Airplane manufacturer Boeing has reached out to customers after the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) found some its parts may have been poorly made.
Investigation into Boeing 737 Max
The regulator’s investigation, conducted alongside officials from Boeing, found that parts on more than 300 of the planes sold to airlines around the world could be faulty.
The investigation was initiated after two of the Boeing 737 Max planes crashed in Ethiopia and Indonesia killing 347 people.
This led to Boeing’s flagship aircraft being grounded and a frantic scramble to find the cause so they could get airborne again.
It has also become more important since lawmakers in the USA have become interested in how the planes passed the safety certification process that allowed them to be sold all over the world in the first place.
The investigation revealed that edge slat components on the wings, used for aerodynamic control, may not have been manufactured correctly.
This led Boeing to contact anyone who had bought a 737 Max from them and instruct them on how to check the parts in question.
“One batch of slat tracks with specific lot numbers produced by a supplier was found to have a potential nonconformance. If operators find the parts in question, they are to replace them with new ones before returning the airplane to service,” Boeing said.
Whether or not this is enough to get the planes back up in the sky remains to be seen, but it is quite doubtful.
Most notably because of the FAA’s revelation that a failure to the part would not bring down an airplane.
Initial safety reports from pilots of the 737 Max shortly after it had been introduced suggested there were problems with the newly-implemented Maneuvering Characteristics Augmentation System.
They believed bad data was causing the aircraft to execute unexpected and erratic maneuvers.
There is nothing in the report to indicate whether the faulty slat tracks could have contributed to the above.
However, according to a report in the Mail & Guardian, an anonymous aeronautics expert told AFP that the components are critical during takeoff and landing, so it is not entirely beyond the realms of possibility that faulty parts could actually cause a crash.
South African impact
In South Africa, only one airline has the Boeing 737 Max aircraft on its roster: Comair.
The operator purchased eight planes, all of which have been grounded until their flight-worthiness can be guaranteed.
They initially stated they trusted their flight crews and would continue to operate the aircraft in March 2019, but quickly changed their minds after an emergency order from the FAA.


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domain: food


text:
April 27, 2018 –
Music and Storytelling Festival with Kevin Kling, Odds Bodkin, Jim May, Sheila Arnold Jones and The Country Store Band. Doors open at 5:30 pm Friday, April 27 with an olio at 7:00 pm. The festival continues on Saturday beginning with an olio at 9:30 am and performances all day, closing with an olio at 7:00 pm Saturday night. A meet the tellers campfire Friday night, weather permitting.

domain: entertainment


text:
There are always homes for sale, but to get a home at a great price you have to act fast – they are always the bidders too. This can be an investor making a cash deposit. In order to sell your home you need to get the price right. You can also choose best real estate agent in Ivanhoe via https://www.milesre.com.au/
Beware of real estate agents marking the price of your property for them to win instructions. By offering your property at the highest price, you can stay in the market for a long time.
The average time it takes to sell a house is just over 8 weeks. During this time, any buyer waiting to find a property will find out about your home and inspect it if they want. After that, wait for new buyers to enter the market. It can only mean one drop at a time.
If your price is too high, you should be prepared to redeem it until you are lucky enough to find a buyer who is willing to pay more than the opportunity, or is willing to decline and get your price reduced in a few months. However, this will not appear attractive to buyers. You will immediately ask, "What's wrong with the house? Why hasn't it been sold?"
Do your own research. Look for homes for sale nearby and see how much they cost. Look at graphs of prices and how much your property's value has increased or decreased since purchase. Look at a few other homes for the same price to see if you are realistic.
If you haven't sold in a few months, ask another agent to re-evaluate your home. You may need to cut prices again or switch agents. Even if you are happy with the agent, the new agent is bringing a new approach to sales and the outside buyer is likely the first agent to do a bad job instead of making a mistake with your home.

domain: finance


text:
"It's the president's opinion", she said.
Trump, who has repeatedly said that there was no collusion in the 2016 presidential election, reiterated his position this week when he said that the ongoing investigations into alleged Russian interference in the US' domestic politics were a "disgrace" to the United States and that special counsel Robert Mueller is a pawn in the Democrats' "conspiracy" to tarnish his presidency.
Some legal analysts said Wednesday's tweet alone was not enough to bring an obstruction of justice charge but it could be used to establish a pattern of conduct revealing Trump's intentions.
Trump's actions are under scrutiny by Mueller, who is examining whether the president has sought to block the probe into Russia's efforts to influence the 2016 presidential campaign.
Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., said Trump's tweets indicated to her that he's "very worried" about Mueller's investigation. That includes trumped-up charges against his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and distorting the outcome of the Helsinki summit to make it appear he was beholden to Russian Federation, said two Republicans close to the White House not authorized to speak about private conversations.
In a further tweet, Trump suggested Manafort has been harshly mistreated.
"This is a awful situation and Attorney General Jeff Sessions should stop this Rigged Witch Hunt right now, before it continues to strain our country any further", read Trump's tweet on Wednesday, August 1.
Although CNN has reported that several members of Mueller's team have donated to Democrats, Russia's interference in the 2016 election has also been the subject of several Republican-led congressional inquiries.
They, along with National Security Agency Director Paul Nakasone and FBI Director Christopher Wray, appeared together at the White House on Thursday to try to reassure the American people they are doing everything in their power to address the threat. "He worked for me for a very short time".
"These old charges have nothing to do with Collusion - a Hoax!" he said.
"Looking back on history, who was treated worse, Alfonse Capone, legendary mob boss, killer and 'Public Enemy Number One, ' or Paul Manafort, political operative & Reagan/Dole darling, now serving solitary confinement - although convicted of nothing?"More news: United States court bans release of blueprints for 3D-printed guns
More news: Leaked Photos of the Google Pixel 3 XL?
More news: Rebels reach north Syria after evacuations from south
Manafort is in detention after having his bail revoked because of allegations that he was attempting to tamper with witnesses in his case.
In a subsequent interview with the Guardian, Frank said that Democrats' attitudes over the years is actually helping Trump widen his fan base.
"Glad to see the White House finally do something about election security - even if it's only a press conference", Warner tweeted. Investigators still want to have the ability to ask some follow-up questions in person, but Trump's team doesn't want to allow it.
Giuliani also told reporters the president's legal team was in the middle of ongoing negotiations with Mueller, as a report in The Washington Post said the special counsel had offered to reduce the number of questions in exchange for a sit-down interview.
Then, on Wednesday, Giuliani again upped the stakes, warning that the coming midterm election would be fought on the question of whether Trump would be impeached.
On Tuesday night, Trump flew back from Florida with former aides who have stoked his anger and impulses in the past: current campaign manager Brad Parscale and former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski.
The president's social media outburst renewed discussion of the significance of his tweets.
Trump's personal lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said Trump was expressing an opinion long espoused by his team.
"The only person who could fire Mueller is Rod Rosenstein, who is bound by Justice Department guidances that specify that he would have to have good cause, and it would have to be reported to Congress", Collins said. Prosecutors say obstruction cases aren't clear-cut.
Six Republican senators going into a vote on Wednesday disapproved of Trump's tweet calling for an end to the probe.
No. 3 Senate GOP leader John Thune of South Dakota said, "The idea that they should truncate it doesn't make sense to me". It could be a much different story under a new Democratic House if the midterms go against the GOP.

