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May 19, 2016
Successful extraction of Alzheimer's-type dementia finger-tapping patterns
The National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology (NCGG) in Japan has succeeded in identifying an index finger-thumb tapping pattern unique to Alzheimer's-type dementia through clinical research focusing on the rhythmical movement of both hands. This result was achieved using a waveform analysis technique for finger-tapping movement developed by Hitachi, Ltd. which allows a variety of tapping patterns to be extracted from the measurement data on motor ability using the magnetic sensors, such as the discrepancy in contact time between the fingers. This achievement opens the way to advancing tests for the early detection of Alzheimer's-type dementia.
NCGG and Hitachi began clinical research in 2013 to validate the effectiveness of measuring thumb and index-finger movement of both hands for the early detection of Alzheimer's-type dementia drawing on the knowledge that the coordination between the right and left hemisphere of the brain in response to noise becomes slower in patients with severe dementia. Specifically, NCGG conducted measurement using UB1, a magnetic sensor-type finger-tapping equipment developed by Hitachi in 2010, and analyzed the results using the waveform analysis technique also developed by Hitachi. NCGG was able to successfully extract an index finger-thumb tapping pattern unique to Alzheimer's-type dementia, and assessed the characteristics of the finger-tapping movement with high accuracy.


Apsara Authority Cambodia
The Apsara Authority is a government sponsored agency in Cambodia responsible for management and protection of Angkor Archaeological Park. That sounds like a fair and noble cause and to some point it is, however being part of the most corrupt government in the world, it comes as no surprise that Apsara Authority would be as corrupt and twisted as the people who created it.
On their website autoriteapsara.org, the Apsara Authority describes its purpose and agenda as follows:
The government has created APSARA, the Authority for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap, in charge of research, protection and conservation of cultural heritage, as well as urban and tourist development. This legislative and institutional framework marks the beginning of a new active role Cambodia will take, responding to the call of her own people in the voice of her King, as well as to that of the international community, in managing Angkor as a national and world heritage for the generations to come.
On the History and Organization page, the text on the website states that Apsara Authority is responsible for:
 - Protecting, maintaining, conserving and improving the value of the archaeological park, the culture, the environment and the history of the Angkor region as defined on the World Heritage List.
 - Refining and applying the master plan on tourist development according to the five zones, defined in 1994 in the Royal Decree on the protection and management of Siemreap-Angkor and taking action against deforestation, illegal territory occupation as well as anarchy activities in Siemreap-Angkor.
 - Finding financial sources and investments.
 - Participating in the policy of cutting down poverty of the Royal Government in Siemreap-Angkor.
 - Cooperating with the Cambodian Development Council on the investments of all the projects that are involved with APSARA Authority's mission.
 - Cooperating with ministries, institutions, funds, national and international communities as well as international governmental institutions and non-governmental organization on all projects related to APSARA Authority.
There are some truly dubious statements in the description of their responsibilities and by looking at past actions of Apsara Authority throughout the Siem Reap area one can come to conclusions what they likely mean.
Photo: Apsara Authority Inspector at an Entrance to One of Angkor Temples
The first alarming statement can be seen in the introductory sentence where it is mentioned that Apsara Authority was created "for the Protection and Management of Angkor and the Region of Siem Reap" – and the region of Siem Reap? Why does Apsara Authority want to spread their jurisdiction outside of the Angkor Archaeological Park? If their purpose is to preserve and protect the ancient temples of Angkor, than why stick fingers in villages outside of Angkor?
Another even more dubious statement is one you have certainly already noticed – anarchy activities. What in the name of Buddha are anarchy activities? Has this phrase purposefully been forced into the list of Apsarta Authority responsibilities so they have their asses covered no matter what they do? Past actions of the agency show us that it truly could be so.
Photo: Apsara Authority Logo on an Information Panel at Banteay Kdei Temple
From the reports of people living in touristy areas as well as from articles published in the Phnom Penh Post it is evident that large groups of Apsara Authority officials have been going around villages in the Siem Reap province, threatening the villagers at gunpoint that if they modernize their houses or build something new on their land, they will be evicted without recourse. If any of the villagers voices against unlawful eviction, they are simply told that their actions are perceived as "anarchy activities" and are henceforth removed from the land that their predecessors lived on for centuries. They are subsequently moved to a tiny piece of land that was assigned to them in lieu of their coveted location. Their new land is in the middle of nowhere, in the district where they have no friends or family to rely on. That is what Apsara Authority refers to when they say "anarchy activities".
Apparently, for as long as the villagers keep their original, "traditional" houses – aka wooden, thatched barns on stilts – and don't try to modernize them, they should be fine. I have my own theory why they insist on people living in prehistoric houses that are falling apart:
It has everything to do with foreign donations coming in massive chunks to Cambodia. In order for the financial support from abroad to continuously grow, foreigner must be exposed to villagers who look poor, live in atrocious conditions with houses falling apart around them. If there were any signs of improvement of conditions in which regular folk live, foreign donations could diminish. Given lack of transparency throughout Cambodia along with the most corrupt government in the world, any money coming to Cambodia, regardless of who it is intended for, eventually ends up in the hands of the ruling elite while impoverished, underprivileged citizens get nothing. However they are a good bait for foreign donations so it is absolutely essential for the government to ensure that people remain poor and look poor. At least those who live in the areas where foreigners go.
Angkor Entrance Guards and Scam by the Sokimex Group Cambodia
At last I got through the hoards of tireless hustlers who will do and say anything and everything just to get you open your wallet and spend money, and there I was stepping up the stone steps leading to a causeway that follows across the entire Angkor Wat. There was however one more local I thought was also a tout I had to go through at the beginning of the causeway. Armed to ignore all locals who approach me asking for something, I ignored this guy too but soon came to realize that he's one and only exception to the crowds of peddlers who are solely after my money. This was an entrance guard stationed at Angkor Wat to ensure everyone who enters the temple itself has a valid pass.
I thought buying a ticket at the ticketing booth and showing it to the guards at the beginning of the road leading to Angkor was good enough but Sokimex Group Cambodia, company that makes millions of dollars collecting entrance fees from foreigners also stations their inspectors at entrances to all main temples as a secondary line of ticket inspection just in case a foreigner somehow snuck into the Angkor Archaeological Park.
To avoid scam Angkor area was riddled with before, all authorised guards wear light blue shirts on which they have a badge with their inspector number and around their neck a lanyard with Sokimex ID bearing their name and photograph that identifies them as rightful entrance guards. They are also armed with wireless radios and frequently communicate with each other.
Photo: One of The Ticket Inspectors at Angkor Wat - Wearing Light Blue Shirt, Badge and Photo ID on a Lanyard
From what I was told, scam that consisted of anyone and everyone pretending to be an authorised guard to collect entrance fees from foreigners was virtually entirely eliminated using this approach. At least now when you pay your entrance fee, it does help the temples, not some scammer pretending to collect fees on behalf of Apsara Authority, right? Wrong!
Sokimex Group Co. LTD is a company with close ties to the CPP – Cambodian People's Party, the ruling party of Cambodia. The CPP is well known for being one of the most corrupt governments in the world and has a very bad human rights record. Prime Minister Hun Sen, leader of the CPP has no problem threatening those who oppose him with use of force or military action. Ordinary Cambodians who are not part of the Cambodian elite approved by Hun Sen have no chance of real freedom.
In April 1999, Cambodian People's Party gave Sokimex Group full control over the Angkor Archaeological Park entrance ticket concession sales. This was done without any input from the public or Cambodian opposition. Angkor, which is the cultural heritage of all Cambodians was taken away from them by their corrupt government and given to the private company to financially benefit from its worldwide popularity while ordinary people get nothing. The deal required Sokimex Group (Owners of Sokha Hotels chain) to pay the government One Million Dollars per year with all excess kept by the company.
Photo: Angkor Archaeological Park Entrance Ticket Bears Sokha Hotels Co. LTD Name To Show Who Controls the Temples
Due to strong opposition, the agreement between the CPP and Sokimex was amended a bit, but Sokimex Group still remains in full control over ticket concessions at Angkor and keeps a large part of the profits. To further benefit the company that supports the government, the CPP also commissions Sokimex Group to supply uniforms, food and medicine for Cambodian military, as well as the gasoline for the governmental agencies which is run through well performing voucher scam.
Apsara Authority, governmental body responsible for preservation, maintenance and protection of Angkor Archaeological Park gets small part of the profits, however being CPP controlled, Apsara Authority is also a dubious organization with shady practices violating the poor. There have been many cases of large groups of Apsara enforcers coming to villages with guns to threaten the villagers who "dared" to modernize their "traditional homes". Many people have been evicted and had their property repossessed by Apsara Authority with all rights removed and no voice to stand by them (all voices that oppose the practices of Cambodian People's Party get silenced).
Welcome to real Cambodia, one of the most corrupt countries in the world.
Angkor People and Corruption in Cambodia
Here I was at last – facing the entrance gate to Angkor Wat after a brief bike ride around the vast moat that surrounds it


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In 10 years, 86% of students will study more efficiently with tablets
OpenColleges, an online educator based in Australia, has created a new infographic on schools of the future. Entitled "Components of a 21st Century Classroom" the graphic depicts tidbits on information that predict the educational experience in the future.
In this scenario, the following facts emerge for education in 10 years:
- 86% of students will believe they study more efficiently with tablets.
- 6 in 10 students have used a digital text book
-59% of students would like to use their own mobile devices for learning.
See more in the graphic:
Components of a 21st Century Classroom - An infographic by the team at Open Colleges

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


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The larval development and survival in the two subantarctic lithodid crabs Lithodes santolla (Jaquinot) and Paralomis granulosa (Molina) from the Argentine Beagle Channel were studied in laboratory cultures. In L. santolla, larval development lasted about 70 days, passing through three zoeal stages and the megalopa stage, with a duration of approximately 4, 7, 11 and 48 days, respectively. The larval development in P. granulosa is more abbreviated, comprising only two zoeal stages and the megalopa stage, with 6, 11 and 43 days' duration, respectively. In both species, we tested for effects of presence versus absence of food (Artemia nauplii) on larval development duration and survival rate. In P. granulosa, we also studied effects of different rearing conditions, such as individual versus mass cultures, as well as aerated versus unaerated cultures. No differences in larval development duration and survival were observed between animals subjected to those different rearing conditions. The lack of response to the presence or absence of potential food confirms, in both species, a complete lecithotrophic mode of larval development. Since lithodid crabs are of high economic importance in the artisanal fishery in the southernmost parts of South America, the knowledge of optimal rearing conditions for lithodid larvae is essential for future attempts at repopulating the collapsing natural stocks off Tierra del Fuego.
AWI Organizations > Biosciences > Marine Animal Ecology
Helmholtz Research Programs > MARCOPOLI (2004-2008) > POL4-Response of higher marine life to change


