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This invention provides an assembly comprising a sensing electrode and a counter electrode in contact with a membrane body formed from a solid polymer electrolyte system comprising a fluorinated polymer matrix and a charge carrying component which is dispersed in the matrix the electrodes and membrane being housed in a housing having a gas diffusion barrier through which gas may flow. The charge carrying components are fluorinated organic proton conductors (such as heptadecafluorooctane sulphonic acid, bis-trifluoromethane sulphonamide, N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-1,1,1-trifluoromethane sulphonamide, N-benzyltrifluoromethane sulphonamide and N, N-1,2-cyclohexanediylbis (1,1,1-trifluoromethane sulphonamide)). The polymer matrix is a homopolymer or copolymer of vinylidene fluoride preferably with fluorinated comonomers. The solid polymer electrolyte system preferably contains plasticising additive(s) and is cast as a coating onto one or more electrodes eg. Platinum gas diffusion electrodes forming an assembly for use in a gas sensor especially a CO sensor.
 This invention relates to assemblies for use in gas sensors comprising electrodes and a membrane formed of a solid polymer electrolyte and the use of the assemblies in toxic gas sensors.
 In its simplest form, an electrochemical gas sensor consists of two electrodes (the anode and cathode) separated by an electrolyte. When the gas to be detected reacts at one of these electrodes, charge must be able to pass freely between the anode (where oxidation occurs) and the cathode (where reduction occurs) if the sensor's performance is not to be compromised. The electrolyte must therefore provide a highly conductive path through which charge is transported by ionic migration.
 Traditionally, electrochemical sensors for detecting toxic gases at room temperature utilise liquid phase solutions of conducting ions as the electrolyte. This approach generally satisfies the requirement of a highly conducting medium between the electrodes and often also supplies a reactant species essential for the detection of the target gas. For example, in the CiTiceL (Trade Mark) carbon monoxide sensor, an aqueous solution of sulphuric acid provides the electrolyte, conferring both the high conductivity and water necessary for good sensor performance. Using carbon monoxide as an example of one of any number of gases that may undergo electrochemical oxidation, the general reactions occurring in the sensor may be illustrated by the following equations. At the working or sensing electrode (anode) carbon monoxide is electrochemically oxidised according to
 At the counter electrode (cathode) a reduction process must take place, for example the reduction of oxygen.
 The overall sensor cell reaction is the sum of these two electrode reactions, namely
 It can be seen that there is no net consumption of water or other components of the electrolyte.
 However, the use of liquid electrolytes in electrochemical gas sensors has certain disadvantages and imposes restrictions on their application. Leakage of electrolyte can be a significant problem, being hazardous to health and causing damage via corrosive action. The loss of this active component can also lead to degradation in sensor performance and premature failure. Consequently, considerable design effort and manufacturing cost are frequently incurred to overcome this vulnerability. Constraints on minimum sensor size are also imposed when using liquid electrolytes. Sensor volume is largely determined by the need to provide a sufficient reservoir of the electrolyte to meet the operating life and to accommodate mechanical wicking systems to ensure delivery of the electrolyte to the electrodes. Restrictions are also placed on the permissible operating temperatures (e.g. −20 to 55° C.) and humidities (e.g. 15 to 90% relative humidity) that such devices can tolerate whilst effectively maintaining the initial water balance of the liquid electrolyte. Extreme environments can lead to dehydration or flooding problems and produce electrolyte volume changes leading to sensor failure.
 Recently, attempts have been made to overcome the inherent limitations of the liquid electrolyte by employing solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs). This technology offers significant advantages, not least the potential for reducing sensor complexity and cost. Numerous approaches have been adopted to overcome the major obstacles to implementing SPEs, namely their poor conductivities and/or their susceptibility to dehydration. One common technique is to utilise a fluorinated, ion-exchange polymer (Nafion) as the electrolyte [Otagawa, T. et al (1990); Yasuda, A. et al (1992); Opekar, F. & Stulik, K. (1999)]. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,573,648 uses Nafion 117 membranes or proton conducting metal oxide films (i.e. intrinsically conducting polymer structures) as the solid electrolyte in their gas sensors. This document describes a MEA of a two-electrode “sandwich” design to provide low cost amperometric sensors for detecting CO and other toxic gases. However, conduction within these membranes relies on the migration of the hydrated protons weakly associated with the sulphonic acid groups present on the fluorinated polymer backbone, therefore water remains an essential component without which their performance as SPEs is compromised [Samec, Z. et al (1995); Anantaraman, A. V. & Gardner, C. L. (1996); Yasuda, A. et al (1992)]. Consequently, the application of Nafion is effectively precluded in dry or high temperature environments with unhumidified sample gases. One typical approach employed to minimise this loss of ionic conductivity under desiccating conditions is to provide a water reservoir thereby keeping the membrane hydrated. [Chang, S. & Stetter, J. R. (1990); van derWal, P. D. et al(1996); LaConti, A. B. etal (1981)]. However, this approach is counter-productive and defeats some of the benefits of utilising SPEs namely reduced sensor complexity and cost.
 An approach which has been widely adopted in the battery industry for avoiding liquid electrolyte is to rely on polymer systems infused with conducting salts and solvents or plasticisers [WO-A-98/04008]. Fluorinated polymers such as polyvinylidene fluoride (PVdF) have been impregnated with various alkali metal salts (commonly lithium) dissolved in high dielectric solvents [Tarascon, J. M et al (1996); WO-A-98/31064; WO-A-98/28812; GB-A-2309703] such as propylene carbonate or dimethyl formamide. In this manner, the reliance on a hydrated membrane for maintaining good ionic mobility is eliminated. Furthermore, the addition of specific non-volatile monomeric liquids (i.e. plasticisers) can improve ionic conductivity by reducing both polymer crystallinity and the glass-transition temperature, while increasing the relative permittivity of the system [Binesh, N. & Bhat, S. V. (1999)]. JP-A-171923 used fluorinated organic sulphonic acids dispersed within a fluorinated polymer matrix to produce proton conducting polymer electrolytes suitable for use in fuel cells capable of operating at high temperature such as 100-150° C. region and this system reduced the CO poisoning of the electrocatalyst. However, despite these attractive properties, such SPEs are not particularly amenable to direct implementation in sensors. The diverse nature and requirements of these two technologies effectively prevents the direct translation of a proven SPE formulation between them. For example, gas sensors by their nature cannot be sealed and must remain partially open to allow ingress of the atmosphere they will sense. Consequently, the use of any volatile electrolyte components that would eventually evaporate and degrade the SPE functionality is prohibited. Incompatibilities between the electrolyte solvent and sensor components, such as wetting of the PTFE membranes used in gas diffusion electrodes (for example by propylene carbonate) are also issues critical to gas sensors but not necessarily to batteries.
 This invention provides an assembly for use in a gas sensor comprising a sensing electrode  and a counter electrode  each in contact with a membrane body formed from a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) system  and a generally impermeable housing within which the electrodes and membrane are contained and a gas diffusion barrier through which gas is may diffuse from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing whereby the gas may contact the sensing electrode, wherein the SPE comprises a fluorinated polymer matrix and a charge carrying component which is dispersed and immobilised in the matrix and consists of a fluorinated organic proton conductor which is chemically compatible with the polymer.
 The assembly may be incorporated into a gas sensor which additionally comprises means for measuring the flow of current or change in potential difference between the electrodes. Such gas sensors form part of the invention. The assembly may be prefabricated and supplied as a replaceable item for use with the apparatus comprising the said measuring means. The assembly itself may be formed from prefabricated components, such as pre-assembled membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs) comprising the electrodes and the SPE membrane. Other components of an assembly of the invention may include current collectors connected to the electrodes, seals against gas diffusion, mechanical connectors for connecting the assembly into the measuring apparatus, wick means to guide gas towards the sensing electrode, etc. The device may be as generally described in GB-A-2094005.
 The SPE refers to the polymer matrix and the charge carrying component which are non-covalently bonded materials. The SPE system may also include other additives.
 In the SPE system assembly of this invention, the proton bearing group is located on a molecule much smaller than the polymer matrix, the charge carrying component, which is fully compatible with the polymer matrix and is dispersed therein. The polymer itself is intrinsically nonconducting. The polymer matrix is non-ionic and/or non-ionisable which gives greater freedom of design for the acid host, allowing the removal of the proton to be rendered more facile and thereby improving the conductivity of the system. As used herein when the polymer matrix is referred to as non-ionic and/or non-ionisable this means normal use conditions.
 The polymer of the SPE system used in this invention, may be a homopolymer of vinylidene fluoride (PVdF) or copolymer of vinylidene fluoride preferably with fluorinated comonomers, for instance a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene (HFP), trifluoroethylene (VF3) or chlorotrifluoroethylene (CTFE).
 Dispersed throughout the matrix of the polymer is a fluorinated organic proton conductor. The fluorinated organic proton conductor imparts conductivity and is chosen to be chemically compatible with the polymer matrix thereby giving a high degree of solubility of the fluorinated organic proton conductor in the solid polymer.
 The organic proton conductor is preferably a fluorinated sulphonic acid, or a fluorinated-sulphonamide
 The sulphonic acid may have the general formula I: 1
 where R=[(CF2)nOm(CF2)p]qF
 in which n & p≧O
 m=0 or 1, and
 q=0 or an integer≧1.
 A sulphonamide may have the general formula II 2
 in which
 R1 is an electron withdrawing group having the general formula
 r=0 or an integer≧1, and x or y=0.
 or are integers where x+y=2r+1;
 R2 is an electron withdrawing group in which R2=R1 or has the general structure CuHsFtR3, in which u=0 or is an integer≧1, and s or t=0, or are integers where s+t=2u;
 R3=H or F or is an aromatic, heteroaromatic, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl group, having optional, preferably electron withdrawing groups attached.
 The fluorinated organic proton conductor may be one or more of the following: heptadecafluorooctane sulphonic acid (Hepta), bis-trifluoromethane sulphonimide (Bis), N-(2,6-diethylphenyl)-1,1,1-trifluoromethane sulphonamide, N-benzyltrifluoromethane sulphonamide, N,N-cyclohexane-1,2-diylbis(1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulphonamide) and perfluoro (2-ethoxyethane)sulphonic acid and N-ethylperfluorooctylsulphonamide.
 The above mentioned novel SPE preferably has one or more additives added to it to give improved performance over the SPEs found in the prior art. An additive may have several properties: it may act as a plasticiser lowering the glass transition temperature and increasing the flexibility of the solid polymer and thus the electrolyte system; it may allow proton movement to occur and thereby enhance conductivity at ambient humidity and arrest the decline in membrane conductivity which might otherwise be demonstrated at reduced humidity; it may increase salvation of the fluorinated organic proton conductor in the matrix and increase the homogeneity of its dispersion. Separate compounds may confer one of these benefits, or a single compound may confer two or all three characteristics. The additives used in this invention may be one or more of the following; tetraethyleneglycol dimethyl ether (TEGDE), butyl sulphone (BS), polyethylene glycol 1000 (PEG 1000), polyoxyethylene (10) isooctylphenol ether (Triton X-100), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), 1-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidinone (DdP), dodecenyl succinic anhydride (DDSA) and undecanoic &ggr;-lactone (UdL). Each additive should be non-volatile and preferably solid at room temperature.