domain: news


text:
License plate campaign pays homage to Richmond Planet
Jeremy M. Lazarus | 7/22/2021, 6 p.m.
Reginald L. Carter is within striking distance of scoring another victory for his campaign for Black history and racial justice.
The 32-year-old Richmond resident is single- handedly leading the charge to get a specialty license plate featuring an arm with a bulging bicep and raised clenched fist – the Black power logo that the largely forgotten but once influ- ential Richmond Planet newspaper featured on its masthead long before the term was coined in the 1960s.
Mr. Carter’s purpose: To raise awareness of the publication that was the voice of Richmond’s Black community from the early 1880s until its demise decades later. The Richmond Planet, under the leadership of its “fighting editor” John Mitchell Jr., battled lynching, segregation and other forms of oppression against Black people.
“We need to remember,” Mr. Carter said.
To get the state Department of Motor Vehicles to make the plate, Mr. Carter said he needs 450 vehicle owners to pre-order one or more by Dec. 24, 2021. The cost: $10 for each standard plate and $20 for a personalized plate, he said.
Mr. Carter, who has already led successful campaigns to take down a Confederate statue in his hometown of Tappahannock and memorialize a lynched man in Essex County, said that 358 people already have pre-ordered the plates.
Among them are Richmond Mayor Levar M. Stoney, rapper Robert R. “Meek Mill” Williams, pro football players Clelin Ferrell and Anthony Harris and Darryl Johnson of The Rock Project mentorship program.
Mr. Carter is using email and social media to promote the campaign. He said people can contact him at RichPlanetPlate@gmail.com, to secure an application or via Instagram @richplanetvaplate.
Mr. Carter, a graduate of Virginia State University who has a master’s degree from the University of Richmond, is more used to working behind the scenes as a human resources specialist at a state agency.
But he started moving out front after being inspired by the racial justice demonstrations that erupted after the Minneapolis Police murder of George Floyd last year.
“I could no longer sit on the sidelines. I had to get involved,” Mr. Carter said.
His biggest success to date involves the pending removal of the largest symbol of Black oppression in Essex County—a Confederate soldier atop a pedestal embossed with a rebel battle flag that for generations has stood in front of the Essex County Courthouse in Tappahannock.
After a 369-day campaign Mr. Carter organized and led, the Tappahannock Town Council voted unanimously to remove the statue embody- ing white supremacy and support for slavery. The council is now seeking bids from interested parties as part of the removal process.
“This statue stood in front of the courthouse and jail,” Mr. Carter said. “Who could walk past that and believe justice would be served?”
At the same time, Mr. Carter also has successfully secured approval of a state history marker recalling the 1896 lynching of an Essex County man, Thomas Washington. The new history marker, he said, will memorialize an innocent man who was hanged by a mob based on unproven rumors of wrongdoing involving a white child
He also used an online fundraising tool to raise the $2,000 to pay for the marker that is to be set near the site of the illegal hanging in Center Cross on U.S. 17 near Tappahannock. He said a total of $10,000 was raised, and he plans to donate $8,000 to Tappahannock to aid with the costs of the Confederate statue’s removal.
Mr. Carter is a bit surprised at how well the projects he started have turned out.
“I am grateful for the support that has made it possible,” he said. “I never thought I could have accomplished so much. And on my own, I couldn’t. Everything has been an uphill climb. It has been frustrating at times. I have just stayed positive and sought to keep moving forward. And so far, with help from so many others, it has worked out.”


