# Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs

## Abstract

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) is an agency that reports to the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights within the United States Department of State. Under the umbrella of its general mission of developing policies and programs to combat international narcotics and crime, INL plays an important role in the training of partner nation security forces.

INL works to keep Americans safe by countering crime, illegal drugs, and instability abroad. The bureau's programs have 4 main objectives; 1) disrupt and reduce illicit drug markets and transnational crime, 2) combat corruption and illicit financing to strengthen democratic institutions and advance rule of law, 3) strengthen criminal justice systems to support stable, rights respecting partners, and 4) leverage learning, data, and resources to advance the mission. Counternarcotics and anticrime programs also complement counterterrorism efforts, both directly and indirectly, by promoting modernization of and supporting operations by foreign criminal justice systems and law enforcement agencies charged with the counter-terrorism mission. The head of the Bureau is the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Todd D. Robinson.

The bureau manages the Department of State's Narcotics Rewards Program and Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program in close coordination with the Department of Justice, Department of Homeland Security, Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), and other interested U.S. agencies.

INL is not a law enforcement organization but it specializes in managing large law enforcement training programs, e.g. in Afghanistan, Colombia, and Iraq.

The Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs, Office of Aviation (INL/A), is the aviation service provider in support of counter-narcotics, law enforcement, and overseas missions operations. The Bureau has more than 200 fixed wing and rotary wing aircraf (including OV-10, AT-802 and C-27 planes and Hueys, Blackhawk and K-Max helicopters) involved in INL counter-narcotics aviation programs in Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, Guatemala, Pakistan, Costa Rica, and Afghanistan. About half of the aircraft are operating from Colombia and the rest are in Bolivia, Peru, Pakistan and Afghanistan. Actual operations and support were provided by DynCorp International, until 2017 when AAR Government Services took over the WASS (Worldwide Aviation Support Services) contract.

INL has a broad social media presence with accounts on X (formerly known as Twitter), Facebook, YouTube, and Instagram under the handle @stateinl.


Darul Aman Palace

# Darul Aman Palace

## Abstract

Darul Aman Palace (Pashto: د دارالامان ماڼۍ; Dari: قصر دارالامان; 'Abode of Peace' or, in a double meaning, 'Abode of Aman') is a three-story-tall palace located in Darulaman, about 16 km (9.9 mi) south-west of the center of Kabul, Afghanistan. Surrounding the palace are the following buildings: the National Assembly, the National Museum of Afghanistan and the Afghan International University.

The 150-room Darul Aman Palace was originally built in the 1920s, during the reign of Amanullah Khan. He reigned as Emir of Afghanistan between February 1919 and June 1926, and as King of Afghanistan between June 1926 and January 1929. The palace was severely damaged during the 1990s civil war. However, between 2016 and 2020, the palace was renovated and completely restored to its former glory. Most work was completed for the 100th anniversary of Afghan independence, which was on 19 August 2019. The site is open to the public and all tourists.

## History

Construction of the Darul Aman Palace began in the early 1920s as part of the endeavours of Emir Amanullah Khan to modernise Afghanistan. In June 1926, Amanullah proclaimed himself as King of Afghanistan. The palace was to be part of the new capital city called Darulaman, connected to Kabul by a narrow gauge railway. Amanullah Khan invited 22 architects from Germany and France to build the palace. The palace is considered to be a testimony of the Afghan-German ties, as it was designed by German engineer Walter Harten and his team of engineers.

The palace is an imposing neoclassical building on a hilltop overlooking a flat, dusty valley in the western part of the Afghan capital. Designed by French architects A. Godard and M. Godard, as well as German architects, it was one of the first buildings in the country to get central heating and running water. The Swedish memoir writer Rora Asim Khan, who lived in Afghanistan with her Afghan husband in 1926–27, describe in her memoirs how she was invited to the palace by Queen Soraya to describe Western lifestyle and customs to the Queen and the King's mother Intended as the seat of a future parliament, the building remained unused and partially complete for many years after religious conservatives under Habibullah Kalakani forced King Amanullah from power in 1929, and halted his reforms. In later years it served as the medical school for Kabul University, as well a warehouse, and the seat of several smaller ministries.

The building was gutted by fire on 14 December 1968, and was afterwards restored to house the Ministry of Defence during the 1970s and 1980s. In the Communist coup of 1978, the building was once more set on fire. Much of the building was damaged by tank fire during Shahnawaz Tanai 's failed coup attempt on 6 March 1990. It was once again severely damaged during the 1990s Afghan Civil War, as rival Mujahideen factions fought for control of Kabul. Heavy shelling by the Mujahideen left the palace a gutted ruin, including the garage containing the vehicles of the former King which were removed and used as target practice, all ultimately being destroyed. It was mostly used as a refugee settlement and a nomad camp until the early 2000s, when it became a battalion headquarters for the Afghan National Army.

In 2005, a plan was unveiled to refurbish the palace for use as the seat of Afghanistan's future parliament. It was to be funded primarily by private donations from foreigners and wealthy Afghans. In April 2012, a number of government compounds around the palace were targeted for attacks by Taliban-led insurgent groups. Eventually it was decided to develop a new building opposite the palace to house the parliament under a grant, provided by India. Construction was completed in 2015.

In the Spring of 2016, work began on a 16 to 20 million dollar restoration project, intended to renovate the palace in time for the centenary of Afghanistan's full independence in 1919. Nearly 600 tons of debris was initially removed from the 150-room building and by the spring of 2017, workers were taking down plaster and concrete from the inner walls. Over 80 engineers and architects were involved in the project, of which 25 percent were female. By July 2019, most of the major reconstruction work on the palace was completed.

On 18 April 2020, an opening ceremony was held as the palace was used as a temporary COVID-19 isolation and treatment center with 200 beds during the COVID-19 pandemic in Afghanistan.

## Architecture

The palace is a U-shaped brick building, built in a European neoclassical style. It has 3 floors with 150 rooms, including a semi-circular main hall. Its highest point is around 33 m (108 ft) above ground level. There are four domed towers on the roof. The galleries on the third floor of the southern facade are decorated with a number of Corinthian columns. Each floor is connected by marble spiral staircases.


Glen Innes railway station

# Glen Innes railway station

## Abstract

Glen Innes railway station is located on the North Island Main Trunk line in New Zealand. Eastern Line services of the Auckland railway network are the only regular services that stop at the station. It has an island platform layout. Every hour it has at least three services towards Manukau and at least three towards Waitematā. In 2006 the station had a major upgrade and is one of the most used non-terminus stations by the public.

## History

The station was originally constructed, along with five others, in 1929 on the route of the Westfield Deviation, which was being built to divert the Auckland–Westfield section of the North Island Main Trunk line (NIMT) via a flatter, faster eastern route to link up with the original NIMT tracks at Westfield Junction.

The station closed in March 2023 for Stage 2 of the Rail Network Rebuild, with an expected reopening in January 2024. The Eastern Line closed between Ōtāhuhu and Waitematā for major track renewal work and to prepare the Eastern Line for the opening of the City Rail Link.

## Services

Auckland One Rail, on behalf of Auckland Transport, operates suburban services between Waitematā and Manukau via Glen Innes. The basic weekday off-peak timetable is:

- 3 tph to Waitematā

- 3 tph to Manukau

Bus routes 74, 75, 76, 650, 744, 747 and the Tāmaki Link serve Glen Innes station.


Héctor Acosta (singer)

# Héctor Acosta (singer)

## Abstract

Héctor Elpidio Acosta Restituyo (born May 23, 1967), better known as Héctor Acosta "El Torito " (Héctor Acosta "The Little Bull") or simply Héctor Acosta, is a Merengue and bachata singer, and politician from the Dominican Republic. In 2020, he was elected senator representing the Monseñor Nouel Province before the Senate of the Dominican Republic; he was reelected in 2024.

