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In the meantime, we're talking about probably the most gorgeous females ever. I suppose you appropriate – basically probably the most great girls are Venezuelan females. The Venezuelan women are recognized for his or her face magnificence and intelligence. They are simply attempting toward having a existence which their native terrain, sadly, cannot present. I lately despise cheaters and take great delight in myself on the reality that I will most likely be devoted, so that could also be a option which may be required for myself. Without him, a extraordinarily pleased particular person of Venezuela are more doubtless to not go away residence.
In spite of the brightness of their make-up, it could' t be gotten in contact with pretentious and recalcitrant. Venezuelan women broaden a really particular character, occur to be charming, embrace style and are challenging. Therefore , plenty of males wish to meet up with Venezuelan girls of all ages.
A Silicon Valley visionary bought the area name and proceeded to create the most inclusive, most complete dating internet web page to that time. It generated quite a few hyperlinks … and likewise quite a little bit of profit by the point it was offered off. Venezuelan weddings are masses like North American ones, though they aren't so strict on church ceremonies. That talked about, most households would nonetheless choose that to a straightforward civil wedding ceremony. Here is all the belongings you'll must know about Venezuelan marriage ceremony ceremony ceremony traditions.
- H. Canada and so forth Your feeling of accountability should embody making sensible and excellent choices.
- You must have an excellent understanding of Latin cultures and Espanol notably.
- If you do not observe her directions, your Venezuelan bride will be tired of you simply.
- However, after marriage, she's going to dedicate 100% of her time and effort to you.
- As mentioned beforehand, Venezuelan girls look towards marrying foreigners to flee the horrible circumstances of their residence country.
They've a pure pure magnificence that ladies from the West dream of. Venezuelan ladies are match and you will rarely see obese Latin women venezuela woman.
Once you find a Venezuela mail buy bride, you will notice how much respect and attention she will be ready to present you with. They will be sure to keep nice and wholesome always.
Venezuelan ladies courting and Venezuelan bride company websites are dedicated to assist western males fulfill the Venezuelan appreciate of their lives. Then the Venezuelan girls marriage is definitely within the excessive of your want record. Why the bars belonging to the realm shake off at the time you probably can encounter Venezuelan mail-order bride round. Enjoy extremely hot Venezuelan marriage ceremony brides throughout the time clock and present you the courting within the long term. You can get a good Venezuela bride or possibly a girl only for chatting or maybe relationship.
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All of us recommend quite a few quite a few girls out of completely different ethnicities. In the meantime, wish talking about of your pretty younger girls ever earlier than.
Can Venezuelan Brides Be Devoted To Just One Man?
Relationships with conscientious Venezuelans shall be sturdy and harmonious. To purchase a Venezuela bride, one ought to contemplate cultural differences that can play a major role in building the relationships. Although Venezuelan tradition just isn't incredibly different in comparison with American, it's nonetheless essential to mention a few issues about cultural differences. Who is aware of, possibly it's going to assist you to be extra versatile concerning Venezuelan wives.
The Birth of Online Brides Venezuela
Merida is a relatively protected place with sufficient nightlife action, museums, and festivals, so you'll always discover where to spend the weekends. As the country's capital and largest city, the selection of Caracas is obvious. [newline]Besides, while the entire nation is suffering from shortages and power outages in 2021, Caracas remains still relatively functional. This is the center of a country, people are really going out to bars and restaurants and having a little bit of fun! Here you'll find a Venezuelan lady and confidently strategy her. There are so many horny Venezuelan wives on-line that it's exhausting to make a choice.
When your Venezuelan mail order brides company arranges a date with a beautiful Venezuelan woman for you, you need to know the method to behave so as to conquer her. Treat your date with the respect and courtesy that she deserves, and you will come a great distance. The man can be expected to pay for dinner and drinks, so hold extra money available. Never supply to share an account, as it seems low cost and may ruin your probabilities of success. In the top, it's very important to demonstrate your "provider" expertise.
So where perform all these expenditures come from, plus the way a lot must you dedicate? The magnificence of these gals is among the many and varied reasons why European males need to get married to them. They prefer it, and they want to hear how good they look that day, … especially when you know the way much time they spend making ready to look stunning for the occasion. Forget clichés or soap operas quotes … be simple and sincere. Attention from you means much more than any materials thing. Merida is among the main cities of the Venezuelan Andes and the place the place increasingly Venezuelan freshmen arrive to get a degree.
Mail order Venezuelan brides devote themselves to their males as they prefer it to be in love. They adore every thing related with relationship and family venezuelan women life, and so they know how to keep the fireside burning.
However, after marriage, she will dedicate one hundred pc of her effort and time to you. Venezuelan girls also make unbelievable moms and you will by no means regret starting a family with a Venezuelan mail order bride. These Venezuelan women for marriage divide the interval from acquaintance to marriage into several ranges.

subset: commoncrawl


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As Greg mentioned in the FanShots, Kelly Dwyer of Yahoo! Sports named Third Quarter Collapse the best Magic blog on the tubes. We're humbled.
Congratulations to the folks at Orlando Magic Blog, which includes Mike From Illinois, who recapped a few games for us last season; and to Brian Schmitz of the Orlando Sentinel. Their blogs placed second and third. And a big thank-you to Kelly Dwyer, who had the unenviable task of ranking each team's three best blogs, for choosing us as the best as far as the Orlando Magic are concerned.
And thanks to everyone who inspired me make this site what it is. I have neither the time nor the memory to name names, but I think/hope you know who you are.
The biggest thanks of all go to the readers, without whom we would not exist. We hope you'll stick with us.


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They ran a contest to name a feature of Saturn's atmosphere, and "Omphalos" won.
This entry was posted on Tuesday, April 10th, 2007 at 6:57 am and is filed under Fun Stuff, In the news. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.
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F.P. Report
KARACHI: Pakistani television actress Minal Khan had a difficult week after it was revealed by internet users that she had stolen Kylie Jenner's Instagram story and put it under her own name.
She became popular on social media, where people were making fun of her and exposing her for fabricating a lifestyle
Now Minal posted another story on her Instagram story. Netizens pointed out that it was taken from Pinterest. Minal Khan gave a shut up call to the trolls and said:
"It's my Instagram I will post whatever I like. And it's my life I will live however I like. Yes I have Pinterest and many other apps. Yes I like these kind of pictures. And yes I will keep posting. Can you do something about it? I will wait bro"
Minal then posted another picture from Pinterest with a message to Chill Out.
The post TV Actress Minal Khan gives shut-up call to trolls appeared first on The Frontier Post.


