title: Quark matter 2014 news from alice

text:
The new results shown by the ALICE collaboration at the Quark Matter 2014 conference in Darmstadt focus principally on the most recent collisions at the LHC – those of protons and lead nuclei (pPb) performed towards the end of Run 1 in early 2013. Planned mainly as a control experiment for studies of deconfined matter in lead–lead (PbPb) collisions, the pPb run in fact revealed tantalizing possibilities for studying collective phenomena in small systems, but with exceedingly-high-energy densities. This subject, already tackled in several theoretical papers, featured at the conference. Having already published interesting results on flow-like correlations measured via the azimuthal emission patterns of particles, ALICE presented a host of results on particle correlations, extending out to mesons containing charm quarks (D mesons).
The initial-state effects (gluon shadowing) are studied in pPb collisions via the nuclear modification factor, which quantifies the measurement in nuclear collisions with respect to that in pp collisions scaled by the corresponding number of binary collisions. Its dependence on transverse momentum (pT) for inclusive charged-particle production, already obtained with the data of the pilot pPb run of 2012 has been extended up to pT of 50 GeV/c (figure 1). The data support the binary-collision scaling up to the highest measured pT and confirm the predictions from saturation/shadowing models.
ALICE has obtained results for a variety of hadron species, including charmed and beauty hadrons (directly identified or studied via their decays into electrons or muons), as figure 2 shows. An enhancement at pT values around 5 GeV/c – known from measurements at lower energies as the “Cronin effect” – is found for protons and observed to depend on the “centrality” of the collision. For all hadrons, binary-collision scaling is fulfilled at high pT in pPb collisions. By contrast, in PbPb collisions, the measured suppression of hadron production is an indication of strong interactions within the hot and dense medium (or jet quenching, measured also with reconstructed jets).
Studies of Bose–Einstein pion correlations with two and three pions demonstrate that, in pPb collisions, the size of the system at freeze-out is closer to that in pp collisions than to PbPb, for events with the same particle multiplicities.
ALICE has also found that the ψ(2S) charmonium state is more suppressed in pPb, compared with expectations from the scaling of production in pp collisions, than its lower-mass sibling J/ψ. No convincing theoretical explanation has been put forward, but the ALICE results might imply a final-state effect, possibly owing to deconfined matter in pPb collisions.
Another interesting measurement presented in Darmstadt is the dependence of open-charm hadrons (D mesons) and charmonium production on the multiplicity measured in pPb collisions.
The interpretation of the above results is complicated by the observation in ALICE that the connection between experimental observables and collision geometry (the impact parameter) is much more complex in pPb collisions than in PbPb. A comprehensive study performed with data on charged-particle production illustrates this, and is likely to imply further challenges to theory: not the geometry, but the “event activity” in terms of the hadron multiplicity in a given region of rapidity will need to be properly modelled in theoretical descriptions of pPb collisions.
Lastly, the pPb data allowed for a first measurement ever in ALICE – that of W-boson production, performed at forward and backward rapidities with triggered data from the muon spectrometer.
The results for PbPb collisions also span a range of observables. A comprehensive study of hadron production was presented, with comparisons across systems, PbPb, pPb, and pp, as well as with measurements at Brookhaven’s Relativistic Heavy-Ion Collider (RHIC). Comparison of hadron abundances in PbPb collisions with thermal-model calculations lead to a temperature value lower than that extracted from data from RHIC. Some distinct discrepancies between model and data, like that for protons, have been a hot subject of discussion for some time. Those notwithstanding, the measured hadron abundances are, remarkably, predicted by the thermal model at chemical freeze-out (figure 3). The new ALICE data on (hyper)nuclei extend this conclusion to weakly-bound systems, such as the deuteron or the hypertriton.
Insights into collision dynamics are obtained from the analysis of spectra and flow of a variety of hadron species. Among them, the φ meson, containing a strange-antistrange quark pair and with a mass close to that of the proton, plays a prominent role. The data show that it is the mass of the φ meson, and not its quark content, that determines its pT spectrum and flow. The measurement of Υ production in PbPb reveals a rapidity-dependent suppression (figure 4), which finds no explanation in any theoretical model to date. This adds a new facet to the fascinating story of quarkonium in deconfined matter. Here, recent ALICE data on J/ψ agree with the theoretical understanding of charmonium production via (re)generation mechanisms at the chemical freeze-out or during the whole lifetime of the deconfined system.
The new measurement of the nuclear modification factor of electrons from beauty-hadron decays is a first step in ALICE into the sector of b-quark energy loss. ALICE has also performed the first measurement of coherent ψ(2S) photoproduction in ultra-peripheral PbPb collisions. Albeit not directly a “Quark Matter” topic, this is a relevant measurement because it constrains parton shadowing in the colliding nuclei. Another premiere is the first measurement of particle-type jet fragmentation at hadron colliders, achieved in pp collisions in ALICE with pions, kaons, and protons up to pT = 20 GeV/c.
A host of other results in PbPb collisions, covering jets, particle production and flow, and quarkonia – some already submitted for publication – mark the Quark Matter 2014 conference as a milestone in the ALICE physics output.


tier: cub

shelf: software-docs

title: New version of imuler trojan horse masquerades as image files

text:
Intego has discovered a new version of the Imuler Trojan horse, which the company first discovered in September, 2011. At the time, the sample discovered masqueraded as a PDF file containing Chinese text. This was not found in the wild, and the risk was considered to be low.
The latest version, Imuler.C, has been found to be disguised as image files. Intego found two samples of this malware on the VirusTotal website, a site used by security companies to share malware samples. Two samples were found, both in zip archives: “Pictures and the Ariticle of Renzin Dorjee.zip” and “FHM Feb Cover Girl Irina Shayk H-Res Pics.zip.” In both cases, an application was included among the various files, with an icon making it look like an image:
This technique is not new, and takes advantage of a default setting in the Mac OS X Finder, whereby file extensions are not displayed. Users double-clicking on the application launch the malware, which quickly deletes itself, replacing the original application with a real JPEG image corresponding to the one that was an application, and displays this image in the user’s default image viewer. There is no visible trace of the application after this point.
The malware installs a backdoor at /tmp/.mdworker, along with other files in this directory. A process called .mdworker then launches; the mdworker process (not the absence of the . before the name) is a processed used by Spotlight to index files.
A launchagent file is also installed at ~/library/LaunchAgents/checkvir.plist, along with an executable in the same folder, ensuring that the malware launches when the user logs into his or her Mac, or starts it up. After a restart, the .mdworker process is deleted, and the checkvir executable launches.
This malware searches for user data, and attempts to upload it to a server. It also takes screenshots and sends them to the server. It creates a unique identifier for the specific Mac to be able to link the Mac and the data it collects. We have seen that this malware is active, as it connects to a remote server and downloads new executables.
For now, Intego has not found this malware in the wild, and considers the risk to be low for now. However, we recommend that Mac users display file extensions in the Finder’s Advanced preferences:
Intego VirusBarrier X6 with malware definitions dated March 15, 2012, or later protect against the Imuler.C malware.


shelf: health

title: Colorado residents vote to legalize statewide prostitution

text:
“Potter and I wrote the amendment at a bachelor party as a joke, we were both pretty drunk and at the time and it was getting annoying proving to the girls we weren’t cops,” said Rep. Brian Brown. “Apparently, though, the people have spoken – or in this case voted, and amendment P-69 has legalized prostitution in the great state of Colorado. The only two possibilities are the name of the amendment was deceiving and people had no idea what they were voting for, or 87% of Coloradan’s are in favor or prostitution. This is why I urged people not to vote stoned.”
It’s going to nice not having to worry about getting arrested anymore. One of my friends is getting t-shirts made that say, ‘I’m a Prostitute – ask for prices!'” said working girl Havana Humphrey. “Me, I’m going to set up a business in my house, it will be just like a doctor’s office with a waiting room and magazines, except instead of anal probes and cancer screenings, we’ll give blowjobs. Actually, on second thought, we’ll give anal probes, too. That costs extra though.”
“I had no idea, amendment P-69 sounded good, I mean ‘freedom,’ ‘work,’ – those are good things, right?” asked Wilma Wilson, an 89-year-old retired nurse.”I had no idea it was about prostitution, this state is going to hell in a hand basket, I tell ya. First the marijuana and now this – what’s next, public nudity? I’m packing up and moving to Florida where people still have some good sense.”