Acosta was the lead singer for the Dominican band Los Toros Band (The Bull Band). They were mostly a merengue band who in the late 1990s started to perform bachata songs which would gain huge success. In the mid-2000s he continued as a solo artist and would gain bigger success with hits like " Me Voy ", "Con Que Ojos", "Tu Primera Vez", "Me Duele La Cabeza", "Levántate", " Amorcito Enfermito ", among others. Some of his hits have reached number one on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart. He has released seven studio albums in which three of them have been certified gold in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Acosta is considered one of Dominican music's greatest musicians.

## Early life

Acosta was born on Bonao, Monseñor Nouel, Dominican Republic on May 23, 1967. He is the son of Elpidio Acosta, a school teacher and Seferina Irene Restituyo. He is the oldest of two brothers. At an early age, he was involve in music as he was part of a church choir in his hometown. This would help him in his singing, even though he originally was trying to pursue a career in baseball.

In 1982, he participated in a voice festival contest by a local radio station named Novel Radio. He won first prize in the contest. This would eventually lead him to a career in music.

## Career

### Early career (1982–1989)

Acosta formed La Renovación Quisqueyana (The Quisqueyan Renovation/Renewal) along with members from the church choir he was a part of. This group had characteristics similar to another merengue group Los Paymasi. Two years later, Acosta left the group to join another group called Los Gentiles (The Gentle Ones), who were considered the most refined group in the city of Bonao at the time. In the late 1980s, Acosta worked for Dominican merengue band Los Hermanos Rosario (The Rosario Brothers). He worked as a back-up vocalist and covered for one of its members, Toño Rosario, who at the time took a leave of absence due to legal issues. Also, Acosta's voice at the time resembled Toño's voice. He would eventually meet the band's manager Gerardo Díaz, known as El Toro (The Bull), who would eventually also become his manager as he would convince Acosta to be part of the band that would be known as Los Toros Band. Acosta left The Rosario Brothers to be the lead singer of Díaz's band.

### Los Toros Band (1990-2006)

In 1990, Los Toros Band (The Bull Band) was formed and released their debut album Se Soltaron Los Toros (The Bulls Have Released Themselves). The album gained huge success on radio. On May 4, 1991, Acosta would officially start doing presentations as the lead vocalist and leader of the band and would start making appearances at concerts, parties, and on TV shows. Since then, they gained success with multiple merengue hits. Later on they would release bachata songs that would eventually establish the group to be seen as a bachata band as well, thus giving them international fame in the process. In 2006, he would depart from the band to pursue a solo career. Prior to his departure there were issues between him and the record label Los Toros Records (The Bull Records), which was owned by Gerardo Díaz and his brother Juan Pablo Díaz. From late 2005 to early 2006, Acosta was in a legal battle to get out of his contract. Also, the group was not allowed to perform live or the record label would sue them. Eventually, an agreement was made and Acosta was no longer a member of Los Toros Band.

### Starting a solo career, more international exposure, and becoming a bachata star (2006-2009)

In late 2006, he embarked in a solo career and signed with D.A.M. Productions. On October 24, 2006, he released his debut solo album Sigo Siendo Yo (I Continue Being Me). It peaked at number 19 on the Billboard Tropical Albums chart. A special edition was released on March 25, 2009, which featured music videos and a photo gallery. The special edition was distributed by Venemusic and Universal Music Latin Entertainment. These labels would eventually distribute his albums. This was a predominantly merengue album and featured the merengue single "¿Cómo Me Curo?" ("How Do I Cure Myself?"). Even though this is mostly a merengue album, it featured two bachata singles that became the most successful songs from the album. The singles were "Primavera Azul" ("Blue Spring") and " Me Voy " ("I'm Leaving"), which was written by Romeo Santos and it is a bachata cover of a merengue song by Aventura. Later on, Romeo, who was the group's lead singer, was featured in a remix of the cover, which was added to another album. They would perform the song together at Aventura 's concert at Madison Square Garden. The live performance was featured on the group's third live album Kings of Bachata: Sold Out at Madison Square Garden.

With the success Acosta was gaining in bachata, he started to make albums with more bachata songs. His next albums would either be hybrids of bachata and merengue, or predominantly bachata. He released his second solo album Mitad / Mitad (Half / Half) on April 15, 2008, and it was distributed by Venevision International Music and Machete Music. It features a cover of Jorge Celedón 's song "Sin Perdón" which became a number one hit on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart. It also features the single "Con Que Ojos" ("With What Eyes"). On the Billboard charts, the album peaked at number 62 on the Top Latin Albums chart, and at number 5 on the Tropical Albums chart. It was certified gold in the U.S. by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for shipping 30,000 copies in the US. This is the album that includes the remix of " Me Voy " with Romeo Santos. The remix peaked at number 48 on the Billboard Hot Latin Songs chart and at number 15 on the Billboard Tropical Songs chart. The album also featured a song of reggaeton and bachata with Latin rap group El Pueblo. In the same year, he released his first concert film En Vivo (Live). In the same year, Acosta and Celedón performed a duet titled "Me Vió Llorar" ("Saw Me Weep") which is bachata and vallenato mixed song. It reached number one on the Billboard Tropical Songs. He then was featured in the song "Vicio Del Pecado" ("Vice Of Sin") by Puerto Rican duo R.K.M & Ken-Y as part of the duo's second studio album The Royalty: La Realeza.

On May 26, 2009, he released his third album Simplemente... El Torito (Simply... The Little Bull). It featured collaborations with Marcy Place, Bachata Heightz, Don Omar, and R.K.M & Ken-Y. It gain more success then the previous album as it was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling 50,000 copies in the United States. On the Billboard charts, it peaked at number 21 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, at number 20 on the Top Latin Albums chart, and at number 2 on the Tropical Albums chart. The album included the singles "Me Vio Llorar" ("She Saw Me Cry") bachata only version, "No Me Lloren" ("Don't Cry For Me"), "Me Puedo Matar" ("I Could Die") with Bachata Heightz, and "Tu Primera Vez" ("Your First Time"), along with a remix featuring reggaeton duo R.K.M & Ken-Y.

### Oblígame, Con El Corazón Abierto, and La Historia... Mis Exitos (2010-2014)

In 2010 he released the his first solo compilation album The Ultimate Bachata Collection. It is a greatest hits album containing his greatest hits as a solo artist and bachata hits from his time in Los Toros Band. In the same year, he released his second concert film Una Noche con El Torito (One Night with El Torito). On October 19, 2010, he released his fourth studio album Oblígame (Obligate Me). It featured a collaboration with Mexican singer Alejandro Fernández in a bachata version of Fernández's song " Se Me Va La Voz " ("I Lose My Voice"). It sold 30,000 copies in the U.S., thus being certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). On the Billboard charts, it peaked at number 24 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, at number 13 on the Top Latin Albums chart, and at number 2 on the Tropical Albums chart. It received a Latin Grammy nomination for Best Contemporary Tropical Album. It included the single "Me Duele La Cabeza" (My Head Hurts), which on the Billboard charts, it peaked number 47 on the Hot Latin Songs chart, and at number 3 on the Tropical Airplay chart.

In 2011, he released his second compilation album The Ultimate Merengue Collection. The album contained studio and live versions of merengue hit songs from his solo career and from Los Toros Band. On August 21, 2012, he released his fifth studio album Con El Corazón Abierto (With An Open Heart). It featured a collaboration with Mexican-American singer Pepe Aguilar. On the Billboard charts, it peaked at number 33 on the Heatseekers Albums chart, at number 16 on the Top Latin Albums chart, and at number 3 on the Tropical Albums chart. Its lead single "Tu Veneno" ("Your Venom") peaked at number 42 on the Hot Latin Songs chart and at number 1 on the Tropical Airplay chart, thus becoming his third number-one single on the chart. The album also includes the song "Para Llegar A Donde Estoy" ("To Get To Where I At"), which was released as a single in 2014 to promote his third compilation album La Historia... Mis Exitos (The History... My Hits). The album was released on April 3, 2014.

