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When Massachusetts first looked at allowing casino gambling, officials pointed to Connecticut as evidence of their success in generating revenue.
When Massachusetts first looked at allowing casino gambling, officials pointed to Connecticut as evidence of their success in generating revenue.
Now, with a casino proposed in Milford, opponents are pointing to the casino towns in Connecticut as examples of what could go wrong here.
Milford is being eyed by Foxwoods, in partnership with Colorado-developer David Nunes and Warner Gaming, for a possible $1 billion casino development.
Foxwoods initially opened its resort-casino in Ledyard, Conn., in 1992 on Mashantucket Pequot Indian tribal land. They later expanded their operation and they now operate one of the largest casinos in the world. Mohegan Sun opened in Montville, Conn., in 1996.
The response from the two towns to the casinos varied considerably.
In Ledyard, where the town had no say in the casino, Mayor John Rodolico said the relationship between the casino and town is just starting to get on good terms.
Montville Mayor Ronald McDaniel said there have been very few negative effects from Mohegan Sun, which he noted "learned many lessons" from how Foxwoods opened.
Bob Steel, a former congressman who represented eastern Connecticut, said the entire region changed when casinos came to the area.
"They are an overwhelming presence in the area," Steel said. "From traffic to schools being concerned about a gambling culture, I think it runs the whole gamut."
Overall, these Connecticut towns had a much different experience than Milford will likely see because their casinos were built on tribal land.
Neither town gained much revenue from the developments since tribal land is tax-exempt and no host agreement was required. Also, the state divvies up the 25 percent of the slot machine revenue it receives from the casinos among all the cities and towns across the state, regardless of proximity to the casinos.
While officials in the host and surrounding towns acknowledged many negative effects to their communities, most also said there could be big benefits if Milford plays their cards right.
There are a variety of areas where, whether Connecticut officials had a positive or negative feeling about the casinos, everyone agreed there have been major impacts.
"The most immediate effect was the increase of traffic on (Ledyard's) roads," Rodolico, the mayor, said. "They've had tens of thousands of people going there from the day they opened."
While the majority of the traffic runs through ramps created specifically for the casinos, Rodolico said they still see an impact on their local roads.
"For people coming from the west, the best way to get to the casino is to cut through local roads," he said. He noted this has caused serious deterioration on old farm roads not used to the commercial traffic.
While the town does not receive regular compensation from the casino to repair and maintain roads, Foxwoods did partner with them this year to complete a bridge rehabilitation project this past year.
Norwich City Manager Alan Bergren also noted a significant traffic increase in his city.
"Route 2 is a major thoroughfare through the city," Bergren said. "Late in the evening, traffic wouldn't be a problem at all. Now, traffic is 24/7, it's constant."
Norwich, located about 8 miles from the casinos, has seen many effects from them and, according to a 2009 casino impact study done by the state, has seen an estimated $1 million to $2.5 million a year in casino-related expenses.
Along with the increased traffic comes more pressure on the police and ambulance services in the area.
"Our police force has expanded by about 25 percent since the casinos opened, which is directly a result of increased traffic," said Rodolico.
He also noted that before the casinos opened, the city ambulance service was running about 300 responses a year and ambulances would last for 15 to 20 years. Now, the ambulance service responds to upwards of 1,000 calls a year and the life expectancy of ambulances has gone down by about a third.
Police near the casinos are responding to much more than just traffic concerns.
The state police provide law enforcement coverage to both casinos.
"You can think of a casino as a small city," said Connecticut State Police spokesman Lt. Jay Paul Vance. "Everything you experience in a small city is what we experience at the casinos."
Vance said they see everything from minor thefts and assaults to money laundering and counterfeit bills.
"Interesting enough, it's not overwhelming," Vance said. "When you look at the thousands of people going in and out every day and see a handful of crimes."
Vance did note a spike in drunk driving arrests and crashes since the casinos opened.
According to the 2009 casino impact study, drunk driving arrests have doubled in Norwich since 1992 and roughly 20 percent of the drunk drivers arrested in Montville, Ledyard and North Stonington said their last drink was at a casino.
The Montville mayor said the crime in his town has increased slightly, but he hasn't seen any major crimes as a result of the casino.
"Gaming does attract people whose motives are not always good," said Bergren, noting Norwich has seen increased drug use and prostitution within the city. "Our police department has been struggling to keep up with those situations we never experienced before."
Along with the casinos came an influx of service workers from depressed areas in other states and from other countries.
Ledyard and Montville officials said these workers often found it difficult to afford housing in their towns with the low-paying casino jobs.
"(Norwich) ended up providing a lot of housing for their employees," Bergren said.
Bergren said the city population grew by 12 percent in the last decade. He said without the casinos, the population would have likely decreased as manufacturing jobs left the area.
"We've run into a lot of situations where single-family homes are turned into a boarding house and you see a lot of code violations," Bergren said.
In 2007, the city even had to create the position of "blight officer" to enforce housing codes, according to the 2009 state casino impact study.
While some housing issues have come with the influx of workers, Bergren said these workers did boost the area apartment market.
McDaniel also said Montville would have had a lot more empty housing if it weren't for the casino employees.
With the influx of service workers into these Connecticut communities, the schools have noticed an increase in non-English speaking students.
Norwich Public School administrators identified on a yearly basis nearly $2 million in casino-related costs, according to the 2009 casino impact study. The district now teaches to students speaking more than 30 languages throughout the school system.
"There were never 30 languages before. … That's clearly been because of the casinos," said Norwich Superintendent of Schools Abby Doliver. "It puts an additional burden in terms of how we meet the needs of all these students and their families."
Rodolico said the Ledyard school system has also seen an increase in the number of languages within the schools as a result of the service workers moving into the area.
Doliver also said there has been an increase in students who qualify for free or reduced lunch, which is as high as 80 percent.
"I'm not blaming the casinos, but it may be attributable to them. … A lot of the jobs are service jobs and not high-paying," Doliver said.
Local Economy
The effect of the casinos on the local economy is a bit of a mixed bag, according to officials in the area.
The casinos opened in Connecticut when the region was facing an economic downturn from defense-spending cuts that led to the closure of factories that were major employers in the area.
"They have created some 20,000 jobs and everyone appreciates the jobs and recognizes that upside," Steel, the former Congressman, said of the region during the early '90s.
"It took some of the pressure off of unemployment," Rodolico said.
However, many officials note that while the jobs were helpful, they didn't replace the high-paying manufacturing jobs lost in the area.
The average salary in the region dropped from $67,000 to $33,000 from 1993 to 2003, as the region lost 10,000 manufacturing jobs and gained 20,000 casino service jobs, according to the 2009 state casino impact study.
"I think they picked up a lot of the slack," Bergren said. "It provided employment when people needed it, but obviously we're interested in getting our residents better-paying jobs."
Bergren and McDaniel credited these new workers with putting some money back into the local economy as they stop and buy coffee on their way to work or groceries on the way home.
The Ledyard mayor said, however, that the overall effect on local businesses was negative.
"The problem is that casinos are self-contained, they are built to provide all of the needs," Rodolico said. "If anything, it has been a struggle because of the competition provided by the casinos."
Bergren said Norwich has also seen some financial benefits since Mohegan agreed to partner with the city on an economic development fund. The tribe and the town both place anywhere from $50,000 to $100,000 in the fund that goes to fund festivals, job initiatives and more.
So, what advice did these officials have for Milford? Get a seat at the table.
Many of the casino-area officials said they would have been much more receptive to the idea of a casino if they were able to see benefits from it.
Montville's mayor noted his town receives $600,000 every year from Mohegan Sun to perform capital projects.
McDaniel advised Milford to try to make the best deal for the town.
"Milford is lucky it can make sure it gets what it wants without sacrificing its rights. It can be a nice payday," McDaniel said.
Other officials acknowledged the tax benefits of a casino complex would be huge if the land weren't tax exempt.
"In any other normal situation, it would be a huge windfall for the town," said Rodolico.
Others said regardless of the benefits, they wouldn't advise Milford to accept a casino.
"I'd vote no," said Linda Davis of the Ledyard Town Council. "It'll change your town forever and not necessarily in a good way."


