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A teenager who aims to look like a real-life Barbie has revealed that she spends over £1,000 of her parents' money each month just to get her dream look.
18-year-old Gabriela Jirackova began modifying her body when she was 16 to get the perfect Barbie look. She started with long blonde hair extensions, massive eyelashes, permanent make-up, eyelash tattoo, and lip fillers. Now aged 18, she has had breast enlargement, increasing her breast form a C cup to a G cup. She also intends to enlarge her breasts more in the future and also get butt implants and rib removal surgery.
The teenager, from Prague, Czech Republic, owns 300 Barbie dolls. The dolls inspire her to go on with the surgical procedures so as to look more like them.
She told Barcroft TV: "I was inspired by other real-life Barbies and also my Barbie dolls. I had plenty of them as a kid. When I saw the real-life Barbies I thought that it was something for me. I have always wanted to stand out and thought this would suit me. I don't believe in a natural look. I think there is hardly anything natural today."
She continued: "I spend three and a half hours everyday getting ready. This lifestyle isn't easy at all. Maintaining my image is difficult in all its aspects, financially, physically and mentally too. There is a great pressure on me from the media, my fans, the haters, from everybody."
Her mum is in support of her transformation and her parents willingly supply the money for her monthly maintenance. Her mother revealed that her only fear was for her daughter's health. She said this when the teenager was about to have breast enlargement surgery. The surgery turned out to be a success.
Mum Romana Jirackova, 53 said: "She'd been slowly preparing us for it but we hadn't realised how serious she was. I am worried about her health no doubt about that, but how far she will go with it is her choice and I respect it. I think that she is naturally pretty and even if she has some cosmetic procedures done I would respect that. She'll always be pretty, it's always going to be her. What's important is that she is going to be happy and fulfill her dream."
Gabriela now dreams of living in the States, and says she is committed to the extreme Barbie-look for life.
She said: "I think I will definitely get there one day. I want to live in LA and become famous for my Barbie image. I still want to undergo more cosmetic procedures. I must say I am more pleased with myself after each procedure, but I am not there yet. When one chooses to do this, it takes several years maybe even their whole life. One can't say I want to change it after a week, so I want to stick with my chosen path. I will definitely continue my lifestyle as this is not a short-term thing."
Below is a documentary on Gabriela's transformation.


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Whistler Grand Condo
City Development (CDL) company intends to establish another well-known CDL residential home, the Whistler Grand, right after winning the West Coast Vale plot from the most competitive bids.The place is in an exclusive housing site provided through a state tender. The place will be under a Ninety nine year lease and 210,883 square feet measurement. A value mark of $472.4 million, converting to $800 psf per plot ratio was hit by CDL when it created the bid with Whistler Grand.
A breakeven of $1,250 psf is approximated on the Whistler Grand site plan with an average of $1,400 to $1,500 price level. With an excellent Whistler Grand Floor Plan, a max of 730 residential units is imposed for the plot and as per Urban Redevelopment Authority, the West Coast Vale location can take about two 36 storey towers.
Whistler Grand West Coast is well situated to allow the residents to maximize the extraordinary local attributes alongside the strategic location to numerous facilities. Knowing how picky CDL is, the area has a lot to look forward to. CDL group said they see a lot of potential in the site they are to develop the Whistler Grand. The team is also seeking to look for opportunities where they could have land to invest as the the Singapore residential market is on the recovery trend.
CDL became well-known due to some well known projects that had a huge success like the Hundred Trees and Monterey Park Condominium. This clearly shows why they are well known in the West Coast area. Prospective buyers who wants to invest in valuable property in Singapore is charmed by Whistler Grand. CDL's projects are something to look forward to since it's a dependable company having the best team that ensures unmatched projects in the construction area.
West Coast Vale is a highly wanted residential area since it's a developing exclusive residential are with great potential. Having a beautiful view of the place is something the future residents of Whistler Grand can expect since West Coast Vale is a calm environment. If you are still wondering why you have to make west coast bale home to your family, here are a few of the top reasons;
Its connectivity is one of the important aspect to take into consideration if you are searching for the perfect place to be called home. Transit was made best with the upcoming Whistler Grand. Ayer Rajah Expressway and West Coast Highway with decent connection to the entire city is close to the area.
Furthermore, citizens of Whistler Grand could easily visit the town using the expressway and MRT station located close to the site. Residents of Whistler Grand Clementi can use East-West line MRT aside buses from Clementi. By driving your vehicle, you can reach other areas of the city like Orchard Shopping Area, Marina Financial District, and the Central Business District in only a few minutes.

subset: commoncrawl


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Brau de bot
Classic Red
bag in box
Wine style
Full bodied and fruity red wine. Our young red wine is elaborated with Grenache, a grape that confers a strong personality to this wine.
Red wine
Grape varieties
Red grenache
Tasting notes
Medium-depth colour with purple glints. Its expression offers a good balance between fruit and rusticity.
Food pairing and suggestions
Brau de Bot classic red is an option for those who habitually consume white wine in their daily meals. You can also enjoy it with a selection of cheese, such us camembert or brie, and with a selection of pâté. Best enjoyed within a year from filling date. Once opened we recommend to consume it over the next 3 months. Serve cool (14° C).


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Well, it's been a long time... but I'm slowly getting back to doing what I love. Coming here, and seeing all your refashions has really kept me going - and given me the impetus to get back to it! Whilst my house is still a bit of a mess, I thought I'd do a throwback to the summer (ah, the good old days!) - here's a Plain Jane dress;
I removed the sleeves, embellished with buttons, and added a scalloped hem - whilst also taking in, for a better fit.
I loved doing the Refashion Runway, and hopefully I'll get back to making more wearable items in 2017...
In the meantime, Happy Christmas!!
Gema x
p.s. Here's the wreath I made this year (yes, it is a LITTLE bit over the top...)


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Hello peeps! We've just been very busy with work and family commitments which is why we were not able to update our blog these last couple of weeks. Sorry about that…
Anyway, we've been receiving requests from you guys to review different cat foods and cat supplies here on Spicy Beautiful. We'll review as many cat related stuff as we can so keep reading. For the meantime, you can go here to check out our lazy cats' stash-o-goodies.
Here are the cat foods and treats we hauled this month. We'll be reviewing them starting next week.
To read our review for Friskies Party Mix, click HERE.
To read our review for Friskies Party Mix, click HERE.
|ProPet Country Squire Premium Cat Food (Laguum's latest throne)
|Trader Joe's canned cat food
|Friskies Party Mix
What did you haul for your cats lately?


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One of the most popular Scottish novels of all time, Sunset Song tells the gripping tale of Chris Guthrie, a young woman growing up in a dysfunctional farming family in the north east of Scotland.
This week, Lewis Grassic Gibbon's story is coming to life in a stage show at the King's Theatre, Edinburgh, from 7 – 11 October as part of the production's Scottish tour, to mark one hundred years since the outbreak of the First World War.
See how Chris' life is turned upside down by the outbreak of the war, as she fights to keep her family together. Chris is torn by her love of the land and her wider ambitions to follow her passions for learning and education. Her survival suddenly depends solely on her belief that there is hope beyond the sunset, as the war presents a catalyst for change in Scotland and marks the end of traditions and old-fashioned ways.
"You hated the land and the coarse speak of the folk and learning was brave and fine one day; and the next you'd waken with the peewits crying across the hills, deep and deep, crying in the heart of you and the smell of the earth in your face, almost you'd cry for that, the beauty of it and the sweetness of the Scottish land and skies."
Lewis Grassic Gibbon , Sunset Song
One of 2014's unmissable theatrical events, the Sell a Door Theatre Company stages a powerful performance of Alistair Cordling's renowned theatre adaption of the timeless classic. Tickets are on sale now on the King's Theatre website.
If you're interested in this momentous time in Scotland's history, discover more about Scotland and the First World War and don't miss a range of centenary-related events happening across the country. You can also find out more about Scottish Literature and delve into the profiles of some of Scotland's other favourite writers, novelists and poets.


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Rondinelli Belt Bag | BubbleGum Pink Cork
Natural Cork Vegan Belt Bag
Casual, minimalistic and so highly functional. The Rondinelli cork belt bag is small but mighty. With a generous interior secured by zipper closing.
Back open pocket for easy access to phone. Wear it as a belt bag with adjustable strap or a chic crossbody.
Lightweight and comfortable it will surely become your favorite cork accessory for travel or everyday shopping.


