A Simple but Efficient Concept of Blended Teaching of Mathematics for Engineering Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic
1. Introduction and Context of This Work
2. Blended Teaching Concept at DICAM during the COVID-19 Pandemic
2.1. Typical Structure of the Courses in Mathematics Offered at DICAM
2.2. Experience of the Emergency Phase during the Second Semester 2019/2020
2.3. Main Pillars and General Objectives of the Blended Teaching Concept
2.4. COVID-Specific Part of the Concept
3. Technological and Logistic Realization of the Concept
- The lecture halls at DICAM were not at all prepared for blended teaching and thus needed to be specifically equipped;
- Achieving sufficiently high video resolution online that allows to read complex mathematical formulas clearly, despite the existing COVID-19 bandwidth and HD video feature restrictions;
- Achieving at the same time a sufficiently high audio quality both in the lecture hall and online, in particular capturing the speech with high quality while the professor is turned towards the blackboard while writing and allowing also a clear bidirectional communication;
- The fact that rather complex and relatively new technology needed to be handled by each professor during his/her blended lectures;
- The highly heterogeneous computer hardware and operating systems resulting from the choice of allowing each professor to use his/her personal laptop, which also made the training and technical support particularly challenging and led to a wide set of necessary adapters to connect to the standard hardware installed in each lecture hall.
3.1. Description of the Employed Equipment
- Personal laptop. As already mentioned, the particular setup designed in this case study gives the professor the opportunity to employ his/her own laptop, aiming at minimizing the novelties resulting from the use of new technical devices. Consequently, the laptop of the professor became the main control device of the blended teaching lectures.
- Camcorder. To properly capture the blackboard and transmit physical experiments, a full high-definition camcorder was needed. It was further equipped with a directional microphone to record the speech of the professor in small classrooms. For large blackboards, instead of the standard camcorder proposed here, it was necessary to employ a wide-angle lens camera (e.g., PTZ Minrray UV540) controlled by IR remote control to allow switching between different parts of the blackboard and different levels of zoom.
- Camlink 4K. The transmission of a high-quality video signal from the camcorder to the computer required a 4K HDMI to USB converter. Let us note that although the quality broadcast by these devices goes up to 1080 p at 60 fps or 4K at 30 fps, to reduce bandwidth consumption we suggest to limit the video capturing program to 1080 p at 25 fps.
- Active USB 3.0 extension cable. Typically the camcorder and, consequently, the camlink are far away from the laptop, and thus a USB 3.0 extension cable is needed. To properly preserve the video signal and provide the needed power supply for the camlink, an active cable was employed.
- USB Hub 3.0. To minimize the number of connectors to be plugged into the laptop, they were all gathered in a unique USB hub of four ports that transmits input and output signals to and from the computer. At a minimum, SuperSpeed USB (USB 3.0) cables, connectors and ports are needed to transfer all of the signals, the use of USB 3.1 or 3.2 ports being preferred over USB 3.0 ports.
- Graphics tablet and digital pen system. The alternative system to the blackboard was a rubber grip HD 22 inch graphics tablet that was not hand sensible (i.e., a pen display), so that the writing is as close as possible to traditional handwriting on a piece of paper, used together with the preferred interactive whiteboard software. To be able to import and export PDF documents and save the lecture notes we suggested the use of the OpenBoard (https://openboard.ch/index.en.html) software. Communication of the graphics tablet with the computer was achieved via an input HDMI signal that duplicated the laptop screen and an output USB signal for the recording of the handwriting.
- HDMI splitter. The laptop screen must be shared both with the students in the lecture hall using the projector system and with the graphics tablet. To duplicate the signal an HDMI 4K splitter is employed. Since most projectors at DICAM are only equipped with a VGA input port, an HDMI to VGA converter is connected to the HDMI cable exiting form the HDMI splitter.
- Airlink. To facilitate bidirectional communication, the comments of online students were broadcast through the pre-existing sound system of the large lecture halls using an airlink connected to the laptop via bluetooth. For small and medium classrooms (up to 100 students) and without a pre-installed sound system an alternative was the use of a speakerphone (Jabra Speak 810) that can be connected to the laptop using the audio jack or via bluetooth. The latter device allows listening to the online comments in the lecture hall and also captures the voice of the people present in the classroom to be transmitted online, hence guaranteeing peer interaction, a key point of laboratories and seminars. Meanwhile, the former device only allows the online students to be heard in the lecture hall.
- Ear microphone. In large lecture halls and when the professor is turned towards the blackboard, the use of a directional microphone was not enough to properly capture the speech with high quality. To solve this problem a personal bluetooth ear microphone was employed by each professor.
- Adapters. The resulting hardware of each lecture room, as explained below, requires the personal laptop of each professor to be connected thorough one HDMI and one USB/A port. Due to the great heterogeneity of modern computer hardware, a large set of adapters was made available, allowing to also use VGA, DisplayPort, mini DisplayPort, mini HDMI, micro HDMI and USB-C ports.
3.2. Physical Setup of the Equipment
3.3. High-Quality Audio and Video Online Streaming
3.4. Lecture Setup
- Blackboard. In this case the auxiliary video capturing software is opened (VLC, OBS, Quicktime), the camcorder is selected as the input source and the regular video stream of ZOOM must be turned off.
- Graphics tablet. OpenBoard or the preferred interactive whiteboard software is employed. The students in the lecture hall will be able to see the screen of the tablet on the projector screen.
- Third party software. While sharing the screen any third party software, like classical mathematical programs such as Matlab, Maple, R Studio, Mathematica, or PDF and Powerpoint files can be shown.
3.5. Training and Technical Support
4. Evaluation of the Concept and of Its Practical Implementation
4.1. Quantitative Verification of the Video Quality of the Low-Bandwidth High-Quality Screen Sharing Approach Proposed in This Paper Compared to Standard Video Streaming
4.2. Quantitative Internet Bandwidth Measurements
4.3. Quantitative Evaluation of the Blended Teaching Concept via Ex Post Online Questionnaires
4.4. Moving Beyond: Innovative Didactic Concepts for the Numerical Analysis Course
Institutional Review Board Statement
Informed Consent Statement
Data Availability Statement
Conflicts of Interest
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|Questionnaire Number||Main Purpose of the Questionnaire||Type||Number n of Answers Received|
|AS1||Obtaining students’ preferences and expectations concerning blended teaching to design the case study||ex ante||445 students|
|AP1||Binding choice of the professors whether to teach on-site (blended), or purely online||ex ante||68 professors|
|AS2||Binding choice of the students to attend on-site or online needed for the strict access rules to the university buildings||ex ante||1011 students|
|PS1||Evaluation of the students’ appreciation of the proposed blended teaching concept implemented in this case study||ex post||509 students|
|PP1||Evaluation of the professors’ opinion concerning the proposed concept for the area of mathematics and theoretical mechanics||ex post||6 professors|
|Questions||Answers with Absolute Numbers|
|1. Which online teaching modality do you prefer?||asynchronous (47)|
|synchronous without recording (17)|
|synchronous with recording (257)|
|depends on the lecture (67)|
|depends on the professor (42)|
|no opinion (15)|
|2. Does seeing the body language and the facial expressions of the professor make the lecture more interesting?||0—no opinion (20)|
|1—not at all (1)|
|2—a bit (17)|
|3—a lot (87)|
|3. Is the use of the blackboard as a traditional means of teaching useful?||0—no opinion (29)|
|1—not at all (1)|
|2—a bit (11)|
|3— a lot (81)|
|4. Do you consider the option to attend the lectures of the first semester of 2020/2021 only online?||0—no (263)|
|Question||Answers with Absolute Numbers|
|In the next semester, do you want to attend blended lectures on-site?||yes (830)|
|Note: if you choose no, you will not be authorized to enter the university buildings during this semester.||no (181)|
|Questions||Answers with Absolute Numbers|
|1. How do you plan to teach your course next semester?||on-site blended (47)|
| Note: if you choose exclusively online, no lecture hall will be assigned|
to your course for the entire semester
|exclusively online (21)|
|2. Do you agree with the proposed staggered timetable|
between blended on-site and purely online lectures?
|Equipment||Cost Estimate in EUR|
|Laptop of the professor||0|
|Panasonic HC-V770 camcorder||408|
|Elgato Camlink 4K HDMI to USB converter||130|
|Ugreen 10 m active USB 3.0 extension cable||43|
|Anker USB hub 3.0||13|
|Wacom Cintiq 22 graphics tablet||953|
|4K HDMI splitter Ablewe||16|
|Primewire 2m HDMI cable||10|
|Ugreen HDMI to VGA adapter||10|
|BT DW 20BR Klark Teknik bluetooth airlink||89|
|Jabra talk 25 bluetooth ear microphone *||28|
|Questions||Answers with Absolute Numbers|
|1. How do you typically attend the lectures?||in presence (266)|
|both (online and in presence) (83)|
|2. How do you evaluate the quality of the blended teaching compared to pure online teaching?||better (387)|
|3. Are you overall satisfied with the blended teaching concept offered at DICAM?||yes (487)|
|4. How do you evaluate the video quality of the blended teaching concept at DICAM?||4—very good (256)|
|1—not acceptable (8)|
|5. How do you evaluate the audio quality of the blended teaching concept at DICAM?||4—very good (269)|
|1—not acceptable (5)|
|6. What are the main advantages of blended teaching compared to pure online teaching? (multiple answers allowed)||more and easier interaction with professors (310)|
|more and easier interaction with colleagues (289)|
|use of blackboard improves learning efficiency (267)|
|seeing the professor makes lectures more engaging (243)|
|there are no advantages (32)|
|7. What are the main advantages of blended teaching compared to traditional teaching? (multiple answers allowed)||possibility to attend lectures also being sick/in quarantine (411)|
|flexibility to attend in presence or online acc. to personal needs (353)|
|availability of recorded lectures (326)|
|introduction of innovations in teaching in itself (17)|
|there are no advantages (10)|
|Questions||Answers with Absolute Numbers|
|1. Which instruments do you use for teaching?||blackboard (5)|
|graphics tablet (1)|
|2. How do you evaluate the quality of the technical equipment made available by DICAM for blended teaching?||4—excellent (4)|
|3—very good (2)|
|3. How do you evaluate the quality of the training courses offered by DICAM for blended teaching?||4—excellent (4)|
|3—very good (2)|
|4. How important is technical support for blended teaching?||3—very important (3)|
|0—not needed (0)|
|5. How do you evaluate the quality of the technical support provided by DICAM for blended teaching?||4—excellent (5)|
|3—very good (1)|
|6. How do you evaluate the quality of bidirectional communication with the students online?||4—excellent (1)|
|3—very good (3)|
|7. Compared to pure online teaching, how do you evaluate the overall quality of on-site blended teaching?||3—much better (4)|
|1—the same (0)|
|8. What are the main advantages of blended teaching compared to pure online teaching? (multiple answers allowed)||the possibility to use traditional teaching instruments (4)|
|the possibility to see the students’ reactions (3)|
|improves the direct interaction with the students (2)|
|improves the overall quality of teaching (4)|
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Busto, S.; Dumbser, M.; Gaburro, E. A Simple but Efficient Concept of Blended Teaching of Mathematics for Engineering Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Educ. Sci. 2021, 11, 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11020056
Busto S, Dumbser M, Gaburro E. A Simple but Efficient Concept of Blended Teaching of Mathematics for Engineering Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Education Sciences. 2021; 11(2):56. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11020056Chicago/Turabian Style
Busto, Saray, Michael Dumbser, and Elena Gaburro. 2021. "A Simple but Efficient Concept of Blended Teaching of Mathematics for Engineering Students during the COVID-19 Pandemic" Education Sciences 11, no. 2: 56. https://doi.org/10.3390/educsci11020056


