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Hyper Natural Deduction
After quite some years of research, my colleague Arnold Beckmann and my paper on Hyper Natural Deduction has finally been published in the Journal of Logic and Computation. This paper was the difficult but necessary first step in our program to develop a Curry-Howard style correspondence between standard Gödel logic (and its Hypersequent calculus) and some kind of parallel computations.
The results of this article were first announced at the LICS (Logic in Computer Science) Conference in 2015, but the current version is much more intuitive due to a switch to inductive definition, usage of graph representation for proofs, and finally due to a fix of a serious error. The abstract of the current article read:
We introduce a system of Hyper Natural Deduction for Gödel Logic as an extension of Gentzen's system of Natural Deduction. A deduction in this system consists of a finite set of derivations which uses the typical rules of Natural Deduction, plus additional rules providing means for communication between derivations. We show that our system is sound and complete for infinite-valued propositional Gödel Logic, by giving translations to and from Avron's Hypersequent Calculus. We provide conversions for normalization extending usual conversions for Natural Deduction and prove the existence of normal forms for Hyper Natural Deduction for Gödel Logic. We show that normal deductions satisfy the subformula property.
The article (preprint version) by itself is rather long (around 70 pages including the technical appendix), but for those interested, the first 20 pages give a nice introduction and the inductive definition of our system, which suffices for building upon this work. The rest of the paper is dedicated to an extensional definition – not and inductive definition but one via clearly defined properties on the final object – and the proof of normalization.
Starting point of our investigations was Arnon Avron's comments on parallel computations and communication when he introduced the Hypersequent calculus (Hypersequents, Logical Consequence and Intermediate Logics for Concurrency, Ann.Math.Art.Int. 4 (1991) 225-248):
The second, deeper objective of this paper is to contribute towards a better understanding of the notion of logical consequence in general, and especially its possible relations with parallel computations.
We believe that these logics […] could serve as bases for parallel λ-calculi.
The name "communication rule" hints, of course, at a certain intuitive interpretation that we have of it as corresponding to the idea of exchanging information between two multiprocesses: […]
In working towards a Curry-Howard (CH) correspondence between Gödel logics and some kind of process calculus, we are guided by the original path, as laid out in the above graphics: Starting from Intuitionistic Logic (IL) and its sequent calculus (LJ) a natural dudcution system (ND) provided the link to the λ-calculus. We started from Gödel logics (GL) and its Hypersequent calculus (HLK) and in this article developed a Hyper Natural Deduction with similar properties as the original Natural Deduction system.
Curry-Howard correspondences provide deep conceptual links between formal proofs and computational programs. A whole range of such CH correspondences have been identified and explored. The most fundamental one is between the natural deduction proof formalism for intuitionistic logic, and a foundational programming language called lambda calculus. This CH correspondence interprets formulas in proofs as types in programs, proof transformations like cut-reduction to computation steps like beta-reduction in lambda calculus. These insights have led to applications of logical tools to programming language technology, and the development of programming languages like CAML and of proof assistants like Coq.
CH correspondences are well established for sequential programming, but are far less clear for parallel programming. Current approaches to establish such links for parallel programming always start from established models of parallel programming like process algebra (CSP, CCS, pi-calculus) and define a related logical formalism. For example the linear logic proof formalism is inspired by the pi-calculus process algebra. Although some links between linear logic and pi-calculus have been established, a deep, inspiring connection is missing. Another problem is that logical formalisms established in this way often lack a clear semantics which is independent of the related computational model on which they are based. Thus, despite years of intense research on this topic, we are far from having a clear and useful answer which leads to strong applications in programming language technology as we have seen for the fundamental CH correspondence for sequential programming.
Although it was a long and tiring path to the current status, it is only the beginning.


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BACKGROUND: The Mediterranean diet (MeDi) is known to prevent cardiovascular events but the mechanisms mediating this association are not fully understood.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to examine the association between MeDi adherence and the presence and extent of atherosclerotic plaques in carotid, femoral, and aorta territories and its relationship with risk factors in asymptomatic middle-aged adults.
METHODS: Cross-sectional analysis of the Aragon Workers' Health Study, a cohort of 2588 subjects (94.9% men aged 51.3 +/- 3.89 years) without previous cardiovascular history. Participants underwent carotid, femoral, and aorta ultrasound for the quantification of number and thickness of plaques and intima-media thickness. To estimate the participant's adherence to MeDi, we computed the Alternative MEDiterranean index (aMED).
RESULTS: The overall aMED score was 4.19 +/- 1.70, representing a moderate adherence to MeDi. aMED score was associated with the presence of plaque in femoral arteries (odds ratio highest vs lowest aMED score quartile: 0.63; 95% confidence interval: 0.48-0.83; P trend =.045) independently of risk factors and mediators. The strongest association between aMED quartiles and presence of plaque was found among smokers, both in femoral (0.39 [0.22-0.69]; P trend =.001) and in any territory (0.33 [0.14-0.79], P trend =.008). aMED was inversely associated with the number of plaques in all territories except for carotids.
CONCLUSION: MeDi adherence showed a dose-dependent protective association with the presence, number, and thickness of plaques independent of other risk factors. The association was strongest for femoral arteries and among smokers. (C) 2017 National Lipid Association. All rights reserved.
- Mediterranean diet
- INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS
- RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED-TRIAL
- SUBCLINICAL ATHEROSCLEROSIS
- CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROSIS
- PRIMARY PREVENTION

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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Several years ago a customer commissioned us to make a set of sliding doors inspired by an abstract painting she had seen in The Guardian newspaper one weekend. The painting was a composition of bold fields of colour interrupted by slim horizontal lines cutting through and between them. It brought to mind a kind of abstract landscape.
We combined native coloured ash and American black walnut to create landscapes of our own. Four doors interact across a space, alternately connected and separate, forming their own images as they slide past each other.

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


archiveJanuary 30, 2021
What is cultural awareness training?
A cultural awareness training program can also be seen as cultural competency training, intercultural training, cross-cultural training, it provides learners the skill that they should have inculcated within themselves, work, develop in and with different cultures other than their own. It helps in the development of cultural values and attitudes,...


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Why do travelers — be they on business or just visiting — prefer to go to Switzerland rather than, say, Ukraine? It's no surprise: Switzerland offers a much more attractive combination of factors. It's easy to get there and to travel within the country, it's clean and visitors feel safe there, and Switzerland's combination of traditional culture and natural beauty is justly famed all over the world. Yet the continued popularity of Switzerland and other desirable destinations is by no means a given. Maintaining the relative purity of the environment while promoting and growing tourism is critical as competition intensifies among regions to attract the ever-growing number of travelers.
A recent study by Booz Allen Hamilton (part of the World Economic Forum's Travel & Tourism Competitiveness Report 2008) found that environmental factors may determine whether travel and tourism sectors thrive or falter in the coming years. The report evaluated the health of the tourism industry in 130 countries based on 14 pillars important to travelers, private operators, and public authorities — including regulatory framework, infrastructure, and cost to natural, cultural, and human resources. This year, for the first time, the index also ranked each country according to its environmental sustainability. Among the items examined were the stringency of environmental regulations and the extent to which they are enforced, carbon dioxide emission levels, and the percentage of the country's species that are endangered.
The study found a direct correlation between countries that score well on the overall competitiveness index and those that score well on the sustainability component. Switzerland, for instance, is ranked number one overall out of the 130 countries in the index and number two in environmental sustainability, whereas Ukraine comes in at number 100 overall and number 83 in environmental sustainability. That helps explain why Switzerland's travel economy brought in an estimated US$60.9 million in 2007 and Ukraine's was worth just $11.3 million, even though Ukraine is almost 15 times the size of Switzerland.
Ironically, a boom in tourism, although desirable, often leads to degraded environmental conditions — and in time to fewer tourists — unless a country takes sustainability seriously. Large numbers of visitors alter patterns of development, impinge on natural resources, tax limited water and food supplies, and create pollution, scaring away future visitors. Just ask anyone who has visited an unspoiled beach and returned a few years later to find the sand eroding thanks to construction, the water spoiled by sewage, and the coral reef decimated by toxins or careless divers.
The correlation between environmental sustainability and economic development is much weaker. The U.S. ranks first on the overall economic development component, but just 100th in environmental sustainability, thanks to weak regulatory measures to combat global warming, inefficient energy consumption, and high levels of air pollution in major cities. Kenya, however, is ranked 19th on the environmental sustainability component, but only 102nd in overall economic development, due to low scores in ground transportation (ranked 107th), information and communications technology (108th), and tourism infrastructure (98th).
Improving the environmental sustainability of a country's travel industry is not a simple matter of cleaning up the environment and laying down restrictive laws regulating what such industry players as airlines, resort operators, and developers can and cannot do. The private sector has long been averse to spending additional money to comply with environmental regulations unless a clear business case can be made for doing so. But environmental sustainability will be critical for all countries seeking to improve their travel competitiveness in the long term. The private sector must be induced to become part of the effort and thus to view sustainability not as a threat but as an opportunity. As concern for the environment grows — not least among the eco-conscious and often wealthy travelers countries hope to attract — the quality and sustainability of a country's environment will become part of its global travel "brand." The question is how best to establish, promote, and continuously manage an environmental strategy that forms this brand.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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If it wasn't for my horse... January 25, 2013 8:51 AMSubscribe
Why did men stop wearing high heels?* A History of High-Heeled Shoes. In the early 1700s, France's King Louis XIV (The Sun King) would often wear intricate heels decorated with miniature battle scenes. Called "Louis heels," they were often as tall as five inches. The king decreed that only nobility could wear heels that were colored red (les talons rogue) and that no one's heels could be higher than his own.


