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G2502, Reviewed November 2018
Success in commercial swine production is determined by a pork producer's ability to use resources efficiently. However, the level of efficiency that can be obtained is set by the genetic merit of the breeding herd. The genetic merit of the breeding herd is established by the crossbreeding program used and the introduction of new seedstock either by purchasing females or boars.
The most popular crossbreeding programs have been rotational programs that produce replacement females so that only boars need to be brought into the herd. Farmers can use other more specialized crossbreeding programs, only purchase boars as well.
When purchasing new herd boars, follow a specific plan to ensure a trouble-free experience that will add genetically superior animals to your herd. The purchasing plan should include these steps:
First, you should determine which breeds of boars are needed, how many per breed and the date they should be in place. A critical step for a successful breeding program is the correct operation of the crossbreeding program. If the crossbreeding program is conducted improperly, serious losses (up to $40-$50 per litter) will occur. Consequently, boars from each breed used in the crossbreeding program need to be maintained on the farm.
The next step in the needs assessment process is to determine the function of the boar's offspring. Use boars from sows with outstanding maternal characteristics if your highest need is to produce replacement gilts. Look for boars that excel for growth and carcass traits to sire market offspring. If you need boars to do both — produce replacement gilts and market pigs in a rotational program — then the boars should be from sows that are average or better for maternal characteristics and the boars themselves should be average or better for growth and leanness.
Even if the priority for boars is to produce replacement gilts or to fulfill a dual-purpose role, you still need to consider growth and carcass traits, because the majority of the offspring from these boars will be sold as market pigs. That means growth and carcass traits will influence profit.
Identifying the breeds needed and the roles they will serve makes selecting seedstock suppliers simpler. Find suppliers that have the breeds you need, then assess:
Evaluating a seedstock supplier's reputation can be difficult. Contact recent clients and find out if they were satisfied. You should also ask other pork producers, local agribusiness personnel and MU Extension specialists about the supplier's past history, previous business experiences, etc. to try to develop an indication of business integrity.
You must have an accurate account of herd health to succeed. When selecting a supplier, you need to evaluate how well they can provide health security and reduced risk from genetic defects. Develop a list of health-related questions for seedstock producers to answer. For example:
Also ask for the name and telephone number of the herd veterinarian so any questions concerning herd health or disease status can be directed to that person.
Determine how frequently common genetic defects occur and how the supplier eliminates them. This will help guard against any "health surprises" that could rob profitability.
When evaluating seedstock suppliers, determine how committed they are to performance testing. The seedstock swine industry does not make full use of available genetic evaluation programs, so you will need to find out how much performance data they do collect and how extensively it is used. Questions to ask include:
Seedstock producers who do not routinely collect performance data on sows or who just evaluate the boars they may be able to sell are usually not committed to performance testing and probably are not making predictable progress. These breeders may not be able to supply seedstock that will improve your efficiency and profitability.
The importance of a well-run performance breeding program should not be taken lightly. For example, Table 1 shows an evaluation of the performance of a boar tested at MU Swine Test Station. Boar A was better than average for average daily gain, feed efficiency and average backfat thickness. His progeny should be better than average for those traits and make $0.90 per pig more profit than pigs from an average boar. If Boar A sires 500 pigs, he is worth $450 (500 x $0.90 = $450) more than the average boar.
Table 1
Economic value of boars
Value of Boar A (added economic superiority x value heritability x influence x value = value per pig)
His worth will be greater if daughters are retained in the herd. The only way commercial pork producers can continue to genetically increase production efficiency and profitability is to purchase replacement seedstock from producers who are making predictable genetic progress. A well-conceived, well-run performance program by your seedstock supplier is necessary for this to occur.
The improvement you make in the future will parallel that of your seedstock supplier (Figure 1). If your seedstock supplier is making little or no genetic progress, your only genetic boost will be from crossbreeding. You will remain static except for any improvements you make in management. It becomes imperative that you as a commercial pork producer accurately assess your seedstock producer's genetic improvement program, because your genetic future depends on it.
Figure 1
Genetic merit.
After identifying your supplier you still must decide on individual boars. There is much variation on most farms and potentially a tremendous amount of information to look through. Traits of economic importance can usually be classified as maternal, postweaning or feedlot traits, carcass merit and soundness traits.
Maternal traits are those expressed by the sow after she has matured. Traits such as age at puberty, litter size, litter weight and days to postweaning estrus are examples of maternal traits. These traits are lowly to moderately inheritable (Table 2), which makes it more difficult to make rapid genetic progress in these areas. This fact does not decrease their economic importance or their need in performance programs. Selection programs that evaluate maternal traits should include number born alive and litter weight at 21 days. These traits should be measured on every female that farrows.
Postweaning or feedlot traits usually include: days to 230 pounds, average daily gain, feed efficiency and backfat thickness measured with a ruler probe or ultrasound. These traits are moderately inheritable (Table 2) and you can expect reasonable progress when these traits are included in a selection program. On-farm performance programs should include days to 230 pounds and average backfat thickness. Average daily gain is difficult to measure uniformly in most production systems, and feed efficiency is difficult to estimate accurately.
Table 2
Heritability of swine production traits
On-farm performance programs that evaluate postweaning traits should include measurements on 70 percent or more of the healthy pigs weaned.
Carcass trait evaluation has traditionally required slaughter of the animal, making it impossible to allow for direct selection for those traits. Advances in ultrasonic technology, however, make it possible to accurately measure loin muscle depth and size in the live animal. This will lead to the further development of lean growth and carcass quality programs.
Many performance traits are related genetically; the genetic control of one trait may have some influence over other traits. This means that selection for only one trait may lead to good or bad results in another trait. For example, days to 230 pounds and backfat thickness have an unfavorable relationship. Pigs that are selected only for decreased days to 230 pounds will be fatter. You can, however, use an index that combines both traits into a score and select pigs that can grow fast and still be lean. Table 3 shows other traits and the magnitude of their genetic relationships.
Table 3
Genetic relationships among common swine production
Structural soundness and conformation are traits that have received much attention ever since the pork industry began using confinement facilities. Many breeds have improved dramatically in this area. When evaluating structural soundness, remember how you plan to use the offspring of a boar.
If all the offspring from a set of boars will be marketed (i.e. in a terminal program) then boars need to possess adequate feet and leg soundness for mating purposes. If females will be retained in the herd from a new set of boars, then the boars may need to possess a greater degree of structural soundness to avoid structural problems with replacement gilts.
A good general rule is to avoid animals with obvious soundness problems. Pork producers should know what degree of structural soundness they need for their facilities and purchase boars accordingly — while also evaluating other performance traits.
Don't be influenced by current fads concerning structural soundness and conformation and don't forget to evaluate for other performance traits. This could lead to missed opportunities on purchasing seedstock that would improve efficiency and profitability.
So that your decision on which boars to buy won't be swayed by the way they look (their phenotype), start by studying the performance records. Select a group of boars that have the performance traits you need. Then visually examine only that group. Select the top-ranking individuals from the group that have acceptable soundness and phenotype.
Many independent seedstock suppliers and commercial companies sell crossbred or hybrid boars. These boars are usually the result of crossing two or more breeds or lines. Research has documented that crossbred boars are more sexually aggressive. Conception rates can increase as much as 10 percent compared to purebred boars.
The progeny of crossbred boars are similar in performance to progeny of purebred boars, and research has found them to be of similar or even less variability.
When evaluating crossbred or hybrid boars, investigate their ancestry. Avoid crossbred boars from dams or sires that ranked in the lower half of the herd. Parents of crossbred boars should be of average or better genetic merit for the traits of interest.
Knowing the ancestry of crossbred boars will help keep you from hurting your program. Using crossbred boars in a rotational crossbreeding program will make the system more complex when you are trying to maximize heterosis. Crossbred boars work well in terminal and rotaterminal systems, especially as terminal sires.
The change of ownership process is often left to the preference of the seedstock supplier. However, terms of the change of ownership can be an important factor in your perception of the seedstock producer.
First, you need to reach an agreement on sale price and what the sale price includes. For example, does the sale price include registration, transfer and delivery, or are there extra charges for these services
Before you finalize the sale, you should agree on the guarantee and how the guarantee will work if unfortunate circumstances occur. In Missouri, all seedstock sales need to be accompanied by health certificates assuring the buyer that the herd is either accredited free of brucellosis and pseudorabies or that the appropriate blood tests will be performed within 30 days before change of ownership.
Breeding swine purchased within the state of Missouri must originate from a herd that is shown to be free of brucellosis and pseudorabies or must be found negative by blood test for these two diseases within 30 days before the change of ownership.
Isolate your pigs for 30 days after change of ownership. During this time, it would be advisable to conduct another blood test for brucellosis and pseudorabies.
Breeding swine purchased outside the state of Missouri must meet these same requirements (herd number and current herd test dates must be shown on the certificate of veterinary inspection). All breeding swine purchased outside Missouri must be isolated and quarantined for 30 days and another blood test must be conducted for brucellosis and pseudorabies within those 30 days.
During the isolation period, market-age gilts or small sows that will be sold for slaughter can be penned near the boar, and the boar can be observed for sexual interest and libido. When the gilts achieve estrus, the boar can be mated to the gilts and observed for physical deformities of the penis. Allowing the first few services to happen under a controlled environment will make the experience more desirable for the boar and will probably lead to fewer breeding problems in the future.
Order publications online at http://extension.missouri.edu/explore/shop/ or call toll-free 800-292-0969.


