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The past 15 years have seen significant progress in LC-MS/MS peptide sequencing, including the advent of successful de novo and database search methods; however, analysis of glycopeptide and, more generally, glycoconjugate spectra remains a much more open problem, and much annotation is still performed manually. This is partly because glycans, unlike peptides, need not be linear chains and are instead described by trees. In this study, we introduce SweetSEQer, an extremely simple open source tool for identifying potential glycopeptide MS/MS spectra. We evaluate SweetSEQer on manually curated glycoconjugate spectra and on negative controls, and we demonstrate high quality filtering that can be easily improved for specific applications. We also demonstrate a high overlap between peaks annotated by experts and peaks annotated by SweetSEQer, as well as demonstrate inferred glycan graphs consistent with canonical glycan tree motifs. This study presents a novel tool for annotating spectra and producing glycan graphs from LC-MS/MS spectra. The tool is evaluated and shown to perform similarly to an expert on manually curated data.
Protein glycosylation is a common modification, affecting ∼50% of all expressed proteins (
). Regrettably, determining the exact role glycosylation plays in different biological contexts is slowed by a dearth of analytical methods and of appropriate software. Such software is crucial for performing and aiding experts in data analysis complex glycosylation.
Glycopeptides are highly heterogeneous in regard to glycan composition, glycan structure, and linkage stereochemistry in addition to the tens of thousands of possible peptides. The analysis of protein glycosylation is often segmented into three distinct types of mass spectrometry experiments, which together help to resolve this complexity. The first analyzes enzymatically or chemically released glycans (which may or may not be chemically modified), and the second determines glycosylation sites after release of glycans from peptides (the resulting mass spectra allow detection of glycosylation sites and the glycans on those sites simultaneously). The third determines the glycosylation sites and the glycans on those sites simultaneously, by MS of intact glycopeptides. Frequently, researchers will perform all three types of analysis, with the first two types providing information about possible combinations of glycan structures and peptides that could be found in the third experiment. Using this MS1 information, the problem is reduced to matching masses observed with a combinatorial pool of all possible glycans and all possible glycosylated peptides within a sample; however, this combinatorial approach alone is insufficient (
), and tandem mass spectrometry can provide copious additional information to help resolve the glycopeptide content from complex samples.
The similar problem of inferring peptide sequences from MS/MS spectra has received considerably more attention. Peptide inference is more constrained than glycan inference, because the chain of MS/MS peaks corresponds to a linear peptide sequence; given an MS/MS spectrum, the linear peptide sequence can be inferred through brute force or dynamic programming via de novo methods (
, which compares the MS/MS spectrum to the predicted spectra from only those peptides resulting from a protein database or translated open reading frames (ORFs) of a genomic database.
The possible search space of glycans is larger than the search space of peptides because, in contrast to linear peptide chains, glycans may form branching trees. Identifying glycans using database search methodologies is impractical, as it is impractical to define the database when the detailed activities of the set of glycosyltransferases are not defined. Generating an overly large database would artificially inflate the set of incompletely characterized spectra, and too small of a search space would lead to inaccurate results. Furthermore, as glycosylation is not a template-driven process, no clear choice for a database matching approach is available, and de novo sequencing is therefore a more appropriate approach.
As a result, few desirable software options are available for the high throughput analysis of tandem mass spectrometry data from intact glycopeptides (as noted in a recent review (
)). In fact, manual annotation of spectra is still commonplace, despite being slow and despite the potential for disagreement between different experts. Some available software requires user-defined lists of glycan and/or peptide masses as input, which is suboptimal from a sample consumption and throughput perspective (
). These lists must typically be generated by parallel experiments or simply hypothesized a priori, meaning omissions in either list may affect the results. Furthermore, some software does not work on batched input files, meaning each spectrum must be analyzed separately (
). Moreover, there is an even greater lack of open source software for glycoproteomics, so modifying the existing software for the researchers individual applications is not easily achieved. The one open source tool that we know of (GlypID) is applicable only to the analysis of glycopeptide spectra acquired from a very specialized workflow, which requires MS1, CID, and higher-energy C-trap type dissociation (HCD) spectra (
). With that approach, oxonium ions from HCD spectra are necessary to predict the glycan class; potential peptide lists are queried by precursor m/z values (requiring accurate a priori knowledge of all modifications), and possible theoretical “N-linked” precursor m/z values are used to select candidate spectra (using templates, unlike de novo characterization). As a result, the tool is specialized and limited to analysis of “N-linked” glycopeptide spectra from very specific experimental setups.
Free, open-source glycoproteomic software capable of batch analysis of general tandem mass spectrometry spectra of glycoconjugates is sorely needed. In this work, we present SweetSEQer, a tool for de novo analysis of tandem mass spectra of glycoconjugates (the most general class of spectra containing fragmentation involving sugars). Furthermore, because SweetSEQer is so general and simple, and because it does not require specific experimental setup, it is widely applicable to the analysis of general glycoconjugate spectra (e.g. it is already applicable to “O-linked” glycopeptide and glycoconjugate spectra). Moreover, because it is an open source and does not use external software, it not only eschews solving problems like MS1 deisotoping, it can also be easily customized and even used to augment and complement existing tools like GlypID (and, because we do not use a “copyleft” software license, our algorithm and code can even be added to non-open source and proprietary variants).
SweetSEQer's performance was tested on a validated, manually annotated set of glycoconjugate identifications from a urinary glycoproteomics study. Specificity was demonstrated by showing a low identification rate on negative control spectra from Escherichia coli. Annotated structures are shown to be consistent by a human expert by demonstrating a high overlap in identified glycan fragment ions, as well as a consistency between SweetSEQer's predicted glycan graph and glycan chains produced by an expert. Our simple object-oriented python implementation is freely available (Apache 2.0 license) on line.
A clean-catch urine sample from a healthy infant was obtained with an IRB-approved protocol from the Boston Children's Hospital internal biobank and processed using a spin filter-based sample preparation (
). Proteins were desalted, reduced, and alkylated in the spin filter, washed extensively with triethyl ammonium bicarbonate (TEAB), and subsequently digested with trypsin at a w/v ratio of 50:1 sample/enzyme overnight at 37°C. Peptides were labeled with TMT6–126 (Thermo Scientific) according to the manufacturer's instructions and purified with HLB cartridges (Oasis). Peptides were fractionated using an Agilent OFFGEL isoelectric point fractionator for 50 kV-h, extracted, and dried.
Individual fractions were reconstituted in loading buffer and analyzed by LC-MS/MS using a Thermo QExactive MS system (a high mass accuracy instrument) equipped with an Eksigent 2D nano-LC system, autosampler, and home-packed C18 column. A top 10 data-dependent LC-MS/MS method was utilized, and resolution was set to 70 K for MS1 and 17.5 K for MS2 scans. A 60-min linear gradient from 5 to 35% ACN was used. Normalized collision energy was 30, and the AGC was set for 1e6 for MS1 and 5e4 for MS2 scans.
Curated Validation Data
All MS2 spectra with the diagnostic Hex1HexNAc1 oxonium ion at 366.1395 m/z were manually annotated when the spectral quality permitted. In total, 62 N-glycopeptide spectra were identified. To evaluate the ability of SweetSEQer to identify glycoconjugates, these spectra were converted to centroided mgf files using the publicly available msconvert tool (from ProteoWizard 2.1 (
)). Similarly, to determine the false-positive rate and false discovery rate of SweetSEQer, three replicate samples of E. coli were processed on the same machine with identical experimental configuration, and the MS2 spectra were then converted into an mgf file using identical msconvert settings. E. coli is known to have very limited glycosylation (
); thus, E. coli spectra constitute high quality negative controls and can be used to measure the false-positive rate and false discovery rate. The positive and negative controls were then analyzed using an m/z tolerance of 0.01 Da and an intensity thresholding of 1% Base Peak Intensity in SweetSEQer to identify monosaccharide losses between fragment peaks.
Simple Method for Glycan Inference
SweetSEQer employs a simple idea: link MS/MS peaks of nontrivial intensity (defined by the free parameter τ) that are approximately separated by a predicted glycan mass-to-charge and then identify the largest directed subgraph with dynamic programming (peptide sequences are also inferred by identifying the longest path). For this experiment, we include hexose (162.0528 Da), HexNAc (203.0794), dHex (146.0579), and NeuAc (291.0954) (isotope shifts of ±1.003 Da are also included). Importantly, edges are added so that if there are edges connecting peak a to b via hexose (for example) and connecting a to c via hexose (with an isotope shift), then all edges coming from b are added to c (and vice versa). This allows a path to enter into one isotope peak and leave from another, substantially increasing the ability of SweetSEQer to piece together large connected glycan graphs; however, it does so without “merging” these isotope peaks, which would have a significant drawback. If isotope peaks were merged, a large collection of peaks each 1.003 Da from the next may all be merged together and permit paths that enter into the lowest m/z peak and exit via the highest m/z peak, far away. Furthermore, these individual isotope peaks present corroborating evidence and help discriminate genuine glycoconjugate spectra from false-positives, and merging them would discard this evidence.
The specific list of monosaccharides utilized are easily edited for the user's application. Peaks separated by these predicted mass-to-charges are found by performing a log2 search on the sorted peaks' mass-to-charges and searching for the value closest to the sum of the first peak and the predicted change from adding the glycan. This log2 search is significantly more efficient than performing a full pairwise search of all peaks. Spectra whose peptide sequences and glycan graphs (including edges from isotopic shifts) that are larger than user-defined thresholds pass through the filter and are displayed with colored peaks (the inferred peptide sequence and a glycan graph produced by the graph are displayed in the output). Note that for successful filtering of high quality glycans, the graph need not be perfect; successfully building a large tree simply indicates a high quality glycoconjugate match, and it can be used to quickly narrow spectra of interest and aid an expert in finding the glycan structure.
The free parameters of the method allow the user to define the stringency with which spectra are filtered as follows: ε defines the maximum allowable error between the expected and measured peak location (in m/z). λ defines the minimum peak intensity relative to the most intense peak in the spectrum (i > λimax). p defines the minimum number of fragment ions in the predicted peptide chain. g defines the minimum number of glycans in the predicted graph (this is the number of edges in the graph, including isotopic shifts). Finally, τ determines the minimum m/z value of peaks considered in the glycan graph. CID and HCD fragmentation of glycoconjugates produce characteristic oxonium ions in the low m/z region. These oxonium ions are highly useful for identifying which spectra came from glycoconjugates; however, they are not informative with regard to identifying the glycan or the peptide moieties. Therefore, the τ parameter in SweetSEQer allows the user to filter out those spectra that identify only these oxonium ion series. A useful value for this goal would be 660 Th, which is above the HexNAc-Hex-NeuAc ion at 657 Th. Otherwise, the commonly occurring ions at 204 (HexNAc), 366 (Hex-HexNAc), and 657 (NeuAc-Hex-HexNAc) would match several otherwise uninformative spectra. A complete sequencing of peptides <660 Th would yield little marginal utility, as smaller peptides are shared by several proteins.
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
We processed both the control and positive curated data sets using SweetSEQer (parameters ε = 0.01; λ = 0.01; p = 0, g = 7, and τ = 500); even with this very simple filtering, 58/64 positive spectra are identified, while only identifying 1.3% of negative control spectra (Table I). This 1.3% corresponds to the false-positive rate, which is defined as the percent of nonglycoconjugate spectra that are mislabeled as glycoconjugate shown in Equation 1,
Table IResults on positive (curated) and control spectra
However, the false discovery rate is defined as the percent of all spectra labeled as glycoconjugate that are incorrectly labeled as shown in Equation 2,
If a sample twice the size of the curated spectra (i.e. 124 spectra) were analyzed, where 50% of these spectra were glycoconjugate spectra and 50% were nonglycoconjugate spectra, then the estimated number of false-positive matches at a 1.3% false-positive rate would be 1.3% × 62 ≈ 0.8. With the 58 true positive hits in the curated spectra, we would estimate that a 50/50 mixture of glycoconjugate and nonglycoconjugate spectra would result in a false discovery rate of 0.8/(0.8 + 58) ≈ 1.4%. As the percentage of nonglycoconjugate spectra in the data set was increased, this rate would rise.
A high sensitivity-specificity tradeoff is especially useful in practice (rather than evaluation), when no curated positive controls are available. High quality negative controls (e.g. the E. coli spectra employed here) can be utilized by statistical methods for rigorously estimating the free parameters and providing nonarbitrary false discovery rate thresholds and probabilistic estimates for individual matches (
The output of SweetSEQer on two positive spectra are shown in Fig. 1 (note that intensities are scaled and averaged for the region of interest in the expert-annotated spectra). Table II shows two separate measures for demonstrating the consistency between expert-annotated spectra and SweetSEQer's graphs. First, for all identified curated spectra, we calculate the recall of expert-identified fragment ions that are also annotated by SweetSEQer. Second, for all identified curated spectra, we compute the percent of SweetSEQer-inferred graphs that are consistent with expert annotation. SweetSEQer correctly identifies the majority (85%) of the expert-annotated peaks. Note this high similarity, despite the fact that the expert did not see the SweetSEQer output and was thus not constrained to use the same charge state. In 6/58 spectra, the expert used an ion series from a different charge state, making it virtually impossible to find the same fragment ion peaks. SweetSEQer also generates graphs consistent with an expert's annotation on 91% (53/58) of the identified curated spectra. In many cases, SweetSEQer finds additional peaks that are consistent with canonical glycan structures. These results not only demonstrate consistency with an expert, they also highlight the limits of expert annotation; an expert may correctly observe peaks from core structures but frequently miss peaks of low intensity, which can provide more detailed resolution of the glycan structure.
Table IIAccuracy of annotation on identified curated spectra
Additionally, even though the graphs produced by SweetSEQer are unconstrained (i.e. they do not exploit prior knowledge about likely glycan features and structures), these graphs are shown to be consistent with the canonical glycan structures (e.g. the N-linked core) and can substantially aid an expert in two principal ways: first, by winnowing likely glycoconjugate spectra from thousands of candidates, and second, by generating easily interpretable figures that help the user annotate spectra. This high quality computational annotation is easily married with an expert's prior knowledge (e.g. regarding likely characteristics and structures of glycans in his or her specific sample preparation) and can help yield analyses far superior to an expert alone. This prior knowledge can even be incorporated into the SweetSEQer code for tailored analysis (e.g. the observed oxonium ions could be analyzed earlier and used to determine the allowed glycans, and thus the allowed m/z gaps between fragment ions, for a given MS2 spectrum).
Despite its simplicity, it is intuitive how this method would produce high quality filtering and sequencing, particularly when high mass accuracy data are available; the algorithm simply automates a process similar to how glycan spectra are identified by hand. Because it is simple, open-sourced, object-oriented, and permits batch processing of MGF files, our method can be trivially remixed to add application-specific filtering. Missing peaks can be easily handled by including slightly penalized double edges. Branch and bound (and probabilistic variants (
)) can be used to search for canonical glycan structures in the graph (e.g. the chitobiose, also called the N-linked core). Moreover, our code indicates where the graph-building algorithm can be easily adapted to dramatically speed search with a hash table and windowing when ε is small. Although future methods are bound to introduce and expand upon probabilistic models, simple tools like SweetSEQer are quite useful for quickly sifting through MGF files and rapidly developing new tools.
Author Contributions: O.S. proposed the de novo approach for sequencing glycoconjugate spectra. J.F. prepared the urine samples, performed the LC-MS/MS analysis, and curated the data. G.M. prepared E. coli lysates for LC-MS/MS, and J.M. performed LC-MS/MS on them. O.S., J.F., R.L, J.S., and H.S. proposed the experiments in the paper.
On the frequency of protein glycosylation, as deduced from analysis of the SWISS-PROT database.
* This work was supported, in whole or in part, by National Institutes of Health Grants NS007473 and NS066973 (to O.S.), Grant DK077836 (to J.F. and R.L.), Grant GM096319 (to J.M.), Grants HD020991 and DK082316 (to G.M.), Grant NS066973 (to J.S.), and Grants GM096319 and GM094844 (to H.S.).