|Publication number||US7977658 B2|
|Application number||US 12/137,691|
|Publication date||12 Jul 2011|
|Filing date||12 Jun 2008|
|Priority date||15 Jun 2007|
|Also published as||CA2690560A1, CA2690560C, CN101808565A, EP2166921A1, EP2166921A4, US20080308753, WO2008156623A1|
|Publication number||12137691, 137691, US 7977658 B2, US 7977658B2, US-B2-7977658, US7977658 B2, US7977658B2|
|Inventors||Robert M. Stuba, Michael S. Epstein, Richard M. Wolf|
|Original Assignee||Precision Endoscopic Technologies|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (30), Non-Patent Citations (9), Referenced by (2), Classifications (13), Legal Events (4)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119 of provisional application No. 60/929,164 filed Jun. 15, 2007. The disclosure of the provisional application is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a flexible infrared delivery apparatus and method for generating, transmitting, and delivering infrared energy from a source of infrared radiation which is not a laser for efficiently and quickly raising the temperature of a target material such that a desired change, response, or transformation of the material is created. A variety of industrial applications are envisioned for the invention, particularly in situations that may require heat to be quickly delivered to a very specific location that may be a significant distance from a safe and practical heat source, or may be in a location that is very difficult to reach except by a tortuous or highly articulated conduit or path. In a preferred form, an endoscopic infrared coagulation apparatus is provided for use in an accessory channel of an endoscope to coagulate target blood and tissue within a human or animal subject.
Infrared coagulation or photocoagulation is well known to medical science. It is a technique in which abnormal tissue is exposed to a burst of infrared energy. This heats the tissue locally, causing blood in veins in the tissue to coagulate (harden) and the abnormal tissue to shrink. Photocoagulation is a somewhat less aggressive method of tissue transformation than other known methods such as electrocautery, cryotherapy, laser ablation or argon plasma coagulation.
Infrared coagulation for outpatient treatment of internal first and second degree hemorrhoids and some third degree ones is known. In the known method, high intensity infrared light is transmitted through a rigid quartz probe which is inserted directly into the rectum and infrared energy applied for 1.5 to 2 seconds three to eight times to a localized area of hemorrhoids to coagulate vessels and tether the mucosa to subcutaneous tissues. Generally only one section of the hemorrhoids is treated per visit. Patients generally have three areas that need treatment and so have to return several times at intervals until all have been controlled. Infrared coagulation is quick (10 to 15 minutes a visit), effective, and painless, and patients can return immediately or the next day. Eighty per cent of patients treated by this conventional method are reported to be free of symptoms at three months.
A drawback of existing infrared coagulation treatment is that it is a “blind” procedure, in the sense that the physician has difficulty seeing the area being treated. For this reason, infrared coagulation can be inaccurate, increasing the need for multiple repeat treatments. There is a need for an improved apparatus and method for treatment of hemorrhoids which can be used in conjunction with a flexible colonoscope or sigmoidoscope, providing the physician with direct visualization of the treatment site, and from numerous directions and angles, facilitating pinpoint accuracy of treatment and immediate visual confirmation of the location and extent of treatment. The present invention addresses this need.
The apparatus of the invention for delivering infrared energy to a material comprises a source of infrared radiation which is not a laser, an elongated flexible fiber optic member for transmitting radiation from the source from a proximal end of the member to a distal end of the member and to a material proximate the distal end, and a connector on the proximal end of the elongated member for quickly connecting the member to and disconnecting the member from the apparatus where the member is aligned for receiving infrared radiation from the source. In the preferred embodiment, the apparatus is an endoscopic infrared coagulation apparatus for use in an accessory channel of an endoscope to coagulate targeted tissue within a human or animal subject.
The apparatus is a contact-type apparatus in that the elongated member includes at the distal end of the member a contact portion for contacting the material to be treated, the contact portion defining a size, direction and shape of a radiation delivery area from the member to a material to be treated proximate the contact portion. The use of a multiple wavelength, non-coherent source of infrared radiation, e.g. not a laser, in the contact type apparatus rather than a converging laser beam focused from above the material which must pass through intervening body fluids, for example, in the case of treating internal human tissue, that can possibly disrupt the beam and treatment and cause errors in treating the correct site, allows the safe and efficient transmission and delivery of infrared radiation to a highly specific location. The delivery is through a small-diameter, highly flexible component which can be used in highly articulated positions, such as in a 180 degree bend or in a “retroflexed” position in a flexible endoscope. The apparatus requires no gas for its use and requires intimate contact between the contact portion of the distal end of the elongated flexible fiber optic member and the target tissue in order for significant transfer of infrared energy to occur, making it less likely for inadvertent energy transfer and tissue damage than with a laser, which can irradiate significant energy without being in contact with the tissue.
In the example embodiments, the source of infrared radiation is an infrared lamp which radiates electromagnetic energy primarily in the infrared region, but which includes both visible and infrared radiation for transmission through the elongated member. The elongated member in the example embodiments includes an inner flexible fiber optic body and outer protective sheath, the inner flexible fiber optic body being a multicomponent transparent fiber bundle. The contact portion for contacting the material/tissue includes an exposed, radiation emitting portion of the multicomponent transparent fiber bundle of the fiber optic member. In one form of the invention, the contact portion defines a radiation delivery area with a direction having both radial and axial direction components with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated flexible fiber optic member. According to another feature of the invention, the contact portion defines a radiation delivery area wider than a diameter of the distal end of the elongated flexible fiber optic member. In another variation according to the invention, the contact portion defines a radiation delivery area with a direction in only an axial direction with respect to a longitudinal axis of the elongated flexible fiber optic member.
The method and apparatus of the invention allow the transmission and delivery of infrared energy to a highly specific location through a small-diameter flexible component. In the preferred embodiments, the apparatus creates the opportunity for gastroenterologists and physicians and other medical specialists to treat various conditions with infrared energy using a flexible endoscope, which offers direct visualization of the treatment site, pinpoint accuracy of treatment, and immediate visual verification of the status of treatment. The apparatus and method may be used to coagulate human and animal tissue, for treatment of small vascular malformations, removal of tissue, treatment of small tumors or lesions, and hemostasis. The apparatus and method are especially useful for the treatment of hemorrhoids, and possibly other conditions such as angiodysplasia of the colon, gastric antral vascular ectasis (watermelon stomach), esophageal reflux disease, and Barrett's esophagus. The apparatus does not require the passing of electrical current inside the patient's body as in electrocautery and therefore inherently prevents less risk to patients and also has the advantage of being far less expensive than electrocautery devices such as bipolar probes.
These and other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of several embodiments in accordance with the invention.
Referring now to the drawings, in the example embodiments apparatus 30 in
The apparatus 30 of
The infrared lamp of the source 8 radiates electromagnetic energy primarily in the infrared region but includes both visible and infrared radiation which is transmitted through the elongated flexible fiber optic member 5. A focusing arrangement 7 in the form of a threaded dome-shaped, light-guiding connector mount focuses the radiation from the source onto the proximal end of the fiber optic member. The connector 14 on the proximal end of the member is connected to the light-guiding connector mount 7 by way of an optional activation cord 1 as depicted in
An electrical control 3 of the apparatus 30, in the form of a control box, has an activation switch 2 that when activated provides electrical power to source 8 for producing infrared radiation. An adjustable timer 26 controls the duration of time the source produces radiation after activation of the switch. Activation can also be by way of an optional activation cord 1, or an optional wireless activation switching mechanism 6 depicted in
The control box 3 of the apparatus 30 is formed with a rear plate 9 with mounting bracket and a front plate 10 as depicted in
The elongated flexible fiber optic member 5 and optional activation cord 1 each include an inner flexible fiber optic body 16 and an outer protective sheath. As depicted in
The apparatus 100 for delivering infrared energy to a material shown in the embodiment of
The relay is a solid state timer, designed to control the length of time, in seconds, the contacts are closed and the infrared light source is on. The time range is 0 to 5 seconds. The time is varied by means of a potentiometer 114 connected to an input on the timer relay. The potentiometer is mounted on the front panel of the device and is accessible to the user by means of a rotary knob. The timer relay 110 is a dual pole dual throw (DPDT) type with one contact being used to switch the infrared light source and one contact used to switch the power on LED so they are both activated simultaneously.
When the activation switch is pushed, the timer relay closes, remains closed for the pre-determined length of time, then opens. The timer relay will only stayed closed as long as the activation switch is closed. If it is opened before the pre-determined length of time, the relay contacts will open. The activation switch 112 is operated by a foot operated mechanism 123, see
The front panel of the device also contains the threaded receptacle 106 which accepts the connector 119 of the fiber optic bundle of the elongated fiber optic member 117. This receptacle is mounted so that the fiber optic bundle is located in the center of the infrared light source where it is aligned with the infrared radiation from the source. As noted above, the infrared light source is preferably a replaceable 150 Watt tungsten halogen bulb with gold plated reflector, e.g. an ellipsoidal reflector as shown in
The elongated flexible fiber optic member 117 of the apparatus 100 of
The flexible fiber optic body 120 between the connector 119 and the metal sleeve 121 has an outer protective sheath 122 formed by a fluorinated ethylene propylene (FEP) heat shrink tubing, e.g. a compression sheath. The FEP heat shrink tubing is a friction-minimizing material which facilitates insertion of the elongated flexible fiber optic member 117 into and through the accessory channel of an endoscope. Alternatively, the outer protective sheath 122 could be formed of polytetraflouroethylene (PTFE). The outer diameter of the flexible fiber optic body with outer protective sheath is 3.4 mm in the example embodiment but could vary so long as it is less than the internal diameter of the accessory channel in the endoscope it is to be used with. The fiber optic member 117 in the apparatus could also be used in the apparatus 30 of
In use, the endoscopic infrared coagulation apparatus of the invention is prepared for use by the physician, nurse, or other attendant by powering on the apparatus as described above and bringing the control box thereof into a position from which it can be reached and viewed as necessary. The control box may be attached to a wheeled cart, 27 in
The elongated flexible fiber optic member of the apparatus is removed from its packaging and attached to the electrical control box, the connector at the proximal end of the fiber optic member being connected to the corresponding fitting associated with the light source within the control box as discussed above. Gripping the elongated fiber optic member between thumb and fingers, the physician inserts the distal tip of the component into the working/accessory channel of the endoscope and pushes the component down the entire length of the endoscope until the distal tip exits the distal end of the endoscope and is visualized on the monitor screen that displays the image generated by the optical system of the endoscope. A contact portion of the distal end of the fiber optic member is placed in physical contact with the tissue to be treated. The timer which controls the duration of the infrared energy pulse from the light source is adjusted based on the physician's judgment of the energy required for coagulation.
The apparatus is energized by activating a switch on the control box or the foot switch 123 as shown in
The metal sleeve 121 exposes a flat polished end of the flexible fiber optic body 120 that is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fiber optic body. This exposed, radiation emitting portion of the fiber optic member provides a contact portion for contacting human or animal tissue or other material being treated with the apparatus. This contact portion defines a size, direction and shape of a radiation delivery area from the member to the tissue or other material proximate the contact portion. In the form of the invention illustrated in
The configuration shown in
Another configuration of the distal end of the fiber optic member shown in
A still further configuration of the contact portion, 129 in
Although the present invention has been described in relation to several embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art. For example, the apparatus of the invention has utility for endoscopy with a borescope in technical situations where direction-of-sight observation and access is not feasible and infrared radiation for treatment of a material is desired. The apparatus of the invention also has utility in such technical situations in which the flexible fiber optic member does not require the use of an endoscope. Various other dimensions and materials of construction for the components of the apparatus could also be used as will be understood by the skilled artisan. The size and heating capability of the apparatus could also be scaled up for large infrared heating applications apart from endoscopy. It is preferred, therefore, that the present invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appended claims.
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|US9345903 *||24 Oct 2014||24 May 2016||Nien-Chung Pan||Device for increasing energy at acupuncture points|
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|U.S. Classification||250/504.00H, 607/88, 606/15, 606/17, 607/93, 607/90, 606/16|
|International Classification||A61N5/06, A61B18/18|
|Cooperative Classification||A61B2018/1807, A61B18/18, A61B18/22|
|1 Jun 2010||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: MAX ENDOSCOPY, INC.,MARYLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:STUBA, ROBERT M.;EPSTEIN, MICHAEL S.;WOLF, RICHARD M.;REEL/FRAME:024460/0814
Effective date: 20100308
Owner name: MAX ENDOSCOPY, INC., MARYLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:STUBA, ROBERT M.;EPSTEIN, MICHAEL S.;WOLF, RICHARD M.;REEL/FRAME:024460/0814
Effective date: 20100308
|21 Apr 2011||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: PRECISION ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES, MARYLAND
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:MAX ENDOSCOPY, INC.;REEL/FRAME:026161/0044
Effective date: 20110409
|7 Nov 2011||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: PRECISION ENDOSCOPIC TECHNOLOGIES LLC, MASSACHUSET
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She bravely allows the boys to take control as she takes part in I'm A Celebrity… Get Out Of Me Ear! With an earpiece in, the singer follows outlandish instructions via Ant & Dec to repeat everything they say – with hilarious consequences.
Presenter Clare Balding is taking on the role of star guest announcer, one studio audience member will be trying to win the ads, and there'll be plenty more games, fun and laughter, plus the end of the show, show.
Ant & Dec's Saturday Night Takeaway, ITV, 7pm
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Civitas Senior Living, a senior living owner/operator and management company with one location in Flower Mound and many around DFW, has been certified as a COVID-19 Vaccine Provider by the Texas Department of State Health Services.
Civitas is authorized to directly vaccinate all residents, employees, and essential caregivers at its 36 Texas-based communities, including The Oaks at Flower Mound. With this authorization, Civitas will be able to vaccinate its residents and staff without relying on the federal government COVID vaccination program involving on-site community clinics provided by area pharmacies, according to a company news release.
“Much like the rest of the senior living industry, we relied on the federal government program to provide COVID-19 vaccinations,” said Misty Miller, Chief Operating Offer of Civitas Senior Living. “With this new State of Texas certification, we won’t have to wait for local pharmacies to set up vaccination clinics at our communities. Civitas’ nurses will administer the vaccinations themselves and be able to respond to our communities’ needs swiftly and efficiently, providing necessary vaccines to our residents, employees, and families while keeping them safe and protected. It’s a game-changer in our ongoing fight to eradicate COVID-19 and keep our loved ones healthy.”
Civitas is partnering with Austin Geriatric Specialists to provide medical oversight and prescribing authority for the ongoing vaccination effort. Civitas had to meet the state’s strict regulations and protocols concerning vaccination storage, handling, and monitoring, as well as complete training required by the CDC.
“Since the beginning of this pandemic, our mission has been to protect our residents and staff,” said Bobby Lane, Chief Wellness Officer of Civitas Senior Living. “Becoming a COVID-19 Vaccine Provider is a testament not only to this mission but also our commitment to the vaccination effort and stopping COVID-19.”
Civitas will complete its current federally supported vaccination program. The company has received its first allotment of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine, and held its first vaccine clinic as a Vaccine Provider on March 3rd at the corporate office in Fort Worth.

