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At Long Lake, hundreds of dead carp are washing up on beaches, collecting under docks and creating a stink for residents living along the 24-mile reservoir.
“If you’re water-skiing on the lake, you see them constantly,” said Jeff Braviroff, a Suncrest resident who started noticing the dead fish about a week ago. “There’s so many of them. … It’s going to be nasty when they really start to decay.”
The die-off puzzles officials at Avista Corp., who wonder if a virus is to blame. Carp is the primary fish species that appears to be affected, said Hugh Imhof, a spokesman for Avista, the owner of Long Lake Dam, which creates the reservoir on the Spokane River.
“We don’t think it’s a water quality issue,” Imhof said. “We haven’t spotted any algae blooms on the lake this year.”
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife sent out an officer to investigate the fish kill over the weekend. Officer Bob Weaver said he spotted dead aquatic plants as well as dead carp, which could indicate low oxygen levels. He forwarded the information to the agency’s fish management division, whose Spokane office was closed Monday as part of a statewide furlough.
Bottom-dwelling carp are abundant in Long Lake, where they reach weights of up to 15 pounds or greater. They spawn in June, creating roiling patches in the water.
The carp are easy prey during spawning season. Hunters are allowed to harpoon the carp or take them with a bow and arrow. Avista initially received reports of about 60 speared carcasses dumped into the middle of the lake, Imhof said.
Later, more dead carp were spotted, and the carcasses didn’t show evidence of hunting, he said. Now, residents said they’ve seen hundreds of dead carp in the reservoir. The carcasses are tangled up in patches of aquatic weeds.
Alycia Staggs and her husband, Eric, collected a bucketful of bloated carp from the beach of their Nine Mile Falls residence.
“It’s really a horrible smell – something between dead fish and rotting flesh,” Alycia Staggs said.
The couple lives near a slow-moving stretch of the reservoir that grows lily pads. In addition to the dead carp, Alycia Stagg said she spotted a handful of other dead fish, including bass, crappie and perch.
Debbie Novak, another Nine Mile Falls resident, said she has about 30 dead carp floating off her beach. “We need to know what to do with them,” she said. “I feel sorry for the neighbors. Their daughter’s getting married in their yard later this month.”
In Idaho, reports of dead fish have also turned up at Spirit Lake and Blanchard Lake. In those areas, fluctuating water temperatures are the culprit, said Jim Fredericks, regional fishery manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game.
May and June are stressful months for warm-water fish, such as bullheads, perch, bass, crappie and sunfish, he said. The fish are spawning, which requires lots of energy, and they’re sensitive to rapid changes in water temperature.
Cooler-than-normal temperatures in May and June, with a few hot days mixed in, resulted in thermal shock in some fish, he said.
Several dozen dead fish were spotted near the shorelines, but “it’s not what I’d call a major die-off,” Fredericks said.
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domain: design


text:
updateLatino Victory Fund Proud to Endorse Annette Taddeo For Florida Senate
Washington, D.C. – Latino Victory Fund today endorsed Annette Taddeo in her bid to represent the heavily Latino Senate District 40 in the Florida State Senate.
“Annette is the voice of Latino progressive values in South Florida,” said Cristóbal J. Alex, President of Latino Victory Fund. “As a small business owner and former Chair of the Miami-Dade Democratic Party, she has a deep understanding of the challenges facing working families in the district. Latino Victory Fund is proud to support Annette as she continues fighting for Floridians.”
Annette Taddeo said, “I am grateful to have the support of the Latino Victory Fund as we work hard to make history in the Florida Senate. With our election, we can break new barriers by sending the first Democratic Hispanic woman to the Florida Senate. In Tallahassee, I will work on day one to strengthen our public schools, improve access to our healthcare system and take on congestion and traffic with meaningful solutions. This election offers our community an opportunity to build progressive leadership in Tallahassee.”

domain: sociology


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text: Com. This is a list of television shows set in the Las Vegas Valley:. First Run Start First Run End Title Network Studio Notes; 2014: Strip 'N rip: Discovery Channel Cord Cutters News All the news cord cutters need about cord cutting. Covering, Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast, Netflix, Hulu, amp; More. An index page listing Game Show content. One of the oldest TV show types, and the granddaddy of Reality TV; individuals or teams compete for cash and prizes … Welcome to the Video Wall, GSNN's theatre of the wildest, most interesting game show happenings around today. DIRECTV channels and programming lineup. Call 1-855-390-8988 to get the latest deals and offers for DirecTV satellite television. This is the Mighty Blackjack rules dealer tie Review to watch blackjack rules dealer tie you want the full scoop minus blacljack the fluff. Stay up. -Bud, The Vape Critic. It truly is possible for anybody to make money playing games ski slot. People make money each day blackjck playing online and you can make money moe casino ballroom your hobby too. Should I remove Xerox PhotoCafe by atlantic city casino m life Xerox PhotoCafe transforms your digital photos into photo books, greeting cards, calendars, etc. Today we update our side by side look at the major live TV streaming services. With a lot of toe channels added to services like DIRECTV NOW we wanted blackjack rules dealer tie [. ] Family and pet blackjack rules dealer tie vacation home on Greens Lake in the Kawarthas near Dealsr features a gradually deepening sand bottomed swimming area, safe for children, and a pinball gallery in the rec room. Browse the MLS to find commercial and residential real estate in Upstate NY including the Sacandaga region as well as Albany, Saratoga, Glens Falls amp; more. Index of homes currently for sale in The Township - Coconut Creek, Florida. This list is updated daily. What's Around. Why not visit the Regent Theatre and ACME Theatre at Federation Square, as well as prominent tourist attractions including the Melbourne Aquarium, Yarra River, Melbourne Stock Exchange, Etihad Stadium, Crown Casino and the Southbank entertainment precinct. The 240; ə ( listen) is a grammatical article in English, denoting person(s) or thing(s) already mentioned, under discussion, implied, or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners or readers.

domain: entertainment


text:
About the map
This Rhode Island county map displays its 5 counties. Providence, Bristol, Kent, Newport, and Washington are Rhode Island’s counties. Rhode Island has the second-fewest counties in the US. Only Delaware has fewer counties than Rhode Island. On a side note, Hawaii has the same tally.
For area, Providence County occupies the largest area in Rhode Island. This county is located in the north section of Rhode Island with an area of about 429 square miles. But the smallest county in Rhode Island is Bristol County at only 25 square miles. In fact, it’s so small that it’s actually the third-smallest county in the United States.
Providence County has the highest population in Rhode Island. With over 630,000 people, Providence County holds the state capital of Rhode Island, Providence. The least populated county in Rhode Island is Bristol County with less than 50,000 people.
|Rhode Island County Map – National Map||Rhode Island in Google Maps|
Rhode Island map collection
Rhode Island County List
|County Name||Population (2020 est)||County Map||Area (sq mi)||Locator Map||FIPS Code|

domain: geography


With D23 Expo taking place in Japan, the talk has focused around Kingdom Hearts III and if a new trailer for the title would drop. Square Enix and Disney surprised everyone with not one, but two teasers for Kingdom Hearts III.
The first video unveils a new world from Monsters, Inc., where Sora, Donald and Goofy, team up with Sully and Mike to scare children as they settle in for bed. Our protagonists even transform into these creatures, keeping inline with the rest of this denizens from this Disney comedy. There’s also additional scenes from the Toy Story and Tangled worlds, where Sora gets to showoff some of his new moves. Interestingly enough, some familiar faces from Organization XIII make a return.
Utada Hikaru is back for a new song, titled Oath. She also performed the theme songs for the previous games in the series with Simple and Clean in Kingdom Hearts and Sanctuary in Kingdom Hearts II. Visuals include scenes with Riku, King Mickey, Xemnas and old villains Maleficent and Pete.
Kingdom Hearts III is expected sometime in 2018 for both the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One.
Tags2018, D23 Expo Japan, Disney, Kingdom Hearts III, Monsters Inc., Square-Enix, Tangled, Toy Story, Utada Hikaru, video, video game, YouTube
- Fourth season of Haikyuu!! coming January 2020
- Uniqlo to launch Dragon Ball t-shirt line November 2019
- Nintendo Switch Joy Cons suffer from control stick drift
- Nintendo announces lighter, more portable version of Switch
- New trailer for Digimon Adventure movie released, has Spring 2020 launch
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text:
The Story of Our Tree (Hardcover)
Two groups of friends. Two tiny seedlings. And one BIG dream of a greener, tree-filled future.
This engaging, science-packed picture book follows two very different groups of young friends as they each plant a tree and then share their excitement through a series of pen pal letters.
In the USA, five friends plant an acorn that grows into an oak tree seedling. They learn about their tree's life cycle and how it will become an ecosystem that gives food and a home to birds, insects, and other animals. In Senegal, Africa, five friends plant an acacia tree as part of Africa's Great Green Wall Project. They learn how their tree will nourish the soil, trap water, shade the hot land, and help their village grow crops. Both groups of friends also discover that their trees will help fight climate change
- A narrative story supported with high-interest science fact boxes
- Perfect for nonfiction reading
- Supports curriculum learning about plant life cycles
- Includes a "Plant an Oak Tree" project
- Beautiful mixed media images using illustration, photos, and collage
This uplifting celebration of trees will encourage young readers to not only notice, value, and enjoy these giants of the plant kingdom, but also want to plant a tree themselves.