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In the News
Practical and fun ways to upskill while working from home
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"Many parents are not prepared to have their children at home all day," Alan Kazdin, director of the Yale Parenting...
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Living with Children: Mindfulness parenting
By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / December 28, 2019
According to HCF and psychologist Alan Kazdin, director of the Yale Parenting Center, "while punishment might make a parent feel...
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How to handle common parenting challenges
By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / December 13, 2019
The situations are all-too-familiar. The teenager who refuses to get out of bed. The middle-school daughter who rages when it's...
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A parenting expert shares the common mistake that psychologically damages kids—and what to do instead
By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / December 11, 2019
After years of studying the psychology of parenting — and through my own experience of being a mother — I've...
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The Secret To Getting Your Kid To Stop Doing Something? Don't Say Anything
By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / November 2, 2019
Kids are kind of a mystery. One day they love something, then the next day they won't so much as look at...
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Do We Really Need Shooter Drills?
By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / September 10, 2019
Alan Kazdin, professor of psychology and child psychiatry at Yale University, told NBC News that "the most important part of...
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Well-Intentioned Parental Behaviors Result in Kids Who Are Less Successful
By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / May 10, 2019
The relationship between kids and parents is well-studied and researchers are perpetually learning more about what parents can do--or not...
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Westport cops teaching parents to spy on their kids
By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / May 9, 2019
"Let's think of a word stronger than 'mistrust,'" said Alan Kazdin, research professor and Sterling professor of psychology at Yale...
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By Dr. Alan E. Kazdin / January 13, 2019
Dr. Alan Kazdin, a renowned professor of psychology and child psychiatry and head of the Yale Parenting Center, has spent...
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Whether you think it's a marketing ploy or an exciting new direction, Pantone's 2022 Color of the Year is here. Very Peri brings together cool blue and warm reds, offered in a spirit of hope for overcoming present global difficulties that face us as we enter 2022. Periwinkle isn't the first MCM color that comes to mind. It's neither the bright primary colors of the 50s or the muted earth tones of the late 60s/early 70s. Maybe as an MCM fan, you know better than to follow the changing winds of color trends. But, still, it might spark ideas for breaking out of color ruts. Let us know what you think! Can the Pantone Color of the Year work with MCM? Should we even pay attention to it?
While you ponder those questions, here are some home decor accessories and artwork conversant with MCM in Very Peri, the 2022 Color of the Year.
A comforting throw is always welcome, and a fairly replaceable one at that. This reversible periwinkle and white throw is made of your choice of minky, velvet, or fleece.
The geometric shapes and texture of this duvet cover had us feeling soothed and intrigued.
The bulbuous look of a vintage pitcher is a fun, tabletop homage to the mid century. This particular one is, you guessed it, periwinkle.
Speaking of mid century ceramic tableware, Fiesta fits that bill! Here's a vintage Fiesta gravy boat in periwinkle.
Designed by Nicholai Wiig Hansen, this periwinkle bowl is part of a whole collection of handmade ceramics in Danish Modern style.
Named after Mid Century Modern ceramicist and entreprenuer Edith Heath, Heath Ceramics is still at it making sleek, modern ceramics for the home such as this candle holder containing a lavender and cedarwood scented candle.
Made of vintage lucite, these earrings have retro charm with contemporary perks of surgical steel and acrylic backing.
Circular Abstract VIII Art Print combines periwinkle with mustard and teal for a color palette that's very Mid Mod friendly and in a geometric vernacular that's also right at home in MCM design.
So this one is more of an investment, but the handwoven color blocks of Yellow
Orchid in the Garden feel organic and geometric, making it a warm addition to an MCM home.
Looking for more MCM inspiration? Don't miss Scandinavian Modern Inspiration. And of course, don't forget to follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest for more Atomic Ranch articles and ideas!


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The Telltale Signs You Should Look For When You Suspect Your Home Needs Water Line Repair | Atlanta, GA
Oftentimes, homeowners in Atlanta, GA tend to overlook their home's water line, and only remember it when it starts showing signs of serious problems. There are many reasons why you should start to consider getting professional water line repair for your home in Atlanta, GA, some of which can even be disguised as run-of-the-mill plumbing problems. In this article, we will cover all the signs you should know that would indicate your home's need for water line repair. In some of these cases, the problem might be severe enough that a complete replacement might be feasible, but this is determined by the specifics of your case. So, in order to help you learn everything you should know about the signs that might indicate you are in need of water line repair, continue reading below.
The only positive side of a problem with your home's water line is that it will give you certain warning signs that trouble might be brewing deep within its pipes. These are the signs you should be aware of that let you know that water line repair is an impending requirement in order to prevent costly repairs to your home's structure in the near future.
Your Home's Water Looks Strange
If anything is certain is that the water coming out of your home's fixtures should be clear and colorless. Once the water starts looking discolored, meaning that it looks a brownish or yellowish color, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your home's water line. It could be that small cracks are allowing dirt and other substances to seep into your home's water supply, so you should call for professional help as soon as you can.
Your Water Looks Reddish and Has a Funny Metallic Taste
If your water line's pipes are made of iron, which is quite common in older homes, and your water has suddenly acquired a reddish color or a strange metallic taste, it could mean that your pipes have started to rust and will need to be repaired as soon as possible in order to avoid water damage to your home's structure, burst pipes, and an increase in your water bill.
Your Water Bill Is Getting More Expensive Every Month
If you haven't been using more water than usual, but your bill is getting more expensive with each passing month, it could be a sign that something is wrong with your home's water line, specifically a leak somewhere along the line. In this case, it's best to consult a professional who can perform a detailed inspection of your home's water system to determine what the problem could be and where it is located. Once a good diagnosis has been reached, any necessary repairs can be done in order to correct the issue and prevent any further damage to your home.
Your Water Pressure Drops Suddenly
Nothing lets you know you have a problem in your home's water line more than a sudden drop in pressure does. This is a problem that can appear slowly, over time, making the change almost imperceptible, or suddenly, without any warning. But, in either case, the problem can surely be found within your home's water line. If you find yourself taking forever to rinse yourself off during a shower, or don't have enough water pressure in your kitchen to wash your dishes properly, get on the phone and call a reputable repair company before the problem gets any worse and you find yourself covered in soap without any water coming out of your shower head.
You Find Patches of Soggy Grass In Your Yard
Soggy patches in your lawn are very common after it rains, but definitely not when the weather is dry. If you start finding soggy, marshy patches of grass in your yard during a dry spell, it might mean you have a problem with your home's water line. In most cases, these wet spots on the grass will point to an ongoing leak in your system, where water is escaping the pipes and rising to the surface of your yard. Call a professional for help immediately after you notice the problem, otherwise, you may end up with water flooding the inside of your home.
There Are Wet Spots On the Floor Inside Your Home
If You think wet spots in your yard are something you should worry about, finding them inside your home is even worse. Water damage to your home's flooring and structural elements is costly to repair, which is why you should call in a professional repair service immediately for an accurate diagnosis and speedy repair.
Repair or Replace?
In some cases, the damage to your home's water line might be so severe, it is in your best interest to have it replaced completely. Some factors that could affect your decision to do one or the other include the materials used to build the water line, its age, whether it has been repaired or replaced before, the cost of one or the other. Regardless of what you ultimately decide to do about the problem in your home's water line, always make sure you ask your professional repair service what options you have, and how they fit into your budget.
When your Atlanta, GA home's water line is showing signs of needing water line repair, your best bet is to turn to the foremost expert in the area in what refers to water line repair and replacement. We are talking about Peach Plumbing & Drain, whose techs have the experience, knowledge, and training required to perform a high-quality water line repair. With Peach Plumbing & Drain, you can rest easy knowing your home's water line repair is in the hands of professional licensed technicians who are committed to your satisfaction and well-being. So, when water line repair is something you simply can't avoid any longer, pick up your phone and give Peach Plumbing & Drain a call today!
See our previous blog post here!


