|Publication number||US6734956 B2|
|Application number||US 10/139,577|
|Publication date||11 May 2004|
|Filing date||6 May 2002|
|Priority date||6 May 2002|
|Also published as||US20030206290|
|Publication number||10139577, 139577, US 6734956 B2, US 6734956B2, US-B2-6734956, US6734956 B2, US6734956B2|
|Inventors||Michael J. Byrne, Keshav D. Sharma, Robert C. Atkinson, Bruce R. Cordier|
|Original Assignee||Reichert, Inc.|
|Export Citation||BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan|
|Patent Citations (12), Referenced by (34), Classifications (5), Legal Events (11)|
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet|
The present invention relates generally to optical instruments for measuring refractive index of a substance, and more particularly to an optical configuration for measuring a difference in refractive index between first and second samples, for instance a test sample and a reference sample. The present invention is applicable to differential refractometers and surface plasmon resonance (SPR) biosensor devices.
Refractometers measure the critical angle of total reflection by directing an obliquely incident non-collimated beam of light at a surface-to-surface boundary between a high refractive index prism and a sample to allow a portion of the light to be observed after interaction at the boundary. In transmitted light refractometers, light that is transmitted through the sample and prism is observed, while in reflected light refractometers, the light that is reflected due to total reflection at the surface-to-surface boundary is observed. In either case, an illuminated region is produced over a portion of a detection field of view, and the location of the shadowline between the illuminated region and an adjacent dark region in the detection field of view allows the sample refractive index to be deduced geometrically. Differential refractometers, for example that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,157,454, have been developed for measuring a difference in refractive index between a test sample and a known reference sample, whereby variable test conditions effecting the measurement result, such as sample temperature, illumination level, etc., can be “subtracted out” to yield a more accurate and precise measurement result. The prior art differential refractometers known to applicants involve moving parts which malfunction or wear out over time, and/or are restricted to the transmitted light variety so as to prevent measurement of samples having relatively high opacity.
Optical biosensor devices designed to analyze binding of analyte molecules to a binding layer by observing changes in internal reflection at a sensing interface are also part of the related prior art. More specifically, U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,264 to Ivarsson et al. describes an optical biosensor system that comprises a plurality of side-by-side sensing surfaces 39A-D illuminated by a streak of light 5 extending transversely across the sensing surfaces, and an anamorphic lens system 6 by which rays of light reflected from the respective sensing surfaces are imaged on corresponding columns of a two-dimensional array 7 of photosensitive elements. Accordingly, the signals from the photosensitive elements can be processed to determine a minimum reflectance associated with the resonance angle at each sensing surface. Although the system described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,313,264 avoids the use of moving parts, it is nevertheless optically complex and requires a two-dimensional array, factors that are accompanied by an increase in cost.
Finally, it is noted that one-dimensional (linear) arrays of photosensitive elements cells are commonly used in automatic refractometers designed to take non-differential readings with respect to a single test sample. Examples can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,640,616 (Michalik) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,172,746 (Byrne et al.). However, applicants are unaware of any critical angle optical device for differential refractive index measurements that operates using a linear array, despite the recognized economy offered by this type of array.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an optical configuration for differential refractive index measurements wherein a first sample and a second sample are illuminated by a single illuminating beam.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical configuration for differential refractive index measurements that does not rely on moving parts.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an optical configuration for differential refractive index measurements wherein detected light has been reflected rather than transmitted at an optical interface of the configuration.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an optical configuration for critical angle differential refractive index measurements wherein light interacting at first and second optical interfaces corresponding to a first sample and a second sample is detected by a single linear scanned array of photoelectric cells.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an optical configuration for differential refractive index measurements in accordance with the objects stated above, and which operates based on surface plasmon resonance principles for use in a biosensor device.
An optical configuration formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention comprises an optical path defining a meridional plane of the configuration. A high index prism in the optical path includes a sample surface divided by a partition residing in the meridional plane, such that a first sample and a second sample supported by the sample surface are located on opposite sides of the meridional plane to establish a first optical interface associated with the first sample and a second optical interface associated with the second sample. An illumination beam traveling along the optical path illuminates both optical interfaces simultaneously to provide a first partial beam defined by the refractive index of the first sample and a second partial beam defined by the refractive index of the second sample. A collecting lens collimates the first and second partial beams and an optical multiplexor means receives the collimated partial beams and defines first and second optical channels containing optical signal information associated with the first and second partial beams, respectively. A cylinder lens and/or a biprism after the optical multiplexing means deflects the partial beams laterally toward the meridional plane of the system for illuminating a linear scanned array of photoelectric cells aligned in the meridional plane. In a first embodiment, the optical multiplexing means comprises a liquid crystal shutter programmed to alternately transmit one partial beam while blocking the other partial beam such that a given scan of the linear array provides signal information with respect to either the first partial beam or the second partial beam, depending upon the corresponding state of the liquid crystal shutter. In a second embodiment, a similar arrangement is used, however the liquid crystal shutter is programmed to transmit and block predetermined portions of each partial beam in an alternating fashion, such that for a given scan of the linear array some of the array cells will provide signal information relating to the first partial beam and some of the cells will provide signal information relating to the second partial beam. The first partial beam exhibits a feature, such as a shadowline or resonance minimum, on the linear scanned array the location of which is indicative of the refractive index of the first sample, while the second partial beam exhibits a similar feature the location of which is indicative of the refractive index of the second sample.
A third embodiment based on the first and second embodiments is an adaptation of the basic configuration in order to observe molecular interactions, particularly specific binding of analyte molecules to a binding layer, using the principles of surface plasmon resonance. In accordance with the third embodiment, a thin metallic film is applied to a slide placed on the sample surface or directly to the sample surface, and the first sample and second sample are brought into contact with the metallic film to define first and second evanescent wave optical interfaces. In this embodiment, the locations of resonance minimums exhibited by the first and second partial beams are detected.
The present invention further encompasses methods for measuring a difference in refractive index between a first sample and a second sample based on the specified optical configurations.
The nature and mode of operation of the present invention will now be more fully described in the following detailed description of the invention taken with the accompanying drawing figures, in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an optical configuration formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 2 is a view taken generally along the line 11—11 in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, however showing an optical configuration formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention;
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing an optical interface portion of an optical configuration formed in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention relating to surface plasmon resonance; and
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an optical interface portion of an optical configuration formed in accordance with a fourth embodiment of the present invention also relating to surface plasmon resonance.
An optical configuration formed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIG. 1 of the drawings. The optical configuration of the first embodiment is shown generally at FIG. 1 and is designated by the reference numeral 10. Optical configuration 10 includes an illumination beam 12 traveling along an optical path OP from the beam's origin at a light source 11. Illumination beam 12 travels through a focusing optical system 14 preferably including a collimating lens 16, a narrow bandpass filter 18 for transmitting a narrow bandwidth of light having a central wavelength of 589 nm, a linear polarizer 19, and a focusing lens 20. The convergent illumination beam then passes through a pinhole stop 22 at the focal plane of focusing optical system 14. The divergent beam 12 is then re-focused by a lens 24 and enters a high refractive index prism 26, for example a sapphire prism, that includes a light entry surface 26A, a sample surface 26B contacted by test sample TS and reference sample RS, and a light exit surface 26C. Preferably, lens 24 is affixed with optical cement to light entry surface 26A of prism 26. The illuminating light is focused at a point within prism 26 just below sample surface 26B, after which point the beam once again becomes divergent. It is noted that polarizer 19 is provided to enable use of the optical configuration in connection with surface plasmon resonance measurements as will be described in a subsequent portion of this description that makes reference to FIGS. 4 and 5.
Illumination beam 12 approaches sample surface 26B as a beam of non-parallel light rays, in this instance divergent light rays, which are obliquely incident to sample surface 26B at various angles of incidence within a range of angles. Sample surface 26B is divided by a partition 27 into a first area for receiving a test sample TS and a second area for receiving a reference sample RS. Partition 27 is coplanar with optical path OP as the optical path approaches sample surface 26B such that the light rays making up illumination beam 12 are symmetrically apportioned between a first optical interface 30A associated with the test sample TS and a second optical interface 30B associated with the reference sample RS. Partition 27 is chosen to provide a fluid seal between test sample TS and reference sample RS to prevent the samples from mixing. A synthetic rubber gasket material, for example room temperature vulcanizing (RTV) silicon rubber or VITON® synthetic rubber composition, will provide a suitable barrier.