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May 20, 2020 10:03 PM | by The Fustany Team
All You Need to Know About Hymens
What do you really know about hymens? It is said that people know if a woman is a virgin or not according to the existence of a hymen. This is an issue that's mostly important in the Arab world, where the groom looks for a few drops of blood that would determine his bride a virgin, after having their first sexual intercourse. Sometimes, women don't bleed after having sex for the first time, and such an incident could cause huge misunderstandings between couples. We say misunderstandings because those preconceptions are totally false. Yes, FALSE! Many researches have proved that the appearance of blood during a couple's first time of having sex is not a necessity, and even if there is bleeding, it might not be caused by losing one's virginity or 'hymen breakage'. To discuss this further, we gathered everything you should know about hymens.
What are hymens?
A hymen is a membrane that surrounds a woman's vagina, with an opening that differs in size and shape. Hymens are present in the female's body since birth, but they naturally wear off gradually with puberty and normal vaginal discharges.
What does the hymen look like?
One of the most important things you should know about hymens is that tt varies from one woman to another; there are four types of hymen shapes:
- Normal hymen: This is the most common hymen type among women, in which it takes the shape of a half moon covering the vagina partially.
- Microperforate hymen: That's when the hymen covers the whole vagina with only a small opening.
- Septate hymen: The type of hymen where the membrane has two openings instead of one.
- Imperforate hymen: This is when the hymen covers the entire vaginal area with no openings at all. This type is usually detected at an early age, as it causes a constant abdominal pain, and it usually requires a surgical treatment. Due to its nature, menstrual blood can't flow out which causes that pain, and that's why that case needs a medical examination.
Can a woman know what type of hymen she has?
You can tell what type of hymen you have, but that's only when you go in for a medical check-up. This would also inform you if you don't even have a hymen. Women in the Middle East aren't usually willing to go for such an examination, so they don't know what type of hymen they have.
Do all women have hymens?
No, although most women are born with hymens, there is a small percentage of females who are born without hymens.
What causes a hymen to break?
As mentioned before, hymens wear out over time due to various reasons, meaning that sometimes it doesn't "break" during a first sexual experience. People usually refer to the partial rapture of a hymen when having sex for the first time as breaking, but let us clarify something here. Hymens have an elastic nature and they vary in their elasticity from one woman to another, which means that the breakage process also differs. Also, the hymen breakage during the first intercourse would highly depend on the nature of it, and if it has worn out due to other factors.
In case the hymen wasn't worn out, and has average or low elasticity, part of it raptures during intercourse and causes bleeding. There are types of hymens which are very fragile, so they wear out very easily, whether it's from age or aggressive movements or sports (gymnastics, horse riding, extreme falls targeting the lower part of your body, etc…)
There is also a type of hymen which is extremely elastic. This type can be stretched when having sex without breaking if there is a sufficient opening. If the opening is small, that means you will not be able to have sex unless having a minor surgery to remove part of the hymen.
Does a woman bleed only when the hymen breaks?
This is one of the most common misconceptions. A woman can bleed during her first intercourse due to several reasons:
1. If she isn't aroused and lubricated enough during penetration, causing tearing and abrasion to the tissue of a woman's vulva, which leads to bleeding.
2. When the man is too rough during sex, which causes the tearing of the tissue inside a woman's vulva.
3. Due to medical infections, where sexually transmitted infections could cause bleeding.
4. As a result of hymen breakage.
In conclusion, this is the basic information you need to know about hymens. Virginity is not about a piece of membrane that wears off with time, or a few drops of blood that could be the result of rough intercourse. It is the mutual trust between two people.
Love yourself enough to live a healthy lifestyle! Check out our Health & Fitness section here.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


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LEGO® DUPLO® Number Train 10847
Introduce STEM toys early with the LEGO® DUPLO® Number Train. It's a colorful introduction to numbers and counting. Your toddler will love to build and rebuild this developmental toy, learning early number recognition as they go! This set is the perfect educational gift for little ones and a great introduction to the LEGO STEM sets. With two child DUPLO® figures and a cat figure, the set provides endless storytelling and creativity for little minds. If you're looking for a learning toy or STEM gift, the Number Train is your best bet, and DUPLO® bricks are designed to be safe and suitable for little hands.
- Includes two child LEGO® DUPLO® figures, plus a cat figure.
- Features a buildable locomotive and three wagons.
- Includes bricks decorated with numbers 0 to 9.
- Use the decorated bricks to teach your child about numbers and counting.
- Encourage building and role-play.
- LEGO® DUPLO® products are specially designed to be safe and easy for little hands.
- This set offers an age-appropriate build and play experience for ages 1½-3 years.
- Train with wagons attached measures over 3" (10cm) high, 14" (37cm) long and 2" (6cm) wide.


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Service: Bathymetric Mapping
ILM works with BioBase to create high quality bathymetric maps using sub-foot accuracy GPS and a sonar depth sounder. Maps can be used to identify good fishing holes and areas of sediment accumulation. Over time, sediment accumulates in lakes and ponds due to storm water runoff and erosion. It is important to monitor sediment thickness every few years. If the sediment is accumulating quickly, then preventative measures can be taken around the shoreline and in the watershed to stop erosion. Also, if the sediment is building up to where watercraft navigation is hindered or simply the lake or pond's capacity to hold water is diminishing, ILM can perform dredging feasibility studies and develops permit applications. Periodic bathymetric mapping can help determine the amount of sediment loading over time and to efficiently locate the problematic areas.

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


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Location of Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbor
|Nearest city:||Bodega Bay, California|
|Area:||3,170 acres (1,280 ha)|
|Added to NRHP:||December 18, 1973|
|Designated CHISL:||November 3, 1969|
Bodega Bay is a shallow, rocky inlet of the Pacific Ocean on the coast of northern California in the United States. It is approximately 5 mi (8 km) across and is located approximately 40 mi (60 km) northwest of San Francisco and 20 mi (32 km) west of Santa Rosa. The bay straddles the boundary between Sonoma County to the north and Marin County to the south. The bay is a marine habitat used for navigation, recreation, and commercial and sport fishing including shellfish harvesting.
Bodega Bay is protected on its north end from the Pacific Ocean by Bodega Head, which shelters the small Bodega Harbor and is separated from the main bay by a jetty. The San Andreas Fault runs parallel to the coastline and bisects Bodega Head, which lies on the Pacific Plate; the town is on the North American Plate. The village of Bodega Bay sits on the east side of Bodega Harbor. The bay connects on its south end to the mouth of Tomales Bay.
Streams flowing into Bodega Bay include the Estero de San Antonio and the Estero Americano. Accessible beaches on Bodega Bay include Doran Regional Park (on the jetty) and Pinnacle Gulch. Apart from the harbor, all of Bodega Bay lies within the boundaries of the Gulf of the Farallones National Marine Sanctuary.
Coast Miwok native Americans lived on the shores of Bodega Bay. Documented village names include: Helapattai, Hime-takala, Ho-takala, and Tokau. There is speculation that Bodega Bay may have been Sir Francis Drake's Nova Albion landing location on the California coast.
Present day Bodega Bay was first charted in 1775 by the Spanish Peruvian explorer of the Spanish Navy Juan Francisco de la Bodega y Quadra, but the bay that was originally named for him was not present day Bodega, but Tomales Bay. His ship, the Sonora, anchored in the lee of Tomales Point on October 3, 1775, departing the next day. Bodega y Quadra named Tomales Bay Puerto de la Bodega. "There is no evidence in the journal or on the charts that Bodega y Quadra ever saw the entrance to [present day] Bodega Harbour or knew of the lagoon to the north". Bodega y Quadra planned to return, but was not able to. Later, as commandant of the naval base at San Blas, New Spain, Bodega y Quadra sent other expeditions to Bodega Bay with the intention of establishing a colony and mission there. It was decided, however, that the location was non-ideal. "With the failure of the Bodega settlement, the Spanish left the field clear for Russian occupation" The first Russians to see Bodega Bay were the supervisors of the Aleut hunting parties aboard the American otter hunting ship Peacock in 1807. Timofei Osipovich Tarakanov of the Russian-American Company returned to Novo Arkhangelsk, Alaska and reported the location to Alexander Andreyevich Baranov the chief administrator of the RAC. Baranov instructed his assistant Kuskov to reconnoiter the area for a settlement. Commerce Counselor Ivan Alexandrovich Kuskov, of the Russian-American Company,sailing in the Kodiak, entered Bodega Bay on January 8, 1809. Instructed by Baranov to leave "secret signs" (possession plates), Kuskov buried possession plaques at Trinidad Harbour, Bodega Head,(or Tomales Point) and on the north shore of San Francisco Bay, indicating the Company's intention to claim this section of northern California for Russia. Temporary buildings were erected to house the Kodiak's complement of 190 crew (130 native Alaskan males, 20 native females,and 40 Russians)
The Kodiak remained in Bodega Bay until October, 1809, returning to Alaska with over 2,000 otter pelts. Kuskov returned to Novo Arkhangelsk, Alaska, reporting abundant fur bearing mammals, fish, timber and tillable lands. Baranov instructed Kuskov to return and establish a permanent settlement in the area. In 1811 Kuskov returned, this time aboard the Chirikov but found fewer otter in Bodega Bay (only 1,160 otter skins were taken). Three American ships were also operating in the area from a base in Drake's Bay, sending hunters into San Francisco Bay and the surrounding bays. Kuskov sailed the Brig Chirikov back to present day Bodega Harbour on March 15,1812, and "Since Bodega Anchorage and Bodega Harbour had not been claimed or named by the Spanish" Kuskov named it Rumyantzev, in honor of the Russian Minister of Commerce, Count Nikolai Petrovich Rumiantzof.
Zaliv Rumiantsev (Rumiantsev Bay) appears on the earliest Russian charts of Bodega Bay (1817–1819) identifying present day Bodega Bay and Bodega Harbour. Bodega Head was named Mouis Rumiantsev (Point Rumiantsev) While Tomales Point was named Point Great Bodega and Tomales Bay Great Bodega Bay, more or less conforming to Bodega y Quadra's original naming.
On his return Kuskov found otter now scarce in Bodega Bay, the harbour having been frequented by numerous American and English otter-hunting expeditions. After exploring the area they ended up selecting a place 15 mi (24 km) north that the native Kashaya Pomo people called Mad shui nui or Metini. Metini, the seasonal home of the native Kashaya Pomo people, had a modest anchorage and abundant natural resources and would become the Russian settlement of Fort Ross. By 1817 sea otter in the area were practically eliminated by international over-hunting. Zaliv Rumiantsev continued to be the main entre'port for the Russian Colony until January,1842, and the earliest European structures built at Bodega Bay were the wharf, warehouse and barracks of the Russian-American Company. Bodega Bay remained an active harbor for shipping lumber until the 1870s, when the North Pacific Coast Railroad was built, bypassing the coast in favor of a more inland route.
Bodega Bay was the setting for the 1963 Alfred Hitchcock film, The Birds, starring Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren and Suzanne Pleshette. The original 1980 horror film The Fog was also filmed in both Bodega Bay and the town as both locations are subject to thick and heavy fog.
Pacific Gas & Electric planned to build the first commercially viable nuclear power plant in the USA at Bodega Bay. The proposal was controversial and conflict with local citizens began in 1958. In 1963 there was a large demonstration at the site of the proposed Bodega Bay Nuclear Power Plant. The conflict ended in 1964, with the forced abandonment of plans for the power plant.
Marine protected areas near Bodega Bay
Like underwater parks, these marine protected areas help conserve ocean wildlife and marine ecosystems.
- Russian River State Marine Reserve and Russian River State Marine Conservation Area
- Bodega Head State Marine Reserve & Bodega Head State Marine Conservation Area
- Estero Americano State Marine Recreational Management Area
- Estero de San Antonio State Marine Recreational Management Area
See also
- "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2010-07-09.
- "Bodega Bay and Harbor". Office of Historical Preservation, California State Parks. Retrieved 2012-10-15.
- State of California Water Quality Control Plan North Coastal Basin 1B July 1975 p.13
- "Sonoma County Regional Parks".
- "Access Genealogy: Miwok Indian Tribe".
- "Drake Latitudes on the Coast of California in 1579". Retrieved 2009-08-21.
- Clinton R. Edwards, Pacific Historical Review, 1964 vol.33: Wandering Toponyms:Puerto de la Bodega and Bodega Bay
- Adele Ogden, The California sea otter trade, _PHONE_, pg.58
- Hubert Howe Bancroft, Alfred Bates, Ivan Petroff, William Nemos (1887). History of Alaska: _PHONE_. San Francisco, California: A. L. Bancroft & company. p. 482. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2010.
- Thompson, R. A. (1896). The Russian Settlement in California Known as Fort Ross, Founded 1812...Abandoned 1841: Why They Came and Why They Left. Santa Rosa, California: Sonoma Democrat Publishing Company. p. 3. ISBN 0-559-89342-6. Retrieved Jan. 9, 2010.
- Suzanne Stewart and Adrian Praetzellis (November, 2003). Archeological Research Issues for the Point Reyes National Seashore - Golden Gate National Recreation Area (Report). Anthropological Studies Center, Sonoma State University. p. 335. _URL_