shelf: finance

title: February 18, 2016 - 07:30 am (CET)

text:
February 18, 2016 - 07:30 am (CET)
- OMV Executive Board presents new strategy
- Safeguarding cash flow, sustainable Upstream business, highly competitive Downstream Oil division, restructured Downstream Gas business
Today, the OMV Executive Board presents the company´s new strategic focus for the coming years: "Over the past months we have carefully examined the company´s situation and the upcoming challenges. We are making OMV fit for a volatile market and fit for the future. The key steps have already been initiated:"
The priorities for the company in the coming years are as follows: Safeguarding cash flow, a sustainable resource base in the Upstream business, a further increase in competitiveness in the Downstream Oil division and restructuring the Downstream Gas business. The goal behind every project is an improved profitability.
Safeguarding cash flow
The company has multiple options available for strengthening cash flow. OMV CEO Rainer Seele: “This will be applied across the board – for investments, exploration expenditure and operating costs. No target is in place for headcount reductions, but we cannot rule this out completely”. Investments will take a further fall to EUR 2.4 bn, marking an anticipated reduction of around 40 percent in 2016 against 2014, the most recent year of high oil prices. This will be coupled with a drastic cut in expenditure for exploration and appraisal: A reduction of around 60 percent from 2014 to 2017, from EUR 700 mn to EUR 300 mn. In addition, there will be further cost-cutting and efficiency enhancement measures which are set to yield around EUR 300 mn by 2017 compared to 2014. The overriding goal is to stabilize cash flow. We will generate additional funds by selling non-strategic assets. We have announced the sale of a minority stake of up to 49 percent in the regulated pipeline business Gas Connect Austria and the divestment of up to 100 percent of the Turkish subsidiary OMV Petrol Ofisi. It has not been possible to build up an integrated business in Turkey since initiating the takeover of OMV Petrol Ofisi in 2006.
The goal of all of these measures is to generate a broadly neutral free cash flow after dividends.
Sustainable Upstream business
"OMV has taken initiative to become more efficient with regards to costs and investments. We are the operator in more than 70 percent of our portfolio", said OMV CEO Rainer Seele. "The strategy of ramping up production volume at any price no longer holds. We are focusing on highly profitable barrels. What this means is that profitability has priority over production growth." Until 2020, 90 to 95 percent of upstream investment will go to maintaining production at around 300,000 boe per day and, should the political situation allow, in reviving production in Libya and Yemen. The remaining 5 to 10 percent has been earmarked for the investment project Achimov IV and V in Russia. "Our goal is to make OMV’s upstream portfolio sustainable; this means that we replace in full the reserves that we produce." The core regions are Austria and Romania, the North Sea as well as Middle East and Africa.
The main development regions are Russia, the United Arab Emirates and Iran. The planned asset-swap with Gazprom, which will enable us to access the production in the cost-efficient Urengoy field, should establish Russia as an additional core region by 2020. On the basis of current data we will acquire additional reserves of approx. 600 million boe - this is equivalent to more than five times the OMV production of the year 2015. Additional prospects are currently emerging in Iran. Furthermore, OMV is intensifying its close cooperation with its Abu-Dhabi-based core shareholder IPIC. There are additional prospects in Abu Dhabi, on top of the joint Shuwaihat project with ADNOC. These two options, Middle East and Russia are our strategic response to the question, how we will fully and sustainably replace our reserves in the future.
Highly competitive Downstream Oil division, restructured Downstream Gas business
"A lot has been achieved in the Downstream Oil business thanks to the restructuring which has already been implemented", said CEO Rainer Seele. "The priority now is to build on this division’s strong competitiveness". Downstream Oil will continue to serve as a cash generator. The focus is on optimal capacity utilization of the refineries.
On the other hand, Downstream Gas restructuring has started: The planned full takeover of EconGas should lead to a streamlining of structures and to a significant increase of gas sales volumes. Furthermore, OMV continues to be committed to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project. CEO Seele: “With Nord Stream 2 we are investing in a project with an attractive, non-regulated return, which increases security of supply to Europe”. This is also linked to strengthening Gas Connect Austria, as a large share of the gas which comes via Nord Stream 2 to Europe will be distributed via the Baumgarten gas hub. These measures to restructure the business will position Downstream Gas for a successful future.
With Group sales of EUR 23 bn and a workforce of around 24,100 employees in 2015, OMV Aktiengesellschaft is one of Austria’s largest listed industrial companies. In Upstream, OMV focuses on three core regions – CEE (Romania, Austria), North Sea as well as Middle East and Africa – and selected development areas. 2015 daily production stood at approximately 303kboe/d. In Downstream, OMV has an annual refining capacity of 17.8 mn tonnes and approximately 3,800 filling stations in 11 countries as of end of 2015. OMV operates a gas pipeline network in Austria and gas storage facilities in Austria and Germany. In 2015, gas sales volumes amounted to 110 TWh.


shelf: education

title: Podcasts

text:
Mary is reading Leviticus 11:39-47 in the WEB.
Access Pray Every Day every single day on the Pray Every Day App! Not only can you listen, but I’ve created 365 daily devotions you can read as well–all about connecting deeply with Jesus, finding healing, and experiencing His presence. Download the app here:
Or listen to Pray Every Day on your Alexa Skills device! (It’s free too!) Or subscribe here:
March Show Sponsors:
If you’re interested in sponsoring the Pray Every Day Show, click here to learn more.
I am so honored to welcome Chris Morris and his book By Faith as a sponsor for the Pray Every Day Show!
By Faith: Strength and Hope for Life’s Challenges is a 40-day devotional that helps you discover how to cultivate an enduring faith, no matter your trials or hardships. Learn from the examples of the men and women listed in Hebrews 11—those recognized for holding fast to God’s promises despite living in a world of not-yets, what-ifs, and in-betweens.
This devotional is focused on the reality that many of those listed in the so-called Hall of Faith didn’t actually receive all or any of what they were promised. The idea of waiting for the fullness of God’s promises to come to fruition in our lives is very relevant today, and Chris explores this without any hesitation while encouraging us to make our requests for change in our lives to be made known to God.
I am so honored to welcome Kathy Howard as a sponsor for the Pray Every Day Show!
Kathy Howard is a Bible teacher, speaker, and author of 14 books, Bible studies, and devotionals. Her passion is to teach others solid Bible study principles and equip them with practical tools so they can confidently dig into God’s Word for themselves, mine its truths, and eagerly apply those truths to their lives.
Visit Kathy’s website for helpful blogs and a resource page full of FREE Bible study helps and discipleship resources.
I am so honored to welcome back Deeper Still as a sponsor for the Pray Every Day Show!
Deeper Still – There is freedom from the emotional wounds of your abortion
Abortion is devastating and leaves a lasting impact on your heart, but it is not unforgivable. Many believe that they are forgiven, but cannot forgive themselves. Jesus has come to give you freedom from your abortion-wounded heart.
We are here to help you experience that freedom.
Learn more about Deeper Still at deeperstill.org, listen to the podcast, and purchase a copy of Healing the Hurt that Won’t Heal (use code SAVE20 to save 20%).
Join the Movement:
Support Pray Every Day in a tangible way! Click here to become a patron of the show. Thanks to the folks below who have supported Pray Every Day for $10 more a month.


shelf: home-craft

title: Lost Gardening Shoes

text:
Lost Gardening Shoes
Am sooooo embarassed to have sulked in public. And to have broken the first rule of blogging, namely : never, ever write your journal when grumpy. Nobody wants to read about grumpy. Harden up, princess! Accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative, and don't mess with Mister In-Between...
I am re-defining myself as a happy gardener who trips around (not literally) her winter garden and enjoys it. I will take my dogs for a garden walk and find lots of lovely things to photograph. I will even comb all the tangles out of my hair. Aargh! A new me!
This new me will spread twenty bags of freshly delivered horse manure around all the rhododendrons. She will not moan that they are too heavy to handle, too wet and squishy, or too wormy.
Pink Azalea Flowering
She will trim (properly) the huge Phormium by the Stumpy Garden gate. Clip, snip, scissors, bread-knife, whatever it takes. She will not chronicle any digital aches or pains, or mention her sore knee, or give even the slightest hint of being bored. Ha!
Forgot all about the horse manure. Spent a busy hour raking more oak leaves and trimming the Phormiums by the Stumpy Garden. Remembered I was wearing my fancy-pants clothes - oops. Naughty. Changed into GGG (good gardening gear).
Almost immediately it started spitting cold rain, but the new me was undaunted. Sat down in the dirt and sliced down another Phormium at ankle-height (it was splitting apart). Lasted another hour and a half.
Throw the ball...
Threw Winnies's tennis ball over the water. Lost Winnie's tennis ball, which was soiled, dark green, and very slimy - exactly like the garden. Found it again, threw it again, and so on, and so on.
I can do this!
Hey! I can do this! If only to have something superbly positive to write proudly about, hee hee...
And just look at these flowering shrub photographs - the big pink Azalea and the creamy white Camellias by the Sleep-Out. Yeay. Winter in my garden is so beautiful.


