sacrifice a humanoid ; sacrifice is a female elf
Sacrifice Female elf, bound to the altar Actually a dark elf spy the orcs caught; didn't reveal herself because while the orcs don't like elves, they really hate dark elves and there would be nothing to be gained.
Altar Stone altar, blood channels, well-used sacrificial stone Bloodstained, defaced, was originally an altar to It still is; the orcs are not worshipping the god they thought they were.
And so on, with the various elements of interest having such information provided for them.
Not all parts need to be present. If there is nothing hidden, that column could be dropped. An element may be present but hidden, in which case the Obvious and Inobvious columns might be empty.
Closing Comments
When exploring, there are several layers of discovery. By arranging the information gained into those groups, you gain several benefits.
First, you can set the scene for the players, focusing on what they will (likely) most care about before anything else. You can point primarily at the obvious that they are likely to interact with and provide hints at deeper things. The players can treat things superficially (kill the ogres and take their stuff) or possibly gain more by engaging.
Second, attentive characters can gain more from the events. By investigating the obvious (or getting lucky, true, but that tends to draw them in also), they can find insight into the inobvious, and possibly gain more. More treasure, more trouble, it's all the same to me :)
Third, tenaciousness can pay off, but not nearly as well as gaining knowledge first. You could pry up every flagstone in the dungeon and possibly find something (unless it's hidden behind a false stone in the wall…), but learning specifics before you go in pays off better.
Finally, multiple layers of knowledge to be gained while exploring often leads to the possibility of multiple visits to an area, making the work worthwhile. If it is possible, especially if it is easily possible, to learn everything in one pass, it becomes difficult to engage with a place. Exploration works best when it holds the attention of the explorers.
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 1. Actually, in retrospect I probably would drop the elf and orc stats here in order to focus on the narrative elements. I might keep treasure stats here generally because they tend to be pretty short, but monster stat blocks can be long enough I don't want to clutter what should be a summary table.
 Not that that changes a lot, since I'm revising the entire thing anyway to try to fit to a narrower text column.
 2. I have slightly different categories for hex contents: obvious, hidden, and landmarks. I don't really distinguish between inobvious (concealed?) and hidden, assuming that the difference will usually be clear in play.
 The presentation proposed here seems pretty heavy for what is otherwise a pretty simple room. If it were me, I would probably write it up like this:
 Sacrifice chamber. Altar. Female elf (actually drow spy, orcs don't know) about to be sacrificed by 12 orcs + 1 orc priest who worship Some God.
 There's not really anything here that requires being extra careful about clues (like a nasty trap), so I feel like the formal template is mostly getting in the way. That's a lot of text to parse. There's really no need to write details about the sounds; that should be clear from the contents.
 In general, I've become pretty suspicious of templates in RPG information presentation, as it seems they often encourage including unimportant information.
 - The presentation here is pretty heavy, I won't dispute that.
 I can do abstract things very well, and it's part of why I'm so good at my day job, but quickly generating detail consistently, without being repetitive[1], is harder work to me. I find that things work better when I have a little more prepared than you would use. I overlook too many pieces if I don't.
 [1] that is, quickly coming up with the sorts of things I want to come up with, at a consistent grade, without repeating myself a lot or forgetting things.
 - That makes sense.
 Maybe more of a focus on nouns with simple description, to support the desire for anchored details? And there is some redundancy that could be cut out (example: the word altar shows up five times; could probably be cut down to 1).
 - Possibly so, the text could be made quite a bit shorter. I like having lots of notes so I can focus on interaction rather than invention or remembering during play, because I can use the help. Depending on what I'm writing and the audience I can see sticking with presentation like this (especially for beginning DMs who could use the same help I do), including the copious whitespace that hopefully makes it easier to find things. I can also imagine greatly reducing the detail (and what would for this audience be wasted space) if this were, for example, an encounter reference to deliberately be expanded on, such as Matt Stater's hex crawl information in _NOD_. Summarizing an entire site with a paragraph or two is very concise, and useful for idea mining, but I would likely want to expand on anything like that that I use.
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when removing a rail curve with a rail signal placed on the intersection point, the rail signal will falsely and indefinitely remain red.
There is no different result whether the rail or signal was placed or removed by hand or by bots.
Steps to reproduce:
- Have a straight rail section
- Place a curve intersecting the straight section
- Place a rail signal on the spot where it touches both the curve and straight segment
- Remove curved rail
- Signal remains red

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


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The code is P420. One 02 sensor was replaced cost for part $226.00
What is the TWC catalytic converter?
Does this code (P420) refer to any particular bank?
Also what do the sensors cost and how many are there?
This one was not from a dealer
You asked for the code in order to reply. Your reply is basically "take it to a repair shop".
What is the significance of code PO420. You refer to numerous sensors such as MAF, crank, IAT etc. That is why I asked how many there are. If the code refers to bank 1 does that indicate that the problem is in that converter or one of two sensors.
As an expert shouldn't you know the cost of a sensor? Is an A/F the same as an o2?
Am I a pain?
GregI did give you a rating.Thanks.The problem was a sensor and an exhaust leak near the sensor.Frank

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


Alan Alda's science contest asks: What is color?
| Zoom
MINEOLA, N.Y. (AP) - Alan Alda, the actor-turned-part-time professor, has a new question for scientists to consider: How do you explain color to an 11-year-old?
The television and film star best known for his role in the 1970s sitcom "MASH" is posing the question as part of the third annual "Flame Challenge." Alda helped organize the international contest as part of his work at the Stony Brook University Center for Communicating Science.
The university on eastern Long Island named the center in Alda's honor earlier this year; its goal is to get scientists in various disciplines to explain complex concepts in the simplest of ways.
This year's question was selected by Alda after receiving about 800 suggested questions from children. He explained that many questions focused on issues about light and color, including the childhood classic: "Why is the sky blue?"
"I'm in awe of the scientists who can bring clarity to these questions and I'm in awe of the kids who keep the scientists on their toes," Alda said.
Alda, a New York native who has had a lifelong interest in science, started the contest in 2011 by asking scientists: What is a flame? He followed that up last year with: What is time?
Now comes color.
"We want scientists to think about how they can answer the question from their own field _ from biology to physics to anthropology or psychology," said Elizabeth Bass, director of the Alda Center. Bass said the answer can be explained from a variety of scientific perspectives, including physics, chemistry or psychology.
Scientists have a March 1 deadline to submit their responses, which will then be judged by 11-year-olds logging onto the Flame Challenge website. Last year, 20,000 students around the world served as judges.
Two winners _ one a written entry and the second for a video or graphic entry _ will receive a free trip to New York City, where they will meet Alda and be honored at the World Science Festival.
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VFD Record Keeping Requirements
VFD rules regarding recordkeeping
Veterinarians will be required to keep the original VFD orders, either in paper or electronic form, for two years. Farmers will also be required to keep copies of each order for two years, and produce them for inspection by the Food and Drug Administration upon request.
The VFD form will include the name and address of the veterinarian and the farmer, the animals being treated, the reason for treatment and the duration of treatment. If animals need to be treated for a period longer than stated on the VFD, a new VFD must be obtained. What is prohibited is the verbal issuance of a VFD.
Farmers should also start a filing system, either paper or electronic, to record and track their VFD.
Tags: Veterinary Feed Directive


Legal Word of the Day: Contemporaneous
Executive Summary
What is this word, contemporaneous?
In layman's terms it means recording information as it happens. A note recorded immediately after the event is a note recorded contemporaneously. A note recorded days, weeks, months, or years later is not.
How does this fit into my construction business?
Every day in your business you are building something and every day could be the day that you lose money, or do something wrong, and it becomes necessary to pursue another party for time or money, or worse, someone is coming after you for their lost time or money. Having evidence to support your position is critical.
Why is it important, and how do I use it?
It's important because it increases the quality of your evidence. Just like an excavator operator, they're not all the same. Some dig 500 feet a day of pipe, some dig 200 feet a day. But, they're both called operators. Same with evidence, the quality can make all the difference.
Those close to the matter in the field are keeping notes: on paper, on a tablet, via a phone camera, by email, and by text. All of this is good, and necessary; however, you having a picture taken the day that the general contractor didn't have the excavation dewatered for you, is much more powerful than a year later in deposition when the general contractor says that "we always had the subcontractor's work areas dewatered and ready to go". You had a picture of the excavation the day it wasn't dewatered – he didn't. You win.
My Story
Sometimes I've seen the word current in, say, the application of a "current schedule" to assess true delay impact. Use of the word current here is synonymous to contemporaneous. But, heck, let's face it, contemporaneous makes you sound a lot smarter than that other guy, and might loosen him up to getting out his checkbook since he thinks you've already talked with your attorney!
I recently spoke at a conference jointly with a partner of the construction law firm that has represented me for a couple decades. Although I've heard the word contemporaneous before, it never really resonated and stuck with me like it did during her use of the term. Now I pass it around all the time. Just like today, thanks for reading!
Work safe!