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The 10th issue of BUWA! is focusing on Women Human Rights Defenders (WHRDs). Across the globe, continent and much more recently in southern Africa, there are increased reports of political violence, arbitrary detentions, systematic attacks on human rights and pro-democracy activists. We are alive to the fact that while all HRDS have increasingly faced tougher operating conditions in the past decade, WHRDs have faced even more multiple layers of the brunt in such a context – given the manner in which patriarchy often colludes with other oppressive systems that characterise the field in which HRDs work.
Buwa! 10, therefore, comes at an opportune time to look back on decades of promoting and defending women's human rights in Africa. It unpacks the experiences of WHRDs on the continent, highlighting their struggles in a context where civic space is increasingly and systematically closing. The issue unpacks how WHRDs, in particular, have navigated this 70-year-old terrain and the 2 decades of dedicated 'recognition' of their commitment to stand in the gap for others. The issue shines the spotlight on WHRDs to understand their struggles, victories and lessons to further shape the terrain in which WHRDs operate.
Join us to celebrate and launch the new issue of BUWA! Click Here for other related content


Article ID : 00031478 / Last Modified : 04/30/2020
The Portable Player Isn't Recognized When Connected to a Computer
 Follow the steps in this article if the software below doesn't recognize your portable player:
 - Windows® Media Player
 - Content Transfer
 - Media Go™ Software
 Before You Start
 - If the New Hardware Wizard appears and is prompting for a location of the driver, point to the following directory: C:/WINDOWS/INF.
 - To function properly, the computer must recognize your Walkman® player as a Media Transfer Protocol (MTP) device. If the portable player was connected to the computer and recognized as a Mass Storage Class (MSC) device it will not function properly. In this case, a different procedure is available to correct this issue.
 - For some models, it may take up to five minutes for it to be recognized or start charging for the following reasons:
 - It is the first time using the portable player.
 - If the player wasn't used for a long time.
 - Battery is drained.
 - On models with a display, the display will remain blank. If the player isn't recognized or doesn't begin to charge after waiting five minutes, press the reset button to reset the player.
 Follow the steps below if this isn't the first time using your player and it was working properly with your computer at previously with no major changes performed, such as restoring the operating system or replacing a hard drive. Check the connection status after each step.
 1. Connect the portable player to the computer using the supplied USB cable.
 IMPORTANT: The NWZ-W252 model uses a unique USB cable and will not work properly if used with any other USB cable available on the market including those supplied with similar products with USB connections. You must use the cable that was included with this model.
 2. Disconnect the USB cable from the portable player and then reconnect it.
 - Note: For the NWZ-W262 and W263: The OPR lamp will light red, indicating that battery is starting to charge, even if the connection wasn't made properly. In this case, disconnect the player from your computer and then reconnect it.
 3. Set the portable player to USB Connection Mode.
 - This setting is only available on the NWZ X series and some NWZ E series Walkman players.
 4. (Skip this step if your player isn't recognized by any software). Check for available space on the player using Windows Media® Player, Media Go™, or My Computer.
 5. If the issue still occurs after trying the steps above, you can try a reset on your player. A soft reset procedure will close all open or running applications and services, and then restart the Walkman player. No data is erased and no applications are removed.
 1. Disconnect the player from your computer
 2. Locate the reset slot on your player.
 3. Insert a small paperclip into the slot and press gently to restart the player.
 4. Once the player restarts, reconnect it to your computer.
 6. If the player is still isn't recognized, restart the computer.
 7. Check that the USB cable is firmly connected to the computer and the player.
 8. If the player is connected to a USB hub, disconnect it and connect it directly to the computer with a dedicated USB cable.
 9. Disconnect all devices connected to the computer with a USB connection and then restart the computer.
 - After the computer restarts, connect only the player and test the connection again.
 10. Try a different USB port.
 11. Under the Common settings menu of the player, format the player using the built-in Format utility.
 12. If possible, try a different computer and verify the current operating system.
 - If it is an upgraded operating system, contact the computer manufacturer for updated drivers to upgrade it to the latest version.
 - If you are running the Microsoft® Windows® XP operating system, make sure you are running Service Pack 2 (SP2) or later.
 13. If you are still can't transfer music to your player and haven't yet uninstalled and reinstalled the driver follow the procedure to confirm that the computer recognizes your player as an MTP device.


Calpine opens energy center next to Shell DP, earns EPA recognition
Calpine's DPEC will produce enough electricity to power more than 1,000,000 Texas homes. Steam generated at the facility will also be sold under a long-term agreement to Shell Chemical Company. DPEC consists of four combustion turbines, one steam turbine generator and four heat recovery steam generators.
Combined-cycle power generation uses natural gas to produce two forms of energy - steam and electricity. Burning natural gas drives a turbine generator that produces electricity. Hot exhaust gasses from the turbine are then routed to a heat recovery steam generator. Heat from the heat recovery steam generator is absorbed by circulating water, producing steam to serve Shell Chemical's needs and to power a steam turbine generator that produces additional electricity.The steam is then condensed back into water and recirculated through the heat recovery steam generator, where the process begins again.
Also at the recent dedication ceremony of Calpine's new DPEC, the EPA and the U.S. Department of Energy recognized the first phase of the Calpine Corporation Deer Park Energy Center for "leadership in energy supply" with a Energy Star Combined Heat and Power Award.
The award "demonstrates Calpine's commitment to providing power in one of the most efficient and environmentally responsible ways possible." Thirty-three of Calpine's 69 natural gas facilities are CHP, representing nearly 9,700 megawatts of power and serving an aggregate steam load of up to 18 million pounds per hour. According to company material, "this makes Calpine the leading cogeneration company in the United States."
Ron Walter, Executive Vice President, Business Development, and one of Calpine's founders 20 years ago was on hand at the DPEC dedication ceremony, along with Calpine's Peter Hansen, Vice President, Business Development, who provided an overview of the project, Kellie Byerly, Vice President, Regional Power Executive, Andrew Siegelstein, Senior Project Manager, and William Chenette, Plant Manager.
Calpine's Deer Park Energy Center's first combustion turbine began operation in 2003, producing 178 megawatts of baseload power and up to 1.1 million pounds per hour of steam. Now that the facility is completed, it consists of four combustion turbines, one steam turbine generator and four heat recovery steam generators that can produce up to 1,007 megawatts of power. Steam is utilized by the joint Shell Deer Park Oil Refining Company and Shell Chemical LP manufacturing facility adjacent to Calpine's site. Calpine sells the electricity to its other industrial and residential customers in the deregulated Texas market, which provides competitive access for energy procurement.
A Calpine press release states that the new DPEC project "helps the Houston/Galveston area in its efforts to achieve Federal Clean Air Act Compliance. For instance, compared to the average fossil fueled power plants in the United States, Calpine's fleet emits, on a megawatt-hour basis, 96 percent less nitrogen oxide, a major cause of smog, nearly 100 percent less sulfur dioxide, a major cause of acid rain, 53.4 percent less carbon dioxide and almost 84 percent less particulate matter, a contributor to respiratory problems. Also, unlike coal-fired plants, Calpine's power plants have no mercury emissions, a major health hazard."
Calpine is a member of the EPA/CHP Partnership, which seeks to reduce the environmental impact of power generation by fostering the use of CHP. The EnergyStar CHP award recognizes projects that use at least 5 percent less fuel than state-of-the-art separate power-and-heat generation. By significantly improving efficiency, award-winning projects save money while reducing greenhouse gases, such as C02, and other air pollutants, including NOx, S02, and particulate matter.
Calpine is the largest independent power producer in the Electric Reliability Council of Texas with 11 power plants capable of generating more than 6,700 megawatts of electricity. Calpine describes their facilities as "the cleanest, most fuel-efficient natural gas-fired facilities that provide power under both shortand long-term contracts to wholesale and industrial power customers."
Calpine marks its 20th year in operation this year. Calpine is one of the nation's leading independent power producers and the largest in Texas. Headquartered in San Jose, California, Calpine builds and operates power plants fueled by natural gas and renewable geothermal steam. DPEC will consume "40 percent less fuel per megawatt hour produced than older fossil-fueled plants while also reducing emissions." According to Calpine literature, "gas-fired power plants such as DPEC represent the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. power industry.


