second term, the condition of non-zero derivative of dipole moment is required to have this term being non-zero. Hence the change if dipole moment with vibration is utmost necessary.
Other comments: With similar approach one can derive, for UV and visible absorption that the dipole is required; and for microwave absorption we need a permanent dipole moment.
References:
Physical Chemistry by Atkins, Paula.;
Modern Spectroscopy by Hollas ;
(More advanced reference. Molecular vibrations by Wilson, Decius, Cross.)
|
/*
This file is part of Ext JS 4
Copyright (c) 2011 Sencha Inc
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*/
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alias: 'layout.textareafield',
type: 'textareafield',
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* Given the target bodyEl dimensions, adjust them if necessary to return the correct final
* size based on the text field's {@link Ext.form.field.Text#grow grow config}. Overrides the
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* @param {Number} width The bodyEl width
* @param {Number} height The bodyEl height
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Estonia Industrial production May 2016
Estonia: Industrial production falls back into contraction in May
July 1, 2016
According to Statistics Estonia, industrial production decreased a working-day adjusted 1.9% over the same month last year in May, which marked a significant deterioration from the revised 0.7% increase registered in April (previously reported: +0.8% year-on-year). May’s drop marked a further decrease in Estonian industrial production, which, apart from last month, has been falling since April 2015. May’s reading was mainly driven by a drop in energy production.
A seasonally-adjusted month-on-month assessment shows that industrial production decreased 3.3% in May, which contrasted April’s 5.6% expansion. Meanwhile, the annual average variation in industrial production was minus 3.3% in May, the same reading tallied in April.
FocusEconomics Consensus Forecast panelists expect industrial production to grow 2.0% in 2016, which is down 0.9 percentage points from last month’s projection. The panel foresees industrial production increasing 3.8% in 2017.
Author:Andrea Vetrugno, Economist
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List of lakes of Germany
The largest lake on German territory is Lake Constance, while Lake Müritz is the largest lake located entirely within German territory.
List
(incomplete)
The following is a list of some larger lakes in Germany:
See also
List of dams and reservoirs in Germany
List of lakes in Bavaria
List of lakes of Hesse
List of lakes in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern
List of lakes of Rhineland-Palatinate
List of lakes in Schleswig-Holstein
*
Lakes |
1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a current mirror.
More specifically, the invention relates to a current mirror of the type comprising at least a first and a second mirror transistors inserted between a first and a second voltage reference and connected to an input terminal and to an output terminal of the current mirror, respectively. A base current compensation block is inserted between said input terminal and common control terminals of the first and second mirror transistors and connected to a voltage reference.
2. Description of Related Art
As it is well known, current mirrors are widely used in all kinds of electronic circuits. Basically, a current mirror is a circuit designed to copy a current flowing through one active device by controlling a current in another active device, keeping an output current of an output terminal of the current mirror constant regardless of loading values applied to the output terminal itself.
A current mirror realized by using bipolar transistors is schematically shown in FIG. 1.
In particular, the current mirror 1 comprises a first or input leg comprising a current generator G1 issuing a reference current Iref, a first mirror transistor Q1 and a first emitter resistor R1, inserted, in series with each other, between a first and a second voltage reference, in particular a supply voltage reference Vcc and ground GND.
Furthermore, the current mirror 1 comprises a second or output leg comprising a second mirror transistor Q2 and a second emitter resistor R2, inserted, in series with each other, between an output terminal OUT of the current mirror 1 and ground GND.
The first and second mirror transistors, Q1 and Q2, are bipolar transistors and have their base terminals connected to each other.
To increase current mirror accuracy, a classic solution is to use emitter resistors and a base current compensation block, as shown in FIG. 1 and globally indicated at 2.
In particular, the base current compensation block 2 is connected to the common base terminals of the mirror transistors, Q1 and Q2, and to the collector terminal of the first mirror transistor Q1. The collector terminal of the first mirror transistor Q1 is also the input terminal IN of the current mirror 1.
The base current compensation block 2 is used to compensate the base currents of the first and second mirror transistors, Q1 and Q2. A well known realization of this block is described in Analysis and Design of Analog Integrated Circuits, Paul R. Gray, Robert G. Meyer, Third edition, page 276, and schematically shown in FIG. 2.
In particular, the base current compensation block 2 comprises a compensation transistor Q3, inserted between the supply voltage reference Vcc and the common control or base terminals of the mirror transistors, Q1 and Q2, and having a base terminal connected to the collector terminal of the first bipolar mirror transistor Q1. The compensation transistor Q3 is a bipolar transistor.
It can be verified that the compensation transistor Q3 reduces the error of an output current of the output terminal OUT according to the following equation:
Iout = Iref 1 + 2 β F ( β F + 1 ) ( 1 ) where Iout is the output current, Iref is the reference current and βF is the bipolar current gain of Q1, Q2 and Q3 (supposed to be equal at a first order approximation).
Moreover, the first and second emitter resistors, R1 and R2, increase the matching of the current mirror 1, as explained in the above cited handbook, pages 317 to 320.
Also known is an alternative realization of the base current compensation block 2 using a MOS transistor M3, as shown in FIG. 3.
In this case, as the gate current of a MOS transistor is zero, the output current Iout is equal to the reference current Iref and the base currents of the first and second bipolar mirror transistors, Q1 and Q2, are supplied by the MOS transistor M3.
While advantageous from many points of view, the known solution has shown several drawbacks, among which is the fact that an input voltage applied to the collector terminal of the first mirror transistor Q1 should be higher than a threshold value, which turns out to be too high in many applications. In particular, such a threshold voltage is: 2×Vbe+R1×Iref, for the base current compensation block 2 realized by a bipolar transistor and shown in FIG. 2, or Vgs+Vbe+R1×Iref, for the base current compensation block 2 realized by a MOS transistor and shown in FIG. 3,where: Vbe is the base-emitter voltage of the first mirror transistor Q1; and Vgs is the gate source voltage of the MOS transistor M3.
As an example, if Vbe=0.8V, Vgs=1V and R1×Iref=0.2V (which are common amounts for these values) the minimum input voltage is about 1.8V or 2V, increasing to 2V or 2.3V with temperature and process variations. |
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s invitation to migrants to come to her country has been described as “insane” by U.S. Presidential candidate Donald Trump, who has predicted more violence will follow in the country as a result.
Donald Trump, the Republican Party presidential front-runner, was talking about Mrs. Merkel’s invitation to migrants on the American political interview show, ‘Face The Nation’.
Mr Trump said: “I do not like the migration. I do not like the people coming”. Instead he favours “a safe zone for people”, an idea on which he expanded.
He said: “Frankly, look, Europe is going to have to handle — but they’re going to have riots in Germany. What’s happening in Germany, I always thought Merkel was like this great leader. What she’s done in Germany is insane. It is insane. They’re having all sorts of attacks.”
Mr Trump was talking about the decision to throw open Germany’s doors to Syrian migrants taken by Frau Merkel in August, which Breitbart London previously reported. The ‘open doors’ policy is an idea for which she has come under attack, even from those within her own political ranks.
“What they should do is get all the countries together, including the Gulf States, which have nothing but money. They should all get together and they should take a big swath of land in Syria.
“They should do a safe zone for people where they could live. And then ultimately go back to their country, go back to where they came from.”
Mr Trump was asked how many migrants he would take into the U.S. were he in charge. He replied: “10,000, I’m not thrilled, but maybe. 200,000 people? This could be the greatest Trojan Horse. This could make the Trojan horse look like peanuts if these people turned out to be a lot of ISIS.”
He commented on the fact that most of the migrants are young men:
“…I have been watching this migration. And I see the people. I mean, they’re men. They’re mostly men, and they’re strong men. These are physically young, strong men. They look like prime-time soldiers.
“Now, it’s probably not true, but where are the women? You see some women. You see some children. But for the most part, I’m looking at these strong men. So, you ask two things. Number one, why aren’t they fighting for their country? And, number two, I don’t want these people coming over here.
“And even on a humanitarian — when I was first asked this question — you asked it to me a long time ago — when they were talking about 3,000 people, I begrudgingly would say, oh, maybe, I don’t know. Maybe.” |
Blackpool 3 - Southampton 0
Blackpool cruise past league leaders
Blackpool improved on their recent performances to cruise past the league leaders at Bloomfield Road in the weekend`s evening kick off. Southampton missed a golden chance to go in front when Matt Gilks saved a Billy Sharp penalty in the first half, and Blackpool never looked back. Stephen Dobbie marked his second home debut for the club with a brace, before Ian Evatt nodded in from a corner to seal all three points.
yebrows were raised when the teamsheet was unveiled, with Barr Ferguson, Stephen Crainey, Craig Cathcart and Kevin Phillips all missing from the matchday squad, with Bob Harris starting at left back, Angel Martinez restored to the midfield, while Dobbie played in the hole behind Taylor-Fletcher up front. Tom Ince and Matt Phillips were both brought back in after missing the defeat at Reading. Southampton were without the division`s leading scorer Rickie Lambert, the 24 goal man succumbing to a groin injury, while Jason Puncheon also missed out on a return to Bloomfield Road.
outhampton dominated the opening exchanges of the game, with Guly Do Prado missing an excellent chance when clean through, only to dink it wide of the goal, while Neal Eardley and Bob Harris were kept busy by Adam Lallana as he covered important ground on both wings. The visitors were well on top, and were given a great chance to lead when Bob Harris was caught out, and Do Prado was about to pull the trigger, Harris dragged him down, leaving the assistant referee no choice but to flag for the penalty.
regular scorer at Bloomfield Road whenever he visits, the world expected Billy Sharp to put the Saints in front, but his weak effort from 12 yards was well saved by Gilks. Moments later Gary Taylor-Fletcher showed great footwork on the left side before bursting into the area, only to be upended by Morgan Schneiderlin. The referee pointed to the spot once again, and Stephen Dobbie gleefully accepted the opportunity to open his account in his second loan spell.
obie didn`t have to wait long for his second, when a long ball from Eardley was flicked on by Taylor-Fletcher, and the Scot showed great pace to get beyond Jos Hooiveld, then strength to hold off the big centre back before guiding a wonderful right footed effort into the far corner with his first touch.
he remainder of the first half was dominated by the Seasiders, with Tom Ince and Matt Phillips causing the visiting back four all sorts of problems with their pace, regularly catching the full back pairing of Butterfield and Fox out of position, and Blackpool could have been out of sight at half time.
he second half saw Southampton make a change, with Steve De Ridder replacing Richard Chaplow, but the Blackpool carried on where they left off, forcing the league leaders onto the back foot with their movement and pace up front. After a succession of corners, Phillips delivered a wonderful cross to the back post which picked out the run of Ian Evatt, who powered a header into the top corner to effectively kill off any hopes of a Southampton come back.
s Blackpool looked to see the game out, the division`s top side started to cause problems, but the new back four looked solid under pressure, with Bob Harris particularly impressing with one goal line clearance from a Sharp flick, before denying the former Scunthorpe and Doncaster man again with a last ditch tackle when Evatt and Baptiste were caught flat footed by a ball into Sharp`s feet 10 yards out.
he substitutions had the desired effects, as LuaLua, Ormerod and Fleck all came on to run the clock down, with Gilks only having to save once from a Danny Fox free kick, and Blackpool held on to a first clean sheet in 14 games, and an impressive win to get their playoff push back on track.
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Q:
Html & Css Table Cell Width Issue how to show Icon always on the right side?
I have a Table with 3 Table-Cells.
The first one should represent a Profile Picture, the second one should represent a title (text) and the third one should represent a button with a flag icon in it.
How it should be:
How it is at the moment:
As you can see the middle cell resizes its width automatically.
Thats the Problem because no matter how long the text in the middle is it should always fit/fill the screen. The Left and Right ones should always have the same fixed width.
What I have tried already:
<div class="table">
<div class="tablecellleft">
........here is the img
</div>
<div class="tablecellmiddle">
..... here is the text
<div>
<div class="tablecellright">
...... button with icon
</div>
</div>
css:
.table{
display: table;
}
.tablecellleft{
display: table-cell;
min-width: 17vw;
max-width: 17vw;
}
.tablecellmiddle{
display: table-cell;
vertical-align: top;
//No width because it should fill
}
.tablecellright{
display: table-cell;
min-width: 17vw;
max-width: 17vw;
}
A:
Use calc and subtract what width you have given to left and right section by 100%;
width: calc(100% - 34vw);
var fees = ['$0.9 + $.1', '$20 + $2', '$5 + $0.5', '$0 + $0.01', '$100 + $9', '$1 + $1', '$2 + $0.5'];
.table{
display: table;
width: 100%;
}
.tablecellleft{
display: table-cell;
width: 17vw;
}
.tablecellmiddle{
display: table-cell;
vertical-align: top;
width: calc(100% - 34vw);
//No width because it should fill
}
.tablecellright{
display: table-cell;
width: 17vw;
text-align: right;
}
<div class="table">
<div class="tablecellleft">
........here is the img
</div>
<div class="tablecellmiddle">
..... here is the text
</div>
<div class="tablecellright">
...... button with icon
</div>
</div>
|
Some of the experts are saying that Megan Fox is already done and as proof they point out that ‘Jennifers Body’ didn’t make any money. Keep in mind however that the experts never have any idea WTF they’re talking about.
‘Jennifers Body’ didn’t make any money because it sucked, and it sucked because it was written by Diablo Cody. Even with that anchor around it’s neck, ‘Body‘ made 6.9 million on it’s opening weekend. Compare that to ‘Whiteout’, starring Kate Beckinsale. That made 4.9 million. ‘Love Happens’, starring Jennifer Aniston, opened with 8 million. Before that, Aniston starred in ‘Management’. It opened on May 15th, and as of yesterday, it’s made a total of 934,658 dollars. You could have been collecting cans since May 15th and made more than that.
Point being: Look. At. Her. Just look at Megan in this bootleg version of her girl kissing scene from ‘Jennifers Body’. You can find better dialogue in a mentos commercial, and your local weatherman has better special effects, but Megan overcomes it all, she rises up like a Phoenix from the ashes, and takes us on a journey of erotic delights. |
New developments in meat starter cultures.
Meat starter cultures containing one or more strains of lactic acid bacteria,Actinobacteria, staphylococci,Halomonas elongata, Aeromonas spec., and moulds or yeasts are widely in practical use. The progress in microbial systematic has led to changes in the taxonomy of familiar bacterial species which are described. Studies of flavour genesis led to the identification of the contribution of the enzyme activities endogenously present in the meat matrix as well as of those exerted by the starter cultures. Characteristic compounds of the aroma of fermented meat products originating from the starter organisms were also described. New knowledge was accumulated on the physiology and genetics of starter bacteria and some insight has been gained in the regulation of the expression of genes encoding important properties such as bacteriocin production or catalase activity. The applicability of gene technology to starter strains has been shown and strains have been constructed that have the potential to further improve the technological and hygienic suitability of starter cultures. New applications of the micro-organisms as protective or probiotic cultures have been developed for application in meat science. |
Stroop performance and difficulties of older adults using automatic teller machines.
This study examined the relationship between inhibition of older dults and difficulties using automatic teller machines. 22 older adults performed three transactions on an ATM simulator, and errors were recorded. Participants also performed the Stroop interference task to assess inhibition. Both interference effect in response latencies and rate of intrusion errors in the Stroop task were moderately correlated with number of errors on the task. Older adults with low Stroop performance made more errors in the categories of Forgetting an operation, Screen mix-up, and Overlooking an input error than those with high performance. These results suggest that low inhibition may be associated with difficulties in automatic teller machine use, and the importance of designing a user interface which lessens the likelihood of errors for older adults or others. |
Introduction {#s1}
============
Coronary heart disease (CHD) remains the major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, responsible for about one in every seven deaths ([@B13]). It is predicted to continue until 2030, accounting for 14% of all deaths ([@B15]). Currently, the incidence of CHD is still on the rise and is associated with a high mortality rate, despite the use of effective Western medicine treatments. Therefore, effective complementary and alternative therapy is necessary to improve functional status and quality of life in CHD patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) integrated with Western medicine in the treatment of CHD has made great progress. As an effective complementary and alternative therapy, TCM has improved the prognosis of CHD patients. According to the TCM theory, Qi is the commander of blood. Qi stagnation causes blood stasis, which leads to heart vessel blockage stasis. CHD with Qi stagnation and blood stasis is a common syndrome of CHD. Therefore, one of the critical treatments of CHD in TCM is to regulate Qi and promote blood circulation ([@B26]). Xuefu Zhuyu (XFZY) decoction, which originated from the ancient Chinese document "Yilin Gaicuo" in the late Qing Dynasty, has effects on regulating Qi and promoting blood circulation, which is the basic prescription for the treatment of CHD ([@B14]). Previous studies confirmed that XFZY decoction reduced the incidence of cardiovascular events and improved the prognosis of patients with CHD; however, the underlying mechanism is still unclear.
CHD is characterized by an atherosclerotic plaque-induced narrowing of the coronary arteries, which results in myocardial ischemia, infarction, and postinfarction heart failure. The abnormal substrate and energy metabolism induced by myocardial ischemia is fundamental in the development of CHD ([@B7]). Because complete metabolism of glucose is more oxygen efficient than that of fatty acids (FA; [@B16]), myocardial ischemia causes the limitation of FA oxidation and the effective utilization of glucose catabolism, which may lead to the decrease of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) production. In addition, several additional pathways that do not lead to ATP generation, such as the pentose phosphate pathway and the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, are activated. Therefore, metabolic abnormality plays a key role in affecting the development and prognosis of CHD ([@B18]; [@B10]). Recently, it was found that metabolites involved in amino acid metabolism and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle might partially constitute the material foundation of Qi, according to the Qi and blood theory of TCM ([@B28]). Therefore, we studied differential metabolites in the serum of CHD patients to explore the effects of TCM on regulating Qi and promoting blood circulation. It is of great significance to elucidate the mechanism of improving the prognosis of CHD patients through Qi-regulating and blood-promoting herbs and to study Qi and blood in TCM theory.
Metabolomics is one of the youngest branches of "-omics" (such as genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics) techniques to offer the most up-to-date insight into the state of the system in the field of systems biology. It contains approaches to detect low-molecular-weight metabolites (molecular mass \<1,500 Da), which reflects changes in the final representations of an organism's phenotype. In our study, we used nontargeted metabolomics analysis to focus on the differential metabolites in the serum from CHD patients treated with placebo and XFZY decoction. We aimed to provide references for the pathogenesis of CHD and the treatment of Qi-regulating and blood-promoting drugs, which refined the understanding of Qi and blood in TCM theory.
Materials and Methods {#s2}
=====================
Participants {#s2_1}
------------
In this study, a total of 10 CHD patients were recruited from the Chinese PLA General Hospital from April to July 2017. On the basis of routine Western medicine treatment according to the guidelines, participants were treated with placebo granules and XFZY decoction granules randomly and double blindly (twice a day for 12 weeks). The study was approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital (No. S2015-048-01) and registered at [www.chictr.org.cn](www.chictr.org.cn) (registration number ChiCTR-IOR-15006989).
Inclusion criteria included age \<75 years and compliance with the diagnostic criteria for stable CHD according to the American College of Cardiology (ACC)/American Heart Association (AHA) guidelines in 2014 ([@B8]). All participation was voluntary, and patients signed an informed agreement. We excluded patients with severe renal dysfunction (serum creatinine \>220 μmol/l in males or \>175 μmol/l in females), liver dysfunction (aspartate aminotransferase or alanine aminotransferase level three times higher than normal), uncontrolled blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, hemorrhagic diseases, malignant tumors, autoimmune diseases, or hematological or psychiatric diseases; pregnant women; and those who were allergic to components of the research drugs. We also excluded patients with a history of myocardial infarction, severe chronic heart failure, severe arrhythmia, or a cardiac pacemaker. Patients were treated with routine Western medicine according to the guidelines, including anti-ischemia drugs (β receptor blocker or calcium antagonist), antiplatelet drugs (aspirin or clopidogrel), anticoagulant drugs (heparin or low-weight-molecular heparin), and lipid-lowering drugs (statins). Complications, such as hypertension and dyslipidemia, were treated according to relevant guidelines. During the study, nitroglycerin was used to relieve acute angina pectoris. The specifications of nitroglycerin are 0.5 mg/tablet. The original treatment was maintained during the trial.
TCM Treatment {#s2_2}
-------------
Both XFZY decoction granules and placebo granules were prepared and standardized from China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Company (Shenzhen, China). XFZY decoction granules refer to the proportion of components of XFZY decoction, and the botanical compositions are shown in Table 1. The voucher specimens of total compositions were stored by China Resources Sanjiu Medical & Pharmaceutical Company (Shenzhen, China). The chemical compositions of XFZY decoction mainly consisted of ferulic acid, paeoniflorin, amygdalin, hydroxysafflor yellow A, catalpol, platycodin D, liquiritin, and ammonium glycyrrhizinate, as indicated by the high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) profile of the extract performed by the manufacturer ([**Supplementary Figure 1**](#SM1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}). The chemical structures of those major compounds are depicted in [**Supplementary Figure 2**](#SM1){ref-type="supplementary-material"}. The main components of placebo granules were caramel pigments (4 g), and maltodextrin (1,000 g). Using the technical requirements of the quality standards of TCM formula granules, a mixing solution was dried, and granules were then formed. Quality control (QC) of the pharmaceutical process was carried out in accordance with Pharmaceutical Production Quality Management Standards (2015).
######
Botanical compositions of Xuefu Zhuyu decoction.
Herb (local name) Medicinal parts Amount in application (g)
--------------------------------------------------------- ----------------- ---------------------------
*Prunus persica* (L.) Batsch (Tao Ren) Seed 12
*Angelica sinensis* (Oliv.) Diels (Dang Gui) Root 15
*Conioselinum anthriscoides* "Chuanxiong" (Chuan Xiong) Root 10
*Carthamus tinctorius* L. (Hong Hua) Flower 10
*Paeonia lactiflora* Pall. (Chi Shao) Root 10
*Rehmannia glutinosa* (Gaertn.) DC. (Di Huang) Root 15
*Citrus × aurantium* L. (Zhi Qiao) Fruit 6
*Bupleurum chinense* DC. (Chai Hu) Root 3
*Platycodon grandiflorus* (Jacq.) A.DC. (Jie Geng) Root 4.5
*Achyranthes bidentata* Blume (Niu Xi) Root 9
*Glycyrrhiza uralensis* Fisch. ex DC. (Gan Cao) Root 6
All components in Xuefu Zhuyu decoction granules were fully validated using <http://mpns.kew.org/mpns-portal/?_ga=1.111763972.1427522246.1459077346>.
Randomization, Control, and Double Blinding {#s2_3}
-------------------------------------------
Subjects were randomly grouped by researchers using a random-number table by SAS statistical software. The allocation ratio between the XFZY decoction group and placebo group was 1:1. Drugs were coded and packaged according to random numbers. The blind bottom could not be disassembled during the trial. A placebo group was established as the control of XFZY decoction to exclude the effect of the placebo on CHD treatment. The participants, staff, and researchers were blinded to the treatment group allocation.
Sample Collection and Preparation {#s2_4}
---------------------------------
All subjects fasted overnight, and 4 ml of peripheral venous blood was drawn in the morning of the day of the consultation. The blood was then coagulated for 30 min at 4°C and centrifuged at 3,000 × *g* for 15 min. The serum supernatant was collected. We then added 400 μl of prechilled methanol to 100 μl serum samples to precipitate the proteins. The mixture was shaken for 15 s, incubated at --80°C for 1 h, and then centrifuged at 13,400 × *g* for 20 min at 4°C. The supernatant was transferred to a new Eppendorf tube and dried before storage in the --80°C freezer. A pooled QC sample solution was prepared by combining equal volumes of serum from each sample and treated using the same procedure. This sample was used to monitor the reliability of the entire experiment. One QC sample was inserted in front of the batch of experimental samples, and each QC sample was inserted in an interval of 10 to 15 samples. Once a QC sample ended, the instrumental stability was monitored throughout the batch process ([@B12]).
Untargeted LC-MS/MS Analysis and Metabolite Identification {#s2_5}
----------------------------------------------------------
Samples were analyzed by untargeted liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) using an Ultimate 3000 UHPLC (Dionex) system combined with a Thermo Q-Exactive (Orbitrap) mass spectrometer (Thermo Fisher Scientific, San Jose, CA, USA). Data identifications were performed by Trace Finder (Thermo Fisher Scientific, San Jose, CA, USA). First, metabolites were potentially identified by accurate masses according to the endogenous MS database. Meanwhile, metabolites that matched with the spectra in the fragment database were confirmed at the MS/MS level. The mass tolerances of primary and secondary identifications were 10 and 15 ppm, respectively. Moreover, a 0.25-min retention time shift was applied ([@B19]).
