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Calculate the voltage output by the secondary winding of a transformer if the primary voltage is 35 volts, the secondary winding has 4500 turns, and the primary winding has 355 turns.
Vsecondary =
Vsecondary = 443.7 volts
Transformer winding calculations are simply an exercise in mathematical ratios. If your students are not strong in their ratio skills, this question provides an application to sharpen them!
Calculate the load current and load voltage in this transformer circuit:
Iload = Vload =
Iload = 23.77 mA Vload = 8.318 V
Most transformer problems are nothing more than ratios, but some students find ratios difficult to handle. Questions such as this are great for having students come up to the board in the front of the classroom and demonstrating how they obtained the results.
Calculate the number of turns needed in the secondary winding of a transformer to transform a primary voltage of 300 volts down to a secondary voltage of 180 volts, if the primary winding has 1150 turns of wire.
Nsecondary =
Nsecondary = 690 turns
Most transformer problems are nothing more than ratios, but some students find ratios difficult to handle. Questions such as this are great for having students come up to the board in the front of the classroom and demonstrating how they obtained the results.
Predict how all component voltages and currents in this circuit will be affected as a result of the following faults. Consider each fault independently (i.e. one at a time, no multiple faults):
For each of these conditions, explain why the resulting effects will occur.
The purpose of this question is to approach the domain of circuit troubleshooting from a perspective of knowing what the fault is, rather than only knowing what the symptoms are. Although this is not necessarily a realistic perspective, it helps students build the foundational knowledge necessary to diagnose a faulted circuit from empirical data. Questions such as this should be followed (eventually) by other questions asking students to identify likely faults based on measurements.
Suppose 1200 turns of copper wire are wrapped around one portion of an iron hoop, and 3000 turns of wire are wrapped around another portion of that same hoop. If the 1200-turn coil is energized with 15 volts AC (RMS), how much voltage will appear between the ends of the 3000-turn coil?
37.5 volts AC, RMS.
Transformer winding calculations are simply an exercise in mathematical ratios. If your students are not strong in their ratio skills, this question provides an application to sharpen them!
Calculate the voltage output by the secondary winding of a transformer if the primary voltage is 230 volts, the secondary winding has 290 turns, and the primary winding has 1120 turns.
Vsecondary =
Vsecondary = 59.6 volts
Transformer winding calculations are simply an exercise in mathematical ratios. If your students are not strong in their ratio skills, this question provides an application to sharpen them!
Calculate the source current and load current in this transformer circuit:
Isource = Iload =
Isource = 187.5 mA Iload = 72.73 mA
Most transformer problems are nothing more than ratios, but some students find ratios difficult to handle. Questions such as this are great for having students come up to the board in the front of the classroom and demonstrating how they obtained the results.
If a coil of insulated wire is wrapped around an iron core, an inductance will be formed. Even if the wire has negligible resistance, the current through the coil from an AC source will be limited by the inductive reactance (XL) of the coil, as the magnetic flux in the iron core oscillates back and forth to induce a counter-EMF:
Plot the instantaneous magnetic flux (φ) waveform in the iron core corresponding to the instantaneous applied voltage (v) shown in this graph:
There is a simple formula (albeit containing a derivative term) describing the relationship between instantaneous flux (φ) and instantaneous induced voltage (v). Your students ought to know what it is, and that it should be applied to this question!
If we energize an inductor's coil with an oscillating (AC) voltage, we will generate an oscillating magnetic flux in the inductor core:
If we wrap a second coil of wire around the same magnetic core as the first (inductor) coil, we set up a situation where mutual inductance exists: a change of current through one coil induces a voltage in the other, and visa-versa. This, obviously, will result in an AC voltage being induced in the second wire coil:
What name is given to such a device, with two coils of wire sharing a common magnetic flux? Also, plot both the magnetic flux waveform and the secondary (induced) voltage waveform on the same graph as the primary (applied) voltage waveform:
This device is called a transformer.
Note: the relative amplitudes of vp and vs are arbitrary. I drew them at different amplitudes for the benefit of the reader: so the two waveforms would not perfectly overlap and become indistinguishable from one another.
Ask your students how the secondary coil would have to be made in order to truly generate a voltage greater than the applied (primary) coil voltage. How about generating a secondary voltage less than the primary?
Shown here is a schematic diagram of a transformer powering a resistive load, at the exact moment in time where the primary winding's voltage is at its positive ( ) peak:
Identify the polarity of voltage across the load resistor at this exact moment in time, as well as the direction of current in each of the windings.
Follow-up question: note the relationship between direction of current and polarity of voltage for each of the transformer windings. What do these different relationships suggest, in regard to the "flow" of power in the circuit?
One perspective that may help students understand the directions of current through each winding of the transformer, in relation to the voltage polarities, is to think of each winding as either being a source of electrical power or a load. Ask your students, "which winding acts as a source in this circuit, and which one acts as a load? Imagine these sources and loads are DC (so we may maintain the same polarity of voltage, for the sake of analysis). Which way would you draw the currents for a DC source and for a DC load?
The ignition coil of a gasoline-powered internal combustion automobile engine is an example of a transformer, although it is not powered by alternating current. Explain how a transformer may be operated on electricity that is not AC:
In order for a transformer to function, the primary winding current must change rapidly with regard to time. Whether this is a current that truly alternates, or just one that pulses in the same direction, is irrelevant.
Challenge question: is the wave-shape of the secondary voltage sinusoidal? Why or why not?
This is a very common application of transformer technology: the ignition "coil" used to ignite the air-fuel mixture inside a gasoline engine's combustion chamber. This question also addresses an issue sometimes misunderstood by students, that transformers are fundamentally AC devices, not DC.
It might be a good idea to have an automotive ignition coil available for for classroom demonstration. In lieu of a spark plug, a neon lamp may be used to indicate the presence of high voltage.
As for answering the challenge question, an oscilloscope will quickly prove the nature of the waveshape, for any transformer energized with pulsating DC.
Something has failed in this circuit, because the light bulb does not light up when the switch is closed:
What type(s) of transformer fault(s) would cause a problem like this, and how might you verify using a multimeter?
The most common type of transformer fault causing a problem like this is an open winding. This is very easy to check using a multimeter (I'll let you answer this part of the question!).
Of course, faults in this circuit having nothing to do with the transformer could also prevent the light bulb from lighting. If time permits, it would be good to analyze a few failure scenarios with your students, challenging them to locate the source of the trouble as efficiently as possible.
Industrial control power transformers are used to step down 480 or 240 volts to a level more acceptable for relay control circuitry: usually 120 volts. Some control power transformers are built with multiple primary windings, to facilitate connection to either a 480 volt or 240 volt AC power source:
Such transformers are usually advertised as having "240 × 480" primary windings, the "×" symbol representing two independent windings with four connection points (H1 through H4).
Show the connections on the four "H" terminals necessary for 240 volt operation, and also for 480 volt operation, on the following illustrations:
This type of transformer is very common in industrial control systems. Discuss with your students why the primary winding terminals are arranged as they are (H1-H3-H2-H4), to facilitate near-terminal jumpering with metal clips.
If an isolation transformer (a transformer with the same number of "turns" in the primary and secondary coils) is connected between an AC source and an AC load, we will measure the same voltage and the same current at both source and load terminals:
If we calculate power output by the source and power dissipated by the load, the value is the same: 420 Watts (P = IV).
Now suppose we analyze a circuit containing a step-up transformer (one with more turns of wire in the secondary coil than in the primary coil). With a step-up transformer, the load voltage will be greater than the supply voltage. In this example, I show a step-up transformer with a 1:2 step ratio:
Assuming the load resistance is completely different from the first (isolation transformer) circuit, what can you deduce about the load current and the power (both source and load) in this circuit? Is the load current less than the source current? Is the load current greater than the source current? Is the load power greater than the source power? Explain your answers.
The basic physical law known as The Law of Conservation of Energy tells you all you need to know about source power and load power! And from that, you should not only be able to qualitatively determine the load current in this circuit, but also calculate it with a fair degree of precision.
The only reason I hesitate to tell students they can calculate load current precisely is because it was not stated whether or not the transformer is "lossy" at all. No real transformer is 100% lossless, of course, and this is something that we must take into consideration in "real life."
I have found that the Conservation of Energy approach not only makes sense to students as they learn to calculate transformer behavior, but it is an excellent reinforcement of a basic physical law, a good understanding of which will serve them well throughout their careers.
Calculate all listed values for this transformer circuit:
Explain whether this is a step-up, step-down, or isolation transformer, and also explain what distinguishes the "primary" winding from the "secondary" winding in any transformer.
This is a step-down transformer.
Most transformer problems are nothing more than ratios, but some students find ratios difficult to handle. Questions such as this are great for having students come up to the board in the front of the classroom and demonstrating how they obtained the results.
Calculate all listed values for this transformer circuit:
Explain whether this is a step-up, step-down, or isolation transformer, and also explain what distinguishes the "primary" winding from the "secondary" winding in any transformer.
This is a step-up transformer.
Most transformer problems are nothing more than ratios, but some students find ratios difficult to handle. Questions such as this are great for having students come up to the board in the front of the classroom and demonstrating how they obtained the results.
Note to your students how the distinction between a step-up and a step-down transformer is simply a matter of usage. It is possible to use a transformer either way!
In a typical step-up or step-down transformer, the higher-voltage winding usually uses finer gauge wire than the lower-voltage winding. Explain why this is.
The higher-voltage winding handles less current than the lower-voltage winding.
If you happen to have a transformer that has been cut in half (right through the core), it will make an excellent demonstration piece for discussion. The difference between windings will be immediately apparent to the students when they see one.
A mechanic goes to school and takes a course in AC electric circuits. Upon learning about step-up and step-down transformers, he makes the remark that "Transformers act like electrical versions of gears, with different ratios."
What does the mechanic mean by this statement? What exactly is a "gear ratio," and is this an accurate analogy for a transformer?
Just as meshing gears with different tooth counts transform mechanical power between different levels of speed and torque, electrical transformers transform power between different levels of voltage and current.
Not only is this a sound analogy, but one that many mechanically-minded people relate with easily! If you happen to have some mechanics in your classroom, provide them with the opportunity to explain the concept of gear ratios to those students who are unaware of gear system mathematics.
Explain how this special transformer is able to control power to the light bulb:
What advantages might there be to using a transformer to control AC power, as opposed to a variable resistor?
Note: a similar type of device is called a Variac, and it enjoys the same advantages of AC power control as the variable transformer shown in the question.
This transformer controls power to the light bulb by providing a variable voltage ratio between source and load.
It may help to give some numerical examples of voltage step-down ratio for the transformer in this circuit, for students to better understand how this device controls light bulb power. Remind your students that modern transformers are very efficient devices, with full-load efficiency ratings typically in excess of 95%.
If students ask about the Variac, you may want to show them this diagram:
Of course, the Variac is a type of autotransformer, and as such does not provide the electrical isolation of a regular transformer. In some instances, this may be important!
In this variable-voltage transformer circuit, the input voltage (120 VAC) is switched to different "taps" on the transformer's primary winding to create different step-down ratios.
While it is possible to "tap" the secondary winding of the transformer to achieve different output voltages instead of the primary, there is a good reason for locating the switch in the primary side of the circuit. Identify this practical reason.
To minimize the amount of current the switch contacts have to handle.
It is important to always keep in mind practical limitations of components such as switch contacts when designing circuits. Sure, there may be many alternative ways of building a working circuit, but some ways will be more practical than others.
In some cases, it might be better to locate the switch (and winding taps) on the secondary side of a step-down transformer rather than the primary. Imagine if the primary winding voltage was 100 kVAC instead of 120 VAC. Pose this scenario to your students and ask them what practical switch limitations might force re-location to the secondary winding of the transformer.
Suppose a power system were delivering AC power to a resistive load drawing 150 amps:
Calculate the load voltage, load power dissipation, the power dissipated by the wire resistance (Rwire), and the overall power efficiency (η = Pload/Psource).
Now, suppose we were to use a pair of perfectly efficient 10:1 transformers to step the voltage up for transmission, and back down again for use at the load. Re-calculate the load voltage, load power, wasted power, and overall efficiency of this system:
Simple system (no transformers):
Complex system (with transformers):
Follow-up question: can you think of any disadvantages of the circuit using 10:1 transformers compared to the original (transformerless) power system?
An example like this usually clarifies the benefits of using AC instead of DC for transmission of large amounts of electrical power over substantial distances, better than simply telling students why transformers are used in power systems. Even with modest power losses in the transformers (say, 3% loss in each), the overall efficiency is still much greater in this system than without using transformers at all.
In discussing the follow-up question, be sure to bring up safety as a consideration if none of your students do.
Shunt resistors are commonly used to measure current in power circuits, by producing a small voltage drop in direct proportion to the circuit current. They are especially useful for measuring complex current waveforms in AC circuits, since they do not distort the waveform at all.
Suppose you wished to measure the current waveform in this power circuit by using an oscilloscope to measure voltage dropped across the shunt resistor:
If you connect an oscilloscope to the power circuit as shown, very bad things will happen, like the oscilloscope's ground clip melting, with lots of sparks!
After replacing the damaged probe assembly, and taking a long break to soothe your nerves, an experienced technician suggests you plug the oscilloscope's power cord into an isolation transformer to avoid this problem in the future. Explain what an isolation transformer is, why it prevents the short-circuit problem experienced in this circuit, and what precautions must be taken when using one.
An "isolation transformer" neither steps voltage up or down, but rather simply provides electrical isolation between primary and secondary windings. In this particular case, an isolation transformer inserted into the oscilloscope's power circuit breaks a circuit formed by the probe ground clip's connection with the oscilloscope metal chassis, which in turn is connected to the ground prong on the power cord plug, which is connected to earth ground for safety.
If an isolation transformer is used in such a way, it avoids the short-circuit problem, but only at the cost of "ungrounding" the oscilloscope chassis, making it unsafe to touch!!!
Follow-up question: identify a way to safely use an oscilloscope to measure the shunt resistor's voltage, without having to use an isolation transformer.
This lesson on oscilloscope usage is a valuable one, as students are sure to encounter problems with their circuits resulting from earth ground connections through the oscilloscope's chassis ground. Having an oscilloscope and an ohmmeter in the classroom during discussion time would be a good idea, so students may test the common connections themselves.
Suppose you need to power a 120 volt, 600 watt heating element from a 240 volt source. You happen to have several 240V/120V step-down transformers on hand, but each one is only rated at 400 VA. Draw a schematic diagram showing how multiple transformers could be used to match the 120 volt load to the 240 volt source.
In case you students have not yet studied AC power (watts, volt-amps, and volt-amps reactive), let them determine what "VA" means first, and then let them know it is simply equivalent to "watts" for a resistive load.
It is a very realistic problem to have to match available components to a particular task, so this question is worth your students' while to discuss and understand thoroughly.
Explain how the construction of a step-down transformer differs from that of a step-up transformer.
Step-down transformers have fewer secondary turns than primary turns, while step-up transformers have more secondary turns than primary turns.
Ask your students to explain the relationship between primary and secondary turns, and how this affects the voltage transformation ratio, based on mutual inductance.
Explain how the construction of an isolation transformer differs from that of a step-up or step-down transformer.
Step-down transformers have fewer secondary turns than primary turns, while step-up transformers have more secondary turns than primary turns. Isolation transformers have equal turns in both windings.
Ask your students to explain the relationship between primary and secondary turns, and how this affects the voltage transformation ratio, based on mutual inductance.
When calculating power in transformer circuits, how do the primary and secondary circuit powers (Pprimary = VprimaryIprimary and Psecondary = VsecondaryIsecondary) compare with each other? Is one greater than the other? If so, which one, and why?
Ideally, Psecondary = Pprimary, although this equivalence is never quite exact. In practice, Psecondary will always be a little bit less than Pprimary.
The simplest answer to this question is that Psecondary = Pprimary, and this is a useful principle when doing transformer circuit calculations. Even when it is not precisely true, it is still a useful tool for checking the veracity of our calculations. Ask your students why this is.
Explain why transformers are used extensively in long-distance power distribution systems. What advantage do they lend to a power system?
Transformers are used to step voltage up for efficient transportation over long distances, and used to step the high voltage down again for point-of-use circuits.
Ask your students to explain the answer in detail, rather than just repeating what the given answer states. Why is high-voltage power distribution more efficient than low-voltage distribution? Why would high voltage have to be stepped down for point-of-use applications?
Are the transformers connecting power plant generators to high-voltage power lines considered step-up or step-down? Explain your answer.
They are considered step-up.
Ask your students to define "step-up" and "step-down" in reference to power system transformers.
A soldering gun is a tool used to quickly heat electrical connections for soldering. Too bulky for printed-circuit board (PCB) applications, it is better suited for point-to-point wiring applications where large wires are to be joined to metal lugs and to other wires.
In addition to being a useful soldering tool, this device is also an excellent example of a step-down transformer. Explain how the construction of a soldering gun employs a step-down transformer (with a very large step ratio!) to generate high temperatures at the soldering tip.
This question is best answered through disassembly and inspection of a real soldering gun. These tools are fairly easy to take apart and reassemble, so there should be little concern of damage from such exploration. Although it should go without saying, never disassemble an electrical device that is still connected to line power!
For students lacking soldering guns to take apart, and for those who do not want to take any chances ruining a tool through improper disassembly/reassembly, it is not difficult to find photographs of soldering gun internals. The step-down transformer assembly should be obvious when inspected.
The circuit shown here has a problem: the lamp does not light up, even though the AC power source is known to be good. You know that the circuit used to work just fine, so it is designed properly. Something in it has failed:
Identify one component or wire fault that could account for the lamp not lighting, and describe how you would use test equipment to verify that fault.
There are multiple possibilities here, and so I leave this up to you to determine!
Of course, faults in this circuit having nothing to do with the transformer could also prevent the light bulb from lighting. If time permits, it would be good to analyze a few failure scenarios with your students, challenging them to locate the source of the trouble as efficiently as possible.
Suppose a step-down transformer fails due to an accidental short-circuit on the secondary (load) side of the circuit:
That the transformer actually failed as a result of the short is without any doubt: smoke was seen coming from it, shortly before current in the circuit stopped. A technician removes the burned-up transformer and does a quick continuity check of both windings to verify that it has failed open. What she finds is that the primary winding is open but that the secondary winding is still continuous. Puzzled at this finding, she asks you to explain how the primary winding could have failed open while the secondary winding is still intact, if indeed the short occurred on the secondary side of the circuit. What would you say? How is it possible that a fault on one side of the transformer caused the other side to be damaged?
A short-circuit would cause current in both windings of the transformer to increase.
It is important for students to realize that a transformer "reflects" load conditions on the secondary side to the primary side, so that the source "feels" the load in all respects. What happens on the secondary (load) side will indeed be reflected on the primary (source) side.
An AC motor receives reduced voltage through a step-down transformer so it may properly operate on a 277 volt source:
After years of trouble-free operation, something fails. Now, the motor refuses to operate when both switches are closed. A technician takes four voltage measurements between the following test points with both switches in the "on" position:
Complete this expanded table, following the technician's steps in the same order as the voltage measurements were taken, labeling each component's status as either "O" (possibly open), "S" (possibly shorted), or "OK" (known to be good). The first row of the table should contain many possible fault labels (because with little data there are many possibilities), but as more measurements are taken you should be able to limit the possibilities. Assume that only one component is faulted.
Either the primary or the secondary winding is failed open!
Follow-up question: describe what you would measure next in this circuit to determine whether it is the primary or secondary winding that has failed open.
Students may ask why it is possible for us to say that the second switch and motor are okay after the technician measured 0 volts before each. Certainly we know something has failed before the points where 0 volts is measured, but that does not tell us the health of components after those points! The answer to this very good question is the assumption stated at the end of the question: that we are to assume only one component fault in the circuit. If either switch 2 or the motor were failed open, it would still not account for a lack of voltage between TP4 and ground. A shorted motor might, but then the fuse would have blown, resulting in 0 volts between TP3 and ground. So, we assume the motor and switch 2 must be okay because only some other single fault could cause the measurements we are reading.
Ethernet is a popular communications standard for many digital devices, personal computers included. Originally, Ethernet was intended to be a network standard for conveying digital data only, without power. In later years, however, upgrades to the standard allowed DC power to be conveyed over the same wire pairs. The IEEE standard 802.3af is one example of a power-over-Ethernet standard.
Shown here is a schematic showing how two Ethernet devices connect together over a Category 5 ("Cat 5") twisted-pair cable, with no DC power conveyed over the cabling:
Digital data consists of voltage pulses over time (AC, essentially), conducted between the two devices over two sets of twisted-pair wires.
The next schematic shows the 802.3af standard allowing both DC power and digital data to be communicated over the same pairs of wires. Note the use of transformers at each device:
Explain what function(s) the transformers provide in this system, and how they allow DC power to travel through the wire pairs from source to load without interfering with the Ethernet data signals, which are AC.
Trace the DC current from source to load and you will see that there is zero net magnetic flux in the transformer cores resulting from the DC, meaning that the transformers do not "see" the DC current for all practical purposes.
This is an interesting application of transformers: isolation of DC allowing a form of "power line carrier" system to be made without the use of filter networks.
Actually, there is more to the 802.3af standard than what is shown in the second schematic diagram. This standard also allows the use of the other two pairs of wires in Cat 5 cable as dedicated power conductors. I omit this aspect for simplicity.
Find one or two real transformers and bring them with you to class for discussion. Identify as much information as you can about your transformers prior to discussion:
If possible, find a manufacturer's datasheet for your components (or at least a datasheet for a similar component) to discuss with your classmates.
Be prepared to prove the actual winding resistances of your transformers in class, by using a multimeter!
The purpose of this question is to get students to kinesthetically interact with the subject matter. It may seem silly to have students engage in a "show and tell" exercise, but I have found that activities such as this greatly help some students. For those learners who are kinesthetic in nature, it is a great help to actually touch real components while they're learning about their function. Of course, this question also provides an excellent opportunity for them to practice interpreting component markings, use a multimeter, access datasheets, etc.
Published under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution License
In Partnership with MacroFab
by Jake Hertz
by Digilent