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Professional Development Workshops for teachers and allied professionals
The TESEP Challenging Earth series of Professional Development workshops is designed to provide
- Easy to understand explanations of topical issues
- Access to useful resources from existing sources
- New resources that assist you in the classroom
- Ideas for field trips
- Access to teachers experienced in this field
The nine topics in the Challenging Earth series are
- PD1: Round and Round with Rocks
(The rock cycle, ore bodies and crustal geology) - read more
- PD2: Riding the Climate Roller Coaster
(The geological evidence for ancient and modern climate change) - read more
- PD3: Greening coal
(Carbon capture and storage for coal and other sourcs of CO2) - read more
- PD4: Fossil sunlight
(The story of the origin of all hydrocarbons) - read more
- PD5: Wet rocks
(The story of groundwaters) - read more
- PD6: Hot rocks
(Geothermal energy from all sorts of rocks) - read more
- PD7: Our Place in Space
(An out of this world look at where we are in space) - read more
- PD8: Powerful stuff (the energy debate)
(The geoscience of uranium ore and usage compared with all other energy sources) - read more
- PD9: Plate Tectonics (The reason for the challenging Earth)
(How the theory of Plate Tectonics was developed and how it is now used to understand the Earth, past and present) - read more
PD1: Round and Round with Rocks and Minerals
(The rock cycle and crustal geology)
A guided journey through the rock cycle from intrusion to mineralised veins, volcano to sediment and everything inbetween and how we mine and utilise geo-resources
Teachers on field trip to Hallett Cove
Looks back over the last 4.6 billion years to find the drivers of climate change throughout geological time and discusses the impact climate fluctuations have had in the past as revealed by the rock record. This PD also examines the additional impact human activity is thought to have and the geological evidence for it and provides guidance on how teachers and students can access raw data to evaluate the results for themselves.
Discusses the origins of coal, the processes of coal formation and the carbon capture and storage technologies that can be utilised to reduce greenhouse emissions from coal and other hydrocarbons and the role renewable technologies can play.
Highlights the geology of the conversion of the sun's energy into chemical energy and its storage in hydrocarbons. Discusses the methods employed by exploration geologists to find hydrocarbons within rocks that are hundreds of millions of years old.
PD5 examines the importance of groundwater in the story of the hydrological cycle and its role in everything from dry land salinity to sustainable farming. The workshop was developed by the Victorian Chapter of the International Association of Hydrogeologists (IAH), with support from DSE, and aims to improve teachers' knowledge of groundwater. Participants receive a teacher resource package which provides written and electronic documentation of groundwater basics, class room exercises, experiments, references and case studies. The PD allows for practical experience with the teacher resource package. The package was developed by Louise Goldie Divko (geologist and former teacher) of the DPI, Chris McAuley (hydrogeologist from IAH and DSE) and Megan Bourke (geographer from GTAV).
Hot rocks examines the role geothermal energy plays across the globe at the moment and the future role it can play, with current Australian developments highlighting the value of this new technology.
Discusses the position we occupy on planet Earth within the context of the atmosphere, hydrosphere, lithosphere and biosphere.
Examines the geology and physics of uranium and how this fuel works in modern reactors and places the common fears associated with this technology in context. This PD also compares all sources of electrical energy: renewables and non-renewables and discusses them within the context of the Australian situation.
This PD explains how the theory of Plate Tectonics was developed and how this relatively new paradigm not only explains why the Earth is so dynamic but also how it can be used to reconstruct the past appearance of the planet, predict the most likely locations of mineral and hydrocarbon deposits and explain the distribution patterns of fossil and extant animals and plants. The poster featured below is just one of the many resources given to attendees of this PD.


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Game design – Ensuring there's Always a valid way/path
Today I would like to write about a simple but very important game design concept that is to ensure there is always a way or path.
In arcade games, one of the challenges when generating random levels is to get the right difficulty without risking impossible situations (or "No-exit" situation). Let's imagine the game is about a rocket that flies with a constant speed and needs to dodge circles that appear as he moves.
Ok, now that we have an idea about the amazing visuals of the game, these are our requirements:
- Random levels
- Difficulty progression with time
- The game must be fair so there must always be a path (no blockades where the player will die for sure)
Requirements 1. and 2. are easy to implement. In this case, for example, it would be enough to create new circles on a random Y at a right-offscreen position every X seconds. To make the difficulty progression, X would decrease with time. The problem with this approach is that as X gets smaller and the number of circles starts to get larger, the probabilities of a no-exit situation increase.
How to solve this problem? Well, there are different possible approaches depending on the complexity of the game and some design choices, I'll show you 2, the "Workaround way" and the "Pregenerated Path" way:
The Workaround way
A classic trick to solve this problem is to change the problem itself. Predetermine some hardcoded safe values (frequency in the example) to generate obstacles that for sure will not cause a non-exit situation. This frequency will remain constant through the game. Now, to increase the difficulty, instead of increasing the frequency generating more and more obstacles, just progressively increase the rocket speed. This moves the challenge from geometry path-finding to reaction time.
The Pregenerated Path way
If the first way is not an option, we need to make sure when creating the obstacles that there will be a path. To do that we need 3 things.
- Generate a random path for the rocket. You don't need to care about any obstacle, just make sure it moves randomly up and down as the rocket would do. We'll call this the Safety Path.
- Define the size for a bounding box for the rocket that we'll call Safety Area. Imagine the Safety Area follows the safety path. If you were playing the game you should be able to keep the rocket inside the Safety Area.
- Finally, when generating the obstacles, make sure they will not overlap the Safety Area on the future time T when the obstacle is at the same x position than the rocket. It may be necessary to make multiple checks (on an interval around T) depending on factors such as the width of the obstacles, Safety Path changes of direction, etc…
Here you can see a couple of examples to illustrate the way we've implemented it:
1. This level is about dodging bouncing circles
This one is about dodging shrinking circles
And a bit messier with rotating rectangles…
- Blue Rectangle is the Safety Area
- White dots on first screenshot and grey rectangles center point is the Safety Path
- Yellow shapes are the exact position and shape of the obstacles on T (plus extra checks)
- Light Blue circle is the main character
- Black shapes with white glow is the current position an shape of the obstacles
Even if it took some time to create the foundations for this checks, once done it allows us to add any amount and type of objects with randomly generated speed, shape, angular velocity, etc… to our levels without needing to worry about "no-exit" situations.
Pingback: How Dash till Puff! was born - Rifter Games


text: Croatia's culinary traditions faithfully reflect its tumultuous history, serving an assortment of foods and wines which differ significantly between the country's regions. The hearty dishes and their spicy aftertastes on the North genuinely remind of Croatia's Germanic and Hungarian heritage, but also of cold winters and hard labor in the flatlands. The wine cellars and olive groves of Istria and Dalmatia pay a tribute to its Greek and Roman heritage, while light fish dishes with lots of vegetables serve the Adriatic sunshine on a plate. Traveling the islands, learn how different same foods or grapes can taste just one island over. Dobar tek and uzdravlje!