text:
Pin for Later: Jillian Harris Shows Off Her Newborn Baby Boy With an Adorable Instagram Snap Eric Thomas Decker II
Eric Decker from 2016 ESPYs Red Carpet Arrivals The strapping New York Jets star scores style points with a white T under his suit.
New York Jets star Eric Decker was announced as the first U.S. ambassador of the British brand, Superdry.
I found a reason to watch football!!! Eric Decker, New York Jets
Jessie James Decker & Eric Decker

domain: celebrity


text:
No. The accused was found guilty, the law allows, as the link in the OP states, a wide range of damages to be found, from $750 to $30,000 per violation, and it was the jury, his peers, that set the fine, not the court itself.
One could argue over the injustice of $30,000 per violation, but that's irrelevant to the fact that the boy did the crime, so he shouldn't be whining about doing the time (or paying the fine).
Even at the peak of piracy, before the corporations started their draconian campaign to attack content sharers, artists were still making money. They will always make money.
What this is about is profit maximization. A select few corporations in the recording industry didn't meet their quarterly projections for a few years, and got mad. They still made money, but because they didn't make as much money as the year before, this alarmed them. This is the context for the entire battle.
YES, they are technically correct about IP laws which is why they have the right to pursue it, but IP laws have never been enforced to this insane degree before. What they are lobbying for is more common enforcement, and harsher enforcement.
Art, literature, and information are not meant to be locked in a tower this way. ALL people should have access to it, because there will always be people who buy it!
I was discovering that life just simply isn't fair and bask in the unsung glory of knowing that each obstacle overcome along the way only adds to the satisfaction in the end. Nothing great, after all, was ever accomplished by anyone sulking in his or her misery.
Other companies don't give a damn, and if they do, they aren't attacking their own society for it.
Their campaign will fail in the long term.
It is indeed. Except when the label is simply a statement of fact.Labeling people is a weak attempt to win an argument when you have nothing else to go on.
Wow. Am I awesome or what?

domain: law


text:
I'm looking at companies like Bird, Lime and similar. They require an account so that they will have your credit card details on hand and be able to charge you at the end based on the length of your ride. However, I know that places like gas stations charge a large amount and then refund what was unused (during the recent spike in gas prices, the hold increased). I assume that bike rentals could do something like that, charge 100 EUR and then refund however much needed to.
But do companies like that exist?

domain: economics


text:
- Govt blames formalin chemical, rodent hunters •Govt hammer may fall on expensive burial programmes, as Obiano storms hospital, orders inquiry•
BY NNAMDI OSELOKA in Awka•
Governor Willie Obiano of Anambra State has paid an unscheduled visit to the Enugwu-Ukwu General Hospital, in Njikoka Council area of the state, especially the mortuary section where more than fifty corpses were burnt beyond recognition few days ago.
The visibly unhappy governor after assessing the situation ordered an inquiry into the mystery fire outbreak with a view to unravelling the cause and to forestall a reoccurrence in future.
In his reaction to the bizarre fire incident, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Joe Akabuike blamed it on formalin -a somewhat inflammable chemical used in preserving dead bodies.
That because of the inflammable nature of the substance, very dry and airy harmattan weather it was easy for the fire to spread quickly and cause so much damage within a short time before it was eventually brought under control.
While confirming that the mortuary section had no electricity, hence could not blame it on any electrical sparks, Dr Akabuike said it was revealed that some youths hunting rodents and small game like grass-cutters had set fire within the bushy mortuary area to force the animals there out of their habitats for easy catch.
A member of one the families who lost bodies of their loved ones in the inferno who gave his name simply as Dr Ikenna lamented that his family has been left at crossroads on what to do over the charred corpse.
He explained amidst suppressed agony that the remains of his uncle who died about three months ago in the United States of America (USA) and was brought back to Nigeria for burial was among those burnt beyond identification in the fire incident.
That the corpse was kept in that mortuary for preservation while a befitting house worthy of his social stature and accomplishments was being hurriedly erected in their village (names withheld) in Njikoka council area of the state.
The large number of corpses in the morgue was said to have been as a result of policies of some communities and churches that insist that no burial should be postponed once the remains had been buried. Or such family would not be allowed to carry out the ceremony ever again. More so, virtually all communities in the state outlawed any burial within the month of December till the day after New Year’s Day.
So the governor’s panel of inquiry could lead to change some of these policies.

