title: View

text:
In this paper, a miniaturized multifunctional unit cell structure of a transmitarray operating at S-band and its verification method using a waveguide structure is presented. The unit cell of a multifunctional transmitarray antenna is a critical component because it controls the phase and polarization of an incident wave. The proposed unit cell consists of three main parts: an Rx antenna, a Tx antenna, and a control circuit for phase and polarization. The performance of the designed unit cell is verified by a rectangular waveguide structure. The waveguide structure feeds an electromagnetic wave propagating in a TE10 mode to a 1 × 2 unit cell array to verify polarization and phase shifting capability of the unit cell. The phase shifting and polarization conversion capabilities of the proposed unit cell are directly measured by the radiation patterns and polarization of the transmitted wave.
Beam steering array antennas are used in a variety of applications, such as radar and wireless communication, etc., because of their novel agile beam control capability [1, 2]. Numerous research efforts have reported beam steering methods and antenna structures to control radiation patterns and polarization [3–7]. However, conventional active phased array antennas are widely adopted for beam steering antenna applications, but they require complex feeding networks, high-power consumption, and high-cost transceiver (TRx) systems [8, 9]. Recently, transmitarray and reflectarray antennas have become the focus of significant research owing to their low cost, low power consumption, and low system complexity compared to the conventional active phased array. For this reason, studies related to transmitarrays and reflectarrays have been reported [10–13]. There are two main types of transmitarray antenna design. One type is a transmitarray composed of receive (Rx) and transmit (Tx) antennas, along with a phase shifter. Reconfigurable RF circuits, such as phase shifters and RF switches, achieve beam steering and polarization conversion [14–17]. The other type is a transmitarray using a frequency selective surface (FSS) [18, 19]. In this case, multi-layer FSS using PIN diodes  and varactors  are adopted because it is challenging for a single-layer FSS to achieve a relative phase shift of 360°. Compared with the multilayer FSS-based transmitarray the RF circuit-based transmitarray type features a relatively low profile and a greater degree-of-freedom for beam forming and polarization conversion.
Similar to metasurface and FSS structures, a transmitarray is composed of an array of unit cells that can manipulate the phase or polarization of incident waves. The overall performance of a multifunctional transmitarray is heavily dependent on the individual unit cell performance. Therefore, unit cell verification plays a crucial role in debugging errors and inferring overall transmitarray or metasurface performance. By employing a rigorous unit cell verification method, the design effort and time required for a large transmitarray or metasurface design can be significantly reduced. Thus, unit cell functionality verification is one of the most critical design steps for mitigating potential risks when designing a full multifunctional transmitarray.
Recent studies have reported unit cell verification using the transition of two waveguides, confirming the characteristics of the unit cell with S-parameters inside the waveguide [22, 23]. However, this verification has some limitations because it verifies the unit cell inside the closed space of the waveguide. In the case of polarization conversion verification, it is necessary to convert the dominant mode of the waveguide according to the polarization conversion. However, it is difficult to reliably convert the dominant modes in conventional rectangular waveguide structures. Since the unit cell is verified using the S-parameter, the unit cell is limited to confirming the far-field and real-time beam steering characteristics of the transmitarray antenna. For this reason, there is a need for novel methods that verify unit cells in transmitarrays and surpass the limitations of previous approaches.
The present study proposes a unit cell verification method using a simple TE10 mode rectangular waveguide feeding network. The unit cell performance, such as beam steering and polarization selection, was verified and analyzed using the proposed unit cell verification method. Further, based on the unit cell verification, the performance of the reported 8 × 8 transmitarray antenna was compared . The remainder of the paper is organized as follows. In Section II, the components and measurements of the unit cells are presented and discussed. The unit cell verification method and its operation principle are described in Section III. Section IV presents the conclusions drawn from the findings.
II. Unit Cell Structure
Fig. 1 shows the unit cell of the proposed transmitarray antenna for polarization conversions and beam steering operations in the S-band. The unit cell consists of three parts: the Rx antenna, Tx antenna, and control circuits, including a phase shifter and an SPDT PIN diode switch. The Rx antenna and circuit components were placed in the same plane, and the Tx antenna was placed on the opposite side. The incident wave was received by the Rx antenna, and the phase and polarization of the Rx wave were modulated by the RF circuit parts. The modulated wave was re-radiated by the Tx antenna. To avoid grating lobe and scan blinds, the size of the unit cell was limited to 0.4λ0 × 0.4λ0, which is a smaller unit cell period than the period of conventional transmitarray designs (0.5λ0 × 0.5λ0) . The proposed unit cell architecture featured a planar low-profile structure and was fabricated using conventional low-cost, well-developed FR4 PCB technology (ɛr = 4.4, tan δ = 0.023). As shown in Fig. 1(d), the circuit layer and the Tx antenna feeding layer were attached using a bonding film, and the antennas (Rx and Tx) were fixed to this attachment layer with nylon bolts and nuts.
1. Antenna Design: Rx and Tx Antennas
The Rx and Tx antennas were mounted at the bottom and top of the unit cell. The antenna performance of a transmitarray unit cell is critical because these antennas directly receive and reradiate the signal from a source antenna. Therefore, the antenna should have a high gain and a proper radiation pattern. In this work, both Rx and Tx antennas were designed as stacked patches, considering the limited size of the unit cell (0.4λ0 × 0.4λ0). Fig. 2 shows the geometries of the proposed Rx and Tx antennas. The antennas had improved bandwidth due to a three-layer of stacked patches and proximity coupled feeding [25, 26]. When an antenna is designed on a high-loss substrate, its radiation efficiency declines due to interactions with the loss of substrate. This reduction directly affects the overall performance of transmitarrays. To address this issue, the implementation of a three-layer patch results in a more centralized electric field for the antenna compared to a conventional patch antenna, thus improving antenna directivity. It reduces the interaction between the field and the high-loss FR4. As a result, the loss of the antenna is minimized, leading to an increase in gain.
The current distribution of the Tx and Rx antennas is illustrated in Fig. 3. Although the Rx and Tx antennas have similar stacked patch structures, there is a significant difference in antenna polarization. The Rx antenna is designed for single linear polarization, whereas the Tx antenna supports dual-linear polarization for polarization selection. As a result of this difference, the Tx antenna features two orthogonal distributions, while the Rx antenna has a single distribution. These surface current distributions provide insights into the resonance mode of Tx (TM10, TM01) and Rx (TM10) antenna. Fig. 4 shows the S-parameters and the fabricated Rx and Tx antennas. Each antenna was measured in an anechoic chamber, as shown in the inset of Fig. 4. The −10 dB impedance bandwidth of each antenna was sufficiently broad to cover the design target of Fs ± 0.05 GHz. The measured port isolation level between H-pol and V-pol was higher than 20 dB. Both the Rx and Tx antennas had broadside radiation patterns, as shown in Fig. 5. The co-pol and cross-pol gain values of the Rx antenna were measured to be 3.8 dBi and −21 dBi, respectively, at the operation frequency. The measured co-pol and cross-pol gain values of the Tx antenna were 4.25 dBi and −18 dBi, respectively, at the operation frequency. Certain discrepancies were observed between the simulation and measurements, as depicted in Figs. 4 and 5. During the fabrication process of the Rx and Tx antennas, three radiation layers were interconnected using bolts and nuts, which was challenging to precisely assemble by hand. As a result, small gaps occur between the layers, leading to subtle differences. However, despite these discrepancies, the simulations and measurements exhibited good agreement. Consequently, based on the aforementioned results, we confirmed that the antennas worked well as a Tx/Rx antenna.
2. Control Circuit for Phase and Polarization
At the bottom of the unit cell, as depicted in Fig. 1(c), there was an Rx antenna along with the control circuit. The control circuit comprised two main components: the phase shifter and the SPDT switch. Given the smaller size of the unit cell, careful consideration is required for the design of the phase shifter. To address this, this paper presents a miniaturized reflection-type phase shifter, as illustrated in Fig. 6(a). The proposed phase shifter consists of inductively loaded transmission lines for system miniaturization and two reflection loads for a broad phase-shift range of 0°–345° . Two varactors were connected in series, and a 90° transmission line was resonated at the target frequency to improve the phase-shift range, as shown in Fig. 6(b). The varactor (MACOM MA46H120 ) was controlled by a DC bias voltage of 0–10 V. The reflection coefficient of the load is shown in Eqs. (1) and (2) :
where Zo is 50 Ω and XL is equal to ωLs – 1/ωCv. The high-frequency current entering the bias line was blocked by the RF choke, and the DC current was blocked by the DC block. A conventional reflection-type reflector using a branch line coupler was miniaturized by an inductively loaded microstrip transmission line to integrate it with an Rx antenna in the same plane . The designed miniaturized full-range reflection-type phase shifter was 36% smaller than a conventional reflection-type phase shifter. Fig. 6(c) shows the measured relative phase shift in degrees and the insertion loss (IL) of the proposed phase shifter. As the bias voltage changed from 0–10 V, the corresponding relative phase shift range varied between 0°–345°. In addition, the measured IL varied between 1.8 and 5.5 dB, depending on the voltage change. The IL variations were a result of the resonant properties of the series-connected varactors and the quarterwavelength T-line.
For polarization selection, the phase-shifted signal was directed to the V- or H-pol ports of the Tx antenna using an SPDT PIN diode switch, as shown in Fig. 7(a). The SPDT switch consisted of two PIN diodes (MACOM MA4AGP907 ), which were turned on and off exclusively. For example, 1.35 V and −5 V were applied to P3 and P2, respectively, to direct the input signal to P2. Fig. 7(b) shows the measured S-parameters of the designed SPDT switch. In this case, VV = −5 V and VT = 1.35 V (D1: on, D2: off). The measured IL of the switch from 0–20 dBm input power was approximately 0.7 dB, and the isolation level was approximately 27 dB. We experimentally verified that the proposed SPDT RF PIN diode switch satisfied all the design requirements for polarization selection, such as low loss, power-handling capability, and high isolation.
III. Unit Cell Verification
The geometry of the proposed network and its measurement setup are shown in Fig. 8. A specially fabricated waveguide is employed for unit cell verification, allowing for a seamless connection between the unit cell and the standard WR284 waveguide. The 1 × 2 unit cell array was chosen as the verification test board because it is the smallest array size for verify beam steering. The minimum dimensions of the 1 × 2 unit cell array were 80 mm in length and 40 mm in width. However, an additional 40 mm in length and 10 mm in width were included. This is because placing the 1 × 2 Rx antenna array in the center of the rectangular waveguide required an additional length of 40 mm. An extra 10-mm width was required for mechanical stability. It is important to align the 1 × 2 unit cell array to the center of the waveguide aperture because the E-field of the incident TE10 wave is applied to the 1 × 2 Rx patch antenna array symmetrically with the same polarization as the antenna.
