text: Hi Jan, Jan Heichler wrote: > 1) most applications are latency driven - not bandwidth driven. That > means that half bisectional bandwidth is not cutting your application > performance down to 50%. For most applications the impact should be less > than 5% - for some it is really 0%. If the app is purely latency driven, bandwidth (link or bisection) is indeed irrelevant. However, don't underestimate the impact of contention on collective communication: once you exceed the internal buffering in the crossbars, you will have back-pressure. Typically, each crossbar port can buffer in the order of 1-10K these days. So, the larger the message size for the collective and the larger the communicator, the greater the need for effective bisection. At this scale (ie 50 nodes), I agree it's not that important, unless you are bandwidth bounded to begin with. > 2) Static routing in IB networks limits your bandwidth for many of the > possible communication patterns anyway. For completely random > communication it was like below 50%. So you buy a IB fabric with full > bisectional but can't use it anyway - reducing the bisectional bandwidth > is not impacting that much anymore (as far as i understood most whitepapers) With static routing on Fat Tree or Clos and pseudo-random traffic (ie real world), you waste ~50% of the bisection you have (actually, the more hops the more waste, but it's not linear). So, if you start with half the theoretical bisection, your effective bisection will roughly be a quarter of that. Patrick


text:
By Francis Harvey, Len Kne, and Steven Manson, University of Minnesota
It is increasingly apparent to many within academia and beyond that spatial thinking, technologies, systems, and services matter. Building on a rich history of research, scholarship, and teaching related to spatial topics, the University of Minnesota (UMN) has embarked on a visionary endeavor called U-Spatial to develop a collaborative consortium that supports the spatial sciences and creative activities.
U-Spatial provides support for spatial research. It helps eliminate duplication and fragmentation of scientific resources and provides a framework of data, equipment, expertise, and resources that benefits all researchers working with spatial sciences and creative activities. The need for infrastructure support for the spatial sciences and creative activities has been apparent for some years, but the opportunity to build a broad-based infrastructure across traditional disciplinary and college boundaries has come much more recently.
The spatial sciences compose a broad and fast-growing field that studies spatiotemporal aspects of people, places, and processes using information technologies that range from satellite imaging and GIS to computational technologies and social networks that rely on communication infrastructure. The US Department of Labor identifies spatial technology alongside nanotechnology and biotechnology as the three most important industries in the 21st century. Based on information from the Geospatial Information & Technology Association, the Department of Labor predicts widespread and diverse uses of geospatial technology, with the market growing at an annual rate of almost 35 percent (US Department of Labor, 2010).
For more than 50 years, the University of Minnesota has been a national and international leader in spatial scholarship and application development. Among many contributions, UMN helped create one of the first geographic information systems, the Land Management Information System, in the 1960s, as well as offered the first professional degree program in GIS in the United States. One of the key open software packages for displaying spatial information, MapServer, was developed at UMN. Along with a long history in cartography, geodesign, and geography, U-Spatial can build on a solid intellectual foundation in core disciplines ranging from computer science to remote sensing. The university has many internationally known spatial research centers, including the Center of Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA), the Remote Sensing and Geospatial Analysis Laboratory (RSGAL), the Spatial Database and Spatial Data Mining Research Group, the Minnesota Population Center (MPC), the Geographic Information Sciences Laboratory, and the Polar Geospatial Center (PGC).
From 2006, momentum steadily increased to develop a geospatial infrastructure that both leveraged UMN's spatial resources and met the array of needs for spatial research on campus. By 2011, there was a network of more than 100 spatial researchers. A call for proposals from the university to develop infrastructure to support research and creative activities was a key catalyst that mobilized this network to take the next step in developing common resources for spatial research on campus. After preliminary discussions, a core group drafted a preproposal that was circulated in this network. The preproposal was successful, and based on comments and many rounds of discussions, the group developed an ultimately successful proposal to develop U-Spatial with a combination of matching funds from more than a dozen units and university contributions, together totaling $2.5 million over five years.
U-Spatial is off to a great start. It is meeting its mission and having a very broad and substantial impact. Because of the size of the project and its need to establish governance practices among the large number of participants, the U-Spatial team has taken a "soft start" approach that involves the gradual development of U-Spatial services while allowing a more rapid development of support for existing research.
The U-Spatial team is particularly interested in developing successful and sustainable models of spatial infrastructure that recognize and facilitate the many ways in which spatial science and thinking are essential to support the core missions of the university: research, learning, and service.
Service—Spatial infrastructure is essential for the university to meet its long-standing mission of service to communities ranging from local to global in scope. Spatial systems are essential to community-based service learning projects and internships in ways ranging from learning to use GIS software to track home foreclosure to helping develop web mapping applications. The concept of service to the immediate university community is also seen in how enterprise GIS helps universities be effective managers of public resources required for operations, facilities, and planning.
Collectively, U-Spatial offers four infrastructure cores (thematic areas): (1) Central Core services include technical assistance, training, resource coordination, and development of the spatial science community; (2) Imaging Core infrastructure focuses on data and analysis of aerial and satellite imagery of the earth; (3) Data Core initiatives include development of data discovery and archiving tools, as well as shared computing infrastructure; and (4) Analysis Core efforts center on spatiotemporal modeling, geodesign, and mapping.
The Central Core is in many ways the most visible component of U-Spatial and addresses overarching needs for helping organize and provide access to existing spatial resources on campus while also actively aiding spatial research via help desk support and training.
The most visible facet of the Central Core is the help desk. Since beginning operation in fall 2011, the help desk has assisted hundreds of researchers with questions ranging from locating data to creating interactive web maps. The goal of the help desk is to be the first point of contact when someone needs help with a GIS or spatial technology question. If help desk personnel cannot answer a question, they will find an expert in the U-Spatial network who can.
The Central Core regularly offers a popular GIS 101 workshop. This free, one-day workshop introduces participants to spatial analysis fundamentals, mapmaking, and working with common GIS applications. More than 500 people have attended the workshop, which often leads to contacts with the help desk or further consulting projects involving U-Spatial. Introduction to Web Mapping Using ArcGIS Online was recently added as a free three-hour workshop to introduce participants to how to create online maps using ArcGIS Online. Lidar 101 is another new workshop, offered this fall, that shows participants how to work with lidar data in ArcGIS for Desktop. Lidar data has been collected for the whole state of Minnesota and is currently being processed; having statewide lidar data has created interest among a wide variety of researchers.
To help sustain collaborative connections, U-Spatial supports bringing outstanding national and international researchers working on spatial issues to participate in colloquia hosted by departments/units. The primary criteria in making selections include the relevance of the speaker's spatial-related work to the university community and the capacity for presenting on topics that interest host departments, as well as the larger community. The aim of bringing in these speakers on the part of U-Spatial is to create a more persistent presence and framework for spatial science activities.
One of the first jobs that U-Spatial undertook was a census of spatial science researchers on campus. The U-Spatial team found that there are nearly a thousand people working with spatial information at the university. The sharing of information is crucial for people to expand their skills and knowledge, as well as foster research collaboration. In October, U-Spatial hosted the first U-Spatial Symposium, which brought together researchers from across UMN. The symposium featured a student poster competition and divided people into breakout sessions to discuss core interests for networking and provide guidance for the future of U-Spatial. In spring 2012, U-Spatial started a GIS user group for people to get together and share ideas. Having a regular meeting will allow people to learn who else is working with spatial data on campus and create a network of expertise. Anyone associated with the university is welcome to participate in the user group.
U-Spatial cores with activities.
A final area where the Central Core has focused effort can best be described as raising awareness or marketing. The founding members of U-Spatial are well-practiced in their area of spatial research and for the most part are self-sufficient. But there are many colleagues at UMN who could make use of U-Spatial and resources described earlier. To make these contacts, the U-Spatial staff has been attending a variety of seminars and workshops, as well as countless meetings, to introduce U-Spatial. Growing U-Spatial participation is a first step toward making it sustainable beyond the five years of initial funding.
Remote imaging, or capturing digital images of the earth from airplanes and satellites, is critical to research domains ranging from deforestation measurement to urban growth analysis. Given the vast amount of data involved and the expertise and systems necessary for converting raw data into a format suitable for scientific analysis, researchers cannot currently take full advantage of these resources. U-Spatial helps support research at regional, state, national, and global scales and make remote imaging more accessible to UMN researchers. Currently, RSGAL provides assistance to researchers interested in using imagery and also provides raw and interpreted data products to all researchers. U-Spatial leverages existing imaging research to create detailed histories of Minnesota land and water resources. RSGAL manages data from multiple sensor platforms and offers expert help on image collection and analysis. PGC, the department of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE), and the Institute of the Environment (IonE) specialize in acquiring and analyzing global-scale imagery and attendant data. U-Spatial is building on these and several existing UMN research projects to develop some of the best available characterizations of global features, such as land cover, agriculture, and urbanization.
A special issue of Science titled "Dealing with Data" (February 11, 2011) argues that it's important to deal with the growing "deluge" of huge and complex datasets in the face of critical shortcomings in data archiving and discovery. These needs are writ large for spatial science research on campus. U-Spatial is helping researchers archive their data, curate it, and make it discoverable and reusable by others at the university and beyond.
The University Libraries and MPC leverage their deep expertise in data management, archiving, and discovery services to improve data reuse and citation capabilities. Reuse refers to the ability to archive datasets, making them searchable and available over time for multiple uses and users, thereby minimizing duplication of research. Citation goes beyond basic metadata concepts to provide a robust identification framework for connecting data sources to scholarly publications. Data management services will facilitate and regulate open access to contributed datasets via a data portal and web communities that assist with spatial knowledge discovery. U-Spatial is in the process of exploring the use of data architectures that facilitate sharing with other university institutions.
The Data Core has developed a plan for collaborating with large data projects and is developing a prototype data management and access environment for geographic information. Access to spatial data is being addressed from two directions. One group is piloting a web-based system to make spatial data easy to discover and access; a second group is focusing on the long-term archiving and preservation of data. Out of this work will be procedures for creating data management plans for all research projects, a huge benefit to researchers on campus. Throughout this activity, U-Spatial is collaborating with researchers at a variety of institutions around the world to ensure its efforts contribute to the development of broader information infrastructure that is open and standards based.
The University Libraries and MPC are working with the office of information technologies, Enterprise GIS (EGIS), and others to develop a shared U-Spatial Data Core server infrastructure for the university. In addition to hosting specific projects as needed to support data activities, it will host virtual servers and a technology stack of Fedora Commons Repository archive software; the Lucene/Solr indexer platform; and spatial tools, such as MapServer, OpenGeoportal, ArcGIS for Server, and ArcGIS Online.
Research on complex systems and complex issues, such as climate variability and rapid social change, requires advanced spatial analysis. While U-Spatial supports all spatial research on campus, its initial focus is leveraging current interdisciplinary research on human-environment systems to develop a solid foundation for the sustainable research infrastructure of the spatial university. The Analysis Core has been making important steps in developing the specifications for a geodesign environment that will support researchers in the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs (HHH); College of Design (CDes); and College of Food, Agriculture and Natural Resource Sciences.
Both IonE and Computer Science and Engineering have been collaborating on developing modeling for networked data. CURA has hired a research assistant to support requests for scientific data from the community by creating a web mapping application of CURA's project work statewide to facilitate handling and enhancing access to external queries, as well as supporting the development of more connections to the Urban Research and Outreach-Engagement Center by offering workshops on how to use ArcGIS Online.
These activities all involve the three areas of modeling, geodesign, and mapping.
U-Spatial is only one piece of the future spatial university. Curriculum, outreach, and programs will have to evolve. U-Spatial is fortunate to have received significant support from the Office of Vice President for Research and the College of Liberal Arts in the stages that led to the successful U-Spatial collaborative proposal.
An important check for U-Spatial was a survey conducted in spring 2012. The staff contacted close to 300 people across the university with an invitation to complete a short survey to help refine the vision and prioritize the activities of U-Spatial. The responses gave broad and useful input for developing U-Spatial.
U-Spatial is a simple concept for a large research university that provides the foundation for the development of the spatial university. When fully developed, U-Spatial will support the research, learning, and service missions of the university. The short-term goal is to ensure that U-Spatial provides an umbrella for science and creative activities and organizes researchers into an interconnected network of cores.
In addition to focusing on providing help and other services, for U-Spatial to be sustainable, it will also need to identify several layers of funding sources. At the large scale, it is actively participating with researchers throughout UMN to secure outside grants. At smaller scales, U-Spatial provides GIS and remote-sensing expertise to a growing number of research projects, helping them grow, and provide specialized training that is turning out to be an excellent value for those who take the courses. This diversified approach to funding and sustainability, along with providing good value to participants within U-Spatial, will help ensure that support for spatial research is pervasive at the University of Minnesota.
Francis Harvey is director of U-Spatial and associate professor of geography. He is one of the U-Spatial cofounders and contributed to previous projects as well. With input from across the University of Minnesota, he guides the implementation of U-Spatial on its path to becoming one of the world's premier centers for the spatial sciences. Len Kne is associate director of U-Spatial. Kne leads the day-to-day operations of the Central Core and looks forward to the day when everyone is thinking spatially. Steven Manson is an associate professor in the Department of Geography and directs the Human-Environment Geographic Information Science lab. He also cofounded U-Spatial and its antecedents, including the Geospatial Consortium, and is excited about continuing the development of spatial science and activities on campus.
For more information, contact Francis Harvey, director of U-Spatial and associate professor of geography, University of Minnesota.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
News & Notes
Greenland Requests Humpback Kill QuotaFeb 16 (Tue ), 2010
Greenland Requests Humpback Kill Quota
By Hardy Jones
There is a new and serious threat to humpback whales, some of the most beloved animals on earth. The whales under the gun are those that migrate as far as Greenland along the eastern seaboard of North America.
At the latest meeting of the International Whaling Commission Denmark requested a quota of fifty humpbacks for Greenland to kill as part of its aboriginal hunt. What is strange about the request is that Greenland agreed to reduce its take of minke and fin whales which is already allowed by the IWC. Greenland will thus net less whale meat while infuriating millions of people who love humpbacks, many of them by personally seeing them along the coasts of New England and the Maritime Provinces of Canada.
It is my belief that Japan is behind this move. Japan tried to get a quota to hunt humpbacks in the Antarctic last year but withdrew the request in the face of international outrage.
What can we do to stop the hunt of humpback whales? Contact the U.S. White House and ask President Obama to take a strong stand on behalf of whales and to particularly oppose the quota for humpbacks. If this quota is granted to Greenland, Japan will then demand its own quota and the threat to this highly endangered species will expand.
Contact U.S. President Obama
Link to http://www.whitehouse.gov/contact/
Contact the Danish Prime Minister at email@example.com
(From BlueVoice.org)