shelf: history-culture

title: How democrats and progressives undermined potential biden putin summit

text:
No matter what happens at Wednesday's summit between Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin in Geneva, a grim reality is that Democratic Party leaders have already hobbled its potential to move the world away from the worsening dangers of nuclear war. After nearly five years of straining to depict Donald Trump as some kind of Russian agent—a depiction that squandered vast quantities of messaging without electoral benefits—most Democrats in Congress are now locked into a modern Cold War mentality that endangers human survival.
In the new light of atomic weaponry, Albert Einstein warned against "the outmoded concept of narrow nationalisms." But the concept is flourishing as both parties strive to outdo each other in vilifying Russia as a locus of evil. Rather than coming to terms with the imperative for détente between the two countries that brandish more than 90 percent of the world's nuclear warheads, the Democratic leadership at both ends of Pennsylvania Avenue has been heightening the bilateral tensions that increase the chances of thermonuclear holocaust.
Progressives—who are supposed to oppose the kind of "narrow nationalisms" that Einstein warned against at the dawn of the nuclear age—mostly steered clear of challenging the anti-Russia orthodoxy that emerged as an ostensible way of resisting the horrific Trump presidency.
President Biden has excelled at gratuitous and dangerous rhetoric about Russia. As this spring began, he declared on national television that President Putin is "a killer"—and boasted that he told the Russian leader that he has "no soul" while visiting the Kremlin in 2011. It was a repeat of a boast that Biden could not resist publicly making while he was vice president in 2014 and again while out of office in 2017. Such bombast conveys a distinct lack of interest in genuine diplomacy needed to avert nuclear war.
Meanwhile, what about self-described progressives who see themselves as a counterweight to the Democratic Party establishment? For the most part, they remained silent if not actively portraying Russia as a mortal enemy of the United States. Even renowned antiwar voices in Congress were not immune to party-driven jingoism.
Never mind that the structurally malign forces of corporate America—and the numerous right-wing billionaires heavily invested in ongoing assaults on democracy—appreciated the focus on Russia instead of on their own oligarchic power. And never mind that, throughout the Trump years, the protracted anti-Russia frenzy was often a diversion away from attention to the numerous specific threats to electoral democracy in the United States.
Two years ago, when the Voting Rights Alliance drew up a list of "61 Forms of Voter Suppression," not one of those forms had anything to do with Russia.
Capacities to educate, agitate and organize against the profuse forms of voter suppression were hampered by the likes of MSNBC star Rachel Maddow, whose extreme fixation on Russian evils would have been merely farcical if not so damaging. Year after year, she virtually ignored a wide range of catastrophic U.S. government policies while largely devoting her widely watched program to stoking hostility toward Russia. Maddow became a favorite of many progressives who viewed her show as a fount of wisdom.
Progressives—who are supposed to oppose the kind of "narrow nationalisms" that Einstein warned against at the dawn of the nuclear age—mostly steered clear of challenging the anti-Russia orthodoxy that emerged as an ostensible way of resisting the horrific Trump presidency. Routinely, many accepted and internalized the scapegoating of Russia that was standard fare of mainstream media outlets—which did little to shed light on how threats to democracy in the United States were overwhelmingly homegrown, rooted in corporate power.
Now, on the verge of the Biden-Putin summit, U.S. media outlets are overflowing with calls to confront Russia as well as China, pounding on themes sure to delight investors in Pentagon contracting firms. Leading Democrats and Republicans are in step with reporters and pundits beating Cold War drums. How much closer do they want the Doomsday Clock to get to midnight before they call off their zeal to excite narrow nationalisms?
It scarcely seems to matter to anti-Russia zealots, whether "progressive" or not, that the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists began this year with an ominous warning: "By our estimation, the potential for the world to stumble into nuclear war—an ever-present danger over the last 75 years—increased in 2020. An extremely dangerous global failure to address existential threats—what we called 'the new abnormal' in 2019—tightened its grip in the nuclear realm in the past year, increasing the likelihood of catastrophe."
Far from the maddening crowd of reckless cold warriors, the American Committee for U.S.-Russia Accord released an open letter last week that made basic sense for the future of humanity: "The dangerous and in many ways unprecedented deterioration in relations between the United States and the Russian Federation must come to an end if we are to leave a safer world for future generations. . . . We believe that the time has come to resurrect diplomacy, restore and maintain a dialogue on nuclear risks that's insulated from our political differences like we did during the Cold War. Without communication, this increases the likelihood of escalation to nuclear use in a moment of crisis."
It's a sad irony that such clarity and wisdom can scarcely be found among prominent Democrats in Congress, or among many of the groups that do great progressive work when focused on domestic issues. The recent fear-mongering over Russia has been a factor in refusals to embrace the anti-militarist message of Martin Luther King's final year.
In the United States, the political context of the Biden-Putin summit should have included widespread progressive support for genuine diplomacy with Russia. Instead, overall, progressives went along with Democratic Party leaders and corporate liberal media as they fueled the momentum toward a nuclear doomsday


shelf: civic-law

title: Community chest

text:
Community groups can apply for funding from the new Meridian Water Community Chest, funded by contributions from Meridian Water developers, contractors and consultants to deliver projects benefitting local residents.
A new rolling grant scheme, the Meridian Water Community Chest will be used to help Edmonton communities around the £6bn Meridian Water development get involved in the future development of their neighbourhood and introduce projects that will improve the day-to-day life of the area’s residents.
The funding will help to improve the neighbourhoods in the three Edmonton wards (Upper, Lower & Edmonton Green) which are amongst the most deprived in the UK and is available to not-for profit organisations. The vast majority of the fund will be allocated to ‘large’ grants from £10,000 to £60,000 and the remainder will be allocated through smaller grants of up to £2,500 for more informal local based groups.
Cash for the scheme will be raised from developers, contractors and consultants and be used to benefit local people. Meridian Water is Enfield Council’s flagship development that will provide 10,000 homes, 6,000 jobs and a wide range of community, leisure and commercial uses over the years to come.
Enfield Council Leader, Cllr Nesil Caliskan, said: “The private sector has a social and moral responsibility to the communities in which they are working within to make a difference in terms of social value to ensure the continuing wellbeing of those areas.
“So far our developers, contractors and consultants have stepped up to offer finances, skills training and apprenticeships, as we work with more partners we will continue to deliver social value.
“Here in Enfield we are taking that principle one step further by ensuring that local people will help to choose where the money is spent to provide the greatest benefit.
“Our Community Chest will enable us to transform the lives of Edmonton’s residents and deliver real benefits to those most in need. Ever since Enfield Council took over control of the delivery of Meridian Water we have said local people would be the primary beneficiaries of this project, this initiative is merely the latest manifestation of that commitment and I am delighted that once again we can demonstrate the value this transformational development will have on the lives of thousands of people in our borough.”
The projects funded from the Community Chest will help achieve the aims of the Council’s A Lifetime of Opportunities and deliver the 27 recommendations contained in the Enfield Poverty and Inequality Commission Report. Enfield Council’s Cabinet agreed to set up the fund last in July.
Groups working in Edmonton can apply at www.www.meridianwater.co.uk/community/ the deadline for applications is 5pm on Friday 17 December.
The Council’s Neighbourhood Fund is also accessible for all residents and the next round will be launched shortly https://new.enfield.gov.uk/services/your-council/community-development/#13


shelf: science-engineering

title: Mavic pro key components

text:
Mavic Pro key components. Located on the aircraft’s nose the forward vision system inducing 2 vision sensors allows the aircraft to avoid obstacles in front of it and enhances flight safety. The 3 axis gimbal mounted to the bottom of the aircraft’s nose provides a steady controllable platform for the attached camera, keeping the camera stable during attitude changes when flying allowing you to capture stable images and videos and change the camera’s shooting angle. Located on the rear of the gimbal the cooling system can quickly cool the internal circuit helping all components to work stably and reliably. The bottom of the aircraft has the ultrasonic sensors and the downward vision system which helps the aircraft maintain its current height and position accurately at a certain altitude and under proper lighting conditions. Using the downward vision system the aircraft can hover precisely even without GPS signal. The Micro USB port on the left of the aircraft can be used for connecting the aircraft to your computer to read data and update the firmware.
Open the cover on the right of the aircraft and the camera Micro SD card slot, linking status indicator, link button and control mode switch can be seen. The intelligent flight battery is mounted on the back of the aircraft and it is the power source of the aircraft. There is a buckle on the left and ride sides of the battery to mount it to aircraft securely. The aircraft status indicator at the rear of the aircraft can be used to determine the aircraft status according to its blinking color and frequency. For more details about the aircraft status indicator refer to the user manual. The front LEDs located below the 2 front motors show the orientation of the aircraft


title: Learn

text:
Contemple does not come with an installer. It can be launched by double clicking the downloaded file.
Unzip the downloaded file into your Applications directory or were you like to start the app.
To open Contemple, double click the file contemple.app on macOS, or contemple.exe on Windows
In order to use Contemple, you have to tell Contemple with wich Theme you want to work. A Theme contains the layout, design, settings and default content for a Website.
There are two ways to setup a Theme in Contemple:
If you have no web server, check out the Demo Website to follow along with the tutorials:
Open Contemple and choose File / New from the Menu
Click on Connect to Website, enter the url: https://contemple.app/demo/ and click on Continue.
If Contemple asks for a password, enter the password admin
Contemple will start downloading the theme files
When the download finished, Contemple asks for a project directory where the local version of the Demo Website should be stored.
After the installation is complete, Contemple launches the Editor were you can edit the content of the Demo Website.
If you don't have a web server, but a theme folder or a theme zip file, you can also install a theme without a web server:
The project directory contains the website, database and the theme.
If you already have a Project created with Contemple, theme installation can be skipped. Just open the Project Directory in Contemple:
In the Demo Website, currently only Text and Menu items can be created or modified. To see the Areas of the Demo Website, select Content from the Menu.
Click on Home to select the Home Area. Below the Area Tree are the Types of Items wich can be created inside the selected Area. Here is only one type available: Text.


title: Laser Stretch Mark Removal Treatment

text:
Laser Stretch Mark Removal Treatment
How to get rid of stretch marks?
— is the most common question that my clients ask.
I answer from the point of view of science: nowadays it is impossible to get rid of stretch marks completely, but it is possible to make them significantly less visible.
Why do stretch marks appear?
Stretch marks are scarring on the skin caused by the dermal layer tearing. They result from excessive dermal stretchings after rapid weight loss/gain, pregnancy, or pubertal growth spurts.
Stretch marks first appear as reddish or purple lines but gradually fade to a lighter flesh-toned color. The affected areas appear empty and soft to the touch.
Stretch marks occur within the middle layer of the skin, known as the dermal layer, which helps the skin retain its shape.
Imagine stretch marks as deep caves. They reach the middle and deep layer of the skin. Damaged collagen covers both sides of them. Cells that produce new collagen and elastin surround these caves. But the number of these cells is much less compared with areas of skin without scars or stretch marks.
How to get rid of stretch marks?
Stretch marks are areas of the skin with damaged collagen( like scars). When we grow the collagen around the stretch marks, we close the stretch marks from both sides. As a result, they are becoming much less noticeable.
Technology destroys damaged collagen areas and stimulates cells that produce new collagen and elastin to work hard to close the stretch mark.
What is the technology behind the stretch marks treatment?
Microneedling RF SCARLET is the latest and most advanced technology, which removes stretch marks and acne scars. Microneedling RF delivers energy to the deep skin layer and leaves the upper skin intact.
VTOUCH is a new, fractional RF technology developed especially for scar treatment. Vouch destroys damaged collagen and stimulates it to grow a new healthy one. V-touch only works on light skin because it damages the superficial skin layer with the risk of post-traumatic hyperpigmentation.
REACTION starts the new collagen production. Response stimulates new collagen growth in the areas affected by stretch marks.
In addition, we deliver PEPTIDE — boosters for collagen growth using Infusion (mesotherapy needle-free technology).
Before / After
You know that caves of scars or stretch marks are deep. Do you think that creams, masks, or even peels and microdermabrasion will work on such a depth? The response is NO! All of them cannot reach the layer of collagen.
Some lasers, RF- Radio Frequency and Fractional RF.
Many of lasers destroy only superficial skin layer but not deep. Stretch marks are deep collagen layer problem.
RF stimulates collagen growth without damaging the superficial skin layer. It is the safest solution for the representatives of darker skin type because it never creates hyper pigmentation. Consider 6-9 treatments. The result will appear 2 month after the treatment was started. It is physiology of the process for the new collagen to grow.
Stretch marks removal with Fractional RF gives the best results in modern aesthetic medicine. The technology “burns out “damaged collagen like laser and stimulates new collagen production working as RF on a depth. People with skin type 4+ should have additional precaution in order to avoid hyper pigmentation after the treatment. Consider 3-6 treatment once per month.