1. Operation Principle
This section describes the operation principle of the proposed unit cell verification method using a TE10 mode rectangular waveguide. In general, multifunctional unit cells are required to simultaneously control the polarization and phase of the incident wave . The proposed waveguide-fed unit cell verification method confirmed the efficiency of the unit cell, polarization conversion, and phase shift. The efficiency of the unit cell (ηcell) is the ratio of the accepted power (Pa) by unit cells ((1-|Γ|2)·Pin) to the total radiated power (Pr), where Pin is the input power and Γ is the reflection coefficient. Thus, the efficiency of the unit cell was calculated as ηcell = Pr/[(1-|Γ|2)·Pin]. The calculated unit cell efficiency was approximately 13.2% because the loss values of the Tx/Rx antenna, switch (SW), and phase shifter (0 V) at Fs GHz were about 2.5 dB, 0.7 dB, and 3.1 dB, respectively. The polarization conversion and phase-shifting capability were easily measured by observing far-field patterns. Whereas the polarization conversion was easy to measure, the measurement of the unit cell’s phase-shifting performance was challenging. The phase-shift performance was measured indirectly by observing the radiation patterns of a waveguide-fed 1 × 2 unit cell array.
A shunt inductive iris was connected in parallel to match the 1 × 2 unit cell array to the designed 120 mm × 50 mm rectangular waveguide. A linear waveguide taper was designed to match the standard WR284 coax-to-waveguide transition to the designed rectangular waveguide. In this work, linear taper and rectangular waveguide structures were made of aluminum. The linear waveguide taper shown in Fig. 8(a) was designed to transfer a dominant TE10 mode wave from the standard WR-284 to the designed 120 mm × 50 mm rectangular waveguide while suppressing mode conversion and higher-order mode excitation [32, 33]. The linear tapered matching waveguide section was designed for TE10 single-mode operation using coupled-mode theory. The coupled-mode theory based on a cross-sectional method is a powerful design procedure for waveguide matching networks; thus, the total E- and H-fields along a general non-uniform waveguide structure can be calculated [34–36]. When a given waveguide structure operates in a single mode, the complex amplitude of forward (a+) and backward (a−) traveling waves associated with the propagation modes can be determined by a simple coupled-mode equation system, which is a strong function of the coupling coefficient (K) between those waves . The K value of a rectangular waveguide for TE10 single-mode operation having a propagation constant of β10 was calculated analytically, as shown in Eq. (3) .
where a(z) and b(z) are the width and height along the z-direction, respectively. Eq. (3) clearly shows that the rate of change in the width or height profile along the wave propagation direction is an important design factor for the waveguide taper design. In this study, a single-mode rectangular waveguide taper with simultaneous variations in height and width was designed to match the 120 mm × 50 mm rectangular waveguide to the WR-284 standard. An inherent port mismatch level (ρ0), which is a function of the difference between the cross-sections, was set to a value less than −15 dB (ρ0 < −15 dB). The length of the linear waveguide taper was 50 mm, as shown in Fig. 8. The designed 120 mm × 50 mm rectangular waveguide had three available propagation modes of TE10, TE20, and TE01 around the operation frequency (Fs), but the mode conversion level (TE10-to-TE20, and TE10-to-TE01) was less than −31 dB.
2. Experimental Results
The fabricated waveguide-based feeding structure for the 1 × 2 unit cell array was 50 mm × 120 mm × 100 mm, as shown in Fig. 8(c). The designed rectangular waveguide structure was compatible with the WR-284 standard. A shunt inductive iris matched the 1 × 2 unit cell array to the coax-to-WR-284 waveguide transition. The measured reflection coefficient (|S11|) of the designed rectangular waveguide-fed 1 × 2 unit cell array is shown in Fig. 9. We observed a discrepancy between the measurements and simulations, which can be attributed to fabrication errors in the customized waveguide. However, despite this discrepancy, both the measured and simulated data exhibited a similarity below −10 dB at the operating frequency, suggesting tight coupling between the Rx antennas and the waveguide. The rectangular waveguide-fed 1 × 2 array was measured in the anechoic chamber like Tx/Rx antennas, and the measured ηcell was 14.7% (−8.4 dB) with an input power of 30 dBm (Pin = 1 W). This was calculated by taking the ratio of the total radiated power to the power delivered to the array, as discussed in Section III-1. The measured total radiated and delivered power were 142.0 mW and 968.4 mW, respectively. This was very close to the theoretical efficiency of 13.2% of the unit cell discussed in Section III-1. As previously mentioned, the input power was tightly coupled and delivered to the unit cell without being reflected. Therefore, the measured efficiency can be regarded as the element loss (EL) of the full transmitarray antenna. The loss of the transmitarray antenna (εloss) is calculated as shown in Eq. (4) :
where ηspill and ELavg are spillover efficiency and element loss, respectively. ηspill is the ratio of accepted power to total power radiated by the feed, and it was calculated to be −2.3 dB using Ansys High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS). The proposed verification was compared with the losses per component, as shown in Table 1. The total transmitarray loss (εloss) of the simulation was −11.1 dB, and the proposed method was −10.7 dB. The measured εloss values of a fabricated 8 × 8 transmitarray antenna composed of the presented unit cell were −10.75 dB . A comparison of the measured εloss with the simulated losses showed good agreement, but the loss of the proposed method (−10.7 dB) more strictly predicts the measured value (−10.75 dB). Therefore, the proposed verification method provides useful information on the design and optimization of a full-sized multifunctional transmitarray or metasurface.
The simulation setup for unit cell verification is depicted in Fig. 10(a) and performed using HFSS. The standard WR-284 waveguide, excited by the waveport of a coaxial cable, was included in the model. A customized waveguide was positioned between the 2 × 1 array and the modeled WR-284, and the entire model, enclosed within a radiation box, was simulated. Fig. 10(b) and 10(c) show the radiation patterns of the waveguide- fed 1 × 2 array when there were no phase differences between the unit cells. The simulation and measurement data agreed very well. The polarization conversion capability was clearly observed, and the measured cross-pol suppression levels for both the V-to-V-pol and V-to-H-pol conversion cases were about 15 dB. The rectangular GND (ground) shapes had a difference between Fig. 10(a) and 10(b) because the GND lengths of the Tx antennas for V-pol and H-pol were asymmetric. Fig. 11 shows the measured beam steering capability for V-to-V and V-to-H polarization conversions. The ± 25° beam steering was achieved when the bias voltage for the phase shifter was 1.9 V, corresponding to a 90° phase shift. These results show that the proposed unit cell verification method successfully characterized all electrical properties, such as polarization conversion, phase shifting, and efficiency of a unit cell or a full-sized multifunctional transmitarray.
Table 2 displays a performance comparison between the proposed unit cell and the literature-reported transmitarray antennas. The results show that our proposed unit cell features a smaller size and higher phase resolution compared to other literature-reported transmitarrays. This confirms the superior performance of our proposed unit cell in terms of size reduction and phase control. In addition, conventional verification using a double waveguide structure and the proposed verification were compared, as shown in Table 3. Notably, all electrical properties of a multifunctional unit cell, such as unit cell loss, polarization conversion, relative phase shift, and far-field radiation patterns, can be experimentally verified through a one-time measurement. It is also possible to measure cross-pol suppressing levels. The rectangular waveguide structure of conventional verification methods supports only a single dominant mode at the operating frequency. The conventional closed waveguide structure for unit cell verification has limitations in measuring polarization conversion capability.
This paper presents the structure of a unit cell for a multifunctional transmitarray and its verification method using a rectangular waveguide structure. The unit cell can simultaneously manipulate the phase and polarization of incident waves. The functionality of the designed unit cell was verified by using a 2 × 1 unit cell array fed by a rectangular waveguide structure. The 2 × 1 unit cell array was fed by a TE10 mode wave whose polarization was matched to the Rx antennas. The performance of a unit cell, such as phase shifting and polarization conversion capabilities, was measured and verified using the proposed method. The proposed verification method is a promising candidate that can be used as a unit cell verification for multifunctional transmitarrays with polarization conversion and beam steering functions.
This work was supported by Hanwha Systems, funded by the Future Challenge Technology Program of the Agency for Defense Development.
Gyoungdeuk Kim, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2752-1087 received his B.S. degree in electronics engineering from Pusan National University, South Korea, in 2020, where he is currently pursuing his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. His current research interests include antenna design and RF systems.
Myeongha Hwang, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2517-9698 received his B.S. degree from the Department of Electronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea in 2020, where he is currently pursuing his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees. His current research interests include array antenna design and RF systems.
Ingon Lee, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3974-4766 received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in information and communication engineering from Kongju National University, Cheonan, South Korea, in 2016 and 2020, respectively. From 2020 to 2021, he worked as a post-doc research fellow at the same university in South Korea. Since 2021, he has been working at Hanwha Systems, Yongin, South Korea, where he is currently a Senior Engineer. His research interests include periodic electromagnetic structures, microwave/millimeterwave circuits and components, and transmitarray antennas for radar applications.
Sangkil Kim, https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1720-2410 (M’15-SM’20) received his B.S. degree from the School of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Yonsei University (magna cum laude), Seoul, Republic of Korea in 2010. He received his M.S. and Ph.D. degrees from the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, Atlanta, USA in 2012 and 2014, respectively. From 2015 to 2018, he worked at Qualcomm Inc., San Diego, CA, USA as a senior engineer. He joined the faculty of the Department of Electronics Engineering, Pusan National University, Busan, Republic of Korea in 2018. He has published 43 papers in peer-reviewed journals and 5 book chapters. Dr. Kim received the IET Premium Award Microwave, Antennas & Propagation in 2015 and the KIEES Young Researcher Award in 2019. He is a member of the IEEE MTT-26 RFID, Wireless Sensors, and IoT Committee. His main research interests are mmWave phased antenna array, machine learning assisted backscattering communication, RF biosensors, energy harvesting, and printed RF electronics.