text:
I'm just curious, I was looking at this question with a view to answer it, and suddenly the Community bot deleted it for abuse/spam. It didn't seem like either; it was just a regular question. Does anyone know why?
(Possible duplicate of Why is this answer "spam or offensive"?, but I don't have the tools personally to determine if it's the same cause.)
The question used to read, immediately before deletion and censorship,
How on earth do you graph $2 x^3 - 3 x^2 - 36 x + 7$ by hand?
I found this equation in a maths textbook that asked me to graph it, so to do so I tried to factor it. I used two different online calculators that couldn't do it either.
But I graphed it on Mathematica on turns out you can graph it?


How long does child support last?
Child support rules are set by individual states, so there is no universally set age at which child support ends. However, the purpose of child support is to ensure that a child enjoys a standard of living comparable to his parents and that the child is financially supported by both parents and this helps determine how long support must be paid.
When Child Support Ends
While the laws vary between jurisdictions, there are some common milestones that set standard ages and are applicable in many states. For example, many states dictate that a parent is only responsible for child support until the child's 18th birthday. Similarly, other states may require support until either age 19 or 21. Aside from age, another common milestone used to determine the duration of child support is graduating from high school. In this case a state will require child support to continue until the child graduates high school, regardless of age.
There may also be special circumstances or provisions in place if a child is disabled or will require care beyond the period of normal childhood. These rules are also determined on a state level and may vary greatly.
Other Situations
Aside from ending when a child reaches the age of maturity, as set by the state, child support can also be terminated in the event of the child's death, if the child goes on active duty in the armed forces, or if the child becomes emancipated or self-supporting.


text:
In this video and guide we show you the best way to start an online lesson in Microsoft Teams. Follow the tips below if you want to control presenters and have more control over the video conference.
Tip 1 – Create your lesson in the calendar view
Creating your lesson in the calendar rather than directly from your class team channel gives you a number of benefits including:
- Sends out an email invitation to all students
- If students accept the invitation it will add it to their own personal outlook calendar providing structure to their day.
- You can stop students from being presenters (and some of the disruption they could cause)
When creating the calendar invite, there is no need to add the students individually, you just need to select the class as shown below.
Tip 2 – Stop students presenting
By default, students are also presenters which means they can share their screens and kick others out of the meeting. This may disrupt the lesson, but you can change this setting!
Save the calendar meeting and wait for it to finish setting up (it becomes bold in the calendar view).
Once you go back into the calendar item, you will see there are additional menu items for controlling the meeting options.
Select "Meeting options" and then change the presenter to "Only Me" and press "Save".
Tip 3 – Mute microphones
The first 4 students who join the meeting will have their mics unmuted, use the "Mute all" button at any point during the lesson.
Tip 4 – Share screens
Use the share button to share your screen or present an application or file.
Tip 5 – Mention that the lesson is about to start
Mentioning the class will send them an instant notification in teams. Use it to notify them that the lesson is about to start.
Tip 6 – Record the lesson
Some students may not be able to make it to your lesson in time. Ensure no one misses out and that they can use it for revision purposes by recording the meeting.
We hope you find these tips useful. Good luck with your online lessons!


text:
Policing the fake: Regulation, Xenophobia and the rise of 'fake-talk' in South Africa
I am an anthropologist of the state working on state sponsored violence and control in Africa. My research topic for this project is on policing the fake: regulation, xenophobia and the rise of fake talk in South Africa. This is important to study because the rise of xenophobia enhanced fake talk around foreign goods and people in South Africa. The way in which anti-counterfeit regulations reformat fake talk is visible in xenophobic sentiments around S.A where fakeness goes beyond describing goods to describing and defining foreigners. I will do this through looking at the history and ethnography of policing speaking to regulators, retailers, consumers and organizations in Johannesburg, South Africa. Engaging historically and ethnographically with the language around fakeness in the context of xenophobia enables this research to explore the persistence of fake talk and giving an understanding of 'who speaks fake-talk?' and 'what do they say?'
This research will take place mostly in Johannesburg, South Africa. Johannesburg is important because of the recent (2019) xenophobic violence and the raids on foreign nationals trading in 'counterfeit' goods by the metropolitan and national police. This raised interesting questions not only about fake talk, or what constitutes counterfeit goods but about policing strategies and how they both enhance and feed into fake talk.


text:
Administratively, Yunnan is divided into 16 prefectures. Some of those are autonomous prefectures for various ethnic groups. For the traveller, Yunnan can be divided into seven regions:
Regions of Yunnan
Kunming Prefecture Without a doubt the heart of Yunnan Province. You will likely pass through here whether or not you want to in Yunnan (not that it is a bad thing!)
Central Yunnan West of Kunming and where the hills start becoming more rugged. This is a very popular region for backpackers. It includes Dali Prefecture and Chuxiong Prefecture
Eastern Yunnan Filled with the gorgeous scenery of the rolling hills of neighboring Guizhou and Guangxi transforming into the high, hilly plateau of Yunnan. This area includes many tourist sites not regularly visited by backpackers. It includes Zhaotong Prefecture, Qujing Prefecture and Wenshan Prefecture
Southeastern Yunnan Amazingly diverse, in one day you could pass through arid badlands, lush pine forests, barren hills and tropical rainforests. The urban centres in this area of Yunnan are very compact and it is quite easy to get around from city to city to see the sights. It includes Yuxi Prefecture and Honghe Hani and Yi Autonomous Prefecture
Southern Yunnan Geographically and ethnically part of Southeast Asia, but politically part of China. Jungle covers most of the terrain and this is probably the best region of China to escape the winter. It includes Simao Prefecture and Xishuangbanna, a major tourist area
Western Yunnan Home to some very rugged, off-the-beaten-path terrain. Once the location of the famed Burma Road, it is now one of China's most alluring destinations. It includes Lincang Prefecture, Baoshan Prefecture, Dehong Prefecture and Nujiang Prefecture
Northwestern Yunnan A chunk of ancient and historic Tibet within Yunnan's provincial boundaries. Many travelers come here to experience Tibet without having to enter the actual province and follow the road to West Sichuan. You will find towering mountain ranges and fascinating local culture here. It includes Lijiang Prefecture and Diqing Prefecture
Its name literally means south of the clouds. The province is one of the most diverse in China. The Northwest of the province is heavily influenced by Tibet, with whom it shares a border. The South is influenced by its proximity to Laos and Myanmar. The province is famed for its multitude of ethnic groups, whose diverse customs can still be seen today. Of China's fifty-five officially recognized ethnic minorities, twenty-five can be found in Yunnan: about one-third of the population is not ethnic Han-Chinese.
The official language of Yunnan is Mandarin Chinese (or Putonghua as it is known). The region is home to a plethora of dialects from Chinese, Tibetan and Thai language families. Yunnan is home to many minority groups who each have their own different language.
Local towns will often have their own version of Mandarin which are sub-dialects of the South-Western dialect of Mandarin common to Yunnan, Guizhou and Sichuan. Despite a heavy accent, the local dialect of Chinese is very similar to Northern Mandarin with only minor regional differences in grammar and pronunciation.
Until 2005, Kunming was accessible by rail from Hanoi, Vietnam via a narrow-gauge railroad built by the French. The Chinese section of this rail route is now closed, though, so the best way to get down to the border is by bus to Hekou (from where you can cross the border to Lao Cai and take the train to Hanoi), or by air from Kunming directly to Hanoi.
There is a railway from Hanoi to Nanning, Guangxi, and one with some sensational scenery from Nanning to Kunming. Another rail route reaches Kunming from central China via Guiyang, Guizhou, and a third one comes South to Kunming from Chengdu, Sichuan. All of these train routes offer spectacular scenery, with long stretches of bridges and tunnels.
Wujiaba Airport in Kunming is the biggest airport in Yunnan which is very near the urban, the taxi fare is about 10-15 Rmb if you want to go to any place of Kunming from the airport.
Kunming has non-stop service from Beijing, Xiamen and other Chinese cities. There are also flights to Southeast Asia. Laotian airlines and the consulate are both in the Camellia hotel, Kunming.
Bus, by thumb
There are multiple roads from Laos into Yunnan. It's not too hard to hitchhike, but it will take some time because of the often abyssmal road conditions and inept drivers. If coming from Luang Namtha, Laos, bus services are available to JingHong in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan. From Luang Prabang, Laos, a daily bus leaves at 7:00am for around 400,000 Lao kip. It arrives at the long distance bus station in Kunming very early in the morning the next day (around 5 or 6am depending on the driver). The road conditions on the Laos side both from Luang Namtha and Luang Prabang are at times sketchy and definitely mountainous to cause some people discomfort but get smoother on the China side and are much improved from awhile ago.
From Vietnam, the border crossing is from LaoCai, Vietnam, to HeKou, China. The rail route from HeKou to Kunming remains closed, so the only public transport option is by bus. The ride lasts roughly 10 hours, tickets cost around 135rmb and departure times are as following: 8:45am, 1050am, 1230pm, 100pm, 550pm, 555pm, 600pm, 605pm.
Golden Peacock Shipping company runs a speedboat three times a week on the Mekong river between Jinghong in southern Yunnan and Chiang Saen (Thailand). Passengers are not required to have visas for Laos or Myanmar, although the greater part of the trip is on the river bordering these countries.
Everything and everywhere is accessible by bus from Kunming. Dali takes about four hours, Lijiang seven, Zhongdian twelve. Generally, the transport network is built as hub and spoke, so the easiest way of getting to a smaller place is to travel to next biggest town near it, change and maybe change again. You can now reach most larger towns in Yunnan by day bus. There is a large collection of bus schedules, taken at bus stations all around the province, at.
Kunming is also the hub of train transport in Yunnan. Day and night trains now go both to Dali and Lijiang. Otherwise trains are of little importance to tourists inside the province.
Bicycle touring in Yunnan is a very good way to explore the local landscape and many cyclists from world have done this.The Dian-Zang highway(Yunnan Tibet highway) is one of the best cycling routes in China, and many cyclists gather together to explore the landscape and ethnic minority culture. You can hire bicycles in some cities, like Lijiang and Dali. It is possible to delivery your bike by train or bus. Yunnan Cycling a local cycling website.
The Caves of the Liujng (Wenshan region)
The Stone Forest (Kunming region)
Hike the Mekong (Lancang) River
Soak in the hot spring waters at Anning - 34 km from Kunming
For the game of Go (Chinese: weiqi 围棋), the best Chinese stones are Yúnzǐ (云子), Yunnan stones. They are quite different from Japanese stones, and much cheaper. The flower and bird market in Kunming is a good place to pick up a set, and it is possible to visit the factory near Kunming. See the Yunzi article on the go players' wiki, Sensei's Library.
Puer tea. Puer tea (普洱茶) is a local favorite of Yunnan.
Guo Qiao Mi Xian, meaning "Crossing the Bridge" Noodles, is a local style of steamy noodles with a variety of vegetables, meats, and usually a raw quail egg. The price of Guo Qiao Mi Xian is from Rmb 3 to 15 or higher, which determines what types of dishes you are given to add to the mix.
Yunnan people eat lots of spicy food, nearly each dish you order in a restaurant is very spicy, so if you don't like spicy food, you should tell the waiter or waitress first, in Mandarin: wo bu chi la, which means I don't eat spicy food or wo bu xi huan la cai, which means I don't like spicy food.
The tofu in Shi Ping county /石屏/ is very famous. The sauerkraut in Xinping county is famous. Xinping is a Yi Nationality Autonomous County in Yuxi city.
RuBing, Yunnan goat cheese, is one of the two cheeses (the other being Yak cheese) traditionally produced in China. Its quite soft and doesn't taste as strong as Western ones. It is usually served fried with vegetables, musrooms, or meat.
LaoNaiYangYu (Grandmother's Potatoes) are another Yunnan favorite. While potatoes are usually called Tudou in the rest of China, Yunnan calls them