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Busulfan, Fludarabine Phosphate, and Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Followed By Donor Stem Cell Transplant and Azacitidine in Treating Patients With High-Risk Myelodysplastic Syndrome and Older Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia
|The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT01168219
Recruitment Status : Active, not recruiting
First Posted : July 23, 2010
Results First Posted : April 3, 2018
Last Update Posted : July 10, 2018
- Study Details
- Tabular View
- Study Results
- Disclaimer
- How to Read a Study Record
|Condition or disease
|Acute Myeloid Leukemia Adult Acute Megakaryoblastic Leukemia Adult Acute Monoblastic Leukemia Adult Acute Monocytic Leukemia Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia in Remission Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Inv(16)(p13.1q22); CBFB-MYH11 Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Maturation Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With Minimal Differentiation Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(16;16)(p13.1;q22); CBFB-MYH11 Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(8;21); (q22; q22.1); RUNX1-RUNX1T1 Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia With t(9;11)(p22.3;q23.3); MLLT3-KMT2A Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Without Maturation Adult Acute Myelomonocytic Leukemia Adult Erythroleukemia Adult Pure Erythroid Leukemia Alkylating Agent-Related Acute Myeloid Leukemia de Novo Myelodysplastic Syndrome Myelodysplastic Syndrome Myelodysplastic Syndrome With Excess Blasts Previously Treated Myelodysplastic Syndrome Recurrent Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia Secondary Myelodysplastic Syndrome Untreated Adult Acute Myeloid Leukemia
|Procedure: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Biological: Anti-Thymocyte Globulin Drug: Azacitidine Drug: Busulfan Drug: Fludarabine Phosphate Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis Drug: Methotrexate Other: Pharmacological Study Drug: Tacrolimus
|Phase 2
I. To determine if this treatment can improve 2-year progression-free survival (PFS) in patients with high risk myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and in patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) >= 60 yrs age
I. To determine the safety and feasibility of using post-transplantation azacitidine.
II. To determine the ability to use pharmacokinetic-directed busulfan to achieve area under the curve (AUC) within 20% of target AUC in > 80% of patients.
III. To determine the rate of grade II-IV and III-IV acute graft-vs-host disease (GVHD).
IV. To determine the incidence of extensive chronic GVHD. V. To determine treatment-related mortality at 100 days and at 1 year. VI. To determine 5-year overall survival.
REDUCED-INTENSITY CONDITIONING: Patients receive fludarabine phosphate intravenously (IV) over 30 minutes on days -7 to -3, busulfan IV over 45 minutes on days -6 to -3, and anti-thymocyte globulin IV over 4-10 hours on days -6 to -5 (matched sibling donor [MSD]) or -6 to -4 (matched unrelated donor [MUD]).
TRANSPLANTATION: Patients undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on day 0 or on days 0-1.
GRAFT-VS-HOST DISEASE PROPHYLAXIS: Patients receive tacrolimus orally (PO) or IV on days -2 to 90 with taper on days 150-180. Patients also receive methotrexate IV on days 1, 3, 6 (MSD), and 11 (MUD).
CONSOLIDATION: Beginning on day 42, patients receive azacitidine subcutaneously (SC) or IV on days 1-5.
Treatment repeats every 4 weeks for 6 courses. Blood and bone marrow samples may be collected periodically for correlative and pharmacokinetic studies.
After completion of study treatment, patients are followed up every 6 months for 5 years.
|Study Type :
|Interventional (Clinical Trial)
|Actual Enrollment :
|68 participants
|Intervention Model:
|Single Group Assignment
|None (Open Label)
|Primary Purpose:
|Official Title:
|Phase II Study of the Addition of Azacitidine (NSC#102816) to Reduced-Intensity Conditioning Allogeneic Transplantation for Myelodysplasia (MDS) and Older Patients With AML
|Study Start Date :
|July 15, 2010
|Actual Primary Completion Date :
|November 15, 2015
|Estimated Study Completion Date :
|November 15, 2018
Experimental: Treatment (chemotherapy and transplant)
REDUCED-INTENSITY CONDITIONING: Patients receive fludarabine phosphate IV over 30 minutes on days -7 to -3, busulfan IV over 45 minutes on days -6 to -3, and anti-thymocyte globulin IV over 4-10 hours on days -6 to -5 (matched sibling donor [MSD]) or -6 to -4 (matched unrelated donor [MUD]).
TRANSPLANTATION: Patients undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation on day 0 or on days 0-1.
GRAFT-VS-HOST DISEASE PROPHYLAXIS: Patients receive tacrolimus PO or IV on days -2 to 90 with taper on days 150-180. Patients also receive methotrexate IV on days 1, 3, 6 (MSD), and 11 (MUD).
CONSOLIDATION: Beginning on day 42, patients receive azacitidine SC or IV on days 1.
Procedure: Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation
Undergo allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation
Other Names:
Biological: Anti-Thymocyte Globulin
Given IV
Other Names:
Drug: Azacitidine
Given SC or IV
Other Names:
Drug: Busulfan
Given IV
Other Names:
Drug: Fludarabine Phosphate
Given IV
Other Names:
Other: Laboratory Biomarker Analysis
Correlative studies
Drug: Methotrexate
Given IV
Other Names:
Other: Pharmacological Study
Correlative studies
Drug: Tacrolimus
Given PO or IV
Other Names:
- Progression-free Survival [ Time Frame: At 2 years ]
Number of patients who were alive and progression-free at 2 years. >
AML progression is defined as:
- Reappearance of leukemia blast cells in peripheral blood and > 5% blasts in marrow
- If no circulating blasts, but the marrow contains 5-20% blasts, a repeat bone marrow >= 1 week later with > 5% blasts
- Development of extramedullary leukemia
MDS progression is defined as
- For patients with <5% bone marrow blasts: ≥50% increase in blasts to >5% blasts
- For patients with 5-10% bone marrow blasts: ≥50% increase to >10% blasts
- Any of the following: Reappearance of prior documented characteristic cytogenetic abnormality or refractory cytopenias with unequivocal evidence of dysplasia on bone marrow biopsy/aspirate
- Overall Survival (OS) [ Time Frame: Up to 5 years ]Estimated using the Kaplan-Meier product limit estimator.
- Treatment Related Mortality (TRM) [ Time Frame: Up to 6 months post-treatment ]TRM is defined as death within the first six months after transplant not secondary to relapse.
Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.
|Ages Eligible for Study:
|18 Years to 74 Years (Adult, Older Adult)
|Sexes Eligible for Study:
|Accepts Healthy Volunteers:
Inclusion Criteria:
Meets one of the following sets of criteria:
Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS):
Disease with high-risk features (found either at diagnosis or before initiation of cytotoxic therapy), defined as one of the following:
- International prognostic scoring system (IPSS) risk >= intermediate-2
- Refractory anemia with excess blasts by French-American-British (FAB) classification
- High-risk cytogenetics (either complex or -7)
- Less than 10% bone marrow blasts as determined by bone marrow biopsy within the past 4 weeks (reduction in marrow blast percentage may be achieved with chemotherapy or other therapy)
- Less than 75 years old
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML):
- No FAB M3
- No acute leukemia following blast transformation of prior chronic myelogenous leukemia or other myeloproliferative disease
- Patients with preceding MDS or treatment-related AML are eligible
- Prior central nervous system (CNS) involvement is allowed provided the disease is in remission at transplantation
Morphologic complete remission (leukemia-free state) is defined as meeting all of the following criteria:
- Bone marrow blasts < 5% (as determined by bone marrow within the past 4 weeks), but without requirement for normal peripheral blood counts
- No extramedullary leukemia
- No blasts in peripheral blood
Achieved complete remission (CR) after no more than 2 courses of induction chemotherapy
- Patients treated with azacitidine or decitabine who achieve a leukemia-free state are eligible (may have required up to 4 courses of therapy to reach this status)
- Age 60 to 74 years
Donors must meet the following criteria:
One of the following:
- HLA-identical sibling (6/6) by serologic typing for class (A, B) and low-resolution molecular typing for class II (DRB1)
- Matched unrelated donor (8/8) by high-resolution molecular typing at HLA-A, -B, -C, and DRB1
- No syngeneic donors
- Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status 0-2
- Calculated creatinine clearance ≥ 40 mL/min
- Bilirubin < 2 mg/dL OR bilirubin 2-3 mg/dL provided direct bilirubin is normal
- Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) < 3 times upper limit of normal
- Diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO) > 40% with no symptomatic pulmonary disease
- Left ventricle ejection fraction (LVEF) >= 30% by echocardiogram (ECHO) or multigated acquisition (MUGA)
- Not pregnant or nursing
- Negative pregnancy test
- Fertile patients must use effective contraception
- No uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or active serious infections
- No known hypersensitivity to E. coli-derived products, azacitidine, or mannitol
- No human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection or active hepatitis B or C
Prior azacitidine or decitabine allowed
- No patients who progressed from MDS to AML during treatment with azacitidine or decitabine
- At least 4 weeks since prior deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-hypomethylating chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and/or surgery
No more than 2 courses of consolidation therapy before transplantation (for patients with AML)
- Any consolidation regimen that does not require transplantation can be used
- No more than 6 months from documentation of morphologic CR to transplantation
To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.
Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT01168219
|United States, Delaware
|Beebe Medical Center
|Lewes, Delaware, United States, 19958
|Christiana Care Health System-Christiana Hospital
|Newark, Delaware, United States, 19718
|United States, Florida
|Florida Hospital Orlando
|Orlando, Florida, United States, 32803
|United States, Iowa
|University of Iowa/Holden Comprehensive Cancer Center
|Iowa City, Iowa, United States, 52242
|United States, Maryland
|University of Maryland/Greenebaum Cancer Center
|Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21201
|Union Hospital of Cecil County
|Elkton, Maryland, United States, 21921
|United States, Missouri
|Washington University School of Medicine
|Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
|United States, New Hampshire
|Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center
|Lebanon, New Hampshire, United States, 03756
|United States, New Jersey
|Cooper Hospital University Medical Center
|Camden, New Jersey, United States, 08103
|United States, New York
|Northwell Health NCORP
|Lake Success, New York, United States, 11042
|Mount Sinai Hospital
|New York, New York, United States, 10029
|Weill Medical College of Cornell University
|New York, New York, United States, 10065
|United States, North Carolina
|UNC Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center
|Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States, 27599
|Wake Forest University Health Sciences
|Winston-Salem, North Carolina, United States, 27157
|United States, Ohio
|Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center
|Columbus, Ohio, United States, 43210
|Principal Investigator:
|Ravi Vij
|Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology
|Responsible Party:
|National Cancer Institute (NCI)
|ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier:
|NCT01168219 History of Changes
|Other Study ID Numbers:
NCI-2011-02053 ( Registry Identifier: CTRP (Clinical Trial Reporting Program) )
CALGB 100801 ( Other Identifier: Alliance for Clinical Trials in Oncology )
CALGB-100801 ( Other Identifier: CTEP )
U10CA180821 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
U10CA031946 ( U.S. NIH Grant/Contract )
|First Posted:
|July 23, 2010 Key Record Dates
|Results First Posted:
|April 3, 2018
|Last Update Posted:
|July 10, 2018
|Last Verified:
|June 2018
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Leukemia, Myeloid
Leukemia, Myeloid, Acute
Myelodysplastic Syndromes
Leukemia, Monocytic, Acute
Leukemia, Myelomonocytic, Acute
Leukemia, Megakaryoblastic, Acute
Leukemia, Erythroblastic, Acute
Anemia, Refractory, with Excess of Blasts
Pathologic Processes
Neoplasms by Histologic Type
Bone Marrow Diseases
Hematologic Diseases
Precancerous Conditions
Myeloproliferative Disorders
Anemia, Refractory
Fludarabine phosphate
Antilymphocyte Serum