text:
Alert 2007-56
Subject: Counterfeit Cashier's Checks
Date: October 9, 2007
Description: First National Bank
Counterfeit Cashier's Checks of First National Bank, Christiansburg, VA
To: Chief Executive Officers of All National Banks; All State Banking Authorities; Chairman, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System; Chairman, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation; Director, Office of Thrift Supervision; Conference of State Bank Supervisors; Deputy Comptrollers (districts); Assistant Deputy Comptrollers; District Counsel; and All Examining Personnel
The above-named bank has reported that counterfeit cashier's checks drawn on the bank and displaying a correct routing number of 051402220 are being presented for payment nationwide in connection with a variety of Internet purchase scams.
The counterfeit checks resemble authentic items with the exception of being white in color with a blue border and black printing.
Items presented to date have been made payable in varying amounts up to $21,800, have included unfixed date formats (MM/DD/YYYY, MM-DD-YYYY, or left blank), and display a 6-digit serial number beginning with the series of 209. Items have been received by potential victims via Federal Express and UPS.
Due to possible variations in appearance of the counterfeit items, it is suggested that officials of First National Bank be contacted to verify authenticity of similar checks, if received from an unknown or questionable source.
For additional information and guidance or to verify the authenticity of First National Bank's cashier's checks, please contact Jo Lynn Price, Security Officer, 105 Arbor Drive, PO Box 600, Christiansburg, VA 24073, by telephone at (540) 381-6750, by fax at (540) 382-0457, or via e-mail at [email@example.com].
Consumers who receive a counterfeit item and associated material should file complaints with the following agencies, as appropriate:
Additional information concerning this matter that you believe should be brought to the attention of the OCC may be forwarded to:
E-mail: email@example.com
For additional information on this and other types of financial fraud, please visit OCC's anti-fraud resource at: https://www.occ.gov/topics/consumer-protection/fraud-resources/index-fraud-resources.html.


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I've cared for my elderly Mother in my home for two years. She has four other children, two which welcome Her to come and stay.
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Private sector engagement is key to success on gender equity
Photo: Visual News Associates / The World Bank
As we celebrate International Women's Day, if there is one concept to keep in mind above all others, it's that gender equity is vital 24-7-365, and not just as a once-a-year observance.
You have heard the argument before and you will hear it again: Economies cannot reach their full potential if half the population is systematically blocked from full participation. This fundamental idea motivates the World Bank Group as it redoubles its efforts to address gaps in gender equality.
Our deepening work to close key gender gaps shows that the issues go far beyond economic inequity. Barriers to women's full economic participation also impose moral, emotional and at times even physical costs.
We see this in the laws that prevent wives from making autonomous decisions about their careers. We see it in instances of violence against women in the workplace. We see this when harassment occurs at rural border crossings where women traders can encounter threats, and worse, from border guards.
In developing and developed countries alike, women face obstacles to starting and managing a business, to accessing finance, to earning equal pay for equal work, and to owning land or other assets. Many countries maintain laws and regulations that advantage men while discriminating against women, often relegating them to the status of a legal minor.
As Emeritus Professor Linda Scott of Oxford University's Saïd Business School told us recently, "Women are economically disadvantaged in every country on the planet" and "women's economic exclusion imposes a significant drag on world economies and societies."
A key part of the Bank Group's gender effort revolves around the importance of leveraging the private sector to ensure that reform goes beyond policy statements and creates real economic benefits for women and men. The Bank Group's Trade & Competitiveness Global Practice (T&C) has developed an approach to gender equity that focuses on expanding market opportunities, enabling private initiative, and developing dynamic economies.
The work we are doing recognizes the entrenched nature of the obstacles to fuller economic empowerment for women. Achieving results at scale will require sustained commitment. But we also understand the importance of realizing near-term progress to catalyze change, and we recognize how interventions in particular countries can show the way forward elsewhere.
The concept is simple: Good results generate more good results.
- Tags:
- women business and the law
- Gender
- women's political empowerment
- women's property rights
- women's land rights
- women's empowerment
- women's economic empowerment
- International Women's Day 2017
- Governance
- Law and Regulation
- Social Development
- Public Sector and Governance
- Private Sector Development
- Gender
- doing business