domain: medical


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QLDC Mayor Jim Boult announced the closure of the Wanaka Recreation Centre and the Queenstown Events Centre (including the Alpine Health and Fitness Gym and Frankton Golf Centre), and the Arrowtown Pool from 8pm Monday.
"As of now libraries will not be accessible to the public. Enabling the other facilities to close on Monday at end of business allows a brief window to allow the community to be appraised of the closure rather than an immediate lock out," he said.
Library closures would be reassessed on April 6.
All community halls throughout the district would also close, with any bookings cancelled until further notice.
"There is some inevitability that the bow wave is growing. Out of respect for the challenge ahead for our local health providers, everything that we can do proactively to stem that bow wave must be done," Mr Boult said.
The closure did not apply to camping facilities and hubs, some of which were and would be necessary for self-isolation, although stringent sanitisation rules were being applied.
QLDC Chief Executive Mike Theelen offered an assurance about affected staff.
"I know there will be community care for our staff. We will continue to support our staff and at this time all jobs remain secure. Where possible staff will be looking at innovative ways to continue to give our communities a level of service, be that online or through other means or re-deployed into other parts of the organisation or response," Mr Theelen said.


Talk Fusion has earned their reputation as an innovative company. As such, it’s little surprise that the company has brought another new idea to the market. The most surprising part of the announcement relates to the target market. The new program, Talk Fusion University, isn’t a consumer facing service. One can expect the benefits of the program to eventually help customers. However, the main focus of Talk Fusion University is Talk Fusion affiliates. The program is the brainchild of Talk Fusion CEO Bob Reina. He’s widely known as an innovative genius and he has the results to prove it. But Reina is adamant that success is something that can be taught. Learn more: https://talkfusion.com/en
Reina is well known for his philanthropic and charitable endeavors. For example, he’s put considerable work into making sure the Talk Fusion platform can be a good match for charities. This time around he’s putting an emphasis on helping the people closest to him. To be sure, there’s a benefit for the company as well. The Talk Fusion University program is intended to take people from an average skill level right into the realm of the extrodinary. It’s easy to see the benefit that Talk Fusion will receive from having such a massive increase in their staff.
One of the most significant differences between Talk Fusion University and other programs with the same end goal is solid results. Reina is someone who was able to take an idea and turn it into a vastly successful company. It’s obvious that he knows what goes into success. The fact that he’s interested in sharing that knowlege should be seen as a rare chance to tap into a wellspring of creativity.
Evidence of that successful creative spirit can be seen with Talk Fusion itself. It was created back in 2007 at a time when multimedia was in a very messy state. Reina knew that that something needed to be done to compensate for the rapid fragmentation he was seeing within the telecommunications industry. He pushed against that trend by creating a fully unified multimedia platform. Today this platform is used by people in all walks of life. From people putting together marketing campaigns, to charities and even proud grandparents who want to keep in touch with their family. Talk Fusion has proven invaluable for people looking for ways to make their communication more vibrant and powerful.


