text:
Biotronix ULTRASOUND THERAPY 1 and 3 MHz Equipment LCD Display Clinical Deluxe Model Make in India with 2 year Warranty
Biotronix ULTRASOUND THERAPY 1 and 3 MHz Equipment LCD Display Clinical Deluxe Model Make in India with 2 year Warranty
Ultrasound 1MHz & 3MHz Multi Therapy Unit : Biotronix
One of the Largest selling ultrasound machines
Frequency - 1 MHz & 3 Mhz
Intensity upto 3.0 watt/cm2
Microprocessor controlled Digital Unit
Pulsed and Continuous application
Durable body with comfortable ultrasound head
Therapeutic Ultrasound provides therapeutic deep heat treatment for Relaxation
Reduce swelling and inflammation.
Promote the synthesis of proteins inside the cells
Lymphatic Drainage with cellulite reduction
Regenerate wounded tissues
Accelerate the metabolism of cells
Frequency : 1 MHz & 3 Mhz
Ultrasound Output : 15 Acoustic
Ultrasound Head : 3.0 watts/cm2
Treatment Time : 0-60 Min
Modes: continuous and pulse waves.
Available voltage: 220v/50 Hz
Technical Specifications: Ultrasonic nominal Frequency: 1 Mhz or 3 Mhz
Ultrasonic Output : cont. 2.5W/cm, Pulse 3.5/cm
Pulse Frequency : 8hz, 16z 50hz, 100hz
Pulse ratios : 1:1, 1:4, 1:7, 1:9
Treatment time : 0 to 6 Minutes
Timer : Electronic timer 0 to 99 minutes
Display : LCD display
Package Contents:
- 1 pc Biotronix ULTRASOUND THERAPY 1 and 3 MHz Equipment LCD Display Clinical Model Make in India with 2 year Warranty
- 1 pc Ultrasound Applicator 1Mhz with Wire and 1 Pc Ultrasound Applicator 3 Mhz with Wire
- 1 pc Main Cord
- 1 Pc Carry Bag
- 2 pc Gel Bottle
Warranty Details: 2 Year Offsite Warranty for Equipment against manufacturing defects ,No warranty or Guarantee for the Accessories like wire pads Applicator etc .
Continuous output is preferable for following indications
INDICATION( Continuous/ Pulsed )
Chronic Neuromata
Sudek"s syndrome
Tethered scar tissue- This should be treated as early as possible & the increased circulations etc. frees the scars if very localized then it should be pulsed ultrasound.
Pulse output is preferable for following indications
Severe sprain & strains of muscle fibers, tendons& ligaments-Previously these used to take weeks to geta full functions but with ultrasound now takes days.
Crushed hands or feet- the immediate use of ultrasonic therapy prevents the formation of fibrous tissue, by the absorption the free blood etc, making the early restoration of function possible when the fracture allow.
Dislocation of fractures into or near joints- these too should be treated immediately to prevent adhesions forming as the result of unabsorbed free fluids.
Haematoma from severe muscle tears & haemarthrosis from trauma or haemophilia the quick absorption of free blood is essential for speedy restoration of function.
Acute tenosynovitis, tendonitis, de quevain" s stenopsing tendo- vaginities etc. quick recovery
Acute synovitis or capsulitis quick recovery
Carpul tunnel syndrome often effective
Reticular nerve pains i.e. Brachial neuritis, intercostalis neuritis lumbago, sciatica etc. pulsed ultrasound given to the appropriate nerve roots gives immediate reduction in pain.
Herpes Zostar- the residual nerve pains is greatly reduced in about 50% of the patients.
Anldyosing spondylitis most effective in early stages, reduces pain & increase mobility. This progressive disease can be kept at a very slow face of progression if repeated courses of treatment are given .
Scar tissue - early treatment prevents keloid scare formation and softness existing new scars.
Neuromata- it is new scar formation This pain will be completely stopped
What is therapeutic ultrasound/ UST physiotherapy?
Therapeutic ultrasound is also commonly termed as ultrasonic therapy or UST therapy.
UST full form in physiotherapy: UST in physiotherapy simply stands for UltraSonic Therapy. Or sometimes it is also called as UltraSound Therapy.
There are many technicalities, frequency setting, intensity adjustment which we need to take care of during the treatment. These technicalities are beyond the scope of discussion here. But, you will get the overall picture of what ultrasonic therapy is?
Ultrasound is actually a sound wave whose frequency is higher than the frequency of the audible sound wave. It means that there is a certain range of sound wave frequency which human ear can hear.
Two different types of ultrasound frequency.
There is two different form of ultrasound frequency used for therapy purpose. One is 1 MHz frequency and another is 3 MHz. This two different frequency is generated by two different ultrasound head.
Depending on the site of body illness the types of frequency are selected. 1 MHz is used for treating deeper tissues and 3 MHz is used to treat superficial tissues.
Physiological effect of therapeutic ultrasound
Two types of mechanism are commonly invoked to explain the effects produced by therapeutic ultrasound. These are classed as thermal and non-thermal effects.
Thermal effect
Thermal effect or heating effect in the deep tissues is its most important physiological effect. It helps in healing of tissue injuries that lies deeper by improving blood supply around the region.
- Increase in extensibility of collagenous structures such as tendons and scar tissue.
- Decrease in joint stiffness.
- Pain relief.
- Changes in blood flow.
- A decrease in muscle spasm and,
- At high intensities, selective tissue ablation as achieved in focused ultrasound
Non-thermal effects
Non-thermal mechanisms that can produce beneficial (therapeutic) changes in tissue may be cyclic or non-cyclic in nature.
- 'Micro-massage' effect: This is thought to be an effect due to the periodic nature of the sound pressure field.
- Acoustic streaming: Ultrasound waves produce a cavity that oscillates inside the intra- or extracellular fluid which is termed as acoustic streaming. Streaming may act to modify the local environment of a cell, leading, for example, to altered concentration gradients in the vicinity of an extracellular membrane. Streaming may account for the reported changes in the potassium and calcium content of cells following ultrasonic exposure.
Indications of therapeutic ultrasound
There are many painful conditions where ultrasound therapy has found to be very effective. It's deep micro-massage effect and internal warmth effect can cure many chronic pain cases.
- Muscle pain.
- Myofascial trigger points.
- Soften the surgical scar.
- Softening the tendon after tendon transplant.
- Plantar .
- Carpal tunnel syndrome.
- knee
- Piriformis syndrome
Contraindications of therapeutic ultrasound
Although it is beneficial in lots of cases, but after all its an electromagnetic rays. There are few conditions where exposure of these rays can trigger some internal derangement.
- Tumor.
- Pregnancy.
- Over the metal implants.
- Knee replacement.
- Hip replacement.
- Pacemaker.
- Eyes.
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text:
EKRE leader: We can find compromise on police powers legislation
The Conservative People's Party of Estonia (EKRE) is ready to reach compromise on legislation which it has opposed up to now, that party's leader, Martin Helme, says.
The Communicable Diseases Prevention and Control Act (NETS) is currently at the Riigkogu ready for its first reading (of three) and subsequent vote. While yesterday it was looking as if the bill – the focal point of recent protests over an interpretation of its intent as being to boost police powers excessively – might be still-born, now Helme says that wording has been found which is suitable both to his parties and to the Reform/Center coalition.
Writing on his social media account Wednesday, Helme wrote that: "We have exchanged views with the ruling parties on how to ensure that legislative changes needed to resolve the pandemic do not become a backdoor through which our freedoms and rights get taken away. In the course of these discussions, we have taken the protests to the streets."
However, since then, wording that is satisfactory has been found.
"If the compromise is approved by the [Riigikogu's social affairs] committee, we can withdraw our amendments," Helme said, referring to well over 100 proposed changes his party has tabled to the legislation so far.
At the core of the discussions lies the ability of the Health Board (Terviseamet) to summons the Police and Border Guard Board (PPA) in cases of non-compliance with COVID-19 regulations.
In practice, the PPA was present at Sunday's anti-NETS demonstration, acting as stewards, the authority said, in the light of what it called a lack of clear leadership from the ranks of the protesters, and also cooperated with Health Board personnel who were on the scene. Both bodies issued precepts on the day, while the PPA detained several people, in the process giving a photo opportunity for those claiming Estonia is drifting towards police state status.
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Editor: Andrew Whyte