text:
NEW YORK — Eliot Spitzer wants to get back into the political game. The former governor made the surprise announcement yesterday that he is running to be the city's chief financial officer.
Standing in his way and his ambitions: A few thousand signatures he needs to get on the ballot in less than a week, a frontrunner with little name recognition and a reputation marred by a pesky prostitution scandal that derailed his political career back in 2008.
Spitzer's bold attempt to return to the public sphere was immediately compared to disgraced former Congressman Anthony Weiner's bid for mayor. But, as top political reporters have pointed out, that comparison is rickety: Where Weiner's accomplishments as a legislator have been dubious, Spitzer got results — even if his aggressive tactics earned him the moniker of "steamroller" over the years.
The scandals that led to their departures from political life were also decidedly different.
"While Weiner's crotch-picture scandal has a creepy factor, Spitzer's involved the world's oldest profession, and he did not exacerbate the personal damage by clinging to his office," Politico's Maggie Haberman wrote. "And unlike Weiner, Spitzer has a long list of accomplishments in office to point to."
Spitzer made his announcement to the The New York Times. He told the paper he hoped that "there will be forgiveness."
"I love public service," he told the Daily News in a separate interview. "I believe in it and hope I will be given a second chance."
Spitzer has only until Thursday to get 3,750 signatures from registered voters to get on the ballot.
He told the Times about 100 people to begin gathering signatures today. He also claimed that he would fund his own campaign out of his fortune rather than turn to the city's public financing system.
Spitzer's decision upends a sleepy race for the office of comptroller. Manhattan Borough President Scott Stringer, facing no competition for the Democratic primary until now, was expected to take the race handily. The current comptroller, John Liu, is running for mayor.
Politicker posted this statement from Stringer's campaign manager:
"Scott Stringer has a proven record of results and integrity and entered this race to help New York's middle class regain its footing … By contrast, Eliot Spitzer is going to spurn the campaign finance program to try and buy personal redemption with his family fortune. The voters will decide."
Stringer's supporters took to social media to praise the candidate and bash Spitzer.
In his interview with the Times, Spitzer said he wants to transform the comptroller's office "into a robust agency that would not merely monitor and account for city spending, as it does now, but conduct regular inquiries into the effectiveness of government policies, in areas like education." That, said the Times, could put Spitzer "into conflict with the city's next mayor."
To be fair, Liu has used the office to take on a broader array of subjects and to challenge Mayor Michael Bloomberg's administration in a number of public policy areas. But Spitzer would likely bring his experience serving as state attorney general to bear in making over the comptroller's office into a more aggressive watchdog.
The city's official primary election debate for comptroller is Aug. 12. The comptroller earns a salary of $185,000 a year, according to the city's Campaign Finance Board.


text:
Designed for rough ambient conditions for stand alone or grid back up operation. Rated to give a power output of 3.0kW or 4.4kW for 30 min.
IP54 protection to allow outdoor installation if required.
High efficiency (>95%);
Low standby & idle consumption (25W/4W);
Operating temperature range of -25 to +60 deg C.
OptiCool system ensures high power in high temperatures by cooling the encapsulated transformer but keeping air ventilation away from coated circuit boards & electronics to ensure high protection for humid or salty atmospheres.
Inverters are used with the Sunny Island Remote Control which gives a single point of operation. One Remote Control is required per cluster of up to three inverters and includes integrated MMC/SD memory card reader to enable updates, transferring of parameter settings, for storing error/events lists, or data logging.
In single-phase systems only one SI3.0M-11 or SI4.4M-11 can be used. Three-phase systems can be achieved using a cluster of three SI3.0M-11 or SI4.4M-11 inverters, multi-cluster systems are not possible with these inverters.
For larger single-phase or multi-cluster 3-phase systems please see the Sunny Island 6.0H/8.0H
Since 1926 Crown Battery has responded to the 'power' challenges and individual needs of industry leaders with the best available products and services in the field of heavy-duty commercial deep cycle batteries.
A company-wide dedication to quality control and continual improvement has earned Crown Battery the highest quality and service rating in the industry. We put more into our deep cycle batteries so you can get more out of them...
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Combine that with our proprietary PROeye and our low maintenance container - features that make battery maintenance predictable and efficient - and you've got a battery that's going to last longer and perform like no other.
Crown out-performs the competition in head to head tests over and over again.
It must be a matter of perspective. But we aren't prone to exaggeration, the way some of our competitors are.
If you claim to have batteries that out-perform all others, an independent laboratory should confirm the findings. That's the way we do it at Crown. Since 1926, that's all we've done. And to us, it really isn't a matter of claiming to be first in the industrial marketplace. But being the best. Some manufacturers are comfortable making exaggerated claims.
We're comfortable making battery history… one customer at a time.
The heaviest, thickest plates in the industry. Thicker plates, heavier lead connections, and the most active lead material per ampere hour of rated capacity. And heavy means more lead, more active material. Which means more power. Longer life. Who would you put your money on? A lightweight battery? Or the heavyweight of the world. Crown.
|Nominal Capacity
|105 AH (20hr rate),
85 AH (5hr rate)
|Nominal Voltage
|12 volt
|Reserve Capacity Minutes / Amps
|165 mins @ 25 Amps
|Total Height
|Product Foot Note
|DIJKL (see product footnote key)
|Please download the product data sheet for more information
|Batteries should be stored in a dry and cool area in an upright position.Store batteries on a solid surface that can safely accomodate their weight. Batteries can be safely stocked two or three layers high by using a secure stacking surface placed between each layer. When stacking batteries in layers, take care to secure battery terminals against short-circuit and to block and brace batteries that prevents any movement of the battery group. Please note that batteries need periodic stock rotation and service charging to ensure peak performance.
|Automotive / SAE Top Terminal
|Standard Terminal (Dualo Automotive / Stainless Threaded Terminal)
|Commercial Threaded Stud Terminal
|Refer to Terminal Requirement Whn ordering Type A
|Cover with Raised Vent
|Battery Fitted with Handle or Lifting Lug
|PRO eye Fluid Indicator (Option for Gr 24/27/31)
|Antimony Alloy Construction: Low Maintenance Service
Simple to install and commission, the Sunny Home Manager is the ideal solution for simple solar PV array monitoring and intelligent energy management. The unit provides an overview of all the energy flows taking place in the house, displays recommended actions and is able to control loads via SMA radio-controlled sockets automatically.
The device learns the typical consumption pattern of the household and combines this information with a forecast of the plant-specific PV generation.
The powerful measurement solution for intelligent energy management within the SMA Smart Home: The SMA Energy Meter takes phase-exact and balanced electrical measured values as a grid feed-in and purchased electricity meter and communicates these values via Speedwire. Thanks to its ability to quickly acquire measured values, the SMA Energy Meter is the ideal supplier of data for intelligent energy management within the SMA Smart Home. All PV generation data, purchased electricity and grid feed-in can be transmitted via standard Ethernet cable to the Sunny Home Manager, for example, or to the Sunny Boy Smart Energy. This, in turn, facilitates optimal energy monitoring, effective load and battery management and reliable active power limitation at the grid feed-in point while taking self-consumption into account.
Space-saving top-hat rail mounting in household distribution thanks to compact enclosure
Battery Inter-connecting Cable - 35mm cable with M8 - M10 Lugs (M8 on one end M10 on the other)
Made up to size for you for connecting your batteries together.
35mm Cable - Use for connecting Batteries to Inverter M8 - M10 (M8 one end M10 on the other end)
You will need 2 cables, 1 for Positive and 1 for Negative
If you need a longer cable please let us know.
Fixed Key Battery Isolator Switch
High quality metal body, Durable plastic handle
300AMP continuous
1,000AMP for up to 10 seconds
Body: 67mm Diameter, 100mm length
10mm studs
Battery Inter-connecting Cable - 35mm cable with M10 - M10 Lugs (M10 on both ends)
Made up to size for you for connecting your batteries together.
Battery Inter-connecting Cable - 35mm cable with M8 - M8 Lugs (M8 on both ends)
Made up to size for you for connecting your batteries together.