On the toroidal conden:Sed state of closed circular dna
A. Yu Grosberg, A. V. Zhestkov
 Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review
 Abstract
 The influence of double helix torsional elasticity on the compaction and structure of circular DNA compact form is studied theoretically in the case when the compact (globular) form has torus shape. For closed circular DNA the topological invariant, the linking number, yields a strict connection between conformation of the double helix considered as unifilar homopolymer and elastic energy of torsional twisting. The contribution of torsional elasticity to the free energy of the toruslike globule is calculated. This contribution is shown to be proportional to the square of superhelical density. Allowance of the torsional elasticity decreases the equilibrium radius of the toruslike globule formed by circular DNA. Closure of linear DNA into a ring widens the stability range of the relatively short DNA compact form and tightens it for long DNA.
 Original languageEnglish (US)
 Pages (from-to)515-520
 Number of pages6
 JournalJournal of Biomolecular Structure and Dynamics
 Volume3
 Issue number3
 DOIs
 StatePublished - Dec 1985
 ASJC Scopus subject areas
 - Structural Biology
 - Molecular Biology
 Fingerprint
 Dive into the research topics of 'On the toroidal conden:Sed state of closed circular dna'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.
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persistent option can be used to replace the ipv6 <local>,<remote> option. Otherwise the identifier is randomized.
active-filter filter-expression
Specifies a packet filter to be applied to data packets to determine which packets are to be regarded as link activity, and therefore reset the idle timer, or cause the link to be brought up in demand-dialling mode. This option is useful in conjunction with the idle option if there are packets being sent or received regularly over the link (for example, routing information packets) which would otherwise prevent the link from ever appearing to be idle. The filter-expression syntax is as described for tcpdump(1), except that qualifiers which are inappropriate for a PPP link, such as ether and arp, are not permitted. Generally the filter expression should be enclosed in single-quotes to prevent whitespace in the expression from being interpreted by the shell. This option is currently only available under Linux, and requires that the kernel was configured to include PPP filtering support (CONFIG_PPP_FILTER). Note that it is possible to apply different constraints to incoming and outgoing packets using the inbound and outbound qualifiers.
allow-ip address(es)
Allow peers to use the given IP address or subnet without authenticating themselves. The parameter is parsed as for each element of the list of allowed IP addresses in the secrets files (see the AUTHENTICATION section below).
allow-number number
Allow peers to connect from the given telephone number. A trailing '*' character will match all numbers beginning with the leading part.
bsdcomp nr,nt
Request that the peer compress packets that it sends, using the BSD-Compress scheme, with a maximum code size of nr bits, and agree to compress packets sent to the peer with a maximum code size of nt bits. If nt is not specified, it defaults to the value given for nr. Values in the range 9 to 15 may be used for nr and nt; larger values give better compression but consume more kernel memory for compression dictionaries. Alternatively, a value of 0 for nr or nt disables compression in the corresponding direction. Use nobsdcomp or bsdcomp 0 to disable BSD-Compress compression entirely.
cdtrcts
Use a non-standard hardware flow control (i.e. DTR/CTS) to control the flow of data on the serial port. If neither the crtscts, the nocrtscts, the cdtrcts nor the nocdtrcts option is given, the hardware flow control setting for the serial port is left unchanged. Some serial ports (such as Macintosh serial ports) lack a true RTS output. Such serial ports use this mode to implement true bi-directional flow control. The sacrifice is that this flow control mode does not permit using DTR as a modem control line.
chap-interval n
If this option is given, pppd will rechallenge the peer every n seconds.
chap-max-challenge n
Set the maximum number of CHAP challenge transmissions to n (default 10).
chap-restart n
Set the CHAP restart interval (retransmission timeout for challenges) to n seconds (default 3).
child-timeout n
When exiting, wait for up to n seconds for any child processes (such as the command specified with the pty command) to exit before exiting. At the end of the timeout, pppd will send a SIGTERM signal to any remaining child processes and exit. A value of 0 means no timeout, that is, pppd will wait until all child processes have exited.
connect-delay n
Wait for up to n milliseconds after the connect script finishes for a valid PPP packet from the peer. At the end of this time, or when a valid PPP packet is received from the peer, pppd will commence negotiation by sending its first LCP packet. The default value is 1000 (1 second). This wait period only applies if the connect or pty option is used.
debug
Enables connection debugging facilities. If this option is given, pppd will log the contents of all control packets sent or received in a readable form. The packets are logged through syslog with facility daemon and level debug. This information can be directed to a file by setting up /etc/syslog.conf appropriately (see syslog.conf(5)).
default-asyncmap
Disable asyncmap negotiation, forcing all control characters to be escaped for both the transmit and the receive direction.
default-mru
Disable MRU [Maximum Receive Unit] negotiation. With this option, pppd will use the default MRU value of 1500 bytes for both the transmit and receive direction.
deflate nr,nt
Request that the peer compress packets that it sends, using the Deflate scheme, with a maximum window size of 2**nr bytes, and agree to compress packets sent to the peer with a maximum window size of 2**nt bytes. If nt is not specified, it defaults to the value given for nr. Values in the range 9 to 15 may be used for nr and nt; larger values give better compression but consume more kernel memory for compression dictionaries. Alternatively, a value of 0 for nr or nt disables compression in the corresponding direction. Use nodeflate or deflate 0 to disable Deflate compression entirely. (Note: pppd requests Deflate compression in preference to BSD-Compress if the peer can do either.)
demand
Initiate the link only on demand, i.e. when data traffic is present. With this option, the remote IP address may be specified by the user on the command line or in an options file, or if not, pppd will use an arbitrary address in the 10.x.x.x range. Pppd will initially configure the interface and enable it for IP traffic without connecting to the peer. When traffic is available, pppd will connect to the peer and perform negotiation, authentication, etc. When this is completed, pppd will commence passing data packets (i.e., IP packets) across the link.
The demand option implies the persist option. If this behaviour is not desired, use the nopersist option after the demand option. The idle and holdoff options are also useful in conjunction with the demand option.
domain d
Append the domain name d to the local host name for authentication purposes. For example, if gethostname() returns the name porsche, but the fully qualified domain name is porsche.Quotron.COM, you could specify domain Quotron.COM. Pppd would then use the name porsche.Quotron.COM for looking up secrets in the secrets file, and as the default name to send to the peer when authenticating itself to the peer. This option is privileged.
dryrun
With the dryrun option, pppd will print out all the option values which have been set and then exit, after parsing the command line and options files and checking the option values, but before initiating the link. The option values are logged at level info, and also printed to standard output unless the device on standard output is the device that pppd would be using to communicate with the peer.
dump
With the dump option, pppd will print out all the option values which have been set. This option is like the dryrun option except that pppd proceeds as normal rather than exiting.
enable-session
Enables session accounting via PAM or wtwp/wtmpx, as appropriate. When PAM is enabled, the PAM "account" and "session" module stacks determine behavior, and are enabled for all PPP authentication protocols. When PAM is disabled, wtmp/wtmpx entries are recorded regardless of whether the peer name identifies a valid user on the local system, making peers visible in the last(1) log. This feature is automatically enabled when the pppd login option is used. Session accounting is disabled by default.
endpoint <epdisc>
Sets the endpoint discriminator sent by the local machine to the peer during multilink negotiation to <epdisc>. The default is to use the MAC address of the first ethernet interface on the system, if any, otherwise the IPv4 address corresponding to the hostname, if any, provided it is not in the multicast or locally-assigned IP address ranges, or the localhost address. The endpoint discriminator can be the string null or of the form type:value, where type is a decimal number or one of the strings local, IP, MAC, magic, or phone. The value is an IP address in dotted-decimal notation for the IP type, or a string of bytes in hexadecimal, separated by periods or colons for the other types. For the MAC type, the value may also be the name of an ethernet or similar network interface. This option is currently only available under Linux.
eap-interval n
If this option is given and pppd authenticates the peer with EAP (i.e., is the server), pppd will restart EAP authentication every n seconds. For EAP SRP-SHA1, see also the srp-interval option, which enables lightweight rechallenge.
eap-max-rreq n
Set the maximum number of EAP Requests to which pppd will respond (as a client) without hearing EAP Success or Failure. (Default is 20.)
eap-max-sreq n
Set the maximum number of EAP Requests that pppd will issue (as a server)


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A right-angled isosceles triangle whose two equal sides are 2 units in length is attached at its right-angled vertex to the centre of a square of side 2 units and rotated about this centre point.
This text is usually replaced by the Flash movie.
What can you say about the area of the part of the square covered by the triangle as it rotates?
What happens to this area if the triangle is reduced in size so that its two equal sides are $ \sqrt 2 $ units?
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A method of designing smart antennas based on switched parasitic antenna arrays is presented in this paper. The direction of maximum gain can be controlled by a digital word, while the selection of element spacing and weighting is optimized using the method of genetic algorithms. Various results are presented to show how antennas of this type perform, outlining the advantages and limitations of their design.
2. Jones, E. A. and W. T. Joines, "Design of Yagi-Uda antennas using genetic algorithms," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 45, No. 9, _PHONE_, September 1997.
3. Ares-Pena, F. J., J. A. Rodriguez-Gonzalez, E. Villanueva-Lopez, and S. R. Rengarajan, "Genetic algorithms in the design and optimization of antenna array patterns," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 47, No. 3, 506-510, March 1999.
4. Preston, S. L., D. V. Thiel, J. W. Lu, S. G. O' Keefe, and T. S. Bird, "Electronic beam steering using switched parasitic patch elements," Electronics Letters, Vol. 3, No. 1, 7-8, 1997.
5. Preston, S. L., D. V. Thiel, T. A. Smith, S. G. O' Keefe, and J. W. Lu, "Base-station tracking in mobile communications using a switched parasitic antenna array," IEEE Transactions on Antennas and Propagation, Vol. 46, No. 6, 841-844, June 1998.
6. Schlub, R., D. V. Thiel, J. W. Lu, and S. G. O' Keefe, "Dual-band six-element switched parasitic array for smart antenna cellular communications systems," Electronics Letters, Vol. 36, No. 16, _PHONE_, 2000.
7. Houck, C. R., J. A. Joines, and M. G. Kay, "A genetic algorithm for function optimization: A Matlab implementation,", _URL_
8. Balanis, C. A., Antenna Theory Analysis and Design, 2nd Edition, John Wiley and Sons, 1997.


Disqualifying Offenses
The District shall obtain criminal history record information on final candidates for employment. All District positions have the potential for contact with students. The District shall disqualify from employment a person whose criminal history indicates that the person poses a threat to students or employees. Consistent with business necessity, the District shall also disqualify from employment a person whose criminal history is otherwise inconsistent with the job duties of the position for which the person is being considered.
Individualized Assessment
The District shall perform an individualized assessment of criminal history record information when determining a person's eligibility for employment in a specific position. The District shall take into account a variety of factors, including the following:
The nature of the offense;
The age of the person when the crime was committed;
The date of the offense and how much time has elapsed;
The adjudication of the offense (e.g., whether the person was found guilty by a trier of fact, pled guilty, entered a no contest plea, or received deferred adjudication);
The nature and responsibilities of the job sought;
The accuracy of the person's disclosure of his or her criminal history during the selection process;
The effect of the conduct on the overall educational environment; and
Any further information provided by the person concerning his or her criminal history record.
The fact of an arrest alone does not establish that criminal conduct has occurred, and the District shall not disqualify a person based solely on an arrest. The District may make an employment decision based on the conduct underlying the arrest if the conduct makes the person unfit for the position in question.
SBEC Notification
If a candidate for a position has a reported criminal history, and the candidate is certified by the State Board for Educator Certification (SBEC), the District shall report the criminal history to SBEC.
Credit History
The District shall obtain credit history information on a candidate for employment only when the credit history is related to the position for which the person is being considered. The District shall comply with the Fair Credit Reporting Act before obtaining a job-related credit history. [See DBAA(LEGAL)]
Rice ISD-Navarro County
DATE ISSUED: 5/20/2013