Data Processing and Statistical Analysis {#s2_6}
----------------------------------------
SIMCA 14.0 software (Umetrics AB, Umea, Sweden) was used for multivariate statistical analysis. Unsupervised principal component analysis (PCA) was employed to assess the quality, homogeneity, outlier identification, and dominating trends of the group separation inherent in the data set. A supervised orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA) was applied to distinguish between the classes and to identify the differential metabolites. Variable importance in the projection (VIP) value was generated in PLS-DA model. The quality of the multivariate statistical analysis model was evaluated by R^2^X and Q^2^. Student's *t* test was used to determine the difference in metabolites between the two groups. Metabolites with VIP \> 1 and *P* \< 0.05 were considered to be the most probable metabolites, which could be used to analyze the difference between the two groups and to assess the severity of CHD. Subsequently, the internal metabolite MS/MS database was used to identify metabolites by matching accurate quality and MS/MS spectra. MetaboAnalyst 4.0 (<http://www.metaboanalyst.ca/>; Wishart Research Group, McGill University, Canada) was used to show differential metabolites with a heat map and to predict the metabolic pathways ([@B4]). SPSS v13.0 (Chicago, IL, USA) was used for statistical analysis. Student's *t* test was performed for two-group comparisons on baseline characteristics. One-way analysis of variance was used to detect the homogeneity of variance. Values are presented as mean ± SD. *P* \< 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Results {#s3}
=======
Baseline Characteristics {#s3_1}
------------------------
Ten CHD patients were randomly and double blindly divided into two groups: five patients were treated with placebo granules for 12 weeks, and five patients were treated with XFZY decoction granules for 12 weeks. Serum samples from 10 CHD patients were detected by nontargeted metabolomics analysis. The baseline characteristics of the subjects are shown in Table 2 and include age, body mass index (BMI), blood pressure (systolic pressure, diastolic pressure), heart rate, five kinds of blood routine indices \[including red blood cell (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), white blood cell (WBC), neutrophil (NE), and platelet (PLT)\], 10 kinds of biochemical indices \[including alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), serum creatinine (SCr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), uric acid (UA), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC), low-density lipoprotein (LDL), high-density lipoprotein (HDL), and fasting glucose (Glu)\], and four kinds of coagulation parameters \[including prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thrombin time (APTT), fibrinogen (FIB), and thrombin time (TT)\]. The average ages of the CHD patients in the two groups were 54.4 ± 5.73 years and 57.0 ± 15.84 years, respectively. The mean BMIs of the two groups were 28.26 ± 6.62 kg/m^2^ and 28.49 ± 3.71 kg/m^2^, respectively. With the statistical analysis by Student's *t* test, the levels of HGB and Glu were increased, whereas APTT was decreased in the XFZY decoction group as compared with those in the placebo group (*P* \< 0.05). However, all values were within the normal range. There was no significant difference in other characteristics between the two groups (*P* \> 0.05).
######
Baseline characteristics of patients.
Placebo (n = 5) XFZY (n = 5) *P* Value
----------------------- ----------------- ---------------- -----------
Gender (F/M) 2/3 1/4 0.690
Age, years 54.4 ± 5.73 57 ± 15.84 0.739
BMI, kg/m^2^ 28.26 ± 6.62 28.49 ± 3.71 0.946
Blood pressure, mmHg
SBP 126.80 ± 15.40 133.60 ± 11.61 0.453
DBP 86.80 ± 6.42 82 ± 8.37 0.339
Heart rate, beats/min 67.20 ± 5.22 71.40 ± 15.19 0.575
Library data
RBC, ×10^12^/L 4.78 ± 0.08 5.12 ± 0.42 0.153
HGB, g/L 140.4 ± 7.57 159 ± 16.02 0.047\*
WBC, ×10^9^/L 6.03 ± 1.98 7.08 ± 2.34 0.465
NE, % 64.94 ± 9.80 63.99 ± 4.54 0.849
PLT, ×10^9^/L 231 ± 47.43 231.6 ± 92.69 0.990
AST, U/L 20.18 ± 4.98 20.86 ± 7.06 0.865
ALT, U/L 22.80 ± 10.51 27.40 ± 8.86 0.476
SCr, μmoI/L 68.34 ± 23.38 82.08 ± 15.89 0.309
UA, μmoI/L 319.74 ± 90.24 319.84 ± 24.85 0.998
BUN, mmoI/L 4.63 ± 1.20 5.31 ± 1.23 0.399
TG, mmol/L 2.22 ± 1.15 1.32 ± 0.38 0.135
CHOL, mmol/L 3.07 ± 1.59 4.48 ± 0.68 0.106
HDL, mmol/L 1.29 ± 0.48 1.18 ± 0.12 0.630
LDL, mmol/L 1.94 ± 0.47 2.70 ± 0.74 0.088
Glu, mmol/L 4.83 ± 0.37 5.64 ± 0.59 0.031\*
PT, s 13.18 ± 0.63 12.52 ± 0.98 0.242
APTT, s 37.84 ± 1.63 32.94 ± 3.14 0.015\*
FIB, g/L 2.84 ± 0.35 3.19 ± 0.44 0.201
TT, s 16.68 ± 0.66 16.72 ± 1.58 0.960
Values are mean ± SD. \*P \< 0.05 versus placebo group.
Analysis of QC Samples {#s3_2}
----------------------
We randomly selected 10 serum samples from CHD patients for metabolomics testing (five in the placebo group and five in the XFZY decoction group). In our research, we used a customized database and nontargeted metabolomics methods to analyze the data. From data collection to data analysis of clear compounds, we quantitatively identified hundreds of compounds according to the established Orbitrap workflow. A total of 513 metabolites were detected in the samples after treatment, which were identified with known MS/MS information. Samples were then subjected to PCA and OPLS-DA analysis.
Serum Metabolomics and Pathway Analysis {#s3_3}
---------------------------------------
To evaluate the identification ability of 513 metabolites, we analyzed the metabolic differences between the two groups, merged all identified compounds (513 in total), and imported them into SIMCA-P software for PCA. The results showed that there was no significant difference between the two groups (*P* \> 0.05). Further analysis with two- or three-dimensional orthogonal partial least -squares discriminant method obtained an OPLS-DA score chart ([**Figure 1**](#f1){ref-type="fig"}), which confirmed that there was significant difference between the XFZY decoction group and the placebo group. The OPLS-DA model established a good model and made an accurate prediction (R^2^X = 76.2% and Q^2^ = 39.1%).
{#f1}
After filtering 513 different metabolites in each group with the requirements of VIP \> 1 and *P* \< 0.05, six differential metabolites in the XFZY decoction group were changed as compared with the placebo group, namely, tetracosanoic acid (24:0), N-acetylglycine, FA (20:2)-H, 2-deoxy-D-glucose (2-DG), cis-aconitic acid, and spermine. Compared with the placebo group, tetracosanoic acid (24:0), N-acetylglycine, FA (20:2)-H, 2-DG, and cis-aconitic acid were downregulated, whereas spermine was upregulated in the XFZY decoction group.
As shown in [**Table 3**](#T3){ref-type="table"}, the differential metabolites related to FA metabolism were tetracosanoic acid (24:0) and FA (20:2)-H, which were obtained by election spray ionization negative (ESI--) mode with a mass of 367.358 and 307.264, respectively. Compared with the placebo group, tetracosanoic acid (24:0) and FA (20:2)-H in the XFZY decoction group were decreased, exhibiting that the ratio (XFZY/placebo) of tetracosanoic acid (24:0) or FA (20:2) was 0.46 (VIP = 2.40596, *P* = 0.008) or 0.78 (VIP = 2.21854, *P* = 0.020). 2-DG and cis-aconitic acid, which are related to glucose metabolism and obtained by ESI-- mode, were downregulated with XFZY decoction treatment. The mass, VIP value, *P* value, and FC (XFZY/placebo) of 2-DG were 163.061, 2.03138, 0.039, and 0.50, respectively. The mass, VIP value, *P* value, and FC (XFZY/placebo) of cis-aconitic acid were 173.009, 1.9734, 0.048, and 0.81, respectively. The differential metabolites associated with amino acid metabolism were N-acetylglycine and spermine obtained by ESI+ mode. The concentration of N-acetylglycine in the XFZY decoction group was decreased as compared with the placebo group, which showed that the ratio (XFZY/placebo) of N-acetylglycine was 44% (VIP = 2.28626, *P* = 0.015). However, the concentration of spermine was increased by 208% compared with that in the placebo group (VIP = 1.99192, *P* = 0.045). As shown in [**Figure 2**](#f2){ref-type="fig"}, the heat map illustrated total differential metabolites between the XFZY decoction group and placebo group: tetracosanoic acid, N-acetylglycine, FA, 2-DG, and cis-aconitic acid were downregulated, whereas spermine was upregulated.
######
Differential metabolites between the XFZY group and placebo group patients from LC-MS/MS analysis.
Differential metabolite Related metabolism ESI mode Mass (m/z) RT (min) FC (XFZY/placebo) VIP *P* value
--------------------------- ----------------------- ---------- ------------ ---------- ------------------- --------- -----------
Tetracosanoic acid (24:0) Fatty acid metabolism Neg 367.358 14.85 0.46 2.40596 0.008
N-acetylglycine Amino acid metabolism Pos 118.050 8.29 0.44 2.28626 0.015
FA(20:2)-H Fatty acid metabolism Neg 307.264 13.25 0.78 2.21854 0.020
2-deoxy-D-glucose Glucose metabolism Neg 163.061 1.04 0.50 2.03138 0.039
Spermine Amino acid metabolism Pos 203.223 8.76 3.08 1.99192 0.045
cis-aconitic acid Glucose metabolism Neg 173.009 0.87 0.81 1.9734 0.048
XFZY, Xuefu Zhuyu decoction; ESI, election spray ionization; RT, retention time; VIP, variable importance in the projection; P, probability; FC, fold change; Pos, positive; Neg, negative; FA, fatty acid.
{#f2}
MetaboAnalyst 4.0 software was used to analyze and predict the potential metabolic pathways involved in differential metabolites with XFZY decoction treatment. As shown in [**Figure 3**](#f3){ref-type="fig"}, six differential metabolites were involved in seven metabolic pathways: citrate cycle (TCA cycle), β-alanine metabolism, glycerolipid metabolism, glutathione metabolism, glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, FA metabolism, and arginine and proline metabolism.
{#f3}
Further studies showed that cis-aconitic acid was involved in the TCA cycle as well as in glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism. Spermine was predicted to participate in glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and β-alanine metabolism, respectively. FA (20:2) were predicted to be involved in FA metabolism and glycerolipid metabolism ([**Table 4**](#T4){ref-type="table"}).
######
Differential metabolic pathway between the XFZY group and placebo group.
Pathway name Match status Match metabolites
----------------------------------------- -------------- -------------------
Citrate cycle (TCA cycle) 1/20 cis-aconitic acid
β-alanine metabolism 1/28 Spermine
Glycerolipid metabolism 1/32 Fatty acid
Glutathione metabolism 1/38 Spermine
Glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism 1/50 cis-aconitic acid
Fatty acid metabolism 1/50 Fatty acid
Arginine and proline metabolism 1/77 Spermine
XFZY, Xuefu Zhuyu decoction; TCA cycle, tricarboxylic acid cycle; match status, the number of accumulated metabolites/the number of all metabolites in metabolic pathways.
Discussion {#s4}
==========
CHD is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality throughout the world ([@B13]). The high mortality rate of CHD asks for effective complementary and alternative therapy to improve the prognosis of CHD patients. TCM based on syndrome differentiation is one of the effective complementary and alternative therapies. XFZY decoction, a classical traditional Chinese medication that regulates Qi and promotes blood circulation, is confirmed to be of clinical benefit for CHD treatment; however, the underlying mechanism is still unknown. The key pathogenesis of CHD is based on the abnormal metabolism of myocardial substrates and the disturbance of energy metabolism induced by myocardial ischemia or hypoxia ([@B7]). A recent study found that metabolites involved in the TCA cycle and amino acid metabolism (tryptophan, arginine, and proline metabolism) were significantly decreased in fasting morning urine of CHD patients with Qi and Yin deficiency syndrome, suggesting that the metabolites in amino acid metabolism and TCA cycle were partially the material foundation of Qi ([@B28]). In TCM theory, Qi is the commander of blood. Qi replenishment causes the promotion of blood circulation, whereas Qi stagnation leads to blood stasis, which suggests that Qi plays a leading role in CHD with Qi stagnation and blood stasis. In our study, the effect of XFZY decoction on low-molecular-weight metabolites was investigated by nontargeted metabolomics analysis. Compared with the placebo group, 513 kinds of metabolites were detected, and six metabolites were significantly differential in the serum from CHD patients after treatment with XFZY decoction. Among the six differential metabolites, FA (20:2)-H and tetracarboxylic acid (24:0), which are involved in FA metabolism; cis-aconitic acid, which participates in the TCA cycle; 2-DG, which is involved in glucose metabolism; and N-acetylglycine, which is involved in amino acid metabolism, were decreased, whereas spermine, which is involved in amino acid metabolism (such as arginine and proline, glutathione, and β-alanine metabolism), was increased as compared with the placebo group. This suggests that those low-molecular-weight metabolites might be the material foundation of XFZY decoction for regulating Qi and promoting blood circulation in CHD treatment.
FA Metabolism {#s4_1}
-------------
Because of continuous mechanical work, the heart has a high rate of ATP utilization. Because the high-energy phosphate pool in the heart is significantly small and could be exhausted within a few seconds, cardiomyocytes are very sensitive to changes in energy metabolism, and cardiac work strongly depends on ATP generation. Nearly 70% to 90% of ATP is produced by the oxidation of FA in cardiomyocytes ([@B7]). Free FA are esterified to fatty acylCoA in the cytosol and are transported into the mitochondria matrix by carnitine. There, they form Acyl-CoA to enter β-oxidation ([@B1]). Xu et al. found that FA and carnitine in the plasma of CHD patients were decreased compared with controls ([@B27]). However, others detected the lipid profile of H9c2 cells and then found that different types of FA were increased or decreased in hypoxic cardiomyocytes, which demonstrates that FA (18:1) was decreased, whereas FA (16:0) and FA (18:0) were increased as compared with controls. This indicates that different FA might change differently in special periods of hypoxia or ischemia in cardiomyocytes ([@B22]). FA (20:2)-H and tetracarboxylic acid (24:0) are very-long-chain FA and should be oxidized by peroxisome to form medium- or short-chain FA. They are then transported to the mitochondria matrix by carnitine for β-oxidation. This means that FA (20:2)-H and tetradecanoic acid (24:0) provide substrates for β-oxidation, and the decrease in carnitine indicates the limitation of FA β-oxidation. In this study, we found that FA (20:2)-H and tetradecanoic acid (24:0) were downregulated, whereas carnitine did not decrease after XFZY decoction treatment as compared with the placebo group, suggesting that XFZY decoction might promote FA β-oxidation, which led to the decrease of FA in the serum.
Glucose Metabolism {#s4_2}
------------------
In myocardial metabolism, FA and glucose utilization is tightly linked and co-regulated. Utilization of one substrate may directly inhibit the utilization of the other, which is referred to as the "Randle cycle" ([@B21]). In ischemic myocardium, FA oxidation is limited, and the utilization of glucose is increased. As a glucose analogue, 2-DG inhibited the critical enzymes of glycolysis (hexokinase and phosphoglucose isomerase), which inhibited glycolysis with the downregulation of glucose-6-phosphate and fructose-6-phosphate. In addition, 2-DG possessed a mannose-like property, which competed with mannose during the initial steps of N-linked glycosylation, resulting in protein misfolding and endoplasmic reticulum stress ([@B25]). In rat models, 2-DG was encountered as cardiac toxicity, with microscopic findings of vacuolar degeneration and hypertrophy of the endothelial cells of the endocardium ([@B24]). Studies in tumors have found that at low doses, 2-DG mainly interfered with N-linked glycosylation, resulting in endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, and autophagy. At medium doses, 2-DG also blocked glycolysis, leading to ATP reduction, and the subsequent growth inhibition. At high doses, 2-DG started to disrupt the pentose phosphate pathway, which caused growth arrest and oxidative stress ([@B25]). It was found for the first time that 2-DG in the serum of CHD patients was decreased after treatment with XFZY decoction, which suggested that XFZY decoction could attenuate the inhibition of N-glycosylation and glycolysis; alleviate endoplasmic reticulum stress, apoptosis, and autophagy; promote ATP production; and protect cardiomyocytes by downregulating 2-DG.
Acetyl-CoA, a common end product of glucose and FA oxidation, enters the TCA cycle and provides energy for cardiomyocytes ([@B20]). Cis-aconitic acid is an important intermediate that participates in the TCA cycle. It combines with aconitase, which converts citric acid to isocitric acid, and maintains the progress of the TCA cycle. The decrease in cis-aconitic acid suggests the limitation of TCA cycle metabolism. Our study first found that cis-aconitic acid, one intermediate of the TCA cycle, had the same change as 2-DG. Compared with the placebo group, cis-aconitic acid was decreased after XFZY decoction treatment. Combined with the previous changes in FA metabolism, it suggested that the upregulation of FA metabolism might inhibit glucose metabolism, as shown in the decrease of the intermediate in the TCA cycle.
Amino Acid Metabolism {#s4_3}
---------------------
Amino acids can also be used as energy metabolites. They form precursors of glucose and FA metabolism through deamination or transamination and participate in metabolic pathways, such as the TCA cycle. In addition, amino acid-derived bioactive substances play an important role in the cardiovascular system. Spermine is a kind of polyamine that is further produced by putrescine converted from arginine and has many physiological functions. It was reported that spermine was significantly decreased after myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury in rats, suggesting that spermine may play a key role in myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury ([@B9]). Animal experiments showed that spermine enhanced the antioxidant status: spermine supplementation and extended spermine administration could promote the expression of antioxidant enzymes, such as glutathione reductase by upregulating nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) expression ([@B2]). Arginine plays a critical antiatherogenic role in the development of cardiovascular disease by regulating endothelial cell homeostasis. Nitric oxide (NO), produced by the oxidation of arginine in endothelial cells, promotes beneficial effects in the vasculature, including vasodilation, enhanced fibrinolysis, and inhibition of multiple atherothrombotic biological processes, such as platelet aggregation, leukocyte adhesion, endothelin generation, and smooth muscle cell proliferation ([@B17]; [@B23]). β-alanine can be transaminated to pyruvate, providing a substrate for cardiac glucose oxidation. In our study, we found for the first time that the serum spermine concentration in CHD patients was increased after treatment with XFZY decoction. Bioinformatics analysis further indicated that spermine was involved in glutathione metabolism, arginine and proline metabolism, and β-alanine metabolism. It was suggested that XFZY decoction could alleviate oxidative stress in cardiomyocytes by promoting glutathione metabolism, maintain endothelial function by upregulating arginine metabolism, and increase the production of aerobic oxidative substrates in cardiomyocytes by promoting β-alanine metabolism.
In our study, we further investigated the mechanism of XFZY decoction for regulating Qi and promoting blood circulation from the perspective of biological functions of low-molecular-weight metabolites. Some studies have shown that XFZY decoction alleviated cardiomyocyte apoptosis and oxidative stress ([@B14]) as well as the inhibition of platelet aggregation ([@B11]). For the first time, we found that 2-DG was decreased whereas spermine was increased in the serum of CHD patients after treatment with XFZY decoction. Through exploration of the effects of those two differential metabolites on ischemic myocardium, we confirmed the potential mechanism of XFZY decoction in CHD treatment: the decrease of 2-DG alleviated apoptosis and autophagy and promoted glycolysis to generate ATP after treatment with XFZY decoction, and the increase in spermine alleviated apoptosis and oxidative stress and inhibited platelet aggregation in the XFZY decoction group, which explained the similar functions of XFZY decoction in previous animal experiments. The elevation of spermine also illustrated the increase of arginine metabolism, which might generate more NO to alleviate coronary atherosclerosis. In addition, the decrease in 2-DG promoted ATP synthesis. Because NO and ATP are regarded as a part of the involvement of Qi in TCM theory ([@B5]; [@B3]), it is suggested that the metabolites of Qi might be associated with 2-DG and spermine.
Limitation {#s4_4}
----------
Although we believe that our study investigated the effects of XFZY decoction on metabolic profiles in CHD patients and the results could partly explain the mechanism of XFZY decoction for regulating Qi and promoting blood circulation, some limitations should still be considered. One limitation is that the sample size in this study is small. Another limitation is that the follow-up time is not long enough, so we did not focus on the study of the primary or second end points. Because there was statistical difference between the placebo group and the XFZY decoction group before treatment, we excluded the metabolites that have similar trends in our analysis. In addition, metabolomics itself has some limitations. Because of the wide concentration range and chemical diversity of metabolites, there is no instrument to detect all metabolites in a single analysis. In this study on metabolomics of CHD, we detected the metabolites in the serum. However, the metabolites in the circulatory system may originate from nonmyocardial tissues. The use of metabolic drugs and the excretion function of the liver and kidney may also affect the level of metabolites. Those two reasons increased the uncertainty of applying metabolomics to clinical detection of CHD ([@B6]). Moreover, some energy metabolites, such as ATP, adenosine diphosphate (ADP), and phosphocreatine were not detected in this study. Considering the limitation of nontargeted metabolomics, we should optimize the methods, such as choosing targeted metabolomics in the future.
Conclusion {#s5}
==========
In conclusion, we found that XFZY decoction caused the changes in six metabolites in FA, glucose, and amino acid metabolism with the detection of the serum in CHD patients by nontargeted LC-MS/MS analysis. We further predicted seven metabolic pathways according to those differential metabolites. Among them, 2-DG and spermine might partially be the material foundation of Qi in TCM theory, which suggests potential targets of XFZY decoction for regulating Qi and promoting blood circulation in CHD treatment.
Data Availability {#s6}
=================
The datasets generated for this study are available on request to the corresponding author.
Ethics Statement {#s7}
================
The studies involving human participants were reviewed and approved by the Ethics Review Committee of Chinese PLA General Hospital (No. S2015-048-01). The patients/participants provided their written informed consent to participate in this study.
Author Contributions {#s8}
====================
XL conceived, designed, and supervised the clinical trial and experiments and contributed to manuscript revision. TT performed the trials and statistical analysis and drafted the manuscript. TH coperformed the trials. XW coperformed the statistical analysis. All authors read and approved the submitted version.
Funding {#s9}
=======
This work was supported by the National Basic Research Program of China (XL: No. 2015CB554402 and 2015CB554405) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (XL: No. 31771287).
Conflict of Interest Statement {#s10}
==============================
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Supplementary Material {#s11}
======================
The Supplementary Material for this article can be found online at: <https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2019.00985/full#supplementary-material>
######
Click here for additional data file.
[^1]: Edited by: Jianxun Liu, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China
[^2]: Reviewed by: Dazhuo Shi, China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences, China; Jinggang Xia, Capital Medical University, China
[^3]: This article was submitted to Ethnopharmacology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Pharmacology
|
Antique Folding Butter Mould
Click thumbnails for expanded view.
$500.00
Quantity Available: 1
Probably a love token for an industrious housewife is this elaborately carved folding butter mould. Worked in with the rich swirling floral motifs is the letter "G," undoubtedly the lady's initial Would form a good kilo of butter into an elegant block. Scandinavian, 19th Century, approximately 19-3/4 inches long by 4-1/2 inches high. |
The conventional balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration procedure: indications, contraindications, and technical applications.
Transvenous obliteration of gastric varices can be performed from the systemic venous side (draining veins or shunts) or from the portal venous side (portal afferent feeders). Balloon-occluded transvenous obliteration from the systemic veins is referred to as balloon-occluded retrograde transvenous obliteration (BRTO) and balloon-occluded transvenous obliteration from the portal veins is referred to as balloon-occluded antegrade (anterograde) transvenous obliteration (BATO). BRTO is the conventional balloon-occluded transvenous obliteration procedure and BATO is considered an alternative or adjunctive approach. This is because, from a technical standpoint, the least invasive choice of access or approach for balloon-occluded transvenous obliteration of gastric varices is the traditional or conventional transrenal route. The objective of BRTO or BATO or both is complete obliteration of the gastric varices with preservation of the anatomical hepatopetal flow of the splenoportal circulation. This article reviews the indications, contraindications, and technical considerations of the conventional BRTO procedure. The indications of concomitant portal venous modulators such as splenic embolization or the creation of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt or both are also discussed. |
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Alex Tomko pitches 3rd complete game in shutout of Rocky River Pirates
By SCOTT [email protected]
AVON — Avon junior Alex Tomko certainly has developed a knack of finishing what he starts.
Using precise location on his pitches, the right-hander scattered six hits and threw his third complete game of the season in blanking visiting Rocky River 5-0 in West Shore Conference play Wednesday at All Pro Freight Stadium.
“I just keep working on hitting my spots,” Tomko said. “(It’s) the same stuff I have been doing all year. I try to get it over the plate and let my defense make the plays. They did well.”
While Tomko isn’t the fastest pitcher in terms of velocity, his ability to locate his pitches frustrated Pirates (2-4, 1-2) batters early and often. When Tomko did get into trouble in the third inning with two outs; he was able to force a fielder’s choice to end the threat.
Tomko’s counterpart Mitch Williams equaled Tomko’s effort. Though Avon (4-7, 2-1) was able to squeeze in a run in the first inning on Kevin Maloney’s RBI single, Williams kept them in check until the fifth inning.
With two outs and Bradford Dill on second, Andrew Lee was able to beat out a slow grounder to short. While Lee did his job, Dill raced around third, never stopping to score an insurance run.
Rocky River appeared to have figured out Tomko in the sixth inning, putting runners at first and third with no outs.
Tomko proved to be a magician, starting a 1-6-3 double play and keeping the runner at third. He got out of the inning with a ground-out to first.
“That was huge,” Tomko said. “First and third with no one out, you expect at least they will get one of them in. That double play — he (runner on third) didn’t go home, so that was huge. I was able to get the next guy, so no one ended up scoring that inning.”
The defensive effort ended up giving a spark to the offense.