tier: kodiak

shelf: software-docs

text:
Protect API access with API key lifetime and the ability
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specify an API key lifetime to enforce regular key rotation. After
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In addition to setting a key lifetime that
prompts you to regenerate new keys periodically, you can also revoke
all currently valid API keys in the event one or more keys are compromised.
Revoking keys is a way to expire all currently valid keys.
Edit Authentication Settings to specify the API
Key Lifetime (min).
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the effects of an accidental exposure. By default, the API key lifetime
is set to 0, which means that the keys will never expire. To ensure
that your keys are frequently rotated and each key is unique when
regenerated, you must specify a validity period that ranges between
1—525600 minutes. Refer to the audit and compliance policies for
your enterprise to determine how you should specify the lifetime
for which your API keys are valid.
Commit the changes.
(To revoke all API keys) Select Expire
all API Keys to reset currently valid API keys.
If you have just set a key lifetime and want to reset all
API keys to adhere to the new term, you can expire all existing
keys. On confirmation,
the keys are revoked and you can view the timestamp for when the API
Keys Last Expired.


tier: cub

shelf: health

title: WART REMOVAL Ludlow

text:
WART REMOVAL Ludlow
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shelf: finance

title: FROM THE SUCCESS PEOPLETM

text:
FROM THE SUCCESS PEOPLETM
5 Signs It’s Time to Hire a Bookkeeper for Your Alberta Business
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tier: polar

shelf: education

title: Peter hilger recipient morse alumni distinguished teaching award

text:
A. Peter Hilger, faculty director and instructor for the College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS)’s Bachelor of Applied Science in Construction and Facility Management Program, was named one of eight recipients of the 2015 Morse-Alumni Distinguished Teaching Award, the University of Minnesota’s most prestigious award for excellence in undergraduate teaching.
He was honored at the Distinguished Teaching Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, April 8, 2015, at the McNamara Alumni Center, 200 Oak Street SE, Minneapolis.
An architect by training, a builder by profession, and a teacher at heart, Hilger has been with CCAPS since 1997. His passion is teaching, mentorship, and strategic thinking. A popular teacher and program builder, he has been responsible for developing new initiatives in learning, fostering University collaboration, and cultivating strong industry partnerships, all of which benefit student success.
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The Morse Award has been given annually since 1965, honoring top U of M educators for their outstanding contributions to undergraduate education. Morse honorees are also inducted into the Academy of Distinguished Teachers. As members of the Academy, these faculty members will provide important leadership to the University community by serving as mentors, advisers and spokespersons for the University’s mission.


shelf: home-craft

title: Sustainable gift guide for zero waste lovers

text:
Finding the perfect gift for low-waste enthusiasts doesn’t have to be a challenge. Thoughtful, eco-friendly gifts show you care not only about the recipient but also about the planet. From handmade items to upcycled treasures, there’s something for everyone on this list of sustainable gift ideas. Whether you're looking for zero-waste holiday gifts, eco-friendly gifts for her, or unique sustainable gift ideas for him, this guide has you covered.
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Items like bamboo cutting boards, wooden utensils, or compostable sponges make great sustainable kitchen gifts. They’re functional, biodegradable, and stylish, blending seamlessly into any kitchen aesthetic.
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Support a plant-based lifestyle with a beautifully illustratedcookbook full of vegan recipes. These books often include tips for minimizing food waste and cooking with seasonal, local ingredients.
Inspire creativity withDIY upcycling kits designed to repurpose common household items. Kits for turning jars into lanterns, wine bottles into planters, or fabric scraps into tote bags are great options.
Give the gift of convenience with a subscription to a low-waste refill service. These services deliver essentials like cleaning supplies, personal care items, and pantry staples in reusable containers.
For the ultimate low-waste gift, give an experience rather than a physical item. Options like cooking classes, nature hikes, or wine tastings are memorable and create no waste.
Choosing sustainable gifts for zero-waste lovers is about more than just giving—it’s about making a statement. Thoughtful, eco-friendly presents show that you care about the planet and the people in your life. Whether it’s upcycled glassware, reusable products, or unforgettable zero-waste experiences, these gifts make every occasion meaningful and sustainable.
Ready to shop for zero-waste holiday gifts? Explore our collection of sustainably made glassware at A Second Round Glass and find the perfect sustainable present today!


shelf: history-culture

text:
Travis Scott Continues To Take The Art Form Of Music Videos To A Higher Level
Last year, Travis Scott made an exceptionally creative release in the form of Astroworld. Named one of Ambrosia For Heads‘ best albums of 2018, the collection pulled from Gang Starr and The Screwed Up Click in the same amusement park-inspired universe. At nearly an hour (in a year of short projects), the 17 songs propelled the Houston, Texas artist to his highest plateau to date. The 27-year-old rapper, singer, and producer cemented superstar status with multiple Grammy nominations, his first chart-topping single, and second consecutive #1 LP.
Since Astroworld, Travis Scott has done feature and compilation work. Approaching his fourth solo album, the Cactus Jack founder releases his first solo single in more than a year with “Highest In The Room.” The OZ and Nik D-produced the single shows that Travis Scott is escalating. His mind, his music, and the production quality of his videos are only getting higher.
For “Highest In The Room,” Travis creates another universe that is elaborate, vivid, and precisely imagined. Following inhaling smoke (which the viewer can watch travel through his body), Scott goes from crowded arenas to conference rooms-turned-t*rture chambers, traveling from strip clubs to tight-walking metal beams on skyscrapers. As the visuals unfold, there’s a moment where the camera briefly shifts to a digital billboard advertising casinos zonder vergunning in Nederland, adding a layer of intrigue to the chaotic scene. In moments, he can transform from becoming a Mortal Kombat-esque character to getting tattoos with a soldering iron from a woman. Scott uses his visual to emphasize the song’s lyrics. Psychedelic effects dominate the trippy journey that follows his controlled mind. Lust, fears, and 16-bit video games all seem to shape where the rapper’s imagination goes.
While many rappers have made songs about getting “too high,” few can show it as vividly as Travis. His music stands apart from his peers, which has made him sought out by Drake, 2 Chainz, Miguel, and many other leaders. Moreover, the song is not just glamorizing getting stoned.
After a chorus that ends, “I hope I make it outta here,” Travis’ thoughts deal with paranoia about love, confronting deep-seated fears, and living a life that was never the choice.
Heads will soon see what this fourth album is shaping up to be.