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An evening with Parmigiano Reggiano sounded like an interesting one not to be missed. I wasn't sure what to expect, except that there was going to be a lot of cheese (seven courses to be exact) – and that was all the information that I needed to know.
Cheese was definitely a good enough reason to lure me across London to Homerton, to Brooksby's Walk, a converted 1930's public toilet – not quite as grimy as it sounds.
We were welcomed with a concoction of Vestal Vodka, Hepple Gin, Kummel, coriander bitters and cucumber, prepared by owner and head bartender, James McMahon.
Straight to the strong stuff from the start – I like it.
Upstairs on the veranda, we sat at our tables, enjoying the last rays of sunshine whilst our glasses were filled with organic/biodynamic wine, Weinland "Theodora", which had a nice touch of spritz to it. The glistening mounts of Parmigiano Reggiano butter on our side plates were mopped up clean with those soft, buttery, warm Parker House rolls – it has been a couple of weeks since the dinner and I've still been dreaming of that bread.
This was followed by a starter of Parmigiano Reggiano (18 month) & Mussel Chawanmushi – it has probably been a good year since the last time I had chawanmushi, and I remember that I used to order it obsessively at every Japanese restaurant during my childhood/teenage years back in Malaysia. That soft, custard-like texture made me feel all fuzzy and nostalgic inside. It made me feel like giving someone a big hug – which I obviously restrained myself from, as it would have been slightly awkward for Neil sat next to me, that I had just been acquainted with in the last 15 minutes. Thankfully I don't have texture issues with mushy food – it must be an Asian thing.
Our main was a succulent saddle of rabbit, with dumplings, carrots and 30 month Parmigiano Reggiano. The meat was well-flavoured and moist, paired with Radikon Slatnik 2015, another biodynamic orange wine that was fresh, fruity, and VERY easy to drink …
After a palate cleanser of frozen lime & 24 month Parmigiano Reggiano Mousse (a surprisingly good combination) with a pine gin & sweet gimlet, we were served a magnificent dessert of honey & thyme ice cream, 24 month Parmigiano Reggiano panna cotta with crunchy chocolate textures. This was paired with a warming homemade green walnut liqueur, which would make a nice night-time tipple.
We finished with an amuse bouche of sweet Parmigiano Reggiano (30 month) & balsamic caneles, complemented by a glass of citrus pisco foam.
A very well done to Head Chef Ferdinand Montoya for the creative menu and taste adventure that excited the senses, and to James for the tasteful selection of drink pairings.
I would have thought that I would sick of cheese by the end of dinner, but everything was very well-balanced, and I'm already craving for more Parmagiano Reggiano at the next event …
The Cheekster, signing out x
- I was invited to review, but views remain my own.