domain: biology


WHALEBACK uses state of the art SURFIS composite resin systems that are backed by over five decades of formulating success. These epoxy-based resins are developed specifically for paddle and surf boards, to improve the overall strength, durability, UV resistance, and color retention of the boards. They are user friendly, simplify the manufacturing process, and result in a cleaner and safer work environment.
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text:
More Arizona parents like you are on the lookout for healthier options to feed your families. Thankfully more local restaurants than ever are stepping up to answer your call. Next time the kiddos announce “We’re hungry!” fill them up guilt-free and on the go at one of these top seven healthy eateries around Mesa.
Green Corner Restaurant
Green Corner offers an endlessly delicious menu filled with some of the East Valley’s best Mediterranean food. Its fare is healthy and tasty enough for your finickiest preschooler. Select from a long list of traditional Levantine-inspired dishes based on Chef-owner Takkem’s culinary heritage, with specialties like:
- Chicken shawarma.
This family-owned restaurant takes pride in offering only the freshest organic foods and strives to maintain a five-star quality rating. You will notice the difference with your first bite, and the portion sizes are healthy, too. Enjoy a sweet end to a gratifying meal with a complimentary piece of baklava. Green Corner offers two locations, one in Mesa on West Southern Avenue and another in Chandler.
Introduce your child to the wonders of some of Mesa’s top culinary artists at International Foods. This spot on West Guadalupe Road is more than merely a healthy eatery. The cooks here specialize in allergy-friendly foods. As a result, everything on its carryout menu is delicious and safe for everyone in the family to eat.
Order something scrumptious for dinner, like island-inspired pulled pork and cabbage or the “Rotner.” The cook smothers these house-cut fries in scratch-made “unfried” beans and carnitas. Choose from one of five salads with ingredients like fresh diced veggies, kale, and marinated artichoke hearts. They even have a build-your-own meal for the kiddos, so they’re sure to clean their plate. Don’t forget dessert. Our favorite is the organic blueberry ice vanilla donuts.
The Nile Coffee Shop
This local downtown java house on West Main Street offers 100% vegan eats for breakfast and lunch, plus a long list of locally roasted coffee drinks. So drop the kiddos off at school and start your morning off right with a tofu scramble bowl with spinach, tomatoes, and quinoa.
The mushroom melt on sourdough is a terrific option for a hearty lunch break from the office. At the Nile, you can get mylk options like oat milk, and it offers quite a few gluten-free choices too. Bring your mat on Saturday and join in on a yoga class or pop in for regular live events from jazz performances to wrestling.
The Uprooted Kitchen
Located on East Ray Road, the friendly husband and wife team that runs The Uprooted Kitchen takes the concept of farm-to-table pretty seriously. Nestles on the grounds of its own certified organic farm, this eatery sources many fruits and veggies right outside its back door. They curate a superb menu of healthy meals, including plant-based, organic cuisine.
Whatever you pick, it’ll surprise your taste buds with its home-cooked flavor, like the lentil burger on a fresh-baked bun. Even The Uprooted Kitchen’s desserts are amazing. Of course, they’re rich and flavorful, and they’re good for you too. These treats won’t give you a sugar crash like other sweets because the chef makes them with natural ingredients like peanut butter. The menu here changes often, so stop in regularly to see what’s new.
Seed Shack is another local gem. This mom-and-pop vegan restaurant on East Baseline Road touts a welcoming environment and a healthy menu that’s good for the heart — and the tummy. Its diverse dishes offer a fusion of American and Oriental cuisine made with plant-based ingredients and seasoned with fresh herbs.
Order up the black bean burger topped with smashed avocado and a side of sweet potato fries. It has a nice bite and is never too dry. The rainbow tofu vermicelli bowl explodes with flavor thanks to spiced tofu, rainbow slaw, and a drizzle of soy caramel sauce atop a bowl of glass noodles. Don’t forget a big glass of protein-rich hemp horchata to drink.
We all know it’s essential for kids to eat well-balanced meals to ensure they’re getting the nutrients they need to grow healthy and strong. That’s why we recommend MAD Greens. Everyone can explore the joy of vegan eating right on South Val Vista Road. There’s something yummy for the whole family here, like the hearty Southwest Bowl for dad. This dish features:
- Southwestern chicken.
- Cotija cheese.
- Wild rice.
- Roasted corn.
- Cilantro chili lime dressing.
Why not get mom a Vibrant Venus salad? The cooks pile a plate high with farm-fresh ingredients like:
- Grilled chicken.
- Praline pecans.
- Goat cheese crumbles.
- Red onions.
- Balsamic vinaigrette.
Your children are going to love the “Awesome Box.” It includes a kid-friendly combination of:
- Grilled chicken.
- Apple slices.
- Carrot sticks with ranch dip.
- Their choice of apple juice, regular, or chocolate milk.
Located on South McQueen Road, Matcha Grove touts friendly owners, a clean venue, and Instagram-worthy decor. They paid attention to every detail, from its inviting dining area to its expansive selection of matcha-based drinks. This cafe uses high-quality ceremonial quality matcha from Japan, green alternatives instead of regular plastic, and ingredients that are:
- 100% gluten-free.
- Completely dairy-free.
- No refined sugar.
- Vegan friendly.
- Paleo approved.
Bring your toddler along and check out the bakery items. They always include a few gluten-free, keto-friendly pastries. The cooks bake them with natural sweeteners instead of refined sugar, so they satisfy just about any craving. The blueberry buckle cake looks fantastic, and it tastes moist and yummy too. If that’s not your thing, try the matcha banana nut bread or the chia pudding.That’s our list of the top seven healthy and delicious eateries in the Mesa, Arizona, area. Did we miss any of your family’s go-to local restaurants? If so, let us know! Crème de la Crème will add it to our growing list of recommendations so other parents can take advantage of your experience.

domain: food


text:
Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a traditional meeting with representatives of the German business community on December 6 in Russia’s resort city of Sochi.
Earlier, plans to meet with Putin were announced by the German Eastern Business Association, which said about 20 heads of German companies planned to attend it. Putin and German businessmen will discuss issues related to the current state and prospects for the development of trade and economic relations between Russia and Germany and the implementation of joint projects.
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domain: news