shelf: civic-law

title: New labour legislation gig worker precarity

text:
Gig work is widely recognized as having all of the characteristics of precarious employment: typically temporary, part-time or casual, low paid, lacking in predictable work hours and job security without health and welfare benefits and protections.
Research into precarious gig work in BC has revealed that app-based ride-hail and food delivery gig workers are predominantly racialized new immigrants who work long hours without overtime pay and without any pay while signed on waiting for trip assignments.
The BC government has announced new legislation, Bill 48, to provide better working conditions and rights for app-based ride-hail and food-delivery gig workers. However, even with existing BC labour legislation, the central question was, and is, whether app-based workers employed by platform companies should be classified as “employees” entitled to all the rights and protections of BC labour laws. Most app-based workers do not currently have these rights and protections, which violates existing legislation.
App-based ride-hail and food delivery gig workers are predominantly racialized new immigrants.
In his mandate letters to the Minister of Labour and his parliamentary secretaries, Premier Eby called on them to develop a precarious work strategy and propose employment standards and other protections specifically relevant to app-based ride-hail and food delivery drivers.
Prior to introducing this legislation, the government held consultations with app-based workers, platform companies, labour organizations, business associations and others for over two years.
For years labour organizations and workers’ rights advocates called on the Ministry of Labour to investigate employment conditions in the platform company industry and to enforce applicable legislation. However, without explanation, the Ministry didn’t heed this request, acknowledging the powerlessness of workers in the industry.
While Bill 48 recognizes online platform workers as “employees” under the Employment Standards Act (ESA) and the Workers Compensation Act, and makes provision for regulations to provide a minimum wage, employee expense compensation standards, tip protections and pay and trip transparency, these workers will not through regulatory exclusion enjoy all of the benefits and protections of workers in other sectors. These include overtime pay, statutory holidays with pay, paid sick leave and vacations. Also, these workers will not be paid for the time worked while logged on waiting to receive an assignment.
Consequently, the Minister of Labour proposes through regulation to add app-based gig workers to the over 100 occupations that are excluded from all or some of the rights and protections contained in the ESA intended for all workers.
These workers will not enjoy all of the benefits and protections of workers in other sectors.
This and previous governments have long been criticized for the numerous inequitable, discriminatory and unjustified exclusion of workers through regulation, particularly low-paid workers in precarious employment (such as farm workers and caregivers), from all of the rights and benefits of the ESA. The reality is that these regulatory exclusions contribute to the precarity of employment in a wide range of occupations, therefore the proposed exclusions of app-based platform workers from provisions of the ESA will only perpetuate the precarity of gig work, which contradicts the precarious work strategy mandate of the Ministry of Labour.
While gig workers gain some benefits from this legislation, those engaged in precarious work will not have all the rights and benefits of the Employment Standards Act. This must end.
This article was originally published on CCPA-BC’s Policy Note website.


shelf: science-engineering

title: Parts of an electron

text:
Studying basics of matter all around us leads our understanding to its fundamental building block called atom. Atom is made up of electrons revolving in orbits around a nucleus containing protons and neutrons. Protons and neutrons are well understood not to be the fundamental particles and are having sub-fundamental particles like quarks. Until now, electrons have been regarded as an elementary particle—which means that scientists thought they had no component parts or substructure. But now, electrons have been observed decaying into two separate parts—causing physicists to rethink what they know about the particles.
Electron having charge exhibiting spin and orbital motions, until now, standard physics generally accepted that an electron was a fundamental particle – that it was not made of smaller components. However, as early as 1980 theorists had predicted an electron could be made of three smaller pieces: A “Spinon” (providing spin), an “Orbiton” (providing the orbit) and a “Holon” (carrying the charge). In 1996, physicists seemed to split an electron into a holon and spinon. American physicists made a theoretical prediction that if we confine electrons to individual atomic chains, the Wiedemann-Franz law could be strongly violated. In this one-dimensional world, the electrons split into two distinct components or excitations, one carrying spin but not charge (the spinon), the other carrying charge but not spin (the holon). Recently, Swiss and German researchers led by experimenter Thorsten Schmitt fired a tightly focused X-ray beam at a copper-oxide compound called “strontium cuprate,” special because particles in it can only move in one-dimension, one degree of freedom – forward or backwards. They observed an electron split into two of the three predicted parts – a Spinon and an Orbitron. What solidified their observation is finding distinct properties for the two parts. According to researchers “these quasiparticles can move with different speeds and even in different directions in the material. Thus, researchers have separated an electron into two smaller quasi-particles – a “Spinon” and an “Orbiton;” meaning they have physically separated the spin and the orbit properties of an electron.
Electrons in atoms behave like waves, and when researchers excite them to higher orbits, those waves can split up, revealing the constituent characteristics of the electron. The electrons split into two separate parts, each carrying a particular property of the electron. The first, called a "spinon" carries its spin—which causes electrons to behave a bit like compass point. The second, called an "orbiton" carries its orbital moment—that's what keeps electrons moving around the nucleus of atoms. It had been known for some time that, in particular materials, an electron can in principle be split, but until now the empirical evidence for this separation into independent spinons and orbitons was lacking. The observations were made in the copper-oxide compound Sr2CuO3, a material peculiar because the particles in it are constrained to move only in one direction, either forwards or backwards. The electron-splitting was measured using X-rays to measure the energy and momentum of particles in the material. The beam excited the electron to a higher orbital, causing the beam to lose a fraction of its energy in the process, then rebounded. The team measured the number of scattered photons in the rebounding beam, along with their energy and momentum, and compared this with computer simulations of the beam's properties. The researchers found that when the photons' energy loss was between about 1.5 and 3.5 electron volts, the beam's spectrum matched their predictions for the case in which an orbiton and spinon had been created and were moving in opposite directions through the material. Now that we know where exactly to look for them, we are bound to find these new particles in many more materials. These quasi-particles can move with different speeds and even in different directions in the material. Atomic electrons have this ability because they behave like waves when confined within a material. When excited, that wave splits into multiple waves, each carrying different characteristics of the electron; but they cannot exist independently outside the material.
In order for electrons to fractionalize, many of them must be tightly confined so that they repel each other. In trying to stay apart, the electrons modify how they behave so that their magnetism (which is associated with spin) and charge separate into the two new quasi-particles. In condensed matter physics, quasi-particles are phenomena of groups of particles that behave as if they were particles. Physicists first observed spinons and holons in 2009 by confining electrons in a quantum wire and detecting how electrons in a nearby metal could tunnel into the quantum wire by splitting into the two quasi-particles. One unsolved part of electron fractionalization involves figuring out what happens to an electron’s Fermi statistics after spin-charge separation. Fermi statistics describe the properties of all particles that obey the Pauli Exclusion Principle, which says that no two of these particles can occupy the same quantum state. In the Standard Model, these particles include all the fermions, one of which is the electron. The question that physicists ask is, when the electron fractionalizes into its spin and charge, where do its Fermi statistics go? The Fermi statistics have previously been proposed to be either with the spin or with the charge. But now scientists suggest that these seemingly divergent possibilities can be unified into one picture. The physicists suggest that the electron fractionalizes into not just two, but three components that carry the electron’s spin, charge, and Fermi statistics. While spinons and chargons (or holons) are the first two carriers, the Fermi statistics are carried by a Majorana fermion. The physicists also illustrated these ideas on a honeycomb lattice to demonstrate how the proposal works.
Overall, a better understanding of electron fractionalization could have useful applications, such as in designing quantum computers and achieving quantum entanglement at long scales. The findings of electron parts will lead to a deeper understanding of the different types of quantum entanglement in many-electron states at very low temperatures. Quantum computers manipulate the entanglement in a complex manner. Though the electrons can split, the resulting two parts can't escape the material in which they are produced. Regardless of that, the finding should transform our understanding of superconductivity—and could even eventually make high-temperature superconductivity a real possibility. Orbitons could also aid the quest to build a quantum computer — which would use the quantum properties of particles to perform calculations more quickly than its classical counterpart. A major stumbling block for quantum computing has been that quantum effects are typically destroyed before calculations can be performed. The advantage here is that orbital transitions are extremely fast, taking just femtoseconds. That’s so fast that it may create a better chance for making a realistic quantum computer. That seems be the direction this will go in the future — encoding and manipulating information in both spinons and orbitons.