subset: commoncrawl


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Medical device contract research provider Genae (Antwerp, Belgium) recently acquired the digital health data management platform Hilbert Paradox. The financial details of the deal were not disclosed.
Hilbert Paradox (HPX) captures and correlates digital health data by using different computing power, AI and data analytics. The company's goal is to increase health data equity to improve patient treatemnts and reduce healthcare costs.
"This transaction underlines our focus on digital health and on data-driven services to accelerate research," Bart Segers, CEO at Genae, said in a press release. "The HPX technology, which will be incorporated in Genae's staicy platform, already proved its ability to process very large datasets from connected and diagnostic devices, websites and applications in the field of genomics, biosensors and wearables.
Hilbert Paradox will be added into Genae's digital health division and the company says there will be no disruption of services during the integration, a process that will take place over the next six months.


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Cable Creator Comments On Josh Brolin Casting
The rumor mill has been going nonstop over the last few months regarding the casting of popular [...]
The rumor mill has been going nonstop over the last few months regarding the casting of popular X-Man and time traveler Cable, with names like Brad Pitt, Viggo Mortenson, and Michael Shannon all seemingly in the running at one time or another. Now the search has come to a close, and FOX has found its Cable in the form of Oscar-nominated actor Josh Brolin.
The news has been generally well received, and that includes Cable and X-Force creator Rob Liefeld. The popular creator spoke to ComicBook.com about the casting, saying "Josh Brolin brings both the gravitas as well as the physicality required to bring Cable to life on the big screen! He's an amazing actor and I'm as excited as anyone to see him paired with Ryan Reynolds, Zazie Beets in Deadpool 2!! Cable, Domino and Deadpool people!! It's happening!!!"
Fans are excited to see what Brolin can do on screen with FOX's other recent casting Zazie Beetz, who will be playing Domino in the sequel. Liefeld can't wait to see what she does alongside Ryan Reynolds, and adding Brolin to that mix should only make it better.
"Domino is all about, as an actress and as the character that is going to be on the screen you already allude to it, it's all about the sass. You gotta understand, your gonna go up against Wade Wilson, who is, in this movie is Ryan Reynolds and trust ... I'm telling you, having been around Ryan multiple times that mouth cannot be stopped. He ... it's point ... I don't think he can say the jokes as fast as they are backed up in his head. So, you need ... some of these people be like "oh hey, this girl should have been Domino, and pick out actress a through z" and I'd be like "I'm not sure that they can keep up with him" and oh my gosh, I'm not sure that Ryan's gonna keep up with her. I think Ryan Reynolds is gonna have to work hard to keep up with Zazie. I mean, wow. You just go "That chemistry is going to be spectacular". And that's what it comes down to is the chemistry with these characters."
Deadpool 2 is slated for release on March 2, 2018, and currently enjoys a 4.18 out of 5 on ComicBook.com's anticipation rankings.
MORE DEADPOOL 2: Writers Lobbying For One Unique Wolverine Cameo / Rob Liefeld Comments On Zazie Beetz As Domino / Here's What Michael Shannon Could Look Like As Cable