title: Money week qa hannah mcqueen founder enableme

text:
Hannah is a financial force. She is the founder and director of enableMe — Financial Personal Trainers, a Chartered Accountant, a Master of Taxation Studies, Author, TV Personality and Mum of two.
enableMe uses PocketSmith as a part of their program to help their clients track their finances.
When I was 27, I designed and eventually patented a mortgage optimisation formula to structure one’s mortgage debt to pay it off as quickly as possible with maximum flexibility to live a life you enjoy.
I often describe myself as a “shopper” and a natural “fritterer”, and as such, went on a journey to understand how a shopper could get ahead, because spending less than I earned didn’t come naturally or hold much appeal unless I was going to get a result that compelled me to try.
Through my interviews and research, I’ve refined a process to maximise the financial output for every morsel of input or effort. This led me to found enableMe. My team and I have worked with thousands of clients over the years, and have honed my methodology to help all clients get ahead faster.
A dummy for my son. Cheap as chips but brought countless good night sleeps, making it invaluable.
All the annual gym memberships I’ve paid for but used about twice. There needs to be a tax rebate on this spending, as it is essentially a donation.
Take control of your future by paying attention to your money today.
Bought a pair of Reebok sneakers.
Take cash out for my food money, and not give into the temptation of buying every handbag or pair of shoes I see!
Cut up the credit card!! It’s an oldie, but a goodie.
Doubling my wealth by 40. I’ve got 3 years.
Biodegradable rubbish bin liners and desk fans — our office is in an eco-building (which has a worm farm, but no air conditioning)
This interview is part of New Zealand Money Week (NZMW) 2017. NZMW is led by the Commission For Financial Capability, and it involves events all around the country to encourage New Zealanders to talk about money and develop greater financial capability. To further the conversation about money we got in touch with some of our favourite Kiwis to get their perspectives on their finances.


title: Communism in the usa 598512

text:
To establish a real picture of communism in the USA and to understand its actual situation, I will first talk about the reasons why the USA cannot be seen as the best place to be a communist and then I will ask myself whether we can say there is an agony of communism in the country since 1990.
[...] According to Nathan Rosenberg, a teacher of economics at the Stanford University, the USA is the ideal society for the development of Marxism: “Socialism as an economic form of organization can only be a success because the problems of production and distribution of the essential resources have been solved by a former capitalist society.” A teacher of social theory at the Rutgers University, Robin Fox, puts the stress on the necessity to go through capitalism to success in communism: “According to Marx as well as Engels, the only way to communism lies in the internal contradictions of capitalism, which must be fully developed so as to arrive to a real conscience of class ( ) It is impossible to press Therefore, there is a future for communism in the USA. [...]
[...] 1950-1954 has been the harshest period for communists in the USA. Many have been prosecuted under the Special Committee on Un-American Activities. In communist leaders were condemned. There was big process such as the Alger Hiss one in 1948 or the Rosenberg one in 1951. Nearly 7,000 civil servants were fired under the Loyalty Program. The number of members went from 80,000 to 25,000 and the CPUSA (Communist Party of the USA) was mainly infiltrated by the FBI. This was not new, in 1919-1920, there already had been a Red Scare (4,000 people under arrest). [...]
[...] According to historians, the CPUSA was too much dependent on the CPUSSR and the Comintern. It contributed to discredit them. The hard-liners only managed to be less and less close to the US workers. Besides, the strength of the bipartism is really important and doesn't let the “third parties” live. The influence of the CPUSA is only quite important between the intellectuals. A possible renewal ? But, once considered the probable deaths of the CPUSA because of its archaisms, many searchers in the USA consider that Marxism is not to be buried right away. [...]
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title: Your ultimate anti ageing shield new omega boost sheer mineral sunscreen

text:
This new, natural sun-smart beauty has your back whether you’re heading out or staying in, offering solid every day protection from UVA and UVB rays.
Natural sunscreen, but not as you know it
These particles act as a natural physical filter to stave off sun damage and help prevent premature ageing, deflecting and scattering UVA and UVB rays instead of absorbing them like a chemical sunscreen would.
Because zinc oxide works by reflecting UV rays rather than absorbing and releasing them as heat, it’s less likely to irritate sensitive skin and makes a great sun defence option for anyone suffering from redness and sensitivities.
Omega-Boost Sheer Mineral Sunscreen is lightweight and clinically proven non-comedogenic, which means it doesn’t clog pores or cause breakouts, leaving your skin feeling clear, nourished, and well-defended at the same time.
Gentle on the skin, light on the reefs
While coral reefs may look like colourful plants, they’re actually delicate ecosystems made up of tiny creatures that are super sensitive to environmental hazards like temperature change and toxins.
In recent years, traditional chemical sunscreen ingredients like oxybenzone and octinoxate have been flagged as harmful to coral reef ecosystems, so our Omega-Boost Sheer Mineral Sunscreen doesn’t have any - just reef-safe natural ingredients doing what they do best.
Prevent, protect, nourish
Natural fragrance oil-blend
Where does it live in my skincare routine?
Simply apply it to clean, dry skin every morning and reapply again 20 minutes before sun exposure. Remember, wear sunscreen every day – even the grey ones – and reapply frequently.


text:
Eden Abdullayev was murdered by Hamas terrorist in Kibbutz Ra’im while attending the “Nova” Festival
Upon realizing that terrorists had infiltrated her surroundings, she attempted to flee and sought refuge in a shelter.
Unfortunately, contact with her was lost at 9:38. After an arduous five days of searching, Eden’s family received the devastating news of the identification of her body.
Eden, the eldest daughter of Hana and Avi, was born on October 8, 2000, into a family that had immigrated to Israel a few years prior. She grew up in Ramat Gan, attended “Ramat Hen” elementary and “Blich” high school, and was known for her joyous spirit, empathy, and social skills. Eden had a passion for music and dance, showcased in her elementary school years and continued into her youth with a love for hip-hop.
After serving in the IDF in the finance unit, Eden started her pre-academic studies and worked as a waitress in Tel Aviv, where she became part of a new friend circle. Despite the tragedy of losing her father to cancer in October 2022, she found solace and support in her family and friends, which helped her return to her vibrant self. She enrolled in a business administration program, looking forward to her future.
In September 2023, Eden traveled to a music festival in Athens, showing signs of happiness and recovery. However, during a festival near Kibbutz Re’im, on October 7, 2023, a day before her 23rd birthday, Eden was murdered by Hamas terrorists.
Eden’s loss was deeply mourned by her family and friends, who remembered her as a beacon of love and joy. She was laid to rest next to her father, leaving behind a legacy of warmth and resilience. In her memory, her loved ones have engaged in various acts of remembrance, including a memorial weekend and a crowdfunding project to continue her legacy, emphasizing her giving nature and the light she brought to everyone’s lives.


title: Drug testing can make your business more successful

text:
When looking to hire individuals that will contribute to the success of your business, you'll need to appeal to quality candidates. One of the simplest ways to do that is by creating a safe work atmosphere, which can be done by implementing a drug-free workplace policy for prospective and current employees.
Many productive members of the workforce are more comfortable knowing that their employer has a drug-free work environment because it promotes safety on the job. In industries where heavy machinery is used, this is especially true.
With a drug testing policy in place, your business can reduce or possibly prevent expenses associated with drug abuse among employees. These expenses have been estimated to cost employers $81 billion dollars every year, according to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD). Some of these expenses are due to work-related accidents and worker's compensation claims, which are more likely to occur when an employee has been using drugs.
Another benefit of drug testing is a boost in productivity. Drug-free employees are less likely to miss work than those who have used drugs. Also, employees with a history of drug abuse have a much higher turnover rate than their drug-free counterparts. Finding the right candidates the first time can significantly reduce hiring costs.
Businesses that receive federal funding, whether through contract or grants, are required to perform employee drug screening. If you do not, you can lose funding or be fined.
As you can see, drug testing can increase safety and productivity while decreasing employer expenses, which will make your business more successful.
Managing a substance-free work environment can be an overwhelming responsibility, especially since you need to simultaneously worry about running your business. That's where we come in.
How US Drug Test Centers Can Help Keep Your Business Drug-Free
US Drug Test Centers offers easy employee drug testing solutions, including:
- Help to create your drug-free workplace policy
- Drug-free workplace training
- A wide variety of drug test panels
- SAMHSA-certified laboratories
Your Drug-Free Workplace Policy
Having a reliable drug-free workplace policy is crucial to your business. Not only does it protect you, the employer, from potential liabilities, but it also makes it clear to your team what the rules are, what's expected of them, and what the potential consequences are of disobeying these rules.
A Variety of Drug and Alcohol Testing Panels to Choose From
You can choose from our wide selection of panels, which are available for viewing on our website. If you don't see the one you need, ask us about customizing a panel specifically for you.
Training for You and Your Staff
The responsibility of keeping your business drug-free doesn't have to be yours alone. US Drug Test Centers can train your staff to assist you, by teaching them the signs of impairment to look out for and also how to handle employees who they suspect might be under the influencer.
Working With SAMHSA-Certified Laboratories
SAMHSA-certified laboratories undergo rigorous inspections and are held to the highest of standards. Furthermore, we'll have our medical review officer (MRO) review and verify your drug and alcohol test results to guarantee accuracy.
Are you ready to take action? You can easily order a test online, or call us today for more information at 866-566-0261.