title: Managing Server Folders

text:
Managing Server Folders
Moving back to the Server Folders tab, you'll find a list of folders are already populated on screen. Various details are presented for each folder, including the name, description, the folder's location, free space available in the folder and its status (usually blank if all is well and no tasks are running).
Click on a folder and you may see some additional details about the folder listed in the Details pane, but often you'll see that there's little additional information available.
By default, Windows Server 2016 Essentials sets up a number of shared folders which can be accessed by your users. You should see the following:
- Client Computer Backups: a folder used to store your PC backups.
- Company: a general folder used to store documents about your organization.
- File History Backups: you guessed it! Your user's File History backups will be stored in this folder.
- Folder Redirection: used to store user folders configured for folder redirection.
- Users: you'll find a separate folder for each of your network users stored here.
If you've previously used Windows Server 2012 Essentials, or an earlier related operating system like Windows Home Server, you'll no doubt be looking for shared media folders (Music, Pictures, Videos, Recorded TV and the like). These are no longer created by default (and haven't been since Windows Server 2012 R2 Essentials). We'll install the Windows Server's media services and you can add these folders should you wish.
To the right, there's the usual list of tasks we can perform, split by specific tasks for each folder, and a Server Folders Tasks section which covers broader, server-wide tasks. To add your own, additional shared folders, simply use the Add a Folder wizard we used earlier when setting up the server.
The Understanding Server Folders task simply takes you to online help, so I'm sure by now you're well used to navigating yourself there.
Moving up the screen to individual folder tasks, the available options depend upon which folder you highlight.
The Client Computer Backups folder is unique in that you only have two options, View the folder properties and Move the folder. Move the folder is simply the method through which you "move" a folder from one physical hard drive to another hard drive. If you do not use RAID or Storage Spaces arrays, you may find that you have to perform this task occasionally as your hard drives become full.
Moving Server Folders
Moving a folder is a simple process that calculates the size of the folder you wish to move, asks you where you wish to move the folder to, and then does it.
It's really the kind of task that can be done easily in File Explorer, but having a Dashboard wizard makes life more convenient and allows you to perform the task easily on connected PC clients.
Viewing Folder Properties
Back to the tasks list and the first option, View the folder properties, opens a window that simply provides basic details of the folder including the amount of disk space it uses.
To help you manage your storage efficiently, you can choose to receive a warning when the folder exceeds a certain quota. Just check the box next to Warn me when the folder size exceeds and enter a value in Gigabytes (GB) or Terabytes (TB).
Opening Server Folders
If you highlight a folder that Essentials created when first installed (aside from Client Computer Backups) you get an additional option: Open the folder.
This brings up the folder's contents in File Explorer so that you can view and/or manage the files within.
Configuring Server Folder Sharing Permissions
If you use the View the folder properties option on a pre-configured folder, you'll see that two tabs are available. The first, General, allows you to edit the folder name and description, open the folder (again) and set a quota warning.
In the second tab. Sharing, you will find the ability to share or not share this folder with specific user groups. If a user is not a member of a user group, they will be listed individually. You also have the option to hide a particular folder from someone accessing the server from a remote location.
As you can see in the screenshot above, administrators have full access to all folders. You cannot modify sharing permissions for Client Computer Backups, File History Backups, Folder Redirection or the Users server folders, so don't expect to find a Sharing tab when you view the properties of these folders.
Deleting a User Generated Server Folder
The next category of Shared Folders are user-generated folders such as the Accounting folder we created earlier.
Folders created by the administrator have the ability to be deleted or have sharing disabled/enabled, in addition to having same of the same options as pre-configured folders. Just be aware if you remove a folder, you destroy anything left in it! Fortunately, you'll be asked to check a box that confirms you understand that you're about to kill your data before the server will remove the folder.
Stop Sharing Server Folders
If you decide that you wish to stop sharing a user generated server folder, again it's straightforward. Highlight the folder and select the Stop sharing the folder task. When you stop sharing a folder, note that it will no longer be accessible via the Dashboard, Launchpad or Remote Web Access. But the folder isn't deleted - it remains in place on the server and can be shared again at another time.
While the server folders are the heart of any server, any maintenance required within the Dashboard is rather simple to perform.


title: Virtual ward set to grow due to success

text:
A SO-CALLED virtual ward which has been brought in by Barnsley Hospital, where patients can access care from home and not face lengthy waiting times, is set to be increased in capacity over the winter due to its success.
The innovative hospital-at-home service has been shown to reduce recovery times, as well as easing pressure on wards at the Gawber Road site.
Patients are reviewed daily by the clinical team and the ‘ward round’ may involve a home visit or take place through video technology.
Many virtual wards use technology like apps and medical devices enabling clinical staff to easily check in and monitor the person’s recovery.
In Barnsley, an average of 50 patients per day are receiving treatment via the scheme, with plans to double that figure by next month.
A report said: “In October 2022 we successfully launched virtual ward units that will support those with acute respiratory infections or frailty meaning these people can now receive the care they need safely and conveniently from home.
“The virtual ward provides acute level, consultant-led care in a patient’s preferred place to people who would otherwise require hospital admission.
“We now have on average 50 patients on the virtual ward and will be looking to step up to 100 ‘beds’ by December.”
However, industrial action continues to impact hospital capacity and services, including discharge and routine care.
September saw four days of industrial action, including the first ever joint action by junior doctors and consultants on September 20.
Professor Sir Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, said: “Our world-leading virtual ward programme is a huge leap forward in the way the NHS treats patients enabling them to receive hospital-level care in their own home.
“The NHS is embracing the latest technology, with regular check-ins from local clinicians in daily ‘ward rounds’ while freeing up hospital beds for those that need them most – it is testament to the hard work and dedication of NHS staff across the country that we have delivered on our target and rolled out more than 10,000 virtual ward beds by the end of September.
“We know that industrial action is also continuing to pile pressure on services and impact capacity adding a lot of pressure to hospitals before winter, coming on top of high levels of demand with last month seeing more 999 ambulance calls than any month this year as well as the busiest September ever for A and E attendances, up almost eight per cent on the same month last year.
“But despite this pressure, it is clear from figures that NHS staff are working incredibly hard to deliver for patients with ten per cent more patients coming off the waiting list in August than the same month before the pandemic.”


title: About Rush creek realty

text:
About Rush creek realty
Rush Creek Realty: Your Gateway to Southwest Wisconsin Real Estate
Are you looking for a slice of paradise in the heart of Southwest Wisconsin? Look no further than Rush Creek Realty, your go-to source for river and bluff property, hunting land, log cabins, country homes, retirement properties, and investment opportunities.
At Rush Creek Realty, we specialize in helping our clients find their dream properties in some of the most beautiful areas of Wisconsin. Whether you're looking for a peaceful retreat away from the hustle and bustle of city life or an investment opportunity that will yield long-term returns, we have something to suit every need.
Our team is made up of experienced real estate professionals who are passionate about helping our clients achieve their goals. We understand that buying or selling a property can be a daunting task - that's why we're here to guide you through every step of the process. From initial consultations to closing deals and beyond, we'll be with you every step of the way.
One thing that sets us apart from other real estate agencies is our commitment to providing personalized service. We take the time to get to know each client on an individual basis so that we can tailor our services to meet their unique needs. Whether you're a first-time buyer or an experienced investor, we'll work closely with you to ensure that your experience with us is as smooth and stress-free as possible.
Another key factor in our success is our deep knowledge of Southwest Wisconsin real estate. Our team has years of experience working in this region and has developed strong relationships with local property owners and investors. This gives us access to some truly exceptional properties - many of which are not available through other agencies.
So if you're ready to start exploring all that Southwest Wisconsin has to offer when it comes to real estate opportunities, look no further than Rush Creek Realty. Contact us today for more information about how we can help make your dreams a reality!


title: It’s time to MOVE

text:
It’s time to MOVE
GERMANY is the goal
is the YEAR.
It’s that time again were young Zimbabweans are looking for the next step of their life after finishing CAMBRIDGE and Zimsec exams. Some have completed various other academic milestones and would like to further their skills. We are ready and set to begin the journey with you in the new year.
Discover a world of opportunities with our new A1 German classes at Die Deutsche Schule Harare! Kickstart your year by learning the language that opens doors to lucrative apprenticeships, job prospects and university opportunities in the federal republic of Germany . As Germany boasts one of the highest paying labor markets globally, mastering German is a resolution worth making. In 2023 alone, we successfully sent hundreds of individuals on their path to success, and we’re confident in achieving this again in 2024. Don’t miss out on this chance! Enroll now and unlock your future.
Take a look below at the prerequisites of the various apprenticeship programs and choose the one that suits you : https://en.life-in-germany.de/list-of-apprenticeships-in…/
University education is FREE in Germany . UNBELIEVABLE. Take a look at various public universities across the whole country and analyze the university entry requirements before selecting your preferred university and program. Below is a list with over 400 Universities :
NOTE: Registration for this class started late November 2023 and is already 55% full. Places will be reserved for those who register before the year 2023 ends. Do not be discouraged if you miss out.
Check the calendar on our website: www.deutscheschule.co.zw and REGISTER online


title: Landscape herbarium

text:
While I was on a residency in Tuscany every day I would walk around the village through the forests by the river. In the process of reconnecting with nature, I observed as the landscape changes every day with wind, rain, sun or time. The residency became a sort of a pilgrimage of my own with the vast nature serving as a guide for introspection.
The work combines photography and cyanotypes to create a visual plant map. In travels around the region, I have accumulated various plants, some very typical such as an olive tree or rosemary but also lesser know sorts and common weeds.
Extracted from their natural habitat, plants were transferred to cotton paper using the method of cyanotype. Originally used to make architectural blueprints, this technique allows for a systematic and encyclopedic approach as every plant needs to be picked, stored, flattened and then transferred before it wilts. These reproductions of plants are then juxtaposed against the black-and-white landscapes depicting the environment from which the plant has been extracted. The work also features earth cyanotype which was made by burying the paper into the ground on the premises of the house where I lived for a month.
In gathering plants and photographing the encountered scenes I tried to rekindle a simpler approach to the medium of photography. As I collected and appropriated parts of the landscape I created a visual diary of my journey, a sort of a personal herbarium.
This work was made during Dr. Éva Kahan Residency.