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- Universities team up to track Atlantic sturgeon and prevent accidental bycatchPosted 1 day ago
- Nitrate enters groundwater-fed streams decades after field applicationPosted 1 day ago
- GIS mapping tool will help Wisconsin fish farm startups plot their pondsPosted 2 days ago
- Vaisala WXT520: Weather station designed with monitoring systems in mindPosted 2 days ago
- Sensors to help sort out Storm Lake's sediment issues in IowaPosted 3 days ago
- Coal mining and stream insects: Researchers explore the TDS connectionPosted 6 days ago
- NexSens CB-Series coastal buoys offer flexibility in monitoring system designPosted 7 days ago
- Ohio State University's experimental wetland research park seeks scientistsPosted 10 days ago
Image by Joseph Tomelleri
For additional information please visit the Minnesota DNR web site.
Scientific Name: Stizostedion vitreum
Common Names: walleye, pickerel, walleyed pike
Walleye Interesting Facts
- Walleye are a member of the perch family (Percidae).
- The walleye is named for its pearlescent eye, which is caused by a reflective layer of pigment called the tapetum lucidum, that helps them see and feed at night or in murky water.
- Walleye can reach a maximum length of about 36″ and weigh over 20 pounds.
- The Ohio state record walleye weighed over 16 pounds and was caught near Cleveland on Lake Erie.
- Walleye are native to many waters of the upper Midwest, and are stocked for sport fishing around the country.
- Adult walleye diets are composed mostly of other fish.
Walleye Distribution and Identification
Walleye are native to Lake Erie and the Ohio River and are stocked in some of Ohio's inland reservoirs. Walleye usually have silvery or yellowish sides with a black back and white underside. They have sharp spines in their first dorsal fin and have a mouth full of short, blunt teeth. The walleye looks similar to sauger (Stizostedion canadense) and saugeye (a walleye-sauger hybrid), and distinction between the three species can sometimes be difficult. When distinguishing between percid species, there are three main characteristics for which to look. The first characteristic to inspect is the lower tip of the tail. Walleye usually have a distinctive white tip on the lower lobe of their tail. Sauger usually have at most Lakea thin white outline on the bottom of their tail, and saugeye usually have some white on the bottom of their tail, but not as much as walleye. Secondly, the markings on the dorsal (top) fin are usually quite distinctive between the three species. Sauger dorsal fins have characteristic black dots on the fin membrane between the spines, while saugeye have less distinctive blotches and walleye have only faint markings. Finally, coloration can sometimes be used to distinguish between the species. Sauger and saugeye will usually have very distinct black blotches or "saddles" on their side and back, while walleye usually have less distinct black bars. Below is a listing of distinguishing characteristics:
- Walleye: Distinct white tip on lower lobe of tail, faint marking on dorsal fin membrane (or none at all) between dorsal spines with one large black blotch at the back of the first dorsal fin (see picture above), and an absence of distinct black blotches on the side of their body.
- Sauger: Little or no white on the tail, distinct black dots on the dorsal fin membrane, distinct black blotches and saddles on the side and back of the body.
- Saugeye: Some white pigment on the lower portion of the tail, dark blotchy markings on the dorsal fin membrane, distinct black blotches on the sides and back of the body.
Walleye prefer clear lakes and rivers in the upper Midwest and Canada that contain good habitat (gravel reefs, vegetation beds, and open water) and abundant prey such as yellow perch, shiners, or shad. In Ohio, Lake Erie's western and central basins provide a perfect balance of habitat and prey. Lake Erie has become known as the walleye capital of the world, and may hold more trophy fish than any other body of water. A multi-agency task group has been created by state agencies surrounding Lake Erie to monitor and protect the Lake Erie walleye population. Each year, a population estimate is calculated to determine catch quotas for the lake. The Lake Erie walleye stock reached its highest density in 1988 with an estimated 80 to 100 million adult walleye. In recent years, the estimate has leveled off at around 40 million adult walleye (Lake Erie Walleye Task Group Report, March 2001). The vast expanses of open water, rocky reefs for spawning, and dense forage populations are tailored to the walleye's preferences. Walleye are also present in the Ohio River, but dams and channelization have degraded what once was desirable habitat.
A recent threat to walleye populations is genetic contamination from stocking of hybrid saugeye or non-native walleye strains. Saugeye are fertile, and backcrossing with parental walleye could lead to dilution of genetic strains. Saugeye are stocked around the Midwest because of their popularity with anglers. Saugeye tend to grow and survive better in turbid reservoir environments and are usually easier to catch than walleye. Unfortunately, the saugeye don't always stay where they are stocked, and migrating saugeye sometimes encounter native walleye populations in connected waters. Walleye will occasionally hybridize with sauger if the two species occur in the same water bodies, but stocking of saugeye leads to much higher rates of hybridization. A combination of degraded habitats and increased stocking of hybrids poses a serious threat to naturally sustained walleye populations.
Walleye are a popular sport fish, and self-sustaining populations in natural water bodies of the Midwest should be protected to insure the resource will be available for future generations. Protecting key habitats, limiting unnecessary stocking of non-native strains, and implementing sound harvest regulations have led to improved walleye fishing throughout the Midwest. Fishing for finicky walleye has "hooked" many anglers, and the desire of these dedicated anglers to practice selective catch-and-release will only improve the future of the sport.
For more information about walleye, see these interesting pages:
- Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, walleye information page.
- Ohio Division of Wildlife, walleye information page.
- Lake Erie Walleye Online.
- Walleye Central.
- Walleye Hunter.
Walleye Article By: Travis Hartman, Fondriest Environmental, November 2001
All websites referenced have direct hyperlinks to the original source.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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Long Island Sound
Long Island Sound is Connecticut's largest and most important natural resource. More than 8 million people live in the Long Island Sound watershed and the activities that take place on and along the Sound – boating, fishing, tourism, and swimming – contribute an estimated $5.5 billion per year to the regional economy. The Sound provides feeding, breeding, and nesting areas for a diversity of plant and animal life.
One of the region's largest estuaries with an area of 1320 square miles, the Sound is home to more than 120 species of finfish and countless varieties of birds and other animals. Between New York and Connecticut, the Sound's coastline stretches more than 600 miles.
Over the last three decades, Connecticut has made a significant commitment to protecting and restoring the Sound. Millions and millions of dollars have been invested in communities throughout its watershed to address pollution concerns and protect the tidal wetlands along its shore.
Throughout this section you will find more information about the overall health of the Sound, the programs in place to protect and restore the Sound, and the recreational and access opportunities available to the public on and along the Sound.


text:
- Build a simple RC equivalent bursting of neuron using resistor and capacitor
- Vary the resistor and capacitor values and see the effects of capacitance and resistance in bursting neuron model generation. Hint : use the analog neuron through remote panel.
- Do a comparative study of bursting neuron models with other neuron models.
Cite this Simulator:


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Skip to Main Content
This paper presents a novel microfluidic device for controlling axonal elongation dynamically by releasing nerve growth factor (NGF) onto a nerve cell. The presented device consists of nano-holes for NGF release and a micro valve for its release control. The amount of NGF that stimulate cells can be controlled very precisely by opening and closing the microvalve. Experiments using a fluorescent solution showed that constant chemical release through the nano-holes was successfully controlled by opening and closing the microvalve at about 2 Hz. This result indicates that the switching control of the microvalve will generate desired concentration of chemicals released from the nano-holes. Moreover, axonal guidance was tested on the fabricated device. We succeeded in guiding an axon of the cell in the direction of the nano-hole array along the NGF concentration gradient.


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Public Opinion Polls
Public opinion research is a crucial instrument in IRI's efforts to make political parties more responsive to voters, assist elected officials at all levels of government in improving their service to citizens, and foster greater participation by under-represented groups and by citizens generally in the political process.
IRI sponsors public opinion research in many of the countries where it works. Depending on the circumstances in a specific country, IRI uses a variety of public opinion methods. These methods include public opinion polls (quantitative research), focus groups (qualitative research), and occasionally, more specialized techniques such as exit polling, oversampling, panels and tracking polls.


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A Mannerist Silver-gilt Ewer and Basin
Until the nineteenth century, when water began to be widely available from taps, sets comprising a matching jug (ewer) and basin in which to wash your hands or face were familiar objects in households throughout Europe. This magnificent set of ewer and basin, made from gilded silver, could in theory be put to practical use but, in reality, it is highly unlikely that they would ever have served any purpose other than display, for example on a buffet in a ceremonial space.
It is difficult at first to take in all the extraordinary embossed decoration which covers virtually every part of the surfaces of both ewer and basin. This over-abundant decoration is typical of the style known as Mannerism, popular throughout Western Europe during the period c. _PHONE_. Forming a bridge between early Renaissance art and the 17th-century Baroque period, Mannerism saw artists moving away from the serene balance and order of the earlier Renaissance, instead placing greater value on movement, as well as the virtuosity of the artist. Certainly the goldsmith who made this pair of objects was making a strong claim for his virtuosity.
The ewer is quite conventional in its decoration, with strapwork, vegetable motifs and little cartouches depicting sea monsters, referring to the association of ewers with water. The handle in the form of a dragon's body is especially exciting and inventive. The basin's decoration on the other hand forms a more coherent programme, in fact an allegorical presentation of the cosmos. In the outer field are figures in chariots representing the then known planets, interspersed with Biblical and Classical heroes and heroines. In the well are four large cartouches with allegorical representations of the four Elements (water, earth, air and fire) together with figures denoting branches of learning; finally, around the boss are the four Seasons. The planet gods are based on engravings made in 1563 by the German artist Nicolaus Wilborn, but this does not necessarily mean that the ewer and basin are German. In fact, around 1570 Mannerist style was so international that it is very difficult to attribute pieces to a particular school. It has sometimes been thought that the ewer and basin, which are accompanied by a group of smaller silver pieces, are most likely to have been made in Portugal around 1560-70. When they were lent to an exhibition by Sir Richard Wallace in 1881, they were said to have come from the collection of the counts of Anadia in Lisbon, but this may have been a dealer's invention. Further evidence that some 19th-century dealer wanted to bump up the value of the set, perhaps before selling it to Sir Richard, comes in the clearly modern coat of arms of Pope Pius IV (reigned _PHONE_) in the centre of the dish. artly because of this, the ewer and basin have in the past been condemned as forgeries. Recent examination suggests however that they are likely to be largely original and, as such, with their wonderful workmanship and layers of hidden meaning, are spectacular examples of the Renaissance goldsmith's art.
© Trustees of the Wallace Collection 2011. Text by Jeremy Warren.
Tuesday 6 and Tuesday 27 September at 1pm with Jeremy Warren.
- John Hayward, Virtuoso Goldsmiths and the Triumph of Mannerism, _PHONE_, London 1976.
- Timothy Schroder, Renaissance Silver from the Schroder Collection, London 2007.*
*Available in the Wallace Collection Shop


