text:
Management information system is the computer system which provides information for organizations, its executives, and employees and takes the active part in the improvement of the process of production and effectiveness of the work. It is evident that the company and any other institution are not able to exist without the quality information supply and decision making. To provide businesses with the information of all kinds which can be useful for the development of the firm and increase of its profit various management information systems have been created.
The standard system consists of:
- hardware (the computer equipment, required for the creation, processing, and storage of information);
- software (the computer programs which analyze the stored data and play the core role in the process of decision making);
- data (the collected information which can be used for the reasonable decision making);
- procedures (the set of operations which are applied in the process of management aimed at the appropriate analysis of the information, its comparison, calculation, and prediction);
- people (the essential element of the system, because only talented and qualified employees can analyze the data thoroughly and draw the right conclusions having received the results of the research through the computer data analysis).
We can write a Custom Research Proposal on Management Information System for you!
The importance and usefulness of management information systems cannot be overestimated. Because the results gained due to the computer research of data, the profit, expenditures, etc. of the company can play the enormously important role in the design of the firm's strategy and policy of its further development and improvement of its production.
Management information system is a complicated system which facilitates the work of the company and improves the quality and productiveness of its elements, such as human resources, their knowledge, accounting, situation on the market, the problem of supply and demand, etc. The student who has chosen to research the issue on management information system can touch upon the most exciting and relevant elements of the problem writing a quality proposal which can persuade the professor in the usefulness of the generated topic. One should have the methods chosen for the research and present the strategy or the outline of the further actions about the examination of the issue on management information system.
A good research proposal is supposed to be carried out in the wheedling tone and contain useful and up-to-date information, no one can prepare the right paper following the advice of a free example research proposal on management information system analyzed by an expert online. The most significant advantage of a well-formatted free sample research proposal on management information system is an appropriate structure, the format of the text and the logical order of the arguments and facts.
If you need professional research proposal writing assistance on this topic, try academic writing company below:


text:
- City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
- Dubai 05:27 06:45 12:12 15:10 17:32 18:51
Amlak Finance has posted profits of Dh301 million for 2007, an increase of 131 per cent over 2006, according to the preliminary financial results of the company.
The firm, which is the UAE's largest mortgage financier by market value, saw its net profits in the fourth quarter of 2007 jump to Dh128.43m, in what was a 758 per cent growth compared to the previous year, the company said in a statement yesterday.
Amlak's annual revenue reached Dh711m, up 82 per cent against 2006, with the company's financing activities contributing 65 per cent.
Chairman Nasser bin Hassan Al Shaikh said: "Despite the injection of major financial resources in our regional expansion, Amlak has surpassed all expectations and has almost doubled the 70 per cent forecast annual profit growth for 2007.
"In 2006, Amlak's net profits were recorded at Dh130.42m and with the remarkable growth in financial results, I believe this success is attributed to many factors, most important of which centres on the clear focus of consolidating the company's core business by targeting real estate financing and investments," he added.
The company's earnings per share amounted to Dh0.20, compared to Dh0.09 in 2006, an increase of 122 per cent.
In December, its shares jumped 5.5 per cent, their highest in more than a year, after it predicted profits would more than double for the year. The lender was appointed last year as an official escrow agent by the Dubai Lands Department, regulated by the Real Estate Regulatory Agency.
The company also signed a memorandum of understanding with the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank to co-ordinate efforts between both organisations to develop the housing finance market in the region.
Al Shaikh said decisions by Amlak's management regarding products, services and the company's infrastructure during 2007 had paid off, adding that the bank's profit rise was also down to securing more affordable and efficient sources of funding.
Amlak successfully entered into a joint venture in Saudi Arabia with the Al Baraka Banking Group, Saudi Investment Bank and Aseer Group to form Amlak International for Real Estate Development last year.
The major mortgage financier also launched an operation in Egypt last year, under a wholly owned unit called Amlak Finance and Real Estate Investment.
Follow Emirates 24|7 on Google News.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Director – Bill Corcoran, Screenplay – Matt Dorff, Producer – Kirk Shaw, Photography – Michael Balfry, Music – Misha Segal, Visual Effects Supervisor – Richard Mintak, Special Effects Supervisor – Brant McIlroy, Production Design – Hitoshi Okamoto. Production Company – Insight Film Studios Ltd.
Cara Buono (Dr Julie Bishop), Chris William Martin (Tom Blake), Julie Anderson (Christina), Mylene Dinh-Robic (Gail), Michael Teigen (Phillip), Don S. Davis (Bud Rollins), Tegan Moss (Tess), Zahf Paroo (Hoyt), Marion Eisman (Madame Arca)
Julie Bishop heads the Dell Institute that specialises in refuting claims of the paranormal. They are hired by real estate developer Bud Rollins who has purchased the old abandoned Blackstone women's prison and wants to debunk its reputation as being haunted before redeveloping it. Julie and her team head there only to discover that another team is also in the building – a film crew making a documentary about the hauntings, which is led by none other than Julie's estranged husband Tom Blake. The two soon heatedly conflict but agree to a truce whereby either team works on separate floors. As they begin their investigation, they experience possibly supernatural forces but this soon sparks accusations by Julie of Tom trying to sabotage their efforts.
The Unquiet was a Ghost Story that originally appeared on the US Lifetime Channel, a medium that was set up to deliver content for women and usually consists of glossy soap operas and true-life inspirational dramas.
The Unquiet came along about two years too early. If it had come out in January of 2010 instead of January of 2008, it would have been a very different film. There it would almost certainly have taken influence from Paranormal Activity (2007) and the huge number of Found Footage films that subsequently followed – indeed, one of these, the very similar Grave Encounters (2011), even used the same location of the former Riverview mental hospital in British Columbia that this does. The Unquiet with its two competing paranormal investigation teams, one of which is a documentary crew, searching a reputedly haunted facility is something that almost cries out for a Found Footage treatment.
The film comes with a premise that seems like it has potential – two paranormal investigation teams with opposing approaches – one highly sceptical, the other taking a tabloid approach – clash in their investigation into a supposedly haunted facility. To add to the drama, and no doubt a good part of the pitch to the Lifetime audience, either team also happens to be led by an estranged husband and wife who are constantly clashing but throughout the course of events reignite their attraction to one another. This holds a certain potential.
That said, the film's Lifetime destination almost kills any promise The Unquiet has as a ghost story. The scenes between Cara Buono and Chris William Martin are shot exactly like the banal melodramas that take place in a soap opera rather than a ghost story. This would not be so bad if it were not for director Bill Corcoran's utter failure to ignite the film as the ghost story it sets out to be. There is a scene early on where Julie Anderson, followed by most of the women in the group, overheat and have hysterics while standing out in the open. The effect is meant to be of a supernatural manifestation but the scene comes so completely lacking in atmosphere that the actual result is more one of laughter.
The rest of the show is little improvement. None of the manifestations come with any atmosphere or do anything to spook you. Towards the end of the film, Bill Corcoran churns through a host of pop-up effects with nothing but the most rudimentary feel for anything he is doing. He is a director who seems to have been working as a hired gun for so long – see below – that the ability to infuse the material with anything it needs now seems an alien concept to him.
Bill Corcoran has a long history directing television going way back to the 1980s where he delivered episodes of shows such as Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1985-9), Friday the 13th (1987-90), Wiseguy (1987-90) and 21 Jump Street (1987-91). Corcoran has made numerous tv movies and/or films that have received video/dvd release including Portraits of a Killer (1996), Atomic Twister (2002), Left Behind II: Tribulation Force (2002), A Job to Kill For (2006), Vipers (2008), Death Warrior (2009) and Rise of the Gargoyles (2009).


text:
From: Kelly Ehlinger (email@example.com)
To: "'email@example.com'"
Subject: Ghost lights in Wimberely Texas
Date: Wed, 16 Jun 1999 15:35:06 -0500
Wimberley Lights
Wimberley, Texas is a small jewel in the Texas hill country. My family has spent many happy summer weekends there camping and swimming in the sparkling cypress creek. The creek is shaded by huge Cypress trees that are probably as old as Texas itself and have been the launch pad for countless whoops and jumps into the creek by generations of children. The creek runs from the main "swimming hole" down to a secluded little natural pool. A trail runs alongside the creek down to the little pool. This is where our "sighting" occurred.
The campground is lined by one side by a hundred year old rock wall, and across a small dirt road is a very old cemetery. We walk in the old cemetery almost every evening, admiring the tombstones and wondering about the lives of the people buried there.
One evening after a long day of swimming, lounging around, and eating, my sister Leslie, and my sister in-law Laura cleared away our campfire dishes, tucked the kids in bed and sat around the campfire talking with our husbands. We women decided that a late moonlight swim without the children would feel wonderful, so leaving our husbands at the campsite, trekked the short distance over the old wall and down to the small pool. We had the pool to ourselves and the night was very dark, only lit by starlight. We were talking softly, ( and a little giggling was going on to as we decided to re live our youth by skinny dipping) just enjoying the freedom, the water and the night.
I noticed it first. It was like the air became thicker, and the sounds of the woods died away. I remember feeling as if I had been put on alert. My sister felt the same as she became very quiet and still. From down the path came THREE identical gold glowing spheres! They followed the course of the path and whooshed right by us ( except they made no noise, but they were moving quickly as you would imagine a "whoosh"). They were perfectly spaced apart and were elegant in their movement as one followed another with precise movement. We were motionless and in stunned silence as they passed, then I turned to my sister and exchanged the "did you see that look." Her expression left no doubt that she had, as well as my sister in law. I don't remember feeling any real fear, just a desire to GET OUT OF THE WATER……I don't know which would be more frightening, the sight of whatever those lights were or the sight of three grown ( and yes, naked) women scrambling up the banks of Cypress creek!
I really would like to know what kind of phenomena that was. The three of us are all mothers and professional women, not given to flights of fancy ( I am a registered nurse), and we cannot discount or explain away what we saw. Any explanations or similar sightings?