title: What we do

text:
Welcome to Clipping Path Artist. We offer simple clear – cut image post production services, Pre-Media solutions including clipping paths, Image masks, removing background, image retouching and everything in the middle. Our skilled teams process the images with consistency and quality at the realistic price.
Have many names for it, isolating an image from its background using a clipping path or a mask is key to delivering a great looking image. A mask or Clipping Path allows you greater control of your image for using them. Clipping Path Artist provides hand drawn clipping paths and masks with the highest standard of accuracy and quality.
If you need your images on a white background, we will do that for you too! Please let us know if you require removing the background service.
Clipping Path Artist retouching teams are experienced on working across different types of images from product across jewelry to fashion. Depending on your necessities we can spend anything from a few minutes cleaning up an image to spend a few hours doing extensive retouching.
Our expert retouch team work across a combine of different images for all tastes. Clipping Path Artist team are experts at delivering great looking images, our Retouch Specialists working across Consumer Products through fashion and beauty to high – end luxury goods.
Amazon reseller or best spoke ecommerce shop owner we have an adapted way out for your image post production. Clipping Path Artist updated service ensures that you get a cost effective solution to bring great looking images to your website.
If you need one or more of our services as above or a custom service including image resizing, cropping and positioning to deliver that consistent look and feel, talk to our workflow specialist to talk about your needs.
You can easily upload/download any quantity or size of files by using File Transfer Protocol (FTP). We can also prefer another access like your own FTP, WeTransfer, Dropbox etc. Upload your images and submit your job for processing. Clipping Path Artist customer support team is available to deal with any inquiries about your job. Our standard service period is usually 24 hour. Further services levels are available on request.
To talk about your workflow and necessities request to contact our workflow specialist. Click Here
Clipping Path Artist is a great solution for client of all sizes and types.If you looking for a confident post production partner to save the day, whether you have 1 or 1,000 images we have the daily capacity to deliver your projects confidently.


title: Govt considers publishing names of persons who fail to self report

text:
Minister of Health and Wellness, Dr. the Hon. Christopher Tufton, says the Government is considering publishing the names of persons who arrived in the country between March 18 and 23 and have failed to report to the Ministry.
“We are just looking at one aspect of the law to ensure that we are on good grounds to do that. I certainly support that because I think it is a national imperative; it is a public health issue that is of utmost importance,” he said.
Dr. Tufton was responding to questions from Opposition Spokesperson on Health, Dr. Morais Guy, during a Special Select Committee meeting to review developments relating to COVID-19, at Gordon House on April 2.
The Government has issued an Order for all persons who came into the island between March 18 and 23, to report using the website jamcovid19.moj.gov.jm or call 888 ONE-LOVE to provide the information required.
The Order, as well, makes it mandatory for persons to self-quarantine for 14 days starting from the date of their arrival.
Persons could face fines of up to $1 million or 12 months imprisonment under the Disaster Risk Management Act for failure to adhere to the Order.
Dr. Tufton said that a contact list is being collated from information placed on forms that persons were asked to complete, but noted that the Ministry is having difficulty deciphering some of the details on the forms.
“I’ve seen some of those forms; very few people actually put an address that is legible… or the right address. So what is happening now is that we have had to take those forms and literally go through them, and it reflects the changes that may be required going forward in terms of automation of this information where persons use the electronic filing,” he noted.
Dr. Tufton said that following discussions with the Minister of National Security, the police and public health personnel are now engaged in contacting these individuals.
In addition to 888-ONE-LOVE, persons can contact the Ministry of Health and Wellness with COVID-19 concerns by calling 888-754-7792, 876-542-5998, 876-542-6007, 876-542- 6006 and 876-542-5998.


title: The holy grail of structural biology

text:
04/13/2021 | Trends
For decades, the computational prediction of 3D structures of proteins has been considered the Holy Grail of structural biology. Progress was moderate. Now, advanced computing is finally making difference. The impact will be huge.
Imagine that you have a chain made of 100 links of different sizes, and some of these links are magnetic. Others bear a patch of Velcro® tape. If you let this chain tumble down on the floor – would you be able to predict the shape of the heap and where which link would end up?
That is, in a nutshell, the problem scientists face when trying to predict the structure of proteins. Proteins are the building blocks and the machinery of cells. They consist of amino acids, some of which can form bonds with each other beyond the two-dimensional sequence within the protein. As “form dictates function” is the axiom of molecular biology, the elucidation of the resulting three-dimensional structures of proteins is key to understanding their biological functions: mode of action studies in drug discovery, the engineering of binding properties or enzymatic activities – all modern medical and biotechnical applications depend on accurate structural information.
During the past 100 years, powerful experimental methods have been developed to analyse the 3D structure of proteins: X-ray crystallography, nuclear magnetic resonance (n.m.r.) spectroscopy, and recently, cryo-electron microscopy have matured to high levels of performance. However, they suffer from inherent limitations, and some methods, crystallography with synchrotron beams in particular, come with a chilling price-tag. The experiments require a lot of lengthy, tedious work – and luck, starting with the preparation of the material. The crystallisation of proteins is a major bottleneck usually requiring an artist‘s skills and patience, sometimes over years. Numerous proteins, mostly found in cell membranes, refuse to crystallise at all. Fortunately, recent cryo-EM methods can bypass this barrier.
Computationally predicting the correct 3D structures of proteins from their aminoacid sequences would be the ideal method. It has been considered the Holy Grail of structural biology for decades and would certainly be a huge boon to life sciences and drug discovery. Unfortunately, it is a very hard scientific problem owing to the literally infinitely large number of possible conformations on equal energy levels. Consequently, the advancements have been moderate despite increasing computing power and a growing stream of structural data.
The biennial Critical Assessment of Techniques for Protein Structure Prediction (CASP) contest has been monitoring the progress in the field since 1994. Scoring the median accuracy of structures predicted by the leading software solutions, the benchmarks never exceeded a threshold of 40 in the Global Distance Test (GDT), whose values range from 0 to 100, representing the percentage of amino acid residues within a threshold distance from the correct position. A GDT score of 90 and above is considered to be competitive with experimental methods of protein structure elucidation.
In 2018, Deep Mind’s AlphaFold software entered the 2016-18 competition and raised the bar to about 60. In November 2020, the latest version achieved a median score of 92.4 across all targets and a median score of 87.0 for the very hardest protein targets from the “free modelling” category.
For the first time, software generally achieved the accuracy levels of the experimental methods. Besides the fact that computing took only a few days, this achievement marks a sensational breakthrough that many scientists expected never to happen during their lifetime. The impact will be huge: Theoretically, several millions of protein sequences stored in genome data bases could be structurally analyzed, far exceeding the 160,000 structures stored in the Protein Data Bank (PDB) that have been collected since 1971. Novel proteins from pathogens, for example, could be studied almost immediately, accelerating drug discovery to unknown speed, and the development of biocatalysts would benefit enormously from the availability of the 3D structures of the variants of an enzyme.
A full research paper is expected to be published in the first half of 2021, but the company has already provided an overview. A folded protein can be thought of as a “spatial graph”, with nodes representing residues and edges connecting the residues in close proximity. It is essential for understanding the physical interactions within proteins as well as as their evolutionary history. The latest version of AlphaFold is an attention-based neural network system attempting to interpret the structure of this graph while “reasoning” over the implicit graph it is building. Evolutionarily related sequences, multiple sequence alignment, and a representation of amino acid residue pairs are used to refine it. The system iteratively develops strong predictions of the underlying physical structure of the protein resulting in highly accurate structures. Using an internal confidence measure, the software can also predict the reliability of partial structures. The system was trained on the 160,000 publicly available protein structures from the Protein Data Bank together with a large number of protein sequences of unknown structure. It used sixteen third-generation tensor processing units (TPUv3s) designed for machine learning computations and roughly equivalent to the performance of 100 to 200 graphic processor units (GPUs) used in PCs.
The rational de novo design of proteins with desired functions in silico is the logical next step, which may possibly take decades once again. However, its eventual integration into an in silico workflow of strain development by metabolic engineering, genome synthesis and computational bioprocess development will certainly mark the era of completely digital biotechnology.”
Dr Karsten Schürrle is a bioeconomy expert and spokesman at DECHEMA e.V. He coordinates the activities of several working groups from DECHEMA’s biotechnology division, e.g. bioinformatics, synthetic biology and chemical biology, and is involved in publicly funded research projects.
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title: Gpu dedicated server