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WILMINGTON — The majority of sex trafficking victims may never be identified, but those cases that do get the attention of law enforcement and advocacy groups are diverse, reaching all racial, economic, geographic, and – disturbingly – age groups.
"Look around. It could be anyone," according to Detective William Campbell, a New Hanover County Sheriff's deputy who sits on the FBI sex trafficking task force.
"We've had high school students, we've had women in their 40s. We've had children, women, we've had men. Age, race, it doesn't matter," Campbell said.
Related: Part One — We have a sex-trafficking problem. The numbers don't begin to tell the story
Despite that diversity, there are some common factors, including childhood abuse, substance use, and a dependent relationship between the victims and their traffickers. In this installment, we look at a number of those issues. We've also included the story of one victim who is now in recovery.
Who are the victims of sex trafficking?
The common factors binding the victims of sex trafficking are mental health issues, substance use problems, an early history of abuse, and the lasting stigma of commercial sex work.
These are factors that are similar in cases nationwide, according to Jessica Peck, a doctor and chair of the Alliance for Children in Trafficking.
According to Peck, 80 percent of the victims are female, many are teen runaways – Peck said that one in three minors who run away from home will become a target for recruitment by a trafficker. Around 40 percent of the teen population is LGBTQ, Peck said, adding that in many cases this has caused them to be isolated from their families.
Socio-economic disadvantage is also a factor, as it allows traffickers to use cash, gifts, and resources to groom victims to be trafficked. Mental health is also a common factor, with 30 percent of victims showing sign of major depression; survivors of sex trafficking frequently experience post-traumatic stress disorders.
The foster care system is also an issue, Peck said.
"We've seen some people abuse that system, becoming foster parents simply to traffick children," Peck said.
Victims in the Cape Fear region
Conversations with the New Hanover County District Attorney's Office, Wilmington Police Department, New Hanover County Sherriff's Office, and several outreach and advocacy groups confirmed that Peck's common factors are all prevalent in victims in the Cape Fear area.
While men are trafficked, in New Hanover County, the majority of victims of identified victims are female, according to Assistant District Attorney Connie Jordan.
According to Dawn Ferrer, director of A Safe Place, the age range for victims is between 14 and 60; most victims were in the 20 to 30 age range by the time A Safe Place was able to help them.
Across the Cape Fear, Allysa McKenzie, founder and executive director of Stand Against Trafficking, has seen even younger victims. McKenzie, who started her non-profit in 2009, has seen hundreds of victims.
"We've seen them as young as five – it's devastating. We see many who were recruited between eleven and thirteen years old," McKenzie said.
In the last year, McKenzie's organization has worked with 83 women — all of them were mothers. In many cases, McKenzie said, the victims could not be sure who the father of their children was.
Also, both McKenzie and Jordan cited examples of multi-generational sex trafficking, where both mother and daughter became victims.
(Editor's note: Most of the victims of sex trafficking also have substance use problems, more on that in the next installment, which will look at the relationship between trafficking and the opioid epidemic.)
Asian massage parlors
Victims who are forced to work in "massage parlors" face different challenges, and the issue – while it overlaps with domestic sex trafficking – also include human trafficking and labor trafficking (where victims are forcibly relocated and made to work for substandard or no compensation).
There are many legitimate massage practices, as immigration lawyer Helen Tarokic noted on a recent episode of WHQR's Coastline; many of them, as Tarokic pointed out, display signs asking customers "not to embarrass themselves" by pursuing the mistaken belief that all parlors are fronts for illegal commercial sex operations. Even these legitimate parlors, however, may be the scene of labor issues exacerbated by the victims' immigration status.
There are, however, parlors that are essentially prisons for the victims of sex-trafficking. These parlors advertise their sexual services online, and – according to Tarokic – often feature advertisements for "all new girls." As Tarokic put it, if a customer was looking for a therapeutic massage, why would they be looking for a "new girl" instead of a seasoned professional?
Both the Wilmington Police Department and the 5th District Attorney's office have seen some sex trafficking cases as massage parlors, but they're difficult to investigate and prosecute.
Detective Allison Jahreis said she had seen several cases working with the Wilmington Police Department, but didn't have the investigative tools; Jahreis said she hands cases like these off to federal agencies with more reach. Jordan said the District Attorney's office faced hurdles even greater than domestic sex trafficking cases – already notoriously hard cases – including linguistic and cultural barriers between caseworkers and victims, most of whom had been trafficked from southeast Asia.
It's equally difficult for recovery groups like a Safe Place to reach out to survivors of sex trafficking through these parlors.
Ferrer said A Safe Place has received calls about several Wilmington-area parlors, but "[the vicitms] are gone quickly, as soon as some asks about it. They catch the Flushing bus," Ferrer said, referring to Flushing, a neighborhood in Queens, New York City, where many southeast Asian immigrants first come to the U.S.
Still, A Safe Place is working on outreach efforts.
"Well…not yet. It's something that's on our radar. And I do have a Mandarin-speaking person I can work with. We did one outreach and it did not go well – they wouldn't even let us past the door," Ferrer said. "So, we need to figure out how to get past the door."
Romeos, gorillas, and 'Stockhold syndrome'
Meanwhile, victims of domestic sex trafficking have something else in common, and that's the relationship that brings them into the industry. Victims often end up in violent, controlling relationships — but they don't start that way.
Around 90 percent of victims initially have a romantic relationship with their traffickers, according to Peck's research. Much of the local data is anecdotal, but it does match up with Peck's assessment.
That doesn't mean these are healthy relationships that have gone very wrong. On the contrary, traffickers know what they're doing from the beginning. Often, that means when people advertise their emotionally vulnerable state of Facebook, Instagram, and other social media outlets.
"The victims of human trafficking, they're vulnerable — they have problems at home, or they've had a romantic break up, and all of that is on social media. They're very vulnerable that way, you might get someone messaging them on Facebook saying, 'hey, I'm a 14-year-old boy in your town.' And they respond to that," Peck said.
Related: Former Topsail coach, teaching assistant facing another human trafficking charge
The relationships don't change overnight, either.
"A pimp or a recruiter will court them, groom them for months, and when they're going through something emotionally – and putting it on social media – they'll say, 'I think you're great, I think you're beautiful, I think you're special," Peck said.
Peck said parents and be on the lookout for children who receive unexplained gifts — especially smartphones, but also new clothing that is more revealing than something the child would normally wear; it's a sign that local law enforcement and recovery groups also frequently point to. (Note: For more information on potential warning signs, and how to contact the National Human Trafficking Hotline, click here.)
Despite the gifts, over time this illusory emotional support becomes a tool.
"We call them finesse pimps, or Romeo pimps. It starts with someone in an emotionally vulnerable place, and the pimp will tell them, 'I love you.' …. Over time, the pimps withdraw and the victims find themselves almost desperate to whatever they have to, to try and get back to that original kind of affection," Peck said.
This emotional attachment the victim has for the trafficker is sometimes labeled a type of Stockholm Syndrome; Peck calls it a "trauma bond." The bonds can be strong, stronger than self-preservation, and often so strong that law enforcement and prosecutors struggle to break these bonds and allow the victim to testify against their traffickers.
It's important to note that in many cases the trafficker also resorts to violence.
"There are gorilla pimps, who literally beat them into submission — one tactic we've seen is beating a victim whenever they touch a door handle, to train them into not being able to really move on their own," Peck said.
While debilitating and often brutal, these tactics also provide law enforcement, healthcare workers, and other an opportunity to spot the victims, who often seem unable to make eye contact, flinch from physical touch, have bruises around their arms and necks, and speak below a normal volume, Peck said.
Related: New Wilmington business has a surprising way to fight human trafficking
According to both law enforcement and recovery agencies, it's common for victims to have a handler when in public — a hair salon, a grocery store, a hospital. This handler isn't always the pimp, or a man, and will frequently control both the conversation and the money.
(Editor's note: Stay tuned for more on efforts to spread awareness on the potential signs of a trafficking case, from law enforcement to health care to hair salons.)
'She's just a street whore' – the stigma of sex trafficking
Escaping the world of sex trafficking doesn't mean the end of the struggle: survivors are left with PTSD, criminal records, and something else — shame.
There's been a great deal of work over the last several years to destigmatize substance use disorders, work that's still ongoing, but the stigma of sex trafficking is even more intense. (Editor's note: More on efforts to combat this stigma later this week.)
Understandably, this stigma makes getting testimony from victims against their traffickers difficult. But it's also a roadblock to treatment. At A Safe Place, Ferrer said she routinely sees victims who still believe they are to blame.
In Brunswick County, McKenzie said her organization "almost never sees a woman who doesn't in some way believe they deserve to be where they are, there's a lot of shame."
The stigma reaches into the attitudes of law enforcement officers, too. Jordan said she's seen it at th District Attorney's office when working with local law enforcement to prosecute cases.
Ferrer, who works directly with both local and federal law enforcement, said the issue is getting better, but it hasn't gone away.
"In the three years I've been here I have seen a change, a positive – but, but… but there is still a mentality, and I just heard it last year, 'I know you consider them a victim – and he used air quotes – but she's just a street whore,'" Ferrer said.
Detective Allison Jahreis said she's seen in it in other officers and the public in general. Part of the issue: many victims have criminal histories, frequently including drug and larceny charges and, of course, prostitution charges.
"To some people the victims don't appear to be victims, they have a hard time looking at it, because they say 'they're already involved in prostitution, they're already involved in drug use, so how do I feel bad for them? They put themselves in this position,' Jahreis said.
"It isn't true, but it's hard for people to see past that they are petty criminals," Jahreis said.
(Editor's note: Tomorrow we will explore the relationship between domestic sex trafficking and the opioid epidemic.)
A survivor's story
Every story of sex trafficking is different. However, some of the recurring factors in sex trafficking are easily recognizable in this story of a survivor, now in her 40s.
The story was provided by A Safe Place; the survivor's name has been removed to protect her.
As a young girl growing up in Asheville, NC, she remembers being sexually abused. This is where she learned to associate sex with love and learned she could use sex to get what she wanted. In her early 20s, she says she would use her sexuality to get drugs, money, or anything else she desired.
At 25 years old, she was getting high with the man she was dating. She refers to him as her first pimp. They would come off a long binge of drug use, broke and looking for the next high. Her "boyfriend" suggested that they visit some Hispanic men that he knew. There were four of them, each willing to pay her for sex. She recalls that in those days, she received $50 per guy. This is what she considers her first experience "in the life".
For the next 5 years, there were times in which she posted her own ads, but others in which she worked for a pimp. Between the ages of 30-32, she met her "main pimp". There were times that he was violent beating her on multiple occasions. However, she recalls he used drugs more often to keep her submissive, accompanied by a domineering personality.
She remembers getting away from him once and spent some time promoting herself on online websites such as Backpage. One "John" continually called to set up meetings, but would cancel at the last minute, or would not show up. One day he offered to meet up in her hometown. This time, he did show up, and the "John" turned out to be her pimp.
After more than 15 years in the life, she was eventually arrested. This was not the first time, but her bond was high, and her pimp refused to bail her out. She did not know it then, but this was the best thing that could have ever happened. Several months later, she ended up being released from the New Hanover County Jail. She found the ASP hotline number off the local Street Sheet and reached out not knowing the area and having no idea where to go.
She had met a man outside of the jail and went to stay with him before coming to ASP. When she called our hotline, our caseworker advised her of our services and invited her to come to our Outreach Center to get clothes and other basic necessities. After finding several outfits, she decided to think about our shelter as an option and said she would continue to stay in contact while she made her decision. She had the choice between staying in Wilmington or returning to the Asheville area.
After several days, she decided to come to the ASP Emergency Shelter. Due to the need to detox and medication management for her PTSD and Bi-Polar diagnoses, she went to The Harbor for five days before being admitted to our shelter. She was hesitant at first to share all of her trauma, but over 90 days, she opened up to our trauma therapist and began sharing more of her story with other victims. We refer to her as our free spirit with more energy and determination than the Energizer Bunny!
She began working full time within 30 days of her arrival to the shelter and continues to excel at her job. She was voted the best employee by the patrons and employee of the month by her supervisor. She continues to actively work toward her goal of owning her own business having graduated from the "Inmates to Entrepreneurs" program. She enjoys simple things in life like playing cribbage, reading, and going to the beach. She loves music, Harry Potter, yoga, coffee, and in general just going with the flow.
After completing our 90-day emergency shelter program, she was accepted as a member of our Phase 3 Transitional Housing Program. Today, she thrives in our community and has created meaningful connections with our staff, advocates, and other members. Our hope is for her to be a leader in our Victim, Survivor Leader program in order to show others how hard work and determination can help you attain your goals regardless of your past.
Send comments and tips to Benjamin Schachtman at email@example.com, @pcdben on Twitter, and (910) 538-2001.