text:
Current QOF targets are little more than process-driven, tick-box measures, according to London GP Dr Mark Levy, who was appointed respiratory expert advisor for QOF at NICE last year.
Indicators that measure the actual outcome of care are needed to drive standards in chronic disease management, even if they are unpopular with some in the profession, he said.
Dr Levy told GP: 'We need more outcome-driven QOF indicators like, for example, readmission for acute asthma. That will drive change.'
He added: 'That's the thing that would make a difference. And it's not just asthma, it's most chronic diseases'.
But he admitted the idea may be unpopular with GP leaders. 'The GP politicians would say no, [because] you can tick a box to say you have done an asthma review, but you can't tick a box to say [you have] reduced readmissions.'
In a speech at the European Respiratory Society (ERS)) annual congress in Amsterdam, the Netherlands this week, Dr Levy singled out key issues that still persist among primary care treatment for asthma: 'Systemic steroids are still underused. Objective measures [to assess patients] are still underused. There is inadequate routine management and national guidelines are not being followed.'
Dr Levy also urged GPs to encourage patients with asthma who smoke to stop as a first step to reducing hospital admissions: 'Patients come into GP surgery, we ask them if they smoke. We tick the box, but we don't take it further.'
He is leading a National Review of Asthma Deaths, a project by the Royal College of Physicians to investigate how and why 1,200 people die from asthma each year. Around nine in 10 asthma deaths are believed to be preventable.


Changing Contexts – Changing Meaning: A Sketch of Semantic Seismography
Why does for some words the context of usage change? Often we can identify phases of intensive context changes in which clues to possible causes can be found. Examples of such phases are:
 - controversial discussions in which the proponents or opponents of a position use central words in completely different contexts;
 - punctual events such as natural disasters, historical events or technological changes, in which not only new words are introduced but at the same time old words are used in new contexts;
 - cyclical events such as „Olympia", in which the location of the event and the names of the actors acting or affected change in a time cycle determined by the event.
For the recognition of context changes, the lecture introduces the measure of context volatility. This makes it possible to quantify the rates of context change of words in a diachronic corpus over a given period of time and to identify exploratively those words whose context of use has changed conspicuously over this period. Normalising the rate of change, words of different frequency classes can also be compared with each other. Compared to the pure frequency analysis, low-frequency words can thus also be included in the analysis, for example, for the detection of weak signals, which are often indicated by early changes in the context of usage of low-frequency words. In addition to the highly volatile words, words whose contexts of usage change little over a longer period of time can also be identified, for example, because they are part of a formulaic language in a technical or legal context, or because they represent a political or social consensus in the period under consideration.


text:
FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — This month, crews at the Site C Dam project opened the gates to two diversion tunnels on the north bank of the Peace River.
The tunnels, each approximately 750 metres long and 11 metres in diameter, will be used to divert a portion of the river while crews build an earthfill dam across the main river channel.
BC Hydro officials reminded boaters and other river users to stay away from the area due to the powerful river current pulling into the diversion tunnels.
A two-kilometre section of the Peace River around the Site C dam was closed to boaters this June when a debris boom was installed across the main river channel.
Earlier this year, crews began placing a rockfill berm across the river to seal off an area for the dam to be built on dry land, while keeping the water flowing through the tunnels on the north bank.
BC Hydro officials advised that river conditions will likely change over the next few months without warning and river users should use caution.
The Peace River will be diverted until the completion of the Site C dam, at which point BC Hydro will close the diversion tunnels and water will flow through the generating station and spillway.


text:
This edition of the Proceedings of the 9th European Symposium on Structure-Activity Relationships: QSAR and Molecular Modelling held from September 7-11, 1992 in Strasbourg, France deals with various areas of structure-activity relationships and their applications in the design of new drugs. The approximately 175 contributions in the book highlight the interdisciplinary approach between QSAR, molecular modelling and databank-based research in the design and development process of new drug candidates, and demonstrates the efficacy of these techniques by introducing rationalization at a very early stage in the discovery of bioactive compounds.
Internationally renowned specialists review methodologies in the field of SAR concepts and computer-assisted drug design, covering such topics as:
De novo design
X-ray and NMR-based drug design
Parameters and interactions.


text:
Patient registries can be a powerful tool. They can help researchers:
In discussions with NIH's Office of Rare Diseases Research (ORDR) on establishing an APBD patient registry, here is a recap of their thoughts:
- The process lends itself to developing a comfort level with a registry provider that will give the best product
- The selected solution should provide access to de-identified information and the ability to search and analyze the data
- The setup should facilitate the ability to provide de-identified data to the Global Rare Diseases Patient Registry and Data Repository (GRDR) established by NIH. This may result in leading other potential patients to our organization.
- Finalized patient registry questions can be shared with NIH ORDR.
- ORDR has developed an informed consent template that can be used in establishing APBD registry
What your donation will fund:
Annual maintenance fee $15,000
Naming opportunity available


text:
Site is zoned "Agriculture" and "Residential Multi Family"
The proposed project includes the installation of two new water storage tanks (400,000 gallons each), located approximately 530 feet northeast of the existing community reservoir, in order to meet community fire flow demands. Each new tank would be approximately 25.5 feet tall, with a diameter of 50 feet. Total disturbance includes 0.6 acres of earth disturbance for the proposed tank pad and access road. The project includes proposed infrastructure improvements for water pipelines to increase flow capacity per CalFire requirements. With the exception of approximately 300 feet of pipeline connecting the new tanks to the existing reservoir, all pipeline improvements will be installed within existing utility easements, utility conduits and otherwise previously disturbed areas.
Air Resources Board, Major Industrial ProjectsCalifornia Coastal CommissionCalifornia Department of Parks and RecreationCalifornia Highway PatrolCaltrans, District 5Department of ConservationDepartment of Fish and Wildlife, Region 4Native American Heritage CommissionOffice of Historic PreservationRegional Water Quality Control Board, Region 3Resources AgencyState Lands CommissionState Water Resources Control Board, Division of Drinking Water, District 6State Water Resources Control Board, Division of Water Quality


text:
Announcing the invention of a radical new type of bridge capable of spanning long distances across deep water.
The inventor claims this bridge design will make crossing long expanses of deep water possible. The "Hamilton Deep Water Bridge" will make the construction of bridges across places like the English Channel or the Straits of Messina, etc., practical and economically feasible.
Where now, only ferry transportation connects locations separated by long distance and deep water, this new bridge will make driving safely, between these locations possible. There are many locations around the world where a bridge of this type can be used. One of the unique design features of the bridge are the economical "ocean pressure" foundations which secure the bridge to the ocean floor and support the super structure. This new design will bring bridge construction into the 21st century.
Donald L. Hamilton, Inventor
104 Ramona Ave. Buffalo, NY 14220
"Imagination beyond the cutting edge"


