text:
There are a million ways to start a poem. unfortunatly I wont be able to explain all of them, actually I can't explain them. Everyone has their own way of writing. If you are a beginer you will eventually find your own way. I will show you some ways that could help you write your own poem.
Step 1 Get Inspired
Anything could be inspirational, I mean anything. It could be from a question, a animal, a book, a movie, music, a play, a dance or whatever comes to your mind. You need to know what to write about before you pick up a pencil. You could also try writing without anything in mind whatever floats your boat.
- Carry a notebook with you and anything that catches you eyes or ears write it inside your notebook.
- You could also try taking pictures for inspiration.
Step 2 What type of poem are you going to write?
You could free write where you just write without a format or structure. You could also write a structured poem such as a sonnet.
- You don't necessarily need to know what type of poem you will write. You could just write and then figure that out later.
Step 3 Revision!
It is important for a writer to always revise his or her work. The more you revise a paper the better you will feel about your piece. Professional poets always revise their work more than 15 times take that into consideration.
- Try to get someone else to revise your work. It could be a teacher, a friend, or a writer.
- You could go back to a poem you wrote a year ago and revise that
- You could also put away a poem and come back to it later. It wont go anywhere.
Step 4 Take it to the next level
You could enter your poem in a competition or you could start going to open mics. The more you put your work out there the more likely it is to get discovered.
- Memorize your poem and "spit on the mic" that means participate in open mics.
- Post your work on websites or competitions.
- Go to writing workshops
The Sky is the Limit
Want to master Microsoft Excel and take your work-from-home job prospects to the next level? Jump-start your career with our Premium A-to-Z Microsoft Excel Training Bundle from the new Gadget Hacks Shop and get lifetime access to more than 40 hours of Basic to Advanced instruction on functions, formula, tools, and more.
Other worthwhile deals to check out:
- 97% off The Ultimate 2021 White Hat Hacker Certification Bundle
- 98% off The 2021 Accounting Mastery Bootcamp Bundle
- 99% off The 2021 All-in-One Data Scientist Mega Bundle
- 59% off XSplit VCam: Lifetime Subscription (Windows)
- 98% off The 2021 Premium Learn To Code Certification Bundle
- 62% off MindMaster Mind Mapping Software: Perpetual License
- 41% off NetSpot Home Wi-Fi Analyzer: Lifetime Upgrades

domain: literature


text:
Come see how we turned Marketing Automation into Collection Automation Overland Park, KS – SoftVu, the leading provider of marketing CRM and email marketing automation solutions will introduce their email automation and text messaging platform designed for the accounts receivable management industry at the upcoming Debt Buyers Association Meeting in Las Vegas, NV. Serving the […]
The United States District Court for the Western District of Missouri recently granted a debt collector’s motion for judgment on the pleadings, holding an internal account number displayed on the envelope of a demand letter did not violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) because it did not reveal the plaintiff was a debtor.
In a decision filed on October 23, 2015, U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla has granted Credit Management LP (CMI)’s motion to dismiss a case against the firm filed by Joy Gardner. This case represents a positive “envelope” decision in what has been a busy couple of years for collection letter rulings.
On October 22 at 2 p.m. EDT, RevSpring will host its next webinar, “Designing Effective Documents.” Design elements must clearly express your brand while leading the customer to take action. In a well-defined communications strategy, your documents should generate response. You must identify the communication channels that best reach potential customers, while incorporating design best practices that create impact and lead to success.
A QR code visible on the face of an envelope embedded with an account number violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, according to a recent decision from the United States District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania. A QR or “Quick Response” code is a type of bar code that can contain any […]
The facts in Gelinas are only slightly different than those presented in Kostik. In the Gelinas case, the envelope in question displayed a series of 21 numbers, the last 10 of which were the original invoice number for the services rendered that created the outstanding balance due. (In Kostik the envelope displayed a barcode.)
In a decision filed on July 22, 2015, the US District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania in the case of Lisa Kostik v. ARS National Services, Inc., a new chapter is being written in the saga of what information can be displayed on the outside of an envelope a collector mails to a consumer.
RevSpring is pleased to announce the promotions of Martin Callahan to Senior Vice President for Healthcare Solutions and Vincent Arminio as the Vice President for Client Services.
There has been a lot of litigation relating to envelopes recently, but section 1692f(8) of the FDCPA, which regulates collection envelopes, is not new. It has been a source of frustration for collectors for decades. Fortunately, some courts have recognized that a strict application of section 1692f(8) may lead to absurd results, and have held that “benign language” on an envelope does not violate the FDCPA. Unfortunately, the word “benign” can be VERY slippery.
The USPS recently announced lower standards for mail delivery, effective January 5, 2015. As a result, mail will now take longer to arrive at its destination. While you can’t control the speed of mail delivery, there are several strategies every organization can employ to adjust to these reforms.

domain: news


text:
Even though there are 21 women who have accused Donald Trump sexual misconduct, Ivanka Trump still stands by her father and says she believes that he is innocent.
RELATED: Quincy Jones Says He Dated Ivanka Trump & Claims Michael Jackson Stole Songs
The 35-year-old recently had an exclusive interview with NBC News where she was asked head-on if she believes the accusations pinned against her father.
“I think it’s a pretty inappropriate question to ask a daughter, if she believes, um, the accusers her father when he has affirmatively stated that there’s no truth to it,” she replied. “I don’t think that’s a question you would ask many other daughters. I believe my father. I know my father, so I think I have that right as a daughter, um, to, uh, believe my father.”
As many now know, Donald was recorded in 2005 – seemingly without knowing – that he needed “Tic Tacs” just to stop him from kissing women.
RELATED: Ivanka Trump Slammed For “All Americans” Matter Tweet
“You know I’m automatically attracted to beautiful—I just start kissing them. It’s like a magnet. Just kiss. I don’t even wait. And when you’re a star, they let you do it. You can do anything . . . Grab them by the pussy. You can do anything.”


text:
As many Toronto condo dwellers can attest, our city’s transit problems are not limited to the horizontal. “The elevator,” as the journalist Nick Paumgarten once wrote in The New Yorker, “is to the city what paper is to reading and gunpowder is to war.” Yet if the success of a vertical metropolis depends on the proper functioning of its elevators, we may be in trouble.
As our dependence on elevators has increased, the rules around how many a building must have and how often they must be repaired have not kept pace. Across the province, elevators are failing at an alarming rate. Yet the oligopoly of multinational companies that dominates the industry has little competitive or regulatory incentive to move quickly to fix them.
In Toronto, in particular, where the number of elevators has increased by around 10 per cent over the last five years, what goes up does not necessarily come down – and, under the current law, there’s not much residents or property owners can do about it.
That’s the impetus behind a sensible new private member’s bill from Liberal MPP Han Dong, who represents Toronto’s elevator-rich Trinity-Spadina riding. Tabled last week, the Reliable Elevators Act would require that broken elevators be fixed within a week in long-term care facilities and retirement homes and two weeks in other residences. Contractors who fail to meet those deadlines would be subject to public shaming, or even prosecution.
The act would also mandate that applications for new building permits include an elevator-traffic analysis. This is a common-sense corrective to the obviously deficient current rule: a building of at least seven storeys must have at least one elevator.
Inadequate elevator access is more than an inconvenience. For older residents or people with disabilities, it can be a life-altering accessibility issue or even a health hazard. In 2014, the lone elevator at a long-term care facility in Clarington, Ont., died, leaving 88 residents stuck on the second floor for more than two months.
“To take elevatoring lightly is to risk dooming a building to dysfunction and its inhabitants to a kind of incremental purgatory.” That’s Paumgarten again, and he’s not being overly dramatic. In Ontario, the government has taken elevatoring too lightly for too long, at a cost to quality of life, accessibility and health and safety.
At Queen’s Park, the government and both opposition parties have expressed openness to Dong’s proposals. Private member’s bills rarely pass. This one ought to be an exception.

domain: law


AURORA and Moyka: Underrated Norwegian Pop Artists
BY ANNA LI '26
Ever been sick of listening to the same recycled rhythm and lyrics? This article is for the daydreamers with fiery passion coursing through their veins, the introverted and wistful, and the free souls who dance alone in their room. These artists’ music start out gentle and somewhat elusive, but don’t click away—they will enthrall you into a whole new world that you never dreamed could exist in this generation.
While AURORA and Moyka are lesser known than industry dominators such as Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish, they are both standalone queens that have introduced new outlooks on alternative pop, indie pop, and art pop. If you appreciate unadulterated vocal prowess paired with poignant melodies, or poetic takes on personal issues, AURORA and Moyka are the perfect choices for you.
Aurora Aksnes (born 1996) has been a vocal and artistic powerhouse since the start of her career, becoming one of the most prominent and original Norwegian musicians of her time. Many might recognize her from the viral TikTok trend made with her song “Runaway,” but there is much more to her than just one song.
Aurora has been compared to other singers like Lorde, Bjork, Grimes, and Sia, but her creative vision and unique style distinguish her from other artists. Her soprano vocal range alone is impressively versatile; she is capable of transitioning from deeper, resonating tones to high, ethereal falsettos—a mode of breathier singing that is done typically higher than a singer’s normal range.
Aurora is equally famous for her lyrical composition. She has a deep mastery of writing songs that makes people feel something: whether it be the feeling of being alive, being empowered, or just an honest-to-goodness vibe. Aurora bridges the gap between musicality and themes, producing songs with instrumentals and lyrical content that fit together like puzzle pieces—a difficult task for most artists. An excellent demonstration of her cumulative style is her song “All Is Soft Inside,” an alternative electropop number. A ghostly yet bouncy exotic-sounding beat is paired with a soft, crying chorus, complementing lines such as “All that I know / lies within emotion / words remain unspoken / lead me through the dark” and “I carry more than you see / my dreams are bigger than me.” The song peaks at the bridge’s hauntingly high vocal run—the highest note reaching A5, which has extremely high hertz and is rarely seen vocally in music. Aurora commented that “All Is Soft Inside” was written “for the emotional people,” which she expresses prominently in this song. Her music produces an indescribable, beautiful feel—like when someone translates your thoughts into words you could have never imagined thinking. As understanding emotions is a timeless struggle, it’s comforting to listen to music that embodies the things you want to say.
Music often offers a personal connection for many. Personally, my preference only contains two variables: untouched quality vocals and unique lyrics that convey a significant message. While many mainstream artists and groups produce famous hits, they are known for using auto tune and pitch correction to enhance their style. Thus, it is quite refreshing to be able to listen to other artists who do not incorporate artificial elements into their voice, choosing to have them in their background instrumental instead— which leads us to Moyka.
Moyka, or Monika Engeseth (born 1997), is a self-described “Norwegian pop witch.” Inspired by underground-club music and Norwegian bands such as Royksopp, Moyka’s artistry is composed of alternative electronic landscapes, dancey synth pop beats, and deep lyrics. I would describe Moyka’s music as “empowering beats to vibe and/or dance along to while having maybe a not-so-good day”.
Moyka can switch her voice interchangeably between liltingly musical and richly powerful. With sweet yet edgy vocals, complex electropop, and accusatory lyrics, Moyka’s songs evoke “dancing in the middle of a field while having a good cry.” Her songs mainly convey the mixed reactions that arise after experiencing a breakup. Moyka writes candidly about these struggles, although these incorporations are subtle when intertwined with the upbeat tempo. Her songs tell universal stories passed on for generations, but through a sparkling, heavy-handed perspective that sends you reeling. For example, in “All The Things We Forgot,” she sings, “All I ever do is dream / nothing is what it may seem / Feels like I am found and lost / Like all the things that we forgot.” While the song’s instrumentation is dark and metallic, its lyrics are more wistful. As humans, we strive to achieve an inner satisfaction, and hating constant change is rooted within us; Moyka captures this in the perpetual dreaming and longing for the past through her music. Piercing melodies bring these touching lyrics to life, allowing her music to be ingrained into your head.
The beauty and empathy of AURORA and Moyka’s music truly set them apart from the rest of the music industry. Eliciting emotions that showcase deep maturity, their musical choices can really make a difference in one’s day-to-day life. They certainly have changed mine.