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1927 Star Model R-6 Sedan, 4-door
Original price: $925.00
On loan from: Craig Kreiner, Davey, NE. Purchased in 1958 by Richard and Delores Kreiner, Davey, NE and stored for forty years. Richard had the motor completely overhauled 25 years ago. He and Charles Martin dismantled the body and had every part sandblasted and powder coated. A man in Lincoln did the body work and painting and a man in Fremont did the upholstery. The car was in good shape except for a dent in the rear section. The car was finished in 2004.
Engine, etc.: Continental 14 L-head; 6 cyl.; 169 cu. in., 40 hp; 107" wheelbase; 2,355 lbs.
A newspaper report of February 19, 1922 said a new 4-cylinder car would be shown in Washington, D.C. by the Durant Motor Company. The name of the new vehicle was not revealed until March 9th. The car turned out to be the new Star, Durant's push to the low-priced market.
In June, 1922, mass production of the new Star Four (Model C) started. Only seven cars were produced in 1922. In the beginning, Durant set the price of the Star at an incredibly low amount so they could compete with Ford. Stars could be bought for as low as $348, although the base price was $100 more if demountable rims and a self-starter were ordered.
The 1923 Star was slightly longer than the Ford and many considered it better looking. Originally released only in black, Star cars later came in several colors including maroon and blue.
The model F was introduced in 1924 and called "The New Series". It was produced until 1926 when it was replaced with the model M, a four-cylinder car. The six-cylinder model R was introduced in 1926. Both models were produced through 1927.
Durant sold the early Stars at a loss and as time went on, the price of the Star had to gradually rise in order to break even on the cars. The increase in price slowly moved the Stars out of the Ford price range to more of a Chevrolet range.
Although the Star was only in production from 1922 to 1928, it did manage to become a popular addition to the lower priced market. Durant decided to sell the six-cylinder cars under the Star name in 1928 and also used the Star name for the 4-cylinder models. Production of all Star cars ceased in April 1928 and the four-cylinder Star was renamed a Durant model M2. In 1929, a light Durant "four" (Model 4-40) replaced the Star.
Information from the owner.
Cars of the Early Twenties by Tad Burness, 1968, Galahad Books, New York City, NY
https://durantcars.org/a-brief-history-of-durant-vehicles/ (Time line of Durant cars)