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The answers to many questions
Introduction to Book of Changes
Always choose a deal that is real taking into consideration soul and your abilities. Do not start something that does not suit your nature.
Gathering Together. Success. The king approaches his temple. It furthers one to see the great man. This brings success. Perseverance furthers. To bring great offerings creates good fortune. It furthers one to undertake something.
Over the earth, the lake:The image of Gathering Together. Thus the superior man renews his weapons in order to meet the unforseen.
The time is favorable for large new initiatives. Support of powerful people is possible. But there is uncertainty in soul - it is good. Correlate your capabilities with your plans. Do not task beyond your strength - it can crush. Beware of honor not by rank and praise that is not deserved. Do not prevaricate, do not cheat, beware of the same from others. If you make a mistake with the choice of targets, you will have big losses. There is a chance of windfall profit - good luck attends you. Illness is possible.
This hexagram is related in form and meaning to Pi, HOLDING TOGETHER. In the latter, water is over the earth; here a lake is over the earth. But
since the lake is a place where water collects, the idea of gathering together is
even more strongly expressed here than in the other hexagram. The same
idea also arises from the fact that in the present case it is two strong lines (the
fourth and the fifth) that bring about the gather together, whereas in the
former case one strong line (the fifth) stands in the midst of weak lines.
The gathering together of people in large communities is either a natural
occurrence, as in the case of the family, or an artificial one, as in the case of
the state. The family gathers about the father as its head. The perpetuation of
this gathering in groups is achieved through the sacrifice to the ancestors, at
which the whole clan is gathered together. Through the collective piety of
the living members of the family, the ancestors become so integrated in the
spiritual life of the family that it cannot be dispersed or dissolved.
Where men are to be gathered together, religious forces are needed. But
there must also be a human leader to serve as the center of the group. In
order to be able to bring others together, this leader must first of all be
collected within himself. Only collective moral force can unite the world.
Such great times of unification will leave great achievements behind them.
This is the significance of the great offerings that are made. In the secular
sphere likewise there is no need of great deeds in the time of GATHERING
If the water in the lake gathers until it rises above the earth, there is danger of
a break-through. Precautions must be taken to prevent this. Similarly where
men gather together in great numbers, strife is likely to arise; where
possessions are collected, robbery is likely to occur. Thus in the time of
GATHERING TOGETHER we must arm promptly to ward off the unexpected.
Human woes usually come as a result of unexpected events against which we
are not forearmed. If we are prepared, they can be prevented.
The situation is this: People desire to gather around a leader to whom they
look up. But they are in a large group, by which they allow themselves to be
influenced, so that they waver in their decision. Thus they lack a firm center
around which to gather. But if expression is given to this need, and if they
call for help, one grasp of the hand from the leader is enough to turn away all
distress. Therefore they must not allow themselves to be led astray. It is
undoubtedly right that they should attach themselves to this leader.
In the time of GATHERING TOGETHER, we should make no arbitrary choice
of the way. There are secret forces at work, leading together those who belong
together. We must yield to this attraction; then we make no mistakes.
Where inner relationships exist, no great preparations and formalities are
necessary. People understand one another forthwith, just as the Divinity
graciously accepts a small offering if it comes from the heart.
Often a man feels an urge to unite with others, but the individuals around
him have already formed themselves into a group, so that he remains
isolated. The whole situation proves untenable. Then he ought to choose
the way of progress, resolutely allying himself with a man who stands nearer
to the center of the group, and can help him to gain admission to the closed
circle. This is not a mistake, even though at first his position as an outsider is
somewhat humiliating.
This describes a man who gathers people around him in the name of his
ruler. Since he is not striving for any special advantages for himself but is
working unselfishly to bring about general unity, his work is crowned with
success, and everything becomes as it should be.
When people spontaneously gather around a man, it is only a good. It gives
him a certain influence that can be altogether useful.. But of course there is
also the possibility that many may gather around him not because of a feeling
of confidence but merely because of his influential position. This is certainly
to be regretted. The only means of dealing with such people is to gain their
confidence through steadfastness an intensified, unswerving devotion to
duty. In this way secret mistrust will gradually be overcome, and there will be
no occasion for regret.
It may happen that an individual would like to ally himself with another, but
his good intentions are misunderstood. Then he becomes sad and laments.
But this is the right course. For it may cause the other person to come to his
senses, so that the alliance that has been sought and so painfully missed is
after all achieved.
This period is very favorable for you. All your business will crown success. A certain invisible force strengthens your relations with people, assists to find new friends and friends, to fasten contacts which in the further anyhow will appear favorable for you. Former works and efforts will be renumerated on merits. You are pursued by the woman, she aspires to block to you a way, to prevent to realization of your intentions, to interfere with your life. Despite of it, your desires will be executed.
Remember the origin, but do not cling to the past. Do not try to comprehend all at once - knowledge comes slowly.
The Taming Power of the Small has success. Dense clouds, no rain from our western region.
The wind drives across heaven:The image of the Taming Power of the Small. Thus the superior man refines the outward aspect of his nature.
"Clouds are dense but there is no rain." The problems are perceived and resolved with difficulty. You need to rethink or to overcome past - there is a source of problems, there is a hint how to overcome them. The behavior should be based on a gradual and methodical approach. Remember the basics. Now it is time for savings: gather knowledge step by step and accumulate experience, learn from mistakes. Time of global changes and great events has come yet.
This hexagram means the force of the small--the power of the shadowy--that
restrains, tames, impedes. A weak line in the fourth place, that of the
minister, holds the five strong lines in check. In the Image it is the wind
blowing across the sky. The wind restrains the clouds, the rising breath of the
Creative, and makes them grow dense, but as yet is not strong enough to turn
them to rain. The hexagram presents a configuration of circumstances in
which a strong element is temporarily held in leash by a weak element. It is
only through gentleness that this can have a successful outcome.
This image refers to the state of affairs in China at the time when King Wên,
who came originally from the west, was in the east at the court of the reigning
tyrant Chou Hsin. The moment for action on a large scale had not yet
arrived. King Wên could only keep the tyrant somewhat in check by friendly
persuasion. Hence the image of many clouds, promising moisture and
blessing to the land, although as yet no rain falls. The situation is not
unfavorable; there is a prospect of ultimate success, but there are still obstacles
in the way, and we can merely take preparatory measures. Only through the
small means of friendly persuasion can we exert any influence. The time has
not yet come for sweeping measures. However, we may be able, to a limited
extent, to act as a restraining and subduing influence. To carry out our
purpose we need firm determination within and gentleness and adaptability
in external relations.
The wind can indeed drive the clouds together in the sky; yet, being nothing
but air, without solid body, it does not produce great or lasting effects. So also
an individual, in times when he can produce no great effect in the outer
world, can do nothing except refine the expression of his nature in small
It lies in the nature of a strong man to press forward. In so doing he
encounters obstructions. Therefore he returns to the way suited to his
situation, where he is free to advance or to retreat. In the nature of things
this will bring good fortune, for it is wise and reasonable not to try to obtain
anything by force.
One would like to press forward, but before going farther one sees from the
example of others like oneself that this way is blocked. In such a case, if the
effort to push forward is not in harmony with the time, a reasonable and
resolute man will not expose himself to a personal rebuff, but will retreat
with others of like mind. This brings good fortune, because he does not
needlessly jeopardize himself.
Here an attempt is made to press forward forcibly, in the consciousness that
the obstructing power is slight. But since, under the circumstances, power
actually lies with the weak, this sudden offensive is doomed to failure.
External conditions hinder the advance, just as loss of the wheel spokes stops
the progress of a wagon. We do not yet heed this hint form fate, hence there
are annoying arguments like those of a married couple. Naturally this is not
a favorable state of thing, for though the situation may enable the weaker side
to hold its ground, the difficulties are too numerous to permit of a happy
result. In consequence even the strong man cannot so use his power as to
exert the right influence on those around him. He experiences a rebuff where
he expected an easy victory, and he thus compromises his dignity.
If one is in the difficult and responsible position of counselor to a powerful
man, on should restrain him in such a way that the threat of actual bloodshed
may arise. Nonetheless, the power of disinterested truth is greater than all
theses obstacles. It carries such weight that the end is achieved, and all danger
of bloodshed and all fear disappear.
Loyalty leads to firm ties because it means that each partner complements the
other. In the weaker person loyalty consists in devotion, in the stronger it
consists in trustworthiness. This relation of mutual reinforcement leads to a
true wealth that is all the more apparent because it is not selfishly hoarded
but is shared with friends. Pleasure shared is pleasure doubled.
Success is at hand. The wind has driven up the rain. A fixed standpoint has
been reach. This has come about through the cumulation of small effects
produced by reverence for a superior character. But a success thus secured bit
by bit calls for great caution. It would be a dangerous illusion for anyone to
think he could presume upon it. The female principle, the weak element
that has won the victory, should never persist in vaunting it--that would lead
to danger. The dark power in the moon is strongest when the moon is
almost full. When it is full and directly opposite the sun, its waning is
inevitable. Under such circumstances one must be content with what has
been achieved. To advance any further, before the appropriate time has
come, would lead to misfortune.
Yes, now to you do not accompany neither luck, nor success. But remember: night is the most dark before a dawn. You in confusion, you now do not own conditions, but it soon will pass. Events which everyone will change to the best are already close. Now you need to have patience and wait simply. Yes, you have got used to consider as the minion of fortune. You do not need to spend now itself for petty quarrels, try to not overtire on work. In three months the success in monetary affairs expects you.
«©» 2005-2023 Horus.theone