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Revelation is God's self-disclosure to humanity. While revelation is wider than scripture, we need the cannon to discern truth. Thus God has disclosed himself to us through special revelation, as people have been moved along and inspired by the Holy Spirit to speak, write, collect and canonize the 66 books of the Holy Scripture which point to God as the authority in all of life. The scriptures are infallible and utterly reliable in helping us discern truth and reality. They have been written to guide and enable God's people to do God's work in His world.
(II Tim. 3:16; II Pet. 1:21; John 10:35; Isa. 55:11; 1 Cor. 1:21; Rom. 1:16, Matt. 5:17,18; Jude 3; Eph. 1:17,18; 3:10,18)THE TRIUNE GOD
In the beginning is community. Scripture and subsequent creeds testify that before the foundation of the world, for all eternity, God has existed as Father, Son and Spirit in perfect community. While there is but one sovereign, holy, merciful and loving God, who created and sustains all things, he
is neither lonely nor alone. From the beginning, the Father, Son and Holy Spirit have been in an unending dance of mutual enjoyment and love for one another.
(Isa. 40:28; Matt. 28:19; Eph. 1:11; Acts 15:14; John 17:6, 18; Eph 4:12; 1 Cor. 5:10; Rom 12:2; II Cor 4:7)
In an over ow of God's love, he created humanity in his image, male and female he created them. Men and women were created to be in relationship with God, each other, tend creation and create culture in a way that mirrors his glory. Yet historically and in the present, we have sinned and rebelled against God. Sin is being against God and his loving reign, against life and against well- being. In desiring autonomy from God we alienated ourselves from him, each other and the created order. Our fractured selves experience shame, guilt and condemnation. We are fallen, broken and depraved, often making gods in our own image, rather than accepting that we are made in his. But the God who gave us life, summons us to new life.
Genesis 1:26-30; 2:5,7,18-22; 3; 9:6; Psalms 1; 8:3-6; 32:1-5; 51:5; Isaiah 6:5; Jeremiah 17:5; Matthew 16:26; Acts 17:26-31; Romans 1:19-32; 3:10-18,23; 5:6,12,19; 6:6; 7:14-25; 8:14-18,29; 1 Corinthians 1:21-31; 15:19,21-22; Ephesians 2:1-22; Colossians 1:21-22; 3:9-11.
The gospel is the work of God in Christ through the Spirit to restore humans to union with himself, communion with one another, wholeness within, and all of creation, so that we might live for the good of others and the good of all God has made. When we embrace God's grace through faith in the life, death and resurrection of Christ, he forgives our sins, makes us right with him, cleanses us of our guilt, takes our shame, purifies us, redeems us, justifies us, glorifies us, and delivers us from the grip of death and evil. He places us into his body, unites us, heals us, seals us, and empowers us to carry out his mission in the world, for the good of the world and the glory of God. This gospel is centered in Christ, is the foundation for the life of the Church, and is our only hope for eternal life.
(Mark 1:1; Luke 24:46-47; John 3:16-18; Romans 1:16-17; Romans 1:18-25; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; 2:2; 15:1-4; 2 Corinthians 4:1-6; 9:13; Galatians 1:6-9; Ephesians 1: 7-10; Colossians 1: 19-20; 2 Timothy 1:8-14; 2 Peter 3: 11-13; Jude 3-4; Revelation 21-22)
Jesus is the Son of God, God the Son, Savior and Lord of the Universe, who was born of a virgin and exists co-eternally with the Father and Spirit. He is fully God and fully human. He came to inaugurate the kingdom of God on earth and calls us to follow him in the renewal of all things. His creed is to love God and people, especially the least of these. His grace is extended to us in many ways. Through his incarnation, he is our priest and can identify with our weaknesses. Through his perfect sinless life, he demonstrates the way we ought to live, with the help of God's Spirit. Through his self-sacri cial death on the cross, he has made perfect forever those who are being made holy. Through his resurrection and ascension he gives us power through the Spirit to live godly missional lives. Through his return, he gives us hope of a new heavens and a new earth.
(Gal. 1:6-9;Rom. 1:18-32; I Tim. 2:5,6; Acts 4:12; John 3:16-19; II Pet. 3:9; II Thess. 1:7-9;John 4:42; Matt. 11:28; Eph. 1:20,21; Phil. 2:9-11)
The Holy Spirit's primary ministry is to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ. God's Spirit gives light to all people and woos all people to God. The Spirit shares the same divinity as the Father and the Son, and is given as a gift from the Father and Son to move the church forward in mission. The Spirit produces fruit in God's people and distributes gifts to the church to build the community so that the church can faithfully proclaim the good news of Christ. He gives us the bonds of unity and places us into the body of Christ so that we might be his hands and feet and participate in the work of Jesus in this world. The Spirit tugs on those who are apart from Christ, assures us of our salvation, comforts us when we are down, guides us when we are confused and empowers us to be witnesses of God's grace through Christ in the world. The model for our reliance upon the Spirit and our experience of his indwelling and empowering presence is the Lord Jesus Christ himself who was filled with the Spirit and entirely dependent upon his power for the performance of miracles, the preaching of the kingdom of God, and all other dimensions of his earthly ministry.
(Matthew 3:11; 12:28; Luke 4:1, 14; 5:17; 10:21; John 1:12-13; 3:1-15, 34; 14:12; 15:26-27; 16:7-15; Acts 2:14-21; 4:29-30;10:38; Romans 8:9; 12:3-8; 1 Corinthians 12:7-13; 12:28-31; 14:1-33; 2 Corinthians 1:21-22; Galatians 3:1-5; Ephesians 1:13-14; 5:18)
The church is the body of Christ comprised of those who believe in God and who confess and follow Jesus through the power of the Spirit. The church is to be a sign of the kingdom, pointing people
to a reality that is just around the corner, a foretaste of the kingdom, where we grow to love one another as Christ loves us, and an instrument in the hands of God to bring more of heaven to earth in concrete ways. Proclaiming God's kingdom demands the denunciation of all injustice, oppression and exploitation; personally, socially and in relation to nature. The church is not an aggregate of individuals in pursuit of a personal experience of God, but a communal way of being that enables us to be and make disciples of Jesus Christ.
(Isaiah 52:7; Matthew 10:5-25; 20:25-28; 25:31-46; 28:16-20; Luke 4:18-19; 24:46-47; John 1:12-14; 13:1-17; 20:21-22; Acts 1:8; 28:31; Romans 8:14-17; 10:14-15; 2 Corinthians 5:16-21; 10:4-5; Galatians 2:10; Ephesians 1:3-10; 2:10; 3:10; 4:11-16; Philippians 2:5-11; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; Hebrews 10:23-25; 1 Peter 2:4-5; 2:9-12; 1 John 3:1; 4:7-12)
The kingdom of God is any place or person where the rule and reign of Jesus Christ is expressed and experienced. While Jesus inaugurated the kingdom of God, it has yet to be completed, so we should continue
to pray that his kingdom would come and his will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Our ultimate hope is that the triune God will bring about the new creation – the redemption of our bodies and the redemption of the world. The return of Christ is certain and no one knows the day or the hour, thus we ought to live holy lives, seeking to take the good news to all of creation. For only those who are already connected with Christ in this life can have assurance that after death, they will be present with the Lord and after eternal judgment be with him forever in the new heavens and new earth. What we do in this life matters, both for this life and the next, for what we do today reshapes our world today. And God will reward every good deed done in his name, as well as honor the decisions of those who reject him in this life. Hell is a reality. While God desires the salvation of all people, he will always respect the choices of those who reject him. Jesus holds the keys to death and Hades and will judge the world with truth and grace. His judgment means the ultimate end of evil, and the renewal of all things. Presently, the Church serves as a foretaste of the future reality when all will come under Christ as Head. As the Church submits to and serves Christ today, the world gets to see and experience a preview of the future under the full rule and reign of Jesus Christ.
(Mark 1:15: Luke 17:20-21; Ephesians 1:10; 22-23; Revelation 20-21)


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Mobile gaming can make ridiculous sums of money. Usually, this goes to making publishers rather wealthy and subsequently become greedy. Here's a pretty new mobile game that actually supports a good cause.
Sustainaville lets you build sustainable communities in four regions: Savannah, Arid, Tropical, and Island across 120 levels. This is done by balancing different resources; it looks like many similar free-to-play games all about building towns or base management or whatever we're suppose to call it.
However, spending real money works a bit differently than you might be used to. Yes, clicking the giant button that takes your money will still deduct from your bank account to give you in-game currency and buffs. However, this money will apparently go directly to the Save the Children foundation. In this way, your ridiculous spending in an otherwise free game could actually go to a good cause instead of just making the likes of EA or Tencent even more money. Here's the announcement trailer for the game.
It's currently going into closed Beta but will eventually come to Mac, PC, iOS and Android if the buttons on the page are to be believed.
I think this is pure genius and I'd love to see this as a new genre of mobile gaming. Imagine if instead of trying to get more money, Kim Kardashian used her next game for a good cause, raising millions for people in need, even if the reason people are doing it is to just get the next cool outfit in her game.
Celebrity endorsement could take games like this to a new level, and really help a variety of causes. I doubt many could be that altruistic, but it could start a fantastic new trend in mobile gaming – people are already willing to dish out real money for fake rewards in mobile gaming, why not put that spend to a good cause?
Last Updated: May 22, 2015


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Mixtape:The Mobb Tape
Producer: Smitty
As the latest Chicago exponent of an aesthetic we'll call 'Sunz of Gucci Mane,' ZMoney wholly earned his inclusion in Complex's 25 New Rappers to Watch Out For listicle last year. Here was a slyly funny street rapper who rhymed in digital even though his mouth moved in analogue, with an ear for million dollar ringtone pop hooks, the songwriting chops of a major label veteran, and a legitimate modern classic mixtape in Rich B4 Rap, which collated his string of YouTube singles, Soundcloud loosies, and a handful of previously unreleased cuts together into a stunning collection of west side Chicago post-stupid fruity crazy swag-rap.
Rich B4 Rap was so good that it didn't particularly seem to matter that its sister mixtape Heroin Musik (both 'tapes were released on the same day last summer) saw ZMoney abandoning Rich B4 Rap's unique style, humor and main partner-in-rhyme Bandman Kevo to explore a much less satisfying take on the south side Drill-rap of Chief Keef or Lil' Durk. These problems are still apparent on ZMoney's new release The Mobb Tape—essentially a showcase for his 4Ever Paid Nation roster of Joe The Rapper buddies, with a handful of his own songs thrown in for good measure—but a song as insanely catchy as "Rollin'" can forgive a multitude of sins.
What "Rollin'" lacks in character—the rapper who once prided himself on being irregular sounds like a member of bop crew Sicko Mobb here—it more than makes up for with the sheer sugar rush of the song being one long hook: even if you don't have a particularly sweet ear, "Rollin'" is pumped with so many E numbers that you'll still find yourself humming it to yourself in the bathroom, the kitchen, the hotel, the motel, and the holiday inn.