### Continued success, Merengue Y Sentimiento, and Este Soy Yo (2015-present)

October 16, 2015, Acosta release his sixth studio album Merengue Y Sentimiento (Merengue And Feelings).It features a collaboration with Mexican band La Original Banda El Limón de Salvador Lizárraga (Salvador Lizárraga's Original Lemon Band) and Puerto Rican singer Manny Manuel. It includes the singles, "Ojalá" ("Hopefully"), "O Te Vas o Me Voy Yo" ("Either You Leave or I Leave"), "Es Urgente" ("It's Urgent"), " Amorcito Enfermito " ("Sick Sweetheart") which became one of his most successful songs of his career. It peaked at number 2 on the Monitor Latino ' s Dominican Republic Bachata chart. It also peaked at number 1 on the Billboard Tropical Airplay. The song became a success as a meme due to the line "se murio" (It died).

On November 1, 2018, he was featured in the bachata version of the single "Mala Suerte" ("Bad Luck") by Puerto Rican Urban artist Jory Boy. On October 11, 2019, he released the single "Con Los Ojos Cerrados" ("With The Eyes Closed") with Dominican merengue singer Milly Quezada. On November 29, 2019, he then released the greatest hits album, Los Número Uno (The Number Ones). On May 20, 2022, He released his seventh studio album Este Soy Yo (This is Me). It includes the singles "Antes del Lunes" ("Before Monday"), "Yo Sé" ("I Know"), "Pa' Que Me Perdones" ("So You Can Forgive Me"), and "Pecador" ("Sinner"). These singles were released between 2019 and 2022. On March 7, 2023, he released "Somos Dominicanos" ("We're Dominicans") with Dominican rapper El Piro. On August 10, 2023, he released the song "La Despedida" ("The Farewell") with Ecuadorian pop singer Javier Neira and Mexican singer Alan Ramírez.

## Discography

The following is his discography list:

### Studio albums

- Sigo Siendo Yo (2006)

- Mitad / Mitad (2008)

- Simplemente... El Torito (2009)

- Oblígame (2010)

- Con El Corazón Abierto (2012)

- Merengue Y Sentimiento (2015)

- Este Soy Yo (2022)

### Live albums

- Tipico (2004) - J&N Records

### Compilation albums

- The Ultimate Bachata Collection (2010)

- The Ultimate Merengue Collection (2011)

- La Historia... Mis Exitos (2014)

- Los Número Uno (2019)

### Concert Films

- En Vivo (2008)

- Una Noche Con El Torito (2010)


Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut

# Mayor of Hartford, Connecticut

## Abstract

The following table lists the individuals who served as mayor of Hartford, Connecticut, their political party affiliations, and their dates in office, as well as other information.

## History

The city of Hartford switched from a mayor–council government to a council–manager government in 1947. The mayor was chosen from among the city council until 1969, when the mayor began to be directly elected in partisan elections.

In the 1990s and early 2000s, there were three unsuccessful efforts to amend to city charter to switch from a " weak mayor " system to a " strong mayor " system. Advocates for reform argued a switch to a strong-mayor system would "ameliorate the sense of citizen frustration with the Hartford government and the many problems facing the city," such as a significant drop in the city's population (11.1% from 1990 to 1994, the largest drop for a large U.S. city), crime, a broken school system (which had been taken over by the state), an overstaffed and costly fire department, and a scandal-ridden police department, as well as lackluster economic development. Under the system then in place, the mayor had no vote in the city council, and had only the power to veto council legislation. The city council was also solely responsible for hiring or firing the city manager, with the mayor having no formal role. The mayor also lacked effective executive power; it was the city manager who appointed and supervised department heads. The mayor could only hire and fire his own secretary. Moreover, the mayor's salary was very low, $30,000, which discouraged qualified candidates from running. Because of this system, the mayor's influence was based solely on his "ability to cobble together a council coalition," and the mayor's functions were mostly those of "a policy advocate rather than a player in policy implementation."

in 2000, proposed charter revisions written by a Charter Revision Commission would have eliminated the city manager, made the mayor the chief executive of the city, increase the mayor's salary from $30,000 to $105,000, increased the size of the city council (from nine to fifteen), and switched to elections of council members by ward rather than at-large. The proposed charter revisions were put to a vote in a city special election; the majority of voters supported the revisions, but the revision fell short of the required 15% of all registered voters, and so the proposal failed.

In January 2002, shortly after taking office, mayor Eddie A. Perez —an advocate for a strong-mayor government—formed a new fifteen-member Charter Review Commission to review the charter and recommend changes. The commission recommended several changes, many of which had been recommended by the previous commission. The revision proposed shifted to a strong-mayor system in which the mayor would serve as chief executive officer and chief operating officer of the city, appoint a majority of the board of education, appoint all department heads, remove department heads (with the approval of six council members), and prepare and present the annual city budget to the council. On November 5, 2002, the revisions went to a city vote, and all were approved, with about 77% of voters approving the changes, effective with the 2003 election.

## List of mayors

The following table lists the individuals who served as mayor of Hartford, Connecticut.


Melvin Coombs

# Melvin Coombs

## Abstract

Melvin Coombs (January 30, 1948 – March 18, 1997) was a Wampanoag dancer, cultural educator, and cultural interpreter.

## Early life and career

Born and raised in Mashpee, Massachusetts, Coombs' native name was Kennupmussitaccq, meaning "Quick Foot". He graduated from high school in Falmouth. After attending Cape Cod Community College in Barnstable, he began dancing competitively at local pow-wows.

Coombs later began speaking in schools and other community gatherings in an attempt to dispel myths and stereotypes about Indigenous peoples of the Americas. In the 1990s, he served as a cultural interpreter at the Plimoth Plantation while working for the Wampanoag Indigenous Program. Together with his fiance, Dawn Dove, he managed the Dovecrest Cultural Center in Exeter, which includes the Tomaquag Indian Memorial Museum, the Dove Trading Post, and a cultural education program.

## Death

On March 18, 1997, Coombs died of severe injuries in Richmond, Rhode Island. He and Lloyd Lance Comer, an acquaintance, were seen together drinking much of the day and night. Comer was initially charged with manslaughter, as Coombs' body was found on his property. He was later acquitted.

## Personal life

At the time of his death, Coombs was engaged to Dawn Dove, a Narragansett. They lived in Exeter, Rhode Island.


Boban Kajgo

# Boban Kajgo

## Abstract

Boban Kajgo (born March 10, 1989) is a Canadian soccer player of Serbian origin.

## Career

### Youth

Kajgo began his career with ASJ Jean Talon and attended 2003 into the Concordia University. He played than from 2005 to 2007 in the youth side for OFK Belgrade.

### Professional

In 2007 signed his first professional contract with FK Hajduk Beograd and earned in two years 37 games, who scores 5 goals. He left his club FK Hajduk Beograd to join on 14 July 2009 in the Serbian SuperLiga club FK Smederevo, signing a two-year contract.

In summer 2011 he joined FK Leotar in the Premier League of Bosnia and Herzegovina, but during the following winter break he moved to FK Sutjeska Foča playing in the First League of the Republika Srpska. During the summer of 2012, Kajgo returned to Belgrade and joined Balkan Mirijevo – a member of third tier of Serbian football.

## International career

He earned 8 games and scored 4 goals for the Quebec national trainings centre in 2004 and played for the team in 2007 at Coupe Du Québec Saputo AAA.


