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Clinical Study | Open Access
Effects of Short-Term Low-Dose Glucocorticoids for Patients with Mild COVID-19
Hai-Yan Fu,1Yu Luo,1Jian-Peng Gao,1Lin Wang,2Hong-Juan Li,1Xiang Li,3Lian Xue,1Xiao-Qing Tang,1Hai-wen Li,1and Ying-Rong Du1
Academic Editor: Cristiano Caruso
Revised27 Jul 2020
Objectives. To evaluate the role of short-term low-dose glucocorticoids in mild COVID-19 patients. Methods. We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, single-center study in Kunming, China. A total of 33 mild COVID-19 cases were divided into two treatment groups (with and without glucocorticoids, methylprednisolone, were used in this setting), and the absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocyte count; CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts; and the time to achieve negative transformation of a nucleic acid pharyngeal swab were recorded. Peripheral blood lymphocyte and T cell counts were compared between the treatment group and 25 healthy individuals. At the point of time when there was a 50% accumulation conversion rate (positive to negative nucleic acid on pharyngeal swab), and the nucleic acid turned negative in half of the patients in two groups, the peripheral blood lymphocyte and T cell counts were compared between treatment groups. Results. The mean cumulative time for the 50% negative conversion rate of the nucleic acid in the pharyngeal swab was days and days in the glucocorticoid group and the nonglucocorticoid group, respectively. The absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte count and the T cell subset count in the glucocorticoid group were lower than those in the nonglucocorticoid group. When the nucleic acid turned negative in half of the patients, the absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocyte count and CD4+ T cells of the glucocorticoid group and the nonglucocorticoid group was not significantly different; the CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in the glucocorticoid group were lower than those in the nonglucocorticoid group. The absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte count, CD3+ T cells, and CD4+ T cells in the glucocorticoid group were lower than those of the healthy group during the whole disease period, and CD8+ T cells returned to normal at 19-21 days of the disease period. There was no significant difference between the nonglucocorticoid group and the healthy group for absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte and CD8+ T cells; moreover, CD3+ T cells and CD4+ T cells were lower in the nonglucocorticoid group than those in the healthy group from the day of admission to the 18th day and returned to normal at the period of 19-21 days. The absolute peripheral lymphocyte count (, effect size ) and T cell subset count (CD3: , effect size ; CD4: , effect size ; and CD8: , effect size ) in the nonglucocorticoid group were higher than those in the glucocorticoid group, and the difference between the groups was statistically significant. Conclusions. This study found that the use of short-term, low-dose glucocorticoids does not negatively influence the clinical outcome, without affecting the final clearance of viral nucleic acid in mild COVID-19 patients.
The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has already become a global epidemic, and most infected patients have presented with mild symptoms. However, the burden of COVID-19 on the medical system has significantly increased due to the insidious disease progression after infection. Many patients presented with mild symptoms which rapidly progressed to severe condition and were associated with an increased risk of mortality [1]. It has remained unclear how to control the inflammatory response to prevent the aggravation of the disease in mild patients. Currently, the treatment strategies for COVID-19 include antiviral, antibiotic, immunoenhancement, and traditional Chinese medicine, while the role of glucocorticoids as an anti-inflammatory therapy for COVID-19 remains controversial [2–5]. Most existing evidence for the use of glucocorticoids in treating COVID-19 has come from China. According to the World Health Organization, the use of glucocorticoids in the clinical management for COVID-19 has been cautious, due to the fact that long-term high doses of glucocorticoids could cause immunosuppression and uncontrolled adverse events [6, 7]. However, there have been very few studies on the use of short-term low-dose glucocorticoids for patients with COVID-19. Therefore, a comprehensive investigation into the dynamic changes of immune function, the association between immune function and viral nucleic acid clearance, and effect of glucocorticoids on immune function is crucial for the treatment of mild COVID-19. This study is aimed at describing the changes in immune function and assessing the effect of short-term low-dose glucocorticoids on immune function and viral nucleic acid clearance for patients with mild COVID-19.
The protocol and amendments were approved by the ethics committee of the 3rd People's Hospital of Kunming (No.: 2020011513), all data collected were used for clinical study, and informed consent from the patient or guardian was obtained. The diagnosis criteria for COVID-19 were based on the "Diagnosis and treatment scheme of pneumonia infected by novel coronavirus" (sixth edition) issued by the National Health Commission and listed as follows [8]: (1) Epidemiology: travel or residence history in or around Wuhan, China, or other communities with reported cases within 14 days prior to symptom onset; a history of exposure to novel coronavirus infection (nucleic acid positive) within 14 days prior to symptom onset; exposure to someone with fever or respiratory symptoms from Wuhan City and surrounding areas, or from communities where cases were reported in the 14 days prior to the onset of illness; and exposure to a highly dense area of COVID-19 infections prior to the onset of illness. (2) Clinical manifestations: fever and/or respiratory symptoms and/or COVID-19 features present in chest imaging (in early-stage COVID-19, multiple small plaques and stromal changes are present, with obvious lung involvement. Disease progression then produces multiple ground-glass shadows and infiltrating shadows in both lungs. In severe cases, lung consolidation may occur, and pleural effusion is rare); and/or the number of white blood cells in the early stage of the disease was normal or decreased, and the lymphocyte count was decreased. Individuals that met at least 1 of the epidemiological criteria and 2 of the clinical manifestations, or with no criteria met in epidemiology but all 3 clinical manifestations, were diagnosed with COVID-19. Regardless of epidemiological or clinical manifestation, patients with 1 of the following etiological criteria were diagnosed with COVID-19: detection of novel coronavirus nucleic acid positive by real-time fluorescence RT-PCR, or virus gene sequencing was similar to the known novel coronavirus. The ordinary type was defined as follows: fever and/or respiratory symptoms, multiple small plaques and stromal change presence, and most ground-glass density with obvious lung involvement.
Contraindications for the use of glucocorticoids included [9] (1) unstable blood glucose control in diabetic patients; (2) allergy to methylprednisolone, hydrocortisone, dexamethasone, or other excipients; (3) refractory hypertension; (4) state of epilepsy or delirium; (5) glaucoma; (6) active gastrointestinal bleeding within the previous 3 months; or (7) known immunodeficient status. This study was a retrospective cohort study, and the patients who met the diagnostic criteria were included consecutively from those treated in the 3rd People's Hospital of Kunming from January 26, 2020, to March 2, 2020. The healthy control group comes from the physical examination center, and their physical examination conclusions were normal. Approved by the Ethics Committee of the 3rd People's Hospital of Kunming, the control group included in the study signed an informed consent form, authorizing the use of laboratory data on their blood routine and T cell subsets. A total of 33 patients with mild COVID-19 were included, and 25 healthy individuals were enrolled as the control group.
2.2. Clinical Data Collection
Patient data was collected including sex, age, location of residence, existing comorbidity, the absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte count during the entire disease period, T cell subset count, the sampling time of the penultimate pharynx swab before discharge (negative test), clinical type, and other indicators. Peripheral blood lymphocyte count and T cell subsets were collected for individuals in the normal control group from the physical examination center.
2.3. Treatment Strategy
All COVID-19 patients were examined with chest CT on the day of admission and reexamined on the fourth day after admission. Patients whose CT imaging showed evidence of mild increased pulmonary inflammation were given intravenous methylprednisolone 1 mg/kg/day as treatment on the fourth and fifth days. On the sixth day, if repeat CT was consistent with findings of nonprogressive pulmonary inflammation, the corticosteroids were discontinued after clinical evaluation of their condition and other clinical indicators. Other treatment strategies include lopinavir/ritonavir (200 mg, 2 tablets at a time, 2 times per day), with a course of 10 days or less based on the real-time COVID-19 diagnosis and treatment guidelines issued by the National Health Commission [8–10]. Other traditional treatment strategies included bed rest, oxygen therapy, and supportive treatment to ensure heat supply; maintaining water and electrolyte balance; and physical cooling which was applied if body temperature was less than 38.5°C and temporary oral antipyretic drugs which were used if body temperature is more than 38.5°C. Antibiotics were given according to imaging and inflammatory markers.
Continuous variables were expressed as a , and the difference between groups was analyzed using a -test. The statistical analysis was conducted using SPSS version 22.0 (IBM, Armonk, New York). The negative transformation of nucleic acid of the pharyngeal swab, the absolute value of lymphocyte count, and the T cell subgroup counts were graphed using Prism (GraphPad Prism 8; GraphPad Inc., San Diego, CA). All reported values were two-sided, with a value of <0.05 considered statistically significant.
3.1. Base Characteristics
The general characteristics of the 33 mild COVID-19 patients enrolled in the study (15 male and 18 female) are summarized in Table 1.
General characteristics of patients with COVID-19.
3.2. The Time of Negative Nucleic Acid Test in Pharyngeal Swabs and the Changes of Lymphocyte Count and T Cell Subsets
The mean time of the negative nucleic acid test in the pharyngeal swab was days, and the duration ranged from 6.0 to 28.0 days. The cumulative conversion rate of 50% was 13-15 days, and the cumulative negative conversion rate at each time period is shown in Figure 1(a). The nucleic acid conversion time for patients in the nonglucocorticoid group was days, while in the glucocorticoid group, this was days, and a significant difference was detected between the nonglucocorticoid and glucocorticoid groups; the value was less than 0.05 (Supplementary Table 1). The 50% cumulative negative conversion rate for patients in the nonglucocorticoid group (purple dashed line in Figure 1(b)) occurred 13-15 days after admission (green dashed line in Figure 1(b)), and the 50% cumulative negative conversion rate for patients in the glucocorticoid group (purple dashed line in Figure 1(b)) occurred 16-18 days after admission (red dashed line in Figure 1(b)).
The nucleic acid conversion time and changes in T cells and lymphocytes in each group. (a) Cumulative negative conversion rate of nucleic acid at each time period in 33 cases. (b) Cumulative negative conversion rate of nucleic acid at each time period in the nonglucocorticoid group (N-CS) and the glucocorticoid group (CS), respectively. The 50% cumulative negative conversion rate (purple dashed line) in the nonglucocorticoid group (green dashed line) and the glucocorticoid group (red dashed line) after admission. (c) Distribution of lymphocytes in the nonglucocorticoid group (N-CS) and the glucocorticoid group (CS) when cumulative conversion reaches 50%. . (d) Distribution of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells in the nonglucocorticoid group (N-CS, 20 cases) and the glucocorticoid group (NS, 13 cases) when cumulative conversion reaches 50%. . (e) The distribution of lymphocytes in half of the patients with the nonglucocorticoid group (N-CS, 10 cases) and the glucocorticoid group (NS, 7 cases). ns: not significant. (f) The distribution of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells in half of the patients with the nonglucocorticoid group (N-CS, 10 cases) and the glucocorticoid group (CS, 7 cases). ; ns: not significant.
The cumulative negative conversion rate of 50% of COVID-19 patients for the nucleic acid pharyngeal swab test was different between the treatment groups. In addition, the absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocyte count and T cell subset counts also differs among the treatment groups. The cumulative negative conversion rate of 50% of patients treated with glucocorticoids was significantly longer than that in the nonglucocorticoid group. However, the absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte count (Figure 1(c)) and CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell count in the glucocorticoid group were lower than those in the nonglucocorticoid group (Figure 1(d)) (Supplementary Table 1).
When the nucleic acid turned negative in half of the patients, the absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocyte count (Figure 1(e)) and CD4+ T cells (Figure 1(f)) of the glucocorticoid group and the nonglucocorticoid group were not significantly different; the CD3+ and CD8+ T cells in the glucocorticoid group were lower than those in the nonglucocorticoid group; the value was less than 0.05 (Figure 1(f)) (Supplementary Table 2).
3.3. Distribution of Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Absolute Value and T Cell Subset Count
The absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocyte count of COVID-19 patients in the glucocorticoid group was lower than that in the healthy control group during the hospitalization (Figure 2(a)) (Supplementary Table 3), and the level of peripheral blood lymphocytes was lowest at admission, then reached a peak after 10.0-12.0 days; the difference between groups was statistically significant. There was no statistically significant difference between the nonglucocorticoid group and the healthy control group for the absolute peripheral lymphocyte count (Figure 2(b)) (Supplementary Table 3). The CD3+ T cell count for COVID-19 patients in the glucocorticoid group was lower than that in the healthy control group during the hospital stay, with the lowest at 7-9 days and a peak at 10-12 days, and the difference was statistically significant (Figure 2(c)) (Supplementary Table 4). The absolute value of CD3+ T cell counts in COVID-19 patients in the nonglucocorticoid treatment group was lower than that in the healthy control group at the time of admission. As time progressed, CD3+ T cell count gradually rebounded until it returned to normal after 19.0 days (Figure 2(d)) (Supplementary Table 5). CD4+ T cell count for COVID-19 patients in the glucocorticoids group was lower than that in the healthy control group during hospitalization, with the lowest at 7-9 days and a peak at 10-12 days, with statistically significant differences () (Figure 2(e)) (Supplementary Table 4). The fluctuation trend of CD4+ T cells was similar to that of CD3+ T cells. The absolute value of CD4+ T cells in the nonglucocorticoid group was lower than that of the healthy control group after admission and gradually increased with the extension of the disease period, until it returned to normal on the 19th day of admission (Figure 2(f)) (Supplementary Table 5). The change of CD8+ T cells was different from that of CD3+ T cells and CD4+ T cells. The CD8+ T cell count was lowest on days 7-9 and returned to normal on day 19 in the glucocorticoid group (Figure 2(g)) (Supplementary Table 4). In contrast, there was no statistically significant difference between the nonglucocorticoid treatment group and the healthy control group for CD8+ T cell count at admission, and it remained stable until discharge (Figure 2(h)) (Supplementary Table 5).
The distribution of lymphocytes in the healthy control group (HC) and COVID-19 patients at each period in (a) the glucocorticoid group and (b) the nonglucocorticoid group. The distribution of CD3+ T cells in the healthy control group (HC) and COVID-19 patients at each period in (c) the glucocorticoid group and (d) the nonglucocorticoid group. The distribution of CD4+ T cells in the healthy control group (HC) and COVID-19 patients at each period in (e) the glucocorticoid group and (f) the nonglucocorticoid group. The distribution of CD8+ T cells in the healthy control group (HC) and COVID-19 patients at each period in (g) the glucocorticoid group and (h) the nonglucocorticoid group.
3.4. The Changes in Peripheral Blood Lymphocyte Counts and T Cell Subsets in the Glucocorticoid Group and the Nonglucocorticoid Group
The absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte count fluctuated between 1 and in both groups, and the absolute peripheral blood lymphocyte count in the nonglucocorticoid group (green line) was always higher than that in the glucocorticoid group (red line). In the nonglucocorticoid group, the peripheral blood lymphocyte count increased after 4.0 days and rose to a peak after 10.0-12.0 days and then remained stable until discharge. In contrast, in the glucocorticoid treatment group, the peripheral blood lymphocyte count was reduced after 4.0 days and rose to a peak after 10.0-12.0 days and then remained stable until discharge (Figure 3(a)).
The change trend of the absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocytes and T cells. (a) The change trend of the absolute value of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the glucocorticoid group and the nonglucocorticoid group. The change trend of the CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cells in (b) the nonglucocorticoid group and (c) the glucocorticoid group. The change trend of (d) CD3+ T cells, (e) CD4+ T cells, and (f) CD8+ T cells in the glucocorticoid group (CS) and the nonglucocorticoid group (N-CS).
For patients in the nonglucocorticoid group (Figure 3(b)), the trend of CD3+ and CD4+ T cell counts was similar, with counts gradually increased after admission, slightly decreased on days 13-15, plateaued on days 16-18, and then increased until discharge. CD8+ T cell counts in this group remained stationary throughout their treatment in the hospital (Figure 3(b)). For patients treated with glucocorticoids, the changes in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts were similar, with all T cell counts reduced after the first treatment of glucocorticoids after 7.0-9.0 days. Closely following that point, CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts rapidly rose and reached a peak after 10.0-12.0 days, at which point they remained stable until discharge (Figure 3(c)).
The changes in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts in the nonglucocorticoid and glucocorticoid treatment groups are presented in Figures 3(d)–3(f). The absolute value of CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts in the nonglucocorticoid group (green line) was higher than that in the glucocorticoid group (red line). At 7-9 days after admission (1 day after glucocorticoid use), there was a significant decrease in CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts. This increase in CD3+ (Figure 3(d)) and CD4+ (Figure 3(e)) T cell counts was statistically significantly different from that of the group not treated with glucocorticoids. The fluctuation of CD8+ T cells in the two groups was similar after 10.0-12.0 days, and both groups rose steadily until discharged (Figure 3(f)).
3.5. Clinical Outcome
33 patients who meet all the four criteria for discharge (mentioned below) were discharged [8]: (1) body temperature returned to normal for more than 3 days, (2) respiratory symptoms improved significantly, (3) lung imaging showed a significant improvement of inflammation, and (4) two consecutive (more than 24 hours) negative oropharyngeal swab nucleic acid tests.
The treatment of COVID-19 has remained a difficult problem in the current worldwide pandemic, and the use of glucocorticoids during treatment has yielded inconsistent results. This study found that the use of short-term, low-dose glucocorticoids does not negatively influence the clinical outcome, without affecting the final clearance of viral nucleic acid.
Lymphocyte count and the T cell subgroup counts are decreased after infection by SARS-CoV-2 [11]. In the pathologic anatomic report of the first death due to COVID-19 in China, SARS-CoV-2 mainly attacked the lungs, and interstitial mononuclear inflammatory infiltration, dominated by lymphocytes, was seen in both lungs. This profile indicates a severe injury due to immune response in patients with COVID-19 [12]. The findings of the current study were consistent with this previous autopsy report, despite the fact that patients recruited in this study displayed mild symptoms. This result suggested that lymphocytes and CD8+ T cells may be important in monitoring disease progression, which is consistent with the study conducted by Chan et al. [13]. In this study, the use of a low dose of glucocorticoids as treatment was based on the inflammatory progression noted in CT imaging.
Immune function, as the sentinel of the body, is an important factor in the clearance of viral infection. Interestingly, the negative time of nucleic acid required for peripheral blood lymphocytes and T cell subgroup counts between treatment groups are significantly different. In addition, elimination of the virus was also completed when the levels of peripheral blood lymphocytes and CD3+, CD4+, and CD8+ T cell counts were significantly lower than patients in the nonglucocorticoid group. These results suggested that several other factors other than normal immune function were involved in virus clearance in patients with COVID-19, and the reduced inflammation response might accelerate virus clearance.
It is worth noting that the level of T cell subsets in the nonglucocorticoid group was higher than that in the glucocorticoid group at the time of admission, so the delayed viral clearance in the glucocorticoid group is not necessarily caused by the use of glucocorticoids. But this study was retrospective, and allocation to treatment was not randomized; therefore, clinical status may be partly responsible for the differences between two groups. A recent RECOVERY trial from Oxford University showed that dexamethasone could lower 28-day mortality in patients hospitalized with COVID-19 [14]. Both our research and the Oxford University research have confirmed the benefit of glucocorticoids in COVID-19 to some extent. In SARS-CoV patients, early high-dose glucocorticoids can produce the most favorable outcomes [15], and for other infectious diseases, glucocorticoids were also recognized to be clinically effective and safe [16]. So, if not contraindicated, glucocorticoids should be considered in SARS, MERS, and COVID-19 patients [17]. There were different opinions about using glucocorticoids to treat COVID-19 patients. A recent meta-analysis about glucocorticoid therapy in COVID-19 showed that glucocorticoid can reduce the duration of fever, but long-term high-dose glucocorticoids increased the risk of coinfections or osteoporosis, so systemic glucocorticoid therapy cannot be recommended, but in clinical trials, short-term low-dose glucocorticoid may be acceptable [18].
The T cell subgroup counts showed a temporary decline after the short-term, low-dose treatment of glucocorticoids. This was followed by a significant increase in the level of T cell count to peak levels, a trend that was similar between treatment groups at the end stage of disease progression. One previous study has already found that the use of glucocorticoids in the first 3.0 days after admission could prevent further deterioration for patients with severe COVID-19 [19]. Moreover, the use of short-term, low-dose (methylprednisolone 0.5 mg–1 mg per kg per day for 5 days) glucocorticoids could prevent potential specific adverse events associated with prolonged glucocorticoid use [19]. In this study, there were no specific adverse events related to glucocorticoid use.
Glucocorticoids played an important role in the treatment of fever, pulmonary edema, the formation of a transparent membrane of the lung, and the improvement of blood oxygen saturation infected by SARS-CoV-2 [20–22]. However, several adverse events, including opportunistic infections, ventilator-associated infections, and increased plasma viral load in non-ICU patients with SARS, were found in patients after the use of glucocorticoids [20]. Russell et al. [23] summarized the use of glucocorticoids in SARS-CoV-2 and MERS-CoV studies and concluded that glucocorticoids were not suitable for patients with COVID-19. The potential reason for this included diabetes, psychosis, and delayed virus clearance. These adverse events and immunosuppression are typically detected after the use of long-term, high dosages of glucocorticoids, and a study has already demonstrated that the average peak dose and mean treatment duration are significantly correlated with osteonecrosis [24]. A study conducted by Zhang et al. found that a low dose of dexamethasone could alleviate the early inflammatory response to coronavirus infection in the acute stage of infection, while the use of long-term dexamethasone could enhance viral replication [25]. Similar results were also detected using mouse models, pointing to an association between the inflammation and lung tissue damage caused by SARS-CoV-2 and the increase and imbalance of proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines [26]. In our study, all of the patients treated with glucocorticoids remained in the mild stage of COVID-19 and did not progress to the severe or critical stage, and complete virus clearance was achieved in all cases. Moreover, there was no virus reactivation in either group after 14.0 days of follow-up.
In conclusion, changes in immune function should be closely monitored for patients with mild COVID-19. The use of short-term, low-dose glucocorticoids could offer additional benefits for patients with mild COVID-19 without affecting the final clearance of viral nucleic acid.
The original data used to support the findings of this study are restricted by the ethics committee of the 3rd People's Hospital of Kunming in order to protect patient privacy. Data are available from Ying-Rong Du (contact emails: dyr_km@163.com) for researchers who meet the criteria for access to confidential data.
This study was approved by the ethics committee of the 3rd People's Hospital of Kunming (Permit number: 2020011513).
We declare that we have no financial and personal relationships with other people or organizations that can inappropriately influence our work and there is no professional or other personal interest of any nature or kind in any product, service, and/or company that could be construed as influencing the position presented in, or the review of, the manuscript entitled.
Hai-Yan Fu and Yu Luo were involved in manuscript writing, and they contributed equally to this manuscript; Jian-Peng Gao was involved in reviewing and editing the manuscript; Lin Wang, Hong-Juan Li, and Xiang Li were involved in data analysis; Lian Xue, Xiao-Qing Tang, and Hai-wen Li were involved in data collection; and Ying-Rong Du was involved in research design. All authors have read and approved the manuscript. Yu Lou is a co-first author.
We thank Ajay Kumar Gupta for providing language help.
Table 1: comparison of peripheral blood lymphocyte count and T cell subgroup count with a cumulative negative conversion rate of 50% in the pharyngeal swab. Table 2: comparison of peripheral blood lymphocyte count and T cell subgroup count when 50% of patients had a negative nucleic acid test in the pharyngeal swab. Table 3: changes in the absolute number of peripheral blood lymphocytes in the glucocorticoid group and the nonglucocorticoid group (109/L). Table 4: changes in peripheral blood T cell subset count in COVID-19 patients treated with glucocorticoids. Table 5: changes in peripheral blood T cell subset count in patients without glucocorticoids. (Supplementary Materials)
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Copyright © 2020 Hai-Yan Fu et al. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.