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Is Lplayer a Good choice?
I want to get a new mp3 player now since my P2 is getting old and my ipod touch is to heavy and big to carry around daily
and the sony A828 i have is great but i got easy bored of it it just not something special designwise.
I have birthday soon and im thinking i should get a new player
Mostly i have been thinking about a Cowon D2+ or S9
but the price is a bit high, however i think the both are beautiful.
I want something not too big and I planned to get a Clix2 some months back then it got discontinued making it harder to get.
I dont like the design of Sansa players so i wont get that.
but then i saw Lplayer and now I know it must be the next Clix
As an alternative i could propably save up more money and buy a D2+ or even get a Clix2 on Ebay (with the risk that might be)
but somehow it does not feel right to get discontinued products i dunno but I dont realy feel for it
I still dunno why Iriver took and discontiued CLIX2 their greatest product is just insane, anyone can tell me why iriver discontinued CLIX2?
The good thing about Lplayer is I can get a White color i think White is perfect for Iriver players
have some question about the player.
I hope someone can answer
1. How long does the battery last if you only use Lplayer as audioplayer
at max volume ?
I mean will it atleast last 6 hours in row?
2. how is sound quality, Will i get a much lower quality sound than say Samsung P2?
will the sound be better than my ipod touch poor sound?
3. I read that Clix themes is not compatible with Lplayer ofcourse is not is another player so why should it
BUT..... Do you think a lot of Lplayer themes will be avaible soon
if there is one thing that help a mp3 player not be too boring is it having themes.
4. How solid is it, if it once drop down to the street will it break?
maybe the screen is the only issue will it easy scratch?
5. Does Lplayer have Album cover art?
6. Will it work on Windows Vista specially for Drag & drop?
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| Finitely Related Algebras in Congruence Distributive Varieties Have Near Unanimity Terms
Barto, Libor
We show that every finite, finitely related algebra in a congruence distributive variety has a near unanimity term operation. As a consequence we solve the near unanimity problem for relational structures: it is decidable whether a given finite set of relations on a finite set admits a compatible near unanimity operation. This consequence also implies that it is decidable whether a given finite constraint language defines a constraint satisfaction problem of bounded strict width.
| Non-vanishing of $L$-functions, the Ramanujan Conjecture, and Families of Hecke Characters
Blomer, Valentin; Brumley, Farrell
We prove a non-vanishing result for families of $\operatorname{GL}_n\times\operatorname{GL}_n$ Rankin-Selberg $L$-functions in the critical strip, as one factor runs over twists by Hecke characters. As an application, we simplify the proof, due to Luo, Rudnick, and Sarnak, of the best known bounds towards the Generalized Ramanujan Conjecture at the infinite places for cusp forms on $\operatorname{GL}_n$. A key ingredient is the regularization of the units in residue classes by the use of an Arakelov ray class group.
| C$^*$-algebras Nearly Contained in Type $\mathrm{I}$ Algebras
Christensen, Erik; Sinclair, Allan M.; Smith, Roger R.; White, Stuart
In this paper we consider near inclusions $A\subseteq_\gamma B$ of C$^*$-algebras. We show that if $B$ is a separable type $\mathrm{I}$ C$^*$-algebra and $A$ satisfies Kadison's similarity problem, then $A$ is also type $\mathrm{I}$ and use this to obtain an embedding of $A$ into $B$.
| On Flag Curvature of Homogeneous Randers Spaces
Deng, Shaoqiang; Hu, Zhiguang
In this paper we give an explicit formula for the flag curvature of homogeneous Randers spaces of Douglas type and apply this formula to obtain some interesting results. We first deduce an explicit formula for the flag curvature of an arbitrary left invariant Randers metric on a two-step nilpotent Lie group. Then we obtain a classification of negatively curved homogeneous Randers spaces of Douglas type. This results, in particular, in many examples of homogeneous non-Riemannian Finsler spaces with negative flag curvature. Finally, we prove a rigidity result that a homogeneous Randers space of Berwald type whose flag curvature is everywhere nonzero must be Riemannian.
| The Ranks of the Homotopy Groups of a Finite Dimensional Complex
Félix, Yves; Halperin, Steve; Thomas, Jean-Claude
Let $X$ be an $n$-dimensional, finite, simply connected CW complex and set $\alpha_X =\limsup_i \frac{\log\mbox{ rank}\, \pi_i(X)}{i}$. When $0\lt \alpha_X\lt \infty$, we give upper and lower bound for $ \sum_{i=k+2}^{k+n} \textrm{rank}\, \pi_i(X) $ for $k$ sufficiently large. We show also for any $r$ that $\alpha_X$ can be estimated from the integers rk$\,\pi_i(X)$, $i\leq nr$ with an error bound depending explicitly on $r$.
| Universal Families of Rational Tropical Curves
Francois, Georges; Hampe, Simon
We introduce the notion of families of $n$-marked smooth rational tropical curves over smooth tropical varieties and establish a one-to-one correspondence between (equivalence classes of) these families and morphisms from smooth tropical varieties into the moduli space of $n$-marked abstract rational tropical curves $\mathcal{M}_{n}$.
| Equicontinuous Delone Dynamical Systems
Kellendonk, Johannes; Lenz, Daniel
We characterize equicontinuous Delone dynamical systems as those coming from Delone sets with strongly almost periodic Dirac combs. Within the class of systems with finite local complexity, the only equicontinuous systems are then shown to be the crystallographic ones. On the other hand, within the class without finite local complexity, we exhibit examples of equicontinuous minimal Delone dynamical systems that are not crystallographic. Our results solve the problem posed by Lagarias as to whether a Delone set whose Dirac comb is strongly almost periodic must be crystallographic.
| Optimal Polynomial Recurrence
Lyall, Neil; Magyar, Ákos
Let $P\in\mathbb Z[n]$ with $P(0)=0$ and $\varepsilon\gt 0$. We show, using Fourier analytic techniques, that if $N\geq \exp\exp(C\varepsilon^{-1}\log\varepsilon^{-1})$ and $A\subseteq\{1,\dots,N\}$, then there must exist $n\in\mathbb N$ such that \[\frac{|A\cap (A+P(n))|}{N}\gt \left(\frac{|A|}{N}\right)^2-\varepsilon.\]
| Surfaces with $p_g=q=2$, $K^2=6$, and Albanese Map of Degree $2$
Penegini, Matteo; Polizzi, Francesco
We classify minimal surfaces of general type with $p_g=q=2$ and $K^2=6$ whose Albanese map is a generically finite double cover. We show that the corresponding moduli space is the disjoint union of three generically smooth irreducible components $\mathcal{M}_{Ia}$, $\mathcal{M}_{Ib}$, $\mathcal{M}_{II}$ of dimension $4$, $4$, $3$, respectively.
| Distance Sets of Urysohn Metric Spaces
Sauer, N. W.
A metric space $\mathrm{M}=(M;\operatorname{d})$ is {\em homogeneous} if for every isometry $f$ of a finite subspace of $\mathrm{M}$ to a subspace of $\mathrm{M}$ there exists an isometry of $\mathrm{M}$ onto $\mathrm{M}$ extending $f$. The space $\mathrm{M}$ is {\em universal} if it isometrically embeds every finite metric space $\mathrm{F}$ with $\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{F})\subseteq \operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})$. (With $\operatorname{dist}(\mathrm{M})$ being the set of distances between points in $\mathrm{M}$.)
| Lagrange's Theorem for Hopf Monoids in Species
Aguiar, Marcelo; Lauve, Aaron
Following Radford's proof of Lagrange's theorem for pointed Hopf algebras, we prove Lagrange's theorem for Hopf monoids in the category of connected species. As a corollary, we obtain necessary conditions for a given subspecies $\mathbf k$ of a Hopf monoid $\mathbf h$ to be a Hopf submonoid: the quotient of any one of the generating series of $\mathbf h$ by the corresponding generating series of $\mathbf k$ must have nonnegative coefficients. Other corollaries include a necessary condition for a sequence of nonnegative integers to be the dimension sequence of a Hopf monoid in the form of certain polynomial inequalities, and of a set-theoretic Hopf monoid in the form of certain linear inequalities. The latter express that the binomial transform of the sequence must be nonnegative.
| Les applications conforme-harmoniques
Bérard, Vincent
Sur une surface de Riemann, l'énergie d'une application à valeurs dans une variété riemannienne est une fonctionnelle invariante conforme, ses points critiques sont les applications harmoniques. Nous proposons ici un analogue en dimension supérieure, en construisant une fonctionnelle invariante conforme pour les applications entre deux variétés riemanniennes, dont la variété de départ est de dimension $n$ paire. Ses points critiques satisfont une EDP elliptique d'ordre $n$ non-linéaire qui est covariante conforme par rapport à la variété de départ, on les appelle les applications conforme-harmoniques. Dans le cas des fonctions, on retrouve l'opérateur GJMS, dont le terme principal est une puissance $n/2$ du laplacien. Quand $n$ est impaire, les mêmes idées permettent de montrer que le terme constant dans le développement asymptotique de l'énergie d'une application asymptotiquement harmonique sur une variété AHE est indépendant du choix du représentant de l'infini conforme.
| On Multilinear Fourier Multipliers of Limited Smoothness
Grafakos, Loukas; Miyachi, Akihiko; Tomita, Naohito
In this paper, we prove certain $L^2$-estimate for multilinear Fourier multiplier operators with multipliers of limited smoothness. As a result, we extend the result of Calderón and Torchinsky in the linear theory to the multilinear case. The sharpness of our results and some related estimates in Hardy spaces are also discussed.
| Lushness, Numerical Index 1 and the Daugavet Property in Rearrangement Invariant Spaces
Kadets, Vladimir; Martín, Miguel; Merí, Javier; Werner, Dirk
We show that for spaces with 1-unconditional bases lushness, the alternative Daugavet property and numerical index 1 are equivalent. In the class of rearrangement invariant (r.i.) sequence spaces the only examples of spaces with these properties are $c_0$, $\ell_1$ and $\ell_\infty$. The only lush r.i. separable function space on $[0,1]$ is $L_1[0,1]$; the same space is the only r.i. separable function space on $[0,1]$ with the Daugavet property over the reals.
| Ergodic Properties of Randomly Coloured Point Sets
Müller, Peter; Richard, Christoph
We provide a framework for studying randomly coloured point sets in a locally compact, second-countable space on which a metrisable unimodular group acts continuously and properly. We first construct and describe an appropriate dynamical system for uniformly discrete uncoloured point sets. For point sets of finite local complexity, we characterise ergodicity geometrically in terms of pattern frequencies. The general framework allows to incorporate a random colouring of the point sets. We derive an ergodic theorem for randomly coloured point sets with finite-range dependencies. Special attention is paid to the exclusion of exceptional instances for uniquely ergodic systems. The setup allows for a straightforward application to randomly coloured graphs.
| On the Dihedral Main Conjectures of Iwasawa Theory for Hilbert Modular Eigenforms
Van Order, Jeanine
We construct a bipartite Euler system in the sense of Howard for Hilbert modular eigenforms of parallel weight two over totally real fields, generalizing works of Bertolini-Darmon, Longo, Nekovar, Pollack-Weston and others. The construction has direct applications to Iwasawa main conjectures. For instance, it implies in many cases one divisibility of the associated dihedral or anticyclotomic main conjecture, at the same time reducing the other divisibility to a certain nonvanishing criterion for the associated $p$-adic $L$-functions. It also has applications to cyclotomic main conjectures for Hilbert modular forms over CM fields via the technique of Skinner and Urban.
| Quasimap Floer Cohomology for Varying Symplectic Quotients
Wilson, Glen; Woodward, Christopher T.
We show that quasimap Floer cohomology for varying symplectic quotients resolves several puzzles regarding displaceability of toric moment fibers. For example, we (i) present a compact Hamiltonian torus action containing an open subset of non-displaceable orbits and a codimension four singular set, partly answering a question of McDuff, and (ii) determine displaceability for most of the moment fibers of a symplectic ellipsoid.
| Correction of Proofs in "Purely Infinite Simple $C^*$-algebras Arising from Free Product Constructions'' and a Subsequent Paper
Ara, Pere; Dykema, Kenneth J.; Rørdam, Mikael
The proofs of Theorem 2.2 of K. J. Dykema and M. Rørdam, Purely infinite simple $C^*$-algebras arising from free product constructions}, Canad. J. Math. 50 (1998), 323--341 and of Theorem 3.1 of K. J. Dykema, Purely infinite simple $C^*$-algebras arising from free product constructions, II, Math. Scand. 90 (2002), 73--86 are corrected.
| Filters in C*-Algebras
Bice, Tristan Matthew
In this paper we analyze states on C*-algebras and their relationship to filter-like structures of projections and positive elements in the unit ball. After developing the basic theory we use this to investigate the Kadison-Singer conjecture, proving its equivalence to an apparently quite weak paving conjecture and the existence of unique maximal centred extensions of projections coming from ultrafilters on the natural numbers. We then prove that Reid's positive answer to this for q-points in fact also holds for rapid p-points, and that maximal centred filters are obtained in this case. We then show that consistently such maximal centred filters do not exist at all meaning that, for every pure state on the Calkin algebra, there exists a pair of projections on which the state is 1, even though the state is bounded strictly below 1 for projections below this pair. Lastly we investigate towers, using cardinal invariant equalities to construct towers on the natural numbers that do and do not remain towers when canonically embedded into the Calkin algebra. Finally we show that consistently all towers on the natural numbers remain towers under this embedding.