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|Year : 2022 | Volume
| Issue : 1 | Page : 1-7
Radiological and nonradiological methods of dental and skeletal age assessment: A narrative review
Ashima Tyagi, Nikhil Srivastava, Vivek Rana, Noopur Kaushik
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Subharti Dental College and Hospital, SVSU, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh, India
|Date of Submission||25-Feb-2022|
|Date of Decision||26-Feb-2022|
|Date of Acceptance||26-Mar-2022|
|Date of Web Publication||21-Apr-2022|
Department of Pediatric and Preventive Dentistry, Subharti Dental College and Hospital, Swami Vivekanand Subharti University, Meerut, Uttar Pradesh
Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None
Age is one of the essential factors which play an important role in every aspect of life. Importance of age determination is related to many fields including treatment planning and drug delivery in pediatric dentistry, orthodontics, forensic sciences, and also in individuals who provide inaccurate details of age as in cases of illegal immigrants and in the corpse of unknown identity. The age estimation methods at different stages of life consist of a physical examination, radiographic examination of the hand bones and cervical vertebrae, and dental examination using two-dimensional and three-dimensional imaging. The different dental age estimation methods used are morphological, biochemical, and radiological methods. These methods have inborn advantages and disadvantages. Other than dental age, skeletal age has also been used to determine a child's development as skeletal maturity is closely related to the craniofacial growth. Correlation of the dental and skeletal ages with the chronological age of children helps clinicians to estimate the growth left in the child and the possible treatment that can be carried out utilizing it. This article critically reviews various dental and skeletal aspects of age estimation from infancy to adulthood with its scope and limitation.
Keywords: Age estimation, cervical vertebrae, Demirjian method, dental age, hand–wrist radiograph, skeletal age
|How to cite this article:|
Tyagi A, Srivastava N, Rana V, Kaushik N. Radiological and nonradiological methods of dental and skeletal age assessment: A narrative review. J Oral Maxillofac Radiol 2022;10:1-7
|How to cite this URL:|
Tyagi A, Srivastava N, Rana V, Kaushik N. Radiological and nonradiological methods of dental and skeletal age assessment: A narrative review. J Oral Maxillofac Radiol [serial online] 2022 [cited 2023 Mar 28];10:1-7. Available from: https://www.joomr.org/text.asp?2022/10/1/1/343693
| Introduction|| |
The time that an organism or individual survives after birth is referred to as the chronological age which plays an important role in every aspect of life. Thus, chronological age is recorded by registration of the birth date of an individual and is referred throughout an individual's life. The status of child's development is usually assessed in relation to events that take place during progress of growth. The age estimation at different stages of life is done in various fields including anthropological studies for the identification of a mutilated body of a victim and in medicolegal issues, etc. In the field of pediatric dentistry, the assessment of age is also useful in the treatment planning of orthodontic treatment in the case of myofunctional appliances and acts as a source of complementary information for pediatricians. Although height and weight measurements are one of the powerful tools in growth assessment but these are clinically impractical as these are dynamic in nature and require values. With technical advancements, in digital radiography and cone-beam computed tomography, the status of calcification can be determined precisely. Therefore, this review article is aimed at describing various dental and skeletal methods utilized for human age assessment.
| Age Estimation Methods|| |
Age estimation is of immense importance in dentistry for treatment planning, drug dose delivery, and patients requiring interceptive orthodontic therapy. Chronologic age conveys only an irregular approximation of the maturational status of a person, hence dental and skeletal ages have been explored as maturity indicators for decades. The estimated age of an individual, obtained from the stages of dental development, is defined as the dental age while skeletal age is defined as an interpretation of skeletal maturity based on radiographs of the left hand and wrist or cervical vertebrae that have provided useful information in various clinical practices.
Age estimation methods in individuals can be mainly contributed by three components:
- Assessment of dental development
- Assessment of skeletal maturity
- Expression of secondary sexual characteristics.
Assessment of dental development
Age estimation using teeth can be assessed by examining tooth eruption and maturation. The dental age has a significant role in forensic investigations and in clinical applications to determine the degree of maturation in children and adolescents. Several methods of dental age estimation have been proposed. These may be described in two categories, namely:
- Nonradiographic methods
- Radiographic methods.
Nonradiographic methods can further be divided into these methods:
- Visual observation
- Physical and chemical analysis
- Histological methods.
Visual methods include observation of stages of eruption of teeth and evidence of changes due to function such as attrition, which give an approximate estimation of age, presence or absence of mamelons, and presence of teeth/absence of teeth. A study was conducted by Gorea et al. to correlate the prevalence of the mamelons with age, sex, and occlusal relationship found that more mamelons present in the first decade of life which decrease with increasing age and are more prominent in permanent maxillary central incisor and persist more in females than males.
Physical and chemical methods are based on the racemization of amino acids. The racemization of amino acids is a reversible first-order reaction and is relatively rapid in living tissues in which metabolism is slow. The methods which are used for physical and chemical analysis include Helfman and Bada method and Ritz method which evaluated the age of living individuals without extracting teeth.
Histological methods require the preparation of tissues for detailed microscopic examination which can determine more accurately the stage of development of dentition. Gustafson (1950), Dalitz (1962), Bang and Ramm (1970), Johanson (1971), Maples (1978), and Solheim (1993) are few histological methods used for age assessment.
Radiology plays an indispensable role in the human age determination and is one of the essential tools in identification in forensic science. The methods based on the stages of tooth formation on periapical and orthopantomography seem to be appropriate in the assessment of age as the dental development and calcification is controlled more by genes than by environmental factors. There is high evidence that three-dimensional radiographs are more reproducible and reliable in dental age estimation. Quantitative metric and volumetric analysis demonstrated better performance in predicting chronological age than staging. The age determination on radiographs is based on the estimation of various features such as tooth germ appearance, beginning of mineralization both in the intrauterine life and after birth, amount of crown completion, eruption into the oral cavity, degree of root completion of erupted or unerupted teeth, degree of resorption of primary teeth, measurement of open apices, volume of pulp chamber and root canals/formation of physiological secondary dentin.
The radiographic methods of age estimation are grouped into three phases:
- Age estimation in prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal ages (Kraus and Jordan)
- Age estimation in children and adolescents
- Age estimation in adults.
Age estimation in prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal ages
Primary teeth start to develop in the 6th–8th gestational week and permanent teeth in about the 20th week of gestation period. Age estimation using dental development during fetal and neonatal periods must be based on the degree of calcification of primary dentition which is observed by radiographic means. Kraus and Jordan proposed a method for age estimation in prenatal, neonatal, and postnatal ages which is denoted in Roman numerals as I to X: the IXth stage including three substages and the Xth stage including five substages [Figure 1].
Age estimation in children and adolescents
Age estimation in children and adolescents used the stage of mineralization of teeth observed in radiographs. And then coding is done as per the regression chart. The oldest method for children and adolescents was proposed by Schour and Massler. In this method, the authors studied the development of primary and permanent teeth, describing 21 chronological steps from 4 months to 21 years of age, and published a numerical development chart for them. The authors compared the calcification stages of teeth on radiographs with the standards; however, the gender difference was not considered [Figure 2]. In 2018, George et al. conducted a study to check the efficacy of Schour and Massler method to determine the dental age in the individuals within the age group of 5–16 years and concluded that the dental age estimation by Schour and Massler method is simple and less time-consuming than other tooth-specific methods.
Another method was described by Glesier and Hunt which included detailed calcification of mandibular first molars based on radiographs. A serial or longitudinal study of the calcification and eruption of the right permanent mandibular first molars was studied for children and further the radiographic images of this tooth were divided into 15 stages of calcification [Figure 3].
In 1963, Carmen Nolla introduced a method which evaluated the mineralization of permanent dentition in 10 stages through each of which every tooth passed [Figure 4]. The method is used to assess the development of each tooth of the maxillary and mandibular arch. The radiograph of the patient is matched with the comparative figure. Each stage also had a numerical score. The scores were totaled to give a combined “sum of stages” score that was then divided by the number of teeth taken into consideration to give the dental age [Table 1]. In most of the studies, it was found that Nolla's method of age estimation had better accuracy and no significant differences in the rates of development were observed in males and females.
Demirjian, Goldstein, and Tanner rated seven mandibular permanent teeth in the order of second molar (M2), first molar (M1), second premolar (PM2), first premolar (PM1), canine (C), lateral incisors (I2), and central incisor (I1) and determined eight stages (A to H) of tooth mineralization [Figure 5]. If there is no sign of calcification, the rating 0 is given; the crypt formation is not taken into consideration. The stages are the indicators of dental maturity of each tooth. In this method, missing teeth from one side can be replaced by those from the other side. Comparatively, Demirjian's method is one of the simplest, most practical, and widely employed methods to predict age and maturation, as it comprises clearly defined changes in shape that do not require speculative estimation. However, it has some disadvantages that the evaluation cannot be applied in children with missing teeth and this method may not express the retardation of dental development (excluding third molars) due to systemic diseases.
To overcome these drawbacks, the calculation of several “modified” versions of the original Demirjian tables for different populations was offered.
In 2006, Cameriere et al. presented a method for assessing chronological age in children based on the relationship between age and measurement of open apices in teeth. Seven lower teeth (excluding the third molars) from the left side are used. The height of the calcifying teeth and width of their “open” apex is measured and the ratio is calculated. Such a ratio is derived to compensate for magnification and angulation errors that may have been induced during radiography.
- Age = 8.971 ± 0.375 g ± 1.631 × 5 ± 0.674 N0 − 1.034 s − 0.176 s N0.
Where g is a variable equal to 1 for boys and 0 for girls.
Haavikko method is also based on the degree of tooth calcification and presents a total of 12 radiographic calcification stages for the crown and root development for determining dental age. Although this method is useful when a permanent tooth is missing, an underestimation of dental age was observed using this method.
Age estimation in adults
Age estimation in adults is challenging, as with the eruption of third molars (17–21), permanent dentition is said to have completely developed and it becomes difficult to estimate age based on radiographs. Thus, the two criteria that can be utilized for age determination in adults are assessment of volume of pulp cavity and third molar development.
Volume assessment of the teeth involves pulp-to-tooth area ratio method and coronal pulp cavity index. The reduction in the size of the pulp cavity resulting from a deposition of secondary dentin with aging as assessed by radiography can be taken as a guide to estimate the age of the individual. Some of the limitations of this method were that only those individuals who retained all six teeth were included in this method. Furthermore, a certain amount of distortion is also seen when the curved arch of the jaws is projected onto a flat film. Finally, rotated teeth, teeth with enamel overlap, teeth with restorations, cavities, attrition, and periapical pathological process cannot be used in this method.
The coronal pulp cavity index is a reliable biomarker for age assessment in the forensic context, especially in living individuals of unknown personal data. Only mandibular premolars and molars were considered on panoramic radiographs. The tooth-coronal index (TCI) is calculated for each tooth and regressed on the real age of the sample using the formula.
- TCI = Certificate Programme in Community Health (CPCH) × 100/crown length (CL). TCI = CPCH × 100/CL
- Where CPCH = the length of the coronal pulp cavity and
- CL = the length of the tooth crown.
The accuracy of dental age estimation in adults using evaluation of development of the third molar is questionable owing to great variability in its development. Harris and Nortje gave five stages of the third molar root development with corresponding mean ages and mean length. Van Heerden assessed the development of the mesial root of the third molar to determine the age. He described the development of the mesial root in five stages using panoramic radiographs. The males and females were surveyed separately, and no significant differences were found between them.,
Assessment of skeletal maturity
The assessment of skeletal maturity is a clinical procedure and is often referred to as bone age (or bone aging). It is usually based on the imaging of two body parts:
- The left hand–wrist
- Using cervical vertebrae.
In hand–wrist radiographs, numerous small bones of the hand and wrist are taken into consideration. These bones show a predictable and scheduled pattern of appearance, ossification, and union from birth to maturity. Thus, by merely comparing a patient's hand–wrist radiograph with standard radiograph that represents different skeletal ages, the skeletal maturation status of an individual can be determined. Twenty ossification centers are generally used for determining skeletal age which include [Figure 6].
- Carpal bones, metacarpals, and patella in both sexes
- Distal and middle phalanges in boys
- Distal and proximal phalanges in girls.
The most frequently used method to evaluate skeletal age from hand–wrist radiographs is the Atlas More Details of Greulich and Pyle. This method is widely accepted for evaluating skeletal development with hand–wrist radiography, including the bones of different structures. One of the limitations of this method is that lack of sufficient standard images at the time of puberty reduces the accuracy of the age estimation and increases interobserver error.
In 1995, Hassel and Farman developed cervical vertebrae [Figure 7] as maturity indicators by assessing the lateral profile changes of the second, third, and fourth vertebrae. The authors have put forward the following six stages in vertebral development [Figure 8]. The cervical vertebral maturity indicators were evaluated against skeletal maturation index established from hand–wrist radiograph by Fishman.
Many research studies were conducted to comparative evaluate the hand–wrist and cervical vertebrae to know the validity of cervical vertebrae as maturity indicators. The authors further concluded that skeletal maturity indicators provide a more valid basis than chronological age for the growth status of individuals and there is no significant difference between the two techniques of evaluation. Hence, they stated that cervical vertebrae can be used in a similar manner that hand-wrist radiograph are used to evaluate skeletal maturity, thus avoiding the need for an additional radiograph.,
Expression of secondary sexual characteristics
The process of maturation at puberty is a multidimensional set of events that can be, and has been, utilized for age-related evaluation. Female maturation within this process is generally assessed based on the age of onset of menses, degree of breast development, and degree of axillary and pubic hair. Male maturation is generally assessed on the basis of testicular and penile enlargement and also on the degree of hair development, mainly pubic but also axillary and facial.
| Conclusion|| |
Determination of age from infancy to adulthood is done by reference to the ever-growing human deciduous and permanent dentitions and by assessment of skeletal maturity. Demirjian method, the widely used method with appropriate modifications, is considered a reliable method. Besides dental age, skeletal development evaluation using hand–wrist radiographs and cervical vertebral maturation have been frequently used has received growing interest as a biological indicator of skeletal development. However, hand–wrist radiographs have been found as more useful method of studying skeletal age. Several researchers have evaluated the association between dental and skeletal maturities with chronologic age on different populations. Thus, based on an appropriate knowledge of the available methods, it is recommended that rather than restricting on one age estimation technique, using other techniques and performing repetitive measurements is beneficial for accurate age estimation.
I would like to acknowledge my institution, Subharti Dental College and Hospital, Head of Department, and my co-guides for their constant support throughout this research.
Financial support and sponsorship
Conflicts of interest
There are no conflicts of interest.
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Gorea RK, Agnihotri A, Aggarwal B. Forensic evaluation of mamelons on the incisors. J Indo Pac Acad Forensic Odontol 2010;1:2.
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Todd TW. The anatomical features of epiphysial union. Child Dev 1930;1:186-94.
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Kvaal SI, Kolltveit KM, Thomsen IO, Solheim T. Age estimation of adults from dental radiographs. Forensic Sci Int 1995;74:175-85.
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[Figure 1], [Figure 2], [Figure 3], [Figure 4], [Figure 5], [Figure 6], [Figure 7], [Figure 8]