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Trip Stockholm Narvik
Plan your trip by train, bus, plane from Stockholm to Narvik
3 suggested routes to go from Stockholm to Narvik by flight, train, bus
- Select the route of your choice
- Specify your dates of travel in order to find the best deals available.
- Get prices
- Get prices
- Get prices
Keep updated on travel and transport offers !
How to get from Stockholm to Narvik?
We are suggesting 3 routes by train, bus, plane to plan your trip Stockholm Narvik. Routes displayed are sorted depending on a performance indicator (calculated from number of changes, expected duration, distance between an airport and the center of the city it serves...). You'll be able to:
- Sort results depending on the mode of transportation (train, bus, plane).
- Get prices, times and duration for the journey Stockholm Narvik by clicking on the 'Check prices' button and after entering your dates of departure and the number of passengers. Note that we are trying to get as many prices as we can from different online travel agencies, but sometimes it may not be possible.
- Locate cities of Stockholm and Narvik on a map as well as the route Stockholm Narvik and the different connecting points (Narvik Railway Station, Stockholm Centralstation Railway Station, Stockholm Coach Station, Karolinska institutet Coach Station, Arlanda Airport, ...) by clicking on the 'Details & Map' button.
- Search for a hotel in Narvik
All modes of transport Stockholm-Narvik
For your trip from Stockholm (Sweden) to Narvik (Norway) with a distance of 629 mi you will be able to take 3 modes of transport, eventually by combining plane, bus and/or train, and according to which the duration of the journey will be significantly different.
Travel by train between Stockholm and Narvik
The train Stockholm Narvik is a direct bound.
Trains of SJ to Narvik leave from Stockholm Centralstation railway station in Stockholm. Arrival in Narvik will take place at Narvik station (1.2 mi from the city centre).
Take a coach from Stockholm to Narvik
Even though it is not possible to make the trip Stockholm Narvik only by bus, there are other means of transport (train) that will complete the journey Stockholm-Uppsala.
You will board a coach of Swebus, Bus4You, FlixBus or NettBuss in Stockholm. The bus will drop you off at Uppsala Business Park bus station (2.2 mi from Uppsala, Sweden). Please make sure to show up on time at Stockholm bus station (0.3 mi from Stockholm) at least 15 minutes before the time of departure for Uppsala.
Fly to Narvik from Stockholm
No flight allows you to fly directly to Narvik from Stockholm. You can take the flight Stockholm-Sundsvall and complete the other part of your journey traveling by train.
Leave Stockholm and arrive early enough (at least 2 hours before the departure time) at Arlanda ARN airport, 23 mi away, to check in your luggage for the flight to Sundsvall (Sundsvall/Harnosand airport, IATA code: SDL) operated by SAS - Scandinavian Airlines or Golden Air.
Which carriers to travel between Stockholm and Narvik?
Bus companies
The bus company Swebus operates the intercity service from the bus station of Stockholm in Stockholm and to the one of Uppsala Business Park ( Sweden)
Bus4You is the bus carrier that allows to travel on the line between the city of Stockholm (serving Stockholm bus station at 0.3 mi from centre) and the city of Uppsala where the coach will drop you off at Uppsala Stationsgatan station situated at about 0.1 mi from Uppsala city centre.
The coach company FlixBus carries out the route from the bus station of Stockholm in Stockholm and to the one of Uppsala Stationsgatan ( Sweden)
The network of NettBuss includes a coach line between the city of Stockholm (serving Stockholm bus station at 0.3 mi from centre) and the city of Uppsala where the coach will drop you off at Uppsala Stationsgatan station situated at about 0.1 mi from Uppsala city centre.
Railway companies
SJ provides a rail connection Stockholm-Narvik with the train from Stockholm Centralstation railway station (0.3 mi from city-centre) and serving the rail station of Narvik at arrival (1.2 mi from centre)
Snälltåget transports passengers on a rail line from Stockholm to Uppsala with the train which leaves Stockholm Centralstation station to arrive at Uppsala Centralstation railway station ( Sweden)
SAS - Scandinavian Airlines carries out a flight from Arlanda ARN airport situated 23 mi away from the city centre of Stockholm to Sundsvall (arrival at Sundsvall/Harnosand SDL airport)
Golden Air flies on the route from Bromma BMA airport (located 4.7 mi from Stockholm, Sweden) to Sundsvall (serving Sundsvall/Harnosand SDL airport)


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Family Reunion Songs
What are the best family reunion songs? Your preferences will be as varied as your choices.
The influence of music
Regardless of where you are, music has the powerful ability to set the tone and evoke feeling. Have you ever watched a movie without sound? Or even tried to ignore the background music during a tense scene? It changes the show entirely even when you don't notice it's there.
It's the same for music at the family reunion - songs about family, love songs and other songs with meaningful lyrics can significantly influence the atmosphere. Music has a profound effect on our emotions and can direct the mood of any gathering, including the family reunion.
Ways to use family reunion songs
Songs should be played at the very beginning of your party, whether it be during registration or as family is gathering for dinner. The music will help break the ice and smooth over any awkwardness for your guests who are the very first to arrive. Somehow, when music is playing when people enter the room, it says, "We are ready to begin."
The background music in a slideshow can have a significant effect as well. If your slideshow contains narration, instrumental music works best so that the song lyrics and voice narration aren't competing against one another. However, if there's no voice narration, the lyrics in carefully selected family reunion songs can be just as effective.
Family reunion songs are also great around the campfire. Sing what you know, teach everyone a new song, play a family reunion mp3 or make up your own words to a popular tune that everyone knows.
If some songs about family have meaningful lyrics but you don't particularly care for the tune, consider using the words on invitations, flyers or written programs. After all, songs are just poems put to music.
Consider the lyrics
"Family Reunion" by the O'Jays:
Many thanks to Aunt Mo from Beaver City, Utah, for her thoughts and list of favorite songs, available here.
Share! CommentsHave your say about what you've read! Leave me a comment in the box below.


text: 35 Skincare Gifts Under $50 November 11, 2017November 11, 2017Skin Care [maxbutton id="2″ ] Kick off the holiday season with some skincare treats for you or someone you love. From masks to moisturizers to lip care, this gift guide has everything you need to exfoliate, hydrate and polish your skin! Shop and enjoy! Tell me: Will you be picking up any skincare gift sets this holiday season?


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The NEXO Universal Amp Rack (NUAR) provides NEXO users with a scalable, 'plug & play', amplified audio distribution solution of unrivalled power and flexibility. Systems of any size can be configured easily using channel by channel preset selection of any NEXO cabinet, and digital output patching.
The NUAR rack comprises a pair of NEXO NXAMP4X4 amplifiers, twin DMU digital input metering devices, a pair of DPU digital output patching devices and a choice of 110V, 220V or dual-voltage mains distribution boxes providing power to all the components in the rack.
System configuration is simple, using either ESMonitor the new NEXO NeMo iPad® app. NEXO cabinet presets are selected on a channel by channel basis, with selected cabinet names displayed by the DPU for easy output patching.
Digital input metering is provided by the DMU, clearly indicating the presence and status of input signals, including
An entirely new library of presets for every single cabinet in the NEXO range delivers linear phase across any system, making it possible to mix and match NEXO cabinets.
Increased efficiency and versatility is inherent in NUAR's mechanical design. The 14U chassis is suspended within a robust rack case, featuring two sliding doors and an integrated rigging system. This enables up to 3 racks to be flown using an optional bumper and the easy attaching/detaching of a wheelboard.
Each NUAR is fully configured and tested at NEXO to provide a truly versatile and tailored 'Plug & Play' amplification solution.
Each NUAR Rack Comprises:
1 X ASD14U + removable wheelboard
2 x NXAMP4x4 Power Amplifier (110V, 220V or 110V/220V)
2 x DMU Digital Meter Unit
2 x DPU Digital Patching Unit
1 x Power Box (110V, 220V or 110V/220V)
2 x 4U NEXO perforated panels
3 x 2U NEXO perforated panels
2 x DB25 cords
2 x DB9 cords
4 x SPEAKONS 4*2.5mm² power cords
8 x XLR/XLR cords
4 x 250V/10A power cords
6 x RJ45 cords
Optional Digital Audio Networking Cards
2 x EtherSound™ cards or
2 x DANTE™ cards
Optional Rigging Bumper includes:
1 x NUAR_BUMP
2 x 10 x 60mm heavy duty ball lock with + retaining cables
1 x 5/8" shackle
Mechanical Data:
Dimensions (H D W with board Wheel): 889mm (14U) x 663mm x 600mm
Weight (all devices + board wheels): 133kg (293.2 lbs)
Finish: Heavy duty black 900 vinyl cover
Dimensions (H D W): 60mm x 150mm x 600mm
Features: includes 1 x 5/8' shackle, 2 x 10 x 60mm Ball Locks with cables
Weight: 6kg (13.2 lbs)
Finish: Black 900, sanded paint
Max Load: 450Kg up to 3 NUAR
Digital Meter Unit Data Sheet
Digital Meter Unit Specs
Digital Patching Unit Data Sheet
Digital Patch Unit Specs
EtherSound Specs
NAMP4X4 Datasheet
NXAMP Specs
Dante Data Sheet
Power Box Data Sheet
NUAR Brochure


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Style Designers Runway For Hope
299 total views, 2 views today
Passion4Fashion is a young dynamic firm with an goal to cater for people who find themselves Captivated with Trend. Perception in oneself is straightforward, you've what it takes to become the very best you and that is important to interrupt via the style business. In believing in your brand, you resonate with unimaginable force that not solely keeps you going but also makes others solidly belief in your line.
So as to put together for this career in my future I would wish to attend a college involving designing, fashion designing, and a type of artwork. The education I would wish can be a two year to four yr school for style designing and a one 12 months to 3 year college for inside designing. These careers take a bachelors degree in some place of art. To be able to wish to attend faculty initially I must keep an acceptable grade point average of what I would possibly assume of a 2.5 or greater depending on the placement of the school in addition to the ability studying level of the college.
Fashionistas get a sneak peak of latest styles to come back, and revel in their favourite designers, non-public runway reveals, interviews with celebrities, designers, stylists and fashions, plus countless shopping. A dressmaker specializes in custom-made girls's garments: day, cocktail, and night dresses, enterprise garments and suits, trousseaus, sports activities clothes, and lingerie.
Cel mai mare competition de modă din România dă startul celor mai importante evenimente de vogue din sud-estul Europei. De astăzi, timp de săptămână, designeri români și internaționali, modele de high dar și cei mai îndrăgiți artiști ai momentului vor urca pe scena Bucharest Fashion Week.
The unique sense of fashion was referring to the disclosure that the gadgets to style and clothes … Read More...


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I won my own pool.
Last number was 4190...but the first number was 5948. Normal is between 70 and 350.
I'm elevated. But not out of control.
I told Grace first....cause she is scarier than cancer when she is mad.
You can celebrate the winning by going shooting at the end of the month with your Marine.