text:
Yung Berg Denies Getting Pistol Whipped & Robbed! "I Don't Know What Happened"
Yung Berg talks to Qdeezy about rumors of him getting pistol whipped
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SAMJ: South African Medical Journal
On-line version ISSN 2078-5135
Print version ISSN 0256-9574
SAMJ, S. Afr. med. j. vol.99 n.8 Cape Town Aug. 2009
Inadequacy of primary health care test request guidelines lack of an evidence base
J C StanflietI; J A KingII; T S PillayIII, *
IRegistrar in the Division of Chemical Pathology (University of Cape Town) and NHLS (Groote Schuur Hospital)
IIMedical scientist
IIIProfessor and Head of the Division and Chief Specialist
Evidence suggests that 3 - 4% of patient encounters in primary health care result in blood tests being requested.1 There is compelling evidence of significant misuse and poor utilisation of many laboratory tests,2 which results in an economic burden and other problems including further investigation of false-positive results.1 Patients have high expectations that blood tests be performed and have little understanding of the limitations of testing.3 The frequency of test ordering is much higher in the USA and Canada, for example, than in the UK, without any overt difference in the quality of care. There are suggestions that 30 - 50% of tests are unnecessary, and that about 15% of abnormal results are not acted upon.4
Postulates for the differences in testing frequency include the threat or perceived fear of medical malpractice litigation, but there is evidence that more litigation results from failure to act on test results than from not ordering tests a priori.4
Methods to improve test usage have been developed. One of the most effective ways is to redesign laboratory request forms to allow fewer choices, so reducing the number of tests ordered.2 Use of order forms in conjunction with clinical practice guidelines is also effective in reducing test ordering.1
Ravensmead Community Health Centre (CHC) serves the community of Ravensmead in Parow Valley, Cape Town, as a primary health care centre. Health care staff are provided with a Spencer haemoglobinometer and a hand-held glucometer (Accuchek). Urine testing dipsticks (including for semi-quantitative ketones) and urine pregnancy tests (Pregnosticon) are also available. The supporting laboratory service is administered by the National Health Laboratory Service (NHLS), and the request forms and guidelines therein form the basis for this article.
The request form facing page has a very limited test menu, and it clearly states that no further requests should or will be entertained unless authorised by the 'Senior Medical Superintendent'.
The reverse of the request form has a section that states: 'These recommendations have been developed after wide discussion amongst medical officers, clinical nurse practitioners and the NHLS.' This is encouraging as locally developed guidelines tend to accurately judge the applicability of evidence to local practice.5 No mention is made of what evidence the regulations are based on, nor does it appear to be based on expert opinion, or, if so, it is not stated. The form also lists the rationale behind the guidelines for tests requested. We examined these recommendations and the discussions. A summary of the findings is presented in Table I.
The use of the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) test is controversial; many countries advocate the introduction of national screening programmes, but routine screening in low-risk groups is currently not justified.6 However, in symptomatic patients it appears to be reasonable to allow PSA requests.
Hypothyroidism is commonly treated with replacement by levothyroxine sodium (Eltroxin). It is claimed that, once established on a stable dose, annual monitoring, although routine, is probably unnecessary except in elderly patients. However, many sometimes approaching half of all hypothyroid patients receiving replacement thyroid hormone have abnormal thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) results, reflecting inappropriate dosing.7
Cholesterol should be aggressively targeted, and it is established practice to measure high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol in primary care settings and to start statin therapy.8 Currently, statin therapy may not be initiated at Ravensmead CHC but merely continued, if the prescription had been initiated at a specialist clinic.
Rheumatoid arthritis is a common debilitating disease which may be difficult to diagnose. Rheumatoid factor is a nonspecific marker of inflammation, and is generally used to monitor disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis, although with caveats.9 It is a test that must be carefully performed to prevent erroneous results and is fraught with potential problems.9 The injunction against specialised tests for rheumatoid pathology appears to be warranted.
The proposed clinical protocol for management of suspected anaemia is to make the diagnosis with a hand-held Spencer haemoglobinometer, give a trial of iron therapy for 2 months, and, if that is unsuccessful, refer the patient. The Spencer haemoglobinometer has long been used in the primary care setting and judged to be an adequate screening method for detecting anaemia.10 Unfortunately, there are other considerations when providing a point-of-care testing device service, including staff training, health and safety considerations, quality assurance and ongoing maintenance.11 Linegar et al. concluded that the haemoglobinometer was adequate for South African clinical practice with two caveats: firstly, that they obtained results within 5 - 8% agreement of an automated result by averaging the readings obtained by 3 trained staff, and secondly, that regular calibration was mandatory.10
A single haemoglobin measurement has low sensitivity and specificity for the diagnosis of iron deficiency.12 Classically, the cause of the anaemia is determined to enable appropriate therapy. It appears reasonable that attempts to establish a cause for low Hb should be supplemented by the mean corpuscular volume (MCV) to categorise the type of anaemia and, if microcytic, a trial of iron therapy should be attempted; if not microcytic, the patient should be referred for investigation.4
C-reactive protein (CRP) is probably superior to erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in the first 24 hours following tissue injury and in children. However, ESR is still valid for clinical practice but is influenced by many factors, and quality control that cannot be achieved in a high-throughput primary health care setting is mandatory.13 The full blood count (FBC), white cell count (WCC) and differential count allow rapid screening for serious disorders, and are some of the most requested tests.14
Design of the request form
The request form uses two common and effective methods of reducing test requests: offering a limited test menu, and issuing guidelines to guide clinical practice.
Although we highlight limitations in the current request form, several positives have come from requesting guidelines. Firstly, guidelines are effective in changing requesting habits and limiting costs and inappropriate testing. Secondly, they serve as a useful reference to clinicians as to the utility of tests. Thirdly, they assist clinicians to practise best medicine.5 Fourthly, they remind clinicians of the truth of the old aphorism: 'Common things occur commonly'.
Guidelines should be developed as part of a structured process to consistently deliver the best practice of care to patients.5 The limitations of the current request forms are varied, and include potential de-skilling of doctors. Patients also have expectations that should be addressed, one being blood tests. The treating clinician and the patient should discuss the indications and limitations of testing. Furthermore, the guidelines issued must be carefully framed by evidence; if not, they become inadequate and, at worst, potentially dangerous. Finally, a risk exists that tests that are not listed could be underutilised, even if appropriate to that setting.
Several characteristics of guidelines have not been addressed in these request forms. Guidelines should be drawn up by an identified and contactable committee that must identify and assess the evidence, translate that evidence into guidelines, and critically and explicitly grade the quality of the evidence.15 With the rapid pace of change in medicine, guidelines should be reviewed at regular intervals, and this aspect should be reflected in them.5,15 Guidelines should also have clear tools and methods to monitor their use through regular audits.5
Overall, the request guidelines were reasonable in limiting test requests, but several important shortcomings need to be addressed.
1. Van Wijk MA, van der Lei J, Mosseveld M, Bohnen AM, van Bemmel JH. Assessment of decision support for blood test ordering in primary care. a randomized trial. Ann Intern Med 2001; 134: 274-281. [ Links ]
2. Jackson BR. Managing laboratory test use: principles and tools. Clin Lab Med 2007; 27: 733-748. [ Links ]
3. Van Bokhoven MA, Pleunis-van Empel MC, Koch H, Grol RP, Dinant GJ, van der Weijden T. Why do patients want to have their blood tested? A qualitative study of patient expectations in general practice. BMC Fam Pract 2006; 7: 75. [ Links ]
4. Hindmarsh JT, Lyon AW. Strategies to promote rational clinical chemistry test utilization. Clin Biochem 1996; 29: 291-299. [ Links ]
5. Trenti T, Canali C, Scognamiglio A. Clinical governance and evidence-based laboratory medicine. Clin Chem Lab Med 2006; 44: 724-732. [ Links ]
6. Frankel S, Smith GD, Donovan J, Neal D. Screening for prostate cancer. Lancet 2003; 361: 1122-1128. [ Links ]
7. Parle JV, Franklyn JA, Cross KW, Jones SR, Sheppard MC. Thyroxine prescription in the community: serum thyroid stimulating hormone level assays as an indicator of undertreatment or overtreatment. Br J Gen Pract 1993; 43: 107-109. [ Links ]
8. Olsson AG. NICE lipid modification guideline: both absolute and obsolete! Heart 2008; 94: 1256-1257. [ Links ]
9. Brigden ML. Clinical utility of the erythrocyte sedimentation rate. Am Fam Physician 1999; 60: 1443-1450. [ Links ]
10. Linegar AG, Knottenbelt JD, Wormald PJ. Accuracy of a portable haemoglobinometer in clinical practice. S Afr Med J 1991; 79: 547-548. [ Links ]
11. Briggs C, Guthrie D, Hyde K, et al. Guidelines for point-of-care testing: haematology. Br J Haematol 2008; 142: 904-915. [ Links ]
12. Cook JD. Diagnosis and management of iron-deficiency anaemia. Best Pract Res Clin Haematol 2005; 18: 319-332. [ Links ]
13. Jacobs L, Jacobs P. Is the ESR dead? S Afr Med J 1991; 80: 122-123. [ Links ]
14. Krause JR. Automated differentials in the hematology laboratory. Am J Clin Pathol 1990; 93: S11-S16. [ Links ]
15. Christenson RH. Evidence-based laboratory medicine a guide for critical evaluation of in vitro laboratory testing. Ann Clin Biochem 2007; 44: 111-130. [ Links ]
* Corresponding author: T Pillay (email@example.com)


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Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI)
The California State University (CSU) has an ongoing commitment to provide access
to information resources and technologies to individuals with disabilities. This commitment
is articulated in the January 2005 Executive Order 926, the CSU Board of Trustees Policy on Disability Support and Accommodations.
"It is the policy of the CSU to make information technology resources and services accessible to all CSU students, faculty, staff and the general public regardless of disability."
This policy is premised on federal and state laws including but not limited to Section 504 of the 1973 Rehabilitation Act; the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990; Section 255 of the Telecommunications Act of 1996; and California Government Code 11135of 2003 which applies Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act as amended in 1998 to the CSU.
The Accessible Technology Initiative (ATI) at Fresno State is a reflection of the University's ongoing commitment to accessible technology.
To learn more about what Fresno State is doing to meet this initiative and to find accessibility resources and information, Please visit the Accessible Technology Initiative website.