Global communications makes the world smaller – how does that work? How can policymakers affect who says what to whom, when, and how?
In recent years, liberalization, privatization and deregulation have become commonplace in sectors once dominated by government-owned monopolies. In telecommunications, for example, during the 1990s, more than 129 countries established independent regulatory agencies and more than 100 countries privatized the state-owned telecom operator. Why did so many countries liberalize in such a short period of time? For example, why did both Denmark and Burundi, nations different along so many relevant dimensions, liberalize their telecom sectors around the same time? Kirsten L. Rodine-Hardy argues that international organizations – not national governments or market forces – are the primary drivers of policy convergence in the important arena of telecommunications regulation: they create and shape preferences for reform and provide forums for expert discussions and the emergence of policy standards. Yet she also shows that international convergence leaves room for substantial variation among countries, using both econometric analysis and controlled case comparisons of eight European countries.
Rodine-Hardy, Kirsten. 2013. Global Markets and Government Regulation in Telecommunications. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. doi:10.1017/CBO9781139136884.
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Insight into plant behavior could aid quest for efficient biofuels
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have found that the tiny organism has developed coping mechanisms for when its main food source is in short supply.
Understanding these processes will help scientists develop crops that can survive when nutrients are scarce and to grow high-yield plants for use as biofuels.
The alga normally feeds by ingesting nitrogen from surrounding seawater but, when levels are low, it reduces its intake and instead absorbs other nutrients, such as carbon and phosphorus, from the water. The organism is also able to recycle nitrogen from its own body, breaking down proteins that are plentiful to make other proteins that it needs to survive.
Nitrogen is needed by all plants to survive but the alga's survival strategies vary from most other plants which, when nitrogen is scarce, tend to widen their search for it.
Like many organisms, the alga Ostreococcus tauri is also driven by daylight and its body clock for example, proteins that produce starch for food are active in the evening, after the plant has photosynthesised sugars from sunlight in the day.
The study, in the Journal of Proteomics, was funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.
Dr Sarah Martin, of the University of Edinburgh, who took part in the study, said: "This tiny alga certainly punches above its weight when it comes to survival. Our study has revealed some curious ways in which the organism finds the nutrients it needs to stay alive tricks like these could be useful to us in developing sustainable crops for the future."
Contact: Catriona Kelly
University of Edinburgh
Page: 1
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Scand J Pain. 2019 Jul 9. Epub 2019 Jul 9. PMID: 31287802
The association between insomnia, c-reactive protein, and chronic low back pain: cross-sectional analysis of the HUNT study, Norway.
Background and aims Chronic low back pain (chronic LBP) is the number one cause for years lived with disability among 301 diseases and injuries analyzed by The Global Burden of Disease study 2013. Insomnia is highly prevalent among people with chronic LBP. To explain the sleep-pain relationship, theoretical models propose that insomnia symptoms may be associated with increased basal inflammation, operationalized as c-reactive protein (CRP) and lead to further pain and disrupted sleep. We aimed to determine the associations between insomnia, chronic LBP, and inflammation (operationalized as CRP), whilst controlling for age, body mass index, smoking, physical activity, depression, anxiety and osteoarthritis. Methods A cross-sectional analysis of the third Nord-Trøndelag Health Study (2006-2008), a rural population survey of 50,666 participants in Norway aged 20-96 years. Insomnia (dichotomous) was defined according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5th Edition, and chronic LBP (dichotomous) as low back pain or stiffness lasting at least 3 months. Data for CRP were obtained from non-fasting serum samples and assessed via latex immunoassay methodology. We excluded participants with the following self-reported chronic somatic diseases: chronic heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia or ankylosing spondylosis. Possible associations between presence of insomnia and presence of chronic LBP (dependent), and the level of CRP and presence of chronic LBP (dependent), were assessed using logistic regression models. The possible association between insomnia and CRP (dependent) wasassessed using linear regression. Multivariable analyses were conducted adjusting for confounders stated in our aim that achieved p ≤ 0.2 in univariate regressions. We performed stratified analyses for participants with"Normal"(10 mg/L) levels of CRP. Results In our total included sample (n = 30,669, median age 52.6, 54% female), 6.1% had insomnia (n = 1,871), 21.4% had chronic LBP (n = 6,559), and 2.4% had both (n = 719). Twenty four thousand two hundred eighty-eight (79%) participants had"Normal"CRP, 5,275 (17%) had"Elevated"CRP, and 1,136 (4%) had"Very High"CRP. For participants with"Normal"levels of CRP, insomnia was associated with higher levels of CRP (adjusted B = 0.04, 95%CI [0.00-0.08], p = 0.046), but not for people with"Elevated"or"Very High"levels of CRP. There was an association between CRP and presence of chronic LBP in the total sample (adjusted OR = 1.01, [1.00-1.01], p = 0.013) and for people with"Normal"CRP (1.05, [1.00-1.10, p = 0.034]. Insomnia was associated with the presence of chronic LBP in the total sample (adjusted OR = 1.99, 95%CI [1.79-2.21],


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NRCan: SCIENCE OUTREACH AND ENGAGEMENT GRANT
In 2017/18, Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) and the Canadian Association of Science Centres (CASC) conducted a pilot project to connect NRCan's science and technology activities with communication to Canadians through Science Centres. In the Fall of 2018, the CASC office issued a call for proposal to expand the scope of the 2017/18 program.
For the 2018/19 program, CASC invited proposals from CASC Full Members to obtain a small grant to create new programming or support existing programming that is in line with NRCan objectives.
The office received twelve applications from which four were selected to receive the Science Outreach and Engagement Grant from Natural Resources Canada. A panel of industry peers was selected and collectively reviewed all of the applications.
Through the generous support of The Office of the Chief Scientist (OCS) at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) each organization was granted $8000.00 to support their programming.
The Science Outreach and Engagement Grant from Natural Resources Canada aimed to:
The NRCan Science Outreach and Engagement Grant allowed four unique science communication programs to be supported in the 2018/19 year. The programs ranged from workshops to keynote speakers to outreach activities, all aiming to accomplish the goal of communicating science to a wider audience.
By funding these programs, science centres were able to expand and provide novel and profound experiences for people from diverse backgrounds. Feedback from the students participating in the programs indicate a newfound understanding for data collection, science communication, and the issues facing Canada's natural resources, whereas guests visiting the science centres for outreach events and talks felt a greater appreciation about the scientific topics presented. The programs were also beneficial to the participating scientists themselves, as they felt fulfilled because they were able to connect with an audience that they would not normally. As a result, the NRCan Science Outreach and Engagement Grant strengthened the connection between scientists and the public, setting the stage for the future of science communication in Canada through inspiration, education, and engagement.
Canadian Association of Science Centres
#1203-130 Albert St.
Ottawa, ON. K1P 5G4
The CASC office is situated in Robinson Huron Treaty territory and the traditional territory of the Atikameksheng Anishnawbek. We pay respect to their traditions, ways of knowing and acknowledge their many contributions to the innovations in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics. Clearly and overtly this gratitude must be demonstrated in our collective commitment to truth and reconciliation, by working to transform existing relationships, with open dialogue, mutual understanding and respectful collaborations


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Main / Lifestyle / Biogas power plant design
Biogas power plant design
Name: Biogas power plant design
File size: 265mb
locksmith-newtonma.com, provided technical support and engineering solutions for Biogas. Power Plant + Organic Fertiliser unit. PROJECT OVERVIEW. DESIGN OF BIOGAS PLANT. Bio-gas Project, LGED. Introduction: Biogas can be obtained from any organic materials after anaerobic fermentation by three. The Construction download section also has some biogas plant design embedded, so is worth looking through. This biogas plant design page is divided into a.
electricity. This paper describes a design and detail analysis of a biogas based power plant for especially in Bangladesh there is not enough generation of. PDF | Since found in, electricity has become one of most important needs to do daily activities. As the increasing of population and. Planning the biogas plant layout and designing the digesters, where the The objective of treating the organic waste (the production of energy.
A Biogas Power Plant is essentially another name which has been coined recently. Design of Biogas Power Plants/ Biogas Power Plant pdf. energy census banner advert. To help our readers to create the best biogas plant design, the list below contains our top 5 things So, you have a potential site for a biogas plant, and as in most cases, as the promoter of a. This paper proposes a novel hybrid CSP and biogas power plant in which biogas is produced with anaerobic treatment of liquid cattle manure.


This study focuses on RF-Plasma Technology (RFPT) to enhance the physical properties of powdered materials (metals, carbides, ceramics, inter-metallics, and mixtures). The efficiency and flexibility of RFPT allows for the economically viable production of powders with a high degree of densification, spheroidization and purity. RFPT is based on the used of RF inductive power used to create a plasma at atmospheric pressure. A complex model based on theoretical calculations and empirical data has been developed to describe changes in particles exposed to the plasma stream for a variety of process parameters. A specific combination of parameters is referred to as a scheme. Advanced schemes have been developed to increase the coefficient of heat transfer from the plasma stream to particles by up to 35%. RFPT is especially useful for the production of powders that have been difficult or impossible to create with traditional methods. Some of the materials processed include: ZrO2, W2C, WC and WC-Co combinations. Particle size distribution (PSD) can be tightly controlled, and can vary from 5 to 600 microns.
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Domain: Internet & Media
Identify a set of keywords according of the user search intention. An initial, but not restricted, description can be the following: searching/opinion and reviews/comparison/action/others
Jot Internet Media España SL is a marketing online company with a worldwide presence through the Internet that generates qualified traffic for their customers.
Many times, the way searches are done determine a clear intention from the Internet user. Queries that contains terms such as opinion, review or buy among others that reflect a clear purpose.
Due to these intention differences those keywords can be treated differently, for example customizing the ads to be more relevant and attractive to the user, which means a higher impact for the service/product/info provider.
For that reason, the aim of this challenge is to classify all these keywords in different categories (Research, Complain/Opinion, Action, Comparison and Others), being able to create specific ads for those groups and increasing the attention and relevance of the searches.
The challenge has the following sample datasets available for download
- General keyword listing
The final aim is to generate a categorization of the keywords depending on the intention of the potential client, so the account marketing manager can create specific and more relevant ads generating higher conversion rates. The key parameters to be used to evaluate that will be:
- Click Through Rate: Increased by 20%
- Clicks: Increased by 15%
In this way the predefined budget allocated for digital marketing will generate higher revenue in the landing page, as the ads shown will be customized depending on the user intentions.