In the bottom half of the inning, the Eagles put the ball in play and forced Rocky River to make plays. It ended up working to Avon’s advantage with the Pirates allowing a pair of runs to score on miscues. Jonny Morales had an RBI on a fielder’s choice to score Austin Bevins.
Ian Long, who started at second base for the first time this season and played well defensively, scored on an errant throw. Morales scored on a second throwing error by the Pirates.
Seeing his team put the ball in play pleased Avon coach Frank DeSmit.
“We tried to work on the fact we have been terrible this year in getting two-out RBIs,” DeSmit said. “We’ve taken a lot of called third strikes. We needed to work on situational hitting. That was the focus in practice.
“I asked them that every guy have a plan stepping into the box and executing it. For the most part, they did a good job.”
With the additional run support, Tomko (3-0) closed out the complete game effort with his fifth strikeout of the game.
“We were taking a few too many pitches early,” Rocky River coach Darryl Sanders said. “We started swinging late. Now we are hitting it to people, then we get a hit with two outs. When you get runners in scoring position with two outs; it’s tough to get that next hit.”
Avon travels to Bay on Thursday, while Rocky River hosts North Ridgeville. |
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/*!
//! [scxml state machines]
\section1 Using SCXML State Machines
To use QML together with an SCXML state machine, add states and
bind them to the state machine in the \uicontrol Backends tab
of the \uicontrol Connections view, as
described in \l {Managing C++ Backend Objects}.
In the \uicontrol States view, you can select \uicontrol Actions >
\uicontrol {Set when Condition} to edit the \c when condition of states
to map QML states to the states of the SCXML state machine. For an example,
see \l {Qt SCXML Traffic Light QML Example (Dynamic)}.
\image qmldesigner-states-when-condition.png
If you add animation to the states, you can \l{Previewing}{preview}
or \l{Running on Multiple Platforms}{run} the application to test
the animation.
//! [scxml state machines]
*/
|
Ninety miles from the South Eastern tip of the United States, Liberty has no stead. In order for Liberty to exist and thrive, Tyranny must be identified, recognized, confronted and extinguished.
Sunday, March 17, 2013
10 Greatest Unsolved Mysteries
The last hundred years have borne witness to humankind’s extraordinary technological advancements. Man has walked on the moon, ventured deeper into the oceans than ever before and even uncovered the building blocks of life, DNA. But even with our inexorable progress as a species there are still mysteries and enigmas the solutions to which elude us. Below is a selection of 10 of the most puzzling mysteries in history.
10) The SS Ourang Medan
In June 1947, a chilling SOS message was picked up: “All officers including captain are dead lying in chartroom and bridge. Possibly whole crew dead." This was followed by some indecipherable Morse code, and one final grisly message... "I die." Then, silence.
It was picked up by nearby ships and listening posts, who identified the vessel as the Dutch freighter SS Ourang Medan and located it within the Strait of Malacca that separates Indonesia from Malaysia. The nearest merchant ship, The Silver Star, raced to her aid. The Silver Star was soon alongside the Dutch ship and their boarding party found a macabre sight: every member of the crew lay dead, their corpses scattered on the decks. More than this, their eyes were still open and expressions of sheer terror were etched on their features. The Silver Star’s party found the radio operator dead too, his hand still on the Morse sending key, eyes wide open and teeth bared. There were no sign of wounds or injuries on any of the bodies.
The decision was made to tow the mysterious ship back to port, but before they could get underway, smoke began emanating from the decks below. The boarding party hurriedly returned to their ship and barely had time to cut the tow lines before the SS Ourang Medan exploded and swiftly sank.
It has been claimed that clouds of noxious natural gases could have bubbled up from fissures in the seabed and engulfed the ship; even aliens and ghosts have been cited as possible explanations for the Ourang Medan’s macabre and mysterious demise. To this day, the exact fate of her crew remains an impenetrable mystery.
9) The Aluminum Wedge of Aiud
In 1974 (or 1973 depending upon which source you believe) a curious aluminum wedge was discovered on the banks of the Mures River in Transylvania, near the city of Aiud. It was found buried deep beneath the sand alongside two mastodon bones.
Upon examination, the object – which resembled a hammer head – was found to be encased in a one millimeter thick layer of oxide which suggests that it is some 300-400 years old. A second, Swiss investigation confirmed the results of the first examination. Furthermore, as it was found with mastodon remains it could even be as much as 20,000 years old.
Aluminum is abundant in the earth’s crust but it is always combined with other minerals and the wedge predates the technology used to extract it. An aeronautical engineer suggested that the wedge is similar to the foot of landing gear used on spacecraft. The scientific community believes ‘the wedge was made on earth and its purpose is not yet identified’. Unfortunately, the Aluminum Wedge of Aiud is currently locked away in a secret location; however, some photographs of the curious, unexplained object do exist online.
8) Dulce Base
Supposedly, a top secret subterranean complex is carved into the rock below the Archuleta Mesa in Dulce, New Mexico. Claims that the base is a ‘genetics lab’ in which humans and extraterrestrials cooperatively conduct disturbing experiments have been made by various ‘leaked documents’, witness reports and even an ex-employee.
Strange humming sounds that seem to emanate from the earth near the town of Dulce have added to speculations of an underground facility, as have the presence of military helicopters that have been spotted around the area.
An author with the nom de plume of Branton claims to have interviewed former workers at the base who said: "[There] are experiments done on fish, seals, birds and mice that are vastly altered from their original forms. There are multi-armed and multi-legged humans and several cages of humanoid bat-like creatures up to seven feet tall. The aliens have taught the humans a lot about genetics, things both useful and dangerous." The U.S. government denies the base’s existence, but that doesn’t stop the speculation.
7) BEKs
Chances are you have not heard of BEKs (Black Eyed Kids) yet. Sightings of them are few and far between but via the internet they are growing in number, and the reports describe close encounters that are not only weird, but also frightening.
The stories almost always start with a ring of the doorbell. One, two or more children appear on a ‘victim’s’ doorstep and ask for help: they need to use the toilet, make an urgent phone call or relate another tale of distress. They ask to come in, plead in some cases, but the homeowners never let them in due to an unexplained feeling of terror that overcomes them. Perhaps it is the BEKs’ entirely black eyes that induce the overwhelming horror; perhaps it is because, as one ‘witness’ described, their faces appear as slightly blurry. The mysterious encounters don’t stop there, either: “For a period of three days straight, [the BEKs] kept showing up on my driveway. When the police came they were nowhere in sight. After that, they never showed up on my driveway, but every once in a while, I will see them in the downtown area, like they are following me. They will be behind a tree, I will drive to another section of Sacramento and I would see them again or I will see them on the side of the road as I am driving by and they will stare at me.”
One man did let the children in. They claimed to need to use the toilet and phone, but it was only when they entered into the house that he saw their peculiar eyes and felt the full force of dread. The BEKs moved towards him, saying that ‘they had come to collect him’. He fled the house in terror.
6) The Piri Reis Map
Currently located in the Library of the Topkapi Palace in Istanbul, the Piri Reis map is a puzzling enigma. It outlines the coast of western Africa, the eastern coast of South America, and even a section of the northern coast of Antarctica (thought to have been discovered 300 years after Piri Reis’s lifetime). Furthermore, the map shows the coastline without its glacial covering. Geological evidence suggests that Antarctica was last in this ice-less state in 4000 BC. Reis was a famous Turkish admiral whose passion (understandably for a seafarer) was cartography. Taking advantage of his rank and his privileged access to the Imperial Library of Constantinople, his 1513 gazelle skin map was built upon the work of others, with some of his cartographical sources dating back as far as the time of Alexander the Great. The map also seems to detail more about the topographical features of South America than Europeans were thought to have in 1513, such as the Andes.
5) Commandment Rock
An 80 ton boulder on the side of Hidden Mountain in New Mexico bears a puzzling inscription. Carved into the stone’s flat side is what has been interpreted by some to be a version of the Ten Commandments in a form of ‘Paleo-Hebrew’.
Discovered by academia in 1933 by archaeology Professor Frank Hibben, it had been known to locals for decades, and the guide who led Hibben to it said he had known of it since the 1880s – a date which, if genuine, means the rock’s authenticity is likely, as the Paleo-Hebrew script was then unknown. This means it outdates Columbus’s discovery of America and suggests that people from Israel or Phoenicia (who used a similar language) discovered the continent centuries before it was thought possible. Skeptics draw upon punctuation and grammatical ‘errors’ as evidence of it being a fake, while others still doubt this debunking.
4) The Somerton Man
In the early hours of December 1, 1948 a dead body was found lying on Adelaide’s Somerton Beach. The man was judged to be in his early forties and in good physical condition. Curiously, all the labels were missing from his clothing, he had no identification and his dental records did not match any known person.
Even the coroner and Scotland Yard had no luck finding out the man’s identity or cause of death. The mystery deepened when a piece of paper with the printed words “Tamam Shud” on it was discovered in a secret pocket concealed within the dead man’s trousers. The scrap of paper was traced to a rare edition of a book entitled The Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam, the back of which contained some kind of a code. Numerous unsuccessful attempts by amateurs and professional codebreakers to crack it have failed. The identity of the deceased man and even the cause of death remain unsolved to this day. The case was never closed by the South Australian Major Crime Task Force and many individuals continue to work on it.
3) Gef the Talking Mongoose
Also referred to as the Dalby Spook, Gef was said to be a creature resembling a mongoose. It was reported to live with the Irving family in their farmhouse near the hamlet of Dalby on the Isle of Man. Gef’s true identification remains shrouded in mystery. It has been interpreted as (among other things) a poltergeist, a cryptid and of course, a hoax.
In September 1931, the Irvings started hearing strange scratching noises coming from their farmhouse’s attic. Soon the scratching became more like a baby ‘gurgling’. The gurgling then evolved to ‘resemble a baby learning to talk and shortly after to mimic certain words that the ‘animal’ seemingly picked up from the Irving family’. If that wasn’t weird enough it described itself as a “an extra, extra clever mongoose,” an “earthbound spirit” and “a ghost in the form of a weasel.” It could even sing.
The case was investigated by Harry Price, but aside from a few grainy photographs of a strange animal roaming the fields outside the house, nothing substantial was ever recorded.
2) The Black Mausoleum – Tomb of ‘Bluidy’ MacKenzie
Edinburgh is a ghost hunter’s paradise. It seems that there is barely a nook or cranny of the Scottish capital that doesn’t lay claim to spooky goings-on of one kind or another, and there is one hot spot in particular that boasts inexplicable activity which is unusually well-documented.
George MacKenzie (1638–1691), Lord Advocate of Scotland, was a merciless persecutor of the Presbyterian Covenanters in life, and now it seems that he (or something else) has returned from parts unknown to take up residence in his tomb and continue his nefarious deeds.
In 1998, a vagrant broke into his tomb and fell through a rotten lower floor into a plague pit filled with skeletons. Since then, there have been over 450 reports of strange incidents, from people having lost consciousness to inexplicable fires breaking out and an unusually high number of dead animals having been found around the tomb. Visitors have had their fingers broken, hair pulled and been punched or kicked by an invisible assailant. Unexplained bruises, scratches and burns, skin gouges, nausea and numbness are all commonly reported.
The physical signs of attack often go unnoticed until people arrive home and relax or return to their hotels for the night. Witnesses have even reported activity following them home. Whatever lurks within the Black Mausoleum, it is certainly active.
1) DB Cooper
The solution to one of the greatest mysteries of all time still eludes America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation. On the November 24, 1971, a man in his mid forties and giving the name Dan Cooper (he is also known as DB Cooper due to a ‘press miscommunication’) hijacked a Boeing 727 aircraft and demanded $200,000 in ransom and two parachutes. His claim of having a bomb in his briefcase was verified by an air stewardess.
Cooper was given the ransom money at the Seattle-Tacoma Airport. He allowed passengers and some members of the flight crew to leave before ordering the plane to be flown to Mexico.
Soon after the plane took off, Cooper then opened the rear airstairs and parachuted into the pitch black, rain-lashed night. A five month manhunt – said to the most extensive and expensive of its kind – was immediately launched. Despite $5,880 of the ransom being discovered by a boy in 1980, no other trace of the hijacker was ever found.
In 2007, the F.B.I. reopened the case, saying that it does not believe Cooper survived the jump, but expressed an interest in ascertaining his identity, saying: “Would we still like to get our man? Absolutely.”
Despite there being hundreds of leads since 1971 (including many deathbed confessions), Cooper’s identity remains a mystery and the world's only unsolved skyjacking case.
5 comments:
Fucking thanks man. Read this before bed about midnight last night. Didn't sleep for shit. I kept expecting black eyed kids to appear at the foot of my bed and and take me away. Had to get up and watch Duck Dynasty after that. Thanks!!! |
(San Diego, CA) – For all of the attention that Green Flash has been getting over the past month, it may not even be the fastest growing brewery in its own town.
But it is close…
Ballast Point Brewing National Sales Director, Earl Kight, tells BeerPulse that the company is planning to produce between 50,000 and 60,000 barrels of beer this year at Scripps Ranch. That comes off of a year in which Ballast Point grew 45% to produce 29,000 barrels.
Early in the year, the company projected that it would expand capacity to 60,000 barrels but that wouldn’t have been enough with the rate at which the brewery is growing. Kight says that they are planning to increase capacity to 80,000 barrels by the end of 2012 but even that will not buy the brewers much time.
Looking long-term, Kight says that Ballast Point is currently negotiating a long-term lease to build a new brewery in San Diego County. What will be the company’s third location will house a large production facility that could reach as much as 100,000 square feet. They are aiming for production to begin in 2013.
For now, Ballast Point is doing its best not to run into “out of stocks” in its home base of California, says Kight, a challenge now that Ballast Point ships beer to at least twelve states (and five countries).
As for where else the company might ship beer, “We are discussing completing distribution in a few states, Texas and Florida, and entering new states of Washington, Oregon, Alabama, Maryland and DC.” |
function testAxis()
% Copyright 2010, Joseph O. Deasy, on behalf of the CERR development team.
%
% This file is part of The Computational Environment for Radiotherapy Research (CERR).
%
% CERR development has been led by: Aditya Apte, Divya Khullar, James Alaly, and Joseph O. Deasy.
%
% CERR has been financially supported by the US National Institutes of Health under multiple grants.
%
% CERR is distributed under the terms of the Lesser GNU Public License.
%
% This version of CERR is free software: you can redistribute it and/or modify
% it under the terms of the GNU General Public License as published by
% the Free Software Foundation, either version 3 of the License, or
% (at your option) any later version.
%
% CERR 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 General Public License for more details.
%
% You should have received a copy of the GNU General Public License
% along with CERR. If not, see <http://www.gnu.org/licenses/>.
hFig = figure;
hAxis = gca;
table('init', hAxis);
table('data', hAxis, dir);
set(hAxis, 'units', 'normalized');
set(hFig, 'resizefcn', 'myResize');
|
It's time to rethink rising costs of higher education
Chris Murphy is 40. Brian Schatz is 41. Both still are paying off student loans and both are concerned about the ever-rising cost of higher education in the U.S.
Both also are U.S. senators. That means they are in position to do something. Murphy, a Democrat from Connecticut, and Schatz, a Democrat from Hawaii, want to use federal funding as leverage to slow down the cost spiral.
"Like so many other families across the country, we and our spouses continue to pay off our own student loans at the same time we are saving for our children's college funds," the two wrote in an article published by politico.com. "We need aggressive reform whereby federal dollars do not simply subsidize out of control costs, but instead create real incentives for schools to lower the cost of college."
They want institutions to question the assumption that every program has to consist of a given number of credit hours over four years. They also want schools to experiment with awarding degrees based on competence and giving credit for prior learning. Undergraduate and graduate programs should be consolidated whenever possible, they wrote.
"President Obama was correct in saying that it's time for America to talk about whether it should take seven years to become a lawyer, or whether students must spend a decade learning before they can be a certified physician," the two wrote.
The points are well-taken, though we must note that there already is a lot of innovative thinking going on, especially at the community-college level. Early College is a five-year program leading both to a high-school diploma and an associate degree. Many vocational programs offer certificates rather than degrees with curricula geared to workplace needs.
Still, there is room for more reform. The senators want a commission of students, education experts and others to recommend minimum standards for colleges to remain eligible for federal student-aid money. Murphy wants schools to pay back 10 percent of that funding if they fall short for two years and 20 percent if they fail a third year. Fail four years and aid would be cut off.
One obvious criterion would be loan default rate. The danger here is that penalizing schools based on default rates could work against schools that serve low-income students, said Debra Humphreys of the Association of American Colleges and Universities.
"You run a real risk of building into the system an incentive to only serve the easiest to educate," she said. "We have to do a better job educating poor kids. ... The last thing you want to do is to incentivize an institution to not serve those students."
The senators are on target, however, when they cite for-profit outfits with sky-high default rates. "About 40 percent of students who take out loans to attend for-profit universities end up in default, either due to the enormity of their debt or their inability to gain employment," they wrote. "We must demand that schools achieve reasonable benchmarks."
One thing the commission should consider is the proposed legislation by Sens. Kay Hagan, D-N.C., and Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, that would forbid schools from using student-loan money for advertising. Some for-profit entities get as much as 90 percent of their income from student loans and use 20 percent of their income for advertising. They are using loan money not to educate the students they have but to advertise for more students.
Reform won't be easy, but it must be undertaken if we do not want to risk "putting college out of reach for millions of American families," as the Senate's two loan-paying members put it.
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It's time to rethink rising costs of higher education
Chris Murphy is 40. Brian Schatz is 41. Both still are paying off student loans and both are concerned about the ever-rising cost of higher education in the U.S. |
This is a new proposal to establish a training program at Columbia University focused on training physicians in research techniques that will form the basis of careers in translational investigation of cancer biology, diagnosis and treatment. We will identify and recruit individuals with outstanding research potential who have completed clinical training in medical oncology and prepare them for productive careers as translational investigators in oncology. We will utilize a comprehensive two-year program comprised of didactics, workshops, small group sessions, coursework, including a possible master's degree, and individualized training within the research programs of Columbia University faculty to develop the careers of the participants. Funds are requested in a graded fashion to support up to 4 trainees annually. The Molecular Oncology Training Program faculty is comprised of 26 independent investigators who will provide direct supervision of the trainees. The faculty members are uniformly funded by the NCI, other branches of the NIH and other cancer-focused research organizations and have established themselves as thought-leaders in a broad range of cancer-related disciplines. Participating faculty have been identified on the basis of their research productivity and quality, demonstrated collaboration with other investigators, often across research disciplines, and a history of supporting and developing research careers that transition beyond the post-doctoral level. The trainees will be chosen competitively from a highly select group of committed physician researchers on the basis of past accomplishments and their potential to develop careers as productive, independent translational investigators. The Molecular Oncology Training Program will be supported by the diverse research resources at Columbia University and the ongoing expansion and commitment to oncology that has included both laboratory and clinically focused research. The expansion was heralded by the opening of the Irving Cancer Research Center a 300,000 square-foot building within the Columbia University Medical Center that is entirely dedicated to cancer research and the ongoing recruitment of leading clinical-translational research faculty to the Division of Hematology and Medical Oncology. These changes have significantly broadened the diversity of research at Columbia University with a concomitant increase in quality that has established Columbia in the top tier of oncology programs and has attracted a pool of consummately trained physicians committed to careers in translational cancer biology. |
Q:
Dynamic casting pointer to Reference and reference to pointer
I am new to CPP and trying to learn dynamic casting . Unfortunately, am getting the below error
main.cpp: In function 'void PRINT(A&)':
main.cpp:30:40: error: cannot dynamic_cast 'Ref_A' (of type 'class A') to type 'class B*' (source is not a pointer) B *Ref_PTR = dynamic_cast<B*>(Ref_A);
If some one can teach me, what is going on ?
Can we cast reference to pointer or pointer to reference ?
Can we cast only Base reference to Derived reference ?
Can we cast only Base pointer to derived pointer ?
========================================================================
#include <iostream>
#include <exception>
#include <typeinfo>
using namespace std;
class A {
public:
virtual void dummy() {cout<< "Am in Base Class \n"; }
};
class B : public A {
public:
virtual void dummy() {cout<< "Am in first Derived Class \n"; }
};
class C : public B {
public:
virtual void dummy() {cout<< "Am in second Derived Class \n"; }
};
void PRINT(A &);
int main()
{
B b;
C c;
PRINT(b);
PRINT(c);
return 0;
}
void PRINT(A &Ref_A )
{
try
{
B &Ref = dynamic_cast<B&>(Ref_A);
Ref.dummy();
}
catch(std::bad_cast exp) { std::cout<<"Caught bad cast in the Second catch \n"; }
B *Ref_PTR = dynamic_cast<B*>(Ref_A);
if (Ref_PTR)
Ref_PTR->dummy();
//Ref_A.dummy();
}
A:
Can we cast reference to pointer or pointer to reference ?
Nope. A reference and a pointer are different beasts in the C++ type ecosystem.
Can we cast only Base reference to Derived reference ?
Can we cast only Base pointer to derived pointer ?
Generally yes. We cast references to references or pointers to pointers. But that's not to say we can't obtain a pointer from a reference. That's what the address-of operator is for:
B *Ref_PTR = dynamic_cast<B*>( &Ref_A );
|
Wading Pool / Above Counter Vessel Sinks: Designed to accentuate the movement of water. Above Counter Vessel sinks are a freestanding basin that sits on the counter, as opposed to within; to create a dramatic centerpiece for any bathroom.
Enameled Cast-Iron: Kohler Enameled Cast-Iron combines the strength, durability, and insulation benefits of cast-iron with the scratch, chip, and burn resistance of a baked, powder coat finish and comes with an exceptional Lifetime Limited Warranty. These materials combined give the sink or tub the strength to last a lifetime of use. Another benefit is that Kohler Enameled Cast-Iron is available in a wide variety of specialty colors to truly customize your home.
Product Specifications:
Overall Length: 17-1/2" (measured from the left outer rim to the right outer rim)
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Height: 6-3/4" (measured from the bottom of sink to the top of the rim)
Basin Width: 13" (measured from the back inner rim to the front inner rim)
Basin Length: 13" (measured from the left inner rim to the right inner rim)
0 Question from the Community
Kohler
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Q:
Unable to push Django app to Heroku - push rejected
I encounter several errors each time push my Django app to Heroku, I'm walking through Getting Started with Django on Heroku tutorial on Heroku's website.
I can see the it worked page locally, but Heroku won't accept the push, the errors are show below:
$ git push heroku master
Counting objects: 14, done.
Delta compression using up to 2 threads.
Compressing objects: 100% (10/10), done.
Writing objects: 100% (14/14), 2.64 KiB, done.
Total 14 (delta 1), reused 0 (delta 0)
-----> Python app detected
-----> Preparing Python runtime (python-3.3.2)
-----> Installing Distribute (0.6.36)
-----> Installing Pip (1.3.1)
-----> Installing dependencies using Pip (1.3.1)
Exception:
Traceback (most recent call last):
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/pip-1.3.1-py3.3.egg/pip/basecommand.py", line 139, in main
status = self.run(options, args)
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/pip-1.3.1-py3.3.egg/pip/commands/install.py", line 240, in run
for req in parse_requirements(filename, finder=finder, options=options):
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/pip-1.3.1-py3.3.egg/pip/req.py", line 1354, in parse_requirements
line, comes_from=comes_from, default_vcs=options.default_vcs)
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/pip-1.3.1-py3.3.egg/pip/req.py", line 76, in from_editable
res = cls(name, comes_from, source_dir=source_dir, editable=True, url=url)
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/pip-1.3.1-py3.3.egg/pip/req.py", line 43, in __init__
req = pkg_resources.Requirement.parse(req)
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/distribute-0.6.36-py3.3.egg/pkg_resources.py", line 2681, in parse
reqs = list(parse_requirements(s))
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/distribute-0.6.36-py3.3.egg/pkg_resources.py", line 2606, in parse_requirements
line, p, specs = scan_list(VERSION,LINE_END,line,p,(1,2),"version spec")
File "/app/.heroku/python/lib/python3.3/site-packages/distribute-0.6.36-py3.3.egg/pkg_resources.py", line 2574, in scan_list
raise ValueError("Expected "+item_name+" in",line,"at",line[p:])
ValueError: ('Expected version spec in', 'Django-origin/HEAD', 'at', '/HEAD')
Storing complete log in /app/.pip/pip.log
! Push rejected, failed to compile Python app
To [email protected]:grantcontrol.git
! [remote rejected] master -> master (pre-receive hook declined)
error: failed to push some refs to '[email protected]:grantcontrol.git'
Here is my requirement.txt [Django Development trunk and Python is 3.3.2]
-e git://github.com/django/django.git@f4e9804567ce45ef01f6613ce194e96d293ac04b#egg=Django-origin/HEAD
dj-database-url==0.2.2
gunicorn==17.5
Thanks in anticipation of your help.
A:
I modified the requirements.txt entry for Django to
-e git://github.com/django/django.git#egg=Django
This fixed the issue.
|
Yesterday Breitbart.com attempted to pass off a different photo of the Cavs championship parade as an image of a Trump rally, subsequently blaming the error on credulously taking the image from social media without confirming it was actually of the rally. |
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Tuesday, 31 July 2007
Hot on the heels of my post yesterday about all the news reports about Europeans coming to Swaziland to save the poor Africans, here’s news about a whole feature length documentary that aired for the first time this month on American television.
It tells the story of two college students from Texas in the US who came to Swaziland to tell Swazis to save themselves and their nation from HIV AIDS by not having sex.