In the present embodiment, first optical interface 30A and second optical interface 30B are critical angle optical interfaces respectively defined by the contact area of test sample TS with sample surface 26B and by the contact area of reference sample RS with sample surface 26B. These contact areas can be established by dropping the test sample TS and reference sample RS onto sample surface 26B on opposite sides of partition 27, by using a flow cell designed to bring test sample TS and reference sample RS into contact with sample surface 26B on opposite sides of partition 27, or by otherwise applying test sample TS and reference sample RS to the respective areas of sample surface 26B. The portion of illumination beam 12 reaching first optical interface 30A will interact at such interface in accordance with Snell's Law, whereby rays incident at an angle greater than or equal to the critical angle will be totally internally reflected from sample surface 26B, and rays incident at an angle less than the critical angle will be refracted and transmitted through the test sample and out of the optical system. Accordingly, the internally reflected light forms a first partial beam 13A that is defined by the index of refraction of test sample TS. A similar interaction occurs for the portion of illumination beam 12 reaching second optical interface 30B, whereby internally reflected light forms a second partial beam 13B that is defined by the index of refraction of reference sample RS. First partial beam 13A and second partial beam 13B then pass through exit surface 26C and continue through a collecting lens 32 for converting the divergent light rays to parallel light rays.
In accordance with the present invention, an optical multiplexing means designated generally as 40 is positioned in optical path OP after collecting lens 32 to receive first partial beam 13A and second partial beam 13B. Optical multiplexing means 40 defines a first optical channel containing optical signal information associated with first partial beam 13A and a second optical channel containing optical signal information associated with second partial beam 13B. In the embodiment of FIG. 1, optical multiplexing means 40 comprises an electro-optical shutter 42 having a first area 42A arranged to receive first partial beam 13A and a second area 42B arranged to receive second partial beam 42B. In a preferred arrangement, shutter 42 is centered with respect to optical axis OP, and first and second areas 42A and 42B are halves of the shutter on opposite sides of meridional plane MP.
As seen in FIG. 1, shutter 42 is connected to a shutter drive circuit 60 that signals shutter 42 to alternate at a predetermined frequency between a condition wherein first area 42A is transparent and second area 42B is opaque, and a condition wherein first area 42A is opaque and second area 42B is transparent. As a result, optical multiplexing means 40 defines a first optical channel corresponding to the exclusive transmission of first partial beam 13A and a second optical channel corresponding to the exclusive transmission of second partial beam 13B. It will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art that optical multiplexing means 40 can comprise two individual optical shutters respectively allocated to first partial beam 13A and second partial beam 13B and driven in opposite synchronization to produce the desired definition of optical channels. Electro-optical shutter 42 may be a commercially available liquid crystal shutter. Other types of optical shutters may also be used, including mechanical choppers and shutters, acousto-optical shutters, and magnetic shutters.
A biprism 44 and a cylindrical lens 46 are positioned along optical path OP downstream of optical multiplexing means 40 for redirecting partial beams 13A and 13B laterally toward meridional plane MP. Biprism 44 and cylinder lens 46 act as an anamorphic system to cause each partial beam to be imaged as a line of light illuminating photoelectric cells of a linear scanned array 50 aligned in meridional plane MP. Depending upon the geometry of optical configuration 10, it is contemplated to provide only one anamorphic optical element, for example either biprism 44 or cylinder lens 46, to achieve a line of light at linear scanned array 50, as this would save the cost of providing and locating an additional optical element.
Linear scanned array 50 receives first partial beam 13A and second partial beam 13B in alternating succession, such that optical signal information associated with either the first optical channel or the second optical channel is transmitted to and received by the linear scanned array at any given instant in time. The timing and frequency at which scanning electronics 61 scans linear array 50 is synchronized by a timing circuit 62 with the oscillation of multiplexing means 40 between the first and second optical channels, whereby a particular optical channel (first or second) is attributable to each scan of linear array 50. The signal information provided by linear scanned array 50 is preferably summed over a plurality of scans for each respective optical channel. For example, the frequency at which electro-optical shutter 42 alternates between transmission of the first and second optical channels can be less than the scanning frequency of said linear scanned array to allow signal information from a particular optical channel to be accumulated before switching to the other optical channel.
As is well understood in the art of critical angle refractometry, first partial beam 13A will exhibit a shadowline at a first location on linear scanned array 50 that is indicative of the refractive index of test sample TS. In similar fashion, second partial beam 13B will exhibit a shadowline on linear scanned array 50 that is indicative of the refractive index of reference sample RS. For example, when test sample TS and reference sample RS have the same index of refraction, their respective shadowlines will appear at the same cell-crossing location on linear scanned array 50. Consequently, the difference in cell-crossing location between the test sample and reference sample shadowlines on linear scanned array 50 provides an indication of the difference in refractive index between the test sample and reference sample. If the refractive index of the reference sample RS is known for the particular test conditions, the refractive index of the test sample TS can be calculated from the measured difference in shadowline locations.
It is noted here that various algorithms are available for determining shadowline location on a linear scanned array, as taught for example by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,640,616; 5,617,201; and 6,172,746; and by commonly-owned U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/794,991 filed Feb. 27, 2001, each of these documents being hereby incorporated by reference in the present specification. The analog pulse signals from the cells of linear scanned array 50 are digitized by an analog-to-digital converter 64, and the digitized array information is processed by a central processing unit 66. An output device 68, such as a liquid crystal display, computer monitor, printer, or the like, is connected to central processing unit 66 for reporting computed measurement results.
FIG. 2 illustrates an optical configuration formed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention and identified by reference numeral 110. Optical configuration 110 is similar to optical configuration 10 of the first embodiment, with electro-optical shutter 42 having a first area 42A for receiving a first partial beam 13A and a second area 42B for receiving second partial beam 13B. However, in the second embodiment, each of the first and second areas is subdivided into a plurality of sub areas 52A and 52B, respectively. The sub-areas 52A provide a grid-like pattern of opaque and transparent regions in first area 42A, while the sub-areas 52B provide a corresponding but opposite grid of opaque and transparent regions in second area 42B. The various sub-areas 52A, 52B of electro-optical shutter 42 are alternated at a predetermined frequency between opaque and transparent states. As a consequence, each scan of linear scanned array 50 will extract signal information from both the first and second optical channels, but at half the resolution of a single channel scan according to the first embodiment. Thus, in the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first optical channel is defined by pulsed transmission of interlaced portions of the first partial beam in alternating succession, and said second optical channel is defined by pulsed transmission of interlaced portions of said second partial beam in alternating succession.
It will be recognized that the basic optical arrangements of FIG. 1 or 3 can be used in connection with evanescent wave optical interfaces rather than critical angle optical interfaces by coupling a glass slide having a thin metallic film to sample surface 26B, or by directly coating sample surface 26B with a thin metallic film. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, a glass slide 70 is provided with a thin metallic film 72 on an upwardly facing surface thereof. In the present embodiment, metallic film 72 includes a layer of chromium approximately ten angstroms thick for adherence to the glass surface of slide 70, and a gold layer approximately fifty nanometers thick. A synthetic rubber material, such as RTV silicon, VITON® synthetic rubber composition, or like material is applied to metallic film 72 to provide partition 27. Metallic film 72 is optically coupled, indirectly, to prism sample surface 26B through transparent glass slide 70 and a thin layer of transparent oil 74 provided between the underside of glass slide 70 and sample surface 26B. Of course, metallic film 72 can be optically coupled to sample surface 26B by applying the film directly to sample surface 26B, as illustrated in FIG. 5. Test sample TS and reference sample RS are contacted with metallic coating 72 on opposite sides of partition 27, such that respective first and second optical interfaces are established. As light from illumination beam 12 reaches metallic film 72 at the first optical interface, certain rays will be incident at a resonance angle determined by the refractive index of test sample TS and energy associated with such rays will be absorbed, while the remainder of the rays will be internally reflected by metallic film 72. As a result of surface plasmon resonance, first partial beam 13A exhibits a resonance minimum at a first location on linear scanned array 50 that is indicative of the refractive index of test sample TS. Likewise, second partial beam 13B will exhibit a resonance minimum at a second location on linear scanned array 50 that is indicative of the refractive index of reference sample RS. It is noted here that for surface plasmon resonance applications, a narrow band-pass filter 18 preferably transmits light having a central wavelength of 780 nm.
The embodiments of FIGS. 3 and 4 based on evanescent wave principles find useful application in the observation of molecular interactions, particularly in the analysis of specific binding of analyte molecules to a binding layer. Accordingly, prepared slides having a predetermined, application-specific binding layer applied to metallic film 72 can be produced for use with a variety of analytes.
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|U.S. Classification||356/128, 356/135|
|30 Jul 2002||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: LEICA MICROSYSTEMS INC., NEW YORK
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:BYRNE, MICHAEL J.;SHARMA, KESHAV D.;ATKINSON, ROBERT C.;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:013135/0811
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|19 Mar 2003||AS||Assignment|
Owner name: REICHERT, INC., NEW YORK
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Owner name: REICHERT, INC., NEW YORK
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Effective date: 20160511


