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Combining land transitions and trajectories in assessing forest cover change
- Carmona A, Nahuelhual L
- Applied Geography SCOPUS SSCI
- Cited Count
One restriction of landscape studies is that land use and cover change is often regarded as irreversible. A highly dynamic landscape in southern Chile was selected to show that forest cover change involves a series of complex transitions and trajectories. Using Landsat images from 1976, 1985, 1999 and 2007 an in-depth analysis of the transition matrix was conducted to separate random and systematic transitions which were grouped into trajectories using a pixel-history approach. Main trajectories were linked to fragmentation indices and farming systems through cluster analysis. Of the 247 trajectories identified, old growth forest persistence comprised 22% of the landscape, whereas deforestation trajectories comprised 20.9% and were mostly composed of changes from old growth forest to shrubland (13.9%). Trajectories of forest degradation from old growth to secondary forest comprised 19.7% of the landscape. The periods 1976–1985 and 1999–2007 concentrated the most systematic deforestation and degradation transitions. In turn, random transitions predominated between 1985 and 1999, probably in response to economic factors that acted suddenly on the landscape during the 80’s, such as the woodchip export and aquaculture booms. A close relationship between landscape fragmentation and the proportion of systematic transitions and farming systems was found; specifically, the highest entropy indices occurred in clusters which exhibited the lowest proportion of systematic transitions and the highest proportion (>70%) of peasant agricultural systems. Understanding the complexity of forest cover change trajectories is relevant for improving the prediction of possible landscape evolutions and establishing landscape management priorities.
1.Why landscapes of the past are important for the future. Landscape and Urban Planning. Vol. 70. 2134(2005) Antrop M.
2.Los bosques templados del sur de Chile y Argentina: una isla biogeográfica. Ecología de los Bosques Nativos de Chile. 2328(1996) Armesto J. et al.
3.The economic linkages between rural poverty and land degradation: some evidence from Africa. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Vol. 82. 355370(2000) Barbier E.B.
4.Random and systematic land-cover transitions in northern Ghana. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Vol. 113. 254263(2006) Braimoh A.K.
5.Linking farming systems to landscape change: an empirical and spatially explicit study in southern Chile. Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment. Vol. 139. 4050(2010) Carmona A. et al.
6.Comisión Nacional del Medio Ambiente: CONAMA, Banco Internacional de Reconstrucción y Fomento: BIRF, Universidad Austral de Chile, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile y Universidad Católica de Temuco. Catastro y evaluación de los recursos vegetacionales nativos de Chile. Informe nacional con variables ambientales (Cadastre and Evaluation of Native Vegetation Resources of Chile. National Report with Environmental Variables).(1999) Corporación Nacional Forestal: CONAF
7.Drivers of land abandonment in Southern Chile and implications for landscape planning. Landscape and Urban Planning. Vol. 99. 207217(2011) Díaz G.I. et al.
8.Bioclimatología de Chile.(1976) Di Castri F. et al.
9.Farming systems and poverty: Improving farmers’ livelihoods in a changing world.(2001) Dixon J. et al.


The Dream Machine is a methodology for optimizing the future using data visualization.
The Dream Machine is at it's core a map, connecting individuals -- looking to optimize our future -- with companies and resources and vice versa.
The interconnected database uses two identical sets of tools, one that is micro (your compass within) and one that is macro (virtual monitors to visualize group project data and visualization schemes to better understand our ideas). The methodology works to follow strategies and synergies across projects.
The Dream Machine is a 10 year collaborative project with a simple evolution. We dream of what we want. We see what is possible with what we have. We track everything so we can learn more quickly together. Eventually the project will look more like a virtual campus (in augmented and virtual reality) which is accessed and constructed based on each participants needs.
We see the project as a powerful way for individuals to use new technology innovate with the support of companies and each other.
What is possible in the future when we combine inner wisdom, emerging technology and strategy to fill in the gaps of what is missing?
The Network Operations Center is at the heart and soul of the dream machine.
It is where we watch what we are building, question what we are doing, track our failures and align on big picture overlaps.
YOUR R&D LAB
Watch real people like you dream and actually start testing #PlanA.
Find out what happens when we combine new technology with inner wisdom.
Dream It. Plan It. Do It.
This is the tool set for:
"What is #PlanA and how could we do it?".
Most of the work we will contribute through the experiment will likely be in the area of "soft science" (sociology, neuroscience, anthropology, modern creativity, phenomenology, health, psychology, political science, art etc.) of which we all have human experience.
We have 3 current experiments in the dream machine.


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One of our most popular combinations is the Eero Saarinen Tulip Chair used with the 48" Laminate tulip table. Save $500 by ordering this combination of 4 white Saarinen Tulip Side Chairs with a 48" White Laminate Tulip Table versus ordering each separately.
Eero Saarinen designed the Tulip Chair (1957) at the peak of his career. His work in the 1940's began focusing on "organic furniture" in which he aimed to restore formal order to the typical interior setting. His vision was to free interior space from the "sea of legs" that he saw creating "an unpleasant, confused and restless atmosphere." The Eero Saarinen Tulip Chair represents Saarinen's synergy of that vision and its embodiment in a tangible form. The Saarinen Tulip Chair continues to be one of the most popular items from this modern classic master.
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Chair Dimensions: H 32" x D 21 3/4" x W 19 3/4"
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domain: design


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Resurge boosts your energy levels. The supplement boosts metabolic activity when you are asleep. Resurge can help you lose weight by burning off fat that is stored within your body. Resurge is recommended to drink it at evening. The price is $49 per bottle. Visit the official website to purchase the product. After you’ve made your purchase, shipping and handling charges will be added to your order. Resurge is safe to take for 90 days, however the manufacturers do not provide an unconditional money-back guarantee.
While Resurge does help you burn fat and improve your sleep, it is important to ensure that you are getting enough sleep each night. The formula contains ingredients to improve your sleep and decrease your appetite. Your metabolism will slow down if you don’t have enough rest. You might overeat than you should. Moreover, you may also notice an increase in appetite, which may lead to weight growth. To boost your energy levels, it is important to not skimp on sleep.
Resurge is designed to provide an overnight boost to your body. Resurge will help you sleep more deeply, which means that you’ll wake feeling more energetic than you did the day before. It also offers other benefits like improving your mental and mood. This product can also aid in losing belly fat. It boosts your energy levels, regulates blood sugar levels, and helps burn fat. Resurge is a safe product and has no adverse side effects.
Resurge is an all-natural sleep aid that comes with 8 ingredients. It aids in sleeping longer and boosts your immune system. It also helps reduce stress and anxiety. Since it improves sleep, it also helps prevent ammonia production during sleep. It also helps reduce the production of aging hormones while you’re asleep. It’s a good supplement for people who don’t get a complete seven or eight hours of rest in the night.
Resurge is also a fantastic supplement for those who don’t want to be on an eating plan or adhere to an exact regimen. It is based on the natural psychology of sleep by increasing the amount of energy you have and helping you to fall asleep. It has ingredients formulated to improve your metabolism. It’s a secure and effective method to shed weight. You’ll feel refreshed after a tiring day of work and will stop eating at night.
Resurge is available for purchase on its official website. It is essential to be cautious when purchasing Resurge, as it can alter the composition of other drugs. When you purchase the supplement, make sure you go over the label. If you’re buying Resurge for yourself, ensure that you’re not wasting money. This product is safe and effective. You’ll feel fantastic in the blink of an eye!
The Resurge supplement is safe to use. The ingredients are safe and will not cause harm. All products come with a 60-day money back guarantee. The formula is free of artificial colors or flavorings. Furthermore the supplement is vegetarian. It is safe for all. It will burn off fat in your body before you go to sleep. There are also no negative side effects that are associated with Resurge. Resurge.
Resurge isn’t a magic bullet. It is a supplement that has a positive effect in the body. It is not recommended to think of it as a complete health remedy. Instead, it is a supplement that will aid in losing weight and improve your overall health. The website contains the ingredients. Before purchasing, be sure you read them. If you aren’t sure about the effectiveness of Resurge then you should contact the manufacturer. Reviews of the product will help you determine whether the product is safe to use.
The ingredients are safe for use. In fact they are used in similar products. There are no negative side negative effects associated with Resurge, but it is a safe way to shed pounds. The cost of Resurge is $49 and includes shipping. It is made up of eight essential ingredients that are essential to the growth of muscles. If you’re worried about how the ingredients work together, consult an expert before purchasing it. If you’re considering it to aid in weight loss, the formula includes amino acids.
Resurge is a fantastic product to help reduce body fat in the morning. It is a supplement that increases GABA and serotonin levels and neurotransmitters which can affect your mood and ability to sleep. This supplement isn’t a an sedative. It’s a sleep aid which helps your body recover itself. Resurge is free of side effects. The manufacturer is dedicated to providing a product that is safe. The only drawback is that it is only available on prescription only.