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Pigweeds (Amaranthus species), negatively impact crop production systems throughout the world. They are distinguished from each other using manual methods that are tedious and time-consuming to complete. Hyperspectral light reflectance properties of plant leaves and canopies have shown promise for detecting and mapping weeds in crop production systems. Vegetation indices derived from hyperspectral reflectance data enhance differences between plants, leading to better detection of them from other targets. The objective was to evaluate the biomass and structural index, the biochemical index, the red edge index, the water and moisture index, the light-use efficiency index, and the lignin cellulose index for measuring differences among six pigweed species: Amaranthus albus (L), A. hybridus (L), A. palmeri (S. Wats.), A. retroflexus (L), A. spinosus (L), and A. tuberculatus [(Moq.) Sauer]. Two experiments were conducted under greenhouse conditions. Hyperspectral reflectance measurements were collected from the plant canopies on two dates for each experiment. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) test were used to determine if statistical differences (P ≤ 0.05) existed among the pigweed species canopies and to identify which species were statistically different for a vegetation index, respectively. The ANOVA analysis detected statistical differences among the canopy vegetation index values. Tukey's HSD showed that the biochemical index and the red edge index detected differences between two to three pigweeds species on all dates of data collection. However, the differences were date-specific. Furthermore, statistical differences were not observed for all six species for any vegetation index. On the data collection dates, A. albus and A. tuberculatus index values were statistically different from other pigweed species for one or more of the vegetation indices. Future research should focus on using the vegetation indices in combination with each other to measure differences between the pigweed species and between them and other weeds and crops.
Hyperspectral, Palmer Amaranth, Remote Sensing, Weeds
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1. Introduction
Pigweeds (Amaranthus spp.) negatively impact crop production systems in the United States and throughout the world [1] [2] [3] [4] [5]. They grow fast and compete with crops for light, water, and nutrients [6]. Pigweeds serve as host plants for crop pests, including insects, viruses, and fungi [7] [8]. Their pollen can cause an allergic reaction to sensitive individuals [9] [10]. Pigweeds known to cause problems in agriculture are Amaranthus albus, A. blitoides, A. hybridus, A. palmeri, A. powelli, A. retroflexus, A. spinosus, and A. tuberculatus [5] [6]. They have developed resistance to herbicides used in crop production systems [5].
Weed distribution surveys are often done manually, which can be laborious, especially if a lot of hectares need surveying. Different pigweed species are commonly found growing together in the same field. They are distinguished from each other using manual methods, which are time-consuming. Ref [11] indicated that it is difficult to differentiate between pigweeds before flowering and that at maturity distinguishing between them is less complicated, but not altogether straight forward. Thus, for this study, it is proposed to use hyperspectral vegetation indices to differentiate between pigweed species.
Hyperspectral data are captured at numerous narrowband contiguous wavelengths. Hyperspectral light reflectance data acquired from plant leaves and canopies have shown promise for differentiating between plants. Furthermore, vegetation indices derived with hyperspectral reflectance data have enhanced plant mapping and separation of plants from other targets [12] [13] [14].
A vegetation index is a mathematical combination or transformation of two or more spectral bands of data. They provide information on vegetation condition, status, and health, accentuate green plants spectral properties so that the plants appear distinct from other features, and allow reliable spatial and temporal comparisons of photosynthetic activity and canopy structural variations [15] [16] [17] [18]. Vegetation indices have shown the ability to estimate plant biomass, leaf area index, and pigment concentration, to detect plant stress, and to determine plant management practices influences on plant growth and development [17]. Vegetation indices derived from the narrow bands of hyperspectral data allow the user to better tune in the plant characteristics mentioned above and are referred to as narrowband or hyperspectral vegetation indices [17] [19]. In a pre-plant weed detection study, seven hyperspectral vegetation indices were more effective than single-band data in separating weeds from nontargets such as residue and bare soil [14]. Compared with broadband vegetation indices, hyperspectral narrowband vegetation indices have been documented to improve estimates of vegetation and agricultural crops biophysical and biochemical parameters [15] [17] [19].
Hyperspectral vegetation indices have been separated by researchers into six categories: biomass and structural indices, biochemical indices, red edge indices, water and moisture indices, light-use efficiency index, and lignin and cellulose index. The biomass and structure indices values correlate well with plant biomass, leaf area index, plant height, and grain yield [19] [20]. The biochemical indices have shown promise for assessing plant pigments such as carotenoids, anthocyanins, and chlorophyll and for detecting nitrogen deficiency in plants [21] [22]. The red edge indices have been useful for monitoring plant stress and drought [20]. The water and moisture indices have shown promise for measuring plant water content of plants [19] [20]. The light use efficiency index is best for monitoring photosynthetic activity of plants [23] [24] [25]. The lignin and cellulose index has been useful for estimating plant lignin and cellulose content and plant residue [20].
Currently, an information gap exists in using hyperspectral remotely sensed vegetation indices to differentiate between pigweed species based on their canopy architecture. The objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass and structural index, the biochemical index, the hyperspectral red edge index, the water and moisture index, the light-use efficiency index, and the lignin cellulose index for measuring differences among Amaranthus albus, A. hybridus, A. palmeri, A. retroflexus, A. spinosus, and A. tuberculatus grown under the same environmental conditions. If researchers, producers, and consultants could differentiate between pigweeds using hyperspectral vegetation indices, then they would have a better understanding of pigweed populations in fields, leading to better management decisions.
2. Methods and Methods
2.1. Experimental Background
The study was conducted in a greenhouse at the United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service facility located in Stoneville, MS (33.424673˚ Latitude, −90.912048˚ Longitude). Planting dates were October 11, 2019, and December 12, 2019, for experiments one and two, respectively. Seeds of each pigweed species (A. albus, A. hybridus, A. palmeri, A. retroflexus, A. spinosus, and A. tuberculatus) were planted in a 10.16 cm square form pot (Greenhouse Mega Store, Danville, IL) filled with commercial potting mix (Pro Mix BX, Premier Tech Horticulture, Quakertown, PA) and allowed to emerge and grow to the two-leaf stage prior to transplanting a single plant into a seed tray [22.86 cm (length) × 16.51 cm (width) × 6.35 cm (height), Garland, Products Limited, Kingswinford, England] containing commercial potting mix (same mix used to plant the seeds). The seeds were obtained through the United States National Plant Germplasm System (North Central Regional Plant Introduction Station, Ames, IA). After transplanting, the plants were arranged in a randomized complete block design consisting of 6 blocks and 6 treatments (i.e., each plant A. albus, A. hybridus, A. palmeri, A. retroflexus, A. spinosus, and A. tuberculatus).
2.2. Greenhouse Conditions
The greenhouse temperature was maintained between 20˚C and 26.7˚C. Plants were subjected to a 14 hr. daylength. Between the hours of 0600 to 0800 and 1700 to 2000, lighting was provided by sodium vapor lamps to supplement sunlight and provide light before sunrise and after sunset. Plants were watered when needed and fertilized weekly with a commercial fertilizer (Dyna-gro 777, Richmond, CA).
2.3. Hyperspectral Measurements
Hyperspectral reflectance measurements of the plant canopies were obtained with the FieldSpec 3 spectroradiometer (ASD, Malvern Panalytical, Westborough, MA) and the FieldSpec4 high-resolution spectroradiometer (ASD, Malvern Panalytical, Westborough, MA), for experiments one and two, respectively. Specifications for the FieldSpec 3 spectroradiometer were as follows: spectral range—350 - 2500 nm; spectral resolution—3 nm @ 700 nm and 10 nm @ 1400/2100 nm; sampling interval—1.4 nm @ 350 - 1050 nm and 2 nm @ 1000 - 2500 nm. Characteristics of the FieldSpec4 high-resolution spectroradiometer were as follows: spectral range—350 - 2500 nm; spectral resolution—3 nm @ 700 nm and 8 nm @ 1400/2100 nm; spectral sampling—1.4 nm @ 350 - 1000 nm and 1.1 nm @ 1001 - 2500 nm. The software used to operate the spectroradiometers automatically resamples the data into a 1 nm spectral resolution.
The hyperspectral reflectance measurements were obtained by placing the spectroradiometer's sensor 30 cm above the plant canopy, resulting in a 13.5 cm diameter field of view for the sensor. Each plant canopy reflectance value was an average of 15 reflectance readings, which is recommended to obtain good spectral outputs with the FieldSpec spectroradiometers [26]. For Experiment 1, the measurements were acquired on December 4 and December 18, 2019. Experiment 2 data collection dates were February 8 and February 27, 2020. The hyperspectral reflectance data were acquired under sunny conditions, ±2 hrs. of solar noon outside of the greenhouse. The spectroradiometers were calibrated with a white spectralon panel at 15-minute intervals. Black felt was employed to cover the top portion of the plant tray and hide the potting mix surface and was used to cover the cart surface where the plant tray was placed to obtain the measurements [27]. This procedure was used to provide a uniform background for all spectral readings [27].
At the time of the hyperspectral measurements, the pigweed growth stages range from vegetative to flowering. The differences in growth stages occurred because the plants grew at different rates. For the measurements collected on the second date in both experiments, if the seed head of the pigweed plant was greater than 5 cm, then the portion greater than 5 cm was clipped from the top of the plant. This action allowed the sensor viewing area to be equal for each plant measurement, as well as the integration of the seed head into the measurements.
2.4. Post Processing of Spectral Measurements
Post processing the spectral data involved three steps: 1) splice correction, 2) removal of noisy bands and bands commonly not used for remote sensing of plants, and 3) spectra smoothing with Savitsky-Golay filter [28]. Splice correction was used to eliminate gaps (errors) in the spectroradiometers' detector arrays signal occurring at 1000 nm and 1800 nm [26]. It was completed with the ViewSpec Pro software (Version 6.2; ASD Inc., Boulder CO). Wavelengths less than 400 nm (not commonly used for remote sensing of plants), water absorption bands (1330 - 1480 nm and 1788 - 1990 nm, noisy due to strong water absorption), and noisy spectral bands (2350 - 2500 nm, sensor noise) were removed from the spectral dataset. The Savitsky-Golay filter was used to smooth the spectra; n = 25 was applied as the filter smoothing value. Waveband removal and Savitsky-Golay filtering were achieved with the R software [29] package hsdar [30].
2.5. Hyperspectral Vegetation Indices
Hyperspectral vegetation indices for studying vegetation and agricultural crops have been separated into the following categories [16] [20]: biomass and structural indices, biochemical indices, red edge indices, water and moisture indices, light-use efficiency index, and lignin and cellulose index. For this study, one vegetation index within each category was tested for separating the pigweeds. To keep the comparison even, this study focused on using the highest ranked normalized difference version of the equation [19] within each category (Table 1). The selections only applied to the biomass and structural indices, the biochemical indices, the red edge indices, and the water and moisture indices because they consisted of more than one normalized difference index to choose from [19] [31]. Also, normalized difference vegetation index values range from
Table 1. Hyperspectral vegetation indices, and the center wavelengths and the bandwidths used to create the indices.
a. B = band; λ = bandwidth.
negative one to positive one and these indices have the potential to normalize sun angle, topographic effects, and some atmospheric effects [32]. The vegetation indices were derived from the 1 nm hyperspectral data. The hsdar package in R software was used to resample the data to the appropriate wavelength and create the vegetation index value for the plant samples.
2.6. Statistical Analysis
Analysis of variance (ANOVA) [33] was used to measure the statistical difference (P ≤ 0.05) among pigweed group means for each vegetation index. Then Tukey's honest significant difference (HSD) [34] test was tabulated to identify which pigweed means were statistically different (P ≤ 0.05). Analyses were completed with the R software package agricolae [35] [36].