text:
We are now witnessing a resurgence of theories of development and carcinogenesis in which the environment is again being accepted as a major player in phenotype determination. Perturbations in the fetal environment predispose an individual to disease that only becomes apparent in adulthood. For example, gestational exposure to diethylstilbestrol resulted in clear cell carcinoma of the vagina and breast cancer. In this review the effects of the endocrine disruptor bisphenol-A (BPA) on mammary development and tumorigenesis in rodents is used as a paradigmatic example of how altered prenatal mammary development may lead to breast cancer in humans who are also widely exposed to it through plastic goods, food and drink packaging, and thermal paper receipts. Changes in the stroma and its extracellular matrix led to altered ductal morphogenesis. Additionally, gestational and lactational exposure to BPA increased the sensitivity of rats and mice to mammotropic hormones during puberty and beyond, thus suggesting a plausible explanation for the increased incidence of breast cancer.
Journal of Mammary Gland and Neoplasia – Springer Journals
Published: May 24, 2013
It’s your single place to instantly
discover and read the research
that matters to you.
Enjoy affordable access to
over 18 million articles from more than
15,000 peer-reviewed journals.
All for just $49/month
Query the DeepDyve database, plus search all of PubMed and Google Scholar seamlessly
Save any article or search result from DeepDyve, PubMed, and Google Scholar... all in one place.
Get unlimited, online access to over 18 million full-text articles from more than 15,000 scientific journals.
Read from thousands of the leading scholarly journals from SpringerNature, Elsevier, Wiley-Blackwell, Oxford University Press and more.
All the latest content is available, no embargo periods.
“Hi guys, I cannot tell you how much I love this resource. Incredible. I really believe you've hit the nail on the head with this site in regards to solving the research-purchase issue.”Daniel C.
“Whoa! It’s like Spotify but for academic articles.”@Phil_Robichaud
“I must say, @deepdyve is a fabulous solution to the independent researcher's problem of #access to #information.”@deepthiw
“My last article couldn't be possible without the platform @deepdyve that makes journal papers cheaper.”@JoseServera

domain: biology


Welcome to iraf.net Wednesday, January 24 2018 @ 09:40 AM GMT
How It Works -- Thread/Multi-Core Support
- Saturday, July 25 2009 @ 07:11 PM GMT
- Contributed by: fitz
- Views: 2,399
[Note: I'd originally intended to be more prolific about these topics, sorry. Please comment on any suggestions you have for ideas, otherwise I may expand the topics to some non-IRAF projects that might be of interest]
IRAF is inherently a multi-process system (i.e. even a simple script requires binaries for the CL and perhaps several packages) and has always had the ability to run background jobs, but users sometime wonder whether tasks can be made multi-threaded as a means of improving performance for highly data-parallel operations (e.g. mosaic image processing). The short answer is that it is possible, but only with some restructuring of the core system, and of course needed changes to applications to enable the threading.
See below for more .....
Technically, the current limitation is in the use of global data structures throughout the system, e.g. the file i/o common blocks. Adding an IRAF kernel interface to allow thread operations has already been done in a prototype system, but is only really useful for strictly computational routines such as image interpolation. At the applications level, what you really want is to be able to split an input list of images (or MEF extensions) across multiple threads, however doing so requires that we modify key parts of the system so threads cannot corrupt global data, and that the applications be modified to split the processing. More thought would be needed before starting such an adventure, everything from error handling in SPP to CL parameter passing is affected, however expanding the scope of the prototype work to include basic image i/o would allow for better parallelism in tasks. This is strictly an R&D project at this stage and would require a commitment to expanding the capabilities of the SPP language and core IRAF system in order to move forward.
Processing a list of 1000 images on a quad-core machine can already be optimized by splitting the list amongst four background jobs on the CL command line. Adding system support to do this automatically on behalf of the user isnít currently a high priority, nor should it be.
Note that in something like the VAO applications framework being discussed in various circles (a topic for a future post), we can exploit the process-parallel nature of IRAF directly, i.e. we let the higher levels of the framework distribute the list to be processed amongst various compute components as needed. Were we to extend the current IRAF system itself, it would be more natural to do the same thing at the CL level with some clever way of creating multiple instances of a task to split up a list for processing to systematically add the functionality, rather than by modifying individual tasks to do the same thing at a lower level. The process of making any piece of software run in parallel requires making some decisions about the granularity of the parallelization. No doubt certain algorithms will draw this line at much smaller blocks of data, but when considering IRAF as a system, the natural lines fall either at the task level when considering processing components, or at the level of 2-D image arrays (entire images or extensions) or data files when considering data parallelization. In either case, and especially in a system with thousands of applications, the place to implement this functionality is clearly at a level above the application itself.


(CLICK HERE, if you are unable to view this photo gallery on your mobile device.)
San Jose State likes to be known as a university on the move. And, on Saturday, that will be literally true when a historic home on campus is relocated to make room for a new science building. It’s just the latest chapter for the Scheller House, a 1904 building that’s shown an amazing knack for survival.
The house, used as offices for San Jose State’s Associated Students, already has been lifted from its foundation and moved to the university entrance gate. Saturday morning, it will be slowly transported around the block to its new home on South 10th Street, near the campus’ northeast corner. An eight-story, 161,000 square-foot science building with a $181 million price tag will be built in its place.
“It’s a pretty cool thing,” Charlie Faas, San Jose State’s vice president for administration and finance said of the move. “It’s extremely complicated but the positive thing is that we’re doing it the right way.”
To accommodate the relocation, Fourth Street between San Carlos and San Fernando streets and San Fernando Street between Fourth and Ninth streets will be closed all day Saturday. The 6,500 square-foot house weighs 400,000 pounds — that’s 200 tons — so navigating it around city streets and corners required months of planning. Computer models were created, street lights rotated to make room and everything was figured out to the smallest detail.
“There’s only four inches on either side between the house and the trees on the paseo,” Faas said. “That’s how close it is.”
Preservation Action Council Executive Director Brian Grayson, who has been kept in the loop on the project, said it’s strange to see the historic house ready to travel — but he’s still got his fingers crossed. “We’ll feel better once the move is over and the house is safely ‘installed,’ ” he said.
But this journey is also just another twist and turn in the Scheller House story. The house is a rare surviving example in San Jose of the 20th century residential work of architect Theodore Lenzen. He also designed the Security and Letitia buildings on South First Street and the old City Hall that was in what’s now Plaza de Cesar Chavez.
According to Preservation Action Council research, the California Colonial Revival house was built on the corner of Fifth and San Carlos Street for businessman Henry Beaumont Martin and his wife Louise Scheller. Victor Scheller, Louise’s brother and an early San Jose district attorney, also lived in the house from 1905-15. The house takes its name from him.
San Jose State continued to grow around the bungalow over the next several decades, but it wasn’t until the early 1990s that the Scheller House became a flashpoint for historic preservation in the city. The university recognized a need for a new science building even back then and made plans to raze the abandoned house to make room for it on San Carlos Street. Proposals were made to relocate the house to Kelley Park or Guadalupe Gardens but ultimately rejected. Developer Tim Lantz secured the demolition contract, but he wasn’t eager to knock it down. He pushed the demolition deadline as far as he could in hopes of finding a way to relocate the house.
The Preservation Action Council, formed only a few years earlier, made the case that SJSU was violating state preservation law, but the odds looked bleak. At least until then-Santa Clara County Superior Court Judge Jeremy Fogel granted an injunction in 1994 to prevent the demolition until the house’s historic value could be determined. Part of the hearing was held inside the house so the judge and other observers could evaluate whether it was worth saving.
But rather than conduct a costly historic survey — because the house was on state property it never had been designated a city landmark — then-San Jose State President Bob Caret decided to leave the house alone and shelved the science building plans.
And so the house sat, for nearly five years, until alumni and the university’s Associated Students organization teamed up and invested about $3 million to restore the home. It was also moved slightly and rotated 90 degrees so the entrance faced the pedestrian paseo created with the closing of San Carlos Street through campus.
Associated Students moved its offices there in 2000 and the house spent the next 18 years as an unusual, architectural gem. At least until now, San Jose State finally began moving forward with a plan for the state-of-the-art science center and the Scheller House was again in the way. But a lot had changed in 25 years.
With the house restored and occupied, Faas said the situation was entirely different than in the 1990s. The university worked with students, faculty and the Preservation Action Council to determine the best way and place to move the house as plans began to take shape more than a year ago.
“There’s a serious respect for our history and our old buildings here that we’re trying to pull forward,” Faas said. “It didn’t happen before, but it’s happening now.”