text:
Eczema is an extremely common skin condition that causes dry skin, irritation, itching, and inflammation.
There are many different varieties of eczema, but the most prevalent by far is atopic eczema. This skin condition may affect as many as 30% of Americans and is most common in children or adolescents. Many young children grow out of eczema, but for some people, it can develop later in life and last for many years.
Although the symptoms of eczema are relatively easy to treat, the underlying causes often remain. This means that flare-ups are a genuine problem for people with eczema, who usually accept them as an inevitable aspect of the disease.
But what if there was a therapy that could help with eczema from the inside out? Could that therapy already be right under our noses, just waiting to be discovered? Let's take a closer look.
What Is Eczema?
Eczema, very simply put, is an inflammation of the skin. Inflammation is a healthy and natural response by the immune system when exposed to injury or infection. It occurs when the body is working hard to expel a foreign substance or pathogen. It offers a certain level of protection throughout the healing process.
However, sometimes the immune system overreacts and creates inflammation when it is not necessary. This inflammation can happen in any part of the body, but eczema is a possible result when it affects the skin.
Atopic eczema often occurs in combination with other inflammatory or allergic conditions such as asthma or rhinitis.
There are many different varieties of eczema, each of which has slightly different triggers and symptoms. However, in all cases, inflammation is their root cause. This inflammation causes the skin to become itchy, red, and sore. It is also common for people with eczema to have very dry skin, leading to cracking, bleeding, and the risk of infection.
Many people with eczema also suffer from sleep problems, as intense itching may keep them awake at night. Otherwise, they may have low self-confidence due to the cosmetic appearance of the condition.
Atopic eczema often occurs in combination with other inflammatory or allergic conditions such as asthma or rhinitis. It is unclear exactly what causes eczema, but it appears to be a combination of genetic and environmental factors. Many people find that their eczema gets worse when they eat certain foods, come into contact with chemicals, or are under a lot of stress.
Treatments for Eczema
If you have eczema, the most important thing you can do daily is keep your skin moisturized. This extra moisture will help to soothe symptoms such as itching and reduce the likelihood of flare-ups occurring. Choose a high-quality, unscented emollient and frequently apply it throughout the day. You could also consider adding moisturizing oils to your bathwater.
Doctors most often treat eczema flare-ups with corticosteroid creams. Corticosteroids such as hydrocortisone and betamethasone are powerful anti-inflammatory drugs. They can offer fast and effective relief from eczema symptoms when applied directly to the skin.
However, they can also cause some serious side effects. The most common of these is thinning of the skin, which leaves it more vulnerable to injury and infection. They can also cause the skin to change color or cause other skin problems such as acne.
Because of these side effects, patients should only use corticosteroids for short periods at a time. Unfortunately, many people with eczema find that their symptoms quickly return as soon as they stop using their steroid cream.
There are currently not many other options available to eczema sufferers, especially when it comes to long-term management of their disease. However, cannabidiol (CBD) has become well-known for its anti-inflammatory properties. Could this novel product offer some relief from the symptoms of eczema? Initial research suggests that it may well help.
How to Choose the Best CBD for Eczema
Those who are dissatisfied with regular eczema treatment options may want to find an alternative. A growing number of people with the condition claim that CBD works. However, we must inform you that the FDA does not approve the cannabinoid for eczema. Indeed, the agency has only approved a product called Epidiolex, which contains CBD, for a handful of rare conditions.
Otherwise, you're forced to check out CBD for eczema in a crowded marketplace with minimal regulation. The 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp and introduced testing measures. However, this piece of legislation did nothing to legalize CBD or provide a regulatory framework.
While the 2018 Farm Bill legalized industrial hemp cultivation, it did not make CBD legal .
Certain states have laws in place which demand a level of CBD testing. However, more often than not, you're shopping in a wide-open marketplace where the quality of products varies widely.
When looking for CBD, make sure you only consider brands that provide third-party testing with every product. Also, avoid any brand that makes dubious health claims about their products. CBD is not approved to 'treat,' 'cure,' 'heal,' or 'diagnose' any medical condition. While CBD is potentially useful for many issues, including eczema, it is NOT a cure-all.
CBD Cream for Eczema
When it comes to CBD products, it is important to choose carefully. This is especially the case when looking for something to help your skin. Apart from third-party reports, the best CBD products for eczema tend to contain various natural ingredients designed to nourish and moisturize your skin.
Premium Jane and PureKana are two of the most reputable and trusted CBD brands in the United States. They have produced an array of CBD products including:
- 750mg Eucalyptus CBD topical salve (Premium Jane)
- 600mg Citrus CBD tincture (Premium Jane)
- 1500mg Calm CBD gummies (PureKana)
- 100mg CBD bath bomb (PureKana)
Are These Suitable CBD Products for Eczema?
What every product above has in common is thorough testing to ensure there are no chemical fertilizers, heavy metals, or pesticides. There is certainly a possibility that the above CBD products could prove useful for eczema.
However, everyone's skin is different, and there is no way of knowing how yours will react to any CBD product. Some people living with eczema find that the condition flares up even when they use natural ingredients.
Therefore, whenever possible, test any topical CBD product you buy on a small patch of skin first to see if there is a reaction. If there isn't, you can then consider using it on a larger section. If using a tincture or an edible, consume a tiny amount to see what happens. No matter what, proceed carefully and wait to see the outcome of using CBD for eczema.
Skin Health: CBD for Eczema
There is not much research available specifically regarding CBD for eczema. However, there is plenty of research that documents the beneficial effects of CBD on the skin.
The skin is the largest organ in the body and forms a protective barrier between your vital organs and the outside world. It is continuously exposed to environmental irritants and toxins, not to mention ever-changing weather conditions. This means it is potentially very prone to inflammation, especially in individuals with a genetic tendency towards eczema.
Your skin also helps to regulate your body temperature. It does this by raising or lowering your body hair and allowing you to sweat.
Scientists have recently discovered that skin contains cannabinoid receptors. These are receptors that bind with endogenous cannabinoids that the body produces and phytocannabinoids from the cannabis plant.
CBD has anti-inflammatory properties that could help with dry skin; while also reducing eczema symptoms like pain and itching .
These receptors are an essential element of the endocannabinoid system, a system we now know is directly involved in allergic inflammation. Studies on mice have shown that animals lacking these cannabinoid receptors have a greater allergic response than controls.
This finding is supported by a further study that found dogs with atopic dermatitis had greater immune reactivity at cannabinoid receptors compared to their healthy counterparts.
Experts have suggested that exposing the endocannabinoid system to cannabinoids such as CBD could help skin conditions like eczema. This is possible because CBD's anti-inflammatory properties could help relieve dry skin. Because cannabinoid receptors are also present in the nervous system, CBD can also help soothe eczema symptoms such as itching and pain.
Cannabinoids such as CBD also have antimicrobial properties, which could help prevent secondary infections.
How to Use CBD for Eczema
CBD is naturally found in cannabis plants. However, it is often used medicinally in the form of extracts, oils, or topical creams.
Taking CBD oil by mouth is one of the best ways to maximize its effects. You can take CBD oil as it is or mix it into food or beverages. CBD capsules and gummies are also available and offer a more convenient way of dosing.
When you take CBD oil for the first time, it is always advisable to start with the lowest dose possible and gradually increase it over time. CBD is unlikely to cause any side effects, but it is best to err on the side of caution and take it slow. This practice also means that you can find the lowest dose that works for you, potentially saving you money in the long run.
Topical CBD creams are another great way to relieve inflammation and discomfort. You can apply them directly to where you need them most. Look for products with natural ingredients to avoid causing further irritation. Some products also contain other skin-soothing ingredients such as coconut or lavender oil. Test on a small patch of skin first, and avoid using these products on broken skin.
Is CBD Safe for Children with Eczema?
If your child has eczema and you are wondering whether CBD oil is safe for your child, it's best to consult your pediatrician. If giving CBD to children, avoid any products that contain the intoxicating compound in cannabis, THC.
THC can be harmful to children as their brains and nervous systems are still developing. The good news is that most high-quality CBD products contain negligible amounts of THC.
Some marijuana breeders have even developed low THC strains, such as Charlotte's Web, named after the famous case of Charlotte Figi. Charlotte Figi suffered from a rare type of epilepsy and had multiple seizures every day. CBD oil helped reduce her symptoms dramatically, and many similar cases are reported worldwide.
These low THC products do appear safe for children, although the long-term effects are still unknown. Talk to your physician to learn more.
CBD for Eczema: Final Thoughts
Eczema is an extremely common and distressing skin condition. It can be challenging to treat effectively, as conventional therapies may cause side effects and only offer short-term relief.
There is no doubt that more research is required. However, it seems that CBD could provide a natural solution for eczema by reducing inflammation, itching, and pain.
Have you tried using CBD for eczema? Help others with this irritating condition by sharing your experiences in the comments below!