text:
- Kerri S. Wilson
Evidentiary Memorabilia ~ Kerri S Wilson
As I've continued to meditate on Psalm 19 and other passages over the past few weeks, I have found myself thinking about how much I love the Lord.
I get excited when I think about the extreme measures to which He has gone so I can live in relationship with Him. His fulfillment of the law through Jesus makes pleasing Him obtainable to me—that amazes me.
He has extended His power and mercy towards me; therefore, I have set my heart to please Him, not question Him. His word illuminates my direction when my vision is blurred. He is my confidence when my enemies are encamped about me--when my integrity is questioned, when my faith is challenged, and when my focus is distracted. His peace and anointing cover me and help me overcome the fear that causes me to hesitate.
In the face of the magnificent, awesome, wonderful, living God, how can I walk against His purpose? How can I strive for personal gain instead of God's favor? How can I run from sacrifice and embrace earthly security? How can I turn away from His chastening and calling? I can't, not when I love Him more than myself.
He is my salvation! He is my hope!
A few days ago I was provided with the memory of the words above I've shared with you today. I wrote them on July 16 of 2012—5 years ago. At that time I was unaware of the challenging season I was about to enter—it proved to be one of the most challenging of my life.
Memorabilia are "things that are remarkable and worthy of remembrance," (Merriam-Webster). And something evidentiary is "being, relating to, or affording evidence," (Merriam-Webster). My memories like the one I've shared above fit the category of evidentiary memorabilia. My memories are worthy of remembering as evidence of something remarkable.
My memories are gifts because I am able to see Jesus in the midst of them. As I look back at my past I am able to see how even through my worst days, and even though I was unaware, God was revealing Himself to me. My memories are evidence of God's faithfulness to me. That is remarkable! And that is worthy of my remembrance!


text:
We welcome you for a moment of pleasure and relaxation in our restaurant at the Métairie Neuve.
As the seasons go by, you will find varied and rich menus. The meals are cooked with local productsproducts, with the addition of plants picked on the estate andspices carefully selected and ground by us.
You can complement your meal with a selection of organic wines from Domaine de Brauin the Cabardèsand the Domaine de Larroque in the Gaillacois.
You will also be able to taste a blonde or amber beer from the family business of Garland , abrewer from the Tarn region , which produces organic beers made from their cereals .
Single menu at 25 € per person: starter, main course and dessert.


text:
Happy November! Today we're sharing a no-sew garland to kick off this beautiful Fall month. Here's how to make your own in no time!
Supplies: felt in Fall colors, a leaf to trace, scissors, hot glue, and twine.
1. Choose a leaf design to trace. We sketched one out ourselves, but you can copy one off the Internet, or trace an actual leaf from outside!
2. Make a sturdy leaf-shaped stencil out of cardboard.
3. Trace leaf shape onto felt and cut out.
4. Use hot glue to attach leaves to a piece of twine.
5. Hang and enjoy!
We hope you're enjoying Fall so far! Don't forget to follow Vicky Barone on Instagram for more Fall inspiration and a GIVEAWAY!!


text:
Judith Zahid to Present on Opt-Out Litigation to ABA Section of Antitrust LawFebruary 25, 2015
Judith Zahid, a Partner in Zelle Hofmann's San Francisco office, will present regarding opt-out litigation to the American Bar Association Section of Antitrust Law. The presentation will be held via teleconference from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. Eastern on February 25, 2015.
Zahid, whose practice specializes in litigating antitrust and other complex claims, will participate in a panel titled, "Opt-Out Litigation: Practical Considerations for Corporate and Outside Counsel." The panel will analyze the factors companies should consider when deciding whether to opt out and practical considerations for corporate and outside counsel in effectively managing opt-out litigation (e.g., selecting counsel, litigating efficiently in multi-plaintiff cases, managing relationships with class counsel, and maximizing recoveries). The panel will provide a unique viewpoint of these issues from the plaintiff, defense, and corporate counsel sides.
For additional information, or to register for the teleconference, visit the American Bar Association website.


text:
Unreinforced Roman Concrete
According to Vitruvius (De Arch., 2, 6) and Pliny (Nat. Hist., 35, 47 & 36, 52-54) Roman mortar consists of lime and pozzolana, and Roman concrete is the mixture of this mortar with aggregates (more details in section on Vitruvius' methods). The resulting structure was called opus caementicium.
Although the compressive strength of Roman concrete is smaller than that of modern concrete, its longevity, especially in marine conditions, is still a matter of surprise and debate for modern civil engineers. A major innovation was performed by replacing river sand by sand from the Phlegraean Fields near Pozzuoli, allowing mortar to cure under water. It is therefore often called 'hydraulic concrete'. Longevity of Roman hydraulic concrete has long been attributed to this mixture. However, recent research indicates that the presence of lime clasts generates a process of long-term self-healing of micro cracks by filling them with calcite[1].
Large masses of concrete are useful for massive structures like ramparts and thick walls, towers, harbour breakwaters, the like. However, unreinforced concrete cannot withstand tensile forces such as those generated by flexion.
Reinforced Concrete
Reinforced Concrete (RCC) was invented at the end of the 19th c. and is now much used for marine structures. It consists of a combined use of concrete and steel. The first has high resistance to compressive forces but none to tension forces, and the second has just the opposite if we consider slender steel bars.
This is a major innovation because RCC structures can resist flexion with its associated compressive and tensile forces. Before this innovation was made, large spans had to be covered by arches acting with compression only, while after that, they could be covered by simple beams acting with flexure.
How does this work?
In a certain way the vertical load on the beam is taken over by the lower steel rebar like a wash line supports clothes. Obviously, a rusting wash line is not acceptable!
In a marine environment, salt water and associated chlorides (Cl– ions), sulphates (SO4– – ions), carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), water (H2O) and other chemicals penetrate into the concrete by capillarity and diffusion and by convection through the micro cracks. These micro cracks are a problem because they allow the environment inside the concrete, eventually reaching the steel rebar. Obviously, the compaction quality and thickness of the cover layer located between the lower rebar and the under face of the beam (around 50 mm) is important, but micro cracks must exist in order to have the steel rebar working.
The result is that quite some RCC marine structures built in the past decades are already in really bad condition and needing very expansive repair works. Some coastal structures were supposed to last many decades, but are showing serious deficiencies after only 10-15 years! This is usually visible by traces of corrosion of the steel rebars embedded in the RCC structure.
This is inherent to the very concept of RCC and to the need for micro cracks in order to have steel bars taking over tensile forces. Some modern solutions like water repellents, additives with pore-blocking ingredients, cathodic protection, stainless steel rebars provide some relief.
This problem with RCC micro cracks does not exist with prestressed concrete (PCC). Instead of having a simple rebar as shown on the figure above, a steel cable (called "tendon") is encapsulated and a prestress is applied to it. This induces compression inside the whole beam, as well in its upper layer as in its under layer. The vertical load on the beam thus induces additional compression in the upper layer (but concrete can resist that) and a tension counteracting the prestress in the under layer, but the latter remains under compression at all times.
In this way no micro cracks occur and the beam is much more resistant to the environmental intrusions of chlorides and other chemicals, but the quality of the prestressing tendons is obviously of paramount importance: plastic ducting, grouting, cathodic protection, yield- and ultimate strength, stress relaxation. Further research on stainless steel tendons is ongoing.
The concept of flexure and cantilever can be applied only to structures able to absorb traction (tensile) forces that are induced by flexure. It was seen with Vitruvius' methods that wooden tie rods could be used, but wood does not resist in the long term (except when preserved in sediment). A similar system with granite columns can be seen at Ashkelon (Israel).
Granite is weaker than wood for traction, but resists in time as can be seen at Ashkelon in the remains of the crusaders' bulwark built around 1150.
In figures: hard loaf wood can yield a tensile strength of around 100 MPa (10 kgf/mm2 ) (in the fibre direction!) while granite does not exceed 20 MPa.
For compression strength, everything is reversed: wood yields around 30 to 40 MPa, but granite is at 200 MPa.
It is sound to apply traction on wood and compression on granite.
According to Marie Jackson in John Oleson's "Building for Eternity" (Oxbow Books, 2014), the compression strength of Roman hydraulic concrete (i.e. with Puteolanis pulvis, or 'pozzolana') ranges between 2.5 and 8.5 MPa (modern concrete reaches 50 MPa and even up to 150 MPa for modern ultra-high-performance concrete). The tensile strength is reduced to about 1/10 of the compression strength. The latter being notably increased by steel reinforcement (steel has a tensile strength of around 200-300 MPa at the elasticity limit state), (see also: http://www.romanconcrete.com/romanconcrete.htm).
Iron chains could have been used as reinforcement in Roman concrete … but the invention of the arch helped to overcome the problem of flexure for several millennia and corrosion of steel would soon become a problem.
Horizontal chaining
The horizontal columns of Ashkelon and Byblos remind the ashlar headers aiming at connecting two faces of a wall. For Opus Vittatum Mixtum walls, Jean-Pierre Adam (La Construction Romaine, 1995) speaks of "horizontal chaining" consisting of 2 or 3 layers of terracotta tiles (courses of bonding tiles) as can be seen on the London Wall behind the statue of Trajan.
It needs to be proven that these courses of tiles really act as bonding tiles, i.e. a structural element able to take over tensile strengths (todays' chaining is steel reinforced).
It must therefore be demonstrated that terracotta not only resists at least as well to traction as the natural stone used in concrete, but also that the adherence of mortar on terracotta is better than on natural stone.
As far as tensile strength is concerned, we have mentioned granite above with a tensile strength of around 20 MPa, but sandstone and limestone are weaker with around 5 MPa. With a strength of 5 to 10 MPa, terracotta is in the same order of magnitude (but optimists would say "double").
Concerning adherence, or bond strength, of lime mortars on terracotta and natural stone, we must go into some details, as this subject has not been much studied …
Measuring the bond strength of a stone or a brick on a layer of mortar is similar to measuring a shear stress. The unit of this stress is N/mm2 (MPa) like for traction and compression stresses. According to Pierre Nicot (PhD thesis "Interactions mortier-support", Toulouse, 2008) "bond strength can be defined as the force required to separate two constituents" and he explains that bond strength between mortar and a support can be chemical and mechanical. The latter involves porosity of the support, its water absorption capacity, etc. Dare we make an analogy with welding of metals?
These comments lead us to consider the tests defining these parameters. Some tests are normalised under masonry test procedures (EN 1052):
- Part 1: Determination of compressive strength (BS, CSTC),
- Part 2: Determination of flexural strength (CSTC),
- Part 3: Determination of initial shear strength (CSTC, BS),
- Part 5: Determination of bond strength by the bond wrench method (CSTC).
It can be noted that the 'pull-off test' and 'crossed couplet test' are missing to obtain the tensile bond strength, but according to Wikipedia on its Mohr's circles page "the force required to tear off atoms from each other is much larger than the force required to make them slide over each other", which means that resistance to initial shear stress (also called 'cohesion') is lower than the resistance to pure tensile strength. The test of interest here is thus the one described in Part 3 of the norm EN 1052. This test is conducted by pushing out a brick pinched between two others ('shear triplet test') with an interpretation using Mohr's circles which is well known in the field of soil and rock mechanics.
Thomas Zimmermann & Alfred Strauss from the University of Wien[2] provide initial shear strengths of only 0.03 MPa for lime mortar without cement, and 0.21 MPa for mortar with cement.
Adrian Costigan & Sara Pavia from the Trinity College Dublin[3] say that bond strength is very important for the compressive strength of the whole masonry structure. Their results can be summarised by a bond strength ranging between 0.1 and 0.4 MPa (depending on the tested types of lime mortar), and a compressive strength ranging between 2 and 8 MPa (that is 20 times more than for bond strength).
Today's mortars (e.g. Beamix 341 or Weber.mix MM319) also claim bond strengths on brick in the order of 0.1 to 0.2 MPa, and even 0.3 MPa. These values can be increased (by a factor 10!) with special adjuvants.
So far for bond strength between mortar and brick. But how about bond strength between mortar and natural stone?
At the beginning of the 19th century, Louis Charles Boistard conducted tests on the bond strength of natural stones on lime and sand mortar with the following conclusion: "bond strength of lime and sand mortar can be estimated at at least 1500 pounds/sq feet" that is around 7000 kgf/m2, or 0.07 MPa after 18 months of hardening.
G. Vasconcelos & P.B. Lourenço from the University of Minho[4] performed tests on wall sections of 1.0 x 1.2 m2 and found a diagonal shear stress of 0.05 MPa for masonry with ashlar and 0.11 MPa for masonry with natural rock; the first having more linear joint planes than the latter, which may perhaps explain the different test results.
M. Corradi & al. from the University of Perugia[5] performed similar tests for various types of wall and found shear stresses around 0.08 MPa.
These figures tend to prove that bond strength on bricks (0.10 to 0.40 MPa) is indeed higher than on natural stones (0.05 to 0.11 MPa).
It seems that we may carefully validate the hypothesis that courses of bonding tiles located in the lower sections of massive structures like bulwarks and donjons increase the internal cohesion of the lower part of the structure.
[1] SEYMOUR, L., et al., 2023, "Hot mixing: Mechanistic insights into the durability of ancient Roman concrete", Science Advances, 9, eadd1602, New York, (13 p), https://www.science.org/doi/10.1126/sciadv.add1602
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzarpnLffHY
[2] ZIMMERMANN, T. & STRAUSS, A., 2011, "Variation of shear strength of masonry with different mortar properties", North American Masonry Conference, Minneapolis, 2011.
[3] COSTIGAN, A. & PAVIA, S., 2010, "Influence of Mechanical Properties of Lime Mortar on the Strength of Masonry", Historic Mortars Conference, Prag, 2010.
[4] VASCONCELOS, G. & LOURENÇO, P.B., 2006, "Assessment of the in-plane shear strength of stone masonry walls by simplified models", Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions, New Delhi, 2006.
[5] CORRADI, M., et al., 2003, "Experimental study on the determination of strength of masonry walls", Construction and Building Materials, 17, Elsevier, 2003.