domain: medical


text:
At the same time, considering the long distance to freshwater wetlands of Gujido, that has been at least fifteen kilometer out, spoonbills during the Gujido might submit even more freshwater victim at one time to compensate for reduced eating costs
Toward Chuckling Gull, chicks exhibit lower sodium threshold than adults, and you will sufferer exceeding a particular amount of salinity negatively affect hottie growth rate . Stable isotope study revealed that breeding gulls on the inshore countries lead a substantially high proportion from terrestrial victim at the beginning of chick-broadening stage than just into the pre-fledgling phase . Yet not, even at the beginning of hottie-growing months, it provided one another terrestrial bugs and you will aquatic prey, and you can ? thirteen C philosophy of a few everyone was alongside aquatic invertebrates, being osmo-conformers that have human anatomy water levels exactly like seawater . That it impact shows that giving low-salt sufferer and you will marine sufferer together with her could be far more advantageous for mitigating salt stress on chicks than just giving only aquatic victim if the chicks lack completely set up osmoregulatory solutions. Within our overall performance, as the ? 13 C values out-of younger spoonbills enhanced somewhat as we age, this new move for the ? 13 C philosophy no matter what breeding seasons and you can colony you are going to partially mirror a modification of the brand new ratio from freshwater and marine diet from inside the hottie-rearing several months. Therefore, chicks whose number one feathers are beginning to enhance might have partially or even fully doing work osmoregulatory possibilities and start to become given that have aquatic sufferer, as mirrored because of the idea part of the first feathers. ? thirteen C and you will ? 15 N opinions in the growing feathers gradually change across the axle after the losing weight change . Thus, the newest stable isotopes on a couple servings of feathers you are going to not fully depict the new dieting changes away from girls as a result of the dilution impact into the isotopic intake techniques. To higher understand the dependence on low-salt diets into the newborn chicks, next fresh and you can emotional analyses of your dieting of girls while in the early hatching months (1–five days) should be held using bloodstream plasma, with a 1 / 2-longevity of just three days [84, 85], including anatomical training.
Mental situations eg nutrients position and you will growth can get determine the newest secure isotope ratio from chicks [86–88]. Previous education revealed that this type of things mainly influence ? fifteen N philosophy due to changes in nitrogen use show depending on nutrients condition [86, 87]. Getting Blue-footed Booby girls, feather ? thirteen C beliefs were negatively coordinated which have human body standing . However, a great linear blended model of ? thirteen C values accounted for individual version concerning the nutritional consumption and the body updates, showing an everyday change in the ? thirteen C values when you look at the chick-rearing several months. For this reason, these types of show advise that type inside the ? thirteen C philosophy with the growth off chicks may well not relate solely to psychological products however, rather to help you alterations in eating plan composition.
not, age-relevant change and you may spatial variation when you look at the ? thirteen C from our data mean that the hypothesis of osmoregulatory program creativity should be investigated because of the after that look
The latest ratio regarding freshwater sufferer from chicks within the each nest including presented the possibility that more youthful spoonbills is more susceptible so you can sodium intake than simply people. Every reproduction communities utilized freshwater wetlands so you can a significant knowledge, despite the availability of aquatic information inside the intertidal mudflats discovered closer in order to colonies. Brand new main place foraging theory forecasts that a forager tend to like large-sized or high-quality prey to maximise the web price of energy delivery as the foraging point develops . In the context of which idea, the aid of intertidal mudflats with high availability and you will usage of you are going to operate better having cutting time expense of spoonbills through the foraging. Still, foraging in the freshwater wetlands revealed that freshwater diet would-be alot more energetically profitable from the highest debts away from metabolic times to own brand new hormonal off extreme sodium, even in girls that have performing sodium glands . The latest large proportion off freshwater dieting in the offshore isles, https://datingmentor.org/tr/militarycupid-inceleme/ and Gujido contained in this investigation, are the same as White Ibises at the a coastal nest, which indicated that adults rearing girls concentrated their foraging jobs into the freshwater wetlands . Observational and you will experimental knowledge of Light Ibises indicated that feeding into the invertebrates of salt marshes honestly impacted the new survival and you can development of girls [23, 30, 90]. Oceanographic studies of one’s west shore of Southern area Korea showed that this new seawater to Gujido got an effective salinity shedding from inside the euhaline diversity (30–thirty five ppt) in the entire year [91–93]. On top of that, the newest salinity from coastal waters as much as Suhaam and you can Namdongji was at the new polyhaline (18–29 ppt) otherwise mesohaline (5–18 ppt) diversity due to the increasing inflow off freshwater for the springtime and you will june . The outcomes suggest that sufferer away from intertidal habitats could potentially cause highest saline strain on girls during the Gujido than others various other territories in the inshore portion. Ergo, the brand new girls at the Gujido might require more freshwater victim in order to decrease the energy debts of your osmoregulation techniques when ingesting marine target. Even though there was basically zero training with the effect of foraging environment salinity toward diet plan choice in waterbirds with down salt endurance certainly one of girls, a past research revealed that salt consumption over a certain quantity notably impacted the growth from waterbird chicks . But not, that it explanation is limited to speculation because we’d no detailed information on foraging surroundings, and target accessibility, as well as the decide to try dimensions is quick. For this reason, coming lookup is always to look at the the results away from salt strain on the increases and body position of younger spoonbills according to the salinity of target in addition to chick-increasing months.

domain: biology


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Chinese and Australian scientists have jointly presented an interesting development in the field of robotics. The liquid robot they created can change its shape using the properties of the gallium metal contained in its device.
In the future, the unique plastic properties of the robot in the future may become indispensable in complex narrow spaces, which can only be penetrated with the help of fluidity and modification of the original shape.
One of the direct participants in the liquid robot 2018 project - Chinese professor Li Xiangpeng openly says that the development was inspired by the robot villain T-1000 from the second part of the famous "Terminator". According to him, after watching the blockbuster, his dream was to create a similar technology, but not for destruction, but for creation. Indeed, the presented prototype made of liquid metal is absolutely nothing like the cruel anti-hero of a science fiction film. Project representatives say they are still studying the technology in order to then present a fully-fledged example of a robot capable of changing shape.
In the meantime, the created robot from liquid metal has a relatively simple device. The whole design includes a couple of chips, a lithium battery, a plastic wheel, and a battery with a little gallium. This metal has an extremely low melting point and can change when exposed to stress. The movement of the robot is provided by the spinning wheel at the moment when the liquid metal changes its center of gravity when energized from the battery.
The project started six years ago. During that period, researchers became aware of the useful characteristics of liquid metal alloys, namely: high malleability, high electrical conductivity, controllable surface tension. According to scientists, flexible metal robotics in the future will be similar to living natural organisms.
The scope of application of such developments in the future is quite extensive, for example, they can be useful during rescue operations - a liquid robot can become an effective assistant in rescuing people from a disaster and destruction area. Such machines would theoretically be able to pass through narrow cracks and under locked doors. The technology can also be used for targeted drug delivery in the body, military espionage, etc.
The Topic of Article: Scientists have created a prototype of a robot from liquid metal, as in the iconic ”Terminator”.


Words: Hugh Kaye
Big confession: I have never been happy with my ears. They are huge. You can call me a size queen but these things matter. Not enough, however to consider going under the knife (I’ve had that done to other parts, thanks).
The same cannot be said for lots of other people as Attitude columnist Mobeen Azhar finds out in Plastic Surgery Undressed (BBC1, Tues 19 Nov, 10.45pm).
The first programme in the six-part documentary series features four people who are thinking about having for a nose job and will include live coverage from the operating theatre. Well, blow me…
If that isn’t disturbing enough, Britain’s Most Evil Killers (Pick, Mon 18 Nov, 9pm) focuses on the case of cannibal Stefano Brizzi, who was convicted of murdering police officer Gordon Semple after they met on Grindr in 2016.
Talking of policeman, there’s a new gay cop on the beat. English-born Seattle detective Tom Hackett gets help solving crime from psychic bartender Cassie Bedford in The InBetween (Sky Witness, Mon 18 Nov, 9pm).
The twist is that she was brought up by Tom (portrayed by Paul Blackthorne, who played cop Quentin Lance in Arrow) and his therapist husband Brian.
In this episode, a woman goes missing and Cassie’s visions uncover something more sinister. There’s also a continuing thread about a dead serial killer so it might be worth catching the pilot episode (Sky Witness, Sun 17 Nov, 9pm) if you missed it last week.
Elsewhere, John Barrowman turns up on I’m A Celebrity… Extra Camp (ITV2, Sun 17 Nov, 10.45pm).
If you fancy a laugh, try Ideal Home, which is streaming on Netflix. Steve Coogan and Paul Rudd play a couple whose lives are turned upside down when they have to look after a 10-year-old boy.
The streaming service is also still showing Paris is Burning, the documentary about the Harlem drag balls of the 1980s, and Snervous, in which Tyler Oakley shares his views and life and relationships.


Usher is back with new single “Climax”. Since Usher’s ‘Confessions’ album, it seems, he’s disconnected from his core fans a bit in an attempt to compete with the Chris Brown’s, Ne-Yo’s and Trey Songz dominating the music seen with the techno infused singles he’s released lately. Although successful, I believe Usher’s strong point are those love ballads we love so much. “Climax” gives us just that. It’s a beautiful song, about lovers reaching that climax, giving in to each others needs, emotions wants and desires. I love it, and, I’m sure you will too. Check it out.


Matthew Macfadyen is the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood?
by Alex Billington
April 24, 2009
We thought the entire cast had been announced for Ridley Scott's Robin Hood, but apparently not. SlashFilm has discovered that British actor Matthew Macfadyen (Pride & Prejudice, Death at a Funeral, Frost/Nixon) has been cast as the Sheriff of Nottingham in Robin Hood. But how can this be, wasn't Russell Crowe supposed to play that role and Robin Hood? If you missed it, in February we posted an update from Ridley Scott who clarified that they had gotten rid of that dual casting. But when all the casting confirmations came in around March, the Sheriff was mysteriously missing. At least we know who it is.
Word is that Macfadyen first revealed at a Masterclass event that he was in Robin Hood, but that news didn't get very far. However, on the fansite Darcylicious, they eventually confirmed with Macfadyen's agent that he is indeed starring as the Sheriff of Nottingham. It's odd to see a fansite getting confirmation, but it otherwise seems legitimate, and now we don't have to be suspicious about that missing casting anymore. Although the idea in general was widely criticized, it may be unfortunate to some to now know that Russell Crowe won't be playing the dual roles anymore. That would've at least been interesting to see, I think.
As for Macfadyen, he's a great actor for sure, but he's very soft spoken. I might even call him a lightweight. But maybe this is a chance for him to really show us what he's got and push his own limits. That is, if this is the villain that I'm imagining the Sheriff of Nottingham to be. The plot of Ridley Scott's Robin Hood will follow Robin from his early days in King Richard's army to his return to Nottingham to his creation of a band of mercenaries who challenge the sheriff and eventually try to prevent civil war. If you haven't already seen it, we posted a photo of Crowe as Robin Hood a few days ago. Macfadyen will shoot in May and June.