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VUB - B-PHOT kondigt een aanbesteding aan voor een vertikale opslaglift met ref. VUB / TONA / 2019/007 volgens de wet van 17 juni 2016 op openbare aanbestedingen art. 42, § 1, 1 ° a). De volledige specificaties en administratieve procedures om offertes in te dienen zijn te vinden via deze link: https://cloud.3p.eu/Downloads/1/610/NS/2019 According to the law of June 17th 2016 on public procurement art. 42, § 1, 1 ° a), VUB - B-PHOT announces a tender for a vertical lift storage system with ref. VUB/TONA/2019/007. The full specifications and administrative procedures for bidding can be found through this link: https://cloud.3p.eu/Downloads/1/610/NS/2019
VUB - B-PHOT kondigt een aanbesteding aan voor een gereedschapsbalanceertoestel met ref. VUB / TONA / 2019/008 volgens de wet van 17 juni 2016 op openbare aanbestedingen art. 42, § 1, 1 ° a). De volledige specificaties en administratieve procedures om offertes in te dienen zijn te vinden via deze link: https://cloud.3p.eu/Downloads/1/607/NS/2019 According to the law of June 17th 2016 on public procurement art. 42, § 1, 1 ° a), VUB - B-PHOT announces a tender for a tool balancer with ref. VUB/TONA/2019/008. The full specifications and administrative procedures for bidding can be found through this link: https://cloud.3p.eu/Downloads/1/607/NS/2019
VUB - B-PHOT kondigt verschillende open procedures aan voor de aanschaf van laboratoriumapparatuur en werktuigmachines. Ga naar https://ted.europa.eu/TED/main/HomePage.do met de zoeksleutel "VUB" voor meer informatie. VUB - B-PHOT announces several open procedures for the procurement of laboratory equipment and machine tools. Please visit https://ted.europa.eu/TED/main/HomePage.do with search key "VUB" for more information.
B-PHOT kondigt aan dat, in overeenstemming met de onderhandelingsprocedure, artikel 42, § 1, 1°, d, ii van de wet van 17/06/2016 op de overheidsopdrachten, de firma Moore Nanotechnology Systems LLC (230 Old Homestead Hwy. Swanzey, NH 03446 USA) de opdracht heeft toegewezen gekregen om een upgrade uit te voeren van de eerder aangekochte ultraprecision diamond tooling 350FG Freeform Generator.
B-PHOT kondigt aan dat, in overeenstemming met de onderhandelingsprocedure, artikel 42, § 1, 1°, d, ii van de wet van 17/06/2016 op de overheidsopdrachten, de firma APE (Angewandte Physik & Elektronik GMBH– Plauener Stasse 163/165– Berlin - Germany) de opdracht heeft toegewezen gekregen om een upgrade uit te voeren van het eerder aangekochte APE picoseconde lasersysteem in B-PHOT.
In this project, Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) and TU Eindhoven (TU/e) are joining forces by expanding and synergistically combining their unique expertise and research infrastructure for freeform optics (VUB) and photonic integrated chips (TU/e).
The Open-Innovation Photonics pilot for North West Europe (OIP4NWE) aims to drastically reduce high R&D costs and time for SMEs in the field of photonics. A significant decrease of the defect rate in pilot production and a shorter throughput time can help establish a thousand integrated firms within a decade. The role of VUB B-PHOT in this €13.9m project is twofold. First, we will set up a voucher scheme that will provide SMEs access to the pilot line to allow them to scale up their production.
Get the job or internship of your dreams! B-PHOT breidt zijn pilootlijn voor de productie van optische componenten uit! Daarom heeft B-PHOT tal van interessante job & stage aanbiedingen voor industrieel ingenieurs (elektromechanica en elektronica-ICT).
B-PHOT kondigt aan dat ze de levering van een 3D glas gebaseerd laserfabricagesysteem heeft toegewezen aan de firma FEMTOPRINT SA.
The end of a year is an excellent moment to reflect on the past and prepare the future. Looking for inspiration on photonics ? On its "Photon Terrace" educational website, Hamamatsu shines some light on Prof. Thienpont's energetic activities in photonics travelling back 35 years in time.
Join us in the celebration of 90 years FWO at Kennismakers event on 14 December ! FWO (Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) is welcoming over 100 national and international speakers sparking innovative ideas during the one-day scientific congress Kennismakers (Knowledge Makers). We have the pleasure to invite you to our booth during the day, where visitors can discover the power of light technology through various demos. On display: our national icon Manneke Pis explains internal light reflection for high-speed communication, photonics for food safety and authentication and for Clean Sky project.
The Open-Innovation Photonics pilot for North West Europe (OIP4NWE) aims to drastically reduce high R&D costs and time for SMEs in the field of photonics. A significant decrease of the defect rate in pilot production and a shorter throughput time can help establish a thousand integrated firms within a decade. For this €13.9m project, B-PHOT will install a state-of-the-art femtosecond laser writing system which enables the fabrication of mechanical features, optical components as well as microfluidic components in glass with a sub-micrometer resolution.
Trends business magazine covers how the work of Hugo Thienpont in photonics can impact the economy. How Actphast facilitates the integration of light technology in R&D for companies throughout Europe. What inspired him to pursue photonics as domain of research and innovation? And more importantly, why should any organisation consider the science of light to keep up with the pace of digitalization?
A full day of celebration and presentation how photonics can improve our daily life. Our team B-Photonics and researchers let you experiment with the laser maze, discover art with polarization and create your own hologram for your smartphone. At Abdijmuseum Ten Duinen prof. Meulebroeck explains how light technology shines a light on the precise age of colored glass panels.
In the context of his cotutelle, in joint supervision of Université of Toulouse (France) and the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (Belgium), Ludovic has given the international jury a very clear presentation on the vertical integration of an electro-absorption modulator onto a VCSEL at 850nm for high-speed communications.
Food safety and quality has become increasingly important in our society. At the World of Technology and Science fair, researcher Lien Smeesters highlights the impact of photonics technologies to increase food safety while reducing food waste.
At the first ever edition of SuperNova, the VUB will showcase exciting advances in some of the most hyped technologies of the moment that lead to the world's most groundbreaking innovations. We are looking forward to welcome you at the TTO booth and VUB booth where we will take you on a photonics journey showing how smart applications of the technology of light that can be game-changing to a very broad range of domains, from 3D printing of organs to strawberry harvesting and freeform optics for car displays.
The postdoctoral researcher will be working on Carbon Nanotube Based Nonlinear Photonic Crystal Fibers within the multidisciplinary project CHARMING coordinated by B-PHOT. A unique opportunity to join our dedicated research team that achieved breakthroughs in the demonstration of PCFs for low-bending loss fibres, large mode area fibre lasers and optical fibre sensors based on fibre Bragg gratings. B-PHOT has built theoretical and experimental expertise on modelling and design of photonic crystal fibres as well as on characterisation and implementation of PCFs for various applications.
B-PHOT researcher professor Nathalie Vermeulen and her team have discovered a very unexpected and far-reaching trait of graphene, a substance that is seen by many as a game-changing material of the future. Graphene is capable of changing the wavelength of light, and their research showed that instead of strong incoming light intensities as typically employed for this purpose, graphene has a better conversion efficiency for low incoming light intensities.
Always good to see the happy face of our VUB B-PHOT Doctors who are building an exciting career path. Thiago Raddo graduated last year as the first co-tutelle PhD student between VUB and USP (University of São Paolo), with highest honors, paving the way to shape the future optical network. Locaweb Futuro Hitech in Brazil recently published on his research experience and the impact of photonics in many applications in our daily life.
A long title worthwhile as Benjamin has successfully shown the important opportunities carbon-based materials offer for integrated nonlinear optics during his PhD research. As in electronics, also in photonics the aim is to develop very compact components that are fabricated on a chip.
SPIE student chapter at Vrije Universiteit Brussels (VUB) successfully organized the annual 'Light Night'. With this theme, we took a closer look at the advantages of having a Photonics background, explored how we can take smart career decisions and how to solve problems in academia and industries effectively and efficiently. Students, alumni, professors and professionals joined in for an update of the most recent opportunities that photonics and optics have in store today to build a great future.
OSA is granting the optics and photonics community free access to a collection of the most downloaded articles in this topic area over the past year from Applied Optics. The article "Freeform optical design for a non-scanning corneal imaging system with a convexly curved image" resulting from the research of our VUB B-PHOT Postdoc Researcher Yunfeng Nie is among those most downloaded papers.
Some time ago we held our very first Bootcamp Photonics for Bachelors to highlight the potential of photonics to students. What is photonics all about? Is it very specific and limited or is it exact the opposite holding unlimited opportunities? Why has the European Commission proclaimed Photonics as a key enabling technology for the 21st century? The Aftermovie gives you a flavour of an intensive and rewarding day...
The bright blue colour of the Cyanophrys remus butterfly has its origin in the unique periodic nanostructures in its wings, which are called 'photonic crystals'. Their unique properties enable new ways to control, guide and manipulate light leading to new applications including optical chips for future light-powered computers and for medical analysis, new solar cells and new light sources. Nature Scientific Reports published their research on transparent photonics crystals that have significantly larger features, which makes their fabrication easier, cheaper and faster.
Today students and researchers from VUB B-PHOT Photonics Research at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, are presenting the Science Show Photonics at the first "International Day of Light" (#IDL18) at the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) headquarters in Paris.
VUB B-PHOT researcher Lien Smeesters is one of the five promising researchers selected for the yearly EOS Pipet prize. With her research using photonics or light technology we can detect invisible carcinogens in food, such as acrylamide in French fries.
In the domain of Illumination Optics and Optical design controlling the propagation of light is key. Game-changing features are compact size, highly efficient light collection at low production costs. For his PhD research, Simone combines the Edge Ray Principle of Nonimaging Optics with freeform micro-lenses which results in a substantial 70% decrease in the volume of a Shell-Mixer optic, and in the efficiency rising up to 93%, while keeping the optical performance intact.
Today physicians are still severely hampered by the lack of precision of the needle tip location during a biopsy. Looking at lung cancers, 25% of the diagnoses suffer a false negative outcome through traditional biopsy methods. In the future, this can be avoided: for the first time, the European project InSPECT developed miniature spectrometers with integrated light sources enabling guided sensing. Ground-breaking was the fabrication of the reflective segmented diffractive gratings with VUB B-PHOT's in-house polymer prototyping pilot line.
Photonics research is one of the driving forces for innovative ecosystems where universities and industry collaborate to create new products with light technologies. Those cross-industry platforms need bright students and passionate PhDs with specific skills, from all over the globe, from Europe and from Belgium. With the Bootcamp Photonics for Bachelors we aim to make light technology more visible to students.
More than 200 persons from industry, universities and research centres celebrated the 10th anniversary of Belgian Industrial Research & Development (BiR&D) in the Palace of Academy on March 20th, 2018, in presence of His Majesty the King. Lien Smeesters, postdoc researcher at VUB B-PHOT Brussels Photonics, received the BiR&D Award in Science & Technology 2017-2018 for her work on "Improving food safety with optical screening".
IOP Publishing has launched three high-impact open access journals. The scope of these journals will focus on research covering three aspects of the physical world that will shape the future of our planet: energy, materials and light. The titles will be led by editors-in-chief at the forefront of their respective fields. "JPhys Photonics is an innovative new open access journal for high quality research in all areas where physical sciences are applied in the field of photonics. The journal will showcase the most significant and exciting developments in photonics and photonics-enabled research."
Optical fiber Bragg grating (FBG) sensors have been the subject of extensive and relentless research efforts over the past 40 years. This technology is now applied in diverse fields such as in bio and medical, and in structural health monitoring of civil and aeronautic engineering structures, FBG sensing based research and innovation is one of B-PHOT's cornerstone activities.
After a most inspiring PhD research and defense of her PhD thesis 'Advances in freeform optical design methods for imaging applications', Yunfeng has graduated as Doctor in Engineering. Including freeform components in optical systems provides numerous potentials for enhanced performance as well as compact and lightweight packaging with opportunities for mass production at low cost.
STEM project Quantum SpinOff introduces modern physics to 6th years students in Science Mathematics. Students from Sint Jozef Aarschot visited VUB B-PHOT research group to learn how photonics can be applied in innovative projects. Our researchers will support them throughout the full track until their own project is finalised.
During the continuous quest for maximizing the protection of data, substantial research has been performed in the domain of lasers and optical chaos. Recently B-PHOT researchers demonstrated that using mechanical strain, polarization chaos could be triggered in commercial VCSELs. Their article with results on "Strain induced polarization chaos in a solitary VCSEL" was published in Scientific Reports.
Support of innovative research activities are key in view of ensuring the safety of future particle accelerator driven nuclear systems. B-PHOT has successfully developed the measurement system enabling the monitoring of a real-scale fuel assembly mock-up for the future MYRRHA large multipurpose irradiation facility, in collaboration with the Belgian Nuclear Research Centre (SCK•CEN).
The VUB Science Show on photonics is a spectacular show that gives young minds insight in the potential of science and engineering in an entertaining way. A team of enthusiastic PhD researchers takes the students for an interactive journey into the world of light technology on 5 and 6 February. In half a day, multiple demonstrations bring them from the origin of light and photons to lasers, from the manipulation of light to optical fibers for data communication or for medical imaging applications such as endoscopy.
The growth in photonics business in Belgium and internationally requires excellent engineering talent with problem-solving skills. The European MSc. in Photonics offers an ideal mix of core knowledge with engaging hands-on labs and international internships to prepare future photonics engineers optimally for a bright career.
The Research Foundation in Flanders (FWO Fonds Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek) has awarded Dr. Martin Virte's research grant "ReFlex – Reconfigurable node for flexible secure networks".
VUB B-PHOT, VUB ETRO & Anteryon BV are offering 4 Ph. D. position within the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network, for the European Industrial Doctorate "xCLASS" project on Next generation Compact Lightsource And Spectrometer Systems.
The popular science TV show 'Matière Grise' (RTBF national television) celebrates its 20th anniversary in 2018. For this festive anniversary, a public award for scientific outreach will be presented during a special event. Prof. Francis Berghmans (engineering faculty, VUB B-PHOT) has been selected as one of the 18 nominees for his contribution to the show's episode on photonics. Het nederlanstalige bericht vindt u hieronder. Merci de trouver ci-dessous le texte en français.
Armenia is the next destination for the Photonics Explorer educational kit, thanks to the successful crowdfunding campaign of Tigran Baghdasaryan (postdoctoral researcher from VUB B-PHOT Brussels Photonics). In total 20 Armenian schools will receive their own Photonics Explorer kit for use in the classroom, with the educational material and teacher training sessions in Armenian. Together with Fiber Optics Communication Laboratory at the National Polytechnic University of Armenia as local partner, 5 000 young students will have the chance to work with this key technology.
B-PHOT Researcher Martin Virte at Vrije Universiteit Brussel, has been recognized for his impressive behind-the-scene work as a reviewer for the OSA/IEEE Journal of Lightwave Technology. As expert in laser dynamics and optical chaos, Martin has been evaluating several manuscripts submitted for publication.
Light sources emitting a broad range of colours are very promising for, amongst others, glucose monitoring and environmental gas sensing. But nowadays there is a lack of compact light sources generating broadband light in the mid-infrared domain. One possible approach to develop such a source is by combining compact waveguides on a chip with a strongly nonlinear optical material such as graphene.
VUB B-PHOT and ETRO are hiring 4 ESRs to start an Industrial PhD within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN. The Marie Sklodowska-Curie ITN project xCLASS starts a training through research programme to address the severe shortage of expertise among European industrial graduates and PhDs aiming to fulfill the complete technology supply chain for the development of optical spectrometer systems. An expanding demand for sensorial information in application domains such as healthcare, agriculture, waste management and food sorting urges for novel and cost-effective methods to sense the desired analytes with high sensitivity, high reliability and a small mobile device.
At the 28th Annual Conference of the European Society for Biomaterials (ESB) in Athens, Jasper presented his work on "Gelatin Functionalization Strategies Enhance Biofabrication Versatility on the Micro and Macro-Scale." The Award Committee rewarded the scientific excellence of Jasper Van Hoorick with the Biointerphases poster award.
Prof. Sandra Van Vlierberghe, professor at both VUB B-PHOT and PBM Gent, has contributed to the knowledge in the field of biomaterials by elaborating innovative hydrogel crosslinking strategies that combine excellent biocompatibility with processing versatility. In addition to advancing biopolymers in the biomaterials field, she also introduced the solid state crosslinking capability of synthetic hydrogels, a finding which was patented jointly with industry.
Thanks to recent progress, Fiber-To-The-Home (FTTH) is becoming the norm in many countries, and the significant increase of bandwidth allows the emergence of new services and technologies. Tactile internet, telemedicine and real-time 3-D content generation are now realistic and probably represent the onset of the next wave of innovation.
After the submission of the evaluation file followed by the visit of the experts in 2016, the conclusions of the CTI have been confirmed to us today. This international quality label provides a set of standards that identifies high-quality engineering degree programmes in Europe and abroad, and facilitates academic and professional mobility.
Determining the authenticity of historical objects is a key element for the conservation and restoration of cultural heritage. Ancient materials are often fragile and require non-destructive analysis that allow the material to be investigated in a safe way. Scientific Reports Nature published the results of a first-line analysis for stained glass panels based on absorption spectroscopy, developed at the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB).
The time that well-established manufacturing techniques for precision optics were restricted to rotationally symmetric surfaces are history. Important advances in manufacturing allow increasingly precise fabrication of lenses and mirrors with almost any shape, hence the name "freeform" optics. The use of freeform components in optical systems can provide enhanced performance. In areas that require compact and lightweight packaging, such as virtual- and augmented reality head-up displays, the freeform revolution is on the rise.
"Freeform optical design for a non-scanning corneal imaging system with a convexly curved image", published in OSA's Applied Optics journal, has recently been nominated as Editor's Pick. The work is the result of a research stay of B-PHOT PhD researcher Yunfeng Nie in the expert team of Prof. Herbert Gross at the Friedrich-Schiller-University Jena in the framework of a collaboration with B-PHOT's freeform optics specialist Prof. Fabian Duerr, facilitated and financially supported by the EC Marie-Curie ITN project ADOPSYS.
One of the most rewarding activities we proud ourselves on at B-PHOT, is reaching out to young potentials to inspire them about photonics. Once young minds get engaged with science, they no longer perceive technology and engineering as 'things for uber nerds' and are eager to start experimenting themselves. Last week, Ioanna from the European Business School, finished her internship with us. During two weeks, she was on a mission to discover more about the world of fundamental and applied research in photonics.
The combination of a photonic crystal with graphene offers a window of opportunity to develop a highly sensitive sensor that at the same time enhances the simplicity and cost-effectiveness of the sensing device. Recently Iterio Degli-Eredi successfully presented his PhD research results on this new generation of biosensors and obtained the title of Doctor in Engineering.
Efficient spectral broadening of light in compact graphene-covered photonic chips has recently been successfully demonstrated in the frame of GRAPHENICS, a Future and Emerging Technologies (FET) 'Young Explorers' project led by professor Nathalie Vermeulen (VUB B-PHOT). The early-career researchers unveiled unexpected features in graphene's nonlinear optical behaviour, playing a crucial role in the generation of spectrally broadband light on a chip.
In recent months, several warnings have been published about the potential risk of fried food for the health of millions of consumers. A sensitive subject in a country as Belgium where fries are recognized as a national symbol. That's why Minister Ben Weyts sent a writing to European Commissioner Vytenis Andriukaitis, responsible for health and food safety, to safeguard the traditional way of baking Belgian fries. Good news: photonics ensures the future of traditionally baked Belgian fries in a safe way, being a relief for every chip shop holder.
The Marie Sklodowska Curie Action - Innovative Training Network FINESSE organizes its first training event from 6 to 9 June at Vrije Universiteit Brussel. This Spring School welcomes both ITN FINESSES Early Stage Researchers (ESR) and young professionals during a four day Ph.D. level training about the Fundamentals of Optical Sensors.
Everyone is so busy, has so little time and there is LIGHT NIGHT crossing your path. SPIE Student Chapter went out of their way to give this edition a special touch celebrating their 10th anniversary. A few months before LIGHT NIGHT, SPIE Student Chapter Brussels and B-PHOT gathered to answer questions on what inspires students and professionals in high-tech and engineering nowadays. What is happening in photonics land, a specific topic involved future challenges, and how to tackle them through the right education? A good start, but let's share 5 reasons to join us on Thursday 27 April at Vrije Universiteit Brussel!
Photonics21, the European Technology Platform representing industry and research in photonics, distinguishes students for their important contributions in Photonics Research & Innovation with industrial impact. This year, Dr. Ir. Lien Smeesters, alumni from the European Master of Science in Photonics and now post-doc researcher at VUB B-PHOT, is honoured with the European Innovation Award 2017 during the annual meeting of Photonics21.
The 2017 OSA Optical Design and Fabrication Congress will address recent advances in three sub-conferences on Optical Design, Optical Fabrication and Testing, and Freeform Optics.
To get a closer look at what industrial photonics looks like, the SPIE Student Chapter at VUB took its members for a company visit to ETAP Lighting in Antwerp (BE) and a tour in the Philips Museum in Eindhoven (NL).
PHABLABS 4.0 aims to make photonics, the science and technology of light, more accessible to youngsters from as early as ten years old up to young professionals, through the dynamic eco-system of European FabLabs.
One million hours of video is transmitted all over the world every minute. One of the main contributors to this huge number is Netflix, for which you require 25 Mbps of download speed to stream ultra-high definition content. With increased use of cloud based services and more and more devices (speakers, lamps, thermostats, etc.) being connected to the Internet besides an already increasing number of tablets, phones and laptops, we are approaching the limit of the bandwidth our internet service providers can provide us with, with electrical telecommunication technology.
January is traditionally a month of celebrations to start the New Year in many organizations. Also at B-PHOT, the team joined for its annual New Years reception to get together with colleagues and enjoy tasty food in a festive way.
The Vrije Universiteit Brussel makes 5 full scholarships available for international students who start the European Master of Science in Photonics in the academic year 2017-2018. The scholarships are assigned to highly qualified applicants on basis of excellence and include a stipend of 800 EUR per month.
Etienne Averlant has successfully defended his PhD thesis for which he carried out experimental and theoretical studies of localized structures in Vertical-Cavity Surface-Emitting Lasers (VCSELs), also called cavity solitons. Such structures consist of bright peaks of light, localized in space that can be switched on or off, in the plane transverse to the propagation of the beam. They have notably been proposed for two applications: all-optical information processing, and information storage.