| Transference of vector-valued multipliers on weighted $L^p$-spaces
Blasco de la Cruz, Oscar; Villarroya Alvarez, Paco
We prove restriction and extension of multipliers between weighted Lebesgue spaces with two different weights, which belong to a class more general than periodic weights, and two different exponents of integrability which can be below one.
| Iterated Integrals and Higher Order Invariants
Deitmar, Anton; Horozov, Ivan
We show that higher order invariants of smooth functions can be written as linear combinations of full invariants times iterated integrals. The non-uniqueness of such a presentation is captured in the kernel of the ensuing map from the tensor product. This kernel is computed explicitly. As a consequence, it turns out that higher order invariants are a free module of the algebra of full invariants.
| Addendum and Erratum to "The Fundamental Group of $S^1$-manifolds"
Godinho, Leonor; Sousa-Dias, M. E.
This paper provides an addendum and erratum to L. Godinho and M. E. Sousa-Dias, "The Fundamental Group of $S^1$-manifolds". Canad. J. Math. 62(2010), no. 5, 1082--1098.
| Extreme Version of Projectivity for Normed Modules Over Sequence Algebras
Helemskii, A. Ya.
We define and study the so-called extreme version of the notion of a projective normed module. The relevant definition takes into account the exact value of the norm of the module in question, in contrast with the standard known definition that is formulated in terms of norm topology.
| The Geometry and Fundamental Group of Permutation Products and Fat Diagonals
Kallel, Sadok; Taamallah, Walid
Permutation products and their various ``fat diagonal'' subspaces are studied from the topological and geometric point of view. We describe in detail the stabilizer and orbit stratifications related to the permutation action, producing a sharp upper bound for its depth and then paying particular attention to the geometry of the diagonal stratum. We write down an expression for the fundamental group of any permutation product of a connected space $X$ having the homotopy type of a CW complex in terms of $\pi_1(X)$ and $H_1(X;\mathbb{Z})$. We then prove that the fundamental group of the configuration space of $n$-points on $X$, of which multiplicities do not exceed $n/2$, coincides with $H_1(X;\mathbb{Z})$. Further results consist in giving conditions for when fat diagonal subspaces of manifolds can be manifolds again. Various examples and homological calculations are included.
| Christoffel Functions and Universality in the Bulk for Multivariate Orthogonal Polynomials
Kroó, A.; Lubinsky, D. S.
We establish asymptotics for Christoffel functions associated with multivariate orthogonal polynomials. The underlying measures are assumed to be regular on a suitable domain - in particular this is true if they are positive a.e. on a compact set that admits analytic parametrization. As a consequence, we obtain asymptotics for Christoffel functions for measures on the ball and simplex, under far more general conditions than previously known. As another consequence, we establish universality type limits in the bulk in a variety of settings.
| On Surfaces in Three Dimensional Contact Manifolds
Lee, Paul W. Y.
In this paper, we introduce two notions on a surface in a contact manifold. The first one is called degree of transversality (DOT) which measures the transversality between the tangent spaces of a surface and the contact planes. The second quantity, called curvature of transversality (COT), is designed to give a comparison principle for DOT along characteristic curves under bounds on COT. In particular, this gives estimates on lengths of characteristic curves assuming COT is bounded below by a positive constant.
| Laplace Equations and the Weak Lefschetz Property
Mezzetti, Emilia; Miró-Roig, Rosa M.; Ottaviani, Giorgio
We prove that $r$ independent homogeneous polynomials of the same degree $d$ become dependent when restricted to any hyperplane if and only if their inverse system parameterizes a variety whose $(d-1)$-osculating spaces have dimension smaller than expected. This gives an equivalence between an algebraic notion (called Weak Lefschetz Property) and a differential geometric notion, concerning varieties which satisfy certain Laplace equations. In the toric case, some relevant examples are classified and as byproduct we provide counterexamples to Ilardi's conjecture.
| Proof of the Completeness of Darboux Wronskian Formulae for Order Two
Shemyakova, E.
Darboux Wronskian formulas allow to construct Darboux transformations, but Laplace transformations, which are Darboux transformations of order one cannot be represented this way. It has been a long standing problem on what are other exceptions. In our previous work we proved that among transformations of total order one there are no other exceptions. Here we prove that for transformations of total order two there are no exceptions at all. We also obtain a simple explicit invariant description of all possible Darboux Transformations of total order two.
| On the Bragg Diffraction Spectra of a Meyer Set
Strungaru, Nicolae
Meyer sets have a relatively dense set of Bragg peaks and for this reason they may be considered as basic mathematical examples of (aperiodic) crystals. In this paper we investigate the pure point part of the diffraction of Meyer sets in more detail. The results are of two kinds. First we show that given a Meyer set and any positive intensity $a$ less than the maximum intensity of its Bragg peaks, the set of Bragg peaks whose intensity exceeds $a$ is itself a Meyer set (in the Fourier space). Second we show that if a Meyer set is modified by addition and removal of points in such a way that its density is not altered too much (the allowable amount being given explicitly as a proportion of the original density) then the newly obtained set still has a relatively dense set of Bragg peaks.
| Regularity of Standing Waves on Lipschitz Domains
Taylor, Michael
We analyze the regularity of standing wave solutions to nonlinear Schrödinger equations of power type on bounded domains, concentrating on Lipschitz domains. We establish optimal regularity results in this setting, in Besov spaces and in Hölder spaces.
| Tameness of Complex Dimension in a Real Analytic Set
Adamus, Janusz; Randriambololona, Serge; Shafikov, Rasul
Given a real analytic set $X$ in a complex manifold and a positive integer $d$, denote by $\mathcal A^d$ the set of points $p$ in $X$ at which there exists a germ of a complex analytic set of dimension $d$ contained in $X$. It is proved that $\mathcal A^d$ is a closed semianalytic subset of $X$.
| Regularization of Subsolutions in Discrete Weak KAM Theory
Bernard, P.; Zavidovique, M.
We expose different methods of regularizations of subsolutions in the context of discrete weak KAM theory. They allow to prove the existence and the density of $C^{1,1}$ subsolutions. Moreover, these subsolutions can be made strict and smooth outside of the Aubry set.
| Positively Curved Riemannian Locally Symmetric Spaces are Positively Squared Distance Curved
Delanoë, Philippe; Rouvière, François
The squared distance curvature is a kind of two-point curvature the sign of which turned out crucial for the smoothness of optimal transportation maps on Riemannian manifolds. Positivity properties of that new curvature have been established recently for all the simply connected compact rank one symmetric spaces, except the Cayley plane. Direct proofs were given for the sphere, an indirect one via the Hopf fibrations) for the complex and quaternionic projective spaces. Here, we present a direct proof of a property implying all the preceding ones, valid on every positively curved Riemannian locally symmetric space.
| Nonself-adjoint Semicrossed Products by Abelian Semigroups
Fuller, Adam Hanley
Let $\mathcal{S}$ be the semigroup $\mathcal{S}=\sum^{\oplus k}_{i=1}\mathcal{S}_i$, where for each $i\in I$, $\mathcal{S}_i$ is a countable subsemigroup of the additive semigroup $\mathbb{R}_+$ containing $0$. We consider representations of $\mathcal{S}$ as contractions $\{T_s\}_{s\in\mathcal{S}}$ on a Hilbert space with the Nica-covariance property: $T_s^*T_t=T_tT_s^*$ whenever $t\wedge s=0$. We show that all such representations have a unique minimal isometric Nica-covariant dilation.
| Generalised Triple Homomorphisms and Derivations
Garcés, Jorge J.; Peralta, Antonio M.
We introduce generalised triple homomorphism between Jordan Banach triple systems as a concept which extends the notion of generalised homomorphism between Banach algebras given by K. Jarosz and B.E. Johnson in 1985 and 1987, respectively. We prove that every generalised triple homomorphism between JB$^*$-triples is automatically continuous. When particularised to C$^*$-algebras, we rediscover one of the main theorems established by B.E. Johnson. We shall also consider generalised triple derivations from a Jordan Banach triple $E$ into a Jordan Banach triple $E$-module, proving that every generalised triple derivation from a JB$^*$-triple $E$ into itself or into $E^*$ is automatically continuous.
| On Hessian Limit Directions along Gradient Trajectories
Grandjean, Vincent
Given a non-oscillating gradient trajectory $|\gamma|$ of a real analytic function $f$, we show that the limit $\nu$ of the secants at the limit point $\mathbf{0}$ of $|\gamma|$ along the trajectory $|\gamma|$ is an eigen-vector of the limit of the direction of the Hessian matrix $\operatorname{Hess} (f)$ at $\mathbf{0}$ along $|\gamma|$. The same holds true at infinity if the function is globally sub-analytic. We also deduce some interesting estimates along the trajectory. Away from the ends of the ambient space, this property is of metric nature and still holds in a general Riemannian analytic setting.
| Symbolic Powers Versus Regular Powers of Ideals of General Points in $\mathbb{P}^1 \times \mathbb{P}^1$
Guardo, Elena; Harbourne, Brian; Van Tuyl, Adam
Recent work of Ein-Lazarsfeld-Smith and Hochster-Huneke raised the problem of which symbolic powers of an ideal are contained in a given ordinary power of the ideal. Bocci-Harbourne developed methods to address this problem, which involve asymptotic numerical characters of symbolic powers of the ideals. Most of the work done up to now has been done for ideals defining 0-dimensional subschemes of projective space. Here we focus on certain subschemes given by a union of lines in $\mathbb{P}^3$ which can also be viewed as points in $\mathbb{P}^1 \times \mathbb{P}^1$. We also obtain results on the closely related problem, studied by Hochster and by Li-Swanson, of determining situations for which each symbolic power of an ideal is an ordinary power.
| 3-torsion in the Homology of Complexes of Graphs of Bounded Degree
Jonsson, Jakob
For $\delta \ge 1$ and $n \ge 1$, consider the simplicial complex of graphs on $n$ vertices in which each vertex has degree at most $\delta$; we identify a given graph with its edge set and admit one loop at each vertex. This complex is of some importance in the theory of semigroup algebras. When $\delta = 1$, we obtain the matching complex, for which it is known that there is $3$-torsion in degree $d$ of the homology whenever $\frac{n-4}{3} \le d \le \frac{n-6}{2}$. This paper establishes similar bounds for $\delta \ge 2$. Specifically, there is $3$-torsion in degree $d$ whenever $\frac{(3\delta-1)n-8}{6} \le d \le \frac{\delta (n-1) - 4}{2}$. The procedure for detecting torsion is to construct an explicit cycle $z$ that is easily seen to have the property that $3z$ is a boundary. Defining a homomorphism that sends $z$ to a non-boundary element in the chain complex of a certain matching complex, we obtain that $z$ itself is a non-boundary. In particular, the homology class of $z$ has order $3$.
| Cumulants of the $q$-semicircular Law, Tutte Polynomials, and Heaps
Josuat-Vergès, Matthieu
The $q$-semicircular distribution is a probability law that interpolates between the Gaussian law and the semicircular law. There is a combinatorial interpretation of its moments in terms of matchings where $q$ follows the number of crossings, whereas for the free cumulants one has to restrict the enumeration to connected matchings. The purpose of this article is to describe combinatorial properties of the classical cumulants. We show that like the free cumulants, they are obtained by an enumeration of connected matchings, the weight being now an evaluation of the Tutte polynomial of a so-called crossing graph. The case $q=0$ of these cumulants was studied by Lassalle using symmetric functions and hypergeometric series. We show that the underlying combinatorics is explained through the theory of heaps, which is Viennot's geometric interpretation of the Cartier-Foata monoid. This method also gives a general formula for the cumulants in terms of free cumulants.
| A Space of Harmonic Maps from the Sphere into the Complex Projective Space
Kawabe, Hiroko
Guest-Ohnita and Crawford have shown the path-connectedness of the space of harmonic maps from $S^2$ to $\mathbf{C} P^n$ of a fixed degree and energy.It is well-known that the $\partial$ transform is defined on this space. In this paper,we will show that the space is decomposed into mutually disjoint connected subspaces on which $\partial$ is homeomorphic.
| Explicit Models for Threefolds Fibred by K3 Surfaces of Degree Two
Thompson, Alan