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Performance of AngularJS, ReactJS and KnockoutJS Compared
I've recently written an article comparing React JS and Angular JS, and it's been getting a fair bit of attention, so I figured I'd go one step further and show how well each of the two perform. I've also added in Knockout JS to the mix here just for comparison's sake, and also some raw JavaScript DOM manipulation to give a base line as to how well things work across the board.
I've put together a quick page that allows you to see the rendering time difference between the three frameworks, plus the raw DOM manipulation. It's what I've been using to figure out how long each framework takes to render large lists, as seen in the results table below. Take a look here.


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In March 2011, when I got out of the airport in Kathmandu, Nepal, I was excited. It was my first trip home since I had left Nepal in 2007 to pursue higher education in the United States. My excitement didn't last long. As I got out of the airport, my eyes started to itch. There was a lot of smog in the air compared to 2007. My family and friends confirmed that air pollution had increased.
Three months ago, when I was in Nepal again, catching up with friends, I discovered their concern about air pollution had grown. Some had even decided not to buy cars or motorbikes, but to use public transportation or bikes to avoid contributing to pollution.
It seems that the mindset of my friends roughly reflects the views of youth worldwide. From Nepal to the United States, young people are increasingly mindful of how their behavior impacts the planet.
This generation has different aspirations than its predecessors. Rachel Kyte, vice president of Sustainable Development at the World Bank Group, said that members of the current generation define success in terms of their ability to access resources easily for themselves and for their peers – for instance, bike-sharing programs that allow urban dwellers to easily rent a bike. "You are a global generation," she said when I spoke to her recently to find out how young people can address climate change. She said that the connectedness of young people gave this generation unprecedented power.
Today's young people are "digital natives" who use technology and social media to raise their voice. Kyte emphasized that location-specific device allow users to demand quality of services. Through these devices young people can make common cause global and impact change. Her belief in ability of youth is inspiring.
There are more than 1.2 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 24. The world has never before seen this proportion of young people in its documented history. They will inherit a world facing the impacts of climate change.
Earlier this summer, the Bank projected catastrophic consequences of climate change by 2030s if we as a global community fail to act. From Asia to Africa, there will be irreversible consequences. In Sub-Saharan Africa, up to 80% of cropland could become infertile by the 2040s. And we will see an 11% drops in crop production in Vietnam.
Watch the video to learn more about the impact of climate change:
The urgency of climate change is real. It will directly shape our lives. Our employment opportunities, our ability to feed ourselves, our ability to breathe clean air and access energy depend on the people in power and how this generation manages the tradeoff, Kyte said. That is why young people need to be as activist as possible, she believes.
An environmental activist herself in the 1980s, Kyte says climate change is not "about your kids. It's about you." "What would happen to the generation that would come after us and our responsibility to them," she says was the motivating factor for her and her peers in 1980s. "That still has to be the motivating factor for this generation."
While the motivating factor to fight the climate change might not have changed, the global society is now definitely more complex and interconnected than it was three decades ago. For us as a global society to mitigate the effects of climate change, we need to change the way we live our lives and use resources. These changes won't be easy.
But the value shift in young people makes Kyte optimistic about our ability to help the world walk a path to sustainability. I asked Kyte what her advice is for young people.
"Do the courageous thing. If we all do that, then we can make a big difference in a very short period of time."
Rightly said...
Rightly said...
Let's all stand up!
Let's all stand up!
Lie!!!! Current climate
Lie!!!! Current climate change is not the work of man, not even accelerates. What are causing changes in the Sun and the Earth's magnetic polarity. Now stop lying to the world about it.NASA and other definitively tell the truth and not mislead unwary, making a business with this!!
Dear Madam or Sir,
In order to solve problems global warming and climate changes I would like to represent you my invention called "Atmosphere pump effect and it's usage in meteorology, energetic and ecology"
Extreme conditions of atmosphere processes, their global or local changes threaten with natural miseries even highly-developed and economically stable countries. That's why it is up-today task to use disastrous processes of atmosphere for their neutralization, improvement of people's environmental conditions, and contribution to his practical activity. In order to solve this problem, I would like to represent you my invention called "atmosphere pump effect and perspectives of it usage in meteorology, energetic and ecology", which is related to atmosphere technologies and has various spectrums of usage spheres. Namely, it concerns transformation of atmosphere inner potential(pressures) energies into kinetic energy, modification of weather, schemes of its regulation and techniques, cleaning of atmosphere air from harmful mixtures, mechanisms regulation of climate changes and regulation of global warming, cleaning of airdromes and cosmodromes from fogs and storm-clouds and etc.
According to the formula of the invention, between the ends of hermetic pipeline of sufficient length (20 km and more) because of constantly curvatures of synoptic relief, there are always differences in atmosphere pressures. Because of this fact, the air starts to move directionally in the open pipeline, air masses begin to spread from one geographic point to another, focused regular and stable air currency of huge speeds is formed, new energetic canals of transfer of air masses and potential energies are opened, which is similar to the current of hydrologic streams (rivers, oil tubing) on the land relief. By such technologies destructive squalls of open atmosphere will enfolds in pipeline regulate streams.
Atmospheric squally circulatory air movement is transition in to divergent advection.
To observe on reveal and examination pump effect, it is simple possible on any hermetic piece of already construction pipelines, the difference of atmosphere pressures between which open conclusions is exceed (1-2) mb.
During typical difference of pressures (5 mb/100km) and pipeline radiuses (r=1-3m) we receives stream speeds (50-100m/sec), which when applied to electro-generation turbine develop power of 100-1000 mw. And the smog filled with harmful concentration of 100(mg/m3 ) lying on the inhabited area covering 100km2 , will be fully dissolved in the layer of 50m height in 24 hours.
It is also possible to transfer huge air streams coming through a pipeline into the filter keeping carbonated gas (co2), owing to which the concentration of co2 will be reduced and radiation leak of warmth from the planet will be adjustably controlled. It is directly connected with global warming and with climate changes. Moreover, it is possible to filter atmosphere air from Freon gases, that destroy ozone layer and from other bacteriological or chemical harmful mixtures.
By the means of suitable network configuration of such pipelines, construction on the probably stable locality of synoptic relief and managing air streams in them it becomes possible to change desirable direction of thermo pressures field in local geographical area. The technical level of pipelines, the analysis of weather maps and modern development of forecasting, mobile systems of collection information and its exchanging make it possible to regulate efficiently air masses and pressure evolution on the network of pipelines created on the surface in order proportion time weakening and to prevent such kinds of natural miseries as : flood, droughts, frost, fevers, hail, gushing humidity, squalls, erosions, deserting of areas and etcetera, in order to synthesize advisable weather parameters in the local geographic area. I have worked out several concrete schemes of such influence and physical basics provided for thermodynamic factors, rotation and centrifugal forces, and for realization it is necessary to be conduct simulator-experimental works.
Energetic potential accumulated in an average anti-cyclone is equivalent to milliards of tons of relative fuel and the power of alternative, renewed source is competitive with atom energies. Even 0.1% of its usage will give us electricity worth ten millions of dollars just in 24 hours. It is also possible to insert it in the joint energetic network. Besides, don't foresee coincident atmosphere processes, using it only for energetic reasons may worsen ecologic condition and causes undesirable weather events, which makes it possible for dangerous elements to be developed. That's why transference of kinetic energy of the stream, moving in the pipeline into other system (for example, electro network) should be synchronized and coincidently with secure evolutions of synoptic processes.
By the technologies mentioned above destructive energies of atmosphere are used for their neutralization and don't require additional energetic expenditures.
By the additional strange energetic powers in present synoptic system it is possible strained resonant synoptic processes with the purpose of military.
With negative discharge in on a large scale synoptic formation it is possible to be created contrary sign synoptic formation in a little scale, because of this fact weather creation parameters and same weather will changes in contrary sign grow feeble and escape exterminatory elements of weather.
Except this, with systematic pressures discharging it is also possible climate regulation.
Besides if carry out geo potential energy from present synoptic system into another (for example electro network), we could stimulate cyclone generalize processes, and anticyclone processes by contrary sign.
If you become interested in realization of any particular scheme, I'll be ready to cooperate with you.
Sincerely yours,
Vasili Shakarashvili
E-mail: [email protected]


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- This event has passed.
Naughty or Nice Drag Bingo
April 15 @ 9:00 pm - 11:00 pm
|Recurring Event (See all)
An event every week that begins at 9:00pm on Monday, repeating indefinitely
This is truly the most unique Bingo Night in Phoenix. There is NO cost to play. This is an alternative to your grandma's bingo night. Play for a chance to spin the wheel and pick a free naughty, nice or other fun prize. Did I mention the evening is hosted by one of the best Drag Entertainers in town! Yes this is fun. Free Popcorn, free to play! Prizes from our friends at Off Chute Too. Come down and meet other bingo lovers who want something different!


