Have Wonga commited a criminal offence?
You may know Wonga from their cheery TV ads featuring knitted OAPs. Hopefully you don't know them from borrowing money off them, given that their APR gets up to 5853%. They offer payday loans at huge interest rates. Whilst it may not be part of their official stchick, there is a general view that they target people who are the most vulnerable and cannot access finance from more mainstream financial institutions.
You can read the FCA report here in full. They have given Wonga a firm rap round the knuckles and directed that the people affected be compensated to the tune of £2.6 million.
So. Are there any criminal offences here?
The Fraud Act is always a good start. What about s2 – Fraud by False Representation? Someone commits fraud if they dishonestly make a false representation, intending to make a gain for themselves or cause a loss to another, when they know that the representation is false and misleading.
Looking at that, under s2(5) "For the purposes of this section a representation may be regarded as made if it (or anything implying it) is submitted in any form to any system or device designed to receive, convey or respond to communications (with or without human intervention)". It is probable that a headed paper implying that a letter comes from a law firm is a false representation, so we can tick that box.
What about the fact that, under the contract with the customer, they were owed the money? There is a very wide definition of 'gain' and 'loss' in s5. It is likely that this would fall into the section, with the safety valve being the requirement of dishonesty. For that reason, subject to the question of whether Wonga were being dishonest, this offence would appear to be committed.
There are two possible offences here. Firstly, under the Solicitors Act 1974. There is an either way offence of acting as a solicitor when not being one (s20), but it is likely that there was nothing done here other than send the letter implying that it was from a lawyer.
It is also an offence (under s21) for someone who " wilfully pretends to be, or takes or uses any name, title, addition or description implying that he is, qualified or recognised by law as qualified to act as a solicitor". This is summary only which looks like a problem (as there is normally a six month time limit for bringing proceedings and Wonga's practice here stopped in 2010).
s26 extends this time period, but not by enough in this case – proceedings in respect of any offence under section 21 may be brought at any time before the expiration of two years from the commission of the offence or six months from its first discovery by the prosecutor, whichever period expires first".
There is an offence of pretending to be entitled to carry out a reserved activity under s17 Legal Service Act 2007. This can get a bit complex, but it may well apply if the bogus letterhead said, as an example, 'Commissioner for Oaths' as oath taking is a reserved activity.
So, although this offence looks good on paper, it's actually pretty unpromising. A further issue is that whilst pretending to be a solicitor is a criminal offence, stating that someone is a lawyer is not.
(b) that the use of the menaces is a proper means of reinforcing the demand.
The fact that Wonga is entitled, under the general law of contract, to the money does not of itself mean that a threat to sue cannot be a 'menace' (although it may be hard to persuade a jury of this) or that a threat to sue (especially if it is using a fake law firm) is unwarranted. It is clear that 'gain' includes 'getting money to which you are entitled to'.
So, whilst 'blackmail' conjures up connotations of masked men making a ransom demand after a kidnapping, this may well be close.
There is a general defence (s40(3)) if what was done was reasonable. It seems that the case against Wonga under either (c) or (d) is a pretty strong one. The difficulty here is that this offence is also summary only, with no extension period, and so it would appear to be time-barred.
This entry was posted in In the news and tagged Payday loans, Wonga on 25/06/2014 by Dan Bunting.


text:
Development of a Tilt-Rotor Aircraft Model Using System Identification Technique
Antonio Vitale, Nicola Genito, Giovanni Cuciniello, Ferdinando Montemari
The introduction of tilt-rotor aircraft into the existing civilian air transportation system will provide beneficial effects due to tilt-rotor capability to combine the characteristics of a helicopter and a fixed-wing aircraft into one vehicle. The disposability of reliable tilt-rotor simulation models supports the development of such vehicle. Indeed, simulation models are required to design automatic control systems that increase safety, reduce pilot's workload and stress, and ensure the optimal aircraft configuration with respect to flight envelope limits, especially during the most critical flight phases such as conversion from helicopter to aircraft mode and vice versa. This article presents a process to build a simplified tilt-rotor simulation model, derived from the analysis of flight data. The model aims to reproduce the complex dynamics of tilt-rotor during the in-flight conversion phase. It uses a set of scheduled linear transfer functions to relate the autopilot reference inputs to the most relevant rigid body state variables. The model also computes information about the rotor flapping dynamics, which are useful to evaluate the aircraft control margin in terms of rotor collective and cyclic commands. The rotor flapping model is derived through a mixed theoretical-empirical approach, which includes physical analytical equations (applicable to helicopter configuration) and parametric corrective functions. The latter are introduced to best fit the actual rotor behavior and balance the differences existing between helicopter and tilt-rotor during flight. Time-domain system identification from flight data is exploited to optimize the model structure and to estimate the model parameters. The presented model-building process was applied to simulated flight data of the ERICA Tilt-Rotor, generated by using a high fidelity simulation model implemented in FlightLab environment. The validation of the obtained model was very satisfying, confirming the validity of the proposed approach.