text:
In this study, a Q-switch pumped supercontinuum laser (QS-SCL) is used as a light source for in vivo imaging via ultrahigh-resolution optical coherence tomography and angiography (UHR-OCT/OCTA). For this purpose, an OCT system based on a spectral-domain detection scheme is constructed, and a spectrometer with a spectral range of 635 − 875 nm is designed. The effective full-width at half maximum of spectrum covers 150 nm, and the corresponding axial and transverse resolutions are 2 and 10 µm in air, respectively. The relative intensity noise of the QS-SCL and mode-locked SCL is quantitatively compared. Furthermore, a special processing algorithm is developed to eliminate the intrinsic noise of QS-SCL. This work demonstrates that QS-SCLs can effectively reduce the cost and size of UHR-OCT/OCTA instruments, making clinical applications feasible.
© 2019 Optical Society of America under the terms of the OSA Open Access Publishing Agreement
Optical coherence tomography (OCT) allows acquiring cross-sectional images of biological tissues without the use of fluorescence dyes and contrast agents [1,2]. Based on the interference spectrum generated by the light backscattered from the tissue and that reflected from the reference arm of an interferometer, the depth-resolved biological microstructure can be obtained by conducting the Fourier transform of the interference spectrum known as Fourier-domain OCT (FD-OCT) [3,4]. In contrast to other imaging techniques such as fluorescence microscopy  and confocal microscopy , OCT utilizes a low-coherence light source without depth scanning to acquire three-dimensional micromorphology of a biological sample. A light source with a broader spectral range could be more suitable for OCT applications because the axial resolution of OCT depends on its center wavelength and bandwidth . Thus, both a coherent light source with a shorter center wavelength and a light source with a broadband spectrum can achieve a higher axial resolution. Moreover, the use of ultrahigh-resolution OCT (UHR-OCT) based on an ultra-broadband light source has been considered for cellular-level imaging . The application of UHR-OCT for retinal imaging typically results in aberrations caused by the specific arrangement and imperfect curvatures of the cornea and lens. Additionally, diffraction represents a significant problem due to the limited pupil size, which, however, can be alleviated by pupil dilation. Thus, to optimize the OCT resolution and improve the imaging quality, aberrations should be removed [9,10]. Fernández et al. combined adaptive optics with UHR-OCT for imaging foveal cone photoreceptors to examine a larger number of retina features than those observed by conventional UHR-OCT systems . Different types of light sources were proposed for UHR-OCT systems, including multiple superluminescent diodes (SLDs) [12,13], mode-locked lasers (MLs) [14,15], and supercontinuum lasers (SCLs) [16,17]. A combination of multiple SLDs with different spectral regimes can broaden the effective spectrum range; however, the output power of the resulting light source remains limited. The results of previous studies demonstrated that MLs exhibited broadband spectra with ultrahigh axial resolutions. Werkmeister et al. also demonstrated an UHR-OCT system based on a broadband Ti: Sapphire laser with a center wavelength of 800 nm for in vivo imaging of human cornea. Attributed to a broad FWHM of 170 nm, the theoretical axial resolution can reach 1.2 µm which could be potentially implemented for investigating physiology and pathophysiology of human cornea . Furthermore, when a highly nonlinear fiber was pumped by a femtosecond laser such as a Ti:sapphire or Cr:forsterite, its spectral bandwidth could be significantly improved [19,20]. However, such solid-state lasers are expensive and bulky, which makes their use in clinical applications very difficult. Alternatively, pumping highly nonlinear fibers with a femtosecond fiber laser can reduce the laser size and facilitates its integration with the fiber-based OCT systems.
Recently, multiple research groups have proposed to use the ML-pumped SCL (ML-SCL) for UHR-OCT  and visible-light OCT (vis-OCT)  applications. Because the spectral range of ML-SCL typically spans from 400 to 2400 nm, the 800-nm and 1310-nm spectral components were individually utilized for the development of UHR-OCT systems in a previous study . In contrast to the UHR-OCT systems in the near-infrared range, vis-OCT became an alternative solution to provide an ultrahigh axial resolution by utilization of the visible spectral range [24,25]. Due to the advantage of the specific absorption property in the visible range resulting from hemoglobin, vis-OCT can be used to determine hemoglobin oxygenation and to visualize microcirculation of the retina. In the previous reports, ML-SCLs were commonly implemented for vis-OCT by extracting the visible range for imaging [26,27]. However, due to the shorter wavelength used for imaging, the penetration depth of the vis-OCT system is much shallower than the OCT systems in the near-infrared range. Additionally, the permissible exposure power is lower in comparison to conventional OCT systems, making the imaging sensitivity poorer. Furthermore, ML-SCL has been also implemented in OCT angiography (OCTA) based on Doppler effect, decorrelation, spectral contrast, and optical microangiography (OMAG) [28–31]. In contrast, a Q-switch pumped SCL (QS-SCL) is difficult to realize in OCT due to the high level of its intrinsic noise. Although ML-SCLs have been widely used as the light source of UHR-OCT, the cost of a commercial ML-SCL system is approximately 8 times higher and its volume is approximately 6 times larger than the corresponding QS-SCL parameters. Therefore, QS-SCL could be an economic and compact solution for UHR-OCT. Maria et al. reported a 1.3-µm QS-SCL-based UHR-OCT system and showed that the relative intensity noise (RIN) was the main noise source, which degraded its signal–to-noise ratio (SNR) . However, the noise level of QS-SCLs is relatively high, and its output power is much lower than that of ML-SCLs. Therefore, the development of an efficient QS-SCL-based UHR-OCT/OCTA system remains a very challenging task.
In this study, we have utilized a commercial QS-SCL as the light source for constructing an UHR-OCT/OCTA apparatus operating in the 760-nm regime. The resulting spectral-domain OCT (SD-OCT) system with a specially designed spectrometer exhibits an effective spectral range of 635 − 875 nm. The SNR of this system is optimized by varying the exposure time of the line-scan camera. To further reduce the intrinsic RIN of the QS-SCL, a special algorithm is developed for OCT/OCTA imaging. Finally, the OCT/OCTA spectra of the developed UHR-OCT system are compared with the results obtained using a conventional FD-OCT setup.
2. Experimental setup
2.1 UHR-OCT system
Figure 1 shows the schematic diagram of the developed SD-UHR-OCT system. The commercial QS-SCL (SuperK compact, NKT Photonics, Demark) used in this setup provides an output power of 100 mW, spectral range of 450 − 2400 nm, and laser repetition rate of 20 kHz. The laser beam was collimated by the fiber collimator and sequentially passed through the notch filter (67-123, Edmund Optics, Singapore) and a dichroic mirror (DMSP1000, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA) to cut off the spectral range corresponding to the pumping pulse with a wavelength of 1060 nm and reserve the spectral range of 600 − 900 nm for the interferometer. After passing the dichroic mirror, the optical power of the beam was 20 mW. Because the utilized spectral range covered approximately 240 nm with the center wavelength of 760 nm, it was difficult to find suitable fiber couplers. For this reason, a free-space UHR-OCT system was built in this study. In this system, the light beam passed through the dichroic mirror was incident on a polarization-independent beam splitter (BNPB-25.4B-45R-800, LAMBDA, New Jersey, USA) with a splitting ratio of 50:50 that divided it into the reference and sample arms, respectively. The sample arm was composed of a two-axis galvanometer (GVS002, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA) and a scanning lens (LSM02BB, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA), while the incident power on the sample was set to 4 mW. In the reference arm, a reflective mirror and a dispersion compensator (N-SF8, SCHOTT North America, New York, USA) were used. Subsequently, the interference beam was coupled into a single-mode fiber (SMF, P3-630A-FC-1, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA) by a fiber coupling stage (KT110, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA) and then recollimated again by another fiber coupling stage at the other end of the SMF to adjust the beam size incident on the input of the home-made spectrometer. The use of SMF can reduce the difficulty in the setup of spectrometer and improve the variation in the interference intensity due to the beam scanning in the sample arm. To study the feasibility of using the developed UHR-OCT/OCTA system for in vivo imaging, an existing swept-source OCT (SS-OCT) was implemented for comparison. The experimental setup of the 1060-nm SS-OCT system was described in a previous study, and the same scanning lens (LSM02BB, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA) was used to focus the light beam on the sample . The detailed specifications of both systems are shown in Table 1.
To design a spectrometer for the UHR-OCT system, the optical path was simulated using OpticStudio software (Zemax, Washington, USA), as shown in Fig. 2. The spectrometer consists of a transmission grating (1200 l/mm @ 840 nm, Wasatch Photonics, North Carolina, USA), a pair of achromatic lenses (AC508-200-B, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA), and a line-scan camera (spL4096-140 km, Basler, German). Figure 2(a) depicts the corresponding positions of the optical components in the spectrometer. The beam emitted from the SMF was collimated by the fiber coupling stage onto the transmission grating with a period of 1200 lines/mm. After that, two achromatic lenses were used for the collimation of the dispersed beams into the line-scan camera. Figures 2(b)−(d) show the simulated spots with different sizes and wavelengths of 600, 750, and 900 nm, respectively, focused on the camera pixel grid. The simulated beam diameters are different at the wavelengths of 600, 750, and 900 nm, varying from 6 to 11 µm. This was due to the aberration of the lens pair used in the spectrometer, which can be mitigated or suppressed in the future by using custom designed optic components. Finally, the line-scan camera was connected to a frame grabber through the Cameralink interface for data acquisition. To synchronize the image acquisition by the camera with the galvanometer, a data acquisition board (DAQ, PCIe-6229, National Instruments, Texas, USA) was utilized for the generation of analog signals. A pulse waveform was generated by the DAQ board as an external trigger to control the camera exposure time. Additionally, the two axes of the galvanometer were driven by a triangular wave and a step function produced by the DAQ board.
2.3 Spectral response
Although the developed UHR-OCT system is based on the free-space interferometer, the dispersion issue should be carefully addressed due to the unbalanced use of the optical components located between the reference and sample arms. For example, the scanning lens is part of the sample arm, but it causes a dispersion mismatch between both arms. In this study, a dispersion compensator is required for balancing the dispersion induced by the scanning lens. Additionally, the spectral responses of the optical components should be optimized to maximize the effective spectral range. In the setup depicted in Fig. 1, the scanning lens and galvanometer are used in the sample arm, and the dispersion compensator is inserted in the reference arm. Different dispersion compensators were utilized for comparison including a coated compensator (LSM02DC, Thorlabs, New Jersey, USA) and a compensator without coating (N-SF8, SCHOTT North America, USA). The thicknesses of both compensators were equal to 26 mm. The wavelength range of 500 − 900 nm was used for testing the spectral response of the UHR-OCT system after passing through the optical components of interferometer, and a commercial spectrometer (USB2000, Ocean Optics, UK) was employed to receive the output signal. Figure 3 displays the spectra individually recorded for the sample arm (blue line), reference arm (red line), and interference (black line) of both arms using the coated/uncoated dispersion compensators. It shows that the signal in the spectral range below 700 nm was significantly attenuated when the coated dispersion compensator was used, as indicated by the red line in Fig. 3(a). In the same figure, the intensity of the interference spectrum in the region below 700 nm was smaller than that of the corresponding spectrum in Fig. 3(b). Hence, the uncoated dispersion compensator was more suitable for the use in the developed UHR-OCT system due to its higher intensity of the interference signal.
2.4 OCT angiography
In addition to the microstructural imaging with OCT, the developed system was also used for OCTA based on the estimation of its speckle variance. Repeated scanning was performed along the same transverse range to obtain two sequential two-dimensional (2D) OCT images, after which the variance of the backscattered speckle between these images SV(x, y) was estimated according to the following equation:
2.5 Noise reduction
To reduce the intrinsic noise of the QS-SCL, an imaging process algorithm was developed. Figure 4(a) depicts the flow chart of the developed algorithm for the removal of the background noise. In this case, each B-scan consists of 500 A-scans covering the transverse distance of 1.5 mm, and each three-dimensional (3D) volume is composed of 500 B-scans. First, 500 A-scans were recorded when the sample arm was blocked and averaged to acquire the average background noise, which was subsequently subtracted from each A-scan. To remove the stripe-shaped noise, the sample surface was detected in each A-scan, and the noise intensity was averaged between the zero path and the sample surface. After that, the average noise intensity was again subtracted from the intensity of each pixel within individual A-scan below the sample surface to remove the stripe-shaped noise. Figures 4(b)–(e) show the 2D OCT images of the mouse ear skin obtained before processing (Fig. 4(b)), after the removal of the low-depth noise (Fig. 4(c)), after the removal of the stripe-shaped noise (Fig. 4(d)), and after the moving average calculation (Fig. 4(e)). Moreover, Figs. 4(f)–(i) display the 3D OCT images corresponding to the images depicted in Figs. 4(b)–(e). Although the noise in the shallow depth range could be easily removed, the stripe-shaped noise remained in the OCT images as indicated by the white arrows in Fig. 4(c). The latter also influenced the estimated speckle variance for OCTA. As shown in Fig. 4(d), the stripe-shaped noise can be effectively removed using the above-mentioned process. Finally, the moving average calculation was performed (Fig. 4(e)), in which the epidermis, dermis, vessels, and auricular cartilage could be clearly identified.
3. Evaluation of system performance
Although the spectral range spanning from 600 to 900 nm was used for the simulation of the optical path in the spectrometer, the spectral range at the CCD end only covered the region from 635 to 875 nm. This reduction in the spectral range likely resulted from the cut-off wavelength of the SMF and imperfect alignment of the optical components. Subsequently, the spectrometer was utilized for recording interference spectra (the corresponding experimental setup is shown in Fig. 1). Figure 5(a) shows the interference spectrum obtained by the line-scan camera that includes both the non-interference and interference terms, while Fig. 5(b) displays the interference spectrum obtained after the removal of the non-interference component. To perform the wavelength calibration prior to the Fourier transform, the interference spectrum was resampled using the method proposed in the previous study . After wavelength calibration, the processed spectrum was filtered by a software-based Gaussian window and then, fast Fourier transform was performed to acquire the point spread function (PSF) as plotted in Fig. 5(c). Here, the axial resolution can be acquired by estimating the full-width at half-maximum of PSF as indicated by the black arrows . Thus, the measured axial resolution approximately equals 2 µm in air. Additionally, the SNR curves of the A-scans performed at various depths were recorded (see Fig. 5(d)). Each curve was averaged over 10 sequential A-scans conducted at the same depth. The data presented in Fig. 5(d) reveal that the noise floor was relatively high due to the RIN generated by the light source. Additionally, it can be found that the SNR decreased ∼20 dB at the depth of 1 mm. In our spectrometer, the spectral range covers from 635 to 875 nm, corresponding to a spectral resolution of 0.059 nm. The theoretical sensitivity roll-off is 18 dB when the optical path difference reaches 1 mm . The difference in the theoretical and measured results may be resulted from imperfect resampling for wavelength calibration. The results of a previous study indicated that RIN of QS-SCL increased with the wavelength, but the RIN of the ML-SCL was wavelength-independent [39–41]. To further decrease the intrinsic RIN produced by the QS-SCL, the exposure time of the line-scan camera was optimized, and a new image-processing algorithm was developed.