The documentary called Dear Francis was shown for the first on the Showtime cable television network in the United States this month. It will be repeated several times during 2007 and 2008.
According to the producer’s own publicity, the sixty-minute film was shot on location in Swaziland just a few months after the United Nations declared the kingdom to be the world’s most HIV infected country in the world.
The publicity says, ‘It follows the story of Lance and Kelly, two Texas college students who volunteer for an unconventional HIV prevention campaign to Swaziland high schools. The campaign centers around the controversial message of sexual abstinence.
‘The two collegians leave for Africa with high hopes and innocent naiveté. As they begin to interact with the Swazi teenagers, they quickly discover that the problems surrounding the pandemic are much more complex than they had ever expected.
‘One exercise of the curriculum, anonymous letter-writing to a fictional “Francis,” proves to be a most disturbing window into a darker, more complex undercurrent of the AIDS pandemic. Distressing stories of sexual abuse, rape, and incest flood Lance and Kelly’s sensibilities. Anger and frustration well up as they pour over tales of students exchanging sex for food with exploitative neighbors or even their own teachers. The devastation is further amplified as we hear the horrific stories of a group of orphans rescued by a local foster home. The contrast of life experiences between the Americans and their Swazi counterparts could not be more different, leaving Lance and Kelly at a loss for how to respond to such troubling realities.’
‘Dear Francis is not only just a documentary about helping or trying to help these people [Swazis], but exploring how these two college students, Lance and Kelly, break free from their own thought processes and really do gain a different perspective on life, and tragedy.
‘It’s beautifully shot, wonderfully written, and sublime from start to finish, and it managed in some cases to open my eyes. It really shows how two people with goals and ideals can help others a great deal through small tasks. It’s trite, but hell, it’s true.’
I don't know if there are any plans for one of the Swazi TV channels or DSTV to show the documentary. It is availlable on DVD, but when I contacted the producers I was told they don't ship to Swaziland.
Monday, 30 July 2007
Orphans in need of saving; a sick teenager; school students who have to chop pencils in three parts so they can all have something to write with.
What do these people have in common? They are all subjects of recent news reports in the foreign press. They are just some of the increasing number of reports being published across the world that portray Swaziland and its people as helpless and needy.
If you look at these reports in a certain light you see heart-warming accounts of people who are well off and comfortable who wish to help people who are less fortunate than themselves.
I don’t want to be critical of caring people, but there is another side to these reports that is a bit disturbing.
Very little gets written about Swaziland in the foreign press. This is even more so when you look at countries outside the continent of Africa. Because of this people know very little about the kingdom. What little they do know they learn through the media.
For example, hardly anything about Swaziland appears in newspapers in Britain, even though Swaziland has a close historic link with the country (mostly, it has to be said, because Britain was the colonial power here until 1968).
Even though there is this relationship, and some people in Swaziland like to think of Britain as the Mother Country.
I’ve been looking through newspapers in Britain over the last few months to find out what the Mother Country thinks of Swaziland. I have to report that there is hardly anything in the papers, except in ‘local’ papers that circulate to towns and small communities. What is being reported isn’t about what’s going on in Swaziland, instead it’s about what local people in the area the newspapers serve are doing to help Swaziland and the kingdom is being portrayed as helpless and unable to take care of itself. The impression given from these types of newspaper reports is that the ‘heroes’ of the story are whites of European descent lifting up the helpless Swazis - an image that is false.
The headline on this report from News Wales sums up what I mean, ‘Swansea woman saves African orphan’ The report is about a woman from Swansea (a large coastal city in south west Wales) who worked to bring a Swazi orphan Sanele Dlamini to Wales for surgery to correct a back condition that will help him lead a more active life.She became aware of his plight after the school set up links with a Swaziland orphanage for children affected by HIV/AIDS called the Lighthouse Project, where Zulu-speaking Sanele lives.
This story of this charitable work was also reported by the Media Newswire which said Sanele, who is almost 17 years old, lost his parents at the age of four, was moved onto foster parents, then finally ended up with a neighbour, who used Sanele as a slave.Sanele was forced to carry logs on his shoulder all day, every day, and the orphanage believes that this is what forced his spine into an S-shape.
The people who want to help save Swazis come in all ages. The Denbighshire Free Press, another newspaper from Wales, tells of 70-year-old Nigel Worth who plans to row his home-made boat from the River Clwyd to London to celebrate his birthday and raise money for the charity Swazaid, a Wales-based charity which raises support for the people of Swaziland in their fight against AIDS.
It is not only people in Britain who get a skewed version of life in Swaziland. At the other end of the age scale the Langley Times, British Columbia, Canada reports that students at Ezulwini Primary School in Swaziland are sitting six to a desk. At the school, pencils are cut in three so that the 700 students of this African school all have a writing implement.
Children in Canada at Langley Montessori School are taking part in a read-a-thon to raise money for the Ezulwini children so that they have more desks and much-needed pencils and other supplies. The read-a-thon raises money based on how many minutes the students spend reading books outside the classroom setting.
Elaine Ryans, a teacher at Langley Montessori, said, 'The school has no electricity, and a tap at the end of a pipe coming out of the ground provides the only water. Toilets are a hole in the ground.
'Many students walk several miles to school every morning, and all carry a bucket of water for their own use — drinking, cooking and hand washing. They also carry a few sticks which are put on a fire over which their lunch is cooked. This meal, usually consisting of corn porridge, is often their only meal of the day.'
Another report in a Canadian newspaper summed up the stereotypical vision of Africa that is prevalent in that country's media. The Guardian of Prince Edward Island reported on a local woman called Patti Wheatley who worked at the United Nations AIDS office in Mbabne (the Swaziland capital) for six months.
Patti tells the newspaper, ‘A lot of people don’t really understand what it’s like to live in Africa. They think, “Oh my gosh, Patti’s living in a hut. She’s got no running water. She’s got no food. How does she survive?” And it really isn’t like that in huge parts of Africa.
'There are huge inequalities, but it’s important that people recognize that not everyone is dying and not everyone lives in a hut. There’s a lot of wealth, especially in the cities. ’But sometimes that’s even more strange because you’ve living in a country where 70 per cent of the population lives on $1 a day and yet I can wake up every morning and go get my latte before I walk to work at the UN and pass 10 BMWs on the way there.’
So there you are. Swaziland is not only a kingdom of sick, orphaned pencil choppers, it also has a fair share of latte drinking BMW drivers. Let’s read more about them in the foreign press.
Friday, 27 July 2007
In a few weeks time we shall see the annual ‘Reed Dance’ ceremony at which maidens from all over Swaziland perform before the king.
This ceremony attracts massive attention in the media inside Swaziland and most years it is also covered by some foreign news media.
In the second of an occasional series looking at how foreign television stations report on Swaziland, here is a report on the Reed Festival that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) televised after last year’s ceremony.
The report begins by looking at the ceremony itself and then puts the significance of the event into a broader cultural context.
It includes a rare face-to-face interview with King Mswati III (see picture).
The reporter Allan Little describes Swaziland as ‘a triumph of African tradition over an imported modernity.’
Viewers who have been raised on the deferential reporting of Swazi TV and Channel S may find this report disturbing.
The way the story of the first day of Swaziland’s two-day national strike is being told in the news media is deeply divided.
The Swazi newspapers, TV, and radio, primarily see it as a story of chaos, looting and disruption. While for the foreign media the strike is a demonstration in favour of democracy.
Trade unionists and their supporters are on a two day strike in support of five demands (detailed at the end of this posting). Yesterday (Wednesday) saw a mass demonstration in Swaziland’s second city Manzini. Today, the protest moves to the streets of the kingdom’s capital, Mbabane.
On Wednesday night Swaziland’s Channel S TV reported the Manzini demonstration as a series of traffic jams, looting and destruction. According to Channel S, there was violence with ‘shops destroyed’ causing ‘hundreds of emalangeni’ worth of damage. No verbal or filmed evidence of destroyed shops was given and when one considers that one hundred emalengeni is worth about fourteen US dollars or seven British pounds the alleged damage was very small beer indeed.
What we have here is a gross exaggeration on the part of Channel S, presumably to distract viewers’ attention from the main purpose of the demonstration. Channel S filmed a peaceful demonstration and was unable to offer any footage of rioting, looting or damage. The reporter’s commentary was at odds to the visual evidence.
In contrast to Channel S and SBIS, Swazi TV made no mention of disruption or violence and concentrated on an interview with a trade union leader who outlined the main objectives of the strike.
On Thursday, reports in both the Swazi Observer and the Times of Swaziland were of ‘chaos’.
The Observerreported that business in Manzini was halted for two hours. The newspaper quotes a single businessman who condemns the strike.
In a separate news report, ‘Shops looted, cops beaten up’ the Observer states, ‘Over five shops, including Manzini Standard Bank, were looted yesterday as some workers resorted to violent action during the protest march. Two police officers were also harassed.’
The only person quoted in the report is the police public relations spokesman.
In a third report, the Observer, quotes an anonymous source as saying that employees at one company who did not want to join the strike were harassed.
The Times of Swaziland also saw chaos, headlining its main report, ‘Strike Chaos in Manzini’. The report began, ‘At least one person was injured when police clashed with protesters yesterday at the hub as tempers flared during the first lap of the national mass action.’
The Times was the only news outlet that I have seen that reported the following.
‘Police had difficulty controlling some of the marchers, who were forcing shops to close and they would occasionally exchange heated words with them.It was during one of the arguments that a young PUDEMO (Peoples United Democratic Movement) member was grabbed and beaten.After the beating was meted out to him, he was lucky as some of the senior police officers later whisked him away from those with batons to a police vehicle that was parked at a distance.While the comrade was being told to get in the car, he first refused and was heard saying he would rather die than get into the blue police vehicle, but eventually did.He was rushed to the Raleigh Fitkin Memorial Hospital (RFM) after sustaining some injuries.The PUDEMO member, according to the Secretary General Sphasha Dlamini, was brought by the police to the hospital, but another group of police officers came and took him to the Manzini Police station.This happened before the PUDEMO comrade had been treated for injuries on his face, head and body.’
The reporting in the foreign media was in contrast to that in Swaziland. For them this was a story about workers demonstrating in favour of democracy.
This report, headlined ‘Swazi strikers march in push for multi-party democracy’, from the international news agency AFP is typical. It starts,
‘Thousands of striking public sector workers brought Swaziland's second city to a standstill on Wednesday as they took to the streets to demand the introduction of multi-party democracy.
‘Schools and government factories were closed, while hospitals and banks were forced to run skeleton services during a strike called by the country's main trade union body to denounce the current system of government which ensures that absolute power resides in the hands of King Mswati III.’
This report appeared in a number of newspapers across South Africa the following day, including the Cape Times
The Reuters news agency took a similar line. In a report headlined ‘Swazi unions protest for democratic reforms’, it reported,
‘Thousands of opposition party and trade union members staged a protest in Swaziland's largest city on Wednesday to demand democratic reforms in sub-Saharan Africa's last absolute monarchy.
‘Mario Masuku, president of the banned opposition People’s United Movement, said workers and students took part in a strike and a protest march in the commercial capital Manzini to press the government to introduce multi-party elections in 2008.
‘“We are demanding that the next elections in 2008 be open and democratic multi-party elections, otherwise we will not accept it and will make the elections impossible,’” Masuku said.
BBC World Service radio described the demonstration as a strike against the Swazi King Mswati III. There may be some embarrassed people at Swaziland’s SBIS radio station as the BBC report was broadcast as part of the Focus on Africa programme from the BBC which SBIS broadcasts on its own airwaves each weekday. Such criticism of the king is not allowed anywhere near SBIS.
The workers’ demands are:
1. Taxation of terminal benefits and other benefits
Workers demand the changes per attached write up to be effected from the 1st July 2007. In this demand, they say government should desist from increasing its revenue base by taxing benefits, even where such would have adverse effect to some lowly paid workers.
2. Amendment of the SNPF Order
Workers propose the amendment, without further delay, to allow payment of SNPF benefits to all employees who have been retrenched, on production of such confirmation from the employer.
3. Application of part X111 of the Employment Act of 1980 of the tender board on public contracts
The Section calls for ensuring that contractors/service providers paid out of public funds adhere to basic minimum standards as provided for in the various Wages Orders.
4. Consultation with the public on privatisation
In the mediation by CMAC during the 2003 protest action notice, government was to discuss this issue with the unions. It promised to provide its privatisation policy, where after, it would then engage the unions. The policy was provided, but no meeting or workshop on this topic ever took place. All we have heard is that government is rolling out its privatisation process," the union says.
Government is proceeding with the privatisation policy without proper consultation even in line with the policy it adopted.
Wednesday, 25 July 2007
The two day ‘stay away’ strike undertaken by workers in Swaziland attracted attention in the international news media. Here is what the Voice of America (VOA) radio station had to say hours before strike action was due to start. This extract is taken from the Internet
This coverage is in contrast to that of the Swaziland government-controlled SBIS radio which did not report at all on the strike action in its bulletins on Wednesday breakfast time.
Unlike most coverage in the Swaziland newspapers and broadcasting, this VOA report gives the news from the strikers’ point of view.
Workers and students in Swaziland are expected to embark on a two-day indefinite strike action starting today (Wednesday) to press home their demand for a multi-party democracy. Although the government of King Mswati III recently introduced a new constitution, the strike leaders say political parties are still not allowed to contest general elections scheduled for next year. They are therefore demanding the introduction of a genuine system of democracy. Meanwhile the government has warned the workers against the industrial action, saying they stand a chance of losing their jobs.
Vincent Ncongwane is one of the strike leaders. He told VOA that the government would not intimidate them.
‘There are three things that we are asking of this government. The first one is that we want the government to amend the text legislation. The second thing is, we have in Swaziland the provident fund. But we want the legislation to be amended to allow people who are retrenched to access their benefits under that fund. We want people to access this benefit on submission of a letter from their employer concerning their retrenchment. The last thing, Swaziland next year is going to be facing parliamentary elections, and we are saying we want to see those parliamentary elections allowing people to be elected on the basis of a political party ticket, ” Ncongwane pointed out.
He said it is not enough for the government to tell the public they have a bill of right under the new constitution.
“We have always said to government the issue of saying we’ve got a bill of right. But as things stand now, it is no more as to whether political parties are legal in Swaziland. Government itself has said that is a matter to be determined by the court. We are saying this issue… is okay on other things, but when you deal with the issue real participation within the constitution. The issue of individual merit, which is section 79 of the constitution makes a mockery of the very issue of freedom to associate,” he said.
Ncongwane said it was unfortunate that Swaziland is the only country within the sub-region that has so far refused attempts at multi-party democracy.
“In so far as Swaziland is a signatory to the SADC (Southern African Development Community) protocol on elections, which protocol even allows the funding of political parties, the question we ask ourselves is, why did they become part of that particular protocol when they know very well that in terms of the system in Swaziland, it is a mockery to talk of political parties? In fact at best it is a social club. So we are asking the government to honor its signature,” Ncongwane said.Ncongwane said even though the government has so far resisted any attempt at democracy, the public would not rest until the country becomes democratic.
“We are aware there would be resistance, but what we cannot do is to sit back and fold our hands. We believe that we cannot be just the only ones in the region who are without a multiparty system,” he said.
In Swaziland the two daily newspapers are not sympathetic to the strike.
The main item on the front page of the Swazi Observer ‘Essential Service Not Affected’ reports that the government says it is ready to negotiate on a process to deal with the issues that are at the heart of the protest action by labour unions.
The state has, however, appealed that there should be no disruptions to the economy, stating that the no-work-no-pay principle would apply to those who absent themselves from work.
The Observer also published a full page editorial comment, ‘Nation Held to Ransom’, in which it claims that the strike action will badly affect Swaziland’s ailing economy. But it concludes, ‘We daresay the majority of the five outstanding demands are important and they touch upon the very welfare of the Swazi nation.’
The Times of Swaziland, also on its front page, takes an unusual angle claiming that people will be unable to cash pay cheques because banks will be closed. Under the headline ‘Strike to Spoil Pay Day’, the Times reports, ‘Getting paid today and tomorrow might prove difficult as bank employees are expected to join the protest action, which begins today.’
In a clear attempt to set people against the strikers, the report continues, ‘Most employees are paid around this time of the month and if there are no bank tellers, the situation for people with debts might prove unbearable.’
The workers’ demands are:
1. Taxation of terminal benefits and other benefits
Workers demand the changes per attached write up to be effected from the 1st July 2007. In this demand, they say government should desist from increasing its revenue base by taxing benefits, even where such would have adverse effect to some lowly paid workers.
2. Amendment of the SNPF Order
Workers propose the amendment, without further delay, to allow payment of SNPF benefits to all employees who have been retrenched, on production of such confirmation from the employer.
3. Application of part X111 of the Employment Act of 1980 of the tender board on public contracts
The Section calls for ensuring that contractors/service providers paid out of public funds adhere to basic minimum standards as provided for in the various Wages Orders.
4. Consultation with the public on privatisation
In the mediation by CMAC during the 2003 protest action notice, government was to discuss this issue with the unions. It promised to provide its privatisation policy, where after, it would then engage the unions. The policy was provided, but no meeting or workshop on this topic ever took place. All we have heard is that government is rolling out its privatisation process," the union says.
Government is proceeding with the privatisation policy without proper consultation even in line with the policy it adopted.
A campaign to democratise broadcasting in Swaziland is gathering ground.
Media freedom advocates are taking encouragement from six draft government bills that were published in 2007. Two of these bills deal directly with broadcasting in the kingdom. A move away from the present state-controlled system to one of public service broadcasting is central to the debate and one of the government draft bills, the Swaziland Broadcasting Bill, specifically outlines a version of public service broadcasting in the Swazi context.
Many people who are involved in the debate on the future of broadcasting in Swaziland are confusing the two terms ‘public broadcasting service’ and ‘public service broadcasting’. A ‘public broadcasting service’ is a service that is broadcast to the public. This can include radio and television that is state-controlled, commercial broadcasting, church broadcasting, national stations, local stations and community stations. It is a generic term and includes all forms of broadcasting that reaches an audience. Even very small stations such as the stations that broadcast exclusively to one chain of shops, which play music and commercials advising customers of the bargains of the day (such as you hear in some supermarkets) could be called a public broadcasting service.
The radio and television stations broadcast from Swaziland, although mostly state-controlled are public broadcasting services.
‘Public service broadcasting’ is a very particular kind of broadcasting and most definitely not broadcast from Swaziland. Public service broadcasting aims to inform, educate and entertain in a way in which the commercial or state sector left unregulated would not do. Generally, it is understood that public service broadcasters air a wide range of programmes in a variety of tastes and interests. They speak to everyone as a citizen and everyone has an opportunity to access the airways and participate in public life. The World Radio and Television Council put it well when it said that public service broadcasting stations help people to develop knowledge, broaden horizons and enable people to better understand themselves by better understanding the world and others.
Public service broadcasting in providing access to a wide range of information and ideas serves as an instrument of popular empowerment through its programming. This empowerment goes against the grain in Swaziland, which is a not a democracy. Currently, broadcasters in Swaziland serve the interests of the ruling elites and not those of the people. Broadcasting is state-controlled, that means no criticism of the staus quo is allowed on the airwaves in Swaziland. Any criticism of the ruling elite is seen as ‘non-Swazi’. The Prime Minister is editor in chief of the Swazi radio stations SBIS and can decide what goes on the air and what does not.
The Minister of Information and Public Service also takes a ‘hands-on’ role and believes he has the right to make day to day decisions that affect the broadcasting organisations. This was made explicit in 2003 by the then Minister of Information Abednego Ntshangase who announced a censorship policy for state media, saying that, ‘the national television and radio stations are not going to cover anything that has a negative bearing on government’.
Public service broadcasting cannot exist alongside state control. Public service broadcasting must keep a distance from vested interests (in the case of Swaziland that’s the ruling elite). Radio and television stations need to be left alone to make their own decisions regarding business and the content of their channels. If state money is to be used to finance any public service broadcasting services there needs to be a clear understanding (preferably in law) that the state can only contribute the money and it has no right to interfere in the broadcasting stations.
Recently, the present Ministry of Information and Public Service has publicly embraced public service broadcasting as the way forward for Swaziland. In a public speech in June 2007 Martin Dlamini, Director, Information and Media Development, supported the concept of PSB, describing it as ‘a public policy instrument that gives concrete expression to the fundamental right to freedom of expression’. He went on to quote Swaziland’s National Information and Media Policy which says that Swaziland’s state-controlled television and radio stations will be transformed into full public service broadcasters, and their public service mandate will also be monitored by a regulator.
These are encouraging words but the lack of commitment that SBIS radio has to the public service broadcasting project can be seen in its own (still current) mission statement that by the year 2000 the SBIS shall be a fully fledged Public Service Broadcaster, a vehicle for providing comprehensive information for development and social welfare to all sectors of the Swazi society.
Today, seven years after the passing of the mission statement deadline, SBIS has not taken a single step toward becoming a public service broadcaster. Indeed, in 2003, three years after the deadline, the then Minister of Information and Public Information re-affirmed the censorship control the government would have over the radio station.
In truth, despite a new constitution coming into force in February 2006, Swaziland is a closed society. There is limited freedom of association, freedom of expression or freedom of action. Cultural norms restrict what people can say and how they behave and cultural elites can decide what is permissible or what is ‘un-Swazi’ and therefore impermissible.
Public service broadcasting is incompatible with the above because it allows access to all, caters for minority tastes and views (and more importantly opinions) and encourages questioning and democracy.
There will need to be changes in society before there can be public service broadcasting and the most obvious change that is needed is democracy. People who cannot understand the principles of democratic life cannot fully appreciate how public service broadcasting differs from a public broadcasting service.
Swaziland may not be ready for public service broadcasting but an important step towards achieving it would be to relax the present government control over broadcasting and encourage an openness among broadcasters so that a new professional culture emerges (this will take time). These new media professionals (and other like minded people) could then advocate for democracy within Swaziland because media practitioners and audiences will understand what their responsibilities are within a democracy. At present proponents of public service broadcasting in Swaziland are asking for a broadcasting model that supports democracy (something that Swaziland does not have)
Tuesday, 24 July 2007
Last week a lecturer from the University of Swaziland was summoned to the Swazi Parliament to talk to the committee that’s been set up to investigate the editor of the Times Sunday Mbongeni Mbingo for allegedly criticizing the Speaker and House of Assembly.
Committee members asked for a seminar so they could learn what ‘freedom of expression’ meant. I wasn’t invited myself, but if I had been I might have thought the invitation was a hoax.
Why would members of parliament need to learn what freedom of expression was when only last year they agreed the new Swazi Constitution that enshrines the very concept of ‘freedom of expression’?
The Swaziland Constitution is as clear as can be on freedom of expression. Chapter III, section 14 (1) (b) on page 19 states, ‘The fundamental human rights and freedoms of the individual enshrined in this chapter are hereby declared and guaranteed, namely – freedom of conscience, of expression and of peaceful assembly and association and of movement.’
Section 2 of the same chapter states, ‘The fundamental rights and freedoms enshrined in this Chapter shall be respected and upheld by the Executive, the Legislature and the Judiciary and other organs or agencies of Government and where applicable to them, by all natural and legal persons in Swaziland, and shall be enforceable by the courts as provided by the Constitution.’
Any how, I am a professor so if there’s any one reading this who still isn’t too sure what freedom of expression means here’s a quick tutorial for you.
First an introduction to ‘freedom of expression’ and ‘freedom of the press’. This comes from the on-line encyclopaedia Wikipedia.
Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship. It is often regarded as an integral concept in modern liberal democracies. The right to freedom of speech is guaranteed under international law through numerous human rights instruments, notably under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, although implementation remains lacking in many countries.
Freedom of the press (or press freedom) is the guarantee by a government of free public press for its citizens and their associations, extended to members of news gathering organizations, and their published reporting. It also extends to news gathering, and processes involved in obtaining information for public distribution. Not all countries are protected by a bill of rights or the constitutional provision pertaining to Freedom of the Press.Read more at Wikipedia here
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The International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) is an international organization that advocates for freedom of expression. It says threats to freedom of expression go far beyond the arrest and imprisonment of those whose writings and opinions challenge the powerful – although that still occurs with alarming frequency in some countries. Governments and other forces are employing more sophisticated methods to restrict freedom of expression.
In the aftermath of 9-11, many countries have passed sweeping anti-terrorism laws that pressure journalists to reveal their sources and leave them more vulnerable to arrest and prosecution. Criminal defamation laws are being used to hinder proper scrutiny of the activities of public officials, business leaders and others.
Meanwhile, Internet censorship is spreading worldwide as governments find new ways of limiting citizens’ expression and access to information on the World Wide Web. And violence against journalists and other media workers remains an ever-present danger in many places.
IFEX has published a Campaigning for Freedom of Expression, a Handbook for Advocates.
Closer to home, Matt Mogekwu, published an article in 2001 called The Politics of Press Freedom and the National Economy in Swaziland in which he examined the extent to which the issue of press freedom has become a variable in the scheming for power and status within the Swazi nation and what this means for the economic development of the country.
He writes, ‘Dialogue is an essential element of democracy; that people need to talk to the government, among themselves and be free to express whatever opinion they may hold about any aspect of national life. Press freedom should be specifically provided for in the constitution for the practitioners to be able to carry out their responsibilities without fear of intimidation.’
The International Press Institute (IPI) describes itself as a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, dedicated to the furtherance and safeguarding of press freedom, the promotion of the free flow of news and information and the improvement of the practices of journalism.