Agustín Argüello

# Agustín Argüello

## Abstract

Agustín Alejandro Argüello, (Córdoba, Argentina; born November 7, 1989), commonly known as Agustín Argüello, is an Argentine actor and singer. He became known in the Argentine reality show Operación Triunfo 2009 and, in Mexico, La Academia 2009 and Segunda Oportunidad, a program that crowned him the winner. After finishing the program, he joined the youth musical group Tobby, which dissolved at the end of 2012 and began his career as a soloist and Musical Theater actor, where his participation in musicals such as The Lion King (in Mexico and Spain) stood out. Los Miserables y Ghost: El Musical, where he received his first nomination for Best Male Performance in a Musical.

## Early life

Agustín Arguello was born in Córdoba, Argentina on November 7, 1989. He is the son of Daniel Argüello and Adriana Mercado (she was born in the city of La Rioja), both architects, and he has a younger brother, Martín Argüello. From the age of 4 he attended the Nuestra Señora del Loreto Institute, until he was 18, where he graduated and entered the National University of Córdoba, studying a Bachelor of Film and TV.

His father taught him to play the guitar as a child, the first instrument with which Agustín began to accompany himself and with which he composed his first songs and recorded them at home with his computer.

## Career

### 2009: Operación Triunfo

In February 2009, Agustín auditioned in Córdoba for the fourth edition of the Argentinian musical reality show Operación Triunfo, broadcast on Telefé. In March he entered the first program which was a live casting. After his first performance, Volver a amar, by Cristian Castro, Agustín manages to be one of the 19 participants of the program and they enter the Casa de Operación Triunfo, a format that was combined with that of Big Brother.

After 17 concerts in four months, Argüello won third place and signed a contract with Warner Music Argentina, who proposed he duet with Sebastián Martingaste.

### 2009: La Academia

The duet does not last long, since both enter the reality show La Academia in September of that same year. After 12 concerts, a semi-final in Guatemala in front of more than 100,000 people, in the capital's main square, Agustín once again reaches the final of the program, broadcast from the Víctor Manuel Reyna Stadium, in Chiapas, reaching 4th place.

### 2010: Segunda oportunidad

At the end of the Academy, TV Azteca announced that Agustín would be part of the new soap opera Quiéreme Tonto. However, it was later announced that he would enter Segunda Oportunidad, a show that brought together the best participants from 8 generations of La Academia, who failed to win. The dynamic was group, and Agustín was the captain of the Red team until concert 3, where he joins the Yellow team. Agustín becomes captain of the Yellow team in the 7th concert and reaches the final, the team taking first place, winning 2 million pesos.

## Tobby

After winning Segunda Oportunidad, together with his teammates from the Yellow team and a member of the Turquoise Blue team, Sebastián, Matías, Oskar and Menny, make up the musical group “Tobby” which releases its first single “Quiero Amar”, a Spanish adaptation of “ Open Arms ” by Journey. After rejoining the soap opera " Quiéreme tonto " with his group mates, they released the video clip for "Quiero Amar" and began their first tours throughout Mexico, performing at a concert at the Palacio de los Deportes in Mexico City, sharing the stage with Kylie Minogue, Wisin & Yandel and Enrique Iglesias. In March 2011 they released their second single "Déjalo" which reaches the top positions on the radio. The album "TOBBY" came out in July of that year and reached number 2 in its first week. The 3rd single "MIÉNTEME", which debuts Agustín as a composer, along with the producer and composer Jules Ramllano.

After the departure of Sebastián Martingaste from the group, Tobby released two more singles "Mi Quinto Elemento" and "Despiértame Ya" and in November 2012, they decided to separate and go their separate ways after 115 concerts throughout Mexico, the United States, Guatemala and El Salvador, with more than 15,000 albums sold, more than half a million views of his songs on YouTube, and having shared the stage with artists such as Reik, Paty Cantú, Reily Barba, Jesse & Joy, Noel Schajris, Leonel García, Belinda, among others.

## Solo career and acting

### 2012-2013: “Destino” and “Una noche más”

Agustín begins his career as a soloist, and his first big step is to be the composer of the main song of the Azteca soap opera " Destino ", performed by Carmen Ríos, "Mi Camino es Tu Amor", which positions him as a composer, also collaborating on songs by artists such as Manuel Paz, Napoleón Robleto and Menny Carrasco. In addition to his participation as an actor in the unitary " Lo que callamos las mujeres ", Agustín also debuted as a host alongside Cynthia Rodríguez, in the program "La Vida Es Una Canción", aired in April and May 2013, and He graduated from an acting workshop at the CEFAT school of TV Azteca.

In March 2013, Agustín recorded a show for Azteca Conecta, where he filmed a video clip and a song of his own called "Una Noche Más". Agustín records the pop version of the song and releases it on his You Tube channel and iTunes.

In a blast released by his official website, the singer announced on August 26, 2013 that he was recording his first single with music producer Benjamín Díaz, who has already worked with other artists such as Reyli, Marconi and Tobby themselves.

### 2013: First Single and theatrical debut

On September 23, 2013, Agustín releases his first official single as a solo artist. The song is called "Cuanto Más" and was written by himself, along with Cecy Leos, singer of the group Kaay, and Francisco Oroz. That same day a lyric video comes out on their official YouTube channel and the song goes on sale on iTunes. The song has romantic overtones and maintains the ballad style that Agustín had demonstrated since the beginning of his career.

The day before the launch, Agustín premiered in the play " El Mago De Oz ", a musical where he plays the Tin Man, sharing the billboard with Edgar Vivar, known for his characters Ñoño and Señor Barriga, from the show " El Chavo of 8". This becomes her theatrical debut, despite having made a minimal participation in 2009, in the OCESA musical, Mamma Mia! The work gave its last performance on December 1 of that same year, being in theaters for 11 weeks.

As of November 26, "Cuanto Más" had already entered some charts such as the "Hit Parade", the most important ranking in Córdoba, Argentina, which lasted 12 weeks, reaching a maximum of position #13. and on Monitor Latino, which has been among the Hot 100 since November 1, peaking at position #65 of the most played Pop songs in Mexico, USA, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico.

### 2014: "Qué rico mambo" and "Las Bravo"

On December 21, 2013, Agustín's participation in the play "Qué Rico Mambo" by producer Eduardo Paz was announced along with great personalities of the Mexican soap opera, such as Lourdes Munguía, Olivia Collins, Salvador Zerboni, PeeWee, among others.. The play premieres on April 4 with a full box office at the Blanquita Theater.

On April 7, 2014, three days after its premiere, she released "Desnudas Mi Corazón", the second single from her first work as a soloist.

In July, Agustín announces on his social networks that his single "Desnudas Mi Corazón" will be the official theme of the soap opera " Las Bravo ", on TV Azteca, starring Edith González and Mauricio Islas.

### 2014: "Soy tu doble" y tv host

Agustín participates in the first edition of the TV Azteca imitation reality show "SOY TU DOBLE", on August 18, in which he gets 2nd place. After the program, he strengthened his image on TV Azteca, appearing as a guest on several programs, and as co-host alongside Ingrid Coronado of the second season of La Academia Kids, at the same time appearing as co-host on Canal Total, TotalPlay's main channel. and as a jury for La Academia De Venga La Alegría, sharing the judging panel with the popular host Raquel Bigorra, the renowned entertainment journalist Matilde Obregón and the controversial host of Ventaneando, Ricardo Casares.

### 2015-17: “Lion King”

At the end of 2014, OCESA announces the cast of the new staging of “ The Lion King ”, the Broadway musical set in Mexico City, with Carlos Rivera as the main protagonist, who played the role of Simba. The show premiered in May 2015. With Rivera's retirement, Agustín assumes the leading role of Simba a year after the play premiered.

It is in September 2017 when, after almost two years and eight months, the production issued a statement announcing the last weeks of "The Lion King" and with it, the end of the first season under the motto "Thank you Mexico." This is how Argüello concluded his stage in the musical on January 14, 2018, performing more than 500 roles giving life to Simba.