THIS winter an NHS group is aiming to recruit 100,000 new blood donors in 100 days.
NHS Blood and Transplant (NHSBT), which organises donor sessions, launched the challenge earlier this month to ensure stocks are high over the colder months.
NHSBT lead donor relations manager John Canning said: ‘While we appreciate people are often very busy shopping for presents and planning get-togethers at this time of the year, donated blood is needed just as much as ever in December.
‘As a result, we are appealing for people to show warm hearts by taking just a little time out to give blood this Christmas.
‘We are particularly keen for younger people and those who haven’t given blood before to get in touch so that they can become the lifesavers of the future.’
Anyone aged between 17 and 65, weighing more than 50 kg and in general good health could become a donor.
There is no upper age limit for donors who have given blood in the past two years.
To find out more, call 0300 123 23 23 or visit blood.co.uk.


Trudy Lile is always in demand whether it’s cruise liner gigs, winery gigs or bar and club gigs. Last night she was at the CJC with Kevin Field on piano, Cameron McArthur on bass and Ron Samsom drums. This particular quartet is a regular lineup for Lile and it is hardly surprising. Musicians like this are a gift to a leader, as each of them has pulling power, but they operate as a high functioning unit when together. Lile is also an energetic and engaging performer and the enthusiasm she radiates is always evident in her music.
As a singer/flutist Lile often favours standards or latin material, as these suit voice and flute so well. She still surprises though with appealing lessor known tunes or sometimes popular tunes which lend themselves to wider explorations under her coaxing. She is keen on finding new standards from the latter and we often hear material from sources not usually tapped by improvising musicians. This use of popular material is becoming more commonplace and another recent example of this was Benny Lackner opening with a number from the latest Bowie album. Lile also brought some interesting new compositions to the gig.
The clubs audience numbers could have been better during the last month, perhaps they were saving for the festival, but Lile being a true professional worked the room and fed off the interaction. She has an abundance of charm, humorous banter and above all musicality. The band responded to her lead with enthusiasm, amping up their performances to match hers. Kevin Field is the sort of pianist who understands the accompanists role, comping sparingly at times and launching into heart stopping solos at others with McArthur and Samsom responding to each nuance. I have posted a clip from the gig which is a favourite of Lile’s. An Eliane Alias number titled ‘An Up Dawn’ from the album ‘The Three Americas’.
Footnote: My ability to comprehend the softly spoken human voice with any accuracy has declined in recent years; probably due to the endless procession of loud gigs in intimate spaces that I attend. What I heard Lile announce was a tune called “An Up Storm’ and so I labeled the You Tube clip accordingly. When I saw Lile a few days later she laughingly told me what the actual title was. Unfortunately I misheard that as well, as ‘An Up Swarm’. The clip now correctly refers to ‘An Up Dawn’, but I do like my rogue re-titling. Perhaps Trudy Lile could reharm the tune, utilising my imaginative and thought-provoking title(s)? I am sure Eliane wouldn’t mind. There is more than a hint of Chaos Theory in what I had originally settled on; An up swarm of bees in Brazil causing a storm in Auckland.
Who: Trudy Lile (leader, flute, vocals), Kevin Field (piano), Cameron McArthur (bass), Ron Samsom (drums)
Where: CJC (Creative Jazz Club), Britomart 1885 basement, Auckland New Zealand 15th October 2014
One thought on “Trudy Lile @ CJC 2014”


text:
Family of five faces stark holiday without help
Five kids in one local family may not know how bad things are these days.
But their mom Jennifer does.
And that’s why she is applying for help from the Empty Stocking Fund, which is conducted through The Salvation Army.
Jennifer (not her real name) cleans houses for a living and is without the help of the children’s father.
“Their dad is in jail and it’s hard,” Jennifer said. “I cannot afford very (many) Christmas gifts this year.”
Three boys are in the house, ages 12, 10 and 2. Two girls, 5 and 2, round out the family unit.
“It would be a sad Christmas for the children unless I can get some help,” Jennifer said. “I just want to get for them what they want to have.”
Through the Empty Stocking Fund, a joint effort of The Salvation Army and the Clovis News Journal, Jennifer’s family will receive a food basket that includes pancake mix, peanut butter, jelly, canned goods, cereal, beans, rice, sugar and macaroni and cheese.
More than 400 local families are scheduled to receive the baskets through the Empty Stocking Fund this holiday season.
Donations for the Empty Stocking Fund may be dropped off at the CNJ, 521 Pile St., or mailed to the CNJ, P.O. Box 1689, Clovis 88102-1689. Envelopes should be clearly marked to indicate they contain a donation for the Empty Stocking Fund.
All contributions will be forwarded to The Salvation Army.
People who would like to donate food or new Christmas toys or clothing items may do so at The Salvation Army office, 317 E. Second St..
Information is available by calling the office at 762-3801.