 The proportions of polymer matrix to fluorinated organic proton conductor in an effective SPE can vary. The fluorinated polymer is suitably present in an amount from 10 to 90 wt % whilst the fluorinated organic proton conductor is suitably present in an amount from 90 to 10 wt %. More preferably the fluorinated polymer is present in an amount from 25 to 75 wt % whilst the fluorinated organic proton conductor is present in an amount from 75 to 25 wt %.
 The proportions of polymer matrix to fluorinated organic proton conductor plus additive(s) in an effective SPE can vary. The fluorinated polymer is suitably present in an amount from 10 to 90 wt %, whilst the fluorinated organic proton conductor plus additive(s) are suitably present in an amount from 90 to 10%. More preferably the fluorinated polymer is present in an amount from 25 to 75 wt %, whilst the fluorinated organic proton conductor plus additive(s) are present in an amount from 75 to 25 wt %. The weight ratio of the fluorinated proton conductor to additive(s) may vary from 10 to 100 wt %. We have found an optimum ratio for the components of the SPE system to be about 30 wt % fluorinated polymer, 40 wt % fluorinated organic proton conductor and 30 wt % additive when the polymer is poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene), the acid is bis-trifluoromethane sulphonimide and the additive is butyl sulphone.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES
 FIG. 1 is an exploded diagram of an example of a 2-electrode membrane electrode assembly (MEA) used in the assembly invention.
 FIG. 2 is an exploded diagram of an example of a 3-electrode MEA useful in the invention.
 FIG. 3 is an exploded diagram of an alternative 3-electrode MEA useful in the invention.
 FIG. 4 shows results obtained from Example 1 (effect of ageing on the CO sensitivity of CTL 2-electrode sensors containing PVdF/hepta SPE).
 FIG. 5 shows results obtained from Example 3 (carbon monoxide response of CTL 2-electrode sensors containing various solid and liquid electrolytes).
 FIG. 6 shows results obtained from Example 3 (effect of ageing under ambient conditions on the CO sensitivity of CTL 2-electrode sensors containing various solid and liquid electrolytes).
 FIGS. 7 and 8 show results obtained from Example 3 (effect of ageing under attenuated and elevated humidities (respectively) on the CO sensitivity of CTL 2-electrode sensors containing various solid and liquid electrolytes).
 As mentioned above the electrode/solid polymer electrolyte combination excluding other sensor components may be referred to as membrane electrode assemblies (MEAs). These may be formed by standard film fabrication techniques or processes, such as those described in Davis, T. A., et al Opekar, F. & Stulik, K. (1999) patent applications EP-A-0731520, EP-A-0872906 and references therein. Alternatively solid or melt mixing and moulding processes may be used to fabricate a suitable MEA. In the present invention, the MEA may also be prepared by dissolving the fluorinated polymer and a fluorinated proton conductor in a suitable solvent system to form a casting liquid and forming the membrane, for instance by casting onto a substrate and subsequently removing the solvent. Preferably the solution further comprises the dissolved additive(s) as described above. The solution can be cast in an appropriate vessel to form a film following evaporation of the solvent. The resultant film (i.e. the membrane) may then be pressed between the two electrodes to form a MEA. Typically the thickness of the film may be between 5 and 1000 &mgr;m, although for optimum conductivity film thicknesses between 5 and 25 &mgr;m are preferable. Whilst the described embodiment uses free standing SPE films as described in the above method, it may also be desirable to cast the polymer electrolyte casting liquid onto a porous support to provide strength. The support material must be chemically compatible with the SPE solution. Examples of materials that may be suitable include PTFE, borosilicate glass fibre, and polypropylene. The solvent system may be one or more of a mixture of suitable ketones, ethers, esters, hydrocarbons, halocarbons or any other solvents or solvent systems in which the components of the polymer electrolyte are soluble. For convenience, it is preferable that the solvent(s) are volatile at standard temperature and pressures, although any other method of removing the solvent(s), such as heating at elevated temperatures, or under reduced pressures, or combinations of the above may be used.
 The MEA described above may be used in conjunction with other components and electronic instrumentation to form an electrochemical sensor, that is capable of detecting gases or vapors that are susceptible to electrochemical oxidation or reduction at the sensing electrode, such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, ozone, ethylene oxide, hydrides and oxygen. There are numerous possible arrangements of individual elements of the construction, but for convenience the principles are initially described with reference to a simple two electrode sensor configuration.
 The two-electrode polymer MEA (FIG. 1) comprises a sensing electrode , proton conducting polymer electrolyte  and counter/reference electrode , with the SPE  interspersed between both electrodes forming a sandwich type configuration. The configuration is such that the catalyst from each individual electrode is in intimate contact with the polymer membrane. The membrane also acts as a separator and prevents direct electrical contact between the electrodes, thus preventing shorting. The solid nature of the polymer electrolyte obviates the need for conventional separators that serve the dual functions of preventing shorting between electrodes and acting as wicking materials in liquid electrolyte sensors. In this description of the invention, each electrode comprises a platinum black catalyst, intimately mixed with fine particles of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) which acts as a binder and which also facilitates gaseous diffusion through the electrode. Support for the catalyst/PTFE structure is provided by a hydrophobic porous PTFE support .
 Electronic connection to the MEA is made via two platinum current collectors , each of which is in direct contact with one of the catalytic electrode surfaces. These provide connection with an external potentiostatic circuit which ensures a constant potential difference is maintained between the sensing electrode  and the counter/reference electrode , and which also converts the sensor's current signal to a voltage signal which can be related to the concentration of the gas being detected.
 In the embodiment described above platinum black catalyst material [2 or 6] was chosen to facilitate the oxidation of carbon monoxide. It is preferable, although not necessary, to use a high surface area material for the catalyst, and in certain instances the catalyst electrode material may be solid in the form of a wire, ribbon or printed track. This material should also possess sufficient electronic conductivity to be able to support the flow of current generated during operation. Other nobel metal catalysts, such as gold, palladium, and ruthenium, their mixtures or alloys are also used. Other preferred electrode materials may include iridium, osmium, rhodium, silver, nickel, copper and carbon and alloys of the above combinations. The choice of catalyst is dictated by the nature of the analyte being detected, and any other gas(es) which are also present. By suitable choice it may be possible to discriminate the target analyte from other interferents, thus improving selectivity.
 The MEA is enclosed in a housing (not shown) which acts as a protective body. In the most general and simple configurations, the housing needs only have an opening acting as the gas diffusion barrier. This enables gas ingress to the MEA by diffusion or convection. Preferably the assembly comprises suitable contacts to the MEA to provide electronic connection to external circuitry. The assembly may also comprise seals, or other mechanical connectors as a means of providing physical contact with external instrumentation. In the present invention, the gas diffusion barrier is an opening which has a defined geometry that imposes a diffusion limit on the rate of ingress of the analyte under detection. Under these circumstances the output of the sensor can be related to the external gas concentration through the known physical laws of diffusion. In the preferred design, this gas inlet capillary is protected from direct contact with the analyte sample, which may be contaminated with water droplets or other particulates, by a hydrophobic microporous PTFE membrane. This has sufficient porosity to minimise any bulk flow of gaseous species through the inlet capillary but does not interfere with gaseous diffusion. Other sensor designs may also incorporate an inboard filter to enhance the selectivity of the sensor by selectively removing interferents.
 The SPE systems described above have been demonstrated within gas sensors using an amperometric two electrode carbon monoxide sensor. This technology is however amenable to incorporation into other sensor configurations. The two-electrode design was chosen as a test vehicle because of its simplicity, but the adoption of the SPE in sensor configurations with more than two electrodes, either in conventional or planar designs should prove feasible. Furthermore, this technology could also be adapted for use in gas sensors operating on potentiometric principles.
 Other configurations of the assembly of the invention may incorporate additional electrode assemblies including a reference electrode and scavenging electrode(s). The construction of these other electrode assemblies may be achieved in a similar manner to that described above for the two-electrode MEA. Two possible configurations for a sensor incorporating a reference electrode  are shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. However, it should be noted that the exact configuration is usually determined from consideration of several factors including optimisation of electrochemical performance and manufacturing considerations. Other configurations of MEA's may include multiple individual electrodes on a single porous support. For example it is possible to envisage a sandwich MEA configuration in which the sensing, counter and reference electrodes all have intimate contact with the same SPE.
 Descriptions of the electrochemical assemblies have so far related to is designs in which the catalyst is supported on a porous backing PTFE material . The non-liquid nature of the electrolyte means that alternative configurations are possible in which the SPE provides a suitable support for the catalyst. In this instance a sensor may be constructed whereby the catalyst is deposited directly onto the SPE.
 Another possible configuration is where the catalytic electrode material is deposited onto a non-porous support. For example catalytic material may be screen printed or deposited by other means such as vapour deposition onto ceramic, glass, or inert plastics including PTFE, ABS and polypropylene. The SPE may then be deposited by any of the methods described above, as a thin film so as to cover the catalytic surface. As the substrate support material for the catalytic material is non-porous, diffusion to the catalytic surface necessarily occurs through the solid polymer electrolyte layer.
 The use of such fluorinated organic proton conductors in addition to other additives has enabled some of the problems of the prior art to be overcome. The SPE provided is simple robust and amenable to mass production and suitable for use in toxic gas sensors and acidic oxygen sensors. The SPE system used in the current invention has high intrinsic conductivity and reduced reliance on hydration to sustain this conductivity.
 Using SPE in place of the aqueous acid in the sensor, the gaseous analyte or mixture to be detected on reaching the sensing electrode may react with molecules of water associated with the electrolyte or from the atmosphere. Charge flow through the SPE is mediated by the fluorinated organic proton conductor and aided by any additives present. The additives used in this invention have enhanced the conductivity of the solid polymer electrolyte and have reduced the decline in conductivity normally observed under desiccating conditions.
 The invention will now be further described by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings.EXAMPLE 1
 SPEs were prepared by dissolving a copolymer of polyvinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVdF-HFP) copolymer in sufficient 2-butanone to give a 9 wt % solution.