We consider threefolds that admit a fibration by K3 surfaces over a nonsingular curve, equipped with a divisorial sheaf that defines a polarisation of degree two on the general fibre. Under certain assumptions on the threefold we show that its relative log canonical model exists and can be explicitly reconstructed from a small set of data determined by the original fibration. Finally we prove a converse to the above statement: under certain assumptions, any such set of data determines a threefold that arises as the relative log canonical model of a threefold admitting a fibration by K3 surfaces of degree two.
| Infinitely Many Solutions for the Prescribed Boundary Mean Curvature Problem in $\mathbb B^N$
Wang, Liping; Zhao, Chunyi
We consider the following prescribed boundary mean curvature problem in $ \mathbb B^N$ with the Euclidean metric: \[ \begin{cases} \displaystyle -\Delta u =0,\quad u\gt 0 &\text{in }\mathbb B^N, \\[2ex] \displaystyle \frac{\partial u}{\partial\nu} + \frac{N-2}{2} u =\frac{N-2}{2} \widetilde K(x) u^{2^\#-1} \quad & \text{on }\mathbb S^{N-1}, \end{cases} \] where $\widetilde K(x)$ is positive and rotationally symmetric on $\mathbb S^{N-1}, 2^\#=\frac{2(N-1)}{N-2}$. We show that if $\widetilde K(x)$ has a local maximum point, then the above problem has infinitely many positive solutions that are not rotationally symmetric on $\mathbb S^{N-1}$.
| A Hilbert Scheme in Computer Vision
Aholt, Chris; Sturmfels, Bernd; Thomas, Rekha
Multiview geometry is the study of two-dimensional images of three-dimensional scenes, a foundational subject in computer vision. We determine a universal Gröbner basis for the multiview ideal of $n$ generic cameras. As the cameras move, the multiview varieties vary in a family of dimension $11n-15$. This family is the distinguished component of a multigraded Hilbert scheme with a unique Borel-fixed point. We present a combinatorial study of ideals lying on that Hilbert scheme.
| Automatic Continuity of Homomorphisms in Non-associative Banach Algebras
Chu, C-H.; Velasco, M. V.
We introduce the concept of a rare element in a non-associative normed algebra and show that the existence of such element is the only obstruction to continuity of a surjective homomorphism from a non-associative Banach algebra to a unital normed algebra with simple completion. Unital associative algebras do not admit any rare element and hence automatic continuity holds.
| Uniformly Continuous Functionals and M-Weakly Amenable Groups
Forrest, Brian; Miao, Tianxuan
Let $G$ be a locally compact group. Let $A_{M}(G)$ ($A_{0}(G)$)denote the closure of $A(G)$, the Fourier algebra of $G$ in the space of bounded (completely bounded) multipliers of $A(G)$. We call a locally compact group M-weakly amenable if $A_M(G)$ has a bounded approximate identity. We will show that when $G$ is M-weakly amenable, the algebras $A_{M}(G)$ and $A_{0}(G)$ have properties that are characteristic of the Fourier algebra of an amenable group. Along the way we show that the sets of tolopolically invariant means associated with these algebras have the same cardinality as those of the Fourier algebra.
| Monotone Hurwitz Numbers in Genus Zero
Goulden, I. P.; Guay-Paquet, Mathieu; Novak, Jonathan
Hurwitz numbers count branched covers of the Riemann sphere with specified ramification data, or equivalently, transitive permutation factorizations in the symmetric group with specified cycle types. Monotone Hurwitz numbers count a restricted subset of these branched covers related to the expansion of complete symmetric functions in the Jucys-Murphy elements, and have arisen in recent work on the the asymptotic expansion of the Harish-Chandra-Itzykson-Zuber integral. In this paper we begin a detailed study of monotone Hurwitz numbers. We prove two results that are reminiscent of those for classical Hurwitz numbers. The first is the monotone join-cut equation, a partial differential equation with initial conditions that characterizes the generating function for monotone Hurwitz numbers in arbitrary genus. The second is our main result, in which we give an explicit formula for monotone Hurwitz numbers in genus zero.
| Convolution of Trace Class Operators over Locally Compact Quantum Groups
Hu, Zhiguo; Neufang, Matthias; Ruan, Zhong-Jin
We study locally compact quantum groups $\mathbb{G}$ through the convolution algebras $L_1(\mathbb{G})$ and $(T(L_2(\mathbb{G})), \triangleright)$. We prove that the reduced quantum group $C^*$-algebra $C_0(\mathbb{G})$ can be recovered from the convolution $\triangleright$ by showing that the right $T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$-module $\langle K(L_2(\mathbb{G}) \triangleright T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))\rangle$ is equal to $C_0(\mathbb{G})$. On the other hand, we show that the left $T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$-module $\langle T(L_2(\mathbb{G}))\triangleright K(L_2(\mathbb{G})\rangle$ is isomorphic to the reduced crossed product $C_0(\widehat{\mathbb{G}}) \,_r\!\ltimes C_0(\mathbb{G})$, and hence is a much larger $C^*$-subalgebra of $B(L_2(\mathbb{G}))$.
| From Quantum Groups to Groups
Kalantar, Mehrdad; Neufang, Matthias
In this paper we use the recent developments in the representation theory of locally compact quantum groups, to assign, to each locally compact quantum group $\mathbb{G}$, a locally compact group $\tilde {\mathbb{G}}$ which is the quantum version of point-masses, and is an invariant for the latter. We show that ``quantum point-masses" can be identified with several other locally compact groups that can be naturally assigned to the quantum group $\mathbb{G}$. This assignment preserves compactness as well as discreteness (hence also finiteness), and for large classes of quantum groups, amenability. We calculate this invariant for some of the most well-known examples of non-classical quantum groups. Also, we show that several structural properties of $\mathbb{G}$ are encoded by $\tilde {\mathbb{G}}$: the latter, despite being a simpler object, can carry very important information about $\mathbb{G}$.
| Résonances près de seuils d'opérateurs magnétiques de Pauli et de Dirac
Sambou, Diomba
Nous considérons les perturbations $H := H_{0} + V$ et $D := D_{0} + V$ des Hamiltoniens libres $H_{0}$ de Pauli et $D_{0}$ de Dirac en dimension 3 avec champ magnétique non constant, $V$ étant un potentiel électrique qui décroît super-exponentiellement dans la direction du champ magnétique. Nous montrons que dans des espaces de Banach appropriés, les résolvantes de $H$ et $D$ définies sur le demi-plan supérieur admettent des prolongements méromorphes. Nous définissons les résonances de $H$ et $D$ comme étant les pôles de ces extensions méromorphes. D'une part, nous étudions la répartition des résonances de $H$ près de l'origine $0$ et d'autre part, celle des résonances de $D$ près de $\pm m$ où $m$ est la masse d'une particule. Dans les deux cas, nous obtenons d'abord des majorations du nombre de résonances dans de petits domaines au voisinage de $0$ et $\pm m$. Sous des hypothèses supplémentaires, nous obtenons des développements asymptotiques du nombre de résonances qui entraînent leur accumulation près des seuils $0$ et $\pm m$. En particulier, pour une perturbation $V$ de signe défini, nous obtenons des informations sur la répartition des valeurs propres de $H$ et $D$ près de $0$ et $\pm m$ respectivement.
| On the Global Structure of Special Cycles on Unitary Shimura Varieties
Vandenbergen, Nicolas
In this paper, we study the reduced loci of special cycles on local models of the Shimura variety for $\operatorname{GU}(1,n-1)$. Those special cycles are defined by Kudla and Rapoport. We explicitly compute the irreducible components of the reduced locus of a single special cycle, as well as of an arbitrary intersection of special cycles, and their intersection behaviour in terms of Bruhat-Tits theory. Furthermore, as an application of our results, we prove the connectedness of arbitrary intersections of special cycles, as conjectured by Kudla and Rapoport.
| Partial Differential Hamiltonian Systems
Vitagliano, Luca
We define partial differential (PD in the following), i.e., field theoretic analogues of Hamiltonian systems on abstract symplectic manifolds and study their main properties, namely, PD Hamilton equations, PD Noether theorem, PD Poisson bracket, etc.. Unlike in standard multisymplectic approach to Hamiltonian field theory, in our formalism, the geometric structure (kinematics) and the dynamical information on the ``phase space'' appear as just different components of one single geometric object.
| Application of the Strong Artin Conjecture to the Class Number Problem
Cho, Peter J.; Kim, Henry H.
We construct unconditionally several families of number fields with the largest possible class numbers. They are number fields of degree 4 and 5 whose Galois closures have the Galois group $A_4, S_4$ and $S_5$. We first construct families of number fields with smallest regulators, and by using the strong Artin conjecture and applying zero density result of Kowalski-Michel, we choose subfamilies of $L$-functions which are zero free close to 1. For these subfamilies, the $L$-functions have the extremal value at $s=1$, and by the class number formula, we obtain the extreme class numbers.
| Beltrami Equation with Coefficient in Sobolev and Besov Spaces
Cruz, Victor; Mateu, Joan; Orobitg, Joan
Our goal in this work is to present some function spaces on the complex plane $\mathbb C$, $X(\mathbb C)$, for which the quasiregular solutions of the Beltrami equation, $\overline\partial f (z) = \mu(z) \partial f (z)$, have first derivatives locally in $X(\mathbb C)$, provided that the Beltrami coefficient $\mu$ belongs to $X(\mathbb C)$.
| Higher Connectedness Properties of Support Points and Functionals of Convex Sets
De Bernardi, Carlo Alberto
We prove that the set of all support points of a nonempty closed convex bounded set $C$ in a real infinite-dimensional Banach space $X$ is $\mathrm{AR(}\sigma$-$\mathrm{compact)}$ and contractible. Under suitable conditions, similar results are proved also for the set of all support functionals of $C$ and for the domain, the graph and the range of the subdifferential map of a proper convex l.s.c. function on $X$.
| Variations of Integrals in Diffeology
Iglesias-Zemmour, Patrick
We establish the formula for the variation of integrals of differential forms on cubic chains, in the context of diffeological spaces. Then, we establish the diffeological version of Stoke's theorem, and we apply that to get the diffeological variant of the Cartan-Lie formula. Still in the context of Cartan-De-Rham calculus in diffeology, we construct a Chain-Homotopy Operator $\mathbf K$ we apply it here to get the homotopic invariance of De Rham cohomology for diffeological spaces. This is the Chain-Homotopy Operator which used in symplectic diffeology to construct the Moment Map.
| $K$-theory of Furstenberg Transformation Group $C^*$-algebras
Reihani, Kamran
The paper studies the $K$-theoretic invariants of the crossed product $C^{*}$-algebras associated with an important family of homeomorphisms of the tori $\mathbb{T}^{n}$ called Furstenberg transformations. Using the Pimsner-Voiculescu theorem, we prove that given $n$, the $K$-groups of those crossed products, whose corresponding $n\times n$ integer matrices are unipotent of maximal degree, always have the same rank $a_{n}$. We show using the theory developed here that a claim made in the literature about the torsion subgroups of these $K$-groups is false. Using the representation theory of the simple Lie algebra $\frak{sl}(2,\mathbb{C})$, we show that, remarkably, $a_{n}$ has a combinatorial significance. For example, every $a_{2n+1}$ is just the number of ways that $0$ can be represented as a sum of integers between $-n$ and $n$ (with no repetitions). By adapting an argument of van Lint (in which he answered a question of Erdős), a simple, explicit formula for the asymptotic behavior of the sequence $\{a_{n}\}$ is given. Finally, we describe the order structure of the $K_{0}$-groups of an important class of Furstenberg crossed products, obtaining their complete Elliott invariant using classification results of H. Lin and N. C. Phillips.
| Orbital $L$-functions for the Space of Binary Cubic Forms
Taniguchi, Takashi; Thorne, Frank
We introduce the notion of orbital $L$-functions for the space of binary cubic forms and investigate their analytic properties. We study their functional equations and residue formulas in some detail. Aside from their intrinsic interest, the results from this paper are used to prove the existence of secondary terms in counting functions for cubic fields. This is worked out in a companion paper.
| Estimates of Hausdorff Dimension for Non-wandering Sets of Higher Dimensional Open Billiards
Wright, Paul
This article concerns a class of open billiards consisting of a finite number of strictly convex, non-eclipsing obstacles $K$. The non-wandering set $M_0$ of the billiard ball map is a topological Cantor set and its Hausdorff dimension has been previously estimated for billiards in $\mathbb{R}^2$, using well-known techniques. We extend these estimates to billiards in $\mathbb{R}^n$, and make various refinements to the estimates. These refinements also allow improvements to other results. We also show that in many cases, the non-wandering set is confined to a particular subset of $\mathbb{R}^n$ formed by the convex hull of points determined by period 2 orbits. This allows more accurate bounds on the constants used in estimating Hausdorff dimension.
| A Universal Volume Comparison Theorem for Finsler Manifolds and Related Results
Zhao, Wei; Shen, Yibing
In this paper, we establish a universal volume comparison theorem for Finsler manifolds and give the Berger-Kazdan inequality and Santaló's formula in Finsler geometry. Being based on these, we derive a Berger-Kazdan type comparison theorem and a Croke type isoperimetric inequality for Finsler manifolds.