domain: sociology


Sunpreme closes $50 million financing for solar project
Sunpreme, a global manufacturer of low-cost, highly scalable SmartSilicon solar cells, has closed more than $50 million in financing led by the International Finance Corp., joining existing investors Capricorn Investment Group and China Environment Fund III, LP, managed by Tsing Capital.
The capital infusion is being used to construct a state-of-the-art facility in Jiaxing, China, which will allow Sunpreme to continue to expand production of its SmartSilicon solar cells by year end.
Sunpreme”s SmartSilicon is a disruptive solar cell technology that delivers high-efficiency solar photovoltaic panels at lower costs. Using Sunpreme”s patented technology on largely industry standard production equipment, the company”s cost-effective manufacturing process provides utility-scale and distributed power generation customers with a reliable, high-performance and affordable online casino solar solution.
BrightSource Energy files application for certification for Rio Mesa solar facility
BrightSource Energy Inc. has filed an application for certification with the California Energy Commission to develop three 250 MW solar power plants in Riverside County, Calif.
The solar plants, which will be located primarily on land owned by the Metropolitan Water District, will collectively generate enough electricity to power more than 300,000 homes.
World Energy Solutions acquires energy efficiency firm
World Energy Solutions Inc., an energy management services firm, has acquired Northeast Energy Solutions LLC, a privately-held energy efficiency company. The acquisition provides World Energy an immediate foothold in the New England market, where utility incentives are available for commercial and industrial energy efficiency projects.
The move accelerates the growth of World Energy”s energy efficiency practice. Northeast Energy Solutions has flourished as a regional provider of energy efficiency services, completing numerous energy efficient HVAC, refrigeration controls and other mechanical system upgrades for its commercial, industrial and institutional customers.


text:
Devastating floods have hit parts of western Europe after record rainfall caused swollen rivers to burst their banks.
At least 100 people have died in Germany and 22 deaths have been reported in Belgium.
Forecasts suggest more heavy rain is due in much of the region on Friday.
Some 200,000 homes were also left without power.
Thousands of relief workers and soldiers are helping police with search and rescue efforts.
Heavy rains were also seen in Switzerland, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, where dozens of people were evacuated from their homes.

domain: news


text:
Platforms PS4 / Xbox One / Windows
Publisher Suprise Attack Games Developers Cybernate
Genre Action Platform Played Playstation 4
Satisfaction, Frustration, Fun, Boredom. All traits of Super Mutant Alien Assault, it’s a tough one. The game exerts both great and not so great qualities. Developer’s Cybernate have certainly found their groove in the niche market of retro-inspired indie games with their fun gameplay, unique art style and soundtrack. But it’s not to say this game doesn’t have its flaws.
Super Mutant Alien Assault follows a very straightforward and stereotypical alien story. Aliens are attacking Earth and the only defenders are some droids equipped with an arsenal of weapons and power-ups. While it’s a basic premise, the game provides enough basis to create an alien feeling environment in its various levels. The actual gameplay consists of a wave-based maps wherein the player must destroy a variety of aliens that spawn as a result of the impending invasion. All aliens and levels are randomly generated on each play through, meaning the difficulty can vary from super easy to very hard depending on what is spawned.
While the gameplay is fairly basic, it’s quite fun. Levels provide some weaponry which, depending on the randomly given weapon, allows players to either lay back and destroy aliens with ease or strive to beat that last one with the most basic weapon. The game does a good job at curbing the learning difficulty by explaining each gameplay mechanic or weapon before jumping into combat. It’s important for players to pick up weapons as soon as possible from one of the vending machines and boxes to avoid being ripped apart by those pesky aliens. Droids/Players can equip both a primary and secondary weapons in addition to grenades which comes to help in those moments when there’s no hope left and ammo is scarce.
A sleuth of power ups and abilities are granted to players as they progress throughout the levels, and by all means they don’t feel important. They allow players to side-dash, double jump and use a bubble shield and while they may sound worthwhile, they don’t aid players effectively when they’re struggling to fend off hordes of aliens. The aliens in particular can vary in size and difficulty, some fly, some don’t but you can be assured the majority are annoying and it gets pretty heated when dodging and attacking multiple enemies on screen at the same time.
The combination of randomness and varying difficulty amongst weapons, abilities and enemies keeps players on the edge of their seats but ultimately summarises Super Mutant Alien Assault itself, as either genuinely fun or insanely frustrating. Amongst all the alien killing there a few objectives to complete dependent on the level, one scenario involves moving batteries from one side of the level to another in order to charge a power source and achieve light speed, while another requires players to release pressure from canisters before they explode and injure them.
Super Mutant Alien Assault art style however exerts a fresh retro impression, reminiscent of the Super NES era of video games and the sound effects and soundtrack also exert a certain unique retro flair. Both audio and visuals appropriately accompany the fast-paced side stroller.
While Super Mutant Alien Assault captures player’s attention with its fast-paced gameplay and randomness after a few play throughs it begins to feel stale and unoriginal. Once players get stuck in the mantra of losing, trying again and losing again, the incentive to keep playing diminishes. This could have been aided with some form of power up or something to encourage players to keep going. The game relies too heavily on its difficulty and randomness factor to prolong gameplay, and begins to feel static in a player’s progression. Permanent power-ups or RPG-like elements could have helped create a more balanced game and steady character progression, but that’s overthinking it
Super Mutant Alien Assault is a great combination of quick gameplay with a great art style and soundtrack. The premise is basic but enough to get you initially hooked and playing the fast-paced experience. The weaponry puts you in the position to either conquer or cower as you oppose and defend against hordes of different aliens. While it’s combination of varying difficulty, randomness, enemies and weapons exerts the game’s best qualities it is also the game’s biggest downfall as it becomes stale and unoriginal after replaying levels over and over again. With a lack of character progression and relying too heavily on difficulty to prolong the game’s life, Super Mutant Alien Assault falls short. It’s a quick fun game that may entertain you for a few rounds, but nothing more.
- Fun Fast-paced gameplay.
- Great Retro Art and sound style.
- Great apporachability, easy to play.
- Randomness makes it spontaneous, initially.
- Power-ups don’t accomplish much.
- Game relies on randomness and difficulty to prolong the playtime.
- Lack of character progression or character accopmlishment.
- No Incentive to keep going after replaying levels.

domain: hobby


In a series of Open Meetings during 2012, we developed our Community Vision.
“Our vision of Kings Langley in 2040 is one of a resilient, collaborative and inter-dependent community that meets the needs of its residents using local and renewable resources. The local economy thrives, with community initiatives that encourage and sustain local enterprises. These are underpinned by relevant and inclusive sustainable education, health and communication systems.”
We will do this through:
Opportunities for change ~ providing a forum for ideas and a structure for effecting change by organising open meetings, events and discussion groups and by initiating petals (e.g. food, energy, water, transport).
Catalyst ~ creating space or roles for other people to take part and do things; identifying and developing local leadership.
Local support ~ engage with other local community groups, e.g. church groups, WI, local government and other interested parties.
Inspiration by example ~e.g. actively communicating with the wider community. Trying things out and communicating our efforts and examples. Regularly reflecting on and evaluating our efforts and the lessons learned.
Common purpose ~ connecting and integrating, e.g. with other neighbouring Transitions or like-minded groups for initiatives and peer group support, sharing and participating in others’ events. Synergising skills across the groups.


text:
Synonyms for electrophorus
WordNet 3.0 Copyright © 2006 by Princeton University.
All rights reserved.
- 1. electrophorus, electrostatic generator, electrostatic machine, Wimshurst machine, Van de Graaff generator
- usage: a simple electrostatic generator that generates repeated charges of static electricity
- 2. Electrophorus, genus Electrophorus, fish genus
- usage: type genus of the family Electrophoridae; electric eels

domain: biology


text:
The knowledge of the soil, subsurface, and their structural and compositional characteristics is of fundamental importance in identifying and properly exploiting resources, such as water.
LabAnalysis Environmental Science can provide consultancy for the preparation of sampling and characterization plans. Thanks to specialized technicians, it offers the possibility of sampling throughout the entire Italian territory.
Characterization and remediation
I am interested in the service Soil

domain: agronomy


text:
I’ve seen the question asking whether or not someone can contract the virus again after fully recovering. All responses tend to be mixed, do you have a Never Underestimate A Medical Assistant – Coronavirus Pandemic Shirt? Although there is a complex answer to this question, the simple answer is that viruses mutate and can re-infect patients. But this is a hard process to predict. Very true….or many of the tests still are not rapidly giving responses. There is a chance that the patient could have contracted the virus between the timing of submitting and sample and receiving their result. Someone who tests negatively might contract the infection the next day.
Never Underestimate A Medical Assistant – Coronavirus Pandemic Shirt, Tank Top, V-neck, Ladies Tee For Men And Women
And yet, the direct long-term focus for these types of events seems to be testing. Specifically, eliminating the lag time it takes to receive results, improving accuracy, lowering costs, improving distribution, etc. Catching cases as quickly as possible and isolating those infected is the Never Underestimate A Medical Assistant – Coronavirus Pandemic Shirt. At this point, we have to do what we have to do to handle things as best as we can, but we can’t be doing this every single time something crops up. That makes me feel a lot better to read!! The podcast left me feeling anxious bc all they kept talking about are all the unknowns.
Official Never Underestimate A Medical Assistant – Coronavirus Pandemic Sweatshirt, Hoodie
You are amazing! I have been going through your spreadsheet for Never Underestimate A Medical Assistant – Coronavirus Pandemic Shirt how long and your information is exactly what I wanted to see. I love facts. Thank you so much for what you have been doing. I appreciate you, Sir! That was the other sheet I was talking about. However, if you read under their data sources, they talk about how there are gaps in it as well. I only want to pull from sources that I know I can trust, eg DPH sites. Then I say this as a patent attorney. I know it can take forever to prosecute a patent. Usually, a drug patent has less than 10 years or less than 5 years before expiration when a drug is finally approved.