3. Results
3.1. Spectral Response Curve
Figure 1 shows the mean canopy hyperspectral reflectance curves of the pigweeds. Their spectral response patterns were typical for green plants. Reflectance increased in the visible green region of the spectrum (500 - 600 nm). A steep increase in reflectance occurred in the red edge area, followed by a plateau in reflectance within the near infrared region. Two additional peaks were evident in the shortwave infrared section of the spectrum.
Figure 1. Mean canopy hyperspectral curves (n = 6) of pigweeds for experiment 1, (A) December 4, 2019, and (B) December 18, 2019, and for experiment 2, (C) February 8, 2020, and (D) February 27, 2020. AMAL—Amaranthus albus, AMHY—A. hybridus, AMPA—A. palmeri, AMRE—A. retroflexus, AMSP—A. spinosus, and AMTU—A. tuberculatus, re—red edge.
The near infrared region of the spectrum exhibited the greatest difference among the pigweed spectral responses. For the 2019 dataset on the first and second data collection dates, the greatest differences were between A. tuberculatus and A. spinosus and between A. retroflexus and A. tuberculatus, respectively. Noticeable contrasts occurred between A. spinosus and A. albus on February 8 and between A. tuberculatus and A. albus on February 27 for the 2020 measurements.
Apparent differences were also observed in the spectral responses of the pigweeds in the visible region and shortwave infrared part of the light spectrum. The differences were more evident in the shortwave infrared region compared with the visible region. Generally, an increase was seen in the plants' reflectance from the first date to the second date for both experiments. The only exception was A. tuberculatus in the first experiment.
3.2. Statistical Results
Table 2 summarizes the analysis of variance among treatment results for the experiments. Vegetation indices values varied among pigweed species with differences (P < 0.05) recorded based on date for the following indices: 1) December 4, 2019—the biochemical index and the red edge index; 2) December 18, 2019—the biomass and structure index, the biochemical index, the red edge index, the water and moisture index, the light use and efficiency index, and the lignin and cellulose index; 3) February 8, 2020—the biomass and structure index, the biochemical index, the red edge index, the light use and efficiency index, and the lignin and cellulose index; and 4) February 27, 2020—the biomass and structure index, the biochemical index, the red edge index, the water and moisture index, and the lignin and cellulose index. On all measurement dates, statistically significant differences were identified among the pigweed mean values for the biochemical index and the red edge index.
Table 3 summarizes the Tukey's HSD results. The biochemical index and the red edge index measured a statistical difference between two or more pigweeds for each date of data collection. On December 4, 2019, A. hybridus was separable from A. spinosus and A. albus with the biochemical index; A. tuberculatus was distinguishable from A. palmeri with the red edge index. On December 18, 2019, A. hybridus and A. retroflexus biochemical index values were greater than A. tuberculatus biochemical index values, and A. albus biochemical index values were less than A. hybridus biochemical index values. The red edge index indicated that A. tuberculatus was distinguishable from A. spinosus. On February 8, 2020, a statistical difference was observed between A. albus and A. hybridus, A. spinosus, and A. palmeri for the biochemical index and between A. spinosus versus A. hybridus, A. palmeri, and A. retroflexus for the red edge index. On February 27, 2020, A. tuberculatus, A. hybridus, A. spinosus, and A. retroflexus biochemical index values were less than A. albus biochemical index values. Additionally, A. tuberculatus biochemical index values were greater than A. palmeri biochemical index values. Furthermore, a statistical difference existed between
Table 2. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) statistics for vegetation indices based on treatments (pigweed species).
a. df—degrees of freedom, F—F-value.
Table 3. Mean comparisons (n = 6) of the pigweed species for each vegetation index separated by experiment and date.
a. For each vegetation index on a specific date, means within a column followed by different letters are statistically significantly different at P ≤ 0.05 according to Tukey's honest significant difference test. b. BSI—biomass and structural index, BCI—biochemical index, REI—red edge index, WMI—water and moisture index, LUE—light use and efficiency index, LCI—lignin and cellulose index, AMAL—Amaranthus albus, AMHY—Amaranthus hybridus, AMPA—Amaranthus palmeri, AMRE—Amaranthus retroflexus, AMSP—Amaranthus spinosus, and AMTU—Amaranthus tuberculatus.
A. tuberculatus versus A. retroflexus, A. albus, A. palmeri, and A. hybridus, and between A. spinosus versus A. palmeri and A. hybridus for the red edge vegetation index. A. tuberculatus and A. spinosus red edge vegetation index values were higher than the other pigweeds red edge vegetation index values.
The biomass and structure index and the lignin and cellulose index ranked second in detecting statistical differences between the pigweeds (Table 3). On the second date for experiment one, A. tuberculatus biomass and structure index values were less than A. hybridus, A. spinosus, and A. retroflexus biomass and structure index values. A. tuberculatus values were lower than the other pigweeds values for the lignin and cellulose index. Experiment two first date measurements indicated that a statistically significant difference existed between A. spinosus and A. albus for the biomass and structure index and between A. tuberculatus and A. spinosus for the lignin and cellulose index. On the second date for experiment two, A. spinosus biomass and structure index values, and lignin and cellulose index values were greater than A. albus biomass and structure index values and A. tuberculatus lignin and cellulose index values, respectively.
The water and moisture index ranked third among the vegetation indices for statistical differences between pigweeds (Table 3). Statistical differences were observed on two dates, December 18, 2019, and February 27, 2020, for experiments one and two, respectively. On the first date, A. tuberculatus values were larger than A. albus values. On the second date, A. spinosus and A. hybridus were higher than A. palmeri, A. albus, and A. tuberculatus, and A. retroflexus values were greater than A. tuberculatus values.
The light use and efficiency vegetation index ranked last among the vegetation indices for detecting statistical difference between the pigweeds (Table 3). For experiment two on the first date, A. retroflexus light use and efficiency index values were higher than A. tuberculatus light use and efficiency index values.
4. Discussion
Vegetation indices are sensitive to various plant canopy components. In this study, six pigweed species canopies were evaluated to determine their effects on six vegetation indices sensitive to plants' biophysical and biochemical parameters. The six pigweeds studied are problem weeds in agricultural system. Statistical differences were measured between the pigweeds' vegetation index values, thus rejecting the null hypothesis of no difference between the pigweed species canopies for a vegetation index. On the data collection dates, A. albus and A. tuberculatus vegetation index values were statistically different from one or more pigweed species. The biochemical index and the red edge index were the most consistent indices in measuring differences between the pigweeds. They obtained statistical differences between pigweed species for each data collection date.
The vegetation indices were derived from narrow spectral bands within the visible, the red edge, the near infrared, and the shortwave infrared regions of the spectrum (Figure 1). Major differences were observed between the pigweeds' spectral reflectance values in the visible, near infrared, and shortwave infrared regions (Figure 1). Leaf pigments (chlorophyll) are responsible for leaf and canopy reflectance responses in the visible region of the spectrum [17] [37]. Plant canopies' near infrared reflectance properties are affected by leaf area, leaf orientation, and biomass [37] [38]. Leaf moisture influences the shortwave infrared reflectance properties of plants [17] [37]. These differences played a role in the values obtained by the vegetation indices for each pigweed species (Table 1, Table 3; Figure 1).
Additionally, within plant canopy shadowing and background influenced the pigweeds canopy reflectance properties, and thus vegetation index values. Pigweed canopy images (Figure 2) acquired on December 4, 2019, show evidence of how the background was integrated into the plant canopy reflectance measurements. The more open spaces within the plant canopy, the more background and shadow were incorporated into the overall vegetation index response. For this study, those parameters caused a reduction in the vegetation index values. In real-world situations, the background will be soil and even other plants, thus increasing the challenges of separating pigweeds from each other and other plants.
As stated earlier, the plant growth stages ranged from vegetative growth to flowering. Over time the plants grew and added additional leaf layers. Additional leaf layers can result in more background being covered and in less canopy shadowing. Generally, increases in vegetation indices values from the first date to the second date were evident for the vegetation indices.
The pigweed separation was date dependent. These results are representative of everyday situations. Whether an aerial or ground-based remote sensing system is used for measurements, the day of collection will represent that point and time. Data collected a week later may present a different scenario because the plants will have grown, or another environmental factor may have stressed the plants. Therefore, differences among pigweeds will change from one date to the next. Other researchers testing vegetation indices in weed crop separation have also documented that differences were date dependent and affected by plant growth stage [39].
Figure 2. Pictures of pigweeds for experiment 1 acquired on December 4, 2019: (A) Amaranthus albus, (B) A. hybridus, (C) A. palmeri, (D) A. retroflexus, (E) A. spinosus, and (F) A. tuberculatus.
Caution is needed when assessing vegetation index values, especially extremely low values. For example, the moisture stress index values measured statistical differences between four pigweed species (Table 3); however, the values were extremely low, close to zero. There may be a statistical difference, but that difference may not be transferable to practical applications.
For this study, plant seeds were secured through the United States National Plant Germplasm System. In fields, an additional factor to consider is the hybridization of two pigweed species. The newly developed plant can have characteristics of both parents. More information is needed on how pigweed hybridization affects vegetation index values.
Narrowband vegetation indices are designed to take advantage of the absorption and the non-absorption features of plants to provide estimates of plant biophysical and biochemical parameters [17]. That aspect was evident for the vegetation indices evaluated in this study. They contained a narrow spectral band that maximized the difference between pigweeds and one narrow spectral band in which the differences were minimal (Figure 1). Based on the absorption and the non-absorption concept, the vegetation indices distinguished between two to three pigweed species. Additionally, for the red edge index, shifts in the red edge position would occur for the different pigweed species due to differences in their chlorophyll content and leaf area. These shifts affect the slope of the spectral curve in the red edge region, and thus would have an impact on the red edge index values. Furthermore, the results suggest that a combination of narrowband vegetation indices may be the best avenue to pursue for separating pigweeds. Additional avenues are to explore other narrowband combinations for developing vegetation indices, to test derivative analysis, and to evaluate machine learning tools as a means for distinguishing between the pigweed species.
5. Conclusion
Narrowband remotely sensed vegetation indices designed to measure biophysical and biochemical properties of plants have potential for separating pigweed species. The biochemical index and the red edge index were the most consistent in pigweed species separation. To maximize pigweed separation in the future, it is believed that two or more vegetation indices should be used in an ensemble approach. Future research should focus on that concept and evaluating other spectral band combinations as indices for differentiating pigweed species from each other and other weeds and crops.
The author would like to thank Milton Gaston, Jr., for assisting in collecting the hyperspectral data. Mention of a trade name, proprietary product, or specific equipment does not constitute a guarantee or warranty by the United States Department of Agriculture and does not apply endorsement of a product to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.
Conflicts of Interest
The author declares no conflicts of interest regarding the publication of this paper.
Copyright © 2024 by authors and Scientific Research Publishing Inc.
This work and the related PDF file are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.