### 2018-19: "Los Miserables"

At the end of 2017, OCESA announces the cast of the new staging of " Les Miserables ", the Broadway musical set in Mexico City, featuring Agustín, in the role of the revolutionary student Marius Pontmercy, premiering on March 22, 2018. After more than 300 performances and a year of performances, on April 28, 2019, the play lowers the curtain, winning a Lunas del Auditorio award for BEST MUSICAL and receiving 13 nominations at the METRO Awards.

### 2019-20: "La Doña and Mentiras"

Before finishing the season of Miserables, Agustín joins the cast of the second season of the " Telemundo " television series " La Doña ", at the same time that he debuts as one of the leading roles in the Mexican musical " Mentiras " where he remained until the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.

### 2020-21: "Ghost and first Best Actor nomination"

In the midst of the 2020 COVID Pandemic, the cast of the musical Ghost, based on the film of the same name, was presented. The musical premiered in December 2020 and then re-released in March 2021, due to the health situation in the city due to the pandemic. The first season of the musical closed on July. For that performance, Argüello was nominated for Best Male Performance in a Musical, at the Metropolitan Theater Awards.

### 2021-Present: "El Rey León España"

In July 2021, it is announced that Argüello will be the new protagonist of the musical The Lion King, in Madrid.

In 2022, he would win the award for BEST LEAD ACTOR for his role as Simba at the BroadwayWorld Spain Awards.

After having participated in the TV series " La Última " alongside Aitana and Miguel Bernardeu, Agustín is currently still performing as Simba in Lion King. With more than 1,000 performances, he has become the actor who has played Simba the most in the world.

## Discography

### Singles and EPs

- 2013 - "Una Noche Más" (Single)

- 2013 - "Cuánto Más" (Single)

- 2014 - "Desnudas Mi Corazón" (Single)

- 2015 - "Mejor Suerte La Próxima Vez" (Single)

- 2016 - "Muriendo De Amor" (Single)

- 2016 - "Tatuaje" (Single)

- 2017 - "Lo Que Ya No Está" (Single)

- 2017 - "Están En Ti / Él Vive En Ti" (Single)

- 2018 - "Noche Sin Fin" (Single)

- 2018 - "Sober" (Single)

- 2018 - "Todo Vuelve A Empezar" (Single)

- 2020 - "Una Razón" (Single)

### Tobby

- 2012 - "Tobby"

### Collaborationss

- 2013 - "Cuánto Más" - a dueto con Napoleón Robleto

- 2014 - "Cantemos Ya!" - a dueto con Franki3 Alvarado

- 2017 - "Secret Love Song" - a dueto con Salua Jackson

### Other

- 2009 - "Operación Triunfo 2009: Volumen 1"

- 2009 - "Operación Triunfo 2009: Volumen 2"

- 2009 - "La Nueva Academia"

- 2010 - "Enamórate Con... Azteca Novelas"

- 2012 - "La Academia 10 Años"

- 2015 - "El Rey Leon México"

### As Composer

- 2010 - "Mienteme" - Tobby

- 2013 - "Mi Camino Es Tu Amor" - Canción de la telenovela "Destino"

- 2013 - "Déjame Olvidarte" - Menny Carrasco

- 2013 - "Te Prefiero Perdonar" - Menny Carrasco

- 2013 - "Escapémonos" - Manuel Paz

- 2014 - "Mi Primer Sí" - Melany

- 2014 - "Mi Destino" - Jesús Figueroa

- 2015 - "Si Tú Te Vas" - Urband5

## Filmography

### Reality Shows

- Telefe

- 2009 - Operación Triunfo 2009 - Argentina (Finalist - 3rd Place)

- TV Azteca

- 2009 - La Nueva Academia - México (Finalist - 4th Place)

- 2010 - Segunda oportunidad (Winner)

- 2014 - Soy tu doble 2 (Runner-up)

### TV

- Disney+ 2022 - La Última: Ídolo

- 2022 - La Última: Ídolo

- Telemundo 2020 - La Doña: Eduardo Pérez Urresti

- 2020 - La Doña: Eduardo Pérez Urresti

- TV Azteca 2010: Quiéreme tonto 2010/11 - Lo que callamos las mujeres (Unitario) 2010: Capítulo "Y Si Mi Novio Se Enoja" 2010: Capítulo: "Ni Quiero Ni Me Importa" 2011: Capítulo: "Un Error Demasiado Caro"

- 2010: Quiéreme tonto

- 2010/11 - Lo que callamos las mujeres (Unitario) 2010: Capítulo "Y Si Mi Novio Se Enoja" 2010: Capítulo: "Ni Quiero Ni Me Importa" 2011: Capítulo: "Un Error Demasiado Caro"

- 2010: Capítulo "Y Si Mi Novio Se Enoja"

- 2010: Capítulo: "Ni Quiero Ni Me Importa"

- 2011: Capítulo: "Un Error Demasiado Caro"

### HOST

- TV Azteca

- 2013 - La vida es una canción

- 2014 – La Academia Kids 2

- 2014 – “Canal Total” (TotalPlay)

### Other appearances

- TV Azteca

- 2012 – “La Academia Centroamérica” (Guest Jury)

- 2014 – “La Academia De Venga la Alegría ” (Jury)

- Televisa

- 2016 - " Recuerda y gana " (Contestant)

## Theatre

- 2009 - " Mamma Mia! " (Especial Appearance)

- 2013 - "Wizard of Oz (El Hombre De Lata)

- 2014 - "Qué Rico Mambo" (Rosendo Del Mar)

- 2015-17 - “ El Rey León ” (Simba)

- 2018-19 - " Los Miserables " (Marius Pontmercy)

- 2019-20 - " Mentiras " (Emmanuel)

- 2020-21 - " Ghost: Musical " (Sam)

- 2021-presente - “ Lion King ” (Simba)


Michael Jarjura

# Michael Jarjura

## Abstract

Michael Jarjura (born May 12, 1961) is an American attorney and politician who served as the mayor of Waterbury, Connecticut from 2001-2011.

He was elected in November 1992 to represent Waterbury's 74th District in the Connecticut House of Representatives. He served as House Chairman of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. He also served on the Judiciary and Finance Committee. During his tenure, Representative Jarjura served as Chairman and member of various Legislative Task Forces and Commissions.

## Early life and education

Born in Waterbury, Connecticut, Jarjura was educated in the Waterbury school system and graduated from Sacred Heart High School in 1979. He received a Bachelor of Science in Management from Post University in 1983. He then earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Bridgeport Law School in 1987.

## Career

After graduating from law school, Jarjura worked as an independent attorney and businessman. He also served as an assistant Connecticut Attorney General from 1987 to 1993.

### Connecticut House of Representatives

Prior to his election as mayor, Jarjura served in the Connecticut House of Representatives representing the 74th District in the city's east end. He served as House Chairman of the Insurance and Real Estate Committee. He also served on the Judiciary and Finance Committee. During his tenure, Representative Jarjura served as Chairman and member of various Legislative Task Forces and Commissions.

### Mayor of Waterbury

Jarjura was first elected mayor in 2001, and re-elected in 2003. In 2005, he was elected to a third term as a write-in candidate after losing the Democratic primary. He was re-elected in 2007 and 2009 as the Democratic Party nominee. In 2011, after failing to seek the Democratic nomination, he ran for reelection on the Republican Party ticket. In the general election, he was defeated by former police chief Neil O'Leary, who was the Democratic nominee. Perennial Waterbury mayoral candidate Larry DePillo also ran in the general election, as an independent.

### Political positions

Jarjura is a cultural conservative who opposes abortion rights. He is a member of the Legislative Advisory Council of the Family Institute of Connecticut, an organization known for its vocal opposition to same-sex marriage.