Flapping Dynamics, Flight Dynamics, System Identification, Tilt-Rotor Modeling and Simulation.
Modeling of a UAV Longitudinal Dynamics through System Identification Technique
Asadullah I. Qazi, Mansoor Ahsan, Zahir Ashraf, Uzair Ahmad
System identification of an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), to acquire its mathematical model, is a significant step in the process of aircraft flight automation. The need for reliable mathematical model is an established requirement for autopilot design, flight simulator development, aircraft performance appraisal, analysis of aircraft modifications, preflight testing of prototype aircraft and investigation of fatigue life and stress distribution etc. This research is aimed at system identification of a fixed wing UAV by means of specifically designed flight experiment. The purposely designed flight maneuvers were performed on the UAV and aircraft states were recorded during these flights. Acquired data were preprocessed for noise filtering and bias removal followed by parameter estimation of longitudinal dynamics transfer functions using MATLAB system identification toolbox. Black box identification based transfer function models, in response to elevator and throttle inputs, were estimated using least square error technique. The identification results show a high confidence level and goodness of fit between the estimated model and actual aircraft response.
Black box modeling, fixed wing aircraft, least square error, longitudinal dynamics, system identification.
A Transform Domain Function Controlled VSSLMS Algorithm for Sparse System Identification
Cemil Turan, Mohammad Shukri Salman
The convergence rate of the least-mean-square (LMS) algorithm deteriorates if the input signal to the filter is correlated. In a system identification problem, this convergence rate can be improved if the signal is white and/or if the system is sparse. We recently proposed a sparse transform domain LMS-type algorithm that uses a variable step-size for a sparse system identification. The proposed algorithm provided high performance even if the input signal is highly correlated. In this work, we investigate the performance of the proposed TD-LMS algorithm for a large number of filter tap which is also a critical issue for standard LMS algorithm. Additionally, the optimum value of the most important parameter is calculated for all experiments. Moreover, the convergence analysis of the proposed algorithm is provided. The performance of the proposed algorithm has been compared to different algorithms in a sparse system identification setting of different sparsity levels and different number of filter taps. Simulations have shown that the proposed algorithm has prominent performance compared to the other algorithms.
Adaptive filtering, sparse system identification, VSSLMS algorithm, TD-LMS algorithm.
Identifying Dynamic Structural Parameters of Soil-Structure System Based on Data Recorded during Strong Earthquakes
Vahidreza Mahmoudabadi, Omid Bahar, Mohammad Kazem Jafari
In many applied engineering problems, structural analysis is usually conducted by assuming a rigid bed, while imposing the effect of structure bed flexibility can affect significantly on the structure response. This article focuses on investigation and evaluation of the effects arising from considering a soil-structure system in evaluation of dynamic characteristics of a steel structure with respect to elastic and inelastic behaviors. The recorded structure acceleration during Taiwan's strong Chi-Chi earthquake on different floors of the structure was our evaluation criteria. The respective structure is an eight-story steel bending frame structure designed using a displacement-based direct method assuring weak beam - strong column function. The results indicated that different identification methods i.e. reverse Fourier transform or transfer functions, is capable to determine some of the dynamic parameters of the structure precisely, rather than evaluating all of them at once (mode frequencies, mode shapes, structure damping, structure rigidity, etc.). Response evaluation based on the input and output data elucidated that the structure first mode is not significantly affected, even considering the soil-structure interaction effect, but the upper modes have been changed. Also, it was found that the response transfer function of the different stories, in which plastic hinges have occurred in the structure components, provides similar results.
System identification, dynamic characteristics, soil-structure system, bending steel frame structure, displacement-based design.