text:
Los Lonely Boys EP Details2009-08-21 by Dr Dave De Sylvia STAFF | 8 Comments
|Los Lonely Boys will release a cover EP entitled 1969 on October 13 via Playing In Traffic Records.|
The album pays tribute to one of rock music's pivotal years, which culminated in the legendary Woodstock festival.
Tracklist (in no particular order):
1. Carlos Santana - Evil Ways
2. The Beatles - She Came In Through The Bathroom Window
3. Tony Joe White - Polk Salad Annie
4. The Doors - Roadhouse Blues
5. Blind Faith - Well All Right
Tagged: Los Lonely Boys
Digging: Can - Tago Mago
My grandparents are stoked.
LOL at Satellites comment
All great blues-rocky songs. Should be good.
my work plays a couple songs by these guys at least once every day, and, well, let's just say it's the worst part of my day
That's nothing. Where I work it's almost nothing but country. Suffice it to say my resolve to not kill my co-workers and/or myself is constantly tested.
i hear ya man, i totally hear ya
• Brand New release new song as a f..
• Justin Lowe found dead
• Tool + Mastodon supergroup
• Justin Lowe leaves After the Buri..
• Cynic break up
• Muse unleash new single
• Slint guitarist survives suicide ..
• Scarlett Johansson forms band
• Nickelback get groovy
• New Muse song
• Yndi Halda announce album
• Flocka drops Flockaveli 1.5
• New Crazy Town video
• Wu-Tang Album Sells at Auction
• James announce 'GATEOTW'
• Skyharbor give away new song
• Denihilist release new single
• MovMou/Prawn split available
• Witchcraft post new song
• New Moth Gatherer video
• New El-Creepo! (Todd Smith) single
• Wild Nothing new album
• Goodbye to Gravity singer conscio..
• New Thrice album in 2016
• Manimal stream new material
» see all news

domain: entertainment


text:
Music from the National Symphony Orchestra has echoed through the halls of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts since it opened in 1971. Built as a national cultural center and a living memorial to the nation's 35th president, the Kennedy Center's history begins in 1958, when President Dwight D. Eisenhower ordered the creation of a national cultural center.
After Kennedy's assassination in 1963, the proposed building was dedicated to his memory, and funds approved to build it on 17 acres of land along the banks of the Potomac River. Construction on the $70 million building began in December 1965, and the it opened to the public on Sept. 8, 1971. Today, the Kennedy Center presents more than 2,000 performances annually and attracts nearly 2 million visitors per year [source: Kennedy Center].
Inside the building is a 2,442-seat concert hall, a 2,300-seat opera house and theaters for family.The Kennedy Center hosts both small-and large-scale performances, in addition to a theater lab, a jazz cafe, a restaurant and bar, and the grand foyer, one of the largest rooms in the world [source: Kennedy Center]. The Kennedy Center receives federal funding to pay for the building's upkeep, but ticket sales and gifts pay for most of the artistic and educational programs that take place inside it.
The orchestra has performed a concert series from the Kennedy Center every year since it opened, and in 1986 it became an artistic affiliate of the center. In 1997, the Kennedy Center's Concert Hall was renovated, improving the sound quality of the orchestra's performance space significantly [source: Washington Post]. In addition, the Kennedy Center is home to regular theater, ballet, jazz, contemporary dance, opera and chamber music performances.
The center also offers permanent performing arts educational programs, as well as performances for young audiences, and workshops for career development and arts management. And even if you don't live in Washington, D.C., you can still catch something from the building. Each year, 20 million people attend one of the Kennedy Center's touring productions or tune in to one of its nationally broadcast performances [source: Kennedy Center].
For lots more information on music and arts, see the links on the next page.

domain: artistic


text:
When Burl Audio invited singer-songwriter Carla Hassett to record the 1961 bossa nova tune, “Adriana” (by Roberto Menescal) at the iconic EastWest Studios in Los Angeles, she hesitated to reconnect with the 60-year old genre. From years of playing Brazilian music in clubs, she felt tired of the demands to play the same few Jobim classics that Americans know and love. Carla says she “felt the genre had been diminished to a cliché,” and longed to introduce a deeper level of Brazilian music to her audiences. But Burl Audio (who manufactures high end recording gear) were eager to capture the authentic swing of bossa nova. “I asked the folks at Burl to dig deep into the barrel, and when they came up with ‘Adriana,’ I knew we were going to make a very cool record.” Burl Audio owner and chief designer, Rich Williams, carefully curated the track for Carla and her band for its exquisite groove in 5/4 meter, and intimate vocal style. With Carla on guitar and vocals, bass and drums borrowed from Sergio Mendes’s band, piano, percussion, horns and flute, the song came alive in the very room where Sinatra once recorded. After tracking “Adriana,” Carla and the band were given extra studio time. Eager to keep the vibe going, Carla reached for two of her own songs that echoed the spirit of Antonio Carlos Jobim. From her studio, Carla then completed the tracking and mixed the two additional tracks, while “Adriana” stayed in Burl Audio’s hands, then headed straight to vinyl. “Sempre Odara” is the first of the two additional songs recorded that night. With Burl Audio’s technology, highly skilled musicians, and an iconic studio, the recording session celebrated the perfect pairing of musical and technological excellence, resulting in a pure expression of Brazilian bliss.
The word “odara” stems from the Yoruba term for “beauty,” in the sense that it is both a physical state, and a state of well-being. In the Brazilian candomblé tradition, “odara” takes on a deeper meaning of peace, tranquility, and infinite positivity. The song “Sempre Odara” (always odara), shines a light on the beautiful state of mind that infinite love can evoke, even when it goes unanswered, and the desire to stay in that elusive state for always.
There’s no mystery to the source of Carla’s musical identity. The São Paulo-born singer-songwriter grew up in a Brazilian community in Chicago, studying piano and guitar from an early age, and writing and recording her own tunes on her yellow Panasonic tape recorder before she hit her teens. Besides absorbing the Brazilian music her parents and extended family enjoyed listening to at home, Hassett soaked up rock, blues, funk and all of the other sounds popular in the Windy City. It wasn’t long before she turned pro, playing and singing with the top Chicago bands of the day, and lending her voice to jingles for national advertising campaigns.
Carla moved to Los Angeles and built a career singing backup on tour and in the recording studio with the likes of Billy Idol, Sergio Mendes, Gino Vannelli, actor/musician Gary Sinise, Grammy award-winning soul legend Solomon Burke, Flora Purim and Airto Moreira, Mike Patton, and a bevy of Latin music superstars. Carla backed up Lila Downs, Natalie Cole, and Caetano Veloso when he was honored at the Latin Grammys. Hassett also lent her voice to the movie soundtracks of Rio, Rio 2, Netflix’s Like Father, and Amazon’s Mozart in the Jungle.
Carla studied at Chicago’s Sherwood Conservatory and graduated Summa Cum Laude from Berklee College of Music. She is now on the commercial music faculty at California State University, Los Angeles. Among her influences, Carla cites Caetano Veloso, Elis Regina, Jorge Ben Jor, her “patron saint” Carmen Miranda, as well as Aretha Franklin, Freddy Mercury, and Amy Winehouse.
On her previous album, +Blue, Carla explored the meaning of “home” and the complexities of growing up between two countries and cultures, stylistically expressed through tropicalia and samba. But as the great Freddy Mercury once said, “give the people what they want,” and on “Sempre Odara,” Carla does just that by embracing the understated power and beauty of her home’s most celebrated music–bossa nova.
Carla Hassett “Sempre Odara” (Paulista Records)
Street Date: October 4th, 2019
Genre: Bossa Nova, Jazz, Brazilian
For fans of: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Astrud Gilberto, Gal Costa, Diana Krall, Norah Jones


text:
A wall art heart best ever gift present. It would be a unique handmade wooden gift for any occasion! I am Gary Burns the treewiz and I carved everything in my shop. I can personalize any of my hearts by inscribing a message on the back for no extra charge if it is something simple like a short sentence and date. I really love this wood! It looks as much like stone as it does wood! This wood has so much character!
It measures 17 1/2" tall x 13" wide x 1 3/4" thick. It comes ready to hang on the wall. I really love the colors of Buckeye when it has the blue in it like this. Buckeye is in the Horse Chestnut family. Not a real Chestnut.
PRIORITY SHIPPING IN INCLUDED IN THE PRICE! :)
The colors in this wood are so warm and there is a lot of character to the color contrast. This is a Buckeye Burl. It is a very rare wood. It grows in the foothills of the Sierra's in California. It grows in the Eastern US but this is a little bit more like a small bushy tree rather than a large trunked tree like in the East. And the one on the West Coast burls. It is a tricky tree to harvest because of the clay soil it grows in. When the soil is dry, it is harder than the wood. When the soil is wet, it is too slippery for the back hoe to get in and dig it out. Not only is it expensive and tricky to design but packing and shipping play a large part in the price as well.
This piece is flat on the back so it can hang on the wall. I have fastened a metal self leveling hanger on the back for hanging and it is signed Wiz on the back.
All of my carvings have a lacquer finish. Dusting with a feather duster or blowing off with a compressor is all that is necessary on the carved trees, fish and carved faces. I use Orange oil on the smooth surfaces. This will perk them up. I would do it as often as you polish your furniture. Once a month would keep them looking great but is not necessary.
I will contact you as soon as I get your order. I will package it that day or the next. I take it to the Post Office the next morning. If I get an order on Friday afternoon, Saturday or Sunday it will be in Monday mornings mail.
I use Priority United States postal service mail.
I do ship outside of the US. I need to know the carving that you are interested in and your complete shipping address. I will figure what it costs to ship to your address and make the changes to the listing so that you can make the purchase.