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Welcome to Skyrail Rainforest Cableway, an aerial experience through Australia’s most famous rainforest, the Wet Tropics.
It’s like a capsule connection from Cairns with Kuranda, through a rainforest whose ancestry predates dinosaurs and is home to 15 of the 26 families of ancient flowering plants in the world, just to name a few accolades.
If you were needing more excuses to join the green gondolas from Smithfield to Kuranda, we’ve got you covered with these six reasons to see the rainforest with Skyrail Rainforest Cableway
1. You can see plants and animals found nowhere else on earth
When you’ve got the chance to get amongst an ancient tropical landscape that has evolved over hundreds of millions of years, it pays to explore it from a couple of angles. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway isn’t just an aerial rainforest experience, it’s a ground level one too. Across an hour and a half (one way), you’ll glide metres above the canopy, before descending to the forest floor where you can further explore on foot, with guided ranger tours at Red Peak and The Edge Lookout, which overlooks Barron Falls.
2. Your trip will go ahead rain, hail or shine
Rainforests don’t earn their name by being dry all the time, so it pays to book a tour that goes ahead regardless of the weather. From the comforts of your “naturally air -conditioned” gondola, you’ll be connected from five metres above sea-level to 545 metres above it, without any of the associated sweat you’d experience if you had to tackle the incline on foot. Even if you did find yourself in Cairns on a wet, drizzly day, don’t rule out your rainforest day trip. You’ll get to see the ancient tropical rainforest in misty Jurassic Park-like conditions, the kind that make this rainforest so special.
3. It’s totally accessible
The thing about rainforests is that you normally need to be of sure foot to get amongst it. With Skyrail you don’t need to be an avid bushwalker, or even wear sneakers for that matter, to enjoy the experience. You can really dial up the action as much as you want to with a day trip through the oldest living rainforest in the world. The only walking that’s required is at mid-stations, with less than 600m walking between the two stops. For the rest of the time, the gondola will be doing all the huffy puffy, gliding you gently over the rainforest canopy.
4. You can be hosted the whole time… or not
If you’re the kind of traveler who likes to explore at their own pace, you’ll be happy to know Skyrail has self-guided tour options to help punctuate your visit. There’s interpretive signage, an app and audio guide to fill in the blanks as to why these plants and animals who existed long before the dinosaurs roamed the earth are still alive. Of course, if you prefer something a little more hosted, you can opt for a one-on-one Skyrail experience. Join a Ranger Guided tour at Red Peak Station to truly unlock the secrets of the world’s oldest tropical rainforest.
5. It’s damn Instagrammable
Brace yourself, big nature and a camera-roll full of photos of this ancient tropical rainforest are coming on this 7.5km trip which glides straight over #theancientrainforest. The views are spicky thanks to the cableway’s height, which at its tallest point is 40.5m above the forest floor. If you’ve been stalking #rainforestroad on Instagram, you’ll find this money shot on the descent from Kuranda to Smithfield. Of course, if you’re worried about gondola’s solid floor getting in the way of your Instagram-banger, upgrade to the diamond view for a glass-bottom gondola or the Canopy Glider, which is completely open-air.
6. It’s completely sustainable
When you’re visiting a World Heritage-listed icon, you’ll want to put thought into what impact you leave behind. Skyrail Rainforest Cableway is a sustainable tourism leader, holding EarthCheck’s Master Certification (making it one of less than 10 operators who have achieved their highest accolade in the world). Everything down to the boardwalks which are elevated off the ground have been designed to create the lowest possible impact on the rainforest and its inhabitants. You can rest assured, the only thing you take away from this natural environment is memories (and maybe a souvenir or two).

domain: geography


The Lexar 8GB SDHC Memory Card Platinum II Class 6 is a high-speed memory card with a speed rating of Class 6, allowing users to fully leverage the power of the digital camera's high-speed processor. Benefit from maximum read speeds of 27MB/s and write speeds of 9MB/s. This card is an ideal choice for professional photographers and advanced hobbyists. The card has a limited lifetime warranty.
SDHC Memory Cards will only work in SDHC compatible products and are not backwards compatible.
Lifetime Manufacturer's Limited Warranty
Lexar 8GB SDHC Memory Card Platinum II Class 6


text:
One of the world's largest investment houses says it takes a mildly negative view of the stock market, with moderating growth and central bank action factors behind this view.
T Rowe Price, the US asset management house overseeing $1.61 trillion of client money, remains “modestly” underweight equities against bonds and cash; it isn’t attracted to stocks’ valuations because growth and central bank stimuli are moderating.
The firm said that significant risks to global markets include elevated inflation, central bank missteps, moderating China growth, supply chain disruption, increased regulatory pressures, higher taxes, and increasing geopolitical concerns.
The update came from Thomas Poullaouec, head of multi-asset solutions, Asia-Pacific, at T Rowe Price.
“Global monetary policy is expected to continue [a] path toward tightening, but central banks on different trajectories, with some, particularly in emerging markets, having already acted in response to higher inflation while others continue to keep policy on hold awaiting stronger evidence of sustained growth,” he said.
“Higher rates, rising input costs related to supply chain bottlenecks, and potential tax increases could pose challenges to near-term earnings outlook,” he said.
“Inflation is proving to be a bit more persistent and higher than many expected, putting pressure on some central banks around the globe to act. Several emerging market central banks, such as Brazil and Mexico, began raising rates over the summer to fend off higher prices and now, some developed market central banks are similarly looking to act,” Poullaouec said.
He noted that the Bank of England has flagged that higher rates are coming soon as inflation is expected to get close to 4 per cent, double its official target. He also pointed out that while the Federal Reserve is planning to taper asset purchases, it remains committed to its current rate policy, reiterating that elevated inflation levels will be “transitory.” The European Central Bank has also warned of not overreacting to inflation levels, keeping current policy in place.

domain: news


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The whimsical Osbourne water feature was skilfully designed to replicate this natural scene. The Osbourne uses Solar power to move the water, making it a very simple and straight forward water feature to add in to your garden. Quick and easy to install, with no electrics to connect, just place the solar panel in the sunshine, and get ready to enjoy the peaceful sounds of water. Modern and lightweight and skilfully manufactured out of high quality polyresin, the Osbourne will definitely enhance any garden. The solar panel encorporates a battery, which when charged will operate the water pump in low light conditions.
- Elegant garden water feature with solar powered pump
- Simple to install
- Battery back-up
- Max flow: 200lph
- Max Lift: 0.8m
|MODEL||DIMENSIONS||CODE||SOLAR PANEL||OPERATION VOLTAGE||LITHIUM BATTERY|
|Osborne||28.5 x 33 x 56.5cm||BER6403||2w||6V DC||3.7V/ 2000mAH|


text:
Steve Conley is the writer and artist of the hit fantasy comic The Middle Age.
The Middle Age is the story of a knight who’s in love with a dragon and stuck with a cursed sword. The series received “Best Webcomic” and “Best Cartoonist” nominations in the Ringo and Eisner awards and is available to read online at Webtoons, GoComics, Tapas, Graphite, and middleagecomic.com
Steve’s previous comics work includes covers for Adventure Time (Boom!), Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (Boom!), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (IDW), and Faith (Valiant). He’s also written and illustrated stories for DC, Dark Horse, and Image Comics.

domain: literature


text:
* Alipay bigger threat to UnionPay than Visa, Mastercard
* Rivals growing faster than UnionPay in online market
* China to open up its credit card market to foreigners
* China credit card market to be global No.1 by 2020
By Engen Tham
SHANGHAI, Nov 13 (Reuters) - Chinese bank card operator UnionPay, which may soon have to defend its near monopoly against Visa and MasterCard, faces a much bigger threat from online payment providers such as Alipay, and is upgrading its systems to meet the danger.
Shored up by a raft of protectionist measures, the state-backed company has grown in just over a decade from an unknown name to a true heavyweight, commanding 50.6 percent of all the global cards in circulation in 2013, according to the Nilson Report statistics newsletter.
China said last month it would open its credit card market to foreign players following a World Trade Organization ruling in 2012 that it discriminated against U.S. card firms.
The prize for the foreign companies would be access to what is projected to become the biggest card market in the world by 2020. Transactions were already around 32 trillion yuan ($5.22 trillion) in China in 2013, according to data from the People’s Bank of China.
But analysts say the obstacles to a successful foreign invasion of UnionPay’s dominant card position are considerable, as UnionPay charges merchants much lower rates than the Western card companies - as low as 0.04 percent, compared with MasterCard’s 0.60-1.85 percent in Britain for certain cards.
“The low rates in China will make entry by foreign players extremely difficult as business cases will not stack up, based on the lower rates,” said James McKeogh, a partner in consulting at KPMG China.
A more immediate and perilous threat comes from online payment firms like Alipay, a unit of giant e-commerce company Alibaba, which already dominates a parallel and growing payment universe that rivals the traditional card set-up.
In less than three years, Alipay has grown to control nearly half of China’s online third-party payment market, tapping the hundreds of millions of Chinese still without a credit card. That market commanded gross merchandise volume of 17.2 trillion yuan ($2.8 trillion) in 2013, according to estimates from iResearch.
UnionPay, on the other hand, commands a mere 11.9 percent of that market and faces competition from over 250 new online providers that have been awarded licences from Beijing as it aims to stimulate consumer demand.
Alibaba told Bloomberg on Wednesday it was open to working with eBay Inc’s PayPal to expand its payment options, a plan that could magnify Alipay’s reach and put further pressure on UnionPay.
With the opening of the market, Li Ye, an analyst at Analysys International, believes that with government support, Alipay could even challenge UnionPay’s offline payment dominance.
“Alipay is well placed to become the next UnionPay,” said Li.
UnionPay is nevertheless putting up a fight. Last month it started working with airlines Lufthansa, Emirates , Etihad and Air Holland to provide payment services for online airline tickets through its cards for the first time.
In September, it teamed up with Samsung in near-field-communication payment (NFC), which lets users pay by tapping their phones on a device available at local shops.
UnionPay’s company spokesman said it plans to “deepen its transformation into a market-orientated firm. And embrace market competition.”
But Alipay is also trying to clinch a deal with Apple on its own NFC payment system, a senior executive from Alibaba told the Wall Street Journal on Tuesday.
Alipay also has the advantage of being at the heart of the freewheeling, profitable and fast-growing Alibaba empire, which just eight weeks ago pulled off the world’s biggest-ever IPO in New York.
UnionPay comes from a much more restrictive lineage, a product of government policy, so there are a lot of zero commission transactions that keep a lid on profit. ($1 dollar = 6.1257 Chinese yuan) (Additional reporting by Denny Thomas in Hong Kong and Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Lisa Jucca, Kazunori Takada and Will Waterman)