subset: commoncrawl


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Sigh, I feel like I'm getting old. I just found out that the LM567 has been end-of-lifed by National some time ago. Others still carry it but next thing you know the 555 and 301 op amps will be just so many memories.
My latest effort has been the Servo Gizmo which is a PIC based board for implementing action at a distance. It started life as a means to control the pneumatics on two of our team's BattleBots, but has since evolved into something much more useful than that.


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Remember the XPath Axes
Today I was having some trouble coming up with a Selenium XPath locator for a deeply nested selector with a dynamically generated ID. To make matters worse, there were no "near by" logical elements that this element was tied to that had an easy locator. The only clear thing I had was the label for the option I wanted to select. Not wanting to leave the test w/ an extremely brittle, not to mention long and unreadable, xpath locator … I remembered that I had solved this problem before.
Several times now I have wanted to use an XPath expression to find an element by its child element. Queue XPath axes.
Since I have forgotten the syntax and usage of axes several time nows, here I post the solution for posterities sake. If anyone has a better solution to this issue, please let me know … but this seemed to work well enough.
XPath axes allow you to specify a "location step" from a[ny] specified element. What does this mean? We can select elements based on there location relative to another, and NOT just contained within it. They are specified by an "axis specifier" followed by :: and an element selector. Example:
In order to select a SELECT element by one of its OPTIONs:
//OPTION[text() = 'Choice Text']/parent::SELECT
This XPath selects the SELECT element which is the parent of any OPTION elements containing the text node with a value of 'Choice Text'. While not as simple as a locator directly to the desired element based on its ID, this expression is composed only of elements we actually care about with regard to the test (the option we want and the selector its in) and is more readable than a 50+ character expression going back to the root element and containing numerous indexes.
XPath axes can select a number of things including an elements children, ancestors, siblings (preceding and following), etc.
For the next time I forget the syntax, ZVON has a nice site with examples of various axes and there syntax and Greg Collins has a nice post on how the sibling axes work.
Also, at least in XPather, an expression that would otherwise return the same element more than once through an axis, only returns the unique list of elements (e.g. //div/ancestor::* will return the root element only once and not once per DIV found)


text:
You don't need to look very hard to find new construction.
You don't have to look very hard on Crookston north end and in the northeast corner to see new construction. Three basement foundations that have been poured for houses along the Barrette Estates subdivision, and a fourth home is also under construction further north up the street.
Just off University Avenue, Crookston's Cobblestone Hotel & Suites now has roof trusses attached, and work is underway to extend Sahlstrom Drive to the hotel parking lot and to the westbound lanes of U.S. Highway 2/University Avenue.


text:
Chipper Jones singles in final regular season game as Braves top Pirates 4-0
PITTSBURGH – Jason Heyward singled twice and scored two runs as the playoff-bound Atlanta Braves beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-0 in their regular-season finale on Wednesday.
Chipper Jones added a pinch-hit single in his final regular-season at-bat for Atlanta, which hosts St. Louis in the wild-card playoff on Friday.
Luis Avilan (1-0) won on a day the Braves used eight pitchers to hold Pittsburgh to four hits. Ben Sheets started and pitched one scoreless inning in his last major league appearance.
A.J. Burnett (16-10) gave up four runs in 5 2-3 innings for Pittsburgh. The Pirates finished 79-83, extending their record streak of losing seasons to 20.


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Joliet Junior College
Joliet Junior College enriches people's lives through affordable accessible and quality programs and services. The college provides transfer and career preparation training and workforce development and a lifetime of learning to the diverse community it serves.
School Information1215 Houbolt Rd
Joliet, Illinois 60431-8938
Calendar: Semester
Locale: Rural: Fringe
Open Admissions: Yes
Sector: Public, 2-year
Carnegie Basic: Associate's--Public Suburban-serving Single Campus
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Accrediting Agency: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Locale: Rural: Fringe
Open Admissions: Yes
Sector: Public, 2-year
Carnegie Basic: Associate's--Public Suburban-serving Single Campus
Religious Affiliation: Not applicable
Accrediting Agency: North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, The Higher Learning Commission
Students & Faculty
Total Students
Male Students
Female Students
Total Intl Students
Intl Male Students
Intl Female Students
* All data is provided by the school or compiled from IPEDS as of May 2013
Total Tuition $10,385.00
Degrees & Programs
|Administrative Assistant and Secretarial Science, General
|Agricultural Economics
|Agricultural Production Operations, General
|Animal/Livestock Husbandry and Production
|Animation, Interactive Technology, Video Graphics and Special Effects
|Architectural Engineering Technology/Technician
|Automobile/Automotive Mechanics Technology/Technician
|Biological and Physical Sciences
|Biomedical Technology/Technician
|Business/Office Automation/Technology/Data Entry
|Child Care Provider/Assistant
|Computer Installation and Repair Technology/Technician
|Computer Programming/Programmer, General
|Computer Systems Networking and Telecommunications
|Computer Technology/Computer Systems Technology
|Construction Engineering Technology/Technician
|Construction Management
|Construction Trades, General
|Criminal Justice/Police Science
|Criminal Justice/Safety Studies
|Culinary Arts/Chef Training
|Data Processing and Data Processing Technology/Technician
|Electrical, Electronic and Communications Engineering Technology/Technician
|Electrocardiograph Technology/Technician
|Emergency Medical Technology/Technician (EMT Paramedic)
|Entrepreneurship/Entrepreneurial Studies
|Fashion Merchandising
|Fire Science/Fire-fighting
|Fire Services Administration
|Floriculture/Floristry Operations and Management
|Food Preparation/Professional Cooking/Kitchen Assistant
|General Studies
|Greenhouse Operations and Management
|Health Information/Medical Records Technology/Technician
|Heating, Air Conditioning, Ventilation and Refrigeration Maintenance Technology/
|Hospitality Administration/Management, General
|Hotel/Motel Administration/Management
|Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
|Industrial Electronics Technology/Technician
|Industrial Mechanics and Maintenance Technology
|Instrumentation Technology/Technician
|Interior Design
|Legal Administrative Assistant/Secretary
|Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies
|Library and Archives Assisting
|Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurse Training
|Logistics, Materials, and Supply Chain Management
|Manufacturing Engineering Technology/Technician
|Massage Therapy/Therapeutic Massage
|Mechanical Engineering/Mechanical Technology/Technician
|Medical Insurance Coding Specialist/Coder
|Medical Office Assistant/Specialist
|Medical Transcription/Transcriptionist
|Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient Care Assistant/Aide
|Operations Management and Supervision
|Pharmacy Technician/Assistant
|Plant Nursery Operations and Management
|Prepress/Desktop Publishing and Digital Imaging Design
|Radiologic Technology/Science - Radiographer
|Real Estate
|Registered Nursing/Registered Nurse
|Retailing and Retail Operations
|Selling Skills and Sales Operations
|Teacher Assistant/Aide
|Turf and Turfgrass Management
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By DAILY MAIL REPORTER
Hopefuls: Teenage group Poplyfe took to the stage in scenes on aired last night on America's Got Talent in a bid to make it through to the Las Vegas round
Piers Morgan reduced a teenage girl to tears on America's Got Talent last night.
The former Fleet Street newspaper editor told the lead singer of Poplyfe that he was impressed with her vocal.
But he gave her a cruel ultimatum saying he would only put her through if she ditched her five other bandmates.
Mr Nasty: But Morgan told the lead singer she should dump her other five bandmates - otherwise he would give his vote
Saving the day: But fellow judges Sharon Osbourne an Howie Mandel came through and put the entire group through to the next round
Sticking to her guns, the girl, whose name was not revealed on the show, said: 'I cannot go without my brothers.'
Luckily for her, fellow judges Sharon Osbourne and Howie Mandel gave her and the rest of the band the thumbs up and put them through to the next round in Las Vegas.
But Piers said to them: 'Judging you as a group, I'm going to say no.'
The six-piece band, who are aged between 12 and 16 and who performed Travie McCoy's track Billionaire, were delighted with the final result after being saved by Howie and Sharon.
Introductions: The band is made up of members aged between 12 and 16
Acoustic set: They performed a version of Travie McCoy's track Billionaire
As they exited the stage, the lead singer triumphantly shouted at Piers: 'We will show you.'
But it appeared the stress of the audition was a little too much to take.
Moments later she dissolved into tears backstage when host Nick Cannon asked her why she was so emotional.
With tears in her eyes, she replied: 'Because I thought I was going to have to leave them.'
Last night's show kicked off with a hilarious skit by celebrity impressionist Melissa Villasenor.
Impressive: Kenyan acrobatic group Zuma Zuma got the thumbs up as they made a human pyramid
She earned laughs with her interpretations of Barbara Walters, Miley Cyrus, Kathy Griffin, Christina Aguilera and Natalie Portman.
Afterwards Sharon told the shop worker: 'You won't be working in retail much longer.' Melissa received three yes votes from the judges.
Next up was the A+C Twins, who failed to impress with their rendition of My Girl.
Wow: Anita McCoy did the splits to the surprise of the judging panel
Oh dear: The A+C Twins failed to impress despite comparing themselves to The Jacksons, seen here with judge Howie attempting to help them out
Howie even joined them on stage for a verse, but the twosome were sent packing after Sharon told them they couldn't sing.
An acrobatic group from Kenya called Zuma Zuma caught the attention of the judges as the put on a high-energy routine that saw them build a human pyramid. They secured the approval of all of the judges and made it to the next round.
But 33-year-old showman Mauricio Herrera was another flop in a night of weird and wonderful acts.
He performed Ricky Martin's Livin La Vida Loca, with Piers buzzing him out from the off before branding it 'horrendous'.
Other acts who made it through to Vegas included acrobatic couple The Daring Jones Duo, eight-year-old swing singer Sadie and The Elektrolytes, a hip-hop dance group.
How cute: Swing singer Sadie was a big hit with her very impressive voice
You're out: Mauricio Herrera failed to serve up the good with his rendition of Ricky Martin's Living La Vida Loca, leaving Piers with his head in his hands
America's Got Talent 2011 - Seatlle Auditions
source: dailymail