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Ohio is often thought of as the crossroad to North America as it is just a day's drive from 60 percent of the U.S. and Canadian populations. Ohio has the fourth largest interstate system in the country, second largest inventory of bridges and sixth highest number of vehicle miles traveled. Unfortunately, the revenue to maintain, improve and expand our state's transportation system is not keeping up with the state's needs.
Knowing that Ohio's transportation budget would be one of the first major issues to tackle, Gov. DeWine created a Governor's Advisory Committee on Transportation Infrastructure to study the current conditions of our state's roadways and recommend options for continued maintenance and expansion. Several Ohio Chamber member companies are on this advisory committee including the Ohio Oil & Gas Association, Marathon Petroleum Company LP, Honda and AAA . The group met on February 5 and 6 to hear from the Director of the Ohio Department of Transportation Jack Marchbanks and Colonel Paul Pride with the Ohio State Highway Patrol as well as other interested parties.
In his presentation to the group Dir. Marchbanks painted a dire picture of the state's lack of infrastructure funding as beginning July 1, 2019, there will be no new revenue for improvement projects. "We cannot maintain the system that we have, let alone improve upon it," he stated due to what he termed a "perfect storm" of adverse fiscal developments and past spending.
To fund roadway maintenance and expansion, Ohio uses a gas tax. The last gas tax increase was passed in 2003 which enabled the tax to increase two cents every year for three years bringing the state's total gas tax to 28 cents per gallon which is where it stands today. Ohio's gas tax is split among state and local governments 60 to 40 percent respectively. The tax is not indexed so it does not increase with inflation however, construction costs have increased. A dollar in 2003 buys just 58 cents of construction work in 2018.
Also, Ohio's gas tax revenue has remained flat due to increased fuel efficiency. While motorists are driving more, adding wear and tear to bridges and roadways, the amount of gas they are buying has remained flat. In 2003 it was estimated that there would be a one percent increase in fuel purchased each year however fuel purchases have only increased one third of one percent.
In order to raise additional funding, the previous administration sold bonds against future Ohio Turnpike revenues in 2013 and again in 2018 to the tune of $1.5 billion. This money was used for improvements not only on the turnpike, but also on roadways within 75 miles of the turnpike. This money has been exhausted and now must be paid back.
While Dir. Marchbanks did not make any recommendations to the advisory committee, he did inform them that a one cent increase in the state's fuel tax would bring in $67 million a year. Also adding registration fees on electric or hybrid vehicles would generate only about $2.5 million a year.
As the committee continues to look at this issue, it should also be noted that improving our country's infrastructure on a national level is also under consideration. An increase in fuel taxes at federal level could be in play. While Ohio's transportation budget has to be approved by the end of March, there is no similar timeline at the federal level and no clear indication that Congress will actually tackle this issue.
The Ohio Chamber supports efforts to ensure adequate and reliable funding for Ohio's transportation system and will carefully consider the recommendations of the Governor's Advisory Committee on Transportation Infrastructure. Those recommendations are likely to be reflected in Gov. DeWine's transportation budget that is expected to be unveiled within the next week.
UPDATE FEBRUARY 18: The governor's Advisory Committee on Transportation Infrastructure released it's report on Friday, February 15. Though they did recommend an increase in the gas tax, however they did not recommend an amount. The report can be found here.


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I thought this was an interesting study on the link between self-deprecating humor and well-being:
Frequent use of self-deprecating humour has been linked to a better overall psychological wellbeing, a study has discovered.
When you hear someone making fun of themselves, you would usually assume that they're doing so to conceal their insecurities.
However, a recent study has found that the opposite may be the case; that making yourself the butt of your jokes actually demonstrates greater levels of happiness and self-assurance.
University of Granada researchers from the Mind, Brain and Behaviour Research Centre (CIMCYC) decided to explore different kinds of humour to determine whether a person's comedic streak is connected to the way in which they cope with anger….
The use of self-enhancing humour allows people to overcome unpleasant situations by allowing them to find the humour and silver lining in any circumstance.
The article and study also noted that self-deprecating humor can be linked to suppressed anger but I suspect that healthier people sublimate their anger about a situation into self-deprecation to deal with that anger. Self-deprecation used in the right way can be endearing and cause other people to feel more at ease, while those who are grandiose and blame others often alienate others.