Abstract
The work reported here is an integral part of a system developed for the automated reconstruction of arbitrary-shaped physical objects using vision systems, three dimensional computer graphics, and B-Spline surface approximation techniques. Digitized planar contour points are automatically fitted in the image and world space to define a minimum number of B-Spline control points using least-squares approximation techniques. The final set of points represent the B-Spline control net of the entire surface of the object. The resulting curves and surfaces can be further interactively modified until a satisfactory fit is obtained. Three parametrization techniques, viz., uniform, chord length, and affine invariant angle method are implemented and adjusted to their local minima using the Newton-Raphson iteration method. The effect of each method on the accuracy of the reconstructed surface is discussed. The techniques were tested using a clay model of a human face. The uniform parametrization performed better with the highest speed of convergence and best least-squares error characteristics. On the other hand, it was less effective in detecting sharp corners as compared to the other two methods. The results also show that there is a minimum number of control points for every surface beyond which there is no error improvement. This is useful in several industrial applications when checking surface accuracy of manufactured parts using Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM).
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The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) says the reappointment of Dr Ogbonnaya Onu as Minister of Science and Technology will engender development of space technology and its deployment to tackling insecurity.
Mr Hamid Abdulkareem, the Chairman of NSE, Giri Branch, FCT stated this in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Abuja.
Abdulkareem recalled that during the first tenure of Onu, there were specific responsibilities assigned to parastatals within the Ministry of science and technology for the development of the sector.
He said it would be beneficial to the nation if the minister continued on the path he was towing towards developing the science and technology sector.
READ ALSO:WSC4 unleashes Girl Power in Martial Arts combat championships
The chairman recalled that the minister, during his first tenure, assigned responsibilities to some engineers to collaborate with security agents on how to deploy space technology into addressing issues of insecurity.
He reiterated that space technology had proven impactful in developed nations across the world, adding that Nigeria could leverage on it.
Abdulkareem said that space technology can also address issues on food security, environmental challenges, among other issues.
"One of NSE's contributions to the development of this sector is to create awareness, galvanise engineers towards deploying space technology into addressing issues of national security.
"In times past, our security agents seem to have deployed strategies within their reach to tackle the problem.
"With space science technology which requires the involvement of engineers, we can monitor activities of banditry, terrorism, food security, natural disaster, among other issues.
"Another mandate given to NSE at the Giri branch is collaborating with the National Space Research and Development Agency (NASRDA) to ensure that Nigeria has a meteorological satellite,'' Abdulkareem said.
The branch chairman said that a meteorological satellite could be deployed towards monitoring weather for strategic planning in aviation, defense, water resources and agriculture.
"By the time we have our own built meteorological satellite; it will take Nigeria far in monitoring weather for strategic planning.
He urged the minister to consolidate on the existing projects and initiate more for the development of the sector. (NAN)


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Feisty fish and birds with attitude: Why does evolution not lead to identical individuals?
 "Survival of the fittest" is synonymous with adaptive evolution. This catchy phrase suggests that all individuals within a population become identical over time by developing "THE fittest" heritable traits. Yet, in nature, we observe many differences between individuals. For example, sticklebacks (tiny fish) in the... click to read more
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published on Aug 31, 2024


Aim higher, reach further.
Nuclear Plant Report Evaluates Fish Impact
WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.—The federal fisheries service says the continued operation of two nuclear plants in the New York City suburbs would have an "adverse effect" on two endangered species of sturgeon, but wouldn't come close to wiping them out.
The conclusion appears to help the argument for extending licenses for the Indian Point plants on the Hudson River, although one critic called it wrong and irrelevant.
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On 9 August 2009, Typhoon Morakot struck China's south-east coast, affecting more than 3.4 million people across China, Taiwan and Philippines. The death toll from the disaster reached 126 with hundreds more people missing. World Vision was able to provide assistance to affected families in Taiwan and the Philippines.
How you can help:
Donate: Emergency & Preparedness Fund
Subscribe to Action News Online
On 9 August 2009, Typhoon Morakot struck China's south-east coast destroying hundreds of houses and flooding farmland. Almost one million people were forced to evacuate ahead of the storm, which hit with winds of up to 119km/h.
Typhoon Morakot caused wide-spread damage in southern and eastern Taiwan. Massive flooding damaged transportation infrastructure and submerged many homes forcing residents to evacuate and stay in shelters or find temporary housing with friends and relatives.
The death toll climbed to more than 120 people in Taiwan.
In China, Typhoon Morakot affected 8.8 million people across Fujian, Zhejiang, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces. Reports indicate that six people were killed, and 1.4 million people were evacuated to safety.
In the Philippines, a reported 13,000 people were displaced in Zambales.
World Vision's Response
World Vision provided immediate relief to affected families in Taiwan and the Philippines. In China, World Vision monitored the situation and decided a response was not necessary in the well-resourced coastal province.
World Vision's response effort in Taiwan assisted over 8,700 people, with activities including:
- The provision of food, clean water and cleaning materials to households
- The distribution of relief kits including food, wter, clothing, cleaning appliances and items for children to over 5,000 families
- The provision of shelter materials
- The establishment of 10 Child Friendly Spaces to care for more than 4,451 children
The response effort in the Philippines included:
- Provision of food aid to nearly 2,000 displaced families
- Distribution of bread and water to almost 800 people, including 264 children in two evacuation centres
Children Sponsored by Australians
In the Philippines, some families from sponsorship programs took refuge in evacuation centres or with relatives. No sponsored children were reported injured.
No Australian funded projects were affected in China and Taiwan.


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A bill drafted by Vance Aloupis currently sits in Florida's House of Representatives hoping to expand the acceptance of cryptocurrency within the Technology Sandbox participants.
What is Florida's Technology Sandbox
Based on an idea of the UK, Florida created a Technology Sandbox. Fledgling businesses in the finance tech industry who wish to be a part of the sandbox need to apply. Once allowed in the 'sandbox' these businesses are given extra freedom to develop. Because these small businesses may lack the lawyers and fees associated with jumping through all the hurdles involved in creating a business within Florida, the sandbox allows them the flexibility to delay these hurdles until they've become well established and can 'leave' the sandbox. The businesses are allowed to experiment under the eye of the Florida Office of Financial Regulation, instead of becoming fully regulated businesses.
The goal behind the sandbox is to allow business ideas to grow without restriction. "It's a defined environment where you can experiment and play if you will. But Mom and Dad, the regulators are watching not far away," says Andrea O'Sullivan, director of the Center for Technology and Innovation at the James Madison Institute (JMI). Some businesses will not emerge from the sandbox successfully, and that is to be expected. Those businesses which do, which become fully regulated businesses, will have learned many things along the way to contribute to their future successes.
How Does Expanding Help
"Allowing businesses within the sandbox to delve into cryptocurrency allows a whole new area to experiment with blockchain solutions," says Gianni D'Alerta special Blockchain advisor to Gazitua Letelier. The increase in both flexibility and oversight creates an area of experimentation. The idea is that the businesses within the sandbox will work out the kinks of everyday dealings with cryptocurrency.
How Can We Help
At Gazitua Letelier, we want to help new businesses succeed. If you'd like more information on the Financial Technology Sandbox in Florida or blockchain and cryptocurrency within South Florida, contact us.


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From its preserved braincase, the Brazilian research team reconstructed the brain, which generally weighs 1.5 grams, highlighting several brain regions, including its cerebellum, optic lobe, cerebrum, olfactory bulb, and olfactory tract.
The cognitive capability was also measured, with its intelligence valued at a higher rate than that of sauropods, which are much bigger in size.
"The values obtained are higher than that of the giant sauropods, like Diplodocus and Brachiosaurus, suggesting a decrease in encephalization in the lineage," the co-authors wrote in a press release.
"This is interesting because several other lineages present an increase in the encephalization through time. Nevertheless, the cognitive capability of Buriolestes schultzi is lower than that of theropod dinosaurs, the lineage that includes Tyrannosaurus, Velociraptor, and birds."
The study was conducted by Rodrigo T. Müller, José D. Ferreira, Flávio A. Pretto, Leonardo Kerber, and Mario Bronzati.