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How would Buddha vote?
The first question is easy: How do your beliefs influence the decisions you make? It is obvious that Buddha would respond: "I seek a higher power for every decision I make" – and that he would place the highest importance to this answer.
The second question is also easy: Does he agree or disagree with the statement: "It should be legal to pray in schools." Agree. And again, the highest level of importance would be attached to it.


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You may remember Michael Paul Stephenson as the guy who directed "Best Worst Movie", the breakout hit documentary from a few years back about "Troll 2".
Michael Stephenson, yes the "Troll 2" Michael Stephenson, will be producing and directing a new dark comedy titled "Destroy". The movie focuses on a man obsessed with hunting and destroying vampires even though they don't exist. Which is obviously fiction because vampires do exist and they have babies with normal people, which I think I might how the "Twilight" series ends. So, spoiler alert! Maybe.
A new clip from "Sharktopus" featuring commentary by Roger Corman has been released in honor of the films DVD release. Corman has a cameo as a beach bum who oogles a girl on the beach which is really how we all like our Corman. Either that way or with a side of cole slaw, I like that Corman too.
Mark Pellington, who I would be mocking for his music video directing work if he hadn't also directed "Arlington Road", says that the script for the English remake of "The Orphanage" is actually better than the original. He goes on to say that he's getting a little antsy to get this thing going and wants to close on a leading lady ASAP. Having never seen the original and not knowing much about the remake I'm going to confidently say the girl who played Six on "Blossom" would be perfect.
I can't think of one time Woody Harrelson has been wrong so when he talks about "Zombieland 2" and says he's "not sure it's the right thing to do." I believe him. I would also believe him if he told me that the sky is red and bleach is perfectly fine to drink too though, so maybe I'm not the best judge of people. In any case the future of the film is rocky at best but as of right now is moving forward.
A lot of movies get added to Netflix's Instant Stream every week. Luckily for you, I'm here to dig through what's new and highlight new releases that may be of interest to BGH readers. Halloween is right around the corner and Netflix is really ramping up the horror releases.
Sometimes, you find something just so bizarre, part of you hopes it isn't real - and part of you secretly hopes it is. I came across this trailer yesterday for the movie "Raped By Satan" via the twitter user JonKillerFilm.
The time has finally come my friends! After a successful run of screenings across the country "Best Worst Movie" is finally coming to DVD on November 16th. The DVD will be chock full of special features including over an hour worth of never seen footage and deleted scenes.
"Troll 2" came out almost twenty years ago and in honor of this a special edition Blu-Ray version of the film is being released. Every time I think about this I automatically ask myself one question, "why god?".
Good news for all you hipsters our there who need to be ironic on the latest technologies. "Troll 2" is coming to Blu-Ray! So now you can show your friends how witty you are by thinking the film is great and how you paid thirty bucks to prove that point. Congrats!
"Underworld 4" has had it's release date pushed back a second time now and won't see a release till January of 2012. Disappointing I know but the good news is "Underworld 5" will hit theaters in March of 2011. Alright that's a lie, it isn't disappointing at all.
Chris Vance from "Prison Break" is the latest addition to the ever growing cast of "Dexter" season 5. I have no idea if this is good news or not. Is "Prison Break" still on? If they haven't broken out by now I'm thinking maybe they should just do the time and call it a day.
Arlen Escarpeta who you might remember as the kid who pleasured himself to a Sears catalog in the "Friday the 13th" reboot has been added to the cast of next years "Final Destination 5" film. Just pray whatever he does to himself in this one won't be in 3D.
If you don't have a soft spot in your heart for the "Troll 2" documentary "Best Worst Movie" than I'm not sure you even have a heart. It's the feel good hit of the summer as the kids say and it's got a brand spanking new trailer and screening dates for your to get all mushy over.
Bill Murray continues to stir up "Ghostbusters III" talk. During his appearance on last night;s "Late Show With David Letterman", he confirms that he will be killed off early in the script and states that he doubts the film will ever be made.
Everyone's favorite ginger snap Katherine Isabelle is returning in "Hard Ride To Hell", a story about a group of campers who find themselves in danger after witnessing a blood sacrifice. The film will debut on Spike TV before the DVD hits on May 18th.
Area23A, an event based distribution company, has picked up the rights to "Best Worst Movie". If you've been dying to lay eyes on this documentary centered on the 'classic' "Troll 2", your dreams are about to come true as the company plans a theatrical release.
Keep your eyes on your local art house theater; the recent midnight screenings of "Evil Dead" have been doing so well that Grindhouse Releasing has struck a new 35mm print of the film. With showings selling out, the company plans on keeping the film going for quite awhile. Stay tuned to the Grindhouse Releasing website to see if they add a city near you.