domain: medical


text:
Symptoms of Cat Dementia:
1. Disorientation: Cats with dementia may appear confused or lost, even in familiar surroundings.
2. Increased Anxiety: They may become more anxious or vocal, displaying restlessness or excessive meowing.
3. Altered Sleep Patterns: Cats might sleep excessively during the day but become restless and active at night, disrupting their normal sleep-wake cycle.
4. Decreased Interest in Grooming: Cats may neglect their typical grooming routine, resulting in a messy or unkempt appearance.
5. Litter Box Issues: Accidents outside the litter box can occur due to forgetting its location or even being unable to recognize it.
6. Changes in Social Behavior: Cats may withdraw from social interactions, including with their owners, or exhibit excessive dependence on their caregivers.
7. Loss of Appetite: A decline in their interest in food or changes in eating habits can be indications of dementia.
Causes of Cat Dementia:
The exact cause of feline cognitive dysfunction is still unknown, but various factors have been identified as potential contributors:
1. Aging: As cats age, their brains undergo degenerative changes, potentially leading to cognitive decline.
2. Oxidative stress: Reactive oxygen species can damage brain cells, impacting cognitive function.
3. Amyloid plaques: Similar to Alzheimer’s disease in humans, the buildup of amyloid plaques in the brain may play a role in feline cognitive dysfunction.
4. Genetics: Certain genetic factors may predispose cats to develop dementia.
Managing Cat Dementia:
While there is no cure for cat dementia, several management techniques can improve the quality of life for affected cats:
1. Veterinary Evaluation: If you notice any signs of cognitive decline in your cat, consult a veterinarian for proper diagnosis and guidance.
2. Environmental Enrichment: Provide a mentally stimulating environment to keep their minds active. Puzzle toys, playtime, and hiding spots can engage their cognitive abilities.
3. Consistency and Routine: Establishing a consistent daily routine helps cats with dementia feel more secure and less disoriented.
4. Dietary Supplements: Antioxidants, omega-3 fatty acids, and B vitamins in the form of supplements or specialized senior cat food can support brain health.
5. Medications: In some cases, veterinarians may prescribe medications to manage anxiety, sleep disturbances, or other symptoms associated with FCD.
6. Enhanced Safety Measures: Ensure your home is safe for your senior cat by removing hazards and making necessary modifications, such as providing ramps for easier access to favorite spots.
It’s essential to remain patient and understanding when dealing with a cat suffering from dementia. Providing them with love, emotional support, and consistent care throughout their golden years is crucial. Regular veterinary check-ups will help you monitor the progression of the condition and adapt management strategies as needed.
Ultimately, understanding cat dementia enables us to adapt to their changing needs and ensure their comfort and well-being during this challenging phase of their lives. With a compassionate and proactive approach, we can make a significant difference in our furry friends’ quality of life as they age gracefully.

domain: pet


Unimig Portable MMA/TIG 140Amp DC Welding Machine KUMJRRW140CA
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The ARC140 is an inverter-based welding machine produced using the latest in IGBT technology. This machine is reliable, robust and stacked with features that you can expect from a quality welder. The DC MMA welding capability delivers a smooth and incredibly stable arc allowing easy welding with electrodes producing high quality welds including cast Iron, stainless and low hydrogen. The ARC140 is equipped with DC Lift Arc function, connection of the 17V TIG torch allows quality DC TIG welding of steel, stainless steel, bronze and copper. The Lift Arc function is superb and delivers perfect arc ignition every time without any sticking of the tungsten electrode to the work piece, a remarkably smooth stable arc produces high quality TIG welds. The ARC140 is an exceptional machine that is suitable for a wide range of applications including light industrial use, site welding, farming, along with repair and maintenance applications. The Arc140 is packaged in a tough PVC carry case with your choice of MMA option accessories or MMA/TIG option accessories. The-ARC140 gives you the best of both worlds great portability, with the power to get the job done.
Built to our specification and manufactured in compliance to AS/NZ60974.1
- Latest IGBT inverter technology
- MMA (stick electrode)
- Hot start (improves electrode starting)
- VRD (Voltage Reduction Device)
- Arc force - (boosts current to prevent electrode extinguishing)
- Excellent arc stability with all electrodes
- DC TIG
- Lift Arc ignition - (prevents tungsten sticking during arc ignition)
- Ultra smooth DC TIG welding current
- Thermal overload protection
- Generator compatible - (recommend 7.0 KVA minimum)
- Tolerant to variable power supplies
|Power Supply / Phases (V-Ph)||240V - 1 ±15%|
|Rated Input Power (KVA)||7|
|Rated Output||140 A/25.6 V|
|Welding Current Range||10~140A|
|No-Load Voltage (V)||9V|
|Duty Cycle @ 40°C as per AS/NZ60974-1||15% @ 140Amps|
|Size||313 x 250 x 130 mm|
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text:
The UK is set to extend its network of visa application centres in China from 12 to 15 in anticipation of record demand this year.
The new centres will be located in Changsha, Kunming and Xian and will start welcoming applicants from next month.
The three new centres will be ideally located to improve the service’s geographical presence and make it even more accessible to as many Chinese people as possible. They will offer many of the premium services available elsewhere, including the popular 3-5 day priority visa service.
The UK’s commitment to expand the network was announced by Prime Minister David Cameron during the State Visit of President Xi to the UK in October.


text:
Gravette High School band percussionist Daniel Poemoceah will be performing with the Ozarks Philharmonic Youth Orchestras in concert this Sunday, April 25, at the Arend Arts Center at Bentonville.
This story is only available from the Westside Eagle Observer archives. Stories can be purchased individually for $2.95. Click here to search for this story in the archives.
News, Pages 2 on 04/21/2010
Print Headline: Daniel Poemoceah To Play With Philharmonic Youth Orchestra

domain: artistic


text:
UN climate meet approves roadmap for 2015 deal
Durban, December 11
While the new pact to be finalised till 2015, will, for the first time, bring India and China under the ambit of a legal mechanism guiding emission cuts, the accord will come into effect only from 2020.
The pact on tackling climate change - the agreement on which came after hard negotiations that ran 36 hours beyond schedule - must be completed by 2015, and talks on the new legal deal covering all countries will begin next year, when Kyoto Protocol expires.
Under the compromise, while India and China agreed to bring themselves under a governing treaty, the developed nations agreed to a second commitment period under Kyoto Protocol, putting to rest concerns that they would walk away from commitments once the 1997 treaty expires in 2012.
Kyoto Protocol remains the only legally binding treaty for cutting greenhouse gas emissions, and India had batted hard for its revival at the 194-party conference here.
Kyoto Protocol sets binding targets for 37 industrialised nations and the EU to slash carbon emissions to 5 per cent below the 1990 levels by 2012.
Up to now, China and India have been exempt from any constraints because they are developing countries, while the US has opted out of the Kyoto Protocol.
During the conference,which was originally scheduled to close on Friday, the EU had pushed hard for a "roadmap" to a new, legally-binding treaty against fierce resistance from India and China, whose delegates argued that mandatory cuts would slow their growth and condemn millions to poverty.
"Am I to write a blank cheque and sign away the livelihoods and sustainability of 1.2 billion Indians, without even knowing what the EU ‘roadmap’ contains?" asked Environment Minister Jayanthi Natarajan. "Please do not hold us hostage."
The final text of the Durban conference said parties would "develop a protocol, another legal instrument or an agreed outcome with legal force". The compromise averted the use of "legally-binding".
"The equity of burden-sharing cannot be shifted," Natarajan said, while rejecting the EU proposal which, she argued, undermined the two-decade-old principle that developing nations had less responsibility than industrialised countries.
The intense debate went on past midnight last night, prompting Conference president and South African Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane to call a recess.
Nkoana-Mashabane gave Natarajan and European Commissioner Connie Hedegaard 10 minutes to come up with a compromise formula.
After their talks, India and EU agreed to the compromised formula, with Natarajan saying: "We have shown our flexibility and we have agreed to this...." UNFCCC chief Christiana Figueres seemed happy with the outcome at the Durban talks.
"In honour of Mandela: It always seems impossible until it is done. And it is done!" Figueres tweeted, citing the words of the former South African President and anti-apartheid icon.
"I think in the end it ended up quite well... The first time you will see developing countries agreeing, essentially, to be bound by a legal agreement," US chief negotiator Todd Stern said.
Describing the agreement reached at the climate talks in Durban as "significant", UN chief Ban Ki-Moon said it represents an "important advance" in the work on tackling global warming and sought its quick implementation.
Many delegates earlier felt the host South African government lacked urgency and strategy to clinch a deal.
However, there was applause in the main conference hall when Nkoana-Mashabane announced the final outcome.
Apart from the roadmap for a new deal, the meet agreed to the management of a fund for climate aid to poor countries, though how to raise the money was not specified.
Under the agreement, EU will place its current emission- cutting pledges inside the legally-binding Kyoto Protocol.
Xie Zhenhua, head of the Chinese delegation, said the outcome was fully in accordance with the mandate of the UN Framework Convention of Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Roadmap.
Describing the outcome as "progressive and balanced," he said it was also in line with the two-track negotiation process and the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.
"The conference made decisions on the arrangement of the second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol, which is the most pressing issue for developing countries," Xie was quoted as saying by China's official news agency Xinhua.
Earlier, the EU said the developed nations do not want India to harm its economy but insisted the country still needs to agree to a legally binding treaty.
"We would never dream of asking India to harm its economy," Hedegaard told PTI. "We fully recognise India's right to grow and we are fully aware that India has lot of development needs and needs to access energy." — PTI
The durban outcome
The pact will for the first time bring India and China under the ambit of a legal mechanism guiding emission cuts The accord will come into effect only from 2020 Under the compromise, the developed nations agreed to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol Talks on the new legal deal covering all countries will begin next year, when the Kyoto Protocol expires
The pact will for the first time bring India and China under the ambit of a legal mechanism guiding emission cuts
The accord will come into effect only from 2020
Under the compromise, the developed nations agreed to a second commitment period under the Kyoto Protocol
Talks on the new legal deal covering all countries will begin next year, when the Kyoto Protocol expires


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Her top speed is 38.0 kn and her power comes from two MTU diesel engines. She can accommodate up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, with 2 crew members waiting on their every need.
She was designed by Roy Merritt, who also completed the naval architecture and designed the interior. Roy Merritt has designed 13 yachts, created the naval architecture for 13 yachts, and designed the interior of 13 yachts.
MAVERICK is in the top 10% by speed in the world.