 Heptadecafluorooctanesulphonic acid (Hepta) was subsequently added to this solution to give a final loading of between 50-75 wt %. Membranes were cast from these solutions by controlled evaporation of the 2-butanone at ambient temperature, initially under atmospheric and then reduced pressure. The resultant films (ca. 5-25 &mgr;m thick) were cold pressed between a pair of platinum gas diffusion electrodes. The 75% Hepta membrane was incorporated in 2-electrode sensor hardware for characterisation tests in carbon monoxide (200 ppm in air). Sensors were connected to 3-electrode potentiostats (in which the counter and reference electrode terminals had been shorted together) and operated so that a zero potential difference was maintained across the sensing and counter electrodes. Following sufficient time for stabilisation of the output, each sensor was exposed in sequence to air for 5 minutes, 200 ppm CO/air for 5 minutes, and air again for a further 5 minutes. During this cycle, the sensor signal was logged continuously and the final response defined as the difference in output between the 5-minute signal in CO and the signal in air immediately prior to the analyte gas exposure.
 FIG. 4 shows the effect of ageing on the CO sensitivity of a CiTiceL 2-electrode sensor containing 75% hepta in polyvinylidene fluoride-hexafluoro propylene (PVdF-HFP) solid polymer electrolyte at both ambient humidity and in a dry atmosphere. Tests revealed that the sensors based on Hepta/PVdF-HFP SPEs were capable of detecting ppm levels of CO. These devices initially demonstrated a satisfactory performance under ambient atmospheric conditions but partially lost sensitivity as they aged (FIG. 4). However, this rate of deactivation was even more severe under conditions of reduced humidity (i.e. relative humidity (RH)<10%). This novel solid polymer electrolyte showed a humidity dependent response and the following examples seek to avoid such a problemEXAMPLE 2
 The conductivities of SPE films with various additives were tested. The addition of additives to the SPE such as TEGDE, BS, PEG1000, Triton X-100, DBP, DdP, DDSA and UdL can significantly enhance conductivity under ambient conditions. SPE conductivities were calculated from the AC resistances (at 1 kHz) and membrane thicknesses determined using a modified micrometer fitted with gold contacts. Comparative measurements were initially made Linder ambient conditions (at known temperature and humidity) and then, where appropriate, at a reduced humidity of 10%RH (again at ambient temperature). Samples were allowed to equilibrate for 48 hours under the conditions of attenuated humidity before the resistance measurements were made in situ. This phenomenon of enhanced conductivity was observed with both the Hepta (Table 1) and Bis (Table 2) loaded PVdF-HFP membranes. Furthermore, some of these additives, for example TEGDE, DdP, DDSA, and UdL, arrested the decline in membrane conductivity normally demonstrated at low atmospheric humidities (Table 3).
 In the tables the proton conductor is referred to as an acid The extent of this improvement in performance is clearly coupled with the nature of the fluorinated organic proton conductor. Choice of additive also affects the properties. As a consequence of these observations three candidates, Hepta/TEGDE, Bis/UdL and Bis/BS were selected for evaluation with PVdF-HFP as solid polymer electrolytes in actual gas sensors in Example 3 below. 1 TABLE 1 Conductivity of PVdF-HFP Polymeric Films Cast with Hepta Fluorinated Organic Proton Conductor and Various Additives Film Composition Polymer: Acid: Conductivity Additive Additive wt % Ratio (&mgr;S/cm) Tetra(ethylene glycol) dimethyl ether 25:25:50 136.1 (TEGDE) Poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 25:25:50 121.1 (PEG 1000) Dibutyl phthalate 25:25:50 94.8 (DBP) Polyoxyethylene(10) isooctylphenol 25:25:50 72.4 ether (Triton X 100) Zonyl (Trade Mark) FSN-100 25:25:50 37.2 (FSN100) None 75:25:0 0.48
 2 TABLE 2 Conductivity of PvdF-HFP Polymeric Films Cast with Bis Fluorinated Organic Proton Conductor and Various Additives Film Composition Polymer: Acid: Conductivity Additive Additive wt % Ratio (&mgr;S/cm) Butyl sulphone 34:33:33 276.1 (BS) 1-Dodecyl-2-pyrrolidinone 34:33:33 99.1 (DdP) Undecanoic &ggr;-lactone 34:33:33 58.6 (UdL) Dodecenylsuccinic anhydride 34:33:33 35.1 (DDSA) Poly(ethylene glycol) 2- 34:33:32 20.9 [ethyl[(heptadecafluorooctyl)sul- phonyl]amino]ethyl methyl ether (PEGEHSA) None 50:50:0 18.4
 3 TABLE 3 Change in Conductivity with Humidity of PvdF-HFP Polymeric Films Containing Hepta or Bis Fluorinated Organic Proton Conductors Cast with Various Additives Conductivity Film Composition Change Polymer: Acid: (%) between Acid Additive Additive wt % Ratio 25→7% RH Hepta Tetra(ethylene glycol) 25:25:50 +9 dimethyl ether Hepta 1-Dodecyl-2- 34:33:33 −16 pyrrolidinone Hepta Dodecenylsuccinic 34:32:34 −39 anhydride Hepta Undecanoic &ggr;-lactone 34:33:33 −65 Hepta None 51:49:0 −99 Bis Undecanoic &ggr;-lactone 34:33:33 +76 Bis Tetra(ethylene glycol) 25:25:50 −7 dimethyl ether Bis Butyl sulphone 34:33:33 −21 Bis None 50:50:0 −100EXAMPLE 3
 SPEs were prepared by dissolving PVdF-HFP copolymer in sufficient 2-butanone to give a 9 wt % solution. The fluorinated organic proton conductor and additive were subsequently added to this solution to give a final loading of 33 wt % as specified in the Table. Conducting membranes were cast from these solutions by controlled evaporation of the 2-butanone at ambient temperature, initially under atmospheric and then reduced pressure. The resultant films (ca. 5-25 &mgr;m thick) were cold pressed between a pair of platinum gas diffusion electrodes and subsequently incorporated into (CiTiceL) 2-electrode sensor hardware for characterisation tests in carbon monoxide (200 ppm in air). The sensor test method is as described in Example 1.
 FIG. 5 illustrates the response of Bis/UdL and Bis/BS 2-electrode sensors to the addition of 200 ppm CO (added at the 5 min stage) compared with a control sensor containing a liquid electrolyte of 5M sulphuric acid (Std 5M H2SO4).
 FIG. 6 shows the effect of ageing under ambient conditions on the CO sensitivity of 2-electrode sensors with different solid polymer electrolyte systems.
 FIG. 7 shows the effect of ageing under reduced humidity on the CO sensitivity of 2-electrode sensors with different solid polymer electrolyte systems, whilst FIG. 8 shows the effect of ageing under elevated humidity conditions.
 Tests on these sensors demonstrated that favourable performance characteristics were obtainable with SPEs based on Bis and butyl sulphone or undecanoic &ggr;-lactone additives. Benchmarked against standard controls containing a liquid electrolyte of sulphuric acid, these devices displayed fast responses and high CO sensitivities (but initially had relatively high air baseline signals) (FIG. 5). Reasonable stability was also displayed as these sensors aged in air under normal ambient conditions (FIG. 6). Under an atmosphere of reduced humidity (ca 15%RH), sensors based on both Bis/UdL and Bis/BS SPE suffered only limited deactivation as a result of dehydration (FIG. 7). In contrast, when operated at elevated humidity (ca. 95% RH) marginal improvements in performance were obtained (FIG. 8).References
 Anantaraman A. V. & Gardner, C. L. J. Electroanal. Chem., 414 (1996) 115.
 Binesh, N & Bhat, S. V. Solid State lonies 122 (1999) 291.
 Chang, S. & Stetter, J. R. Electroanalysis, 2 (1990) 359.
 Davis, T. A., Genders, J. D. & Pletcher, D. The Electrochemical consultancy (pubs) (1997) “A First Course in Ion Permeable Membranes”
 Laconti, A. B. et al., ACS Publication‘Chemical Hazards in the Workplace’ (1981) 551.
 Opekar, F. & Stulik, K., Anal. Chim. Acta 385 (1999) 151.
 Otagawa, T. et al Sensors & Actuators B1 (1990) 319.
 Samec, Z. et al., Electroanalysis, 7 (1995) 1054.
 Tarascon J. M. et al., Solid State Ionics, 86-88 (1996) 49.
 van der Wal, P. D. et al., Sensors & Actuators, B35-36 (1996) 119.
 Yasuda A. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc. 139 (1992) 3224.
 Yasuda A. et al. J. Electrochem. Soc. 139 (1992) 1091.
1. An assembly for use in a gas sensor comprising a sensing electrode  and a counter electrode  each in contact with a membrane body formed from a solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) system  and a generally impermeable housing within which the electrodes and membrane are contained and a gas diffusion barrier through which gas may diffuse from the exterior of the housing to the interior of the housing whereby the gas may contact the sensing electrode, wherein the SPE comprises a fluorinated polymer matrix and a charge carrying component which is dispersed and immobilised in the matrix and consists of a fluorinated organic proton conductor which is chemically compatible with the polymer.
2. The assembly according to claim 1 wherein the polymer of the SPE system is non-ionic.
3. The assembly according to claim 1 or 2 in which the polymer of the SPE system is a homopolymer or copolymer of vinylidene fluoride.
4. The assembly according to claim 3 in which the polymer of the SPE system is a copolymer of vinylidene fluoride and hexafluoropropylene, trifluoroethylene or chlorotrifluoroethylene.
5. The assembly according to any preceding claim in which the fluorinated proton conductor of the SPE system is a fluorinated sulphonic acid or fluorinated sulphonarmide.
6. The assembly according to claim 5 in which the conductor is a sulphonic acid having the general formula I:
- where R=[(CF2)nOm(CF2)p]qF
- in which n & p≧0,
- m=0 or 1, and
- q=0 or an integer≧1.
7. The assembly according to claim 5 in which the conductor is a sulphonamide having the general formula II
- in which
- R1 is an electron withdrawing group having the general formula
- r=0 or an integer≧1, and x or y=0,
- or are integers where x+y=2r+1;
- R2 is an electron withdrawing group in which R2 =R1 or has the general structure CuHsFtR3, in which u=0 or is an integer ≧1, and s or t=0, or are integers where s+t=2u;
- R3 =H or F or is an aromatic, heteroaromatic, cycloalkyl or heterocycloalkyl group, having optional, preferably electron withdrawing groups attached.
8. The assembly according to claim 5 in which the fluorinated organic proton conductor of the SPE system is one or a mixture of heptadecafluorooctane sulphonic acid, bistrifluoromethane sulphonimide, -(2,6-diethylphenyl)-1,1,1-trifluoromethanesulphonamide, -benzyltrifluoromethanesulphonamide and, N,N′-cyclohexanel 2 diylbis (1,1,1-trifluromethanesulphonamide), perfluoro-(2-ethoxyethane)sulphonic acid and N-ethyl perfluorooctylsulphonamide.
9. The assembly according to any preceding claim in which the SPE system comprises one or more additive(s) selected from tetraethylene glycol dimethyl ether (TEGDE), butyl sulphone (BS), poly(ethylene glycol) 1000 (PEG1000), polyoxyethylene (10) isooctylphenol ether (Triton X-100), dibutyl phthalate (DBP), 1-dodecyl-2-pyrrolidinone (DdP), dodecenylsuccinic anhydride (DDSA) and undecanoic y-lactone (UdL).
10. The assembly as claimed in claim 9 in which in the SPE system the total amount of fluorinated organic proton conductor plus additive is from 10 to 90 wt %, preferably 25 to 75 wt %, based on the total weight of the system.
11. The assembly as claimed in any preceding claim in which in the SPE system the amount of fluorinated organic proton conductor is in the range 10 to 90 wt % based on the total weight of polymer plus proton conductor.
12. An assembly according to claim 1 wherein the sensing electrode is a gas diffusion electrode.
13. An assembly according to claim 12 in which the sensing electrode comprises a high surface area catalyst.
14. The assembly according to any preceding claim wherein the sensing electrode is formed from a metal selected from platinum, gold, palladium, ruthenium, iridium, osmium, rhodium, silver, nickel, copper and carbon their mixture or alloys.
15. The assembly according to claim 14 wherein useful metal is in the form of a wire, ribbon or track.
16. The assembly of any preceding claim which also comprises a reference electrode and/or a scavenging electrode.
17. A gas sensor comprising an assembly according to any preceding claim and a means for measuring flow of current or changes in potential difference between the sensing and counter electrodes.
18. A method of detecting a gaseous component in a gaseous sample by utilising a gas sensor according to claim 17 in which the sample is contacted with the gas diffusion barrier whereby the component diffuses into the housing and contacts the sensing electrode where the gaseous component reacts in an electochemical reaction whereby charge flows through the solid polymer electrolyte and is detected as an indicator of the presence of the gaseous component.
19. A method according to claim 18, in which the gaseous component to be detected is a gas that undergoes electro-oxidation or electro-reduction such as carbon monoxide, hydrogen sulphide, sulphur dioxide, nitric oxide, nitrogen dioxide, chlorine, hydrogen, hydrogen cyanide, hydrogen chloride, ozone, ethylene oxide, a hydride or oxygen, preferably carbon monoxide.