Because the repetition rate of the utilized QS-SCL was 20 kHz, exposure times of 25, 50, and 100 µs were used for the optimization of the system SNR. Figures 6(a)−(c) show the 2D OCT images of the human skin obtained for the same volunteer at different exposure times. Here, each 2D OCT image was composed of 1000 A-scans. In Fig. 6(a), the dark stripes that degrade the imaging quality and increase the noise level are observed. Because the number of pulses generated by the QS-SCL during one B-scan was smaller than the total number of A-scans in each B-scan, some A-scans might be produced without pulses causing the appearance of black stripes in the corresponding OCT images. When the exposure time was increased to 50 µs, which was equal to the pulse duration, the number of dark stripes was significantly reduced as shown in Fig. 6(b). In the latter case, the epidermis and dermis layers could be identified. Moreover, after further increasing the exposure time to 100 µs, the skin structure became much clearer due to the increase in SNR. To determine the relationship between the sensitivity and exposure time, sensitivity roll-off curves were plotted at different depths and exposure times in Fig. 6(d). The obtained results revealed that the sensitivity at a depth of 100 µm and exposure time of 100 µs exceeded 90 dB; however, its value was reduced by around 20 dB at a depth of 1 mm. Furthermore, the sensitivity measured at an exposure time of 25 µs was very small, making the in vivo imaging of biological tissues very difficult. Apart from the sensitivity measurements, the noise floor was also examined as a function of depth by averaging 1000 sequential A-scans, during which the sample arm was blocked. The obtained results illustrate that the noise floor decreased with increasing exposure time. Although the longer exposure times can effectively improve the SNR, they also decrease the imaging speed, owing to the existence of motion artifacts. Furthermore, a longer exposure time may lead to the loss of dynamic information related to the biological tissue (such as blood flow). Thus, the exposure time in the developed system was set to 100 µs for in vivo imaging, which corresponded to an A-scan rate of 10 kHz. The resulting frame rate was 20 frames per second, and it took 25 s to acquire volumetric data.
As shown in Figs. 6(d) and (e), the noise degraded the SNR, and a stronger noise was generated in the shallower depth range. Moreover, the high noise level increased the speckle variance between B-scans, making OCTA imaging difficult. The main noise can be divided into two types including the low-depth and stripe-shaped ones. In order to increase the detection sensitivity of UHR-OCT imaging, the return power in the reference arm was increased. However, such stripe-shaped noise may occur when stronger backscattered intensity caused by the sample resulted in the saturation of camera. Therefore, a processing algorithm for noise reduction was proposed as shown in Fig. 4(a). To investigate the feasibility of using the developed UHR-OCT for angiography at an imaging quality comparable with that of the conventional FD-OCT system, the former technique was implemented, and its results were compared with those of the existing SS-OCT system at a center wavelength of 1060 nm. The lateral resolutions of UHR-OCT and UHR-OCTA are approximately 10 µm, respectively. The axial resolutions of UHR-OCT and SS-OCT are 2 and 6 µm, and the incident powers on the sample of UHR-OCT and SS-OCT are 4 and 3 mW, respectively. For OCTA, the speckle variance between the two sequential OCT images was determined according to Eq. (1). The volumetric data of OCT/OCTA contained 500 B-scans, and each location was scanned twice to estimate the speckle variance (the same area of the mouse ear skin was individually scanned with both systems). For the animal experiments, mice (C57 wild-type, 7–8 weeks old, male) were anesthetized with a mixed aesthetic which was composed of oxygen and phenobarbital. The mouse was held on a customized mount, and the mouse ear was well fixed. The animal experiment conducted in this study was according to the approved protocol by the Laboratory Animal Center, Chang Gung University. First, the mouse ear was scanned by UHR-OCT, and it took 50 seconds for acquiring 3D OCT/OCTA imaging. Then, the mouse was quickly moved to the sample arm of SS-OCT, and the same skin area was scanned with SS-OCT to obtain 3D OCT/OCTA results. For SS-OCTA imaging, it took 20 seconds. After UHR-OCT imaging, no significant damage can be observed by the naked eye and from the OCT results.
Figures 7(a) and (b) show the representative 2D OCT images obtained by UHR-OCT and SS-OCT, which were selected from the corresponding 3D images at a close location. The magnified areas denoted by the yellow squares in Figs. 7(a) and (b) are depicted in Figs. 7(c) and (d), respectively. The white arrows indicate the vessel structures, and the magnified UHR-OCT image (Fig. 7(c)) displays a clear vessel boundary, which was blurred in Fig. 7(d). Additionally, Figs. 7(e) and (f) show the corresponding projection-view OCTA images obtained by the UHR-OCT and conventional SS-OCT systems, respectively. As compared with SS-OCT, the UHR-OCT image exhibits a significantly higher visible vessel density, which allows visualization of small vessels. Again, the areas indicated by the white and yellow squares are magnified in Figs. 7(g) and (h) for Fig. 7(e) and Figs. 7(i) and (j) for Fig. 7(f). These results illustrate that UHR-OCT can be used to visualize smaller vessels due to its higher resolution.
Limited to the intrinsic noise of the QS-SCL, it is difficult to use QS-SCL for UHR-OCT/OCTA applications in the past. To understand the noise effect on the laser spectrum, the spectrum acquired by the UHR-OCT system with a blocked sample arm at an exposure time of 100 µs is shown in Fig. 8(a). Its shape is not very smooth, and a strong intensity variation is observed due to the high RIN level. To further compare the RINs of ML-SCLs and QS-SCLs, a commercial ML-SCL (SuperK extreme EXW-12, NKT photonics) was used. The repetition rates of ML-SCL and QS-SCL are 78 MHz and 20 kHz, respectively. Because the light beam emitted from QS-SCL is well aligned with the free-space interferometer, the light sources cannot be easily exchanged without affecting the optics alignment. Therefore, the output spectra of both lasers are difficult to record by the developed OCT spectrometer. Instead, a commercial spectrometer (USB2000+, Ocean Optics) was utilized to cover the spectral range from 600 to 900 nm at an integration time of 1 ms. To estimate the RIN value, 100 time-series spectra were recorded for each laser. Its magnitude is defined as
The measured sensitivities of the UHR-OCT and SS-OCT systems in this study were 91 dB and 106 dB, respectively. Additionally, the RINs of the QS-SCL laser and swept source used in this study were compared. To determine the RIN distribution of the proposed UHR-OCT system, the developed OCT spectrometer was used, and the exposure time varied between 50 and 100 µs. One thousand spectra were recorded sequentially to estimate the RIN distribution for each exposure time. Figure 9(a) depicts the RIN distributions as functions of wavelength. It shows that the smaller exposure times lead to higher RIN values. Moreover, the RIN of the 1060-nm SS-OCT system was estimated as well. For that purpose, a commercial NIR spectrometer (SW2540-050-NIRA, OtO Photonics, Taiwan) was used to directly obtain the spectra of the swept source, and 1000 sequential spectra were recorded at an integration time of 1 ms. Another 1000 sequential spectra were acquired by the balanced detector of the SS-OCT system when the sample arm was blocked. Because the A-scan rate of SS-OCT is 100 kHz, it takes approximately 10 µs to acquire a full spectrum of the swept source. The RIN distributions estimated from the spectra obtained by the NIR spectrometer and balanced detector are shown in Fig. 9(b). Notably, the blue curve in Fig. 9(b) exhibits smaller RIN values because 100 full output spectra were received during one integration period. In the blue curve, the RIN magnitudes measured from 980 to 1025 nm are relatively large, which likely resulted from the lower responsivity of the NIR spectrometer. Hence, after comparing the green curve in Fig. 9(b) with the red curve in Fig. 9(a), it can be concluded that the RIN distribution of the swept source is located below that of QS-SCL.
Additionally, the effect of RIN on OCTA was investigated by conducting phantom experiments. A capillary PE tube with an inner diameter of 300 µm was connected to a syringe pump to provide a stable flow. After that, the PE tube was fixed on the sample stage and filled with soymilk. While the soymilk was pumped by the syringe pump, the same cross-sectional area of the PE tube was repeatedly scanned with UHR-OCT (an identical experiment was conducted for SS-OCT). Figure 10 shows the data obtained using the PE tube and the UHR-OCT and SS-OCT systems. Figures 10(a) and (b) present the UHR-OCT results obtained for the PE tube with a soymilk flow before and after performing the processing procedure outlined in Fig. 4(a), while Figs. 10(c) and (d) depict the corresponding SV images of Figs. 10(a) and (b). For comparison, the SS-OCT image of the PE tube with a soymilk flow and the corresponding SV image are shown in Figs. 10(e) and (f), respectively. Here, the yellow and white arrows indicate the PE tube and flowing soymilk, respectively. To quantitatively analyze the RIN effect on OCTA, a Weber contrast factor, C, was introduced. It was defined as C=(I-IR)/IR, where I and IR represented the total intensities in the region of interest and reference region depicted by the yellow and red squares in Fig. 10, respectively. Table 2 lists the Weber contrast factors estimated for Fig. 10. Before conducting the processing procedure to remove the noise, the SV UHR-OCT data showed very little contrast; however, the contrast factor increased to 31.131 after noise elimination. As a result, the contrast factor of the processed UHR-OCT image became comparable with that of the SS-OCTA image.
In SD-OCT systems, the system sensitivity depends on the repetition rate of the light source, exposure time of the line-scan camera, and incident power on the sample. However, all these parameters are interrelated. When the exposure time was less than 50 µs, it caused the formation of dark stripes in the OCT images shown in Fig. 6(a) because no laser pulses were detected by the line-scan camera during one exposure period. Additionally, it caused the larger intensity variation between A-scans when the exposure time was less than 100 µs as shown in Fig. 6(b). Therefore, the exposure time was set to 100 µs in our experiments, which corresponded to the duration of the two pulses received by the lines-can camera in one exposure period. Although the maximum repetition rate of the used QS-SCL system was 28 kHz, the laser was most stable during the operation at a repetition rate of 20 kHz. Because the exposure time and repetition rate were set to 100 µs and 20 kHz, respectively, only the incident power on the sample and the reflected power from the reference arm were slightly adjusted to optimize the sensitivity for the reasons mentioned above. However, excessive incident power on the sample or excessive return power of the beam reflected from the reference arm caused intensity saturation of the camera at an exposure time of 100 µs, which further degraded the imaging quality. In this study, 3D OCT imaging conducted at this A-scan rate (10 kHz) may result in the formation of motion artifacts. Moreover, OCTA is based on the estimation of the speckle variance between the two B-scans obtained for the same location, making OCTA imaging a challenging procedure. Although the number of motion artifacts can be decreased by reducing the A-scan number for each B-scan, the imaging quality is accordingly degraded. To effectively eliminate motion artifacts, different methods were used in previous studies, which could be also applicable to the developed UHR-OCT system [42,43].
Compared to conventional OCT systems, UHR-OCT is able to detect more specific and detailed features of biological tissue. However, the light sources commonly used for UHR-OCT such as femtosecond lasers and ML-SCLs are difficult to be widely implemented for clinical applications because of the bulky size and the high cost. In contrast, commercially available QS-SCLs have the advantages of the smaller size and the much lower cost, making clinical applications in ophthalmology and dermatology feasible.
In this study, an UHR-OCT system based on the QS-SCL was developed for in vivo OCT/OCTA imaging. The spectral range from 635 to 875 nm was implemented for OCT, and a home-made spectrometer was designed to record a broadband interference spectrum. In addition, the spectral responses of the optical components were examined to maximize the effective spectral range and optimize the interference spectrum. The optimal exposure time of the line-scan camera equal to 100 µs was determined to find a compromise between the system SNR and the scanning rate. To further improve the intrinsic noise level of the QS-SCL for OCTA, a processing algorithm was developed to reduce both the background noise in the shallow depth range and stripe-shaped noise resulting from the intensity saturation of the line-scan camera. After system optimization, the axial resolution was approximately 2 µm, and the A-scan rate was as high as 10 kHz, which was acceptable for in vivo imaging. Finally, the developed system was implemented for both the OCT and OCTA in vivo imaging techniques. The obtained results confirmed that QS-SCLs could be successfully utilized for UHR-OCT/OCTA leading to significant reductions in the UHR-OCT cost and system size.
Chang Gung Memorial Hospital (CMRPD2H0241); Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (MOST 105-2221-E-182-016 MY3, MOST 107-2627-M-007 -005, MOST 107-2628-E-182-001-MY3); Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan (108-2636-E-002 -009).
We appreciate the helpful discussions and suggestions from Prof. Linbo Liu at the Nanyang Technical University.
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest related to this article.
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Here’s what a lemon looks like: It’s my KitchenAid dual oven gas range, purchased in 2012 for a princely sum.
It was an appealing purchase at the time. Two ovens are cool and handy. Gas stoves are easier to control, and evoke my grandmother’s kitchen.
Grandma’s gas range worked great. Mine doesn’t.
The problem is technology, a blessing and a curse in the 21st century. When it works great, yay. When it fails, it is complicated and costly to fix.
My grandmother’s stove didn’t have a motherboard. Mine does. Two years ago, it went completely haywire. Pushing buttons to turn on the oven would instead change the time on the clock. Adjusting the temperature upward would sometimes shut the whole thing down.
Because it was under warranty, KitchenAid replaced the motherboard.
Last week, it failed again. This time, the oven won’t heat beyond 170 degrees.
The oven heats, but not enough. The technology is screwing it up, according to the appliance guy who visited this week. He offered to install a new motherboard for $450.
KitchenAid is offering to install a new one for $300, with a one year warranty.
At this rate, I’ll be installing new $300 motherboards every two years into a range that is obviously a lemon. Nice business model, KitchenAid.
Why does a stove / range need a motherboard? Instead of twisting a knob to activate the oven or set the temperature (grandma’s stove), mine has digital readouts and buttons (that aren’t really buttons) that are embedded next to the readouts. Its looks very sleek, very 21st century.
When it works, it works great — but not as great as grandma’s did.
In my business, technology has changed a lot in the last twenty years. We used to edit video on tape machines. Now we do it in computers, and videotape only exists in archives. When video machines failed, a guy with a toot belt would open them up and fix them. When our computers fail, a guy (or two or three) will poke around, scratch their heads and try to decode the problem. They’ve wiped my computer more times than I can count. Each time, I lose all the stuff I’ve stored and all the memory that helps me work faster. (And I can’t count how many failed external hard drives I’ve got in my desk, hoping they’ll reanimate one day.)
I get why TV news technology has advanced. When it works, it’s lighter and faster and more mobile.
But a kitchen appliance doesn’t need to be mobile or faster or lighter. The range needs to get hot when I want it to, without the interference of a very flawed KitchenAid computer motherboard that seems completely superfluous to cooking.
I’ve got a KitchenAid guy coming next week to to replace the motherboard — again — for $300. Maybe I’m behind the times. But it seems a bit outrageous.