text:
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domain: hobby


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Classes are suitable for both beginners and more experienced meditators. Anyone can practice meditation and everyone is welcome to attend. Most classes run for an hour and a half. We meditate sitting on chairs to ensure that everyone is comfortable. There is no physical exercise involved.
The general structure of the class
- Simple guided breathing meditation to calm the mind
- Short Buddhist prayer to increase positivity in the mind
- Practical advice for daily life on an aspect of Buddhist meditation – different topic each week
- Another guided meditation and questions & answers
- After the class everyone is welcome to stay for light refreshments.
Attending the class
The classes are organised as short courses, usually 3, 4 or 5 weeks long. You can attend the whole course or simply drop in whenever you can as each class is self-contained.
For info on our current meditation classes please visit the tab at the top of the home page and select your chosen venue: Bexhill or Eastbourne . We look forward to seeing you.


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domain: travel


And on the seventh try, the anti-fracking initiative in Youngstown failed again.
But supporters won’t rest.
“It’s not like we’re going to stop,” said Susie Beiersdorfer, a member of the Committee for the Youngstown Water Protection Bill of Rights, which backed the proposal. “Our motto is we don’t lose until we quit.”
The initiative lost 56 percent to 44 percent, according to final but unofficial results.
The proposal was to ban fracking and anything related to the extraction of fossil fuels in the city.
City voters had rejected similar ballot measures six times: twice in both 2013 and 2014, and once each in 2015 and 2016.
Members of the Mahoning Valley Coalition for Job Growth, which again opposed the anti-fracking proposal, said they’re not surprised backers of the initiative won’t give up.
“I’m glad to see the voters made this choice again, but I’m disappointed we have to do this over and over,” said Guy Coviello, Youngstown-Warren Regional Chamber vice president of government affairs.
“I wish they would take the hint, but we’ve learned by now they’re not going to.”Click here to read more.
With the 7th failed effort to push through this anti-fracking legislation, Beiersdorfer and her organization have now cost taxpayers over $100,000.
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Download MetroPCS G STYLO MS631 Stock kdz firmware – Android 6.0 M – ms63120b The Android 6.0 Marshmallow update for MetroPCS LG G STYLO (MS631) is now available! MetroPCS LG G STYLO (MS631) users can install the Android 6.0 Marshmallow Software update thought LG Bridge. The update takes the phone to software version MS63120b. Those … Read moreMetroPCS LG G STYLO (MS631) starts receiving Android 6.0 Marshmallow update
A new LG device for MetroPCS was spotted in a User agent tested by cloud4extreme.com. As you can see in the screenshot below, the new LG device carriers model number MS550 and it runs Android 6.0.1 Build MMB29M. It is easy to manipulate User agent String of a mobile device, so we cannot confirm the existence … Read moreMystery LG MS550 for MetroPCS appears in HTTP User Agent STRING.
A new software Update builds MS34510h is available now for MetroPCS LG Leon MS345. MetroPCS LG Leon MS345 users can upgrade the device’s software to MS34510h via LG Mobile Support TOol. Those who need to manually flash the firmware via LG Flash tool can grab the stock MS34510h kdz firmware from below link: Download LG … Read moreMetroPCS LG Leon MS345 Software Update: MS34510h
The new LG Optimus F60 is now available from metroPCS for only $99.99. The model number for the metroPCS F60 is LG-MS395.The specs of the MetroPCS LG Optimus F60 include a 4.5-inch WVGA display (207ppi), 1.2GHz quad-core Snapdragon MSM8926 processor, 1GB of RAM, 5-megapixel rear camera, 1.3-megapixel front sensor, 8GB of on-board storage with micro … Read moreLG Optimus F60 MS395 now available from MetroPCS for only $99.99
A new LG handset bearing model number “LG-MS395” has just pass through the FCC Approval. According to FCC documents, the new LG MS395 supports LTE bands 2/4/7/17. The dimension of the LG MS395 model is 127.5mm x 67.9mm (height and width). The model number prefix “ms” suggest that the LG MS395 is a device heading … Read moreMetroPCS LG F60 (LG-MS395) gets FCC Approval
It seems that metroPCS and LG are working together to bring a new LG F60 smart phone. * The UA profile is not available yet. According to our sources, LG is working on a new LG MS359 Model, and metroPCS will release the MS395 as LG F60. Back in Feb, LG announced the LG F70 … Read moreMetroPCS to release MS395 as LG F60?
An unannounced yet LG device featuring model number “B450” has been spotted in FCC Filing. The new device was listed with two model variants, namly the LG-B450 and LG MS450. According to our sources, The LG B450 is on its way to T-mobile USA, and its metroPCS variant will come with model number LG-MS450. The … Read moreT-mobile LG B450 and MetroPCS MS450 Spotted in FCC Filing.
[Update] To Root LG L70 MS323: Download the apk file from http://towelroot.com/ And install ROOT app. Open the app and it will root your phone. Then update the supersu binary.see For the file you need to use to update supersu. Download rootcheaker app grom the google play to verify your phone it’s rooted. How to … Read moreMetroPCS LG Optimus L70 MS323: How to boot into recovery mode
Carrier MetroPCS offcially announced the availability of the LG Optimus L70 (aka:LG-MS323). The Optimus L70 (LG-MS323) is available from MetroPCS for $49 after a $100 instant rebate. The handset’s specs include a 4.5-inch display, a 5-megapixel rear camera, and a 2,100mAh battery. It features a dual-core 1.2GHz processor and 1GB RAM, and has 4GB internal … Read moreLG L70 (LG-MS323) Now Available from MetroPCS .
Those who need to download L70 MS323 firmware, please visit http://lg-firmware-rom.com/ where you can download kdz format firmware with IMEI code! Below you can find the V10b and v10d firmware for LG MS323 in kdz : Download MS32310b_00.kdz LGMS323 L70 Android kitkat V10D Download MS32310d_00.kdz Learn how to check the software version and update the … Read moreFind and update the software version on metroPCS LG L70 (LG-MS323)