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Due to the fact that the strategic costing technique firmly implies long-term future oriented attributes, it can facilitate the organisations to reduce different types of accounting uncertainties (Cadez & Guilding, 2008). Critical Review of Literature With respect to the significance of the strategic costing, Cadez (2008) has mentioned that the notion of strategic costing has become a widely used technique for the organisations in case of proactively performing their range of accounting practices. In relation to the present fiercely competitive scenario of the global business environment, the organisations seek to integrate well-built Strategic Management Accounting (SMA) techniques in order to efficiently attain their strategic goals (Cadez, 2008). Contextually, it has also been found from the study in Qucosa (2006) that the concept of strategic costing constitutes a broad focus beyond the notion of controlling or reducing organisational costs associated with its range of business operations. Moreover, the nature of strategic costing also encompasses cost information which is significantly recognised as one of the major attributes of making exceptional organisational decisions. In this regard, the study of Qucosa (2006) has further depicted a conceptual framework with respect to the major characteristics of strategic costing. Fig: Concept Strategic Cost Management (Qucosa, 2006) Philosophy: The philosophy of strategic costing can be considered as one of the major attributes which ensures to improve revenue as well as cost of the organisations. The concept of strategic costing significantly emphasises upon enhancing organisational productivity, capitalising in terms of profit enhancement along with augmenting customer satisfaction (Qucosa, 2006). Attitude: The concept of strategic costing constitutes a proactive attitude which ensures to encompass all the costs associated with the organisational processes that result from the management decisions. In this regard, the attitude of strategic costing involves six important elements such as holistic nature, market orientation, anticipatory approach, continuousness, participative and cross-functional attributes (Qucosa, 2006). Techniques: Techniques can be recognised as the major attribute that exists within the concept of strategic costing. The concept of strategic costing firmly involves reliable techniques that are implemented by the organisations in order to accomplish their desired goals or obtain overall needs (Qucosa, 2006). The notion of strategic costing can also be considered as an effectual curriculum for the organisations. In accordance with the viewpoints of Banerjee (2006), it has been revealed that an effective practice of strategic costing tends to facilitate the firms to frequently analyse and recognise their major cost drivers, thus helping them to minimise costs and increase the overall value of the firms. Such types of management accounting programme plays a vital role for the organisations in terms of preparing budget parameter as well as it also facilitates
MSc Strategic Accounting Table of Contents Part A 3 Strategic Cost Management (Strategic Costing) 3 A Brief Overview of Strategic Costing 3 Critical Review of Literature 3 Part B 12 (a)Identification of the Key Factors 12 (b)Development of a Balanced Set of Performance Measures for Bradtech 13 (c)Consideration of Other Important Issues 14 References 16 Part A Strategic Cost Management (Strategic Costing) A Brief Overview of Strategic Costing Strategic Cost Management (Strategic Costing) can be regarded as one of the effective and strategic oriented management accounting methods…
Management accounting is considered to be useful when it properly displays an external image and a futuristic picture for an organisation. Strategic Management Accounting on the other hand can be distinguished from other management accounting activities through its extensive external orientation; this extensive external orientation includes focus towards customers, competitors, suppliers and all other stakeholders that get affected by the organisation's normal course of business.
Performance measures can be considered as metrics for monitoring the success of an activity and competence of the workforce in utilizing the available resources. Competence can be attained by maximising the output with the minimum number of resources. Improvement in competence can be achieved by providing fewer inputs that can be used to produce a particular amount of output.
The project report then looks at the aims and objectives of establishing a management accounting system and the characteristics of information flow at the strategic level. It also analyse the effectiveness of SMA system in the provision of information to assist the senior management team in the achievement of the corporate objectives at Highline.
A fusing connection among the variety of visions is involve in captivating a strategic direction, explanation and study of management accounting information, and rival's performances proposes the basic extent in favour of contrast.
Management accountants are perfectly trained and they have this ability potential and expertise to contribute along with the strategies and with the evaluating process to over those decision-making problems that they have in the market.
This necessitates the managers to have a thorough understanding and appreciation of the costs involved in different phases of the life cycle of a product in order to maximise the earnings of the firm. Stiff competition in the international markets, adoption of innovative technological changes and improved production systems have necessitated radical changes in the management accounting systems being followed by different manufacturing companies to remain globally competitive.
This point of view is well supported with both early (Solomons, 1952) and contemporary researches (Boyns and Edwards, 1997a). Needless to say, standard costing has come a long way before it became generally accepted.
Originally, cost accounting systems were mainly concerned with variable costs, such as labour and raw materials expenditures.
ds of 25 sizeable British firms serve as evidences for the statement that British entrepreneurs used standard costing methods even in pre-industrial period _PHONE_ (Fleischman and Parker, 1991), it is still considered that cost accounting began to attract wide interest of
Formulation of strategies necessitates a proper collaboration with all department like operation, marketing, HR, R&D, finance & accounting etc. These departments are the treasure house of potential information about the current
trategic management accounting which leads to evaluate an organization's interaction between its product market and capital market, analyze the internal architecture of the company and its cost considerations so that it can be evaluated whether it is required to bring any
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room. This is a form of importance sampling, also called importance driven final gathering. We also subdivide anytime there are significant differences between neighbors to reduce noise, this is called adaptive sampling. NumAdaptiveRefinementLevels controls how many refinement levels there are, AdaptiveBrightnessThreshold controls how big of a neighbor difference there must be to refine a sector.
As to the Lightmass WorldSettings options, IndirectLightingSmoothness operates on the settings in step 4), the amount of irradiance cache smoothing.
IndirectLightingQuality increases the number of samples and depth of refinement in steps 5-7, the final gathering.
Sky light method (assuming static skylight, stationary is a bit different):
 1. The sky light HDR texture is exported to Lightmass as an 3 band spherical harmonic, which you can think of as an extremely low resolution cubemap (2x2 on each face approx). So if you have a very bright spot in the sky cubemap it will be spread out over a large region. This is basically prefiltering to avoid noise.
 2. We do a mini final gather at each lightmap texel and compute sky lighting with a very low number of rays. This is cached on the surface and will become the first bounce of skylight GI once the final gather accesses it.
 3. During the final gather, any rays that hit the scene look up the cached sky direct lighting from step 2), which now becomes first bounce sky lighting. Any rays that miss the scene and hit the background lookup from the sky SH, this is sky direct lighting. We refine the final gather based on brightness differences between sectors of the hemisphere, but no importance sampling is done because we don't have any photons from the sky.
So now you can see why static sky lights have limited quality and only support one indirect lighting bounce. This is something we could improve, but it's a lot of work and complexity. Specifically, we should actually export a cubemap to Lightmass, and do importance sampling of the cubemap's contents (trace more rays to the brighter texels).
This is pretty much Chinese to my hear but I'm happy to see devs interested in improving lightmass for arch-viz users!
You may have a potentially HUGE market in sight because everybody in arch-viz communities are talking about real-time/Unreal. I think eventually we all want to go real-time!
This is where I would like to get to in Unreal - not sure it's possible? It's just an HDRI and a Sun in Blender/Cycles render engine. There is some post processing in Photoshop.
What kind of method cycles use for G.I? path tracing?
Heh, maybe I got too technical.
Short answer - not without some significant work on our part. Pure HDRI quality is lacking. But I hear you guys loud and clear, that's how you want to light (as opposed to directional or spot lights).
while we're talking about lightmass…is there a way (or is it planned, even possible) to calculate lighting for just selected objects? for example, if we add single object/move or add a light, the engine tells us how many objects need their lightmaps calculated. if the engine can tell that, why not enable lighmaps calculations only for affected geometry? it would speed up things even further instead of waiting another hour and a half for light calculation to finish for the whole level when only one object was added…
These explanations are spot on (Made so many things easy and this is the minimum information required to understand lightmass). Till you guys made HDRI Lighting awesome in unreal engine, kindly let us know how to resolve some common issues which come when we simulate HDRI lighting with added support of Punctual lights.
Link to download above scene file - Dropbox - Error
Thanks Raghu, I'll take a look at that scene when I get a chance, hopefully monday.
It's possible, although a fair amount of lightmass processing (editor export, lightmass import, photon mapping) have to be done no matter what you want to build. Only the blue part in the Swarm visualizer (double click the swarm icon hiding in the taskbar when building lighting). It's not something we have planned just due to not enough time though.
My two cents
99% of the time I notice that if you go over a value of 2-3 on the "Indirect light intensity" ( on the main sun light I mean ) you'll have those light leaks all over.
I usually use, to boost up the intensity of the interiors, a skylight with a limited amount of intensity ( 0.2/0.5 ) and 1-2 of Indirect lighting.
Then bounce cards all over the place.
_USER_: +1 Raghu, to be able to build the lighting only for certain object will be a godsend, since if you're working on different environments and you just want to test part of the scene it'll be great to process only a portion of that or if you move some objects just reuild the lighting for those ( and the affected surfaces of course )
Okay, thank you. At least I know not to try and transfer my techniques over to Unreal and just work with what it gives me. Sure would be nice to be able to light scenes this way though. :slight_smile:
A workaround for that, which is what I am doing in my current project is organize the scene outline on different parts. I have exterior yard, ground level and level 1. As now I am working only on the level 1 I simply select all actors which are grouped in a folder from exterior yard ( easier if you arrange by type so you can only select static meshes) and simply set to movable and all the lights to not affect world. They will be ignored in lightmass. Might not be as easy as having an option like you mentioned ( which I also hope will be implemented at some point ) but does the job of lowering the building time.
I did some quick tests
 - I used "Static Lighting Level" 0.07 and "Indirect Lighting Smoothness 1.3"
 - It's possible to achieve the same lighting quality from vray
 - Kola's work it's pretty much the same as Alex Roman's vray works. The secret is in the
 shaders and the contrast. In the lighting pass you will definitely spot a lot of lighting errors. Even
 in Alex Roman's work, you can see lighting erros from Irrmap + LC solution. Darkness is our best friend
 in this case.
 - Here is a nice article for understanding better the photomapping process :
Have a nice study!