Rector Prof. Caroline Pauwels and her team of vice-rectors visit the Photonics VUB Campus in Gooik to get acquainted with the campus buildings, the research infrastructure, and the research topics.
Are all French fries carcinogenic, should we skip our weekly portion? Fortunately not! Acrylamide gained major importance in our society, and was recently one of the major news items. Acrylamide is a carcinogenic substance that can be formed in larger or smaller quantities during high-temperature processing of starch-rich food. But what measures can we take to reduce the risk of acrylamide in our food? Should we avoid potatoes, bread or coffee after high-temperature processing on our menu?
To continuously optimize the quality of education while maintaining a high student satisfaction level at VUB, students of the European Master of Science in Photonics were queried through a written survey and a focus discussion organized by the Education and Student Policy Department of VUB.
Today a major concern of the agriculture industry is the screening of two specific types of food contaminants imposing a key threat to health, being acrylamide formed during high-temperature processing and mycotoxins produced by toxic fungi. Lien Smeesters' doctoral thesis investigates the use of spectroscopic sensing techniques to non-destructively detect these harmful products, avoiding their presence in the food chain.
Don't we all want our food to be 100% nutritious and healthy? Food processors and farmers face many challenges to meet the highest standards as set by the food quality control agencies. Fulfilling these stringent requirements calls for accurate analytical measurements. Photonics technologies can answer the new needs in food safety and can help companies in their process to filter out tiny pieces of glass, stone or plastic, or insects, from mechanically harvested crops.
Within the recent news from Sylvania closing its production unit, Hugo Thienpont was invited to give more insights on the challenges and opportunities for the lighting industry and industry 4.0 in Europe. Radio 1 journalist for 'De Wereld Vandaag' asked about the crucial role light technologies will play in the re-industralisation of Europe.
15 secondary school teachers in Belgium have received their own Photonics Explorer kit during the teacher training recently, with the support of Hamamatsu Belgium. Photonics Explorer is a lab-in-a-box designed to stimulate students of the 2nd and 3rd grade to experiment in class with lasers, LEDs, lenses, optical fibers, and other high-tech components.
The Day of Science, Dag van de Wetenschap in Dutch, is a yearly event that allows young and old to get in touch with different sciences and their applications. With this initiative from the Flemish Government, over 100 research groups including B-PHOT have the opportunity to explain complex science and technology in a comprehensible way.
The final year students Science Mathematics from Kamsa Atheneum Aarschot visited B-PHOT research group to learn how innovative photonics research supports high-tech entrepreneurship and answers future global challenges. The students started their day at the VUB with workshops where they handle their own mini-projects linked to the topics of class courses in physics provided by the Photonics Explorer educational program.
The Science Show is a yearly event where we welcome over 1500 pupils and 120 teachers from 2nd and 3rd grade of secondary schools for an interactive Science Show on photonics.
VUB research group B-PHOT to showcase innovative projects together with Brubotics and MOBI at the 'Innovatiebeurs' at C-mine Genk.
Within her doctorate research, she studies different spectroscopic techniques, including absorbance and fluorescence spectroscopy, for the optical detection of carcinogenic mycotoxins and the prediction of the harmful acrylamide formation in food products.
Laser-based systems are widely used in research, industry, medical care and consumer products. The optical modeling and design of such systems is essential in order to find innovative solutions for various applications, and to develop novel applications beyond the current state-of-the-art.
The new rector of VUB, Caroline Pauwels, who will lead her first academic opening on 27 September, has announced her team of vice-rectors. They are Jan Danckaert (Education and Student Policy), Karin Vanderkerken (Research Policy), Hugo Thienpont (Innovation & Industrial Policy), and Sonja Snacken (International Relations Policy). The Board decided unanimously to appoint the new rector's team.
We are inviting applications for a ESR position in Photonic crystal fibres optimized for distributed pressure sensing within the Marie Sklodowska-Curie Innovative Training Network "FINESSE"
B-PHOT and CHIS have the pleasure to invite you to the public PhD defense of Manly Callewaert in order to obtain his degree of Doctor in Engineering. August 22nd, 2016 at 5 pm VUB Campus Building D, room D.0.02
Young B-PHOT professors developed a novel approach for converting one wavelength of light into another on a photonic chip. Their 'automatic quasi-phase-matching' approach enables efficient wavelength conversion in photonic integrated circuits that comply with the rules for mass-manufacturing in large-scale photonic foundries.
Each year 12 million people are confronted with the diagnosis of cancer, early detection is vital to reduce the mortality degree up to 30% (source WHO). Without a clear diagnosis, a second biopsy is required which increases the risks of complications and causes delays in treatments for patients. B-PHOT participates in the European InSPECT research that addresses the challenge to develop smart biophotonic devices for physicians that allow real-time diagnoses for cancer.
Three days packed with master thesis presentations, guest lectures from industry and academia, insightful perspectives and networking with peers. This must be the annual Photonics Summer Symposium!
Urszula, Agnieszka, Sidney and Qing. Four of our B-PHOT PhDs participated at the PhD Day at the VUB. They took the opportunity - and challenge - to explain their innovative research project in photonics through a comprehensive poster and ... a 3 minutes talk. A very good preparation for the kind of TED talks 'under 6 minutes'!
The 2500th Photonics Explorer has been handed over to a school in Finland. The concept of Photonics Explorer is a 'lab-in-a-box' that enables students of the 2nd and 3rd grade to do photonics experiments themselves at school with lasers, LEDs, lenses, optical fibers, and other high-tech components. Photonics Explorer is an educational kit, developed by the photonics research team B-PHOT at VUB (Vrije Universiteit Brussel), for students of secondary schools to experiment with the different properties of light and photons.
On June 1st and 2nd, 2016 the 10th annual Photonics Event is taking place in Veldhoven, the Netherlands. Photonics has been defined as the key enabling technology improving industries' businesses and becoming more competitive on al global scale. Prof. Heidi Ottevaere was invited to give her views on women in photonics.
On the 10th World Biomaterials Congress in Montreal, PhD candidate Jasper Van Hoorick won a WBC Trainee Merit award. He received the award for his research in the development of new biocompatible gelatin derivatives that enable improved handling via two-photon polymerization. This laser based, high-resolution 3D printing technique allows the creation of microstructures to below the order of magnitude of cells.
At the age of 17 or 18 many youngsters are thinking about their future, and what to study to reach the ultimate job. DREAM DAY offers students from the 3rd stage ASO the breech of a whole year project around "future education". Students of KA Dendermonde visited the Photonics Innovation Center in Gooik where Prof. Heidi Ottevaere and Ing. Tine De Pauw gave them an introduction in the exciting world of the science and technology of light.
Yunfeng Nie, PhD at B-PHOT Brussels Photonics Team, is the 2016 winner of the Michael Kidger Memorial Scholarship award. She wins the award for her continuing research on new design algorithms for specialty freeform imaging systems.
At the occasion of a special edition of their "Light Night", the SPIE Brussels Student Chapter is organizing "LIGHTtalks" about "Careers in Photonics". The goal is to create awareness among all students about the potential of photonics and its applications and career opportunities.
During Hannover Messe, the world's leading trade fair for industrial technology, B-PHOT had the pleasure to present innovating projects in photonics of small and medium companies that are collaborating with ACTPHAST. The ACTPHAST program, a European Commission supported large scale project, is designed to support all European SME with expertise in photonics and with cost-effective low risk guidance, up from R&D to prototyping, which allows companies to accelerate the development of their innovative projects.
The students of 6WiWe of Sint Bernarduscollege Oudenaarde got introduced into microfluidics, as well as lab-on-chips using chromatography and optics during their visit at the VUB labs.
Professor Hugo Thienpont is honored to receive the Francqui Chair 2015-2016 K.U. Leuven. Hugo Thienpont is professor at the Faculty for Engineering and chairman of the department of Applied Physics and Photonics (TONA) at the Vrije Universiteit Brussels. As director of B-PHOT, he has built, together with the 70 co-workers of the Brussels Photonics Team, specific expertise and technologies in the science of light which positions them as preferred academic partner in applied and industrial research in Flanders and Europe.
Dr. Jan Watté, R&D Manager of the Optics Group Advanced Engineering at Commscope and Fellow of the Faculty of Engineering at VUB, has given a guest lecture on "An industrial perspective on optical telecom" in the Optical Communication Systems class of Prof. Van Erps.
Andrea Ceglia, post-doctoral researcher of the Brussel Photonics Team of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel received the 2015 "Premio Improta" award issued by the Italian Association of Archaeometry (AIAR - www.associazioneaiar.com) dedicated to the young researchers who excelled in the field of archaeometry.
The Journal of Micromechanics and Microengineering (JMM) has recently announced the Highlights of 2015.
Diane De Coster has successfully presented her PhD thesis entitled "Microfluidic devices for Raman spectroscopy and optical trapping" during a public session. She demonstrated the miniaturization and integration of Raman spectroscopy and optical trapping on a single lab-on-chip (LOC) device to reduce the cost and complexity of these laboratory processes compared to bulky laboratory analyses.
In February 2016 the book 'Tunable Micro-optics', edited by Hans Zappe and Claudia Duppé from Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Germany was published. B-PHOT members Heidi Ottevaere, Lien Smeesters, and Hugo Thienpont contributed with a chapter on "Characterization of micro-optics" to this book.
In conjunction with the SPIE Photonics Europe 2016 conference taking place in early April in Brussels, a daylong Graphene Photonics workshop will be organized, chaired by Nathalie Vermeulen of B-PHOT and Frank Koppens of ICFO.
Jasper Van Hoorick, joint PhD student between the Polymer Chemistry & Biomaterials Research Group at Ghent University and the Brussels Photonics Team of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel, received the 2014 Agoria Award for Technological Dissertations for his Master thesis entitled 'Tunable hydrogel-polyester combination scaffolds for tissue engineering purposes.'
B-PHOT members Prof. Heidi Ottevaere and Prof. Wendy Meulebroeck recently took part in a webinar on optical spectroscopy. Spectroscopy can be used in a variety of application fields, such as ancient glass research, and food safety.
Seven students of KA Oudenaarde came to visit B-PHOT, the Brussels Photonics Team. Prof. Heidi Ottevaere initiated the research field of photonics to those students as well as potential applications. The students visited the laser lab and the fiber sensing lab.
Recently a mini-SEM from Hirox was installed at B-PHOT's Photonic Innovation Center in Gooik. This new table top Scanning Electron Microscope is the first of its kind in Belgium. The SH-5000M, as the instrument is called, was installed in B-PHOT's cleanroom.
On November 5th, 2015, Ben De Pauw has successfully presented his PhD thesis entitled "Experimental analysis of flow-induced vibration in lead-bismuth cooled nuclear fuel assemblies" during a public session. He demonstrated the accurate characterization of vibrations in the lead-bismuth cooled fuel assembly intended for MYRRHA – the multi-purpose hybrid research reactor for high-tech applications – using optical fibre Bragg gratings as vibration sensors and applying state-of-the-art modal analysis techniques to the measurements.
On the 26th and the 27th of October, ten young B-PHOT researchers teamed up for a lively and interactive Photonics science show, where they showcased basic but important concepts of light and light technology. These concepts were illustrated with cutting-edge real-life applications.
Sidney Goossens has just started his PhD research on optical fiber based sensors for structural health monitoring of composite materials at B-PHOT. His MSc dissertation entitled 'Dynamic strain analysis with micro-structured fiber optic strain sensors embedded in structural components' has been selected for the longlist of the 'de Vlaamse Scriptieprijs 2015'.
On the 21st of October, the chair Mireille Aerens was inaugurated. Mrs. Aerens, an advocate for animal rights, donated a large amount of money to the VUB. The money will be used to research how animal testing can be replaced by in-vitro methods using stem cells. B-PHOT will play an important role in this research with its "lab-on-a-chip" technology.
On September 21st, 2015, Carlos Belmonte Palmero successfully defended his PhD thesis entitled "Semiconductor lasers for random bit generation, wavelength tuning and circularly polarized light emission" in a public session. In his PhD research, Carlos showed that semiconductor lasers can efficiently be used for generating sequences of random bits at high-speed, but also that, combined with the properties of liquid crystal, they can be extremely versatile devices.
On September 21st, the photonics department of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB) welcomed a ten-person delegation from Beihang University (Beijing, China). The group, consisting of professors and PhD students, was in Brussels for a three-day visit.
On June 4th, B-PHOT kicked off the exhibition "Discover the power of light" in the Atomium. During June, July and August, 201.280 people visited this exhibition in Belgium's most famous monument. These visitor numbers mean an increase of almost 10% compared to the same period last year.
During the summer, our Photonics Innovation Center (PIC) in Gooik welcomed 15 kids between the ages of 10 and 12. The trip was organised by 'Sapikids' (a contraction of sapiens and kids), a company which organises science and technology workshops for children. Sapikids is a member of the STEM academy, an initiative of the Flemish Government to promote science for children and teenagers up to 18 years.
In the frameworks of the International Year of Light 2015 and the European project GoPhoton!, several outreach activities were organized by B-PHOT. One of those activities consists of ten workshops about photonics for young minds. These workshops take place in the Atomium.
Over the past years, B-Phot researchers Jürgen Van Erps, Heidi Ottevaere, Diane De Coster, Tom Verschooten, Michael Vervaeke and Hugo Thienpont have worked on the smart design and fabrication of optofluidic labs-on-chips which offer the sensitivity of laboratory-scale optical detection instruments with portability, fast response times, low sample consumption, and parallel processing and read-out. Their recent SPIE Newsroom article entitled "Photonics-enhanced polymer labs-on-chips" is currently among the top 10 most read articles .
On August 27, 2015, Sanne Sulejmani successfully defended her PhD thesis entitled "Microstructured optical fiber Bragg grating-based sensors for shear strain measurements" in a public session. In her PhD research work she successfully demonstrated shear strain detection in various materials and structures based on fiber Bragg grating sensors fabricated in specialty microstructured optical fibers ('MOFBG sensor').
B-PHOT's research on the Butterfly micro-structured optical fiber sensor is featured in the July 2015 edition of Laser Focus World.
On the 1st July 2015, Andrea Ceglia successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis entitled "Unravelling technology and distribution of ancient glass by means of X-ray and UV-vis-NIR spectroscopy" in a public session.
In celebration of the international year of light IYL2015 EU Director Khalil Rouhana, Rector Paul De Knop, B-PHOT Director Hugo Thienpont, Director Henri Simons and Chairman Freddy Thielemans of the Atomium officially opened the exhibition "ID#2015: Discover the power of light!" on 11 June 2015. The inauguration was part of the PhotonicSplash event, organised in the framework of the European GoPhoton project, and happened in the presence of several GoPhoton partners from Barcelona, Berlin, Paris and Bratislava, as well as 160 VIPs.
In the frame of the International Year of Light 2015, Nathalie Vermeulen from the Brussels Photonics Team receives the "LIGHT2015 Young Women in Photonics Award". She is granted this prestigeous price for "introducing a disruptive model for the nonlinear process of Coherent Anti-Stokes Raman Scattering and employing it to conceptualize a novel cooling technique for Raman lasers. She also came up with a groundbreaking phase matching approach for on-chip nonlinear wavelength converters, enabling device manufacturing in photonic foundries with standard fabrication rules. Today she impacts mid-infrared solid-state laser development, and targets next‐generation nonlinear photonic devices based on graphene." The Award ceremony will take place on June 24 at the World of Photonics Congress in Munich. Interview with Nathalie on Ring TV (Dutch spoken) : http://www.ringtv.be/nieuws/gooikse-prof-wint-internationale-award
In the framework of 'UNESCO International Year of Light 2015' and the European project "GoPhoton", the Brussels Photonics Team B-PHOT of the Vrije Universiteit Brussel organizes the exhibition 'Discover the power of light!" in close collaboration with the Atomium . This exhibition runs for more than 4 months from the 4th of June 2015 till 18th of October 2015 in the Atomium building and will immerse more than 300.000 visitors in the fascinating world of light phenoma and light technology.
B-PHOT showcased the power of light and photonics on Saturday 9 May 2015 at the occasion of the EU Open Door Day in the Berlaymont building. Thousands of inquisitive EU citizens visited the B-PHOT booth, where B-PHOT researchers explained the basic principles of light and illustrated the impact of light technology on our daily lives. The multitude of hands-on experiments and the variety of demonstrations excited both young and old. Whereas the "solar-boat" competition was extremely popular with kids, the infrared imaging camera and its applications impressed everybody.
B-PHOT highlights the impact of its photonics research and innovation on food and food safety at Milano's world fair 2015. The fair opened on May 1st and explores the theme "Feeding the Planet, Energy for Life". B-PHOT grasps the unique opportunity of "EXPO 2015" and "International Year of Light 2015" to showcase the enabling power of light and the impact of light technologies on food-sorting, food-safety and health.
On 27th April 2015, Tigran Baghdasaryan successfully defended his Ph.D. thesis entitled "A study of multi-photon inscription of fiber Bragg gratings in glass microstructured optical fibers" in a public session. During his defense he explained how the turn of the 21st century has marked the introduction of a new type of optical fibers, known as 'Microstructured Optical Fibers' (MOFs).
The SPIE Brussels student chapter board organized a 3-day teambuilding event to further stimulate the bonds between the researchers at B-PHOT. The teambuilding was organised in the Ardennes, from the 15th until the 17th of April, with 2 overnights in a guest house at Forrières.
MYRTE stands for 'MYRRHA Research and Transmutation Endeavour'. The Strategic Research Agenda of the EU Sustainable Nuclear Energy Technical platform requires new large infrastructures for its successful deployment. MYRRHA has been identified as a long term supporting research facility for all ESNII (European Sustainable Nuclear Industrial Initiative) systems and as such put in the high-priority list of ESFRI (European Strategy Forum on Research Infrastructures).
Flanders' Chamber of Commerce and Industry VOKA has interviewed Prof. Hugo Thienpont on the economic impact of photonics at the occasion of 2015 International Year of Light and Light-based technologies . The article (in Dutch) was published in the March 2015 issue of VOKA's magazine "Ondernemers" and is distributed over 18.000 companies in Flanders and Brussels.
On Friday 20 February 2015, B-PHOT researcher Nathalie Vermeulen received the Ignace Vanderschueren VUB-price for Fundamental and Applied Sciences, which is awarded every 6 years. The award commission selected Nathalie as laureate for this prestigeous price in recognition of the significance of her PhD research work on Raman lasers.
In his PhD thesis, Gebirie Yizengaw realized a miniaturized multichannel multiresolution imaging system in which the different channels have different Fields Of View (FOV) and angular resolutions. His imaging system is therefore able to capture, at the same time, images of an individual scene with different magnifications. It also enables to process the different images with different image processing algorithms. For example a motion detection algorithm could be implemented on the wide FOV - low resolution image, whereas a face detection algorithm could be used for the narrow FOV -high resolution image.
Over the past few years B-PHOT researchers have been investigating how to properly model slow-light propagation in silicon photonic crystal structures. In 2014 their research yielded a publication titled "On the limitations of the first-order nonlinear Schrödinger equation in slow-light photonic crystal structures" in the Journal of the Optical Society of America B (JOSA B). Recently this publication was enlisted as one of the most frequently downloaded JOSA B articles on integrated optics in 2014.
On 27th January 2015, B-PHOT organized the Inaugural Lecture of the VUB - TE Connectivity Chair. The lecture on 'Fiber Optics at TE Connectivity: past achievements & future opportunities' was delivered by Dr. Davy Brown, VP & CTO of Broadband Network Solutions at TE Connectivity.
To promote the scientific output of Supélec's researchers, the Supélec Foundation organizes every year its publication prize: "le prix de la publication". This award recognizes the PhD student of Supélec who has defended his thesis the same year and who has the best record in terms of publications. In 2014, this prize has been awarded to Martin Virte for his brilliant work about the nonlinear dynamics of quantum dot lasers. The ceremony took place during the prestigious gala from the Supélec Foundation in the National Marine Museum in Paris (France) on the 27th of November. After a challenging 180-second presentation of his research, Martin received the 3000 euros award from the members of the jury.
B-PHOT researcher Stijn Roelandt recently conducted research on the subjective perception of speckle by a human observer, which was published in Optics Express*. The rising interest in this research has resulted in the paper being selected for publication in the most recent issue of the Virtual Journal for Biomedical Optics (VJBO), which is a special feature of OSA's Optics InfoBase
During October and November 16 remarkably talented young people between 14 and 18 years old were guests at B-PHOT.
Recent work of B-PHOT researchers JinLuo Cheng and Nathalie Vermeulen, and their collaboration partner John E. Sipe from the University of Toronto, has been selected by the Optical Society of America for the special December edition of Optics & Photonics News, enlisting the top 30 of "most exciting optics research results in 2014."
In this PhD thesis, state-of-the-art improvements are presented for both home theater projection systems and high-power laser projection systems. Secondary optics for an innovative LED-based light source targeting mid-level power output projection systems are investigated, designed and demonstrated.
Lien Smeesters was chosen to be a jury member in the SPIE International Year of Light Photo Contest to evaluate different photographs about light and light-based technologies. The SPIE Photo Contest is organised to raise awareness about the International Year of Light 2015 Celebration and the vital role of light and light-based technologies in daily life.
Lien, Lara, Evert, Iterio en Jens , 5 young B-PHOT researchers, supported by B-PHOT's outreach staff Tine De Pauw and Nathalie Debaes, triggered the interest of many visitors with optics and photonics experiments during the 'Day of Science' .
In his PhD thesis, Stefaan looked at two different domains in Minimally Invasive Procedures, cochlear implants and endomicroscopy, and researched for each domain how novel fiber optic techniques can help overcome some of the major challenges associated with each.
It is generally acknowledged that a human observer will no longer perceive speckle in projected images once the speckle contrast becomes sufficiently small. However, up until now, no in-depth investigation on the perception of speckle by human observers has been investigated. B-PHOT researcher Stijn Roelandt recently investigated this topic and published his findings in a paper entitled "Human speckle perception threshold for still images from a laser projection system"*
On 5 and 6 November 2014 B-PHOT participated, together with VUB's Technology Transfer Interface, to the TTO Flanders Booth during Creativity World Forum in Kortrijk, Europe's biggest conference on entrepreneurial creativity. This forum brought together more than 3000 business professionals (CEOs, entrepreneurs, developers, researchers and public sector representatives) from all over the world.
With the Graduate Student Fellowship Award, the IEEE Photonics Society recognizes, every year, ten outstanding student members worldwide for their research work. In 2014, the fellowship has been awarded to B-phot researcher Martin Virte, along with 9 other young researchers across the world, in recognition of his paradigm-shifting research about the nonlinear dynamics of quantum dot laser diodes. Martin is among the three European-based researchers distinguished this year.
On 21 October 2014, Yannick Lefevre defended his PhD thesis titled: "New Perspectives on Four-Wave Mixing in Silicon Waveguide Structures." Optical four-wave-mixing processes are nonlinear mixing interactions that enable a wide variety of photonic functionalities, including wavelength conversion, parametric amplification, all-optical switching, and signal regeneration. In silicon waveguide structures, these interactions can be triggered at low optical powers due to the tight optical confinement offered by these structures.
VUB - Campus Etterbeek
Pleinlaan 2
1050 Elsene
Building F - 9th floor