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Sunday 19 May
Campbell Island teal (Anas nesiotis)
What's the World's Favourite Species?Find out here.
Campbell Island teal fact file
- Find out more
- Print factsheet
Campbell Island teal description
Once thought to be extinct, the Campbell Island teal (Anas nesiotis) is now believed to be one of the world's rarest ducks, after just 20 individuals were found on Dent Island in 1975 (4). One of the few remaining flightless birds in the world, this duck is a product of an island environment isolated from the rest of the world for more than 80 million years, and free from mammalian predators. To compensate for its lack of flight, the Campbell Island teal can run very rapidly along the ground when disturbed (4) (5).
Breeding males are a dark sepia colour, with strong green iridescence on their head, neck and back, dark chestnut tones on the breast, and lighter plumage on the abdomen, in addition to a conspicuous white ring around the eye and obvious white tail spot. During non-breeding plumage, the iridescence on the head and back becomes less intense, the tail spot becomes indistinct and the eye ring becomes pale fawn. Females are uniformly dark brown with a paler abdomen, and prominent white eye ring (2). The call involves a series of soft, high-pitched whistles from the male, and low quacks and growls from the female (6).
- Also known as
- Campbell Island flightless teal.
- Anas aucklandica nesiotis.
- Male wingspan: 128 – 138 cm (2)
- Female wingspan: 114 – 125 cm (2)
- Male weight: 290 – 500 g (2)
- Female weight: 280 – 265 (2)
- Williams, M. (2005) Campbell Island Teal Anas nesiotis Species Account. In: Kear, J. (Ed.) Ducks, Geese and Swans: Anseriformes (Bird Families of the World S.). Oxford University Press, Australia and New Zealand.
- Order of crustaceans.
- A species or taxonomic group that is only found in one particular country or geographic area.
- The state of being pregnant; the period from conception to birth.
- Animals with no backbone.
- Active at night.
IUCN Red List (June, 2011)
- Williams, M. (2005) Campbell Island Teal Anas nesiotis Species Account. In: Kear, J. (Ed) Ducks, Geese and Swans: Anseriformes (Bird Families of the World S.). Oxford University Press, Australia and New Zealand.
CITES (November, 2005)
TerraNature (November, 2005)
Department of Conservation (June, 2008)
BirdLife International (November, 2005)
Pukaha Mount Bruce (November, 2005)
- Seddon, P.J. and Maloney, R.F. (2003) Campbell Island teal re-introduction plan. Department of Conservation, Wellington, New Zealand.
Wellington Zoo (November, 2005)
- view the contents of, and Material on, the website;
- download and retain copies of the Material on their personal systems in digital form in low resolution for their own personal use;
- teachers, lecturers and students may incorporate the Material in their educational material (including, but not limited to, their lesson plans, presentations, worksheets and projects) in hard copy and digital format for use within a registered educational establishment, provided that the integrity of the Material is maintained and that copyright ownership and authorship is appropriately acknowledged by the End User.
Campbell Island teal biology
There has been no biological study of the Campbell Island teal on Dent Island, with most knowledge of the bird coming from captive or post-release populations (8). Clutches are small compared to most ducks, consisting of one to five eggs, with a typical clutch size of three or four (6). In captivity, these are laid from October to January. The gestation period lasts for 30 to 34 days and both sexes can breed at one year (2). Campbell Island teal generally live to about 10 years, usually in pairs or small flocks (9). Pairs appear to demonstrate territoriality year round (2).
This nocturnal bird has not been observed feeding on Dent Island, but feeds on amphipods, weevils, earthworms, seaweed and other insects in captivity, and has been seen eating invertebrates in piles of rotting seaweed on Codfish Island (6).Top
Campbell Island teal range
Endemic to New Zealand, the Campbell Island teal is confined to the 23 hectare Dent Island, an offshore islet of Campbell Island (6). Campbell Island is thought to have been a stronghold for the species in the past, before becoming extinct there over 180 years ago (6) (7). In 1990, a survey of Dent estimated a population of 60 to 100 birds, probably equating to no more than 25 breeding pairs (6). In 1999 and 2000, a total of 24 captive-bred birds were released on Codfish Island but have since been removed, and in 2004 and 2005 a total of 105 birds were released on to Campbell Island (4).Top
Campbell Island teal habitat
Found under thick, chest-high tussock grass. The Campbell Island teal is sighted over most of the island but probably more common below 100 metres, and in damp areas (6).Top
Campbell Island teal statusTop
Campbell Island teal threats
Having disappeared from much of its former range, the Campbell Island teal population reached critically low numbers and has clung to a precarious existence. This bird's extirpation from it presumed former stronghold, Campbell Island, has largely been attributed to predation by introduced Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus) that got ashore from sealing and whaling ships in the early 19th Century (4). Present-day potential threats include the accidental introduction of predators or avian disease to Dent Island, the bird's last natural refuge, or even severe weather conditions, which could have a catastrophic effect (6). Indeed, with such a small current population and limited natural range, this bird is now extremely vulnerable; just a single event is capable of driving it to complete extinction (5).Top
Campbell Island teal conservation
The outlook for the Campbell Island teal looked bleak when first rediscovered in 1975, but thankfully since then there has been fantastic progress with captive breeding programmes and the population has increased to a healthier, though still unstable, level (5). Captive breeding was started by New Zealand's Department of Conservation in 1984, from three males and one female taken from the small population on Dent Island, and another four males and three females captured in 1990. The first duckling finally hatched in 1994 at the Pukaha Mt Bruce National Wildlife Centre, receiving international attention, and by 2000 the captive population had reached 60 (4). The Department of Conservation initially released a total of 24 captive-bred birds on to the predator-free Codfish Island in 1999 and 2000 as an insurance population, and to be eventually used to restock Campbell Island (4) (5). These had an 88 percent survival rate. With this success, the Department of Conservation decided to translocate captive-bred birds directly to Campbell Island, made viable by a successful rat and cat eradication programme in 2001 (4). Thus, 50 teal, including 28 from Pukaha Mount Bruce and 22 from Codfish Island were released onto Campbell Island in September 2004, and a further 55 in September 2005 and 54 in 2006 (4) (5). A check in February 2005 found no evidence that the first batch of released birds had bred, but this may be due to their being moved close to the breeding season (4). Two decades of conservation effort have brought this bird back from extinction on Campbell Island, and meant that it now has a good chance of being able to recover and thrive once more in its native home (7).Top
Find out more
For further information on the Campbell Island teal:
This information is awaiting authentication by a species expert, and will be updated as soon as possible. If you are able to help please contact:
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THE LENA RIVER is one of Russia's great northern rivers, draining an area of 899,641 square mi (2,306,772 square km) and encompassing a region rich in wildlife and natural resources, including one of the world's largest deposits of gold. This is also one of the most inhospitable regions on the planet, with extremes of temperature and vast stretches of northern forests (84 percent). Few people live in the region and there is only one city in the entire Lena basin, Yakutsk, the administrative seat of the former Yakut Autonomous Socialist Republic and now the capital of a semiindependent Yakutia, renamed the Republic of Sakha in 1991.
The river, 2,850 mi (4,597 km) long, flows mostly through Sakha, but its origins are in the Irkutsk District, immediately west of Lake BAIKAL. Its tributaries have their headwaters in the autonomous republic of Buryatiya and the districts of Chita, Amur, and Khabarovsk. The river starts in the Baikal range, only a short distance from the lake itself, though the lake's waters flow into the Angara River and into the Yenisey, thousands of kilometers from the Lena. It then flows north and east to be joined by its first major tributaries, the Vitim and Olekma, whose headwaters originate in the Yablonov and other parallel mountain ranges east of Lake Baikal (which are also the source of the headwaters of the AMUR RIVER).
The river then turns again north in a large arc, following the contours of the Aldan Plateau to the south, from which emerges the Lena's largest tributary, the Aldan, and the Verkhoyansk Range to the east. This range of mountains forms a steep escarpment for over 600 mi (1,000 km), stretching all the way to the Lena's delta on the Laptev Sea, an arm of the ARCTIC OCEAN. This semicircular area bounded by the Aldan and Verkhoyansk highlands forms a sort of climatic vortex, producing some of the coldest temperatures ever recorded on the planet: -88.9 F (-67 degrees C).
To the west the terrain is much flatter, with larger tributary rivers, notably the Vilyui, which extends far into the Siberian Plateau. From the confluence of the Lena with the Aldan, 800 mi (1,300 km) from the sea, the river becomes very broad, sometimes reaching 5 mi (8 km) across. The delta, covering 12,352 square mi (31,672 square km), is the largest in RUSSIA and third largest in the world. It is formed of numerous islets, marshes and sandbars. The largest islands (hundreds of square kilometers) are covered with damp, mossy tundra and frozen lakes that do not permit the construction of roads, so travel between the eight permanent settlements continues mainly by dogsled.
The river is almost entirely navigable, with an abundance of fish, but is frozen eight months of the year. Ice has been measured at 53 in (136 cm) in the south, and up to 90 in (231 cm) at the delta. Because the Lena is almost entirely fed by mountain snows, spring thaws can bring disastrous floods, followed by equally breakups of river ice, sizable chunks of which can destroy entire sections of the riverbank and any settlements alongside it. The annual flow of the river is very irregular, with 90 to 95 percent of all of its discharge in spring and summer, when its volume increases by as much as 10 times that of the winter months. This irregular flow has limited the development of hydroelectric projects in the Lena basin, though there are two large dam-reservoir complexes on the Vilyuy. The Lena was used as a highway for trappers and traders in Russia's expansion to the Pacific coast, with its main town of Yakutsk founded in 1632.
Russia's relations with the indigenous Yakut and Evenki peoples were not always harmonious, and the region saw a good deal of oppression, lawlessness, and unbridled greed in the race for lucrative furs. Another boom period followed in the 19th century, with the discovery of gold in the Lena valley near the confluence with the Vitim River. Privatization since the 1990s has returned the region to its "Wild West" frontier days, ruled by hustlers, speculators and black marketers. The 1 million inhabitants who live in the Lena basin are looking to their mineral wealth, still undeveloped because of great distances, difficulties building roads and buildings on permafrost, and difficulty getting water half the year.