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Safely dry your hands with the Chenille Hand Towel! The lush hand towel is made with the same soft chenille microfibre as our Kids Pet to Dry, and even contains the same powerful, exclusive BacLock®* technology.
All Norwex Microfibre products carry a two-year warranty. Please visit www.norwex.com for complete details.
*Contains BacLock®, an antibacterial agent for self-cleansing purposes only. The agent is solely designed to inhibit bacterial odour, mould and/or mildew growth within the product.


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Department stores made strong online gains, analyst finds
More people than ever before are choosing to avoid the long lines and busy parking lots at crowded malls this holiday season and instead shop for gifts online.
Based on early results, consumers appear to have boosted Cyber Monday sales by more than 30 percent from 2011.
Coined by the National Retail Federation in 2005 to describe a phenomenon in which office workers took to their computers during lunch hours to shop — typically between noon and 3 p.m. — Cyber Monday's online buying has grown exponentially each year.
Shopping online is attractive for several reasons: the same enticing Black Friday offers with free shipping and customer convenience, to name a few.
The Monday after what had traditionally been the biggest shopping day of the year has quickly become the largest online shopping frenzy of the year, too, with consumers expecting to spend nearly $1.5 billion on purchases compared with just $72 million in 2002, the National Retail Federation predicted.
Indications of the strong results were seen in the Tuesday stock closings of prominent online hubs.
EBay Inc.'s shares climbed 4.9 percent to hit a high of $51.78 before closing at $51.40 on Monday, the highest level since 2005. Shares in competitor, Amazon.com Inc., gained 1.6 percent to $243.62.
But it was not online-only retailers that made big gains with Internet shoppers.
According to IBM Benchmark, which tracks online sales, Cyber Monday sales were led by department stores, which saw sales jump 43.1 percent.
"Retail as we know it has changed," said Barry Seidel, a retail broker in Sarasota with American Property Group. "Everything is online now, and that's just going to keep growing. Retailers who aren't making that shift to online are not going to survive."
In Southwest Florida, Bealls Inc. saw a 41 percent spike in online sales over Cyber Monday this year, said spokesman Bill Webster.
The Bradenton-based retailer, like many others, offered new incentives for shoppers through social media. They included the chance to win a $25 Bealls gift card for those who "pinned" Bealls merchandise on Pinterest on Monday.
"Cyber Monday has grown so much from what it was just a year ago," Webster said, noting that Bealls only offered about half of all the merchandise found in stores online last year. Now BeallsFlorida.com has nearly 75 percent of the selection shoppers see in department stores. "We plan to eventually have an even wider assortment of merchandise online, more than just what you can find in stores."
More people experimented, shopping from mobile and tablet devices this year, too. Smartphones accounted for 18 percent of retail site visits and 13 percent of sales on Cyber Monday, IBM Benchmark reported. That was up 70 percent and 96 percent, respectively, from 2011.
"Cyber Monday just continues to gain strength, forcing brick-and-mortar stores to join the fray," said Brian Yarbrough, consumer analyst with Edward Jones, noting that Walmart, Kohl's and Target seem to be leading retailers in terms of sales and promotions this year.
Black Friday drew about $1 billion in online sales this year, making it the heaviest online spending day to date prior to Cyber Monday, according to data released by comScore Inc., a Virginia-based analysis firm.
Nearly 27 percent of those who shopped on Thanksgiving Day did so online, as did nearly half of those who bought items on Black Friday, the National Retail Federation. reported.
"Like Black Friday, Cyber Monday is the one day that shoppers expect the best deals of the year, and from what we've seen already, retailers are not disappointing," said Shop.org Executive Director Vicki Cantrell. "We expect shoppers to take advantage of the numerous free shipping promotions, maybe even looking for something nice for themselves that they weren't able to get their hands on over the weekend."


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Farm Animal Statistics: Slaughter Totals
Click here to open chart in another window »
|All species [PDF]
|Excluding chickens [PDF]
|Chickens only [PDF]
|Source: USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service
Note: These data do not include statistics on the slaughter of fish, crustaceans, rabbits, and other farmed animals for whom the USDA does not provide information, or on the slaughter of animals who are not farmed, such as equines. The USDA estimates that up to 2 million rabbits were slaughtered in 2001 in the United States. There is no more recent report than the 2002 Rabbit Industry Profile.
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text: normally we use litespeed in complicated crazy high load environments. but I happened to be doing a plain old simple cpanel install and decided to use litespeed there also because we use suphp. im used to installing litespeed and configuring it myself so I was prepared to go through the setup, change all the options i like, install dependencies, prepare and compile php myself/etc. but instead I followed instructions for the cpanel plugin. 10 seconds later litespeed is installed. one click + 5minutes later php is compiled and installed. next click its swapped from apache to litespeed.... and im done. I was impressed how easy it was. because its so easy to swap back I did some quick apache bench tests. I did not touch the server config at all, just wanted a quick baseline comparison with nothing special or magical done. tests were done from another server 0.6ms away on a 10mbit internet connection. suphp is enabled. I did several tests but included only one result here, the results were similar no matter what test i tried. test.php: PHP: <? print "hello"; ?> apache: Code: ab -c 20 -t 120 -n 200000 http://.../test.php Requests per second: 406.75 [#/sec] (mean) observed load average: 1.61 litespeed: Code: ab -c 20 -t 120 -n 200000 http://.../test.php Requests per second: 1977.87 [#/sec] (mean) observed load average: 0.28 1/5th the load, 5x more requests per second. is a nice result to see. browsing to the forum and writing this post took more time than all of the above combined


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"Jamie Lynn Spears deciding to keep her baby is but the latest in a series of life affirming examples we've seen in the media lately," said Dr. King. "The movies 'Bella,' 'Juno,' and others depict young women who choose life. Keyshia Cole on her reality TV show strongly advised her sister not to abort. As we celebrate the most meaningful birth in the history of man, it's encouraging that these stories are part of the season of hope that is Christmas."
"Of course, sexual relations should be reserved for marriage," added Dr. King. "God tells us what is best for us and our problems arise when we don't listen to Him. But when we fall, we should strive to do what's best and what's best is to do the loving thing. Love lets live. Life brings hope. And hope builds the future."
Priests for Life is the largest Catholic organization exclusively dedicated to fighting abortion and euthanasia.


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Contact Cathy Duffy, Ed.D., Associate Professor
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com
Phone: (802) 865-8445
The faculty of the Robert P. Stiller School of Business at Champlain College spend a lot of time working with employers and internship sites to determine the exact skills, knowledge and characteristics they are seeking in job candidates. The Accounting program gives you the skills employers value most highly.
By the time you complete the academic and internship requirements for your Accounting degree, you will embody the following character traits and skills:


text:
Refine Your Search
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Carved Elegance - Invitation
Lacy Dream - Invitation
Birch Tree Carvings - Invitation
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Climbing Vines - Foil Invitation
Wine Barrel - Invitation
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Gardenia Glow - Foil Invitation
Woodland Sparkle - Foil Invitation
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On Board - Seal and Send Invitation
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Rustic Lights - Petite Invitation
Choose Your Design - Rustic - Seal and Send Invitation
Woodland Snowfall - Foil Invitation
Big Celebration - Invitation
Wood and Lace - Invitation
In the Grove - Laser Cut Invitation
On Board - Petite Invitation
Natural Direction - Seal and Send
Just the Ticket - Invitation
Autumn Hues - Invitation
Heartfelt - Invitation
Wood and Lace - Puzzle Invitation
Rustic Glow - Foil Invitation
Country Canning Jar - Invitation
Real Beauty - 3 for 1 Invitation
Burlap and Leaves - Invitation
Splash of Fall - Invitation
Autumn Arrangement - Invitation
Woodland Branches - Foil Invitation
Fall in Love - Invitation
Beautifully Krafted - Invitation
Owl Be Yours - Invitation
Vintage Lace - Real Wood Invitation
Vintage Owls - Invitation
Beneath the Branches - Invitation
Burlap and Lace - Pocket Invitation
Nature's Embrace - Invitation
Naturally Romantic - Invitation
Naturally Beautiful - Foil Invitation
Last of Fall - Pocket Invitation
Leaves of Gold - Invitation
Romantic Finish - Invitation
New Heights - 3 for 1 Invitation
Burlap Sensation - Invitation
Birch Bark Heart - Invitation
Watercolor Mountain - Invitation
Wedding in the country. Elegant party in an old barn. Escape to the mountains. You're going to need rustic wedding invitations that show your unique style! Invitations by Dawn uses romantic elements like hearts, leaves, florals and sunflowers but with a bit of rustic flair like woodgrain backgrounds, vintage details and country chic touches. Canning jars filled with flowers or tree carvings with your initials are just two of many designs you'll love! Whatever your rustic style may be, we've got some great options for you.
You can also find rustic save the date cards to fit your needs here at Invitations by Dawn. Find the right design and send it out as soon as you set your wedding date to ensure a great turnout for your celebration. Don't forget to check out other wedding necessities as well like guest books, unity candles and ring bearer pillows. We'll help you add the perfect details to your rustic wedding ceremony and reception.


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The final number of entries for the 2011 Fiction Page Turner contest....
79 entries (as at midnight October 31)
One entry made it in just before Scott closed the door.
Congratulations to everyone who took the time to whip their first chapter and synopsis into shape, took a deep breath of courage, and entered it. You're all winners in my book!
Love, Deb


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Join 'love-detective' Maxine as she gets to the bottom of some serious drama and tries to reunite her home, The Bay. Made with the support of NZ on Air.
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Titles, characters and all other elements are the trade marks and copyright of TVNZ or its licensors. All rights reserved. Further details available here.


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15 U.S. Code § 80a–50 - Separability
§ 80a–50.
If any provision of this subchapter or any provision incorporated in this subchapter by reference, or the application of any such provision to any person or circumstances, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this subchapter and the application of any such provision to person or circumstances other than those as to which it is held invalid shall not be affected thereby.
(Aug. 22, 1940, ch. 686, title I, § 51, 54 Stat. 846.)
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Salvete omnes, etc etc.
Righto chaps and chapettes, I just feel the urge to say that I really miss the old look, or rather the colour scheme, of the old forum, is there a way I can get it in Green again? otherwise I'm enjoying the new forum etc, note this isn't a complaint so much as a curious request, since I do so love this place. That and a perhaps doomed the fail attempt at generating some discussion of something, anything, whatsoever in our fair forum.


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31 U.S. Code § 3111 - New issue used to buy, redeem, or refund outstanding obligations
An obligation may be issued under this chapter to buy, redeem, or refund, at or before maturity, outstanding bonds, notes, certificates of indebtedness, Treasury bills, or savings certificates of the United States Government. Under regulations of the Secretary of the Treasury, money received from the sale of an obligation and other money in the general fund of the Treasury may be used in making the purchases, redemptions, or refunds.
Historical and Revision Notes
Revised Section
Source (U.S. Code)
Source (Statutes at Large)
Sept. 24, 1917, ch. 56, 40 Stat. 288, § 19; added Jan. 30, 1934, ch. 6, § 14(a)(4), 48 Stat. 343; restated Mar. 28, 1942, ch. 205, § 4, 56 Stat. 189.
The words "regulations of" are substituted for "rules, regulations, terms, and conditions . . . may prescribe" to eliminate unnecessary words.
LII has no control over and does not endorse any external Internet site that contains links to or references LII.