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The Outsiders Test | Final Test - Medium
Purchase our The Outsiders Lesson Plans
Final Test - Medium
Name: _____________________________ Period: ___________________________
Multiple Choice Questions
1. How long does Ponyboy stay in bed after the rumble?
(a) Two days.
(b) A month.
(c) All weekend.
(d) A week.
2. What does Ponyboy threaten the three Socs at the grocery store with?
(a) A knife.
(b) A gun.
(c) His fists.
(d) A broken Pepsi bottle.
3. Who is present at Ponyboy's hearing?
(a) Everyone in town.
(b) No one.
(c) The people involved in Bob's murder and Ponyboy's doctor.
(d) Just Darry and Soda.
4. How does Ponyboy feel about having to stay in bed after the rumble?
(a) It drives him crazy.
(b) It makes him angry.
(c) He enjoys it.
(d) It makes him sad.
5. What does Cherry tell Ponyboy that the Socs have planned for the rumble?
(a) She says they will fight fair and without weapons.
(b) She says they are going to bring guns.
(c) She says the Socs have warned the police about the rumble.
(d) She says the Socs aren't going to show up.
Short Answer Questions
1. Who does Ponyboy go to the grocery store with in Chapter 12?
2. What does Darry scold Ponyboy for doing in bed after the rumble?
3. What does Two-Bit give Dally in the hospital?
4. Why does Ponyboy have to write a semester theme?
5. Who is delusional about Johnny's death?
(see the answer keys)
This section contains 241 words
(approx. 1 page at 300 words per page)
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Thursday, May 28, 2020
The Spiritual Life - What is spiritual health?
Spiritual Health - Home | Facebook
What is spiritual health?
Spiritual health is not usually named as a thing. Human beings are much more likely to talk about physical health, mental health, financial health, public health, community health, and the health of various systems.
One of the components of the UU A Way Of Life is to improve spiritual health. Before we can improve spiritual health we have to have a baseline, a reference point from which to compare. To ascertain a baseline we have to have a description of its components and indicators of the presence and strength of those components we can measure. What are the components of spiritual health? Here's a suggested list to start:
 1. Peace and joy
 2. Kindness
 3. Forgiveness
 4. Attunement to the nondualistic Oneness
 5. Unconditional love
 6. Mindfulness
 7. Felt connection to the interdependent web
 8. Freedom from and freedom to
 9. Self efficacy
The way these components can be measured simply is to answer the question, "To what extent has this factor been present in your life in the past several months or year on a scale of 0 -10 with 0 meaning 0% of the time, 10 meaning 100% of the time and 5 meaning 50% of the time?" This is meant to be a self report, and it may be helpful to get a best friend or trusted other who knows you very well like a spiritual director, a therapist, a life partner to rate their perception of the presence of these factors in your life as well.
Once a rating has been identified, this is your baseline. The next question is how can you kick it up a notch over coming months or year?
You can use this model right now to rate your level of spiritual health. Let's say over the last six months to what extent has each component been present in your life?
After you give yourself a rating on each component determine one component you'd like to work on for the next month or so and make a plan to practice. Start small, review frequently, learn as you go, and re-rate in a month's time.
In subsequent articles we will provide more detailed descriptions of each component and ideas for improvement.
 1. Truly helpful. It's a wonderful model you are developing. As I picked an indicator like peace and joy, over the last six months I gave myself a 3 especially with the Covid-19 stuff, impeachment, police murders of black citizens, political corruption, etc. How do I not let these things destroy my peace and joy?
 2. The United States is one of the most spiritually sick nations on earth. Its inequality, racism, materialism, unrestrained military might, and unjust criminal justice system make it evil.
 The fact that they would elect a psychopath like Donald Trump and tolerate and enable his moral turpetude tells you a lot about the spiritual health of the country.


text:
The Flo by Moen Smart Water Shutoff can catch small drips through the Health Test that are too small for the flow sensor to pick up. To find the leak, run a Health Test from the Control Panel. Before you start, verify that all fixtures are closed.
Articles in this section
- How do I turn on / off my water through the Flo by Moen App?
- What's the difference between Home, Away, and Sleep modes?
- Flo by Moen™ Lithium Ion Battery Backup
- How to change the email address on your Flo by Moen account
- How to unlink your Flo by Moen device
- How do I replace my Smart Water Shutoff?
- Enabling TCP Ports for wireless routers to pair your Smart Water Shutoff
- How does the Smart Water Shutoff measure flow rate? Temperature gradient?
- How does the Smart Water Shutoff categorize a catastrophic leak which shuts off water?
- How does Flo's machine learning software handle reverse osmosis systems?


PHP 5.4.36 Released
asort
(PHP 4, PHP 5)
asortOrdina un array e mantiene le associazioni degli indici
Descrizione
bool asort ( array $array [, int $sort_flags ] )
Questa funzione ordina un array in modo tale che i suoi indici mantengano la loro correlazione con gli elementi ai quali sono associati. Viene usata principalmente nell'ordinamento degli array associativi, quando la disposizione originaria degli elementi è importante.
Restituisce TRUE in caso di successo, FALSE in caso di fallimento.
Example #1 esempio di asort()
<?php
$frutta
= array("d"=>"limone""a"=>"arancia""b"=>"banana""c"=>"mela");
asort($frutta);
reset($frutta);
while (list(
$chiave$valore) = each($frutta)) {
 echo
"$chiave = $valore\n";
}
?>
Questo esempio mostrerà:
a = arancia
b = banana
d = limone
c = mela
I frutti sono ordinati in ordine alfabetico, e l'indice associato ad ogni elemento è stato mantenuto.
È possibile modificare il comportamento dell'ordinamento usando il parametro opzionale sort_flags, per maggiori dettagli vedere sort().
Vedere anche arsort(), rsort(), ksort() e sort().
add a note add a note
User Contributed Notes 27 notes
up
12
richard at happymango dot me dot uk
8 years ago
This is a function to sort an indexed 2D array by a specified sub array key, either ascending or descending.
It is usefull for sorting query results from a database by a particular field after the query has been returned
This function can be quite greedy. It recreates the array as a hash to use ksort() then back again
By default it will sort ascending but if you specify $reverse as true it will return the records sorted descending
<?php
function record_sort($records, $field, $reverse=false)
{

$hash = array();

 foreach(
$records as $record)
 {

$hash[$record[$field]] = $record;
 }

 (
$reverse)? krsort($hash) : ksort($hash);

$records = array();

 foreach(
$hash as $record)
 {

$records []= $record;
 }

 return
$records;
}
// Example below
$airports = array
(
 array(
"code" => "LHR", "name" => "Heathrow" ),
 array(
"code" => "LGW", "name" => "Gatwick" ),
);
printf("Before:
%s
", print_r($airports, true));
$airports = record_sort($airports, "name");
printf("After:
%s
", print_r($airports, true));
?>
Example Outputs:
Before: Array
(
 [0] => Array ( [code] => LHR, [name] => Heathrow )
 [1] => Array ( [code] => LGW, [name] => Gatwick )
)
After: Array
(
 [0] => Array ( [code] => LGW, [name] => Gatwick )
 [1] => Array ( [code] => LHR, [name] => Heathrow )
)
up
12
nick ([AT]) nickyost ([DOT]) com
3 years ago
This function can be used to sort multidimensional arrays with almost no work whatsoever by using the individual values within the custom sort function.
This function passes the entire child element even if it is not a string. If it is an array, as would be the case in multidimensional arrays, it will pass the whole child array as one parameter.
Therefore, do something elegant like this:
<?php

// Sort the multidimensional array

usort($results, "custom_sort");

// Define the custom sort function

function custom_sort($a,$b) {
 return
$a['some_sub_var']>$b['some_sub_var'];
 }
?>
This does in 4 lines what other functions took 40 to 50 lines to do. This does not require you to create temporary arrays or anything. This is, for me, a highly preferred solution.
Hope it helps!
up
4
mike at clear-link dot com
6 years ago
Small typo in the aksort function I just submitted. Here's the entire thing again, with the correction noted:
<?php
function aksort(&$array,$valrev=false,$keyrev=false) {
 if (
$valrev) { arsort($array); } else { asort($array); }

$vals = array_count_values($array);

$i = 0;
 foreach (
$vals AS $val=>$num) {

$first = array_splice($array,0,$i);

$tmp = array_splice($array,0,$num);
 if (
$keyrev) { krsort($tmp); } else { ksort($tmp); }

$array = array_merge($first,$tmp,$array);
 unset(
$tmp);

$i = $i+$num;

// Fixed from previous post: $i = $num;

}
}
?>
up
4
rojaro
10 years ago
Advanced sort array by second index function, which produces ascending (default) or descending output and uses optionally natural case insensitive sorting (which can be optionally case sensitive as well).
Only the first two arguments are required.
<?php
function sabsi ($array, $index, $order='asc', $natsort=FALSE, $case_sensitive=FALSE) {
 if(
is_array($array) && count($array)>0) {
 foreach(
array_keys($array) as $key) $temp[$key]=$array[$key][$index];
 if(!
$natsort) ($order=='asc')? asort($temp) : arsort($temp);
 else {
 (
$case_sensitive)? natsort($temp) : natcasesort($temp);
 if(
$order!='asc') $temp=array_reverse($temp,TRUE);
 }
 foreach(
array_keys($temp) as $key) (is_numeric($key))? $sorted[]=$array[$key] : $sorted[$key]=$array[$key];
 return
$sorted;
 }
 return
$array;
}
?>
up
4
Anonymous
12 years ago
Sorry, my last post had a typo:
// unnecessary backslashes break create_function, oops.
 if ( is_string($var) ) $var = "\'$var\'";
//it should be:
 if ( is_string($var) ) $var = "'$var'";
-- FIXED and TESTED -- :)
Similar to above but for an array of arrays instead of an array of objects.
<?php
function aasort($x,$var,$cmp='strcasecmp'){
 if (
is_string($var) ) $var = "'$var'";

uasort($x,

create_function('$a,$b',

'return '.$cmp.'( $a['.$var.'],$b['.$var.']);')
 );
 return
$x;
}
?>
up
3
spectre at hellfish dot NOSPAM dot org
11 years ago
that works nicely, tho it breaks the result-array up if one or more of arrays indexes are deleted before sorting. this one should fix it up:
change:
for ($i = 0; $i < sizeof($array); $i++) {
to:
foreach ($array as $i => $k) {
up
3
php at web-in-time dot com
8 years ago
acecream's function works fine, especially with the spectre extension.
nevertheless sometimes the index values have to be kept. To achieve this, just replace:
$sorted_arr[] = $array[$arr_key];
with:
$sorted_arr[$arr_key] =