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You'll Like The 2007 Cadillac Escalade If...
If your driving life demands plenty of room for people plus cargo, along with luxury amenities and a brash aura, the Escalade could be your breed of SUV. Though not quite as glitzy in this iteration as the last, the audacious Escalade continues to get you noticed.
You May Not Like The 2007 Cadillac Escalade If...
Full-size dimensions translate to improved but still so-so gas mileage, plus a rather high climb into the passenger compartment. So, if you can survive with a less-bulky luxury SUV, you may want to consider the Escalade an also-ran.
What's New
Fresh, distinctive styling is meant to differentiate the Escalade from its GM stablemates, the Chevrolet Tahoe and GMC Yukon, while available 22-inch tires may enhance its "street cred."
Interior Features
Details count inside, too. "Live bigger on the inside, but drive smaller on the outside" is the slogan for the 2007 Escalade, which promises premium materials and low gloss levels. Seating is available for six to eight passengers. No exposed fasteners are visible, and close-out panels conceal seat hardware. Pillars are fabric-wrapped. Cadillac moved the instrument panel down and forward four inches. Thinner seats contain sculpted backs. Seats recline further, and front-seat travel is an inch greater. Gauges are large enough, but blue pointers impair readability. Sadly, there's no driver's grab handle, and the passenger handle is a long reach.
Exterior Features
Besides concentrating on proportions and execution, designers strove toward such detail refinements as reduced body gaps. All major components and sheet metal are new, according to Cadillac, including fully-wrapped front and rear fascias, triple-stack HID headlamps, and a unique D-pillar treatment. Noteworthy doors, inspired by Cadillac's Sixteen concept car, wrap over the rocker panels. Ventiports adorn the front fenders, and the windshield is steeper. Track width has grown by three inches up front, and a coil-over-shock suspension replaces the prior torsion bars. The boxed frame promises 49-percent greater torsional stiffness. Standard wheels are 18-inch, but hard-to-miss 22-inch tires are available.
Driving Impressions
Sure, this Escalade is energetic with its new powertrain - but not exactly dramatic. Hitting the gas at lower speeds doesn't always produce vigorous response. Gruff engine growls during acceleration don't sound Cadillac-like. Automatic-transmission shifts are impressively smooth, though on upgrades it sometimes seems uncertain what to do next. Handling isn't really trucklike, but in curves, the Escalade doesn't always feel fully confident, making it tempting to ease up on the gas. Steering feel is pleasing - definitely not scary-light as in old Escalades. Expect a smooth ride on good surfaces. Minor bumps make the vehicle jumpy, if it's wearing 22-inch tires.
Pricing Notes
With all-wheel drive, the Escalade has a Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) of $57,280. The two-wheel-drive version, available later in the year, has an MSRP of $54,725. The Escalade EXT and ESV, also available later this year, will have MSRPs of $54,210 and $59,680, respectively. Fair Purchase Prices, which represent what consumers are actually paying, run more than $700 lower. Click on Fair Purchase Prices to compare. Escalades compete against Lincoln's less-powerful Navigator, which appeals to a similar audience and costs a bit less. Import-brand rivals include the Lexus LX 470, which costs slightly more, and the lower-priced Infiniti QX56. Mercedes-Benz's new GL450 is expected to sell in the upper $50,000 range. Escalades should be worth more secondhand than any competitor - and beat the Navigator by far.
Notable Equipment
A power rear liftgate heads the list of standard features in the amply-equipped Escalade. Compatibility brackets, built into the front frame, could reduce damage to other vehicles in a collision. Side-curtain airbags include tethers for enhanced rollover protection. Front seatbelt pretensioners activate in rear impacts - said to be an "industry-exclusive" feature. GM's StabiliTrak system incorporates rollover mitigation technology. Audiophiles can enjoy Bose 5.1 Digital Surround Sound, while everyone benefits from Cadillac's Auto Ride suspension. Integrated tow hooks are standard. A tap-up/tap-down manual mode for the transmission works easily and promptly, using buttons on the column-mounted gearshift lever.
Notable Options
Power fold-and-tumble second-row seats, for an extra $425, are called an "industry exclusive." Heated seats now are offered in all models, as part of a $625 Climate Package. Rear parking assist is available, along with a rearview camera. Both are incorporated into a $2,495 Information Package that also includes Cadillac's navigation system. Installing 22-inch wheels adds a hefty $2,995 to the Escalade's price. Power-deployable running boards will join the option list this summer. When properly equipped, an all-wheel-drive Escalade can tow up to 7700 pounds, which could be good news for boaters and RVers.
Favorite Features
Manual-mode Transmission Operation
Placing the + and - (upshift/downshift) buttons on the column gearshift might not seem like a good idea at first. Most vehicles with a manual-shift provision have a floor lever. Even so, these buttons are unusually easy to find and use, and the transmission responds with satisfying promptness.
Power Fold-and-Tumble Second-row Seating
Third-row access is a serious issue in big SUVs, and an easy-folding second-row seat can save a lot of irritation. This option powers down at the push of a console or door-pillar button.
Under the Hood
Cadillac has enlarged its V8 engine from 6.0 to 6.2 liters, and given it a substantial boost beyond the previous 345 horsepower. With its two overdrive ratios and wide gear-ratio spread, the new Hydra-Matic 6L80 six-speed automatic transmission is said to be nearly equivalent to a seven-speed. Manual-shift mode uses column-lever buttons.
6.2-liter V8
403 horsepower at 5700 rpm
417 lb.-ft. of torque @ 4400 rpm
EPA city/highway fuel economy: 14/18 (2WD), 13/17 (AWD)
Editors' Notes
Fast-living rappers and bling-dazzled celebrities swooned over the previous-generation Escalade. In addition to adding power and a few inches of length to Cadillac's full-size SUV, the 2007 redesign stresses finesse over flashiness. Cadillac says it sought Nissan's athleticism but without its harshness, Toyota's suppleness without its vagueness, and Ford's isolation without its heaviness. Refinements are easily noticeable, inside and out, and the latest Escalade behaves more admirably on the road than its predecessor. Marketers claim segment-leading horsepower and torque for the new "Gen IV" 6.2-liter V8. At 60 mph, the V8 lazes along at just 1500 rpm.