domain: chemistry


text:
|Origin Airport IATA Code||HOU|
|Destination Airport IATA Code||DLA|
|Direct Flight Airlines|
|Earliest Flight Arrival|
|Latest Flight Arrival|
Booking flights from Houston is easy if you use the services offered on Orbitz.com. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the main airport that serves those traveling in and out of the city. Named after George H. W. Bush, this airport serves tens of millions of travelers yearly and was the 10th busiest airport in the United States in 2011. Airlines that service this airport include American Airlines, British Airways, Delta, Air Canada and Air France. Find low-cost tickets to destinations around the world on Orbitz.com.
Parking at George Bush Intercontinental Airport costs $17 per day, and you can purchase airport parking tickets in advance on Orbitz.com. However, if you are planning a long trip, this cost can add up. There are many companies that offer off-site parking to Houston travelers at cheaper rates. Ramada, which is approximately four miles from the airport, charges travelers $25 per week for parking and offers shuttle services to and from the airport. Park 'N Fly is located approximately three miles from the airport and charges $7 daily for parking, and Rocket Parking is located just over four miles from the airport, charging $5.50 per day.
The Houston Metropolitan Transit Authority has a bus and rail system that will get Houston residents to and from the airport. The airport has courtesy vans that will pick travelers up from locations that are within a five mile radius of the airport. Taxis are also available throughout the city and are the quickest option for those who choose not to drive or take public transportation. If you are arriving in Houston and need transportation, you can find great deals on rental cars on Orbitz.com. Customers can check out the latest sales to find bargain prices.
George Bush Intercontinental Airport has a variety of restaurants that you can enjoy while waiting for your flight. Urban Crave, Cat Cora's Kitchen and Harlon's BBQ offer southern-style dishes. There are also many restaurant chains at this airport, including Schlotzky's Deli, Chili's and Popeye's Chicken. Book your flights from Houston using Orbitz.com and arrive at the airport early enough to relax and enjoy a fine meal.
The Douala International Airport provides air services to Douala and the surrounding area. The airport is located about six miles from the downtown area. By searching Orbitz.com, travelers can find cheap flights to Douala. Several airlines serve the airport, including Air Burkina, Air France, Air Ivoire, Air Leasing Cameroon, Air Nigeria, Ethiopian Airlines, Brussels Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, South African Airways, and Trans Air Congo.
Taxis are available at the airport to take travelers into the city. The fare to take a taxi is 1500CFAfr. It takes about 20 minutes to drive from the airport to the city. There is no bus service available in Douala. Travelers who wish to arrange their own transportation after arriving at the airport may wish to rent a car in advance. Orbitz.com allows travelers to search for car rental deals quickly and easily.
Douala has a topical monsoon climate. Temperatures remain fairly consistent throughout the year. The driest month is December, and the wettest is August. Doula's summer season begins in December and ends in May; the cold season is from July to September. Average temperatures don't vary very much between seasons and range from 70 to 90 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of the year.
There are numerous notable points of interest in Douala, including the Douala Water Park, Place du Government, La Pagode, and Doual'art. To find low-fare air tickets and cheap flights to Douala, travelers can search multiple airlines at the same time on Orbitz.com.
Unfortunately, direct flights aren't an option between Houston, TX Airport (IAH-George Bush Intercontinental) and Douala Airport (DLA-Douala Intl.). However, there are numerous carriers that service this route with just one stopover, including ASKY, Ethiopian Airlines and Turkish Airlines.
The fastest possible flight time is 15 hours and 25 minutes, so take some precautions to keep jet lag at bay during your Houston to Douala trip. Don't forget to stretch your legs often, get some rest and stay hydrated.
^Savings based on all package bookings with Flight + Hotel made on Orbitz.com from January 1, 2019 to December 31, 2019 as compared to the price of the same components booked separately. Savings will vary based on origin/destination, length of trip, stay dates and selected travel supplier(s). Savings not available on all packages.

domain: geography


text:
"It's not about the pretty colours or shiny buttons but the real guts of your website. Information architecture is about getting your hands dirty, to deliver the most appropriate and efficient site structure, and user experience".
Information architecture (IA) is the study of your websites content and the complex systems used to deliver this. The IA for your site depends largely on your business and user goals, if a user can complete their tasks in the most efficient, appropriate and accessible way then the architecture is sound and will deliver the best user experience automatically. Having identified the user goals, during the more detailed user experience investigation, your site can be re-architected based on your results and findings producing a usable and accessible website.
- Site content audit - what content have you got, what are we keeping and what's being thrown out?
- Requirements - what does the site need to achieve from a user, and business perspective?
- Sitemap - the structural design and positioning of pages within the site
- Wireframes - detailed templates for mobile, tablet and desktop architecture showing content type, layout, and accessible functionality, completed in Omnigraffle, Visio, Axure and by hand when needed
- High Fidelity Prototypes - interactive detailed prototypes, completed in Axure, highlighting key functionality, processes and interactions
You would expect to receive a range of these documents when working with dirty digital. Documents can also take different forms as shown by the hand drawn wireframe example on the left. These are often completed in the early stages of the process for speed and accuracy, enabling you to see the IA come alive instantly. Hand drawn wireframes are then reworked into a fully electronic format for distribution.
It is key to get exactly what you need and want when working with dirty digital, so we pride ourselves on delivering documentation in the most useful and efficient format. Take a closer look at some of the dirty digital templates.

domain: design


text:
Lately, I've been in a bit of a reading funk. While it seems impossible, I may have grown tired of YA dystopia (at least until Horde, Flame or UnSouled finally come out). In the meantime I've been picking up short, humorous books and graphic novels, many of them offshoots of television shows or websites and many of them about cats. Here are some of my favorites:
Adventure Time, vols. 1 & 2
Adventure Time is an animated TV series on Cartoon Network created by Pendleton Ward. Imaginative, silly and subversive, the series follows Finn the human and Jake the dog and their adventures in the Land of Ooo. Adventure Time Volumes 1 and 2, written by webcomic veteran Ryan North and illustrated by Shelli Paroline and Braden Lamb, are wonderful companions to the TV show. I was a little wary that the show's magic wouldn't translate well onto the printed page, but I'm happy to say I was wrong. One of the best parts of the books are the hidden messages at the bottom of each page, some of which require decoding! Spin-offs the the original comic books have been published, including Adventure Time: Marceline and the Scream Queens by Meredith Gran and Adventure Time: Playing with Fire by Danielle Corsetto and Zack Sterling. Even if you haven't seen the show, I highly recommend the comic books!
Tiny Confessions: The Secrets of Dogs, Cats and Everything by Christopher Rozzi
Tiny Confessions is a collection of single-panel illustrations in which the subject - cat, dog or seashell- confess their most intimate secrets. Rozzi sells art prints of select confessions and maintains a Tumblr, dailytinyconfession. The book is funny, short and, on occasion, hits a little too close to home ...
Henri, le Chat Noir: The Existential Musings of an Angst-Filled Cat by William Braden
Henri, le Cat Noir, rose to Internet celebrity status through his series of black-and-white videos on YouTube, in which he expresses his special brand of angst-ridden feline philosophy (narrated in French, bien sûr). His book, written by William Braden, is a selection of his most profound observations and meditations. I challenge anyone to read this book without a French accent.
I Could Pee on This: And Other Poems by Cats by Francesco Marciuliano and Sorry I Barfed on Your Bed: And Other Heartwarming Letters from Kitty by Jeremy Greenberg
In the same vein, both I Could Pee on This and Sorry I Barfed on Your Bed are collections of humorous (unintentional of otherwise) writings by cats. I Could Pee on This is collection of poems written by comic strip author Francesco Marciuliano (he also writes Sally Forth and the webcomic Medium Large) that allows us to peek into the inner thoughts of feline companions. Not always profound (unlike Henri) but always hilarious, these poems are perfect for cat owners. Not to be left out, dog owners can look forward to I Could Chew on This: And Other Poems by Dogs later this month.
Two upcoming web-inspired books that I'm looking forward to reading are Lil' BUB's Lil' Book: The Extraordinary Life of the Most Amazing Cat on the Planet (early September) and Allie Brosh's Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened (late October). Fortunately, I'm finding plenty of other books to occupy me in the meantime!
~ Allison, Adult Services