text:
Foldamers Containing Multiple Diketopiperazines “Foldamers
oligomers that adopt a well-defined secondary structure stabilized by non-covalent interactions, were developed to mimic the conformations and abilities of proteins and nucleic acids. Foldamers are often assembled chemically by coupling unnatural monomers into sequence-specific oligomers. Various applications have been reported using different foldamers: p-peptides [83, 84], peptoids [85, 86], aryl-based oligomers [87-89], and others [90-93]. Several foldamers containing DKPs have been reported to mimic protein secondary structure.
в-Bend Ribbon Mimics
P-bend ribbon is normally considered a subtype of the peptide 3i0 helix featuring a succession of repeating p-turn conformations, in which the carbonyl group of residue i is hydrogen bonded to the NH of the i + 3 residue . Peptides containing repeating units composed of proline or a-aminoisobutyric acid (Aib) often adopt this secondary structure [95, 96]. In 2010, Piarulli and co-workers reported p-bend
Fig. 19 (a) p-Bend ribbon 104 composed of amino acid DKPs 103; (b) SD simulation of tetramer 104
ribbon 104 formed by linking four-amino acid DKP monomers 103 through amide bonds (Fig. 19a) .
Tetramer 104 exhibited characteristics of a p-bend ribbon in NMR and CD spectroscopic experiments and stochastic dynamic (SD) simulations. For example, titration of 104 with deuterated methanol in d6-DMSO revealed intramolecular hydrogen bonds between exocyclic amide protons, which exchanged at slower rates compared to the DKP N-H protons. Moreover, the exocyclic amide and methylene protons exhibited NOE correlations (red arrows in Fig. 19a). The CD spectrum of tetramer 104 displayed a typical Cotton effect with strong and weak negative maximum, respectively, at 200 and 215 nm, similar to oligopeptides that are known to adopt ten-member hydrogen-bonded conformations. The spectroscopic evidence and SD simulations, all indicated that the DKP scaffolds pre-organized tetramer 104 to adopt a conformer featuring repeating ten-member hydrogen bonds (Fig. 19b).

domain: chemistry


text:
The trees whispered in the wind as their leaves fluttered. It was a cold night, and the moon could be seen peeking out from behind a cover of dark clouds. The hill above the Pink Palace apartments was shrouded in darkness.
Coraline Jones wandered up the muddy trail, wearing her yellow rain boots and hip-length yellow raincoat. Several inches of her dark pink skirt stuck out below the coat. Her bobbed blue hair shone in the moonlight.
Despite the chilly night, the peace of mind the trip would bring had spurred her into action. She smiled humourlessly as she came around a bend in the trail and started down a small slope toward an old apple orchard. She remembered being chased by a feral cat here on the day that she first moved to Ashland, Oregon.
The moon was huge tonight. Really huge – so big, in fact, that she could even see the dark spots on it. Four, to be exact.
Wait, four dots… Just like a button…
With mounting horror, Coraline realised that the moon did indeed look like a button – those horrible things that had haunted her nightmares for the past two months. She had awoken with a start many times after seeing two buttons staring back at her. Two black buttons that were the eyes of the Beldam, the terrible witch who had nearly trapped her forever.
It's just my imagination. That sort of stuff only happens with the moon in the other world… In her world...
Coraline squeezed her eyes shut and counted to ten before she opened them again. However, when she looked back up, the moon still resembled a button. Perhaps it was just a coincidence…?
She shook her head clear and continued on the path through the dark trees. She still found the area creepy – the way the trees seemed to stoop over the path, the abandoned cart lying off to the side, the way the dead leaves all over the ground rustled in the wind. The whole thing was creepy.
She shrugged off these counterproductive thoughts as she reached a familiar clearing and saw the ring of small mushrooms that marked the location of the Old Well. However, something was wrong. With mounting dread, she raised her flashlight and saw exactly what she had been fearing the most. The wooden cover over the well was smashed, its planks snapped and strewn all over the muddy ground, as though something trapped below them had broken its way through.
It can't be! She can't have escaped!
Coraline slowly approached the dark hole and shone her flashlight down into it, but the angle of the ground prevented her from seeing very far. She reluctantly stepped forward and aimed the light down into the well to see a glint of metal –
She screamed and dropped the flashlight when a metallic spider-like appendage leapt out of the well and grabbed her around the throat. She felt sharp stabs of pain as the needle-like points of the fingers pricked her neck. She raised her arms and grappled with the disembodied metal hand, gasping desperately for breath.
She caught a flash of movement in the well, looked down and saw them. Two black button eyes, illuminated by the moonlight, stared out at her from the darkness of the well. She tried to scream in terror once more, but could not draw enough breath. The hand around her throat pulled forward with terrible strength, forcing her forward, toward the well.
She struggled, but the hand was too strong. The waiting button eyes in the well gleamed hungrily as Coraline was haplessly pulled toward them. With a final tug of the hand, she was pulled forward into the hole.
Coraline awoke with a strangled scream, her pyjamas soaked in sweat. She fumbled for the bedside light, and it took her a moment to comprehend that she was in her bedroom. She looked out the window, saw the moon and was relieved to see that it looked perfectly normal. The girl took a moment to calm her breathing and glanced at the bedside clock. Three a.m. Yet another night of sleep disturbed.
Coraline fell back to the pillow with a sigh and tried to get comfortable. She felt that she should go to the sitting room downstairs and check on the seemingly innocuous little door in the wall – the mystical doorway that, in reality, led to the Beldam's world – and make sure that it was still closed.
But she was tired, and harboured a weary sense of déjà vu. Every time she had gone to check on the door in the dead of night, nothing had been wrong. It was still locked tight, and its key had been thrown down the Old Well, along with the pieces of a shattered metallic hand – the hand of the beldam that had followed her home two months ago.
She sighed and closed her eyes again, telling herself that she would check on the door tomorrow morning. It could wait until tomorrow, right?
This is a story I have been looking forward to writing for a while, particularly because it is a chance for me to work on my horror-writing skills, which I am still fairly new to. If anyone has any tips on how to write a good and suspenseful horror story, please comment and let me know.
I would like to extend a thank you to a number of writers (Dottie-Ditto, Marquis Carabas, Woodswolf, Tobu Ishi, RySenkari) for their excellent Coraline stories. Their work has inspired me to start writing this.
This story may not follow a regular update schedule at first, as my priorities are to my other fics for now (Left for Dead, Donkey Kong Country). However, it will certainly not be neglected.
Also, reviews are greatly appreciated. I am always open to constructive criticism. Thanks for reading.


The MP for Kootenay-Columbia is calling for a complete phase-out of ammonia in public rinks across Canada.
Wayne Stetski spoke in the House of Commons following the deaths of three people after an ammonia leak at the Fernie Memorial Arena October 17th.
He says efforts are needed to prevent what happened in the Elk Valley from occurring anywhere else.
“Since 2007, there have been about 50 ammonia leaks from refrigeration units,” Stetski says. “Not all of them were hockey rinks or curling rinks across Canada, but there have been other injuries and now three deaths resulting from ammonia.”
Stetski says the government should coordinate efforts to replace ammonia refrigeration with carbon dioxide systems.
“When there is a viable alternative, why wouldn’t we move towards that?” Stetski says. “But its costly and so it would take the Federal Government working with provincial governments to assist municipalities in changing over the refrigerant.”
Stetski says CO2 systems offer a safer alternative.
He estimates 65 percent of Canada’s 3,700 ice arenas and curling rinks use ammonia for ice production.
– Kootenay-Columbia MP Wayne Stetski


text:
52 Places to Go, a particular function from The Times’s Travel part, historically attracts on New York Times editors, reporters and contributors for suggestions on essentially the most well timed sights and delights on supply within the upcoming yr. It’s our annual information to the world’s most awe-inspiring locations.
The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted international journey in unprecedented methods. We’re not but able to totally comprehend its long-term results, each deeply damaging and doubtlessly useful, however journey, as we knew it, has modified.
In that vein, our 52 Places record will likely be totally different in 2021. While we are able to’t know what lies forward, we are able to nonetheless share the locations we’ve cherished, and proceed to encourage curiosity, open-mindedness and awe for the broader world.
That’s why we’re turning to you for subsequent yr’s record, which we’re calling 52 Places We Love.
We need 52 love letters to journey, all penned and photographed by you, our readers world wide, every about one place on the planet that’s particular to you. It is usually a fashionable vacationer vacation spot, or a spot that’s largely ignored. You would possibly encourage another person to go there sooner or later, or to rethink their assumptions, or to spark their inquisitiveness a few new piece of the world — all of the empowering issues that journey brings to our lives.
In the shape beneath, briefly inform us about one place that you simply love and why. If your submission is chosen for our record, you’ll be contacted by a Times reporter for a cellphone interview to elaborate in your vacation spot, your expertise there and why it must be included on the 52 Places record.
Some further prompts that can assist you:
How did this place change your notion about one thing?
What do you would like extra folks understood about this vacation spot?
Did you will have an expertise there that couldn’t have occurred wherever else?
What would you miss most in the event you couldn’t go to this place for a very long time?

domain: geography


It works good for the price but I would get the drill adaptor if doing a lot of brass
Pros: easy serup, works ok, good price...
Would recommend: Yes
0 of 0 found the following review helpful.
Was it helpful to you?
You said this review was not helpful.
Would you like to change your vote?