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Goolwa Aquatic Club
Sailing Membership
Many people envisage sailing as being an expensive hobby; and it can be in much larger boats and clubs. The GAC Sailing club however, has an ethos of sailing for all, and we keep membership and race fees very low.
Many of our members don't sail. Instead, they enjoy doing other things at the club such as volunteering on the water on the safety boats or race management, or on shore recording race results or helping in the canteen. The volunteer membership category is significantly reduced as it does not include membership of Australian Sailing or sailing participation at events, but it does include access to Goolwa Aquatic Club's social events.
All sailors are also encouraged to help out and volunteer their time to the many jobs that keep the club running, whether that's helping organise and coach juniors, keeping the club's sail and motor boats in good shape, organising or helping at regattas or writing funding applications and updating the website or Facebook page. There's a job for everyone! The club has no paid staff. Volunteering also helps keep the club together, building new friendships between members from all walks of life.
Membership Options (2023-2024 Season)
We have three sailing membership options – Adult, Junior or Family. All our sailing categories enjoy the same benefits. Membership allows the use of the club's facilities and includes Australian Sailing membership with Personal Accident Insurance and membership of the Goolwa Aquatic Club.
Junior members are required to have a parent or guardian also join the club - refer details on the Membership Form (link below).
Our membership year starts on 1 September. For new members joining after April, reduced fees are applicable, as shown on the updated membership form.
How to join or renew your membership
Our 2023-24 membership form is available here, as a PDF which can be completed electronically (don't forget to save your completed form) and emailed; or printed and scanned and emailed, mailed or handed to the Secretary or Treasurer personally. If emailing, please send to firstname.lastname@example.com. Payment can be either via EFT as per the details on the form (preferred option), or by cheque or cash payment to the Treasurer. Full details are on the membership form.
Keeping in contact
The GAC Sailing Facebook page is a great resource for sharing news, event pics and last-minute schedule updates. Like or follow the page to see the posts on your feed. We also use email, phone and website to communicate with members, please make sure your contact details are up to date.
Sailing Club Policies
GAC Sailing Member Protection Policy
GAC Sailing Child Safety Policy
Upcoming Regattas & Events
Spring Clinic - Junior and Youth Coaching - Optis, Lasers and 420s - TBASeptember 2023


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D&D World Building Workshop: Laying the Groundwork
Let's talk about how to build the perfect world for your D&D game.
One of the first choices any GM has to make when getting ready to run a game is to pick the setting. You could choose to set your game in an existing world such as Faerun or Middle Earth, or even a larger setting like Star Wars or the Warhammer 40K universe. All of these are great choices to run your game in. Using an existing setting can be very rewarding, and there are plenty of reasons to do so, but we aren't here to talk about those reasons, we're here to talk about what happens if you don't want to use a pre-made setting.
There comes a time in almost every DM's life when they want to move beyond the existing settings and create one of your own. Maybe you have an amazing story to tell and it needs it own world to be told in. Maybe you have a super awesome idea for a world and just want to run adventures in it. Maybe you just like making up settings. Whatever the impetus, creating your own setting can be fun and rewarding both to you and your play group. In this new on going series, we will look at the steps you can take to create your own setting (a process known as world-building), and we'll look at some tips and tricks of good world-building and some common mistakes people make. Along the way, we will build our own setting and world.
Welcome to World Building Workshop, let's get started.
The First Steps
Before you dive right into forming continents out of the aether and bringing armies into being with a snap of your fingers, there are some choices to be made. Some of the first ones to make are pretty obvious. You've got to decide what genre of game the setting will be for. A sci-fi setting and a classic High Fantasy will look very different. A setting for cyberpunk thriller and western may share elements, but you'd want to look a little different. Also, don't be afraid to mix genres! Some of the best settings out there are mashups, Star Wars is a sci-fi fantasy, Firefly is a sci-fi western, etc. At this early point you don't have to have everything 100% figured out, but its important to have at least a broad idea of what kind of game you are looking to run.
Another key decision is thinking about what game system you are looking to run your game using. This step can be optional. It's perfectly possible to build out your world, and make it amazing, and then figure out what game system you want to use. However I normally find its a good idea to have an idea of what system I'm going to use at the start. This is especially true if you are using a well developed system. The reason is simple, games systems like D&D have a lot of flavor built into the rules themselves. This can both help and hinder your world building. Working preexisting ideas into your setting can speed things up and be useful. If you chose to use D&D, you can take advantage of the already developed races and classes and work them into your world building. You'll also be aware of what's there if you chose not to use it.
This last point is pretty important: if you build a world on its own and then at the end chose to use the D&D rules without thinking it through this can lead to some issues. If your player wants to play as a Dragonborn Samurai, but your setting doesn't have either of those things into it you can run into problems. Thinking about these things ahead of time can lead to a smoother world-building process, and let you work unique aspects of your game system into your world.
For this series, we are going to build a classic high fantasy world to be used with the 5th Edition D&D rules.
A Note: Building for Games vs Building for Other Stories
I want to take a moment to discuss some of the aspects of building for a world for a role-playing game vs. a setting for a traditional story. World building of course can be used to create settings both for RPG games and for written, or other, works. Writers are almost always world building to one degree or another. While what I'm going to cover in this series could be used to build a world for a story or book, it is going to be focused on building a world for playing an RPG in. The big difference here is that when writing a story you have a lot more control over what the characters see, do, and ask than when running an RPG. RPG worlds need to be, to me at least, deeper than something for story has to be (not that they can't be) because players take things in unexpected directions and you need to be prepared for those surprises. Anyway, back to the world.
Scope and Scale
The last two things you want to think about before getting started on the world is the scope and scale of the game you are going to running. These things can have a significant impact on how you approach building the world. For me, scale comes down to "how big of an area is my game taking place in." Games can take place in all sizes of areas. A cyberpunk game could take place entirely in one city and never move beyond that; fantasy games might span a continent; a sci-fi game could span dozens or hundreds of worlds. Having an idea of the scale of your game is going to determine a lot about maps and what things you will focus on in building the world, will it be neighborhoods in a city, or system spanning star nations.
Scope in my mind is "what level are my players going to be able to operate on and how much can they affect the world?" Your game may revolve around small group of down on their luck outlaws trying to make a living on the edges of society but never having an impact on anything big. It could also be about members of a powerful mystical line fighting over the destiny of civilizations. Again having some idea of this will help you focus on what you need to spend more time developing in your setting.
For a D&D game this can also be put as "what level characters is my game aimed at." A game based around a 3rd-6th level party will look radically different from one focusing on 20th level epic characters. If you players are simple adventures fighting minor monsters at the edges of your kingdom you don't need to spend a ton of time fleshing out the intricacies of court politics in the country three kingdoms over, its never going to affect the game. Likewise if your players are going to be commanding massive battles and fighting gods you might not have to worry about naming every person living on each street in your cities.
For our use we are going to focus on a continent-sized region and our theoretical players will act on a high level, able to effect the fate of nations.
Putting It Together
If you put these basic steps together you should be forming a basic idea of your setting. When it comes to world-building, a lot of times it's a very logical process and having a good foundation of ideas can make the whole thing very easy. For our use, we know that we are going to building a classic high fantasy setting, our players should be able to effect high level politics, and the fate of nations. Our game will be set in a roughly continent-sized region and will be built with the 5th Edition D&D rules in mind. Next time we will go over some of the rules for good world building.
Tune in next time for more world building tips!


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UJCC Sunday House Worship Service
November 1, 2020 * 22nd Sunday After Pentecost
Blessings to you this holy Sabbath day! You are invited to use the following prayers & order of worship as we lift our hearts to God together from our respective homes!
Call To Worship
Leader: Lord, help us welcome you and all who come in your name.
All: Give us a deep love for your living word
and for all our brothers and sisters.
Leader: Help us to avoid slander and deceit in all our dealings.
All: Guide us, O God, by the law given by your Spirit
that our way may be blameless and pure.
Leader: Help us always seek to please you
rather than the favor of others.
All: Make us gentle and compassionate, humble and forgiving,
just and holy in all our relationships.
Leader: Help us be like Christ in whom we believe.
Help us to meditate on his word and his example day and night.
All: Lord, help us not only share the good news of your love
with all we meet, but also to share our very selves
Leader: Thanks be to you, O Lord, for the word you put upon our hearts,
All: Praise be to you, O God,
for the spirit which brings it to life in us. Amen. (rf)
Song of Centering Sweet, Sweet Spirit Becky Messer
We Humbly Adore and Receive
Children's Time Rev. Rae Kim
Scripture Reading in Japanese I Thessalonians 2:9-13 Miwa and Nanami Jones
Sermon "God's Word At Work" Rev. Akiko Miyake-Stoner
Song of Reflection
You are invited to continue your spiritual practice of giving to the church. Please either mail your offering to the church (136 N. Villa Ave., Clovis, CA 93612) or try our online giving option (LINK HERE). Thank you!
Doxology Youth Band
Joys and Concerns & Time of Prayer
You are invited to share your joys and concerns with one another using our usual format:
Person lifting the prayer: "O God of Mercy;" everyone's response: "This is our prayer."
After you share your joys and concerns, go around the circle and offer prayer, praying freely or using this format:
"God, I thank you for…" and "God, I ask for…"
You are invited to close together with The Lord's Prayer.
* Please join in our Zoom Fellowship & Prayer meeting at 2:30 pm
From your computer or smartphone, join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 892 8141 6160
Or call: +1 669 900 6833
* Join in our Zoom Sunday school at 1 pm.
Click Here: Join zoom meeting
* If you or your kids would like to contribute to our virtual worship by music, painting, photos, recipes or anything, please contact Rev. Rae: email@example.com
Worship Resource: (rf) Richard Fairchild, slightly adapted "Prayer for Grace (based on Psalm 1, 1 Thessalonians 2:1-8, Matthew 22:34-40), http://www.rockies.net/~spirit/sermons/a-or30sm.php
I Thessalonians 2:9-13
9You remember our labor and toil, brothers and sisters; we worked night and day, so that we might not burden any of you while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10You are witnesses, and God also, how pure, upright, and blameless our conduct was toward you believers. 11As you know, we dealt with each one of you like a father with his children, 12urging and encouraging you and pleading that you lead a life worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
13We also constantly give thanks to God for this, that when you received the word of God that you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word but as what it really is, God's word, which is also at work in you believers.


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Root beer, Pop-Tarts and other American classics feature in Sweden's Museum of Disgusting Food
Root beer "tastes like toothpaste" to non-Americans, museum organizers said.
Not everyone, particularly in the U.S., will agree that Twinkies, root beer and Pop-Tarts are "disgusting food."
But these American culinary creations are among the edibles featured in a new Museum of Disgusting Food in Malmo, Sweden.
Eighty food items from 35 countries are presented, with equal numbers from Europe and Asia and with Latin America, Africa and Australia represented as well.
But China, the U.S. and France are in the lead.
Gastronomical adventurers visiting the exhibition will have their $20.50 tickets printed on vomit bags, just in case someone's stomach turns.
What else does the museum have to disgust you? Oysters that some people find no fun to swallow are of course on display, as are several foods that many don't enjoy smelling, like durian from Thailand, a spiky fruit banned from some hotels in Southeast Asia.
Noni, an Asian fruit nicknamed "vomit fruit," is presented but it also may not be the most terrible smell on display.
Also featured are smelly French cheese, fermented horse milk from Russia, and representing the home team, Sweden, are salty licorice and Surstromming, a fermented Baltic herring so smelly, the landlord of the museum does not allow it to be taken out of its packaging inside the building.
There to be ridiculed is a bull's penis, eaten in China because it's reputed to be an aphrodisiac, and a dish made from cattle testicles called Rocky Mountain Oysters from the American West.
Other American foods the Swedes and others put in the "disgusting" category are root beer ("It tastes like toothpaste," organizers tell ABC News); classical processed food like Twinkies, Pop-Tarts and Spam; and Jell-O salad with tomato, olives and grapes. Many Americans may find these judgments snobbish. But, on the other hand there's Casu Marzu, a cheese from Sardinia containing the live larvae of flies. You don't have to be a gastronomical snob to turn away from that.
The museum has a higher aim: To help visitors look at how we eat and consider different sources of nutrients as a way to reduce the environmental impact of eating real meat.
"We cannot continue the way we eat now," said museum director Andreas Ahrens. "We need to question our ideas of disgust if we're going to consider some of the more environmentally friendly sources of protein, like lab meat or insects."
Being a museum, it has academic input and strict standards. The anthropology department of Lund University created criteria that were simple but strict: Items on display must be real food, not made-up novelty items, and the idea of eating it has to create widespread disgust.
The project also has another worthy purpose: "One culture's disgusting is another culture's delicacy," said Ahrens. "We want people to question what it is that they find disgusting and then realize that disgust is always in the eye of the beholder."