domain: news


text:
Editorial: Children caught in misery
The situation of children is an unmitigated melancholy. Children of Afghanistan continuously bear the brunt of an imposed and uncalled-for war. They are suffering from a conflict to which no end seems at sight. The growing violence all across Afghanistan is taking toll on lives, education, health and wellbeing of children. Unrest spews psychological impacts on children, tarnishes their morale and destroys their future. A recent terrorist attack on a tuition center in south of Kabul which killed dozens of schoolchildren and injured scores of them is appalling and a manifestation that children’s safety is steadily at jeopardy. From the past generations, Afghanistan has borne witness to unrest and crippling infightings. Children have been a victim of radicalism, totalitarianism and now terrorism. In fact they have survived through tough times of civil strife, authoritarianism, and tumultuous democracy. Children of Afghanistan are victims of war and oblivion. The responsibility that goes in our shoulder is to spare no effort to safeguard them, as they are our future maker. At the moment they are striving with plenty of challenges, including poverty, which is the core reason behind child labor as well. Children stack with a bunch dilemma – they bear all the pain, which is hazardous. At least a quarter of children between ages 5 and 14 work for a living or to help their families. Many are employed in jobs that can result in illness, injury, or even death due to hazardous working conditions and poor enforcement safety and health standards. They are generally working long hours with little or no pay. But the greatest threat is terrorists that kill those children who are economically in good condition. It is a matter of grave concern that children continue to be the hardest hit during uncertain situation, especially over the past week. Attacking against an education center in Kabul that killed or critically wounded dozens of children is deplorable. This has to be stop. All warring parties to the conflict must spare no efforts to protect children.
AT Kabul: Putin’s special representative for Afghanistan announced that the special forces of Ashraf Ghani’s …

domain: sociology


text:
Doctor Plays Ukulele for a Young Cancer Patient
Occurred on March 14, 2017 / Ribeirao Preto, Sao Paulo, Brazil Info from Licensor: "This was in the pediatric oncology ward of the Hospital das Clínicas of Ribeirao Preto, which shows Dr. Paul..
Location Ribeirão Preto, São Paulo, Brasil
Posted By Mayara Cristiane Romao Bueno
Posted On Apr-11-2017

domain: health


text:
I’ll be honest. Pumpkin pie is not exactly my favorite thing in the world. But this Thanksgiving, when my sister pointed to the two-foot tall pumpkin sitting on her porch, I couldn’t resist bringing some home. I ended up with fourteen pounds of pumpkin slices taking up a large portion of my freezer, and absolutely no immediate desire to make it into pumpkin pie. I figured I’d leave it there for a while…
And then came the day when I needed to clean out my freezer. How appropriate that just that week I received a link from a friend on Facebook for a recipe for pumpkin butter. Since both my husband’s and my family are Pennsylvania Dutch enough to have apple butter available at the holidays, the following Saturday I spent the afternoon and evening baking, pureeing, cooking, and eventually, enjoying a very large batch of pumpkin butter. I have to admit – this is SO much better than pumpkin pie!
After defrosting the pumpkin slices, shell and all, in the fridge overnight, I placed the slices in cake pans with a half an inch of water, covered them with foil. and baked them in a 450 degrees oven until the pulp could be scooped out with a spoon. With a fresh pumpkin this should take 45-60 minutes, but my half-thawed pumpkin took almost two hours.
Remove from the oven when soft, and scrape the pulp away from the shell. If you’re working with a jack-o-lantern pumpkin, you’ll want to drain the pulp to remove excess juice. I put the pumpkin in an over-the-sink collander and left it for an hour or two. After draining, puree the pulp in a blender.
Pour the puree into a crockpot, and add:
For every 2 cups of pumpkin puree,
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp ginger
1/8 tsp ground cloves
I ended up with 8 cups of puree from the 14 pounds of pumpkin I started with, so it was easy to multiply the recipe by 4, and I added a little bit more of the spices since I used a jack-o-lantern pumpkin. Stir the ingredients and cover with either a lid propped up with a wooden spoon, or with a splatter shield to allow the butter to thicken. Cook on high until as thick as desired, 3-5 hours (approximately).
I ended up with about five cups of amazing pumpkin butter. I froze a couple cups in FoodSaver bags for later, and kept the rest in the fridge. I’d suggest spreading pumpkin butter on bread or toast with a little butter, or used as pumpkin pie filling for various desserts. I’m already looking forward to planting pumpkins for next fall!
Posted in: Cooking | Tags: frozen pumpkin, Pennsylvania Dutch food

domain: food


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domain: entertainment


The word "historical" Often it was allowed to fall on this Friday – if the Bundestag and Bundesrat, which were at the latest for the charcoal in Germany until the year 2038. However, it depends on the perspective. Coal-Lander get a long transition phase and billions aid for structural change, power plant operators high reductions. The Federal Government sees itself internationally as a pioneer, because Germany exudes from nuclear power until 2022. The environmental associations are very different, which of one "historical mistake" speak. The coal exit comes to Spat and bring the climate too little. An overview.
Faster coal outward
Carbon power plants are gradually taken from the network anyway. Actually, however, only the spades of 40s have been concluded for coal streaming. This is now to be preferred for FURS climate. Nevertheless, a lot of electricity from coal-fired power plants – although the okostrom content in Germany is steadily rising. When lignite becomes electricity, there is a lot of climate-damaging carbon dioxide (CO2). A commission used by the Government of the economy, politics, trade unions and environmentally associations had agreed in early 2019 that the exit for the latest should be completed by 2038 – but at that time that was too slow to the environmental links.
Exit to rates
The aim of the coal exit law is to be the achievement of coal in Germany to spat at the end of the year 2038 – if it is possible to gradually reduce up to zero. This reduces emissions and climate goals are achieved. The law now provides a timetable until when how much gigawatts of brown and hard coal streams are reduced, at the beginning of 2020, this happens especially in the Rhenish Revier. During the coal outward exit, in the next few years, the power supply is always checked whether the power supply is secured and what consequences has the exit to the electricity prices – this is rising, reliefs are intended, the economy had been planned.
But the FURS Klima is enough? Environmental association say: no, by far not. "Greenpeace will continue together with the entire climate movement at this and the next government for the end of coal combustion to spater at least 2030", Says sports drivers Martin Kaiser and speaks of one "Pseudo coal outward". Chancellor Angela Merkel (CDU) domiciled with regard to the exit path: "I went that we have Hanger in the mid-20s." Overall, however, be the coal outward "Whole, very important step".
Deflections for power plant operators
For brownohle corporations such as RWE, billion reductions are planned for premature switching off of power plants, it should give a contract between the Federal Government and Business. Helps should also get operators of hard coal power plants. The coalition had been agreed on the last printer on new billion-densely demanding requests to change power plants, such as gas or use of biomass or hydrogen. In addition, high reductions are provided for decommissioners.
Helps for coal regions
Thousands of jobs in the Rhineland and in East Germany – in Lausitz and in the Mitteldeutsche Revier – at the coal. So that structural breaks are avoided, the federal government is its casket: planned to help 2038 a total of 40 billion euros, which should help the coal regions in North Rhine-Westphalia, Saxony-Anhalt, Saxony and Brandenburg when reconstruction of their economy and the expansion of the infrastructure. The rough fear: entire regions could otherwise be paid economically.
For the aids, on the one hand, direct financial assistance of the federal government for important investments of coal-Lander and its communities of up to 14 billion euros. The second coarse balancing of 26 billion euros are maws that lie in the state of the federal government – for example new railways or strain. This should make the regions more attractive as locations.
In addition, new federal agents or research institutes are planned – so that new companies settle. The vision is that the old coal regions "Model regions" for future-proof technologies. Whether that works? The funds go to the Lander in a key, planned is still a Bund-Lander Agreement.
Help for coal dome
None of the coal buddy should "Mountain-free" fall, like the boss of the mining union IG BCE, Michael Vassiliadis, says. That’s why it’s supposed to give a close-up safety net, for example with a billion-heavy adhesive money for worked from 58 years, which surveys the time until pensions, as well as a compensation of pension pits. But the gross question is: it works that well-paid replacement workplaces arise?
(Acceptance) requirement of renewable energies
In addition to the success of the structural change, from the point of view of many experts, it is now above all on "Entry plan" To formulate how Vassiliadis says – namely for the currently fallowing expansion of renewable energies from the sun or wind power and for the expansion of the power grids, which transport the wind stream produced mainly in the north into the south. But often there is resistance to new wind farms on land or electricity pylons, so the Federal Government now wants to increase acceptance. In addition, future technologies such as the "grunge" Hydrogen is driven forward.