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Pierce to helm new Global News morning shows
TORONTO - Bud Pierce is joining Global Toronto as the consulting executive producer for its new morning news program, scheduled to debut later this year, the network said Tuesday.Pierce developed, launched and produced the original morning program Breakfast Television for Citytv Toronto, where he worked for 24 years. During that time, he also produced and directed Citytv's first 24 hour telethon, started the station's first on-air promotions department, and created the working model for CityVote, Citytv's multiple live location election coverage specials. In addition, he was also the supervising producer of The NewMusic with Jeanne Beker and JD Roberts, one of the...
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Led by Ella Ferguson's strong day in the circle and two RBIs from Jaylene Manriquez, the Tumwater softball team defeated Centralia at Fort Borst Park Tuesday, 5-1.
The Thunderbirds got a complete game out of Ferguson, who struck out nine and allowed one earned run on five hits and a walk Tuesday. Countering her for the Tigers was Peyton Smith, who also threw a complete game with four earned runs on 11 hits and one walk.
Manriquez went 2 for 4 with two RBIs and Aly Waltermeyer added a 2 for 3 line with two runs scored for the T-Birds. Centralia's Jimena Luis knocked in the Tigers lone run in the sixth inning, while Makayla Chavez went 2 for 3.
Centralia plays Rochester Wednesday on the road while Tumwater takes on the Tigers again on Friday.