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Graduation Year
Document Type
Open Access Senior Thesis
Degree Name
Bachelor of Arts
Molecular Biology
Reader 1
Matthew H. Sazinsky
Reader 2
Rou-jia Sung
Terms of Use & License Information
Rights Information
2017 Arjun S Nanda
Toluene / o-xylene monooxyenase (ToMO) from Pseudomonas sp. OX1 is a multimeric metalloenzyme enzyme that efficiently catalyzes the hydroxylation of aromatic hydrocarbons with high specificity. Though included in a larger group of conserved bacterial multicomponent monooxygenases (BMMs) studied as potential biocatalysts for industrial hydrocarbon chemistry, the substrate specificity and oxygenated intermediates of ToMO differ greatly from its well-characterized, alkane-hydroxylating analog sMMO. Despite a shared global topology and near identical active sites, sMMO can cleave inert C-H bonds in alkanes while ToMO cannot - two seemingly similar structures give rise to vastly different chemistries. This work seeks to determine a structural basis for this difference by mutational analysis of residues thought to conformationally constrain the active site in ToMO, with the goal of replicating the terminal alkane hydroxylating activity of sMMO.
To this end, a library of potential alkane-hydroxylating mutants was generated and kinetically characterized, revealing a range of novel behaviors including significant reaction rate enhancements. In combination with low-level computational modeling to quantify the bulk and local rigidity of both sMMOH and ToMOH, we propose a broader strategy for BMM scaffolds to achieve a variety of specific and efficient hydrocarbon chemistries.
Recommended Citation
Nanda, Arjun, "Engineering an Alkane-Hydroxylating Bacterial Monooxygenase: A Tale of Two Chemistries" (2017). Pomona Senior Theses. 186.


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Your on-line source for reliable and unbiased information about the evaluation & treatment of heart disease.
First | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | Last
The Cardiac Cath learning module is made up of 6 parts or sections. You may navigate through the pages by clicking on the green arrows or numbers (above), the specific questions (below) or the gray menu items on the left.
What is Cardiac Catheterization?
What Preparations are Needed?
How is Cardiac Cath performed?
What do I need to know about the equipment?
What is experienced in the Cath lab?
How long does it take?
What preparations are needed?
What happens after arrival in the cath lab area?
How safe is the procedure?
What is the reliability of the test?
How quickly will I get the results?
Show me a panoramic view of the Cardiac cath lab?
How is Cardiac Cath Performed? (Continued)
- Insertion of the Sheath
Insertion of the sheath
A tubular and flexible plastic sheath that is usually about 2 or 2 1/2 millimeters in diameter (thickness) is advanced over the guide-wire and placed in the artery. This serves as a passage-way or introducer for the insertion of catheters. The sheath has a white plastic "hub" that sits outside the skin. The hub contains a one-way valve that allows catheters to be introduced through the sheath but prevents blood from escaping. - Insertion of Catheter
Insertion of catheterThrough the sheath, and over a guide-wire, a long soft plastic tube or catheter is inserted and guided towards the heart. An x-ray monitor is used to observe the path of the catheter. Different catheter shapes are used during the procedure.
Click on the play button to view this, and the subsequent movies.
- Filming the Coronary Arteries
Filming the Coronary Arteries
Working from the groin, the cardiologist rotates and gently manipulates the catheter to guide its tip into the opening of the coronary artery. X-ray movies are then taken during the injection of contrast material. Contrast material or "dye" is injected through the catheter and x-ray pictures are recorded on a movie film. The cardiologists steps on floor pedals to view x-ray images (fluoroscopy) or to film (cine angiograms) portions of the study.
- Viewing Coronary Arteries From Different Angles
Different Views of the CoronariesA rotating handle sits on the side of the table. By rotating the handle, like that of a motorcycle, and by pressing on levers the cardiologist can rotate the x-ray camera around the patients chest. The camera can be moved from left to right, towards and away from the patient's head, and up and down over the chest.
This allows different view or rotations of the coronary arteries to be viewed and filmed.
©1999-2017, 20XXA.S.M. Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved, including design and all graphic contents & animations


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It's that time of year again. Fall camp begins for the Tigers tomorrow and players reported back to campus today. The team held an open media session for players and coaches prior to camp.
Side Note: I made a point of trying to ask as many players as I could what overall they would want to be in the NCAA Football video game if it came out today (in actuality, the game comes out next summer). I gave them the option to say their perceived rating currently, or what they would want it to be by the end of the season. Their opinions are included.
Bush Hambdan | Quarterbacks Coach
- "Physically it hasn't been much of a transition for him. Luther (Burden) came in college-ready."
- "Jack (Abraham) is essentially 32. We always joke in the room that this is his ninth year in college."
- "The game always comes down to decision-making, who's gonna take the chances when they present themselves, who's gonna avoid the mistakes. The intensity with a competition like that is so high right now, guys just need to remain authentic." - Regarding the QB competition
- "Ja'arion Wayne put on 10-15 lbs. in the first couple weeks he's been here and looks really good. Mekhi Miller is extremely mature and has great work ethic. He can come in and the lights not be too bright." On newcomers that have stood out
Erik Link | Special Teams Coach
- "We look at three key areas when it comes to punters: efficient getting the ball out of his hands (catch to kick), putting the ball in the correct spot, and matching hang time and distance."
- "With the return game, it really comes down the other 10 guys on the field to make anything happen. They've got to set things up."
D.J. Smith | Co-Defensive Coordinator/Linebackers
- "I think we had a great summer, defensively guys were training and guys were working hard. This is probably the best defensive unit that I've been around since I've been coaching. It's very exciting."
- "I think the bond of the unit is really strong. Guys are always at each others houses, they're at our houses, they're at coach Drink's house."
- "A lot of guys that are self-motivated, they're first up in the line, always in the building." On the newcomers within the defense
- "I have I have, he smiles a lot more. We've had a lot of time at his house with cookouts and such." On seeing Coach Drink be more comfortable this season
- "When Coach Baker got hired, we all had a bunker mentality that we are going to build this thing inside out, and everybody took ownership."
Tyler Macon | Quarterback | Redshirt Freshman
- "I really was uncomfortable with the playbook last season, so I worked on the playbook. Another thing was my pocket presence and my accuracy, your footwork can never be too good." On what he worked on this offseason
- "Consistency over intensity. Try to have a good day everyday and stack good days, not getting too high or too low." On the QB completion in fall camp
Tauskie Dove | Wide Receiver | Senior
- "We got a lot of options. A lot of talent and different skillsets. That's what we're excited about and how we can use that during the season." On the depth of the WR room
- NCAA Self-Rating: "At least an 80"
Dominic Lovett | Wide Receiver | Sophomore
- "We constantly push each other in a competitive way, not necessarily against each other. Like we've got things in practice where we'll just say 'neither of us drop a ball, otherwise that's 10 push-ups.' We get out of practice and watch film together, we are competing with each other, not against each other. On his relationship with Luther Burden from high school to now
- "Everybody got their own type of sauce, their own type of swag. Having more options makes us so versatile." On the WR room
- NCAA Self-Rating: "I gotta give me an 85, with at least a 92 speed.
Elijah Young | Running Back | Junior
- "I'm gonna do the same thing for them like Larry (Roundtree) and (Tyler) Badie did for me. I want to treat the younger backs the same way." On biding his time and now being a leader of the RB room
- NCAA Self-Rating: "I ain't really done nothing yet, but by the end of season I want a 92."
Brady Cook | Quarterback | Sophomore
- "It's loaded. I'm really excited to get going with these guys in fall camp. If we can put the ball in their hands and let them work then we'll be fine." On the WR corps
- "From the time he's been here, he's been a playmaker." On Luther Burden
- "The mindset is really just to stay calm and trust myself, I've been in situations like this. I know what I need to do, just stay calm and get it done."
- "I think the mental side of the game I've grown a lot. Film study, defensive ID, getting used to our playbook. I keyed in on my footwork as well, timing up my footwork with routes and getting through progressions." On what he's improved upon the most
- NCAA Self-Rating: "By the end of the year, I want to be a 100."
Cody Schrader | Running Back | Senior
- "Kinda just growing up, I've never been that speedster. I've always been able to run downhill." On his tough, aggressive running style
- "Seeing how they take care of their bodies and how they go about their business is what I'll be watching." On what he's taking from older backs like Young and Peat
- "I just want to be accountable for my teammates. I want to earn a spot on special teams, to be a special teams guy right away was my goal coming in. If I can earn trust and respect from my teammates and coaches doing the dirty work, then hopefully that will give me more opportunities. Just enjoying the process cause this is a dream come true." On his goals and expectations entering the season
- NCAA Self-Rating: "Maybe like a 75-80, something like that. I've still got a lot to prove."
Barrett Banister | Wide Receiver | Senior
- "From a receiver, a guy that puts the ball in places it needs to be and performs in clutch situations." What he would want to see from a starting quarterback
- "Obviously it's hitting me that this is my last fall camp. Hopefully I've got more camps coming ahead. Camp is a nervous time but an exciting time, I'm just ready to get after it with these guys one more time."
- "The biggest thing is the work that you have done has got you to this point. You know, don't psych yourself out and make it a bigger deal than it is. Go out and make the plays, every route matters, and when the time comes and its clutch time, we have to be there to make the plays." On words of advice he gives to the younger members of the WR core
- NCAA Self-Rating: "99 hands and cutting ability, that's where I make my bread as a receiver."
Nathaniel Peat | Running Back | Senior
- "I definitely think about that a lot. Having the people that are watching me actually know and talk to me, it's something that's nice to have and is comforting. You wanna show out for your hometown." On being back in Columbia playing football
- NCAA Self-Rating: "Gotta be a 99 all-around."
Ryan Hoerstkamp | Tight End | Sophomore
- "Our tight end group has done a really good job of forming a bond this summer and spring. I think this year the biggest thing is going to be making our own identity. I think it's going in the right direction."
- "I just wanted to adjust more to the SEC. Get bigger, faster, stronger. I've really dialed in on my weight and speed. There's so many great players in the SEC, every week you're playing a stud." On what he's worked on the most this offseason
- NCAA Self-Rating: "Going into the year, probably like a 72. If I have a good year, I can get into the 80s."
Harrison Mevis | Kicker | Junior
- "Obviously 92% kicking is still unacceptable for me, I gotta go 100% this year."
- "Kickoffs was one thing I really wanted to get better at this offseason. Tweaked a little bit of other stuff but nothing major."
- Declined to rate himself, but he's the one guy that could claim a 99 and it really be true.
Kris Abrams-Draine | Cornerback | Junior
- "The most I worked on was my technique. I wasn't really a corner last season, so I just tried to learn everything about the corner position that I could." On what he worked on this offseason
- NCAA Self-Rating: "I'd probably say like 85, I ain't gonna say too high."
Isaiah McGuire | Defensive Line | Senior
- "I can't speak enough on how great of a teammate he is, a great leader for the young guys." On the strengths of Trajan Jeffcoat
- "We already got chemistry, already got playing experience with each other. We have our own standard, and the guys coming in have matched that." On playing with virtually the same D-line this year
- "Pressure is only pressure if you allow it to be. We know we want to be great as a unit, and we put ourselves to that standard each year." On living up to the "D-line Zou" mantra
- NCAA Self-Rating: "97 by the end of the season"
Joseph Charleston | Safety | Junior
- "We knew each other in high school already. We hung out together in high school, we been talking about that since high school. When he was there, we went 1-1 against them." Discussing Tyrone Hopper, who went to the rival high school of Charleston in Georgia and played against him. Charleston's school was Milton, while Hopper went to Roswell.
- "Honing in on my technique at my position, getting more skilled and crafty." On what he worked on this offseason
- "A guy named Nolan Turner was a few years older than me at Clemson and helped me a lot with how he prepared and his IQ of the game." On what he's taken from Clemson to Mizzou
- NCAA Self-Rating: "Today it would be like a high 70s, low 80s. By the end of the season, it'll probably be like low-mid 90s."
Travion Ford | Defensive End | Redshirt Freshman
- "We most excited about trying to be a brotherhood right now. I feel like the D-line, we're going to do a lot of great things." On the group as a whole
- "They're great leaders, they'll get onto us for doing something wrong, and teach us so much" On the veteran leaders up front
Martez Manuel | Safety | Senior
- "There's a lot of guys that have stepped up. Darius Robinson, Trajan Jeffcoat, Isaiah McGuire, a lot of those guys are taking their role and being a leader. I kinda sat back this summer and wanted to see who would lead, and I was impressed." On who else has stepped up as a leader
- "I did get a dog. And I trained him to do a bunch of tricks and stuff. I taught him to roll over and stuff, he's a Bernedoodle. His name is Fredo." On fun things he did this summer
- "I talked to the defense like two weeks ago after seeing who else would lead this summer. I just kinda told them that we have a lot of experience this year and we just don't have time for slow starts. It's unacceptable. Starting tomorrow we have to dominate, we've worked too hard and done too much."
- "I feel like our team cultures has improved. There's better pride for the school, which is really hard with the transfer portal and stuff. Coach Drink has done a great job of building that pride back in." On comparing last offseason to this one
- "I had never had injuries ever. That was an injury I even played through, so I feel like I could be out there. It takes you a low place when you have to sit in the film room and watch hours of film that you're not in. It takes a lot of maturity and you have to be wise to learn from all that." On how tough it was to sit out some of this offseason due to injury