text:
Harness the power of our world-class NVIDIA GPU dedicated servers that guarantee fast-paced speed, security and maximum availability of your demanding applications. So why wait? Pick the best priced GPU dedicated server hosting for your requirements now!
We highly appreciate the kind and stellar feedback from our customers immensely.
A dedicated data center GPU for visual computing, offering real-time ray tracing, AI acceleration, and multi-workload flexibility. Ideal for professional visualization and demanding creative applications.
The NVIDIA A100 is a versatile GPU excelling in AI, HPC, and data analytics. It has the ability to partition into multiple instances for flexible workload management with massive parallelism and faster interconnection.
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Deliver unmatched performance, scalability and security for your demanding applications with our cheap GPU dedicated server plans.
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Experience the power of our GPU servers, featuring Intel Xeon processors, top-tier security, and customizable options to meet your specific needs.
As the name implies, GPU servers are computers that are loaded with graphics cards and take advantage of massive processing capabilities. Performance can be enhanced by the CPU outsourcing some operations to the GPUs.
A GPU server is basically a type of computing service that has a GPU card that provides fast, flexible computing and a highly stable environment. It’s basically used in different scenarios like Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, deep learning, decoding, scientific computing, etc.
In the world of supercomputers, GPU is really popular, yet it utilizes the conventional concept of parallel processing. The GPU breaks big tasks into small tasks and functions on them in one go, however, unlike the CPU, that appears to work on a sequence of tasks. CPU can handle fewer tasks at a time, while GPU can handle several concurrent tasks at a time. Thus, GPUs offer a higher level of latency than GPUs. It’s the best option to host resource-intensive applications.
GPU-equipped machines create less strain on the power supplies because they require less power to do the same activities. In some applications, a GPU can process data as quickly as possible. It can help to process massively parallel tasks.
Our GPU dedicated servers support both Linux and Windows operating systems. You can choose the operating systems according to your requirements and we will install them for you. Here is the list.
At MilesWeb, we offer top-tier GPU dedicated server hosting and GPU cloud server, perfect for running AI, ML, AR, deep learning, and other applications that require high computing power. GPU dedicated servers can perform concurrent tasks at the same time. Additionally, we have ISO-certified Tier-4 data centers that result in massive performance with guaranteed 99.9% uptime for your heavy web applications.
Here are some more reasons for choosing us:
We make use of Intel Xeon processors on our GPU-based servers. The Intel_Xeon processors are super-fast and they help to boost the performance of resource-intensive workloads.
Yes, at MilesWeb all of our GPU dedicated servers are customizable. This means you have complete freedom to modify your server configurations, install or delete applications, install the software you need, and perform many more such tasks.
The GPU-based dedicated servers are highly beneficial. With top-speed GPUs for deep learning and graphic processing capabilities, you will get the below benefits with it.
If you have the right hardware, you can have multiple GPUs in a server. A server can have up to eight graphics processing units (GPUs). Using it, you can improve the performance of the server for graphical tasks, such as editing images and videos.
Yes, at MilesWeb, we offer instant account setup without any long delays. Once you place the order, and the payment is confirmed, our team will take care of the GPU server setup.
The GPU dedicated server price cloud GPU server pricing ranges according to the configurations you prefer. Our plans start at a very competitive price with robust hardware specs that will boost your applications' performance.
The need for GPU dedicated servers is essential to run resources-intensive tasks like video editing, and quick access to high-definition images. Such tasks require graphic cards and a high amount of server resources. Hence, GPU is used over there.
In general cases, you won’t get GPU for dedicated servers because those are configured only for enterprise purposes. However, if you want to run high-end tasks like running AI/ML applications, image processing, and others, MilesWeb offers you optimum GPU dedicated server plans.
Yes, GPUs can process multiple pieces of data at once, which makes them helpful for applications like machine learning, video editing, and Android emulators like Memu.
Bluestacks is an Android emulator to make mobile-friendly applications run on a computer. GPU dedicated servers have graphic cards and relevant configurations. So, the answer is yes, that BlueStacks runs on our GPU servers.


title: Pyramid 5 + Presponse SQ 50ds

text:
Pyramid 5 + Presponse SQ 50ds
Boehringer Ingelheim- For vaccination of healthy dairy or beef cattle as an aid in the prevention of disease caused by bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine virus diarrhea (Types I and II), bovine parainfluenza-3, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and Mannheimia haemolytica
For vaccination of healthy dairy or beef cattle as an aid in the prevention of disease caused by bovine rhinotracheitis virus, bovine virus diarrhea (Types I and II), bovine parainfluenza-3, bovine respiratory syncytial virus and Mannheimia haemolytica
This product aids in the prevention of persistent BVD Type I and Type II infection of the fetal calf when it is used subcutaneously in the cow or heifer 30 to 60 days pre-breeding. This vaccine may be used in pregnant cows or calves nursing pregnant cows provided the cows were vaccinated pre-breeding, according to label instructions, with Pyramid 5, Pyramid 10, or Pyramid 2 + Type II BVD (see inside carton for details). This product contains BVD Types I and II.
FEATURES / BENEFITS
MetaStim Adjuvant allows the animal’s immune system to create a greater response to the vaccine offering the animal better protection and you peace of mind.
Single dose vaccine means less labor and stress on the animals.
Safe for use on pregnant animals and calves nursing pregnant dams provided they were vaccinated at least once before breeding and within the last 12 months.
Cattle, inject one 2 mL dose subcutaneously using aseptic technique. Protect animals from exposure for at least 14 days after vaccination. Calves vaccinated under 6 months of age should be revaccinated at 6 months of age. Healthy cattle should be vaccinated a minimum of 14 days prior to shipping or exposure to stress which may precipitate infectious conditions.
For viral fractions, annual revaccination with Pyramid® 5 is recommended. For Mannheimia haemolytica, although only a single dose is necessary to confer immunity, a booster dose with Presponse® SQ is recommended whenever subsequent stress is likely. w/d 21 days


title: Swym wishlist

text:
Split your purchase of into 4 with no sign-up fees or no late fees.
PayPal Pay in 4 is available for eligible purchases. It’s available to Australian residents with an Australian PayPal account. Eligibility is subject to your PayPal account status and a credit assessment, which may require a credit check. Pay in 4 is a form of credit, so consider whether you can afford the repayments as use of the product may impact your credit score.
Interest free payment plans by Latitude
To be eligible, approved customers must spend over the advertised minimum spend for the plan on products and services in a single transaction in store or online. Excludes eBay. Excludes Gift Cards, Apple, Miele, Asko, Neff, Bertazzoni, Smeg Portafino & Smeg Refrigeration, La Germania and AEG products. If there is an outstanding balance after the interest free period ends, interest will be charged at the Expired Promotional Purchase Rate, currently 29.99% p.a. (subject to change). Interest may also apply to other credit card transactions or if you do not comply with the T&Cs. Conditions of use set out the T&Cs of the Latitude Gem Visa credit card. Credit provided by Latitude Finance Australia ABN 42 008 583 588 Australian Credit Licence number 392145. Refer to product website via www.latitudefinancial.com.au/credit-cards/ for more information on conditions, fees and charges.
Not all payment plans are available online.
Equal monthly repayment plans
Approved customers only. Equal monthly payments (Instalment Interest Free Promotion) required (exact amounts specified in your statement). If you fail to make your minimum monthly payment for two consecutive months, you agree that your equal monthly payment plans (Instalment Interest Free Promotion) with a term of fewer than 33 months will change into a minimum monthly payment plan (Interest Free Promotion) for the remaining duration of the initial plan term.
Minimum monthly repayment plans
Approved customers only. Monthly payments required (exact amounts specified in your statement). Paying only the minimum monthly payment will not pay out the purchase before the end of the plan.
Monthly payments must be made during the promotional period. Paying only the minimum monthly payment will not pay out the purchase before the end of the plan. At the end of the plan, interest will be charged at 29.99% p.a. Account service fee of $10.95 per month applies.
New customers must apply & be approved for a Latitude Gem Visa credit card.
Available on the above participating Latitude credit cards only.