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It’s Simple. Be Bold. Live Life Uncloseted.
Life Uncloseted is a podcast that is all about saying “Stop it already!” No more mediocre living. Dreaming and not doing. Apologising for living your life your way. Host Rick Clemons – bold move badass, culture designer, and coming out expert – sez “Live Life Uncloseted dammit!”
Each episode he takes you on a brash, fun, and in your face, provocative storytelling ride that explores how to escape your bullshit, explore your fears, and unabashedly elevate your f*cking self-expression to live your LIFE UNCLOSETED.
Happy Pride and Happy Sex. So let’s talk about sex and pride. What makes good sex? What’s a desire? Why do we shame sex? We ask these types of questions and then still wonder why the LGBTQ community can be so screwed up about sex and love. Well maybe need to admit, that as humans…Listen to Episode
He’s 38, the other he is 56. One came out at 16 but still hid, the other came out at 19 and hid until he was 36. In honor of pride we take look at generational pride and what coming out, being out, and living with pride means from two different perspectives. In the heat…Listen to Episode
It goes without saying that “America’s racism, truly just came out of the closet!” While it has been simmering there ever since the first African slave landed on our shores, and even prior to that as native Americans had this land taken from their hands, it is as err apparent as it was in the…Listen to Episode
Whether it’s the rainbow ceiling, the glass ceiling, or the race ceiling…diversity and inclusion is here to shatter those ceilings. No longer is it acceptable for any place of work, or on the planet, to not be inclusive and diverse…even in our own LGBTQ Community. Bearing his pride flag as an LGBTQ equality workplace advocate,…Listen to Episode
Rick asked me to be on his podcast. I listened to some before I made the commitment. He is such the kind of person I surround myself with. These podcasts are very important for so many reasons but the most is that they will teach you about humanity.
Author of Good Enough Now
Rick provides a space for real conversation, connection, and a sense of calm that allows for relationships and change to develop and take hold towards something better together.
Rick is a giant teddy bear. He may look rough and tough, but he’s extremely compassionate, genuine and has a huge desire to help people make bold moves in their lives.
Ready to live YOUR unapologetic life?
Take the Unapologetic Life Assessment Now!

domain: sociology


Sport Tourism Grant
The City of Leduc values the economic, social, sport, community image and environmental impacts sporting events have on the community. The funding committed through the Sport Tourism Grant supports events that contribute to the local economy, encourage sport development and community engagement. The grant provides a stimulus and seed money to assist with bids, hosting and marketing of qualifying sporting events.
General eligibility requirements for this grant include:
- A sporting event that takes place over two (2) or more days.
- Drives hotel room nights in the City of Leduc, Leduc County or the Edmonton International Airport
For more eligibility details please refer to the Sport Tourism Grant Policy.
NOTE: This grant is not intended for requests from past event reimbursements.
How to apply:
Application intake must be received a minimum of two (2) months prior to the commencement of the event.
For events in November or December of each year, the final report must be submitted prior to Dec. 31 of that same year.
For general inquiries, application and final report submissions please contact email@example.com or call 780-980-7117.


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My 8 month old shows temper tantrums very frequently.. cannot understand the reason behind this. Please help
Created by Updated on Oct 09, 2015
| Oct 10, 2015
Hi Pooja! Since a child cannot express in words his needs and demands,this is his response to unmet desires. Please try and find what the child needs are. May be he is trying to communicate but is not able to do so thereby ending in throwing temper tantrums or may be his demnads are not met immediately. An infant is completely dependent on his/her caregivers for his needs, if these are not met with consistently and in a caring manner he might face problem at a later stage in life in developing close relationships or trusting people. Try and follow a routine, so that a child knows what's coming next. say for example: serving him food at a fixed time,bathing him around same time everyday, find out how often he pees and does poo and take him to washroom around that time. this immediate response and following a routine would help him develop trust and thereby lesser outbursts from his end. Hug him often,comfort him when he is fearful or cranky rather than getting angry or helpless .hope this works.

domain: psychology


Spun from 100% baby alpaca, one of the finest grades of alpaca fibre from the Alpaca's roaming in the Peruvian ranging from 21-23 microns, this yarn is amazingly super soft and cuddly and a great alternative for those who may be sensitive to wool.
Baby alpaca is a term used for the finest fleece from the softest areas of the alpacas body 80% of the alpaca fiber produced in the world comes from the Andean regions of Peru.
Alpaca fiber is seven times warmer than wool per weight and highly breathable and moisture wicking making it warm in winter and cool in summer. Its long lustrous fibers resist stain, odor and flame and are naturally wrinkle resistant. The strength and length of the fibers make it less prone to pilling and last longer than other fibers like wool and cashmere and the lack of lanolin in the fiber means that alpaca is hypoallergenic and can be worn by those with wool allergies.
Alpacas are members of the camelid family and are closely related to the camel, llama, vicuna and guanaco. They are gentle and inquisitive in nature and communicate most commonly using soft purring or humming sounds. Actual baby alpacas are called ‘Tui’s’ pronounced (too-ey). Peruvian alpacas inhabit the Altiplano plateau of the Andes and live up to 4000 meters above sea level.
Alpaca fiber has an incredibly light ecological footprint. Unlike cashmere goats, alpacas have soft padded feet which do not damage the grasslands and mountains on which they graze nor do they pull the grasses out by the root when eating, thus preventing damage to the landscapes in which they live.
Alpacas are also more efficient than goats. An alpaca drinks less water than a goat and can easily grow enough wool for four to five sweaters a year. It takes four goats the same amount of time to produce sufficient cashmere for a single sweater.
Because alpaca does not contain lanolin, the fibers do not require the same high heat processing that wool must undergo to remove the lanolin and therefore the manufacturing of the fibers has less of an impact on the environment and the light process means the fibers last longer.
Composition: 100% Baby Alpaca
Yarn weight: 8ply / DK / Light worsted
Recommended knitting needle size: 4mm
Recommended crochet hook size: 4mm
Tension/Gauge: 22 stitches and 28 rows per 10cm
Care: Hand wash
Made in: Peru
Please note: It's impossible to guarantee an accurate colour display for every computer monitor so if you're unsure, we recommend you visit our shop to inspect the yarn personally.
- Orders Under $150 are subject to a flat delivery fee of $9.95.
Order shipping times
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We use Auspost for all deliveries. Please check your tracking to follow your order after it leaves our warehouse.
Auspost generally take 1 to 6 days for to deliver.
All international orders will be quoted for delivery charges on an individual basis before your order is shipped. Estimated delivery time: 3 to 10 working days. Changes to shipping prices. Sometimes there will be discrepancies on the quoted shipping costs. This may happen if the item or items are documents and can be sent within Australia using the standard delivery service
Bulky items (such as tapestry floor frames and framed pieces) will still be quoted on an individual basis via email. Please contact us
if you have any questions. If the price varies from the quoted price on the website, we will be in touch by email. If you would like a firm quote, please advise in the order notes.
Returns can only be processed when accompanied by the store docket/receipt. In the case of defective items, we will be happy to replace it or refund the purchase price. We do not refund if you simply change your mind, purchase the wrong item, or purchase too many items (please see the Office of Fair Trading website)


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Jynaiya (Niya) Grizzle ’21 has been a Girl Scout since pre-K and she recently earned the highest award in Girl Scouting – The Girl Scout Gold Award. Girl Scouting builds courage, confidence, and character in girls who go out and make the world a better place in areas such as social services, healthcare, and education to name a few. The Girl Scout Gold Award, awarded to less than 6% of Girls Scouts annually, recognizes leadership, career exploration, challenge for personal growth, and community action.
Fueled by her compassion to help others, Niya identified a need in children who are medically or economically compromised and identified that many of the children need basic school supplies. Niya’s Gold Award project, “The Book Bag Drive,” provided more than 100 backpacks filled with school supplies to children at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, children with cancer and blood disorders at Children’s Hospital SUNY Downstate Medical Center, and to 15 children in Haiti.
Read more about Niya’s project by visiting jynaiya.wixsite.com/website.