text:
- Location: Teton Valley, Idaho
- Square Feet: 7,000
- Year Complete: 2008
- Design Team: Chris Moulder AIA, Jennifer Bush, Wes Chappell, Nery Ortiz
While recreating in the Teton Valley and Jackson Hole area, the Wendorffs not only wanted to comfortably house their own family while on vacation, but also have the ability to entertain for extended periods of time various extended family members and dear friends. The spaces are very intimate with personal touches important to the family yet comfortable for anyone who visits.
Comfortable bedroom suites and a whimsical bunk room were incorporated into the “extruded” floor plan which maximizes functionality and emphasizes privacy. Having these bedroom suites organized as if they were cabins built near the main house and connected over time, adds to the experience of discovery in the house and once discovered, begins a journey towards equanimity.
This sense of discovery and intrigue is found throughout the home, especially in the furniture and finish selections. These pieces are surprising and tell a story. It is an eclectic mix that makes you want to discover what is around the next corner and in the next room.
Exploring the interior, you’ll find a huge kid’s bunk room, a chalkboard for house notes or re-purposed lockers full of games.
The Wendorffs are a family of six who have been visiting southeastern Idaho for decades. The clean, clear mountain air and pristine setting is a noted difference from the frantic, congested life they have in southern California. The site they chose to carefully place a structure on in order for them to hang their hats, reflect and recharge, overlooks the Teton Valley to the north, the Big Hole Mountains to the west, the Palisades Mountains to the south and the majestic Teton Mountain range to the northeast.
Although the lot is a dry lot, meaning there is no natural running water, the Wendorffs were intrigued by other projects DMA had designed where streams and ponds were introduced to the site. The house program and the site master plan therefore was arranged to allow for these items in the future
Heavy textures include; randomly stacked stone veneers with deep raked joints to give the wall a dry stacked look, heavily weathered recycled timbers, thick recycled planks were used as siding and designed to give the main building deep shadow lines and are inspired by the miles of snow fencing used throughout the west along the highways and byways.

domain: geography


text:
MPR News Update for Aug. 27, 2014
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
(Mostly) cloudy days are here again ... Missing the Fair this year? Watch this to feel like you've never left ... Love science? (Or know a kid who does?) Check out the Brains On! podcast -- for kids big and little
- Douglas McAuthur McCain, a man with Minnesota ties, killed in Syria
The 33-year-old man was there to fight alongside an extremist militant group, most likely the Islamic State, a U.S. official says.
- Increased security greets arriving University of Minnesota students
Students could also encounter rowdier Sundays when the Minnesota Vikings play at TCF Bank Stadium.
- LIVE | Today at the State Fair: Mark Seeley's annual State Fair Weather Quiz
Steven John hosts this traditional event with the author of the acclaimed "Minnesota Weather Almanac."
- Ford dump site along Mississippi: Should it be cleaned up?
Before hazardous waste laws existed, the auto manufacturer dumped paint waste and other material at the site near the Mississippi.
- Appetites: What's left to say about food at the State Fair? Plenty, it turns out
Every year James Norton gathers a crew of Heavy Table writers and photographers to run the gantlet of food at the Minnesota State Fair on the event's first morning.
- In northern Minnesota, a primeval land of the Lost 40
Legend has it, this land was spared the ax because surveyors mapped it mistakenly as a wetland. It still wears its name well.
- Minnesota personal care aides back statewide union
The new bargaining unit would be represented by the Service Employees International Union.
- Minnesota State Fair aims to be zero-waste event
With all the food waste generated at the fair, there is great potential for more composting. The main stumbling block will be all those plastic cups.
- ND oil regulators to add 3 pipeline inspectors
The North Dakota Department of Mineral Resource says it's adding three new pipeline inspector positions.
- Dayton calls for halt to Red River diversion, wants Minnesota review first
In a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Gov. Mark Dayton said agency should not allow the project to proceed until Minnesota can complete an environmental impact statement.
- Train derails on Canada's border with ND, Minn.
The train was carrying unscented propane, prompting the evacuation of approximately 40 people who lived within 110 yards of the site.
Subscribe to MPR News Update: RSS
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About MPR News Update
Simply, it is Minnesota news on your schedule. The MPR News Update brings you up to speed with the state's top news, the best of our blogs and smart talk radio in the format that fits you best.
Mark Seeley talks weather with Steven John


text:
River trip in Nepal is a wonderful way to explore and experience Nepal’s natural and ethnology and cultural heritage. Rivers here are regarded as goddesses, and are included in a number of Hindu and Buddhist religious rituals. Many can be witnessed during a raft adventure. Slopes adjoining the rivers often harbor dense vegetation and interesting wildlife. Several varieties of fish also abound. And rafting in Nepal is a great experience in it’s own right: the thrill of running white water rapids can be as exhilarating as reaching a mountain summit.
The major river systems– the Koshi, the Karnali and the Gandaki– belong to the first group. Rivers originating from the Mahabharat Range, which cut through Churia hills, come under the second group. These include the Bagmati, Kamala etc. The third group of rivers originate from the southern face of the Churia hills.
A Kali Gandaki river trip first requires either a flight or drive from Kathmandu to Baglung. A typical trip could begin at Modibeni, at the confluence of the Kali Gandaki and the Modikhola. This expedition has everything, exciting rapids, sandy beaches, cascading waterfalls, gorges, wildlife and a feeling of remoteness.
A beautiful unspoiled river with good white water, Kali Gandaki, is ideal for people wanting an exciting medium-length raft trip. It is also suitable for a self-sufficient kayak trip for intermediate and expert kayakers. We recommended combining this river expedition with a mountain trek beforehand. It’s also worth considering continuing down the lower Kali Gandaki. (Ramdi-Narayanghat) to Chitwan National Park. This may well be the best 5 day raft trip in the world.
Unload gear eat lunch and load rafts. Safety briefing – depart. After a brief warm we encounter 2 big class 4 rapids “little Brother” and “Big Brother”. After scouting the rapid’s safety kayaks will descend followed by the rafts. The confluence of the Modi Khola marks arrival at the evening campsite. Unload rafts one team prepares dinner whilst the others relax, take in the scenery or play volley ball.
Views of Annapurnna 1 and Himachuli are interspersed with continuous class III sections of river, culminating with the challenging class IV rapids, “Refund” and “Tombstone”. Lush vegetation and spectacular waterfalls cascade down cliff faces and lead us to camp at the village of Purti Ghat.
Upon reaching the holy village of Seti Beni team members have the opportunity to take photo’s of the Kali Gandaki’s biggest rapids and this sacred Hindu temple. Not long after this the journey comes to an end. Bus to Pokhara.
Not satisfied with this regular itinerary? Make your own.