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I've noticed G3 skis seem to be shorter for an advertised length than, say, BD's skis. Is that true with the Zen Oxide too?
I'd say perhaps yes. For example, the 174 Wayback (an arrow for another week) we have here in the quiver is almost exactly the same physical length as the 178 G3. I need some enlightenment on this. Anyone?
I can believe that, as my 167 Coombacks are about 1 cm less than my 171 Free Randos.
I skied 185's that seemed as long as my 183's Liberty Helix, so yes(?). The weight was a joy on the up, but seemed wimpy at times going down… or maybe I'm the wimp.
The internet thinks k2 skis run long. My 174 Sahales are ~3 cm shorter than my 177 Hombres (same mold as your Oxides, I expect) and Kongurs.
K2s measure longer than their advertised length.
Maybe k2 measures with a line from tip to tail where other manufacturers lay the meter on the curve of the tip and to the tail. ?
Did you say mid-fat? Terms like that sure are a moving target. Sounds like this might be a fun ski for sure.
This ski length issue reminds me of another length issue. In the end, just not a big deal compared to more important aspects.
The length thing; well it's obvious that us men folk are the ones making the skis.
I'll leave the rest up to you!!
K2 measures their skis by pulling the tape taught from the tip to tail. Most other manufactures measure by following the curvature of the ski.
I have been out a couple early sessions with this ski…. So far they have been a blast!
Just picked up a pair of 186 2012/13 ZenOxides for exclusively BC use in Tahoe area. Visually, the mount reference point looks a little tailward. Before I have the also new Plum Guides mounted, I thought I would check for any opinions you might share about whether to mount them on the reference or ahead a cm or so.