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Though still under construction, The Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute was recently honoured by leaders in the building industry as the first-ever Gold Seal-managed project in Ontario.
The Gold Seal distinction is the only nationally accredited award program for superintendents, estimators, building managers and other supervisory personnel involved with major construction projects. To attain the certification, individuals must have five years of experience, a high level of training, and score 75% or better on a national exam. For a building project to be labelled as Gold Seal-managed, all trade contractors undertaking contracts of $100,000 or more must have at least one Gold Seal certified professional on site – and there are approximately 50 such individuals involved with Perimeter's expansion project.
"We're proud to be affiliated with the Perimeter Institute," said Jason Ball, President of Ball Construction, the main contractor on the project. "It's a terrific facility, it's a world-class facility, and it's only proper that Perimeter Institute would have a Gold Seal certified managed project."
Michael Duschenes, Chief Operating Officer for PI, praised Ball Construction and their partners for their work on the research centre expansion thus far. "PI is an institute that has always been extremely ambitious, always set the bar very, very high, and has always enjoyed surrounding itself with individuals, organizations, and partners who set the bar equally high," Duschenes explained. "In a year's time, we will have nearly double the research space and ability to triple the number of on-site scientists, so we want to ensure a fantastic facility where they can really maximize their research productivity, and that's what the expansion is all about."
A Gold Seal presentation ceremony included representatives of all the contractors and tradespeople involved. Also on hand were Michael Atkinson, President of the Canadian Construction Association; Wayne Morsky, Chair of the Canadian Construction Association; Clive Thurston, President of the Ontario General Contractors Association; and Martha George, President of the Grand Valley Construction Association.
The expansion was designed by Toronto's Teeple Architects and is expected to be completed in about a year's time. Prof. Stephen Hawking, PI Distinguished Research Chair for whom the building is named, gained a sneak preview during his recent research visit, when he took a hardhat tour of the new facility. As the expansion project continues, PI is working with the contractors toward attaining LEED Silver certification, acknowledging the institute's commitment to an environmentally sustainable building.
Building rendering of The Stephen Hawking Centre at Perimeter Institute


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Square scarf with Ferrari Shield
Scuderia Ferrari Store Exclusive
Made of a soft jacquard knit, this elegant square scarf features the iconic Ferrari Shield print.
The Ferrari Shield becomes a refined pattern that decorates this light square modal fabric scarf. The edges are finished with small fringes. The perfect final touch to a Scuderia Ferrari fan's look, whether for a man or woman.
- Logo
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- Composition: 40% Viscose, 30% Modal, 30% Cotton
We offer Standard, Express and Next Day shipping: choose the service that best meets your needs at Checkout.
We also provide free pick up for your returns: you have 15 days from delivery to follow our quick and easy return procedure.


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Create an inviting and warm entertaining outdoor space this winter with the Jumbuck round steel fire pit.
Outdoor Living
How to install bistro blinds
Find everything you need to know to help you install bistro blinds on a pergola.
Outdoor Living
How to enjoy your outdoor area 365 days a year
With a few small alterations and additions you can change your outdoor entertaining area from a sometimes space to a regular room you can enjoy all year round.
Outdoor Living
How to create an outdoor entertaining area
If you have any wasted space outdoors, then a great way to utilise it is by building a modern outdoor entertaining area.
Gates & Fencing
How to install bamboo screening
A bamboo fence is a great way to add some privacy or even just hide an ugly fence. Watch our step by step guide and we'll show you how to install one.
Outdoor Living
How to choose the best outdoor heater
Adding some welcome warmth through outdoor heating to your open-air entertaining area is always a great idea. While a gas appliance might work well in your space, there's also the option of an open fire. The team at Fiammetta look at some things to ...
Outdoor Living
How to design your outdoor room
Make the most of your living and entertaining areas by creating an outdoor living room to enjoy with your family.
Outdoor Living
How to install an outdoor screen panel
Screen panels can completely transform an outdoor space. Find out how to install them in your backyard.
Outdoor Living
How to install a shade sail
Find out you how to install a shade sail in your backyard.


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Take a sneak peek at the new NIST.gov and let us know what you think!
(Please note: some content may not be complete on the beta site.).
Time and Frequency from A to Z: P
Passive Frequency Standard
An atomic oscillator whose output signal is derived from an oscillator frequency locked to the atomic resonance frequency, instead of being directly output by the atoms. Unlike active frequency standards, the cavity where the atomic transitions take place does not sustain self-oscillation. Most commercially available atomic oscillators are passive frequency standards.
Path Delay
The signal delay between a transmitter and a receiver. Path delay is often the largest contributor to time transfer uncertainty. For example, consider a radio signal broadcast over a 1000 km path. Since radio signals travel at the speed of light (with a delay of about 3.3 microseconds/km), we can calibrate the 1000 km path by estimating the path delay as 3.3 ms, and applying a 3.3 ms correction to our measurement. The more sophisticated time transfer systems are self-calibrating, and automatically correct for path delay. Path delay is not important to frequency transfer systems, since on-time pulses are not required. However, variations in path delay do limit the frequency uncertainty.
The period T is the reciprocal of a frequency, T = 1/f. The period of a waveform is the time required for one complete cycle of the wave to occur. The relationship between period, frequency, and amplitude for a sine wave is illustrated in the graphic below. In time and frequency metrology knowing the period of a frequency is necessary, since it helps to identify when cycle slips occur.
The position of a point in time (instant) on a waveform cycle. A complete cycle is defined as the interval required for the waveform to reattain its arbitrary initial value. The graphic above shows how 1 cycle constitutes 360° of phase. The graphic also shows how phase is sometimes expressed in radians, where one radian of phase equals approximately 57.3°. Phase can also be an expression of relative displacement between two corresponding features (for example, peaks or zero crossings) of two waveforms having the same frequency.
When comparing two waveforms, their phase difference or phase angle, is typically expressed in degrees as a number greater than -180°, and less than or equal to +180°. Leading phase refers to a wave that occurs "ahead" of another wave of the same frequency. Lagging phase refers to a wave that occurs "behind" another wave of the same frequency. When two waves differ in phase by -90° or +90°, they are said to be in phase quadrature. When two waves differ in phase by 180°
In time and frequency metrology, the phase difference is usually stated in units of time, rather than in units of phase angle. The time interval for 1° of phase is inversely proportional to the frequency. If the frequency of a signal is given by f, then the time tdeg (in seconds) corresponding to 1° of phase is:
Therefore, a 1° phase shift on a 5 MHz signal corresponds to a time shift of 555 picoseconds. This same answer can be obtained by taking the period of 5 MHz (200 nanoseconds) and dividing by 360.
A comparison of the phase of two waveforms, usually of the same nominal frequency. In time and frequency metrology, the purpose of a phase comparison is generally to determine the frequency offset of a device under test (DUT) with respect to a reference.
A phase comparison can be made by connecting two signals to a two-channel oscilloscope. The oscilloscope will display two sine waves, as shown in the graphic. The top sine wave is the test frequency, and the bottom sine wave represents a signal from the reference. If the two frequencies were exactly the same, their phase relationship would not change and both would appear to be stationary on the oscilloscope display. Since the two frequencies are not exactly the same, the reference appears to be stationary and the test signal moves. By measuring the rate of motion of the test signal we can determine its frequency offset. Vertical lines have been drawn through the points where each sine wave passes through zero. The bottom of the figure shows bars whose width represents the phase difference between the signals. In this case the phase difference is increasing, indicating that the test signal is lower in frequency than the reference.
Phase Locked Loop (PLL)
An electronic circuit with a voltage- or current-driven oscillator that is constantly adjusted to match in phase (and thus lock on) the frequency of an input signal. A PLL has many applications in time and frequency. It can be used to generate a signal, modulate or demodulate a signal, reconstitute a signal with less noise, or multiply or divide a frequency.
A typical PLL consists of a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) that is tuned using a varactor. The VCO is initially tuned to a frequency close to the desired frequency. A circuit called a phase comparator causes the VCO to seek and lock onto a reference frequency. This works by means of a feedback scheme. If the VCO frequency departs from the reference frequency, the phase comparator produces an error voltage that is applied to the varactor, bringing the VCO frequency back into agreement with the reference frequency.
Phase Noise
The rapid, short-term, random fluctuations in the phase of a wave. To a large extent, phase noise can be removed by averaging. The unit used to describe phase noise is dBc/Hz (dB below the carrier per Hz of bandwidth). Reports of phase noise measurement results should include both the bandwidth and the carrier frequency.
The change in phase of a periodic signal with respect to a reference.
An intentional phase shift in a signal used to identify that signal. For example, WWVB identifies itself by advancing the phase of its carrier frequency 45° at 10 minutes after the hour and returning to normal phase at 15 minutes after the hour. This signature can be seen on a phase plot as an approximate 2 microsecond step, as shown in the figure below.
Picosecond (ps)
One trillionth of a second (10-12 s).
The term precision is somewhat ambiguous, and has several meanings in time and frequency metrology. Due to its ambiguity, it is not often used in a quantitative sense. Normally, it refers to the degree of mutual agreement among a series of individual measurements, values, or results. In this case, precision is analogous to standard deviation. Precision might also be used to refer to the ability of a device to produce, repeatedly and without adjustments, the same value or result, given the same input conditions and operating in the same environment. This use of precision makes it analogous to repeatability, reproducibility, or even stability. In other instances, precision is used as a measure of a computer's ability to to distinguish between nearly equal values. For example, a compiler or spreadsheet might have 32-bit precision when doing calculations with floating point numbers. In this case, precision is analogous to resolution.
Primary Standard
A standard that is designated or widely acknowledged as having the highest metrological qualities and whose value is accepted without reference to other standards of the same quantity. For example, NIST-F1 is recognized as a primary standard for time and frequency. A true primary standard like NIST-F1 establishes maximum levels for the frequency shifts caused by environmental factors. By summing or combining the effects of these frequency shifts, it is possible to estimate the uncertainty of a primary standard without comparing it to other standards.
In the time and frequency field, the term primary standard is sometimes used to refer to any cesium oscillator, since the SI definition of the second is based on the physical properties of the cesium atom. The term primary standard is also commonly used, at least in a local sense, to refer to the best standard available at a given laboratory or facility.