The Syrian regime and its allies continued to carry out their attacks against the civilian-populated cities and towns of the Eastern Gouta despite the adoption of a United Nations Security Council resolution calling for a 30-day nationwide cease-fire.
The number of civilian casualties continued to increase on Monday as a result of the shelling of residential areas in the Eastern Ghouta, reaching 32 civilians, including five children from the city of Douma. This brought the number of children killed to 12 in just 48 hours following the adoption of the UNSC resolution.
Civilians continue to live in underground shelters with a lack of basic essentials including food, security and heating. This is happening despite the clear emphasis in Resolution 2401 which calls for lifting the siege on the Eastern Ghouta and ensuring access to food and medicine for civilians.
The discharge of sewage water inside many shelters further complicates these already tragic conditions, where the civilians are still confined to cramped shelters and basements without the possibility of fleeing due to the continuous shelling.
At the time writing, no medical aid has been allowed enter to the area while no official statement has been made on when such supplies will be provided. Medical supplies are crucially needed to save the lives of the critically injured civilians caught in the barbaric shelling of the Eastern Ghouta in recent days.
Schools remain suspended since Feb. 7, with 52,000 students denied their right to education as a result.
All nations sponsoring this U.N. resolution are obliged to follow up on its implementation as stipulated in its articles. Civilians must not be forced or pressured to evacuate their cities. All sponsoring nations must ensure the full implementation of this resolution so that no more civilian lives are lost in the Eastern Ghouta — home to 367,000 civilians, including 115,000 children — under the pretext of fighting the Nusra Front organization.
Children and civilians are entitled to special protection under international law, and may not, under any circumstances or justification, be attacked or targeted. Their safety and security must be guaranteed at all times and in all conditions.
This article was edited by The Syrian Observer. Responsibility for the information and views set out in this article lies entirely with the author.


|Köln Messe/Deutz station|
|Native Name Lang:||de|
|Borough:||Innenstadt (Deutz), Cologne, North Rhine-Westphalia|
|Map Type:||North Rhine-Westphalia|
Köln Messe/Deutz station (called Köln-Deutz until November 2004, Colognian: Düx, pronounced as /dʏks/) is an important railway junction for long-distance rail and local services in the Cologne district of Deutz in the German state of North Rhine-Westphalia. It is situated close to the eastern bank of the Rhine and connected via the Hohenzollern Bridge to Köln Hauptbahnhof, the city's main station, which is just a few hundred metres away. The Cologne Trade Fair (German: Koelnmesse) grounds are directly north of the station, hence the Messe in the station's name. The Stadtbahn station of Deutz/Messe is nearby and connected by a pedestrian tunnel.
The station is a junction station, which has platforms on two levels: the high-level platforms are used by trains running in the east-west direction across the Hohenzollern Bridge to and from Köln Hauptbahnhof. The lower level (Köln Messe/Deutz tief) is used by trains running in a north-south direction bypassing the Hauptbahnhof from Köln-Mülheim station towards Troisdorf. It serves an important function in providing some relief for the Köln Hauptbahnhof bottleneck—some ICE services call at Köln-Deutz instead of Köln Hbf, eliminating the need for changing direction, while many regional trains from the west terminate here to prevent them blocking the Hauptbahnhof.
The current Köln Messe/Deutz station was developed from several predecessors built from 1845 and the basic structure of the current station was opened on 11 November 1913. It gradually replaced the four stations of the competing companies, the Cologne-Minden Railway Company (Cöln-Mindener Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft, CME), and the Bergisch-Märkische Railway Company (Bergisch-Märkische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft, BME). The reception building, a three-wing structure with a central dome, was designed by architect Hugo Röttcher and built in 1914.
In anticipation of the building of a bridge, or at least a steam ferry, across the Rhine to the station of the Rhenish Railway Company (Rheinische Eisenbahn-Gesellschaft, RhE) at Trankgasse (at the south-eastern end of the current Hauptbahnhof) on the opposite bank with connections to Aachen and Antwerp, a terminus was completed as a starting point of the CME's line to Düsseldorf southwest of the present station near the Rhine on 20 December 1845. Two through tracks to the Rhine are also visible on old maps. The line was later extended via Duisburg and Dortmund to Minden, connecting to Berlin.
In 1859, the station also became the starting point of the Deutz–Gießen railway, which was being built.  At the same time, the first permanent bridge was built across the Rhine since Roman times, the Cathedral Bridge, popularly known as the Mouse Trap (Kölsch: Muusfall, pronounced as /ˈmus²fal/), between Deutz and Cologne in order to connect the railway lines on the east and west side of the Rhine. The old station facilities were expanded and supplemented to provide platforms on the new line. Deutz station remained as a terminal station for normal passenger trains, while National Express trains ran to Cologne Hauptbahnhof. Originally a simple interchange station for services to and from Deutz, Cologne, Minden and Gießen was planned nearby at Köln-Deutzerfeld, which later became the site of a shunting and marshalling yard, but this was not implemented.
On 1 October 1886, the platforms of the Cologne-Minden terminal station that was built in 1845 were closed and passenger trains were directed to the Bergisch-Märkische station at Schiffbrücke. Until the rebuilding of the railway infrastructure at Deutz, in particular the construction of the Deutzerfeld marshalling and shunting between 1911 and 1913, the old terminus was mainly used as a freight yard.
In 1913, the stations known since the nationalisation of the Bergisch-Märkische railway and its absorption into the (Prussian state railways, PSE) in 1882, as Deutzerfeld (Deutz field) and Schiffbrücke (floating bridge), were demolished and the lines were connected to the new Deutz station. The former Deutzerfeld station, sometimes also referred to as Deutz-Nord, was in the area of the later trade fair, now the RTL building. Schiffbrücke station, also called Brückenbahnhof (bridge station), was at the floating bridge that crossed the Rhine to Cologne at the site of the current Deutz Suspension Bridge between 1822 and 1915. The name Deutzer Feld was later applied to the shunting and marshalling yard of Köln-Deutzerfeld, which is further to the east.
After the destruction of the Second World War, the station was simplified and rebuilt without the large platform area. Subsequent modifications and extensions followed.
During the Nazi period, almost all Jews living in Cologne were deported to extermination camps from the low level of Deutz station. The first such transport occurred in October 1941 and the last known movement was on 1 October 1944 to the Theresienstadt concentration camp. The exhibition halls were used as a transit camp.
The three spans of the train shed, which had iron and glass elements, were destroyed in the Second World War and were replaced after the war by concrete platform canopies. Parts of the system of tunnels and the entire station forecourt (Ottoplatz) are registered in the list of monuments of the city of Cologne.
From 1988, the city of Cologne developed a concept plan for reshaping Intercity-Express (ICE) operations in the Cologne area as part of the planned high-speed line to Frankfurt. The core of the plan was the use of the Köln-Deutz station as an ICE station.
The Council of the City of Cologne (another source indicates it was the CEO of Deutsche Bahn AG) decided in 1996 that Deutz station would be rebuilt as a terminal for ICE services at the end of 1997. Deutsche Bahn determined that some new ICE services on the planned Cologne-Rhine/Main high-speed line would start or terminate at Deutz station. In December 1997, the Management Board of Deutsche Bahn (DB) agreed to the redevelopment of the station in several stages. When finally in 1998 the Cologne Trade Fair decided to build a new building for its administration, it was decided to establish a public-private partnership in 1999 involving DB Station&Service, the city and the Trade Fair.
In mid-1999, the Köln-Messe/Deutz ICE terminal was submitted to an international architectural competition and received 57 proposals. Both urban and transport issues were taken into account. Eight finalists were selected. The project affected of land and 150,000 square metres of floor area. The objectives included the extension and adaptation of the two low level platforms for ICE traffic and the duplication of the access track. An expansion to four ICE platforms was considered. The plan also included an 800m (2,600feet)-long, covered moving walkway that would have connected the station to Cologne Hauptbahnhof.  This competition was judged by DB, the city of Cologne and the Cologne Trade Fair and was concluded in 2000. The development scheme was submitted for planning approval in October 2000. The estimated cost of the overall concept of 140 million Marks was funded by DB, the city of Cologne and the Trade Fair. A glass roof with a length of 120m (390feet), which should span the entire station was calculated to cost an additional DM 40 million.
On 8 November 2001 construction began on the modernisation of the low-level platforms 11 and 12. The renovated track layout allowed an hourly ICE train to run in each direction to and from the Bahnhof Köln-Deutz from the opening of the new line in December 2002. Later, this number should be increased to three to four trains per hour. €10.9 million was invested in the modernisation of the two outer platforms of the low-level station and other measures.
The station was named Köln-Deutz until 11 December 2004, but then as a result of a campaign by the Cologne Trade Fair, which is located next to the station, it was renamed. The cost of the renaming of the station was borne by the Trade Fair, which hoped to gain greater patronage as a result of the renaming. Since 3 November 2006 the trade fair is directly connected via the newly constructed south entrance to the station. The distance to the closest entrance of the fair halls is about 120 meters.
The high level section of Köln Messe/Deutz station consists of six platform tracks on three platforms and two through tracks without access to platforms. Directly next to it is the S-Bahn station of Köln Messe/Deutz Hp, which has two platform tracks at its own platform and was built between 1985 and 1990 during the development of the Cologne S-Bahn network and the associated construction of the third set of double tracks on the Hohenzollern Bridge.
Köln Messe/Deutz tief (low level) station was completely rebuilt during the construction of the Cologne–Frankfurt high-speed rail line. It is served by ICE lines 10 (Berlin–Cologne/Bonn Airport) and 41 (Essen–Munich) on two tracks. These run directly to the north or south without passing through the Hauptbahnhof to save running twice over the Hohenzollern Bridge and reversing.
The access from the north to Köln Messe/Deutz tief was duplicated up to December 2007 and the speed limit was raised to . The low-level station was closed from 10 December 2006 to 8 December 2007 to carry out the upgrade. The southern connection to Gummersbacher Straße junction was initially single track but a second track was added at the beginning of 2010.
DB's operating locations directory uses the station codes of KKDZ (Köln Messe/Deutz) and KKDT (Köln Messe/Deutz tief) and KKDZB (the S-Bahn stop of Köln Messe/Deutz Hp).
The Zweckverband Nahverkehr Rheinland (association for local transport of the Rhineland) has agreed that the Köln Messe/Deutz station will be retrofitted with four lifts to allow barrier-free access to all platforms (currently only tracks 10 and 11 are accessible by wheelchair). It will be possible to reach platform track 12 in the low-level station without passing through barriers (and without the previous, major detour from the Stadtbahn tunnel), as an additional access from the Stadtbahn tunnel to track 12 will also be built.
At a summit of DB, the federal government and the state of North Rhine-Westphalia on 31 March 2010 in Düsseldorf, it was decided that the station should be extended up to 2019 for €11 million. The entrance from the Trade Fair to the station will be extended to a side platform to the S-Bahn to accelerate entry and exit. However, it is still being considered whether two new S-Bahn tracks will also be needed, as is planned at the Hauptbahnhof.
Immediately below tracks 1–10 is the Stadtbahn station Deutz/Messe. This station serves the lines 1 and 9. A shopping area connects it to the Stadtbahn station Deutz/LANXESSarena, where the line 3 and 4 depart.