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Forthcoming | SO WHAT? DI KHRAP!
I don't know where you are located at the very moment you are reading those words, but in Europe the weather has been completely loco the last 3 months: Spring never showed up, rain is falling like never before and most of farmers are about to have the worst year ever…and that is just about the weather. Everyone around me feel tired, bones full of water & so i've been looking for some partial rainbows around to warm me up, and think about anything else but Music.
i had the chance to host one tune by El Mahdy Jr. I can say that i was very happy he accepted, as he was into my Top 5 producer to start for this compilation.
I met him in Istanbul last december during the Rough Visions night, organised by Gantz & Stiver.
I can't really describe you how much i've been blast off by this night and specially Mahdy set. Of course i wanted to see Gantz…by the time he'll show up in Paris i'll be old i guess (read that dear hypster promoters).
It was so rough sounds and all i love into dub was melting so perfectly with his universe…full of arabic sounds from Raï to Egyptian drums or Anatolia lost singers…Its one thing to develop this kind of music, but its another thing to bring music with that much Heart inside. Well, the good thing is that EVERYONE on this planet will be able to experience what i experienced with his forthcoming debut LP on Boomarm Nation, this late June. This post is already a reason for you to listen to him more, or for the very first time.
His debut release will be out June 25th digital & limited vinyl (be quick) via Boomarm Nation.
And believe me, this is nothing like u heard before, put trends & hype on the other side of the table cause this is a 200% true believers music, and even if im listening to it since 2 weeks, i can't just forget about it, and there's not a single day i didnt listen to it entirely….on a repeat mode.
which is to me one of the most intense i experienced.
1) Hi there, thank you for taking some time for this interview.
How are you today? Where are you writing from?
i am good thanks … i am in istanbul right now working hard but everythig is kool. . .
2) Can you enlighten the newbie reading this, by introducing yourself in few words?
3) Besides all the artistic paths anyone can choose, why did you choose music? or why music choose you? When & how this happen?
4) What part the music take in your everyday life, and what is your music purpose? Like, do you recognise music any particular purpose or is it just for the fun of it?
5) Your universe is exploring a large range of different sounds and styles..How do you start a tune? Is there any first step you follow everytime or is it everytime different? Where do u take your influences from?
6) Your first material will drop on a US based label called Boomarm Nation, can you tell us a bit more about this connection with Portland scene, and how its related to your works in Turkey.
7) Can you describe us a bit about the underground scene in Istanbul? I met you there and it looks like a very very growing fast scene with a unique atmosphere. What is it that make it so special? Any recommendations for readers who never heard about it?
8) Can you tell us about the artists you've been discovering recently, any musician you heard that blow your mind?
What do you think about the whole compilation, did you discover any particular people inside?
well the compilation is realy eclectic very rich sounds in it. but my fav is Yuki Sato he is my man. lovely style a king without a crown big respect.
10) So what's next for El-Mahdy Jr? Any collabs, forthcoming materials or new projects for 2013?
11) And last one will be a open one for you. The "traditional" 3 wishes !!
If you had 3 wished that would happen right here right now, what will they be?
is gonna drop his very 1st LP Let It Go on June 19th via Tres Records.
To celebrate, he compiled tracks from his crates into 2 parts.
Even if their name doesnt means anything to you, there are big chances you heard her into Black Up LP by Shabazz Palaces.
THEESatisfaction are Stasia Irons and Catherine Harris-White. The pair live/laugh/love/dance and create in Seattle, WA. They write, produce and perform their own material: funk-psychedelic feminista sci-fi epics with the warmth and depth of Black Jazz and Sunday morning soul, frosted with icy raps that evoke equal parts Elaine Brown, Ursula Rucker and Q-Tip. Immediately embraced for their singular sound, unflinching commentary, and immortal groove, Stas and Cat made friends, fans and family from coast to coast via their own immaculate grind; a combo of sharp digital hustle and self-booked, self-financed tours that connected them to like minds everywhere. Even crowds with nary a right foot between them find the steps when indoctrinated with THEESat's unorthodox but right-on-time rhythms. Like their comrades Shabazz Palaces (you may have heard these two on the 2011 Shabazz Palaces album Black Up ), THEESatisfaction came upon the scene with lovingly handmade CDs of their self-released mixtapes, the first of which was 2008's That's Weird . All has been in preparation for the album they've envisioned for years, their debut full-length on Sub Pop Records, awE naturalE .
Any releases coming from FuseLab got my attention.
be sure we'll have book him. In a near future who knows?
serious, with very considerate attitude towards the listener.
This sentence took from Alpha Pup release page, is really well done.
The past EP was so much more rough than this one, clearly less focused on soundscapes & textures. Well, as im listening to the EP now for the 2nd time of the day, i can tell you that Mr Pereverzev totally considerate your attention.
that remind me works of Teebs & Burial or more recently Ghostek.
Good Headphones or Speakers quality & 30 minutes of your life.
The second thing i truly fall in love for is those distortion / saturation Moa Pillar brings in this project, he uses it as instruments and not only as a general background as Matthewdavid works sometimes. Those saturations are important as much as all varieties of sounds he creates. All this, gives you a great cocktail of where the electronic music is going in 2012. Drums are evolving & surprise you as much as Machinedrum / Sepalcure can do it: from a complete lost in those noises that create rhythms to the "classic" drop of the drums…He also use a lot of delay "SP404 style" that gives this hand made texture: rough & free, better than a delay worked over & over on softwares.
downtempo meeting with probably his vision of what music will be in the future: Making music go faster.
About the Unskilled Worker is Moa Pillar in the broadest sense, without grated devices but with the same ideas. In essence, it is impossibly vague but very fresh bass music with completely switched off "lasers" – they are replaced by musician's favorite ethnic instruments. With the help of them and his own neon voodoo Moa tells the timeless stories of the ancestors and the birth of something new.
Robert Glasper Experiment has kicked off 2012 with the release of the new single "Ah Yeah" this week through all digital retailers. The track—which features Musiq Soulchild and Chrisette Michele on vocals—is the lead single from Glasper's highly-anticipated forthcoming album "Black Radio," which will be released by Blue Note Records on February 28.
"Black Radio" showcases Glasper as a multi-talented producer, songwriter, keyboardist, and bandleader, and features many of his famous friends from across the spectrum of urban music, seamlessly incorporating appearances from a jaw-dropping roll call of special guests that also includes Erykah Badu, Bilal, Lupe Fiasco, Lalah Hathaway, Shafiq Husayn (Sa-Ra), KING, Ledisi, Meshell Ndegeocello, Stokley Williams (Mint Condition), and yasiin bey.
JEKYLL ET HYDE ]|[ THE FINEST!