domain: hobby


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RTX Sunday Video — JB and the Moonshine Band ‘No Better Than This’
In honor of their Billy Bob's Texas debut this Friday (8/17), this week we're highlighting JB and the Moonshine Band's "No Better Than This." There are still a few seats left, click here to get all the info and reserve your spot on the JBMB Party Bus. If you don’t need a ride to Fort Worth, still check it out they’ve got two different packages — with and without transportation.
Their latest album “Beer for Breakfast” was released earlier this year and it’s been a whirlwind for the guys since. The first single off it, and title track shot up the Texas charts and in May become their very first No. 1 single.
My money’s on this single “No Better Than This” being their second. The video for it debuted CMT.com last month and today it's your RTX Sunday Video.

domain: entertainment


text:
It's been noticed that the personal training professionals have already been getting more attention all over after making comparison between different fitness professionals. Along with a variety of reasons exist that favors this.
With regards to human performance, it's very important to anyone to understand the elements that affect the Talent Assessment performance. Vital elements that play with an important role in the performance include aerobic fitness & electricity, speed, sport skill, respiratory and genetic potential. And fitness is known to aid the exercise of the individuals when it comes to all these factors.
Electricity is increased in three distinct methods – by increasing pace, increasing force and by increasing distance. High Intensity Strength Training is considered the most time productive, efficient and safe approach. And high intensity strength training is based on the components like current fitness level, ambitions, age, fiber types, prior experience and personal preference.
Improving mobility is another major problem, to enhance energy through personal training. By increasing mobility, the space is enhanced which ultimately results in the increase of power.
Another individual performance is detected through speed. The speed is all dependent on specific fitness goals of the fans. The trainer prepares the plans accordingly to ensure that you can get the desired result from your activities.
Going to another performance component which is the respiratory or cardiovascular training. If you have a growth within the person's respiratory or aerobic output and energy, performance increases quickly. Aerobic training also assists in improving oneis conditioning in the metabolic pathway by which he performs or plays.
Various strategies and techniques are used from the fitness trainers matching towards flexibility levels of the individuals and the real power. They're experienced with different methods to improve the efficiency of skill or the certain movement. The key goal of it is to create the technique, increase reliability and the speed at such degrees that the skill can be executed.
Comprising of all of the above discussed components of efficiency, the individual instruction is idea for your people who want to progress outcome with regards to balance, neuromuscular coordination and stability also. It'd not be wrong to state that the functional training is just a nice addition to the well-made strength and also comes with various benefits. The combination technique of the training uses products, weight, freeweights, balls, along with other items that will produce the individuals the required leads.

domain: sports


text:
Riverhead Logistics Center
Not a ‘traditional warehouse’: Residents tell planners NorthPoint should be analyzed using traffic data for high-cube fulfillment centers
Riverhead planners are using traffic data for a traditional warehouse to analyze NorthPoint's projected traffic impacts on local roads. Residents object, arguing the standard underestimates traffic for fulfillment centers, but the town's traffic consultants defend their analysis.
Hubbard advocates 18-month moratorium on warehouse development in Calverton, but Town Board majority is on the fence
“The industrial area in Calverton seems to be a hot spot for people wanting to come and build warehouses. And it's almost like the floodgates opened up and we got inundated…" Town staff backed him up, but his fellow Town Board members were not so sure.
The Planning Board is right. Riverhead must hit the brake on development while comp plan is updated.
The proliferation of massive warehousing and logistics buildings proposed in Calverton alone can forever change our town's landscape. With development, there are no do-overs.
The Riverhead Planning Board last week voted to adopt the final scoping statement for the 641,000-square-foot Riverhead Logistics Center on Middle Road in Calverton.
Environmental review for massive Calverton logistics center would be expanded by revised scope incorporating public comments
Developer North Point will be required to analyze potential cumulative impacts of its proposed massive logistics center on local roads, air quality, water supply and wastewater management, under a final DEIS scoping statement on the Planning Board’s agenda Thursday.
Local residents are demanding closer scrutiny of impacts, especially truck traffic, from the proposed Riverhead Logistics Center on the west end of Middle Road in Calverton. The developer's scope of review is not adequate they told the Planning Board.

domain: economics


text:
Gulet Kaptan Mehmet Bugra
Gulet Kaptan Mehmet Bugra is a large, classic ketch design gulet, based in Marmaris, Turkey. She can also sail around Fethiye, Göcek and Bodrum. She was constructed to very high standards in 2014. Gulet Kaptan Mehmet Bugra is 34 metres in length. She can accommodate up to 18 guests in spacious comfort, with her 8 well-equipped cabins. Consisting of 2 master cabins, 4 double and 2 triple cabins, all cabins have en suite bathroom facilities and are fully air conditioned. The tasteful interior salon is also very spacious at 30 m2, providing, seating and dining area, bar, sat TV, music system and internet. She is one of the best options for luxury yacht charter in Turkey.
The large decks offer aft, a tented dining and relaxation area. The fore deck has sun seamstress for all, on deck jacuzzi and a seating area. There is a sailing system, tender, and full range of water sports including jet ski, water ski, fishing and snorkeling equipments. Her dedicated crew of 6, will ensure a perfect charter for you and your guests. Suitable for large mixed, or corporate groups. Please contact us for more information about gulet Kaptan Mehmet Bugra or other options for luxury yacht charter in Turkey.

domain: travel


text:
- What is Rosacea?
- Key Facts
- What to expect during treatment?
- How does intense pulsed light (IPL) work on Rosacea?
- I have Rosacea – what treatments are available?
What is Rosacea?
Rosacea is a common skin condition which most often appears between the ages of 30 and 60 and is usually visible on the cheeks, forehead, chin and nose. People with rosacea often find they suffer from facial thread veins as the skin is red and flushed. Red veins and red flushing can be a cause of real concern and distress. Unfortunately, rosacea is a chronic condition however, with our medical-grade Lynton IPL treatment we can create a personalised treatment plan to help to get your rosacea under control. There are a variety of triggers for rosacea. These include alcohol, exercise, high and low temperatures, hot drinks, spicy foods, stress and sun exposure. As there is no cure for rosacea, we will work closely with you to devise a personalised treatment plan to help combat and reduce rosacea.
The onset of rosacea can be mistaken for acne or sensitive skin
It’s more common in those who have fair skin
Rosacea has lots of triggers
What should I expect after treatment?
To begin the treatment we will cleanse away any makeup or skincare and apply a cold gel on the area to be treated. The handpiece is gently applied to your skin and pulses of light are applied to the skin’s surface in gradient movements. Protective eyewear will be supplied.
How does intense pulsed light (IPL) work on Rosacea?
People with Rosacea have many facial thread veins which dilate to certain stimuli (eg hot bath or spicy food) and stay open for longer periods of time compared to non-Rosacea sufferers. These thread veins have weaker walls and therefore do not function properly. Intense Pulsed Light treatment has been shown to be very effective in the treatment of Rosacea. It works by a process called photothermolysis. This light therapy selectively destroys the abnormal vessels (thread veins) that cause the Rosacea effect, allowing thicker walled micro vessels to be laid down.
I have Rosacea – what treatments are available?
Rosacea can vary considerably from one patient to another, treatments must always be tailored to individual needs. Your doctor or GP will be able to advise you on the various oral and topical medications. Often, a course of anti-biotics followed by on-going topical treatment is recommended. Your doctor will be able to discuss the possible benefits and side effects of prescribed medication. Intense Pulsed Light is a drug free alternative which has shown to be extremely effective at getting rid of thread veins which cause the Rosacea effect.

domain: medical


text:
Despite the mainstream media’s catastrophic depiction of Europe’s wildfires, Greece’s climate change minister has revealed that the majority of the fires that have destroyed his country were caused by arson.
The bulk of the 667 fires that erupted across Greece in recent weeks, according to Greek Climate Change Minister Vassilis Kikilias, were “caused by human hand.”
Kikilias informed reporters that those involved were guilty of “arsons either by criminal negligence or by intention.”
While traditional media outlets have begun to acknowledge that arson is a major cause of the flames, they continue to assert that alleged climate change has made it easier for the fires to spread.
The Greek newspaper Kathimerini noted, however, that a significant element in the annual problem of wildfires is that “arsonists, who are usually tried for negligence since intent is extremely hard to prove, tend to get away with small sentences, rarely serve any prison time and face no other penalty for the terrible destruction they cause to humans, animals, the environment etc.”
The Greek climate minister reported that the fires have burnt 400 square kilometres of land in just the month of July, compared to the recent yearly average of around 500 square kilometres.
While devastating, it should be noted that far more land was burned in previous years, including the recorded high in 2007 when about four times as much land was burned.
“This is not something that will just occur this year. It will last and we have to face the consequences of what that means,” Kikilias said.
In recent days, almost 20,000 tourists and locals have been evacuated from their homes and hotels. It is estimated that 40 people have perished as a direct result of flames this season in Greece, Italy, and Algeria.