text:
This was outright media fraud.
The Communists in Venezuela are famous for this – crop or Photoshop a crowd to make it look like a huge gathering.
And the liberal US media has perfected this tactic for candidate Hillary Clinton.
The Hillary campaign did not get the turnout numbers they hoped for in Florida today.
So the media posted this photo to make it look like it was a massively successful event.
Via The Hill:
This photo was from Hillary Clinton's victory speech after the New York primary – one of her most crowded events this year.
Here is another picture of the crowd before Hillary took the stage.
It was near empty–
Hillary's rally in Florida near empty. pic.twitter.com/aP7JVOOAke
— Bradley Wood (@wood_brdwood68) August 8, 2016
And when Hillary took the stage she was wearing an orange pantsuit – not a tan pantsuit.
WATCH: Hillary Clinton addresses supporters in Florida, responds to Trump's economic speech #FoxNews pic.twitter.com/cnGQRkiq50
— Shepard Smith (@ShepNewsTeam) August 8, 2016
Conservative Treehouse has more photos.
It's not even an issue of media bias anymore. It is outright fraud. https://t.co/8pYR57mA9y
— Mike Cernovich (@Cernovich) August 8, 2016


text:
February 05, 2007
For about the past two years that we have been living in Sioux Center, David and I have hosted a Bible study. First it was with a group of our friends, now it is a group of college students who have become our friends. I love hosting this Bible study. It gives me something to do every Friday night. It gives me a reason to clean the apartment, and gives me people to "spoil" to my hearts content :)
For the past year we have been working through a commentary on the book of Hebrews. For me, most of the time I participate in a Bible study, I enjoy it, but I don't feel like I learn a lot that I didn't already know, or think I knew ;).
This past Friday I feel like God broke through a wall that I have not been able to get through, no matter how hard I tried.
Here is a piece from my journal that I wrote on Saturday morning:
"Dear Daddy, Thank you for being so big. Thank you for the lessons you taught me, or made me know last night. I am flying high. Last night at Bible study we read the passage in Hebrews as usual and my thought was, 'I'm starting to get it now, and it is very cool!' Jesus' death is the real deal, where as the blood offerings and sacrifices given before Jesus were just a shadow of his offering.
"I loved the first verse in particular. 'The law is only a shadow of the good things that are coming - not the reality themselves' (Heb 10:1a) My though was, how cool, I get it. Just as Melchizedek was a high Priest before Jesus, and the Levitical high priests were a shadow of Jesus, and the temple just a shadow of what is in Heaven, and the blood offerings just a shadow of Jesus' offering, so the law too is only a shadow of what is to come.
"But, it doesn't talk about how it is the shadow of what is to come, like the tabernacle is to the temple in heaven, but it says the law is a shadow of what is to come 'For this reason it can never, by the same sacrifices repeated endlessly year after year, make perfect those who draw near to worship.' (Heb 10:1b) So really, the law is not the shadow so much as the sacrifices are the shadow. They cannot make us perfect, and that is where they are the shadow. This is the good part from the commentary last night.
"Well, I don't think I can quote from him (Hywel R Jones, author of Let's Study Hebrews, through the Banner of Truth Trust) on this one, it won't make so much sense, but he said that verse 2 'If it could, would they not have stopped being offered? For the worshipers would have been cleansed once for all, and would no longer have felt guilt for their sins.' It is not the old sacrifices that are able to do this. Over and over and over again the Israelites came to sacrifice at the temple because of their sins, but never left them guilt free. Maybe for past sins, but not for future ones too, that is why they did it year after year after year. To continually be cleansed for their sins.
"And then the commentary draws attention to verse 10 'And by that will {the will of Jesus to become the sacrifice for us} we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.' Note the words 'been made holy once for all.' Then to verse 14 'because by one sacrifice he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy.' and for good measure, verse 17 'Then he adds "Their sins and lawless acts I will remember no more."'
"What the law and sacrifices were unable to do, Jesus did! He has cleansed me, forgave me of my sins and lawlessness and I am PERFECT FOREVER in God's eyes. I am not the worldly perfect, but I finally see that I AM perfect in God's sight because of Jesus. Yes, I sin, but 'Jesus died for that too' as David says so often to me. "Jesus died for that too!' I AM PERFECT… Forever! Hallelujah Amen!"
What an exciting truth to learn! To know with my heart and not just my mind. God has made me perfect forever! Praise be to HIs name!
in Christ Rita
Comment • ~ permanent link ~ • Category: [News / Rita]
© 2005-2007 David and Rita Hjelle


text:
White Paper: Big Data – Beyond the HypeDecember 27, 2012 No Comments
"Big data" is a big buzz phrase in the IT and business world right now – and there are a dizzying array of opinions on just what these two simple words really mean.
Technology vendors in the legacy database or data warehouse spaces say "big data" simply refers to a traditional data warehousing scenario involving data volumes in either the single or multi-terabyte range. Others disagree: They say "big data" isn't limited to traditional data warehouse situations, but includes real-time or operational data stores used as the primary data foundation for online applications that power key external or internal business systems.
This paper examines the growing prevalence of big data across nearly every industry; explains why being good at using and understanding big data is critical for firms that want to compete in their chosen market; and details how businesses can use DataStax Enterprise—a solution specifically designed to manage big data easily and effectively—to exploit the benefits derived from handling big data smartly.


text:
Houston Symphony Tickets
Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion | The Woodlands, Texas
This August is the only chance you have to see the greatest orchestral show this year, when Houston Symphony: Raiders Of The Lost Ark in Concert comes to Woodlands Texas to deliver an unforgettable show on Thursday Thursday 29th August 2019. This show combines the very best in well-known and highly-regarded musicians along with hot new talent that you may have never seen before. When you come to this outstanding shoe, you'll be treated to an unforgettable ensemble performance that could only come to this beautiful city. With critics already calling this the can't-miss show of 2019 you can't miss out! To order your tickets today, click the Buy Tickets button below.
Why settle for second best for your orchestra or symphony viewing experience when you can always visit Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion in Woodlands Texas. Not only does this concert hall have a history of bringing five-star orchestra troupes to their stage, but they also offer everything you need for an breathtaking and supreme experience. From the moment you arrive, you'll be surprised by the variety of parking options that are available just a few short blocks away from this breathtaking concert hall. While you're walking to the front door, you'll pass by several fine dining options that include some of the city's favorite restaurants and bars. Then once you enter Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion you'll be greeted by a staff of friendly and considerate persons who will help you to your seat, direct you around the venue, and help offer you the most comfortable experience possible. Can you see why Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is rated highly on several top concert hall lists? So why not treat yourself to the very best by coming to Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion on Thursday 29th August 2019 to see Houston Symphony: Raiders Of The Lost Ark in Concert. You can order your tickets today by clicking the Buy Tickets button below.


text:
Building the Future of Warehouse Automation: Companies Partner on Mobile Robot Innovations
Robotics specialist companies Boston Dynamics and OTTO Motors have partnered on a new project focusing on warehouse automation.
The companies unveiled the collaborative project through a video showing Handle, Boston Dynamics' logistics robot, picking up boxes and building pallets on top of OTTO autonomous mobile robots (AMRs).
According to Boston Dynamics and OTTO Motors, the new collaboration will utilize the companies' joint technologies to ultimately provide the industry with more flexible warehouse automation solutions.
Mobile robots have become increasingly popular in the last several years. Companies such as Omron are showcasing these robots as they continue to advance the automation industry.
Boston Dynamics Integrating Box Detection Software
The news of the new partnership comes at a time of expansion for Boston Dynamics.
The Massachusetts-based company, who specializes in mobile manipulation robots, announced last year it was stepping up its efforts to develop flexible, highly mobile automation technology using its Handle Robot and Pick computer vision system.
During the last twelve months, Boston Dynamics has fully integrated Pick's box detection software into its Handle Robot.
The company also started selling a version of the Pick software available for integration in robotic work cells deployed in industrial sites.
The autonomous mobile robot OTTO 1500. Image used courtesy of OTTO Motors.
OTTO Motors is a specialist in the development of AMRs. The company was created in 2016 as a spin-off of Clearpath Robotics, and counts customers such as General Electric, John Deere and Toyota.
OTTO Motors' best-known AMR is the OTTO 1500, which with a maximum payload of 1500 kg has proven able to complete mission-critical deliveries in a variety of industrial environments.
Logistics and Autonomous Mobile Robots Working Together
With Boston Dynamics' Handle Robot completing a proof of concept trials with customers in their warehouses last year, the company is now able to collaborate with OTTO Motors to further automate the logistics space.
In particular, Boston Dynamics and OTTO Motors have built a heterogeneous fleet of robots including machines from both companies building distribution center orders to provide a more flexible warehouse automation solution.
The Handle Robot. Image used courtesy of Boston Dynamics.
The project ultimately aims to demonstrate the benefits of a collaboration between robotics companies in the industrial environment.
"It's exciting to engage with other cutting-edge robotics companies like Boston Dynamics," said Ryan Gariepy, CTO, and co-founder of OTTO Motors.
Exploring Flexible Automation Applications
Broadly speaking, flexible automation refers to robots' ability to be easily and quickly re-tasked to change product design in both low and high mix manufacturing.
Flexible automation represents the evolution of programmable automation. It solves the main problem of programmable automation, which is the time required to reprogram and change over the production equipment for each batch of new products. This, in turn, translates to lost production time.
On the other hand, flexible automation cells can improve efficiency by evolving with a company's process and demand, thus reducing and fixing production costs, improving quality, and eliminating health and safety issues.
OTTO Motors Software displaying the movement of autonomous robots. Image used courtesy of OTTO Motors.
With the constant growth of this industry comes the development of new automation software designed to optimize the industrial production process.
Looking at this flourishing market, the new partnership between Boston Dynamics and OTTO certainly seems promising.
The companies will be demoing their products at MODEX, a trade show for supply chain, manufacturing, and distribution automation, happening this week in Atlanta, Georgia.
Interested in seeing Boston Dynamics' Pick and Handle in action? They will be at booth #7494. Want to pay a visit to OTTO? They will be at booth #10019.