text:
In global notation, the general rule is to specify duration for sustainable sounds but not for impulsive sounds (see Unspecified duration). However, the distinction between the two kinds of sound is not always clear, and information about duration may not always be useful for the purposes of the notation even when the sounds are sustainable. In such cases, the decision whether to specify duration or not may call for more thought.
Borderline cases include impulsive sounds of slow decay, such as those of the piano and guitar when the pitch is not too high. Though generated by "impulses"—hammer strokes or plucks—these sounds may be audible for several seconds, and the player can choose to stop the sound before it has died away completely. It will often be helpful to specify duration even for impulsive sounds when, as in these cases, the performer has control over the duration of the sound.
Sometimes it may even make sense to specify duration when the player has no control over it. The highest-pitched strings on the piano have no dampers, and therefore the player cannot control the duration of notes played on them, yet it would seem odd to notate these notes differently from other notes played on the same instrument. Since high notes on the piano die away quite rapidly anyway, the transition from high-pitched strings with dampers to higher-pitched strings without dampers is barely perceptible to the ear, so the information as to which strings have dampers is unlikely to be musically significant. For most purposes a sensible approach would be to treat all notes on the piano as "sustainable" and specify their (intended) duration.
The question might arise how to handle impulsive sounds of slow decay that are not damped, such as church bells and the larger gongs in an Indonesian gamelan orchestra. The long duration of these sounds may seem so prominent a feature of the music that it ought to be reflected in the notation. Nevertheless, the end of such a sound is not a musical "event"—the sound is simply allowed to fade until it becomes inaudible, which may happen at different times for different listeners—so it would be misleading to specify any definite duration. For most purposes it will be sufficient to specify when each sound begins and to maintain the principle of specifying duration only when it is controlled by the player.
In fact, there may sometimes be reasons for leaving duration unspecified even when it is controlled by the player. If we are only interested in rhythm, then regardless of whether we are dealing with the impulsive sounds of a xylophone or the sustainable sounds of an organ, what matters most is when each sound begins rather than how long it continues. Information about duration might then be an unwanted distraction from the more important distinction between moments where a new sound begins and those where none does. As always, decisions about what to specify should be based not only on the nature of the sounds, but also on what is most helpful for the purposes of the notation.
Next: Specified duration