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ATLANTA (AP) A sellout crowd of 52,631 packed Turner Field to watch the Atlanta Braves and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball's first wild-card playoff game.
It was the Braves' biggest crowd of the season.
Fans included former Braves owner Ted Turner, who set across an aisle from former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn. Former Braves manager Bobby Cox also attended the game.
Tributes to retiring third baseman Chipper Jones gave the Braves three sellouts to close their regular season, pushing attendance to 2,420,171, a slight increase from their 2011 total.
The potential for a sellout was jeopardized by the 5:07 p.m. start. Atlanta's Friday rush-hour traffic makes it difficult for fans to reach Turner Field for the first inning of night games. The late-afternoon start posed new difficulties.
Texas hosted Baltimore later Friday in the first AL wild-card playoff game.


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Braxton Miller passes for 3 TDs, runs for 2 as No. 4 Ohio State steamrolls Penn State, 63-14
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COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio State was looking for a lopsided win to impress the voters and boost its BCS numbers. The Buckeyes made Penn State pay the price.
Braxton Miller passed for three touchdowns and ran for two and Carlos Hyde rushed for 147 yards and two more scores to lead the fourth-ranked Buckeyes to a 63-14 victory over Penn State on Saturday night.
It was the most points surrendered by Penn State (4-3, 1-2 Big Ten) and its worst beating in 114 years.
The Ohio State (8-0, 4-0) victory stretched its nation's best winning streak to 20 in a row, two behind the school mark which included the 1968 national championship season. That team was recognized during the opening half as the Buckeyes streaked to a 42-7 lead.
Nittany Lions freshman QB Christian Hackenberg bobbled the second snap of the night and it never got much better. He ended up throwing two interceptions.
A crowd of 105,889 at Ohio Stadium roared from the outset — and had plenty of reasons.
Penn State hadn't given up so many points or been beaten so badly since losing 64-5 to the Duquesne Athletic Club on Nov. 25, 1899.
Miller, who completed 18 of 24 passes, threw for a career-best 252 yards before leaving in the third quarter. Even his backup — Kenny Guiton — rushed for two touchdowns.
Bill Belton was one of the few bright spots for the Nittany Lions, gaining 98 yards on 22 carries.
It was the most one-sided margin by the Buckeyes and their most points scored in the 29 meetings in the series. The teams had split the last four meetings, with Ohio State holding a cumulative 79-66 scoring advantage. All of those matchups were close.
But this one sure wasn't. It got out of hand quickly.
The Buckeyes enforced their will on the Nittany Lions on both sides of the ball in an impressive show of strength.
Ohio State scored on six of seven possessions in the first two quarters, throwing deep for scores to wide-open receivers and jamming it between the tackles with Miller and Hyde making the most of gaping holes.
Miller completed all four of his passes for 65 yards after the opening kickoff before Hyde bulled right tackle for a 2-yard TD.
In the only real drama of the game, Penn State manufactured a nice drive in response by mixing Belton runs with Hackenberg passes until faced with a third and 5 at the Ohio State 12.
Then Hackenberg tried to thread a pass to tight end Adam Breneman at the goal line, with safety Corey "Pittsburgh" Brown picking off the underthrown attempt to end the threat.
After the teams traded punts, the Buckeyes scored on five straight possessions. Miller scrambled right and just tumbled into the end zone behind a block by Devin Smith on a 39-yard scoring run.
Two plays later, safety C.J. Barnett jumped a route and intercepted a Hackenberg pass and the onslaught was on. Seven plays and 52 yards later, Miller hesitated after taking the snap and had his pick of routes to the goal line, carrying the final 6 yards to make it 21-0.
There was no defender even close when Miller flipped a 3-yard TD pass to Chris Fields the next time Ohio State's offense got its hands on the ball.
With Belton carrying the load, the Nittany Lions got on the board when Hackenberg avoided a collapsing pocket and short-armed a 12-yard pass to Brandon Felder over the middle.
Before Penn State's small contingent of fans could really appreciate that score, however, the Buckeyes had another touchdown. Dontre Wilson brought back the ensuing kickoff 49 yards and two plays later Hyde went untouched off left tackle the final 39 yards to make it 35-7.
Then with 3 seconds left in the half, Miller found wide-out Corey "Philly" Brown — yes, the Buckeyes have two Corey Browns, both from Pennsylvania — on a 25-yard scoring toss in which Brown was given a huge cushion.
Hackenberg finished 12 of 23 for 112 yards passing with a touchdown and two interceptions. He carried four times for 21 yards in losses.
Guiton scored on runs of 2 and 11 yards.
The final score had to bring a chuckle to former Ohio State coach John Cooper. He took a team ranked No. 21 to Happy Valley in 1994 which was run over by the top-ranked Nittany Lions by a score of — that's right — 63-14.
Follow Rusty Miller on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/RustyMillerAP


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Over 65,000 customers worldwide rely on Oracle's complete, open and integrated enterprise applications to achieve superior results. Oracle provides a secure path for customers to benefit from the latest technology advances that improve the customer software experience and drive better business performance. Oracle Applications Unlimited is Oracle's commitment to customer choice through continuous investment and innovation in current applications offerings. Oracle's next-generation Fusion Applications build upon that commitment, and are designed to work with and evolve Oracle's Applications Unlimited offerings. Oracle's lifetime support policy helps ensure customers will continue to have a choice in upgrade paths, based on their enterprise needs. For more information on the latest Oracle Applications releases go to www.oracle.com/applications
Oracle engineers hardware and software to work together in the cloud and in your data center. For more information about Oracle (NASDAQ:ORCL), visit www.oracle.com.
Oracle and Java are registered trademarks of Oracle and/or its affiliates. Other names may be trademarks of their respective owners.
Karen Hartquist
Simon Jones