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Greetings. In light of the recent weather events that are affecting so many of us these days, I thought I'd take today to address this topic, while giving you some advise on how to conserve more energy at home. Here in Lake Arrowhead, California we have experienced one of the most severe winters in decades. While I know climate change is a controversial topic, I'm seeing it first hand in my own front yard. I truly can't remember when we had this much snow!
And, as we have seen in the news in recent weeks, dramatic, record breaking cold is causing much havoc in Texas and across the south east. Because of this there is now an increasing focus on the environmental impact that people are having on the world around them. With that said, I think as individuals we can make a positive impact on reducing climate change. And that change can start with our actions right in our own homes by finding ways to conserve our consumption of energy. Not only does conserving more energy help the planet as a whole, but it also helps to save you money, which is a benefit that nobody can be unhappy about!
So, here are a few top tips on how to conserve more energy at home.
I'm currently renovating a home from the studs in. We replaced a lot of drywall, and in doing so also replaced the old, dirty and less efficient insulation. This has improved the home's energy efficiency and will help my clients keep down their energy bill.
Proper insulation plays a significant role in lowering utility bills. To save further we even replaced the insulation under the home, keeping the cold from entering from below. If you're doing your own home renovation, or just want to replace old insulation in say, an attic space, I recommend you check out Orange County insulation removal.
Another way I look to save on my energy bills and those of my clients is to seal off air leaks wherever they occur around the home. Problem areas include windows, doors and around vents and even electrical outlets. Apply caulking or purchase adhesive foam insulation strips that are very effective in stopping drafts.
Sometimes, it is not just about the big changes that you make around the home that can make a difference. Often it's the small daily alterations that can also make a significant difference. Simply turning off your appliances and lights when they are not in use may feel like a small step, but it can actually add up to big savings. Hang-drying your clothes instead of putting them in the dryer, and washing your dishes by hand instead of putting them in the dishwasher are a couple of other useful habits to add to the list. You can also change the way you use your heating and air conditioning unit by installing a smart thermostat. Heating and cooling your home can add up to as much as half of your overall energy costs. Instead, make the most of cheap or even free methods at your disposal such as using your window treatments as insulation against summer heat and winter cold. Or by simply opening up your windows to bring in fresh air instead of using your air conditioner.
Photo by Alessio Cesario from Pexels
If you are still using the old-fashioned incandescent light bulbs, now is the time to make the switch to their energy-efficient counterparts. CFLs and LEDs are the modern versions of the old incandescent bulbs. They use as much as 80 percent less energy, which is certainly a significant figure! While they have a higher initial cost, they last much longer (like decades) and use far less energy, which will end up saving you lots of money in the long run. I have started to use only LED lights in all my home renovation projects, replacing old can lights with modern looking and energy efficient LED's. I also love that these fixtures allow you to adjust the light from cold to warm light. My preference is for warm lighting.
Here we are adding new LED fixtures in a bedroom renovation
As you might not expect, a lot of the money you spend on energy is as a result of inefficient appliances. Old appliances are HUGE energy suckers. I recently replaced an older refrigerator we kept as backup in our garage. In doing so my energy bill went down a whopping $100 a month. I had no idea it was such an energy guzzler. So, when it comes to buying new appliances, one of your first points of consideration should be to look at the energy efficiency rating. This way you can insure that you are getting a product that is kind to the environment and kind to your budget!
Conserving more energy at home is certainly worthwhile, and will benefit you and the world around you.
So there you have it: HOW TO CONSERVE MORE ENERGY AT HOME
Thanks so much for dropping in!
Express Yourself!
No blog post is truly complete without a word from you. I'd be so delighted if you'd leave a comment below.
All opinions expressed in this post are my own. Unless otherwise noted, all photos are the original property of Celia Becker @ www.AfterOrangeCounty.com and may not be reproduced without specific permission.


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with an industrial background we have in our company an extensive wealth of technical knowledge. This includes electric , pneumatic, hydraulic and electronic knowledge, as well as a broad understanding of control systems in different forms.
with this background it is not so strange that control/ show control is one of our favorite subjects to discuss.
we offer show control programming, mainly for the market leading brands in this business: Alcorn McBride, Medialon, and Coolux .
don't hesitate to contact us if you have a project coming up and want to discuss the control aspect of it! read more
mediaserver programming
we offer mediaserver programming for fixed installations as well as for temporary installations. this includes museums, trade shows, architectural installations etc. we offer our services on the Coolux Pandoras Box as well as on the Dataton Watchout platforms.
we also offer programming services for the Brightsign digital signage platform.
read more
rental of AV equipment.
We have mainstream AV products available but we specialize in multicamera registrations . Also we have DVB-Terrestrial broadcast equipment available for rental purposes ( Transmitter, Receivers etc) read more
distribution / representation
We provide sales and support representation services in Belgium, The Netherlands and Luxemburg for different brands in the professional Audiovisual industry.
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Who we are
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CrossLend is a FinTech company, licensed & supervised by BaFin and CSSF, with a mission to transform private debt into a more efficient, transparent, and profitable space for both loan originators and investors by providing end-to-end digital solutions and standardisation for loan asset transactions. As a hub for loan data management and standardisation, as well as debt trading and securitisation as a service, CrossLend provides leading-edge technology for loan asset transactions on a pan-European scale.
The heart of CrossLend's business model is a private debt platform where originators and investors can interact with each other seamlessly and transparently, viewing loan data clearly in a standardised format. This makes it easy for institutional investors to identify and compare loans according to their criteria. CrossLend was founded in Berlin in 2014 and employs more than 70 people from over 30 countries. In addition to its headquarters in Berlin, CrossLend has offices in Frankfurt, Vienna, Luxembourg, and London.


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Fort Myers, FL - The Fort Myers Fire Department has announced today the expansion of Community Connect, a secure platform allowing residents to voluntarily share critical life-safety information about their home and family which is then made available to First Responders at the time of dispatch. The expansion includes new features designed to help business owners and managers keep people at their properties safe, now giving First Responders access to critical documents such as evacuation procedures, occupant rosters, hazardous material lists and more. Additionally, designated contacts at properties that joined the program will receive immediate alerts via text message when First Responders are dispatched to the building address. The tools aim to ultimately create a more efficient and effective response to any incident or major disaster, resulting in better outcomes and a safer community.
Commercial oriented features will build on the current Community Connect platform that includes information regarding structural details, occupants with functional needs, children, and pets. The goal behind getting Fort Myers businesses, apartment complexes, age care facilities, schools and more will be to shave down response times when seconds count, and provide an elevated standard of care when arriving on scene.
"Community Connect is a secure, easy to use platform that allows residents to share critical information about their household in order to aid first responders and emergency service personnel to respond more efficiently and effectively"
"We hope that by allowing our residents to participate in their own risk reduction, it will make a measurable impact in the case that there is an emergency. We have seen Community Connect programs like ours in Florida and throughout the US grow to include commercial properties and it's had a great effect on the overall safety and preparedness of those communities." Battalion Chief David Jacobs explains.
The Fort Myers Fire Department encourages both residents and businesses alike to take advantage of the program and set aside 5 minutes to create a profile. Data security is of the utmost priority and all information provided by residents and business owners within Community Connect is 100% secure and is used only for the purpose of better serving community members during an emergency situation.
"We hope in the coming months and years this program can move the needle for the standard of care we provide to our neighbors" Chief Jacobs summarizes. "We're excited to continue to transform public safety into a team effort for residents and first responders."
To learn more about the program and to create a profile, please visit Fort Myers Community Connect.
First Due is on a mission to end first responder and citizen injuries due to a lack of information. First Due is focused on providing solutions for Fire and EMS agencies and the communities they serve, all with the goal of ensuring optimal preparedness for disaster situations.
Media Contact:
Ron Kanter
Head of Growth
+1 (516) 428-4323
Our fire department has close to 120 years of protecting life and property guided by our strong tradition and sense of pride that continues to drive our staff members towards excellence in honing the craft of firefighting and rescue services.
We serve nearly80,000 city residents within a 50-square mile area, providing critical fire suppression, advanced life support, and marine emergency response services. In addition, FMFD is the Region 6 lead response team for hazardous materials incidents within Lee County and neighboring counties.
Media Contact:
To see press and media assets for Fort Myer's launch of Community Connect, please see the program's files & downloads page.