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
You are here: Home Latest News John Peace Exhibition: Tyne and Tide - South Shields Museum and Art Gallery
John Peace Exhibition: Tyne and Tide - South Shields Museum and Art Gallery
EXHIBITION CLOSES ON MAY 7th
Last year we were delighted to feature an article on behalf of the family of John Peace who have been working very hard to establish the Back Catalogue of his extensive range of work held in many public and private collections in the UK. Cornish and Peace were contemporaries who exhibited together during the 60s and 70s at The Stone Gallery in Newcastle, along with many other leading British artists.
John was from Lemington and taught at Sunderland Art College at the same time as Cornish who worked there from 1967 for a few years after leaving mining. John Peace's work records the NE from a different perspective and may be viewed at www.johnpeacepaintings.co.uk
John Peace studied at the South Shields School of Art from 1949-51, then at Leeds before gaining a place at the Slade School of Fine Art in London. He had a lifelong career in painting, as well as teaching art, and produced hundreds of paintings many of which captured the landscape and aspects of social life in the changing region around him. It was a career deeply influenced and shaped by his time in South Shields.
This major exhibition opens on November 13th until May 7th 2022 and brings together a significant selection of some of his finest work. It focuses on landscapes, many depicting the region's coast and rivers, as well as the area around Lemington, where he spent most of his life, and includes paintings of South Tyneside and Sunderland. Landscape was Peace's main interest but he also produced many paintings of other subjects and a section of the gallery will present examples of his portraits, still lifes and scenes of family life.
Above all Peace was interested in capturing the effects of light. His compositions were often simple and painted with a narrow range of colours to create a powerful striking view of the world around him. Tyne and Tide provides a unique opportunity to see many of his best paintings including those owned by his family, alongside a number of loans from private collections.
An exceptional exhibition.
Cornish Centenary
Throughout the centenary year, an interesting range of themed exhibitions is planned in order to commemorate Norman's life and to celebrate his work.
If you would like to find out more click below:
Norman Cornish Centenary
Stay tuned via social media:
Follow @normanscornish


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text:
/*
 * To change this template, choose Tools | Templates
 * and open the template in the editor.
 */
package org.team708.frc2014.commands.intake;

import org.team708.frc2014.commands.CommandBase;