domain: news


text:
I grew up reading the works of Edgar Rice Burroughs and the author’s Princess of Mars “pulp” novels, so I was saddened to see the cinematic adaptation of the saga, John Carter (2012) bomb at the box office last spring.
But — as difficult as it is for our money-focused, bottom-line-concerned, consumer modern society to recognize such things – financial success isn’t necessarily the most important aspect of a movie’s legacy or artistry.
And in regards to John Carter, I reckon that general audiences missed the boat – and a nice treat — by giving the film a pass.
In short, John Carter is a beautifully-conceptualized and gorgeously photographed “sword and sandals-” in-space epic. Only the fact that virtually every sci-fi blockbuster from Star Wars (1977) to Attack of the Clones (2002), to Avatar(2009) has cribbed mercilessly from the Burroughs’ epic burdens the picture with an unfortunate surface impression of sameness.
At this point, frankly, we’ve probably seen enough desert planets (Star Wars , Dune , Star Trek V: The Final Frontier, Stargate , Star Wars: The Phantom Menace  etc.) to last us all a lifetime.
Yet if you gaze underneath such familiar visual trappings, you may detect that John Carter possesses a droll, sure-footed imagination, and the rollicking senses of humor and, yes, joy, that many recent space adventures have deliberately forsaken in favor of darkness, angst, and doubt.
Directed by Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo , Wall-E ), John Carter is yet another one of those recent releases that met a cruel reception from reviewers; a reception that speaks more trenchantly about those reviewers and their own shortcomings than those of the film in focus.
For instance, some critics were quick to term John Carter an Avatar “reject” without considering the fact that Burroughs’ John Carter practically originated the sci-fi adventure genre a century ago.
Other critics only wanted to discuss inside baseball and reinforce a behind-the-scenes story: The film was too expensive at 250 million dollars! The director had shifted from animation to live action…why?
Finally, some dunderheads even suggested that John Carter is incomprehensible, and that it is too “hard” to follow the film’s story. I wonder what these same critics would have made of Star Wars when it first premiered in 1977.
Who are these Jedi Knights we keep hearing about? Who are all those aliens in the cantina? Why all this endless talk of an Imperial Senate that we never actually see? Boring….
But the cardinal sin is this one: So many critics focused on what was happening behind-the-scenes (admittedly, a marketing disaster) or the film’s “familiar” subject matter that they didn’t actually contend with the specifics of the film’s text itself, or with the creative and often amusing ways that John Carter tackled its narrative.
In short, director Stanton adopts a stance of quirky individualism and wonder throughout the film, humanizing his lead character by deploying unexpected editing flourishes and off-kilter compositions that visually mirror the hero’s quest.
So yes, narrative-wise, the story of John Carter has been re-purposed many, many times. No point denying that.
But perhaps in recognition of that very fact, Stanton infuses his silver screen effort with a strong sense of romance, a quality of unfettered joy, and even a keen eye for detail that plays, finally as tribute to the genre’s history.
Beyond those laudable values, a mild updating of the material (to include elements of the second Carter adventure, Gods of Mars) provides for an interesting commentary in our modern, twenty-first century era. In particular, the film’s “civilized” villains — the god-like Therns — mirror how the rich and powerful manipulate religion, technology and even PR sleight-of-hand to drive an agenda that may be good for them — the few — but are wholly tragic for the rest of us, the many.
It’s a shame that for a lot of folks, that’s not enough.
“You are ugly, but you are beautiful. And you fight like a Thark!”
Following the Civil War, confederate Captain John Carter (Taylor Kitsch) of Virginia goes in search of gold in the west. After running afoul of U.S. cavalry officers and Apache warriors, Carter hides in a cave and comes across a device that can transport him to another world…to Mars.
Carter wakes up on the dying planet — here called “Barsoom”— to find excessive strife. And oddly, the gravity differential on Mars has granted Carter the strength, speed and agility of a superman.
Still, John is quickly captured by the warrior-like, green-skinned, twelve-foot tall Tharks, and trained as one of their number. But a usurper to the throne, Tal Hajus (Thomas Haden Church) makes trouble for the Tharks’ noble leader Tars Tarkas (Willem Dafoe) after he allows Carter and his daughter Sola (Samantha Morton) to escape from captivity.
Soon, John teams up with a beautiful “Red” princess, Dejah Thoris (Lynn Collins) to help defeat a conquering warlord named Sab Than (Dominic West). The daughter of Helium’s king (Ciaran Hinds), Dejah is slated to marry Than unless she can find another way to repel his war fleet, and defeat his new, awesome power “the ninth ray.”
Attempting to find a way home to Earth, Carter comes to the rescue of Dejah, and learns that Helium and even Sab Than are being manipulated by dark, shadowy overlords known as Therns. Their agent on Barsoom — Matai Shang (Mark Strong) — reveals that his people feed on societal divisions and strife, and are manipulating the planet Barsoom towards total disaster.
As Dejah’s wedding day nears, Carter must recruit the savage Tharks to his valiant cause, and he tests his mettle in a Thark arena against a monstrous white ape…
“We do not cause the destruction of a world, Captain Carter. We simply manage it. Feed off it, if you like.”
John Cartereffortlessly cruises through a two-hour plus running time, in part because director Stanton doesn’t hew to tradition or convention in terms of visual presentation. Specifically, Stanton takes full advantage of unconventional editing techniques – jump cuts, for instance— to craft humorous montages out of small moments that might have been neglected or ignored in another director’s hands
Take for example, John Carter’s repeated but futile attempts to escape the U.S. cavalry. Stanton stages these moments with fierce abandon and with flourishes of heroic music on the soundtrack. Carter leaps into action and attempts to break free. But the editing sets up a joke/punch-line dynamic. After Carter lunges into action, he gets smacked down…hard. This happens repeatedly (perhaps three times in all), and each attempt only lands Carter in deeper trouble: bruised, bloodied, and finally incarcerated in prison.
But the persistent jump cuts from the initiation of Carter’s daring escape gambits to the unfortunate results of his efforts prove very funny, and quite unexpected. They almost immediately announce the film’s intention to play the story not as camp, but as good, entertaining fun.
Yet the sequences featuring these jump cuts reveal character traits ably as well. Carter is resilient and indomitable, even when he doesn’t possess the upper hand. This is a trait that will come in handy on the desert plains of inhospitable Barsoom.
Also, the moments of Carter jumping up – and getting smacked down hard – play as direct and deliberate contrast to those later moments on Mars when the gravity difference allows the protagonist to leap into the sky….and successfully fly into action. On Barsoom – where he belongs – nothing can hold Carter back. The pointed contrast with the earlier jump-cut shots thus represents a visual recognition of destiny achieved.
Another great moment occurs as Carter teleports to Mars and attempts to stand-up and walk for the first time. Again, the unexpected occurs: he falls down. Once, then again, then again and again. Carter is not instantly portrayed as a physically-competent superman, able to conquer natural forces in a single bound
Instead, we see him fall flat on his face over and over, looking every bit the fool. Again, this off-kilter moment reveals something of the main character’s resilience. It would have been easy (but wrong) to omit Carter’s physical training, and just have him emerge on Mars a superhero Instead, we get another humorous montage that reminds us of Carter’s human nature. He may get to be a superman in time, but first he has to take his licks, looking like an idiot. We understand why he’s humble and righteous, not arrogant and over-confident.
Stanton finds other ways to puncture any unnecessary solemnity. The Tharks continually refer to John Carter as “Virginia,” even after he asks them not to, and they also give him a kind of alien bull-dog sidekick that he can’t escape from. In both instances – again – viewers are asked to reckon with a hero with feet of clay, with frailties and limitations. It’s no fun, after all, if our hero is unbeatable, or if power comes too easily to him.
Another good joke comes later in the film: Carter’s inability to stick a landing while piloting a Martian flying machine. This comedic situation serves the same function as all the other jokes, making Carter relatable and bearable to us in the audience instead of some unsympathetic ubermensch.
For me, the emotional honesty and dynamic lyricism of Stanton’s directorial approach comes to the forefront in another unconventional but magnificent moment. During a fierce battle with Tharks, Stanton deploys incessant cross-cutting to flash back from the height of the savage attack to a character defining moment in the past when Carter returns home from the Civil War and discovers his family – his wife and child – murdered.
The cross-cutting is vitally important here because it permits us to understand why Carter has again embraced war (“a shameful thing,” he notes at one point). When he kills – and kills on a near-cosmic scale – he is remembering the tragic loss that destroyed his life, his very identity. Sword blades slicing through the air cross-cut with images of a shovel striking dirt…digging a grave. Again, director Stanton has found a way to adroitly and economically visualize this hero’s essential character.
I also very much appreciate the “fan” homages that Stanton delicately and unobtrusively threads into the picture. Eagle-eyed viewers will recognize, at one point, a familiar expanse of Vasquez Rocks, where Captain Kirk famously fought his green-skinned Gorn opponent, in Star Trek (1966 – 1969).
And one scene set in a canoe directly mirrors a moment in the Forbidden Zone with Charlton Heston on an inflatable yellow raft, from Planet of the Apes(1968). John Carter is veritably seeded with these canny visual allusions to previous genre classics, thus graciously noting that it is part of a longstanding continuum, even if Burroughs was really an initiator, not imitator, of the literary “pulp” adventure.
Above, I mentioned the social commentary embedded in John Carter, and there’s no doubt of its presence. Several times during the course of the film, for instance, we witness the workings of what can only be called a large “fracking” machine, one damaging and degrading the very stability of Barsoom.
Furthermore, the Thern leader – an advanced would-be God – notes that he “manages” and “feeds off” the destruction of worlds while “societies divide.” This is a wicked metaphor for the very debate we see playing out in our national dialogue about the role of “vulture capitalists,” like those at Mitt Romney’s Bain. Such men champion “creative destruction” and shepherd the chopping-up and selling-off of resources…so that they alone profit. This is indeed the very dynamic we see played out with Matai Shang, a creature “managing” the destruction of Barsoom for his own benefit.
Another element of that dynamic, of course, is the 1% argument we associate with the Occupy movement. The Therns represent only a few people, but their agenda rules the planet as the various, diverse denizens of Barsoom battle over dwindling resources such as water, or new technologies such as the ninth ray. The many are distracted by manufactured wars or partisan divides while the vultures fly in and feast on a world (or country’s…) natural wealth.
In no way is this movie a “message” picture, but as always, great art reflects the dynamics of the time period in which it was produced. Like John Carpenter’s yuppie aliens in They Live (1988), the Therns of John Carter are both resource-guzzlers and puppet masters, managing a largely-unaware, highly-distracted population. Some of those avenues of control involve the sowing of racial division (humanoids versus Tharks), and the manipulation of religious rituals, namely marriage. Again, one need only to gaze at current headlines to see how some political forces “feed” on such disunion in real life.
Outside this commentary, John Carter also boasts an opinion about — as reviewer Anderson noted – the very concept of adventure. John Carter escorts viewers from the last American (mythic) realm of adventure – the Old West – into the new frontier of space adventure. This conceit from Burroughs’ literary canon is so brilliant because it connects our past to our future, and reminds us that our mythology’s forms may vary or shape-shift over time, but that the human content remains largely the same. Like many a Western icon, John Carter is the stranger who rides into a new town, and finds injustice there. He rectifies that situation because – as an outsider – he has no “dog in this hunt,” to turn a phrase used in the film.
Unfortunately for John Carter, period sci-fi adventure movies almost never succeed with the public, as I’ve reported in the past. The Rocketeer (1991), The Shadow (1994), and The Phantom (1996) all failed too, because, I suspect, at some level we desire to see our modern, technological corollaries up there on the big screen in science fiction adventures, not anachronistic men from an age long past. Still, I enjoy how John Carter keeps one foot in the past and one in the future. The very idea is reflected in Carter’s tomb inscription: “Inter Mundos.” That phrase meaning “between worlds” describes not just the film’s two separate planets, but its two distinct traditions of myth and adventure.
John Carterfeatures gorgeous photography (particularly in the scenes set on the river of Isis), but more importantly, highlights a charming romance. Carter and Dejah fall in love – with all the expected sparks and hardships– and for once in a movie of this type, the scenes resonate and provoke interest rather than inducing winces. The film possesses that otherworldly quality of charm, to quote Harve Bennett, and you can detect that charm in the fun (but not annoying) bull-dog sidekick, in Tarkas’s humorous dialogue, and most importantly in Stanton’s selection of shots and editing techniques.
On the latter front, just consider that if the Carter/Dejah romantic scenes did not work so well, the triumphant punctuation of a scene in which Carter appears to return to Earth would not play as nearly effectively as it now does. As it stands, it’s a great and surprising twist, and one told with a sense of convincing and confident simplicity; a simple tilt of the camera towards the ceiling. To me, this scene represents one of those perfect movie minutes when all the elements work precisely as intended, and the audience is really drawn into the world of the characters.
Finally, I would like to report that I felt like Tars Tarkas did while watching this film – that when I saw John Carter I believed it was a sign that something new can come into this world.
That didn’t happen, exactly. Our culture is too saturated with similar films, perhaps, for John Carter to achieve escape velocity as a Star Wars-sized, tradition-busting, fad-inducing, trend-setter. But at the very least, I’m satisfied that I’ve seen in John Carter a refreshing change of pace in terms of modern blockbusters. It’s a well-made and wholly joyful film, and it deserved a better reception.
John Carter is one of the few cinematic heirs to Star Wars that actually includes all the elements I have sought and treasured in space adventure movies since May of 1977: heart, soul, humor and wonder. If those sound like qualities you can buy into, I recommend the movie wholeheartedly.
Now if someone would just make a movie of another favorite “pulp” adventure from my childhood: E.E. “Doc Smith’s The Skylark of Space (1915).