domain: travel


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Dr. Janine Bethea is a prosthodontist practicing in Marietta, GA. Dr. Bethea specializes in the restoration and replacement of teeth. Prosthodontists maintain oral function, comfort and the appearance and health either with the natural teeth or the replacement of missing ones with maxillofacial tissues and artificial substances.
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- Is Mumps Contagious?
Yes, mumps is a highly contagious infection caused by a certain virus known as paramyxovirus. Though mumps isn’t a very serious condition, it might cause potential complications in children and young adults.Mumps is prevalent in children aged over 1 year who haven’t received MMR vaccinations....
- Foods to Avoid at All Costs With IBD
If you suffer from an inflammatory bowel disease, such as Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis (UC), you are certainly aware of the issues that can arise from certain foods and beverages. Not only do these conditions trigger inflammation in the digestive system and uncomfortable symptoms, but...
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Risk Factors for Irritable Bowel Syndrome A fairly common gastrointestinal disorder, Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), is often characterized by symptoms like abdominal pain, cramping, constipation, diarrhea, nausea and in some cases back pain. A large number of adults experience irritable bowel...
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Online support, remote service, augmented reality - the functions are now already widely used. What are your achievements in this area?
We see ourselves not only as a machine supplier, but rather as a technology partner, efficiency driver, and pioneer in the plastics industry when it comes to digitalisation. Our machines, automation and proprietary IT solutions form a flexible production system. The ultimate goal is to make the complex controllable. We equip our Allrounders with an IIoT gateway so that they can be interlinked in a standardised way with the arburgXworld customer portal or the Arburg Remote Service, for example.
We have combined our digital products and services intelligently and clearly in the arburgXworld tool. With our customer portal of the same name and its many apps, we map the entire world of our customer's company, so to speak, and make it easier to get started in Arburg's digital world - across the entire injection moulding value chain. The portal offers real added value and many features to make everyday work even more efficient – all available in a basic version that is totally free of charge and therefore also risk-free. The Shop and MachineCenter are particularly in demand. In the Shop, customers can very conveniently order spare parts at any time and at attractive conditions. With its central access to production-relevant information and documents, the MachineCenter offers transparency about the company's own machine fleet and simplifies planning. The VirtualControl function, on the other hand, is the digital control twin, so to speak. The machine setter can use a PC or tablet to create and change injection moulding programmes from home, optimise sequences, and carry out troubleshooting - even across locations. Data can subsequently be transferred directly to the machine via the ARBURG host computer system (ALS), for example, or on a compact flash card.
The SelfService app is another modern tool. This is where the service technicians' knowledge database is stored. In the event of a machine fault, there are instructions for self-help - which avoids time-consuming and costly on-site service visits. In future, the Gestica control system will also provide 'first aid' by using 3D animations to show the operator exactly where the malfunction is located and then assisting with troubleshooting via the operating instructions.
Many customers are avoiding business trips and site visits due to the coronavirus pandemic. For this reason, we now also offer the option of remote machine acceptance. During the process, our sales experts go through the requirements specification together with the customer. On completion, they receive a detailed report including additional documentation in the form of images. The approach saves time and money and is an exciting option for the future. Just like our online support via the Arburg Remote Service, or 'ARS'. This allows hotline staff to connect directly to the machine's control system via a protected and encrypted data connection. The machine operator actively enables VPN access via software switch. This secure online support enables customers to quickly and easily use the extensive skills of our service experts to analyse as well as optimise their processes.
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Braxton, Osbourne and Jenners do Red Dress runway
NEW YORK (AP) — Red isn't just a trend at The Heart Truth runway show, it's a tradition: The Red Dress Collection, modeled by celebrities to draw awareness, has become the kick off to New York Fashion Week.
Minka Kelly, Toni Braxton, gymnast Gabrielle Douglas, Kelly Osbourne and Kris Jenner, with daughters Kendall and Kylie, were among those donning designer dresses and towering heels Wednesday.
It's the shoes that have many stars fearing they'll trip up. Actress Brenda Strong says her red spiky stilettos were the most intimidating part of the catwalk experience.
She had a little experience modeling, though. She was a former Miss America contestant.
Kelly, wearing Oscar de la Renta, previously walked in last year's show. Her best tip as a runway veteran runway was to wear shoes with straps.
From Courteney Cox to Elle Macpherson, see which celebs over 45 have the hottest bikini bods.Watch Video »
Takes on Tinder!
Find out all about Hilary's experience with the dating app on Replay hosted by Wonderwall's Kirby Kristen.Watch Video »
Check out Elizabeth Banks, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Mariah Carey's style statements on this week's OMG Celeb Fashion.Watch Video »
Check out Kim Kardashian and North West's cutest Instagram moments of 2015 thus far on today's Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »
Sam Smith looks happy and healthy while enjoying the sights in New Zealand on today's Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »
Gisele Bundchen remembers her first runway, plus more supermodels' big week on social media on today's Celebs Gone Social.Watch Video »
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Physicists from the Würzburg-Dresden Cluster of Excellence ct.qmat have discovered a new quantum effect called the “spinaron.” They conducted an experiment where they placed cobalt atoms on a copper surface, cooled them to extremely low temperatures, and exposed them to a strong magnetic field. They analyzed the atoms using a scanning tunneling microscope and found unexpected results.
Traditionally, physicists believed that the interaction between cobalt and copper could be explained by the Kondo effect. However, the Würzburg team’s experiment challenged this theory. They discovered that the cobalt atoms have a changing magnetic orientation, causing the surrounding copper electrons to oscillate and bond with the cobalt atoms. This phenomenon, known as the spinaron effect, was previously proposed by theorist Samir Lounis.
The discovery of the spinaron effect calls into question the widely accepted Kondo effect. Understanding this new quantum state could have implications for the development of spintronics, a field that explores the use of magnetic moments in electronic devices. However, the practical application of this discovery is currently limited due to the complex experimental conditions required.
The Würzburg team and Lounis are now reviewing past research on the Kondo effect, suspecting that some studies may have actually been describing the spinaron effect. If this is the case, it could reshape our understanding of quantum physics.
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Oil prices rise after price cap on Russian crude, OPEC+ meeting
Oil prices edged higher on Tuesday, after a G7 price cap on Russian seaborne oil came into force on Monday on top of a European Union embargo on imports of Russian crude by sea, Trend reports with reference to Reuters.
Brent crude futures had risen 66 cents to $83.34 a barrel by 0108 GMT. West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) rose 70 cents to $77.63 a barrel.
Futures fell more than 3% in the previous session, after U.S. service sector data raised worries that the Federal Reserve could continue its aggressive policy tightening path.
The price cap, to be enforced by the G7 nations, the European Union and Australia, comes on top of the EU's embargo on imports of Russian crude by sea and similar pledges by the United States, Canada, Japan and Britain.
Meanwhile, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and allies including Russia, together called OPEC+, agreed on Sunday to stick to their October plan to cut output by 2 million barrels per day (bpd) beginning in November.
The Group of Seven (G7) countries and Australia last week agreed on a $60 a barrel price cap on seaborne Russian oil.
In China, more cities eased COVID curbs over the weekend, prompting optimism for increased demand in the world's top oil importer.
Business and manufacturing activity in China, the world's second-largest economy, have been hit this year by strict measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz