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Erfwiki talk:SpamWars
So You're Not An Ad-Men and You Want To Fight Spam
Just a few things for all the new spam-fighters: first, we already have a tag to slap on the spam-bots and their pages. Just hit 'em with [ [ category:spammer ] ], and they'll show up on a page we've already made for it.
Second, we've been having a few waves of what I've been calling "Cheerleaders". They'll hit random pages, and either insert or replace content with meaningless fluff like "OMG ur so smatr" Rather than mark the page for deletion, if you could just tag the spammer in their user:talk page and undo the edits, that'd be great.
Third... thank you so much. The more people who help, the easier this becomes. --No one in particular 15:53, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
Captchas & Filters
- STrRedWolf here from Stalag '99. You should add the ReCaptcha plugin to MediaWiki, which cuts down on 99% of the spam. I'm using it on my Canmephian Library Wiki.
- Archaic here, webmaster of Bulbagarden / Bulbapedia, founder of the Nintendo Independent Wiki Alliance, and a big fan of the comic. Heard you're having some spam issues, so I checked what some of our network partners are doing in dealing with similar issues. I see you've already got ConfirmEdit and SpamBlacklist, but you might want to consider using QuestyCaptcha for your ConfirmEdit, it makes it a lot stronger than the math questions. Just base the questions off the comic and you should be good to go - http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:ConfirmEdit#QuestyCaptcha
Also consider getting the following extensions Abuse Filter: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:AbuseFilter AntiSpoof: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:AntiSpoof Title Blacklist: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:Title_Blacklist TorBlock: http://www.mediawiki.org/wiki/Extension:TorBlock
- The AbuseFilter extension seems most useful for the spam you guys are getting. You could prevent non-autoconfirmed accounts from creating pages that consist of a title followed by an external link, which seems to be the form of all the recent spam (spotchecked in recent changes). Someone'd hafta' brush up on their regex, though. Pages that contain the regex
==\[[A-Za-z0-9/_:\.\?+] <big>'''[A-Za-z][A-Za-z\s]*'''</big>==might work, you'd need to double-check; it's a first shot.
- Other items that seem like they'd help are building some tags users can use to notify admins when things need to be deleted. Something simple like {{delete}} would work best, which categorizes pages into, say, Category:Pages to be deleted. Anything besides the category is somewhat optional, but a box at the top where they can put in a reason for deletion would also help. I'd suggest ripping code out of similar Wikipedia templates for the boxes. Cheers, everyone. 184.108.40.206 14:38, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
- Me and Rpeh both wrote up the template at the same time. I saved mine over his, even though it's much uglier and crappier, 'cuz it seemed like he just stole the code from Wikipedia's {{db-meta}}, which wouldn't work all that well without the other templates it builds off of. So, template and category are working, use them as you all like. Cheers. Lifebaka 15:21, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
- The AbuseFilter extension seems most useful for the spam you guys are getting. You could prevent non-autoconfirmed accounts from creating pages that consist of a title followed by an external link, which seems to be the form of all the recent spam (spotchecked in recent changes). Someone'd hafta' brush up on their regex, though. Pages that contain the regex
- I don't have the webmastery credentials that these other guys do, but I just wanted to point you here for info direct from MediaWiki on fighting spam, in case you haven't seen it yet. Also, I strongly suggest not permitting anonymous editing (such as I'm doing here). --Dachannien
- Solutions we use over at wiki.pcgen.org - We locked down Editing to Logged in users only - that was the first step; second step was to make it so you had to request a user account from an admin. Spammers were getting to be too annoying to allow open editing or even open registration. We got tired of killing new accounts.
This is for media wiki 1.6
- Prevent new user registrations by anyone
$wgGroupPermissions['*']['createaccount'] = false;
- Restrict anonymous editing / tools showing
$wgShowIPinHeader = false;
- Stop anonymous editing
$wgGroupPermissions['*']['edit'] = false;
- Anonymous users can't create talk pages
$wgGroupPermissions['*']['createtalk'] = false;
- Anonymous users can't create pages
$wgGroupPermissions['*']['createpage'] = false;
- That would appear to be a huge overreaction. If people can't even create accounts you're going to lose 99% of your potential editors. Rpeh 14:36, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
Spam Solution
We had exactly the same spam problem on the Oblivion Mod Wiki and the FancyCaptcha module for ConfirmEdit stopped it dead. Try that one. Rpeh 14:35, 1 May 2011 (UTC)
- Ever though of making registration mandatory (with some captcha/others) for edition? --An unregistered user
Suggestions from MediaWiki's page on combating spam
MediaWiki has a page on combating spam. Some of the good suggestions from that page:
- Add a spam regex using wgSpamRegex, including any content that should not appear in a valid page; this includes markup used only by spammers (such as any attempt to hide links, or many types of HTML formatting), and keywords and phrases used only by spammers.
- Use the ConfirmEdit extension, to force a CAPTCHA on any users attempting to add a new external link, as well as users attempting to register a new account. It looks like this wiki may already do that, using SimpleCaptcha, but you might want to use one of the stronger CAPTCHA modules, as I strongly suspect spammers have automated ways to solve SimpleCaptcha. Try MathCaptcha to make it use images, or ReCaptcha to use that external service. I'd recommend against using QuestyCaptcha, as it only seems to support a fixed list of questions, which won't stop spammers for long.
- Use an IP address blacklist of known spam IPs, which tracks spammers from other wikis and forums.
--JoshTriplett 02:33, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
http://www.projecthoneypot.org/ can give an indication of whether an IP address has a track record of such behaviour as comment spamming. It is dynamic, not a static blacklist, which is better practice. Feeding data back to such projects can also be a deterrent to spammers.
A couple of other ideas
Consider whether your page content actually needs to contain URLs at all. Intra-wiki links can be done with wiki tags, so if external URLs are rare in your content then blocking page edits which create pages containing them may be more useful than annoying. Humans are good at reading a partial URL and putting it back together, but it defeats any benefit for a link-farmer if their bots can't create URLs that are accessible to a search-engine spider.
Use your robots.txt file to make it harder for link-farmers to benefit. Putting the NOFOLLOW meta tag on your wiki pages will also keep Google from giving link credit for them. Most of the spam is badly behaved robots trying to impress Google's well-behaved one - you can't control the badly behaved bots directly, but by keeping better control of the well-behaved ones you can remove their prize.
N.B. The current robots.txt set-up means the spammer still wins even when you "delete" a spam page. You're allowing search engines to index your page history pages, including the old revision with the spammer's full text. Similar issue for page excerpts on "recent changes" page.
- Note, however, that spammers will continue spamming regardless of whether their spam has any benefit. --JoshTriplett 06:55, 2 May 2011 (UTC)
Unlikely to persist forever. In my experience there are two rewards - search engine rank and feeling superior to the site owner. When both dry up, there are plenty of other targets out there. Resources are not infinite for the spammers any more than they are for the defenders. They can certainly afford to waste some and to use some on spite, but they're not really any less concerned with utility vs futility of their actions than the defenders are.
All your current spam contains this string: MjE3fHwxMzA0MTQ1NDIzfHwxOTUyfHwoRU5HSU5FKSBNZWRpYVdpa2k
This may be the tag that (when a spider reaches the site that is the object of the spam) confirms the origin of the successful link-spam. Such mechanisms are used to help automate the process - sites that allow spam to generate hits can be automatically re-used for the next spamming cycle and sites that generate no hits drop from the list.
After a few hours of rapid reversal of these spams, the link farming has been replaced with a human vandal. This is not uncommon as while the spammer is investigating the reasons behind a fall in productivity they often meddle to test the environment, for amusement or spite and to muddy the waters and confuse the defenders. This phase does not generally last very long before some automated actions resume, or the spammer decides not to bother with this target further.
Signs of automation of vandalism: change descriptions set to a random alphabetic sequence involving capital letters. Clearly distinguishable from patterns formed by keyboard-bashing, which tend to cluster around the home keys and have a high incidence of repetition. This is often the final phase of the encounter, but without technical or policy changes the site will eventually be found again.
Some of the latest addresses are interesting: 126.96.36.199 (AS41822) seems to belong to honest-to-badness criminals. It's running an open proxy on port 80, also.
The phrases used in the vandalism are now beginning to repeat. Blocking those distinctive phrases would reduce the success rate during the vandalism phase drastically.
First change of signature string for the money-maker spams, now: OTN8fDEzMDQxMzc0NDJ8fDE5MDZ8fChFTkdJTkUpIE1lZGlhV2lraQ


text:
- Inside Athletics
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JOHNSON CITY, Tenn. (Oct. 11, 2009) - After spending nine of its first 13 matches this season on the road, the ETSU women's soccer team opens the first of a three-match homestand with 4:00 p.m., contest Monday against Atlantic Sun Conference rival USC Upstate at Summers-Taylor Stadium.
The Bucs (3-10-0, 2-3) enter the match after dropping in heartbreaking fashion to Campbell last Thursday. In the match against the Camels, Campbell sophomore forward Annabelle Gibney broke the scoreless tie in overtime with the game winner in the 98th minute.
Individually, sophomore keeper Megan Masch (Virginia Beach, Va.), leads the Buccaneer defense with a conference-best 94 saves. The second-year starter also sits second among league keepers with a .817 save percentage through the first 13 matches.
USC Upstate (0-14-0, 0-5) enters the match looking for its first win of the season. The Spartans, losers of their last 22 straight contests, dropped their last match to Campbell 2-1, Saturday.
Offensively, freshman forward Dana Hillman leads the Upstate attack with four points. The Spartan newcomer netted both goals against Jacksonville September 25th.
Overall, ETSU leads the all-time series with USC Upstate 2-0-0. In their last meeting the Bucs outlasted the Spartans 2-1 last October in Spartanburg, S.C.
For more information on the ETSU women's soccer team please visit www.ETSUBucs.com. Also you can follow daily post and updates on the official ETSU women's soccer team Twitter page at www.twitter.com/ETSUSoccer.