text:
4forFRIDAY by ACHUCKAllen February 2, 2018Each Friday I offer up at least 4 recommended reads, listens, learnings, gadgets or reviews. These are not necessarily faith-based or church-related, but they each have encouraged or helped me in some way. I trust that they might do the same for you! Please feel free to leave your comments or share this 4forFRIDAY!Here is This Week's 4forFRIDAY February 2, 2018
A Really Good Restaurant in Old Chamblee, Georgia: SOUTHBOUNDIf you are a regular of my 4forFRIDAY, you know that I really enjoy the newer, funkier restaurants that are popping up in the old side of Chamblee. Southbound didn't disappoint! It is a bit of a hipster hangout, as we were clearly the most uncool people there. Even folks our age and older were much more hip. It made for some great people watching. The real treat was the food. I had one of the best burgers that I've ever tasted and Jenny went with the veggie plate. Everything was fresh and perfectly seasoned. Bike portions and the fear that my A1C might hit an all time high, kept me from trying the bourbon pecan pie.A Really Good Film: The Post
We loved this film and saw past some of the gutter language to experience a true story that I knew nothing about. Katharine Graham is the first female publisher of a major American newspaper — The Washington Post. With help from editor Ben Bradlee, Graham races to catch up with The New York Times to expose a massive cover-up of government secrets that spans three decades and four U.S. presidents. Together, they must overcome their differences as they risk their careers — and very freedom — to help bring long-buried truths to light.A Really Good Place to Grab Fresh Mexican Food: Taqueria del Sol in Chamblee, GAThis is the same group that operates Taqueria del Sol in Decatur, GA. I've wondered why the line goes outside the building in Decatur, and now I know why! O my stars, this was fresh, light and super tasty! I highly recommend the fish tacos and the guacamole! Here is a Reminder of a GREAT SERVICE! Moviepass
Moviepass is so simple. Go to Moviepass.com and sign up. Download the Moviepass app. Start your $9.95 subscription to see as many movies as you want to see, each month! We like to see every film on the Oscar nominations list each year, but that's a lot of money. This year, we've seen all but three for a total of $9.95 each. Every theatre that we frequent is in the plan. AMC, Regal, Studio Movie Grill, and many more. It's a great deal.And a Bonus Recommendation: I'm re-reading a Great Book: Ordering Your Private World
We have schedule planners, computerized calendars, and self-stick notes to help us organize our business and social lives every day. But what about organizing the other side of our lives—the spiritual side?One of the great battlegrounds of the new century is within the private world of the individual. The values of our Western culture incline us to believe that the busy, publicly-active person in ministry is also the most spiritual. Tempted to give imbalanced attention to the public world at the expense of the private, we become involved in more programs, more meetings. Our massive responsibilities at home, work, and church have resulted in a lot of good people on the verge of collapse.A Quote that I am Pondering from Grace Murray Hopper in a 1983 interview with 60 Minutes
"Leadership is a two-way street, loyalty up and loyalty down." If the shoe fits…A Reminder of a Great Resource for You and Your FamilyWeekdayPodcast.com
5 Minutes a Day and Five Days a Week. A Message of Encouragement and Hope from Sugar Hill Church.And My Daily BLOG of Encouragement and Life Lessons can be found at ACHUCKAllen.comGo In Peace!AChuck
4forFRIDAY with ACHUCKAllen
4forFRIDAY by ACHUCKAllen February 2, 2018Each Friday I offer up at least 4 recommended reads, listens, learnings, gadgets or reviews. These are not necessarily faith-based or church-related, but they each have encouraged or helped me in some way. I trust that they might do the same for you! Please feel free to leave your comments or share this 4forFRIDAY!Here is This Week's 4forFRIDAY February 2, 2018


text:
Common Mistakes that Damage your Door
The entrance of any place is the most important part as it helps in making it more welcoming and attractive. But, there are few things which you might do and it might damage the door and it will not function properly. To know about these mistakes, read the given topic.
The entrance of your building is going to be the first impression and also it will attack as a defense against the theft or burglary. But, sometimes the companies neglect the importance of getting the damaged or broken door fixed.
There are certain things which business owners do and it damages the shop doors. Taking proper preventive measures can help your business to run smoothly and the entrance will look the best. Therefore, it becomes essential that you protect the shopfronts from getting damaged in the given ways.
Placing the objects correctly
There is no doubt, placing decorative pots and planters at the entrance can make it more inviting and fresh. Moreover, it can also bring attention to the products you have displayed. You need to be careful about the decor which is placed in the front because the loose door can break the pot or even the door can get more damaged. Before, placing the planter make sure you find the perfect place and if it glass door then be extra careful. If the door gets shattered then you need to get it repaired.
Restricted entrance
Small or restricted entrance means the door will not be able to wing properly. In that case, the business owner should get a door bumper on the outside walls as it will help the door to bounce off properly. This is very essential when you get the glass doors at your place. You can also get pneumatic door closures as it helps in shutting the door gently instead of making it swing. Also, this will help in managing the foot traffic from closing & opening the door.
Door alignment is not proper
Doors can damage over time if they are hung off-center. In the door frame, they can get stuck and they might get chipped. Therefore, it becomes essential that proper maintenance and inspecting it regularly can make a lot of difference.
Neglecting the weather stripping
The frame of the door is protected with moisture and harsh weather by the rubber seal around the door. Moreover, it also helps in closing the door tightly. But with time, the seal can get loose or it can even break. When you inspect the door for maintenance or even call the professional they will check for the weather stripping and get it replaced when they are not proper.
For more information, you can contact ADV, our team will give you proper information and tips which will help you to manage it properly.


text:
Undermount Kitchen Sink
Owing to our wide distribution network, we are engrossed in providing Undermount Kitchen Sink within a stipulated time frame. With the use of premium quality raw materials and contemporary techniques, this sink is manufactured by our knowledgeable professionals at our well-equipped production unit. It is used in kitchens at restaurants, hotels and homes for washing vegetables and kitchenware. We provide this Undermount Kitchen Sink to the clients in numerous sizes at pocket friendly rates.
Key points:
SHIV SHAKTI SINKS CO. All Rights Reserved.(Terms of Use)
Developed and Managed by Infocom Network Private Limited.


text:
First of all, a confession.
This week, with all the talk of replacing the UK men's basketball coach after only two years on the job and the long interregnum between games during which we were treated to lots and lots of that other tournament going on right now, my emotional stability has been seriously strained. In the mornings, I approach my own blog with reluctant trepidation, expecting to see some new apocalyptic revelation that is either upon us or just on the horizon.
Tonight, at the end of the game, I was completely drained, probably as much due to the hard day at work as to the nip-and-tuck nature of the contest. After it was over, I barely cheered, just numb with pressure and frustration and the fatigue of a long season gone horribly wrong -- until I realized that we won the game, that last shot didn't fall like so many others have, and the 'Cats will live to play one more game at least.
Second, congratulations to the Creighton Bluejays, a truly worthy foe and a blast from a distant past when so much was different. Dana Altman is a terrific coach, and Creighton came within maybe two inches on Booker Woodfox's jumper of sticking yet another dagger into a Kentucky team that already looks like a voodoo doll having a bad needle day. But the basketball gods decided, for whatever reason, to grant the Wildcats ten lives instead of the usual nine, and they prevailed in a defensive struggle with the #1 seeded Bluejays.
You would think I would be all smiles, and I am happy, but tightness of the game combined with all the rumormongering has just taken too much out for me to properly enjoy this victory, at least now. It is great knowing we beat a team that really should have received an at-large invitation to the NCAA tournament. I must confess, being in the NIT has been a different and not nearly as unpleasant an experience as I expected. This year's NIT has been very competitive and very exciting, certainly rivaling that other tournament for drama, if not glamor and prestige.
As they have every single game recently, Kentucky played very hard and very determined basketball. Their execution varied from pretty good to downright poor, but a lot of that was due to a remarkable defensive effort by Creighton. The Bluejays, as have most teams recently, decided that they would try to let the rest of the team beat them rather than chance a defeat at the hands of Patterson and Meeks. For the most part, they shut Meeks down completely until midway through the second half, when the Bluejay defenders finally began to wear down and Meeks' superior athleticism and stamina took over. But it nearly was too little, too late.
- If UK had another quality post player, there would be no defending us.
- If UK had one more serious perimeter threat, there would be no defending us.
- Ramon Harris played what I consider to be one of his best overall games as a Wildcat. He was very aggressive when we needed someone to be and delivered big plays, as well as tough defense. 9 points and 8 assists to go with 4 rebounds.
- Perry Stevenson wound up with a double-double, 13 points 10 rebounds, but it didn't feel like that good a game for some reason. Perry continues to hesitate when he should just shoot.
- Patrick Patterson, hampered by fouls, did OK, but he just seemed to struggle to get into position to receive the ball.
- DeAndre Liggins looked very good out there tonight, despite having only 3 points and one assist.
- Jodie Meeks wore 'em down like he always does. It must be frustrating to be face-guarded all the time like that.
- Michael Porter was as good tonight as he is ever likely to be.
- Darius Miller wasn't as good as he has been lately, but he still chipped in with five points and two assists.
- UK got outrebounded by a much smaller team. How does this keep happening?
- Nice call by Gillispie on that last play. I think we should clear out for Meeks more often.
- Kevin Galloway seemed really out of control and unfocused tonight.
- A.J. Stewart tried too hard to make plays, and wound up not helping much, although he did get a couple of rebounds. Maybe Gillispie should have let him play more.
- Harrellson missed 3 layups. That's not good.
- Kentucky took fairly decent care of the ball tonight. I hope it's a trend.
- The largest lead by UK was the final difference. The lead changed 13 times and was tied 9. That is the very definition of a close game.
- Seems a tornado hit in the Omaha area while the game was going on. What is it about Kentucky and tornadoes? Is God trying to tell us something?
- The Creighton fans were terrific. I was really impressed with them.
I am very pleased to beat a #1 seed, even in the NIT. To me, this is like some kind of throwback to the 1975-76 when UK won the NIT and I was off to my first year at Western. It was a lot more prestigious then than it is now, but it was beginning to lose its luster. Still, this year's NIT seems like a prize worth taking, if we can do it. Getting past this tough little team was definitely a step in the right direction.


text: Until recently, jazz has been an idiom largely neglected by harp players, for several reasons. First, there haven't been many players with the technical ability needed to play modern jazz, and until very recently, most people with that ability were interested exclusively in classical styles. In addition, the harp itself is not designed in a way that makes jazz easy to play. Jazz requires a smooth, legato attack, and accents in a jazz line can fall on any part of the beat. It's hard to play the harp legato because of constant breath shifts, and even harder to accent freely. That's why some very skilled harp players have said that they doubt that it's possible to play jazz on the harp. Richard Hunter doesn't agree. He majored in music at Harvard University before working with a variety of jazz and rock bands. He says of Jazz Harp: It was meant to inspire harmonica players to reach for the same goals as their counterparts on other instruments. Music, exercises, theory, and technique in the jazz and pop styles of Stevie Wonder, Toots Thielemans, Tom Scott, King Curtis, and others are included in this book/CD pack, along with note-for-note solos for chromatic and marine band harmonica.