Modeling and System Identification of a Variable Excited Linear Direct Drive
Heiko Weiß, Andreas Meister, Christoph Ament, Nils Dreifke
Linear actuators are deployed in a wide range of applications. This paper presents the modeling and system identification of a variable excited linear direct drive (LDD). The LDD is designed based on linear hybrid stepper technology exhibiting the characteristic tooth structure of mover and stator. A three-phase topology provides the thrust force caused by alternating strengthening and weakening of the flux of the legs. To achieve best possible synchronous operation, the phases are commutated sinusoidal. Despite the fact that these LDDs provide high dynamics and drive forces, noise emission limits their operation in calm workspaces. To overcome this drawback an additional excitation of the magnetic circuit is introduced to LDD using additional enabling coils instead of permanent magnets. The new degree of freedom can be used to reduce force variations and related noise by varying the excitation flux that is usually generated by permanent magnets. Hence, an identified simulation model is necessary to analyze the effects of this modification. Especially the force variations must be modeled well in order to reduce them sufficiently. The model can be divided into three parts: the current dynamics, the mechanics and the force functions. These subsystems are described with differential equations or nonlinear analytic functions, respectively. Ordinary nonlinear differential equations are derived and transformed into state space representation. Experiments have been carried out on a test rig to identify the system parameters of the complete model. Static and dynamic simulation based optimizations are utilized for identification. The results are verified in time and frequency domain. Finally, the identified model provides a basis for later design of control strategies to reduce existing force variations.
Force variations, linear direct drive, modeling and system identification, variable excitation flux.
Kalman Filter Design in Structural Identification with Unknown Excitation
Z. Masoumi, B. Moaveni
This article is about first step of structural health monitoring by identifying structural system in the presence of unknown input. In the structural system identification, identification of structural parameters such as stiffness and damping are considered. In this study, the Kalman filter (KF) design for structural systems with unknown excitation is expressed. External excitations, such as earthquakes, wind or any other forces are not measured or not available. The purpose of this filter is its strengths to estimate the state variables of the system in the presence of unknown input. Also least squares estimation (LSE) method with unknown input is studied. Estimates of parameters have been adopted. Finally, using two examples advantages and drawbacks of both methods are studied.
Structural health monitoring, Kalman filter, Least square estimation, structural system identification.
Sparsity-Aware Affine Projection Algorithm for System Identification
Young-Seok Choi
This work presents a new type of the affine projection (AP) algorithms which incorporate the sparsity condition of a system. To exploit the sparsity of the system, a weighted l1-norm regularization is imposed on the cost function of the AP algorithm. Minimizing the cost function with a subgradient calculus and choosing two distinct weighting for l1-norm, two stochastic gradient based sparsity regularized AP (SR-AP) algorithms are developed. Experimental results exhibit that the SR-AP algorithms outperform the typical AP counterparts for identifying sparse systems.
System identification, adaptive filter, affine projection, sparsity, sparse system.
Affine Projection Adaptive Filter with Variable Regularization
We propose two affine projection algorithms (APA) with variable regularization parameter. The proposed algorithms dynamically update the regularization parameter that is fixed in the conventional regularized APA (R-APA) using a gradient descent based approach. By introducing the normalized gradient, the proposed algorithms give birth to an efficient and a robust update scheme for the regularization parameter. Through experiments we demonstrate that the proposed algorithms outperform conventional R-APA in terms of the convergence rate and the misadjustment error.
Affine projection, regularization, gradient descent, system identification.
Data-Reusing Adaptive Filtering Algorithms with Adaptive Error Constraint
We present a family of data-reusing and affine projection algorithms. For identification of a noisy linear finite impulse response channel, a partial knowledge of a channel, especially noise, can be used to improve the performance of the adaptive filter. Motivated by this fact, the proposed scheme incorporates an estimate of a knowledge of noise. A constraint, called the adaptive noise constraint, estimates an unknown information of noise. By imposing this constraint on a cost function of data-reusing and affine projection algorithms, a cost function based on the adaptive noise constraint and Lagrange multiplier is defined. Minimizing the new cost function leads to the adaptive noise constrained (ANC) data-reusing and affine projection algorithms. Experimental results comparing the proposed schemes to standard data-reusing and affine projection algorithms clearly indicate their superior performance.
Data-reusing, affine projection algorithm, error constraint, system identification.