title: Zetium and Empyrean

text:
Zetium and Empyrean
Meteorites are records of the processes which occured in the early stages of the formation of the solar system. What makes them interesting is that they typically preserve the original chemistry and mineral phases over billions of years since they typically do not undergo geological transformations in space. By studying their elemental composition and mineral phases a better understanding of how the solar system was formed can be obtained.
X -ray diffraction (XRD) is a common technique used to investigate phase composition of meteorites but does not provide elemental analysis. X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy is a well-recognized technique used to determine the elemental composition of rocks. Typically the complex surface structure of meteorites requires analysis on a much smaller spot size than traditional bulk XRF techniques. The latest advances in floor-standing XRF instruments allow small spot analysis and element distribution mapping on spot sizes of 0.5 mm (FWHM) in diameter.
The Northwest-Africa 2086 (NWA 2086) meteorite was the subject of this study and is shown in Figure 1. It was found in 2003 with a weight of 780 g. The meteorite was classified as a carbonaceous chondrite of the CV3 group. This group of meteoritic bodies is characterized by the presence of chondrules and calcium-aluminium rich
inclusions (CAIs) as shown in Figure 1 in a dark colored matrix which contains ~ 0.6 % of carbon and has the lowest degree of thermal or aqueous alteration on the parent body. With an age of 4,567 billion years the CAIs represent the oldest known solid material formed in our solar system. They are formed as condensation products at high temperatures, probably in a single event close to the proto-sun, and are rich in refractory elements such as Ca, Al, Si, and Mg. They can also contain small amounts or traces of Ti, Zr, Sc and Re. The minerals commonly found in CAIs are spinel, pyroxenes, gehlenite- åkermanite, anorthite and Ca- aluminates. The size of a CAI can vary from microns to millimeters and rarely up to 2 centimeters.
The chondrule formation started approximately at the same time as the CAIs, but lasted over 3 million years during multiple shock/heating events. They were formed from molten droplets. The minerals commonly found in chondrules are olivine, Ca-poor pyroxene, glass, and sometimes plagioclase. The size of a chondrule varies from microns to millimeters and can be up to 4 -5 centimeters.
From chondrules, CAIs and dust, the planetesimals and protoplanets were formed by accretion processes. Some of these bodies survived as asteroids. Ejected material from impacts and collisions can cross the path of the earth and fall as meteorites. Figure 2 shows the early processes in the solar system including the origin of meteorites from asteroids.
Figure 2. Schematic illustrating early processes in the solar system
In this study, small spot analysis and elemental distribution mapping was conducted using a Zetium XRF spectrometer. Incorporating SumXcore technology, a combination of WDXRF and EDXRF core, Zetium is capable of both bulk analysis and small spot mapping. Elemental compositions obtained by XRF were compared to phase identification and peak intensity mapping obtained using an Empyrean X-ray diffractometer.
Sample preparation and measurement
X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis For small spot mapping analysis, measurements were performed using a Zetium XRF spectrometer equipped with a 4 kW, Rh-anode SST R-mAX tube, a high-performance ED core, and state-of- the-art SuperQ software.
The NWA 2086 meteorite was mounted on a special small spot sample holder and imaged using a high-resolution camera. A 5x7.5mm measurement area was defined using Zetium’s high resolution camera (Figure 3). The area was mapped using a spot size of 500 µm and a step size of 250 µm in about 12.3 hours and with a total of 600 measurement spots.
Figure 3. Photograph with dashed area selected for XRF small spot mapping analysis
Both qualitative (intensity-based) and semi-quantitative (concentration-based) analyses were performed to determine the elemental distribution and the composition of the NWA 2086 meteorite.
The semi-quantitative analysis was set up using Malvern Panalytical's Omnian setup samples for standardless analysis.
Table 1 shows the measurement conditions used for the analysis of this sample.
Table 1. Conditions for the qualitative analysis used for mapping the sample
Table 2. Conditions for the semi-quantitative analysis on selected sample spots
X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis
For phase identification, the complete surface was measured simultaneously by X-ray diffraction using Bragg- Brentano geometry. Additionally, small amounts of the matrix, chondrules and a CAI were prepared and measured separately on a silicon zero-background sample holder.
For the mapping of the minerals, the Empyrean diffractometer (CuKα radiation, 45 kV, 40 mA) was equipped with a programmable xyz stage and a focusing lens (high-intensity collimator, 300 micrometer pinhole). A PIXcel1D detector was used in 0D mode. For the intensity mapping, the 2theta positions of main peaks of different minerals (olivine, pyroxene, and spinel) were used. The spot size was ~ 50 µm. The total measurement time for a 10 x 10 mm area (with 200 x 200 spots) was around 6 hours.
Results and discussion
X-ray Fluorescence analysis results
With a relatively short measurement time of 60 seconds per spot, data for 15 elements were collected simultaneously The distribution of these elements is illustrated in Figure 4. Figure 5 shows the 3D intensity contour maps for Al and Fe elemental distributions.
It can be observed that the elemental composition of the CAIs are enriched in Al and Ca, while these elements are less abundant in the matrix and the chondrules of the sample. Conversely, the matrix of the sample is enriched in Fe and Cr, which are depleted in the inclusions. The detail of the enrichment of the rim in Si, Ca and Zn of the CAls is also visible. The results illustrate that even with short measurement times elemental mapping of the elements is possible and provides valuable information.
Figure 4. Small spot elemental mapping of the NWA 2086 meteorite
Figure 5. 3D intensity contour maps of Al and Fe
X-ray fluorescence analysis results
Selected spots (shown in figure 6) representing CAIs (spots 2 and 5), chondrules (spots 3, 4 and 6), and the matrix (spot 1) were selected for semi-quantitative analysis . Since no certified reference materials were available for this meteorite, a certified steel sample was analyzed to investigate what the expected accuracy might be at this spot size. A comparison of the certified and measured concentration for the steel CRM (SS 466) shown in Table 3 shows excellent agreement giving confidence in the accuracy of the data at this spot size.
The chemical compositions of the defined measurement spots are reported as oxides normalized to 100% (Table 4). The normalization factors reported for these measurements are close to 1 (better than 4% relative), giving confidence in the accuracy of the Omnian analysis, even at this spot size and measurement time.
Table 3. Semi-quantitative analysis of SS 466
Figure 6. Selected spots for semi-quantitative analysis
Table 4. Semi-quantitative analysis results of NWA 2086
X-ray diffraction results
Phase identification by X-ray diffraction of the complete slice as well as of the separated materials, showed that the matrix and the chondrules are composed of olivine, (Mg,Fe)2SiO4, and Ca-poor pyroxene, (Mg,Fe,Ca)Si2O6. The CAIs comprise Ca-rich pyroxene (diopside), CaMgSi2O6, spinel, MgAl2O4, anorthite, CaAl2Si2O8, and sodalite, Na8(Al6Si6O24)Cl2.
The mapping of the minerals showed that the mineralogy of the matrix is relatively uniform. Chondrules and CAIs are clearly separated from the matrix, and some structures within them like rims or a zonation are visible. The large, rounded CAI has a clearly defined rim, which is mineralogically different from the core (Figures 7 and 8).
Figure 7. XRD spinel mapping
Spinel minerals are clearly enriched in the core of the large, rounded CAI, compared to the rim, whereas in other CAIs with irregular shape the spinel mineral is more homogeneously distributed. For pyroxene regions, the separation between the core and rim is not so pronounced with the distribution generally more irregular. Internal structures are also visible in some larger chondrules. High intensity signals for olivine and spinel at some spots indicate larger single crystals in a special orientation.
Figure 8. XRD pyroxene mapping
Figure 9. XRD olivine mapping
Combined XRF and XRD
Combining XRF and XRD techniques show that the rim and the core of the CAIs are of different mineralogy and chemistry. For the XRF elemental mapping, this can be clearly seen on the elements Ca, Si, Ti, and Cl in Figure 1. These elements are prominent in the rim of the CAIs. The same behavior can be observed from Figures 7 and 8 of the XRD phase mapping.
The rim is mainly composed of anorthithe and sodalite. The presence of sodalite has only been reported a few times for CAIs. This is of special interest because sodalite is regarded as a product of Na-Cl metasomatic processes which occurred in the early solar nebula before accretion into protoplanets.
Both techniques also show that the core of the CAIs is a fine-grained mixture of spinel, diopside, and sodalite. It was observed that there is an enrichment of Ni and Zn in the CAIs which are probably present as minor and trace elements in the spinel. XRF and XRD also show correlating analysis results on chondrules which are mostly composed of olivine, (Mg,Fe)2SiO4 and pyroxene, (Mg,Fe,Ca) Si2O6. This can be seen on the XRF semi-quantitative results of spots 3, 4,and 6 shown in Table 4. Spot number 3 shows a Mg-rich olivine.
Results also show an enrichment of Mn and Cr in the in chondrules and matrix. Manganese is probably a trace in the olivine and chromium in the pyroxene.
This study shows that Malvern Panalytical’s Zetium equipped with small spot mapping functionality is capable of small spot analysis and elemental mapping of a meteoritic sample. More than 15 elements were mapped across the surface with 600 spots in around 12.3 hours, while the XRD micro-diffraction analysis was performed using an Empyrean equipped with focusing lens, allowing mapping of 40,000 spots in 6 hours.
Combined XRF and XRD provide elemental composition and mineral distribution in a meteorite. The two technologies used in this study are complementary, and contribute to identify the distinct features in the CAIs and chondrules. This information is essential to investigate early processes, which occurred in the solar system. These combined methods provide an easy, rapid and nondestructive approach in analyzing extraterrestrial materials.