The knife is one of man's oldest tools, arguably dating back to the Stone Age when they were made of flint. The modern knife comes in many forms, from penknives as small as tube of lip balm to swords as long as a broom. Knife blades are made from many metals and, on occasion, even ceramics. Some metals are soft and easy to sharpen. Others are harder and more difficult to put an edge on. Materials used for knife handles are just as varied.
Knives have always been very personal items. Hundreds of years ago when folks went out to dine, they carried their own knives. This is not the case today, but a knife can be used for so many chores people still routinely carry them.
Knife design is as varied as what knives are used for and the materials from which they are made. Probably, the most important thing to consider with knives is whether you want a folding knife or a fixed-blade knife. Regardless, blades are shaped a certain way to help you cut certain things.
Bowie or clipped-point blades are good multi-purpose blades that will let you stick, cut and slash things. They can even be used for skinning. A drop-point knife is more of a utility blade. A hawk-bill blade is great for cutting rope, and Wharncliff and sheepsfoot blades have a flat edge that can be useful in the kitchen. Spey blades were designed without a point for neutering farm animals. Speys make a decent skinning blade for the same reason.
The blade's grind is important too. Some grinds include: flat-ground blades, hollow-ground blades, zero-ground blades, a single-bevel grind and even a convex grind. Mostly, the blade grind you choose is based on personal preference. However, the thicker the blade, the harder it will be to make deep cuts. Serrations are a very popular modern blade treatment. These blades look like they have teeth, are ravenously sharp and seem to hold an edge for a long time. However, they are a devil to sharpen. Serrated blades are not well-suited for the hunter, but are popular on utility/rescue knives.
Everyone that's ever cut themselves with a knife has an opinion on what a knife should be. These opinions are tempered just like steel and are a product of what the individual wants to use the knife for. I asked of the two most knowledgeable knife people I know-Joyce Laituri with Spyderco and Steve Johnson of Johnson Adventure Blades-some very specific questions about knives.
If you exclude the super-small pen-like knives, machetes and swords you're left with a wide range of general-purpose knives. The main difference is that some are fixed-blade knives and some are folders. According to Laituri and Johnson, fixed-blade knives are stronger but are not as convenient to carry. Johnson added that fixed-blade knives are easier to clean, especially for hunters.
Hunters basically need a knife for field dressing, skinning and caping (removing the hide from the head and feet). According to Laituri, “Most of Spyderco's customers prefer a full-bellied blade for skinning and a blade with a sharp, pointy tip for caping. An example would be our fixed blade Moran.” Johnson suggests his Piggyback and Piggyback folder for the hunter. Johnson says, “The blade is little enough for small game and large enough for elk.” Both of these recommended designs have a clip-point and deep-bellied style blade that makes peeling the hide from animals easy.
When asked about general-purpose knives, Laturi said that, “Spyderco's best sellers are the Delica and Endura. They seem to cross well from outdoor to everyday carry to urban use.” Johnson suggested his Potbelly design saying, “It's really a versatile knife that works great in a lot of different situations.”
I also asked these knowledgeable knife masters what knife they would have if they could only have one, for the rest of their life. Johnson said, “I'm still working on that. It would be a fixed blade, with a handle that feels like it grew in your hand. Not too big, not too small; probably a 4-inch blade.”
Laturi picked the Spyderco Delica as her go-to knife, saying, “I've carried it everywhere and never had problems cutting anything. I've also used it in social settings and haven't had anyone run screaming in fear when they saw it.” A Spyderco Delica has spent a lot of time in my pocket and hand as well.
Along a very personal knife note, I asked Laturi and Johnson how they liked to carry a pocket-clip folding knife, a knife style that many outdoorsmen prefer. There are two carry options with a clip-style pocket knife: tip pointed up or tip pointed down. Both Johnson and Laturi said they carry “tip up” and that's the carry method I prefer too. Don't make the mistake of thinking you need a big knife for big chores. The larger the blade, the more unwieldy the knife becomes. An exception might be in a survival situation, but there you will still have need of a small blade too.
For more information on knives, knife steel and knife terminology, I suggest you visit the Ka-Bar “Knife Knowledge” and the Spyderco “Edge-U-Cation” sections of their websites. There you can learn knife language and become a much more savvy knife buyer and user.


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All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Not to say I didn't enjoy it. I did, and usually found it hard to put down. I am just reluctant to recommend a book that is so long (about 540 pages). It is not dense, but it does take some getting used to because of the converging timelines. I am not convinced it needed to be that long.
I read the criticisms people put on Amazon and I often want to say, "Ok, you are a reader, but have you ever really tried to write a real novel?" I have, many times, and succeeded five, so I have a clearer sense, I think,of what he has accomplished here. And from a craft perspective, I am awed. It was one of those books where I say to myself, "you really have no business writing." Really rich prose (occasionally a bit too rich, so that not all the metaphors work, are too hyperbolic, such as describing a really large man as having "acreage of chest.") A lot of heart; who cannot feel great sympathy for Marie-Laure, Werner (even as a young forced-to-be Nazi soldier), Jutta, Frau Elena, Madame Manec, and Etienne.
So the characters, I think, are as rich as the metaphors. Werner, like Huckleberry Finn, has to deal with his growing conscience but for the most part he fails, except to be able to save Marie-Laure. Does that make up for his part in murders by Volkheimer?
Likewise there is nothing here of the Holocaust, just the people suffering through war as anyone would. Jutta as a middle-aged woman does not even think about it. Which brings me to my main criticism: I don't think the 1970s epilogue was necessary, and the book should have just ended with us knowing that Marie-Laure was reunited with her uncle and went back to Paris. I did not like her as an adult (and had a hard time believing she would get a doctorate in the sciences as a blind person). I also thought the gang rape scene at the end of the war was totally unnecessary, as do others; it was just thrown in without heart or empathy. What happened to all of them in thirty years is a different novel.
I don't have an opinion about the Sea of Flames plotline. I really don't.
One criticism of others I didn't agree with, however, was the coincidences. We all have intersections in our lives that seem like coincidences. Every encounter has the potential to seem coincidental but they are the result of hundreds of spaghetti strands of paths that bring us together. I have had many, ones that boggle my family's minds. It's just a matter of being open to them. Werner was looking for the radio broadcasts-it was his job, so he found them.
So, I won't be digging into another novel again, since that one was so involving. But I am glad I read it. Other people are always trying to get me to read books (book clubs, etc.) and I like to oblige but my goal in life is to live only by my agenda (which should be God's) and no one else's.

domain: literature


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- This event has passed.
JAM – JAM CINÉ CLUB ‘Witchhammer’
May 24, 2017 @ 8:00 pm11:00 pm UTC+7
Every Wednesday night at JAM is CINÉ CLUB.
Guest host for May is Pilot Pirx, an artist, musician and producer from the Czech Republic.
Our Theme for May is ‘Czech New Wave Part II’.
Wed, 3 May – Closely Watched Trains (1966, Jirí Menzel)
Wed, 10 May –
Wed, 17 May – The Joke (1968, Jaromil Jires)
Wed, 24 May – Witchhammer (1970, Otakar Vávra)
Wed, 31 May – The Firemen’s Ball (1968, Milos Forman)
Screening will start at 8 pm.
Based on the novel Kladivo na čarodějnice by Václav Kaplický, Witchhammer relates the story of the Northern Moravia witch trials of the 1670s, focusing on the priest Kryštof Lautner, played by Romančík, who falls victim to the witchhunt after opposing the trials. The film contains possible allegory about Communism in Czechoslovakia. After its completion, the film was banned in Czechoslovakia. Despite this, it won awards at the Mar del Plata International Film Festival in 1970 and is considered one of Vávra’s finest films.
● ● ●
JAM CINÉ CLUB aims to bring people with a love of cinema together.
Stay tuned for the monthly themes.
Feel free to comment, suggest, criticise, propose…

domain: artistic


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Kendra is thrilled to announce that it has been shortlisted as a finalist for the 2020 Building Controls Industry Awards across four award categories.
The BCIA Awards are the biggest awards in the controls and BEMS industry, frequently recognising innovations, product development, effective project delivery and exceptional training within our sector.
Once again, the entire team here at Kendra are delighted to have been recognised by the BCIA judging panel across the following award categories; Engineer of the year, Young Engineer of the Year, Best Service & Maintenance provider and the Smart Buildings Award.
Chris Mills, Managing Director at Kendra, commented:
“As always, we’re delighted to be shortlisted as finalists across four incredibly competitive categories at this year’s BCIA awards. The BCIA’s are always an enjoyable event to attend and a great way to celebrate the successes of the last business year.
Congratulations to all of the other finalists who have been shortlisted, we look forward to celebrating in style, and catching up with some familiar faces, at the awards next month.”
Kendra is a leading provider of Intelligent Building Management Systems controlling the Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning services within large commercial and high-end residential buildings. To learn more about the solutions we provide her at Kendra, click here

domain: news


Welcome to the Treehouse Community
Want to collaborate on code errors? Have bugs you need feedback on? Looking for an extra set of eyes on your latest project? Get support with fellow developers, designers, and programmers of all backgrounds and skill levels here with the Treehouse Community! While you're at it, check out some resources Treehouse students have shared here.
Looking to learn something new?
Treehouse offers a seven day free trial for new students. Get access to thousands of hours of content and join thousands of Treehouse students and alumni in the community today.Start your free trial
How to make horizontal scroll items using flexbox
what i mean by horizontal scrolling when you type hollywood movies 2017 in google search the first thing it shows is some list of movies with posters and titles, year along and they can be scrollable from left to right or r to l. How to make it
My codepen is the basic structure, you can build off of it. Sorry I can't help you anymore than that. Follow the 'Web Design' track and you will learn a lot.