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Delavenne, J. and Metcalfe, K. and Smith, R.J. and Vaz, S. and Martin, C. S. and Dupuis, L. and Coppin, F. and Carpentier, A. (2012) Systematic conservation planning in the eastern English Channel: comparing the Marxan and Zonation decision-support tools. ICES Journal of Marine Science, 69 (1). pp. 75-83. ISSN 1054-3139.
|The full text of this publication is not available from this repository. (Contact us about this Publication)|
The systematic conservation approach is now commonly used for the design of efficient marine protected area (MPA) networks, and identifying these priority areas often involves using specific conservation-planning software. Several such software programmes have been developed in recent years, each differing in the underlying algorithms used. Here, an investigation is made into whether the choice of software influences the location of priority areas by comparing outputs from Marxan and Zonation, two widely used conservation-planning, decision-support tools. Using biological and socio-economic data from the eastern English Channel, outputs are compared and it is shown that the two software packages identified similar sets of priority areas, although the relatively wide distribution of habitat types and species considered offered much flexibility. Moreover, the similarity increased with increasing spatial constraint, especially when using real-world cost data, suggesting that the choice of cost metric has a greater influence on conservation-planning analyses than the choice of software. However, Marxan generally produced more efficient results and Zonation produced results with greater connectivity, so the most appropriate software package will depend on the overall goals of the MPA planning process.
|Uncontrolled keywords:||eastern English Channel; marine conservation planning; Marxan; spatial conservation prioritization; Zonation|
|Subjects:||Q Science > QH Natural history > QH75 Conservation (Biology)|
|Divisions:||Faculties > Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)|
|Depositing User:||Bob Smith|
|Date Deposited:||14 Feb 2012 13:58|
|Last Modified:||15 Feb 2012 12:52|
|Resource URI:||http://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/28728 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)|
- Depositors only (login required):


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We accept vehicle donations, including cars, trucks, vans, and boats. Unlike a number of other non-profit organizations, which contract with for-profit companies to sell the vehicles, the proceeds from the sale of your vehicle donation go directly to Goodwill to support our workforce development programs. For more information on donating your automobile, truck or boat, please call our headquarters at +1 (510) 698-7200.
Goodwill Industries of the Greater East Bay is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization (EIN/tax ID number: 94-1186175). Your gifts are fully tax-deductible to the extent allowable by law.

domain: economics


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Fed up with Ads? Install Dainik Bhaskar app for news without ads
JaipurA minute ago
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In Jaipur, it has been decided to reopen the closed zoo for tourists due to fear of increased bird flu last month. The zoo located at Ramnivas Bagh will be opened for tourists from 8 February. The zoo will be open from 9 am to 5 pm.
DFO Upkar Borana said that since the last time the bird got sick at the zoo on January 15, no bird has been sick here. In view of this, we have decided to open the zoo. He said that before January 11 to 15, there were cases of bird sickness and death, in which 10 common ducks, one block stork and 2 pelicans were infected. Out of this, 6 common ducks, one block stork and 1 pelican were killed.
More than 7 thousand birds killed so far
So far, a total of 7 thousand 445 birds have died due to bird flu in the state. It has the highest number of crows, whose number is 5 thousand 110. The first case of bird death in the state came in Jhalawar district on 25 December. After that, its scope gradually expanded to 32 districts of the growing state. Udaipur has been the only district where no cases of bird deaths have been reported so far.
So far, bird flu has been confirmed in 17 districts
Bird flu has been confirmed in 17 out of 33 districts of the state. It is a matter of relief that just as there were cases of some chickens dying in the poultry farm in Kota, Bundi last month, there was a fear that this infection would not spread in the poultry farm. However, later a sample report of chickens and chickens in poultry came out negative.


The minister in charge of the UK Government's industrial strategy, Business Secretary Vince Cable, faces questions from MPs about what he's doing to support the steel industry.
The Welsh Affairs committee at Westminster takes evidence today from both Mr Cable and the Welsh Secretary, David Jones.
Production by Britain's biggest steelmaker, Tata, includes Port Talbot, Llanwern, Shotton and Trostre. Tata says its economic contribution won it 'anchor company' status with the Welsh Government. Its steelworks in the Netherlands has similar 'top sector' recognition from the Dutch government.
We lack the equivalent opportunity at a UK national level ... Whilst we appreciate the announcements over the last 14 months regarding the treatment of energy intensive industries and some energy taxes, a considerable disadvantage still exists against major European competitors ... Further major cost disadvantages must be addressed. These include business rates, increases in rail freight charges and charges on transporting iron ore.
More top news
Two staff members at an education referral unit have been charged with child cruelty offences allegedly involving dozens of pupils.
Cardiff's Neonatal Intensive Care Unit has been closed since Thursday due to poor 'infection control measures', a health council has said.
Welcome to the Newsweek Quiz - where we'll be testing your knowledge from the last seven days of news in Wales.


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Ukrainian World Congress calls upon Ukrainian citizens to vote
The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) calls upon Ukrainians in the diaspora, citizens of Ukraine and friends of Ukraine to support the #Vote (#Голосуйте!) initiative to encourage heightened participation of the electorate in Ukraine and outside Ukraine during the second round of the Presidential Election in Ukraine on 21 April 2019.
This year’s election of the President of Ukraine is taking place under unusual circumstances as Ukrainians defend their freedom and territorial integrity against Russian military aggression while building a sovereign, economically prosperous and democratic state.
The UWC is appealing to all citizens of Ukraine, including those living outside Ukraine, to support the democratic process of Ukraine’s development by exercising the right to vote.
The list of all polling stations outside Ukraine is available HERE.
How to participate in the #Vote (#Голосуйте!) initiative:
[For Facebook and Twitter]
- Print out a “#Vote!” (#Голосуйте!) poster that can be downloaded HERE.
- Take a photo with the poster.
- Post the photo on your social media sites with the hashtag #Vote! (#Голосуйте!).
- Tag at least three of your friends in the post asking them to share, tag their friends and pass the torch.


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Sometimes seeing how people see things outside of the Washington & NY bubble lets you know you're not alone. As Crazy as the world has gotten there are still many of us out here who see things from a different perspective. A real perspective because we are living and working in the real world. Working day to day to make the ends meet.
I am often amazed by how truly ridiculous life can be, petty jealousies, I/Me personalities and cattiness abounds. It makes me a little sad to see that we can't seem to learn from our mistakes. That as people, we are so busy trying to get ahead of everyone else that it is all too often, at the expense of each other.
Nothing in life is worth that people, no matter what God you believe in I know of no religion that teaches that as one of its key principles. With that being said, sometimes it is better to walk away from something then suffocate from all of that negativity. “Yes this is one of my hippie moments”.
In trying to do right by all I find myself at a crossroads were going with the flow is not an intelligent option. So what do you do when life gets in the way? How do you switch gears and regroup to find your footing on the path you're meant to be on? I know many people may argue that sometimes we have to suck it up and deal with it. Or quit whining and do something!
For me at least I am able to see it as one door closing and another opening to a new adventure. No matter what happens in life, or how upset I may get about things there is always a reason why things happen the way they do. It isn’t the end of the world until you curl up your toes and actually die, and thankfully I am a long way from that.
Being nasty to people doesn’t solve anything, nor does being sneaky and lying about someone you may not like. I can only feel sorry for people who feel that their happiness in life depends on bashing others. Its kind of pathetic if you ask me. Don’t get me wrong, I get angry at people but when you become an adult the hope is that you learn to stand up for yourself without causing harm to others.
I learned the hard way to believe in myself. Perhaps that is what this blog is about tonight, believing in who you are. There will always be people who will try to drive that bus right over top of you, but if you let them and do nothing you lose. So step aside I say, eventually they will drive that bus right into the wall all by themselves. Karma has a way of doing that to people.
So my goal for the summer is to start writing for real even if its a short story or an article or two.One of my favorite authors said, “People who write write, people who worry about every single word can waste a lifetime trying to write that great novel that never gets done. She by the way write, and has multiple books out their.
As a recently married 46 year old I am in the process of finishing my degree. Working to take care of my family and live my life.Blogging, working, writing, and chugging along like most of us. Who am I ? I am you, I am me, I am your mother, friend, the best and worst that we each have inside of us. I am a different perspective and find myself fascinated by the interesting moments in life.


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Google has introduced that it’ll open a brand new data centre at the coast of Denmark, making this its 5th data centre in Europe.
The US tech large has selected a location simply outdoor of the city of Fredericia at the japanese coast of the Jutland Peninsula west of the rustic’s capital of Copenhagen.
Google’s newest European data centre will likely be positioned at the identical peninsula as Apple’s and the two amenities are only some hours pressure aside.
Back in 2015, Apple introduced that it might construct its first data centre in Jutland and the corporate has since constructed a 2nd facility in Aabenraa, close to the border of Denmark and Germany, this is anticipated to come on-line in the following couple of months.
Offsetting carbon emissions
In an effort to offset its carbon footprint, Google plans to spend money on Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) to acquire electrical energy from renewable power merchandise at the identical electrical grid as its new data centre. The corporate goals to create PPAs with Danish offshore and onshore wind and solar power renewable initiatives.
Google has prior to now made an identical preparations with PPAs backing Swedish wind farms to not directly provide energy to its Finish data centre.
The Denmark facility is anticipated to entire development in 2021 and the tech large estimates that it’ll create 1,450 development jobs in line with 12 months between 2018 and 2021. Once the power is operational despite the fact that, it’ll make use of 150 to 200 folks.
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Contributer : Techradar – All the newest generation information https://ift.tt/2Fz3p78