Empower RF Systems Launches the Innovative C-Band GaN Pulsed Amplifier for Radar
November 7, 2023 - Inglewood, CA - Empower RF Systems'
model 2240 is a compact, lightweight, and rugged pulsed amplifier
that delivers a minimum 800 W peak power across the 5.2 to 5.9 GHz frequency
range. The 2240 is ideal for radar systems that operate in C band, such as air traffic
control, weather forecasting, and maritime surveillance. Capabilities include pulse
widths from 1 to 500 μsec and duty cycles up to 20%. It is built with the
latest GaN technology, which provides high power and high efficiency. This air cooled
SSPA is designed for 19" rack mount or bench top applications and is 3U in height.
Remote control and diagnostics are available via the Ethernet port to a LAN with
either a Web browser or M2M (Machine-to-Machine) interface or using the Local Touchscreen
panel. The control system runs an embedded OS (Linux). Empower RF's ISO9001Quality
Assurance Program assures consistent performance and the highest reliability1. The
Model 2240 is a testament to Empower RF Systems' commitment to delivering high-quality,
reliable, and innovative products to the market.
Empower RF's ISO9001:2015 Quality Assurance Program assures consistent performance
and the highest reliability.
- Solid-state Class AB, compact modular design
- Suitable for Pulse and CW applications
- Embedded directional coupler – Eliminates the need for external component
- 50 ohm input/output impedance
- Built-in Control, Monitoring and Protection functions
- High reliability and ruggedness
Learn More About This Product:
Empower RF Systems Model 2240
Complete Empower RF Amplifiers lineup.
About Empower RF
Empower RF Systems is the technology leader in RF and Microwave power amplifier
solutions for defense, commercial, and industrial applications. Our products incorporate
the latest semiconductor and power combining technologies and originate from an
extensive library of "building block" designs. Solutions range from basic PA modules
to multifunction PA assemblies with embedded, microprocessor controllers.
Empower RF Systems, Inc.
316 West Florence Avenue
Inglewood, CA 90301
Posted November 8, 2023