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EuMW 2008: Product Wrap-up
In addition to a varied technical program, EuMW 2008 featured an Industry Exhibition, held Tuesday through Thursday at the Amsterdam RAI. Below please find a sampling of some of the exhibitors and their products:
Acceleware® Corp. announced that Kodak has adopted Acceleware's Cluster Solution to accelerate the design process for optoelectronic image sensors. Kodak is using Acceleware's cluster technology in conjunction with Synopsys' TCAD Sentaurus Device EMW to design advanced image sensors with improved ultra-low-light performance, faster video and that are more easily manufactured. Acceleware's cluster solution enables companies to significantly reduce design cycle times when investigating pixel array performance including analysis of optical crosstalk for normal and oblique incidence light.p>Aeroflex/Weinschel introduced a series of Programmable Step Attenuators that provide attenuation from 0 to 70 dB or 0 to 110 dB in 10 dB steps. These attenuators provide programmable adjustments of RF signal levels in precise steps of 10 dB and consist of a cascaded assembly of switched attenuator cells. The attenuator elements located in the attenuator cell are created by a thin-film process that provides exceptional long-term stability, low power and temperature coefficients. This series uses a reed switching structure that provides rapid switching together with low insertion loss. The 153 series in available in three cell (153-70) and four cell (153-110) configurations.
Agilent Technologies Inc. spent the week debuting several new products, including SystemVue 2008, a new electronic design automation (EDA) platform for electronic system-level (ESL) design. The new platform cuts physical layer (PHY) design time in half for high-performance communications algorithms and system architectures, for both wireless and aerospace/defense applications. The company also introduced the new PXB MIMO Receiver Tester for quicker, more accurate test of Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) receivers earlier in the design cycle. Providing the best simulation of real-world conditions available on the market today, the PXB significantly reduces development cycle time. The new instrument transforms MIMO test with its ability to minimize design uncertainty and equipment and lab setup time while maximizing the performance and scalability needed to meet future test needs. Agilent also announced the arrival of the FieldFox handheld RF analyzer -- the world's most integrated handheld instrument for wireless network installation and maintenance (I&M).
Key measurements include cable and antenna test from 2 MHz to 4/6 GHz, spectrum analysis from 100 kHz to 4/6 GHz, vector network analysis and true average power measurements. In related news, Agilent announced nonlinear vector network analyzer (NVNA) capability for its PNA-X microwave network analyzer, establishing a new industry standard in RF nonlinear network analysis from 10 MHz to 26.5 GHz. Also, the company's Advanced Design System (ADS) 2008 Update 2 provides new updated wireless verification models that are compliant with Version 8.3 of the emerging 3GPP Long Term Evolution (LTE) standard. The new models support creation of Frame structure 1 – FS1 (FDD) multiple input-multiple output (MIMO) signals in 2x2 downlink configurations.
Analog Devices Inc., a leader in semiconductors for signal processing applications, introduced the industry's first high-performance broadband I/Q quadrature modulator to integrate automatic gain control (AGC) circuitry within a compact 6×6 mm LFCSP (lead-frame chip-scale package). ADI's ADL5386 provides a unique combination of performance and unmatched integration levels for low intermediate frequency (IF) and radio frequency (RF) transmitters within broadband wireless access systems, microwave radio links, cable modem termination systems and cellular infrastructure equipment.
Anritsu Co. continues its commitment to next-generation wireless technologies with the enhancement of its LTE software and tool set. The improved software packages allow Anritsu's MS269xA Signal Analyzer series and MG3700A Vector Signal Generator to conduct highly accurate measurements on LTE Uplink and Downlink signals. With the accuracy required for R&D and the speed needed for manufacturing, Anritsu's test equipment facilitates efficient testing of 3GPP LTE-compliant mobile terminals, base stations and components.
AR is offered a free 2009 full color calendar. The 12" x 12" calendar runs from October '08 through December' 09 and features striking color photography related to the industries served by the AR companies. Important industry events are highlighted; and information about the company's innovations is also included.
Arlon was on hand to display both TC350 and TC600, ceramic powder filled, woven fiberglass PTFE composites engineered to produce laminates with a nominal dielectric constant of 3.50 and 6.15, respectively. The ceramic fills and ceramic styles used in TC350 and TC600 typically reduce drill life compared to conventional PTFE/glass substrates. However, the ceramic reduces smear when compared to typical PTFE/glass substrates. TC350 and TC600 materials used in stripline or microstrip applications can be processed using conventional PTFE ceramic board fabrication processes and techniques.
Cobham Defense Electronic Systems (CDES) - Nurad Division recently developed Model 092-00750, a Global Positioning Systems (GPS) that employs a single feed input SMA or female connector. The antenna provides hemispherical coverage at the L1/L2 bands. Model 092-00750 has a VSWR of 2.0:1, gain of 5 dBi and impedance of 50 Ohms. The three-inch in diameter by .575-inch thick compact design and rugged construction make Model 092-00750 extremely reliable for harsh military shipboard environments.
Computer Simulation Technology AG (CST) announced the release of version 2009 of the electromagnetic simulation software CST STUDIO SUITE™, including its flagship product CST MICROWAVE STUDIO® (CST MWS). Users of CST STUDIO SUITE version 2009 will benefit from numerous enhancements, including a total revision of the tetrahedral frequency domain solver's mesh adaptation scheme, transient EM/circuit co-simulation, MPI-based parallelization for the fast solution to large problems on clusters, and the porting of the user interface to 64 bit in order to handle the increasing complexity of imported models. In addition, two new simulation tools have been added: CST PCB STUDIO™ and CST CABLE STUDIO™, which are fully integrated in CST DESIGN ENVIRONMENT™. CST also announced True Geometry Adaptation. This represents a breakthrough in high frequency tetrahedral frequency domain solver mesh adaptation schemes. This innovation will be available with version 2009 of the electromagnetic simulation software CST MICROWAVE STUDIO® (CST MWS).Users of CST MICROWAVE STUDIO® (CST MWS) version 2009 will benefit from the total revision of its tetrahedral frequency domain solver's mesh adaptation scheme. Traditionally, adaptive mesh refinement of HF frequency domain solvers, based on a tetrahedral grid, does not improve on the initial, facetted representation of the structure. The originally created tetrahedra are just divided further where necessary. Here the mesh adaptation will converge, not to the results (e.g. S-parameters) of the actual structure, but to those of the initial, segmented model.
Emerson Network Power featured products from its four distinct product lines – Trompeter, Johnson, Midwest Microwave and Vitelec. Also in attendance was Thunderline Z, who presented its range of hermetically sealed feed through interconnection devices.
Among the products on display was the concentric and field serviceable Trompeter Twin and Triax Connectors. The miniature sized 70 Series of TRB/TRT connectors include bayonet and threaded versions, which provide different levels of mechanical stability and keying.
Emerson's new line of Johnson SMP Blind-Mate Connectors handles frequencies up to 40 GHz and is compatible with all SMP and GPO® Connectors. The new precision connection interface is a micro-miniature, slide-on/snap-on interconnect system that is ideal for high density packaging.
Emerson Network Power also presented the Midwest Microwave M42 and M52 series of test and measurement cable assemblies that combine high frequency performance with an ultra low insertion loss, providing a cost-effective solution.
EMITE Ing announced the release of its 8x8 MIMO Analyzer® Series E100, the first of its kind to offer the advantages of direct measurements of implemented Diversity Gain (Apparent, Effective, Ideal and Actual), spurious radiation outside operating bands, embedded radiation efficiency, maximum available Shannon capacity and capacity loss due to efficiency, all united in one single and intuitive interface.
Freescale Semiconductor has reinforced its commitment to the commercial aerospace market with the introduction of a high-performance laterally diffused metal oxide semiconductor (LDMOS) RF power transistor. The latest addition to Freescale's RF aerospace portfolio, the MRF6V4300N device is optimized for HF to UHF communications. The MRF6V4300N power transistor is ideal for a wide range of applications, including radar and air traffic management systems. It is designed to deliver the highest gain and efficiency in its class. The device delivers RF output power of 300 W CW from 10 to 600 MHz. At 450 MHz, it has a gain of 22 dB and 60 percent efficiency.
Hittite Microwave Corp. announced the HMC-T2000, a compact and lightweight frequency generator that delivers up to +20 dBm (+17 dBm leveled) of CW output power with better than -40 dBc of harmonic rejection at 1 GHz and spurious products better than -42 dBc across the entire frequency range. Phase noise is -83 dBc/Hz @ 100 kHz offset from 4 GHz with insignificant deviation over the temperature range 0 to +35°C. The company also launched the HMC614LP4E, a "true RMS" representation of any RF/IF input signal and is ideally suited to wide bandwidth, wide dynamic range applications requiring repeatable power measurement over temperature, especially where RF/IF waveshape and crest factor change with time. The HMC614LP4E employs an innovative new circuit architecture that enables simultaneous measurement of peak power and average power. A peak-to-average output signal provides a direct read of signal crest factor.
In addition, Hittite introduced two new additions to its variable gain amplifier (VGA) product line. These innovative analog variable gain amplifiers are an ideal choice for use in for use in applications where accurate signal level control and high linearity is required. These applications include point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radio, EW, ECM, radar and test equipment within the 6 to 17 GHz frequency range. The company's additions to its medium power amplifier product line were also on display. These GaAs PHEMT MMIC amplifiers provide frequency coverage in the 5 to 18 GHz and 34 to 42 GHz bands, and are ideal for use in a wide range of applications including point-to-point and point-to-multipoint radios, VSAT, military and space, fiber optics, sensors, and test instrumentation.
HVVi Semiconductors Inc., a developer of silicon RF power transistors, announced the company's first products for airborne Distance Measuring Equipment (DME) applications operating in the 1025 to 1150 MHz frequency band. Based on the industry's first High Voltage Vertical Field Effect Transistor (HVVFET™) architecture, the new HVV1012-060, HVV1012-100 and HVV1012-250 RF transistors deliver higher output power and gain in a smaller package than competitive technologies. By complementing previously announced products in the 1.2 to 1.4 GHz and 1030 to 1090 MHz bands, the new devices extend HVVi Semiconductor's growing product portfolio across all three pulsed applications in the L-band frequency.
INTEGRATED Engineering Software announced that its latest version of SINGULA now handles highly lossy materials. Lossy materials exposed to electromagnetic waves generate heat. SINGULA affectively simulates applications such as this by accurately calculating the power loss in the lossy materials. The loss calculations can then be used by the company's thermal analysis software to calculate the thermal distribution. An example of this would be an antenna radiating in the presence of highly lossy materials like biological matter (like an antenna in a cellphone).
Keithley Instruments Inc. introduced the Model 2308 Portable Device Battery/Charger Simulator, a dual-channel battery- and charger-simulating power supply designed to provide the lowest cost testing of both the growing range of mobile phones with new, complex transmission schemes and other types of new portable devices that consume extremely low amounts of power. The Model 2308's fast transient output response maximizes production yields by maintaining a stable voltage level under dynamic loading conditions. In addition, its measurement engine enables more accurate characterization of both full power operation and low current sleep modes for quantifying power consumption so that design and manufacturing can ensure that battery life of the latest portable electronic devices is maximized. The Model 2308 is optimized for ultra-fast test times, allowing manufacturers to lower their cost of test. Keithley has also expanded its powerful SignalMeister™ software platform to now include RF signal analysis along with RF signal generation. First introduced in 2007, SignalMeister software is now the only software package on the market that integrates signal generation and analysis into one package for unmatched speed and simplicity. Furthermore, SignalMeister now has the capability of generating and analyzing both single-input single-output (SISO) and multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) signals in the same environment.