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1: When we face the Lord at the end of our lives, he will ask us: "What did you do with those precious eternal beings that I entrusted into your hands? Did you sacrifice your own life to give them my life? Did you pass on my purposes? Did you do the work in your children that will result in praise to My name throughout all of eternity? " Let us hope that we may all answer yes, and that we may hear, "Well done, good and faithful servant!" - Sally Clarkson, Mission of Motherhood
2: I Samuel 12:23 As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right.
3: I John 5:14-15 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
4: Romans 15:5-6 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
5: Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
6: Ephesians 1:16-19 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.
7: Ephesians 3:16-21 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.
8: Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
9: Philippians 1:9-11 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
10: Colossians 1:9-14 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
11: I Thessalonians 1:2-3 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
12: I Thessalonians 3:9-13 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
13: I Thessalonians 5:23-24 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.
14: II Thessalonians 1:11-12 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
15: II Thessalonians 2:16-17 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
16: II Thessalonians 3:2-5, 16 And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil people, for not everyone has faith. But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance... Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
17: II Timothy 1:3-7 I thank God, whom I serve, as my ancestors did, with a clear conscience, as night and day I constantly remember you in my prayers. Recalling your tears, I long to see you, so that I may be filled with joy. I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also. For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands. For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
18: Philemon 1:4-7 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people.
19: Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.