domain: health


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We are an eclectic cadre of photographers and models working (as best we can) in various styles.
For the most part, we use modern DSLR and Mirrorless cameras, but some of us like to use classic & antique technology.
Our major event of the year is NiNPAH, the largest outdoor nude, photography event on the East coast of the USA.
For variation, we occasionally work in different styles. We run workshops, photoshoots, photography classes, modeling classes, seminars, gallery shows, lectures, photo walks, trips, and diverse events. If you are an experienced photographer you will find other very experienced photographers to work with.
We work together to share the cost of studio space, models, transportation, and things like that. I look forward to your participation in some of our events from time to time.
The Venerable Stan & the rest of the crew
Stan Goldstein is a very experienced photographer and photography event coordinator. He has been a full-time photography event coordinator and photographer since 2005. Goldstein has run photography workshops from Connecticut to Texas.
NiNPAH 2021 will be the ninth multi-day photo event he has organized at Ramblewood.
DATES FOR NiNPAH 2021!
Wednesday, August 25th, 8:00 PM ~ Sunday, August 29th, 11:00 AM (Early access at 10:00 AM)
✶ Right after PhotoHeros 2021 on Wednesday, August 25th, 10:00 AM ~ 7:00 PM
Please read carefully
Notes on important specific details.
- Services of individual models are NOT included in the packages.
- You need to contact models directly.
- Ticket holders can contact a model from their Profile page.
- The hours between PhotoHeros and NiNPAH are open for photography.
- Allow some time for sleeping and eating.
- Find out more about Camp Ramblewood here.
Already have your ticket? Buy Group Shoots HERE!

domain: artistic


Malawi’s UN drama: US issued 115 visas
As debate continues over the size of Malawi’s delegation to the 70th United Nations General Assembly in New York, it has emerged that the United States embassy in Malawi issued 115 visas for the entourage.
We have it on good authority from within the embassy that it gave out 115 visas for the Malawi delegation to New York.
“President Mutharika left the country on a Tuesday [September 22] for the United Nations General Assembly. As of Friday that week, the embassy had issued 115 visas,” said our source, speaking on condition of anonymity.
US ambassador Virginia Palmer declined to give the number of visas the embassy issued when she appeared on Times Exclusive, a weekly programme on Times Television , arguing that it was against the US law for her to release such information.
“I am actually forbidden by US law to talk about the number of visas and to who we issued them because these are confidential matters between the applicant and visa officer. [So] I don’t know the number,” she said.
Palmer, however, said the number that comprised the presidential delegation (as compared to Malawi delegation) was as government has said it.
As questions emerged on the apparently bloated delegation that Malawi government took to New York, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation said only 18 people made up President Peter Mutharika’s delegation.
“The size of the official delegation is as the president [has] said it,” Palmer said.
And the US ambassador disclosed in the interview that the UN gave only six passes to the General Assembly.
This should suggest that 109 delegates have only been in sideline activities.
“There are many activities that go on in the margins that are important. Then there is important work that goes on in New York,” Palmer said who, throughout the interview, made sure she avoided making statements that would aggrieve Mutharika and his government.
But the US diplomat, in an apparent agreement with the raging public opinion here, underlined that government needed to exercise prudence in the way it uses public resources.
It is feared that the trip to UN has cost the taxpayer anything between K300 million and K540 million.
Palmer said Malawi is going through tough times and should brace for even tougher times as up to 2.8 million Malawians are at risk of being without food in the months to come.
Up to K83.4 billion is required for emergency food response.
“That’s of concern to me and to the [Malawi] president and to Malawians. And Malawians need to say I have to choose how I spend my scarce resources.
“The government has to make tough choices. The President is coming back sooner than he planned and I think that it is important that he notes that he has important things to do with the upcoming rainy season and he would economise by coming back soon,” she said.
Mutharika returns home tomorrow, October 4.
In the interview, which touched on a wide range of issues including Malawi-China relations and the country’s foreign investment drive, Palmer said Malawi has a good democratic reputation in Washington.
She cited the country’s multiple peaceful transitions of power, being one of the freest-speaking countries in Africa, participation in international peace keeping missions, upholding of media freedom and strides in HIV and Aids fight as some of the factors that have earned it America’s favourable eye.
And asked to assess the performance of Mutharika and his administration, Palmer admitted she was yet to come to grips with Mutharika’s management principle.
“I don’t know a whole lot about his management style. I am still learning,” she said.
But Palmer said Mutharika and his administration have shown commitment to fighting corruption, implementing public sector and public financial management reforms.
“I think he has correctly identified the issues that are necessary for Malawi to get out of the cycle of poverty….
“I think the future is alright. I think change is real; change is going to happen,” she said.
But Palmer urged Malawians and the media to remain vigilant on the performance of the leadership of this country.
“I think that it is important that you keep your leaders accountable, your officials accountable. That you articulate what public sector reform means to you.
“When the public sector reform is real, investment dollars will flow, when you stick to the budget, development partners’ support will continue. And we will all say we lived in Malawi when Malawi changed,” she said.
United States is one of Malawi’s largest development partners. One of its signature assistance to the government of Malawi is the US$350.7 energy compact which is being implemented through the Millennium Challenge Account- Malawi.
A vibrant writer who gives a great insight on hot topics and issues