Laird Technologies Inc., a leader in the design and supply of customized, performance-critical components and systems for wireless and other advanced electronics, recently announced the addition of four new Bluetooth® modules to its range of wireless products. The company has removed the complexity of adding wireless technology to embedded products with the launch of its ground-breaking new range of Bluetooth modules that extends its current module range to cover almost any short range wireless application. The four new modules incorporate Bluetooth stacks and are pre-approved to minimize the design effort in implementing short range wireless.
EuMW 2008 sees the emergence of a new name in the European microwave market with the launch of the LYNX brand, which has been created through the collaboration of three leading microwave representative organisations – Elexo of France, Globes Elektronik of Germany and Link Microtek of the UK. Offering a variety of high-quality yet low-cost passive microwave components, the LYNX range includes products such as couplers, dividers, attenuators and terminations. Under the terms of the arrangement, stock will be shared between the three LYNX partner companies, enabling customers across Europe to benefit from competitive pricing and fast delivery, backed by a wealth of technical expertise and capability in design, manufacture and support services.
M/A-COM Technology Solutions Inc. announced several families of high-performance components aimed at point-to-point microwave radio block diagrams. These new products include families of Power Amplifiers, Voltage-controlled Oscillators and Driver Amplifiers, as well as a broadband Voltage Variable Attenuator.
Mician GmbH released Version 7.0 of its EM-software tool µWave Wizard™. This release comes in a 64 bit version which is fully integrated into the existing GUI. It allows to utilize all available RAM for more complex and challenging designs like entire feed chains. Also, Mician and EM Invent sp. z o.o. have signed an agreement for the distribution of design tools developed by EM Invent, dedicated to the design of coupled cavity filters. Mician will be distributing EM Invent's new tools for coupling matrix synthesis of generalized Chebyshev bandpass and bandstop filters (Coupling Matrix Synthesis Wizard) as well as a fully automated combline filter design tool (Combline Filters Synthesis Wizard).
Mimix Broadband Inc. introduced a 5 V InGaP HBT amplifier that combines medium power and high gain with low power consumption. This versatile, multi-purpose amplifier, identified as CGB8001-SC, consumes 100 mA of current and covers DC to 2.8 GHz frequency bands with 27 dBm P1dB and 15.5 dB gain at 2.1 GHz.>. The company also introduced a GaAs MMIC distributed amplifier with 15 dB gain, 22.5 dBm P1dB at 22 GHz, and 4.5 dB noise figure at 26 GHz. This distributed amplifier, identified as XD1008-BD, covers 30 kHz to 40 GHz and includes surface passivation to protect and provide a rugged part with backside via holes and gold metallization to allow either a conductive epoxy or eutectic solder die attach process. The XD1008-BD is ideal for microwave, millimeter-wave, military, wideband and instrumentation applications.
In related news, Mimix Asia and TNO Defence, Security and Safety have signed an extension of the contract to manufacture, promote, distribute and market Monolithic Microwave Integrated Circuits (MMIC) designed and developed by TNO. The extension of the contract covers the addition of new MMICs, especially an X-band core chip XZ1002, which Mimix Asia will market in combination with an existing 10 W High Power Amplifier XP1006 as a matched Radar Chip set. This X-band Core chip integrates a 6 bits phase shifter, a 5 bits attenuator and LVCMOS digital interface together with the supporting Low Noise Amplifier (LNA), switches and driver circuitry. As both MMICs are manufactured in the same gallium arsenide (GaAs) process, they are an ideal combination for phased-array antenna applications.
National Instruments (NI) introduced a new RF vector signal analyzer, RF vector signal generator and PXI Express 18-slot chassis that offer flexible RF measurements up to 10 times faster than traditional RF instrumentation. The new software-defined modular instruments – the NI PXIe-5663 6.6 GHz RF vector signal analyzer and the NI PXIe-5673 6.6 GHz RF vector signal generator – are complemented by the NI PXIe-1075 18-slot high-bandwidth chassis. The NI PXIe-5663 can perform signal analysis from 10 MHz to 6.6 GHz with up to 50 MHz of instantaneous bandwidth. The company also announced its collaboration with WisyTech, a wireless systems specialty spin-off of Italy's National Research Council and Politecnico di Milano and partnership with ATE integrator Alfautomazione, on a forthcoming WiMAX toolkit for the NI LabVIEW graphical system design platform.
OMMIC announces the introduction of a new phase shifter MMIC for X-band applications. Applications for the new device include Weather and Military Radars, Satellite Communications and Phased Array Applications in general. In addition, the company announced the introduction of a new Reference Design (Application Board) at 2.5 GHz. This reference design is particularly targeted at new applications such as the 4G mobile standard Long Term Evolution (LTE) and WiMAX base stations in the 2.5 to 2.7 GHz band, but can also be used for other cellular standards.
Pascall Electronics announced an addition to its range of low phase noise ovenised crystal oscillators. The level 'E' offers a further 2 dB guaranteed improvement in phase noise on the level 1 performance. At 100 MHz the phase noise offered is -137 dBc/Hz at 100 Hz offset, -164 dBc/Hz at 1 kHz offset and -178 dBc/Hz at 10 kHz offset. The enhanced product is available from 50 to 140 MHz. The company also launched a new RoHS compliant PLDRO range.
Quartzlock was on hand to introduce its E8-X series of instruments, a breakthrough in exceptionally low-cost, traceable, calibration-free, off-air frequency and time standards. Providing low-distortion 10 MHz sine and 1 PPS outputs, these reference instruments maintain the high frequency and time accuracy required for demanding applications.
Remcom previewed its upcoming release of XFdtd, the company's multi-purpose electromagnetic simulation software. XFdtd Release 7.0, which is scheduled to be available in early 2009, is designed to increase the productivity of the user with a more intuitive interface and a number of ground-breaking new features. User interface refinements will simplify the learning curve for new users, while experienced users will be able to undertake even more challenging problems with the program's advanced meshing, parameterization and scripting. These and several other new features are designed to add speed and flexibility, making XFdtd a more accessible and productive tool in terms of what has been available in the market thus far.
RF Micro Devices Inc. announced the addition of four new broadband GaAs PHEMT amplifier integrated circuits (IC) to RFMD's SUF family of products targeting multiple applications within the Aerospace and Defense (A&D) market. Furthermore, given their broadband frequency performance, the new ICs are also applicable to adjacent growth markets including telecom infrastructure and optical networks.
Rogers Corp.'s Advanced Circuit Materials Division (ACM) was on hand to display examples of its high-performance circuit materials, including the latest addition to its RT/duroid7reg; family: RT/duroid® 6202PR. This high-frequency laminate features low loss and low dielectric constant (2.90 for 0.005-in.-thick laminate) with tight control of dielectric constant (within ±0.04) and tight thickness control. With its excellent dimensional stability and in-plane expansion coefficient closely matched to copper, Rogers' RT/duroid 6202PR provides a stable base for fabricating planar resistors. Ideal for flat and nonplanar structures and in multilayer circuits, Rogers' RT/duroid 6202PR is available with electrodeposited and rolled copper foil.
Rohde & Schwarz was at EuMW 2008 introducing a handful of new products, including the new R&S SMBV100A vector signal generator that provides an output level of typ. +24 dBm up to 6 GHz and a maximum RF bandwidth of 528 MHz. Digital standards such as WiMAX, 3GPP FDD, HSPA and LTE can be configured directly on the instrument using its intuitive user interface.
San-tron Inc. announced a full line of field-replaceable SMAs for applications from DC to 26.5 GHz (and with usable performance to 31 GHz). The connector families include models for mating with 0.012-, 0.015-, 0.018-, and 0.020-in. center pins to accommodate a wide range of RF/microwave circuit dimensions, with the smallest center pins offering the best high-frequency performance.
Sigma Systems Corp. announced its acquisition by inTEST Corp., an independent designer, manufacturer and marketer of semiconductor automatic test equipment (ATE) interface solutions and temperature management products.
Skyworks Solutions Inc., an innovator of high performance analog and mixed signal semiconductors enabling mobile connectivity, introduced the industry's smallest and lowest profile packaged silicon radio frequency (RF) Schottky diodes in a 0201 surface-mount technology (SMT) footprint. This new family of ultra-miniature and high-performance packaged diodes, which is priced comparably to traditional plastic packages, is ideal for a wide range of high-volume and cost-sensitive applications including CATV/DBS set-top boxes, microwave radios, RFID tags, wireless infrastructure and embedded WLAN 802.11a/b/g/n modules.
Tektronix Inc. announced SignalVu™ vector signal analysis software for DPO7000 and DPO/DSA70000 digital oscilloscope series, enabling engineers to easily characterize and validate wideband and microwave spectral events. One of the paramount trends in today's communications and radar systems is the need for increased information bandwidth and accurate phase and magnitude characterization of wideband signals. SignalVu combines the signal analysis engine of the RSA6100A real-time spectrum analyzer with the powerful triggering capabilities of the industry's widest bandwidth DPO7000 and DPO/DSA70000 digital oscilloscope series, enabling designers to evaluate complex signals up to 20 GHz without a need for an external down converter. The unique combination provides the functionality of a vector signal analyzer, a spectrum analyzer, and the powerful Pinpoint™ trigger system capabilities of a Tektronix oscilloscope — fully integrated within a single RF test package at a lower price than alternative solutions. SignalVu advances productivity for engineers working on wideband RF components and system design, integration and performance verification, or operations engineers working in networks or spectrum management.p>Trans-Tech was on hand displaying a notch/band reject filter featuring custom applications from 300 MHz to 6 GHz, available in rack or surface-mount with frequency stability high Q ceramic and is field replaceable. The filter's electrical specifications include a center frequency of 840 MHz, an insertion loss of 4 dB maximum, a passband return loss of 10 dB minimum and a temperature range of -10° to +60°C. The filter runs from 2.2 x 2.2 x 0.82 in size.
TriQuint Semiconductor Inc. announced the release of its newest highly integrated RF module for GPS (global positioning satellite) navigation systems. The new front-end module combines filter and low noise amplifier (LNA) functions in the smallest package available today, enabling new wireless handset applications as well as mobile and automotive designs. The company also showcased both the TGA4906-SM, a 4 W Ka-band fully monolithic HPA ideally suited for VSAT ground terminal applications, and the TGA2806-SM, which offers excellent performance for cable infrastructure applications as a gain block/transimpedance amplifier. TriQuint was also displaying a series of WiMAX power amplifiers. The AP561 and AP562 amplifiers deliver greater than 1 W linear power at 2.5% EVM, offering 13% PAE to meet the needs of ultra-efficient systems. The AP561 offers 12 dB gain across the 2.3 to 2.9 GHz band; the AP562 offers 12 dB gain across the 3.3 to 3.8 GHz band. The AH314 and AH315 amplifiers provide very low EVM (error vector magnitude) under high back-off power operating conditions while also offering very good gain flatness: less that 0.2 dB over 100 MHz. The AH314 is a two-stage amplifier with 23 dB gain operating from 2.3 to 2.9 GHz; the AM315 offers 25 dB gain from 3.3 to 3.8 GHz. The AH314/315 are ideal for WiMAX base transceiver station (BTS) applications requiring linearity margin prior to final stage amplifiers within the system.
United Monolithic Semiconductor announced the opening of a new design and customer support center in the United States. Based in the New England area, the center will be operational in January 2009 and will contribute to the expansion of UMS' offer with components operating from DC to 100 GHz, addressing the telecommunication infrastructures, SATCOM, Automotive, Defense & Space, Instrumentation and industrial market sectors. Additionally, UMS will use this US Center to provide its American customers with high level of technical support and fast response to inquiries on existing products and new custom designs.
W.L. Gore & Associates (Gore) introduced an on-line builder for configuring GORE™ Ultra High Density (UHD) Interconnects to use in Bench Top Test Systems, Instrument Probe Cable, Parallel Data Link, Production Floor Equipment and Automated Test Equipment. GORE™ Ultra High Density (UHD) Interconnects provide an integrated system of board mount headers and ganged assemblies with reliable signal integrity performance. Cost savings are achieved through shorter test set-up, fewer calibrations and smaller boards. GORE™ UHD Interconnects enable lower loss, lower skew, better impedance control and shorter board trace lengths.
Z-Communications Inc. announced the release of two new coaxial resonator-based voltage-controlled oscillators (VCO) in the UHF-band that are RoHS compliant. Model ZRO0743B2LF operates from 738 to 748 MHz with a tuning voltage range of 0 to 6 VDC, while Model ZRO0915C2LF operates from 902 to 928 MHz with an excellent linear tuning voltage range of 0 to 11 VDC. The company also introduced Model SMV0290A-LF, an RoHS compliant VCO that operates from 284 to 294 MHz with a tuning voltage range of 0.3-3 VDC.