IPI publishes annual reports on press freedom around the world. Here is part of what it had to say about press freedom in Swaziland in 2006, ‘Journalists have little in the way of legal protection when carrying out their work and there are several laws limiting the right to report. Among them, the 1938 Sedition and Subversive Activities Act that forbids the publication of any criticism of the monarchy – as a result, most reporting concerning the king’s activities involve self-censorship.’
Monday, 23 July 2007
As I surf around the Internet I am continually surprised by how much information there is about Swaziland and also by the fact that people in unexpected places are interested in what’s going on here.
One group I recently stumbled across come from Denmark, a tiny country in northern Europe. They call themselves the Southern Africa Contact (Denmark) and they produce a newsletter twice a month which contains news about Swaziland taken from the news media in Swaziland and elsewhere.
Swaziland Newsletter, which has been in existence since 2005, is distributed to more than 1200 people and institutions in Europe, Southern Africa and the United States, among others, and to a large number of universities. Anyone with an interest in Swaziland can subscribe to have the newsletter sent to them by email – free of charge. If you want to find out more, click here
Friday, 20 July 2007
Article 1 of the SNAJ Code of Conduct states that ‘the duty of every journalist is to write and report, adhere to and faithfully defend the truth’. It goes on to say, ‘A journalist should make adequate inquiries, do cross-checking of facts in order to provide the public with unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information.’
But can we be confident that the journalists are telling us the truth when so much of their information published in their reports and articles comes from unnamed sources? Actually, that isn’t quite true because the journalists try to disguise the fact that they are using anonymous sources by giving characters in their stories fake names.
Go through any Swazi newspaper any day of the week and count the number of times you see an asterix (*) against someone’s name and a note at the bottom of the report or article saying ‘not their real name’.
Another trick is for the journalist to state that they have withheld a source’s name ‘for ethical reasons.’ This trick is particularly annoying because usually there is no ethical reason at all for withholding the name. In fact, the exact opposite is the case – it is unethical to withhold the source’s name because this contravenes the journalist’s duty to provide the public with unbiased, balanced and comprehensive information.
Here are some examples of reports in the newspapers in recent days that have not named their sources: a witness to an explosion at a factory; an informant in a case regarding bogus army recruitment; an informant in a report on an armed robbery; readers who gave comments on a crisis in the health service; a nurse commenting on a traffic accident; an informant to a report on cattle theft; unnamed mothers recounting their experience giving birth at Mbabane Government Hospital and a man involved in an assault.
Reports and articles that do not name sources of information are untrustworthy. Without names the reports and articles become speculation, gossip and rumour. How can readers trust unverified claims and allegations? Last Wednesday the Times of Swaziland published a series of very good reports on the health crisis in Swazi hospitals. There were vivid accounts from people who spoke about there own dreadful experiences in hospital. But, these people were not named. How can readers be sure that these people actually exist?
There is one exception to the rule that sources should be named. The SNAJ Article 7 states that journalists are bound to protect sources of confidential information. Such cases are few and far between and usually involve ‘whistle blowers’ who are giving information to journalists to expose some crime or other wrong-doing and may be in danger of recrimination if they do so. None of the examples given earlier come from ‘confidential sources’.
The use of anonymous sources makes it impossible for anyone to rely on and trust the information and analysis that it is contained in the news reports and articles. This means the use of anonymous sources undermines the integrity and standing of the work of journalists and the media generally.
Thursday, 19 July 2007
We often hear complaints (especially from journalists) in Swaziland that the kingdom doesn’t get a good press in overseas' media. In my experience that isn’t really true.
The truth is that very little about Swaziland appears in any media outside of the kingdom. One of the big problems we have is that the rest of the world generally ignores Swaziland because Swaziland isn’t important in global terms. Unlike, say, South Africa, it doesn’t have strategically placed ports that are vital to world shipping (think of Durban and Cape Town). Nor, does Swaziland have rich mineral resources that are important to world manufacturing.
Over the past three years I have been researching how the foreign news media reports on Swaziland. I’ll write in detail about what I have discovered another time.
One thing I want to share with you is some of the reports that I have found that were originally made to be shown on television. Some of these reports have been put on Internet sites so it is possible to view them on the computer.
From time to time on this site I’ll point out some of these reports so you can watch them yourself and make your own mind up about what picture they paint of Swaziland.
The one I have linked to here was made for UNICEF Television and distributed to television stations around the world. UNICEF Television is funded by the United Nations Children’s Fund and is a global news service that focuses on the health, education, equality and protection of children. Their reports tend to concentrate on developing countries.
The theme of the report which lasts about 2 mins 30 secs is ‘In Swaziland grandmothers shoulder the burden of Aids’ and it features 64-year-old Evelyn Sikholiwe Similani (pictured) who talks about how Aids has affected her life.
Regular readers of the Swazi Observer won’t be the least surprised that the newspapers is against the proposed two day ‘stay away’ being organized by trade unionists for next week.
The Observer published a comment piece yesterday signed by the chief editor headlined ‘Avoid Stay Away at Any Cost’. In it the newspaper stated: 'If there is one thing that Swaziland does not need in the present economic circumstances - it is a mass stay away.’
It went on to say, ‘It is our considered view that if labour unions should continue with the intended strike, it is the poor and vulnerable that will bear the brunt.
‘It is not the leaders that will be faced with job loses and empty plates, but you and me lowly people.’
But the Observer might be upset to find that it has unwittingly given a great deal of comfort to its enemy. In a previously published article headlined ‘Stay away: Govt calls urgent meet’ (13 July 2007)’ it detailed how the government had called an urgent meeting with workers to avert the pending strike threat by the country’s unions on 25 and 26 July.
The Observer reported, 'Despite three letters directed to a Cabinet minister and the Prime Minister Themba Dlamini, Cabinet has claimed not to be aware of the issues that have forced workers to go on strike next week.’
This newspaper report has been used as a rallying cry by members of the Swaziland Solidarity Network (SSN).
SSN’s forum was told this week that the news report ‘even though filtered as it is through the establishment media, nevertheless announces a specific and historic confrontation.’ The forum claims the Observer article exposes the Swazi government and copies of the article have been widely circulated to sympathisers across the world, using the Internet.
The workers’ demands (as published by the Observer) are:
1. Taxation of terminal benefits and other benefits
Workers demand the changes per attached write up to be effected from the 1st July 2007. In this demand, they say government should desist from increasing its revenue base by taxing benefits, even where such would have adverse effect to some lowly paid workers.
2. Amendment of the SNPF Order
Workers propose the amendment, without further delay, to allow payment of SNPF benefits to all employees who have been retrenched, on production of such confirmation from the employer.
3. Application of part X111 of the Employment Act of 1980 of the tender board on public contracts
The Section calls for ensuring that contractors/service providers paid out of public funds adhere to basic minimum standards as provided for in the various Wages Orders.
4. Consultation with the public on privatisation
In the mediation by CMAC during the 2003 protest action notice, government was to discuss this issue with the unions. It promised to provide its privatisation policy, where after, it would then engage the unions. The policy was provided, but no meeting or workshop on this topic ever took place. All we have heard is that government is rolling out its privatisation process," the union says.
Government is proceeding with the privatisation policy without proper consultation even in line with the policy it adopted.
Wednesday, 18 July 2007
Hate speech is rife in the Swazi press. Hardly a week goes by without some disparaging reference to religious, ethnic or sexual minorities. At the moment the gays are getting a particularly hard time of it.
The hate writing is so casual I wonder whether journalists actually think before they put finger to keyboard. An item in the Scene and Heard column of Times Sunday newspaper (1 July 2007) is about a performance by the all male Chippendales dance group which attracted some gay men to the audience. This the journalist found annoying. The unnamed journalist concludes, ‘I hate gays and the sooner we rid ourselves of such evil the better.’
Article 13 of the SNAJ code of conduct says journalists should avoid publication of words that might promote hatred. The Times Sunday failed abysmally. To assist reporters and their editors here is a definition of hate speech: ‘Type of speech or writing which can do any of the following: deliberately offend, degrade, intimidate, or incite violence or prejudicial action against someone based on their race, ethnicity, profession, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. It can be aimed at an individual; or racial, ethnic, religious or other group. Such speech generally seeks to condemn or dehumanize the individual or group; or express anger, hatred, violence or contempt toward them.’
Unfortunately, such hatred as published by the Times Sunday is not isolated. Late last year, days after South Africa confirmed its same sex civil partnership law, Swaziland’s Weekend Observer ran a comment piece by Dr Ben Dlamini with the headline, ‘Same sex marriages are an abomination of the human spirit’. His words are so hateful that I don’t want to repeat them here, but the gist of his writing is that because animals do not engage in homosexual acts, men who do so are lower than animals. He is undeterred by his own ignorance, because, of course, one can find examples of homosexual behaviour all over the animal kingdom.
Ben Dlamini concludes his article by stating that anyone who is ‘afflicted’ with homosexuality needs serious medical attention and he looks forward to the time that the ‘condition’ of homosexuality can be treated by hormone therapy.
The same edition of the Weekend Observer carries an article by Pastor Justice Dlamini on the same topic. Interestingly, he too, writes from a position of ignorance. Introducing his column ‘Only Jesus Can Help Homosexuals Overcome’, he describes homosexuality as ‘the desire to be the opposite sex or belief that one is “trapped” in a body of the wrong sex’ (he has confused the transsexual with the homosexual).
He then goes on to extensively quote Biblical references that he claims lament ‘bitterly about the men who practice homosexuality and the women who are lesbians’. ‘God vows that such people will not escape His wrath’. He writes, ‘I must quickly mention that if such people are not helped they are likely to have a tragic ending.’
The Weekend Observer is not alone in encouraging hatred of homosexuals. A couple of weeks before these two articles appeared; the Swazi News reported that gays and lesbians were responsible for the increase in child sex attacks in the country. A report with the stark accusatory headline ‘Gays and Lesbians Are To Blame Here’ introduced a report that publicity about gays and lesbians in Swaziland had increased the number of sodomy cases in Swaziland. This, the newspaper reports, is according to two Save The Children regional offices that have been dealing with sexual offences. However, a third regional office says gays and lesbian practice does not have any effect on cases of sodomy against children. The newspaper’s report is clearly contradictory and does not justify the headline. Also, the reporter fails to explain how lesbians can engage in sodomy.
The recent decision of South Africa to confirm the constitutional status of gays and lesbians in its country comes as an embarrassment to Swaziland. In February 2006 its own constitution came into force and unlike the South African version, which places human rights at its centre, Swaziland’s confirms the present ruling elites in their positions in the kingdom.
The Swaziland constitution has been criticised by civic society organisations inside and outside Swaziland for not embracing democratic principles. Defenders of the constitution like to point to Swaziland’s uniqueness, often citing the belief that God blesses its traditions. These traditions include forcing under aged girls into unwanted marriages; the whipping of children as both domestic and judicial punishment (the Bible commands spare the rod and spoil the child); and the right of men to have as many wives as they chose (a practice that has helped Swaziland to the dubious honour of achieving the highest HIV rate in the world). In this context it is not surprising that gays and lesbians are attacked.
Among all the hatred there is at least one voice of reason in the Swazi Press. Kath Manson, who writes in the Times Sunday, has tackled homosexuality (especially in the lesbian form) arguing that homosexuality is a natural human characteristic and not something you can wipe out.
Manson is a voice in the Swazi wilderness. The week after one of her articles in April 2007, the Times Sunday published a letter from a racist reader in which Manson is denounced as ‘a white female’. The letter, like the articles from the brothers Dlamini mentioned earlier, expresses the writer’s own ignorance on the subject of sexuality, and goes on to warn readers about the ‘tide of western liberalism’ that is sweeping Swaziland.
Clearly, there is a long way to go before the Swazi press is adult enough to have a proper conversation with its readers about homosexuality. But until this can happen journalists and their editors should study Article 13 on hate speech and consider what part they play in stigmatising people who are members of minority groups.
Tuesday, 17 July 2007
A new feature length documentary about Swaziland is presently doing the rounds of film festivals.
The 84-minute documentary, which was directed by American Michael Skolnik, had its international premiere at the Hot Docs Canadian International Film Festival in Toronto on 23 April 2007.
I haven’t seen the film, Without The King, myself but I can safely predict that many Swazis will find it controversial.
This is the blurb that the Hot Docs festival put out about the documentary. It’s pretty hot stuff so if you’re the nervous type I suggest you look away now.
Swaziland is Africa's last absolute monarchy and a nation at a dangerous crossroads. The people demand democracy and an end to starvation, while the king insists on banning political parties. The people want relief from a 43 per cent AIDS/HIV infection rate, the world's highest, while the king prices a fleet of luxury limousines. Against this backdrop of blatant inequality, we meet the royal family: Princess Sikhanyiso, a teenage rapper and eldest child; Queen LaMbikiza, a headstrong outsider and first of 12 wives; and King Mswati III, a distant figure out of touch with his home and country. Unprecedented access to the royals and villagers witnesses startling parallel rebellions. Terrorism and civil unrest are on the rise in the impoverished townships, where rebels will not be assuaged by the king's hollow constitutional offering, while inside the palace, an unlikely source of change makes her own plans and discoveries. The camera captures the birth of a nation's revolution, a struggle to reconcile First and Third World orders and a princess' burgeoning self-awareness in this most inspiring exposé.
I think we can safely say that Channel S won’t be showing the film anytime soon.
Without The King won the special Jury Prize at Hot Docs, but at least one film critic who saw it in Canada wasn’t impressed.
Deanna McFadden on the Chart Attack website called it ‘terribly earnest’, presenting a laundry list of many of the key problems suffered by African nations in our modern world.
She says, ‘It’s not for lack of interesting subject matter that the doc ultimately falls flat, but rather the director's stereotypical and overly heartfelt approach to filmmaking.’ She concludes, ‘Without The King is pedantic, sappy and surprisingly plain’.
If you absolutely must know more, you can see a two-minute trailer for the documentary at any one of these three websites.
Monday, 16 July 2007
An attempt to give voices to the poor, disabled and the generally disadvantaged in Swaziland is gaining momentum. Advocates for community media have released their initial findings on the feasibility of publishing rural newspapers and found widespread support.
If community newspapers were to be launched they would challenge the present news media that is dominated by the needs of political, social and business elites in the kingdom.
At present there are two newspaper groups in Swaziland. A company that is effectively controlled by the monarchy runs one, which publishes the daily Observer and the Weekend Observer. The other, which publishes the daily Times of Swaziland and Saturday and Sunday newspapers is privately owned but supports the monarchy and broadly caters for an audience of social, business and political elites. Both groups distribute their newspapers mainly to urban areas.
In Swaziland people living in rural areas, the poor and people with disabilities, get a raw deal from the news media. A new initiative to create and regularly publish community newspapers catering mainly, but not exclusively, to the rural areas aims to change this situation.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa (Swaziland Chapter) and the South Africa-based Institute for the Advancement of Journalism jointly published a draft report in June 2007 that concluded the time was ripe to press ahead toward establishing community newspapers.
The key findings of the draft report written by Ed Moyo, a lecturer in the Journalism and Mass Communication Department at the University of Swaziland, were that all people consulted in the regions unanimously favoured the establishment of community newspapers and most believed the newspapers should be in the siSwati language (the commercial newspapers and magazines in Swaziland are all in English).
The report also found:
There is a widespread opinion that national newspapers have failed to cater forcommunal needs and aspirations;
Community newspapers are seen as an empowerment of communities throughout Swaziland;
The community newspapers could help to create jobs, especially for young people;
The community newspapers are viewed as educational materials that will be used for sustaining literacy. They will provide reading materials that are not readily available in rural areas.
The draft report is optimistic that the newspapers could be commercially viable. Supermarkets, shops, hotels, banks and local branches of large companies are among those who said they would advertise in the new newspapers.
There is a pool of talent ready to work on the newspapers. Students in the Journalism and Mass Communication Department at the University of Swaziland could work on the newspapers as part of their course work and there are many former students of the department who have not been able to get work since graduating.
The draft report paints an optimistic picture for the future of community newspapers.
The Swazi cabinet’s approval of a new information technology and communication policy has encouraged advocacy groups to believe that there is a will among the ruling elite in Swaziland for diversification in the media.
That optimism may be misplaced, as there has been little evidence since the Swazi Constitution was enacted in February 2006 that the kingdom is moving toward democracy. The news media is still unable to publish material critical of the monarchy and government ministers have sought to restrict the media’s access to information. Most recently, the health minister banned workers in the country’s main hospital from speaking to anyone (media, friends, family) about matters pertaining to the hospital. This was after the news media reported that a four-year-old girl died from rabies after the hospital failed to get readily available drugs to her.
There is no such thing as a free press in Swaziland. There are at least 30 pieces of legislation that restricts the activities of the media in some way or another. Newspapers must be licensed by the government and any number of informal rules of conduct governs what can be talked about in the media and other public spaces. I can see no reason why the ruling elite in Swaziland would want to relax these laws and rules to allow more voices to be heard. The reason why they presently restrict the media is to control the flow of information and discussion. In this way members of the elite groups maintain their privileged positions.
There are also flaws in the draft report itself. The report needs to clearly distinguish between ‘local’ newspaper and ‘community’ newspaper.
The report describes newspapers that are published for the benefit of a group of people living in a particular geographical area that are supported by advertising from business. These are ‘local’ newspapers. The editorial content of these newspapers would not be so different from the content of the present Swazi national newspapers. I would not be surprised if either of the newspaper-owning companies in Swaziland saw such newspapers as an opportunity to increase their business and make more profit by publishing localised versions of their national papers.
A ‘community’ newspaper is something quite different. Newspapers like this exist across the world (and there are many more community radio stations), which offer a non-profit service that is owned and managed by the particular community the newspapers serve. They are different from the present commercial or state-controlled media in Swaziland because they allow a diversity of voices and opinions to be heard. This is because they are open to participation from all parts of the community.
Community newspapers can provide a platform for the discussion about matters that the community itself consider important. These issues might not be the same things that the monarch, the chiefs, or business houses think are important. And because community newspapers allow dissenting voices to be heard people who presently have control in Swaziland will see them as dangerous.
This raises a second major flaw in the draft report. The author asked members of parliament, NGOs and business houses whether they supported the idea of the community newspapers. The response was overwhelmingly favourable. But chiefs were not consulted. In Swaziland the non-democratic nature of the country requires people to defer to the wishes of local chiefs (who are in effect representatives of the monarch). If the chiefs do not support the community newspaper project, it will not happen. It really is as simple as that.
We have yet to see what position the chiefs take on the project but it is difficult to see that they would allow potentially subversive media into their areas. Instead, I should think, if they allowed the community newspapers into their chiefdoms at all they would want to have control over them. This would make it impossible to publish truly ‘community’ newspapers. The idea of a ‘local’ newspaper that prominently reported the chiefs’ comings and goings (as the national newspapers do with the king) would probably be very attractive to them.
Some of these issues (and more) were raised at a stakeholders’ meeting in June 2007. The draft report’s sponsors promised to think some more and come back with an updated report. The community newspaper project lives on.
(Feasibility Study on Community Newspapers in Indigenous Languages and for People with Disabilities, March 2007).
Friday, 13 July 2007
The news media in Swaziland have been criticized for spending too much time reporting from cities and towns, while ignoring people who live in rural areas.
Emmanuel Ndlangamandla, who is executive director of the non-government organization, CANGO, called on the media to play a bigger role in bringing the concerns of ordinary people to public attention so that their problems could be addressed.
A report in the Swazi Observer (13 July 2007) quoted Ndlangamandla telling a breakfast meeting at the Mountain Inn, Mbabane, that government often took notice of peoples’ problems if they were highlighted in the media.
‘We’ve seen it before that, for instance, if Swazi TV flags poverty concerns of the elderly in rural communities, government would make follow-up visits and determine the kind of response that could be provided for them,’ he said.
Thursday, 12 July 2007
The Swazi media are all too ready to toe the line when it comes to their relationship with government. This observation is contained in the latest annual report from the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA).
The report ‘So This is Democracy?’ says that when addressing editors in April 2006, the Swazi King commended the media for their ‘patriotism and maturity’ during a border blockade staged by the Congress of South African Trade Unions and banned political parties in an attempt to force political change in Swaziland. The media had joined trade unions in opposing the blockade. Later in the year the Swazi Prime Minister praised the media for a ‘job well done’.
The MISA report has got it about right, but there have been some exceptions. The truth is that media are not strong in Swaziland and find themselves in deep trouble if they voice criticism of the ruling elite, especially the King Mswati III. In March 2007 (a period not covered by the MISA report), The Times of Swaziland Group of Newspapers was forced into publishing an abject apology to King Mwasti III after the Times Sunday ran a news commentary sourced from the international news agency Afrol News in which the following appeared. ‘Swaziland is increasingly paralysed by poor governance, corruption and the private spending of authoritarian King Mswati III and his large royal family. The growing social crisis in the country and the lessening interest of donors to support King Mswati’s regime has also created escalating needs for social services beyond the scale of national budgets.’
Such open criticism of the king is not allowed in Swaziland (not even in so-called independent newspapers like the Times Sunday). On the Thursday following publication a front page ‘unreserved apology’ to the king was published on the front page of the Times of Swaziland (repeated in the following week’s Times Sunday). The apology signed by both the publisher and managing editor of the Times Group said the article ‘was disparaging to the person of His Majesty in its content, greatly embarrassed him and should not have passed editorial scrutiny.’
It went on, ‘Our newspapers take great care with matters regarding the monarch, being conscious always of the unbreakable link of the King with the Nation. What occurred is reprehensible and we will renew our vigilance in editorial matters with the utmost vigour.’
To make absolutely certain that there was no doubt of the newspaper group’s subservience to the King, it finished the apology, ‘Once again your Majesty, our sincere and humble apologies.’
This was not an isolated incident, but it is the most extreme in recent times. Sitting here at my keyboard I can think of many other recent cases of media suppression. There may be more, so apologies in advance for those I have missed.
May 2006King Mswati III banned newspapers from writing about his wives without his permission, even while covering official events, after the Times Sunday interviewed one of his wives (with her consent) while she was sick in hospital. This was the second time in 12 months that the Swazi king gagged the media from reporting about royalty. It should be noted that this ban was not reported within Swaziland. This banning by the king simply continued a trend that had been operating since before the new constitution, for example, in 2005, the king ordered the media to stop writing about his lavish spending after newspapers published that he had purchased US$500,000 worth of luxurious vehicles for his 13 wives.
October 2006Parliament ordered the Times of Swaziland to apologise for an opinion expressed in the newspaper that referred to a select committee that investigated the operations of the Swaziland Broadcasting and Information Service as a ‘kangaroo court’.
In an editorial the Times declined to apologize thus: ‘We are of the view that parliament has seriously been ill-advised by the select committee in its recommendation, which has not only caused the House to violate a constitution passed by itself, but also seeks to deny the author of the article his fundamental right to freedom of expression.’
November 2006The Public Services and Information Minister S’gayoyo Magongo instructed Swazi TV to reinstate an employee the station wished to dismiss (Swazi TV complied with the instruction). In Parliament the minister said Section 75 of the constitution empowered him to do this as it charges ministers with responsibility ‘for the policy and general direction and control’ over their departments'.
December 2006Members of the ruling elite in Swaziland resent the media when they public views that run contrary to its own. The Times of Swaziland came under attack a by a committee that was putting together a case to demand the return from neighbouring South Africa of land that Swaziland claimed belonged to it. At a press conference members of the committee including the chair Prince Khuzulwandle, a member of the Royal Family, criticised the newspaper for collecting views on the issue from members of the public. The response the newspaper received was hostile to the demand for restoration prompting the committee to question why the newspaper asked ordinary people instead of people who were knowledgeable on the subject.
The Times’ response (in an editorial in the newspaper) was to reassert its readers’ constitutional rights to freedom of speech.
March 2007In one of the more bizarre examples of media restriction controversial church pastor Justice Dlamini threatened two journalists with death through divine intervention.Dlamini (who incidentally writes a regular column in the Weekend Observer newspaper) shocked a church gathering, which also included cabinet ministers, when he declared from the pulpit that he was praying for the death of two journalists, Times of Swaziland managing editor Martin Dlamini and reporter Nhlanhla Mathunjwa, whom he claimed wrote badly about him.This followed a story published by the Times of Swaziland in which the pastor was said to have been involved a squabble over a church vehicle with one of his subordinate pastors.
June 2007The Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Njabulo Mabuza, banned health workers from talking to the media in response to a number of stories highlighting the impact of a critical drug shortage.
Workers were forbidden to have any type of communication, including interviews and casual or ‘indiscreet’ conversations, whether at clubs, hotels, bars or private parties. Journalists were also barred from Mbabane Government Hospital, the country's key medical facility, whose problems have been highlighted in the press. These problems were considered by the press to be typical of the wider crisis afflicting the healthcare system.
On 23 June, the Times of Swaziland experienced the effects of the Minister's censorship order when its photographer, Albert Masango, was denied access to the hospital. Hospital security harassed and pulled Masango out of the premises and carried him out to the gate.Amid Masango's protestations, the security personnel stressed that, in accordance with a new ‘law’, permission had to be obtained from either the Minister or his Principal Secretary before the media would be allowed to cover anything inside the hospital.
An official at a health facility in the central town of Manzini was quoted by the IRIN news agency that the regulation barring health personnel from speaking with the media was not new. ‘In fact, it began three ministers ago, but it is now being enforced because of all the stories about deaths in government hospitals.