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Since he left office in 2016, former Taiwanese President Ma Ying-jeou has mostly stayed away from Taiwan’s day-to-day political shouting matches. This week, he briefly reappeared in the public spotlight by making a trip to China.
Ma and his party, the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), insist that his trip is personal. Perhaps this is their explanation of why the trip is almost a non-event, even in China and Taiwan.
The trip should have been hailed as a historic moment. It is the first time that any current or former elected head of state of the Republic of China in Taiwan has ever stepped foot on the soil of the People’s Republic of China. As one of only three former presidents who were democratically elected in Taiwan, Ma’s actions should carry political weight, especially now that the China-Taiwan relationship is more fraught than ever.
But aside from enthusiasts of the cross-straits melodrama, the trip has mostly been ignored by the rest of the world. It is not only because Ma has been an inactive political figure without much influence. The more fundamental reason is that history has moved in the opposite direction from Ma’s dream of dialogue and compromise. It is an outdated message that, in 2023, sounds nothing more than unrealistically naïve.
Ma’s trip is reminiscent of his summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in November 2015. It was also a historic first: the first time that the head of state of Taiwan met face to face with the head of state of the People’s Republic of China.
I wrote a piece for Foreign Policy on the eve of the historical meeting. In it, I described Ma’s political vision:
Since [his election in 2008], Ma has attempted to fashion himself as a statesman working on one of the most serious geopolitical conundrums in the world today. This can be seen from what he touts as his achievements in office: concluding a long list of agreements with Beijing, most notably the Economic Cooperation Framework Agreement, signed in 2010; opening up Taiwan for Chinese tourists and exchange students from China; and direct flights between the two sides over the Taiwan Strait. Ma sees only one piece missing from his presidential legacy: a meeting with the leader of the People’s Republic.
Ma’s personal dream was to be remembered by history as the peacemaker who undid the Gordian Knot of China-Taiwan relations not through war, but through good-faith negotiations and mutual trust.
Even in 2015, I argued that the time for Ma’s path has passed. China’s overwhelming leverage over Taiwan has emboldened Beijing to insist on Taipei accepting its bottom line – that Taiwan is a part of China – as a prerequisite to any kind of dialogue. To the Taiwanese people, a dialogue where the conclusion is predetermined before anyone starts talking doesn’t seem much like a “dialogue” at all.
The people of Taiwan do not accept the premise that Taiwan is part of China unconditionally. They do not wish for any sort of rule by Beijing in the short term, and a growing segment of Taiwanese society has come to view China as a bully that uses intimidation and infiltration against Taiwan.
Therefore, I predicted that the Ma-Xi summit would actually erode the chances of any meaningful dialogue between Taiwan and China. Ma’s approval rating right before the summit was at 16.3 percent, which did not help the legitimacy of the summit for Taiwanese voters. Many viewed it as sheer electoral posturing, as the meeting came just two months ahead of a presidential election in which Ma’s KMT was projected to lose – and indeed did. More importantly, the meeting served to show just how much China’s overwhelming power imbalance would force Taiwan to appease China in the name of compromise.
Looking through the hindsight of historical reflection, my predictions were correct. The Ma-Xi summit was meant to begin a new era of mutual goodwill. Instead, the summit only demonstrated to the Taiwanese people that Ma’s message was already out of step with public opinion. Two months later, the KMT lost the presidency and legislative majority in landslide losses, from which the KMT has not recovered. The summit quickly faded from Taiwan’s collective short-term memory, and it became, basically, a non-event.
As Ma visits China this week, his actions again remind us of the direction history has taken. Compared with eight years ago, China has become more authoritarian instead of more liberal. Xi abolished his own term limit, consolidated power, and shut out any dissenting voice in his government. In Hong Kong, China suppressed not only protests but any semblance of political opposition, and has begun to fundamentally dismantle Hong Kong’s independent rule of law. China’s treatment of Uyghurs and Tibetans is more brutal than ever. Its policies toward COVID-19 were capricious at best, starting with lockdowns that were taken to bizarre extremes and ending in a reopening that was unimaginably irresponsible.
None of these developments are relevant to Taiwan; it would be hard to imagine any amount of mutual trust between the two sides that would have altered the course of history. China’s trajectory has taken it far away from Taiwanese hearts and minds. Not to mention China is further antagonizing Taiwan by ramping up its daily show of military force and unilaterally raising the threat of actual armed invasion.
During a time like this, a former president of Taiwan visiting China uninvited is essentially an unconditional olive branch to Beijing that says: “Taiwan can overlook everything, as long as you let us talk to you.” Desperation is not a good look, particularly when Ma – who holds no formal office and cannot meaningfully speak for the Taiwanese people – is meeting with top Chinese Communist Party officials.
In 2015, former KMT presidential adviser Rex How said of the Ma-Xi summit: “I agree that if the meeting takes place under equal and dignified circumstances without giving up our sovereignty, then it is something good; otherwise it will be a disaster.” Eight years later, as much as Ma may want his trip to signal he is still hoping for some kind of ice-breaking engagement, China has grown even less interested in giving Taiwan any kind of equal and dignified treatment.
Ma’s trip, like his summit, will sadly not change much. It will be a quickly forgotten, irrelevant episode in the drama that is today’s great power geopolitics.

domain: politics


Ambitious proposals to create a new deep water port and marina at Stornoway Harbour are to be opened to public consultation.
Stornoway Port Authority will outline the plans at its annual meeting next month and at two public exhibitions.
The plans include a facility for berthing cruise ships up to 350 metres long. This would attract an expected 35 to 40 additional vessels a year and increase passenger visits. A new marina with pontoons for leisure craft, a marina services building, public slipway and a boat lift structure would help respond to a potential 18 per cent rise in sailing tourism in Scotland by 2023.
Stornoway Port Authority’s 20-year Master Plan has identified a shortage of yacht berths and amenities constraining potential growth in marine tourism.
“The planned developments will provide huge economic benefits for the whole island,” said Alex Macleod, the Port Authority’s chief executive. “We want to move forward with the community fully informed about our plans, explaining why the developments are necessary and how they will bring new economic opportunities.
“These meetings are important parts of the whole process. They will give us the chance to present the proposals and get responses from the community.
Details of the proposed developments will be outlined at exhibitions on 24 April and 4 June and at the Port Authority’s annual meeting on 23 May.
Feedback from the exhibitions and public meeting will be considered before formal applications are made for planning permission, marine licences and a Harbour Revision Order which are needed before the projects can proceed.
The Port Authority says the deep-water port proposal is crucial to accelerate local growth in the burgeoning cruise business, by providing improved facilities for larger ships that cannot currently berth alongside.
Stornoway welcomed 43 cruise ships in 2017, but attracts relatively few large vessels, as those over 156 metres in length are unable to berth alongside, and passengers are brought ashore by small boat.