Are you having trouble with your keyless entry system on your 2001 Ford F150? Don’t worry! Reprogramming the keyless entry is a quick and easy process. Here are the simple steps you need to follow:
Step 1: Enter the Programming Mode
- Sit in the driver’s seat and close all the doors.
- Insert your key into the ignition and turn it to the “ON” position. Do not start the engine.
- Press and hold the “Unlock” button on the driver’s side door panel.
- While holding the “Unlock” button, insert and remove the key from the ignition twice within five seconds. Keep holding the “Unlock” button.
Step 2: Add Remote Transmitters
- Within five seconds of completing Step 1, press any button on the first remote transmitter.
- The door locks will cycle, indicating that the programming mode has successfully accepted the remote transmitter.
- Repeat this step for any additional remote transmitters you want to add, up to a maximum of four.
Step 3: Exit the Programming Mode
- Once you have finished adding all of your remote transmitters, release the “Unlock” button on the driver’s side door panel.
- Turn the ignition to the “OFF” position and remove the key.
- Test each remote transmitter to make sure they are working properly.
Tips and Tricks
- If your F150 has an aftermarket alarm or remote start system, you may need to consult the instructions for those systems to reprogram your keyless entry.
- If your keyless entry still doesn’t work after reprogramming, the problem might be with the keyless entry module or wiring. In that case, you may need to take your F150 to a professional mechanic or Ford dealership for further diagnosis and repair.
By following these easy steps, you can have your keyless entry system working like new in no time. Enjoy the convenience and security of keyless entry on your 2001 Ford F150!
Sure, here are three popular FAQs with answers for reprogramming keyless entry on a 2001 Ford F150:
How do I know if my Ford F150 has keyless entry?
Most 2001 Ford F150 trucks were equipped with keyless entry as a standard feature. To check if your truck has keyless entry, look for a small black button with a lock icon on your driver’s side door handle. If you see it, then you have keyless entry.
What tools do I need to reprogram my keyless entry on my Ford F150?
To reprogram your keyless entry on a 2001 Ford F150, you will need the following tools:
– A working key fob that is already programmed to your truck
– Your truck’s ignition key
– A watch or clock with a second hand
How do I reprogram my keyless entry on my 2001 Ford F150?
To reprogram your keyless entry on your 2001 Ford F150, follow these easy steps:
Step 1: Insert your truck’s ignition key into the ignition and turn it from off to on eight times within a 10-second period, ending with the key in the “on” position.
Step 2: After the eighth turn, the doors will automatically lock and then unlock to confirm that you are in programming mode.
Step 3: Press any button on your working key fob to program it to your truck. You will hear the doors lock and unlock again to confirm successful programming.
Step 4: If you have another key fob to program, repeat step 3 within 20 seconds of the first key fob programming. You can program up to four key fobs.
Step 5: Turn the ignition key to the “off” position to exit programming mode.


text:
Showing Collections: 1 - 2 of 2
Collection number: ahc.MSS429
Scope and Content This collection consists of papers documenting the business administration of Grady Memorial Hospital, including early minute books from the hospital board of trustees, minute books of staff meetings, and correspondence from the medical staff. The collection also holds material from the School of Nursing and School of Practical Nursing, including bulletins, newsletters, alumni information, and lecture notes. As nursing education becomes more specialized, separate school specialties maintain...
Dates: 1894-2014, undated
Collection number: ahc.MSS570
Scope and Content This collection primarily contains scrapbooks collected by Nancy C. Wooten from Grady Memorial Hospital. Scrapbooks document the hospital's expansion; medical issues; career opportunities in the health field; nursing and nursing education; programs, events, and graduations; and personalities related to the hospital. Documents in the scrapbooks include clippings; annual reports; promotional brochures and programs; memoranda; photos; and invitations and postcards. In addition, there are...
Dates: 1900-1989, undated
- Subject: Hospitals -- Administration X


A comprehensive assessment of CFS seasonal forecast skills over the tropics
K. P. Sooraj, International Pacific Research Centre, University of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI; and H. Annamalai, A. Kumar, and H. Wang
In the present research, the 15-member ensemble retrospective forecasts (hindcasts) performed with the NCEP Climate Forecast System (CFS) for the period 1982-2005, as well as real-time forecasts for the period 2006-09 are assessed for seasonal prediction skills over the tropics, both from deterministic (anomaly correlation) and probabilistic (Heidke skill score and rank probability skill score) perspectives. The probabilistic scores convey the errors associated with the model's seasonal prediction skill. In addition, diagnostics such as persistence, root-mean square error and composite analysis are performed.
Based on both deterministic and probabilistic measures, CFS demonstrates high skill (even at 6-month lead) in predicting tropical central to eastern Pacific sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies, including the different flavours of El Nino. The model is also skilful in forecasting the associated precipitation anomalies over the equatorial Pacific as well as capturing the teleconnection to the tropical Indian Ocean. Owing to the overall success in forecasting the tropical Indo-Pacific climate anomalies, we examined the seasonal skill of precipitation over three regions encompassing the Pacific Islands. The salient merits and limitations of the model in forecasting the regional rainfall anomalies, in conjunction with the model's skill of the real-time forecasts will be discussed.
Joint Poster Session 2, Posters: Air-Sea Interaction / Coastal Atmospheric and Oceanic Prediction and Processes
Tuesday, 28 September 2010, 3:00 PM-5:00 PM, ABC Pre-Function
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text:
NEW ORLEANS, May 23 -- Spending just 30 minutes a day listening to rhythmically homogeneous music -- anything from classical to Celtic to Indian -- has a beneficial effect on blood pressure, researchers found.
Explain to interested patients that this study suggested that spending 30 minutes a day listening to music while doing slow abdominal breathing may lower systolic blood pressure.
Note that this study was published as an abstract and presented at a conference. These data and conclusions should be considered to be preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
The key was to combine listening with breathing exercises, said Gianfranco Parati, M.D., of the University of Milan-Bicocca in Milan, Italy.
The music, he said, helps patients concentrate on slow, abdominal breathing with an inspiration/expiration ratio of 1:2.
Dr. Parati presented results of a small, randomized trial at the American Society of Hypertension meeting. Dr. Parati was not, however, an investigator with the study, which was done by Pietro A. Modesti, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Florence, and colleagues. Dr. Modesti was unable to attend the meeting.
The study recruited 48 volunteers, ages 45 to 70, with mild hypertension. All patients were receiving pharmacological treatment.