|Monday, 20 May 2019, 16:07 HKT/SGT|
|GR Supra could not finish the race but keep heads up for 24 hours race|
TOKYO, May 20, 2019 - (JCN Newswire) - TOYOTA GAZOO Racing (TGR) has completed 6 hours of Qualify (QF) race for the N?rburgring 24 hours endurance race, which will be held at the Nurburgring in Germany on June 20-23. Lexus LC finished its race at 24th position overall, but the GR Supra, which just started its sales globally, could not finish the race by mechanical issue.
A total of 102 vehicles were entered for the QF race. The GR Supra was driven by Masahiro Sasaki, Uwe Kleen, Herwig Daenens(1), and Hisashi Yabuki(2) in the SP8T Class, and LC was driven by Takeshi Tsuchiya, Naoya Gamo, Takamitsu Matsui, and Yuichi Nakayama.
The N?rburgring has been tough (as always) to the members of TGR. For GR Supra and LC, QF was the third time to race at Nurburgring for this season, but they have not satisfied any race yet because passed races were interrupted by the snow, rain, and heavy fog. And the Nordschleife, nicknamed as "The Green Hell" tested the team again. But thanks to the Green hell that it did not happen a month later.
It happened to the GR Supra. The QF race started in the rain at the beginning of the race, but changed to the dry condition right after 98 cars had started. The GR Supra started from 43rd grid, and the LC started from 24th grid.
Almost two hours had been passed since the race had started, the GR Supra suddenly stopped at the Green Hell. The car stopped providing enough fuel to accelerate even the driver stepped on the gas pedal to the floor. Although the mechanics found out what caused this trouble and sent her back to the track, it took them long enough time to make her out of the record of finishing the race.
"We are unlucky because the trouble happened to the place where we do not even need to check usually. However we are also lucky that it happened this time, not a month later," said Hideyuki Tanaka, the chief mechanic of GR Supra.
On the other hand, although some drivability issues came up to the LC, she competed the six hours and could keep her position until the end of the race.
The 24 hours of Nurburgring will take place within a month, and TGR will continue to make an effort to make the car better for not only the members, but also for the customers and funs.
(1) With Toyota Motor Europe
(2) With Toyota Motor Corporation
Since its debut in 1989, Lexus has earned a worldwide reputation for high-quality products and exemplary customer service. Lexus is the hybrid leader among luxury brands, offering hybrids that provide the best in innovative technology and premier luxury. The evolution of Lexus is reflected in the progressive designs of its new vehicles. The grille, dynamic light treatments, and sculptured lines create a distinctive look of luxury for Lexus. For more information, please visit www.lexus-int.com and www.lexus-int.com/news/.
Public Affairs Division
Global Communications Department
Toyota Motor Corporation
May 20, 2019 16:07 HKT/SGT
Topic: Press release summary
From the Asia Corporate News Network
Copyright © 2019 ACN Newswire. All rights reserved. A division of Asia Corporate News Network.


This week learn about open data models, the way that mobile data is driving development and how data has aided IT's paradigm shift. The concept of "effective altruism" is explained and big data perils discussed.
It's time to catch up on some of the nonprofit technology trends and news out in NGO-land. We're in the season for charities to brush off their video cameras to tell their story and it's looking like the other Facebook (Google+) is starting to become a more useful tool for community organizing. Finally, swing into spring with new web design fashions. This piece was orignially published on the TechSoup.org blog.


Introduction to Kinematics
Kinematics is the study of motion without considering forces. It is the most fundamental engineering study in mechanical system design. This chapter helps the reader to gain a central understanding regarding kinematics and its use in engineering design, distinctions between kinematic chains and mechanisms, planar and spatial mechanism mobility, types of mechanism motion, distinctions between kinematic analysis and kinematic synthesis, and categories of kinematic synthesis. The conversion of circular motion to linear motion is commonly required for the operation of mechanical systems. A kinematic chain, an overarching classification that includes mechanisms, is an assembly of links interconnected by joints where the motion of one link compels the motion of another link. The mobility or the number of degrees of freedom of a mechanism is the number of independent parameters required to uniquely define its position in space.


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In 2002, following a period of “railway administration” preceded by significant problems relating to safety, funding, infrastructure maintenance and network punctuality performance levels, Railtrack PLC was “bought” by Network Rail Ltd. The majority of the responsibilities of Railtrack were transferred to the new “limited by guarantee” company.
In 1996, the freight services, including locomotives, wagons and some associated infrastructure not vested in Railtrack, were sold to the private sector. The majority of these, including Rail Express Systems and Railfreight Distribution (in 1997) were bought by Wisconsin Central and given the name English, Welsh and Scottish Ltd (EWS). Subsequently EWS was bought by DB Schenker (DBS) in 2007 and the business re-branded as DB Cargo UK in 2016.
BR Freightliner, the intermodal container transport business, was sold in 1996 to a Management Buy Out (MBO) and now operates under the name Freightliner. It has expanded to include the subsidiary Freightliner Heavy Haul coal and aggregates business. In Cumbria, in addition to EWS (now DB Cargo UK) and Freightliner, other freight operators have emerged since privatisation.
Direct Rail Services (DRS), a then subsidiary of British Nuclear Fuels Ltd and now the Nuclear Decommissioning Agency (NDA), was formed in 1994 to operate, in house, radioactive flask traffic to and from installations such as Sellafield. These had been previously been operated by British Rail. In 1998 DRS moved its base from Sellafield to Kingmoor Depot, Carlisle. Since its formation DRS has expanded the range freight services operated and has moved into the provision of vehicles and locomotives for charter and scheduled passenger services – some of these being in West Cumbria.
Also hauling freight traffic through Cumbria and the North West are Colas, who started operations in 2007. Some of their first traffic movements were timber flows from Carlisle to Chirk.
GB Railfreight (GBRf) was founded by GB Railways in 1999. It was not part of the original British Rail freight business disaggregation and privatisation. Operations commenced in 2001 and the locomotives and trains have been regularly seen operating services through Cumbria. In 2015 GBRf assumed responsibility for providing traction for the Caledonian Sleeper services from London to Scotland.
Passenger services were divided amongst some 25 TOCs which were initially formed into limited companies wholly owned by the BRB. They were to be the basis of the franchises for which the then Office of Passenger Rail Franchising (OPRAF) sought bidders. The TOCs are responsible for operating a portfolio of specified trains services, rolling stock and leased stations. The first TOC to be sold to the private sector was South West Trains. Stagecoach acquired this franchise and began operations from 4 th February 1996. The rest of the TOC franchises followed quickly within the next 12 months or so. As far as Cumbria was concerned franchises commenced operations as follows:
|Franchise name||Franchisee||Period||Start Date|
|North East Trains||MTL Trust Holdings||7 years||2 March 1997|
|North West Trains||Great Western Holdings||7 years||2 March 1997|
|Cross Country Trains||Virgin Trains||15 years 3 months||5 January 1997|
|West Coast Trains||Virgin Trains/Stagecoach||15 years||5 January 1997|
|Scotrail||National Express||7 years||31 March 1997|
The longer length of the Cross Country and West Coast franchises reflected the impact of the West Coast Main Line upgrade and associated introduction of new trains (Pendelino and Voyager) that would occur in the early franchise years.
From early in the privatisation process the map of franchise ownership began to change. From the perspective of train services in Cumbria there have been a number of significant changes since 1997. In 2000 the Northern Spirit franchise (and MTL itself) was taken over by Arriva Trains and re-branded Arriva Trains Northern. This included services between Newcastle and Carlisle; Leeds to Carlisle and Leeds to Morecambe via Lancaster. In 1998 Great Western Holdings sold the North West Trains operation to First Group and the franchise was re-branded as First North Western.
In 2004, at the end of the First North Western and Arriva franchises, a DfT restructuring of services led to the creation of the Northern franchise which comprised most of the services run by the previous two operators. The tender for these services was won by Ned Railways (later re-named Abellio Group and Serco as a joint operation.
As part of this overall restructuring a new Transpennine franchise was formed out of services run by Arriva Trains, Cross Country and First North Western. This led to the transfer of some train services and stations in the North West and Cumbria to the new franchise (for example Manchester Airport, Barrow, Grange over Sands, Ulverston and Windermere stations). The train services transferred included some of those from Manchester Airport to Barrow, Blackpool, Windermere and Glasgow/Edinburgh.
This initial Transpennine franchise was won by First Group/Keolis and began operations in March 2004 as First Transpennine. The expiration of this franchise in March 2016 led to further changes with the services to Barrow and Windermere and the associated stations being re-absorbed into the new Northern franchise. The new Transpennine Express franchise has been won by First Group as a solo bidder and continues until 2023. The Northern franchise operated by Abellio also came to an end at the beginning of March 2016. The successful bidder this time was Arriva Trains (now a DB Group subsidiary) and is scheduled to end in 2025. This franchise now embraces all the daytime passenger services within Cumbria with the exception of TransPennine Express services between Manchester Airport/Manchester and Glasgow/Edinburgh; Virgin West Coast Train services from London/Birmingham to Glasgow and Edinburgh and Scotrail services (see below).
|Franchise||Operator||Current Franchise Length|
|West Coast||Virgin/Stagecoach||2012 - 2018|
|Northern||Arriva Trains UK Ltd||2016 - 2025|
|Transpennine Express||First Group||2016 - 2023|
|Scotrail||Abellio Group||2015 - 2025|
|Caledonian Sleepers||Serco||2015 - 2030|
©Cumbrian Railways Association - Registered Charity Number 1025436.