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Dunham Cellars 2018 Sauvignon Blanc
January 29, 2020Wine & Dine Wednesday is about one of my favorite winemakers, Dunham, and one of my favorite whites, Sauvignon Blanc. That those two would be in the same sentence is not common in the least, as they are known & loved for their reds. So imagine my surprise when I saw a row of these bottles on the shelves of the wine section at our beloved Vashon Thriftway this weekend. This very food-friendly Sauvignon Blanc hits it out of the ballpark. But of course it does, it is from Dunham. There are just certain vintners you always know will produce something memorable. Now a little wine speak from the web.
"Never in the 23-year history of Dunham Cellars had Sauvignon Blanc been in the portfolio until last fall when viticulturist Kenny Hart talked his way into Gamache Vineyard near the historic Sagemoor planting. And then, Robert Campisi, in his first vintage as head winemaker at Dunham, delivered a knockout. He took a rather complex approach with his program – 30% stainless steel, 17% new oak and 53% neutral oak – and the results are utterly delicious. Complex notes of lemon, brioche, starfruit and kumquat are joined by a touch of gooseberry. The skillful use of oak merely adds a layer of creaminess to the midpalate, balancing the acidity while allowing for subtle grassiness and Bosc pear in the delicate finish. Suggested pairings include patio fare, shellfish or cheese."


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Why Burnley would be a better destination for Harold Moukoudi
Burnley have joined West Ham United in a race to sign Le Havre defender Harold Moukoudi. The price is around £9m, which would be a bargain for either of these teams, such is the quality of the player they could possibly get.
West Ham, under Manuel Pellegrini, have been active in this transfer window and have done good business. They have signed good attacking players along with two first-choice defenders in Issa Diop and Fabian Balbuena. So, the Hammers might probably not need another defender, unless they sell one.
Burnley on the other hand, have been relatively quiet in the market after a remarkable season which propelled them to play in the Europa League qualifiers. Hence, getting Moukoudi as a back-up for James Tarkowski and Ben Mee would be a shrewd business.
Here's everything you need to know about the player and why Burnley over West Ham would be a better destination for him.
Player Analysis – Harold Moukoudi
Age – 20
Main Position – Central Defender
Current Club – Le Havre
Moukoudi is a commanding centre-back who possesses the physicality to shrug off centre-forwards with ease. His height (over 6ft) allows him to win aerial duels and be a genuine threat to the opposition during set-pieces. The 20-year-old scored 4 goals last season, which shows he is dangerous in dead-ball situations.
In addition, the Frenchman is quite a secured defender, who likes to tackle and intercept the opposition build-ups. His passing from the back is also something to savour, given the fact that he can pick out incisive through balls if allowed to move forward with the ball.
So, Burnley manager Sean Dyche would love to have him in his squad for the upcoming season. At a tender age of 20, he has plenty of years left in him to learn and be the next French colossus at the back.
Going to West Ham and probably sitting on the bench won't do justice to Moukoudi's talent and forte. Even though he won't be an automatic starter at Burnley, there is more of a chance that Dyche might offer more game time when compared to Pellegrini.
Read More: Why Burnley must splash £40m and complete this double swoop for talented duo
For the player too, it will be an opportunity to play in a global league like the English top-flight and show his worth to millions of viewers from around the world.


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Study of Perfluorocarbon Release During Aluminum Production in Vertical-Stud Electrolytic Cells with Self-Baking Anode in Between Anode Effects.
Emissions of perfluorocarbons (PFCs) from the vertical-stud Soderberg cells during aluminum production outside of anode effects were studied. PFC emissions were monitored at the flue gas pipe coming from 22 cells provided with automated alumina feeding system. In the process of measurements, no significant PFC emissions were detected. Based on the results of the analysis, it was concluded that only PFC emissions from the Soderberg cells produced during anode effects should be monitored without accounting for PFC emissions formed outside of anode effects.
Read the whole study:


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McDonald's is gaining traction with an extremely ambitious modernization program with many moving parts. Its repositioning strategy includes: retaining existing customers by bolstering core strength in family occasions & food-led breakfast; regaining lost customers by improving food taste, quality, convenience & value; and converting casual customers to committed by elevating & leveraging the McCafé platform while also improving its food health profile. To this end, its menu positioning continues to transition to fresh & healthy and its food journey has included: adding fresh beef to its Quarter Pounder burgers (an answer to Wendy's); re-introduction of McCafe espresso products to better position against Dunkin'; intro of Buttermilk Crispy Tenders (an answer to Chick-fil-A); reduced use of antibiotics in its beef supply chains; removal of artificial preservatives in its Chicken McNuggets; and improved health profile for its Happy Meals. The goal is to convert casual traffic into committed customers who can be comfortable that higher frequency at McDonald's can actually support good health. In turn, the brand's people & facility investments provide it with authority to discuss menu improvements which appeal to families & younger consumers. While comps have outperformed for the last 2 years, traffic declined in 2018 and into 1Q19 (which reflects the chain's upscale repositioning). Going forward traffic should benefit from: an effort to run better restaurants (digesting all the recent changes & reducing executional complexities) with a renewed focus on drive-thru ops; plans to fine-tune value deal promotions; refinements in digital & delivery; and progress with EOTF and reimaging. Also, corporate expects to win back breakfast traffic with a combination of: national value; a return to local breakfast deals in recognition of differing regional preferences; and new food offerings. In any case, the brand continues to struggle with balancing its need to provide value to drive traffic with its desire to move towards higher margin, more upscale products. Just as value is foundational to this brand, so is service speed/convenience and in a well justified sprint to modernize, the system has added operational complexities which have slowed speeds. Declining store-level profits, increased capex requirements and increasing operational complexity has prompted the recent organization of the National Owners Association to represent the concerns of 1,000 franchisees and operators report that cooperation between franchisor & franchisees has improved as a result. In conclusion, there was no easy way to modernize McDonald's in a timely fashion and now the hard work of digesting & integrating all these changes is underway – hopefully, execution will proceed as fast as the implementation of the pivot.
Nobull consumer research weekly
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Farmhouse Serving Stand $15.99 Shipped
Wow! I have one of these and paid a good bit more than $15.99 for it. This is a steal! And it ships FREE. I can't even tell you how many times I've used this. Birthday parties, baby showers...you name it! I use it as a centerpiece for my table all the time! And at this price you can't go wrong! Click HERE to get it before it sells out.