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String (default: "normal")
The type of stack to plot. The following types are supported:
- "normal" - the value of the stack is the sum of all points in the category (or group)
- "100%" - the value of the stack is always 100% (1.00). Points within the category (or group) are represented as percentages.


From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The old part of Ptuj
The old part of Ptuj
Coat of arms of Ptuj
Coat of arms
Ptuj is located in Slovenia
Location of the city of Ptuj in Slovenia
Coordinates: 46°25′10″N 15°52′10″E / 46.41944°N 15.86944°E / 46.41944; 15.86944Coordinates: 46°25′10″N 15°52′10″E / 46.41944°N 15.86944°E / 46.41944; 15.86944
Country Slovenia
Traditional region Styria
Statistical region Drava
Municipality Ptuj
 - Mayor Štefan Čelan (LDS)
 - Total 25.6 km2 (9.9 sq mi)
Population (2013)
 - Total 17,972
 - Density 701/km2 (1,820/sq mi)
Time zone CET (UTC+01)
 - Summer (DST) CEST (UTC+02)
Website Official site
Ptuj (pronounced [ˈptuːi̯] ( ); German: Pettau; Latin: Poetovium) is a town in northeastern Slovenia. Traditionally the area was part of the Styria region.
Ouroboros in a wall of the castle of Ptuj
Ptuj is the oldest city in Slovenia. There is evidence that the area was settled in the Stone Age. In the Late Iron Age it was settled by Celts.[2] By the 1st century BC, the settlement was controlled by Ancient Rome. In 69 AD, Vespasian was elected Roman Emperor by the Danubian legions in Ptuj, and the first written mention of the city of Ptuj is from the same year. The city of Poetovio was the base-camp of Legio XIII Gemina in Pannonia. The name originated in the times of Emperor Trajan, who granted the settlement city status and named it Colonia Ulpia Traiana Poetovio in 103. The city had 40,000 inhabitants until it was plundered by the Huns in 450.[2]
In 570 the city was occupied by Eurasian Avars and Slavic tribes.[2] Ptuj became part of the Frankish Empire[2] after the fall of Avar state at the end of 8th century. Between 840 and 874 it belonged to the Slavic Balaton Principality of Pribina and Kocelj. Between 874 and 890 Ptuj gradually came under the influence of the Archbishopric of Salzburg;[2] city rights passed in 1376 began an economic upswing for the settlement. As Pettau, it was incorporated into the Duchy of Styria in 1555.[2]
Ptuj as seen from the castle
Pettau was a battleground during the Ottoman wars in Europe and suffered from fires in 1684, 1705, 1710, and 1744.[2] Its population and importance began to decline in the 19th century, however, after the completion of the Vienna-Trieste route of the Austrian Southern Railway, as the line went through Marburg (Maribor) instead.
According to the 1910 Austro-Hungarian census, 86% of the population of Pettau's Old Town was German-speaking, while the population of the surrounding villages predominantly spoke Slovene. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary at the end of World War I, Pettau was included in the short-lived Republic of German Austria, but after the military intervention of the Slovenian general Rudolf Maister, the entire territory of Lower Styria was included into the State of Slovenes, Croats and Serbs (Yugoslavia). During the interwar period, the number and the percentage of those identifying as Germans in the city, which was renamed Ptuj, decreased rapidly, although a relatively strong ethnic German minority remained.
After the invasion of Yugoslavia in April 1941, Ptuj was occupied by Nazi Germany. From 1941 to 1944 the town's Slovenian population was dispossessed and deported. Their homes were taken over by German speakers from South Tyrol and the Gottschee County, who had themselves been evicted according to an agreement between Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini. These German immigrants, along with the native German Pettauer, were expelled to Austria in 1945; many later settled in North America.
Since 1945 Ptuj has been populated almost completely by Slovenians.
Neighborhood Population
Center 3681
Breg–Turnišče 3743
Ljudski Vrt 5903
Jezero 1581
Panorama 2072
Rogoznica 3867
Grajena 2390
Spuhlja 872
Ptuj Town Hall
The parish church in the settlement is dedicated to Saint George and belongs to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Maribor. It is a three-naved Gothic building from the 13th and early 14th century, but the structure incorporates parts of a much earlier structure, dating to the mid-9th century.[3]
The Kurent or Korant Carnival[edit]
Kurenti in Ptuj
Ptuj is the center place of a ten-day-long carnival in the spring, an ancient Slavic pagan rite of spring and fertility, called Kurentovanje or Korantovanje. Kurent is believed to be the name of an ancient god of hedonism - the Slavic counterpart of the Greek Priapos, although there are no written records.
Kurenti or Koranti (singular: Kurent or Korant) are figures dressed in sheep skin who go about the town wearing masks, a long red tongue, cow bells, and multi-colored ribbons on the head. The Kurenti from Ptuj and the adjoining villages also wear feathers, while those from the Haloze and Lancova vas wear horns. Organized in groups, Kurents go through town, from house to house, making noise with their bells and wooden sticks, to symbolically scare off evil spirits and the winter.
The nearest airports are Ptuj Sport Airfield (Moškanjci), which is seven kilometers (4.3 miles) away, and Maribor Edvard Rusjan Airport, which is eighteen kilometers (11 miles) away.
International relations[edit]
Twin towns — sister cities[edit]
Ptuj is twinned with:
 1. ^ "Ptuj, Ptuj". Place Names. Statistical Office of the Republic of Slovenia. Retrieved 28 March 2014.
 2. ^ a b c d e f g "The History of Ptuj". Accessed November 8, 2006.
 3. ^ Slovenian Ministry of Culture register of national heritage reference number ešd 582
External links[edit]


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Preschool principals, this one is for you!
In the recent years, we have noticed an upturn in preschools organising preschool graduation camps on top of the regular graduation ceremonies. While different preschools will have different ideas and objectives specific to their schools, some requirements are common among the preschools we have worked with. Here is the ULTIMATE checklist to an AWESOME Preschool Camp!
☑ Safe, clean and temperature-controlled campsite
Rain or shine, there is never a need to worry! Activities can be conducted indoors like they do outdoors. Additionally, students can pitch tents and still experience the "outdoors" in comfort, away from the elements. Teachers and instructors get to rest in modern facilities at the High Achievers' Adventure Academy. A win-win solution!
☑ Multiple spots for activities
With Sentosa Island as the larger training grounds, activities can also be conducted in a multitude of spaces according to your specific objectives and needs. From History and Heritage Trails to Night Walks, there are a variety of scenic locations where activities can be conducted.
☑ Diverse Flora and Fauna
Sentosa Island is home to eight different habitats, with species so rare they cannot be found on mainland Singapore. Other than giving your students a break for the hustle and bustle of city life, Sentosa's nature spots allow for out-of-the-classroom learning for natural sciences.
☑ Activities related to Education and Career Guidance (ECG)
In recent years, there has been an increased emphasis on ECG in MOE schools. We believe that it's never too early to expose students to different types of careers and take small steps in discovering their aspirations. The ECG Curriculum taught in schools might not be sufficient to allow students to discover their career aspirations. As the High Achievers Adventure Academy is nestled within KidZania Singapore - an internationally award-winning edutainment theme park - students will get to Learn, Work and Play to discover their interests, abilities and career aspirations.
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Hey Today I am wearing my 7th tray and idk why until now I can't pronounce the S correctly. at the beginning it was only when I am wearing them but now also without them I can't pronounce it correctly. The doctor said it's normal because my teeth are moving and I will get used to it but how long may it take? because I really have a very important event after 2 month and I have to say a speech and I am afraid of that. please help me and give me your experience with normal braces or Invisalign
Can't Pronounce S with Invisalign?
Doctor Answers 2
Invisalign and speech problems
The more you speak with it the fester you will get used to them. Try reading out load with them at home. Unfortunately there is no rule how fast you can get used to things it varies for everyone.
4 Considerations with "S" Sounds During Active Invisalign Treatment.
- First, it is not uncommon for your speech to be affected during active Invisalign treatment, especially with the aligner trays in your mouth.
- Second, the most common complaint is exactly what you are experiencing with words that begin with the letter "S." This is because as the teeth move and various interocclusal space forms, air passes more easily with the tongue position necessary for a "S" sound, which usually results in hissing.
- Third, this can improve as the tongue adjusts and teeth move into alignment.
- Finally, you should always make your dentist aware so that he can track your progress to be sure that your Invisalign case is "on course."