Lynne Holloway is saying goodbye
Lynne Holloway, director of the Augusta Public Library for the past almost six years, prepares to say goodbye to the community she and her husband Ken have grown to love.
“We’ve enjoyed living here. The small town atmosphere has been wonderful and I’ll miss our church and all of the friends we’ve made,” she said.
She and her husband, along with their two sons before they were grown, lived in a variety of places. Pulling up roots is not a new experience.
“We are moving back to Boca Raton, Fla., to be closer to Ken’s parents. They need us and it is the right thing to do,” she explained.
She and her husband moved here from Boca Raton and she feels fortunate she has been offered her previous job as director of the Boca Raton Public Library.
“It’s a miracle,” she said.
Holloway feels she is leaving the Augusta library in a good place. She’s proud of the technology plan in place. The building has wifi and more computer stations for the adults. There is a new integrated circulation system and she oversaw the addition of electronic material to the library collection, including eBooks and audio books.
“eBooks are free and available. They are great for children who don’t want to read traditional books,” she said. “Parents should take advantage of them.”
She is quick to share that her job in Augusta was fun because she was able to do a variety of tasks, interacting with everyone. She especially enjoyed Story Time and the children’s programs.
“The staff has the children’s programs down to a fine science and the Friends of the Library are huge supporters of all the children’s events,” she added. “One of the main reasons I took this job was because of the active group of Friends. They make so many things possible for the library.”
Holloway loves books and reading has been a life-long passion.
She knows opening up the library for meetings, classes and community events helps get people in the door.
“They’re all great ways to help libraries survive and bring people in,” she said.
Ken will be missed, too. His volunteer work in Augusta has included The Augusta Historical Society and the Community Caring Center.
A farewell reception will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. April 3 at the Augusta Public Library, 1609 State St.
Belinda Larsen can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org.


text:
Poland was the only European country not to experience a recession in 2009, and despite a drop in inward investment, Poland should soon again be attracting high levels of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI); in 2011 over €13.6bn came into the country, falling to less than €5bn in 2012 spread across less than 30 projects, with a strong interest in renewable energy. FDI in 2013 is expected to be €11.2bn and higher again in 2014. Poland has been, and will continue to be, the largest CEE market within the EU and continues to have the strongest economy.
MAI has been very active in Poland, working with both local and incoming clients, often winning business against established local competitors because of our expertise, reach and quality of service.
In the last year alone, MAI Poland has been involved in arranging PI cover for a number of renewable energy developers, and arranging construction insurance for Poland’s largest wind farm.
Strong financial services
The financial services sector in Poland continues to grow, particularly among financial services such as leasing and hire purchase. We are seeing an increasing demand for credit risk insurance, as well as for higher limits on PI cover.
To satisfy these needs we are developing new products in association with specialists, and have worked with selected partner brokers in international markets while at the same time boosting our own internal resources to widen our services and client offerings.
2013 and beyond
Poland’s hosting of the UEFA cup in 2012 further focused the world’s eyes on this vibrant economy, and is expected to generate even more opportunities for growth and investment: the number of factories under construction in Poland is due to grow by over 25% in 2013, leading to a projected surge in manufacturing in 2014. Poland’s new network of international motorways is also helping to attract business to the country. Polish companies are also expanding from Poland: expanding not only into other CEE countries, but also westward into Germany and beyond. MAI Poland has already experienced significant success in assisting these companies with their expansion and external investments.
MAI is well positioned to answer these opportunities with a major investment programme in both resources and systems designed to broaden our scope and ensure the best levels of client service.

domain: finance


The 37th Thailand International Motor Expo draws manufacturers of 31 car brands from eight countries and 22 motorcycle brands from 11 countries to prove confidence in and potential of the exposition, said Chalatchai Papaspong, vice chairman of the organizing committee.
“It goes along with the domestic automotive market that is picking up. Car sales in September grew by over 13% from those recorded in August,” he said.
Car makers were offering promotions to boost their sales and buyers thus had good opportunities to acquire vehicles at very cost-effective prices, Mr Chalatchai said.
He expected the exposition to result in transactions worth about 35 billion baht.
The showis held at the IMPACT exhibition and convention center in Muang Thong Thani housing estate until Dec 13. (TNA)
Photo Gallery – The 37th Thailand International Motor Expoat IMPACT Bangkok


text:
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi would formally launch his government’s three flagship programmes -- Smart Cities Mission, Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) for 500 cities, and ‘Housing for All by 2022’ -- at the Vigyan Bhawan on Thursday in the presence of senior officials from the Central and state governments and Union Territories dealing with urban affairs.
The Union Cabinet had on June 17 approved the ‘Housing for All by 2022’ scheme, which envisages rehabilitation of slum dwellers with the participation of private developers; promotion of affordable housing for weaker section through credit-linked subsidy; affordable housing in public-private partnership mode; and subsidy for beneficiary-led individual house construction or enhancement.
‘Housing for All by 2022’ aims at providing two crore affordable housing for urban poor. Sources said the Central grant for the project would be Rs 3 lakh crore over the next seven years.
When it comes to the Smart Cities Mission and the AMRUT for 500 cities, the Union Cabinet had on April 29 cleared the two projects, with outlays of Rs 48,000 crore and Rs 50,000 crore, respectively.
Under the Smart Cities Mission, each selected city would get a Central assistance of Rs 100 crore per year for five years. Cities to be developed would be selected through a “competition” intended to ascertain their ability to achieve mission objectives.


text:
Addiction therapy is difficult enough by itself, but when somebody is also dealing with psychological as well as mental illness, it certainly doesn’t assist. It is vital to look for drug rehabilitation center in Florida that treat dual medical diagnosis. There are essentially hundreds of private rehabilitation facilities in the Florida location that deal with the requirements of drug and alcohol reliant people, and considering the expanding varieties of people in need of dependency therapy, it is no wonder that brand-new medication rehabilitation center in Florida remain to open their doors. There is additionally a growing population of individuals that are not just addicted to medicines and/or alcohol, but who also experience from co-occurring psychological and psychological disorders. Dual diagnosis clients now make up a larger percentage of customers in private rehabilitation center than in the past.
If you depend on medications or alcohol as well as likewise suffer from co-occurring mental or emotional disorders, it is of vital significance to discover a private rehabilitation that concentrates on double medical diagnosis. When looking into couples halfway house, see to it to ask the right concerns. It is extremely crucial to locate a rehabilitation facility that uses personnel that comprehends every one of the complexities that occur with both addiction and mental/emotional disorders. Sometimes dependency is caused by the problem itself, and also various other times the dependency is aggravated by the co-occurring disorder. A qualified therapist will work with their individual to get to specific nature of the problem as well as have the ability to appropriately deal with both the mental issues and also the addiction.
Make certain when you are investigating the center that you are asking whether or not their team is involved in continuing education and learning for brand-new techniques of therapy as well. Dependency therapy has actually seen a variety of appealing brand-new approaches of therapy over the last few years, and also in addition to that, many brand-new therapy modalities have actually been introduced for double medical diagnosis customers also. Make certain that the exclusive rehab you are considering has done all them can to maintain to date with more recent kinds of dual diagnosis therapy. The choice you make can be the distinction between one more stopped working try at rehab or a long meeting life in soberness.

domain: medical


text:
After my complete failure in quarter 1 I decided to be a little bit more realistic in quarter 2 and posted my list here.
Thankfully half term was in this quarter and I got completely inspired so drum roll please I finished everything.
Firstly my secret sewing which was for the LMQG presidents new baby. Here he is enjoying his new quilt.
Then Jim's quilt which went down a treat with the new owner.
And I completed both charity quilts I had in progress.

domain: hobby


Transon attaches great importance to quality and sincere service. We provide one-stop services covering from pre-sales to in-sales and after sales.
With the pursuit of perfection, Transon exerts ourselves for well-organized production and high-quality laser engraver cutter.laser engraver cutter is a truly cost-effective product. It is processed in strict accordance with relevant industry standards and is up to the national quality control standards. The quality is guaranteed and the price is really favorable.
Company Advantages 1. The design principles of Transon small laser cutter laser wood and metal cutting and engraving machine stainless steel laser cutting machine co2 laser metal cutting machine mainly include the following aspects: the structure and the combined behavior and operating motion of its parts under load. 2. The product is carefully examined to ensure its quality and durability. 3. It is the function of small laser cutter laser wood and metal cutting and engraving machine stainless steel laser cutting machine co2 laser metal cutting machine that makes laser cutter for sale a great welcome. 4. laser cutter for sale has got customer's favorable comment.
Company Features 1. Transon gets its worldwide fame as an experienced laser cutter for sale manufacturer. 2. The company is blessed with an excellent management team. The employees in this team are experienced in reasonably arranging production plans and managing all production processes. 3. With the supports of our current and potential clients, Jinan Transon CNC Equipment Co., Ltd. will soon build ourselves up as the leader of the industry. Call! Our unique service has a place in the metal laser cutter industry. Call! Jinan Transon CNC Equipment Co., Ltd. will continue to pay attention to business models and promote innovative spirit. Call!