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The MLB Hot Stove won't catch fire. Conversations were had, names have been exchanged, but the big dogs remain unsigned. While Ian Kinsler proved to be the biggest name to find a new home on Wednesday, players such as J.D. Martinez, Yu Darvish, Carlos Santana and Eric Hosmer remain adrift.
Outside of a few relievers and a few other low level moves, deals for the big free agents are not getting struck. Of course, that's been the evolving pattern of the get-together in recent years. These are not your grandfather's Winter Meetings.
Let's run down Wednesday's moves.
- Ian Kinsler is headed to Anaheim. You don't have to like it, nor the meager return, but Bootsie will join Mike Trout, Shohei Otani, and his buddy Justin Upton to try and turn the Los Angeles Angels into a contender. Kinsler will upgrade their defense by pairing with Andrelton Simmons, who is just about the only defensive upgrade possible from Jose Iglesias.
- Marcell Ozuna heads to the Cardinals. The dismantling of the Miami Marlins continues with a pretty big win for the St. Louis Cardinals. After missing out on Giancarlo Stanton, the Cardinals probably came out ahead in landing the cheaper, shorter-term option in Ozuna. They didn't even have to give up their top pitching prospects.
- Manny Machado could be dealt. Nothing has happened yet, but the Baltimore Orioles may have woke to reality. They aren't going anywhere and their superstar infielder has one year before free agency. If the Orioles are serious, we could see a major deal going down fairly soon.
- The Astros bulked up their bullpen. The Astros bullpen was much maligned during the postseason, though they won the World Series anyway. They don't seem pressed to go out and add a Wade Davis level reliever. Instead, a modest addition in veteran Joe Smith adds to their depth.
- Mariners GM Jerry Dipoto continues to be a one man Hot Stove. The Mariners added veteran reliever Juan Nicasio on a two-year deal on Wednesday.
- The hoopla surrounding Shohei Ohtani's UCL sprain finally settled down. Teams were all informed of the minor sprain as part of the courting process. This wasn't a surprise, and most think therapy will get Ohtani on the mound with no real issues this spring.
- The Tigers will pick first in the Rule 5 draft on Thursday. Atlanta Braves second baseman Travis Demeritte may get a long look from Detroit now that Ian Kinsler is gone. Reliever Nick Burdi also remains a popular choice as the Tigers look for someone with upside who can fit on the major league roster as is. Our own Jacob Markle took a look at the Rule 5 candidates available last week.


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1. Solid brass construction for longevity.
2. 25mm Ceramic disc cartridge can be adjusted to reduce water temperature and flow control settings, saving energy
3. NEOPERL aerator with slim stream flow director.
4. PEX flexible hose – 1/2 BSP female.
5. Suitable for mains pressure installation.
6. Solid easy to grip modular handle
Brand: Nero
Product Code: YSW3215-01A-CH
Type: Tall Basin Mixers
Finish: CHROME
Material: DR Brass
Surface: Electroplated
Collection: Bianca
WELS Reg. No: T27682
WELS: 5 Star 5L/min
The elegant tall basin mixers come in the widest range of colours available in any of our collections, including Chrome, Matte Black, Brushed Nickel, Gun Metal, Brushed Gold. Bianca as the most versatile collections of Nero tapware has a sleek, stylish design that would fit right into any contemporary bathroom, kitchen or laundry. The Nero basin mixers are 5 star water efficient.


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In the new study, the research team modified ARGO to explore its potential to track dengue activity in Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, Singapore, and Taiwan. Dengue, a mosquito-borne virus that infects about 390 million people each year, is often difficult to monitor with traditional hospital-based reporting due to inefficient communication, but dengue-related Google searches could provide faster alerts.
The researchers used Google's "Trends" tool to track the top ten dengue-related search queries made by users in each country during the study period. They also gathered historical dengue data from government health agencies and input both datasets into ARGO. Using the assumption that more dengue-related searches occur when more people are infected, ARGO calculated near real-time estimates of dengue prevalence for each country.
The scientists then compared ARGO's estimates with those from five other methods. They found that ARGO returned more accurate estimates than did any other method for Mexico, Brazil, Thailand, and Singapore. Estimates for Taiwan were less accurate, possibly because the country experienced less-consistent seasonal disease patterns from year to year.
The findings highlight the potential for Google searches to enable accurate, timely tracking of mosquito-borne diseases in countries lacking effective traditional surveillance systems. Future work could investigate whether this method could be improved to track disease on finer spatial and temporal scales, and whether environmental data, such as temperature, could improve estimates.
"The wide availability of internet throughout the globe provides the potential for an alternative way to reliably track infectious diseases, such as dengue, faster than traditional clinical-based systems," says study senior author Mauricio Santillana of Boston Children's Hospital and Harvard Medical School. "This alternative way of tracking disease could be used to alert governments and hospitals when elevated dengue incidence is anticipated, and provide safety information for travelers."
Yang S, Kou SC, Lu F, Brownstein JS, Brooke N, Santillana M.
Advances in using Internet searches to track dengue.
PLoS Comput Biol 13(7): e1005607. doi: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1005607.


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Following his departure from FC Barcelona, Lionel Messi has signed a two-year contract with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain. Messi, the 34-year-old Argentine star who just bid an emotional farewell to Nou Camp, where he spent 21 years of his life, has the option of extending his contract for a third year. Messi's financial conditions have not been revealed in full, although it is expected that he will return to Barcelona.
On Tuesday, in a statement, Lionel Messi said, "I am excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Paris Saint-Germain. Everything about the club matches my football ambitions." "I know how talented the squad and the coaching staff are here. I am determined to help build something special for the club and the fans, and I am looking forward to stepping out onto the pitch at the Parc des Princes," he further added.
PSG president Nasser al-Khelaifi was ecstatic to welcome Messi to the club: "I am ecstatic that Lionel Messi has decided to join Paris St-Germain, and we are happy to welcome him and his family to Paris."
Messi joins PSG as the club's fourth free agent this summer, following Gianluigi Donnarumma of Italy, Georginio Wijnaldum of the Netherlands, and Sergio Ramos of Spain. Messi will be joined by Neymar of Brazil and Kylian Mbappe of France to form a fearsome forward threat for the club.
Last year, Messi announced his intention to leave Barcelona, but said in an emotional press conference that things had changed in the last year and that he was eager to stay with the club. However, due to the Catalan club's financial difficulties, Barcelona had no choice but to let Messi go, despite the 34-year-old agreeing to a 50% reduction in his fee.
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'RHOA': Nene Leakes Talks Issues Raised Against Her as Season 13 Contract Negotiations Fire Up
Nene Leakes from The Real Housewives of Atlanta is fighting a battle that seems to be getting more intense. The reality TV personality has not signed up for the new season of the show and is making a case of not being treated fairly. In a new Instagram Live broadcast, Leakes hinted at the issues she's raising during her contract negotiations.
What is going on with Nene Leakes?
Leakes is reportedly negotiating her contract for RHOA Season 13 but has been holding out. Although she has not openly talked about what is keeping her from returning to the reality series, she has given some hints.
One of the issues that Leakes said came up during the meetings was that she continued to refer to herself as the HBIC and queen.
"I will continue to say that I'm a queen because I am," she said.
Leakes also mentioned that the "other side" brought up that she "hit one of the producers" and that "they could've prosecuted [her] for that if they wanted to."
According to Leakes, they had a tape of the incident and she explained, "I never hit any producer. It was my camera guy, I grabbed his t-shirt and his t-shirt tore. Everybody knows that."
Leakes then wondered if Terese Giudice from RHONJ had a similar talk when she pushed Andy Cohen during one of the reunion episodes.
Storming off the 'RHOA' Season 12 Reunion
One of the dramatic moments of the RHOA Season 12 reunion was when Leakes shut down her computer and left early. The "tastiest peach" mentioned that this was another one of the points raised during the negotiations.
"Well, I addressed that already and I addressed it again cause since it was brought up I figured we may as well address it, again, right? So I closed my computer early and rightly so," Leakes said. "During the season 12, I was told, sent emails and text messages, that a certain person could no longer film with me. I was saddened by that because I was OK with them filming with me."
Leakes is talking about Yovanna Momplaisir, who was a friend of the former and alleged she had a recording of Cynthia Bailey talking bad about her. In the end, Momplaisir said she made it all up and that she was encouraged by Leakes to record their co-stars to expose them later.
"So, once they were able to get that person to switch to the other side with that group that they have twisted over there, then they were suddenly allowed to show up at the reunion," Leakes added.
Kim Zolciak quits 'RHOA' and gets spinoff
The Fashion Police alum doesn't find it fair that they are holding over her leaving the RHOA reunion early. Leakes brought up the time Kim Zolciak quit the show in the middle of the season and got a spinoff series weeks later.
"Do you remember season 5 when all of us girls were talking to Kim about her not wanting to shoot as much? Like she doesn't shoot. She comes when she wants to. Leaves when she wants to. We'll plan a vacation around her schedule. She was pregnant at the time. Do you remember she walked out the entire season and walked into her own show?" Leakes recalled.
"So I close my computer and it's a big deal," she added. "But this other person quit the whole show in the middle of the show and go into their own show. Do you understand what I'm saying?"
To close off her chat she said there is someone behind-the-scenes that is complicating stuff.
"We have a Terry Crews on our cast," Leakes revealed. "And I'll let you guys figure out who that is. But they talk to the people behind our backs…we don't come together."