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The federal rules of evidence were adopted by order of the supreme court on nov 20 1972 transmitted to congress by the chief justice on feb 5 1973 and to have become effective on july 1 1973 pub. The 2018 federal rules of evidence summary trial guide accurately and concisely summarizes the current federal evidence code including all amendments for use by trial lawyers each rule is listed by number and reduced to essential meaning for instant use in the courtroom and in pretrial preparation. In a criminal trial the burden of proof is on the government defendants do not have to prove their innocence instead the government must provide evidence to convince the jury of the defendants guilt the standard of proof in a criminal trial gives the prosecutor a much greater burden than the plaintiff in a civil trial. The federal rules of evidence are a set of rules that governs the introduction of evidence at civil and criminal trials in united states federal trial courts the current rules were initially passed by congress in 1975 after several years of drafting by the supreme court. The federal rules of evidence is a set of rules which regard the manners in which evidence might be allowed into trials and might function within trials within the federal court system specifically
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5. That's it. What you waiting for? Sign Up and Get Your Books.


text:
Researchers Use AI To Stop Suicide Attempts From Bridges In South Korea
South Korean researchers and emergency services are working on artificial intelligence that can detect suicide attempts from CCTV cameras and alert authorities before the occurrence of a mishap, according to a Reuters report.
South Korea, with a population of 52 million had the highest rate of suicide in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development group of nations. In 2019 alone, 13,700 people took their lives, as per government data.
In fact, nearly 500 suicide attempts are reported on 27 bridges over the 500 kilometres long Han river each year, as per city-data.
Researchers from the Seoul Institute of Technology are developing an AI system that has been learning patterns of behaviour by analysing data from cameras, sensors and the dispatch records of rescue services since April 2020.
Principal researcher Kim Jun-Chul says that the AI system is learning from hours of CCTV footage, assessing details like hesitation from the individual among other signs. The AI then can see if the situation is going to turn hazardous and instantly alerts rescue teams.
Jun-Chul explains, "The system learns the footage itself, which can bring about improved results by greatly reducing false alarms."
Kim Hyeong-Gil, who is in charge of the Yeouido Water Rescue Brigade, told Reuters, "We believe the new CCTV will enable our crews to detect the cases a bit faster and help us head to a call more promptly."
Kim's team has been working with the researchers to develop the AI technology and it is expected to undergo pilot testing starting this October in collaboration with the Seoul Fire and Disaster Headquarters.
An AI system to detect suicide attempts in real-time is needed in South Korea now more than ever. In 2020, the number of rescue dispatches spiked 30 percent compared to 2019 with most suicide attempts made by individuals in the age group of 20s and 30s.


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Methods and results of observations of geostationary artificial satellites with the satellite plateholder SKA-2.
Methods of observation of geostationary artificial satellites carried out by a wide-angle astrograph with special equipment are discussed. The results of observations of 3 satellites are presented. The observation accuracy for geostationary objects is ±0.5″and for quasistationary ones is ±1.0-1.5″ It is concluded that to increase the accuracy of satellite observations the plateholder should be equipped with a device in the focal plane of the astrograph for visual determination of satellite orbital parameters.
Kinematika i Fizika Nebesnykh Tel
- Pub Date:
- April 1989
- Astronomical Photography;
- Satellite Tracking;
- Synchronous Satellites;
- Earth Orbits;
- Image Motion Compensation;
- Photographic Plates;
- Space Communications, Spacecraft Communications, Command and Tracking;
- Artificial Satellites: Methods of Observation


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On Friday, Gurgaon saw a surge of 71 new Covid-19 cases, bringing the total number of active cases to 299, of which seven patients are being treated in hospitals. Officials from the health department have reported that the positivity rate is now at 4.36%.
This marks the third consecutive day that the city has reported over 70 new cases. In the past three months, Gurgaon reported 584 cases in March, 54 cases in February and 40 cases in January. To detect Covid cases early, the health department is screening people for influenza-like illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infections (SARI). According to Dr. Virender Yadav, the Chief Medical Officer in Gurgaon, most of the patients have shown symptoms of influenza, such as fever, cough, headache, sore throat, runny nose, and shortness of breath.
Medical experts are urging people to strictly follow the Covid protocol to prevent the spread of the virus. The HOD of Pulmonary at Primus Super Speciality Hospital, Dr. SK Chhabra, emphasized that the rising number of Covid-19 cases is a reminder for people to remain vigilant in combating the pandemic. While there are 2-3 suspected cases that have been sent for further investigation, the positivity rate is still very high in the NCR. The surge in cases can be attributed to the XBB.1.16 sub-lineage of Omicron, which is capable of evading previous immunity.
Meanwhile, Haryana reported 128 new cases on Friday, bringing the total number of active cases to 499. The positivity rate is at 3.6%, and the health authorities collected 3,081 samples for antigen and RT-PCR tests.
Over 10.5 lakh people have tested positive in the state since the pandemic began, and Haryana has witnessed a total of 10,714 Covid deaths till now. On Friday, a total of 3,178 people got vaccinated in Haryana, including 369 who received their first doses, 603 who received their second doses, and 2,206 who received precautionary doses.


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At Grain Farmers of Ontario our goal is to provide our farmer-members the information and resources needed to continue to be economically sustainable while operating in a manner that meets their commitment to the environment and society.
In order to meet this goal, Grain Farmers of Ontario has undertaken a number of sustainability initiatives to ensure we remain a strong competitor in the global marketplace.
Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI)
The SAI Platform is the main food and drink industry initiative supporting the development of sustainable agriculture worldwide. SAI is a global food industry initiative for sustainable agriculture that seeks involvement from all food chains stakeholders. The SAI Platform is based on four main pillars including sustainable farming practices, economy, social and environment. Through the SAI a Farm Sustainability Assessment (FSA) tool has been developed. The FSA is an easy-to-use tool that is a useful benchmark for comparing existing certification and company specific schemes. The FSA tool allows farmers to see their current sustainability performance and assess areas of improvement. Grain Farmers of Ontario is a current member of several of SAI's internal working committees.
Canadian Field Print Initiative (CFPI)
The CFPI represents a diverse group working collaboratively on a shared vision of sustainability-based performance measurement. Members include commodity associations, industry representatives and end use companies.
The CFPI is working to develop market-driven, science-based, and outcome-focused metrics which will examine key on farm indicators which help to tell a story of farm sustainability across Canada.
Initiatives under the CFPI include the Canadian Field Print Calculator.
The Canadian Field Print Calculator is an easy-to-use, farm-level measurement tool that allows growers to confidentially assess their environmental performance against national and regional benchmarks using their own field data.
4R Nutrient Stewardship Strategy
The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Strategy has been developed by the world's fertilizer industries and works to enhance environmental protection and improve sustainability for farmers. The 4R Nutrient Stewardship Strategy is based on 4 principles to nutrient application; the right source, at the right rate, at the right time and in the right place. The program can assist farmers in improving nutrient management on their operations and GHG emissions.


Today's Wonder of the Day was inspired by Riley. Riley Wonders, "How Did Tap Dancing Start?" Thanks for WONDERing with us, Riley!
What do you get when you combine fun music, fast feet, and a good sense of rhythm? The clickety-clack and tappity-tap of tap dancing, that's what!
Tap dancing mixes two beautiful arts—dancing and making music—into one act. How can you tell if someone is tap dancing? Just listen for the tapping sounds created by metal plates on the bottom of a dancer's shoes.
When they're tapped against a solid surface, such as a wooden floor, the plates create a unique sound. As tap dancers move across the floor, they make music while they dance!
Many companies make special tap shoes that have tap plates attached to the bottom of the shoes with screws. Since each shoe has a tap plate near the toe and one on the heel, they are sometimes called "two shoes and four taps." The screws that attach the taps to the shoes can be tightened or loosened. This changes the sounds they make.
Sometimes, people make their own tap shoes. They tape quarters or (with the help of an adult) screw metal plates to the bottom of a pair of shoes. It's also possible to tap dance in shoes that have a hard, solid sole. However, the sounds such shoes make is not the same as true tap shoes.
Where did tap dancing come from? We can trace its roots to Africa and the English Isles. When people were kidnapped from Africa and brought to America to be enslaved, they brought their music and dancing traditions with them.
When enslavers denied them drums and other percussion instruments, enslaved people got creative. They made music with their feet through percussive dancing. Over time, this practice blended with Irish clogging. The product was the tap dancing we know today.
Tap dancers often improvise. That means they make up their moves and beats as they go along. They also rely heavily on syncopation. That means they use an irregular rhythm to place stresses or accents where they usually wouldn't occur.
Would you believe you can even tap dance without music? Just like singing without music, tap dancing can be "a cappella." Instead of dancing to music, tap dancers instead make their own rhythms using a variety of special steps.
Tap dancing was quite popular in America in the early 1900s. It was common in Vaudeville shows and on Broadway. It was also a large part of the Harlem Renaissance. Many tap dancers even appeared in movies and eventually television.
You may recognize the names of some famous tap dancers. Have you ever heard of Bill "Bojangles" Robinson? How about Josephine Baker or Rita Hayworth? These were all well-known tap dancers. A few more big names in tap dancing are Shirley Temple, Fred Astaire, and Ginger Rogers.
With the birth of rock-and-roll, tap dance dropped in popularity. A new form of dance—jazz dance—eventually grew out of tap dance. Although they were similar in the past, tap dance and jazz dance are considered separate forms of dance today.
Traditional tap dance is once again starting to become popular. Modern tap dancers include Gregory Hines and Savion Glover. In fact, Savion Glover recently helped to bring tap dancing back into the mainstream. He choreographed and danced for the movie Happy Feet, which told the story of a tap dancing penguin.
Do you know how to tap dance? Or would you be interested in learning? Tap dancing is an art form that many people enjoy. They say there's nothing like making and dancing to your own music at the same time!
Standards: CCRA.L.3, CCRA.L.6, CCRA.R.1, CCRA.R.2, CCRA.R.4, CCRA.R.10, CCRA.SL.1, NCAS.A.1, NCAS.A.2, NCAS.A.3
Wonder What's Next?
We hope you have the strength to tackle tomorrow's Wonder of the Day!