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The number of people with dementia worldwide is forecast to rise to 115.4 million – or one in 85 people – by 2050. Improved techniques and technologies are being developed with the aim of early diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia. Today, increasing numbers of AD clinical trials are mandating the use of biomarkers, in particular neuroimaging markers and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers tracked via lumbar punctures. This review examined 12 AD trials conducted / monitored by Quintiles that involved potentially disease-modifying drugs that had a significant biomarker component. These trials have enrolled 7,583 patients at 524 unique sites across 31 countries since 2007.
The study confirmed that lumbar punctures still represent the biggest challenge for subjects participating in these trials and for their caregivers. Changes in brain extracellular fluid are reflected in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) such that measurements of AD markers in CSF should reflect brain-related pathological changes and could be useful, not only for diagnostic stratification and as predictive markers, but also for monitoring the biochemical effects of drugs in clinical trials. ELISA measurement of monomeric A®42 (or A®42/ A®40 ratios), total tau and phosphorylated tau protein levels in CSF is very common in AD trials. Measurement of other A®forms, as well as efforts to characterise a number of other potential AD biomarkers in CSF, continues to be explored in preclinical and clinical studies.
The majority of subjects and/or their caregivers decline to participate in this procedure as it is invasive and can be seen as painful and / or distressing for the subject and caregiver alike. However, this procedure provides invaluable data with regards of the progression of the subjects’ disease and thus, by way of assessment of these biomarkers, offers some understanding of the mechanism of action of the investigational product on the disease and its progression. However, compliance with biomarker assessments can be enhanced in several ways, including mandating the procedure in the protocol rather than providing it as a separate set of addenda, utilising sites with on-site imaging facilities, and utilising a tool box of techniques (e.g., provision of DVDs of the procedure for subjects to take home and share with their families and caregivers) to improve lumbar puncture compliance. As a result of adopting these strategies, Quintiles’ lumbar puncture compliance rate, i.e. the number of trial subjects who consent to at least two lumbar punctures during the trial period (at the beginning and end of a trial) has risen from 8% in 2005 to more than 50% at present.
Listen to Lynne Hughes and Roza Hayduk talk about clinical trials and their role in early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.

domain: health


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IVRY-SUR-SEINE, France — Decked out in Sunday finery, the chattering line stretches out the door and up a gritty block of warehouses and homes in this working-class Paris suburb. Inside, the congregation at Impact Christian Center sways and chants to gospel music as the first morning service rolls on, way behind schedule.
It is hard to believe that this outburst of religious joy is taking place in France, the most staunchly secular nation of an increasingly secular Europe.
Yet even as Christians are fleeing mainstream churches across the region, evangelical Christianity is booming thanks most recently to flourishing migrant churches like Impact Christian.
France alone has witnessed an eightfold increase in evangelical Christians over the past half-century, from 50,000 to 400,000 today.
Those numbers are small in absolute terms. Indeed, evangelicals represent less than 2 percent of the European population. But their influence is growing, as Roman Catholic and traditional Protestant churches increasingly borrow from their hands-on and inclusive doctrine.
Perhaps most significantly, the evangelicals attest that spirituality is not dying out in Europe.
“Non-belief, doubt and secularization continue to progress, but increasingly we’re witnessing a spiritual turning in recent years,” said Christopher Sinclair, a professor at the University of Strasbourg who specializes in evangelical movements.
“What’s striking about the evangelical movement is that it’s growing. You can see this throughout Europe. It’s answering a spiritual need,” Mr. Sinclair said.
As it grows, Europe’s evangelical movement is developing a sharply different face than its American counterpart.
In France and elsewhere in Europe, evangelicals have largely stayed on the sidelines of political battles — partly because many believe in the separation of church and state, partly because they remain divided on a number of key issues.
“We evangelicals in France are a minority among a Protestant minority,” said Etienne Lhermenault, general secretary of the Federation of Evangelical Baptist Churches of France. “So we have a minority mentality. Our American evangelical friends have a majority mentality, even if they’re not exactly the majority.”
European churches are embracing Asian, Caribbean and African preachers such as French-Congolese twin brothers, Yvan and Yves Castanou, who run an organization called Impact.
“The church is here to solve all problems — family issues, financial issues, all different kinds of issues, not just spiritual issues. And that’s what really makes a difference,” said 35-year-old Yves Castanou, as he paused from greeting a stream of worshippers one recent Sunday inside Impact’s threadbare community center.
For Ivorian Blaise Ezoua, the Sunday services are worth a 30-mile roundtrip drive each week to the suburban Paris church.
“What touches me is the warmth and fraternal community among brothers and sisters here,” said the stocky computer technician. “We have brothers from Central Africa. We have brothers from China. We get people from everywhere. Brothers from France are also joining.”View Entire Story
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Meet Your Literary Community Exhibitor 2019
Rita Goldner's passion for nature, and love of drawing and writing, made picture books a great fit for her. Her audience is young, aged 4 to 8. Rita hopes that instilling understanding of endangered animals/habitats and global ecology will ensure that her readers will strive to preserve all this when they grow up. Her storytelling style, colorful whimsical pictures, and lively action-packed plots, make learning fun. Her new book, Agent H2O Rides the Water Cycle precipitated (pun intended) from her desire to teach the importance of water.


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The creative writing department wants to reach people who are not based in Johannesburg
The Wits School of Literature, Language, and Media (SLLM) has launched its first online poetry-writing course to assist people who want to expand their knowledge of the subject.
The course was created especially for “people who are not based in Johannesburg, who had an interest in doing it”, according to Phillippa Yaa de Villiers, the creative writing lecturer who will teach the online course. It is pitched at honours level and will consist of two seminars that involve contact – either in person or via a skype class – and a one-day writing retreat.
“Creative writing as a discipline requires intensive reading so the writer is fully aware of the context they are writing into,” De Villiers said. “It is practice-driven. That means the teaching is based on the actual writing and editing of your own work.
“Students will also be exposed to poetic forms like mthakazele, Haibun, sonnet and villanelle, and be expected to make their creative contribution,” she added.
“The course has already created a lot of interest. When I posted the course online it was ‘re-shared’ 157 times. We have already received around 20 portfolios,” De Villiers said.
Head of the creative writing department, Bronwyn Law-Viljoen told Wits Vuvuzela that running it online “will make the course more accessible to people who are not doing a full honours degree”.
The course will run during the second semester, starting on July 15 and concluding on October 26.
FEATURED IMAGE Creative writing lecturer, Phillippa Yaa de Villiers Photo: Provided.


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BTG Pactual Raises $3.3 Million from Retail Investors with Real-Estate Backed STO ‘REITBZ’
BTG Pactual— Latin America’s largest standalone investment bank— has provided an update regarding its first Security Token Offering (STO). REITBZ, a real estate fund, has raised a total of $3.3 million from retail investors. Historically, BTG Pactual has exclusively offered services to wealthy individuals of high net worth, but this is changing with the firm’s integration of the STO.
How BTG Pactual is Bringing Security Tokens to Retail Investors
REITBZ was the first tokenized investment fund in South America.
The fund, through an STO, has raised more than $3 million. While the official close has passed, the offering is still available. The initial tokens were issued on the Ethereum blockchain, but BTG Pactual will utilize Tezos in the future.
Perhaps more importantly however, is how BTG Pactual is using the STO to bring new offerings to retail investors. Due to the stringent regulations that typically come with regulated securities, these new offerings have been traditionally confined to wealthy, accredited investors.
Thanks to security tokens, that landscape is now changing.
One of the ways BTG Pactual maintains regulatory compliance while leveraging the benefits of blockchain technology is through Jumio.
As an artificial intelligence-powered service, Jumio verifies the identities of investors. It uses face-matching technology and processes identification documents electronically. It is not clear however, if the system works for international investors or solely those from Brazil.
According to Rogerio Karp, head of B2C and Products for BTG Pactual Digital,
“We have had a fast, friction-free onboarding process since Day 1 thanks to Jumio. Even though some users have tried to trick our onboarding process, with Jumio we are able to identify them before they can cause us any harm.”
Now, after the impressive start, the fund will look to build its portfolio:
“We have a strong potential pipeline of institutional investors that will be joining the offer in the weeks to come. Target real estate deals have already been mapped out and in the following weeks we expect to deploy cash and start building the portfolio. You will be able to follow the investment process through the Investor Dashboard that will go live in a few days.”
When looking to the future, REITBZ is just the start, says BTG Pactual:
“We believe DLT and crypto technology can transform capital markets from an analog, local environment into a digital, global ecosystem. ReitBZ is just the beginning.”
What do you think of BTG Pactual raising $3.3 million with REITBZ? Let us know what you think in the comments section below.
Image courtesy of BTG Pactual.