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Photography by Darcy Bacha
Video by Tyler Malay & Justin Gunson
Buttermilk Park Session Preview
by Joel Muzzey
While all you internet shred nerds were watching the US Open run its course, we were out at Buttermilk in Aspen, Colorado aka home of the XGames. It was a week of perfect Spring Break weather for the second of our five Park Sessions. The crew assembled for this session came from all over the country. We had Tyler Flanagan from Mammoth, Alex Rodway from Maine, Bear Mountain's Scotty Vine, Breckenridge local Madison Ellsworth, and nomad Mason Aguirre as well as a pair of Minnesota rail aficionados Brandon Larson and Dan Liedahl otherwise known Danimals. Buttermilk's 2-mile long park laps are dotted with everything from polejams to Jersey barriers to 60-foot booters, and of course that massive pipe. It was the perfect place to spend a week screwing around with a big ol' rat pack. Sun up to sunset, the crew didn't stop until the free tickets expired. Stay tuned for full Park Sessions video coming Fall 2012.


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Gas prices have been on a steady climb since the start of the year, and some drivers are already facing $4 or more per gallon.
Continue Reading Below
While drivers can't control the fluctuations in the price at the pump, they can take steps to manage how often they have to fill up and how much they pay.
"How you save at the pump is you shop around," says Patrick DeHaan, a senior petroleum analyst at gas-price tracker GasBuddy.com. "You can also save by signing up for a gas credit card and driving smarter."
Shop Around
The price per gallon of gas can differ at stations located right next to each other, so drivers should always shop around to find the lowest price. There are many apps and websites to make comparing prices easy and help blunt the pain.
Become a Smarter Driver
Experts agree that one of the best ways to conserve gas is to change r driving habits. According to the Department of Energy, gas mileage typically decreases when cars are going more than 50 mph. What's more, the agency says for every 5mph over 50mpg, it will cost an additional 26 cents per gallon for gas.
Driving aggressively will also reduce pain at the pump. Rapid acceleration and braking and speeding can lower gas mileage by 33% at highway speeds and 5% around town, according to the Energy Department.
DeHaan says drivers should coast to a red light instead of speeding up and then braking, and should strive to drive slightly slower than the speed limit to conserve gas. "Te biggest way to save is to drive more defensively, but it's so hard to do."
Turn Off the Car
Idling is another gas hog. There's a misconception that more gas is wasted turning off a car and restarting than idling during short-term stops like at a railroad crossing or sitting in traffic--but that's wrong.
According to the DOE's website, "idling can use a quarter to a half gallon of fuel per hour, depending on engine size and air conditioner (AC) us. It only takes a few seconds worth of fuel to restart your vehicle."
Indeed, DeHaan at GasBuddy.com says he shuts his car off if it's idling for more than 30 seconds and is able to save a lot of gas as a result. "It's one of the smartest things you can do," he says.
Lose the Pounds
Excess cargo can weigh a vehicle down and thus require more gas to run, so it might be time to unload kids' soccer gear or the 30-pounds of dog food sitting in the trunk. The DOE says drivers can save 4 cents to 8 cents a gallon simply by getting rid of excess weight.
Run Errands Efficiently
Running errands is not only a time eater, but also a big gas consumer. Planning the most efficient errand list can help reduce the amount of fueled consumed.
According to the Department of Energy, several short trips can use twice as much fuel as one long trip that covers the same distance because a vehicle's engine is already warmed up.


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Lychas sp. marbled scorpion.
Wilson's Promontory National Park, Victoria, Australia
Lychas sp.
Close up of a marbled scorpion. Yandoit, Victoria, Australia.
Centruroides sculpturatus, the Arizona bark scorpion.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
Centruroides vittatus
Striped bark scorpion. Bastrop State Park, Texas, USA.
Entomologist Tom Myers watches a Paraphrynus tailless whipscorpion in a Belizean cave.
Armenia, Belize
A Paraphrynus tailless whipscorpion walks along a limestone cave wall.
Armenia, Belize
Paraphrynus sp. tailless whipscorpion. Despite a fearsome appearance, whipscorpions are shy, harmless animals.
Armenia, Belize
Dinothrombium velvet mites are elephants among the acari. These raisin- sized arthropods roam the Sonoran Desert floor after the onset of summer rains.
Tucson, Arizona, USA
A predatory velvet mite forages along a mossy log in an eastern deciduous forest.
Urbana, Illinois, USA
Belicenochrus pentalatus
Short-tailed whipscorpion. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.
This rare arachnid was found in a rotting log. Armenia, Cayo District, Belize.
Solifugae - Sun Spider
Scurry County, Texas, USA.
Sun scorpions (Order Solifugae) may look scary, but in fact they are harmless animals. They are found in arid regions worldwide, where they are primarily active at night.
California, USA
Centruroidesbark scorpionvenomous animalsarthropodsbuthidaescorpionsarizonadesertscorpionesarachnidsnature


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This is the login panel
The Department of Global Outreach (DGO) has been an integral part of the American College of Nurse-Midwives' (ACNM) mission for three decades. By promoting the health and well-being of women and infants within their families and communities through the development and support of the profession of midwifery, ACNM and DGO have partnered with organizations around the world to improve maternal newborn health. Beginning in the early 1980s, the Department of Global Outreach (formerly known as Special Projects) developed training programs for traditional birth attendants through the leadership of Bonnie Pedersen. These initial efforts led to the development of the two landmark curricula: Life Saving Skills, a training curriculum for midwives and other health care providers in obstetric and reproductive health care; and Home-Based Life Saving Skills, a community-based program teaching emergency first aid action steps to increase access to emergency care within the home and decrease delays in reaching referral facilities. Since 1990, ACNM's DGO has expanded their areas of expertise to include:


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These 14 stocks could be some of the Nasdaq's best buys for 2010 and beyond.
The smartphone revolution will drive tech's growth for the foreseeable future, Cramer has said time and again. Consumers want what they want when they want it, and all-in-one handsets – complete with voice, video and data capabilities – are bringing their entire lives to the new "small screen."
The Mad Money host has gone so far as to call this "the biggest secular growth trend of my life." So anyone who wants to play the trend should consider the companies that help to make it happen.
But the mobile Internet isn't tech's only booming industry. Social-media gaming and online shopping, which continues to creep into what was once the sole realm of brick-and-mortar stores, are worth a serious look, too. Cramer said he will be watching these themes throughout 2010, and he's especially bullish about the 14 stocks listed in this slide show.
Click ahead to find out his picks!


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Express. Home of the Daily and Sunday Express.
Allam was misinterpreted - Bruce
Hull manager Steve Bruce believes club owner Assem Allam was misinterpreted when he said fans opposed to his plan to rename the club Hull Tigers can "die as soon as they want".
Allam has been the target of strong criticism from supporters ever since he announced his intention to ditch the 109-year-old title of Hull City AFC in favour of his preferred Hull Tigers.
He has been dismissive of those who oppose the move and, in an interview with a Sunday newspaper, told his detractors they could "die as soon as they want" - a reference to the 'City Till We Die' movement.
Speaking to BBC Radio Five on Monday evening, Bruce sought to take the heat out of the situation.
"I think what he was saying was he needs the situation to die, not the supporters to go away and die," he told BBC Radio Five. "I think there's a misinterpretation."
He continued: "The owner's been (in Hull) 45 years, and I'm not making excuses here, but if you speak to him he still hasn't quite grasped the English language."
Bruce said after Sunday's 3-1 Barclays Premier League win over Liverpool that he intended to speak to Allam about his proposal to rebrand the club after claiming the Egyptian "does not understand" the tradition that goes with the name of the team.
The home faithful displayed banners and protested against the proposed rebranding during Sunday's triumph, which lifted the Tigers to 10th in the Premier League, and Bruce is hopeful Allam will take their feelings on board.
"I think the chairman has put something like £70million into this club, so without him there wouldn't be a club or a 'Hull City' - it would be down the tubes," said the 52-year-old, who took over as Hull manager in June 2012.
"We have to respect his wishes, but on the other hand he has to understand too that a lot of people feel very, very strongly about this.
"The last thing we need in our first year back in the Premier League is any distractions, because it's hard enough. At times, when things aren't going so well, it can create an atmosphere that no-one wants.
"We should be enjoying the Premier League rather than talking about a badge or a name change."
He added: "I've got to have a conversation with him. I don't think he understands quite what it means to the history and the tradition.
"But if he wants us to play in pink fairy dresses then he is entitled to that view."