Finnair A350 Operates 100KM Hop Across The Gulf Of Finland
Finnair today operated an Airbus A350 flight of just 100km. The short hop saw the widebody aircraft visit Tallinn for the first time as the airline looked to move 'a belly full of cargo'.
Finnair, Airbus A350, Freight
Finnair today operated a 100km Airbus A350 freight flight. Photo: Finnair
Airlines around the world have been operating some interesting routes recently. This has all been in aid of keeping passengers and freight moving while many usual flights have stopped. Examples have seen Lufthansa in New Zealand, and Air New Zealand in Germany. Finnair has even had its fair share. However, today the Finnish national airline operated a very short hop for a widebody aircraft.
Shortest Finnair A350 flight?
Today's hop to Tallin may have been the airline's shortest A350 hop in history, carrying passengers or freight. (If you know of a shorter hop with such a purpose, please do let us know in the comments!) The flight was so short that it only lasted 20 minutes, with the taxi either end taking almost as long as the flight. Let's take a look at the numbers.
Finnair, Airbus A350, Freight
The aircraft flew a short hop across the Gulf of Finland. It reached its maximum height at the position indicated. Image:
After pushback, the flight from Helsinki to Tallinn began to taxi towards the runway at 12:14 UTC. At 12:22, the aircraft began its takeoff roll. The Airbus A350 then began to climb to a height of 13,000 feet according to data from It reached this height at 12:27.
The aircraft didn't stay at its cruising altitude for long, however. In fact, just two minutes later, and less than halfway to Tallinn, it began its descent at 12:29. After a further 13 minutes in the air, it touched down in Tallin at 12:42, before taxiing for another five minutes. In total the aircraft spent 20 minutes flying and 13 minutes taxiing.
While it's not clear what exactly the aircraft was carrying, Finnair did mention that the flight was being operated for cargo reasons. The airline also remarked that this flight was the first time one of its A350 aircraft had flown to Tallinn.
Not the only interesting flight
Finnair's flight today is not the only interesting cargo flight made by a passenger aircraft. In fact, as many passenger aircraft are going unused at the moment, they are instead being used for cargo. airBaltic used an Airbus A220 for a seven-hour cargo flight from China. Meanwhile, Virgin Atlantic flew cargo from Shanghai with a Boeing 787, while Lufthansa used an Airbus A330.
Which interesting cargo flights have you seen operating recently? Let us know your thoughts in the comments!


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Gabino Guerengomba, a native of the Central African Republic is the Co Founder, Chairman and Chief Technology Officer of Integrated Solar Technologies (IST) a Research and Technology development Foundry which designs solar powered semi conductors for Broadband and wireless communications as well as a patent pending Hybrid Photovoltaic thermal Module for electricity conversion that makes electricity sustainable and affordable in Sub Saharan Africa.
Prior to co Founding Integrated Solar Technologies Gabino spent 12 Years working for companies such as iDirect Technologies; Discovery Channel and Real Networks. IST tackles the two main challenges standing in the way of a transformative and sustainable development in Africa: (1) A reliable; low cost source of Electricity; (2) An Affordable Broadband connectivity
IST plans to manufacture the next generation of solar powered system boards; Chipsets; Wireless network devices for "Green" Broadband connectivity while building Smart Metering shared Solar Electricity power plants in Africa and in Rural areas lacking the proliferation of power grids and Telecom infrastructures.
Gabino is very active in promoting the use of technology and innovation by the African African Diaspora to fulfill the full integration of Africa in the Global economy.


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Fade Out Images with GIMP
There's no need to go out and buy Adobe Photoshop and take Photoshop classes. Just follow this simple GIMP tutorial to learn how to fade out the edge of an image.
One of the features that gives images a web 2.0 kind of look is fading out the edges. This is most commonly seen in the image reflection effects. I'm not going to cover a reflection in this post. I'll just cover the image fade out part for now.
I'm going to start out with an image of our favorite Linux mascot, Tux. I've already trimmed out the white background and made it transparent.
Add a Layer Mask
- Open up the Layers menu [CTRL][L]. If you're opening just a basic jpeg or png there should be just one layer at this point.
- In the Layers menu, right click on the layer and select Add Layer Mask.
- Make sure White (full opacity) is selected and click Add. You should see a white box show up next to the thumbnail of your image in the Layers menu.
Create the Fade Effect
- Right click on your layer and make sure that Edit Layer Mask is selected.
- Make sure that the Foreground Color is set to Black and the Background Color is set to White in the GIMP tools menu.
- Click on the Blend Tool (it should be just to the right of Bucket Fill).
- Drag a vertical line from the bottom of the image to where you want to stop the fade effect. (Hint: Hold down the [CTRL] key to help make the line vertical.)
If you right click in the Layers menu, you can select Show Layer Mask. It should look something like this:
Right click again and select Apply Layer Mask.
You can now save your file. In the image window select File?Save As. Enter a new name and click Save. A menu will pop up with save options. The defaults should be fine. Click Save.
Here's the final product.


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Save the Children and Oxfam released a joint report today entitled "A Dangerous Delay: The Cost of Late Response to Early Warnings in the 2011 Drought in the Horn of Africa". The report argues that early warning systems performed, but decision makers did not respond to them. In an interview Justin Forsyth the head of Save the Children UK likened the situation to an alarm bell that had a very delayed effect. A lot of people were harmed by the delayed response and the cost of dealing with hunger and malnutrition was much higher than if it had been addressed earlier.
So why the delay? Using Forsyth's analogy, either policymakers did not hear the alarm, did not trust it, or although hearing and believing the alarm, they simply could not respond to it quickly enough. The report makes some good recommendations about amplifying the alarm (via the media and building up capacity of those to communicate the significance of the alarm up the decision chain). It also makes good recommendations about helping people respond to it more quickly once they believe it (emergency response funds, insurance, greater joint programming between development and humanitarian groups).
The one area that the report is relatively silent on is whether the policymakers believe the signals. The report focuses on the case where the signals were right and outlines the cost of ignoring them, but policymakers might argue: what about the costs of acting when the signals were wrong?
As researchers, we should be analysing, ex post, the frequency with which the early warning signals get it right. If we can attach a probability to the predictive power of the signals, then when the next signal goes off policymakers can better assess the risks of responding to a non crisis against the risks of responding late to an emerging crisis. In other words, how often will the signal get it right?
It's not pretty, but I would not be surprised if this is the kind of calculation that is often made.


image-comparison
Introduction: Published on Maven Central Java Library that compares 2 images with the same sizes and shows the differences visually by drawing rectangles. Some parts of the image can be excluded from the comparison. Can be used for automation qa tests.
More: Author ReportBugs OfficialWebsite
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Published on Maven Central and jCenter Java Library that compares 2 images with the same sizes and shows the differences visually by drawing rectangles. Some parts of the image can be excluded from the comparison. Can be used for automation qa tests. The Usages of the image-comparison can be found here Usage Image Comparison
 - Implementation is using only standard core language and platform features, no 3rd party libraries and plagiarized code is permitted.
 - Pixels (with the same coordinates in two images) can be visually similar, but have different values of RGB. 2 pixels are considered to be "different" if they differ more than 10% from each other.
 - The output of the comparison is a copy of actual images. The differences are outlined with red rectangles as shown below.
 - No third party libraries or borrowed code are in usage.
 - Some parts of the image can be excluded from the comparison and drawn in the result image.
Configurations
Property Description
threshold The threshold which means the max distance between non-equal pixels. Could be changed according size and requirements to the image.
rectangleLineWidth Width of the line that is drawn the rectangle.
destination File of the result destination.
minimalRectangleSize The number of the minimal rectangle size. Count as (width x height). By default it's 1.
maximalRectangleCount Maximal count of the Rectangles, which would be drawn. It means that would get first x biggest rectangles. Default value is -1, that means that all the rectangles would be drawn.
pixelToleranceLevel Level of the pixel tolerance. By default it's 0.1 -> 10% difference. The value can be set from 0.0 to 0.99.
excludedAreas ExcludedAreas contains a List of Rectangles to be ignored when comparing images.
drawExcludedRectangles Flag which says draw excluded rectangles or not.
Release Notes
Can be found in RELEASE_NOTES.
Usage
Maven
<dependency>
 <groupId>com.github.romankh3</groupId>
 <artifactId>image-comparison</artifactId>
 <version>4.0.1</version>
</dependency>
Gradle
compile 'com.github.romankh3:image-comparison:4.0.1'
To compare two images programmatically
class Example {
 public static void main( String[] args ) {
 // load the images to be compared
 BufferedImage expectedImage = ImageComparisonUtil.readImageFromResources("expected.png");
 BufferedImage actualImage = ImageComparisonUtil.readImageFromResources("actual.png");
 // where to save the result (leave null if you want to see the result in the UI)
 File resultDestination = new File( "result.png" );
 //Create ImageComparison object for it.
 ImageComparison imageComparison = new ImageComparison( expectedImage, actualImage, resultDestination );
 //Can be used another constructor for it, without destination.
 new ImageComparison("expected.png", "actual.png");
 //or
 new ImageComparison(expectedImage, actualImage);
 //Also can be configured BEFORE comparing next properties:
 //Threshold - it's the max distance between non-equal pixels. By default it's 5. imageComparison.setThreshold(10);
 imageComparison.getThreshold();
 //RectangleListWidth - Width of the line that is drawn in the rectangle. By default it's 1. imageComparison.setRectangleLineWidth(5);
 imageComparison.getRectangleLineWidth();
 //Destination. Before comparing also can be added destination file for result image.
 imageComparison.setDestination(resultDestination);
 imageComparison.getDestination();
 //MaximalRectangleCount - It means that would get first x biggest rectangles for drawing.
 // by default all the rectangles would be drawn.
 imageComparison.setMaximalRectangleCount(10);
 imageComparison.getMaximalRectangleCount();
 //MinimalRectangleSize - The number of the minimal rectangle size. Count as (width x height).
 // by default it's 1. imageComparison.setMinimalRectangleSize(100);
 imageComparison.getMinimalRectangleSize();
 //Change the level of the pixel tolerance:
 imageComparison.setPixelToleranceLevel(0.2);
 imageComparison.getPixelToleranceLevel();
 //After configuring the ImageComparison object, can be executed compare() method:
 ImageComparisonResult imageComparisonResult = imageComparison.compareImages();
 //Can be found ComparisonState.
 ImageComparisonState imageComparisonState = imageComparisonResult.getImageComparisonState();
 //And Result Image
 BufferedImage resultImage = imageComparisonResult.getResult();
 //Image can be saved after comparison, using ImageComparisonUtil.
 ImageComparisonUtil.saveImage(resultDestination, resultImage);
 }
}
Demo
Demo shows how image-comparison works.
Expected Image
expected
Actual Image
actual
Result
result
Contributing
Please, follow Contributing page.
Code of Conduct
Please, follow Code of Conduct page.
License
This project is Apache License 2.0 - see the LICENSE file for details
Also if you're interesting - see my other repositories
Apps
About Me
Google+: Trinea trinea
GitHub: Trinea


text:
Step 5: Tip for sturdier cookies
This is a bit of a design call, but thin features can trap dough and tear off when you move the dough to the baking sheet. Look at the version one K-9 cookie cutter and see how thin the ear is. I reshaped and widened it a bit in version 2. After making cookies, it turns out that the tail and ear needed to made even thicker, so I went to V3. The trick is to make the cookie sturdy enough that you can get it onto the baking sheet without it falling apart, but also have it resemble the intended shape/object - it is a blancing act.
Note: the blue images are from the Axon2 software that I use to generate the toolpath (gcode) that actually controls the 3d printer. I can use it to preview what the result with be without having to print the physical object. I tweaked the distance between points until I got white space in the ear and tail sections. Depending on print settings and printer tuning, the physical printed object might not look exactly like the displayed toolpath (gcode).
You can also make sturdy cookies by rolling the dough out thicker.