title: Cocktail server

text:
Use the following guidelines and coverl letter examples to choose the best coverl letter format.
Welcome to our curated collection of cover letter examples crafted exclusively for Cocktail Servers in the dynamic food service industry. Crafting a compelling cover letter is your ticket to securing a position in the exciting world of bartending and cocktail service. Our carefully designed examples provide valuable insights on creating a cover letter that reflects your bartending skills, customer service expertise, and dedication to creating a memorable experience for patrons.
Salary Details (INR):
For a Cocktail Server position in the food service industry, the average salary typically ranges from ₹2,50,000 to ₹4,00,000 annually. Salaries can vary based on factors such as experience, location, and the establishment's prestige.
5 Tips and Tricks for Resume Format:
Skills for Cocktail Server Role
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Cover Letters:
A: Share instances where you’ve created unique and innovative cocktails. Highlight your passion for experimenting with flavors and creating signature drinks that resonate with customers.
A: Yes, emphasize your experience in high-volume bars to showcase your ability to handle busy shifts and maintain high-quality service even during peak hours.
A: Absolutely, mention your experience in handling cash transactions, operating cash registers, and providing accurate change to customers, demonstrating your reliability and trustworthiness.
A: Briefly mention your flexibility and willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays, showcasing your commitment to meeting the demands of the business and ensuring excellent customer service at all times.
A: Yes, include any mixology certifications or training you’ve completed. It demonstrates your commitment to professional development and enhancing your bartending skills.
Access our extensive library of over 700 HR-approved cover letter examples, thoughtfully categorized to suit various professions and job-seeking scenarios. These numerous examples offer a wealth of inspiration and practical templates to assist you in composing a compelling cover letter that distinguishes your application in the eyes of employers and hiring managers.


text:
In today's screening-crazed world of "early detection or else," we were pleasantly surprised to read the
U.S. Preventive Services Task Force's recommendation to
skip routine prostate cancer screening.
That's right, they're actually discouraging PSA tests.
Well, a higher than normal PSA number can cause
undue alarm, for one thing.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that agreeing to unnecessary surgery, chemo, and radiation after being diagnosed with a high PSA number is often unnecessary — because
the person was never in danger from dying of prostate cancer in the first place.
The head of the task force, Dr. Virginia Moyer, says, "We have been told for decades to be terrified of cancer and that the only hope is early detection and treatment.
You don't need to detect all cancers."
Overreaction is an unfortunate side-effect of more accurate screening methods these days.
While it's good to know that something is amiss, as the task force has noted,
sometimes a person needs to re-examine whether it's necessary to initiate a heavy-handed approach of immune-destroying therapies for a non-life-threatening cancer, as many prostate cancer cases are.
To this end, the task force noted:
2 of every 1,000 men screened will have a heart attack or stroke from resulting cancer treatment
30 to 40 of every 1,000 men will experience treatment-caused impotence or incontinence
1 of every 3,000 men screened will die from complications of surgery
Over the years,
many men have told us that they considered a high PSA level to be
a wake-up call to
change their diet and lifestyle, which
attacks the root of the problem instead of suppressing it.
What would you do if you were told that you had a high PSA level? Comment below!


title: More house sales fall through amidst slowing property market

text:
There has been an increase in the number of house sales falling through before completion, according to Quick Move Now.
Figures released by the independent home buyer revealed a house sale fall through rate of 28.3% for the third quarter of 2018, a rise of 5.2% since the second quarter.
Danny Luke, managing director of Quick Move Now, commented: “2018 has been a challenging year for the UK property market. Political and economic uncertainty has left many homeowners and would-be buyers feeling nervous, and most estate agents are now openly acknowledging a slowing market after an unseasonably sluggish summer.”
In the first quarter of this year, fall through rates hit a ten-year high of 38.8%. The second quarter, however, was more positive, Luke said, as the market showed signs of recovery.
Despite this, would-be buyers are remaining cautious as Brexit looms ever closer, speculation grows regarding a second referendum and the prospect of the UK crashing out without a deal becomes more real.
Luke said that sellers should be proactive and make sure their property is priced accurately to increase the number of viewings and secure a sale.
“If you are in need of a quick sale in a slow market, you may also want to explore alternative routes such as property auction or a cash buying company,” he continued. “Whilst it is important to highlight that you will achieve a lower price than on the open market, either of these options should enable you to secure a sale in a matter of weeks.”
Of the property sales that were unsuccessful, 35.3% were attributed to the buyer changing their mind. The remaining sale fall throughs were as a result of the buyer pulling out after issues were identified in the property survey (29.4%), the buyer having difficulty securing a mortgage (23.5%) and a property chain collapse (11.8%).
The fall through statistics were calculated month-on-month, quarterly and annually.


title: Rockbridge Academy Blog

text:
Rockbridge Academy Blog
Cultivating Joyful Worshipers—Instrumental Music at Rockbridge Academy
Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!
Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!
Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!
Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150: 3-6
If you walk the halls of Rockbridge in the early morning, you’re likely to hear string music wafting around the corners. Depending on the day, it might be a group of young cello students playing Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, a class of small violinists working out a scale, or an orchestra rehearsing Beethoven. With violin and cello classes beginning in early grammar school grades, and three separate orchestras all the way through high school, there is string music everywhere at Rockbridge, if you know where to look for it.
Rockbridge’s instrumental program started small, but it has grown and thrived through the vision and untiring work of those who began it. Irma Cripe and Liz Horst answer some questions about the program: where it came from, how it works, and where it might be headed. Mrs. Cripe is the founder and director of the Instrumental Program at Rockbridge, and Mrs. Horst came two years later to work and teach alongside her.
How did the instrumental music program at Rockbridge Academy first get started?
In 2001, the Rockbridge choral program was founded and thriving, under the direction of Jan Horst. Years later, Headmaster Mike McKenna had the idea to start an instrumental music program. We inquired across the school to find out how many students were already taking private instrumental lessons. From the replies, we realized we could pull together a small ensemble to be featured in the 2007 Variety Show as a “teaser.” The idea was for other parents to get excited about the possibility of having their children learn to play an instrument at Rockbridge. In that 2007 Variety Show, we performed an arrangement of Grieg’s “In the Hall of the Mountain King,” and it was an enormous success.
We hoped to continue cultivating that ensemble for students who already played an instrument, including strings, winds, and percussion (there has always been a lot of talent in our school!), while starting a full-blown Suzuki Strings program to develop new players from the ground up. You really can’t have an orchestra program without a lot of strings!
At the beginning of the fall of 2007, we sent out flyers to all grammar school parents, inviting them to come learn about the Suzuki program. We also arranged for Potter’s Violins to bring to our school a large contingency of instruments to rent. That way, parents could rent their student’s instrument right on the spot. We had an incredible turnout, and 41 new string students signed up that evening for Suzuki violin and cello group lessons at school.
That first year, Irma Cripe (cellist) had to learn how to play the violin in order to teach these classes; she shared that it was quite challenging, but very fun! By the fall of 2009, it became clear that the program was growing, and we needed to hire a violinist. This is when Liz Horst came along.
What challenges have you faced, and how has the Lord worked through them?
Once we had such a successful enrollment that first year, an immediate parade of logistical challenges followed. Scheduling classes, rehearsals, and Suzuki lessons was complicated because we had to work around academics and other extracurricular activities. This is how, little by little, the program became a before-school activity, to avoid scheduling and logistic conflicts as much as possible. The other biggest challenge has always been space, particularly back in the years when we were in two separate rented locations, at Baldwin Memorial United Methodist Church and GIBC. So, we can see how the Lord has been so gracious to our school by providing a large, delightful building. Yet, even after we moved into the Evergreen campus, we found that there were still logistical and scheduling issues to be resolved. And every time we are faced with a new challenge, the Lord always provides another beautiful answer.
What is the vision of the instrumental music program?
According to Johann Sebastian Bach, “The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul.” Music is a common grace gift of God, through which students can glorify him, refresh their spirits, and share his beauty with others. Our program aims to nurture the growth and enjoyment of our students as they learn to play a string instrument.
Any school program is a living entity that changes as the student body and community grow. Regardless of what the instrumental program at Rockbridge might look like in 20 years, our hope is to introduce students to God’s gracious gift of music. The ultimate goal is to serve the community through well-prepared concerts for the enjoyment of listeners and performers alike, and to delight together in God’s beauty.
Why teach children to play a musical instrument?
There are many reasons to study an instrument, and here are just a few:
Music enhances academic ability. Much has been written about the correlation between music and math, as well as music and reading.
Music helps train life skills. Through the process of learning an instrument, students develop posture and poise; they practice teamwork and performance skills; and they learn to understand and appreciate music.
The study of music builds character. Learning an instrument requires discipline, perseverance, and patience through daily practice over many years. Students have to wrestle with failure and frustration, while working for a perfection that seems always beyond reach. In some ways, the process of learning an instrument mirrors our Christian daily walk–failing, asking for forgiveness, studying the Word, and keeping Christ and his perfect beauty always before our eyes.
And the best reason of all, the ultimate goal of our music classes, is to equip students to become skillful, joyful worshipers of our Lord. Students who know the language of music and love it, can better sing and play to the glory of God, who shows us some of His own beauty through music.
By making music with a group of fifteen other musicians, or forty other musicians, depending on the concert, I have contributed to something greater than myself. Playing in an orchestra has provided a time to worship the Lord with my peers, to offer up the beautiful work of our hands, and to magnify God's name with many sounds and instruments. I'm so grateful for all the time I've been able to have in Rockbridge's orchestras. ~Olivia
What advice do you have for young families with an aspiring string player?
The most important advice we could give to beginning families is to make a firm commitment for at least a full year, through ups and downs. To quote E. A. Guest, “rest if you must, but don’t you quit.”
Mrs. Cripe is able to teach all kinds of people: young and old, hard working and not hard working, wise and foolish, tall and small, helpful and unhelpful, forgetful and rememberful, respectful and disrespectful, confident and shy, happy and sad, violinist and cellist...and violist! My favorite performance was the 2024 Christmas concert, when we got to accompany Olivia, and we got to play on the stage! ~Savannah
How does the Suzuki method of learning fit the classical model?
The Suzuki method fits beautifully with the classical learning model. It is based on the premise that students learn music the way they learn a language or any other skill–step by step, through listening, watching, repeating, and memorizing. They gain facility with the basic patterns, terms, and concepts of music in the grammar years, preparing them to develop a more advanced understanding of music theory and music performance in the dialectic and rhetoric stages.
I learned that I don't need to take all the corrections personally. I don't get offended anymore. I just like making the music. ~Emmett
How did Strings Summer Serenade get started?
At the end of the first year of the strings program, it became evident that the students needed some fun activity in the summer to encourage them to continue practicing and growing in their skill. We scheduled a week in July with the goal of having fun playing music together. We would review what we had learned (review! review! review!) and learn some new and accessible music. The week was very successful, and that’s how Strings Summer Serenade was born. The camp currently draws between 40-50 students every summer from Rockbridge and outside our community. It is a summer highlight for many of the students. What to join us this summer? Register HERE!
The first year I did Strings Summer Serenade I was very excited to see what music we would play. When I looked at the music, I was very worried that I could never do it…but at the end of the concert, I remember being so thankful for all the work [Mrs. Cripe] put in to make it happen and for the encouragement that [she] gave me to learn and enjoy the music! ~Geneva
Do you allow homeschooled students in the orchestras?
From the beginning of our instrumental programs, homeschooled students have been an integral part of the orchestra’s growth. An orchestra always gains beauty and strength from having more string players, so there is always room for more. And it is convenient that rehearsals occur early in the morning before school starts, when there are no scheduling conflicts.
I really enjoy the experience of being able to do something that I can’t do on my own. Being live and being connected to the source of the wonderful music taught to us as a group is an unforgettable experience. I feel that it has also challenged me and has led to my progression as a musician. I am blessed to be part of such a wonderful group of people with a similar love of music. ~Katie
Irma Cripe is the founder and director of the instrumental music program at Rockbridge Academy. She directs both the Scots and Camerata orchestras. She and her husband, Max (also a fellow musician), have two Rockbridge graduates from the class of 2014 and 2019.
Liz Horst is the Evergreen orchestra director and the Suzuki Strings violin teacher at Rockbridge Academy. She and her husband, Justin (Class of 2004), have three children.