July 2007The Swazi House of Assembly set up a select committee to investigate the editor of the Times Sunday following a comment piece the newspaper ran criticising the House Speaker for not allowing a debate to take place on possible amendments to the kingdom’s constitution. The House of Assembly said the editor was in contempt of Parliament. The editor, Mbongeni Mbingo faces a maximum two-year prison sentence if found guilty.
The MISA report, which looked at the year 2006, concluded that the media environment in Swaziland was worsening with the survival instincts of newspapers resulting in self-censorship and journalists shifting their focus to soft stories, involving mainly crime. The need for the media to unite and fight for their freedoms is greater than ever before.
Tuesday, 10 July 2007
Parliament in Swaziland is trying to sanction the editor of the privately owned Sunday newspaper for expressing himself about the affairs of the House of Assembly in a recent commentary in his publication.
The Media Institute of Southern Africa reports that Irate MPs refused to be educated or corrected on the right of freedom of expression and the press and went on to pass a resolution to probe the editor, Mbongeni Mbingo, for criticizing the Speaker and House of Assembly for blocking a recent motion by an MP seeking to question an alleged secret move by Cabinet and traditional authorities to amend certain clauses in the Constitution without the knowledge of the nation.
Sunday, 8 July 2007
There is manufactured outrage in the Swazi press about the way the activities of the kingdom’s autonomous King Mswati III are reported in the foreign press. This time the victim is the South African magazine Drum (3 May 2007), which reported on the king’s lavish birthday party under the headline “The Swazi king celebrates his birthday in style while his people suffer in poverty”.
There have been calls for the magazine, which is freely on sale in Swaziland, to be banned and legal action has been threatened against it. All because Drum misidentified a Swazi prince as the king in a photograph.
The article runs for about 1,100 words across two pages and describes the king’s birthday party in April 2007. There were two parties: one attended by 10,000 subjects in a stadium in eastern Swaziland and another exclusive garden party at the royal residence. The total bill for the day came to 15 million emalangeni (just over two million US dollars).
This extract gives a flavour of the article. “They [critics] might roll their eyes a little in exasperation sometimes – after all, this is a king with 13 wives, each of whom he has provided with a BMW X5 while he drives a 500,000 US dollars Daimler Chrysler Maybach 62, one of the most luxurious cars in the world. But as far as his people are concerned he’s their absolute ruler and it’s not their place to criticise him.”
The article then gives what it calls these “hard facts” about Swaziland: the kingdom is crippled by debt, 42 per cent of the population is HIV-positive and more than 46 per cent don’t have work, 70 per cent of the country’s 1.1 million population live on less than one US dollar a day.
The king is reported to have said the party was justified as it was good for morale and enabled the country to “come together as one”.
Swazis canvassed by Drum were nothing but supportive of the king. One is quoted saying, “He is entitled to such expenses. This is part of our culture and tradition and we are tired of the West trying to enforce their ideals on us. We are happy being ruled by the king – and he should live in a palace and drive a nice car. It’s his right.”
Reaction in the Swazi press was swift. The day after Drum appeared on the shelves in Swaziland the Swazi Observer chief editor Musa Ndlangamandla, in a full-page article in his own newspaper, called the journalists at Drum “fools” who “insult our king”. Significantly, he openly refused to tackle the accusations made in the article, preferring to hide behind rhetoric of “glaring untruths and misconceptions in the article.”
The misidentified picture became the story in the Swazi press. The Times Sunday reported that Prince Lonkhokhela (the man in the picture) was “humiliated” by the picture and was taking legal action against Drum.
In an editorial comment the Times Sunday called for the government to intervene in the row, believing the king had been ridiculed by the mistaken photograph.
The Weekend Observer reported prominent Swazi businessman Walter Bennett calling on the government to consider stopping the distribution of Drum in Swaziland unless it made an unreserved apology to the king and the nation.
Bennett echoed a sentiment that is often expressed in the Swazi media when he reportedly said it was high time the country reacted to negative reports written in the foreign media.
The most extreme outburst came more than six weeks after the Drum publication. Almon Mbingo, a columnist for the Weekend Observer wrote of the woman journalist who wrote the Drum article, “She deserves to be hanged from the nearest tree.” He went on to say, “She deserves to be declared a Prohibitive Immigrant who should never set foot in Swaziland again. What a pity we do not have the 60 days detention order anymore, otherwise, she would be His Majesty’s guest in the Correctional Services before she is deported.” This invective clearly contravenes the SNAJ code on hate speech.
This outrage in the Swazi press is part of its continuing campaign to protect the king’s reputation against what it sees as unfair reporting in non-Swazi media. However, the outrage about the photograph is entirely synthetic. An editorial error was made and the prince was misidentified as the king: it was as simple as that. The Drum magazine published a correction in a later edition.
The Times Sunday in its editorial comment attacked South African journalists for making such an “obvious mistake” in not being able to identify the king, but the reality is that King Mswati III is not an international figure. He rules over a small country, landlocked between South Africa and Mozambique, that has no significance on the international stage. The country has neither geopolitical strategic significance nor economic significance, such as a wealth of raw materials, and therefore what goes on in the country is of little interest outside Swaziland.
A systematic analysis of international news coverage of Swaziland demonstrates that hardly anything about the country appears in the foreign press. The King’s birthday went largely unreported outside Swaziland, although the South Africa Press Association agency did distribute a report based on comments from the Swaziland Solidarity Network that the cost of the celebration was extravagant. The South Africa Sunday Times ran a short piece based on the agency report, but I have been unable to find any other newspaper that felt the report interesting enough to publish.
The Swazi press is making its protests purely for internal consumption. The monarch in Swaziland holds all the power and no criticism of the king is tolerated. The manufactured outrage over the Drum article follows closely a report in Times Sunday in March 2007 from the Afrol news agency that suggested that economic and social problems facing Swaziland stemmed from the private spending of the king. This type of criticism was considered entirely out of order and after pressure both the Times Sunday and its stablemate Times of Swaziland issued apologies stating that the article was “disparaging to the person of His Majesty in its content, greatly embarrassed him and should not have passed editorial scrutiny”.
This was a very clear warning to the Swazi media. There have also been threats from the government to make further controls on a media that is already subject by more than 30 restrictive laws. The manufactured outrage over the Drum article gives the Swazi press an opportunity to once again demonstrate its loyalty to the king.
The miscaptioned photograph is a distraction. What remains unchallenged by the Swazi press are the central accusations of the Drum report that the king lives a lavish lifestyle while most of his subjects are in abject poverty.
Saturday, 7 July 2007
This Blog will comment on the Swaziland News Media with a particular emphasis on the ethical standards of the kingdom’s journalism. The best way to do this is to use the standards journalists in Swaziland set for themselves and to study how well they adhere to these.
The majority of Swazi journalists and other media practitioners are organised in professionals associations such as The Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ), which has a membership of 150 out of the estimated 200 journalists who are working in the country.
SNAJ itself has published a code of conduct and this provides a framework of reference to all practicing journalists in Swaziland, both full-time and freelance. The code is meant to ensure that members adhere to the highest ethical standards, professional competence and good behaviour in carrying out their duties. Its overriding concern is that members of the media should conduct themselves with a high sense of responsibility without infringing the rights of individuals and society in general.
The Code is divided into 19 Articles, an edited version of which follows:
Art 1: Peoples right to information (The duty of every journalist is to write and report, adhere to and faithfully defend, the truth. A journalist should make adequate inquiries, do cross-checking of facts in order to provide the public with unbiased, accurate, balanced and comprehensive information. The public must have unfettered access to all media).
Art 2: Social responsibility (Including a journalist may advise a survivor of a sexual offence to go for counselling).
Art 3: Professional integrity and conflict of interest (Journalists should not accept bribes and there should be no conflict of interest in the carrying out of the journalists’ duties.
Art 4: Plagiarism is unethical and illegal.
Art 5: Respect for privacy and human dignity (Journalists should respect the right of the individual, privacy and human dignity. Enquiries and intrusions into a person’s private life can only be justified when done in the public interest. A journalist should guard against defamation, libel, slander and obscenity. A journalist shall seek consent of the survivor before taking pictures or conducting interviews with survivors of sexual offences. In cases of minors, the consent of their guardians shall be sufficient. Evidence of the consent may be recorded electronically or documentary.)
Art 6: Respect for national and ethnic values (A journalist shall not originate material which encourages discrimination on the grounds of ethnicity, colour, creed, gender or sexual orientation. Journalists should respect ethnic values of Swazi society unless they compromise good moral values or violate human rights.).
Art 18: News headlines and sensationalism (Newspaper headlines shall be fully warranted by contents of the articles they announce. Photographs shall give an accurate picture of an event not highlight an incident out of context. Journalists shall endeavour to avoid reporting on information that will result in secondary trauma.)
Art 19: HIV AIDS. There are ten sub sections to this article covering areas including the right to confidentiality and privacy; informed consent and the rights of children infected with HIV. |
Q:
All about WSDL vs MEX?
I am not able to open the meta data url http://localhost:8082/Tasks/mex, even though
I've added the mexHttpBinding in the config file. Can I view this MEX endpoint in a browser?
The config files look like:
<endpoint address="mex" binding="mexHttpBinding" contract="IMetadataExchange" />
Questions:
Is MEX is different from WSDL? If not, then why do we require a MEX endpoint over WSDL?
In the WSDL, I see the WSDL type information is missing. Is it by default? Can I look at the type information in WSDL?
A:
Check out serviceMetadata for more information regarding the WCF configuration file.
To answer your questions though, MEX is a newer W3C standard for the presentation of Service description information; WSDL was the previous method. If you need to allow older clients to access your service description information, you may have to expose that information via WSDL.
The information for exposing your service description information as WSDL (httpGetEnabled) is also in the link provided above.
Also, try using the wcftestclient.exe to access your WCF service. It provides more functionality and information than a browser.
A:
Aakash, Did you add a service behavior with a <serviceMetadata> element? It can be empty, i.e. <serviceMetadata />, but it must be present. The service definition needs to reference the service behaviorConfiguration. Check out the following for examples:
http://www.request-response.com/blog/PermaLink,guid,c9513d28-f580-4a33-b4e8-c15476799a9d.aspx
|
Cubway is a journey with an abstract story of lifecycle of rebirth, called Samsara
Cubway
Watch the trailer
What is it about?
Cubway is a journey with an abstract story of lifecycle of rebirth, called Samsara. Guide the cube through the long way full of dangers and difficulties, visit many interesting and mysterious places.
Guide the cube. Guide the cube through obstacles.
Memorable Jorney. Cubway puts you in control of a single cube on a journey filled with trials and tribulations. What stands in your way are a variety of shapes that must be moved or passed by through various interactions.
Unique level. The type of interaction won’t always be obvious, so you’ll have to experiment with movements in order to solve the riddle.
App Details
Version
1.3
Rating
(116)
Size
360Mb
Genre
Arcade Puzzle
Last updated
March 29, 2018
Release date
July 21, 2016
More info
Cubway is FREE but there are more add-ons
$1.99
No Ads
App Screenshots
App Store Description
Cubway is a journey with an abstract story of lifecycle of rebirth, called Samsara. Guide the cube through the long way full of dangers and difficulties, visit many interesting and mysterious places.
Mechanics of the game are concentrated around different types of interaction with the obstacles. Some of them are: finding correct spot to overcome the obstacles, blowing them, correct timing of your movement, avoiding dangers, changing your movement directions by the switchers and many more.
All this is accompanied by beautiful background arts that tell an abstract story, unique animations, minimalistic graphics, different astonishing effects, and relaxing ambient.
• 55 different levels • 3 Alternative Endings • Several game mechanics • Elegant and stylish design • A lot of obstacles and unique animations • Astonishing effects of rain, slow motion, change of day and night and many others • Atmospheric ambient by the Composer SiJ
Disclaimer:
AppAdvice does not own this application and only provides images and links contained in the iTunes Search API,
to help our users find the best apps to download. If you are the developer of this app and would like your
information removed, please send a request to [email protected]
and your information will be removed. |
Dietary calcium and vitamin D intake in an adult Middle Eastern population: food sources and relation to lifestyle and PTH.
Little is known about calcium and vitamin D intakes in Middle Eastern countries, where the prevalence of hypovitaminosis D is high. This study identifies major sources of calcium and vitamin D in the Lebanese diet, examines lifestyle factors that may influence intake of these nutrients and investigates the relationship between nutritional or lifestyle factors and parathyroid hormone (PTH). Three hundred sixteen young healthy volunteers aged 30 to 50 (men, non-veiled and veiled women) were recruited from different rural and urban Lebanese community centers. Food frequency questionnaire was used to evaluate the consumption of vitamin D and calcium-rich foods. We also measured serum PTH levels. Mean daily calcium and vitamin D intake were respectively 683.8 +/- 281.2 mg and 100.6 +/- 71.0 IU. Daily vitamin D sources were divided as follows: 30.4 +/- 46.4 IU from milk and dairy products, 28.2 +/- 26.3 IU from meat and poultry, 25.8 +/- 25 IU from fish, 8.5 +/- 8.6 IU from eggs, and 7.8 +/- 14.3 IU from sweets (respectively 30.2%, 28%, 25.6%, 8.4% and 7.7% of the total vitamin D intake). Mean daily calcium from animal and vegetable sources were respectively 376.3 +/- 233.6 mg and 307.9 +/- 118.5 mg. Animal/total calcium intake ratio was 52% and was only statistically significantly higher in urban people compared to rural ones. Multivariate analysis showed that male sex and urban residence were independent predictors of both vitamin D and calcium intakes (p < 0.01 and p < 0.01 respectively). In addition, veiling was an independent predictor of low vitamin D intake (p < 0.05) and a high body mass index (BMI) was an independent predictor of low calcium intake (p < 0.05). Finally, PTH was inversely correlated with vitamin D intake and the animal/total calcium intake ratio (r = -0.18 and r = -0.22, p < 0.01), while no significant results were achieved for the vegetable calcium. In a multivariate model, urban living, female gender, low vitamin D and calcium intakes, low animal/total calcium intake ratio, and high BMI, are independent predictors of hyperparathyroidism. The deficient nutritional status of vitamin D and calcium in Lebanon justify the implementation of dietary public health measures. People at most risk for secondary hyperparathyroidism should be advised to increase their dietary calcium (mostly animal calcium) and vitamin D, to take supplements, or to increase their sun exposure. |
Landscape, including land use and land cover composition and structure, are recognized as important drivers for vector-borne disease risk. Since vector-borne pathogens rely on at least one vector and one host species, the occurrence of a disease is linked to areas where habitats of these species overlap functionally. The fact that these areas do not necessarily coincide with specific vegetation types hampers the correct identification of areas at risk. In this paper, we explore the potential of a resource-based habitat concept (RBHC) in identifying ‘suitable habitats’ for vector-borne pathogens. The resource-based habitat concept has been much used in conservation ecology, but has not been used yet in disease ecology. This concept would offer a framework to systematically study the different resources that are necessary for the completion of the transmission cycle, and link these resources to landscape features and other environmental factors. We show that the RBHC can be adapted to the multi-species setting of a vector-borne pathogen and illustrate this by applying the concept to bluetongue, a midge-transmitted virus in ruminants. We discuss the usefulness of the concept for vector-borne diseases and we argue that the concept may enable us to study the functional habitats of all the relevant species (vectors as well as hosts), which will give new insight in the spatial and temporal variation in transmission opportunities and the resulting disease risk. Also, it may facilitate communication between modellers and entomologists, help in identifying knowledge gaps and data gaps. Our framework may help act as a bridge between existing bottom-up mechanistic modelling approaches, that do not include landscape factors at all, and top-down satellite image-based approaches that are based on statistical inferences only. |
// Copyright 2011 The Go Authors. All rights reserved.
// Use of this source code is governed by a BSD-style
// license that can be found in the LICENSE file.
// Package regexp implements regular expression search tuned for
// use in grep-like programs.
package regexp
import "regexp/syntax"
func bug() {
panic("codesearch/regexp: internal error")
}
// Regexp is the representation of a compiled regular expression.
// A Regexp is NOT SAFE for concurrent use by multiple goroutines.
type Regexp struct {
Syntax *syntax.Regexp
expr string // original expression
m matcher
}
// String returns the source text used to compile the regular expression.
func (re *Regexp) String() string {
return re.expr
}
// Compile parses a regular expression and returns, if successful,
// a Regexp object that can be used to match against lines of text.
func Compile(expr string) (*Regexp, error) {
re, err := syntax.Parse(expr, syntax.Perl)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
sre := re.Simplify()
prog, err := syntax.Compile(sre)
if err != nil {
return nil, err
}
if err := toByteProg(prog); err != nil {
return nil, err
}
r := &Regexp{
Syntax: re,
expr: expr,
}
if err := r.m.init(prog); err != nil {
return nil, err
}
return r, nil
}
func (r *Regexp) Match(b []byte, beginText, endText bool) (end int) {
return r.m.match(b, beginText, endText)
}
func (r *Regexp) MatchString(s string, beginText, endText bool) (end int) {
return r.m.matchString(s, beginText, endText)
}
|
neverdugdiscoYou should be able to power it down by holding down a button.. I don't know which one in a Nokia 9300.. but its probably the same on you would use to hang up.. hold it down for a few seconds.. it should power down. |
Currently, in bulk service provider applications, multiple individual outdoor demarcation boxes of varying sizes are deployed to enable direct customer interconnection to video, Internet, and/or plain old telephone service (“POTS”) services provided by a service provider. Most often, it is one outdoor box for each customer and for each type of service offering. In some locations, a large backboard with support poles embedded in concrete is used to support the various boxes necessary to serve two adjacent customers. Since the customer termination enclosures are located outside and are subject to wind and weather, their size and/or number can cause problems for the bulk service provider. The pace and initial material expense required for this typical configuration make the initial cost of deployment prohibitive for many small bulk service customers, such as recreational vehicle (“RV”) park customers or the like.
Hence, there is a need for more robust and scalable solutions for implementing Fiber-to-Drop-Point (“FTDP”) and/or point-to-point fiber insertion within a passive optical network (“PON”) communications system, such as within FTTx systems (including FTTH, FTTB, FTTP, FTDP, FTTN, FTTC, and/or the like), in particular, within apical conduit-based FTTx systems, for bulk service provider applications (such as media distribution applications for RV parks or the like). |
just a small question: what processor/memory is necessary to make the latest version of GNS3 running at an Apple ?I have an MacBook with MacOS X, 2.26 Ghz, Intel Core 2 Duo with 4 GB Ram.GNS3 is starting but it is not possible to manage any router or switch.
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In computing environments, software defined networks may be used that comprise software modules capable of providing a communication platform for one or more virtual nodes in the computing environment. The software defined networks, which may include virtual switches, routers, distributed firewalls, and the like, may be used to intelligently direct communication on the network by inspecting packets before passing them to other nodes on the same network. To provide the required operations, software defined networks may be separated into a data plane, which is used to manage communications for active nodes (virtual machines and containers) in the computing environment, and a control plane, which is used to configure the various virtual switches, routers, distributed firewalls, and the like, as well as identify the operational status of elements within the computing environment.
In some implementations SDNs use control packets, such as Bidirectional Forwarding Detection (BFD) packets, Border Gateway Protocol (BGP) packets, and other similar control packets, which have the requirement of reliable and timely delivery. If, for any reason not related to network failure, the control packets are not delivered within a certain time period, unnecessary actions (such as fail over to a standby node or tear down of a BGP session) will be taken based on the assumption that a network failure has occurred. Using BFD as an example, control packets could be exchanged between transport nodes (hypervisors or gateway nodes, such as Virtual Extensible Local Area Network (VXLAN) tunnel endpoints (VTEPs)), between gateway nodes in a gateway cluster, or between a gateway and a remote router. In a SDN, when control packets are communicated over virtual network interfaces and/or physical network interfaces, the control packets will be mixed with other data packets which are less sensitive to packet drops or delays. Under high load, those control packets can be dropped or significantly delayed by the network interface, which may cause various unnecessary disruptions to the network functions.
Overview
The technology disclosed herein enhances network traffic management for software defined networks. In one implementation, a method of operating a host computing system includes receiving a plurality of network packets and, for each packet in the plurality of network packets, identifying whether the packet comprises a control packet for fault detection in a software defined network (SDN). The method further includes prioritizing, for processing by a main processing system of the computing system, each packet in the plurality of network packets based on whether the packet comprises a control packet for fault detection in a SDN. |
Mechanisms of carcinogenesis with particular reference to the oral mucosa.
Three types of stimulus, chemical, physical and viral, are known to be carcinogenic to susceptible animals. This review considers these stimuli and their possible mechanisms in general terms and their possible relevance to the induction of oral mucosal carcinoma in particular. |
Ambassadors, celebrities, notables and the infamous sat on this porch.Now it’s your turn.
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Historic setting, Updated perspective.
Thornhedge Inn is an authentic Bar Harbor classic summer cottage. Woodwork, art and curiosities are little changed since it was built as summer home in 1900. The history is celebrated, while the property is updated for today’s sensibilities. Walk in and immerse yourself in the elegance of Bar Harbor’s Gilded Age, reassured modern and luxurious comforts await.
This centrally located bed and breakfast is in the Historic Corridor District in the heart of Bar Harbor. Walk to restaurants, shopping, band concerts, Acadia National Park, and all the extreme or relaxing activities our island has to offer. Wholesome breakfasts, afternoon wine and cheese—every room has a private bath and some have a fireplace or private balcony.
Dreaming of Summer?Look at our specials to pick the best time to come and visit us. |
Mavericks head coach Rick Carlisle said one of the team's main goals for training camp this week is to find the right balance of practice time and contact for players dealing with injuries.
Power forward Dirk Nowitzki will be limited at the start of camp as he prepares for his 19th season in the NBA.
"Dirk's gonna do something similar to what he did last year," Carlisle said at Mavericks Media Day Monday. "We're gonna be low on the contact side to start with and then he's gonna work into it a little bit with (Andrew) Bogut."
Bogut suffered bone bruises in his knee in the NBA finals last season with the Golden State Warriors but was able to compete with the Australian national team at the Olympics.
Carlisle expects guard Devin Harris to be limited at the start of camp after bunion surgery. The team will evaluate point guard Deron Williams as practice goes to determine whether he needs to be held back at all after he underwent surgery on a sports hernia during the offseason. Carlisle expects him to practice "the majority of the time."
Twitter: @AdamGrosbard |
Russia’s military presence in Syria has effectively turned the tide of war back in 2015, the year Islamic State was about to “roll over Damascus,” the head of Israeli Air Force intelligence said in an interview.
The Aerial campaign Russia started against Islamic State (IS, formerly ISIS) in 2015 had “categorically” decided the fate of war in President Bashar Assad’s favor, Brig. Gen. Uri Oron, head of the Israeli Air Force Intelligence, told Haaretz newspaper. He acknowledged the Russians came at the time when Syrian defenses were on the brink of collapse.
Read more
“In the summer of 2015 everyone was sure that ISIS was about to roll over Damascus too,” Oron opined. The Russian deployment in Syria “was one of the strongest things to shape reality in the area in recent years,” along with the milestone nuclear deal the six major world powers signed with Iran the same year.
Dozens of Russian warplanes, including the state of the art fighter jets, tactical bombers and attack helicopters, are now stationed at Khmeimim airbase in Syria’s Latakia province. The fortified compound is protected by S-400 air defense systems.
In Oron’s view, the situation is changing rapidly on the ground, and Damascus secured huge strategic wins over the past months after it regained sovereignty over militants-held parts of Syria. “In south Syria, the story is over,” Oron said.
Asked if Russian presence constrain Israeli Air Force’s (IAF) operations, Oron said: “It challenges us. We have to be very precise.” Nevertheless, he stated that does not mean “the IAF only flies in Israeli skies.”
Russia and Israel established a military-to-military hotline to prevent dangerous encounters in Syrian airspace, yet an incident involving both sides still occured just recently.
A Russian Ilyushin Il-20 surveillance plane, with 15 crew on board, was shot down by a Syrian S-200 surface-to-air missile earlier in September. Syrian air defenses were trying to repel an Israeli attack in Latakia province, and the Russian military said Israel’s jets were using the Russian plane for “cover” during the strikes.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed “regret” over the loss of lives and promised to assist in investigating into the incident. Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to the downing of the plane as a tragedy, but noted the incident “looks like a chain of tragic circumstances, because the Israeli plane didn’t shoot down our jet.”
Israel rarely acknowledges carrying out raids in Syria, but recently the Israeli military revealed that it carried out at least 202 attacks on Iranian targets in the war-torn country. A total of 792 bombs and missiles were launched at Syria since 2017, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) informed, saying the strikes were to hamper Iran’s influence in the region. Damascus has repeatedly branded such sorties "a violation" of its sovereignty.
The intelligence chief casually claimed Tehran is striving to dominate the country, despite Iran says its military advisers are present on Syrian soil upon an official request from the Syrian government.
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java_library(
sources = ["*.java"],
compiler_option_sets = ["fatal_warnings"],
provides = artifact(
org = "com.twitter",
name = "util-core-java-service",
repo = artifactory,
),
)
|
Gill Sans
Gill Sans is a humanist sans-serif typeface designed by Eric Gill and released by the British branch of Monotype from 1928 onwards.