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We have a look back at the fascinating tales behind some of our favourite album covers. This time? Jane’s Addiction’s Nothing’s Shocking (1988).
Perry Farrell, frontman for iconic alt-rock group Jane’s Addiction, lives “a little bit in [his] own world” by his own admission (to HuffPo in 2014), so when Warner didn’t quite grasp his idea for the cover art for Nothing’s Shocking – the band’s 1988 debut – he grasped matters into his own hands… twice.
After teaching himself how to sculpt, Farrell fired the Warner employees responsible for creating the record’s cover art. Using a full body casting of his then-girlfriend, Farrell sculpted a pair of nude conjoined twins with their scalps on fire, sitting crossankled on a sideways rocking chair – an image he’d had come to him in a dream, he told author Brendan Mullen (see: Whores: An Oral Biography of Perry Farrell and Jane’s Addiction).
Nine of the eleven major music retail chains existing in the US in ’88 refused to stock the record due to its cover image. “I never shopped at these big stores – they were kind of like Kmart or Walmart stores… so when they came back and said that they wouldn’t do it, and that I had to change the cover, it really threw me,” Farrell said. His solution was to treat the cover just like a skin mag and put it in brown paper.
“I simply wrapped the cover up,” he said. “All the indie record stores got [the album] without [the wrapper], and all the others got [the wrapped] version. Warner was scared that they wouldn’t sell anything if [stores] didn’t get their hands on the record, so that’s what went down. If I were to put that record out today there’d be absolutely no issue, right?”

domain: artistic


A “House of Steel Robots” in Thailand has made a reputation for itself by remodeling scrap metallic into dazzling sculptures impressed by Hollywood blockbusters.
Ban Hun Lek, an hour’s drive north of Bangkok, has grow to be a well-liked weekend spot for households looking forward to Instagram selfies in opposition to a backdrop that appears plucked from the silver display screen.
Visitors to Phairote Thanomwong’s welding workshop gaze up at 8-meter (26-foot) sculptures modeled after the robots of the “Transformers” franchise and a jet-black King Kong hewn collectively from outdated automotive elements.
Phairote opened his welding workshop 20 years in the past and ultimately transformed its entrance part right into a gallery for curious vacationers.
“It was only a pastime at first,” he tells Agence France-Presse (AFP). “When I used to be a baby, I appreciated mechanics rather a lot … so I made what I appreciated into my work.”
Every sculpture is constructed utilizing scrap metallic and recyclables, which makes every creation distinctive, he stated.
A 1-meter-tall piece sells for as much as 30,000 baht ($950), and the vast majority of his prospects are abroad consumers.
Since the Corona Virus pandemic unfold all over the world and despatched the worldwide financial system right into a tailspin, Phairote says his artwork exports have been placed on pause.
Still, the towering metallic brontosaurus at Ban Hun Lek, which may be seen from the principle freeway, attracts dozens of Thai guests every weekend.
“If they need to see one thing superb, they need to come right here,” Phairote stated with fun.


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I recently read a 2011 opinion piece from the New York Times entitled “Boomer Parent’s Lament”. The writer of the piece, Timothy Egan, despairs at the future for those who, like me, are members of Generation Y. In today’s harsh economic climate, many of my peers are burdened with heavy student loan debt and if they have a minimum-wage job that needs no degree are still considered lucky to at least have a paycheck.
Egan goes on to blame the parents, the Boomers, for filling our heads with the idea that our generation is special and focusing our self-worth on our grades, our jobs and our incomes. We were expected to achieve greatness, but were rewarded for mediocrity.
Now, in an economy where greatness is even harder to achieve, many of my generation are left with a feeling of failure, but are unprepared to deal with it.
There is certainly an amount of truth to his arguments. I experienced the rewarding for mediocrity, evidenced by the multitude of rainbow colored “participation” ribbons from elementary school summer swim team next to the sparse collection of blue first-place ribbons. I also experienced the expectations of greatness, from good grades in school to taking on leadership roles in activities. My Boomer mother pushed me to tour what became my alma mater, St. Catherine University, a women’s college where the mission statement of “lead and influence” is a recurring theme.
I am grateful for these experiences and do not lament anything instilled in me by my Boomer parents.
Yet, Egan is only really taking into account two generations: the Boomers and their Generation Y offspring. This, for me, is the key. In addition to my Boomer parents, I have had the influence of all four of my Traditionalist grandparents.
Along with all those aggrandizing comments and expectations typical of my generation, I was instilled with a sense of history. I learned of my grandparents’ childhood during the Great Depression and their young adulthood during WWII. They worked hard in order to provide for their families and their true accomplishment was seeing that all their families truly needed was taken care of.
Egan remarks on his father, but makes no reference to making an effort to instill his father’s work ethic and values into his children. It is my grandparents, not my parents, who have truly shaped my view of accomplishment. My parents pushed me to achieve, my grandparents’ work ethic showed me how. They also taught me to be grateful for what I have and to experience the feeling of accomplishment in small things, in family moments and in giving back to the community.
Perhaps instead of lamenting what Boomer parents “should have done” with their Generation Y children, we should all follow the example of my grandparents. Accomplishment comes in many forms and self-worth is not found in a paycheck.
If you have a job, you ARE lucky. Now work hard and do the best you can and keep going. If you have a loving family, friends and time to be with them, you ARE lucky. Now make sure you spend time with them and cherish it. If you have the opportunity to give back somehow, you ARE lucky. Now go see if you can help make someone else’s life a little easier, and perhaps discover new opportunities, passions and even self-worth.
In many ways, it’s symbolic that Generation Z is named after the last letter in the alphabet because their arrival marks the end of clearly defined roles, traditions, and experiences. After all, Gen Z is coming of age on the heels of what has been referred to as the most disruptive decade of the last century. America has become an increasingly changing and complex place.
Members of this generation have undoubtedly been shaped by crisis and disruption. This generation will largely be responsible for confronting the aftermath of the Great Recession, high youth unemployment, the effects of climate change, terrorism, energy sustainability, and more. These dark events have undoubtedly made this generation more cautious and pragmatic, but they have also provided this generation with the inspiration to change the world – and their grit will likely allow them to do it.
Coming of age during disruption means that most Zs will be comfortable being the disruptors. While Millennials tend to be collaborative and innovative, this generation tends to be sincere, reflective, thick-skinned, and self-directed, and will likely approach work in much the same way.
In the era following World War II, Boomers (1946-1964) were born and eventually became the wealthiest, most prosperous generation in history. Raised to aspire for the American Dream, this very large generation moved into positions of power and influence, and served as the workforce majority for 34 years.
With the American Dream alive and well, Boomers had no reason to teach their children, mostly Millennials, about competition. Instead, they taught them to focus on academic achievement and to be team players because if everyone works hard, everyone can win.
Enter Generation X (1965-1981). In contrast Boomers, Xers came of age during a time when change and economic and political uncertainty began to take root. They have lived through four recessions, struggled with debt and economic decline most of their lives, and watched the best educated and accomplished generation of all time (Millennials) graduate during the Great Recession and become the most debt-ridden generation in history.
Gen Xers can be defined by their independence and anti-status quo approach to life, and they have taught their Gen Z children to be competitive, believing only the best can win. They have encouraged their children to be realists, finding something they are good at and aggressively pursuing it.
Xers have raised their Zs with an intense focus on competitiveness -- in academics, sports, and other activities. This approach to parenting has many implications, but one stands out in terms of business: Gen Z is likely to lead.
Millennials in the workplace created and aggressively advocated for collaborative work environments. In fact, their aversion to leadership has been so strong, some Millennials sought out companies that boasted boss-free or team-managed workplaces.
In contrast, Zs have been raised with an individualistic, realistic, and competitive nature. They have been taught the skills to successfully defy the norm. This means we’re going to see the pendulum shift away from collaborative workplaces towards a widespread demand for, and pursuit of, leadership development.
While Millennials have been criticized for their “delayed adulthood”, Gen Z is showing signs of “early adulthood”. Educators and parents often describe this generation as being more serious and contemplative about the world. Zs are thinking about their career paths and exposing themselves to career training at an earlier age than Millennials. It’s probable that some of this early onset of adulthood is caused by parents, who are pressuring their children to be competitive and successful and to avoid the debt that plagued both the Gen Xers and Millennials.
The numbers from our global research found 46% of Gen Z said they know what career to pursue and 51% have taken a class at school focused on their career interests. Forty percent joined an extracurricular program (team, club) based on their career interests.
Zs have been shaped by the aftermath of the Great Recession. They watched Millennials become debt-ridden and are concerned about falling into the same trap. XYZ University’s survey results show 66% of Zs said financial stability is more important than doing work they enjoy, which is the exact opposite of Millennial survey results. Also, 71% of survey-takers have a paying job.
When presented a list of leadership traits, Zs ranked positive and trustworthy the highest. While Millennials and Gen Zs both value trust in a leader, Millennials usually cite collaboration and vision as most important. In other words, Millennials focus on the outcomes leaders inspire, whereas Zs are more likely to consider leaders’ attitudes and personalities. To Z, what leaders encourage others to do isn’t as valuable as how they make them feel.
Both Millennials and Gen Zs place a very high value on feeling challenged and appreciated in the workplace. However, according to our survey results Millennials rank appreciation slightly higher than challenge, whereas Zs rank feeling challenged slightly higher than appreciation.
Time will tell how Zs go down in history, but we know this generation’s influence on history will be unlike any other.
Does your organization have what it takes to engage the next generation? Take this quiz to find out.
Sarah Sladek is CEO of XYZ University. Our generational intelligence can assist you with engaging and retaining young talent and members.
Looking for a game changer at your next event or a strategy unique to your organization?