title: Sika mittens

text:
Our Sika pattern is a great alternative to thrummed mittens and can be hung by the door on a handy loop after those thrilling snowball fights.
Beginning with an I-cord cast on, these thick, double layered mittens are an extremely satisfying project for a knitter at any stage. These mittens make use of stranded colourwork techniques using super chunky yarn to emulate the look of traditional thrummed mittens without the loose fibre. At the end, the extra I-cord tail is sewn into a loop. The loop makes it easy to hang them to dry after playing in the snow, or join them with a cord to increase the odds of still having a pair at the end of winter.
The mittens are thick and double layered, as the contrast colour strands from the previous row are pulled up and knit together with the live stitches to create a woven lattice. This second layer provides extra insulation and creates a beautifully symmetrical diamond shaped pattern which appears on the outside as contrast colour dots. These dots cover the mittens, creating the impression of snowflakes or tiny hearts. The tip of the mittens and thumbs is completed with a festive snowflake motif.
Though not originally native to the UK, Sika deer were introduced in 1860 and the population is now found predominantly in Scotland. Much like our mittens, Sika deer are made distinctive by their white spots which was how Ysolda came to spot one whilst out walking with her family during the summer months when this coat is most visible. She learned that Sika are the deer species most able to survive and maintain their body condition in the winter months. Whilst we may lack this natural adaptation, the Sika mittens will provide you with the warmth for endless frosty meanderings and countless snowball fights.
Skills for knitting this project
Build your skills by following the links to our clear step-by-step tutorials.
Metal needles are recommended for this project
US 6 / 4mm dpns or preferred needles for working small circumferences in the round
Pdf file versions
Our patterns are thoroughly checked and tested but occasionally errors do slip through. These are updated in the patterns as soon as possible, and we also issue periodic updates to clarify directions, extend size ranges, or add more inclusive pattern formats.
If it's been a while since you purchased this pattern please double check that your file names match the following before casting on:
Updates are issued via email, please contact us if you can't find an update, or if you think you've found an error in the most up to date version of the pattern.
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text:
Thracian sanctuary of the Nymphs and Aphrodite
Thracian sanctuary of the Nymphs and Aphrodite in Haskovo, BulgariaThe Sanctuary of the Nymphs and Aphrodite, the only one well-preserved in Bulgaria, is located about 500 m northeast of the village of Kasnakovo, in Dimitrovgrad Municipality. It is situated in a beautiful area. Built in the 2nd - 4th centuries, the sanctuary was just a small part from the large estate of Titus Flavius, a Roman citizen of Thracian descent. His name has survived till modern day thanks to the inscription above the central fountain, preserved to this day, which reads: ""Good luck! Titus Flavius Beytyukent Esbenerios and his wife Claudia Montana built and dedicated this fountain to the nymphs and Aphrodite.""
The entire complex includes remains of cult buildings dating back to the 2nd century, a Roman villa from the 3rd century, an 4th-century amphitheatre and three architecturally shaped springs with basins arranged on an ellipse. The first archaeological excavations were made in the period 1945-1946. Now an information tourist centre operates on the spot. In 1968, the Sanctuary was declared a cultural monument of national importance.
Legend has it that late at night the place turns into the dancing stage of the beautiful queens of nature - the nymphs. According to some beliefs, if a woman drinks water from the spring, she will conceive more easily and give birth to а beautiful boy. The supernatural healing properties of the spring water are well known. That's why, since time immemorial, every year at Spassovden (the day of the Ascension of Christ) people from near and far gather here to pray for health and fertility.


title: Employment update covid 19 amendments to the working time regulations

text:
In light of the challenges presented to businesses from the impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) the government announced emergency legislation in the form of the Working Time (Coronavirus Amendment) Regulations 2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”).
The 2020 Regulations were brought into force with effect from 26 March 2020 and allow workers to carry over up to four weeks’ annual leave into the next two leave years.
Pam Sidhu, Senior Associate Solicitor at Wilkes, considers what effect this will have on businesses.
What are the changes and what does this mean?
The 2020 Regulations amend the Working Time Regulations 1998 (“WTR”) and ease the requirements on businesses to ensure that workers take their annual leave in any one year. Under Regulation 13, employees are entitled to a minimum of four weeks’ annual leave each year pursuant to EU law. Regulation 13(9) WTR provides that this period of leave may be taken in the leave year only in respect of which it is due; it may only be replaced by a payment in lieu where the worker’s employment is terminated.
The 2020 Regulations amend Regulation 13 of the WTR to permit the carry-over of any of such untaken leave where it was not reasonably practicable to take it in the leave year “as a result of the effects of the coronavirus (including on the worker, the employer or the wider economy or society)“. Carried-over leave may be taken in the two leave years immediately following the leave year in respect of which it was due.
The 2020 Regulations also limit an employer’s ability to refuse an employee taking leave on a particular day. Under the WTR, employers were able to require a worker to not take leave on a particular day provided notice was given in accordance the WTR. However, the 2020 Regulations introduce a new requirement that employers will only be able to refuse leave where the employer has “good reason” to do so.
These changes do not apply to the additional 1.6 weeks’ annual leave granted by Regulation 13A of the WTR, which can still be carried forward one leave year (but not further) through an agreement between workers and their employers.
Pam Sidhu explains, “Under the WTR, there is an obligation on employers to ensure their workers take their statutory entitlement in any one year and failure to do so could result in a financial penalty. The 2020 Regulations are aimed at allowing businesses under particular pressure from the impacts of COVID-19 the flexibility to better manage their workforce, while protecting workers’ right to paid holiday. These measures will also provide workers with the security that they can carry over holiday into the next two leave years, where it is not possible or practicable for them to take some, or all, of the holiday they are entitled to due to coronavirus.”