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With the aim of promoting actions in defense of human rights, reflection and practice of respect for human dignity, the Global Embassy of Activists for Peace (GEAP) in El Salvador, carried out the Educational School Workshop Educating to Remember - The Holocaust Paradigm of Genocide, on March 19, 2018, in the Educational Complex of the Swiss Confederation of San Miguel.
As part of the day, the participants: students of the 2nd year, section C, made peace proposals in defense of human rights. Among these the proposal presented by the student Vanessa Aracely Aguilera, who raised the realization of a talk on values and human rights for students in the third cycle.
The approach was reviewed by the teacher Francisca Saraí Ramírez and approved by directors of the Arístides Ventura Educational Complex.
Impartiendo en alumnos del nivel educativo de Tercer Ciclo
Execution of the proposal
On May 23, the peace proposal was implemented in the institution, where six second-year high school students developed the activity "Talks on values and Human Rights with the help of teaching materials" to the 7th, 8th and 9th grade students.
In this educational space, the speakers discussed the importance of principles, universal values and human rights. During their presentation the students presented posters and banners with positive messages that motivate the execution of actions in favor of peace.


text: The stability of cooperation contract is the result of abandon opportunistic behavior in the process of repeated games among the enterprise and the other subjects in the supply chain from long-term interests, and is also the foundation of healthy development for the whole supply chain. But in real life cooperation contract instability everywhere for a variety of reasons, such as ethical considerations, institutional factors, cultural factors and special reasons during the transition period and so on. From the perspective of information economics and game theory, the main game process of cooperation between enterprise and the other subjects in supply chain is not only the game of information, but also the game of interests. Information structure and the interesting structure are the important factors for the subjects of the game of the implementation of decisions and the basic contractual constraints for cooperative game equilibrium. Cooperation behaviors among the enterprise and the other subjects in the supply chain were studied on the basis of game theory, and the stability of cooperation contract is also being discussed in this paper.


Chapter 4. Administrator Guide: Using the Repository Manager
The ashkelon command-line tool is called "ashkelon". It is a wrapper shell script for a Java program. On win32, the file is "ashkelon.bat" while on unix it's "ashkelon." These files reside in $ASHK_HOME/bin
You will primarily use the ashkelon tool to add content to your database. Here is a listing of some of the subcommands:
ashkelon add
use to add APIs to your database
ashkelon reset
use to "nuke" the contents of the database (start from scratch)
ashkelon list
lists the APIs currently documented in the database
ashkelon remove
opposite of ashkelon add, use it to remove APIs from the repository
You can obtain a listing of all the subcommands by invoking ashkelon with no arguments. For help per subcommand, invoke ashkelon like this:
 ashkelon subcommandname -h

ashkelon reset and ashkelon list require no parameters and likewise require no explanation.
ashkelon add is richer. Let's talk about "ashkelon add".
4.1. Documenting Source Code
Traditionally (i.e. with javadoc) one documents a single API. So the inputs to the javadoc tool are a list of package names, such as {java.lang, java.io, java.net, ..}
When documenting multiple APIs in a single repository, it's important to also keep track of what API each java package belongs to. That is, org.apache.tools.ant is part of the ant API whereas org.apache.log4j is part of the log4j API.
The ashkelon project has devised a simple XML structure to describe an API. Here's an example API XML file for DOM4J (see apis/dom4j.xml):
Example 4.1. DOM4J API XML file descriptor for ashkelon

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<api>
 <name>dom4j</name>
 <summarydescription>The flexible XML framework for Java</summarydescription>
 <description>dom4j is an easy to use, open source library...</description>
 <publisher>SourceForge</publisher>
 <download_url>_URL_
 <release_date>2005-04-15T08:00:00</release_date>
 <version>1.6</version>
 <packages>
 <package>org.dom4j</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.bean</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.datatype</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.dom</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.dtd</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.io</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.jaxb</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.rule</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.rule.pattern</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.swing</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.tree</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.util</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.xpath</package>
 <package>org.dom4j.xpp</package>
 </packages>
 <repository>
 <type>cvs</type>
 <url>:pserver:_EMAIL_:/cvsroot/dom4j</url>
 <modulename>dom4j</modulename>
 <sourcepath>src/java</sourcepath>
 </repository>
</api>

This file is similar to the package.html file that you usually have to write for javadoc package documentation. Except that this file is xml-based and thus more structured, and easier to interpret by a program.
These xml api descriptors are the primary input to the ashkelon command (aside from the actual source code that you're trying to document). Many descriptors already exist in in ashkelon's apis directory.


Augusta Tabor: Entrepreneur
agustataborWhen: 1833 – 1895
Where: Born in Maine, moved to Kansas, and then to Colorado
Why Important: Augusta successfully ran businesses, owned real estate, and carefully managed her money at a time when few women were allowed to be involved in financial and business matters.
Mrs. Tabor's mansion on Broadway in Denver circa _PHONE_ (Credit: Denver Public Library)
Mrs. Tabor's mansion on Broadway in Denver circa _PHONE_
(Credit: Denver Public Library)
Augusta Louise Pierce was born March 29, 1833 in Maine. She met Horace Tabor, a stone-cutter her father hired to work in his quarry. They got married on January 31, 1857. The couple moved to a small town in Kansas and worked as farmers.
In 1859, Horace, Augusta, and their son, Maxey, moved to Colorado. Horace hoped to make money mining for gold. Augusta earned money cooking and doing laundry for the miners. They moved again to Oro City and started a grocery store where Augusta worked. Horace was doing well mining. However, Horace wanted to make more money and moved the family to Leadville.1 The Tabors started a new store and Horace became postmaster of the town.
In 1878, Horace gave two miners supplies in exchange for one third of their mine profit. The miners struck silver and the Tabors became very wealthy! Horace spent his money quickly. Augusta wanted him to save the money. This caused a lot of arguments. Horace kept spending money and bought a big mansion in Denver for the family.
Augusta and Horace continued to fight over money. In 1883 the couple divorced.2 She kept his last name, Tabor, even after he married Baby Doe Tabor.
Augusta donated much of her money to build a new Unitarian church in Denver. She also owned real estate and became wealthy on her own. She was one of the richest business people in Denver. This was unusual for a woman of the day.
Augusta moved to Pasadena, California in 1894 when she became ill. She died one year later.3 She is buried at the Riverside Pioneer Cemetery in Denver.
Content Date: Jan. 1, 1833 to Jan. 1, 1895
Learn More:
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text:
SASFA, the Southern African Light Steel Frame Building Association, recently commissioned the Built Environment Division of the CSIR, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research, to conduct a comparative thermal performance analysis for light steel frame housing and masonry housing. The research findings point to the energy efficiency of the light steel frame (LSF) house in terms of a lower need for electricity to power mechanical heating and cooling – to keep the internal temperature within a prescribed comfort range.
SASFA approached the CSIR to carry out the research in order to obtain an objective prediction of the thermal performance of the two different types of houses in the different South African climate zones.
The research looked at a typical 120m² single-storey house comparing a LSF house and a masonry house, both specified to be geometrically identical, with identical orientation. The LSF house complies in all respects to the South African standard SANS 517: Light Steel Frame Building. A masonry house with double leaf external clay brick walls, without any insulation in the walls or ceilings, was used for the base case comparison. The effects of adding (i) 40mm insulation in the ceilings (Brick B), and (ii) similar ceiling insulation as used in LSF buildings (140mm) and 50mm insulation in the external walls (Brick A), were also analysed.
The Built Environment Division used the EcotectTM V 5.6 software to carry out the predictive computer analyses. In order to eliminate the effect of user input data which could influence the outcome, it was decided to use a passive analysis process, that is, without making assumptions regarding the occupancy and usage patterns of the house. The heating effect of lights and appliances was also not taken into account.
The analyses were aimed at determining the number of hours of uncomfortably high or low temperatures in each of the buildings. The houses were considered to be naturally ventilated. The thermal comfort temperature range for naturally ventilated buildings in Pretoria is 17.80C to 28.30C and the adaptive model of thermal comfort was used in calculating the levels of thermal comfort in the two houses.
The electricity needed for heating and cooling each of the houses to thermal comfort levels – ranging from 20oC to 24oC, as recommended by SANS 204 – was also determined.
The major differences between the two types of buildings are the thermal insulation and the thermal mass. The walls in a LSF building have a greater level of thermal insulation but lower thermal mass than masonry buildings. The higher thermal mass in the walls of brick buildings reduces the diurnal internal temperature swings towards the average temperature, which may be too high or too low for comfort.
The results indicate that the LSF house will be warmer than the base case masonry house in summer and in winter. If the hours of discomfort due to high and low temperatures are added together, the LSF house performs somewhat better than the masonry alternative in all locations except Durban, although the advantage is small.
For example, in Pretoria's climate, the indoor temperature of the LSF house was within the thermal comfort range for 74% of the time compared with 71% for the base case masonry house.
However, assuming that the occupants of the houses will make use of electrically powered heating and cooling systems to maintain comfortable indoor temperatures, the analyses indicate that the electricity required to heat the base case brick house to comfortable levels would on average be double that required for the LSF house, ranging from 89% more in Pretoria to 112% more in Bloemfontein. If cooling to comfortable temperatures is required, it would take on average three times more electricity to cool the base case brick house down to thermal comfort levels compared to the LSF house.
The difference in the amount of electricity required to heat or cool the internal spaces can be ascribed to the thermal mass of the masonry building: apart from having to heat the air inside the building, the walls of the masonry building absorb some of the heat, resulting in additional energy consumption. The inverse happens when cooling, when the heavy masonry walls have to be cooled down together with the air inside the building.
When the brick house is insulated, its performance improves. However, in Pretoria's summer climate, for example, while the LSF building will result in more hours of discomfort without heating and cooling than the masonry alternatives, the occupants will have less discomfort in winter, and less discomfort in total.
The CSIR's comparative thermal performance analyses indicate that LSF housing offers greater energy efficiency compared to conventional masonry housing – which means significant savings (between 20% and 90%) of electricity required particularly in respect of heating of residential buildings.
The CSIR research also indicated specific areas where further gains in energy efficiency can be captured for LSF building and SASFA reports that these will be investigated and implemented in the LSF building methodology.
Reference: A predictive comparative thermal performance analysis for light steel frame and masonry residential buildings, T Kumirai and Dr D Conradie, CSIR.