text:
550 global firms for Dubai WoodShow
Dubai, March 25, 2013
More than 550 global exhibitors are set to participate during the upcoming 2013 edition of Dubai WoodShow, the Middle East’s largest wood industry focused exhibition.
The event will run from April 9 to 11 at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Center.
Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions, the event organiser, has expanded the event’s gross area to cover 12,944 sq m and feature different halls for forestry and products, tools, equipment, finishing, timber, and outdoor furniture in 2013.
The expected growth in the international exhibitor count is in line with the rising demand for hardwood lumber in the region, with import figures projected to reach an estimated $700 million in 2012.
Now in its eighth edition, Dubai WoodShow will give more focus on wood furniture, veneer, laminates and other products, and on providing a venue where visitors can learn more about wood and meet the most highly qualified operators in the business.
It will also showcase the latest innovations in wood machineries and the technologies being developed to increase efficiency in the manufacturing process.
“The changes we have implemented within the Dubai WoodShow underlines our strong commitment to adequately address the needs of the market for a venue where traders and professionals can learn more about wood, while driving the overall growth of the wood industry,” said Walid Farghal, director general, Strategic Marketing & Exhibitions.
“We have made it easier for exhibitors to connect with a more targeted audience, which in addition to the tremendous import values for hardwood lumber recorded in the Mena region; this has also spurred a stronger demand for participation among global participants.”
“By gathering highly qualified operators in the business and leading manufacturers from all over the world, we are giving project developers and construction companies a premier destination to find the suitable wood products that suit not only the structural requirements of their projects but the environmental standards as well,” Farghal added.
“This year, we are expecting a large presence of senior management and decision makers seeking investment opportunities with professionals and corporations in the wood industry, and players who are interested in growing their business on a global scale.”
This year event has the participation of many international pavilions such as the US, Canada, Germany, France, China, Malaysia, Cameroon and Congo. – TradeArabia News Service