title: Thayer scale launches new model msv gravimetric feeder

text:
Thayer Scale-Hyer Industries, Inc. (United States) - Press Release: Compact, Easy-to-Clean, and Economical, Providing Highly Responsive Feed-rate Control and Accuracy
Thayer Scale, a leading global manufacturer of equipment for the continuous weighing and feeding of bulk materials, introduces the Model MSV gravimetric feeder. The MSV pairs a rugged, economical volumetric feeder with a low-profile, mass-counterbalanced scale, resulting in a gravimetric feeder that provides highly responsive feed-rate control and accuracy in a small form-factor package. It offers precise rate control for free-flowing pellets and granules. Its design is compact, easy to clean, and economical, providing flexibility and efficient use of floor space.
MSV Feeder is Compact, Easy-to-Clean, and Economical, Providing Highly Responsive Feed-rate Control and Accuracy
Thayer Scale's new Model MSV gravimetric feeder provides highly responsive feed-rate control and accuracy in a small form-factor package.
The new MSV feeder includes Thayer Scale's low-profile cable scale, which utilizes a micro-lever system that counterbalances the tare weight, resulting in load-cell utilization significantly higher than other options. The higher load-cell utilization provides numerous benefits, including higher accuracy, typically 0.25% of feed-rate, fast responsiveness to changes in set point or material density fluctuations, resulting in higher accuracy material delivery and the elimination of "dead zones" common in gravimetric feeding applications.
Higher load-cell utilization also enables the MSV feeder to operate with longer gravimetric cycles, requiring fewer refills and a lower percentage of the gravimetric cycle operating in volumetric or "settling" mode.
The system is designed to operate with the Thayer Scale Differential Screw solution, enabling consistent, pulse-free delivery of material across a wide operating range.
"The MSV feeder is an ideal solution for free-flowing materials such as plastic pellets and granules. By pairing a high-resolution, mass-counterbalanced scale with a fast change-over, low-maintenance, industrial feeder, we believe the MSV will become the workhorse for our customers looking for an economical yet accurate feeding solution," said David Hyer, President of Thayer Scale.
Thayer Scale's equipment provides a rare combination of precision measurement and extreme reliability in a wide variety of industries and markets. The MSV is no exception. It features quick-release, tool-free change-over of augers and tubes, rapid clean out of the V-trough feed section, easy access to all serviceable components, a modular flexible design enabling clustering of up to six feeders. When used in conjunction with the Thayer Scale S52C instrumentation, the MSV provides a powerful control solution for free-flowing materials like plastic pellets, granules, and additives.


title: buscolibrary.org

text:
The Churubusco Public Library is a wonderful place with a friendly staff, and a variety of useful resources. People of all ages visit our library to use our computers, view our movie selection, and to check out books both fiction and non-fiction. Not only does the CPL carry a fantastic collection of books and movies, but also a variety of magazines, audio books, and CDs, as well as hotspots and laptops. The library also offers an assortment of programs for both adults and children. We welcome you to stop by, browse, and get involved at the library!
Our Mission: The Churubusco Public Library provides a variety of resources for interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the taxing district. Materials shall not be excluded because of origin, background, or views of those contributing to their creation. The mission of the Churubusco Public Library is to serve all people; service shall not be denied because of origin, age, background, or view. |
CatalogVisit our online catalog, reserve books, renew books, and see what you have checked out.
Note: You will not be able to renew books that are overdue or on reserve. You can also call, email, or visit the library to renew books. |
eBooks: BoundlessThe Churubusco Public Library has eBooks available for checkout! Click here for more information on how to borrow and read them. See the link below to access them.
eBooks: OverdriveThe Churubusco Public Library is part of the new Indiana Digital Library consortium. Check out the eBooks, audios, and more available through through OverDrive! Click here for more information on how to access the IDL page.


title: July marginalia quilty 365 project

text:
I am caught up through July 24 with my appliqued circles.
I started them on November 4. I use 2 strands of embroidery thread to blanket stitch around each circle that represents something in the day of my life. Then I use a micron pen or ultra fine sharpie to write on each block.
In July I made and canned wild black raspberry jam and pickled beets, have been harvesting broccoli, cabbage, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions. I bought tablets for my grandkids. I've also played a lot of games with the grandkids and this month their new favorite game is UNO. I finished 5 quilts this month - three for charity, one QOV (Quilt of Valor) for bro-in-law and one for me. We celebrated my daughter and youngest son's birthdays.
And then...July 18 my granddaughter tested positive for Lyme disease and the same day her dad (my son-in-law) went into the hospital and was later diagnosed with Leukemia. As a separate problem he had a pacemaker installed because of arrhythmia before he started on his chemo treatments. He's been in the hospital since, my daughter at his side and we have been watching the grandkids (thank goodness school is not in session)... well, grandpa has mostly been watching them but I've also been taking a few days here and there off of work to help out. Then grandpa found out on July 21 that he has a fractured jaw that will involve bone graft surgery. His consultation appointment is Aug 3 (his birthday) an hour away in Iowa City where they do that type of surgery. I think I will soon be taking more than a few days here and there off work. Thank goodness I have a lot of vacation time saved up.
These circles are nice to pick up and work on these hot summer days when I have a few minutes here and there to stop and do a little stitching. The problem is getting them prepped and ready.


text:
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The sumptuous bedsheets, crafted from high-quality materials, ensure a luxurious sleeping experience. Designed to transform your bedroom into a haven, these bedsheets combine aesthetic appeal with ultimate softness, making your retreat from the world a rejuvenating escape.
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title: Reading Comprehension Problems

text:
Reading Comprehension Problems
Reading Comprehension Problems: There is reliable evidence that reading comprehension difficulty occurs frequently in children who are actually good decoders and spellers. The breakdown in reading comprehension can occur for any number of reasons, several of which are detailed below.
It's important to understand that for a child to adequately comprehend an author's written message it requires them to be able to
analyze and sort through multiple layers of text meaning.
For simplicity's sake I've broken those layers down to four separate processes.
First, to properly comprehend a written passage a child must be able to decode the words on the page.
Second, the child needs to hold the information in working memory long enough for the information to be more extensively processed.
Third, the child must have adequate vocabulary, grammar and syntactical skills to organize and interpret the written message efficiently.
Fourth, the child needs to access higher order thinking skills to process the written message and go beyond the surface layer of the text and infer possible meaning.
If a breakdown occurs in one or more of these steps then the child may fail to grasp the meaning of the text, which often results
in reading comprehension problems and failure.
Let's look at these processes in more detail...
Working memory can be thought of as a mental workspace where new information is held briefly before being transferred to
higher level language and executive functions. Reading comprehension tasks can place enormous strain on a child's working memory capacity, particularly if the child has poor language skills. For more information about working memory please follow this
Deficits in language ability, particularly receptive language, can significantly compound students' reading comprehension problems. These are the students who on testing don't present with language disorder but have low abilities in key language areas, such as
and, perhaps most importantly,
To explore one example, problems with understanding syntactical rules can result in students not understanding the difference between
sentences, which can result in confusion in understanding the author's intended meaning. This is certainly the case in non fiction text where authors, who write history and science texts, use complex and compound-complex sentences routinely to communicate more detailed and elaborate ideas.
But complex sentence use is not restricted to non-fiction text. Let's look at the following passage from Herbert & Harry by popular children's
author, Pamela Allen. The story, Herbert & Harry is a grade 2-3 level text.
'Át last Herbert lay down to sleep. But even though it was very dark, and he was very tired, he could not sleep.'
The second sentence
contains a compound-complex structure, which in my experience, some students find difficult to comprehend when they read it.
When asked questions about this passage, some students fail to recognize that it's 'very dark' or that 'Herbert is tired.' Certainly, the context of the story helps with comprehension in that we know Herbert is tired, and on the run from his brother. But, when read in isolation, and without context the students' understanding of this particular sentence tends to unravel.
Why does this occur?
I believe, in this instance, that reading comprehension failure is caused by the complexity of the passage and its
intricate construction. The clause 'he could not sleep,'is preceded by the subordinate clause, 'But even though it was very dark,' the coordinating conjunction 'and,' and the main clause, 'he was very tired.'
As we can see, the construction of this particular sentence could quickly overload a student's working memory capacity and syntactical understanding. Even if the student had only a mild deficit in working memory and reasonable understanding of syntax.
Pamela Allen, and other authors who write for this age group, construct their passages with, at times,
quite complex passages. To my mind, reading comprehension problems often occur because of students' lack of experience and knowledge with complex sentences.
This is an area that perhaps requires extra research and more targeted intervention.
Research indicates that children with reading comprehension problems have poor inference skills. To infer what's happening in a story is a vital cognitive skill. It enables the reader to go beyond surface meaning of a text and to go deep and discover the author's concealed meaning.
Of course, in children's fiction not everything on the page is concrete and literal. An important part of reading and comprehending fiction is to
infer from what the author
doesn't say, but
Children with poor comprehension skills don't
'read between the lines' well. Poor inferencing skills could result from poor
background knowledge, weak vocabulary and semantic word knowledge, and incomplete knowledge of
For more information about
inferencing please follow this
To read more about
vocabulary knowledge and comprehension follow this link
Allan, P. (1986) Herbert and Harry,
Gathercole, S.E. & Alloway, T.P. (2008)
Working Memory and Learning: A Practical Guide for Teachers Sage Publications, Ltd
Paul, R. (2006) Language Disoders form Infancy through Adolescence. Assessment and Intervention.
Wallach, G.P. (2008) Language Intervention for School-Age Students: Setting Goals for Academic Success.
Wagner, R.K. Muse, A.E. & Tannenbaum, K.R. (2007) Vocabulary Acquisition: Implications for Reading Comprehension.
The Guilford Press
Wolf, M. (2008) Proust and the Squid. The Story and Science of the Reading Brain
Icon Books Ltd.
Content Last Modified 8/11
Return from Reading Comprehension Problems to Dyslexia Defined