text:
This test is not as easy as it appears. Some of these questions can be really tricky! See how quickly you can find the odd out in each of the five puzzles and see if you're able to take your place among the world's fastest!
1. Can you spot the odd one?
2. Can you spot the odd one?
3. Can you spot the odd one?
How fast can you do it? Prove that you are a puzzle master and pass the test without making a single mistake! This could be tougher than you expected but we bet you can do this! Give it a go!
4. Can you spot the odd one?
5. Can you spot the odd one?
Your brain works faster than the average human population when it comes to identifying objects, colors, and faces. Your eyes and brain have an amazingly fast connection and you comprehend and analyze situations with almost super-human speed.


text:
WRITING: PERSONAL ESSAY ON FISH SUBJECT ART (MIDDLE/HIGH)
Paragraph and essay writing assignment for middle school, junior high and high school students. Satisfy your curiosity and write your own ideas about an assigned topic. This activity helps students communicate their ideas, observations and opinions regarding artwork featuring fish subjects. One of many focused and fun creative writing offerings based on the Fish of the Animal Kingdom PowerPoint presentation found in the Living on Planet Earth Series.
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text:
Standard industry belt diagnostics call for replacement of a serpentine belt if it shows three cracks in a three inch section. This is a good rule of thumb for Neoprene, but not so good for EPDM. EPDM belts inherently resist cracking because of the increased elasticity, so a visual check for cracks is not a very good indicator of true belt wear especially since they can run 100,000 miles or beyond with no visual cracks. A far better indicator of wear on EPDM belts is material loss.
Serpentine belt drives are exposed to grit, rocks, salt and water. Over time, these contaminants along with slight misalignments result in wear of the rubber rib surface. Like tires running on a highway, serpentine belts gradually lose material over time which results in failure modes defined by changes in belt profile. One problem associated with material loss is how the belt fits around the pulley. Belts are designed to allow clearance between itself and the pulley. When material loss occurs, the clearance is lost; thus, eliminating a way for water and debris to be passed through the system. This can result in belt hydroplaning.
- Over time, belt ribs lose material
- With material loss the space between the ribs increases
- The belt can "bottom out" on the pulley
- This causes belt slip and accelerated wear
- When water cannot channel out between the belt and pulley, hydroplaning (like a tire on a wet road) can result
- A persistent check engine light, reduced engine cooling, inconsistent power steering performance or poor A/C system performance are all signs of belt slip caused by wear.
The slightest material loss in belts means more to a car's drivability than you might think. Changing a belt during other component replacement is imperative. The best practice is to begin checking belts at 50,000 miles to ensure that the belt rib is uncompromised and is not showing wear. Remember, as little as 5% rib material loss can create issues.
- Turn engine off
- Insert tip of finger into the hole in gauge
- Reach under a straight section of belt and insert pin into a belt valley
- Use another finger to feel depth of gauge in belt


text:
A declination in the level of testosterone in male body can happen in middle age and some men suffer from sexual weakness due to years of over masturbation habit. Sometimes, men suffer from irregularities of the endocrines at an earlier age. The impact of aging on body organs can happen at a younger age and this can cause dullness or reduce control of brain on the body parts, which causes involuntary release of sperm from male reproductive organs or it can even reduce the power of organs to get erection.
Men who masturbate regularly to release the excess production of male fluid from the body can suffer from various negative effects if the male organ is damaged. The nerve endings found on the male organ becomes insensitive and the stimulation level of the organ reduces. So, how to recover from sexual weakness due to over masturbation? The person suffering from sexual weakness due to years of over masturbation habit, aging and disruptions in the system of endocrine functioning, can take herbal remedies to cure the condition.
To know how to recover from sexual weakness due to over masturbation, the properties of various herbs should be studied and the success rate of various laboratory studies on naturopathic treatments can be examined. The weakness in the male reproductive organ happens due to reduced coordination of the brain to the organ. The cure provided by NF Cure capsule, Shilajit capsule and Mast Mood oil can help in improving this coordination. These herbal remedies contain plant-based extracts that can improve the mind power and also the performance of the endocrines.
Role of endocrines: The main function of the endocrine is to send message. It works as the communication centre that can secrete certain fluids which goes into the interstitial fluids or the blood. The chemical structure of the secretions varies depending on the type of gland. The message sent by the nerves and the endocrine is received by the body organs, and the muscles contract or move as per the impulses. The secretions of the adrenalin can make the contractions stronger and it can make it more forceful or forceless.
How herbs help in recovering from sexual weakness due to years of over masturbation habit?
When men take herbal remedies that contain herbs such as Kavach Beej, Ashwagandha, Shudh Shilajit, Safed Musli and Kesar, the improvement in following systems can be observed.
The secretions from the endocrine are regulated. As the endocrine system improves, the immunity of the body improves. The body becomes strong against external dangers and toxins. The skin becomes smooth and less dry. The symptoms of aging reduce.
The power of brain increases. As one regularly takes the herbal capsules, the power to remember increases. The smooth flow of endocrines and the communication system in the body empower the body to become more alert. People who want to know how to recover from sexual weakness due to over masturbation can take these remedies as it empowers the reproductive organs. This makes conjugal life more pleasurable.
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text:
What's with the enclosed water filling stations?
Have you ever wondered why water stations on the South Rim are caged in?
In August 2023, construction crews installed new water filling stations with wildlife resistant enclosures at the Bright Angel and South Kaibab Trailheads funded by Grand Canyon Conservancy. This was completed with funding through a grant from National Park Foundation and Tupperware. The filling stations had been closed because elk had learned to turn on the water and there were too many encounters with humans. The new water filling stations are wildlife proof.


Archived Post
Apple purportedly wants 'folded cameras' with periscope lenses in future iPhones
Apple has begun looking for suppliers of "folded cameras" in order to strengthen the optical zoom feature of its iPhones, according to Korea IT News
A folded camera refracts light like a periscope and has lenses and sensors placed horizontally and not vertically. Korea IT News says that Apple plans to introduce triple cameras to its smartphone line. If a smartphone has a such a lens, it can provide a hybrid zoom range of 10X or even higher depending on the tunnel length and lens element arrangement.
Periscope lenses allow for greater optical zoom by bouncing light inside the phone off a mirror before passing it through another smaller lens which can be moved closer and further away from the sensor, amplifying the light even more.
Apple has been granted for periscope lens over the years. For example, in 2015, it was granted a parent for "Mirror Tilt Actuation" (pictured above) for an assembly the includes a folded optics arrangement such that light enters the lens and mirror assembly through a first lens with an optical axis of the first lens orthogonal to the plurality of moveable lens elements.
And last year the US Patent and Trademark Office granted Apple two patents for a periscope camera lens. The first was a "folded lens system with five refractive lenses" and the second patent was for "three refractive lenses."
Dennis Sellers
the authorDennis Sellers


text:
Alter Technology UK and Alter Technology Spain are pleased to announce the launch of SIPhoDiAS (Space-grade Opto-electronic Interfaces for Photonic Digital and Analogue Very-high-throughput Satellite payloads), a 3-year EC-funded H2020-SPACE R&D project.
SIPhoDiAS is focusing on the development of space-grade opto-electronic (O/E) modules and sub-systems for next generation, very high throughput telecom satellites (VHTS). The O/E interfaces developed by the project are digital transceivers, analogue photodetectors and modulators which are deployed in the highest volumes and are used to interconnect equipment at the edge and within the satellite payload. SIPhoDiAS targets the development of this space photonic component generation by leveraging reliable manufacturing, assembly and packaging technologies that exist within Europe. The project drives its component design around the upgrade of opto-electronic performance and the shrinking of size and power consumption. The component functional performance will be demonstrated through their integration into digital processor and analogue photonic-RF conversion sub-systems. Reliability will be demonstrated through a rigorous validation test campaign.
SIPhoDiAS brings together a team of leading European innovators with complementary expertise in electronic and photonic integrated circuit design, optoelectronic assembly and packaging, system integration and space qualification testing. The consortium members are: ALBIS Optoelectronics (Switzerland), ALTER Technology (Spain), ALTER Technology (UK), AXENIC (UK), IHP Microelectronics (Germany), LEO Space Photonics R&D (Greece) and Thales Alenia Space (France).
Alter Technology UK will be responsible for the design and manufacture of Space grade optical transceivers operating across 4 channels transmit and 4 channels receive with a speed per channel of 56GB/s. Alter Technology Spain will perform the testing, characterisation and space level qualification of these optical transceiver modules.
Stephen Duffy, CEO of Alter Technology UK, said " Digital Payloads for Telecom Satellites require fully flexible, transparent and re-configurable channel routing to meet the increasing demands of Telecom operators. Such high speed digital processing requires systems which can handle a few tens of TB/s through-put. High speed, space grade optical transceivers are the only option to transmit such large amounts of data within the satellite and are critical to achieve the SWAP-C requires of the Space market. Alter Technology are delighted to be working on this exciting project which will deliver a space grade optical transceiver that will be manufactured and sold by the Alter Group"
For more information, please contact us: _EMAIL_