/**
 *
 * @author Connor Willison
 */
public class IntakeDispense extends CommandBase{

    protected void initialize() {
    }

    protected void execute() {
        CommandBase.intake.dispenseBall();
    }

    protected boolean isFinished() {
        return true;
    }

    protected void end() {
    }

    protected void interrupted() {
    }

}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
GP Recruitment and Retention Prioritised
The SNP Government has allocated over £2 million of funding over the next two years for innovative projects to improve GP recruitment and retention to projects across the country, as part of the Government's £85 million Primary Care Fund.
Initiatives include the development of a locum pool of retired GPs, a GP recruitment programme run by the Royal College of General Practitioners and a Scottish Rural Medicine Collaborative in seven health boards to bring together recruitment strategies and support networks for GPs working in remote and rural areas.
Health Secretary Shona Robison announced the funding and emphasised that the SNP Government was committed to working with health boards and professional bodies to improve GP recruitment and retention in Scotland.
Ms Robison said:
"This investment will help to get innovative and exciting projects off the ground – allowing frontline staff to test new ways of working and new models of care that can be rolled out nationally if they are successful.
"We have allocated £20 million over the next year to ease some of the immediate challenges facing the GP workforce. We will also continue our work with the profession to negotiate a new GP contract for 2017, which will be instrumental in delivering our shared vision for the future of GP services."
Added Kenneth Gibson:
"Scotland continues to have the highest number of GPs per patient in the UK with one GP for every 1,083 people, compared to one for every 1,338 in England, one for every 1,375 in Wales and one for every 1,445 in Northern Ireland. Nevertheless, we face challenges in the field of retaining medical professionals including GPs.
"Only last week I raised the issue of retention of young medics in the Parliament Chamber. It was reassuring to hear about the impending graduate programme for medicine in Scotland and this announcement again demonstrates the SNP Government's commitment to recruiting and retaining medics in Scotland.
"I will be particularly interested in the impact the Scottish Rural Medicine Collaborative will have on the rural areas within North Ayrshire and look forward to working with all parties involved."


Description: The Flex Lock Infant Car Seat easily removes from car seat base to allow a quick and easy click in attachment to stroller to make the Travel System. Stroller has Multi-position, reclining, padded seat with a 5-point safety harness 16" rear and 12" front all-terrain bicycle tires, Front swivel and locking wheel for easy jogging or strolling. Infant car seat accommodates weights 5-30 pounds and heights up to 30 inches tall The stroller features a compact lightweight fold for easy storage, and will accommodates children up to 50 pounds and 42 inches tall.