Jarjura, long considered a conservative Democrat, joined the Republican party in 2011. In 2006, he endorsed the independent senate campaign of Joe Lieberman. In 2008, he announced he would hire former Governor John G. Rowland, who had served prison time on a corruption charge, as an economic development advisor. In September 2009, Jarjura spoke at a Tea Party rally in Waterbury, saying, "We needed a spark, and you're the spark that is going to be the change. So don't give up. Don't get discouraged because this country is worth fighting for and you're fighting for it."

### 2010 comptroller election

In May 2010, Jarjura, who first explored a run for governor and lieutenant governor, announced he would seek the post of state comptroller being vacated by incumbent Nancy Wyman. His opponent, Kevin Lembo, won the endorsement of the Democratic State Convention later that month.

In July 2010, Jarjura challenged his opponent's request for public funding in a complaint with the Connecticut State Election Enforcement Commission. The commission found no wrongdoing and approved the public grant.

Later in July, Jarjura filed a lawsuit against the State Election Enforcement Commission for approving his primary opponent for public campaign financing. On July 27, Hartford Superior Court Judge James T. Graham denied Jarjura’s request for an injunction against the state and his opponent.

In the state Democratic primary, held on August 10, 2010, Jarjura was defeated by Lembo.


Electromyography

# Electromyography

## Abstract

Electromyography (EMG) is a technique for evaluating and recording the electrical activity produced by skeletal muscles. EMG is performed using an instrument called an electromyograph to produce a record called an electromyogram. An electromyograph detects the electric potential generated by muscle cells when these cells are electrically or neurologically activated. The signals can be analyzed to detect abnormalities, activation level, or recruitment order, or to analyze the biomechanics of human or animal movement. Needle EMG is an electrodiagnostic medicine technique commonly used by neurologists. Surface EMG is a non-medical procedure used to assess muscle activation by several professionals, including physiotherapists, kinesiologists and biomedical engineers. In computer science, EMG is also used as middleware in gesture recognition towards allowing the input of physical action to a computer as a form of human-computer interaction.

## Clinical uses

EMG testing has a variety of clinical and biomedical applications. Needle EMG is used as a diagnostics tool for identifying neuromuscular diseases, or as a research tool for studying kinesiology, and disorders of motor control. EMG signals are sometimes used to guide botulinum toxin or phenol injections into muscles. Surface EMG is used for functional diagnosis and during instrumental motion analysis. EMG signals are also used as a control signal for prosthetic devices such as prosthetic hands, arms and lower limbs.

An acceleromyograph may be used for neuromuscular monitoring in general anesthesia with neuromuscular-blocking drugs, in order to avoid postoperative residual curarization (PORC).

Except in the case of some purely primary myopathic conditions EMG is usually performed with another electrodiagnostic medicine test that measures the conducting function of nerves. This is called nerve conduction study (NCS). Needle EMG and NCSs are typically indicated when there is pain in the limbs, weakness from spinal nerve compression, or concern about some other neurologic injury or disorder. Spinal nerve injury does not cause neck, mid back pain or low back pain, and for this reason, evidence has not shown EMG or NCS to be helpful in diagnosing causes of axial lumbar pain, thoracic pain, or cervical spine pain. Needle EMG may aid with the diagnosis of nerve compression or injury (such as carpal tunnel syndrome), nerve root injury (such as sciatica), and with other problems of the muscles or nerves. Less common medical conditions include amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, myasthenia gravis, and muscular dystrophy.

## Technique

### Skin preparation and risks

The first step before insertion of the needle electrode is skin preparation. This typically involves simply cleaning the skin with an alcohol pad.

The actual placement of the needle electrode can be difficult and depends on a number of factors, such as specific muscle selection and the size of that muscle. Proper needle EMG placement is very important for accurate representation of the muscle of interest, although EMG is more effective on superficial muscles as it is unable to bypass the action potentials of superficial muscles and detect deeper muscles. Also, the more body fat an individual has, the weaker the EMG signal. When placing the EMG sensor, the ideal location is at the belly of the muscle: the longitudinal midline. The belly of the muscle can also be thought of as in-between the motor point (middle) of the muscle and the tendonus insertion point.

Cardiac pacemakers and implanted cardiac defibrillators (ICDs) are used increasingly in clinical practice, and no evidence exists indicating that performing routine electrodiagnostic studies on patients with these devices pose a safety hazard. However, there are theoretical concerns that electrical impulses of nerve conduction studies (NCS) could be erroneously sensed by devices and result in unintended inhibition or triggering of output or reprogramming of the device. In general, the closer the stimulation site is to the pacemaker and pacing leads, the greater the chance for inducing a voltage of sufficient amplitude to inhibit the pacemaker. Despite such concerns, no immediate or delayed adverse effects have been reported with routine NCS.

No known contraindications exist for performing needle EMG or NCS on pregnant patients. Additionally, no complications from these procedures have been reported in the literature. Evoked potential testing, likewise, has not been reported to cause any problems when it is performed during pregnancy.

Patients with lymphedema or patients at risk for lymphedema are routinely cautioned to avoid percutaneous procedures in the affected extremity, namely venipuncture, to prevent development or worsening of lymphedema or cellulitis. Despite the potential risk, the evidence for such complications subsequent to venipuncture is limited. No published reports exist of cellulitis, infection, or other complications related to EMG performed in the setting of lymphedema or prior lymph node dissection. However, given the unknown risk of cellulitis in patients with lymphedema, reasonable caution should be exercised in performing needle examinations in lymphedematous regions to avoid complications. In patients with gross edema and taut skin, skin puncture by needle electrodes may result in chronic weeping of serous fluid. The potential bacterial media of such serous fluid and the violation of skin integrity may increase the risk of cellulitis. Before proceeding, the physician should weigh the potential risks of performing the study with the need to obtain the information gained.

### Surface and intramuscular EMG recording electrodes

There are two kinds of EMG: surface EMG and intramuscular EMG. Surface EMG assesses muscle function by recording muscle activity from the surface above the muscle on the skin. Surface EMG can be recorded by a pair of electrodes or by a more complex array of multiple electrodes. More than one electrode is needed because EMG recordings display the potential difference (voltage difference) between two separate electrodes. Limitations of this approach are the fact that surface electrode recordings are restricted to superficial muscles, are influenced by the depth of the subcutaneous tissue at the site of the recording which can be highly variable depending on the weight of a patient, and cannot reliably discriminate between the discharges of adjacent muscles. Specific electrode placements and functional tests have been developed to minimize this risk, thus providing reliable examinations.

Intramuscular EMG can be performed using a variety of different types of recording electrodes. The simplest approach is a monopolar needle electrode. This can be a fine wire inserted into a muscle with a surface electrode as a reference; or two fine wires inserted into muscle referenced to each other. Most commonly fine wire recordings are for research or kinesiology studies. Diagnostic monopolar EMG electrodes are typically insulated and stiff enough to penetrate skin, with only the tip exposed using a surface electrode for reference. Needles for injecting therapeutic botulinum toxin or phenol are typically monopolar electrodes that use a surface reference, in this case, however, the metal shaft of a hypodermic needle, insulated so that only the tip is exposed, is used both to record signals and to inject. Slightly more complex in design is the concentric needle electrode. These needles have a fine wire, embedded in a layer of insulation that fills the barrel of a hypodermic needle, that has an exposed shaft, and the shaft serves as the reference electrode. The exposed tip of the fine wire serves as the active electrode. As a result of this configuration, signals tend to be smaller when recorded from a concentric electrode than when recorded from a monopolar electrode and they are more resistant to electrical artifacts from tissue and measurements tend to be somewhat more reliable. However, because the shaft is exposed throughout its length, superficial muscle activity can contaminate the recording of deeper muscles. Single fiber EMG needle electrodes are designed to have very tiny recording areas, and allow for the discharges of individual muscle fibers to be discriminated.