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Welcome to the area reserved for journalists!
Here you will find information and photographs relating to the ICM Competition for the Cities of Pinerolo, of Torino and of its surrounding area.
If you publish an article about us please let us know, so we can share it on Facebook and place it on our press round-up page.
For any further information please do not hesitate to write to us.
- Accademia di Musica di Pinerolo
- World Federation of International Music Competitions
Promotion and Press Office
Paola Bologna 349.7371724
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domain: artistic


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2016 SOLO SKIFF SOLO SKIFF
What do you get when you combine a fishing kayak, SUP, and a power boat in one. . .you get the Solo Skiff, a motorized kayak on steroids.. with more ways to fish that you can imagine, more dry storage than any kayak, and even a built in cooler (that can also be used as a livewell/dry storage) . . .yes — that’s Solo Skiff, read on. . . Solo Skiff gives you the power to do what you want, where you want, when you want. Power your way out and back, in a design that is the safest one man boat made. A fishing boat that goes anywhere — yeup. . . From its ability to float in mere inches of water to its ability to punch through a wave, it is simply the most versatile fishing boat on the planet. Take it bass fishing or fishing off the beach — in a Solo Skiff, the world is truly your fishing hole. Like a kayak, a Solo skiff moves through the water effortlessly- it can be paddled sitting,or standing — however, there is a big difference — With a Solo Skiff you power your way out, and power your way home! No fatigue, and no issues with wind and current getting home, so you’ll get increased trip range, more fishing versatility, equal more places to fish. You also spend less time getting there, and more time fishing ,Solo Skiff gives you the power to do more with less time, so its versatility, anyway you look at it. When it comes to fishing, Solo Skiff is a machine. This is what Solo Skiff is about- fishing. Fishing is where you learn what the Solo is really about.
PRICING LISTSKIFF-$1975.00MERCURY 5HP- $1775.00KARAVAN TRAILER-$599.00COMBINED- $4349.00