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I need someone to design me a logo for a website.
This is a small project, no more than 10$.
Logo which is about lasers and optics.
35 фрилансеров(-а) готовы выполнить эту работу в среднем за $14
Hello! I am interested to design Logo for you according to your requirements. Feel free to contact so that we discuss in detail. Looking Forward. Regards: Muzammil khan


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Biden spars with Republicans on border security during State of the Union
Updated March 8, 2024 at 11:15 AM ET
President Biden continued to attack Republicans for playing politics with the border during his State of the Union address, as Republicans in the House gallery heckled him back.
He pointed his finger and blasted Republican leaders for bowing down to former President Donald Trump and walking away from the "toughest set of border security reforms we've ever seen" in the country.
"I'm told my predecessor called members in the Senate Congress and demanded they block the bill," Biden said. "He feels it would be a political win for me and a political loser for him. It's not about him or me. It'd be a winner for America!"
As he spoke, some Republicans screamed at Biden to "say her name," referring to Laken Riley, a Georgia nursing student who was killed last month. An undocumented immigrant has been charged with the crime.
The speech — as well as the response — reflect how difficult the border issue has become ahead of the 2024 presidential election.
Republicans hold a political advantage on immigration
For Biden, his strong language is just the latest example of how he's sought to flip the script on Republicans and attack on an issue that has been a political liability for him.
For Republicans, it about trying to keep Biden on his heels on an issue where they have a clear political advantage.
Polls show a majority of Americans trust Republicans more than Democrats on securing the border.
A new Monmouth University poll found that 53% of respondents support building a border wall, the first time a majority of Americans have backed the proposal since Trump launched his first presidential campaign.
Trump has made border security a central theme for 2024. He has promised to launch the largest domestic deportation operation in American history if elected.
Biden gives an unscripted response
During the State of the Union, one of his surrogates in Congress, Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene, wore a red cap with Trump's MAGA logo on it. She also had a shirt that read "say her name." She handed out pins with the same logo.
In response to the heckling, Biden did say Riley's name. In unscripted remarks, he held up the pin and forcefully repeated Laken Riley, though mispronouncing her first name.
"Laken Riley, an innocent young woman who was killed by an illegal," he said. "That's right. But how many of thousands of people being killed by illegal. To her parents, I say, my heart goes out to you. Having lost children myself, I understand."
The use of the term "illegal," referring to describe the undocumented immigrant made Democrats cringe.
"No human being is illegal," Rep. Delia Ramirez of Illinois wrote on X.
They say the language is insensitive at best, but also encourages fear-mongering more prevalent among Republicans.
Biden continued his speech, saying the dynamics at the border must be changed and said the border plan would do that.
He also listed some of the toughest measures in the proposal, including hiring 1,500 border security agents, 100 more judges and 4,300 asylum officers.
"It would also give me and any new president new emergency authority to temporarily shut down the border when the number of migrants at the border is overwhelming," he said.
It was a deal that the progressive wing of Biden's party opposed, but it also allowed him to present himself as being tough on the border.
Copyright 2024 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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CALL US ROMANTIC, but we love the idea of old-school craftsmanship. The process of starting a project on a piece of paper, and bringing it to life with English wheels and planing hammers. It’s how this beloved scene of ours was built: by hand.
But although we’re enamored by the tools of the past, we’re equally captivated by the tools of the future. And this futuristic Buell is the poster child for cutting edge techniques. Instead of being built in a dusty old shed, it was created in a modern studio with CAD software and a 3D printer.
It’s the brainchild of Paolo ‘Tex’ Tesio—an Italian automotive designer with over 20 years industry experience. Tesio spends his days at a design and engineering firm, working for a major auto manufacturer. But when the sun sets, he drags himself into his ‘Tex Design’ studio to cultivate his passion for two wheelers.
Tesio first landed on our radar five years ago with this beastly Ducati S4R. The 2006 Buell XB12 Firebolt he used for his latest project is a vastly different machine, but the result is no less radical.
“For a long time I’ve been trying to get on the American twin-cylinder,” he says. “I’m fascinated by its exaggerated proportions, and its strong personality. It’s full of (more or less) logical and functional innovations.”
Tesio’s process with the Buell was as digital as you can get. The project spanned 18 months—12 of which focused solely on design and development, using Autodesk Alias CAD design software.Read More...
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business, marketing tips, latest gadget, startup news and much more. Are you in to know the latest news,
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September 16 – Fan token providers Socios.com have renewed their Official Partner sponsorship of the Ballon d’Or Awards for a second year.
The Ballon d’Or Awards used to partner with FIFA for tis annual awards but that relationship ended when FIFA hosted their own ‘Best’ awards programme. The Ballon d’Or Awards have been a constant in the world game for 66 years.
A Socios.com Fan Token holder and a guest of their choice will be able to attend the event and take up their positionamong football’s finest.
The experience will be transformed into a piece of video content to be shared on Ballon d’Or channels, recreating the‘Golden Night’ the Fan Token holder joined football’s elite.
Socios.com said it will use the partnership to highlight the benefits of its platform to a global audience. Activation will also include logo on signage at the Théâtre du Châtelet, on both red carpets, and across backdrops for international TV, mixed zone, press conference and hospitality.
Alexandre Dreyfus, CEO of Socios.com, said: “Millions of fans are already enjoying Socios.com and exposure on this scale allows us to present our thriving rewards and engagement community to many millions more.”
More than 170 sporting organisations partner with Socios.com including FC Barcelona, Paris Saint-Germain, Manchester City, Juventus, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Arsenal, Napoli, Valencia, and Atlético de Madrid, as well as leading clubs from Brazil, Mexico, Chile and Argentina.
Contact the writer of this story at email@example.com