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Melissa Milich
Staff Writer
Supportive. Empowering. Inclusive. When sitting down with Springfield College senior Katie Patrick, the creator of Ally Day, those were three words she used to describe the important campus-wide event. Ally Day has become a new Springfield College tradition that gives the entire community the opportunity to support the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community. For two years, the Pride Alliance has sponsored Ally Day with hopes to raise LGBT awareness and promote fair treatment for everyone on campus.
"It really started off as a little concept and has turned into something much bigger," said Patrick.
Since its creation in 2011, Ally Day has gone from distributing 250 T-shirts to over 400. She notes that each year the event has grown exponentially larger, and has resulted in alumni interest and involvement. Walking around campus, she states that she has seen a change for the better when it comes to acceptance and equality.
This year, the organization distributed over 50 T-shirts alone on its first day without any form of advertising. The Pride Alliance can be seen collaborating with other organizations such as SAVE's Day of Silence and other events that promote social justice and respect as well.
"Any program that impacts the campus culture in a positive way is something that we want to be a part of," Patrick said.
In the future, she hopes that the Pride Alliance and the event continue to grow and help empower people. For now, she is overwhelmed with happiness about how much the event has grown since the foundation was laid for the day of awareness. She described that whenever the message is put out there, improvement is made because more people are taking notice, whether they choose to be involved or not.
"Anytime you have something that goes from 200 students involved to 400 is something to be proud of," said Patrick.
Leading up to the event the Pride Alliance will be distributing T-shirts on the Union stage from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. until October 9. Ally Day will be recognized on October 10, where anyone who wishes to contribute can wear the shirt stating, "I am proud to be an Ally."
Later that evening, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a discussion in the Union Bistro for all who wish to participate to reflect on the day. A T-shirt can be reserved by emailing email@example.com.


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I would certainly say that you can utilize those subtleties of distinction between cards to assist color a basic yes or no and give an analysis with even more narrative web content to it. If excavating a little much deeper, using Buddhist understanding to translate, it can be claimed that the very first to the 4th card is the four kinds of problems according to the Collection of Long Discourses: causal problem (the problem of reasons as well as additionally consists of all reasons for shared reliance), instantly coming before the problem (discussing perishable awareness that adheres to one an additional), unbiased problem (the problems of treaties, the problems beyond us), basic problem (is a problem to aid the previous problems to establish), while the 5th card is the feasible outcome of those problems, call for to make use of the mind where to show as well as after that understand what required to do.
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By Daniel Hunter
Business Secretary, Vince Cable has today (Thursday) appointed entrepreneur, author and influential games industry figure Ian Livingstone as the Department for Businesses' Creative Industries Champion.
In his new position, Ian Livingstone will play a key role in both the promotion and support of the creative sector and its skills base, helping to ensure that business and skills policies are well tailored to the creative industries.
Ian currently sits on a number of industry boards including as a non-executive director of Creative England, Member of the Creative Industries Council, and Adviser to the British Council.
Announcing the appointment at an event to mark the launch of Create UK, an industry led strategy that will see businesses and government work together to maintain the UK's position as a world leader for the creative industries, Business Secretary, Vince Cable said:
"With games industry experience spanning 40 years, Ian Livingstone is a widely respected advocate and champion of the creative industries. His experience and expertise within the sector will be integral to his new role and I look forward to working with him.
"British creativity is the envy of the world. Our designers, musicians, film, TV and games makers have put the UK on the world map with their creative talent. They have also played a big part in driving our economic recovery. The sector now generates £71 billion in revenue each year and support 1.71 million jobs.
"On the day the industry publishes its first industrial strategy, the creative industries have earned their place at the top table of government. That's why I'm ensuring one of its leading lights will work with me to ensure our business support is adequately tailored and that the industry at large knows about our schemes so it can flourish even further. This will help us remain at the forefront of global creativity."
Ian Livingstone, CBE said:
"It is a huge honour to take up this position in government. The UK is arguably the most creative nation in the world. The sector punches above its weight and I am looking forward to helping ensure that its economic and cultural contribution to the UK is both recognised and supported.
"The commercialisation of creative ideas and building valuable intellectual property is core to the creative industries, and a better understanding of creative businesses and their potential to scale is vital. Promoting a better knowledge around jobs and investment opportunities in the creative industries will create a better climate for creative businesses to flourish."
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Members of a pro-police group have accused local broadcaster RTHK of producing TV programmes critical of the government and in favour of last year's pro-democracy Occupy protests.
Around ten protesters from the Justice Alliance arrived by tour bus at RTHK's headquarters on Thursday to protest against the broadcaster's "biased" reporting.
They called RTHK a broadcaster that "hurts the feelings of Hong Kongers". The group said that the publicly funded broadcaster had a tendency to pick on the government, as well as give airtime to guests who speak in favour of last year's Occupy demonstrations.
The demonstrators wore imperial Chinese attire to mock an RTHK political commentary show that used similar clothing in a role play.
Prior to the protest, the group had gathered at Wanchai Police Station to show support for the force. Leticia Lee See-yin, who led the two demonstrations, said that the police force was the "hope" for Hong Kong's rule of law, which was being "destroyed" by some Hong Kongers "in the name of freedom of expression".
Lee is an outspoken activist known for her leadership role within several anti-Occupy and pro-police groups. She led the Justice Alliance to protest on HKU and CUHK campuses during a citywide class boycott last September. Last month, Lee announced that she would be setting up a political party called Justice Alliance Party.
RTHK's veteran journalist Joseph Tse Chi-fung, who met with the alliance at the demonstration, denies the accusation that RTHK is biased. "We're committed to running an open platform that accommodates different opinions. I believe we have fulfilled our duties as journalists."
He added, "As a governmental department, we listen to public opinion and handle every complaint. But on this occasion [the group] didn't seem to have a clear demand, so it's difficult to give them a response."
In a video shot by the alliance, Tse is referred to as a "moron" and appears to be ridiculed by the demonstrators. Asked how he handled the situation, Tse said, "They won't listen to you. So the way I approach it is to explain philosophical concepts in a light-hearted manner: They said I was a dog, I told them 'I'm a watchdog.' They accused me of being paid (by pan-democrats) to criticise the government, I told them I'm indeed employed by RTHK to be a watchdog."
Tse has been targeted by supporters of the government, who criticise him for being biased and inviting pan-democrats to his weekly televised debate City Forum. On multiple occasions, security guards had to ask pro-government supporters, who kept interrupting the forum, to leave.
Francis Moriarty, former RTHK journalist and founder of the press freedom committee of the Foreign Correspondents' Club, told HKFP that the alliance had a right to free speech and protest, and protests like this did not pose a threat to journalists' work.
"The most worrisome pressures on press freedom are those you cannot see, and assaults committed by those who are hard to prosecute and working for unknown employers, such as those behind the attack on Kevin Lau," said Moriarty.
Kevin Lau Chun-to, ex-editor for local newspaper Ming Pao, was attacked with a cleaver on the street last year. His attack raised widespread concern that local journalists had become targets of assault. A court heard on Wednesday that two suspects admitted to being paid HK$100,000 each in the "meticulously planned" attack.


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Silhouette Clear Transfer Tape 9 in TRANS-TAPE-9
Use Transfer Tape to move cut-out images from the original material backing onto an intended project surface (such as a wall, window, or other smooth surface).
Transfer tape is not at material which is cut by a Silhouette cutting machine. It is a companion product for use with all vinyl types.
- Surface Color: Transparent with printed grid
- Size: 9 inch width x 10 foot length
- Material Format: Rolled
Clear transfer tape for easier placement viewing


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Economics professor says stimulus checks contribute to inflation
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBMA) - There are several factors that contribute to the inflation seen across the United States.
Dr. Joshua Robinson, a professor of economics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, said the stimulus checks many received last year play a big part as they put money directly into people's pockets.
Inflation was 7.5% higher in January 2022 than in 2021, with more than $20 billion circulating in the economy.
Robinson believes the stimulus bills and recovery acts were necessary to prevent economic downfall but explained with more money to spend on the same goods and services, prices went up.
"The trade-off is we have placed ourselves at risk for this inflation that we are now seeing," Robinson said. "Now, the Fed has to pull the reins back a little bit. But they have to do so very slowly because if they do this too quickly, they could actually cause a recession."
Robinson said unemployment during the pandemic measured 14%, though he added it was realistically closer to 17% -- near numbers that could be considered a "depression."
The UAB professor expects it to take at least a year before things go back to increasing at a normal rate.
Copyright 2022 WBMA via CNN Newsource. All rights reserved.