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NEWPORT County have in the last few minutes released a statement announcing two new signings for next season.
The statement from manager Justin Edinburgh reads: I appreciate that you have all been waiting for news on new players.
At last Wednesday's meeting at Rodney Parade, I stated that I would not be releasing any news on players until the " ink was dry ! ". I am sure that you will all understand, that going public with players with whom you are negotiating, can often have the wrong effect, by drawing the attention of other Clubs.
For weeks, I have been in talks with numerous players. There is no doubt about it, the new venue at Rodney Parade, has greatly assisted with those negotiations, and tonight I am pleased to announce that 2 new players have today signed for the Club.
They are : Jake Thompson ( 23 ) - a central midfielder, who last season was with Forest Green Rovers. Jake was a former Southampton Youth player and previously he had been on loan with Torquay. Jake caught my eye, and impressed me during our games against FGR. I am delighted that we have been able to agree terms to obtain his signature for this coming season, with an option for a second season.
Jefferson Louis ( 33 ) - at 6' 3", Jefferson is a very experienced striker at this level of football, having also played League Football at Oxford United and Bristol Rovers. Jefferson is an athletic player with pace, who last season, was with Lincoln City. He played for me whilst I was managing Rushden, and I am very pleased to have him back in my squad.
I am sure that you would all wish to join me in offering a warm welcome to both players, who are both excited at the prospect of playing at Rodney Parade.
This may well be the start of a busy week.
I feel confident that further news will be coming out to you as the week progresses.
The Gaffer


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User:Bethany Lafferty
Bethany A. Lafferty is currently the Assistant Branch Manager/Youth Services Department Head at the Green Valley Library branch of the Henderson (NV) District Public Library. She has been working in public libraries since 2004; focusing on youth services. In August 2006 Bethany presented a workshop on children's library programming at the Nevada Library Association Conference held at the Texas Station, North Las Vegas, NV. Current ALA involvement includes membership in ALSC, YALSA, and NMRT. Bethany is a committee member of ALSC's Public Awareness committee and the committee intern for the ALA Committee on Professional Ethics.
Bethany moved to Las Vegas in September 2005 from Oak Park, IL, a suburb of Chicago. She is a 1999 graduate of Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science in Finance and a 2005 graduate of Dominican University (IL) with a Masters of Library and Information Science. Bethany lives in the northwest area of Las Vegas with her husband Brian and their two cats, Artemis and Avery.
(Updated 4/19/09)


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Bumble Bee Brings Out the Bling
San Diego-based Bumble Bee Foods LLC brings elegance and convenience to dinner tables across the country with the launch of Bumble Bee Prime Fillet Tonno in Olive Oil. The new gourmet-style canned tuna is the first of Bumble Bee's Prime Fillet products to be packed in olive oil, the traditional and preferred style in Europe.
Rich in protein, providing many of the same benefits as fresh fish, each individual 5-oz. can contains two servings of Italian-style gourmet yellowfin tuna packed in olive oil. Tuna is a significant source of healthful omega-3 fatty acids, linked to improved heart health, reduced hypertension and improved mental health.
Suggested retail price is $1.99.


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Game Thread: GS Warriors @ Phoenix Suns
Talk about the upcoming Warriors game here
Moderators: Mr. Crackerz, JREED, Guybrush, 32
- Posts: 267
- Joined: Wed Aug 24, 2005 8:18 pm
Role Player
This game will be telivised nationally on TNT. Need I say more?
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- Joined: Sat Jul 16, 2005 12:41 pm
Starting Lineup
I think the suns are playing a back to back, so they wont play hard.
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Role Player
It's a preseason, it doesn't matter who wins (just don't get injured!). But since it's the last game of the preseason and we have 17 on our roster, this game is a make or break for some free agen rookies.
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Role Player
Close one looks like we're in the lead but it's comercials.
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Role Player
if the preseason was any indication, our starters couldn't hang with the Sun's scrubs in the last quarter. not a good sign!


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Gigi Sayfan specializes in cross-platform object-oriented programming in C/C++/ C#/Python/Java with emphasis on large-scale distributed systems. He is currently trying to build intelligent machines inspired by the brain at Numenta (www.numenta.com).
Python is a great dynamic language. In what way? For one thing, it allows you to add attributes to objects anytime. Consider the following class A:
class A(object): def __init__(self): self.x = 5 def set_y(self, value): self.y = value
When you instantiate it as in:
a = A()
The __init__() is executed and the x attribute is set to 5. However, it has no y attribute just yet:
print 'a.x:', a.x
So try:
print 'a.y:', a.y except AttributeError: print "a has no 'y' attribute"
a.x: 5 a.y: a has no 'y' attribute
Now, if you call the set_y() method suddenly the a object grows a 'y' attribute. You can even add a 'z' attribute willy nilly from outside the class:
a.set_y(8) print 'a.y:', a.y a.z = 12 print 'a.z:', a.z
a.y: 8 a.z: 12
What's going on here? It's actually pretty simple. Each Python object keeps all its attributes in a special dictionary (a collection of key-value pairs) called __dict__ and anyone can access the __dict__ of any object and add/delete/modify items. Here is the __dict__ after y and z were added:
print a.__dict__ {'y': 8, 'x': 5, 'z': 12}
Note that __dict__ is not ordered by the insertion order. Python lets you remove attributes using the del statement and check for the existence of attributes using the hasattr() function. Here I verify that a has a 'z' attribute, remove it, and verify it doesn't have a 'z' attribute anymore:
>>> assert hasattr(a, 'z') >>> del a.z >>> assert not hasattr(a, 'z')
But, you can delete it directly by working with the __dict__. Here I check that 'y' is in the __dict__, remove it from the __dict__, and check it's not in the __dict__.
>>> assert 'y' in a.__dict__ >>> del a.__dict__['y'] >>> assert 'y' not in a.__dict__
It looks like hasattr() is not really needed, but that's not the case. Python objects have many attributes that are not in their __dict__. For example, the __dict__ itself is not in the __dict__. Python objects get many attributes from their types. For example, the __init__() and set_y() methods are also attributes that the 'a' object gets from its class A:
>>> a.set_y <bound method A.set_y of <code.A object at 0x411730>> >>> hasattr(a, 'set_y') True >>> 'set_y' in a.__dict__ False
The bottom line is that it's good to know about the __dict__, but you should use hasattr() if you want to test for the exsitence of an attribute. If you want to see all the attributes try the 'dir' function:
>>> dir(a) ['__class__', '__delattr__', '__dict__', '__doc__', '__format__', '__getattribute__', '__hash__', '__init__', '__module__', '__new__', '__reduce__', '__reduce_ex__', '__repr__', '__setattr__', '__sizeof__', '__str__', '__subclasshook__', '__weakref__', 'set_y', 'x']
In some situations this enormous flexibility becomes a burden. At Numenta where I work, we use Python objects as plugins to a runtime engine (server) that communicates with a client that may potentially be on another machine. This means that the communication goes through a special protocol and operations on the plugins such as initialization, execution and persistence are orchestrated carefully. The runtime engine itself is implemented in C++ and interacts with the Python object indirectly through a C++ wrapper. A common scenario is that the Python object creates new attributes during its execution.
But this also caused a lot of confusion and subtle bugs. Some attributes weren't available at the right time. Typos couldn't be detected easily (setting an attribute with the wrong name just created a new attribute). To make things even worse, a few generations of changes led to various attributes becoming obsolete and/or deprecated. These attributes were created on-the-fly when loading an old object from a file.
This aspect of Python became a real obstacle. The solution that emerged was that new attributes should be created only in the __init__() and __setstate__() methods. The __init()__ method is the method that's being called when a new object is instantiated for the first time. The __setstate__() method is called when an object is loaded from a "pickle" file. A pickle file is simply a built-in serialization scheme that Python supports. That allows persisting Python objects across multiple sessions of the application.
Okay, so this policy means that methods like set_y() are invalid (unless called directly or indirectly from __init__() or __setstate__()) because they create a new attribute. Also external code that tries to create new attributes like 'a.z = 12' is forbidden. If you have an attribute that you don't know what to set it to at __init__() time, just set it to 'None'.
Well, that sounds great, but just telling programmers about this magnificent new policy is not enough. Programmers are notorious for being a confused and/or belligerent bunch and even the most obedient programers can't escape typos. The Numenta software has many Python plugins, which are pretty big objects (some has 20-30 attributes) and it's not an easy task even to detect violations of policy, not to mention fixing them. What is needed is an automated approach that can enforce the policy without excpetion. This is were the lock attributes pattern comes into play. It is a pretty sophisticated solution that involves intercepting attribute setting and checking for violations. When a violation is detected an exception is raised.