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Welcome, plant lovers!
Noticed your once lush Peace Lily looking leggy?
Let’s uncover why and how to revive it.
Learn the secrets to healthy, thriving plants in our guide.
Let’s dive in and green up your indoor oasis!
Table of Contents
Here’s a Quick TLDR
Your peace lily may be leggy due to insufficient light reaching the plant.
Peace lilies require indirect sunlight to thrive and if they don’t get enough light, they will stretch towards the light source, resulting in leggy growth.
Consider moving your peace lily to a brighter location or supplementing with artificial light to help promote more compact and healthy growth.
Regular pruning can also help encourage bushier growth and prevent legginess in the future.
Understanding the Causes of Leggy Peace Lilies
Hey there, plant enthusiasts!
If you’ve ever noticed your peace lily starting to look a bit leggy, fear not – you’re not alone.
In this section, we’ll dive into the reasons behind why your once compact and lush peace lily plant is starting to look a bit stretched out.
Let’s dig in and uncover the root causes of leggy peace lilies.
Lack of Sufficient Light
Ah, light – the life source for our leafy friends.
Peace lilies thrive in bright, indirect light, but too little light can lead to leggy growth.
If your peace lily is reaching for the nearest window like a sunbather at the beach, it might be signaling that it’s not getting enough light.
Remember, plants need their vitamin D too!
Picture this: soggy soil, droopy leaves, and a sad, leggy peace lily.
Overwatering can wreak havoc on your plant’s roots, causing stunted growth and leggy stems.
It’s essential to let the top inch or two of soil dry out before reaching for that watering can again.
Your peace lily will thank you for it!
Just like humans, plants need their nutrients to thrive.
A lack of essential nutrients such as nitrogen, phosphorus, or potassium can result in weak, leggy growth.
Consider fertilizing your peace lily regularly with a balanced houseplant fertilizer to keep those stems sturdy and leafy.
Have you checked on your peace lily’s roots lately?
Over time, as your plant grows, its roots can become crowded and root-bound in its pot.
This can hinder nutrient absorption and lead to leggy growth.
It might be time to give your peace lily a new, larger home to spread its roots and flourish.
Peace lilies are sensitive to extreme temperatures.
Fluctuations in temperature, especially cold drafts or sudden temperature changes, can stress your plant out and result in leggy growth.
Make sure to keep your peace lily in a consistent, moderate temperature environment to keep it happy and thriving.
Summing It Up
And there you have it – a breakdown of the common culprits behind why your peace lily may be looking a bit leggy.
Remember, caring for your plants is all about observation and adjustment.
By giving your peace lily the right amount of light, water, nutrients, space, and temperature, you’ll be well on your way to enjoying a lush, vibrant plant that’s the envy of all your botanical buddies.
Signs of Leggy Growth in Peace Lilies
When your peace lily starts to look a bit leggy, it’s a clear sign that something isn’t quite right with its growth.
Let’s explore the signs that indicate your peace lily may be getting a bit too tall and spindly:
1. Long Spaces Between Leaves
One of the most noticeable signs of leggy growth in peace lilies is when you start to see long spaces between leaves along the stems.
Instead of the lush, dense foliage that is characteristic of a healthy plant, you might observe sparse leaves that are spread far apart.
2. Thin and Weak Stems
Leggy growth often manifests in peace lilies with thin and weak stems that struggle to support the weight of the leaves.
These delicate stems can easily bend or droop, giving the plant an overall frail appearance.
3. Small and Pale Leaves
Another indicator of leggy growth is the development of small and pale leaves.
When a peace lily is not receiving adequate light or nutrients, its leaves may be undersized and lacking the vibrant green color that signifies a thriving plant.
4. Reduced Flowering
If your once-flourishing peace lily has started to produce fewer blooms, it could be a result of its leggy growth.
Insufficient light reaching the plant’s lower leaves can hinder its ability to flower, leading to a decline in its blooming frequency.
5. Leaning Towards Light Sources
Peace lilies are known for their phototropism, the tendency to grow towards light sources.
However, excessive leaning towards one direction to access more light can indicate that the plant is not receiving adequate light from its current position, prompting it to stretch out in search of sunlight.
6. Rootbound Conditions
In some cases, leggy growth in peace lilies can also be attributed to rootbound conditions.
When the plant outgrows its current container, its roots become cramped and restricted, limiting their ability to uptake essential nutrients and water effectively.
By recognizing these signs of leggy growth in your peace lily, you can take proactive steps to address the underlying issues and help your plant thrive once again.
In the next section, we’ll delve into the common causes of leggy growth in peace lilies and how to rectify them effectively.
Stay tuned for practical tips to revitalize your leggy peace lily!
Tips for Reviving Leggy Peace Lilies
Peace lilies are beloved for their lush green leaves and elegant white flowers, but sometimes, they can become leggy and sparse.
If your peace lily is looking a bit droopy and stretched out, don’t worry!
There are several simple tips you can follow to help revive your leggy plant and bring it back to its full glory.
1. Prune Away Leggy Growth
One of the first steps in reviving a leggy peace lily is to prune away the leggy growth.
Use sharp, clean scissors to cut back the long, spindly stems to just above a leaf node.
This will encourage new growth and help your plant become fuller and more compact.
2. Provide Adequate Light
Peace lilies thrive in bright, indirect light.
If your plant is looking leggy, it may be struggling to get enough light.
Move your peace lily to a brighter location, but be sure to avoid direct sunlight, which can scorch the leaves.
3. Optimal Watering Practices
Proper watering is key to the health of your peace lily.
Water your plant thoroughly when the top inch of the soil feels dry to the touch, but be sure not to overwater, as this can lead to root rot.
Wilting leaves can be a sign of both underwatering and overwatering, so observe your plant closely to determine its watering needs.
4. Regular Fertilization
To help your peace lily recover from legginess, consider fertilizing it regularly during the growing season.
Use a balanced, water-soluble fertilizer diluted to half strength every 6-8 weeks.
This will provide the essential nutrients your plant needs to produce healthy new growth.
5. Maintain Adequate Humidity
Peace lilies are tropical plants that thrive in high humidity.
To create a humid environment for your plant, you can mist its leaves regularly, place a humidity tray nearby, or use a humidifier in the room.
Increased humidity will help prevent leaf browning and encourage lush, healthy growth.
By following these tips and giving your leggy peace lily some extra care and attention, you can help it bounce back and regain its fullness and vibrancy.
Remember, plants are resilient and with the right care, your peace lily will soon be thriving once again.
Cultivating Healthy Growth in Peace Lilies
Hey there, plant enthusiasts!
If you’ve noticed that your peace lily is looking a bit “leggy” lately, don’t fret.
In this section, we’ll delve into the secrets of cultivating healthy growth in peace lilies.
Let’s get those lush, vibrant leaves back in no time!
Understanding Legginess in Peace Lilies
Picture this: Your peace lily, usually a compact and bushy plant, starts to develop long, thin stems with sparse foliage at the top.
This phenomenon, known as legginess, is often caused by insufficient light reaching the lower parts of the plant.
When your peace lily is reaching for the light, it’s a cry for help!
Shedding Light on the Issue
The Light Factor: Peace lilies thrive in indirect, bright light. Lack of proper lighting can lead to leggy growth. Ideally, place your peace lily near a window where it can bask in filtered sunlight without being exposed to direct rays.
Bright Solutions: If natural light is limited in your space, consider supplementing with artificial grow lights. LED grow lights, such as the popular Viparspectra, can provide the necessary light spectrum for healthy peace lily growth.
Nurturing Your Peace Lily Back to Health
Pruning Tips: To combat legginess, trim the longer stems of your peace lily. Use clean, sharp scissors to make clean cuts just above a leaf node. This encourages branching and promotes bushier growth.
Rejuvenate with Repotting: If your peace lily has outgrown its current pot, consider repotting it into a larger container. Choose a well-draining potting mix to prevent waterlogging, as root rot can also contribute to legginess.
Wrapping It Up
By understanding the causes of legginess in peace lilies and taking proactive steps to address them, you can ensure your plant thrives and flaunts its signature glossy foliage.
Remember, a little TLC goes a long way in cultivating healthy growth in your beloved peace lily.
Stay tuned for more tips and tricks on plant care, right here on our blog!
Happy gardening, folks!
Understanding why your peace lily may be growing leggy is the key to nurturing a lush and vibrant plant.
By recognizing the common causes and signs of leggy growth, you can take proactive steps to revive your peace lily and encourage healthy foliage.
Remember, regular care and attention are essential for promoting thriving growth in peace lilies.
Now armed with the knowledge to address legginess in your peace lily, why not put these tips into action and watch your plant flourish once again?
Take the time to assess your peace lily’s current condition, implement the recommended strategies, and enjoy the rewarding experience of seeing your plant return to its former glory.


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The latest from the Stade de France.
PARIS (AP) — Police deployed tear gas on supporters waiting in long lines to get into the Stade de France and security struggled with fans desperate to see the Champions League final that was delayed by 37 minutes on Saturday. Angry Liverpool fans held in the lines were seen hanging onto railings and heard shouting: “Let us in. We’ve got tickets.” There were many instances of fans breaking through security and attempting to get into the stadium. The Associated Press saw two fans — one was wearin
Initially scheduled to kick-off at 20:00 BST, the Champions League final faced two delays on Saturday night as reports poured in of fan trouble outside the Stade de France. Both sets of players took to the pitch for their usual pre-match training routines, but as the cameras panned around France's national stadium, it was clear that Liverpool's seating allocation was far from filled. An announcement around the stadium followed, stating that a 15 minute delay was in place due to "the late arrival of fans at the stadium".