text:
Infinite dilution activity coefficient measurements of organic solutes in fluorinated ionic liquids by gas-liquid chromatography and the inert gas stripping method
par Kaniki TUMBA
University of Kwazalu-Natal - Master 2009
The activity coefficient of species in a solution is defined by the following ratio:
where, is the fugacity of component in solution, its pure component fugacity and, its
molar fraction. Activity coefficient is also defined as the proportionality constant between the activity of a substance and its mole fraction in a given solution.
In the study of phase equilibria and therefore the design and optimization of separation processes, the concept of activity coefficient is used rather than activity.
2.2.2. Importance and use of infinite dilution activity coefficient data
The infinite dilution activity coefficient , also referred to as limiting activity coefficient is the
limiting value of the activity coefficient of a solute when its concentration tends towards zero. Alessi et al. (1991) defined the infinite dilution region as one where each molecule of the solute is surrounded by molecules of the solvent only. Only solute-solvent interactions take place. This can be assumed for mole fractions ranging between 10-7 and 10-4, depending on components under investigation. The infinite dilution region of solutions attracted much interest for couple of reasons underlining its great importance (Raal and Mühlbauer 1998):
Sandler (1996) discusses theoretical and practical applications of infinite dilution activity coefficient (IDAC) values in chemical and environmental engineering. The most important ones that are related to chemical engineering are listed below:
188.8.131.52. Synthesis, design and optimization of separation processes
Separation is a critical stage in most of chemical processes by virtue of its sensitive impact on the global cost, as well as the quality of the product. One of the most important applications of IDACs is found in separation processes. IDAC values are used in the preliminary selection of solvent in view of extractive distillation, as well as, liquid-liquid extraction (Tiegs et al. 1986). The potentially best separating agent, called entrainer, is the one allowing the highest selectivity and capacity values. In other words, when solvents are investigated to find out the most suitable separating agent for a mixture containing two components and , their respective IDAC
values in each solvent are determined. Equation (2-3) is then used to calculate the selectivity at infinite dilution of each solvent with respect to the system.
and represent the limiting activity coefficients of and respectively in the solvent,
. is the limiting selectivity of solvent for the system consisting of components and
. Thus, selectivity values at infinite dilution are important for
a preliminary selection of an
numerically the maximum amount of species that can be dissolved in the solvent.
Additionally, capacity reveals how much solvent is used during the separation process. The greater the solvent capacity, the smaller the amount of solvent used. In principle, the solvent to use as separating agent is supposed to have the greatest value of both selectivity and capacity. But in practice, a compromise is to be found, since these two quantities are in inverse variation with respect to one another. A criterion that incorporates both selectivity and capacity together
is called performance index, given by the product of these properties (Kumar and Banerjee
2009). Thus, at infinite dilution,
The determination of permits one to evaluate the potential use of solvents. Therefore, it
serves as a preselection criterion. Other criteria (Lydersen 1983) leading to the definitive choice of a solvent include: recoverability, distribution coefficient, solvent solubility, density, interfacial tension, viscosity, cost, corrosiveness, non-flammability, low toxicity, etc.
184.108.40.206. Calculation of Henry's law constants
There is a relationship between the Henry`s law constant of a solute in a solvent and its limiting activity coefficient:
represents the Henry`s law constant for solute i in the solvent and is the vapour pressure
of solute i at the temperature for which the IDAC is
determined. Equation (2-6) shows that
l l 8
IDAC is useful (Eike et al. 2004). Design calculations for gas separation applications commonly ln e j
involve the use of Henry`s law constants.
220.127.116.11. Predicting the existence of an azeotrope
Conditions for the occurrence of an azeotrope in binary systems can be established using infinite dilution activity coefficient data (Gmehling and Möllmann 1998). For a system showing positive deviation from Raoult`s law, an azeotrope with a temperature-minimum (pressure-maximum) takes place when
(2-7) For a system exhibiting negative deviation from Raoult`s law, an azeotrope with a temperature- maximum (pressure-minimum) takes place when:
From equations 2-7 and 2-8, it obviously appears that the knowledge of the IDAC values can help in predicting conditions leading to an azeotropic mixture.
18.104.22.168. Development of predictive methods for
Values of infinite dilution activity coefficient are important for the development of new thermodynamic models, the adjustment of parameters, as well as the expansion of the applicability for the existing group contribution models (Gmehling 2003 and Nebig et al. 2009). With the aid of an appropriate correlation, one can use infinite dilution activity coefficient values to come up with VLE data in the intermediate concentration range. Additionally, it is recommended to fit group interaction parameters simultaneously to all available VLE, LLE and infinite dilution activity coefficient experimental data (Weidlich and Gmehling 1987).
22.214.171.124. Characterization of behavior for liquid mixtures
The infinite dilution activity coefficient value is an indication of the nature of interactions between solute and solvent molecules (McMillan and Mayer 1945). A high IDAC value is synonymous of weak solute-solvent interactions i.e. low solubility (Cheong 2003). The IDAC value is also a limiting measurement of the nonideality (Bao and Han 1995) of a solution. For an
? ? G RT
/ ? H
ideal system, whereas a departure from ideality corresponds to IDAC values greater or
?? = T ??
smaller than unity.
2.2.3. Temperature dependence of activity coefficient
The Gibbs-Helmholtz equation (2-9) depicts the effect of temperature change on activity coefficient.
This leads to the following significant relations:
Using experimental ã8 data, the partial excess enthalpy at infinite dilution for a given solute i,
can be directly obtained from the slope of a straight line derived from equation (2-11), where is the gas constant. It only takes an approximation of experimental values by the linear regression,
This procedure is widely used in the experimental section of this thesis.
2.2.4. Predictive activity coefficient models
Predictive thermodynamic models are very important in separation processes (Lei et al. 2008) as they allow:
It is beyond the scope of this study to review all the thermodynamic models used to predict infinite dilution activity coefficients. Only the most promising models used for systems involving ionic liquids are dealt with in this section. The most successful models used by various researchers to predict activity coefficients of various solutes in ionic liquids can be classified into two categories:
126.96.36.199 Group Contribution methods. (GCMs)
These methods are based on the group contribution concept which assumes that the interaction energy of a system is the sum of functional groups interaction energies, provided that groups are properly defined (Gmehling 2009). Molecules are therefore split into smaller structures called groups to which parameters are assigned. These activity coefficient models are mostly based on the relationship between the latter and the excess free energy.
The ASOG (Analytical Solution of Group) Model
The ASOG (Analytical Solution of Group) model was developed by Derr and Deal (1969) who exploited previous works by Wilson and Deal (1962). It was redefined by Kojima and Tochigi (1979) who modified several parameters in order to account for the effect of temperature changes. In this method, the expression of the activity coefficient is composed of two parts: the size contribution term and the group interaction one. Go et al. (2007) used the ASOG model to correlate experimental infinite dilution activity coefficient data of n-octane, n-nonane and ndecane in the ionic liquid 4-methyl-n-butylpyridinium tetrafluoroborate in the temperature range from 297 to 344 K. Their results were in good agreement with the experimental measurements. Twelve interaction parameters related to three structural groups, CH2, pyridinium and BF4 were determined.
The UNIFAC model and its modifications
After its publication by Fredenslund et al. (1975), the UNIFAC (Uniquac Quasi-Chemical Functional Activity Coefficient) underwent a plethora of revisions and extensions which are outlined in reviews by Lei et al. (2008) and Castells et al. (1999).
The original UNIFAC, as stated by Lohmann and Gmehling (2001), presented the following advantages:
The same authors highlight its weaknesses as follows:
In an attempt to remedy these limitations, more advanced versions of the UNIFAC model were developed, the most important ones being UNIFAC (Dortmund) by Weidlich and Gmehling (1987) and UNIFAC (Lynby) by Larsen et al. (1987). The modified UNIFAC (Dortmund) differs from the original UNIFAC model in that it uses a different combinatorial part and it reliably takes into account the temperature dependence of group interaction parameters. Its developers introduced new van der Waals quantities as well. No thermodynamic model can claim as much popularity as UNIFAC (Do). This is attributed to the amount of research work and publications related to it in the last twenty years. Moreover, around fifty companies and
institutions work actively in the UNIFAC Consortium to support directly or indirectly its perfections. The Thermodynamics Research Unit, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal is part of this organization. Successes recorded in improving the predictability of properties using UNIFAC (Dortmund) are presented in publications by Gmehling and Schiller (1993), Hansen et al. (1991), Gmehling (1995), Gmehling et al.(1998), Gmehling et al.(2002), Gmehling et al.(2009), Lohmann and Gmehling (2001), Wittig et al.(2001) and Jakob et al. (2006). Recently, Prof. Gmehling`s group started to assess the predictive ability of UNIFAC (Do) for systems involving ionic liquids. The parameter matrix of this model has been expanded, allowing for the prediction of infinite dilution activity coefficients of:
It is clear that the parameter matrix remains very limited when one looks at the number of ions involved in the structure of ionic liquids. The major weakness of GCMs is their inability to deal with isomers, proximity effects and systems involving groups for which experimental data have never been compiled (Putnam et al. 2004).
188.8.131.52. COSMO-based methods
The conductor-like screening model (COSMO) is a predictive method for thermophysical properties using a quantum chemical approach. Its two most widely used variants for infinite dilution activity coefficients in ionic liquids are COSMO-RS (The conductor-like screening model for real solvents), developed by Klamt (1995) and COSMO-SAC (The conductor-like screening model, solvation activity coefficients) (Lin and Sandler 2002). These two models involve statistical thermodynamics, along with quantum chemical calculation (Eckert and Klamt 2003). They require -profiles of molecules in the same manner as group contribution methods rely on group interaction parameters. A -profile is defined by Klamt and Eckert (2000) as a distribution function of the amount of surface having a screening charge density between and
?. COSMO-based models are parameterized for 9 elements so far: hydrogen, carbon, nitrogen, oxygen, fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine and sulfur. They rely on a very small
number of parameters (Eckert and Klamt 2003) which are not specific regarding molecules types or functional groups. This represents a great advantage as compared to GCMs which involve a large number of functional groups. Even components that have never been synthesized before can be studied since no experimental data are needed to carry out predictions as shown by Klamt et al. (1998). Long computation time and high computation costs are the major disadvantages of these COSMO-based models. In a paper discussing comparisons between COSMO-RS and GCMs, Grensemann and Gmehling (2005), taking into account another article to which Klamt himself contributed (Putnam et al. 2004) reveal the following:
This paper prompted a strong reaction from the developer of COSMO-RS (Klamt 2005) who found its conclusions biased in order to clearly favour the Modified UNIFAC (Do). From a neutral point of view, more time is required to confirm whether COSMO-RS is inferior or superior to GCMs (Klamt and Eckert 2008). More importantly, extensions are under way to improve both models. Infinite dilution activity coefficients of a large spectrum of solutes in some ionic liquids have been predicted using COSMO-RS. In a study on the removal of thiophene from diesel oil (Kumar and Banerjee 2009), COSMO-RS predictions of infinite dilution activity coefficient of alkanes, alk-1-enes and cycloalkanes in [HMIM] [PF6], [HMIM] [BF4], [MOIM] [Cl] and [EMIM] [Tf2N] are reported. The average absolute deviation of their predictions was found to be 12% with respect to experimental data. Larger errors are observed in a quantum chemical approach work by Sumon (2005) when predicting of toluene and
heptane in a large number of ionic liquids. Other similar predictive works (Banerjee and Khanna 2006, and Lei et al. 2007b) were in fair agreement with experimental measurements, exhibiting the same range of errors.
2.2.5. Experimental techniques for IDACs measurements
Various experimental methods exist for determining infinite dilution activity coefficients:
The two methods used in this work, are the most popular ones for ionic liquids. They are discussed here, with an emphasis on their suitability for this class of solvents. A useful review paper by Kojima et al. (1997) gives more details on other experimental techniques used for direct IDAC measurements.
184.108.40.206. Gas liquid chromatography (GLC)
In this technique, the solvent, used as stationary phase, is loaded onto the column. The solute, which is the mobile phase, is injected in a carrier gas through the column. The eluted solute is detected and its retention time, along with other experimental parameters, is used in an equation to compute the IDAC. Gas-liquid chromatography can be used for IDACs of volatile solutes in non-volatile or low volatility solvents. It is not applicable to systems involving a mixture of solvents. Table 2-4 summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of Gas-Liquid Chromatography.
Table 2-4: Advantages and disadvantages of the Gas Liquid Chromatographic method
Sample purity is not required The method is suited to low volatility
or non-volatile solvents only
The method is rapid as many solutes can be injected at once
Reactive systems can be investigated
The IDAC of the solvent in the solute cannot be determined
220.127.116.11. The inert gas stripping technique. (IGS)
In this method, a highly dilute solute is stripped from a solution by a constant inert gas flow under isothermal conditions. The vapour leaving the cell is periodically analyzed by gas chromatography. It is observed that the peak area depicting the solute concentration in the vapour phase decreases exponentially with time. Under this particular condition of exponential dilution, the infinite dilution activity coefficient of the solute in the solvent is related to the
decreasing rate of its corresponding peak area with time. The IGS method is used to measure
of volatile solutes in non-volatile or volatile solvents.
Systems with solvent mixtures can be
extraction technique (Vitenberg 2003; Dobryakov and Vitenberg 2006). Table 2-5 presents the advantages and disadvantages of this technique.
Table 2-5: Advantages and disadvantages of the inert gas stripping method
GC calibration is not required since only peak area ratios are involved in calculations
A mixture of solvents can be investigated.
Systems with high volatility solvents can be measured
Many solutes can be investigated at once
Solutes must be purified.
Low volatility solutes are difficult to measure.
A good gas-liquid contact is critical to obtain reliable results.
2.3. Advances in the design of IGS equipment 2.3.1. Major developments in the use of the IGSM
Since its establishment by Leroi et al. (1977), the IGSM underwent some improvements in terms of modernization of the analytical tool (GC), temperature and pressure sensors, achievement of isothermal conditions during experiments, etc. But the most important advance in this technique lies in a better understanding of factors affecting the accuracy of measurements provided by many research works. This resulted in various cell designs in order to suit different types of systems. Bao and Han (1995) sum up the major advances in the inert gas stripping technique as follows:
Either one or two cells can be used to measure infinite dilution activity coefficients by the inert gas stripping method. The single cell technique is suitable for systems with low volatility solvents and relatively high volatility solutes. The double cell technique is required when the solvent is a high volatile compound or mixture. In this variant, a presaturation cell is used to saturate the stripping gas with the solvent before the solute stripping process. This prevents any transfer of the solvent from the liquid to the vapour phase which would lead to changes of the amount of solvent in the dilutor cell. The single cell technique is appropriate to systems involving ionic liquids since they are generally very high boiling compounds and non volatile. Krummen et al. (2002) reported infinite dilution activity coefficient data for n-alkanes and alk1-enes, cyclic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, ketones, alcohols, and water in the ionic liquids 1-methyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, 1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethyl sulfonyl) imide, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium ethylsulfate in the temperature range between 293.15 K and 333.15 K. Activity coefficients at infinite dilution of alkanols in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexafluorophosphate, 1-butyl-3- methylimidazolium methylsulfate, [BMIM][MeSO4], and 1-hexyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, [HMIM][Tf2N], were measured by Dobryakov et al (2008). Using the same method, Nebig et al. (2009) determined for n-alkanes and alk-1-enes in the
ionic liquids 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide, 1-hexyl-1- methyl pyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide and 1-methyl-1-octylpyrrolidinium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide. Kato and Gmehling (2005a, b) presented infinite dilution activity coefficient data for seven solutes in the ionic liquids 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide and 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis (trifluoromethylsulfonyl) imide using the methods of gas liquid chromatography and the inert gas stripping technique. Their results show a good agreement between the two methods.
2.3.3. Cell design parameters
Thermodynamic equilibrium between the gas leaving the dilutor cell and the remaining liquid is instrumental in obtaining accurate infinite dilution activity coefficient data.To achieve this, three conditions must be met (Leroi et al. 1977):
Studies mentioned in the two previous sections threw light on these factors which affect the
performance of the IGSM:
For accurate measurements of IDAC, it is essential to take into account these factors when designing dilutor cells. The impact of each of these parameters is briefly explained in the light of expressions derived by Richon et al. (1980) which are reviewed in Chapter 3 of this thesis.
18.104.22.168. Dispersion device
In the original version of the method by Leroi et al (1977) (See Figure 2-2), a fine porosity fritted glass was used as dispersion device. Recently constructed dilutor cells are generally provided with stainless steel capillaries with very small inner diameters. Stainless steel is known as a non corrosive material. To ensure that the total mass transfer area is large, the inert gas, generally helium or nitrogen, is dispersed into very small bubbles. Capillaries must be in reasonable number and well spaced to avoid any bubble coalescence. Dobryakov et al. (2008) designed a very small cell, of volume 5 cm3, with just a single capillary tube used as the dispersion device.
22.214.171.124. Bubble rise height
The liquid level in the cell must be high enough for sufficient contact time between the bubbles and the investigated solution. This is a very important condition in view of attaining the required thermodynamic equilibrium.
126.96.36.199. Stripping gas flow rate
Efficient solute mass transfer from the liquid phase to the gaseous phase requires low inert gas flow rates as this results in longer contact times. The optimum flow rate depends on the system under investigation. It has been shown that when thermodynamic equilibrium has been attained between the two phases inside the dilutor cell, measured infinite dilution activity coefficients do not depend on the flow rate value. Additionally, the size of bubbles is affected by the flow rate, increasing up when the flow rate is increased. In previous works, experiments were performed with inert gas flow rates ranging between some tenths to tens of cm3 (Kutsuna and Hori 2008, and Krummen et al. 2002)
188.8.131.52. Bubble size
The smaller the bubble size, the more efficient is the mass transfer. In effect, when the inert gas is dispersed into the solution as small bubbles, the total mass transfer area is increased. If bigger bubbles are used, the height of the cell must be high enough to ensure a long residence time of the gaseous phase in the solution.
184.108.40.206. Liquid viscosity
A high viscosity hinders mass transfer. Its other effect consists of reducing the bubble rise and consequently allowing larger contact times. The two effects with regards to mass transfer and equilibrium conditions in the cell compensate each other. However, more sophisticated features need to be incorporated in the design of the dilutor cell, more especially its stirrer, for very viscous mixtures (Richon et al. 1985).
220.127.116.11. Range of IDACs to be measured
When very high infinite dilution activity coefficient values have to be measured, large amounts of solute are stripped out of the solution in a very short period of time, since there are very weak interactions between the components involved in the mixture. If care is not taken, this will compromise the attainment of equilibrium and reduce the mass transfer extent as the contact time may be insufficient. It is not therefore surprising that the worst agreement between infinite dilution activity coefficient data obtained with the GLC method and the dilutor technique were observed for very high activity coefficients (Leroi et al. 1977). The designer should take into account the range of IDACs values the cell is supposed to deal with in order to tune other parameters such as the height and the dispersion device.
2.3.4. Review of previous equilibrium cells
Various cell designs have been reported over the last forty years as part of the inert gas stripping set up for the determination of infinite dilution activity coefficient, Henry`s law constant and partition coefficient. The most efficient ones, taken from the open literature are reviewed. The various researchers who designed the cells discussed in this section reported a good agreement with infinite dilution activity coefficient data obtained by the GC method. And, reproducibilities better than 2% were obtained. However, the reliability seemed to be compromised when very
high values had to be measured. The other issue of concern is the determination of in
18.104.22.168. Leroi et al. (1977)
Leroi et al. (1977) used the pyrex glass cell represented in figure 2-2 to measure infinite dilution activity coefficient for n-hexane and benzene in ten different nonvolatile solvents, including Nmethyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), dimethylformamide (DMF), nitrobenzene, ethylene glycol and hexadecane. A solution of volume 25 cm3 could be accommodated by the still and an experiment lasted one to two hours. Solutes were introduced into the cell by means of a 10 syringe via the septum. Inert gas flow rates ranged from 50 to
150 cm3 .min-1. To ensure accurate measurements, liquid drop entrainment was limited by a dead space above the solution. This gas phase volume was kept small enough to ensure accurate measurements. The dispersion device consisted of a fine porosity fritted glass disk as mentioned previously.
Figure 2-2: Dilutor cell constructed by Leroi et al. (1977)
22.214.171.124 Richon et al. (1980)
Richon et al. (1980) designed the dilutor cell shown in figure 2-3, similarly to the one constructed by Leroi et al. (1977). Their major improvements to the first cell include the following features:
They investigated infinite dilution activity coefficients of alkanes from C1 to C9 in hexadecane. Experiments undertaken concluded that the inert gas stripping method could be easily extended to Henry`s law constant measurements. For Henry`s law constants greater than 30 atm., their work showed the necessity to keep a very small and homogeneous vapour phase in the cell.
Figure 2-3: Equilibrium cell constructed by
Richon et al. (1980)
126.96.36.199. Richon and Renon (1980)
In this design, Richon and Renon (1980) abandoned the previous conical shape in favour of a simpler shape as shown in figure 2-4. A considerably reduced 1 cm high gas phase is kept above the solution inside the dilutor cell. Their cell was used to determine infinite dilution activity coefficients of light hydrocarbons in n-hexadecane, n-octadecane and 2, 2, 4, 4, 6, 8, 8- heptamethylnonane.
Figure 2-4: Dilutor cell used by Richon and
188.8.131.52. Legret et al. (1983)
Legret et al. (1983) used the cell below (figure 2-5) to determine partition coefficients which are related to activity coefficients at infinite dilution. Their study involved some alkanes as solutes in the methane/n-decane system. The pre-saturator and the dilutor cell were fitted with 20 and 50 capillaries respectively. The capillary inner diameter was 0.3 mm for the pre-saturation cell and 0.1 mm for the dilutor cell. Both cells contained 40 cm3 of solvent.
Figure 2-5: Dilutor cell design by Legret et al. (1983)
B - body, C - cap, Ca - capillaries, H - capillary holder, M - magnet, V - O?-ring