text:
Presentations by Daniel Lobato García:
Rails Israel 2015 Conference, Tuesday, November 24, 2015, 10:55
Security is an afterthought for your app? You have a problem, but after you review your application and apply all of the tips I'll talk about, attackers will have it much harder than before.
We'll go over whitelisting vs blacklisting, how just visiting a site can be a problem (CSRF), how to deal with file uploads, security tokens and headers in your app, cookie replays, and more countermeasures to popular attacks.
CSRF, XSS, CVE sound like Star Wars' ships to you? Come to this talk and leave with a lot of ideas to start securing your Rails app.


text:
5.00pm-9.00pm. Free entry. No booking required.
Wash the week away and welcome the weekend with our cocktail lounge and piano bar event. You'll be able to choose from a range of 30+ freshly made cocktails at our newly fitted bar, sit in the ambience of our Victorian hall, and enjoy live piano music on our mini grand piano by our music maestro Giles Adams & Joe Sharp.
Bring your friends or colleagues, family or neighbours. Have a laugh and chat and embrace this exclusive event.
Everyone is welcome and there will be special offers on our cocktails plus other drinks available such as beers, ciders, wines and spirits.
No booking required so just turn up anytime between 5pm-8.30pm.
Cocktails & Piano Bar Evening
December 3, 2021
5:00 pm - 9:00 pm


text:
The record-breaking wild, wet and windy winter of 2014-15 was probably a game changer for many reasons. The onslaught of storms fired a series of warning shots showing what climate change probably has in store for us. Serious and prolonged flooding, especially in the Somerset Levels, where about 6,500 ha (c.10% of the area) was under water for several months, and along the Thames in Berkshire, revealed a paucity of resilience at all levels. Despite having successfully defended many thousands of properties from flooding this winter, the Environment Agency became the scapegoat, blamed for allowing the flooding to occur because of something it hadn't done, or in some cases, had done (such as creating the Jubilee River which successfully protected Maidenhead from flooding). It received (in my view) an undeserved kicking from many individuals and some politicians for failing to dredge rivers or install sufficient flood defences, when it has been forced by Government to making swingeing cuts, affecting front line staff and capital expenditure. Further cuts of 1550 staff are planned for the coming financial year, although the flooding crisis has put a consultation on this temporarily on hold.
In the Somerset Levels, where the clamour for river-dredging has been particularly loud, it was subsequently revealed that the EA had agreed that some dredging was needed, but didn't have enough money, while local authorities had refused to contribute. Meanwhile, in recent years, the same local authorities have granted planning permission for new houses in areas that were under water for several months. Andrew Gilligan, writing for The Telegraph, reveals that land next to Curry Moor had also been designated by Taunton Deane Borough Council for new homes while "the neighbouring council, Sedgemoor, had identified sites in at least four villages for housing, even though all are within the highest-risk flood zone". Gilligan also describes the scale of projected housebuilding in areas flooded by the Thames. While most would agree that local authority planning policy is as leaky as a sieve, it is driven by national housebuilding targets and the Coalition Government's dogmatic pursuance of economic recovery based on a stripped-down planning system that has little ability to refuse permission for new homes, even if they are going to be under water within months of occupancy. Government has been a clear and guilty accomplice in the scale of damage caused by floods but the insurance industry is now beginning to call the shots. This is hardly surprising, given the estimated £400m of payouts anticipated from damage this winter and warnings from the UK Climate Change Impact Assessment that nearly 1 million properties are likely to be at risk of flooding during the 2020s. There is no doubt that the Government will continue to support building houses in areas of flood risk, such as at Ebbsfleet (North Kent) where it has announced it is to support the development of a new garden city. The area is considered as being at high risk of tidal flooding.
Magicians Paul Daniels' and Debbie Magee's luxury Thames-side home was one of many threatened by the overflowing river (they kept theirs dry by continous pumping), and they too accused the Environment Agency of causing the severe flooding by failing to dredge the river (thus the water would be instantly magicked away, wouldn't it?). Politicans were caught back-footed, with some (including Communities Minister Eric Pickles, and Somerset MP Ian Liddell-Grainger) behaving in ways that were wholly inappropriate to their status. IL-G, who can at best be described as a baying buffoon, said that EA Chairman Chris Smith " is a coward, a little git and I'll flush his head down the loo". The TV satire Spitting Image would have had a field day with the lot of them.
The voices of reason from ecologists, hydrologists, engineers, climate-change scientists, the Government's own independent advisers (including the Emvironment Agency and Natural England) and independent commentators, such as George Monbiot, had, until the latter stages of this event, been drowned out by the vociferous minority interests of farmers, the National Farmers' Union and ill-informed politicians (as well as traumatised flood victims) seemingly incapable of taking in the wider picture and the alternative view. However, evidence (much of it collected thanks to Government-funded research, work by the EA, NE and a few water companies) shows that river-dredging and hard defences are out-dated and expensive one-trick ponies that will often not work and in some cases make things worse. For these reasons, engineers and ecologists agree their use should be limited and targeted in places where sufficient evidence is able to show clear cost-benefit. (More on this via G Monbiot here.)
The scale of the damage, from farmland and houses underwater for three months, to the destruction (yet again) of the main coast rail line at Dawlish, and disappearing houses at Hemsby, show that choices will need to be made. There is not going to be enough cash to defend every vulnerable house, industrial estate, field or farm from the floods, or every crumbling coast from rising sea levels and increasing storm surges. As part of catchment-based flood mitigation plans, and as now indicated in the emerging action plan for the Somerset Levels, water will need to be held back upstream, using ecological restoration techniques and by reversing some of the inappropriate land drainage that causes silt and nutrient-laden soil to devastate land and settlements downstream. This is where the winter storms have become a game changer - upstream measures now have a credible place at the table, helped by the mounting evidence of benefit and greater media coverage given to environmental scientists who can describe what is needed, and warn against what may be unaffordable and unachievable.
On 5 March, a clear reality check was offered to the Government by Professor Sir John Krebs. Writing to Environment Minister Owen Patterson on behalf of the Adaptation Sub Committee of the UK Climate Change Committee, Sir John offered five key points to consider in relation to Somerset Levels action plan: (1) the plan needs to recognise rising sea levels and flood risk associated with climate change; (2) it should consider the range of drivers operating on the Levels; (3) the plan should be sustainable and cost-effective; (4) it should focus on adaptation and be responsive to new evidence; (5) responsibility for delivering and funding the plan should be shared. In the letter, Sir John makes pointed comments about exploitation of Level's peatlands (which have shrunk as a result and further lowered land levels), the appropriateness of farm subsidies and the need for a review of land-use practices in the catchment. In an interview with The Times (reported in The Western Daily Press) Lord Krebs more explicitly suggested that "It may well be the case that there are areas too expensive to defend". Needless to say, his honesty was not welcomed by either Somerset farmers nor the local MP.
This was preceded, in February, by a letter written to The Telegraph by seventeen professional bodies, representing engineers, ecologists, hydrologists, surveyors, landscape architects, foresters, arboriculturists and other environmental scientists, calling on the Government to act on knowledge and best practice, and have a joined-up strategy for managing water, to include soft-engineering solutions. Growing experience in such techniques, such as piloted in Exmoor and at Pontbren, shows that farming and ecological restoration are not mutually exclusive, although there will certainly need to be a major rethink about intensive farming practices that are causing soil erosion and unacceptable levels of runoff. The dialogue about what to do about this in England has come in the nick of time, as Natural England is putting together proposals for the new environmental land management scheme paid for out of Pillar 2 of the Common Agricultural Policy. This scheme, and a much more comprehensive approach to Catchment Sensitive Farming, could offer the 'carrots' but the stick of regulation will still be needed, coupled with much better monitoring and enforcement of basic environmental protection measures that will act to dissuade farmers from causing significant damage to land and rivers. There is plenty of evidence showing that neither carrots or sticks are working across much of the countryside right now, not helped by the Coalition Government's wish to strip down regulation, cut back regulatory agencies and let everyone police themselves. In the future farm subsidy cash (up to £200 per hectare) must come with an absolute requirement that those in receipt of it practice sustainable land use. This requirement however, will not be met unless there is a comprehensive extension programme in place with one-to-one advice available, and support for the production of farm- and operations-based environmental improvement plans that farmers and their contractors will need to sign up to.
Back along the coast, the National Trust has already begun to face up to the fact that some of our favourite coastlines are being rapidly re-shaped. Its 2005 Shifting Shores report identified 608km of coastline it owns as being significantly affected by coastal erosion with 169 sites likely to be lost during this century. 10% could lose between 100-200m width of coast, with a further 5% likely to lose 200m or more. This winter's storms also indicate that the rate of loss originally anticipated could be much greater, should such storms become more commonplace. Storm surges in January this year broke up the shingle bank at Spurn Head, where dunes were also completely washed away. The shingle bank, defending the Norfolk Wildlife Trust's Cley Marshes nature reserve in Norfolk was also breached, flooding the reserve and washing boardwalks away.
|Langland Beach, Gower, less the sand. M Crafer, Feb 2014.
Most of the sand did come back in 2015, but not all of it.
There were huge strandings of bivalves on The Gower. Local resident and ecologist, Mike Crafer, reported that at least one of the smaller beaches there had disappeared with almost 3m-depth of sand gone. See Patrick Barkham's 7 February column in The Guardian for more opinion on the future shape of Britain's coast.
Experience with both flooding and coastal erosion during the 1990s and to the present, further underline the need for the Government to kick off an honest debate with the public, not only about adaptation, but planning for a future when some vulnerable coastal and floodplain settlements, farmland and nature reserves, will not be able to survive as climate change impacts become more severe. Heritage and conservation bodies have much to lose; in some places they may not be able to gain new ground when long-established nature reserves lose out to either the sea or inland floods. The shape of Britain will change, and so will its wildlife.