On Tuesday, Microsoft announced several new products at its hardware event in New York City: two new Lumia smartphones running Windows 10, a new fitness-focused wearable called Microsoft Band 2, and Surface Pro 4 tablet.
However, the most-buzzed about product at the launch was the laptop/tablet hybrid Surface Book, which the company is calling the “ultimate” laptop. The Surface Book, Microsoft’s first in-house laptop, starts at $1499 for its entry level model equipped with a Intel Core i5 processor and 128GB, and goes up to $2,699 for a model with 512GB and a Core i7 processor. Unlike previous devices, the Surface Book is a laptop first, and a tablet second: The laptop’s screen detaches from the keyboard to become a standalone tablet.
In a small area connected to the event, I was able to try out Microsoft’s (MSFT) latest tablets, which included putting its new trackpads and keyboards through its paces and short conversations with Microsoft’s digital assistant Cortana.
The first thing you need to know about the Microsoft Surface Book is that it’s light. Microsoft put a lot of effort into making both the keyboard and screen components skinny and durable, and for the most part they’ve succeeded. In fact, when the Surface Book’s 13.5-inch screen is detached and separated from its keyboard, it makes the smaller Surface Pro 4 feel thick and heavy.
In tablet mode, the Surface Book—which is bigger and more unwieldy than the the company’s new 12-inch Surface Pro 4—works better for extended use thanks to its weight. Without the keyboard, the Surface Book is 1.6 pounds, much lighter than the Surface Pro 4 that clocks in at 1.69 pounds and features a smaller screen.
The Microsoft Surface Book is a formidable laptop. According to Microsoft, it has a standalone Nvidia graphics processor installed in its keyboard, which means it can run professional-level apps like AutoCAD and Adobe Photoshop. Several other high-end Windows laptops have included discrete graphics cards before, but it’s impressive that Microsoft was able to cram an Nvidia GPU into a tablet. However, when you convert the Surface Book into a tablet, it won’t be able to use its Nvidia GPU, reverting to the graphics processor included with its Intel processor.
Converting the Surface Book from a laptop into a tablet is easy. On the device’s keyboard, there’s a button on the upper right-hand side of the keyboard, which was once used to eject CDs. Now that space features a new button that when pressed lets you detach the Surface Book tablet from its keyboard. There’s a satisfying vibration when the keyboard is removed.
The keyboard and trackpad attached to the Surface Book are both fantastic. The trackpad is certainly comparable to those found on MacBooks. The keyboard is fully-sized, but has chiclet-style keys that offer a significant amount of resistance when pushing down. However, in my brief time using it I don’t expect its physical interface to be a deal breaker for anyone, and I can see the keyboard gaining fans of its own.
Meanwhile the Surface Pro 4 received an upgrade all its own, but you should think of it as an “S-year” upgrade. There isn’t a whole lot that’s new with the Surface Pro 4, but on the whole it’s more refined. The laptop’s size remains the same as last year’s model at 12-inches, but Microsoft has shrunk its bezels to pack in a little bit more into the screen. According to Microsoft, it’s added a new chipset to make its touch interface smoother and more effective. Like most upgrades, it’s slightly faster and skinnier than its predecessor.
The Surface Pro 4 starts at a more affordable $899, gets a better keyboard cover and significantly larger trackpad, which addresses one of the biggest issues with its predecessor.
Unfortunately, the device’s Type Cover keyboard pales in comparison to hardware included with the Surface Book. The Pro’s keyboard is one of the biggest reasons to opt for the Surface Book.
Ultimately, one of the most interesting aspects of Microsoft’s new devices is a newfound Apple-like attention to detail.
For example, both the Surface Pro 4 and the Surface Book have a new way to attach Microsoft’s stylus pen to the tablets: magnets. There are strong magnets in both the pen and the Surface Book and Surface Pro. It’s a lot better than the fabric loop Microsoft used in the past, and it’s a whole lot better than a holster, like the one found on Samsung’s Galaxy Note phones. The Microsoft pen comes with an “eraser” that can be used to remove notes on the back of the stylus without diving into the device’s settings menu.
The Surface line of tablet hybrids has been both a strength and weakness for Microsoft since it first launched in 2011. It’s a strong enough product that now both Google and Apple are offering similar big, powerful tablets with detachable keyboards. It’s also been a drain on Microsoft in the past, which had to write down millions on unsold Surface tablets, and has poured even more money into large advertising campaigns.
Microsoft’s always angled its Surface tablets as laptop replacements. If you’ve ever wished your Surface Pro was a little bit more like a laptop, the Surface Book is targeted at you. But my first impression is that, in the end, the Surface Book may simply be a better deal than the Surface Pro 4.
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Vicky Kaushal nails Hrithik Roshan’s ‘Ek Pal Ka Jeena’ hook steps; watch Uri actor reliving fan moment
Bollywood superstar Salman Khan is well known as the 'Godfather' in the Hindi film industry as he has introduced many in the industry. Even he is popular among his colleagues for being compassionate and helpful at times of need. However, Bhaijaan is also infamous for his outrage with his co-stars, colleagues as well as girlfriends. There are a string of stories sssociated with the 'Bajrangi Bhaijaan' actor. Even he has shown many the door out of the glamour industry and as all know, it is difficult to find work in Bollywood if the person has ever crossed Salman's path.
Many believe that the Dabangg Khan developed such an attitude after he achieved stardom. Being the son of veteran story and screenplay writer Salim Khan, he had close contact with many biggies in the industry. If you are unaware, you might also believe that Salman would have got an easy entry into Bollywood. But, this was not the exact scenario. Even Salman had to go through the hurdles before achieving stardom and creating his own identity in the industry apart from being Salim's son.
Recently on August 25, Salman completed 33 years in the Bollywood industry. The young Khan lad made his debut in 1988 in Biwi Ho To Aisi which also starred Farooq Shaikh and Rekha in the lead role. However, Salman was not supposed to play the lead in the family drama directed and written by JK Bihari.
A few years back when Salman hosted 'Dus Ka Dum' on Sony TV, the Ek Tha Tiger actor spilled the beans about his debut in Bollywood and his experiences during the time. Salman said that his entry in Biwi Ho To Aisi was all about destiny.
While narrating the story Salman said that he met director JK Bihari two or three years back and asked him why he signed him for the movie. To this Bihari replied that several renowned stars rejected his proposal for Biwi Ho To Aisi. By then, the director had decided that whoever came to his garage next, he will cast him in his next movie.
Picking the opportunity, Salman thought he would make high-speed entry into the garage.
However, Suresh Bhagat, who bankrolled the film, had complete faith in Salman. As said by Bhagat in an old interview, when he saw Salman, he thought there was something about his personality that can grab the attention of the audience. Further, Suresh also revealed that the director under such circumstances had said if Salman became a star he would leave the industry. And, as promised, the Biwi Ho To Aisi helmer left the industry.
As per reports, Salman charged Rs 11, 000 only as his remuneration for Biwi Ho To Aisi. Apart from that, Salman's costumes used in the entire movie were his own.
Currently, Salman is shooting in Russia for his upcoming movie 'Tiger 3'. The spy thriller is the third instalment of Ek Tha Tiger which also stars Katrina Kaif as the lady lead.
Few pics from the set went viral on social media that made fans go into a frenzy.
Salman was seen sporting a white T-shirt, jeans, a red jacket and a headband to tie up his long reddish-brown hair. The 55-year-old actor in his beard look was unrecognisable. Helmed by Maneesh Sharma, Tiger 3's shooting was put on hold due to the global outbreak of Covid-19.

domain: celebrity


Each day The Manufacturer compiles the top manufacturing news stories from around the web. To make your life a little easier, we trawl through all the major trade publications, broadsheets and business magazines to find you the most important manufacturing news each morning. Don't forget to bookmark this page and check back daily.
Public now believes manufacturing is critical to the UK economy and over half think the sector is a good career choice
A new study of 2,436 people shows the majority of the general public thinks manufacturing is hugely important to the future of the UK economy and over three-quarters see manufacturing as delivering solutions today to the challenges of tomorrow.
Perceptions about pay working conditions and career prospects have also undergone a massive transformative change for the better, according to the survey Perceptions vs Reality carried out by Savanta or Make UK, the manufacturers’ organisation and Sheffield Hallam University. Find out more at The Manufacturer
AMPI calls for increased investment and R&D to boost UK’s advanced machinery sector
Advanced machinery is essential to the modern global economy and the UK must do more to help its machine-making capabilities at home and grow its share of the market abroad, according to Ruth Mallors-Ray OBE, Chair of Strategy at UK industry body the Advanced Machinery and Productivity Institute (AMPI).
Speaking on UK National Manufacturing Day, Ruth said: “Right now, there are four overarching problems for the UK’s machinery industry to solve. The UK is the home of some outstanding machinery developers, but many are invisible because their specific requirements as a sub-sector of manufacturing are not properly understood. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Teesside stainless steel firm grows business with £26m export finance package
A government credit guarantee has allowed Teesside stainless steel alloy inventor and manufacturer, Paralloy, to secure up to £26m of a Santander UK bank guarantee facility to support the continued growth of its export business.
Announced on National Manufacturing Day, the guarantee from UK Export Finance (UKEF) – the government’s export credit agency – allows Santander UK to overwrite a previous facility and increase the amount of facility available to Paralloy from £17m to £26m. Find out more at The Manufacturer
National Manufacturing Day: promoting diversity for sustainable success in manufacturing
For those looking in from the outside, there may be a perception that the manufacturing sector is heavy-duty and physically demanding. But the reality is that today, there are a wide range of modern manufacturing roles, with many grounded in innovation, problem solving and teamwork. Find out more at The Manufacturer
UK CV production up again in August
British commercial vehicle (CV) manufacturing grew 8.6% in August as 6,660 units rolled out of UK factories, according to new figures published today by the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT).
The best August volume for 11 years continues the positive trend, with a fifth consecutive month of rising CV output as manufacturers strive to deliver the latest, greenest models to operators. Find out more at SMMT News
Unbottling opportunities on National Manufacturing Day: Chivas Brothers’ celebrate careers in whisky
There’s never been a better time to join the Scotch whisky industry, which is undergoing an exciting period of transformation as it embraces innovation and new technologies. Scotch not only contributes substantially to the country’s economy but also fosters a sense of community for those that are lucky to be a part of it. Find out more at The Manufacturer
Made Smarter-backed manufacturers deliver £242m economic boost for North West
A pioneering programme helping North West manufacturers invest in industrial digital technology is forecast to create more than 1,550 new jobs and boost the region’s economy by £242m, new figures reveal.
It comes as businesses across the region mark National Manufacturing Day on Thursday, September 28. The Made Smarter adoption programme was launched in Liverpool to help businesses digitalise, decarbonise, and drive growth. Find out more at The Manufacturer
ERIKS welcomes its first apprentices to new programme
ERIKS has welcomed the first apprentices to its newly designed apprenticeship programme . The new programme demonstrates its commitment to fostering a new generation of engineers and bridging the engineering skills gap.
Thirteen apprentices aged between 17 and 27 will be pursuing Level 3 Engineering qualifications, across different ERIKS locations throughout the United Kingdom. Find out more at The Manufacturer


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Football v Homophobia joins SA groups to highlight rape
The Football v Homophobia campaign joined the One Billion Rising movement yesterday to call for homophobic rape to be recognised as a hate crime by the South African government.
As part of the LGBT month of action in February, Football v Homophobia aims to raise awareness of the issues of homophobic rape and gender-based violence in South Africa, a country in which progressive equality laws have been developed, but where in reality lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, and intersex people are subject to discrimination.
Since 2001, sixteen female footballers have been victims of homophobic rape (also referred to as “corrective” or “curative” rape) in South Africa. Most of the attacks go unreported for fear of reprisals, inaction, or further violence at the hands of the police and state, however 40 cases were documented during the same period.
In cooperation with South African feminist advocacy groups Luleki Sizwe and Free Gender, the campaign has published an infographic to inform and mobilise female footballers internationally.
“The situation in South Africa is critical, and there is no excuse for this delay in response. People know about the problem. The rape and murder of Eudy Simelane - the case that brought homophobic rape to international attention- happened five years ago, in 2008. It took three more years of activism and the delivery of a 170,000 name petition for the government to strike a Hate Crime Task Force. Now it’s 2013, and homophobic rape is still not classified a hate crime”, said Keph Senett from the Football v Homophobia campaign.
February is the international initiative’s month of action that through sports, from grass roots to the professional game, sends out a message that discrimination against lesbians, gay men, bisexuals and transgender people is not to be tolerated.
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To crack down a PTO (Energy Consider-Off) yoke, you can abide by these basic methods:
1. Ensure Safety: Right before starting any disassembly, assure the tractor or tools is turned off, the PTO is disengaged, and the parking brake is engaged. This will stop any accidental starts off or movement.
two. Detect the Retaining System: Identify the sort of retaining mechanism utilized to secure the yoke. Prevalent retaining mechanisms consist of spring-loaded locking pins, circlips, established screws, or bolts. Detect the precise system employed in your set up.
three. Launch or Clear away the Retaining Mechanism: Dependent on the variety of retaining mechanism, you may will need to carry out just one of the next steps:
– Spring-Loaded Locking Pin: Identify the release system, which may perhaps be a compact lever or button near the pin. Depress or pull the launch system to retract the pin and permit the yoke to be taken out.
– Circlip or Fastener: Use acceptable applications this sort of as circlip pliers, screwdrivers, or wrenches to clear away the circlip, established screw, or bolts that secure the yoke. Cautiously extract the retaining mechanism to free of charge the yoke.
4. Slide or Pull the Yoke: After the retaining mechanism is released or removed, slide or pull the yoke off the PTO shaft. It might need some force or wiggling to split it free from any residual friction or tight suit.
five. Examine and Clean up: After eradicating the yoke, inspect it for any indicators of don, damage, or deformation. Clean the yoke and the China pto yoke manufacturer shaft to clear away any dust, debris, or grease that might have gathered.
If you need to even further disassemble the yoke for restore or alternative of inside elements, consult with the equipment’s handbook or seek out steering from the maker or a experienced technician. The unique disassembly measures might change relying on the style and design and design of the yoke.
Usually abide by suitable protection safeguards and refer to the equipment’s manual for China pto yoke any product-precise guidance or factors when breaking down a PTO yoke.