text:
New breeding birds on the Somerset Levels
Wednesday 5 October 19:30
Over the last ten years the Somerset Levels have successfully attracted a variety of new birds some of which have bred here for the first time. Roger Lucken’s talk will focus on some of these species, discuss the potential for further expansion and look at the role of the Levels in providing a platform for colonisation of other parts of the UK.
Parking at Shapwick Village Hall, Station Road, Shapwick. TA7 9NJ, ST418384.
For more information please contact Anne Lees on email email@example.com
£2.50, under 16’s free


text:
By Steven L. Miller, Senior Editor
Office of Communications and Technology
Morris Animal Foundation's support to University of Wyoming College of Agriculture scientists has allowed study of chronic wasting disease (CWD) in white-tailed deer and has earned the organization 2008 Research Partner of the Year honors.
"We are honored to receive this award from the University of Wyoming and are proud to partner with you to provide a healthier tomorrow for companion animals and wildlife," says Kristin Benjamin, spokesperson for Scientific Programs and Advancement at Morris Animal Foundation (MAF).
In 2008, nearly 50 of the world's most respected animal health research institutions, colleges of veterinary medicine, and zoos are conducting more than 150 MAF-sponsored studies and 43 veterinary student summer research projects, according to MAF, which is based in Denver, Colorado. Since its founding in 1948, the foundation has funded more than 1,400 studies.
Associate Professor Todd Cornish in the Department of Veterinary Sciences has received two grants totaling $222,000 to study the mysterious CWD disease. The research also involves study by doctoral student Dave Edmunds in the department.
"The project was peer reviewed and deemed to be of very high scientific soundness and relevancy to not only white-tailed deer endemic to the area but to all cervids throughout North America threatened by CWD," says Benjamin.
"MAF's interest in wildlife health began in the late '60s with the very first study focusing on infectious diseases in captive wildlife," she says. "Infectious disease has continued to be our largest funded priority area for wildlife since then."
The first grant to UW is to study how CWD affects deer behavior including migration, dispersal, habitat selection and use, daily activity, and survivorship, says Cornish. The second grant, a fellowship training grant, supports the research of Edmunds, who is working on a Ph.D. in animal and veterinary sciences.
CWD is a chronic, fatal disease of white-tailed and mule deer, Rocky Mountain elk, and moose. It belongs to the group of diseases called transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs), which are thought to be caused by prions.
A prion is a microscopic protein particle lacking nucleic acid. It is thought to be the infectious agent responsible for CWD, the other animal TSEs (including scrapie in domestic sheep and bovine spongiform encephalopathy [BSE], also known as "mad cow" disease, in cattle), and other degenerative diseases of the nervous system.
There is no evidence CWD is transmissible to livestock.
Cornish served on MAF's Wildlife Scientific Board for four years, completing his last year (2005-2006) of the board as chair.
MAF fills an important niche in animal disease research funding, says Don Montgomery, head of the Department of Veterinary Sciences.
"One focus area is wildlife disease, and another has been support of research for companion animal diseases including horses," says Montgomery, who is also director of the Wyoming State Veterinary Laboratory. "There are few other sources of funding, outside of diseases with a human health slant, for the important maladies affecting companion animals."
MAF is the largest independent funding agency for both domestic (companion) animal and wildlife health/disease studies in the world, adds Cornish, "and it's all based on donor contributions and some very elegant financial management on their part."
MAF calls for traditional pre-proposals in the fall of each year but may also seek out specified research throughout the year ("out-of-sequence"). "Traditionally, we send out a call for pre-proposals with areas of priority interest stated," notes Benjamin. "However, we will entertain pre-proposals in areas outside those listed. We also seek applications for donors with specific areas of interest they have pledged to fund."
Benjamin lists to-the-point criteria for funding: "Scientific soundness, relevancy, humaneness, anticipated outcomes, cost effectiveness."
Proposals are reviewed by three volunteer scientific advisory boards (small animal, large animal, and wildlife). There are 23 board members who serve four-year terms. "These board members are appointed by their peers and are well established, highly respected, experts in their field," she notes.
UW scientists will glean behavior characteristics of white-tailed deer by using radio collars, including Global Positioning System (GPS) collars. Whether or not CWD is having long-term effects on this deer population will be determined using survival data, reproductive data, and mathematical modeling, Cornish says.
He says the genetic study is relatively simple. "There are genotypes of white-tailed deer that are more resistant to CWD (they survive longer with the disease), and we're testing the genotype of each deer to determine their status, relating this to CWD status (positive or negative), trying to confirm they do live longer (and thus, potentially, contribute to the population more significantly via reproduction) and if there is any selective pressure from CWD to increase this genotype in the population."
Cornish says the bulk of the work is by Edmunds, of Roanoke, Virginia, and it will comprise his Ph.D dissertation. Edmunds wrote the fellowship grant himself, per requirements, and was funded successfully from a very competitive graduate student/trainee pool.
"It is quite an honor in the wildlife disease field to be recognized and awarded in this manner," says Cornish, "and this is the only significant source of funds available consistently to train wildlife disease professionals and thus, kudos to MAF for this effort."
MAF has a definition of research success. "Our funding should bring about new veterinary medicine knowledge in general, early diagnostic tests, more effective preventions and treatments, and successful assisted reproduction for endangered species, etc.," says Benjamin.
"In addition, we are working hard to train the future companion animal and wildlife health researchers to cover the impending shortage," she continues. "Too few veterinarians and animal health scientists are entering the academic research field. Saddled with very high college debt, they can make more money out in private veterinary practice or the biotech industry."
On the Web: http://www.morrisanimalfoundation.org/


G-Star Xzyph 2-Tone Sweater Clearance
The Xzyph 2-tone sweater features an additional color at the inside. Also the G-Star RAW logo at chest is executed in this secondary color. The ribbed crew neck is designed with a dropped V-shape. A slightly dropped shoulder and a roomy cut body give a comfortable wear. The waist and cuffs offer a high raised ribbed edge. A subtle G-Star RAW logo at chest signs it off.
- Ribbed crew neck with lowered V-shape
- Slightly dropped shoulder
- Long sleeves, straight inset
- Ribbed cuffs and waist- high
- G-Star RAW logo at chest and label at the side seam
Model is 5'9'' and is wearing a size S (Chest 33'', Waist 25'', Hips 36'').
Onxell Sweat Unbrushed
This sweater is cut from a rich sweat fabric. The looped terry interior remains unbrushed to create a wicking feature.
- Soft knitted sweat fabric
- Unbrushed, terry looped inside
- 100% Cotton
40° normal process
Do not bleach
Do not tumble dry
Medium temperature iron 150°
Do not dry clean
Line dry/hang to dry
Wash inside out
Wash separately or with similar colours


text:
Thermal Barrier Coatings For Low Emission, High Efficiency Diesel Engine Applications
Thermal efficiencies of 54% have been demonstrated by single cylinder engine testing of advanced diesel engine concepts developed under Department of Energy funding. In order for these concept engines to be commercially viable, cost effective and durable systems for insulating the piston, head, ports and exhaust manifolds will be required. The application and development of new materials such as thick thermal barrier coating systems will be key to insulating these components. Development of test methods to rapidly evaluate the durability of coating systems without expensive engine testing is a major objective of current work. In addition, a novel, low cost method for producing thermal barrier coated pistons without final machining of the coating has been developed.