The Cyber and Infrastructure Resilience Program's mission is to enhance the security and resilience of the nation’s critical infrastructure systems and networks to cyber, physical, and environmental hazards and to enable their reliable and sustainable design and operation now and into the future. The program currently focuses primarily on the lifeline infrastructure sectors— energy, water, transportation, and communications— but also is concerned with the chemical, commercial, manufacturing, dam, defense, emergency, financial, agriculture, government, health care, information, and nuclear sectors. See Defending Critical Infrastructure from cyber, physical, and environmental challenges.
The Laboratory's cyber and infrastructure program includes the following:
Define, quantify, and develop methods to mitigate physical threats to infrastructure and border security through subject matter expert analysis and sophisticated modeling and simulation capabilities.
Provide capabilities to enhance the security and resilience of the nation's critical infrastructure systems and networks to cyber hazards, leveraging both LLNL's national security cyber program and our internal operational cybersecurity program.
Enable the secure, resilient, reliable, and sustainable design and operation of the nation's infrastructure systems now and into the future through the application of LLNL core strengths in systems engineering, high performance computing, and data analytics.
Develop technologies and approaches to protect the nation’s water infrastructure and meet the increasing demand for clean water.
Federal networks and agencies as well as critical infrastructure today are under constant cyber attack. Attacks on dams, power plants, power grids, and other critical infrastructure with intent to cause physical damage are on the rise. Attacks on the Ukraine’s power grid in 2015 and 2016 demonstrated that groups affiliated with nation states have the capability to cause power outages via cyber means. Such attacks could be much more detrimental to the U.S. because our "smart" power grid relies heavily on automated control.
“The threat of a catastrophic and damaging cyberattack in the United States critical infrastructure like our power or financial networks is actually becoming less hypothetical every day.” —Michael Rogers, former National Security Administration Director and Navy Admiral.


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|ESPN.com: SportsNation||[Print without images]|
In my opinion Husky Football is one of the premier football experiences in the country. I have been to venues from the Buckeyes' Ohio Stadium to the Buffaloes' Folsom Field all the way back home to the Seahawk's Quest Field, and I still haven't heard or seen a louder or more scenic venue than Husky Stadium.
As fans drive down Montlake Boulevard on their way to Husky Stadium they can hear the sounds of the Husky Marching Band playing "Bow Down to Washington." They can see the large tailgates that engulf the stadium in an atmosphere that takes you back to your college days.
Twelve o'clock, almost game time. 72,500 fans pack into Husky Stadium waiting for the moment when their beloved Huskies run out onto the field. If fans look to the southeast they can see Mount Rainer and Lake Washington, which comes right up to the east end of the stadium. Union Bay is full of boaters known as the "Husky Navy," which tailgate on the water, an experience unique to Husky fans.
As the Huskies run on the field your heart starts beating fast. The game begins and the crowd is rocking. After a Husky victory the tailgaters continue their festivities long into the night. I can't wait until next season! GO DAWGS!


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Spain is a beautiful country full of sunshine, beaches, and things to do. Whether you want to stay in Barcelona, Madrid, or Seville, you can easily spend a summer next to the ocean, drink in hand, get a tan. But, is Spain a good place for a father and son trip? Yes, here’s why.
Why Spain is a Great Place to Travel With Your Kids
Spain is the perfect place to bring your children, so if you want your son to see the world, there’s no better place to start. Here are 5 reasons why Spain is a child-friendly, fun place to be.
The Spanish Language
If your son is school age, he’s probably picked up a bit of Spanish from his teachers or other students. Even if you’re a little rusty, you’re probably familiar with a few phrases or greetings. Either way, knowing the language will make navigating around the country a little easier.
If you don’t think you’ll be able to speak to the locals, brush up on some Spanish before you go. There are plenty of online schools and apps that can work around your schedule, like Lingoda. Their Spanish online course on their platform is flexible and suitable for all ages and levels.
Large Bustling Cities
Instead of making a beeline for the beach, you can start your vacation in one of the bigger travel hubs. Madrid has some incredible architectural and historical sights your son would love to see. For example, the Royal Palace, which is home to some Salvador Dali and Picasso paintings.
If you arrive in Malaga or Seville, there’s still a lot to look at. Flamenco dancing and Gothic bell towers are a common sight in the south, and there are plenty of people who’ll want to teach you about Spanish culture. Plus, if you stick to the south, you’ll get to try the incredible seafood.
Traditional Spanish Cuisine
It’s unfortunate that Spain sits between two food powerhouses, France and Italy, because traditional Spanish cuisine is pretty tasty. From paella valenciana to patatas bravas to pimientos de padrón, you’ll eat your fill of meat, fried food, beans, and local fruits and vegetables.
But you can’t go to Spain without trying tapas in a tapas bar. Tapas bars serve menus with small dishes, but the tapas themselves include anchovies and sometimes squids. If you have a picky eater, there are plenty of kid-friendly options, like revueltos, which are basically scrambled eggs.
The Incredible Culture
Once you’ve explored the city, it’s a good idea to take your son to a few small towns. Kids can get pretty restless when they’re city locked, but exposing them to the culture outside of large city centers can be really exciting. Plus, most picturesque towns are drivable in less than an hour.
Mijas Pueblo, Gibraltar, and Ronda are three destinations both you and your son will love. In Mijas Pueblo, you’ll get to walk through traditional, cobblestone neighborhoods. In Gibraltar, you’ll see many large mountain formations. In Ronda, you’ll witness a 17th-century bridge.
The Sun and the Beaches
Going to Spain and not seeing the Costa Del Sol is like going to India and missing the Taj Mahal. You’re required to take your kid to the beach at least once to enjoy an afternoon siesta, golden sands, and the ocean marine life. Don’t forget to eat a few churros while you're there.
Since Costa Del Sol is a big tourist destination, take a look at the package deals for the seaside hotels before you book a place to stay. Even though these hotels can be expensive, you and your son will be close to adventure activities, water parks, and family-friendly towns.


|The Laplander Folding Saw|
Very sharp and tough, this folding saw's blade is 7½ inches long. I've used it to easily handle branches up to 3 inches in diameter, and am sure it could handle bigger with a little effort. It is designed to cut wood, plastic, and bone. The teeth are arranged so that the saw cuts both ways - on the push and the pull.
The Laplander saw has a good locking mechanism that locks the blade in place in either the open or folded position (so it doesn't accidentally open up in your pack or tool box). I've never had the locking mechanism fail. Folded, it measures 9 inches long, so it easily fits in my survival bag.
This is a very high quality folding saw made in Sweden. It is currently on sale at Amazon for 45% off as of 11-22-2018 (price subject to change at Amazon's whim, of course). Others love this folding saw, too, as it maintains a 4½ star rating on Amazon with over 2,000 customer reviews.
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- EXtasy Books
- Release Date
- January 2014
LGBTQ, Paranormal Romance, Vamps & Shifters Romance
There is always a price to your hearts deepest desires. How much will it cost for what Reece and Sean secretly want the most?
Pack Shaman and wolf shifter, Reece, has been mated to Sean for years. Even though their love for each other is true…there has always been something left unspoken, something missing between them.
With Sean's hybrid body warring between his vampiric thirst and his wolf's need, he can't believe it when the one thing he secretly wants yet can't give his mate literally falls into his arms. How is he going to hold it together long enough to understand and accept the cost it brings, when all he can think about is getting five minutes alone with Reece?
OTHER BOOKS BY THE AUTHOR

domain: literature


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Tonight will be mostly cloudy with showers and drizzle. Low temperatures will once again fall into the 30s and near the 40-degree mark. So some spots may have a flurry or two overnight.
Tomorrow will have plenty of clouds around with a shower in sprinkle in spots. There will be more showers along and west of Route 219. Steady rain will move in later as another disturbance will pass through the area. High temperatures tomorrow though will be on the cool side again as they will be in the 40s to around 50 degrees. Tomorrow night will have rain that will taper to showers. Low temperatures will be in the 30s to around 40 degrees. Monday will have some showers mostly early then clouds will be breaking for sunshine as high pressure will build into the south of the area. High temperatures Monday will be in the 40s, but it will be a breezy day. High pressure will be to our south on Tuesday. This will bring us sunshine mixing with some clouds. High temperatures will rebound to the lower and middle 50s. We will have increasing clouds and rain developing Wednesday as another disturbance will move toward our area. High temperatures Wednesday will be in the 50s to around 60. You will then want the rain gear Thursday as it will be cloudy with rain at varying rates. It will be a breezy day with our high temperatures in the upper 50s to the lower 60s. There maybe a shower or two early Friday otherwise the clouds will give way to sunshine. High temperatures will be in the 50s to around 60. We will continue to have clouds and sun for Saturday, but High temperatures will only be in the lower and middle 50s.