Soil and Water Testing
Knowledge of soil and water is essential to horticulture, effluent use, grazing, cropping, and the rehabilitation of degraded sites. Our NATA (National Association of Testing Authorities) registered laboratory provides a wide range of soil and water analysis, result interpretation and management recommendations. These are typically used for:
- soil ameliorant recommendations
- urban and rural water quality
- environmental monitoring
- seed and fertiliser recommendation
- suitability for earthworks construction and
- identifying acid sulphate soils.
We have the science behind the solution to ensure the complete and comprehensive analysis that you require.
The Soil Conservation Service Laboratory, located at the Scone Research Centre, offers soil analysis and consultancy services to assist with soil and land management of: acid sulphate soils, effluent reuse, effluent pond construction, erosion and sediment control, farm dams and conservation earthworks, as well as the rehabilitation of degraded areas.
The laboratory is accredited by the national Association of Testing Authorities (NATA) in the field of Construction Materials Testing (Accreditation Number 2323).
Laboratory staff may provide advice on sample collection and delivery of samples. Staff may also assist with the interpretation of test results and provide management recommendations.
Soil Conservation Service officers can determine plant nutrient levels in the soil and provide fertiliser recommendations, including lime and gypsum rates for:
- Pasture production
- Agricultural/horticultural crops
- Rehabilitating mine sites
- Rehabilitating degraded areas
Potential Acid Sulphate Soils
Soils containing pyrite (iron sulphate) are referred to as acid sulphate soils. On exposure to air following drainage, oxidation of the pyrite takes place and significant acid can be produced. This acid has a marked effect on the environment as well as buildings and other infrastructure. Testing is undertaken to identify both acid sulphate and potential acid sulphate soils. Management recommendations can also be provided.
Testing can be undertaken to determine water suitability for irrigation, as well as stock and domestic supply. Tests can be conducted on water to measure its hardness, salinity and sodium adsorption ratio. The concentration of iron, chloride, carbonates and bicarbonates can also be tested.
The percentage of clay, silt and sand present in soil is crucial to the construction of earthworks such as dams. The dispersion/aggregation and shrink/swell properties must be considered in determining the soil's suitability for earthworks. The hydraulic conductivity should also be assessed if the pond is to be used for effluent storage.
Rehabilitating Degraded Sites
Overgrazing or other forms of intensive land use can result in areas being stripped of vegetation resulting in the risk of severe erosion. Often, the topsoil has been lost or compacted to a point where specialised techniques are needed to establish suitable vegetation on the site. Soil Conservation Service officers use a combination of proven measures to re-vegetate large areas and difficult sites, including:
- sighting, surveying and constructing a diversion bank above the area to protect it from runoff
- deep ripping to break up rills and increase water infiltration
- shaping and filling to achieve stable slopes
- fertilising and sowing the area with suitable species and
- fencing to exclude all stock and feral animals.
Our proven track record in successful rehabilitation projects includes rural properties, road batters, gravel quarries, salt scalded areas, derelict mines, garbage tips and beach dunes.
For more information please contact the Soil Conservation Service Laboratory on
(02) 6545 1666, or email firstname.lastname@example.org.
Page last updated/reviewed: 20 Aug 2014


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What is septic arthritis?
Septic arthritis occurs when bacteria or another infectious agent is introduced into one or more joints, leading to painful inflammation. In general, male, large and giant breed dogs are most commonly affected, and while dogs of any age can develop septic arthritis, this condition is seen most often in dogs 3 to11 years of age.
What are the signs of septic arthritis?
The signs of septic arthritis include heat, swelling, and pain in one or more joints. There will typically be decreased range of motion in the affected joint(s), as well as fever, lethargy, and lack of appetite.
What kinds of infectious agents cause septic arthritis?
Bacteria that can live and grow in the presence of oxygen (aerobic bacteria), bacteria that can live and grow in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic bacteria), and fungal organisms can all cause septic arthritis.
If septic arthritis is suspected, your dog’s blood will be taken to look for evidence infection and inflammation. Arthrocentesis (sampling joint fluid) will also be performed, and the fluid will be assessed for the presence of inflammatory cells, as well as cultured to determine what infectious agent is present.
Are there any specific risk factors that set the stage for septic arthritis?
There are some factors that can make a dog more vulnerable to septic arthritis. For example:
- Diseases that suppress the immune system, such as diabetes mellitus (also known as sugar diabetes) and Addison's disease (under-active adrenal glands).
- Medications that suppress the immune system.
- Trauma that penetrates a joint.
- Surgery involving a joint.
- Osteoarthritis, other joint damage, or injections into a joint.
How is septic arthritis treated?
If your dog has septic arthritis and is very ill, they will be hospitalized and treated however necessary to become stabilized. Your veterinarian will extract joint fluid for bacterial culture and may lavage (flush) the joint to minimize joint damage. Some dogs with septic arthritis require surgical opening of the joint, removal of abnormal tissue, and copious lavage. Occasionally, a flushing catheter may be placed to provide access to the joint for post-operative flushing.
Once home, these dogs benefit from long-term management. Cold packs alternated with heat packs may be beneficial by increasing blood flow and decreasing inflammation and swelling. Activity should be restricted until cleared by your veterinarian.
"Activity should be restricted until cleared by your veterinarian."
Your veterinarian may prescribe a broad-spectrum antibiotic while waiting for the results of the bacterial culture and sensitivity panel. Once the best choice of antibiotic is made, the medication will typically be given for at least 4 to 8 weeks. In addition, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) may be given to relieve pain and inflammation.
What follow-up care might be needed for my dog?
It will be important to watch for the return of joint pain and swelling. There may be a need for microscopic evaluations of joint fluid to monitor response to therapy. Physical rehabilitation techniques may speed healing and help prevent joint degeneration.
Be aware of the potential for degenerative joint disease, recurring infection, limited range of motion in the affected joint(s), bone infection, or generalized infection that spreads to other areas of the body from the infected joint.

domain: pet


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It's fun and increasingly difficult to stay in a hotel which has some character and a unique place in the local landscape, so it was a pleasure to find the Jefferson Clinton.
It's an elegant building with stylish furnishings. The location is great, near lots of nice independent shops, bars and restaurants (ie not a ghetto of cookie cutter Starbucks/Subways). Our room was small but nicely turned out and the staff were super-friendly and helpful. It was great that after a long day of driving down from Canada we were able to leave our car on the street and the receptionist took the key, went out to find the car and moved it into their lot, leaving us free to sample the offerings of the Empire Brewing Company brewpub in the next street. They also have an omelette station/chef for breakfast, which is a nice touch.
My only concern was that there was something in our room which made noise (sort of like an air con unit) but I couldn't figure out what it was. I sleep with earplugs (and it was kind of a white noise anyway so not the kind of thing which would awaken you in the night) so it didn't present a problem, but if you're sensitive to that kind of thing ask to have a look at the room first.
- Official Description (provided by the hotel):
- The Jefferson Clinton Hotel is located in Historic Armory Square, the hotel is surrounded by restaurants, shopping, boutiques, museums and enjoyable evening entertainment. All of our rooms feature premium mattresses with triple sheeting, large televisions with premium channels and complimentary high speed and wireless internet access. Each guest receives our complimentary hot buffet breakfast with made-to-order omelets. ... more less
- Reservation Options:
- TripAdvisor is proud to partner with Booking.com, TravelClick, Hotels.com, Travelocity, Expedia, Priceline, Cheap Tickets, TripOnline SA, Hotwire, Cancelon and getaroom.com so you can book your Jefferson Clinton Hotel reservations with confidence. We help millions of travelers each month to find the perfect hotel for both vacation and business trips, always with the best discounts and special offers.
- Also Known As:
- Jefferson Clinton Syracuse
- Hotel Jefferson Clinton

domain: travel


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UPPER MARLBORO, Md. (AP) — A former Prince George’s County sheriff’s deputy has pleaded guilty to having sex with an inmate in a holding cell at a courthouse.
Lamar McIntyre pleaded guilty Thursday to correctional officer sex with an inmate and one count of misconduct in office. As part of a plea deal, prosecutors agreed to ask for a term of no more than 18 months at sentencing on Jan. 16.
Authorities say in June 2012, the inmate was waiting in the county courthouse to see a judge when McIntyre took her into a holding area, where they had sex. The inmate reported the incident when she was returned to the detention facility.
(Copyright 2013 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

domain: law


The group warns Tel Aviv of ‘playing with time’ as a new round of maritime border talks starts between Israel and Lebanon.
Lebanon’s Hezbollah has aired a video showing vessels involved in the Israeli offshore oil and gas industry and warned against “playing with time”, underlining its threat of military escalation amid maritime border demarcation talks.
The footage aired on Sunday came as the United States energy envoy, Amos Hochstein, was landing in Beirut to mediate ongoing talks between Lebanon and Israel over their sea borders.
Read more at Aljazeera.com
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