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I could only watch Higuain's early gunshot on the post. Sent a lamentable pass to Pedro outside the Spurs' area, he was lucky that Higuain escaped. Muscle nut by Pedro's goal to his nearest position before the hour of play, then caught in a no man's land when Trippier passed the ball in front of him to spin him. Bad communication from the captain. 3
Well defended in the first half overall, but in the end, Lloris had an absolute bad pass that flew in front of the Frenchman and went into the Spurs net. All he had to do was lift his eyes. 4
It was almost an hour since I played well, but Pedro beat far too easily for the Spaniard to score. As a result of a strike in the middle of the field, 82 minutes was very far from the goal of the minute. 6
The Colombian made a significant tackle to stop Higuain at the edge of the Spurs box in 37 minutes. His powerful head sent Kane over the pitch to Winks to ring the bar of a shot before the break. Probably the best defender of the Spurs tonight. 7
Pedro scored behind him for his goal, although there was still plenty to do for the Spaniard. Sent to a center, Kane could only play on goal. 5
Harry winks with the eye
Before the break, the midfielder sent a quenching effort on the crossbar. One of the best Spurs players on the field and controlled much of their game. 7
Install Higuain with the "head" eyes closed on the nape of the neck. Fortunately for him, Spurs and Lloris, the attacker's shot was picked up by the post. Work hard as usual but with less impact than normal. 6
He started slowly but chose Son with a superb ball over, but Alonso attacked Spurs. He shot a wide shot shortly after Pedro's second goal. He has disappeared in the last two games and the Spurs have struggled to cope without him. 5
Another night of rest for the South Korean. He fought in the front, but nothing really happened. 5
He made a great turn in the area to get to the opposite of Kane, but Luiz was superbly faced at the last moment. Put big shots in the first half to get the ball for the Spurs. He worked hard and remained faithful to his work harassing Jorginho, but did not offer much for the future. 5
Lamela played in Chelsea's surface with a clever backhand pass and before the break, he had already faced three men before sending a wide deflected effort. Lost a volley six meters wide by 65 minutes. Fought for service and quality and was booked late for an entanglement with Luiz. 5
Enter and win some headers, but do not direct them to a teammate. 4
Offered nothing when he entered. N / A
Sissoko was replaced late but could not be noticed. N / A
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domain: sports


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Men age 18 to 49 value their careers the most, according to a new Gallup poll. The results found that 69 percent of them said they considered advancing in their career either extremely or very important. Sixty-five percent of women in the same age range agreed. Men and women in their 50s or older however are not as similar. Thirty-seven percent of men 50 or older said advancing their careers was important to them, compared to just 24 percent of women of the same age. The survey also found that both 57 percent of college graduates and 57 percent of blue collar workers employed full or part time considered career advancement important.
A look at the big stories that made news this week and the headlines you may have missed.
Americans are angry with the handling of issues ranging from healthcare reform to the rise of Islamic State militants.
Effective immediately, anyone visiting a new mother or child at the Birthplace at Baystate Franklin Medical Center must be 14 or older
The city of Northampton has officially opened discussion on an ordinance banning plastic bags and styrofoam