To perform intramuscular EMG, typically either a monopolar or concentric needle electrode is inserted through the skin into the muscle tissue. The needle is then moved to multiple spots within a relaxed muscle to evaluate both insertional activity and resting activity in the muscle. Normal muscles exhibit a brief burst of muscle fiber activation when stimulated by needle movement, but this rarely lasts more than 100ms. The two most common pathologic types of resting activity in muscle are fasciculation and fibrillation potentials. A fasciculation potential is an involuntary activation of a motor unit within the muscle, sometimes visible with the naked eye as a muscle twitch or by surface electrodes. Fibrillations, however, are detected only by needle EMG, and represent the isolated activation of individual muscle fibers, usually as the result of nerve or muscle disease. Often, fibrillations are triggered by needle movement (insertional activity) and persist for several seconds or more after the movement ceases.

After assessing resting and insertional activity, the electromyographer assess the activity of muscle during voluntary contraction. The shape, size, and frequency of the resulting electrical signals are judged. Then the electrode is retracted a few millimetres, and again the activity is analyzed. This is repeated, sometimes until data on 10–20 motor units have been collected in order to draw conclusions about motor unit function. Each electrode track gives only a very local picture of the activity of the whole muscle. Because skeletal muscles differ in the inner structure, the electrode has to be placed at various locations to obtain an accurate study. For the interpretation of EMG study is important to evaluate parameters of tested muscle motor units. This process may well be partially automated using appropriate software.

Single fiber electromyography assesses the delay between the contractions of individual muscle fibers within a motor unit and is a sensitive test for dysfunction of the neuromuscular junction caused by drugs, poisons, or diseases such as myasthenia gravis. The technique is complicated and typically performed only by individuals with special advanced training.

Surface EMG is used in a number of settings; for example, in the physiotherapy clinic, muscle activation is monitored using surface EMG and patients have an auditory or visual stimulus to help them know when they are activating the muscle (biofeedback). A review of the literature on surface EMG published in 2008, concluded that surface EMG may be useful to detect the presence of neuromuscular disease (level C rating, class III data), but there are insufficient data to support its utility for distinguishing between neuropathic and myopathic conditions or for the diagnosis of specific neuromuscular diseases. EMGs may be useful for additional study of fatigue associated with post-poliomyelitis syndrome and electromechanical function in myotonic dystrophy (level C rating, class III data). Recently, with the rise of technology in sports, sEMG has become an area of focus for coaches to reduce the incidence of soft tissue injury and improve player performance.

Certain US states limit the performance of needle EMG by nonphysicians. New Jersey declared that it cannot be delegated to a physician's assistant. Michigan has passed legislation saying needle EMG is the practice of medicine. Special training in diagnosing medical diseases with EMG is required only in residency and fellowship programs in neurology, clinical neurophysiology, neuromuscular medicine, and physical medicine and rehabilitation. There are certain subspecialists in otolaryngology who have had selective training in performing EMG of the laryngeal muscles, and subspecialists in urology, obstetrics and gynecology who have had selective training in performing EMG of muscles controlling bowel and bladder function.

### Maximal voluntary contraction

One basic function of EMG is to see how well a muscle can be activated. The most common way that can be determined is by performing a maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) of the muscle that is being tested. Each muscle group type has different characteristics, and MVC positions are varied for different muscle group types. Therefore, the researcher should be very careful while choosing the MVC position type to elicit the greater muscle activity level from the subjects.

The types of MVC positions can vary among muscle types, contingent upon the specific muscle group being considered, including trunk muscles, lower limb muscles, and others.

Muscle force, which is measured mechanically, typically correlates highly with measures of EMG activation of muscle. Most commonly this is assessed with surface electrodes, but it should be recognized that these typically record only from muscle fibers in close proximity to the surface.

Several analytical methods for determining muscle activation are commonly used depending on the application. The use of mean EMG activation or the peak contraction value is a debated topic. Most studies commonly use the maximal voluntary contraction as a means of analyzing peak force and force generated by target muscles. According to the article "Peak and average rectified EMG measures: Which method of data reduction should be used for assessing core training exercises?", it was concluded that the "average rectified EMG data (ARV) is significantly less variable when measuring the muscle activity of the core musculature compared to the peak EMG variable." Therefore, these researchers would suggest that "ARV EMG data should be recorded alongside the peak EMG measure when assessing core exercises." Providing the reader with both sets of data would result in enhanced validity of the study and potentially eradicate the contradictions within the research.

### Other measurements

EMG can also be used for indicating the amount of fatigue in a muscle. The following changes in the EMG signal can signify muscle fatigue: an increase in the mean absolute value of the signal, increase in the amplitude and duration of the muscle action potential and an overall shift to lower frequencies. Monitoring the changes of different frequency changes the most common way of using EMG to determine levels of fatigue. The lower conduction velocities enable the slower motor neurons to remain active.

A motor unit is defined as one motor neuron and all of the muscle fibers it innervates. When a motor unit fires, the impulse (called an action potential) is carried down the motor neuron to the muscle. The area where the nerve contacts the muscle is called the neuromuscular junction, or the motor end plate. After the action potential is transmitted across the neuromuscular junction, an action potential is elicited in all of the innervated muscle fibers of that particular motor unit. The sum of all this electrical activity is known as a motor unit action potential (MUAP). This electrophysiologic activity from multiple motor units is the signal typically evaluated during an EMG. The composition of the motor unit, the number of muscle fibres per motor unit, the metabolic type of muscle fibres and many other factors affect the shape of the motor unit potentials in the myogram.

Nerve conduction testing is also often done at the same time as an EMG to diagnose neurological diseases.

Some patients can find the procedure somewhat painful, whereas others experience only a small amount of discomfort when the needle is inserted. The muscle or muscles being tested may be slightly sore for a day or two after the procedure.

### EMG signal decomposition

EMG signals are essentially made up of superimposed motor unit action potentials (MUAPs) from several motor units. For a thorough analysis, the measured EMG signals can be decomposed into their constituent MUAPs. MUAPs from different motor units tend to have different characteristic shapes, while MUAPs recorded by the same electrode from the same motor unit are typically similar. Notably MUAP size and shape depend on where the electrode is located with respect to the fibers and so can appear to be different if the electrode moves position. EMG decomposition is non-trivial, although many methods have been proposed.

### EMG signal processing

Rectification is the translation of the raw EMG signal to a signal with a single polarity, usually positive. The purpose of rectifying the signal is to ensure the signal does not average to zero, due to the raw EMG signal having positive and negative components. Two types of rectification are used: full-wave and half-wave rectification. Full-wave rectification adds the EMG signal below the baseline to the signal above the baseline to make a conditioned signal that is all positive. If the baseline is zero, this is equivalent to taking the absolute value of the signal. This is the preferred method of rectification because it conserves all of the signal energy for analysis. Half-wave rectification discards the portion of the EMG signal that is below the baseline. In doing so, the average of the data is no longer zero therefore it can be used in statistical analyses.

### Limitations

Needle EMG used in clinical settings has practical applications such as helping to discover disease. Needle EMG has limitations, however, in that it does involve voluntary activation of muscle, and as such is less informative in patients unwilling or unable to cooperate, children and infants, and in individuals with paralysis. Surface EMG can have limited applications due to inherent problems associated with surface EMG. Adipose tissue (fat) can affect EMG recordings. Studies show that as adipose tissue increased the active muscle directly below the surface decreased. As adipose tissue increased, the amplitude of the surface EMG signal directly above the center of the active muscle decreased. EMG signal recordings are typically more accurate with individuals who have lower body fat, and more compliant skin, such as young people when compared to old. Muscle cross talk occurs when the EMG signal from one muscle interferes with that of another limiting reliability of the signal of the muscle being tested. Surface EMG is limited due to lack of deep muscles reliability. Deep muscles require intramuscular wires that are intrusive and painful in order to achieve an EMG signal. Surface EMG can measure only superficial muscles and even then it is hard to narrow down the signal to a single muscle.