domain: hobby


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| 201 km/h|
| 371 km|
10,000–10,000 USD (1941)
The Ryan PT-22 Recruit, the main military version of the Ryan ST, is a military trainer aircraft used by the United States Army Air Corps and its successor, the United States Army Air Forces for primary pilot training.
Ryan PT-22 Recruit Wikipedia
The PT-22's fuselage is a simple monocoque structure, with thick gauge alclad skin. The wings feature spruce spars, aluminum alloy ribs, steel compression members, with aircraft fabric covering aft to the trailing edge and aluminum alloy sheet covering from the leading edge to the spar. The wings have 4° 10' of sweep back, 3° of incidence and 4° 30' dihedral.
The PT-22 fuel system consists of a single tank mounted forward of the front cockpit. Fuel is gravity fed to the carburetor. The oil system is a dry-sump type, with all oil stored in a tank located on the front side of the firewall in the upper section of the fuselage. The wing flaps are mechanically operated from a lever located on the left side of each cockpit. Adjustable elevator trim is provided via an elevator trim tab controllable from a handwheel mounted on the left side of each cockpit. In its original configuration, the aircraft was not equipped with an electrical system. Hydraulic brakes are provided for each wheel, controllable via the rudder pedals in each cockpit.
In order to simplify maintenance, the wheel spats and landing gear fairings were deleted in the production examples
The PT-22 was developed in 1941 from the civilian Ryan ST series. The earlier PT-20 and PT-21 were the military production versions of the Ryan ST-3 with a total of 100 built. The PT-22 was the United States Army Air Corps' first purpose built monoplane trainer. The rapid expansion of wartime aircrew training required new trainers, and the Ryan PT-22 was ordered in large numbers. Named the "Recruit", it entered operational service with the U.S. Orders also were placed by the Netherlands, but were never realized as the nation capitulated to Axis forces. The small order of 25 ST-3s was redirected to the United States and redesignated as the PT-22A. Another order also came from the U.S. Navy for 100 examples. The PT series was in heavy use throughout the war years with both military and civil schools, but with the end of the war, was retired from the U.S.A.A.F.
The Ryan PT-22 remains a popular World War II collector aircraft.PT-22
Military version of the Model ST.3KR powered by a 160 hp R-540-1, 1,023 built.
Model ST-3S twin-float seaplanes ordered by the Netherlands Navy powered by 160 hp Menasco D4B, ordered cancelled and completed for the United States Army Air Corps with 160 hp R-540-1 engines, 25 built.
PT-22s re-engined with the 160 hp R-540-3, 250 conversions.
Ecuadorian Air Force
United States Army Air Corps
United States Army Air Forces
41-15329 – PT-22 on display at the Air Combat Museum in Springfield, Illinois.
41-15654 – PT-22 on display at the Vintage Flying Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. It is awaiting an engine rebuild.
41-15721 – PT-22 on static display at the National Museum of the United States Air Force in Dayton, Ohio.
41-20652 – PT-22 on static display at the Main Campus of the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, Michigan.
41-20952 – PT-22 on static display at the Evergreen Aviation & Space Museum in McMinnville, Oregon.
41-21039 – PT-22 on static display at the Museum of Aviation in Warner Robins, Georgia.
42-57481 – PT-22A on static display at the Udvar-Hazy Center of the National Air and Space Museum in Chantilly, Virginia.
42-57492 – PT-22A in storage at the New England Air Museum in Windsor Locks, Connecticut.
Several PT-22 remain in flyable condition worldwide, as the aircraft continues to be a popular sport plane and warbird.41-1902 – PT-22 airworthy at the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota Wing in South St. Paul, Minnesota.
c/n 1812 – ST-3KR airworthy at the Port Townsend Aero Museum in Port Townsend, Washington.
41-20855 – PT-22 airworthy with the Shuttleworth Collection at Old Warden, Bedfordshire. This airframe is the first PT-22 prototype and is designated "001".
Data from Pilots Flight Operating Instructions and The New Ryan
General characteristicsCrew: two (student and instructor)
Length: 22 ft 5 in (6.90 m)
Wingspan: 30 ft 1 in (9.17 m)
Height: 7 ft 2 in (2.18 m)
Wing area: 134.25 sq ft (12.5 sq m)
Airfoil: NACA 2412
Empty weight: 1308 lb (593 kg)
Useful load: 552 lb (250 kg)
Loaded weight: 1860 lb (844 kg)
Max. takeoff weight: 1,860 lb (844 kg)
Powerplant: 1 × Kinner R-540, 160 hp (120 kW)
PerformanceNever exceed speed: 190 mph (305 km/h)
Maximum speed: 125 mph (200 km/h)
Cruise speed: 100 mph (160 km/h)
Stall speed: 62 mph, flaps down; 64 mph, flaps up (100 km/h, flaps down; 103 km/h, flaps up)
Range: 231 miles @1560 RPM (371 km @1560 RPM)
Service ceiling: 15,400 ft (4,700 m)
Rate of climb: 710 fpm @ max TO weight (216 m/min @ max TO weight)
Wing loading: 13.6 lb/sq ft ()

domain: history


text:
Current RiskUpdated: Fri Nov 28 6:05 PM
Active Weather Triggers
Short Term RiskUpdated: Fri Nov 28 6:05 PM
National Flu Activity
Interior Flu Activity
- In week 47, overall influenza activity increased compared to the previous week with localized activity reported in six provinces, and a sharp increase in laboratory detections in western and central provinces.
- A(H3N2) continues to be the most common type of influenza affecting Canadians. In both laboratory detections and hospitalizations, the majority of cases have been among seniors ≥65 years of age.
- In week 47, 16 new outbreaks of influenza in long-term care facilities were reported.
National Flu Test
Nov 16-Nov 22, 2014
Total Flu Season 2013-2014
About the Active Weather Trigger
Active weather triggers are changes in the weather that could augment health complaints. Each active weather trigger is weighted equally. The occurrence of more than one trigger increases the severity of health risk.
Temperature – a decrease of 5 degrees Celsius or more.
Humidity – an increase of 20%.
Pressure – a decrease of 0.7 kPa (kilopascal) or more.
Dewpoint – an increase of 5 degrees Celsius or more.

domain: medical


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text:
That was the headline of an August 9, 2012 Sidebar article.
The sting was that a powerful prosecutor with vast resources was legally bested by Annabel Melongo, a near-destitute woman with no formal legal training, who represented herself in the case.
Today I learned that in a few weeks the State's appeal of the lower court judge's dismissal of the charges -- on the grounds that the IL Eavesdropping Act is unconstitutional -- is scheduled to be heard by the Illinois Supreme Court.
But this time around, Melongo's not on her own.
|Gabriel Plotkin (source)|
Click here to download the 60-page Defendant-Appellee brief filed December 6 on her behalf.
Click here to download the Plaintiff-Appellant brief filed by IL Attorney General Lisa Madigan and Alvarez.
And earlier this month, the Chicago office of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a friend of the court brief on behalf of Melongo. Page down to view; click here to download a copy.
According to documents posted on IllinoisCorruption.net, the website tracking Melongo's case, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear her team's oral argument on January 14th at 9.30am at the Michael A. Bilandic Building, 18th floor, at 160 N. LaSalle Street in Chicago.
(According to the court schedule, the Supreme Court Building in downstate Springfield is being renovated during January, so perhaps some Chicago reporters will show up.)
Finally, as I reported last week, a federal civil rights lawsuit was filed in July against Alvarez, IL Attorney General Lisa Madigan, Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart, and other county justice system employees by Melongo, who per the complaint filed in the case, "endured extraordinary hardships and underwent incalculable loss, pain and humiliation for which she's now seeking redress."

domain: law


text:
Experience the ultimate retreat, just a few hours and freeways away.
Gujarat – a jumble of glorious architecture, intriguing history, and dynamic people – will bowl you over, in the most euphoric ways possible. Not only is it an ideal destination for culture-seeking travellers, but you will also find foodies swarming in from all over the country. Gujarat can quickly win you over with its many treasures of archaic palaces full of twinkling troves, colourful bazaars, tribal villages, and bustling street-food corners.
While its major city Ahmedabad can draw you in with its remarkable architecture, it is the countryside that holds most of its treasures. Although it can get a little overwhelming with its buzzing lifestyle, you can find some peace in holiday nooks like Altan Fields, close to Sanand in Ahmedabad. It is a beautiful three-bedroom villa with a massive garden, giving you ample space to run around and play with your kids and furry friends.
If you are anything like us and wish to explore this state in its truest form, then a road trip will be your best bet. Make a trip to a far less hectic part of Gujarat and set yourself up at the Wilderness Villa in Vadodara. You can enjoy acres of greenery and uninterrupted views from this Kerala-style abode, which also opens up to seasonal orchards of pomegranates, guavas, chikoos and gooseberries!
Then there is the old quarter of Gujarat, which is home to an effervescent network of narrow, crowded streets that houses some of the city’s most impressive temples, step-wells and iconic archaeological sites. Driving your way across the state, you will find an ideal out-of-city escape that comes packaged as a perfect holiday retreat. At Sita Devii Farm in Valsad, you can experience an elaborate farm stay amidst greenery and friendly animals. Don’t be surprised if you get occasional visits from your neighbours like emus, ducks and guinea fowls. If you wish to step out, don’t forget to check out the nearby honey farm and fishing deck.
If you’re looking for a place to lay low in solitude, but quickly get back on your feet, this part of western India is for you. Brimming with cultural exuberance, heavenly food, textile art, and a spectacular heritage, Gujarat offers an entrancing lifestyle that hides excitement around every twisting corner.


text:
The Adventures of Tintin (Hergé, 2011)
Just ahead of the Steven Spielberg directed feature film release of The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn; Hergé has re-released a completely re-mastered entire collection of the eponymous reporter adventures. But how does this collection fair? And does it wet our appetite for Tintin and Snowy’s big screen outing?
Well for starters there are hours of entertainment to be had with this collection; the five disc set featuring 840 minutes of the timeless tales of the intrepid hero, providing an excellent preparation for anyone eagerly anticipating Spielberg’s take this Christmas. The collection even includes a version of The Secret of The Unicorn, which some viewers may wish to watch in anticipation of the cinematic version. Even if that story’s not for you then I’m sure the anthology features something for all audiences; Tintin’s globetrotting featuring a whole array of dangers, ranging from mafia crime syndicates to deadly red sea sharks.
There are some drawbacks to this seemingly definitive collection of Tintin’s tales, for the most part in the simplicity of the collection – The Adventures of Tintin lacks any DVD extras. A documentary here or another featurette wouldn’t have gone a miss; certainly a feature on the origins of such classic characters as Captain Haddock and Professor Calculus would have made a pleasant addition to the compilation.
However, despite the collection’s minimalist consistency, you could easily find yourself happily lost for a few hours in this box set, and if you’re a fan of this Belgian action hero (trust me this is much better then any Van Damme film) then this is the collection for you.