text:
Title : LOCAL PUBLIC UTILITIES, ENTERPRISES
Chapter : Utility franchises, permits, rights
451.01 Repealed, 1949 c 300 s 1
451.02 Unnecessary
451.03 Repealed, 1949 c 119 s 110
451.04 Franchise for city heating system.
Subdivision 1. Right to build, run. A home rule charter city of the fourth class may give a person, company, or corporation the right to use the streets, alleys, and other public grounds of the city to construct, operate, and maintain a system to furnish heat to city residents.
Subd. 2. Council sets terms, condition. The city council must decide what terms and conditions apply to the use of the right given under subdivision 1.
Subd. 3. City sale of steam, hot water. If the city owns and operates a plant that heats water or generates steam, the city may sell the steam or hot water to the user of the right given under subdivision 1 at a profit to the city.
Subd. 4. Arrangements for heat, control of system. The city may make contracts and arrangements for furnishing heat, using the city's steam or hot water, to city residents. The city may also make arrangements for the regulation and control of the heating system.
Subd. 5. May install system equipment. The city may give a person, company, or corporation the right to use the streets, alleys, and other public grounds of the city to install, at no expense to the city, necessary and incidental equipment to construct, operate, and maintain the heating system. The city council must decide what terms and conditions apply to the use of the plant.
Subd. 6. Heat from city steam, hot water. If the city owns and operates a plant that heats water or generates steam, the city may make the necessary and incidental contracts and arrangements to furnish, at a profit to the city, heat from the steam or hot water, to the city's residents.
Subd. 7. City may buy system. The city may acquire, own, operate, and enlarge the heating system after it is installed.
Subd. 8. City debt payable in future heat. The city may issue its certificates of indebtedness payable in heat to be sold by the city.
Subd. 9. City's steam, hot water to service company. If the city operates a municipal electric light or water plant, the city may agree with a service company that furnishes steam or hot water heat to its residents to supply from the municipal plant to the service company, the necessary steam or hot water for the company's customers.
Subd. 10. Terms of agreement. The supply agreement between the city and the service company may include terms on the subjects in this subdivision.
(a) The agreement may provide for joint approval of the plans and joint supervision of the construction and the definite determination at the time of completion, of the cost of the company's plant.
(b) The agreement may:
(1) fix the rates to be charged to the company's customers for the heat supplied;
(2) fix the charges to be billed to and collected from the customer either by the city or the service company; and
(3) divide the revenue received from the collections between the city and the service company.
(c) The agreement may provide for the purchase of the company's plant by the city at cost, plus reasonable interest on the cost, and for payment for the plant from the money saved by the city from its share of the collections.
Subd. 11. City may buy private system. If there is a heating system in the city that is not owned by the city, the city may buy the heating system for not more than its fair value.The city and the owner of the system must agree on the terms of the sale.
Subd. 12. Pay with bonds. The city council may issue and sell as many bonds of the city as it judges are necessary to buy the heating system from its owners.
Subd. 13. Bond formalities. (a) The city council must decide:
(1) the bonds' form and denomination;
(2) the rate of interest on the bonds, not more than six percent per year, payable semiannually; and
(3) the time, not more than 20 years from their date, when the bonds are due and payable.
(b) If the city issues the bonds, the bonds must be signed by the mayor and countersigned by the clerk.
(c) The bonds must be sold for not less than par and accrued interest.
Subd. 14. Add to other powers. The powers granted in this section are to be added to other powers granted by law.
451.05 Bonds, obligations for heat not part of city debt.
Subdivision 1. Obligations. An obligation incurred by a home rule charter city of the fourth class in making arrangements to furnish heat to the city's residents under section 451.04 is not part of the city's debt under its charter or under state law limiting the city's debt.
Subd. 2. Bonds. The amount of bonds issued under section 451.04 and at any time outstanding are not part of the city's net debt under its charter or under other law.
451.06 Repealed, 1988 c 469 art 6 s 2
451.07 Utility permit after franchise, license expire.
Subdivision 1. To continue existing service. A city of the first class may by ordinance give a permit to a public service corporation to use the streets and other public property in the city to continue to supply gas, electric energy, or steam for light, heat, or power.
Subd. 2. Despite contrary charter. The permit may be issued even if issuing it is contrary to the city's charter.
Subd. 3. Conditions: franchise, licenses expired. The permit is subject to the terms and conditions in this subdivision.
(a) The corporation must be supplying gas, electric energy, or steam for light, heat, or power, at the time the permit is issued.
(b) The corporation's franchise for supplying the utility service must have expired.
(c) The home rule charter of the city must allow for a limited number of licenses to use public property to supply utility service for not more than one year, and all the licenses must have been issued and must have expired.
Subd. 4. City may set rates. The city may set the rates the corporation may charge for its service in the city. The rates must not be set more often than once in a calendar year.
Subd. 5. Charge for street use. The city may decide how much the corporation must pay to use the city's streets and other public property in the city.
Subd. 6. Minimum charge; exception. The city must charge the corporation at least the minimum franchise fee, if any, required by the city charter when the corporation is not specifically relieved of the payment.
Subd. 7. Bound by agreed rates, charges. This section does not let the city change the rates or charges in this section if the city has fixed the rates or charges for a definite period in an agreement with the corporation.
451.09 Steam heat discontinued; notice; cost to convert.
Subdivision 1. By utility board, with council approval. A public utilities board or commission that operates a steam heat system in a home rule charter city may discontinue the system in whole or part if the city council approves.
Subd. 2. May pay to convert. If the council approves, the board or commission may spend money to pay those whose service is discontinued to convert to another type of heat system.
Subd. 3. Supersedes other law, charter. This section applies notwithstanding a contrary city charter or other law.
Subd. 4. Exceptions: Austin, Marshall, Virginia. Subdivisions 1 to 3 do not apply to the cities of Austin, Marshall, and Virginia.
Subd. 5. Two years' notice. A public utilities board or commission that operates a steam heat system in a home rule charter city must give the commissioner of employment and economic development two years' notice of its intended date to discontinue the system.
451.10 District heating system.
Subdivision 1. Application. Sections 451.10 to 451.17 apply to a city that:
(1) owns and operates a district heating system either directly by the city council or by a utility board or utility commission of the city; and
(2) has taken action under law or charter to discontinue the operation of the district heating system in whole or in part.
Subd. 2. Supersedes other law. Sections 451.10 to 451.17 apply to the cities described in subdivision 1 notwithstanding a contrary provision in a city charter or in any other law including section 451.09.
Subd. 3. Supplemental to other law. The powers granted by sections 451.10 to 451.17 are supplemental and additional to other powers granted by law or charter.
451.11 Policy; purpose.
Subdivision 1. Findings. The legislature finds that it is in the public interest that cities owning and operating a district heating system that have determined to discontinue the system in whole or in part be authorized to establish and conduct a program to provide replacement heating and related equipment to the owners of property whose district heating service is discontinued. The legislature also finds that the cities should be authorized to adopt and implement programs to provide for the installation of energy conservation equipment and measures to enhance the efficient and economical use of energy in buildings and structures served by a district heating system and in which replacement heating systems are installed under sections 451.10 to 451.17.
Subd. 2. Public purpose. The legislature further finds that expenditures made by cities for a purpose in sections 451.10 to 451.17 are expenditures for a public purpose.
Subdivision 1. Application. In sections 451.10 to 451.17 the definitions in this section apply.
Subd. 2. City. "City" means a city, however organized, acting through its city council or through a public utilities commission duly created by law or charter.
Subd. 3. Replacement heating system improvement. "Replacement heating system improvement" means and includes furnaces, boilers, and similar heat generating and exchanging equipment together with related equipment, duct work, and control mechanisms that are installed to provide heating, ventilating, and air conditioning services in a building or structure whose district heating service has been discontinued by a city.
Subd. 4. Energy conservation improvement. (a) "Energy conservation improvement" means and includes, but is not limited to, the following devices, methods, and materials, if recommended by an energy audit approved in a program and having a maximum cost of $20,000, that increase the efficiency of the use of energy in a building or structure:
(1) insulation and ventilation;
(2) storm windows, thermal windows, and storm doors;
(3) caulking and weatherstripping;
(4) heating system modifications; and
(5) thermostats or lighting controls.
(b) The term does not include a device or method that creates, converts, or actively uses energy from renewable resources such as wind, solar, or biomass.
Subd. 5. Program. "Program" means a statement of goals, procedures, standards of eligibility, and methods of financing for the installation of heating replacement system improvements and energy conservation improvements.
Subd. 6. Improvement. "Improvement" includes replacement heating system improvements and energy conservation improvements.
451.13 Program.
Subdivision 1. After notice and hearing. A program may be adopted by resolution of the city council of a city after reasonable notice and hearing provided for by the city council.
Subd. 2. Elements. The program must contain at least the following elements:
(1) a description of the kinds of property eligible for assistance with heating replacement improvements and energy conservation improvements;
(2) procedures for accomplishing the improvements by the city or private contractors;
(3) methods of financing the installation of the heating replacement and energy conservation improvements; and
(4) the administrative agency of the city responsible for conducting the program.
Subd. 3. Delegation. The city council may by resolution delegate the responsibility for the conduct of the program to a public utilities commission or public utilities board of the city.
451.14 Installing the improvements.
Subdivision 1. Methods. The program may provide for the methods of installing the improvements set out in this subdivision.
(a) The city may contract with one or more contractors to perform work and furnish materials for the improvements.
(b) The owner of a building or structure eligible for an improvement may contract for the installation of the improvement, subject to approval by the city as provided in the program.
(c) The city may contract with a property owner for the installation of an improvement by the property owner, but no payment under section 451.15 may be made for the property owner's labor.
Subd. 2. Inspection and certification. The program must provide a method by which a city official or employee may inspect and is to certify the completed installation of the improvement to ensure compliance with city codes and ordinances and other standards specified in the program.
Subd. 3. Competitive bids. Contracts entered into under subdivision 1, paragraph (a), are subject to competitive bidding requirements of law.
451.15 Payments; financing.
Subdivision 1. Financing. The program may include one or more of the methods described in this section for financing the cost of the installation of improvements.
Subd. 2. Cash. The city may contract with a property owner for the payment in cash of the cost of the installation of the improvements upon completion of the installation of the improvements. The payment must be secured by:
(1) a deposit with the city of 90 percent of the contract price; or
(2) a written commitment from a bank or other financial institution approved in the program to lend the property owner the full amount of the contract price for payment to the city.
Subd. 3. Promissory note. The city may accept payment of the contract price by a promissory note from the property owner delivered at the time of entering into the contract payable at such times, not exceeding ten years, and in the amounts and at the interest rate specified in the program.
Subd. 4. Lien as security. The balance of payments due under subdivision 2 and the entire principal of and interest on a promissory note delivered under subdivision 3 are secured by a lien created by this subdivision on the real property on which the improvements are made. If payment is not made according to the terms of the program, or the note, the chief financial officer of the city may certify the entire amount so due to the county auditor for collection as other taxes are collected.
Subd. 5. Special assessments. The program may provide that at the request of the property owner the unpaid cost of the installation of an improvement is to be specially assessed against the real property on which the improvement is installed in the manner provided by section 429.101, except that:
(1) the adoption of an ordinance is not required; and
(2) obligations issued to finance the improvements must mature not later than ten years from the date of their issuance.
451.16 Financing; obligations.
Subdivision 1. Bonds; other obligations. In addition to the authority to issue obligations under section 429.101, a city may issue its bonds or other obligations to finance the cost of the installation of improvements as provided in this section.
Subd. 2. Revenue obligations. A city may issue and sell its revenue obligations payable solely from the revenues derived or to be derived from assessments and payments from property owners under section 451.15, which revenues must be pledged to the payment of the obligations. Obligations issued under this subdivision are considered to be payable wholly from the income of a revenue-producing convenience within the meaning of sections 475.51 and 475.58.
Subd. 3. General obligations. A city may issue and sell its general obligations under chapter 475, payable from the revenues and assessments derived or to be derived from property owners under section 451.15, which revenues must be pledged to the payment of the obligations. General obligations must not be issued unless the pledged revenues are estimated to equal at least 105 percent of the amount necessary to pay when due the principal of and interest on the obligations. Obligations issued under this subdivision are considered to be payable wholly from the income of a revenue-producing convenience within the meaning of sections 475.51 and 475.58.
451.17 City of Virginia.
The city of Virginia is considered to have complied with section 451.09, notwithstanding section 451.09, subdivision 4.