text:
Project 1st Phase
Soils of the Atacama Desert: reservoir and fingerprint of life
Research areas: Soil Science and Biogeochemistry
Principal investigators: PD Dr. Eva Lehndorff, Dr. Roland Bol, Prof. Dr. Erwin Klumpp, Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung
Project Info: 1st Phase
| New pit in a 4 mio year´s surface.
Photo: Eva Lehndorff
Soils are the habitat and reservoir for plants and microorganisms, which leave their fingerprints as organic residues, microaggregate glues, stoichiometry of key nutrients and altered isotopic composition of, e.g., δ18O of phosphates. Here we will
- identify and quantify organic residues in soil profiles and along potential plant dispersal corridors,
- relate occurrence of organic matter, alterations in nutrient pools and physical soil properties to potential trajectories in microclimate and present and past dispersal of life, and
- elucidate changes in organic matter properties, nutrient content and stoichiometry dynamics in soil to a sudden increase in water availability.
We hypothesize that soil properties have contributed to preferential pathways or barriers of the dispersal of life, and that most soil forming processes occurred within very short periods when water is available, while traces of dormancy and (past) life may be buried and diluted by the continuous deposition of nutrient/salts. Hence, we assume that in particular the subsoils will reveal an unique though little explored archive of organic matter and nutrient fingerprints of past and present life in the Atacama Desert.
These hypotheses are evaluated using a combination of optimized method protocols, sophisticated biomarker, nutrient stoichiometry, stable isotope and colloid analyses, as well as spectroscopic mapping of hot spot patterns at both micro- and macroscale – following potential biogeographic dispersal pathways and artificial irrigation events (with Z3). This project contributes to the overall research hypothesis by elucidatingspatial patterns of soil organic matter and nutrient status as the reservoir for life.
The CRC will enable us to elucidate the role of climate, wind transport and dust deposition on soil formation and nutrient contents (with A3, C2, C3, and Z3), to link gypsum deposits to soil nutrients (with D3 and C4), and to unravel biological processes and time-scales of organic matter accumulation (with B1, B4 and Z4).
Former members:
- PD Dr. Eva Lehndorff (Principal Investigator)
- Dr. Roland Bol (Principal Investigator)
- Prof. Dr. Erwin Klumpp (Principal Investigator)
- Prof. Dr. Wulf Amelung (Principal Investigator)
- Dr. Bárbara Fuentes (Scientist)