to both getValue and setValue(newValue) by accessing and modifying the value of the variable. If the variable is declared ":final", the Slot object will only respond to getValue.
The Cases
Each case has four rows, corresponding to the four variable usage constructs. The upper left box will show all the variable decalarions that this case applies to -- one per line. Other row-entries for that case either contain the same number of lines, meaning they apply to variables with the respective declarations, or they are a single line, meaning they apply to all of that case's possible variables.
FastLocals
A C++ local Fat Pointer variable is used to hold the value of the variable.
E C++
name :settable
name :final
Ref name = specimen
name
name
name := newValue
# not applicable
name = newValue;
//not applicable
&name
//not applicable -- would be Boxed
new FinalSlot(name)
BoxedLocals
A C++ local thin-pointer points at storage for the Fat Pointer holding the variable's value. We need not consider BoxedLocals declared ":final", as final local variable usage will always be FastLocal usage.
E C++
name :settable
Ref * namePtr = new Ref(specimen);
name
*namePtr
name := newValue
*namePtr = newValue;
&name
Ref(SettableBoxScript, namePtr)
FastFields
An element of a state-array holds the current value of the variable. The state array itself is accessed by a C++ local thin pointer variable, here named "frame". When the frame is our object-frame (the frame holding the instance variables for the current object), it is initialized as
Ref *frame = self.myData.word.myField;
otherwise it is initialized at the time the frame is allocated:
Ref *frame = new Ref[numVars];
E C++
name :settable
name :final
frame[index] = specimen
name
frame[index]
name := newValue
# not applicable
frame[index] = newValue;
//not applicable
&name
Ref(SettableBoxScript, &frame[index])
Ref(FinalBoxScript, &frame[index])
Note that "&name" on a FastField variable returns a Slot object that points directly into the middle of the frame in order to point at the variable's storage. This technique requires a garbage collector able to handle pointers into the middle of allocated blocks. When using a more limited garbage collector, an explicit FramedFieldSlot object should be allocated that points to the frame as a whole as well.
BoxedFields
The state-array contains a reference to an arbitrary object expected to exhibit Slot behavior. Access or assignment is by explicit message send to this Slot object. We need not consider BoxedFields declared ":final", as final field variable usage will always be FastField usage.
E C++
name :settable
frame[index] = Ref(SettableBoxScript, new Ref(specimen));
name
frame[index].myData.word->myBox
name := newValue
frame[index].myData.word->myBox = newValue;
&name
frame[index]
Outers
Variable usage is by explicitly messaging a scope object that represents the top level scope of the lexically enclosing top level expression. This scope object is accessed through the C++ local Fat Pointer variable "Outers". Within an object expression, Outers is initialized by
Ref Outers = self.myScript->myOuters;
E C++
name :slotMakerExpr
Ref initSlot = slotMaker.call(&DoMakeSlot, specimen);
//check for null
Outers.call(&DoDefineSlot, Ref("name"), initSlot);
name
Outers.call(&DoGet, Ref("name"))
name := newValue
Outers.call(&DoPut, Ref("name"), newValue);
&name
Outers.call(&DoGetSlot, Ref("name"))

Unless stated otherwise, all text on this page which is either unattributed or by Mark S. Miller is hereby placed in the public domain.
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text:
Origin: Asia and the Mediterranean
Impact: Similar in appearance to wild onion but lacking the onion scent and taste. Found in pastures and rangeland, onionweed develops populations that exclude grasses and desirable forage species. This federally regulated weed poses a serious environmental and agricultural threat. It seeds prolifically and can establish large populations quickly.
Learn More: Species Profile.
If you have spotted Asphodelus fistulosis (Onionweed), use this report form to send an email to the appropriate authorities. All fields marked with an asterisk (*) are required.


Simplified Chinese
From Conservapedia
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Simplified Chinese is a simplification of Chinese characters that was adopted as the official orthography of the People's Republic of China in 1949. It is also used in Singapore. Traditional Chinese characters remain in use in Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, and Malaysia. The characters were simplified in may ways, including using commonly used abbreviations, retaining only part of a traditional character, replacing the phonetic element with a simpler one, and replacing several traditional characters with one simplified character.[1]
 1. Simplified Chinese characters


text:
ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD
MERGES WITH HADRIAN/JUPITER
TONIGHT is a night for some major ANTINOUS MOON MAGIC when ANTINOUS THE MOON GOD "eclipses" the planet Jupiter.
Technically, this is an "occultation." If you live at just the right place on Earth, you'll be able to watch the waning crescent moon occult — cover over — the planet Jupiter for up to an hour before dawn on Sunday morning, July 15. Northern Africa, Europe and the Middle East are among the places that will see this lunar occultation of Jupiter at or before dawn (Sunday, July 15).
If you live in the Americas, the occultation occurs Saturday evening (between 10 p.m. and midnight New York time). But no matter where you live, look for the moon to shine near two brilliant planets: Venus and Jupiter.
By Sunday dawn in the Americas, you will see the crescent Moon has just left Jupiter and is heading for Venus (photo above).
While the Moon passes by Jupiter every month, only very rarely does it pass directly in front of Jupiter. This year is special because the Moon will occult Jupiter ten times between June 2012 and February 18th 2013.
In ANTINOUS MOON MAGIC Jupiter symbolizes Emperor Hadrian and the Moon stands for Antinous. In Classical Mythology, Jupiter/Zeus inseminated many mortals, siring many demigods, among them Pollux, Hercules and Dionysus (all three possessing ambiguous sexual orientation). In conventional astrology, Moon-Occult-Jupiter is an optimal time for becoming pregnant. But in ANTINOUS MOON MAGIC it is the night for magically inseminating your spiritual self so as to bring forth or "give birth to" divine and enduring works.
On the OBELISK OF ANTINOUS, cryptic Egyptian hieroglyphs assert that the "Semen of the First God" flows through Antinous — a reference to the Egyptian creation myth about the first deity, who ejaculated into his own mouth and spoke the magical words of creation which produced all the gods and goddesses and the universe.
The Moon-Jupiter Occultation is the perfect night for ANTINOUS MOON MAGIC rituals aimed at opening your spiritual self to the magical power of Hadrian and Antinous so that the "Semen of the First God" flows through you to bring forth ideas of a divine and enduring nature.


text:
Hillary Maddin wanted to look inside the heads of animals as they grow to adulthood, so she found a unique method: Grafting glow-in-the-dark pieces into them when they are young.
Maddin is a paleontologist at Carleton University who was testing whether salamanders are primitive creatures similar to animal life many millions of years ago. (Short answer: No. More on that in a minute.)
tap here to see other videos from our team.
She bought them from a breeder in Kentucky.
The species is called a Mexican axolotl, and it's normally pale beige. She breeds normal salamanders with green fluorescent ones, obtaining half normal and half green offspring.
The lab-modified axolotls have a gene that produces GFP (green fluorescent protein) which comes originally from a jellyfish that contains it naturally. The salamander's resulting glow is mostly visible under ultraviolet light.
Once the gene for GFP is in a salamander, its cells continue to glow for life. And Maddin can extract one piece of a glowing salamander and graft it into a non-glowing salamander.


text:
VOV.VN - The Ministry of Health has confirmed 14,872 new coronavirus cases, including 14,867 locally acquired infections, in 59 cities and provinces across the country during the past 24 hours.
The past 24 hours saw Vietnam's daily count fall by 315 cases compared to the previous day, the MoH said in its coronavirus update on December 27.
Notably, as many as 10,418 cases (or two thirds of the total) were detected in the community, posing a high risk of virus spreading in localities.
The COVID-19 outbreak remains complicated nationwide, with most of the cases documented in the south. Localities that recorded hundreds of new cases each included Tay Ninh, Vinh Long, Can Tho, Dong Thap, Bac Lieu, Tra Vinh, Binh Dinh and Ca Mau. The number of infections continued to fall in Ho Chi Minh City, at just 560.
But Hanoi capital in the north topped localities in infection numbers, registering 1,948 cases. The number of new infections suddenly skyrocketed in the northern port city of Hai Phong, hitting 931 almost doubling the previous day's figure.
The same day, the official data from the MoH also show that 11,374 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospital, and 204 patients died of the SARS-CoV-2 virus and underlying illnesses.
As of 06pm on December 27 Vietnam has detected 1,666,545 COVID-19 cases since the start of the first outbreak in January 2020, ranking 31st out of 223 countries and territories worldwide.
Of the infected patients, 1,259,614 have recovered from the disease, and 31,418 patients have died of the disease.
More than 146 million vaccine doses have been administered nationwide, with 66.4 million people getting their second shot and nearly 2.8 million people receiving their booster jab.


text:
Passing behind the construction fences and looking up at the freshly renovated façade of Serbia's National Museum feels like entering a whole other world.
Dusty and buzzing with labourers, the building site is utterly at odds with the languor of Belgrade cafes at noon on a blistering summer's day.
The bigger difference, however, is that between the museum's living, breathing interior and its faded place in Serbia's national psyche.
On June 28, after a 15-year absence, the chief repository of Serbian art and history reopened its permanent display to the public.
Lidija Ham Milovanovic, senior curator and head of PR at the museum, gave BIRN a preview ahead of the grand reopening of the building, home to some the most valuable artefacts in Serbia, Yugoslav-era art and a key institution in the shaping of modern Serbia's culture and identity since its founding in 1844.
"The building was refurbished from the basement to the roof," Ham Milovanovic explained in the imposing ground-floor atrium. "The installations were changed, new systems were introduced – security, fire-safety and air conditioning – without any drastic alterations to the building's layout or size."
Built in 1903 first as a bank, the building of the National Museum on Belgrade's Republic Square is a listed monument, but, like much of the country, fell into disrepair during the closing decade of the 20th century.
"The building was already in a bad state and there were initiatives and appeals from the Museum for the building to be refurbished," said Ham Milovanovic. "That didn't happen and the board of the museum decided to remove the permanent exhibition in 2003; that decision was made because even the most basic conditions for holding exhibitions were not met."
Ham Milovanovic was quick to correct a common misconception that the whole museum was shuttered for 15 years. In fact, temporary exhibitions were organised in the sturdier parts of the building until February 2015. Renovation work only began in earnest 12 years after the removal of the permanent display, in late 2015.
The decision not to make any larger alterations to the museum's layout or size came after several ambitious projects to expand Serbia's premier museum were scrapped. Ideas to move the museum to a different location, such as the Main Post Office Building, were also eventually abandoned.