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I knew that. (see my edit an hour before your post).Whats holding him back is the ADFD drive hes got paired up with the Velo.
Yeah SSD degredation...its without a doubt there when it gets filled up. They running TRIM or GC?
Also, I found quite an interesting post on the OCZ forums regarding GC and TRIM from Tony:
The issue is peoples perception was TRIM would keep the drives at full speed, the fact is it does not due to data fragmentation and the lack of block consolidation. So then you add drive level GC which can mess up the way win7 looks after how it deals out TRIM commands as GC alters what the volume bitmap should look like.
The only draw back with GC is added writes, you can massively add life to a drive by over provisioning the Nand..EG you build a 60GB drive with 60GB spare for wear leveling but this costs a lot of money. So if you use GC just be mindful what you use the drive for..(data storage on regular HDD etc)
Adding a little more, win7 still is the route of all evil really for SSD, what is needed is a steadystate cache system within win7 that traps all writes, sorts them into sequential full block fills and rewrites them in low IO periods, this way the OS is read only, writes are sequential not random and TRIM would have a much easier time.
I sent mine in to Ryder to flash to the GC FW, and since my computer never sleeps/idles as I [email protected], the writes issue should be non existent. This also will allow me to upgrade to the TRIM FW if Im not liking how the GC works out as you cannot flash backwards.
(sorry about the minor threadjack Joe)


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Friday, August 14, 2020
The coronavirus pandemic has pushed small business owners to seek for cash to keep their businesses alive and many of them are reaching out to their families for loans. These loans, with low interest rates are a lifeline.
“People are risking their own money for their brother, sister, kids, grandkids,” says Rebecca MacGregor, an estate planning lawyer with Bowditch & Dewey in Boston, Massachusetts.
Surprisingly, the intergenerational generosity is not rare, as 71% of retirees said they would offer financial support if their family needed it due coronavirus, even if there was a possibility that it would jeopardize their own financial future.
The Internal Revenue Service has announced special interest rates, those rates are as follows:
Short-term — Three years or less: 0.17%
Mid-term — More than three years and less than nine years: 0.41%
Long-term — More than nine years: 1.12%
“You can’t get these rates at a bank! The rates are incredibly low, but the risk is incredibly high. That’s the nature of a family loan,” MacGregor says.
See Ashlea Ebelin, Need A Loan? Tax Rules Now Let You Borrow From Family At Ultra Low Interest Rates, Forbes, August 6, 2020.
Special thanks to Jim Hillhouse (Professional Legal Marketing (PLM, Inc.)) for bringing this article to my attention.


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BRIDGEWATER – The head of a national women’s group says it’s "outrageous” that Bridgewater State University officials withheld the names of two men charged with rape on campus and did not notify students and staff about the incidents last month.
“We know that rape is a serial crime,” said Terry O’Neill, president of the National Organization of Women based in Washington, D.C. “The names of the accused rapists really need to be made public.”
The school also didn’t notify its 11-member board of trustees, said Susan Szachowicz, secretary of the board.
“We need to talk about this as trustees,” she said.
Richard M. Freeland, commissioner of the state Department of Higher Education, echoed that concern in a memo obtained by The Enterprise that was sent to state college and university presidents and trustees.
In the memo, dated Oct. 1, Freeland said, “Students and parents have a right to be concerned if they learn about such activity from the media, rather than from campus officials. I urge you to consider timely and appropriate notification of your students, faculty and staff in these instances, assuming of course that such disclosures will not compromise pending investigations, even if such reporting is not specifically mandated by federal law.”
Freeland said in the memo that the issue would be discussed at a board meeting Oct. 21 at Bristol Community College.
Both men charged in the Bridgewater rapes, BSU student Denzel A. Jones, 20, of Roxbury, and Brandon M. Pike, 18, of Bridgewater, who does not attend the university, were released on $500 cash bail on the day of their arrests. Pike was arrested on Sept. 3 and Jones on Sept. 20.
University officials this week refused to release their names. The Enterprise learned of the men’s identities Wednesday by researching records at Brockton District Court.
O’Neill said withholding the names of accused rapists from a college community and the public is “ridiculous” – and it shows that university officials are reluctant to be transparent about crimes reported on campus.
“That’s completely outrageous,” said O’Neill, an attorney.
The two BSU assaults were among five reported in area colleges in September. Two were reported at Massasoit Community College in Brockton, and one was reported at Stonehill College, a private Catholic school in Easton. Massasoit published several reports on its website and Facebook page detailing the assaults; one arrest has been made.
Stonehill College reported its assault on its Facebook page, although details on the incident – including whether a rape allegedly occurred – remain unclear.
Wednesday evening, Stonehill Police Chief Peter Carnes sent out a campus notification that another female student told college officials Tuesday night that she was sexually assaulted twice in the last four weeks by a fellow student who was known to her.
The woman did not wish to provide the accused student’s name, Carnes said.
In the BSU assaults, campus police charged Jones with rape, domestic assault and battery, and intimidating a witness in connection with a rape in his campus dormitory on Sept. 20. It was unclear Wednesday if the university has taken any other action against Jones.
Campus police charged Pike with rape and indecent assault and battery on a person 14 and older in connection with a reported rape inside a campus gymnasium on Sept. 3.
Both men were arraigned in Brockton District Court after campus police arrested them on the day of the incidents. Jones was arraigned on Sept. 22 and Pike on Sept. 4.
BSU officials confirmed Tuesday that the university did not notify students and staff of the two reported rapes last month. They took questions after The Enterprise, acting on a tip, inquired about two alleged sex crimes on the public university campus.
In an email late Wednesday, the college’s chief strategy officer, Bryan Baldwin, said the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act prohibits any discussion about students without their consent, so he would not comment on any action related to Jones.
Pike was issued a no-trespassing order banning him from campus, Baldwin said.
Later Wednesday evening, BSU President Dana Mohler-Faria did some damage control via an email to the college community that stressed how seriously the university takes such incidents.
He cited recent action to address sexual assault prevention includes training all incoming students on sexual assault issues and bystander prevention strategies, and forming a sexual misconduct and relationship violence committee “to address issues and refine our resources,” among other initiatives.
The two alleged rapes occurred in the Kelly Gymnasium on Sept. 3 and in the Pope Residence Hall on Sept. 20, officials said.
The victim in the Sept. 3 incident reported to campus police that she was raped that evening in a lobby area inside the gymnasium by Pike, whom she knew. Pike told investigators that he “never touched her,” court documents show. Campus police arrested Pike that evening. Both the alleged victim and Pike do not attend the university.
On Sept. 20, campus police arrested Jones after a woman reported to campus police that he raped her in his dorm room at Pope Residence Hall that evening, officials said. Jones told investigators that “it was consensual sex,” court documents show. The alleged victim had been visiting the campus and does not attend the university.
Meanwhile, Szachowicz, a 40-year public school educator and the former principal of Brockton High School, said Wednesday she learned about the alleged incidents by reading The Enterprise.
“We did receive a notice about the most recent one,” she said, referring to a third sexual assault reported by a student in a campus dormitory on Sept. 18 that was the subject of an email alert.
But that notice came from Trustees Chairman Louis Ricciardi, she said, and not the university itself.
“I was a school principal and you are always weighing confidentiality versus safety, but this raises concerns,” Szachowicz said, pledging to raise the issue at an Oct. 16 trustees meeting.
Commissioner Freeland, in his memo, asked that college officials consider notifying the public, in addition to his office.
“The past few weeks have seen an increase in reports of alleged sexual assaults at several of our campuses,” he wrote. “In light of recent incidents, I ask that you give careful consideration to communication on these matters with both your campus communities and with my office.”
Maria Papadopoulos may be reached at email@example.com or follow on Twitter @MariaP_ENT. Michelle Bolten may be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org. Follow her on Twitter @MicheleMB_ENT.
Read more about sex assaults on college campuses.

domain: sociology


Greenberg Traurig Senior Counsel Robert A. Sherman will be the featured speaker at the University of Massachusetts Lowell Saab Center for Portuguese Studies webinar “Portugal and the United States: Past Present and Future—A Conversation with Ambassador Robert A. Sherman,” on Thursday, March 25 at 5 p.m. In this conversation, Ambassador Sherman will discuss his time as the U.S. Ambassador to Portugal (under President Obama), the present and future of US-EU relations, the role of NATO in the 21st century, international security in a complex and interdependent world, the post-COVID economy, and the US-Portugal Bilateral Standing Committee. He will also discuss the criminal justice reform in Portugal as an international model for drug policy and recent innovations in the realms of cybersecurity. Ambassador Sherman will be joined by Dr. Neil Shortland, Director for the Center for Terrorism and Security Studies (CTSS) at the University of Massachusetts Lowell and Assistant Professor in the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.
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