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Modern healthcare relies heavily on interconnected systems and devices to provide efficient and effective patient care. One area that has gained significant attention in recent years is the use of interoperable medical devices. These devices are designed to seamlessly exchange data and communicate with each other, enhancing healthcare delivery and patient outcomes. However, with the benefits come potential risks that need to be understood and mitigated for the safe and secure use of such devices.
Defining Interoperable Medical Devices
Interoperable medical devices refer to those that have the ability to exchange and use information with other devices, systems, or software applications across different manufacturers and vendors. This facilitates the integration and sharing of data, promoting interoperability and streamlining workflow in healthcare settings.
The Role of Interoperable Devices in Modern Healthcare
Interoperable devices play a crucial role in modern healthcare by improving efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility of patient care. For example, interoperability allows different devices, such as glucose monitors and insulin pumps, to communicate, enabling real-time monitoring and adjustment of insulin dosages for patients with diabetes. This integration eliminates the need for manual data entry and reduces the risk of errors.
Moreover, the use of interoperable devices extends beyond the realm of diabetes management. In emergency situations, interoperability allows for seamless communication between various medical devices, such as defibrillators, vital sign monitors, and electronic health records (EHR) systems. This enables healthcare professionals to quickly access critical patient information and make informed decisions, ultimately saving lives.
Key Features of Interoperable Medical Devices
Interoperable medical devices possess a range of key features that enable seamless data exchange and integration. These include standardized data formats, common communication protocols, and secure authentication mechanisms. By adhering to these standards, interoperable devices can communicate effectively, ensuring the accuracy and integrity of the exchanged data.
Furthermore, interoperable devices often incorporate advanced data encryption techniques to protect patient privacy and maintain data security. This ensures that sensitive medical information remains confidential and is only accessible to authorized healthcare professionals. Additionally, interoperable devices are designed with user-friendly interfaces, allowing healthcare providers to easily navigate and interpret the exchanged data, enhancing overall usability and efficiency.
The Potential Risks of Interoperable Medical Devices
Despite the numerous benefits of interoperable medical devices, there are inherent risks associated with their use. It is important to identify and address these risks to safeguard patient safety and maintain data privacy.
Security Concerns in Interoperability
Interoperable medical devices are vulnerable to cybersecurity threats, such as unauthorized access, data breaches, and malware attacks. These risks can compromise patient privacy and the integrity of healthcare data. In recent years, several high-profile incidents have highlighted the need for robust security measures in the design, implementation, and use of interoperable devices.
One example of a cybersecurity threat in the realm of interoperable medical devices is the possibility of a hacker gaining unauthorized access to a patient’s implanted device, such as a pacemaker or insulin pump. This could have severe consequences, as the hacker could potentially manipulate the device’s settings, leading to life-threatening situations for the patient. To mitigate this risk, manufacturers and healthcare providers must ensure that strong authentication protocols and encryption mechanisms are in place to protect the communication between devices and prevent unauthorized access.
Patient Safety and Data Privacy Issues
Interoperability introduces new challenges regarding patient safety and data privacy. For instance, if an interoperable device receives incorrect data from another device, it could potentially lead to wrong diagnoses or inappropriate treatments. This emphasizes the importance of accurate and reliable data exchange protocols between devices, as any errors or discrepancies can have serious implications for patient care.
Furthermore, the sharing of patient data among multiple devices and systems raises concerns about data privacy and consent. Patients need to have confidence that their personal information is adequately protected and only accessible to authorized individuals. To address this issue, healthcare organizations must implement stringent data privacy policies and ensure that patients have full control over their data, including the ability to grant or revoke consent for its sharing.
Additionally, it is crucial for healthcare professionals to receive proper training on the use of interoperable devices to minimize the risk of errors or misuse. This includes understanding the limitations and potential risks associated with these devices, as well as knowing how to interpret and validate the data they provide.
Regulatory Landscape for Interoperable Devices
The healthcare industry is regulated to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and proper use of medical devices. Similarly, the regulatory landscape for interoperable devices is constantly evolving to address the unique challenges associated with their use.
Interoperable medical devices are designed to seamlessly communicate and exchange information with other devices and systems, enabling healthcare providers to access and share critical patient data. This interoperability has the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery, improving patient outcomes and streamlining workflows. However, it also introduces new complexities and risks that regulators must address.
Current Regulations and Standards
In the United States, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has developed guidelines and policies for the regulation of interoperable medical devices. These guidelines emphasize the importance of cybersecurity, risk management, and human factors engineering in the design, development, and use of such devices.
For instance, the FDA recognizes the need for robust cybersecurity measures to protect against potential threats and vulnerabilities. They require manufacturers to implement safeguards to prevent unauthorized access, ensure data integrity, and maintain the confidentiality of patient information. Additionally, the FDA emphasizes the importance of human factors engineering, which involves designing devices with the end-user in mind to minimize the risk of user error and enhance usability.
Similarly, international organizations, such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO), have established standards for interoperable medical devices to ensure global compatibility and safety. These standards address various aspects, including data exchange protocols, device interoperability, and safety requirements.
Future Regulatory Trends
As technology continues to advance, regulators are working to adapt and enhance regulations for interoperable devices. For example, the FDA is actively exploring approaches to regulate software as a medical device, which includes some interoperable applications.
Regulators are also keen on addressing the evolving risks associated with interoperable devices. They recognize that as more devices become interconnected, the potential for cybersecurity threats increases. To mitigate these risks, regulators are collaborating with industry stakeholders to develop comprehensive frameworks that ensure the safe and secure use of interoperable devices.
These frameworks aim to establish best practices for cybersecurity, risk management, and data privacy. They encourage manufacturers to implement robust security measures, conduct thorough risk assessments, and prioritize patient privacy. By doing so, regulators aim to foster an environment where healthcare providers and patients can confidently embrace the benefits of interoperable devices without compromising safety or privacy.
Strategies for Mitigating Risks
Mitigating the risks associated with interoperable medical devices requires a multi-faceted approach that encompasses technical, organizational, and educational measures.
When it comes to implementing robust security measures, manufacturers and healthcare organizations need to go above and beyond to ensure the safety of interoperable devices. It is crucial for them to prioritize security in the design, implementation, and ongoing maintenance of these devices. This includes adopting encryption and authentication techniques to protect sensitive data from unauthorized access. Regularly updating software and firmware is also essential to stay ahead of potential vulnerabilities that may arise. To ensure the highest level of security, rigorous testing should be conducted to identify and address any potential weaknesses in the devices. Notable companies like Philips and GE Healthcare have made significant investments in cybersecurity to ensure the utmost security of their interoperable medical devices.
In addition to implementing robust security measures, enhancing data privacy protocols is of utmost importance. Patient data privacy should always be a top priority when dealing with interoperable medical devices. Organizations must take proactive steps to implement strict access controls, encryption, and consent management protocols to protect patient information from unauthorized disclosure. Regular audits and risk assessments should be conducted to identify and address any potential privacy risks that may arise. Epic Systems, a leading electronic health record vendor, has taken significant strides in this area by implementing robust data privacy measures to protect patient information shared via interoperable systems. This ensures that patient data remains confidential and secure throughout its journey across different devices and systems.
By implementing these comprehensive strategies, manufacturers and healthcare organizations can mitigate the risks associated with interoperable medical devices. This not only ensures the safety and privacy of patient data but also fosters trust among healthcare professionals and patients alike. It is imperative that all stakeholders in the healthcare industry work together to create a secure and interoperable ecosystem that prioritizes patient safety and privacy at every step.
The Role of Healthcare Professionals in Risk Mitigation
Healthcare professionals play a critical role in mitigating the risks associated with interoperable medical devices through training, education, and patient engagement.
Training and Education for Healthcare Staff
Healthcare providers should receive comprehensive training on the safe and effective use of interoperable devices. This includes understanding the risks associated with interoperability, recognizing signs of cybersecurity threats, and implementing best practices to protect patient privacy. Organizations like the Association for the Advancement of Medical Instrumentation (AAMI) offer training programs and resources for healthcare professionals to enhance their knowledge and skills in this area.
Promoting Patient Awareness and Education
Patients should be educated about the benefits and risks of interoperable medical devices and their role in safeguarding their own data privacy. For instance, patients should be encouraged to ask questions about the security measures in place and how their data will be used and protected. Healthcare organizations can provide educational materials and resources to empower patients to make informed decisions about the use of interoperable devices.
Moreover, healthcare professionals can play a crucial role in promoting patient awareness by engaging in open and transparent conversations about the potential risks and benefits of interoperable medical devices. By taking the time to explain the importance of data privacy and security, healthcare professionals can help patients feel more confident and empowered in their healthcare journey.
Additionally, healthcare professionals can also educate patients on the steps they can take to further protect their data privacy. This can include providing guidance on password management, encouraging patients to regularly update their device’s software, and advising them on how to recognize and report any suspicious activities related to their medical devices.
By actively involving patients in the conversation and providing them with the necessary knowledge and tools, healthcare professionals can foster a sense of shared responsibility in mitigating the risks associated with interoperable medical devices.
In conclusion, interoperable medical devices have the potential to revolutionize healthcare delivery by enabling seamless data exchange and integration. However, understanding and mitigating the associated risks are crucial to protect patient safety and data privacy. By implementing robust security measures, enhancing data privacy protocols, and promoting training and education, the healthcare industry can harness the benefits of interoperability while ensuring the highest standards of safety and privacy for patients.
As healthcare continues to evolve with the integration of interoperable medical devices, the importance of robust cybersecurity measures has never been more critical. Blue Goat Cyber, a Veteran-Owned business, specializes in medical device cybersecurity and compliance, offering a comprehensive suite of services to protect your organization from cyber threats. Our expertise in HIPAA and FDA compliance, along with SOC 2 and PCI penetration testing, ensures that your medical devices and patient data remain secure. Don’t let cybersecurity concerns hold back the potential of your healthcare technology. Contact us today for cybersecurity help and partner with a team that’s passionate about safeguarding your business and products from attackers.

domain: medical