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Campanile Hotel- Milton Keynes - Milton Keynes
40 Penn Road - Milton Keynes1-877-662-6988
Welcome to Campanile Hotel- Milton Keynes!
This 3 star Milton Keynes hotel has its own restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner where you will find a selection of items to try. There is also a bar/lounge where guests can enjoy drinks after a long day.
Free Wi-Fi is provided. Planning a meeting? This hotel has 2 meeting rooms. Other amenities include dry cleaning/laundry services and laundry facilities.
We show TripAdvisor reviews for new Venere hotels that haven't been reviewed yet
Check Availability at Campanile Hotel- Milton Keynes
- Meeting Room
- Conference room
- Laundry service
- Laundry room
- Pets accepted
- Internet/Email services
- Front desk - 24 hour
- Free parking
Check-in: after 2 PM.
Check-out: before noon.
Reception is available until 11 PM. Guests who require after-hours check-in must make arrangement in advance using the telephone number provided on the confirmation notice.
Government-issued photo identification and a credit card or cash deposit are required at check-in for incidental charges.
Special requests are subject to availability upon check-in and may incur additional charges. Special requests cannot be guaranteed.
The following fees and deposits are charged by the property at time of service, check-in, or check-out.
- Pet fee: GBP 5 per pet, per night
The above list may not be comprehensive. Fees and deposits may not include tax and are subject to change.
Book your pet-friendly accommodation at the 80-room Campanile Hotel- Milton Keynes. Televisions in each room offer entertainment at the end of a long day. Business travelers visiting the Milton Keynes area will have access to free wireless high-speed Internet access.
Bathrooms are outfitted with hair dryers and complimentary toiletries. Additional comforts include coffee/tea makers.
Irons/ironing boards can be provided on request.
- Coffee and tea maker
- Ironing facilities on request
- Hairdryer in each room
- Wireless Internet access
Distances from Campanile HotelBletchley Park - 1.9 km / 1.2 mi
National Bowl - 4.2 km / 2.6 mi
Milton Keynes Theatre - 5.9 km / 3.7 mi
Central Milton Keynes Shopping Centre - 6 km / 3.7 mi
Gullivers Land - 6.2 km / 3.8 mi
Shenley Leisure Center - 6.2 km / 3.8 mi
Woburn Abbey - 8.1 km / 5 mi
Milton Keynes Museum - 9 km / 5.6 mi
Woburn Safari Park - 9 km / 5.6 mi
Salcey Forest - 19.6 km / 12.2 mi
ZSL Whipsnade Zoo - 20.2 km / 12.5 mi
St. Paul's Church - 22.8 km / 14.1 mi
Bedford Park - 23.5 km / 14.6 mi
Church of Saint Peter - 27.9 km / 17.3 mi
Swiss Garden - 28.6 km / 17.8 mi
The preferred airport for Campanile Hotel- Milton Keynes is London (LTN-Luton) - 26.5 km / 16.5 mi.
Distances are calculated in a straight line from the property's location to the point of interest or airport and may not reflect actual travel distance.
Distances are displayed to the nearest 0.1 mile and kilometer.
Transportation services Campanile Hotel- Milton Keynes
- Free parking


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Digital photo rendered sepia in Live Photo Gallery – copyright Susie Jefferson
For anyone in love with blogging, scrapbooking, photography etc, there is always that point where you realise you need or want to alter your images (whether your own artwork or photos, or copyright-free images from the web).
Which means you need an image editor and/or graphics programme, plus online storage. Preferably simple to use, and free.
Here's my review on Computery with a run through of the new programmes out there. Please go here to read it.

domain: artistic


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Pet Care Basics
Pet Care Basics
Heights Pet Hospital is a Companion Animal Veterinary Hospital in Singleton committed to providing excellent care for loved pets and their owners.
Take care of the health of your pet
Yearly Vaccinations – Essential viral disease prevention. Everyone should vaccinate, but they don’t, making vaccinations even more essential because your pets are at risk and we need to establish majority immunity . Please do what’s best for pets and the community.
Yearly Checkups – We usually do these at vaccination. A Vet check is essential atleast once per year, twice a year for senior pets.
Law in NSW. We get strays at the hospital almost everyday. The ones with up to date microchipping details go home with relieved owners. The others go to the pound. Please microchip and keep your details accurate. We see the joy and tears when pets and family’s are re-united.
Your pet will be happier and so will you. A premium food, tailored to your pets breed and age will add 20-30% to the lifespan of your pet. Premium foods reduce smell and volume of faeces, improve dental health, improve coat quality. Premium foods are cost competitive because you don’t need to feed as much. But if you are concerned about the money, the real value is reduced medical, surgical and dental bills due to superior dermal, intestinal, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal health.
A ghastly parasite that lives in the heart of animals. A yearly Heartworm injection is now available and most people book in yearly for heartworm, vaccination and a checkup. We send reminders for these after you get the first treatment.
Mostly applies to happy dogs. Dogs are social animals and thrive on interaction with people and other dogs. Particularly important in puppies to prevent anxiety and aggression. Take your dogs for heaps of walks.
Done every 3 months to prevent hookworm, whipworm, tapeworm and roundworm. We strongly recommend a vet only brand as we know they contain treatment for all the worms. These treatments only cost a couple of dollars, so you save nothing by risking a supermarket brand. Worming is by weight, so if you can, bring your pet for a weigh in. Also a good chance to get some socialisation and make trips to the vet pleasant.
Dogs and Cats do not understand contraception. If you do not plan to breed, please desex. PLUS, your pet is more prone to diseases such as Ovarian and Testicular Cancer if not desexed. We recommend desexing Kittens over 1kg (About 16 weeks) and puppies 12 weeks. Desexing young has less bleeding, smaller wounds and reduces juvenile and adult behavioural problems.
Monthly prevention all year round please. Even in winter, keep up the prevention. Check out the flea life cycle and you will see why. And remember to do all animals, including the cats. Cats hide fleas better than dogs, but they continue the lifecycle.Read more
Good teeth means a good diet and a healthy pet. These are a free service run by our awesome nurses. Book in any time and we will have a look.
Puppies need special care while they grow and mature. All breeds are slightly different so we suggest you book in for a nurse consultation or go to puppy classes. Socialisation and basic puppy training are essential. Puppy classes are heaps of fun for your family and your puppy.Read more
Your pet is a senior at 8 yrs for small breed dogs and cats. Medium breeds are senior at 7 years, large breed dogs at 6 years and giant breed dogs at only 5 years old. Checks every 6 months will make sure you are doing the best for your old friend. Senior dogs need different food, more regular health checks, regular blood screens and x-ray screens.

domain: pet


Florida Gov. Rick Scott, positioning for a 2018 run for U.S. Senate, is threatening to choke off state funds for Sunshine State ports benefiting from trade with Cuba.
The Republican governor’s threat initially came in a Trumpesque manner via Twitter on Jan. 25, causing officials of two South Florida ports – Port Everglades and Port of Palm Beach – to
hastily scuttle plans for signing of memorandums of understanding with Cuban officials visiting the state.
“I will recommend restricting state funds for ports that work with Cuba in my budget,” Scott tweeted on Jan. 25.
The next week, Scott, who alleged security and human rights concerns, followed up the social media warning with a statement on page 221 of his 362-page state budget proposal saying there should be no state funds for any Florida port where infrastructure enhancements would “result in the expansion of trade with the Cuban dictatorship.”
Scott’s proposed $10.8 billion transportation budget for the new year includes more than $176 million for Florida ports. Since assuming office in 2011, Scott, praised by Sunshine State port leaders for his support, has included more than $1 billion in port infrastructure funding in state budgets.
Not only did the two South Florida ports cancel MOU signings, but embarrassment was heaped as officials of the Alabama State Port Authority, which operates the Port of Mobile, signed their own MOU with leaders of the National Port Administration of Cuba on Feb. 2 in, of all places, Tampa – in the hotel where a port conference hosted by Port Tampa Bay and presented by entities including the American Association of Port Authorities and the U.S. Maritime Administration was taking place.
The gubernatorial Twitter threat came the day after Crowley Maritime Corp. containership K Storm delivered to Port Everglades a shipment of fancy charcoal, representing what Crowley officials called the first truly commercial shipment from a Cuban cooperative to a private U.S. business since the U.S.-Cuba trade embargo was imposed in 1962.
Fact is, under license from the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, authorized by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, Crowley has since 2001 been providing regularly scheduled common carrier services to Cuba for licensed cargos such as agricultural commodities and medical goods.
And this year multiple cruise lines are launching itineraries to Cuba from ports including Port Everglades, PortMiami and Port Tampa Bay. Indeed, Pearl Sea Cruises’ 210-passenger Pearl Mist departed Port Everglades on Jan. 17 on a 10-day cruise to Havana, a voyage it was on at the time of the governor’s Trumpy tweet.
Trump has promised to revoke actions taken during the Obama administration to lift the U.S.-Cuba trade embargo, leaving further uncertainty for Florida ports that, whether Scott likes it or
not, are hoping to derive increasing benefit from commerce with Cuba following the November 2016 death of Fidel Castro – a passing that for decades Florida port officials and Caribbean region carriers have awaited as a go-ahead to fully dust off plans for lucrative Cuba trade.
In addition, Trump’s threats to impose a 20 percent tax on Mexican products coming into the United States has cast a further pall over Florida ports, which have recently seen significant increases in imports of cars and other cargo from Mexico.