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Conservation photographer TJ Watt has won the Trebek Initiative grant and named a National Geographic Explorer and Royal Geographic Society Explorer for his work to protect B.C.'s old-growth forests. (Contributed - TJ Watt)
Champion of Vancouver Island old-growth forests wins prestigious honours
Photographer TJ Watt earns Trebek Initiative grant, named a National Geographic Explorer
Kevin Laird
Nov. 4, 2021 10:20 a.m.
He's devoted his life to protecting B.C.'s old-growth forests.
Now, Vancouver Island conservation photographer TJ Watt has been awarded support and recognition by receiving a Trebek Initiative grant and named a National Geographic Explorer and Royal Geographic Society Explorer.
The Trebek Initiative grant was announced last week and is named after the late Alex Trebek, the longtime Jeopardy! TV game show host.
The grant program aims to promote emerging Canadian explorers, scientists, educators and photographers, said David Court, chair of The Trebek Initiative.
"Receiving recognition from the Trebek Initiative, National Geographic Society and the Royal Canadian Geographical Society is some of the highest praise I think you can get," Watt, 37, said of his award.
He is co-founder of the Ancient Forest Alliance, an organization dedicated to protecting B.C.'s endangered old-growth forests and ensuring sustainable, second-growth forestry jobs.
Watt's project will focus on creating new "before and after" series of huge old-growth trees standing and then cut, building on the impact of his first series captured in the Caycuse Valley that went viral around the world this year.
"Seeing before and after images of some of the largest trees in Earth's history turned into massive stumps contrasts the grandeur and destruction of these spectacular eco-systems," said Watt, a Victoria resident.
"The province and industry claim they're practising sustainable forestry, but when 500 to 1,000-year-old trees are being cut down, the situation is pretty clear-cut – this is not sustainable."
Often exploring remote forests alone with just his camera gear and a GPS in hand, Watt hopes capturing photos of endangered old-growth will bring the attention needed to protect these forests before they're clear-cut.
"Ideally, no after photos will have to be taken," Watt said.
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Home Uncategorized Biden pushes Belt and Road rival 'Blue Dot' with Japan and Australia
Biden pushes Belt and Road rival 'Blue Dot' with Japan and Australia
Escalators connect floors in Grand Central Terminal as part of the East Side Access, a train tunnel that will connect rail yards in Queens with Grand Central in New York. © AP
NIKKEI ASIA – June 9, 2021 03:13 JST – ALEX FANG, Nikkei staff writer
Michelin star-like certification to cheer transparent and sustainable infrastructure
NEW YORK — U.S. President Joe Biden's administration, along with the governments of Japan and Australia, is reviving an infrastructure initiative that would provide emerging markets an alternative to China's Belt and Road initiative.
After a prolonged period of inactivity, the Blue Dot Network — first announced during President Donald Trump's administration — kicked off talks among stakeholders in Paris on Monday. The meeting and the launch of an executive consultation group was convened by the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development and funded by Washington and Canberra.
The initiative, which would certify projects meeting such standards as transparency and sustainability, is meant to galvanize the private sector to invest in infrastructure development in emerging markets. This approach has been hailed as a counter to the Belt and Road, which is characterized by heavy central planning from Beijing.
"The Blue Dot Network will be a globally recognized symbol of market-driven, transparent and sustainable infrastructure projects," the U.S. State Department said in a Monday statement, welcoming the consultation group's inaugural meeting.
Over 150 global executives, covering 96 countries, responsible for some $12 trillion of assets under management, participated in the Monday meeting, the OECD said in a statement. Panels at the event included those occupying key posts at financial institutions including Citi and JPMorgan, as well as in the public sector, such as Thailand's Government Pension Fund.
Derek Grossman, senior defense analyst at the RAND Corporation, said Australia, Japan, and the U.S. "cannot possibly match China's BRI dollar-for-dollar," which explains why the initiative focuses on certification and advisory instead of direct funding.
READ FULL ARTICLE HERE : NIKKEI ASIA
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Help Me With My Closeted Boyfriend
Eric Audras/ONOKY/Getty Images
Dear Mona,
I'm having a hard time with a situation and who better to turn to than you?
Here's the deal: I've been seeing a guy for about two months now. We go out to dinner, hang out, talk, text, IM. Pretty good communication. One minute he talks like I am his, the next breath he is talking about the fact that he's not ready for an actual relationship. We both work in different fields, but see each other at work all the time. He's a paramedic and I'm a security officer for the hospital he's contracted with. When he sees me at work, provided nobody is around, he acts like he's my boyfriend, I'm his everything! When we are out, he acts the same way. But when it comes down to having a deep conversation about our relationship, he says he's not ready for anything official. We aren't sleeping together or anything, but still we are very close.
I really know that I am falling for him, and most of the time he seems that way too. What's going on here? One tidbit of info that might be helpful is that he is not out and I am. I'm fine with him not being out and would NEVER do anything to jeopardize that. Is he just saying he doesn't want anything serious because he doesn't want to be outed or am I just wasting my time on the "relationship"?
Put on the parking break. Enjoy spending time with him and lay off of the relationship talk for now.
Be open about how you feel and let him know that you are willing to take your time building a connection.
Ask him to communicate when he's feeling overwhelmed or when he thinks you guys are moving too fast.
You told me, now tell him that you would never intentionally out him, but you do desire a relationship at some point in the future.
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at the Library, Main Street Shadwell.
HDJ gave her apologies for leaving the meeting at 6.30pm.
HDJ and DP agreed to take and draft the minutes of the meeting.
Item 3 – Discussion on informal LCC comments: Abbie Miladinovic.
AM was welcomed to the meeting and introduced to the members of the Steering Committee who were present.
The LCC Informal Comments (March 2018) was handed to the meeting.
PB indicated that a lot of matters raised could be adjusted by him and sent to AM for her views on the proposed changes.
PB indicated that as the Core Strategy Review (still being finalized) includes an extended plan date of 2033, it could push the end date of the Shadwell NP from 2028 to 2033. AM indicated that Leeds City Council are hoping to publish the Core Strategy by October 2018, so it depends on the relative timings of the CS and the NP.
In addition, the Government is proposing changes to the National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF). This will involve changing all the NP references to specific paragraphs of the NPPF to reflect the revised NPPF, when it is agreed.
Policy ENV3 – Local Green Spaces: AM was asked to supply PB with larger scale maps to show the Local Green Spaces. We can then discuss with Highways their reasons for concerns of LGS 4, 7, 9 and 11.
Policy HOU1 – Housing Mix: (14.3 &13.4). PB will re-look at the wording of this policy as there is no legal definition of "elderly".
Item 4 – Discussion on the Community Consultation event held 7 April at the Library.
JT reported on the consultation. It was well attended, with several volunteers and at least 25 attendees, with 17 questionnaires returned. Those attending were spread across the whole village, except from the Shadwell Park estate.
The OS Triangulation Point in Dan Quarry had been raised as a possible non-designated heritage asset. AM agreed to check on old OS Maps for this.
JT to send a summary of comments made at the event to PB.
There was an underspend of £92.00 which we are obliged to return, and this will be done urgently by the Parish Council. The end of Grant report was submitted in time.
As soon as the underspend has been received, we can start to apply for the next grant. This will be for £9000, less the grant which has just ended, leaving approx. £3500. JT agreed to progress this.
Norwood house: A request was made to consider 20 Old Brandon Lane (Norwood House) for inclusion in the list of non-designated heritage assets, which was agreed. JT to write to the Parish Council Clerk to ask him to reply.
The next meeting will be at 8pm, 29 May, and provisionally 26 June.