text:
Thanks to Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS), students all around the world get a chance to communicate ISS crew onboard. Students get the opportunity to ask their questions in mind related to space, technology, engineering and science. The organisation which WMO RTC Turkey also involved was the first direct contact with ISS. Turkish Amateur Satellite Technologies Organization (TAMSAT) provided technical services for connection under the mentorship of ARISS Europe. A successful connection to ISS accomplished on 9 October 2020, with the participation of H.E. Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Dr Bekir Pakdemirli, H.E. Minister of National Education Mr Ziya Selçuk, and students from 4 different high schools.
Read more >>


a string: Python
The string is not an integer.
Click me to see the sample solution
36. Write a Python program to check if a triangle is equilateral, isosceles or scalene.
Note :
An equilateral triangle is a triangle in which all three sides are equal.
A scalene triangle is a triangle that has three unequal sides.
An isosceles triangle is a triangle with (at least) two equal sides.
Expected Output:
Input lengths of the triangle sides:
x: 6
y: 8
z: 12
Scalene triangle
Click me to see the sample solution
37. Write a Python program that reads two integers representing a month and day and prints the season for that month and day.
Expected Output:
Input the month (e.g. January, February etc.): july
Input the day: 31
Season is autumn
Click me to see the sample solution
38. Write a Python program to display the astrological sign for a given date of birth.
Expected Output:
Input birthday: 15
Input month of birth (e.g. march, july etc): may
Your Astrological sign is : Taurus
Click me to see the sample solution
39. Write a Python program to display the sign of the Chinese Zodiac for the given year in which you were born.
Expected Output:
Input your birth year: 1973
Your Zodiac sign : Ox
Click me to see the sample solution
40. Write a Python program to find the median of three values.
Expected Output:
Input first number: 15
Input second number: 26
Input third number: 29
The median is 26.0
Click me to see the sample solution
41. Write a Python program to get the next day of a given date.
Expected Output:
Input a year: 2016
Input a month [1-12]: 08
Input a day [1-31]: 23
The next date is [yyyy-mm-dd] 2016-8-24
Click me to see the sample solution
42. Write a Python program to calculate the sum and average of n integer numbers (input from the user). Input 0 to finish.
Click me to see the sample solution
43. Write a Python program to create the multiplication table (from 1 to 10) of a number.
Expected Output:
Input a number: 6
6 x 1 = 6
6 x 2 = 12
6 x 3 = 18
6 x 4 = 24
6 x 5 = 30
6 x 6 = 36
6 x 7 = 42
6 x 8 = 48
6 x 9 = 54
6 x 10 = 60
Click me to see the sample solution
44. Write a Python program to construct the following pattern, using a nested loop number.
Expected Output:
1
22
333
4444
55555
666666
_PHONE_
88888888
999999999
Click me to see the sample solution
More to Come !
Do not submit any solution of the above exercises at here, if you want to contribute go to the appropriate exercise page.
Follow us on Facebook and Twitter for latest update.


text:
NOMIS Awardee Tony Wyss-Coray will lead a new Stanford University initiative on brain resilience, which will study the causes of cognitive decline – what may be done to prevent, delay, or reverse the decline – and what goes right for those who keep their cognitive abilities intact. Supporting the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience, NOMIS Awardee Karl Deisseroth will serve on the Knight Initiative Steering Committee and NOMIS researcher Eric Reiman will serve on the Knight Initiative Senior Advisory Board.
Gift from Phil and Penny Knight launches scientific endeavor to combat neurodegeneration
By Andrew Myers
A new campus-wide initiative will harness Stanford's multidisciplinary scientific expertise to tackle one of the most baffling questions in brain science: Why do some people succumb to degenerative brain diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's while others reach their 90s with their mental acuity intact?
Based at the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, this scientific endeavor is being launched by a $75 million gift from Nike founder Philip H. Knight, MBA '62, and his wife, Penny. Tony Wyss-Coray, the D. H. Chen Distinguished Professor II of Neurology and Neurological Sciences at Stanford, has been appointed the inaugural director of the Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience.
"This initiative will examine long-standing assumptions about the causes of neurodegeneration and advance our understanding of how to maintain brain resilience into old age, which is a cornerstone of quality of life," said Stanford President Marc Tessier-Lavigne, who is a pioneering neuroscientist himself. "As one of the field's leading experts in brain degeneration and aging, Tony Wyss-Coray is perfectly positioned to lead this important endeavor. I am so thankful to Penny and Phil for their generosity, and for their commitment to transforming millions of lives for the better."
The Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience will leverage Stanford's interdisciplinary expertise in medicine, neurosciences, engineering, human biology, chemistry, psychology, and many other fields to foster first-of-their-kind collaborations among researchers, clinicians, and scholars. The goal is to spark new ideas and innovations and take knowledge to a point where it is possible to promote brain rejuvenation and stave off certain brain disorders, as well as prevent and treat cognitive decline.
"As Phil and I get older, we are seeing the devastating impact of neurodegeneration on our friends and loved ones," Penny Knight said. "We are calling it the 'Initiative for Brain Resilience' because we want to focus on the positive outcomes this important research may yield – healthy aging and the possibility of helping all people live fuller, more vibrant lives late into life. We are excited to invest behind our belief that Stanford is the place to make this happen, and we feel privileged to have the opportunity to do so."
The Knights have long been supporters of Stanford. Their 2016 gift launched the Knight-Hennessy Scholars program, a graduate-level scholarship to prepare a new generation of global leaders with the skills to address the increasingly complex challenges facing the world. They also made a major gift to construct the Knight Management Center of Stanford Graduate School of Business and have provided substantial support for endowed professorships and Stanford Athletics.
Hope over pain
As more people worldwide are living longer, the urgency of understanding neurodegeneration and finding treatments for crippling, often fatal conditions continues to grow. Most people know someone who has suffered from a neurodegenerative disease, and it can be a heartbreaking experience to witness. Once-vibrant individuals lose mental capacity, see decades of memories slip away, experience physical and verbal symptoms, and become dependent on others for care. Despite decades and billions of dollars in research, there is still much to learn about the fundamental mechanisms of this decline and little that can be done to stop or reverse it.
The Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience is targeted at both the causes of decline and potential treatments and will pursue three distinct avenues of research. The first will focus on human neuroscience to clarify uniquely human aspects of brain aging and why some people experience relatively early declines in cognitive function while others appear protected long into old age. The second avenue will cultivate new approaches via fundamental neuroscience, identifying foundational principles of brain health, how the brain develops, and how it ages. The third pathway will seek targeted neurotherapeutics through early diagnostics and effective treatments for brain degeneration as well as techniques that encourage healthy aging and brain resilience.
William Newsome, the Vincent V. C. Woo Director of the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, says the Knight Initiative will lead pioneering brain research to develop better therapies and improve the human condition. Newsome played a leading role in working with a cross-disciplinary team of Stanford faculty to craft the vision for the initiative.
"Despite concerted research on many fronts over the past few decades, we are still not much closer to understanding the inner workings of healthy brains and the things that go wrong in neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. The fact is that there are essentially no effective treatments for most of these conditions," Newsome said. "Over nearly a decade, we have built a collaborative, cross-disciplinary neuroscience community at Stanford to tackle big questions about the human brain and behavior that could not be solved within our old silos. Thanks to Penny and Phil's vision and Tony's expert leadership, the time is right to use that strong foundation to launch this bold initiative and transform how we think about brain aging and resilience."
A new era of brain science
By uniting faculty and labs from across Stanford's many schools and disciplines to collaboratively tackle big questions about the human brain and behavior – questions that cannot be addressed within traditional academic boundaries – the Knight Initiative aims to accelerate a new era of brain science. Nearly 500 faculty members are already engaged in the neurosciences through the Wu Tsai Neurosciences Institute, bringing expertise from fields ranging from cell biology and psychology all the way over to computer sciences, social sciences, and education.
Continue reading this Stanford release
Learn more about The Phil and Penny Knight Initiative for Brain Resilience
D. H. Chen Professor II
D.H. Chen Professor of Bioengineering and of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
Eric M. Reiman
Executive director of the Banner Alzheimer's Institute, CEO of Banner Research, and senior scientist at the Translational Genomics Research Institute
Banner Alzheimer's Institute


text:
CANCER cells that make a faulty version of a protein called p53 could in future be signing their own death warrants, if a treatment developed in the Netherlands fulfils its early promise. More than half of all human cancers make the defective protein.
Healthy p53 helps prevent unwanted cell division, so when it becomes defective a tumour often forms. But Hans Nijman and his team at the Free University Hospital in Amsterdam have made immune system killer T cells that recognise and destroy cells making defective p53. The T cells have already been used to cure mice with tumours that make abnormal p53.
T cells constantly "sniff" the cells they encounter to check whether they pose a danger to the body. Our cells display fragments of the proteins they contain. Those that are infected with a virus or bacterium display fragments of the invader's proteins, and are destroyed.
Nijman and...
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Inserting new nodes into a binary search tree is easy. To start out, we work the same way as in a search, traversing the tree from the top down, as if we were searching for the item that we're inserting. If we find one, the item is already in the tree, and we need not insert it again. But if the new item is not in the tree, eventually we "fall off" the bottom of the tree. At this point we graft the new item as a child of the node that we last examined.
An example is in order. Consider this binary search tree:
[Click here for plain-text rendering]
Suppose that we wish to insert a new item, 7, into the tree. 7 is greater than 5, so examine 5's right child, 8. 7 is less than 8, so examine 8's left child, 6. 7 is greater than 6, but 6 has no right child. So, make 7 the right child of 6:
[Click here for plain-text rendering]
We cast this in a form compatible with the abstract description as follows:
32. =
void **
bst_probe (struct bst_table *tree, void *item)
{ struct bst_node *p, *q; /* Current node in search and its parent. */ int dir; /* Side of q on which p is located. */ struct bst_node *n; /* Newly inserted node. */ assert (tree!= NULL && item!= NULL); for (q = NULL, p = tree->bst_root; p!= NULL; q = p, p = p->bst_link[dir])
 { int cmp = tree->bst_compare (item, p->bst_data, tree->bst_param); if (cmp == 0) return &p->bst_data; dir = cmp > 0; } n = tree->bst_alloc->libavl_malloc (tree->bst_alloc, sizeof *p); if (n == NULL) return NULL; tree->bst_count++; n->bst_link[0] = n->bst_link[1] = NULL; n->bst_data = item; if (q!= NULL) q->bst_link[dir] = n; else
 tree->bst_root = n; return &n->bst_data; }
This code is included in 29.
See also: [Knuth 1998b], algorithm 6.2.2T; [Cormen 1990], section 13.3; [Bentley 2000], section 13.3; [Sedgewick 1998], program 12.7.
1. Explain the expression p = (struct bst_node *) &tree->bst_root. Suggest an alternative. [answer]
2. Rewrite bst_probe() to use only a single local variable of type struct bst_node **. [answer]
3. Suppose we want to make a new copy of an existing binary search tree, preserving the original tree's shape, by inserting items into a new, currently empty tree. What constraints are there on the order of item insertion? [answer]
4. Write a function that calls a provided bst_item_func for each node in a provided BST in an order suitable for reproducing the original BST, as discussed in Exercise 3. [answer]