text:
Simulation and Optimization in Materials TechnologyView this Special Issue
Calculation of Liquidus Temperature for Aluminum and Magnesium Alloys Applying Method of Equivalency
The purpose of this paper is to develop a mathematical equation, which will be able to accurately predict the liquidus temperature of various aluminum and magnesium cast alloys on the basis of their known chemical compositions. An accurate knowledge of liquidus temperature permits a researcher to predict a variety of physical parameters pertaining to a given alloy. The analytical expressions presented in this paper are based on the "method of equivalency." According to this concept, the influence of any alloying element on the liquidus temperature of an aluminum and/or magnesium alloy can be translated into the equivalent influence of a reference element. Silicon as a reference element has been chosen for aluminum alloys and aluminum for magnesium alloys. The sum of the equivalent concentrations for other elements, when added to the influence of the actual reference element is used to calculate the liquidus temperature of the alloy. The calculated liquidus temperatures for wide ranges of alloy chemical compositions show a good correlation with corresponding measured liquidus temperatures.
1. Introduction
In order to predict the various physical parameters of a solidifying aluminum and magnesium alloys (e.g., fraction solid), the liquidus temperatures of these alloys must be known with the highest possible degree of accuracy. Unfortunately, only few equations are reported in the literature that relate the compositions of many commercially important nonferrous [1, 2] and ferrous [3] alloys to their liquidus temperatures. Moreover, some of these equations are not sufficiently verified by experimental data. For the binary aluminum and magnesium alloys, liquidus temperature/composition relations can easily be derived from highly accurate binary diagrams. These are based on experimental data obtained under equilibrium solidification conditions [4, 5].
The Al-Si phase diagram is the base component system for the Al-Si series of alloys. As Figure 1 shows, it is a binary eutectic type phase diagram with limited aluminum and silicon solubility. The melting temperature of pure aluminum is 660°C. The solubility of silicon in the aluminum melt reaches a maximum of 1.6 wt.% at the 577°C eutectic temperature. The maximum solubility of aluminum in silicon at the eutectic temperature is still questionable, and according to some literature data, it is approximately 0.015 wt.% [6]. The concentration of silicon, which corresponds to the eutectic reaction, is still not accurately defined or accepted among researchers, despite the fact that this diagram has been investigated often. In the available literature the following values for eutectic concentration of silicon were found: 11.9 wt.% [7], 12.2 wt.% [6], 12.3 wt.% [8] and 12.6 wt.% [9] In this work the value of 12.3 wt.%. of Si will be used as the eutectic concentration of silicon as well as 577°C as the temperature at which eutectic reaction occurs.
The cast aluminum-silicon alloys are widely used in many automotive components. These alloys are characterized by their low density, light weight, relative low melting temperatures, negligible gas solubility (with the exception of hydrogen), excellent castability, good corrosion resistance, electrical, and thermal conductivity and good machinability. Major alloying elements, Si, Cu, and Mg, are primarily responsible for defining the microstructure of the aluminum alloy.
Mg-Al alloys are light metallic structural materials with a unique combination of properties, which are very attractive in such applications as the automobile, aerospace, and electronics industries. The use of magnesium alloys has become significant due to a one-third lower density of magnesium compared with aluminum, improved damping ability, a higher resistance to corrosion and better mechanical properties. In lightweight magnesium alloys, aluminum constitutes the main alloying element, chiefly because of its low price, availability, low density, and the advantageous effects on corrosion, and strength properties. Figure 2 shows the binary Mg-Al phase diagram with limited Al and Mg solubility [10]. The melting temperature of pure magnesium is 650°C. The solubility of magnesium in the aluminum melt reaches a maximum of 18.9 at.% at the 450°C eutectic temperature. The maximum solubility of aluminum in magnesium at the eutectic temperature is 11.8 at.% [11]. In this work, the value of 32.0 wt.% of Al will be used as the eutectic concentration of aluminum as well as 473°C as the temperature at which eutectic reaction occurs.
The modeling and control of the casting processes have remained a topic of active interest for several decades, and the availability of numerous software packages (MAGMA [12], Thermo-Calc [13], Pandat [14], FactSage [15], Pro-Cast [16], Calphad [17], WinCast [18], etc.) on the market a good indication of the interest that casting industries and researchers have in this field. Most of the data used in the above listed software packages are based on binary or multicomponent phase diagrams, but unfortunately, except for binary diagrams, many of the ternary or higher order phase diagrams are still not accurate enough for this purpose. Keeping in mind that most aluminum and magnesium binary systems are very well established, the transferring of a multi-component system into a well-known Al- "quasi-binary" system has a great industrial and research potential. This type of system could be used to calculate several thermo-physical and solidification process parameters of multicomponent aluminum alloys in either cast or melt treated conditions. In order to calculate the various thermophysical and metallurgical parameters of solidifying aluminum casting alloys, the characteristic solidification temperatures of the alloys must be known with the highest possible degree of accuracy.
The purpose of this paper is to develop the general method for the calculation of the characteristic liquidus temperatures of the multicomponent aluminum-silicon and magnesium-aluminum alloys based on their known chemical composition. The accuracy of the developed algorithms will be determined by comparing the calculated values of the liquidus temperatures with the measured values obtained using the thermal analysis technique as with the calculated values obtained using Thermo-Calc software program.
2. Modeling the Liquidus Temperature of Multicomponent Al and Mg Alloys
2.1. Development of the Algorithm of Equivalency
Figures 3 and 4 show several phase diagrams of selected aluminum and magnesium binary alloys. From most of them, it is visible that their liquidus temperatures decrease uniformly with the increase in the amount of the added alloying element and reach the minimum at the corresponding eutectic composition. Mathematically, the liquidus line of any eutectic binary Al- and/or Mg- phase diagrams from Figures 3 and 4 can be accurately expressed by the second order polynomial as follows:
where and are the liquidus temperatures of the observed binary system in °C, is the amount of the alloying element in wt.%, is the melting point of pure aluminum/magnesium, 660°C and 650°C, respectively, and , and are polynomial coefficients.
Therefore, the liquidus line for the Al-Si binary system can be expressed, respectively, as follows:
Applying the same approach from (1a) and (1b), the liquidus line of the Mg-Al binary system can be written as
The visual analysis of the two liquidus lines of the binary systems, Al reference element and Al- as presented in Figure 5, shows that the "equivalent effect" on the liquidus temperature of the aluminum alloy can be obtained by using "equivalent" concentrations of the reference element and alloying elements.
This means that the influence of any alloying element in the aluminum or magnesium melt on its liquidus temperature can be expressed as the effect of an "equivalent amount" of reference element, expressed in wt.%. Silicon as a major alloying element for Al-Si series of alloys was chosen as the reference element. It is also known to have the most significant influence on the casting properties of Al-Si family of alloys (e.g., fluidity, latent heat, and shrinkage).
In lightweight magnesium alloys, aluminum is the mainly alloying element, chiefly because of its low price, availability, low density, and the advantageous effects on corrosion and strength properties. The AZ91 alloy (contains about 9 wt.% Al and 1 wt.% Zn) is the most widely used magnesium alloy exhibiting a good combination of high strength at room temperature, good castability, and excellent corrosion resistance. Therefore, by magnesium alloys, aluminum has been chosen as a reference element.
The isothermal concentration difference between the reference element (Si or Al) and the alloying elements can be mathematically expressed as follows:
Taking into consideration the whole temperature range between the melting temperature of the pure reference element (Si or Al) and the corresponding eutectic temperature of an observed binary alloy (Al-Si or Mg-Al), the following relationship can be established between , and the concentration of the alloying element :
where is the silicon equivalent for any alloying element expressed in wt.%, is the aluminum equivalent for any alloying element expressed in wt.%, , , and are polynomial coefficients of the quadratic equation which describe the relationship between or and considered the alloying elements for at least three various temperatures, and is the concentration of the alloying elements in wt.%.
The coefficients for the particular alloying elements (, , and ) from (4a) and (4b) are found in Table 1.
The SiEQ and/or for the alloying elements as well as for some impurity elements can be determined as the sum of individual contributors () plus the effect of the silicon/aluminum itself, and can be expressed as follows:
The characteristic liquidus temperatures for multi component Al-Si and Mg-Al series of alloys can be calculated using following equations:
Equations (6a) and (6b) are valid for the following concentrations of key elements (expressed in wt.%):
For aluminum alloys,
For magnesium alloys,
3. Results and Discussion
The validity of the calculation procedure presented above was determined by comparing the calculated liquidus temperatures with the experimentally determined and computed (using Thermo-Calc software package) liquidus temperatures of aluminum and magnesium alloys. These comparisons are presented in Tables 2 and 3.
The slight discrepancies between measured and calculated values of liquidus temperatures (Tables 2 and 3) for aluminum and magnesium hypoeutectic cast alloys are related to the fact that the interaction among alloying elements from aluminum and magnesium melts has not been taken into consideration in (6a) and (6b). The analytical approach of this work is based on binary alloying systems (Figures 3 and 4), and no other interactions between three or more elements have been taken into consideration for the SiEQ and AlEQ methods. By allowing these parameters of interaction among of at least three elements (taken from ternary systems) from aluminum and magnesium melts might bring the calculated values closer to the measured ones.
Figure 6 depicts a plot of the predicted liquidus temperature for each of the aluminum and magnesium alloys presented in Tables 2 and 3 versus their experimentally determined counterparts. Measured liquidus temperatures have been determined experimentally using the thermal analysis technique. According to the available literature data, the accuracy of the applied thermal analysis technique was between ±0.5 and 1°C. All calculated liquidus temperatures have been computed using the method of equivalency expressed in this work through (6a) and (6b).
Figure 6 together with Table 4 demonstrate the pretty fair accuracy of the predictions made by the procedure developed in this study in comparison with the measured liquidus temperatures taken from the literature and calculated with Thermo-Calc software.
Table 4 displays that both approaches (the method of equivalency and the Thermo-Calc software) are used to calculate the liquidus temperatures of Al and Mg alloys according to criteria which shows pretty fair predictions. Statistical analysis reveals that application of (6a) for the calculation of liquidus temperatures results in lower standard deviations and lower scatter (minimum and maximum values) in the predictions compared to the results obtained using Thermo-Calc software package. Regarding Mg alloys, applying either (6b) or Thermal-Calc software, the statistical analysis shows almost the same results, that is, the same accuracy in comparison to measured liquidus temperature independent from applied procedures.
The main advantage of the method of equivalency has been recognized in its simplicity and straightforward application. Using chemical compositions of corresponding aluminum and/or magnesium alloys, their liquidus temperatures can be calculated using known polynomial coefficients for the SiEQ and AlEQ. This method can be in the future simply applied for any multicomponent metallic system that satisfies the following assumptions.(1)The melting point of reference element is known and constant.(2)The considered binary systems (reference element-) are eutectic or peritectic.(3)Any addition of alloying elements to the reference element decreases the liquidus temperature to its eutectic temperature (peritectic type of reaction negative sign needs to be inserted in front the of corresponding polynomial coefficients from (4a) and (4b)).(4)For the multicomponent alloys, the equivalent concentration of the reference element needs to be considered as additive.
The accuracy of the calculated liquidus temperature in the proposed model (6a) and (6b) is dependent solely on the accuracy of the coefficients, by means of which the corresponding alloy content is converted into an equivalent silicon/aluminum weight percent. However, these coefficients are derived from the liquidus lines in the respective binary systems, and their reliability is closely related to the accuracy with which the liquidus curves are experimentally determined and numerically fitted. Therefore, some inaccuracy is also observed by applying this method. In order to exclude this source of error, a reexamination of the liquidus lines on the silicon/aluminum rich sides of the respective binary systems, or even better for the ternary Al-Si-/Mg-Al- systems, would be necessary.
The model has been developed using binary phase diagrams of Al- and Mg- alloys. For all the considered binary phase diagrams, the liquidus lines have been mathematically described until their corresponding eutectic concentrations. The concentration limits for the key elements have been established by either using the maximal concentration of key element at eutectic temperature (for major alloying elements such as Si in Al-Si alloys and Al in Mg-Al alloys) or setting the maximal concentrations of other minor alloying elements that can be found in typical hypoeutectic Al and Mg alloys [30]. It means that, theoretically, the established liquidus equations for Al and Mg alloys are usable up to the eutectic concentrations of any elements present in these alloys. Tables 2 and 3 show only those alloys that are found in the available literature with measured liquidus temperatures. In addition, the higher cooling rates applied in the experimental data presented in Tables 2 and 3 are a potential source of inaccuracy that cannot be disregarded.
Another advantage of a new equivalency method can be recognized in its general application to calculate the liquidus temperatures of other alloys. Potentially, a similar approach could be used to develop an algorithm for the calculation of the solidus temperature of other light alloys.
4. Conclusion
In this paper, a new method of equivalency has been developed that is able to predict the liquidus temperatures of multicomponent aluminum and magnesium alloys based on known aluminum and magnesium binary phase diagrams. The new method of equivalency expresses the amounts of major and minor alloying elements in the aluminum/magnesium melts through an "equivalent" amount of a reference element. Statistical analysis of the results obtained for a wide range of alloy chemical compositions shows a very good correlation between the calculated and experimentally determined data. The newly developed method can be applied to calculate other characteristic solidification temperatures of nonferrous and ferrous multicomponent alloys.
This work is financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technical Development, Serbia, Projects ON: 172005 and TR: 35023.
G. Drossel, "Der einfluss von schmelzebehandlungen auf die dichtheit von gusskoerpon aus Al-Si Gusslegierungen," Giessereitechnik, vol. 27, pp. 7–12, 1981.View at: Google Scholar
R. Vijayaraghavan, N. Pelle, J. Boileau, J. Zindel, R. Beals, and F. Bradley, "A micro model for aluminium-silicon alloys," Scripta Materialia, vol. 35, pp. 861–867, 1996.View at: Google Scholar
E. Schürmann, M. Djurdjevic, and L. Nedeljkovic, "Calculation of liquidus temperature of low and high alloyed iron base melts from their chemical composition by means of the equivalence factors," Steel Research, vol. 68, no. 3, pp. 101–106, 1997.View at: Google Scholar
ASM Handbook, Alloy Phase Diagrams, vol. 3, ASM International, Metals Park, Ohio, USA, 1992.
J. Barthel, E. Buhrig, K. Hein, and L. Kucl, Kristallisation aus der Schmelze, VEB Deutscher Verlag für Grundstoffindustrie, Leipzig, Germany, 1983.
V. S. Zolotorevsky and N. I. Belov, Casting Aluminum Alloys, Elsevier, Amsterdam, The Netherlands, 2007.
A. R. E. Singer and S. A. Cottrell, "Properties of aluminum-silicon alloys at temperatures in the region of the solidus," Journal of the Institute of Metals, vol. 73, pp. 33–73, 1947.View at: Google Scholar
O. Berthon, G. Petot-Ervas, C. Petot, and P. Desre, "Thermodynamics of Al-Si Alloys containing from 2 to 35 at.%Si," Comptes Rendus de l'Académie des Sciences, vol. 268, pp. C1939–C1942, 1969.View at: Google Scholar
L. Backerud, G. Chai, and J. Tamminen, Solidification Characteristics of Aluminum Alloys, vol. 2, AFS Skanaluminium, Schaumburg, Ill, USA, 1990.
J. L. Murray, "The Al-Mg (Aluminum-Magnesium) system," Bulletin of Alloy Phase Diagrams, vol. 3, no. 1, pp. 60–74, 1982.View at: Google Scholar
A. A. Nayeb-Hashemi and J. B. Clark, Phase Diagrams of Binary Magnesium Alloys, ASM International, Metals Park, Ohio, USA, 1998.
W. Cao, S. L. Chen, F. Zhang et al., "PANDAT software with pan engine, pan optimizer and pan precipitation for multi-component phase diagram calculation and materials property simulation," Calphad, vol. 33, no. 2, pp. 328–342, 2009.View at: Google Scholar
S.-C. Jeng and S.-W. Chen, "Determination of the solidification characteristics of the A356.2 aluminum alloy," Materials Science Forum, vol. 217–222, no. 1, pp. 283–288, 1996.View at: Google Scholar
K. Kobayashi, P. H. Shingu, and R. Ozaki, "Shift of aluminium liquidus in Al-Si system due to the sodium addition," Scripta Metallurgica, vol. 10, no. 6, pp. 525–527, 1976.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
B. P. Winter, T. R. Ostram, T. A. Sleder, P. K. Trojan, and R. D. Pehlke, "Mould dilation and volumetric shrinkage of aluminum alloys in green and dry sand molds," AFS Transactions, vol. 87, p. 259, 1993.View at: Google Scholar
A. Kearney, "Thermatest thermal analysis system for quality control of molten aluminum," in Proceedings of the Conference on Thermal Analysis of Molten Aluminum, p. 169, Rosemont, Ill, USA, 1984.View at: Google Scholar
J. Carbonier and C. Rechiney, "Foundry monitoring of aluminum alloys using thermal analysis," in Proceedings of the Conference on Thermal Analysis of Molten Aluminum, p. 121, Rosemont, Ill, USA, 1984.View at: Google Scholar
J. Morice, "History of thermal analysis and its application to aluminum alloy castings," in Proceedings of the Conference on Thermal Analysis of Molten Aluminum, p. 37, Rosemont, Ill, USA, 1984.View at: Google Scholar
M. B. Djurdjevic, S. Manasijevic, Z. Odanovic, and R. Radisa, "Influence of different contents of Si and Cu on the solidification pathways of cast hypoeutectic Al-(5–9)Si-(1–4)Cu (wt.%) alloys," International Journal of Materials Research, no. 9, pp. 865–873, 2013.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
S. M. Liang, R. S. Chen, J. J. Blandin, M. Sueryand, and E. H. Han, "Thermal analysis and solidification pathways of Mg-Al-Ca system alloys," Materials Science and Engineering A, vol. 480, pp. 365–372, 2008.View at: Google Scholar
M. Ohno, D. Mirkovic, and R. Schmid-Fetzer, "Liquidus and solidus temperatures of Mg-rich Mg-Al-Mn-Zn alloys," Acta Materialia, vol. 54, no. 15, pp. 3883–3891, 2006.View at: Publisher Site | Google Scholar
H. E. Friedrich and B. L. Mardike, Magnesium Technology, Springer, Heidelberg, Germany, 2006.
W. Kasprzak, J. H. Sokolowski, M. Sahoo, and L. A. Dobrzański, "Thermal and structural characteristics of the AM50 magnesium alloy," Journal of Achievements in Materials and Manufacturing Engineering, vol. 28, no. 2, pp. 131–138, 2008.View at: Google Scholar
M. B. Djurdjevic, W. T. Kierkus, G. E. Byczynski, and J. H. Sokolowski, "Calculation of liquidus temperature for the Aluminum 3XX series of alloys," AFS Transactions, vol. 47, pp. 143–147, 1998.View at: Google Scholar