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Historically, an unpublished fiction author packages his manuscript in a cardboard box, mails it to one or more book publishers, and waits (and waits and waits) anxiously for a reply. The response is typically months away. Publishers can take nine to 12 months before they finish the process of reviewing a manuscript, giving copies to the poor saps who read the slush pile submissions, and usually sending a polite rejection letter. That's all done with paper, even now. But a few forward-thinking publishers are starting to modernize that process, visualizing the electronic slush pile as the tip of the electronic workflow. Science fiction publisher Baen Books, Bronx,
Barbara Peters
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|Molecular Vision 1999;
5:13 <http://www.molvis.org/molvis/v5/p13/>
Received 4 June 1999 | Accepted 22 July 1999 | Published 28 July 1999
Bilateral macular atrophy in blue cone monochromacy (BCM) with loss of the locus control region (LCR) and part of the red pigment gene
Radha Ayyagari,
Laura E. Kakuk, Caraline L. Coats, Eve L.
Bingham, Yumiko Toda, Joost Felius,
Paul A. Sieving
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
Correspondence to: Radha Ayyagari, PhD, Center for Retinal and Macular Degeneration, Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W. K. Kellogg Eye Center, 1000 Wall Street, Ann Arbor, MI, 48105; Phone: (734) 647-6345; FAX: (734) 936-7231; email: email@example.com
Purpose: To describe unusual macular abnormalities in a family with blue cone monochromacy (BCM, or X-linked incomplete achromatopsia) and deletion of about 9.5 kb comprising part of the red pigment gene and the region upstream of the red pigment gene.
Methods: The molecular structure of the red and green pigment genes and the locus control region (LCR) upstream of the red gene were studied for deletions, rearrangements and point mutations by Southern blot analysis and PCR. Four affected males (ages 33, 45, 51, and 59) and a carrier female (age 58) were examined by funduscopy and fluorescein angiography. Extensive color vision testing as well as rod and cone electroretinography (ERG) were performed on two of them.
Results: Analysis showed that the 6 kb proximal red gene region, exon 1 and about 3.1 kb of intron 1 of the red gene are deleted in this family. Exons 2-6 of the red gene, all the exons of the green gene and the Tex 28 gene were present. Four affected males had bilateral macular changes, including three with overt atrophy. All had visual acuity of 20/200 and their color vision was typical for BCM, with the absence of long- and middle-wavelength sensitive cone function. The ERG showed normal rod responses, whereas the photopic cone and 30-Hz flicker responses were >95% reduced.
Conclusions: We report the unusual association between macular atrophy and BCM resulting from the loss of an approximately 9.5 kb region encompassing the LCR, proximal red gene promoter elements and exon 1 of the red gene. However, loss of the LCR and promoter is not sufficient to explain the phenotype since we have observed other BCM families with similar deletions who do not exhibit macular changes.
Blue cone monochromacy or BCM (OMIM 303700) is an ocular disorder characterized by the loss of normal color vision caused by the absence of long-wavelength (L, "red") and medium-wavelength sensitive (M, "green") cone function but with preservation of short-wavelength sensitive (S, "blue") cone function [1]. Under photopic conditions, spectral sensitivity in BCM can be described by the short-wavelength sensitive cone (S-cone) fundamental alone [2], whereas in dimmer conditions an additional peak originating from the rods is observed [3].
In addition to abnormal color vision, BCM also affects other aspects of cone vision and typically causes reduced visual acuity, photophobia and congenital nystagmus. The photopic and flicker-electroretinogram (ERG) responses are severely reduced, indicating loss of cone signalling [4]. Although the condition results from alterations in the red and green color genes that are integral to cone photoreceptor function, BCM rarely causes atrophy of the cone rich macula but shows only subtle granularity of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) [4]. Here we present the phenotype and genotype of a BCM family with the rare condition of macular atrophy.
Individuals with normal color vision have one red gene and one or more green genes arranged in tandem on the "q" arm of chromosome X with a 600 bp locus control region (LCR) located upstream of the red gene [5,6]. The proximal red gene sequence between -1 and -445 bp was shown to be involved in controlling the expression of the red and green pigment genes [7,8]. The sequence between the red and green genes and 3' to the green gene also codes for the gene Tex 28 for which the function is unknown; the Tex 28 gene is transcribed in the direction opposite to the red and green genes [9]. BCM is associated with alterations in the red and green genes, including deletions, rearrangements and point mutations [10].
In the course of the clinical and molecular evaluation of 15 families with BCM at the University of Michigan, we found one BCM family with prominent bilateral macular atrophy. This unusual manifestation is rarely observed [10,11]. Here we present systematic clinical descriptions on four affected males and a carrier female in our family and describe the molecular analysis of the red and green color genes, and the 5' upstream region of the red gene [12].
Clinical Analysis
Two affected brothers (IV-3, IV-4), their nephew (V-2), an affected male cousin (IV-13), and a female carrier (IV-5) in a five generation family with X-linked BCM (Figure 1) were available for examination. The two brothers and their nephew underwent extensive color vision testing, using the Ishihara plates, Berson's BCM Plates [13] and the Farnsworth Dichotomous D-15 test, all performed under CIE Standard Illuminant C from a MacBeth Easel lamp. Two-degree Rayleigh matches were determined using a Nagel anomaloscope. BCM males typically fail the Ishihara test and make many random crossing errors on the D-15 test. Since S-cones do not contribute to the Rayleigh match, both BCM males and complete achromats generally match over the entire range of test intensities. However, the BCM Plates [13] present stimuli that are "equiluminant" for the rods but not for the S-cones; hence BCM males perceive contrast whereas complete achromats (rod monochromats) do not. Psychophysical dark-adapted rod absolute thresholds were evaluated using a Goldmann-Weekers dark-adaptometer and tested centrally and at six points in the visual field from 60° temporal to 20° nasal across the horizontal meridian. A standard clinical electroretinogram was recorded (details in Figure 2). Institutional review board approval for the study and informed consent from all participating individuals were obtained.
Southern blot analysis
DNA isolated from venous blood [14], and the structure of the red and green pigment genes, as well as the 12 kb region 5' upstream to the red gene transcription initiation site, and the Tex 28 gene (Figure 3A) were analyzed. Southern blot analysis of the red and green genes was performed using probes described by Nathans et al. [10]. Probes Br, Cr, Dr, Bg, Cg, and Dg detect possible gross structural changes in the red and green pigment genes (Figure 3B). The upstream region of the red gene was analyzed with probe Zr against Hind III digests of genomic DNA; probe Zr is an 800 bp fragment located 8.2 kb upstream from the red pigment gene transcription start site (Figure 3).
Exons of the red and green pigment genes, the 5' upstream red gene region and the Tex 28 gene were amplified using primers designed for these sequences. Some of the primer sequences have been given elsewhere [15-20], and others we designed to analyze the red and green genes and the upstream region using Gene Bank sequences S44029, Z47066, Z68193, Z46936, M13300, M13301, M13304, M13305, K03491, K03492, U45954. Primers to analyze the exons of the Tex 28 gene(s) located at the 3' end of the red and green genes were derived from the 3' sequence of the red and green genes (Genbank Z46936, Z49258, Z68193). Primers used for analysis are given in Table 1. Most of the PCR reactions were carried out at 94 °C for 30 seconds, 55 °C for 30 seconds, and 72 °C for 40 seconds for 35 cycles. PCR products were analyzed on agarose or polyacrylamide gel to check for deletions.
The 12 kb sequence upstream to the red gene (Genbank Z68193, Z47066) was analyzed to detect the presence of known genes or ESTs using sequence analysis software (BLAST).
Clinical findings
Inheritance of disease in this family is consistent with an X-linked recessive pattern (Figure 1). Eleven living males and two deceased males in this family are known to be affected with poor acuity, color vision loss and photosensitivity. The family emigrated from England in the 1730s and mostly resides in the eastern part of Kentucky. Clinical findings on three affected males are summarized in Table 2.
IV-4 (age 51) had 20/200 bilateral visual acuity and small-amplitude jerk nystagmus. The anterior segments were normal, the lenses were clear, and the pupils did not show an afferent defect. The optic nerves had 0.2 physiologic cupping. The retinal vessel caliber was normal, and the peripheral retina showed no unusual pigmentation. Both maculae had a circular reddish lesion from circumscribed thinning of the RPE across the central one disc diameter (Figure 4). Goldmann visual fields were normal with the V4e target but were slightly constricted with the I4e target under standard background illumination (10 cd/m2). The rod b-wave amplitude of the scotopic ERG was normal, whereas the photopic cone-driven b-wave and 30-Hz flicker responses were nearly absent (Figure 2). He identified none of the Ishihara plates (except the control plate) and made many random errors on the D-15 test, but he repeatedly passed the BCM-Plate test, indicating "incomplete achromatopsia" with S-cones contributing to residual color discrimination. On Nagel anomaloscopy he made a Rayleigh match across the entire range of intensities of the test field, indicating no contribution of L- or M-cones in the macula.
His brother IV-3 (age 59) also reported life-long poor acuity, photoaversion, and inability to discriminate color. He had been examined at the University of Michigan at age 32 and was found to have visual acuity of 20/100 in each eye. Macular changes were observed on that examination and were described in the record as "pigmentary clumping with a 'beaten bronze' appearance". By age 59, he was pseudophakic with best-corrected visual acuities of 20/200 in both eyes. The center of both maculae showed extensive RPE atrophy and choriocapillary loss across a three disc-diameter region (Figure 4). The remainder of the fundus examination was unremarkable. At age 59, IV-3 failed the Ishihara and D-15 tests, and he consistently identified only one out of the four BCM Plates. On the Nagel anomaloscope, he was able to make a Rayleigh match across the entire intensity range of the test field although his performance was poor possibly due to the macular atrophy. Goldmann V4e visual fields were full, but I4e fields were moderately constricted. Psychophysical dark-adapted thresholds reached normal rod absolute levels. Scotopic ERG b-wave amplitude was normal, but the photopic b-wave was less than 3 µV, and no appreciable 30-Hz flicker response was present (Figure 2).