Skip to definition.
Verb: invert in'vurt
 1. (music) make an inversion (in a musical composition)
 "here the theme is inverted"
 2. Turn around the position, order, relation, or condition of
 "when forming a question, invert the subject and the verb";
 - reverse
 3. Turn inside out or upside down
 - turn back, reverse
Derived forms: inverted, inverts, inverting
Type of: alter, change, modify, reorder
Encyclopedia: Invert


text:
CFI Chatbot to support humanitarian organisations
ChitChat is a chatbot designed at the Centre for Innovation in order to support relevant organisations in direct communication with people in crisis. It will help classify incoming messages from different channels, and share critical information in return.
How could a chatbot be important?
Communication with communities is a critical part of humanitarian response. It is essential in order to understand the needs of local communities and to provide effective feedback. This will allow communities to become more empowered and directly engaged in decision-making.
The increase in mobile connectivity and use of instant messaging platforms (such as Facebook and WhatsApp) opens new communication channels with people in crisis. It allows humanitarian organisations to directly communicate with local communities. However, this can pose considerable challenges for humanitarian organisations, as it requires finding ways to adequately process and respond to the possible large amounts of incoming messages.
What might be relevant applications?
Together with different humanitarian organisations, we have identified possible applications for the use of chatbots in humanitarian contexts. These range from remote data collection and allowing communities to indicate their needs, to answering questions and providing critical information in return.
In order to understand whether a chatbot could actually be of benefit to humanitarian organisations, we have to understand how they can adopt it in support of their operations. Therefore, we aim not only to explore whether it is technically feasible for a chatbot to facilitate these foreseen applications, but also to figure out how both humanitarian organisations and communities could work with such a system in different operational contexts.
Why do we build our own chatbot?
In relation to the various foreseen applications, we have been able to identify different requirements for a chatbot in humanitarian contexts.
Amongst others, it was considered critical to provide transparency of the classification of incoming messages and ensure security when directly communicating with people at risk. Additionally, the chatbot should support conversations in different language and scripts according to which conversations take place. Thus, the chatbot has to be easily adaptable ìn order to account for changes in highly volatile contexts.
On the basis of the listed of requirements, we have conducted a review of existing systems and applications. As not any of these systems was able to meet all of the requirements, guarantee sufficient data protection and/or keeps its code proprietary, we decided to build our own chatbot.
How does ChitChat work?
A chatbot simply automates the process of classifying and responding to incoming messages. In humanitarian contexts, it is critical that this process is transparent so that it is clear how certain messages are interpreted and certain responses have been prompted.
ChitChat, therefore, allows humanitarian responders to define certain rules according to which this process takes place. This also helps responders to easily review conversations in order to assess and understand the classification process.
To support the classification process, various natural language processing components have been implemented in the tool. This, for example, improves the classification of incoming messages by identifying typos or certain key entities.
Together with different partners, we will test how ChitChat could support their operations. Our collaboration with Radio Dabanga (Free Press Unlimited) explores whether it can allow their audiences to report relevant events through online communication channels and retrieve news updates in return.
Moreover, together with World Food Programme, we are testing how ChitChat could complement existing helplines for beneficiaries and allow to provide information back to communities, for example on food prices and assistance programmes.
Through this process, we do not only aim to understand whether a chatbot could facilitate relevant applications for humanitarian organisations, but also what is required in order to implement such a system. This requires us to reflect on broader adoption channels, such as to assess whether communication channels and/or instant messaging platforms with which a chatbot might be integrated offer adequate security.
Together with our growing list of partners, we want to explore the potential of chatbots to support direct communication with people in crisis. Feel free to connect us if you would like to engage in this process and explore whether this could add value to your operations.


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The role of uric acid in development of renal dysfunction (RD) remains controversial. Earlier studies have reported inconsistent results, possibly because of their varying ability to adjust for confounding. The impact of longitudinal change in uric acid on renal outcome has not been assessed previously. We aimed to study the impact of change in serum uric acid (SUA) as well as baseline SUA on the development of RD.
In a prospective cohort study, we assessed the associations between change in SUA during follow-up, baseline SUA and RD (defined as albumin-creatinine-ratio (ACR) =1.13 mg albumin/mmol creatinine and/or eGFR?


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"Climate tells you how you are functioning as an organisation, Culture tells you why your organisation is functioning that way."
(Human Synergistics Australia)
Climate, engagement, morale, pulse, are these terms interchangeable and where do they fit with Culture? Are they the same as Culture? This article is the second in a series focusing on the Human Synergistics (HS) White Papers and draws from the "Organisational Culture: Beyond Employee Engagement" White Paper. I have taken a practical approach to breaking down organisational Climate and articulating where it fits with Culture.
The first article in this series focused on Culture and outlined the HS approach to measuring current Organisational Culture and providing specific data to develop a Constructive Organisational Culture.
The HS organisational level diagnostics (OCI/OEI) measure both Culture and Climate:
Ideal Culture – Causal Factors (Perceptions) – Operating Culture – Outcomes (Feelings)
(OCI) (OEI) (OCI) (OEI)
*Note: OEI is the Organisational Effectiveness Inventory and is the HS diagnostic tool that measures Organisational Climate. OCI is the Organisational Culture Inventory and is the HS diagnostic that measures Organisational Culture.
A critical consideration when differentiating Culture and Climate is that the Outcomes (feelings) of the current Climate in an organisation are the symptoms of the organisations Current Culture. Whilst easier to see (as per Iceberg model in White Paper), we don't address the Outcomes (Climate) to bring about desired change. We focus on specific Causal Factors (Perceptions) to develop a Constructive Operating Culture and this approach will drive high engagement levels within an organisation. As this White Paper points out, it is possible to have high engagement levels and a poor Culture, therefore it is important to focus on developing a Constructive Culture to improve Climate to ensure the organisation is well placed for long term sustainable success.
Following points taken from the White Paper provide a good summary of how Climate might play out in an organisation:
Perceptions (*OEI – Cause):
- Are ideas listened to?
- Adequate training?
- Remuneration system
- Talent Management
- How effective are supervisors, management and leadership rated?
- Role clarity and expectations
- Extent to which members believe they can influence how things get done
Feelings (*OEI – Effect)
- Job Satisfaction
- Employee Engagement
- Team Collaboration
- Job Security
- Work/life balance
Grounded in the experience and evidence base HS has developed over a long period, the following points establish an understanding around Climate from a HS standpoint:
- Engagement is a measure of Organisational Climate, it is not Organisational Culture.
- Culture causes engagement, therefore, to address engagement, develop Culture.
- Climate is an indicator of short-term performance, Culture is a better predictor of long-term performance.
- Engagement is a symptom, Culture is the cause, a focus on Climate looks at 'what' is happening, not 'why'.
- Experience shows organisations can have high engagement and a non-constructive Culture.
- Climate is the 10% of the iceberg above the surface, Culture is the 90% of iceberg below the surface.
- Climate is an indicator of current effectiveness, Culture tells you how well your organisation can sustain that effectiveness over time. They are not alternatives, they each tell part of the story.
A personal story to provide an analogy highlighting the cause and effect relationship between Culture and Climate is through my daughter who has issues with food intolerances. Symptoms include skin rashes, sneezing, coughing, blocked sinuses, and lethargy. There was a period we treated these symptoms as they presented, using strong steroid cream for the rashes and asthma medication for some of the other symptoms. Once we pinpointed the food intolerances as the primary cause (Causal Factors) of the symptoms (Outcomes), we could address the cause (Levers for Change) and provide long term relief from the symptoms (developing a Constructive Culture).
A key benefit for organisations when using the HS OCI (Culture) and OEI (Climate) simultaneously is that it provides a clear story of how Culture and Climate are playing out specific to the organisation. This measurable data enables organisations to identify where efforts can be best placed to further develop Constructive Organisation Culture and high levels of engagement. This is significant as the OCI is the only diagnostic of its type that provides a measurable indication of on organisations current Culture.
To see the HS framework in action, follow the link to see a BRS Case Study outlining the provision of leadership, team and organisation coaching services to the City of Tea Tree Gully. This involved the implementation of a customised leadership development program and executive coaching to meet the unique needs of the client and ensure all leaders were accountable for their development.
Whilst BRS are advocates of the HS framework for use with clients, as an organisation, since its inception, BRS has used HS diagnostics internally to measure and inform the development of Constructive behaviours and effectiveness at an individual and organisational level. The Case Study below outlines the internal application of the HS diagnostics.


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(1) When we use oil casing to transport water, we should ensure that the quality of the water must be qualified when using it, and the quality of the water must be qualified when using it, and it must be discharged when discharged. Implement cleaning and dispensing. During use, it is necessary to strengthen the cleaning of the main water pipeline to ensure that no corrosive substances remain inside the pipeline after the oil casing is used. Ensure that the oil casing can be aged when used.
(2) For water injection wells that have been put into production, when we use them, we should add some annulus protection fluid to them for protection, and we should regularly add protection fluid to them like this. It has become a principle that we should regularly add oil to the oil casing. Only in this way can we ensure that the oil casing can be used for a long time during use.
(3) When using oil casing, there will be mechanical scratches. These scratches will affect the anti-corrosion of the oil casing and accelerate the corrosion of the oil casing. It is recommended that the oil pipe coupling be used during use. A rubber ring is added to it to reduce corrosion of the oil casing.