domain: history


The first humans rescued from the Thargoid motherships have started to arrive, almost all of whom have so far survived extraction.
The highly dangerous task requires using an upgraded pulse wave xeno scanner to detect human life signs on the Titans. The new sub-surface extraction missiles then target and jettison the bio-storage capsules – as the structures are officially designated – which are then recovered using a cargo scoop.
All recovered individuals are being assessed by medical specialists. The tri-superpower agency Aegis released this statement to the media:
“In each case, research teams successfully cracked open the capsules and removed the comatose person. They were suspended within a chemically complex gel, not unlike amniotic fluid, with tubes supplying breathable air and basic nutrients. Between thirty and ninety minutes later, the person wakes.”
“All recovered individuals are currently being kept in strict medical quarantine under military guard. Molecular scans are being conducted to ensure that no traces of Thargoid material remains, and a period of long-term observation now begins.”
Dr Himari Grey, an independent healthcare analyst, was permitted to observe these procedures. As part of a report in The Empirical scientific journal, she noted:
“The former abductees I have seen looked physically healthy, and returned to consciousness easily. Most remembered little about their abduction, though several mentioned an overwhelming urge to ‘escape their ship’ prior to blacking out. Some described being semi-aware of their time in stasis, saying it felt ‘like an extended dream’. Others were in a state of shock or showed signs of psychological trauma – understandably, considering the nightmarish circumstances.”
“The capsules are clearly designed to sustain oxygen-breathing life forms indefinitely, protected both from the vacuum of space and the Thargoids’ ammonia-based environment. But what the aliens intended to use these people for remains unknown.”
Aegis later stated that identities are being logged and will soon be made public, with the hope that families and friends will be able to visit.


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Not to go overboard, but here are a few exceptional images from the upcoming Works Art & Design Festivall. It’s going to be a good year, wait till you see the life-size, ridable merry-go-round made of construction materials!
Lisa Rezansoff’s Underwater Tree Root Buffalo Heart is the title image, a copper etching to be found in city hall.
The fest is June 20 – July 2, centred on Churchill Square. but all over the city’s art map.
Justin Shaw – Farmgirl
Sea Monster and Swamp Monster – Genevieve Simms
The Herd – Allyson McIntyre
untitled – Laura Ambrosone
I’ll be writing about these and much more next week – until then, blogees.
Instagram ~ @fisheyefoto
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Title pic repeats for Web 2.0 friends:


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Experience the magic and adventure of the complete Song of the Lioness quartet, now available in a collectible boxed set with new cover art and afterwords from acclaimed author of this beloved fantasy series, Tamora Pierce.
Fearless, bold, athletic, magical. Young Alanna of Trebond is all of these things, and more than anything else, she has always craved the adventure and daring allowed only to boys. So she and her twin brother, Thom, switch places: Thom heads for the convent to become a sorcerer, and Alanna—pretending to be a boy—is off to the castle of King Roald to begin her journey to knighthood.
Filled with swords and sorcery, exploits and intrigue, good and evil, Alanna’s quest for knighthood launches the epic adventures of Tortall’s heroes.
This paperbook boxed set of the beloved Song of the Lioness quartet includes original afterwords from Tamora Pierce for each book in the collection: Alanna, In the Hand of the Goddess, The Woman Who Rides Like a Man, and Lioness Rampant.

domain: library


Ozone Depleting Substances Current Affairs, GK & News
World Ozone Day or the International Day for preservation of Ozone Layer was observed on September 16, 2021 across the world. Highlights This day is celebrated every year and is dedicated to a cause which might not be visibly relevant but is important for the protection of the ozone layer. History World Ozone Day was ..
Category: Important Days & Events Current Affairs
Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (EFoCC) recently announced that India has achieved the complete phase out of ozone depleting Hydro Chloro Fluoro Carbons (HCFC). The achievement has its route to the Montreal Protocol Highlights In order to move towards environment friendly technologies, the Ministry of EFoCC prohibited import of HCFC-141b. The order was ..
Category: Environment Current Affairs
The Union Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has launched Stage II of HCFCs Phase Out Management Plan (HPMP) for the 2017-23 period. It aims to phase out use of Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs), harmful ozone-depleting substances (ODS) by switching over to non-ozone depleting and low global warming potential technologies. Under HPMP-II India has secured ..


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International Comparisons of Poverty in South Asia
Tonmoy Islam Tm,
David Newhouse and
Additional contact information
Tonmoy Islam Tm: Elon University, North Carolina, United States
Monica Yanez-Pagans: World Bank, Washington, DC, United States
Asian Development Review, 2021, vol. 38, issue 1, 142-175
This paper explores the methodological differences underlying the construction of the national consumption aggregates that are used to estimate international poverty rates for South Asian countries. The analysis draws on a regional dataset of standardized consumption aggregates to assess the sensitivity of international poverty rates to the items included in the national consumption aggregates. A key feature of the standardized aggregate is that it includes the reported value of housing rent for urban Indian homeowners. Using the standardized consumption aggregates reduces the international poverty rate in South Asia by 1.3 percentage points, impacting the status of about 18.5 million people. Comparing standardized and nonstandardized monetary welfare indicators to other nonmonetary indicators suggests that the latter are more consistent with the standardized consumption aggregates. Overall, the results strongly suggest that harmonizing the construction of welfare measures, particularly the treatment of imputed rent, can meaningfully improve the accuracy of international poverty comparisons.
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Working Paper: International Comparisons of Poverty in South Asia (2018)
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domain: geography


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domain: law