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The Obama administration on Friday set the first-ever limits on greenhouse gas emissions from power plants, but their impact could be minimal because they don't apply to existing plants and there are few coal-fired power plants being built in the United States.
Just two new coal-fired power plants are expected to open next year, according to data from the Energy Information Administration, and there are none set to open in 2015.
"As you look at current projections this rule won't in itself get much in the way of reductions," said Kevin Kennedy, who directs the U.S. Climate Initiative at the World Resources Institute, a think tank that focuses on the environment and economic development.
However, Kennedy said, the rule does send a signal that the Obama administration promises to deal with planet-warming carbon emissions. The real test will come next year when the Environmental Protection Agency puts out its greenhouse gas standards for existing power plants.
EPA put forth the limits for future power plants as a first step in President Barack Obama's promise to tackle climate change. The rule would require new coal-fired power plants to install costly technology to capture carbon and store it underground. The EPA standard would require future coal plants to generally meet a limit of 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide emissions per megawatt hour. They currently emit an average of more than 1,700 pounds per megawatt hour.
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity, a coal industry trade group, called the rule an effective ban on the construction of future coal-fired power plants.
"The president's decision today is an escalation of the war on coal, and what that really means for Kentucky families is an escalation of his war on jobs and the Kentucky economy," said Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, a Kentucky Republican.
EPA administrator Gina McCarthy said the technology exists to capture and store the carbon, and the Department of Energy has billions in grants to help make it work.
"I believe this proposal, rather than killing the future of coal, actually sets a certain pathway forward for coal to be a part of the diverse energy mix in this country," she said.
The future of coal in the U.S. is in question regardless of the EPA rule. America's natural gas revolution has produced cheap and plentiful supplies that compete with coal in the electrical generation market.
That's combined with environmental rules to push coal from the domestic market, leading U.S. companies to look at increasing exports to China and India, where coal remains popular.
The coal industry hopes, though, that interest in U.S. coal plants could return if the price of natural gas rises in the future.
The industry is expected to mount a legal challenge to the EPA rule on new power plants, which will be finalized after a public comment period.
The EPA's rule takes away the industry's flexibility to deal with changing market conditions like a rise in natural gas prices, said Scott Segal, a lobbyist who represents coal-burning utilities and other energy firms.
But Segal said the rule for future power plants is just the appetizer.
The main course will be the upcoming standards for existing power plants, he said.
Environmental groups are getting ready to wage that fight.
"We must rein in the unlimited carbon pollution belching out of the nation's existing electric power plants, those that are driving climate chaos today," said Natural Resources Defense Council President Frances Beinecke.
Coal still accounts for 37 percent of U.S. electricity generation, although its share has dwindled from 50 percent just a few years ago, and natural gas is catching up.
McCarthy said the rules for existing power plants will come by June 2014.
Developing those rules will require the EPA to work with the states rather than set an across-the-board limit on greenhouse gas emissions.
McCarthy said not to expect carbon capture and storage to be used to curb emissions from existing power plants.
EPA is going to have to be flexible on those, she said, and account for the differences among the states.
McCarthy said EPA is starting talks now the state and local governments on how to deal with existing plants.