domain: library


text:
LC Creations is owned by a college grad names Daysha and she loves to make your images come to life! She has a passion for crafting and DIY. I opted to have some stickers for Easter and I choose a couple different ones.
Custom one of a logo that is my blog logo it combines the infinity symbol, a butterfly for fibromyalgia and colorful as I love color long before it became a symbol of the gay and lesbian community and if you were wondering I am straight. I also chose one of her designs Love Stickers which has love spelled out in sign language and XOXO.
My Opinion: They look great and came out amazing but she also does apparel and so much more custom designs just ask her.
So check out her website at https://www.lccreationsworkshop.com/shop
Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention them on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
Post a Comment


text:
Via OMG Blog: The drag queens who saved Christmas!
Trump is annoyed that Time's Person of the Year distinction is not Man of the Year. No, really!
Kate McKinnon will star in her own big-budget, mainstream movie, a rarity for out performers.
Big-butted Dominic Thiem looking sexy as hell alongside a hot dude.
250K show up in favor of same-sex marriage in Taiwan.

domain: celebrity


text:
Today will be warmer than yesterday with the temperature reaching the upper 60’s. The chance exists for an afternoon thunderstorm when winds kick up with the passing of another cold front.
An expected thin line of severe storms may produce strong winds and hail.
— NWS Wakefield (@NWSWakefieldVA) April 21, 2020
Tracking a cold front moving towards the East Coast today. We'll need to watch for strong and severe storms from the Mid Atlantic into the Northeast. @FeliciaCombsTWC & I have the timing along with the threats. 9am-1pm ET on the @weatherchannel. pic.twitter.com/3x0l8DanuD
— Alex Wallace (@TWCAlexWallace) April 21, 2020
Wednesday will bring brilliant sunshine with temps that drop off into the upper 50’s.


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Mount Tasman is a 11,476 ft / 3,498 m mountain peak in the Southern Alps in West Coast, New Zealand. Based on peakery data, it ranks as the 1st highest mountain in West Coast and the 2nd highest mountain in New Zealand. The nearest peaks are Lendenfeld, Torres Peak, Mount Magellan, Mount Haast, Mount Vancouver, and Mount Dampier. Mount Tasman belongs to the New Zealand 100 Great Peaks peak list. See the Mount Tasman map, 3D fly around, and the Mt. Tasman photos to get a better sense of the mountain.
Photos provided by Panoramio are under the copyright of their owners.
Mount Tasman SUMMIT LOG
No one has reported climbing or hiking to Mount Tasman summit on peakery. If you’ve climbed this peak be the first to report it! Share your summit log entry and add Mount Tasman pictures from your climb below. Include the names of the routes or trails you took to the summit and back.
3d Fly AroundShow Bigger »
- Torres Peak 10,367 ft / 3,160 m 1 mi / 1 km away
- Lendenfeld 10,331 ft / 3,149 m 1 mi / 1 km away
- Mount Magellan 10,003 ft / 3,049 m 1 mi / 1 km away
- Mount Haast 10,295 ft / 3,138 m 1 mi / 2 km away
- Mount Vancouver 10,856 ft / 3,309 m 2 mi / 2 km away
- Mount Dampier 11,286 ft / 3,440 m 2 mi / 3 km away


Jamie Puff Dress - Black
Jamie Puff Dress exudes femininity, with its billowy proportions. This dress gives a fitted and short silhouette, featuring a beautiful open back with adjustable ties and puff sleeves.
The model is 178 cm and wears a size Small.
Composition: 100% Cotton.
Care instructions: Wash on gentle cycle at 30 °C with the inside out.


text:
Wear uniform or resign. Senator tells custom boss, Hameed Ali
The Senator representing Lagos West, Solomon Adeola, on Sunday said the Comptroller General of the Nigerian Customs Service, NCS, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd) should resign his appointment if he cannot wear the Customs uniform.
Ali, who has refused to wear the service uniform since he was appointed, had recently explained that he cannot wear Customs uniform because he’s a former Army officer.
Reacting to Ali’s stance, the lawmaker said it was regrettable that a retired army colonel who should know the importance of uniforms wants to demean and undermine it.
In a statement by his Media Adviser, Chief Kayode Odunaro, Adeola said that the Senate resolution summoning Ali to appear in Custom Service uniform and rank was aimed at protecting the organization’s integrity.
The statement reads, “We have had a Major General, Haladu Hanniya as head of FRSC wearing the agency’s uniform as well as a Major Danjuma Maigari wearing even the KAI uniform in Lagos State, all in a bid to promote agencies they lead.
“This is not the Abacha military era when a Sole Administrator was appointed to head the Nigerian Customs.”
The senator stressed that military and paramilitary uniforms inclusive of ranks were part of the symbol of legitimate authority conferred on the wearer to carry out certain duties on behalf of the government.
He said, “Except in covert operations, an officer in these organizations operating without uniform could be taken to be performing illegal duty or worse, be taken as not representing the institution at all.
“And as stated on the floor of the Senate in plenary, the Comptroller General is a rank that can only be worm on uniform and not on mufti.”
Follow us on twitter @dailyfamilyng
Read, like, share and drop your comments in the comment box below


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As technology improves within our world, things that we see in films are becoming reality as UK retailer Tesco are set to use face scanning tech to target ads.
In Star Wars, the idea that in a far off galaxy, light years away, life is abundant with all creatures and kinds battling it out, good against evil, is an imaginative and creative idea, that most of us believe only exists in a DVD or on a movie screen. However, sci-fi films like Minority Report hit a little closer to home. The technology and ‘Big Brother’ depicting film, starring Tom Cruise, showcased some of the most peculiar advancements of future tech ever seen, with moviegoers confident in the knowledge that none of this stuff existed. But now, just a few years later, UK supermarket chain Tesco are set to deploy one of the very tech features from the movie that some might even be scared of.
The technology in question is face scanning devices used to know who you are and what you might like. Except that while Tesco’s tech doesn’t quite go as far as to knowing your name, date of birth or any of your personal details, it can analyse what you look like to figure out your age and your gender, which in turns allows the system to target ads towards you, specifically based upon your demographic. Developed by Amscreen, a digital signage company owned by business mogul Lord Alan Sugar and ran by his eldest son Simon, the face scanning tech is looking to be rolled out across all of Tesco’s 450 petrol station forecourts, which could see it reach an estimated 5 million shoppers. Simon Sugar even says himself that “It’s like something out of Minority Report” and that “this could change the face of British retail, and [Amscreen’s] plans are to expand the screens into as many supermarkets as possible.” But despite the reassurance of its forward thinking, concerns still remain about the technology’s privacy element.
A Tesco spokeswoman tried to silence doubters, stating that “This is not new technology.” adding that “No data or images are collected or stored and the system does not use eyeball scanners or facial-recognition technology”. However, Nick Pickles, of Big Brother Watch, suggested that “If people were told that every time they walked into a supermarket, or a doctor’s surgery or a law firm, that the CCTV camera in the corner is trying to find out who they are, I think that will have a huge impact on what buildings people go into.” Other questions about how useful the tech would be also remain as even if customers opt-in and the face scanning technology is “ethically deployed” in this way, the fact that it uses things such as the length of a customers hair to figure out gender may cause issues as not every man has short hair, nor does every woman have long hair and vice versa. In fact, problems may arise if people feel that certain things are being targeted towards them due to gender, age or racial stereotypes so whether or not this will be addressed in the future has yet to be seen.
We’ll keep you posted once we know more.


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text:
The Village Banking method is the form of microfinance
pioneered. A Village Banking group is a support group of 10-35 members-usually mothers-who meet weekly or biweekly to provide themselves with three essential services. These services are: 1) small self-employment loans
to start or expand their own businesses; 2) an incentive to save, and a means of accumulating savings and 3) a community-based system that provides mutual support and encourages personal empowerment.
Members of the Village Banking groups guarantee each other's loans and run a democratic organization. Members elect their own leaders, design their own bylaws, keep the books, manage the funds, and are fully responsible for loan supervision, including enforcing penalties for non-compliance.
This definition is from FINCA's website.
Hundreds of other non-governmental organizations around the world now utilize some variation of the Village Banking methodology to serve poor and low-income families with financial services.

domain: finance


text:
Want to join the conversation?
$DD, Today DuPont announced that it has named Marc Doyle senior vice president for its Safety & Protection businesses, reporting to Ellen Kullman, Chair & CEO. Matthew Trerotola who was Executive Vice President with responsibility for Safety & Protection and Electronics & Communications businesses has resigned from DuPont to accept another position
Any idea why some investors are happy about the disastrous $UA results??
Wow! GM killed it with earnings today! Did not expect this after $F gave the feeling it will eclipse the Chevy maker completely!
Oil rebound starting to show up in energy stocks. $XOM $CVX
I have a feeling "CLOUDy" days are ahead, with $AMZN leading the pack.
$AAL is giving pay hikes to its employees but investors are sulking.