Prices of rolled steel have climbed to a record high of VND15-17 million (US$937-1,062) per ton at shops for more than a month while output prices are much lower at steel companies.
|Steel prices have soared abnormally at shoprs for more than a month|
The sky-high prices have surprised steel industry authorities. Vietnam Steel Association Chairman Pham Chi Cuong said shops have reduced volume and asked higher prices for fatter profits.
He called the prices being asked “virtual prices” because, even if adding 5 percent for VAT, steel should still be less than VND12 million (US$750) a ton. Thep Viet’s rolled steel, the most expensive on the market, is sold at only VND11,600 (US$0.725) per kilogram, while bar steel remains unchanged at VND11,270-11,280 (US$0.704-0.705) per kilogram.
“Therefore, I can say the VND15 million per ton price level is unacceptable and I’m sure there is no speculation about that at this moment because supply is now exceeding demand,” Mr. Cuong said.
Total industry capacity is some 6.5 million tons while consumption is only 4 million. With the average mill having a capacity of some 400-500 tons per day, some having 1,000-ton capacities, local demand should be satisfied.
He said local factories are expected to churn out 4.2–4.3 million tons of rolled and bar steel by the year-end, while 2 million tons of steel ingots must be imported, 50 percent of domestic ingot needs. The country can thus produce 50 percent of total ingot needed for local production.
Therefore, it is somehow concluded, a shortage of steel must not occur before year-end.
Mr. Cuong said steel producers cannot raise their selling prices unexpectedly and unreasonably because there is a monitoring network which also supervises them. But retail and steel working shops can raise indeed ask for whatever price the market will bear to maximize profits: Econ-101 déjà vu.
Authorities should soon track down the real causes of steel price hikes and take appropriate measures to control them and protect consumers, some might say.


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By Kirk Curnutt
Ask folks who came of age in the 1980s what they remember about the movie Eddie and the Cruisers and one of the following responses is likely:
- It spawned the great rock-radio staple “On the Dark Side” and briefly made MTV stars of the improbably named John Cafferty and the Beaver Brown Band.
- It was such a shameless Bruce Springsteen rip-off that Boss fans considered it as sacrilegious as devout Christians do Jesus Christ Superstar.
- It had a whiplash-inducing twist ending that Roger Ebert called “so frustrating, so dumb, so unsatisfactory that it gives a bad reputation to the whole movie.”
- It was a box-office flop that thirty years ago this month shocked Hollywood by becoming a surprise HBO hit.
- It was a movie you rented repeatedly during the decade’s video boom because it fit perfectly VHS’s promise of cheap home entertainment: undemanding, toe-tapping, and eminently re-watchable, it was an ideal 99-cent diversion that helped you forget VCRs cost $500 and were as boxy as Samsonite suitcases.
What you’re less likely to hear, unfortunately: it was based on one of the best, most criminally underappreciated rock ‘n’ roll novels ever.
In a preface to Overlook Press’s 2008 reissue (the book’s first widely available trade paperback), no less than Sherman Alexie admits he never knew Eddie was originally a novel by P. F. Kluge until deep into his own career, long after “obsessing” over the movie as a high-schooler. It’s indicative of how the film overshadows its source material that Kluge’s Eddie doesn’t even make this supposedly comprehensive list of rock novels published since the 1950s.
The novel’s relative obscurity is a shame, for as Alexie notes, it has literary “ambitions and secrets and qualities” that far surpass the movie’s “mainstream” pleasures. Director Martin Davidson, who co-wrote the script with his wife, Arlene, made several changes to Kluge’s tale of a Jersey rock star who may or may not be haunting former bandmates twenty years after his supposed death. The most significant is seemingly the most cosmetic. Whereas Kluge conceived hero Eddie Wilson as a Dion-esque doo-wop rocker, Davidson turned him into an awkward splice of Springsteen and Jim Morrison. In so doing, the filmmaker altered the literary inspiration that in Kluge gives the musician a model for imagining rock ‘n’ roll as an art form instead of mere entertainment. The change is decisive to how differently each version of Eddie depicts the purpose of popular music.
In the movie, college dropout Frank “Wordman” Ridgeway, the story’s Nick Carraway, introduces Eddie to the 19th-century French symboliste Arthur Rimbaud. Literature spurs the hunky frontman to make “serious” music instead of cranking out bar-band favorites for Jersey beachgoers: “I want songs that echo,” Eddie insists. “The [music] we’re doing now is like bed sheets. Spread ’em, soil ’em, ship ’em out to laundry. Our songs — I like to fold ourselves up in them forever.” Soon enough, Eddie pens a concept album called A Season in Hell, after Rimbaud’s most famous work. His slimy record-company owner refuses to release it, however, because the music sounds “like a bunch of jerkoffs making weird sounds.” The rejection sends Eddie squealing away in his ’57 Chevy, which hurtles off the Raritan Bridge, either an accident or a suicide. The Cruisers are forgotten for two decades later until an Entertainment Tonight-type reporter begins hyping Hell as an ominous foreshadowing of the late sixties, “a new age, an age of confusion, an age of passion, of commitment!” Suddenly, someone claiming to be the dead rock star is stalking the surviving Cruisers, intent on finally releasing the missing opus so the public can recognize Eddie’s brilliance.
Serious scholarly papers have drawn parallels between Eddie and Rimbaud, but the script’s invocation of the poet never really rises above literary window dressing. Davidson mainly uses Rimbaud to allude to Morrison, who idolized the literary libertine and who, according to a farcical urban legend, faked his 1971 death to escape the rock biz (much as Rimbaud abandoned literature before he was twenty). The movie asks us to believe that the Beatlemania-era Eddie predicted the Dionysian extremes of the Doors’ “The End” or (God help us) “Horse Latitudes,” but the song that’s supposed to illustrate his visionary genius, “Fire,” hardly qualifies as “weird sounds”. It’s merely an arthritic gloss on Springsteen’s “Adam Raised a Cain” with none of the Boss’s blistering vitality.
For Kluge’s Eddie, by contrast, the spirit father isn’t Rimbaud but Walt Whitman, and Eddie’s magnum opus is Leaves of Grass. Having seen Leaves appropriated to do everything from woo interns to expose unlikely meth kingpins, I’ll be the first to say that the Good Gray Poet’s popularity as the Go-To Lit Reference sometimes leaves me craving a Longfellow revival. Yet his role in Kluge isn’t gratuitous. Whitman inspires Eddie to reimagine rock ‘n’ roll as the vox populi, a medium not for becoming famous but for creating the true song of democracy. To produce his rock version of Leaves, Eddie recruits black and white greats from Elvis to Sam Cooke to Buddy Holly (the novel is set in 1957-58, a half-decade earlier than the film). Their mission is to snip the American barbed wire of segregation through a series of secret jam sessions designed to “to bring off the impossible, some fantastic union of black and white music.” What breakthroughs Eddie achieved before his supposed death is as compelling a page-turner as the mystery of who’s harassing the surviving Cruisers. (Spoiler alert: Eddie does not predict “Ebony and Ivory”).
In ditching Whitman for Rimbaud, Davidson’s film became a story not about the Gordian knot of race in American music but about rock-star greatness and fame. That point is bashed home like a gong by the movie’s trick ending, which reveals Eddie is indeed alive but indifferent to the hullaballoo the media creates when his masterwork is finally released. Despite the adaptation’s defects, Kluge speaks appreciatively of it, and rightly so: as a cult favorite, the movie kept the novel’s name alive during the decades the book was out of print. Besides, when the other movie based on your writing is Dog Day Afternoon, you can afford to be generous.
Nevertheless, the lack of attention Book Eddie receives feels like a missed opportunity for rock novels in general. The genre is a diverse, unruly one. Some of its entries are romans à clef that do little more than pencil fictional names into legends rock fans already know by heart (Paul Quarrington’s Brian Wilson-retelling Whale Music). Many others are coming-of-age novels in which that form’s traditional theme of lost innocence plays out like a Behind the Music episode, all downward-spiral cocaine and coitus. Still others are less about music-making than about the grotesquery of fame and fan worship (Don DeLillo’s Great Jones Street). What rock novels aren’t nearly as often about is race — or, at least, the alchemies of ethnic interchange explored in such great nonfiction music histories as Peter Guralnick’s Sweet Soul Music: Rhythm and Blues and the Southern Dream of Freedom (1986). A handful of exceptions do come to mind, Alexie’s own Reservation Blues (1995) most notably. Yet for the most part storylines about ahead-of-their-time geniuses predominate, and frankly, the plot of making personal art instead of appeasing a hits-happy public is as tired as the playlist at my local oldies station.
The idea of rock ‘n’ roll as both the promise and impasse of a racially egalitarian barbaric yawp, on the other hand… That’s a song in fiction we still don’t hear nearly enough.
Kirk Curnutt is professor and chair of English at Troy University’s Montgomery, Alabama, campus, where Scott Fitzgerald met Zelda Sayre in 1918. His publications include A Historical Guide to F. Scott Fitzgerald (2004), the novels Breathing Out the Ghost (2008) and Dixie Noir (2009), and Brian Wilson (2012). He is currently at work on a reader’s guide to Ernest Hemingway’s To Have and Have Not. Read his previous OUPblog posts.

domain: library


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Ferring is committed to supporting exploratory, discovery and pre-clinical research in collaboration with a broad range of organisations and through our global research grants.
The Ferring Innovation Grants Program, an initiative of the Ferring Research Institute, provides annual non-renewable grants of up to $100,000 for early-stage research focused on novel extracellular drug targets addressable with peptides or proteins in our key therapeutic areas.
You can learn more about the Ferring Innovation Grants Program and the application process here: www.ferring-research.com/ferring-grants/overview
Ferring also supports a number of local grant and sponsorship initiatives in countries such as the US, Canada, Brazil and Singapore. Visit your local Ferring website for more information.


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Somerset Area School District officials on Wednesday reported the facility’s first case of COVID-19.
An employee in the junior high school tested positive, according to Superintendent Krista Mathias. State health officials have assured the Golden Eagles staff that it’s OK to continue with in-person education.
“I had a good long conversation with the rapid response team with the Department of Health,” Mathias said during a telephone interview Wednesday night.
A message on the matter was sent by phone to all 2,100 families with students in the district around 8:10 p.m.
“We promised transparency and that’s a promise we are going to keep,” Mathias said.
The school — already undergoing regular cleanings among other government COVID-19 protocols — was thoroughly sanitized Wednesday night.
Somerset started school on Sept. 1 with about 80% of kids participating in-person. The rest of the students are taking part in the district’s online education plan. Mathias said the students, faculty and staff have “done a great job” of adjusting to the face-covering requirements and other COVID-prevention rules.
Mathias said she is confident in the school’s planning moving forward, noting that most schools will likely be faced with this type of situation at some point this year.
Salisbury, Shade-Central City, Shanksville-Stonycreek and Windber have already worked through COVID concerns. Salisbury and Windber temporarily closed for thorough cleanings, but students are back in the classrooms.
“Yes, I think it’s fair to say that we expected at some point this year we would have a positive case,” Mathias said. “We have a solid emergency plan in place.”