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Nico (Guy Who K.O'D Lil B) Apologizes For Going Ali On Him & Why He Went Off! (Claims Lil B Laughed At Them When Asking If Soulja Boy Can Put Them On)
Nico's response
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Dianna Agron, Jenna Ushkowitz, and Darren Criss grab lunch together at A.O.C. Restaurant after gathering together to honor the life of their friend and Glee co-star Cory Monteith on Thursday (July 25) in West Hollywood, Calif.
The stars were joined by castmates Kevin McHale, Harry Shum Jr., Jacob Artist, Vanessa Lengies, writer Ian Brennan, and crew member Aristotle Kousakis.
Earlier that day, Lea Michele and Ryan Murphy organized a memorial service for the cast and crew to remember their late friend.
25+ pictures inside of the Glee cast grabbing lunch together… More Here! »


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Tractors and combines have top speeds of around 20-24 miles per hour. A car going 55 mph that is 300 feet behind a tractor going 15 mph can close that gap-about the length of a football field-in about five seconds.
"Motorists need to be alert," she said. "You really don't have much time when you're traveling 55 miles per hour."
Watch for farm equipment on roads during planting season
It was like any other day in the 40-plus years that Kent Blades had been farming. A lifelong Monroe County farmer, Blades was driving from one part of the farm to another when a semi-truck passed him and struck his John Deere open-station 5520 tractor as he was making a left turn.
Blades counts himself lucky to have survived, though the accident left him with severe brain trauma, multiple broken bones and numerous other injuries.
Every year farmers are killed or injured in similar accidents. According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, there were 231 accidents in Missouri involving farm vehicles in 2011, killing three drivers and injuring 17 others.
Spring is one of the most dangerous times for driving in rural areas, notes Karen Funkenbusch, a University of Missouri Extension rural safety and health specialist. With 123,039 miles of public roads and almost 108,000 farms, Missouri presents many dangers for motorists in rural communities.
"It's that time of year when farmers are going to have their equipment on the road moving it from field to field, so we need to slow down, take our time, be patient," Funkenbusch said.
Blades doesn't want anyone to go through what he experienced. When he sees a driver following a farm vehicle too closely, or machinery that's not properly marked, he pulls the driver over and gives sage advice. "Just slow down and pay attention to what people are doing," he says.
Funkenbusch notes that tractors and combines have top speeds of around 20-24 miles per hour. A car going 55 mph that is 300 feet behind a tractor going 15 mph can close that gap-about the length of a football field-in about five seconds.
"Motorists need to be alert," she said. "You really don't have much time when you're traveling 55 miles per hour."
For Blades, a few short seconds had long-lasting consequences. During his lengthy recovery at the Rusk Rehabilitation Center in Columbia, he had to resign numerous leadership positions, including chairmanships of the state fair board and his church's board of trustees. He still farms, but his son-in-law takes care of day-to-day operations.
Ruts still mar the roadside ditch where Blades' life took a detour six years ago. He and his family cannot pass the accident scene without recalling how a routine farm chore almost turned fatal.
Under Missouri law, farm equipment traveling under 25 miles per hour must display slow-moving vehicle reflector emblems and have proper lighting to increase visibility.
University of Missouri Extension rural safety and health specialist Karen Funkenbusch offers additional recommendations: When driving farm machinery on a road or highway, display a red flag measuring 12-14 feet high atop a pole so that the machine can be seen even when hidden by a rise or curve in the roadway; When rounding a curve, stay to the right-hand side of the road as much as possible. Avoid soft or steep road shoulders, which may cause the tractor to tip; Take extra precautions when driving in the early morning or early evening hours, when visibility is often impaired by sun; If traffic lines up behind the farm equipment, pull off or let traffic pass; Railroad crossings, especially those without gates, present a special hazard. Never take a safe crossing for granted; Use hand signals, electronic signals or both to indicate intentions to turn. Try to avoid wide turns; Turn your headlights on, but turn off rear spotlights, which can be mistaken for headlights; Avoid being on the road during rush hour, in bad weather and at night; and Use pilot cars if going a considerable distance, and hang a flag out the window of these vehicles or use a slow-moving vehicle emblem.
For drivers who encounter farm machinery, she offers the following advice: Some farm equipment is wider than the road. Don't assume a farmer can pull over to the shoulder, as it may be steep or soft; Pass with caution; Do not assume that a farm vehicle that pulls to the right side of the road is going to turn right or is letting you pass. Due to the size of some farm machinery, the farmer must execute wide left-hand turns; Do not assume the farmer in front of you knows you are there. Farm equipment is loud; and Be patient and courteous.
There are Amish communities in central Missouri. Be especially aware while in Amish areas. Horse drawn buggies and farm equipment travel much slower than motorized farm equipment. Road signs will warn of horse drawn vehicles but another sign may be easier to spot. Where horses frequent roadways, horse manure is commonly present, said Jim Jarman agronomy specialist.
Related MU Extension publications: "Safe Tractor Operation": extension.missouri.edu/p/G1960; "Responding to Farm Accidents": extension.missouri.edu/p/G1950.
To learn about the Missouri Agrability Project, a program to help farmers, ranchers, farmworkers and farm family members limited by any type of disability or chronic health condition become more successful, go to agrability.missouri.edu.
Videos available for this release: Link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdtf6ZqGhHU
Description: Video News Story: Share the Road
Source: Karen Funkenbusch, 573-882-2731 and Jim Jarman, 573-642-0755
University of Missouri Extension programs, activities and services are open to all people, as an equal opportunity/ADA institution.


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|Italy Rat Terrier Rescue
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|Rescue Me ID: 14-07-22-00314Lucy and Petunia (female)
Lucy and Petunia are two lovely female one year old dogs. Indoor raised, grew up together thus must be adopted and kept together. Both have wonderful temper, do not bark, house trained, sterilized, they are two happy little girls. I rescued them and sadly cannot take them with me now BUT if for any reason their new adopting mum wants to give them back to me I will happly do so within six months time from the adoption (I am holding my return until I get Lucy and Petunia into a loving home)
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|PIease Read Before Adopting a Rat Terrier in Italy
Rat Terrier Dogs can make good pets in Italy if they match your IifestyIe. The Rat Terrier is a small breed of hunting dog also sometimes known as a Feist. Rat Terriers are vivacious, playful, and bold. This breed is great with children. Adult Rat Terriers adapt well to adoption. Rat Terriers are very smart and trainable. This breed can live in an apartment but needs plenty of vigorous exercise each day. Rat Terriers enjoy romping in a fenced yard, but because they are enthusiastic diggers, fences should be buried or reinforced around the base.
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If your teenager is about to start driving, you're probably concerned about how much their insurance rates will be. Since teen drivers don't have a lot of experience on the road, they're more likely to get into accidents, and they present a major risk to insurance providers.
So what can you do to control costs? For starters, adding a teen driver to your current insurance policy will be much cheaper than buying them a separate policy. But an inexperienced driver can still lead your costs to skyrocket by $1,000 or more over the course of a year. Here are five steps you can take to reduce costs.
Studies have shown that students who have good grades are less likely to be involved in auto accidents when compared to students with bad grades. As a result, many insurance providers will offer a discount to teens who have a B average or better. You may save between 10% and 25%.
Auto insurance rates are partially based on the safety statistics of the car you drive. Although many teens would prefer to drive a fast, sporty car, the safer the car, the cheaper it will be to insure. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety Keeps can provide you with data on different models.
Young drivers who take driver's safety or defensive driving courses may qualify for a discount. The course will probably need to be approved by your insurance provider, so contact them before your teen enrolls.
Perhaps the most important step you can take is to encourage your teen to respect the rules of the road, so they can stay safe and avoid accidents. Even a minor accident can raise your insurance rates.
Different insurance companies will have different rates for young drivers. Although one insurer may have offered the best coverage option for you and your spouse, you may need to switch to a different provider in order to make your policy affordable now that your teenager is driving.
Before requesting auto insurance quotes, you should determine the type of coverage you need and how much coverage you can afford. Learn about coverage options and policy add-ons that can provide extra protection.
Certain drivers are required to pay more for coverage. Find out how you can still get competitive auto insurance quotes if you have been classified as a high-risk driver.
Insurers consider many factors when setting rates for coverage options. An important one that is often overlooked by drivers when getting auto insurance quotes is their credit score.


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Gamestop Discovers The Streisand Effect; Gives OnLive Tons Of Free Publicity In Trying To Take Away Coupons
from the epic-failure dept
However, the real story in all of this should be just how much free publicity Gamestop just gave OnLive in its hamfisted attempt to pretend the company didn't exist. And, of course, now it means that anyone wishing to buy the PC version of the game is probably (assuming that no coupons will be available) better off buying it from someone other than Gamestop. I've defended Gamestop's used game sales practices for years, but I'm amazed the company thought any of this was a good idea.


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The ReactOS Foundation is the organisation which owns the ReactOS trademarks and logos, and which handles the legal maters around the project. Some good news around the foundation lately: "ReactOS" is now a registered trademark, owned by the foundation, which means they now have a stronger legal position in cases where the ReactOS name is abused. In addition, they now have a digital codesigning certificate from VeriSign, allowing them to sign their releases and preventing fake ones.
There's another major benefit to having such a certificate: as most of you will know, 64bit versions of Windows requires signed drivers, and the ReactOS project think they can help open source projects. "The Foundation is considering setting up a system where projects can apply to have their code signed with the Foundation's certificate, thus working around that particular issue," the project states, "Of course we'd be vetting the code for any issues and any code submitted must conform to the rules they would have followed had they applied for a certificate themselves, but this will at least save them some money along the way."
The UniATA driver is now ready to replace the older SATA driver, enabling better support for ATA controllers. VirtualBOX used to choke on the UniATA driver, but this bug has been temporarily fixed - a definitive fix still needs to be made, since the current one causes a performance penalty (it just disables DMA). "In the future, we'll of course want to actually fix this as not having DMA imposes a performance hit," they explain, "In the mean time, the major blockers with UniATA are now gone and it has been switched over as the default ATA driver for ReactOS."
There's also been some testing in the video driver department, but it's still mostly with old hardware such as Matrox' G100/G400, the ATI Rage II+, and the S3 Trio 64V. "The good news however is that it seems the XP drivers seem to be more reliable than the Windows 2000 drivers, meaning the current kernel side that interfaces with the drivers behaves more like XP. The drivers also provide 2D hardware acceleration," they state, "The bad news is that currently there is still no 3D hardware acceleration. That is going to take a good deal more work on the ReactOS side before we get those benefits."


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QPR defender Ryan Nelsen has agreed a deal to take on the vacant managerial role at Canadian outfit FC Toronto.
As Goal.com exclusively revealed on Monday, Nelsen has been targeted to replace former England international Paul Mariner and become the club's eight manager in their six-year history.
The 35-year-old is contracted to the Rs until the end of the season but, with the new MLS campaign set to begin in March, appears unlikely to see out his deal.
According to the west London club's official website, the New Zealand-born defender is now in talks with boss Harry Redknapp over his departure - though he is expected to feature against Tottenham at the weekend.
Nelsen joined QPR after departing White Hart Lane over the summer and has made 18 Premier League appearances so far this season.
However, the centre-back, who previously played in the MLS with DC United, is set to hang up his boots in order to make his first foray into management.


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Tina Fey Stars In 'Girls' Parody On 'Saturday Night Live'
Nigel Campbell | September 29, 2013
The Queen returned to SNL last night (or is it Kristen Wiig? Amy Poehler?) and one of the highlights was this hilarious parody of HBO's Girls!
Check it out!
What did you think of last night's episode, Instincters? Have you missed Tina Fey?
Image Source


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We show that in certain generic circumstances the state of light of an optical cavity traversed by beams of atoms is naturally driven towards a non-thermal metastable state. This state can be such that successive pairs of unentangled particles sent through the cavity will reliably emerge significantly entangled thus providing a renewable source of quantum entanglement. Significant for possible experimental realizations is the fact that this entangling fixed point state of the cavity can be reached largely independently of the initial state in which the cavity was prepared. Our results suggest that reliable entanglement farming on the basis of such a fixed point state should be possible also in various other experimental settings, namely with the to-be-entangled particles replaced by arbitrary qudits and with the cavity replaced by a suitable reservoir system.


text: I like this concept of a stylish remote control that clasps over the button on a piece of clothing. The idea doesn't account for the rise of this little invention called the zipper. But it appeals to me for the subtlety of integration with clothing, and well, because I like to fiddle with buttons. Always have. [Yanko]


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