Gill Sans is based on Edward Johnston's 1916 "Underground Alphabet", the corporate font of London Underground. As a young artist, Gill had assisted Johnston in its early development stages. In 1926, Douglas Cleverdon, a young printer-publisher, opened a bookshop in Bristol, and Gill painted a fascia for the shop for him in sans-serif capitals. In addition, Gill sketched an alphabet for Cleverdon as a guide for him to use for future notices and announcements. By this time Gill had become a prominent stonemason, artist and creator of lettering in his own right and had begun to work on creating typeface designs.
Gill was commissioned to develop his alphabet into a full metal type family by his friend Stanley Morison, an influential Monotype executive and historian of printing. Morison hoped that it could be Monotype's competitor to a wave of German sans-serif families in a new "geometric" style, which included Erbar, Futura and Kabel, all being launched to considerable attention in Germany during the late 1920s. Gill Sans was released in 1928 by Monotype, initially as a set of titling capitals that was quickly followed by a lower-case. Gill's aim was to blend the influences of Johnston, classic serif typefaces and Roman inscriptions to create a design that looked both cleanly modern and classical at the same time.
Marketed by Monotype as a design of "classic simplicity and real beauty", it was intended as a display typeface that could be used for posters and advertisements, as well as for the text of documents that need to be clearly legible at small sizes or from a distance, such as book blurbs, timetables and price lists. Designed before setting documents entirely in sans-serif text was common, its standard weight is noticeably bolder than most modern body text fonts.
An immediate success, the year after its release the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER) chose it for all its posters, timetables and publicity material. British Railways chose Gill Sans as the basis for its standard lettering when the railway companies were nationalised in 1948. Gill Sans also soon became used on the modernist, deliberately simple covers of Penguin Books, and was sold up to very large sizes which were often used in British posters and notices of the period. Gill Sans was one of the dominant typefaces in British printing in the years following its release, and remains extremely popular: it has been described as "the British Helvetica" because of its lasting popularity in British design. Gill Sans has influenced many other typefaces, and helped to define a genre of sans-serif, known as the humanist style.
Monotype rapidly expanded the original regular or medium weight into a large family of styles, which it continues to sell. A basic set is included with some Microsoft software and Mac OS.
Characteristics
The proportions of Gill Sans stem from monumental Roman capitals in the upper case, and traditional "old-style" serif letters in the lower. This gives Gill Sans a very different style of design to geometric sans-serifs like Futura, based on simple squares and circles, or realist or grotesque designs like Akzidenz-Grotesk, Helvetica and Univers influenced by nineteenth-century lettering styles. For example, compared to realist sans-serifs the "C" and "a" have a much less "folded up" structure, with wider apertures. The "a" and "g" in the roman or regular style are "double-storey" designs, rather than the "single-storey" forms used in handwriting and blackletter often found in grotesque and especially geometric sans-serifs.
The upper-case of Gill Sans is partly modelled on Roman capitals like those found on the Column of Trajan, with considerable variation in width. Edward Johnston had written that, "The Roman capitals have held the supreme place among letters for readableness and beauty. They are the best forms for the grandest and most important inscriptions." While Gill Sans is not based on purely geometric principles to the extent of the geometric sans-serifs that had preceded it, some aspects of Gill Sans do have a geometric feel. The J descends below the baseline. The "O" is an almost perfect circle and the capital "M" is based on the proportions of a square with the middle strokes meeting at the centre; this was not inspired by Roman carving but is very similar to Johnston. The 'E' and 'F' are also relatively narrow.
The influence of traditional serif letters is also clear in the "two-storey" lower-case "a" and "g", unlike that of Futura, and the "t" with its curve to bottom right and slanting cut at top left, unlike Futura's which is simply formed from two straight lines. The lower-case "a" also narrows strikingly towards the top of its loop, a common feature of serif designs but rarer in sans-serifs.
Following the traditional serif model the italic has different letterforms from the roman, where many sans-serifs simply slant the letters in what is called an oblique style. This is clearest in the "a", which becomes a "single storey" design similar to handwriting, and the lower-case "p", which has a calligraphic tail on the left reminiscent of italics such as those cut by William Caslon in the eighteenth century. The italic "e" is more restrained, with a straight line on the underside of the bowl where serif fonts normally add a curve. Like most serif fonts, several weights and releases of Gill Sans use ligatures to allow its expansive letter "f" to join up with or avoid colliding with following letters.
The basic letter shapes of Gill Sans do not look consistent across styles (or even in the metal type era all the sizes of the same style), especially in Extra Bold and Extra Condensed widths, while the Ultra Bold style is effectively a different design altogether and was originally marketed as such. Digital-period Monotype designer Dan Rhatigan, author of an article on Gill Sans's development after Gill's death, has commented: "Gill Sans grew organically ... [it] takes a very 'asystematic' approach to type. Very characteristic of when it was designed and of when it was used." (At this time the idea that sans-serif typefaces should form a consistent family, with glyph shapes as consistent as possible between all weights and sizes, had not fully developed: it was quite normal for families to vary as seemed appropriate for their weight until developments such as the groundbreaking release of Univers in 1957.)
In the light weights, the slanting cut at top left of the regular "t" is replaced with two separate strokes. From the bold weight upwards Gill Sans has an extremely eccentric design of "i" and "j" with the dots (tittles) smaller than their parent letter's stroke.
Development
Morison commissioned Gill to develop Gill Sans after they had begun to work together (often by post since Gill lived in Wales) on Gill's serif design Perpetua from 1925 onwards; they had known each other since about 1913. Morison visited Cleverdon's bookshop while in Bristol in 1927 where he saw and was impressed by Gill's fascia and alphabet. Gill wrote that "it was as a consequence of seeing these letters" that Morison commissioned him to develop a sans-serif family.
In the period during and after his closest collaboration with Johnston, Gill had intermittently worked on sans-serif letter designs, including an almost sans-serif capital design in an alphabet for sign-painters in the 1910s, some "absolutely legible-to-the-last-degree ... simple block letters" for Army and Navy Stores in 1925 and some capital letter signs around his home in Capel-y-ffin, Wales. Gill had greatly admired Johnston's work on their Underground project, which he later wrote had "redeemed the whole business of sans-serif from its nineteenth-century corruption" of extreme boldness. Johnston apparently had not tried to turn the alphabet (as it was then called) that he had designed into a commercial typeface project. He had tried to get involved in type design before starting work on Johnston Sans, but without success since the industry at the time mostly created designs in-house. Morison similarly respected the design of the Underground system, one of the first and most lasting uses of a standard lettering style as corporate branding (Gill had designed a set of serif letters for WH Smith), writing that it "conferred upon [the lettering] a sanction, civic and commercial, as had not been accorded to an alphabet since the time of Charlemagne".
Morison and Gill had met with some resistance within Monotype while developing Perpetua and while Morison was an enthusiastic backer of the project, Monotype's engineering manager and type designer Frank Hinman Pierpont was deeply unconvinced, commenting that he could "see nothing in this design to recommend it and much that is objectionable". (Pierpont was the creator of Monotype's previous mainstay sans-serif, a loose family now called Monotype Grotesque. It is a much less sculptured design inspired by German sans-serifs.) Morison also intervened to insist that the letters "J" and "Q" be allowed to elegantly descend below the baseline, something not normal for titling typefaces which were often made to fill up the entire area of the metal type. In the early days of its existence it was not always consistently simply called "Gill Sans", with other names such as "Gill Sans-serif", "Monotype Sans-Serif" (the latter two both used by Gill in some of his publications) or its order numbers (such as Series No. 231) sometimes used.
A large amount of material about the development of Gill Sans survives in Monotype's archives and in Gill's papers. While the capitals (which were prepared first) resemble Johnston quite closely, the archives document Gill (and the drawing office team at Monotype's works in Salfords Surrey, who developed a final precise design and spacing) grappling with the challenge of creating a viable humanist sans-serif lower-case as well as an italic, which Johnston's design did not have. Gill's first draft proposed many slanting cuts on the ends of ascenders and descenders, looking less like Johnston than the released version did, and quite long descenders. Early art for the italic also looked very different, with less of a slope, again very long descenders and swash capitals. The final version did not use the calligraphic italic "g" Gill preferred in his serif designs Perpetua and Joanna (and considered in the draft italic art), instead using a standard "double-storey" "g".
In the regular or roman style of Gill Sans, some letters were simplified from Johnston, with diamond dots becoming round (rectangles in the later light weight) and the lower-case "L" becoming a simple line, but the "a" became more complex with a curving tail in most versions and sizes. In addition, the design was simply refined in general, for example by making the horizontals slightly narrower than verticals so that they do not appear unbalanced, a standard technique in font design which Johnston had not used. The "R" with its widely splayed leg is Gill's preferred design, unlike that of Johnston; historian James Mosley has suggested that this may be inspired by an Italian Renaissance carving in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. Particular areas of thought during the design process were the "a" (several versions and sizes in the hot metal era had a straight tail like Johnston's or a mildly curving tail) and the "b", "d", "p" and "q", where some versions (and sizes, since the same weight would not be identical at every size) had stroke ends visible and others did not. Rhatigan has commented that Monotype's archives contain "enough [material] for a book just about the 'b', 'd', 'p', and 'q' of Gill Sans".
The titling capitals of Gill Sans were first unveiled at a printing conference in 1928; it was also shown in a specimen issued in the Fleuron magazine edited by Morison. While initial response was partly appreciative, it was still considered dubious by some ultra-conservative printers who saw all sans-serif type as modern and unsound; one called it "typographical Bolshevism". Sans-serifs were still regarded as vulgar and commercial by purists in this period: Johnston's pupil Graily Hewitt privately commented of them that: In Johnston I have lost confidence. Despite all he did for us ... he has undone too much by forsaking his standard of the Roman alphabet, giving the world, without safeguard or explanation, his block letters which disfigure our modern life. His prestige has obscured their vulgarity and commercialism. Nonetheless, Gill Sans rapidly became popular after its release.
Gill Sans' technical production followed Monotype's standard method of the period. The characters were drawn on paper in large plan diagrams by the experienced drawing office team, led and trained by Pierpont and Fritz Steltzer, both of whom Monotype had recruited from the German printing industry. The drawing staff who executed the design was disproportionately female and in many cases recruited from the local area and the nearby Reigate art school; they worked out many aspects of the final drawings including adaptations of the letters to different sizes and the spacing. The diagrams were then used as a plan for machining metal punches by pantograph to stamp matrices, which would be loaded into a casting machine to cast type. It was Monotype's standard practice at the time to first engrave a limited number of characters and print proofs (some of which survive) from them to test overall balance of colour and spacing on the page, before completing the remaining characters. Walter Tracy, Rhatigan and Gill's biographer Malcolm Yorke have all written that the drawing office's work in making Gill Sans successful has not been fully appreciated; Yorke described Gill as "tactless" in his claims that the design was "as much as possible mathematically measurable ... as little reliance as possible should be placed on the sensibility of the draughtsmen and others concerned in its machine facture".
Reception
Gill Sans rapidly became very popular. Its success was aided by Monotype's sophisticated marketing, led by Gill's supporter (and sometime lover) Beatrice Warde, and due to its practicality and availability for machine composition in a very wide range of sizes and weights.
Despite the popularity of Gill Sans, some reviews have been critical. Robert Harling, who knew Gill, wrote in his 1976 anthology examining Gill's lettering that the density of the basic weight made it unsuitable for extended passages of text, printing a passage in it as a demonstration. The regular weight has been used to print body text for some trade printing uses such as guides to countryside walks published by the LNER. William Addison Dwiggins described it and Futura as "fine in the capitals and bum in the lower-case" while proposing to create a more individualistic competitor, Metro, for Linotype around 1929. Modern writers, including Stephen Coles and Ben Archer, have criticised it for failing to improve on Johnston and for unevenness of colour, especially in the bolder weights (discussed below). More generally, modern font designer Jonathan Hoefler has criticised Johnston and Gill's designs for rigidity, calling their work "products more of the machine than the hand, chilly and austere designs shaped by unbending rules, whose occasional moments of whimsy were so out of place as to feel volatile and disquieting.”
Gill broached the topic of the similarity with Johnston in a variety of ways in his work and writings, writing to Johnston in 1933 to apologise for the typeface bearing his name and describing Johnston's work as being important and seminal. However, in his Essay on Typography, he proposed that his version was "perhaps an improvement" and more "fool-proof" than Johnston's. Johnston and Gill had drifted apart by the beginning of the 1920s, something Gill's groundbreaking biographer Fiona MacCarthy describes as partly due to the anti-Catholicism of Johnston's wife Greta. Frank Pick, the Underground Electric Railways Company managing director who commissioned Johnston's typeface, privately thought Gill Sans "a rather close copy" of Johnston's work.
Expansion and new styles
Following the initial success of Gill Sans, Monotype rapidly produced a wide variety of other variants. In addition, Monotype sold moulds (matrices) for Gill Sans in very large sizes for their "Supercaster" type-casting equipment. Popular with advertisers, this allowed end-users to cast their own type at a very competitive price. This made it a popular choice for posters. Gill's biographer Malcolm Yorke has described it as "the essence of clarity for public notices".
Versions of Gill Sans were created in a wide range of styles such as condensed and shadowed weights. Several shadowed designs were released, including a capitals-only regular shadowed design and a light-shadowed version with deep relief shadows. In the metal type era, a 'cameo ruled' design that placed white letters in boxes or against a stippled black background was available. The shadowed weights were intended to be used together with the regular, printing in different colours, to achieve a simple multicolour effect. Some of the decorative versions may predominantly have been designed by the Monotype office, with Gill examining, critiquing and approving the designs sent to him by post. The long series of extensions, redrawings and conversions into new formats of one of Monotype's most important assets (extending long beyond Gill's death) has left Gill Sans with a great range of alternative designs and releases. A book weight was created in 1993 in between the light and regular weight, suitable for body text, along with a heavy weight.
Gill Kayo
In 1936, Gill and Monotype released an extremely bold sans-serif named Gill Kayo (from KO, or knockout, implying its aggressive build). This has often been branded as Gill Sans Ultra Bold, though in practice many letters vary considerably from Gill Sans. It is available in regular and condensed widths. Gill, who thought of the design as something of a joke, proposed naming it "Double Elefans". Harling reviewed it as "dismal" and sarcastically commented that "typographical historians of 2000AD (which isn't, after all, so very far away) will find this odd outburst in Mr Gill's career, and will spend much time in attempting to track down this sad psychological state of his during 1936." Forty years later he described it as "the most horrendous and blackguardly of these display exploitations". The design was begun in 1932; some of the first drawings may have been prepared by Gill's son-in-law Denis Tegetmeier. It made a return to popularity in the graphic design of the 1970s and 80s, when Letraset added a condensed weight.
The boldest weights of Gill Sans, including Kayo, have been particularly criticised for design issues such as the eccentric design of the dots on the "i" and "j", and for their extreme boldness. (Gill Sans' standard weight is, as already noted, already quite bold by modern standards.) Gill argued in his Essay on Typography that the nineteenth-century tendency to make sans-serif typefaces attention-grabbingly bold was self-defeating, since the result was compromised legibility. In the closing paragraph he ruefully noted his contribution to the genre: There are now about as many different varieties of letters as there are different kinds of fools. I myself am responsible for designing five different sorts of sans-serif letters – each one thicker and fatter than the last because each advertisement has to try and shout down its neighbours.
Alternate characters
Monotype developed a set of alternate characters for Gill Sans to cater for differing tastes and national printing styles of different countries. These include Futura-inspired designs of "N", "M", "R", "a", "g", "t" and others, a four-terminal "W" in the French renaissance style, a tighter "R", a "Q" in the nineteenth-century style with a tail that looped upwards (similar to that on Century among others, and preferred by the LNER), oblique designs as opposed to the standard true italic, a more curving, true-italic "e" and several alternative numerals. In particular, in the standard designs for Gill Sans the numeral "1", upper-case "i" and lower-case "L" are all a simple vertical line, so an alternate "1" with a serif was sold for number-heavy situations where this could otherwise cause confusion, such as on price-lists. (Not all timetables used it: for example, the L.N.E.R. preferred the simple version.) Some early versions of Gill Sans also had features later abandoned, such as an unusual "7" matching the curve of the "9", a "5" pushing forwards, and a lower-case letter-height "0".
Gill was involved in the design of these alternates, and Monotype's archive preserves notes that he rethought the geometric alternates. With the increasing popularity of Futura Gill Sans was not alone in being adapted: both Erbar and Dwiggins' Metro would undergo what historian Paul Shaw has called a "Futura-ectomy" to conform to taste. After Gill's death, Monotype created versions for the Greek and Cyrillic alphabets. Monotype also added additional features not found in the metal type, notably text figures and small capitals.
Series and styles
According to Rhatigan and other sources, by the end of the metal type period Gill Sans had been released in the following styles (not all sold at the same time):
Gill Sans Titling (1928, series 231)
Gill Sans (1930, series 262, sometimes called Gill Sans Medium)
Gill Sans Bold (1930, series 275)
Gill Sans Shadow Line (1931, series 290)
Gill Sans Shadow Titling (1931, series 304)
Gill Sans Bold Titling (1931, series 317)
Gill Sans Extra Bold (1931, series 321)
Gill Sans Light (1931, series 362)
Gill Sans Shadow (1932, series 338)
Gill Sans Bold Condensed (1932, series 343)
Gill Sans 5pt (1932, series 349, sometimes called Gill Sans No. 2)
Gill Sans Bold 5pt (1932, series 350, sometimes called Bold No. 2)
Gill Sans Poster (1932, series 353)
Gill Sans Bold Condensed Titling (1933, series 373)
Gill Sans Cameo (1934, series 233)
Gill Sans Cameo Ruled (1935, series 299)
Gill Sans Shadow No. 1 (1936, series 406)
Gill Sans Shadow No. 2 (1936, series 408)
Gill Sans Ultra Bold (1936, series 442)
Gill Sans Bold Extra Condensed (1937, series 468)
Gill Sans Condensed (1937, series 485, sometimes called Medium Condensed)
Gill Sans Bold No. 3 (1937, series 575)
Gill Sans Bold Condensed Titling (1939, series 525)
Gill Sans Extra Bold Titling (1939, series 526)
Gill Sans Light 5pt (1958, series 662, sometimes called Light No. 2)
Titling series were capitals-only.
Phototypesetting
Monotype offered Gill Sans on film in the phototypesetting period. The fonts released in 1961 included Light 362, Series 262, Bold 275, Extra Bold 321, Condensed 343, all of which were released in film matrix sets "A" (6–7 points) and "B" (8–22, 24 points).
Infant and rounded versions
Monotype created an infant version of Gill Sans using single-storey "a" and "g", and other more distinguishable characters such as a rounded "y", seriffed "1" and lower-case "L" with a turn at the bottom. Infant designs of fonts are often used in education and toys as the letters are thought to be more recognisable to children being based on handwriting, and are often produced to supplement popular families such as Gill Sans, Akzidenz-Grotesk and Bembo. Monotype also created a version with rounded stroke ends for John Lewis for use on toys.
Digital releases
The digital releases of Gill Sans fall into several main phases: releases before 2005 (which includes most bundled "system" versions of Gill Sans), the 2005 Pro edition, and the 2015 Nova release which adds many alternate characters and is in part included with Windows 10. In general characteristics for common weights the designs are similar, but there are some changes: for example, in the book weight the 2005 release used circular ij dots but the 2015 release uses square designs, and the 2015 release simplifies some ligatures. Digital Gill Sans also gained character sets not present in the metal type, including text figures and small capitals.
Like all metal type revivals, reviving Gill Sans in digital form raises several decisions of interpretation, such as the issue of how to compensate for the ink spread that would have been seen in print at small sizes more than larger. As a result, printed Gill Sans and its digital facsimile may not always match. The digital release of Gill Sans, like many Monotype digitisations, has been criticised, in particular for excessively tight letter-spacing and lack of optical sizes: with only one design released that has to be used at any text size, it cannot replicate the subtlety of design and spacing of the metal type, for which every size was drawn differently. In the hot metal era different font sizes varied as is normal for metal type, with wider spacing and other detail changes at smaller text sizes; other major sans-serif families such as Futura and Akzidenz-Grotesk are similar. In the phototype period Monotype continued to offer two or three sizes of master, but all of this subtlety was lost on transfer to digital. To replicate this, it is necessary to make manual adjustment to spacing to compensate for size changes, such as expanding the spacing and increasing the weight used at smaller sizes.
Former ATypI president John Berry commented of Gill Sans' modernised spacing that "both the regular weight and especially the light weight look much better when they're tracked loose". In contrast, Walter Tracy wrote in 1986 that he preferred the later spacing: "the metal version ... was spaced, I suspect, as if it were a serif face".
Gill Sans Nova (2015)
As of 2019, Monotype's current digitisation of Gill Sans is Gill Sans Nova, by George Ryan. Gill Sans Nova adds many additional variants, including some of the previously undigitised inline versions, stylistic alternates and an ultra-light weight which had been drawn for Grazia. The fonts differ from Gill Sans MT (MT stands for Monotype) in their adoption of the hooked 1 as default, while the regular weight is renamed 'Medium'. Monotype celebrated the release with a London exhibition on Gill's work, as they had in 1958 to mark the general release of Gill's serif design Joanna. One addition was italic swash caps, which had been considered by Gill but never released.
The family includes 43 fonts, including 33 text fonts in 9 weights and 3 widths, 6 inline fonts in 5 weights and 2 widths (1 in condensed), 2 shadowed fonts in 2 weights and 1 width, 1 shadowed outline font, 1 deco font. Characters set support includes W1G. The basic set of Regular, Light and Bold weights is bundled with Windows 10 in the user-downloadable "Pan-European Supplemental Fonts" package.
Usage
First unveiled in a single uppercase weight in 1928, Gill Sans achieved national prominence almost immediately, when it was chosen the following year to become the standard typeface by the LNER railway company, soon appearing on every facet of the company's identity, from metal locomotive nameplates and hand-painted station signage to printed restaurant car menus, timetables and advertising posters.
The LNER promoted their rebranding by offering Gill (who was fascinated with railway engines) a footplate ride on the Flying Scotsman express service; he also painted for it a signboard in the style of Gill Sans, which survives in the collection of the St Bride Library.
In 1949 the Railway Executive decided on standard types of signs to be used at all stations. Lettering was to use the Gill Sans typeface on a background of the regional colour. Gill Sans was also used in much of its printed output, very often in capitals-only settings for signage. Specially drawn variations were developed by the Railway Executive (part of the British Transport Commission) for signs in its manual for the use of signpainters painting large signs by hand. Other users included Penguin Books' iconic paperback jacket designs from 1935 and British official mapping agency Ordnance Survey. It was also used by London Transport for documents which could not be practically set in Johnston. Paul Shaw, a historian of printing, has described it as a key element of the 'Modernist classical' style from the 1930s to the 1950s, that promoted clean, spare design, often with all-capitals and centred setting of headings.
Gill Sans remains popular, although a trend away from it towards grotesque and neo-grotesque typefaces took place around the 1950s and 1960s under the influence of continental and American design. Typefaces that became popular around this time included original early "grotesque" sans-serifs, as well as new and more elegant designs in the same style such as Helvetica and Univers. Mosley has commented that in 1960 "orders unexpectedly revived" for the old Monotype Grotesque design: "[it] represents, even more evocatively than Univers, the fresh revolutionary breeze that began to blow through typography in the early sixties." He added in 2007 "its rather clumsy design seems to have been one of the chief attractions to iconoclastic designers tired of the ... prettiness of Gill Sans". As an example of this trend, Jock Kinneir and Margaret Calvert's corporate rebranding of BR as British Rail in 1965 introduced Helvetica and Univers for printed matter and the custom but very similar Rail Alphabet for signage, and abandoned the classical, all caps signage style with which Gill Sans is often associated. Kinneir and Calvert's road signage redesign used a similar approach. Linotype and its designer Hermann Zapf, who had begun development on a planned Gill Sans competitor in 1955, first considered redrawing some letters to make it more like these faces before abandoning the design project (now named "Magnus") around 1962-3.
An additional development which reduced Gill Sans' dominance was the arrival of phototypesetting, which allowed typefaces to be printed from photographs on film and (especially in display use – hot metal continued for some body text setting for longer) massively increased the range of typefaces that could cheaply be used. Dry transfers like Letraset had a similar effect for smaller projects; their sans-serif Compacta and Stephenson Blake's Impact exemplified the design trends of the period by choosing dense, industrial designs. Of the period from the 1930s to 1950s, when he was growing up, James Mosley would later write: The Monotype classics dominated the typographical landscape ... in Britain, at any rate, they were so ubiquitous that, while their excellent quality was undeniable, it was possible to be bored by them and to begin to rebel against the bland good taste that they represented. In fact we were already aware by 1960 that they might not be around to bore us for too long. The death of metal type ... seemed at last to be happening.
While extremely popular in Britain, and to a lesser extent in European printing, Gill Sans did not achieve popularity with American printers in the hot metal era, with most preferring gothic designs like Franklin Gothic and geometric designs like Futura and Monotype's own Twentieth Century. Gill Sans therefore particularly achieved worldwide popularity after the close of the metal type era and in the phototypesetting and digital era, when it became a system font on Macintosh computers and Microsoft Office. One use of Gill's work in the United States in this period, however, was a custom wordmark and logo made by Gill for Poetry magazine in 1930 based on Gill Sans. Its editor Harriet Monroe had seen Gill's work in London.