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one church - two locations
Gathering is where the church comes together to celebrate, worship and learn together. Here, we are reminded of what God has called us to do and who He has called us to be.
"Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe." Hebrews 12:28 ESV
Check out the songs we've been singing (for the full track you must have the spotify app.
Communities are a place where we experience strong relationships, are held accountable, and are encouraged to walk closely with Christ. These groups are centered on on-going relationships.
"And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." Hebrews 10:24,25 ESV
Some of our Communities include:
Transformation opportunities encourage us to be lifelong learners on our on-going journey of knowing who God is. We experience life change as we learn together. These are usually classes designed to help us move to the next step in our journey. Classes generally focus on a specific topic and have start and end dates.
"Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect." Romans 12:2 ESV
Transformation opportunities include:
Events are opportunities to engage the church as a whole and the larger geographic community in special times together. These are great next steps for those just getting involved with CBC. All are welcome, whether you consider CBC your home or not.
- Check out our calendars & events page!


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Aged Care Strategy Unit
Office for Ageing Well provides strategic advice to both state and Commonwealth government around matters relating to Commonwealth subsidised aged care, including the interface with the health sector. This includes responsibility for administering the Aged Care Assessment Program to ensure its objectives are met throughout the State.
Key Projects of the Aged Care Strategy Unit:
- Implementation of national reform initiatives as part of the Commonwealth aged care reforms.
- Implementation of State priorities to create an efficient and integrated model of care in South Australia across the health/aged care sectors.
The Commonwealth government, through the Commonwealth Department of