title: My experience with online learning tools

text:
- Online learning tools provide flexibility and cater to various learning styles, enriching the educational experience through personalization.
- The EU’s guidance ensures quality and accessibility in education, fostering cooperation and innovation among institutions.
- Key features valued in online learning tools include adaptability, effective communication, and progress tracking through analytical tools.
- Creating a dedicated learning space and setting specific goals can significantly enhance focus and productivity in online learning.
Understanding online learning tools
Online learning tools have transformed the way we access education, offering flexibility and a wealth of resources. I remember the first time I stumbled upon a platform that allowed me to learn at my own pace; it felt liberating. Have you ever felt overwhelmed by rigid schedules? These tools remove that pressure and provide a personal learning journey.
I find that each tool serves a different purpose, catering to various learning styles and preferences. For instance, while some students thrive on interactive quizzes, I personally benefit more from visual learning through videos. Does that resonate with your experiences? Reflecting on how I learn best has helped me choose the right tools, turning my education into a tailored experience.
Moreover, the community aspect of online learning tools can’t be overlooked. Engaging in forums or study groups has introduced me to diverse perspectives that I wouldn’t encounter in a traditional classroom. When was the last time you had a rich discussion with someone from a different part of the world? This interaction not only enriches our knowledge but also fosters a sense of belonging in the vast online education landscape.
Importance of EU guidance
The guidance provided by the EU plays a crucial role in standardizing educational practices across member countries. I remember attending a workshop where EU guidelines on digital education were discussed. It highlighted how these frameworks ensure quality and accessibility, enabling learners from different backgrounds to access the same high standard of courses. Have you ever wondered how these standards impact your own learning experiences?
Navigating the complexities of online learning can be daunting, and that’s where EU guidance becomes invaluable. I often reflect on my own journey, where clear guidelines helped me avoid pitfalls in selecting reliable resources. When I discovered the EU’s initiatives to support both educators and learners, it felt empowering – like having a trusted map in a vast and uncharted territory. Don’t you think having a reliable compass can make all the difference?
Furthermore, the resources and support from the EU foster cooperation between institutions, encouraging innovation in teaching methods. I recall a project I participated in that emphasized collaboration across borders, inspired by EU principles. It made me appreciate the collective effort to enhance education for everyone. Have you ever been part of something that feels bigger than yourself? That sense of shared purpose is incredibly motivating and showcases the importance of EU guidance in enriching our learning environments.
Overview of popular online tools
When exploring online learning tools, it’s impossible to ignore platforms like Moodle and Google Classroom. I remember my first experience with Moodle, and it was enlightening to see how it offered a customizable interface that tailored to different learning needs. Have you ever thought about how personalization can enhance your learning journey? These tools not only streamline course management but also foster an interactive environment where feedback is immediate.
Then there’s Microsoft Teams, which has become a go-to for real-time collaboration. I found it particularly useful for group projects during my online courses. The ability to share documents and brainstorm ideas simultaneously felt like we were right there in the same room. Isn’t it fascinating how technology can break down barriers that distance imposes? The synergy of conversation and collaboration makes learning not just informative but truly engaging.
Lastly, I can’t overlook the impact of platforms like Coursera and edX, which connect learners to world-class institutions. I once enrolled in a course from a leading university through Coursera, and it blew my mind how accessible high-caliber education became. Have you ever imagined what it would be like to learn directly from experts worldwide? The flexibility of learning at your own pace, paired with the opportunity to earn certificates from respected institutions, creates a unique blend of motivation and aspiration.
Key features I valued most
When I think of the key features I valued most in online learning tools, adaptability often comes to mind. I remember a course I took that allowed me to adjust the pace based on my understanding, which was a game-changer. Isn’t it empowering to have the choice to dive deeper into complex topics when you need it?
Another standout feature for me was the ease of communication among peers and instructors. I still recall late-night discussions with classmates over chat features that felt less formal and more like friendly banter. Did you ever feel like online discussions helped you build a more personal connection with your peers? I certainly did, and it made all the difference in creating a supportive learning environment.
Lastly, the analytical tools for tracking progress truly resonated with me. I loved seeing my improvements visualized through dashboards and feedback metrics. Have you experienced that satisfying feeling of seeing how far you’ve come? It not only motivated me to keep pushing forward but also gave me a sense of ownership over my learning journey.
Tips for effective online learning
One of the most effective tips I can share is to create a dedicated learning space. I remember transforming a corner of my living room into a mini-classroom, complete with a desk and good lighting. It made a significant difference in my focus—have you ever noticed how your environment impacts your concentration? Establishing that boundary helped me separate learning from other home activities.
Another key strategy is to set specific goals for each study session. I often found myself getting distracted without clear objectives, but once I started outlining what I wanted to achieve, my productivity soared. How do you keep yourself accountable during online courses? For me, breaking down my tasks and celebrating small victories turned what could have been overwhelming into an engaging challenge.
Don’t underestimate the power of using interactive tools to enhance your learning experience. I vividly recall participating in virtual simulations that challenged my critical thinking skills in a fun way. Have you tried blending traditional study methods with multimedia resources? The variety not only kept me engaged but often brought concepts to life, making the learning process more enjoyable and effective.


title: How to start new brugmansia plants

text:
Brugmansia (broog-MAN-zee-ah), better known as the angel trumpet plant, is a curious genus of 7 species and 2 major hybrids divided into cold type and warm type plants.
Some love the fact that all seven species are extinct in the wild and they’re preserving them, others because of the huge trumpet-shaped flowers that tend to be anywhere from 6 to 15” inches long, while some prefer the increasing types on Brugmansia of cultivars, such as the dwarf cultivars.
But whatever your love for these wonderful perennials, one thing’s certain – having just one is like having an Oreo cookie without the filling.
Angel Trumpet Propagation – How to Propagate Brugmansia
The good news is that brugmansia is pretty easy to propagate.
While mainly done through stem cuttings, you can also use seeds and even air layering to ensure you have more angel trumpets next year.
Two things you will need to know are what a “Y” is and what growth nodes look like.
Growth nodes look like scars, bumps, or even a small green nub of new leaves.
These are necessary for new growth on a plant unless it’s started from seed.
Likewise, the “Y” is a branching of young growth with leaves on either side and usually a bloom growing between.
It’s not to be confused with normal branching of older growth.
Best Method: Stem Cuttings
Brugmansias actually love a lot of pruning, so propagating using your stem cuttings is perhaps the fastest and easiest method out there.
Just be sure to wear protective gloves and goggles, as the sap can be an irritant to most people and harmful to the eyes.
You’ll want to cut a segment 4 to 6” inches long with growth nodes visible.
The cutting will need to be taken at a 45° degree angle when rooting in water.
It’s not necessary for there to be leaves on the cutting, but if there are, you’ll want to strip all but the top 2 to 3 leaves.
While slightly shorter segments can be planted horizontally ¾ of the diameter in soil, this method has a much higher risk of failure and is best left for experienced growers with an adventurous streak.
Fill a 6″ to 8” inch pot with drainage holes with potting soil and moisten it slightly.
Plant the cutting 2” inches deep and firm the soil around it.
You may also wish to create a plastic humidity tent over the cutting to help insulate it.
Keep the plant in a warm, bright spot and check frequently to ensure it stays moist but not wet.
After 2 to 3 weeks, you can give it a gentle tug, with properly rooting plants showing resistance.
After another week or so, you’ll start to see new growth if the rooting was successful, or signs of rot if it failed.
Rooting Angel Trumpets In Water
Add a bit of rooting hormone and put the cutting in a clear jar of fresh, room temperature distilled water immediately.
Place the jar in a warm room with bright, indirect sunlight and change the water every 1 to 2 days.
After a week or two, you’ll see the nubs of new roots appear.
You can transplant to soil once the roots are about 1” inch long or keep it in water for a few more months.
When transplanting, water it heavily at first, giving it less each time until it’s acclimated to a proper amount of water.
Species Only Method: Seeds
This method is best used only with the 7 main species or you’ll get a surprise plant instead of the one you harvested from.
You can optionally remove the corklike outer casing to speed germination.
Soak the seeds in a glass of distilled water with 1 tablespoon hydrogen peroxide for 10 minutes to kill any bacteria or fungi.
Use a sterile potting soil or equal mix of peat and coarse sand, gently pressing the seeds into the soil but not covering them.
That little bit of light exposure (and keeping the soil lightly damp) can help speed germination, and you should clearly mark the parent plant in case you get a surprise.
The seedlings will germinate in 2 to 4 weeks (they’ll usually shed the casing on their own, but may need some gentle help if the casing doesn’t fall off).
Place in their own pots once they’ve developed their second set of leaves.
Adventurous Method: Air Layering
It’s rare to use air layering on non epiphytes, but brugmansias are a fun exception.
Not only can air layering be enjoyable to watch, but it can allow you to bring part of your tree indoors for winter and possibly have two plants come spring.
Locate a part of the trunk with growth nodes and measure down approximately 24 to 30” inches below a “Y”.
Cut a small, diagonal notch in the bark and wrap a peat pot around the incision (just cut a hole in the bottom and a slit down the side), adding some rooting hormone to the incision.
Fill the pot with peat moss or potting soil and wrap it all in clear plastic wrap. You may need to tape the bottom of the wrap if the pot tries to slide.
Keep the soil evenly moist and you’ll begin to see roots in a couple weeks.
Once the roots are clearly visible, remove the plastic wrap and cut the branch just below the peat pot.
Place the peat pot in a regular pot and fill around it with potting mix, then place in a spot with light shade until the plant has established itself.
If you did this close to the base of the tree, you can cover the stump in a thick layer of mulch for the winter and it might grow back, giving you an extra plant.
You can air layer more than one branch for multiple new plants, and while you can use a plastic pot, peat pots make it easier to observe the root development and will eventually degrade into the soil once placed in a larger pot.