text:
I've been meaning to attend the DesmoNorthwest BBQ for at least two years in a row and this year I had no excuse not to. Naturally I hit my buddy Paul up to join me; he can't say no to rides over 100 miles, let alone nearly 650 miles. In two days total! Yep, we decided to ride up and back on Saturday and Sunday.
But the leg up on Saturday was the real meat of the trip. We rode back roads from Corvallis to Edgefield in Troutdale for a late breakfast. We both had the bacon scramble with fresh baby red tomatoes and smothered in freshly grated Parmesan. Delicious!
From there we hit I-84 for a quick blast to Hood River, where we took the bridge across the Columbia to Washington, and headed North for Mt. St. Helens. Turns out this area is a meca for sportbike riders as we must have seen nearly 100 riders in this area. Most of the roads are fantastic and the vistas are even more amazing.
We continued on past Randle through the Mt. Rainier area, past Mt. Adams, through Enumclaw, and then on to Issaquah. All in all, I think we were on the freeway less than an hour and half all day. Here is our route:
Unfortunately when you're behind on your day long back roads trip, you don't stop for pictures. But luckily lots of other Flickr users have. Here is what you can expect from the area:
After riding some of the best, and some of the worst, that SW Washington had to offer, we were beat. Ten and a half hours later, we were hurting to say the least! Paul being the saint he is, and having water-tight hard bags on the VFR, went and got us some refreshments to unwind with after our journey:
The next day we cleaned up the bikes and headed for the BBQ. After supporting the Ducati website for nearly 2 years, I was able to connect names and faces. I already knew the club was full of great people and it was a really nice gathering of like minded enthusiasts. Here are some pics of the rides that showed up:
The worst part of the trip was definitely the last leg, from Issaquah to home via I-5. A record heat wave started that afternoon and we rode home in some seriously hot air on the blacktop for over 5 hours. It was like being blasted from all angles with heat guns no matter how fast or slow we managed. So we ended up stopping about every hour to rehydrate and recharge. Not much choice as we both had to be at work on time the next day.
All that said, I'm really glad we did this trip. Not only did I finally get to meet some great Ducatisti, I proved to myself I'm still capable of a big trip. I can't wait to go again!


text:
Filling means adjusting the lengths of lines (by moving the line
breaks) so that they are nearly (but no greater than) a specified
maximum width. Additionally, lines can be justified, which means
inserting spaces to make the left and/or right margins line up
precisely. The width is controlled by the variable
For ease of reading, lines should be no longer than 70 or so columns.
You can use Auto Fill mode (see Auto Filling) to fill text automatically as you insert it, but changes to existing text may leave it improperly filled. Then you must fill the text explicitly.
Most of the commands in this section return values that are not
meaningful. All the functions that do filling take note of the current
left margin, current right margin, and current justification style
(see Margins for Filling). If the current justification style is
none, the filling functions don't actually do anything.
Several of the filling functions have an argument justify.
If it is non-
nil, that requests some kind of justification. It
can be
full, or
center, to
request a specific style of justification. If it is
t, that
means to use the current justification style for this part of the text
current-justification, below). Any other value is treated
When you call the filling functions interactively, using a prefix
argument implies the value
full for justify.
This command fills the paragraph at or after point. If
justify is non-
nil, each line is justified as well.
It uses the ordinary paragraph motion commands to find paragraph
boundaries. See Paragraphs in The GNU Emacs Manual.
When region is non-
nil, then if Transient Mark mode is
enabled and the mark is active, this command calls
to fill all the paragraphs in the region, instead of filling only the
current paragraph. When this command is called interactively,
region is
This command fills each of the paragraphs in the region from start
to end. It justifies as well if justify is
If nosqueeze is non-
nil, that means to leave whitespace
other than line breaks untouched. If to-eop is non-
that means to keep filling to the end of the paragraph—or the next hard
newline, if
use-hard-newlines is enabled (see below).
The variable
paragraph-separate controls how to distinguish
paragraphs. See Standard Regular Expressions Used in Editing.
Most Emacs buffers use monospaced text, so all the filling functions
fill-region) work based on the number of characters and
char-width. However, Emacs can render other types of things,
like text that contains images and using proportional fonts, and the
pixel-fill-region exists to handle that. It fills the region
of text between start and end at pixel granularity, so
text using variable-pitch fonts or several different fonts looks
filled regardless of different character sizes. The argument
pixel-width specifies the maximum pixel width a line is allowed
to have after filling; it is the pixel-resolution equivalent of the
fill-column in
fill-region. For instance, this Lisp
snippet will insert text using a proportional font, and then fill this
to be no wider than 300 pixels:
(insert (propertize "This is a sentence that's ends here." 'face 'variable-pitch)) (pixel-fill-region (point) (point-max) 300)
If start isn't at the start of a line, the horizontal position of start, converted to pixel units, will be used as the indentation prefix on subsequent lines.
pixel-fill-width helper function can be used to compute the
pixel width to use. If given no arguments, it'll return a value
slightly less than the width of the current window. The first
optional value, columns, specifies the number of columns using
the standard, monospaced fonts, e.g.
fill-column. The second
optional value is the window to use. You'd typically use it like
(pixel-fill-region start end (pixel-fill-width fill-column))
This command fills each paragraph in the region according to its individual fill prefix. Thus, if the lines of a paragraph were indented with spaces, the filled paragraph will remain indented in the same fashion.
The first two arguments, start and end, are the beginning
and end of the region to be filled. The third and fourth arguments,
justify and citation-regexp, are optional. If
justify is non-
nil, the paragraphs are justified as
well as filled. If citation-regexp is non-
nil, it means the
function is operating on a mail message and therefore should not fill
the header lines. If citation-regexp is a string, it is used as
a regular expression; if it matches the beginning of a line, that line
is treated as a citation marker.
fill-individual-paragraphs regards each change in
indentation as starting a new paragraph. If
fill-individual-varying-indent is non-
nil, then only
separator lines separate paragraphs. That mode can handle indented
paragraphs with additional indentation on the first line.
This variable alters the action of
fill-individual-paragraphs as
described above.
This command considers a region of text as a single paragraph and fills
it. If the region was made up of many paragraphs, the blank lines
between paragraphs are removed. This function justifies as well as
filling when justify is non-
If nosqueeze is non-
nil, that means to leave whitespace
other than line breaks untouched. If squeeze-after is
nil, it specifies a position in the region, and means
that whitespace other than line breaks should be left untouched before
that position.
In Adaptive Fill mode, this command calls
fill-context-prefix to
choose a fill prefix by default. See Adaptive Fill Mode.
This command inserts spaces between the words of the current line so
that the line ends exactly at
fill-column. It returns
The argument how, if non-
nil specifies explicitly the style
of justification. It can be
center, or
none. If it is
t, that means to
follow specified justification style (see
nil means to do full justification.
If eop is non-
nil, that means do only left-justification
current-justification specifies full justification. This is
used for the last line of a paragraph; even if the paragraph as a
whole is fully justified, the last line should not be.
If nosqueeze is non-
nil, that means do not change interior
This variable's value specifies the style of justification to use for
text that doesn't specify a style with a text property. The possible
values are
center, or
none. The default value is
This function returns the proper justification style to use for filling the text around point.
This returns the value of the
justification text property at
point, or the variable
default-justification if there is no such
text property. However, it returns
nil rather than
to mean "don't justify".
If this variable is non-
nil, a period followed by just one space
does not count as the end of a sentence, and the filling functions
avoid breaking the line at such a place.
If this variable is non-
nil, a sentence can end without a
period. This is used for languages like Thai, where sentences end
with a double space but without a period.
If this variable is non-
nil, it should be a string of
characters that can end a sentence without following spaces.
If this variable is non-
nil, two words of different kind (e.g.,
English and CJK) will be separated with a space when concatenating one
that is in the end of a line and the other that is in the beginning of
the next line for filling.
This variable provides a way to override the filling of paragraphs.
If its value is non-
fill-paragraph calls this
function to do the work. If the function returns a non-
fill-paragraph assumes the job is done, and immediately
returns that value.
The usual use of this feature is to fill comments in programming language modes. If the function needs to fill a paragraph in the usual way, it can do so as follows:
(let ((fill-paragraph-function nil)) (fill-paragraph arg))
This variable provides a way to override how the filling functions,
such as
fill-region and
fill-paragraph, move forward to
the next paragraph. Its value should be a function, which is called
with a single argument n, the number of paragraphs to move, and
should return the difference between n and the number of
paragraphs actually moved. The default value of this variable is
forward-paragraph. See Paragraphs in The GNU Emacs
If this variable is non-
nil, the filling functions do not delete
newlines that have the
hard text property. These hard
newlines act as paragraph separators. See Hard and Soft Newlines in The GNU Emacs Manual.