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HIV expert receives the State of Hawaii's top award for AIDS workUniversity of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Director of Communications, Office of Dean of Medicine
Dr. Cecilia Shikuma, (808) 692-1345
Director, Hawaii Center for AIDS, Medicine
The 10th Annual Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award was presented to John A. Burns School of Medicine (JABSOM) physician Dr. Dominic Chow on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, at the Lutheran Church of Honolulu. The Hawai'i State Department of Health (DOH) said Dr. Chow was selected for his tremendous contributions to HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment services in Hawai'i.
"For over 15 years, Dr. Chow has dedicated himself to taking care of individuals affected by HIV/AIDS," said the DOH in a news release. Dr. Chow is an HIV expert at the Clint Spencer Clinic, operated by the University of Hawai`i at Mānoa medical school. It is a multi-specialty clinic focusing on the care of individuals with HIV and its complications, which now include diabetes, heart disease, dementia and cancer, as HIV patients age. The Clinic has about 400 patients on O`ahu and the neighbor islands. Some 3,000 people in Hawai`i live with HIV/AIDS. It is believed about 25% of them don't even know they are carrying the virus.
"Our HIV clinic would not exist without Dr. Chow's hard work," said Dr. Cecilia Shikuma, Director of the JABSOM Hawai`i Center for AIDS. Dr. Chow also is a board member of The Life Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to preventing the spread of HIV and assisting those who are living with HIV and AIDS. The Center for AIDS and The Life Foundation are close collaborators with each other and the DOH is providing better care for HIV patients.
"HIV medical care is a highly specialized ever-changing field," said Dr. Shikuma. "Because JABSOM supports our HIV program, we, as JABSOM faculty, are able to use our expertise to provide expert HIV care for HIV infected patients in Hawai`i."
Dr. Chow completed a Combined Medicine/Pediatrics Residency at Yale School of Medical School and a Masters of Public Health and General Preventive Medicine Residency at Johns Hopkins. Since 2002, Dr. Chow has been the Associate Program Director, Ambulatory Care in HIV Fellowship Program at the John A. Burns School of Medicine at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. He is funded to do research projects by the National Institutes of Health and has published more than 40 research articles. He is a renowned local, national and international lecturer on HIV.
"Dr. Chow is an active participant in the training of medical students and medical residents and has served as a mentor to other students and junior researchers," said JABSOM Dean Jerris R. Hedges, M.D. "He provides HIV expertise through the continuing education of Hawai'i's practicing health-care providers and is also an outstanding leader in the UH Internal Medicine and Pediatric Residency Programs, receiving the University of Hawai'i Pediatric Residency Program Faculty Teaching Award in 2005."
About the Suzanne Richmond-Crum Award
Suzanne Richmond-Crum passed away in August 2004 after serving as director of the Hawai'i Seropositivity and Medical Management Program (HSPAMM) of the DOH STD/AIDS Prevention Branch for more than 10 years. The award was established in honor of the competence and compassion she demonstrated in her HIV/AIDS work, and is presented annually to an individual in Hawai'i for outstanding contribution in providing HIV/AIDS services.
About the UH Clint Spencer Clinic
The clinic was named in memory of Clint Spencer, who died in 2001. Clint realized the importance of research in improving the care of Hawai`i's HIV positive community; as a result, in 1992, he became the first patient to enroll in a research protocol through what is now the Hawai`i Center for AIDS. The Hawai`i State Legislature has been an important source of support for the Center for AIDS and the clinic, especially during its formative stages.
At the clinic, staff provide the following components of HIV care:
- Basic HIV care including antiretroviral therapy and preventive care.
- Metabolic complications of antiretroviral hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol) and lipodystrophy (body fat abnormalities).
- Interpretation of resistance testing and salvage therapy.
- Viral hepatitis co-infection.
- Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infection and disease in men and women.
- Women's health concerns.
- Neurologic problems, including peripheral neuropathy and AIDS dementia.
The clinic accepts most forms of medical insurance and does not limit clients' access to clinical services based on ability to pay.
The Clint Spencer Clinic is in Suite 1024 of the former "Gold Bond Building" at 677 Ala Moana Boulevard. Its telephone number is (808) 692-1310.
For more information, visit: http://jabsom.hawaii.edu


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This beef and vegetable salad makes a great lunch or dinner any day of the week.
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text: Treatment for ARDS Using ECMO to treats ARDS The current standards of care for adults with the Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) encompass a variety of processes that are best delivered with an integrated and protocolized approach. The strength of evidence supporting the various components of such a standardized approach varies, but most aspects of today's modern approach to ARDS are based upon solid evidence. The major components of therapy are related to modes of mechanical ventilation, pharmacological adjuvants, and ancillary maneuvers. It has long been our approach at Emanuel to provide a rapid and lung-protective escalation of intervention focused on providing the least harmful but adequate oxygen delivery1. Towards this end, we recognize the relative roles of ARDSnet pressure control ventilation, airway pressure release ventilation (APRV) and high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) and the data that supports their selected uses. In our center, we also utilize the volume diffusive respirator (VDR, Percussionairre Corporation, Sand Point Idaho), a pressure-controlled tidal ventilator with a superimposed hi frequency, low volume percussive component. We utilize advanced imaging and interventions to include recruitment maneuvers and prone positioning when anatomically appropriate. We use endpoint directed therapies and trend a combination of cerebral and tissue infra-red spectroscopy, mixed venous oxygen saturations and serum markers of an adequate DO2:VO2 relationship. We strive for adequate resuscitation, total body and intravascular euvolemia, and aggressive immunological surveillance and nutritional support. We selectively employ inhaled nitric oxide and prostacyclins when indicated. If, despite and after the above measures, a patient cannot adequately deliver oxygen on "safe" ventilator settings, we treat them with extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). ECMO, as a therapy for ARDS in adults has been controversial for many years but current research indicates that ECMO is a standard of care in the modern treatment regimen for adults with severe ARDS. We utilize ECMO when indicated as a routine aspect of our protocolized approach to ARDS when other means of oxygenation and/or ventilation are insufficient or less safe. We also use ECMO to support circulation as appropriate for profound shock, cardiac "stun", hypothermia or in the extremes of resuscitation. We consider most contraindications to be "relative" and, with few exceptions" consider each case individually. Number of patients treated for adult respiratory failure at Legacy Emanuel 2009–2010 16 2011–2012 23 2013–2014 45 The early reports of Zapol and Morris, in 1979 and 1992 respectively, showed no benefit to ECMO for adult ARDS, but these studies utilized protocols and equipment that are obsolete. More recent reports from the UK have demonstrated that outcomes are significantly improved with both adult ARDS2 and H1N1 pneumonia3 if patients are cared for in an ECMO center. This reflects both the benefit of modern ECMO as well as the benefit of an evidence based, protocolized approach to pulmonary failure. The new Berlin Classification of ARDS4 reports that the survival rate for "severe" ARDS, (i.e.: a PaO2:FiO2 ratio < 100) to be 45%. The international registry of the Extracorporeal Life Support Organization (ELSO)5 reports a survival rate of 60% for patients who were placed on ECMO with a mean PF ratio of 73.0 ± 1.8. At Emanuel, over the past three years, for adult patients with a mean PF ratio of 55.0 ± 3.1 (n = 41), our survival rate has been 65%. In addition, by our protocolized approach to these patients including the dynamic application of the VDR, we have demonstrated a significantly shortened time on ECMO for both adults with ARDS6 as well as those with H1N1 pneumonia7 in comparison to the ELSO registry. Outcome of adults with respiratory failure treated with ECMO at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center ECMO is not, nor should it be, available in every ICU that treats patients with ARDS. It is a regional resource. We are the most experienced ECMO center in the Pacific Northwest and offer these therapies to patients of all ages; neonatal, pediatric and adult. We also provide the only formal, experienced and immediately available ECMO transport program in our region. Over the past three years we have retrieved patients in extremis from more than 15 medical centers, cannulated them in the referring hospital's ICU and transported them to Portland without a single death. Over 90% of our patients are referred to Emanuel, and more than 70% have required transport on ECMO. Our mobile ECMO transport team consists of attending physicians, a perfusionist, a respiratory therapist, an OR nurse and a trauma resuscitation/ICU nurse. Generally, we can mobilize within 90 minutes of a referral call, any time, any day. We know that ECMO is more effective if utilized early. It is a misconception to consider ECMO as a salvage, or "rescue" therapy. The consequences of profound, refractory hypoxemia and ventilator induced lung injury are very severe and widespread. Please consider a referral to our center as soon as it is apparent that advanced approaches are failing, preferably over the course of hours, not days. Our criteria for ECMO include those who have a PF ratio < 100 on a high FiO2 despite the timely application of advanced ventilation regimens (hi PEEP ARDSnet CMV, APRV, and/or HFOV), positional therapy, inhalation agents (iNO and/or prostacyclin) and recruitment maneuvers. It is our experience that true, non-cardiogenic, ARDS is readily apparent and outcomes are better if patients are referred for ECMO before they have been on the ventilator for more than 5 days. We have been a regional referral center for a variety of conditions for a many years and we took our first referrals for ECMO over 25 years ago. We are committed to serving our community together with all of the facilities in our region. Our ECMO service is staffed with surgeons, intensivists, pulmonologists and a full spectrum of allied specialists, therapists, nurses and perfusionists. We are improving the outreach and follow-up, education, quality improvement and transport aspects of our program and invite you to join us in what we feel should be a shared and regional approach to severe, refractory, hypoxemic ARDS. 1. Michaels AJ, Wanek SA, Gish D, et al: A protocolized approach to pulmonary failure and the role of intermittent prone positioning. J Trauma 2002 Jun;52(6):1037-47; discussion 1047. 2. Peek GJ, Mugford M, Tiruvoipati R, et al; CESAR Trial Collaboration. Efficacy and economic assessment of Conventional Ventilatory Support Versus Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation for Severe Adult Respiratory Failure (CESAR): a multicentre randomized controlled trial. Lancet. 2009;374(9698):1351-1363. 3. Noah MA, Peek GJ, Finney SJ, et al: Referral to an extracorporeal membrane oxygenation center and mortality among patients with severe 2009 influenza A(H1N1). JAMA 2011 Oct 19;306(15):1659-68. Epub 2011 Oct 5. 4. The ARDS Definition Task Force: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome The Berlin Definition, JAMA. 2012;307(23):2526-2533 5. Extracorporeal Life Support Organization's (ELSO) International Registry for Adults Respiratory Failure treated with ECMO. http://www.elsonet.org/index.php/registry/statistics/limited.html 6. Michaels AJ, Hill JG, Long WB, et al.: The Protocolized Use of Percussive Ventilation Reduces the Cost and Risk of ECMO for Refractory Hypoxemic ARDS in Adults. the 84th annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Surgical Association, Kauai HI, 2013, Archives of Surgery 2013 (in review) 7. Michaels, AJ, Hill JG, Long WB, et al.: Reducing the Time on ECMO with the Use of the Volume Diffusive Respirator (VDR) for Adults with H1N1 Pneumonia, annual meeting of the North Pacific Surgical Association, Spokane WA, 2012, Am J Surg, May 2013 (in press)