The BBC adopted the typeface as its corporate typeface in 1997 for many but not all purposes, including on its logo. Explaining the change, designer Martin Lambie-Nairn said that "by choosing a typeface that has stood the test of time, we avoid the trap of going down a modish route that might look outdated in several years' time". The BBC had an earlier association with Gill, who created some sculptures on Broadcasting House. Other more recent British organisations using Gill Sans have included Railtrack (and initially its successor Network Rail), John Lewis and the Church of England, which adopted Gill Sans as the typeface for the definitive Common Worship family of service books published from 2000. Notable non-British modern businesses using Gill Sans include United Colours of Benetton (which commissioned a custom variant), Tommy Hilfiger and Saab Automobile. British rock band Bloc Party has used Gill Sans in its logo. AT&T used it until 2006, before changing it to Clearview after feeling that it was too in keeping with market research that people found the company "monolithic". Edward Tufte, the information design theorist, uses Gill Sans on his website and in some of his published works. The Wikimedia Foundation uses Gill Sans on its wordmark.
Similar fonts
Early competitors
The Sheffield type foundry Stephenson Blake rapidly released a commercial competitor named Granby, influenced by Gill Sans, Johnston and Futura. Stephenson Blake had cut the original metal type for Johnston, making them familiar with its design and perhaps explaining its Johnston-influenced diamond-dot tittles.
Granby was a large family with condensed and inline styles. It also included a "Granby Elephant" weight influenced by Gill Kayo.
Another similar but more eccentric design was created by Johnston's student Harold Curwen for the use of his family company, the Curwen Press of Plaistow. Named "Curwen Sans" or "Curwen Modern", it has many similarities to Johnston also, and was occasionally used by London Transport in work printed by the Curwen Press. Curwen described it as based on his time studying with Johnston in the 1900s, although it was not cut into metal until 1928, around the same time as Gill Sans was released, with a lower-case similar to that of Kabel. A digitisation by K-Type was released in 2018.
Several intended Gill Sans competitors were developed during the period of its popularity but ultimately did not see mass release. Jan Tschichold, who would later make extensive use of Gill Sans while designing books for Penguin, created a similar design for an early phototypesetting machine, which was at the time little-used but also since digitised. During the 1930s Dutch type designer Jan van Krimpen, also a friend of Morison's, worked on a superfamily named Romulus, with serif and humanist sans-serif companion: the sans-serif, with a low x-height, never progressed beyond test proofs. As described above, Linotype began work in 1955 on a Gill Sans competitor, intended to be named 'Magnus'. Designed by the German type designer Hermann Zapf with input from British Linotype manager Walter Tracy, the design was ultimately abandoned by 1963 for reasons of lack of manufacturing capacity and changing tastes, although it too reached test proofs.
Besides similar fonts, many signs and objects made in Britain during the period of Gill Sans' dominance, such as the Keep Calm and Carry On poster, received hand-painted or custom lettering similar to Gill Sans. Fighter Command during the war used a standard set of letters similar to it. Matthew Carter, later a prominent font designer, recalled in 2005 that when his mother cut linoleum block letters for him to play with during the Blitz they were based on it. Another little-known follower was the NEN 3225 standard lettering, a project by the Dutch Standards Institute to create a set of standardised lettering for public use in the Netherlands, comprising a sans-serif similar to Gill Sans and a companion serif font drawn by Jan van Krimpen. The project was begun in 1944 but not published until 1963, and ultimately did not become popular.
Later and digital-only designs
The category of humanist sans-serif typefaces, which Gill Sans helped to define, saw great attention during the 1980s and 1990s, especially as a reaction against the overwhelming popularity of Helvetica and Univers in the 1960s and 1970s.
Modern sans-serif designs inspired by Gill often adapt the concept by creating a design better proportioned and spaced for body text, a wider and more homogeneous range of weights, something easier since the arrival of the computer due to the use of multiple master or interpolated font design, or more irregular and hand-drawn in style. Jeremy Tankard's Bliss and Volker Küster's Today Sans are modern variations; Tankard commented on the genre's eclipse that his aim was to create "the first commercial typeface with an English feel since Gill Sans". Rowton Sans is inspired by Gill but has a nearly upright italic, similar to that used by Gill in his serif font Joanna. More distantly, Arthur Vanson's Chesham Sans is inspired by the British tradition of sans-serif signpainting, with many similarities to Gill's work. Bitstream's Humanist 521 was an unofficial digitisation, to which its Russian licensee ParaType added a Cyrillic version in 1997. The companies SoftMaker and Fontsite also released Gill Sans digitisations under different names including 'Chantilly', 'Gibson' and others.
More loosely, Syntax by Hans Eduard Meier is similar in some ways. Released in 1968 and praised by Tschichold, it was intended to be a more dynamic, handwriting-influenced sans-serif form. Its italic is, however, more of an oblique than Gill's. Hypatia Sans, designed by Thomas Phinney and released by Adobe, was intended to be a more characterful humanist sans design. Many other fonts are influenced by Gill Sans to some extent.
Font superfamilies
A logical extension of the humanist sans-serif concept is the font superfamily: a serif font and a matching humanist sans-serif with similar letterforms. Martin Majoor's FF Scala Sans is a popular example of this influenced by Gill's work, as are Charlotte Sans and Serif by Michael Gills for Letraset, Mr and Mrs Eaves by Zuzana Licko, which are based on Baskerville, and Dover Sans and serif by Robin Mientjes, based on Caslon. Monotype itself released Joanna Sans in 2015, as a screen-optimised sans-serif font intended to complement (but not exactly match) Gill's serif design Joanna.
Legal aspects
Typeface designs are in many countries not copyrightable, while in others such as the United Kingdom the design is out of copyright with 70 years passed since Gill's death in 1940, by which time the metal type family was essentially completed. This makes it legally permissible to create alternative digitised versions of Gill Sans (although not necessarily of later Monotype additions to the font such as the book weight and Euro sign). However, the name "Gill Sans" remains a Monotype trademark (no. 1340167 in the US) and therefore is not eligible to be used to name any derivative font.
Notes
References
Bibliography
Carter, Sebastian. Twentieth Century Type Designers. W.W. Norton, 1995. .
Johnson, Jaspert & Berry. Encyclopedia of Type Faces. Cassell & Co, 2001. .
Ott, Nicolaus, Friedl Fredrich, and Stein Bernard. Typography and Encyclopedic Survey of Type Design and Techniques Throughout History. Black Dog & Leventhal Publishers. 1998, .
Ovenden, Mark. Johnston and Gill: Very British Types. Lund Humphries. 2016,
External links
Gill Sans Nova
History:
Gill Sans Arabic
Metal type era publicity materials:
1928 showing, The Fleuron (shows the first rare alternate 'R' with shorter leg, 5 without a vertical and 7 with curving leg)
Monotype Recorder, Winter 1933 special issue:
'The Story of Gill Sans' (Monotype Recorder, winter 1933)
Use by the LNER (Monotype Recorder, winter 1933)
Gill on the Flying Scotsman
First showing of Kayo (1936): 1, 2
Gill Sans posters: 1, 2
Gill Sans Colour Series (example of using a regular and shadowed design together to achieve a multicolour effect)
Gill Sans Ultra Light specimen
Series numbers index (also listed in Rhatigan)
Design process:
Album of original drawings, by Gill and others
Transport use:
British Railways Standard Signs Manual (1948; for signpainters)
Example compositions – British Railways almost always used all-caps settings where possible
British Railways tourism poster for Shrewsbury – many were issued in the 1940s and 50s to this general design
London Transport bus timetable, 1962 – while London Transport has historically used Johnston for signs, the more widely available Gill Sans was also often used for printed material
Category:Humanist sans-serif typefaces
Category:Typefaces with infant variants
Category:Typefaces and fonts introduced in 1928
Category:Monotype typefaces
Category:Display typefaces
Category:Typefaces designed by Eric Gill |
anchester is a creative hive of activity, famed for
its multicultural make-up, impressive music
history and worldwide sporting prowess. We
recently visited the buzzing city centre with ourEast Street Market collection, celebrating the
vibrancy and excitement that surrounds the city.
Explore our online features for an array of goodies,
from upmarket shops in Exchange Square, trendy
beatnik boutiques and cafes of the Northern Quarter to
Canal Street's delightful bars and restaurants. Take a
trip to the wonderful Northern metropolis and while
you're there, pop into our lovely Manchester shop!
Manchester's art & craft scene can be found
everywhere you go, from knitting groups to craft co-ops. Communitiesare coming
together to craft!
There's a plethora of independent cafes, bars
and delis with a difference in Manchester.
Head to the Northern Quarter, the best spot
for people watching
Still a hub for musical talent, there's a lot
more to the Manc music scene than its Brit
pop bands and prodigal sons.
The Mancunian accent is more subtle than
we thought, and no one appeared
to be 'mad fir it'.
Beyond the 'theatre of dreams', Manchester
has some surprising and unusual
sporting customs. |
Before Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice was even dreamt up at Warner Bros., Zack Snyder was trying to figure who the villain would be in the Man of Steel sequel.
"I remember talking about 'What's the next villain?'" Snyder recalled to Entertainment Weekly. "'We can't do another alien invasion.' Brianiac was definitely down the road. Metallo, I think, was going to be the main bad guy of this movie."
Metallo (also known as John Corben) is a nearly-invulnerable cyborg that uses Kryptonite as a power source.
The direction of the Man of Steel sequel changed drastically when Snyder made a suggestion at a meeting with screenwriter screenwriter David S. Goyer and executive producer Christopher Nolan (See, he is involved). "I said, 'What about at the end of the movie we do a scene where there's a crate full of Kryptonite delivered to Wayne Manor,'" Snyder remembered. "Everyone was like...'Okaay.' Once you say it out loud it's a problem because you can't unsay it."
That's the moment Batman v Superman was born. Luckily for Snyder, Henry Cavill doesn't mind sharing the superhero spotlight. "As far as the individual character is concerned, this is not a Superman sequel," Cavill explained. "It's more of an introduction to Batman, an opening to Justice League, and an expansion of the world that was created in Man of Steel."
In Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice, fearing the actions of a god-like Super Hero left unchecked, Gotham City’s own formidable, forceful vigilante takes on Metropolis’s most revered, modern-day savior, while the world wrestles with what sort of hero it really needs. And with Batman and Superman at war with one another, a new threat quickly arises, putting mankind in greater danger than it’s ever known before.
Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice opens March 25, 2016. |
Traumatic evisceration of intestinal loops through the anus.
A case of traumatic evisceration of intestinal loops through the anus in a young child is presented. This unusual injury took place in a swimming pool and was brought about when a negative pressure applied to the child's perineum by the suction pump created a pressure differential of sufficient force to cause the injury. Surgical management of the case is discussed. |
Occurrence and leachability of polycyclic aromatic compounds in contaminated soils: Chemical and bioanalytical characterization.
An important concern regarding sites contaminated with polycyclic aromatic compounds (PACs) is the risk of groundwater contamination by release of the compounds from soils. The goal of this study was to investigate the occurrence and leachability of 77 PACs including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and heterocyclic aromatic compounds (NSO-PACs) among total aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) agonists in soils from historical contaminated sites. A novel approach combining chemical and bioanalytical methods in combination with characterization of leachability by use of a column leaching test was used. Similar profiles of relative concentrations of PACs were observed in all soils, with parent PAHs accounting for 71 to 90% of total concentrations in soils. Contribution of oxy-PAHs, alkyl-PAHs and N-PACs ranged from 2 to 9%, 3 to 9% and 1 to 14%, respectively. Although the contributions of groups of PACs were small, some compounds were found in similar or greater concentrations than parent PAHs. Leachable fractions of 77 PACs from soils were small and ranged from 0.002 to 0.54%. Polar PACs were shown to be more leachable than parent PAHs. The contribution of analyzed PACS to overall AhR-mediated activities in soils and leachates suggests presence of other AhR agonists in soils, and a potential risk. Only a small fraction of AhR agonists was available in soils, indicating an overestimation of the risk if only total initial concentrations in soils would be considered in risk assessment. The results of the study strongly support that focus on 16US EPA PAHs may result in inadequate assessment of risk and hazard of PACs in complex environmental samples. |
Cullen Finnerty, the Former Grand Valley State Quarterback Found Dead in May, Had C.T.E.
Cullen Finnerty was found dead in May of this year after he disappeared on a solo fishing trip while on a family vacation, less than 100 yards from a road near Baldwin, Michigan. He had been dropped off to go fishing for a few hours, and when the family returned to pick him up, the boat was there but he was not. The circumstances surrounding the death were confusing; he was just a short distance from civilization, even if he got lost, and there were no signs of foul play.
Of course, the circumstances reflected the possibility of someone plagued by the symptoms of head trauma, and the possibility that his involvement as the star quarterback and three time national champion at Grand Valley State was part of the puzzle.
None of it made sense. How he complained of headaches and restless sleep in the days before he disappeared. How he went fishing by himself. How he ended up dead not much more than 100 yards from a road, out in the open, about half a mile west of where he docked his pontoon boat.
His last two phone calls proved most haunting. One was to his wife, the other from his brother-in-law. Family members said that in both, Finnerty sounded panicked. He said he was uncomfortable. He said he ran into two men on the Baldwin River. He thought they might be following him.
The New York Times now has the follow up. According to the autopsy performed by the Lake County Sheriff’s Department, Finnerty died of pneumonia complicated by oxycodone toxicity and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, commonly referred to as C.T.E. It is the same diagnosis that has been made post-mortem on former NFL players like Dave Duerson and Junior Seau.
Finnerty was taking the oxycodone for a back injury. The pneumonia diagnosis was caused by Finnerty becoming incapacitated, vomiting, and inhaling his own vomit.
Finnerty was described as a tough guy playing quarterback in that earlier NY Times story at the time of his death. He sought out contact, and was a multi-purpose threat who ran for over 2,000 yards in college. He was the ideal; a college coach’s dream for a team leader. He did not want to slide, seeking out contact on runs. He missed one half of one game in his college career, playing through a broken collarbone, an elbow injury, and cleat marks to his head. He was also, according to the NY Times, officially diagnosed with only one concussion during college, in his redshirt freshman season.
That earlier NY Times piece noted that the family did not blame football for what happened (“Some even resent the speculation that it played a role.”) Will that opinion change with the findings? Finnerty appears to have shown paranoia, and disorientation, and expressed difficulty with sleep in the very short time period right before his death–all symptoms that those who have later been diagnosed with C.T.E. have expressed. Wrong place at the wrong time, with no one around to help at the specific moment he needed it?
Junior Seau’s death was a shock to the public. Junior Seau also played in the NFL for two decades, after being an All-American linebacker at USC. Very few people will play that long and take that many hits; the population size can be counted on your hands. Finnerty’s story, on the other hand, should hit a lot closer to home for the average person. He had a few brief stints in camp with NFL teams, but never appeared on a NFL roster in the season. He was a star at a smaller school, not facing crushing hits in the backfield from the likes of a Clowney. According to his father, he started playing football in the third grade, as part of a football family (his dad played for Bill McCartney).
It was in his nature to seek contact and fulfill the macho aspect of the sport. That nature may have been at the root of what happened in Michigan earlier this year. He died at age 30, alone in the woods, less than a football field away from a road, in what appears to have been a horrible death. He left behind a wife, two very young kids, and plenty of questions about where we go from here. |
Toronto Blockchain Consortium for Global Energy Transformation
@ md-ataullah-khan Md Ataullah Khan SEO marketer with an experience of 7+ years.
Let’s unravel how blockchain technology has the potential to disrupt the $1.3 trillion global energy market!
The modern lifestyle we live today would not be possible without energy and, as a matter of fact, the demand for more energy is escalating at a rapid pace. The burden of this rising demand lies on the shoulders of centralized and monolithic power producers. The current value chain of the energy industry has not undergone many changes since about a century or more. On the other hand, the way the world works has entirely transformed since then.
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Clearly, there is a need to think from the first principles.
Putting on the blockchain hat
The fundamental features of blockchain are described below. These features will guide us to think from the first principles.
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Efficient P2P transaction platform: Blockchain technology enables peer-to-peer communication using decentralized storage to record all transactional data. The communication can be autonomously governed by smart contracts. Any conflicts occurring in the network would be solved by swarming i.e. by using a consensus algorithm.
Blockchain technology enables peer-to-peer communication using decentralized storage to record all transactional data. The communication can be autonomously governed by smart contracts. Any conflicts occurring in the network would be solved by swarming i.e. by using a consensus algorithm. Self-auditable records: Inherently, the blockchain does not require any explicit auditor. All data is recorded in a chronological fashion on the blockchain which makes the blockchain auto-accountable.
Inherently, the blockchain does not require any explicit auditor. All data is recorded in a chronological fashion on the blockchain which makes the blockchain auto-accountable. Fast processes, great flexibility, low costs: Blockchain has the potential to eliminate counterparties which cuts down costs and speeds up processes significantly.
These above-mentioned features help in creating a conducive environment for blockchain to be used in the energy industry. As a result, a wide variety of use cases can be orchestrated to fit varying needs.
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Assessment of the current system
The global energy market is presently full of monopolies and oligopolies with strict entry barriers. As a result, there is no visibility into the internal processes and no healthy competition in the market. These factors affect prices and trust directly. Blockchain technology can create opportunities for prosumers (consumers who are also producers). These prosumers would not only be able to consume and produce energy but also sell and buy energy in a P2P fashion with a high degree of autonomy.
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Presently, the value chain of the energy industry is multi-tiered. It consists of energy producers, transmission infrastructure operators, distribution infrastructure operators, and suppliers who are linked with end-consumers. All of these parties communicate with each other thereby convoluting the system. Blockchain has the ability to radically simplify this value chain by eliminating the middlemen and directly linking consumers with producers.
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This multi-tiered energy infrastructure is no longer reliable or efficient since the power grids are still working on old-school technology. In times of catastrophe, the first thing to go down is the power and since everything is dependent upon power, the entire infrastructure of the area collapses like a domino. In this day and age, most of the work is done manually on a grid; from rerouting power to computing amount of power generated. Futurists envisage resilient and efficient models like ‘smart grids’ which would have smart sensors and software installed on the grid. Other components required to complete the ecosystem are smart meters, smart devices like electric vehicles (EV), smartphone apps. Renewable sources of energy can be connected with this smart grid easily to generate clean fuel. This grid revolution would completely transform the way we consume energy.
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Another problem that plagues the energy sector is that of cyber attacks. Since the energy sector plays a critical role in the functioning of a modern economy, it becomes an attractive target for cyber attacks. These attacks may result in blackouts, economic and financial disruptions, or may even lead to loss of life. Since blockchain tech touts itself to be unhackable due to decentralized storage of records, it is safe to assume that energy-related data would remain safe and sound.
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The aim is to shift from a centralized value chain to a fully decentralized energy value chain where contracts are carried out autonomously and are bound directly between consumers and producers. This would give rise to a shared economy and a new business model that no longer require any controlling authorities.
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Use Cases and The Future
A wide variety of applications can be crafted on top of the blockchain. Let’s explore these applications one by one.
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1. Open market for buying and selling electricity
Today, anyone can produce energy by installing solar panels. Blockchain enables these producers to sell excessive energy produced to their neighbours, friends, or family. This would result into emergence of an open market where an individual with a solar panel can participate in a community-driven market. This is an opportunity for the prosumers to either sell their excessive energy to their neighbours or feed it in the smart grid or store it for later use. These decisions can be governed by smart contracts running on top of any blockchain platform.
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2. Recording ownership and a current state of electricity
Till date, the most robust accounting system created is the blockchain system. In the energy sector, electrons are assets and management of these assets can be done on the blockchain.
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3. Certification of renewable energy
Presently, renewable energy has to get a certificate before actually be used. This process of getting certified can sometimes take weeks. This time can be cut short to a few minutes if blockchain technology is put into practice.
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4. Provenance of electricity
Today, it is hard to say where the electricity is coming from since electrons in the wire look alike regardless of their origin. Using blockchain technology, origin of electricity can be easily tracked. To do this in quickly, blockchain provides with fast swarming algorithms.
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5. Metering and billing electricity consumption
Smart meters can be installed to manage electricity consumption end-to-end. The price of electricity fluctuates throughout the day. It is expensive at peak hours and cheap at, say midnight. One can schedule their smart washing machine to run during midnight to save on utility bill. With added functionality, one can even pay for the utility bill in cryptocurrency. Apart from this, an immutable and a comprehensive archive of electricity billing data can be generated over a period of time.
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6. Electric mobility
Electric vehicles (EV) will become common only if EVs can access charging stations everywhere. EVs can be equipped with crypto wallets which will enable EVs to communicate with charging station (M2M communication) autonomously using smart contracts.
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A look around the world…
Recently in Toronto a consortium was formed, including Insolar blockchain platform, Toronto and Region conservation authority, York University and Hero Engineering to test blockchain for smart energy systems. The objective of this partnership is to integrate the Insolar platform within a city-wide fleet of electric vehicles and charging stations that support vehicle (EV) to grid charging (V2G), which will be one the first blockchain-based V2G blockchain pilots in the world.
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Electric Vehicle getting charged. Source: https://pexels.com/
Insolar blockchain platform will become the backbone technology enabling seamless interaction and smart contracts fulfillment within the transactive energy system running in Toronto. Insolar platform has been already tested showing capacity of 19,000 transactions per second. Recently Insolar, the company behind the platform, has been ranked by the Startup Energy Transition rating among the Top-100 high tech startups contributing to the energy sector. All of the above-mentioned use cases can leverage the open source nature, of the Insolar blockchain platform to unlock the future.
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Ultimately, it is in the hands of the community to spearhead the adoption of blockchain in the energy sector.
The success of blockchain in transforming global energy market is contingent upon R&D in the blockchain space, R&D in other technologies like artificial intelligence, and technical and legislative regulations. Apart from these, the applications should be quick, easy to use with great user experience. In the blockchain space, user experience is directly dependent on swarming.
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Such a culture where good behaviour is incentivised may indirectly affect socio-economic stimulus of that area. More job avenues would emerge in the field of management and operations. Blockchain has the capability to mitigate corruption which may be prevalent in the legacy multi-tiered value chain. Most importantly, blockchain is empowering people to transact on their own terms with a high degree of autonomy.
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Share this story @ md-ataullah-khan Md Ataullah Khan Read my stories SEO marketer with an experience of 7+ years.
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---
title: WMDRM_IMPORT_SESSION_KEY structure (Drmexternals.h)
description: The WMDRM\_IMPORT\_SESSION\_KEY structure holds the session key for importing protected content.
ms.assetid: 2dd1e8ec-a25f-4ced-8f1b-286534c66ebf
keywords:
- WMDRM_IMPORT_SESSION_KEY structure windows Media Format
- structure windows Media Format
topic_type:
- apiref
api_name:
- WMDRM_IMPORT_SESSION_KEY
api_location:
- Drmexternals.h
api_type:
- HeaderDef
ms.topic: reference
ms.date: 05/31/2018
---
# WMDRM\_IMPORT\_SESSION\_KEY structure
The **WMDRM\_IMPORT\_SESSION\_KEY** structure holds the session key for importing protected content.
## Syntax
```C++
typedef struct WMDRM_IMPORT_SESSION_KEY {
DWORD dwKeyType;
DWORD cbKey;
BYTE rgbKey[1];
} ;
```
## Members
<dl> <dt>
**dwKeyType**
</dt> <dd>
Session key type. Set to WMDRM\_KEYTYPE\_RC4.
</dd> <dt>
**cbKey**
</dt> <dd>
Size of the session key, in bytes. This value can be as large as you need, given the limits of a single RSA OAEP operation over the entire message (this structure plus the session key).
</dd> <dt>
**rgbKey**
</dt> <dd>
Address of a buffer containing the session key. The buffer size must match the value of **cbKey**. The data in the buffer is a randomly generated key value.
</dd> </dl>
## Remarks
This structure, including the buffer containing the session key, must be encrypted with the Windows Media DRM machine public key and included in the **pbEncryptedSessionKeyMessage** member of the [**WMDRM\_IMPORT\_INIT\_STRUCT**](/previous-versions/windows/desktop/api/wmsdkidl/ns-wmsdkidl-wmdrm_import_init_struct) structure.
## Requirements
| | |
|-------------------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| Minimum supported client<br/> | Windows XP \[desktop apps only\]<br/> |
| Minimum supported server<br/> | Windows Server 2003 \[desktop apps only\]<br/> |
| Version<br/> | Windows Media Format 11 SDK<br/> |
| Header<br/> | <dl> <dt>Drmexternals.h</dt> </dl> |
## See also
<dl> <dt>
[**Structures**](structures.md)
</dt> </dl>
|
Q:
WPF refreshing control basic question
I have a very basic question about binding between controls.
I have a class that has bunch of fields, lets call it "Style".
One of the field is called "Images" with only getter and no setter.
Then i have another class "StyleImages" that is called with constructor "new StyleImages (Style)" in getter on class "Style". Meaning that every time i call Images on Style i always get fresh Images created for current style.
In WPF i created a window. In XAML i have two controls.
1) Image control.
2) PropertyGrid control (from WF).
In code behind i create new instance of Style. In PropertyGrid i push entire "Style" while in Image control i push Style.Images.Image1
No what i want is when i change any attribute of "Style" in PropertyGrid i want that the Image control is refreshed.
What is the proper way to achieve this? If necessary i will paste some code also.
A:
You need to notify that the property has changed.
Consider implementing INotifyPropertyChanged and INotifyPropertyChanging.
Every time any other property changes, call OnPropertyChanged("ImageControl"). This way WFP framework will know the property changed and will act accordingly.
Also, make sure the Binding mode is correctly set, for debug purposes set it=TwoWay.
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