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Evaluation of Accounting Information Systems in Meeting the Requirements of Financial and Managerial Performance: "Field Study in the United Arab Emirates Private Hospitals"
Dr. Nizar Sahawneh, Dr. Ahmad Faisal Hayek, Dr. Mohamad Mahmoud Mohamad Bshayreh
The rapid and successive developments in technology, especially information technology created an opportunity
for companies to invest in such areas to achieve a competitive advantage. It is evident that installing advanced
accounting information systems can support companies to achieve higher levels of financial and managerial
performance. Incorporating Accounting Information System (AIS) into the field of Information and Technology
systems (IT) creates opportunity to provide information that can assist different managers in the monitoring,
evaluation, planning and decision-making functions. In addition to several economic benefits, the company is also
likely to benefit from better cost control, assistance in improving the quality of products and services offered to
customers. In this context, Grande et al. (2012) have mentioned that the Accounting Information Systems (AIS)
are designed to help managing and controlling firms' economic-financial areas. According to Alsharayri (2012)
accounting system has tended to be an information system that does not stop at the limits of financial information,
but also includes descriptive and quantitative data which is valuable in decision-making.
Full Text: PDF


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Black Pepper Beef Stir-fry
with cauliflower rice
This quick stir-fry is an updated version of a recipe we first featured in 2015. Fresh cracked black pepper can really add some spicy kick and flavor to the sauce in this stir-fry, so feel free to adjust the amount you use. You'll still get plenty of flavor out of the dish.
Black Pepper Beef Stir-Fry:
- Cauliflower florets - 12 oz
- Butter - 1 Tbsp
- Bell peppers, any color - 1 , sliced
- Broccoli - 10 oz , chopped
- Green onions - 2 stalks , chopped, green and white parts separate
- Beef, sirloin, flank, or skirt - 1 lb (look for pre-sliced to save time)
- Oil, cooking - 1 Tbsp
- Water - 1 Tbsp
- Lime juice - 2 tsp
Black Pepper Sauce:
- Ginger - 2 tsp , grated
- Garlic - 2 cloves , chopped
- Bragg's / coconut aminos - 3 Tbsp
- Water - 1 Tbsp
- Honey - 2 tsp
- Black pepper - 1 tsp
- Oil, toasted sesame - 1 tsp
- Red pepper flakes (opt) - 1/2 tsp
- Cauliflower rice - Skip if cauliflower rice was made ahead for Monday. Pulse florets in a food processor until broken up into 'rice'-sized bits. Cook rice in one of two ways: 1) Microwave for 4 to 5 minutes and then fold in butter. Season with some salt and pepper; or 2) Heat a pan over medium-high heat and add butter. Saute cauliflower in heated butter for ~5 minutes, until tender but still crunchy. Season to taste with some salt and pepper. Watch this video for the full how-to on cauliflower rice. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Make black pepper sauce - Grate ginger and chop garlic. Combine with aminos, water, honey, black pepper, toasted sesame oil, and red pepper flakes. (Can be done up to 5 days ahead)
- Bell peppers / Broccoli - Prep as directed. (Can be done up to 4 days ahead)
- Green onions - Chop green onions, keeping white and green parts separate. (Can be done up to 2 days ahead)
- Beef - Slice against the grain into 2" / 5 cm strips. Season with some salt and pepper and tenderize with a fork. (Can be done 1 day ahead)
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- Heat a wok with cooking oil over medium-high heat. Add white parts of green onions, bell peppers, and broccoli and saute until starting to darken in spots, 2 to 3 minutes.
- Add water and cover wok with a lid. Steam vegetables for 2 minutes. Remove lid and continue cooking until excess water has cooked off.
- Move vegetable to the sides of the pan and add steak. Saute everything until steak is nearly cooked through, 3 to 4 minutes.
- Pour sauce over vegetables and steak.
- Toss everything together until sauce thickens and steak is cooked through. Squeeze lime juice over stir-fry.
- If cauliflower rice was made ahead, reheat in the microwave.
- Serve stir-fry over cauliflower rice with green parts of green onions on top. Enjoy!
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Consultant General and Laparoscopic Surgeon
BAPS Shastriji Maharaj Hospital, Vadodara
Vadodara, Gujarat, India
Posted on 15-09-2023
500 Views
1 Vacancy
- Surgical patients,management in opd,ipd,and emergency like polytruma,burns,injury.
- Performing al types of open,laparoscopic and minimal invasive gastro-intestinal surgeries.
- Cyst, fibroid, stone, and polyp removals.
- Small tumor removals.
- Biopsies.
- Tubal ligation and reversal.
- Ectopic pregnancy removal.
- Endometriosis surgery.
- Urethral and vaginal reconstruction surgery.
- Orchiopexy (testicle correction surgery).
Doctor / Surgeon
Functional Area
General Surgery, laparoscopy surgery
Preferred Education
MS (Master of Surgery)
Key Skills
Attention to DetailProblem Solving SkillsDecision MakingSurgeon


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Sunday, December 31, 2023
Thousands of IDF Soldiers Wounded Since October 7th and My Role In The Rescue Of Jews From Egypt During The Six-Day War by Nathan Lewin and Watch this video of Hadas Lowenstern who just lost her husband in battle. She exemplifies the heart, soul, courage and values of the Jewish nation and Israel's skeptics just don't want it to win
Friday, December 29, 2023
501 Israeli soldiers have been killed in war against Hamas starting Oct. 7 — IDF and Wife of fallen soldier: How many more orphans, widows will there be in Israel? and Four big lies driving the alarming surge in antisemitism by Ted Deutch and The Portion of VayecheiA Clue to the End of Days


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Beaded Empress Red CZ Threadless Titanium Top
Sold individually (top only)
ASTM F136 Titanium
Fits most threadless posts
Measures 10mm x 6mm
Red and Clear CZ gems
Beautiful threadless top piece that has a beaded, marquise, red cubic zirconia gem design, complete with two clear cz gems on either end. Made from ASTM F-136 titanium. Measures about 10mm x 6mm. Fits most threadless posts. Pin length is 5mm. Sold individually (top piece only).


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Singapore is a small island nation with limited natural water resources. To ensure its water security, the government has placed a lot of emphasis on water management. Beginning with collecting rainwater in the local catchments, PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency, has continued seeking ways to secure other reliable and sustainable water sources through investments in research and technology. This has led to two additional sources of water, NEWater (a high-grade reclaimed water) and desalinated water, which also contributed to closing Singapore's water loop. Together, these diversified water supplies form the nation's "Four National Taps". Today, Singapore is internationally recognised as a model city for integrated water management and an emerging Global Hydrohub – a leading centre for business opportunities and expertise in water technologies.
Having successfully closed the water loop, PUB is also looking to close its resource loops by working towards waste and carbon circularity as sustainability has always been at the core of its work. Within PUB, two major waste streams are sludge generated from its water and used water treatment plants. To reduce the amount of sludge sent to incineration, PUB has begun to explore gasification and pyrolysis of the sludge. The slag and biochar produced are then turned into useful products such as construction materials and activated carbon. On carbon circularity, PUB has set a target to achieve net zero emissions by mid-century and has been actively seeking innovative solutions to reduce its carbon footprint. It has put in place a three-pronged strategy to support the realisation of this goal: (1) replace carbon-based energy sources, (2) reduce carbon emissions and (3) remove carbon through capture and utilisation.
Dr. Pang Chee Meng is the Chief Engineering and Technology Officer of PUB, Singapore's National Water Agency. He leads PUB's Technology Department to administer its R&D program for the development and application of new water technologies.
Prior to his current role, Chee Meng was the Director of the Industry and Technology Collaboration Department. He led a team to formulate and implement strategies to grow Singapore's water industry and facilitate the commercialisation of new water technologies. Chee Meng has experience in used water treatment and water-policy development and was actively involved in the development of water-related standards in Singapore and in various international subcommittees that developed new ISO standards for water reuse.


text: The general notion is that America is a country founded on christian morals and ethics. There is reference to God in the Declaration of Independence. Our presidents take their oath with their hand on the Bible. The most recent Supreme Court justice even put her left hand on the Bible held by her mother at her swearing in. So if it is good enough for the goose why then is the gander put under such scrutiny?At issue is a white cross erected on top of a rocky outcrop in the Mojave Desert on public land – land owned by the government. The cross itself (when uncovered) honored World War I soldiers.The cross, however, has been covered in plywood for the past several years following federal court rulings that it violates the First Amendment.A former National Park Service employee, represented by the American Civil Liberties Union, sued to have the cross removed or covered after the agency refused to allow erection of a Buddhist memorial nearby. Frank Buono describes himself as a practicing Catholic who has no objection to religious symbols, but he took issue with the government's decision to allow the display of only the Christian symbol.Has the separation of church and state gone too far? Is this a land issue or a religious issue? Has the ACLU gone too far yet again? Is this the making of a litigation nightmare?GO!