### Electrical characteristics

The electrical source is the muscle membrane potential of about –90 mV. Measured EMG potentials range between less than 50 μV and up to 30 mV, depending on the muscle under observation.

Typical repetition rate of muscle motor unit firing is about 7–20 Hz, depending on the size of the muscle (eye muscles versus seat (gluteal) muscles), previous axonal damage and other factors. Damage to motor units can be expected at ranges between 450 and 780 mV.

## Procedure outcomes

### Normal results

Muscle tissue at rest is normally electrically inactive. After the electrical activity caused by the irritation of needle insertion subsides, the electromyograph should detect no abnormal spontaneous activity (i.e., a muscle at rest should be electrically silent, with the exception of the area of the neuromuscular junction, which is, under normal circumstances, very spontaneously active). When the muscle is voluntarily contracted, action potentials begin to appear. As the strength of the muscle contraction is increased, more and more muscle fibers produce action potentials. When the muscle is fully contracted, there should appear a disorderly group of action potentials of varying rates and amplitudes (a complete recruitment); this can be described as an interference pattern.

### Abnormal results

EMG findings vary with the type of disorder, the duration of the problem, the age of the patient, the degree to which the patient can be cooperative, the type of needle electrode used to study the patient, and sampling error in terms of the number of areas studied within a single muscle and the number of muscles studied overall. Interpreting EMG findings is usually best done by an individual informed by a focused history and physical examination of the patient, and in conjunction with the results of other relevant diagnostic studies performed including most importantly, nerve conduction studies, but also, where appropriate, imaging studies such as MRI and ultrasound, muscle and nerve biopsy, muscle enzymes, and serologic studies.

Abnormal results may be caused by the following medical conditions (please note this is not an exhaustive list of conditions that can result in abnormal EMG studies):

## History

The first documented experiments dealing with EMG started with Francesco Redi 's works in 1666. Redi discovered a highly specialized muscle of the electric ray fish (Electric Eel) generated electricity. By 1773, Walsh had been able to demonstrate that the eel fish's muscle tissue could generate a spark of electricity. In 1792, a publication entitled De Viribus Electricitatis in Motu Musculari Commentarius appeared, written by Luigi Galvani, in which the author demonstrated that electricity could initiate muscle contraction. Six decades later, in 1849, Emil du Bois-Reymond discovered that it was also possible to record electrical activity during a voluntary muscle contraction. The first actual recording of this activity was made by Marey in 1890, who also introduced the term electromyography. In 1922, Gasser and Erlanger used an oscilloscope to show the electrical signals from muscles. Because of the stochastic nature of the myoelectric signal, only rough information could be obtained from its observation. The capability of detecting electromyographic signals improved steadily from the 1930s through the 1950s, and researchers began to use improved electrodes more widely for the study of muscles. The AANEM was formed in 1953 as one of several currently active medical societies with a special interest in advancing the science and clinical use of the technique. Clinical use of surface EMG (sEMG) for the treatment of more specific disorders began in the 1960s. Hardyck and his researchers were the first (1966) practitioners to use sEMG. In the early 1980s, Cram and Steger introduced a clinical method for scanning a variety of muscles using an EMG sensing device.

Research began at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota under the guidance of Edward H. Lambert, MD, PhD (1915–2003) in the early 1950s. Lambert, known as the "Father of EMG," with the assistance of his Research Technician, Ervin L Schmidt, a self taught electrical engineer, developed a machine that could be moved from the EMG Lab, and was relatively easy to use. As oscilloscopes had no "store" or "print" features at the time, a Polaroid camera was affixed to the front on a hinge. It was synchronized to photo the scan. Fellows studying at Mayo soon learned that this was a tool they wanted, too. As Mayo has no interest in marketing their inventions, Schmidt went on to continue to develop them in his basement for decades, selling them under the name ErMel Inc.

It was not until the middle of the 1980s that integration techniques in electrodes had sufficiently advanced to allow batch production of the required small and lightweight instrumentation and amplifiers. At present, a number of suitable amplifiers are commercially available. In the early 1980s, cables that produced signals in the desired microvolt range became available. Recent research has resulted in a better understanding of the properties of surface EMG recording. Surface electromyography is increasingly used for recording from superficial muscles in clinical or kinesiological protocols, where intramuscular electrodes are used for investigating deep muscles or localized muscle activity.

There are many applications for the use of EMG. EMG is used clinically for the diagnosis of neurological and neuromuscular problems. It is used diagnostically by gait laboratories and by clinicians trained in the use of biofeedback or ergonomic assessment. EMG is also used in many types of research laboratories, including those involved in biomechanics, motor control, neuromuscular physiology, movement disorders, postural control, and physical therapy.

## Research

EMG can be used to sense isometric muscular activity where no movement is produced. This enables definition of a class of subtle motionless gestures to control interfaces without being noticed and without disrupting the surrounding environment. These signals can be used to control a prosthesis or as a control signal for an electronic device such as a mobile phone or PDA.

EMG signals have been targeted as control for flight systems. The Human Senses Group at the NASA Ames Research Center at Moffett Field, CA seeks to advance man-machine interfaces by directly connecting a person to a computer. In this project, an EMG signal is used to substitute for mechanical joysticks and keyboards. EMG has also been used in research towards a "wearable cockpit," which employs EMG-based gestures to manipulate switches and control sticks necessary for flight in conjunction with a goggle-based display.

Unvoiced or silent speech recognition recognizes speech by observing the EMG activity of muscles associated with speech. It is targeted for use in noisy environments, and may be helpful for people without vocal cords, with aphasia, with dysphonia, and more.

EMG has also been used as a control signal for computers and other devices. An interface device based on an EMG Switch can be used to control moving objects, such as mobile robots or an electric wheelchair. This may be helpful for individuals that cannot operate a joystick-controlled wheelchair. Surface EMG recordings may also be a suitable control signal for some interactive video games.

A joint project involving Microsoft, the University of Washington in Seattle, and the University of Toronto in Canada has explored using muscle signals from hand gestures as an interface device. A patent based on this research was submitted on June 26, 2008.

In 2016 a startup called Emteq Labs launched a virtual reality headset with embedded EMG sensors for measuring facial expressions. In September 2019 Facebook bought a startup called CTRL-labs that was working on EMG


Westfield Woden

# Westfield Woden

## Abstract

Westfield Woden, formerly Woden Plaza, is a large shopping centre in the Woden Town Centre of Phillip of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. The centre comprises four anchor tenants - David Jones, Big W, Coles and Woolworths - and more than 250 other retail, leisure, and dining outlets.

## History

Woden Plaza was developed by Lendlease. It was opened on 18 September 1972 by Prime Minister William McMahon.

To begin with, the centre's only components were what now houses the Big W and David Jones areas, but, during the 1980s, expanded to include a medium-sized food court.

In 1996, the centre underwent a major redevelopment, adding on a new wing to the building called "The Fresh Food Market" (currently housing Coles and Woolworths) as well as a new Hoyts 8-screen cinema complex. GPT purchased the first, second, and third storeys of the Bonner House building, situated across from the back of the centre, and connect the areas together with a pedestrian bridge.

The Westfield Group purchased a 50% stake in the centre in July 2005, with the remaining 50% retained by GPT. It took over management of the centre from Lendlease on the same date. In December 2015 the Perron Group purchased GPT's shareholding.

## Transport

In December 1972 the Woden Interchange, located adjacent to the shopping centre, opened. It was used by ACTION and CDC Canberra bus services until being closed in January 2023 and will be rebuilt on a new site.


List of German films of the 2010s

# List of German films of the 2010s

## Abstract

This is a list of some of the most notable films produced in Cinema of Germany in the 2010s.

For an alphabetical list of articles on German films, see Category:2010s German films.

## 2014

List of German films of 2014 (Cinema Releases in Chronological Order)

## 2019