We continue to developing technique and concepts while introducing specific positions and related skills. Ball Support, Communication, Space, On and Off the ball Decision Making. The participants will enjoy fun games involving a soccer ball at everyone's feet giving them the most time with a soccer ball and many touches to improve their soccer skills! Triple Meg's focus is soccer skill development, spatial awareness, coordination, balance and agility all in a fun and positive environment.
©2019 by Triple Meg Development.


text:
Energizer POWERWIN LiFePO4 Power Station
A lithium power station like the Energizer PPS320 is a portable battery-based energy storage system that can be used to power a home or outdoor event. It typically consists of a large lithium iron phosphate battery pack, a charge controller that regulates the charging and discharging of the batteries, and an inverter that converts the stored DC power into usable AC power. These power stations are designed to be highly reliable, safe and durable compared to traditional lead-acid batteries and can be charged using renewable energy sources such as solar panels.
The Energizer PPS320, 12V portable power station is a compact, portable energy storage device designed for camping and outdoor activities. It typically contains a rechargeable battery, an inverter that converts DC power to AC power, and a set of output ports for charging or powering a variety of devices. 12V output is typically used to power lights, fans, small refrigerators, and other low-power devices.
Portable power stations are also equipped with built-in solar panels, which allows them to be charged outdoors using solar power. Solar panels like the POWERWIN PWS110 are typically compact and lightweight, making them easy to transport and use when camping or hiking. It can provide a source of charging for energy storage anytime, anywhere. Energizer POWERWIN, power to win!


text:
Welcome to "Unveiling Macaron Magic: Fascinating Facts About the Iconic Treat!" In this article, we will delve into the captivating world of macarons and uncover the secrets behind this beloved delicacy. Brace yourself for a journey of delectable flavors, exquisite textures, and the perfect balance of art and science. Whether you're a novice baker or a seasoned macaron connoisseur, prepare to be mesmerized by the enchanting facts that make macarons a true marvel of the culinary world. So, let's embark on this delightful adventure and discover the intriguing secrets behind these iconic treats.
- Macarons are light, baked confections made with almond paste, egg whites, and sugar, filled with ganache, buttercream, or jam.
- They were originally brought to France from Italy in the 16th century by the chef of Catherine de Medici.
- Macarons should not be confused with macaroons, which are coconut-based cookies.
- They come in a variety of flavors and colors and are beloved in France.
- Macarons have their own special holidays, like Macaron Day on March 20, when some pastry shops offer free samples.
- Despite the misconception, macarons actually originated in Italy and gained fame in France.
- They are relatively low in calories but can be challenging to perfect.
- Macarons have endless flavor possibilities and can be made in a rainbow of colors.
- They are often associated with French pastry houses and seen in pop culture.
- Macarons can be made into impressive towers and are popular for weddings.
Facts About Macarons
The Origins of Macarons: Italy to France
Contrary to popular belief, macarons did not originate in France. These delightful confections were actually brought to France by the chef of Catherine de Medici in the 16th century, who introduced them from Italy. It was in France where macarons gained fame and evolved into the delicate treats we know and love today^1.
Macarons vs. Macaroons: The Coconut Confusion
One common mistake people make is confusing macarons with macaroons. While their names may be similar, the two are distinct treats. Macarons are light, baked confections made of almond paste, egg whites, and sugar, filled with ganache, buttercream, or jam. On the other hand, macaroons are coconut-based cookies. So, next time someone mentions macarons, you can impress them with this little nugget of knowledge[^2][^6].
The Delightfully Diverse World of Macarons
One of the most captivating aspects of macarons is their wide variety of flavors and colors. From classic favorites like vanilla and chocolate to exotic combinations such as matcha and passion fruit, macarons offer a taste experience that knows no bounds. These delicate treats can be made in a multitude of flavors, making them a perfect choice for anyone's palate and preferences^4.
Celebrating Macarons: Special Holidays and Pop Culture
Macarons have their own special day in the culinary calendar. Every year on March 20th, pastry shops around the globe celebrate Macaron Day by offering free samples and spreading the joy of these sweet treats[^5]. Moreover, macarons have gained popularity in pop culture and are frequently featured in movies, TV shows, and advertisements. Their elegant appearance and delectable flavors make them a visual and gastronomic delight, enticing both onscreen characters and viewers alike^11.
Macarons for All Occasions
Whether you're looking for a stunning dessert centerpiece or a sweet treat for your special day, macarons fit the bill perfectly. These delectable confections can be piled up to create magnificent macaron towers, adding an elegant touch to weddings and other events. With their delicate appearance, vibrant colors, and tantalizing flavors, macarons are guaranteed to leave a lasting impression on your guests^9.
The Art and Science of Macarons
While macarons may seem light and ethereal, they can be tricky to master. Achieving the perfect balance of crispness on the outside and airy chewiness on the inside requires precision and practice. It's a delicate dance between getting the meringue just right, folding the almond mixture properly, and ensuring even baking. But fear not, with patience, persistence, and a little expert guidance, you too can unlock the enchanting world of macarons[^7].
In conclusion, macarons are not only a delicious treat but also a fascinating subject. From their history and variety to their place in pop culture and special occasions, macarons continue to captivate and delight. So the next time you indulge in these delicate confections, remember the magic and craftsmanship that goes into each and every bite!
Here are some fascinating links for you to explore:
- Facts on Architecture: Discover interesting insights and trivia about the world of architecture. From famous structures to innovative designs, there's so much to learn!
- Facts about the Coastal Plains: Dive into the coastal plains and uncover intriguing facts about these unique geographical regions. Discover the diverse ecosystems and special features that make these landscapes so captivating.
- Facts about Karnak Temple: Immerse yourself in the wonders of Karnak Temple! Unearth captivating facts about this ancient Egyptian marvel and its rich historical significance.
- Facts about Churros: Craving something sweet? Learn fascinating facts about churros, the delectable fried pastries enjoyed in various parts of the world. From their origins to mouthwatering variations, prepare to satisfy your dessert cravings!
- Facts about Boba: Step into the world of bubble tea with these intriguing facts about boba. From its origins to popular flavors, delve into the cultural phenomenon that has taken the beverage world by storm.
- Facts about Slime: Are you intrigued by the slimy sensation of slime? Uncover the science behind this popular sensory toy with these fascinating facts. From different recipes to unique textures, slime has endless possibilities!
- Facts about Coastal Plains: Discover the wonders of coastal plains with these captivating facts. From beachside biodiversity to stunning coastal landscapes, there's so much to explore and appreciate!
- Interesting Facts about the Maya Civilization: Embark on a journey through time and unravel the mysteries of the Maya civilization. Dive into their rich history, advanced accomplishments, and captivating cultural practices.
- Interesting Facts about Chad: Uncover the wonders of Chad with these intriguing facts. From its diverse landscapes to unique cultural traditions, explore the lesser-known aspects of this fascinating African nation.
- Dessert Facts: Indulge your sweet tooth with these delightful dessert facts. From decadent cakes to tantalizing treats, learn fascinating tidbits about the world of desserts and satisfy your cravings.
Enjoy clicking and discovering more about these captivating topics!
Techniques for Achieving the Perfect Macaron Shell
Macarons are delicate and delicious treats that require precision and expertise to create the perfect texture and shape. In this article, we will explore some key techniques for achieving the ideal macaron shell. Whether you're a beginner or a seasoned macaron enthusiast, these tips will help you elevate your macaron-making skills to new heights.
Weigh Your Ingredients for Accuracy
Macarons are finicky creatures that demand precision. To ensure consistent results, it is crucial to measure your ingredients by weight rather than volume. Using a kitchen scale will allow you to achieve the perfect balance of flavors and textures, resulting in macarons with a light and dainty shell.
Control Your Oven Temperature
The oven temperature plays a crucial role in achieving the perfect macaron shell. An oven thermometer is a handy tool that will help you ensure that your oven is calibrated correctly. Experiment with different temperature ranges to find the sweet spot for your macarons. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don't be afraid to adjust and fine-tune your baking environment to achieve optimal results.
Master the Macaronage Technique
Macaronage is the process of folding the dry ingredients into the meringue. This technique greatly influences the outcome of your macarons. Strive for a consistency that resembles flowing lava by gently and methodically folding the ingredients together. Overmixing or undermixing the batter can result in macarons that are either too flat or too lumpy.
Allow the Macaron Shells to Rest
Patience is key when it comes to achieving the perfect macaron shell. After piping the macaron shells onto your baking sheet, allow them to rest for up to an hour. This resting period allows a skin to form on the surface of the shells, which promotes the development of those coveted feet—the ruffled edges at the base of the shells. This step is crucial for achieving a delicate and smooth exterior.
Create Your Own Almond Flour
For smooth and round macarons, consider making your own almond flour using blanched almonds. Grinding the almonds and powdered sugar together prevents them from becoming too buttery or gummy. Properly sift the mixture to aerate it and remove any large pieces. This extra step will result in a finer consistency and a more refined shell.
Optimize Your Piping Techniques
Piping the macaron batter onto your baking sheet requires a steady hand and careful control. Invest in a good quality piping bag to ensure better control over the batter's flow. Consider using a silicone mat for more consistently round macarons. Additionally, using high-quality parchment paper and flattening it out before use will create a smooth surface for your macarons to rest on and bake.
French