Their cousin, individual IV-13 (age 45), reported poor vision, photophobia and no color perception since childhood with further acuity deterioration as an adult. Both eyes gave 20/400 visual acuity at age 45. Anterior segments were normal and media were clear. He could not correctly identify any Ishihara color test plates, nor could he identify the colors of red, green, and blue objects. Although the peripheral retina was unremarkable, both macula showed RPE pigmentary and atrophic changes (Figure 4).
V-2 (age 33) had 20/200 visual acuity in both eyes. He had no ability to distinguish among the major color groups when presented with red, green, blue and yellow stimuli. The anterior segments of both eyes were normal and had no lens changes. The maculae showed marked RPE granularity across the central 1.2 disc diameter of both eyes and RPE thinning across the central 400 µm of the fovea in both eyes. This was unusual and outside the normal spectrum for a 33 year-old.
IV-5 (age 58) is a carrier of blue cone monochromacy who complained of difficulty with vision in dimly lit areas and experienced occasional sparkling photopsia. She never had ocular surgery and used no ocular medications. Visual acuity was 20/50 -2 in the right eye and 20/40 -3 in the left eye with myopic correction of -6.00 + 2.50 x 150° (right eye) and -6.50 + 2.50 x 45° (left eye). The anterior segments were quiet and both lenses were clear centrally but showed peripheral cortical spokes which did not interfere with vision to explain her decreased acuities. Color discrimination shows one significant crossing error on the Farnsworth D-15 test binocularly. On the Ishihara test, she identified only 2 of 14 plates plus the control plate, viewing with both eyes. Her fundi showed unusual discoloration of the fovea and had granular RPE of the central 1 disc diameter of the macula in both eyes. The foveal reflex was not readily appreciated. While this carrier female does not have overt macular atrophy, this is a very unusual macular appearance and is outside the normal spectrum for a 58 year-old (see discussion).
Analysis of the LCR and the upstream red gene region
The Nathans' Zr probe was used to screen the upstream region in individuals IV-3 and IV-4. This gave a novel band larger than the 7.2 kb expected if both H1 and H2 restriction sites are present (Figure 3). This indicates that a deletion or rearrangement in the upstream region had altered the fragment size of the Hind III restriction digestion product. We analyzed the 12 kb upstream red gene region further with 35 PCR primers (Table 1) used in different combinations that amplify the region in overlapping segments of 500 to 800 bp. Primers located 0 to 6.0 kb upstream from the initiating methionine of exon 1 of the red gene did not amplify any product, whereas the primers located 6.0 to 12.0 kb upstream gave the expected size products. These results indicate that the 5' boundary of the deletion extends no further than 6.0 kb (Figure 3C) and lies between 5.5 and 6.0 kb upstream.
Analysis of color genes and Tex 28
Southern blot analysis of the red and green gene regions gave the expected size fragments corresponding to Cr, Dr, Bg, Cg and Dg when hybridized with Nathans' probes (Figure 3B) [10]. The Br fragment corresponding to exon 1 and the 3.3 kb region at the 5' end of the intron 1 of the red gene was found to be missing. Further analysis was done with PCR primers that specifically amplify the exons of the red gene in segments ranging from approximately 200 bp to 8 kb (Table 1). The PCR analysis also did not result in the amplification of the exon 1 of the red gene confirming the deletion of exon 1 of the red gene. Absence of the fragment corresponding to Br and the presence of the expected size Cr fragment suggests that the 3' end of the deletion is located in intron 1 of the red gene between the 3' end of the exon 1 and the Bam H1 site located 3.4 kb downstream from the beginning of the intron 1.
No abnormality was noted in the amplified products of exons 2-6 of the red gene and any exons of the green and Tex 28 genes. Primers are available for the green gene but were not used because the multiple copies would mask any deletion in a single green gene. Five primer pairs were used to amplify exons of the Tex 28 gene in segments of approximately 350 to 950 bp, and the appropriate size bands were obtained. The exons of Tex 28 are identically duplicated in the multiple copies that are interspersed between the red and green genes, and this analysis can not distinguish between them. However, all results of the Southern and PCR analyses were consistent with the expectation that exon 1 and part of intron 1 of the red gene are missing and the remaining exons of the red gene, and all exons of the green gene and the Tex 28 gene are present (Figure 3C).
Blast analysis of the 12 kb sequence of the proximal red gene region did not identify the presence of any other known coding sequences indicating the absence of any other known genes in the deleted region. The boundaries of the deletion were determined to a resolution of few hundred base pairs and the deletion observed in this family was found to co-segregate with the disease phenotype in this family.
Bilateral progressive macular atrophy is an unusual manifestation of BCM. In this family, the atrophy is distinct from aging maculopathy, since individual IV-3 exhibited atrophy by the young age of 32, individual IV-13 shows this at age 45, and IV-4 has circumscribed RPE thinning by age 51 (Figure 4). In addition, the affected male V-2 (age 33) shows early macular degeneration, with RPE granular pigment and thinning in both eyes (Figure 4). His mother, the carrier female IV-5 has macular changes outside the normal spectrum for her age. We have observed a female BCM carrier in a different family who also has pigmentary maculopathy (data not shown), and we believe this is due to their carrier state in both cases. The remainder of the individuals in this family were unavailable for our examination. From the individuals available, the maculopathy cosegregates with BCM through five meioses. This family alone does not make the case for causation, but this report stands in the context of two other such family reports [10,11] and indicates that macular involvement can occur in conjunction with BCM.
Fleischman and O'Donnell [11] reported one BCM family with macular atrophy and noted slight worsening of visual acuity and color vision during a twelve year follow-up period, as well as the development of pigmentary changes in the fovea. There is one additional report of a male affected with BCM and a ten year history of progressive bilateral central retinal degeneration [10]. In our family, individual IV-3 showed progressive atrophy between the ages 32 and 59. The overall incidence of macular atrophy in older BCM males is uncertain, since these individuals typically are ascertained in childhood.
Molecular analysis of all three BCM families diagnosed so far with macular atrophy (our family presented here, E:HS106 [10] and HS129 [11]) showed the presence of large deletions in the upstream red gene region encompassing the 600 bp locus control region, which is located about 3.5 kb upstream of the red gene (Figure 3C). The LCR and the proximal red gene sequence between -1 and -445 were shown to be involved in the regulation of red and green gene expression [6-8]. BCM family (E:HS106) of Nathans et al. [10] has a 2.5 kb deletion upstream of the red gene that includes the LCR, and family (HS129) of Fleischman and O'Donnell [11] has a 41 kb deletion that includes the LCR, regulatory elements and part of the red pigment gene [15] (Figure 3C). In our family, the deletion includes the LCR, proximal red gene regulatory elements, exon 1 of the red gene and a portion of intron 1 (Figure 3C). Though the size of the deletions in these three families are different, all of them show loss of the LCR.
Loss of the LCR will result in the loss of expression [6,7] of the red and green opsins. These cone visual pigments are the major transmembrane proteins present in the cone photoreceptor outer segments [21]. An analogous loss of rhodopsin expression occurs in the rhodopsin knockout mouse, and this results in the lack of formation of rod photoreceptor outer segments and leads to degeneration of the rods and subsequently the cones over a three month period [22]. In males affected with BCM, one can speculate that the fovea may never have cone outer segments, and that the cone nuclei ultimately may be expected to die. Given the dynamic interplay between photoreceptors and the RPE, it is surprising that macular atrophy is not found more frequently in patients with BCM, since the cones are the predominant photoreceptor in the central macula.
Loss of the LCR should cause major loss of red and green opsin expression, and it is not surprising that this results in poor visual acuity. The relationship to the macular atrophy is however, less clear, since we have studied several other BCM families who also have deletions of the entire LCR, but do not show macular degeneration [23]. Similarly, Nathans et al. [15] described five different BCM families with deletions in the LCR and did not report macular atrophy. Thus, the deletion of the LCR apparently does not always cause macular degeneration in BCM families.
Since the macula is cone-rich, one would expect abnormalities of genes that are structurally or functionally important for cones would be associated with macular degeneration. However, this is reported infrequently thus far, and a number of cases result from rod-specific genes. The ATP-binding cassette transporter (ABCR) gene involved in Stargardt's macular degeneration is expressed in rods rather than cones [24]. The cone-rod homeobox gene (CRX) causes both cone and rod disease; however, patients with CRX mutations have parafoveal vision loss that initially spares visual acuity [25]. If macular degeneration is caused by a single gene defect that affects primarily cone photoreceptors, then we might expect central visual function including visual acuity to be affected first, since cones vastly outnumber rods within the fovea [26,27]. The present report describes a BCM family in which macular degeneration is associated with the color genes that affect cone photoreceptor function.
FFB Molecular Genetics Grant (Ayyagari) and FFB Center Grant, both from The Foundation Fighting Blindness, Hunt Valley, MD; R01 EY06094; NEI Vision Core Grant EY07003 and M01 RR00042. The authors thank Dr. Jeremy Nathans for providing his BCM probes, Dr. Atanacio Tiongson for some of the clinical information on IV-13, and Bradley Nelson for preparation of the ocular fundus photographs.
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