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Forks of the Kern: Forest Rd# 22S82 – Lloyds Meadow Road
Jerky Meadow Trailhead, Sequoia National Forest
SEPT 2021: Closed due to the Windy Fire
Driving north on Sierra Hwy N of Kernville, California; Passing Fairview & the Johnsondale bridge; After the R Ranch @ Johnsondale, take the right fork off the main highway, which goes deep into Kern River Gorge. This narrow & winding paved road skirts the Upper Kern River Gorge & the impressive Rincon Fault. Numerous primitive camp site can be found on dirt roads off this paved route. The pavement dead ends at Jerky Meadow trail head, which accesses the Golden Trout Wilderness & the Great Western Divide. Backpackers can get to the high country Sierra Nevada & Mineral King in Sequoia National Park from these trails.
Boy Scout Camp Whitsett is one of the first places you pass, near Sentinel Peak.
The Western Divide Hwy runs parallel to road 22S82; way up above it @ 7000′ elevation – with destinations like Dome Rock & the Needles (2 very cool granite features) that overlook this Kern Gorge. The small community of Ponderosa, CA is also up there, along with the quaking aspen groves & the Trail of 100 Giants. Forest Rd# 22S02 connects paved route 22S82 to the Giant Sequoia highway above.
There are many primitive camp areas way above Kern River Gorge – all located on the right side of this road 22S82. Look for small signs for CAMP AREA #1-6. Camps 1-3 are great for RV campers with creeks & dense forests. Long Meadow Creek is one of the first of many streams, you will cross as driving this paved, winding, canyon route. Camp areas #4, 5, & 6 are the best bet for seclusion, plus awesome hiking trails to falls, granite pools & the impressive Kern gorge. Swimming holes are plentiful. Fishing can be decent at times. Many waterfalls can be found in this region as the tributary streams fall towards the deep granite gorge in the Sierra Nevada range. All roads off of 22S82 are dirt roads & most are passenger car accessible. Wetter months could be challenging. Some routes back here are considered to be 4×4 routes tho, so know your vehicles limitations. High clearance is needed to reach some camp sites. Summers can be busy.
This area was burnt from recent wildfires in 2002-2005, but the primitive, dispersed campsites near the streams are full of vegetation & making a nice comeback. Alder Creek runs down from the Sequoias, into Dry Meadow Creek nearby.
Lower Peppermint Campground @ 5300′ elevation, on the west side of the road, is the only developed camp ground on this main forest road. Lower Peppermint has 17 spots, piped water, & picnic tables. Peppermint Meadows & Peppermint Creek are adjacent to the camp area.
Lloyd Meadows @ Sequoia Forest Road# 20S67 – is the Forks of the Kern Trailhead & the dirt road that accesses it, is very popular among equestrian campers. Freeman Creek joins Lloyd Meadows Creek near Pyles Camp. There is a small developed campground called “Forks of the Kern”. Steep trail leads down to the granite gorge where Little Kern River meets the main Kern River; Rattlesnake Creek & Ninemile Creek also join the Kern River in this 10 mile stretch. Kern Hot Springs requires a backpacking trip.
Closest small towns are:

domain: travel


Facebook has been outed as the unnamed internet company accused of failing to flag details of an online conversation between one of Fusilier Lee Rigby's killers and a fellow extremist where he outlined plans to kill a solider.
A report published yesterday by the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) of Parliament into the circumstances that led to the murder of Lee Rigby in May 2013 said an "unnamed "internet company could have taken steps to prevent it, and the BBC has since confirmed the company in question is social networking giant Facebook.
According to the ISC document, one of the perpetrators of the crime - Michael Adebowale had an online exchange with a fellow extremist where he detailed plans to murder a British soldier in December 2012.
Details of this exchange only emerged after the fatal attack against Rigby took place, but it could have been detected earlier, the report claims, if the social network had flagged it.
The report claims the unnamed communications service provider automatically closed several accounts belonging to Adebowale for terrorism-related reasons without passing on details to the authorities about the nature of his discussions.
"They [the communications provider] had not been aware of the content of these accounts before as they did not routinely monitor content in this way," it was noted.
"GCHQ understands that Adebowale's accounts were disabled as a result of an automated process, where activity met the above descriptors, but that the company did not then manually review the content of these accounts, nor pass any information to the authorities," it adds.
The report goes on to claim that, had the company passed on details of Adebowale's online activities, his discussion with the extremist may have come to light sooner.
"We take the view that, when possible links to terrorism trigger accounts to be closed, the company concerned and other communications service providers should accept their responsibility to review these accounts immediately and, if such reviews provide evidence of specific intention to commit a terrorist act, they should pass this information to the appropriate authority," the report continues.
In a statement to IT Pro, a Facebook spokesperson said the company does take action to prevent terror-related content from being shared on the site.
"Like everyone else, we were horrified by the vicious murder of Fusilier Lee Rigby. We don't comment on individual cases but Facebook's policies are clear, we do not allow terrorist content on the site and take steps to prevent people from using our service for these purposes," the spokesperson said.
The report's conclusion has been criticised by Jim Killock, executive director of privacy organisation The Open Rights Group, who said the government is wrong to use Rigby's murder to build a case for keeping closer tabs on the online activities of UK citizens.
"To pass the blame to internet companies is to use Fusilier Rigby's murder to make cheap political points," he said.
"And it is quite extraordinary to demand that companies pro-actively monitor email content for suspicious material. Internet companies cannot and must not become an arm of the surveillance state."
He goes on to add that mass surveillance, rather than reassure citizens, actually makes them more distrustful of the authorities.
"The security services should focus their efforts on the targeted surveillance of individuals like Michael Adebolajo [Adebowale's accomplice] rather than continuing to monitor every citizen in the UK," Killock continues.
"Mass surveillance erodes the basic trust between citizen and state by treating us all as suspects. If the government keeps finding new ways to justify indiscriminate whole population trawls, it will be fair to say that we have lost our liberty and the terrorists have won."
The Internet Service Providers' Association (ISPA) has also hit back at the report's suggestion that online comms providers should do more to keep tabs on users, and that the internet as a whole has become a "safe haven for terrorists."
In a statement, the ISPA said: "It is for the intelligence agencies and not service providers to identify potential subjects, and when identified by the authorities CSPs (communication service providers) can and do assist in providing communications data under a clear legal process.
"The proposal that companies should monitor all communications online runs counter to the legal framework that underpins the internet, which forbids unwarranted monitoring of customers' communications.
ISPA and its members are in active discussions around communications data capabilities, including the current Anderson Review, and the ISC's report adds to the ongoing discussions," it concluded.
This article was originally published on 25 November, before being updated with further comment from Facebook, the ISPA and others.
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We developed the Performance Evaluation System (PES) which evaluates both items on water quality in effluent and energy consumption by using the data of water quantity and water quality for whole processes in a sewage treatment plant. PES can calculate water quality in effluent and energy consumption quantitatively by using unit process models and evaluate the effect of the advancement of the operating management in whole integrative treatment processes.
We examine the reconstruction to aim advanced treatment processes and energy recovery from the viewpoint of both water purification and energy consumption on model sewage treatment plant with the capacity of 48000m3/day. It's achieved not only the improvement of water quality in effluent but also the reduction of excess sludge which needs more energy consumption and costs followed by additional treatment. About the nitrogen removal, MVNR (Marginal value of energy for Nitrogen removal) is able to estimate both water quality in effluent and energy consumption.
Anaerobic digestion and digestion gas generation for energy recovery in the sewage treatment plant are examined by EIR(Energy independence ratio) and EEIR(Electric Energy independence ratio). It is expected that EIR will be 37.1% and EEIR will be 41.8% with the application of solubilization facilities and increment of inflow BOD.


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Weight Controversy Jeopardizes Chocolatito-Martinez Bout
It was a wild Friday in San Diego, as for a while it looked as though the Matchroom Boxing Main Event between Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and “El Rey” Julio Cesar Martinez was not going to happen. This due to Martinez being significantly over the contracted 115 lb. weight limit.
First, Martinez, who was slated to move up from Flyweight at 112 lb to meet Chocolatito at 115 lb., came in more than 2 lb above at 117 lb.+ at the late morning Pacific Time weigh in. With the fight slated to headline the Saturday night DAZN /Matchroom show, Martinez was given two hours to come back and try to lose the weight.
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) March 4, 2022
But, he did not come close, still weighing over 116.4 lb. on the second try. That’s when an agreement was finally brokered that Martinez will have one last chance after re-hydrating on Friday night and Saturday morning to not be over 125 lb. or the fight will, in fact, be called off.
That would be a serious blow at the last minute for Matchroom on a main event that was already put together in late January. This came, when it was learned that Juan Francisco Estrada contracted Covid-19 and could not fight Chocolatito for a third time defending the WBC Super Flyweight Championship.
Saturday night’s bout is essentially an “eliminator” from the WBC for the winner to get their chance at Estrada later this summer.
Hear us previewing the bout (if it happens) on “Big Fight Weekend” podcast with guests Todd Grisham of DAZN and Gayle Falkenthal of NYFights.com, who’s based in San Diego by clicking here:
Gonzalez is 50-3, 41 KOs and is one of the most exciting knockout fighters in the world at the smallest classes.He and Estrada fought a thrilling, action punching bout in Texas last March with Estrada nosing out Gonzalez on a decision.
Martinez was last in action in June, when he defended his 112 lb. world title with a sixth round beating of overmatched Joel Cordova in Guadalajara, Mexico. “El Rey” 18-1 (14 KOs) has now defended his Featherweight title three times and was willing to help salvage the date and what will be a sold out venue for his fight.
So, now we wait to see if Martinez does too much re-hydrating and eating and ruins the Saturday fight, once and for all.

domain: sports