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Framing your eyes does not have to be a challenge. It's a fairly simple process once you know what you are aiming for. Following the steps below will help to give you even coverage, proper blending and a smooth finish to your eye makeup.
- Start by applying highlights to your eyebrows using the same shade or slightly lighter or darker than your natural hair color. Use an angled brush to lightly blend and soften the color to match you brow.
- Use an eye primer to prepare the eyelid for the eye shadow. This helps to create a smooth and even base and tone for your next colors.
- Use a triple shade eye shadows system to highlight and frame the eyes. Always start by using the lightest color on the inner part of the eye and moving out to the darkest shade on the outside of the eye using a semi-circular motion on the tips of the eyes. Finish by using a blending brush from the inside out.
- For a softer look sparingly use your shade of eyeliner. A simple thin line from the inner to the outer edges of the eye will keep it neat.
- Mascara should be used lightly on the inside of the eye to slightly heavier on the outside.
All of these steps will help to give you a polished but natural look that works for any day and any outfit.


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BW Controls Distributor
New Jersey, New York, and Long Island
BW Controls 5300-P-F1-OC - 5300 series safe relays, 25 A resistive at 120 or 240 V.A.C., open chassis
About BW Controls
Liquid level controls. Point level control using conductivity relays, and float switches. Continuous level with magnetostrictive technology, analog outputs and intrisically safe operation for hazardous areas and volatile liquids.


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Backyard Creations
Ben Blue's Backyard Creations Company was started in 1998, since then we have strived to build the toughest deck structures in the industry. We keep up with the latest building trends. That is why we have well over a thousand satisfied customers between RI, MA, & CT. Please visit Trex's photo gallery, as well as our own website to come up with some inspiring ideas. You may recognize some of our work that we have done. Give us a call, we would love to help you design your perfect project.


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This Issue Brief White Paper is to address issues that may arise when valuing the equity in ESOP-owned companies that have synthetic equity, or similar arrangements, embedded in their capital structure. It is specifically addressed to ESOP trustees and fiduciaries charged with approving the valuations of ESOP held employer securities. This Issue Brief White Paper was recently released by The ESOP Association's Advisory Committee on Valuation.
The ESOP Association wishes to acknowledge, and express its thanks, to the volunteer members of the Association's Advisory Committee on Valuation who worked on this project and the Committee Chair, Jeffrey Tarbell, ASA, CFA, Director, Houlihan Lokey, San Francisco, CA.
Valuing Synthetic Equity is available on The ESOP Association's website, www.esopassociation.org. For additional information, email firstname.lastname@example.com, or call 202/293-2971.
Issue Briefs are FREE to Association members
Non-Member Price $6.00


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Recently, my adult daughter asked me, "Dad are you mad at me?" I was surprised at her question. "Of course not," I replied, "what makes you think I'm upset?" She said, "I'm just having a hard time reading your silence and your facial expression."
I then realized that I was displaying my "resting face," which is, at best, difficult to read, and at worst foreboding and unfriendly.
Some definitions will help:
Resting face – the way your face looks when you are at ease, with facial muscles relaxed.
Engaged face – the way your face looks when you are consciously manipulating your face to appear more engaged, approachable, and friendly. I've also heard this called a "yes face."
To display an engaged face, raise the eyebrows, open up the eyes, smile, and raise the forehead.
To exhibit a resting face, do nothing.
I constantly hound my adult choir about this, reminding them that during performance their resting face is inadequate. If we're singing a joyful text we need to look joyful. Actually, regardless of the message we're singing, a resting face is lacking; it's boring and unconvincing.
I have a friend who constantly bears a pleasant expression. I asked him how he managed to maintain such an agreeable and inviting countenance. He said that it was a habit he consciously developed through the years. Now it is his default setting.
We must learn when we need to "change masks." When I'm alone, my resting face will suffice, but when I'm in public and especially when people are looking at me, I should perk up my countenance.
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