Identification of Nonlinear Systems Using Radial Basis Function Neural Network
C. Pislaru, A. Shebani
This paper uses the radial basis function neural network (RBFNN) for system identification of nonlinear systems. Five nonlinear systems are used to examine the activity of RBFNN in system modeling of nonlinear systems; the five nonlinear systems are dual tank system, single tank system, DC motor system, and two academic models. The feed forward method is considered in this work for modelling the non-linear dynamic models, where the KMeans clustering algorithm used in this paper to select the centers of radial basis function network, because it is reliable, offers fast convergence and can handle large data sets. The least mean square method is used to adjust the weights to the output layer, and Euclidean distance method used to measure the width of the Gaussian function.
System identification, Nonlinear system, Neural networks, RBF neural network.
Detection ofTensile Forces in Cable-Stayed Structures Using the Advanced Hybrid Micro-Genetic Algorithm
Sang-Youl Lee
This study deals with an advanced numerical techniques to detect tensile forces in cable-stayed structures. The proposed method allows us not only to avoid the trap of minimum at initial searching stage but also to find their final solutions in better numerical efficiency. The validity of the technique is numerically verified using a set of dynamic data obtained from a simulation of the cable model modeled using the finite element method. The results indicate that the proposed method is computationally efficient in characterizing the tensile force variation for cable-stayed structures.
Tensile force detection, cable-stayed structures, hybrid system identification (h-SI), dynamic response.
Identification of Nonlinear Systems Structured by Hammerstein-Wiener Model
A. Brouri, F. Giri, A. Mkhida, F. Z. Chaoui, A. Elkarkri, M. L. Chhibat
Standard Hammerstein-Wiener models consist of a linear subsystem sandwiched by two memoryless nonlinearities. The problem of identifying Hammerstein-Wiener systems is addressed in the presence of linear subsystem of structure totally unknown and polynomial input and output nonlinearities. Presently, the system nonlinearities are allowed to be noninvertible. The system identification problem is dealt by developing a two-stage frequency identification method. First, the parameters of system nonlinearities are identified. In the second stage, a frequency approach is designed to estimate the linear subsystem frequency gain. All involved estimators are proved to be consistent.
Nonlinear system identification, Hammerstein systems, Wiener systems, frequency identification.
Damage Localization of Deterministic-Stochastic Systems
Yen-Po Wang, Ming-Chih Huang, Ming-Lian Chang
A scheme integrated with deterministic–stochastic subspace system identification and the method of damage localization vector is proposed in this study for damage detection of structures based on seismic response data. A series of shaking table tests using a five-storey steel frame has been conducted in National Center for Research on Earthquake Engineering (NCREE), Taiwan. Damage condition is simulated by reducing the cross-sectional area of some of the columns at the bottom. Both single and combinations of multiple damage conditions at various locations have been considered. In the system identification analysis, either full or partial observation conditions have been taken into account. It has been shown that the damaged stories can be identified from global responses of the structure to earthquakes if sufficiently observed. In addition to detecting damage(s) with respect to the intact structure, identification of new or extended damages of the as-damaged (ill-conditioned) counterpart has also been studied. The proposed scheme proves to be effective.
Damage locating vectors, deterministic-stochastic subspace system, shaking table tests, system identification.
Higher Order Statistics for Identification of Minimum Phase Channels
Mohammed Zidane, Said Safi, Mohamed Sabri, Ahmed Boumezzough
This paper describes a blind algorithm, which is compared with two another algorithms proposed in the literature, for estimating of the minimum phase channel parameters. In order to identify blindly the impulse response of these channels, we have used Higher Order Statistics (HOS) to build our algorithm. The simulation results in noisy environment, demonstrate that the proposed method could estimate the phase and magnitude with high accuracy of these channels blindly and without any information about the input, except that the input excitation is identically and independent distribute (i.i.d) and non-Gaussian.
System Identification, Higher Order Statistics, Communication Channels.
Modeling and Control of a Quadrotor UAV with Aerodynamic Concepts
Wei Dong, Guo-Ying Gu, Xiangyang Zhu, Han Ding
This paper presents preliminary results on modeling and control of a quadrotor UAV. With aerodynamic concepts, a mathematical model is firstly proposed to describe the dynamics of the quadrotor UAV. Parameters of this model are identified by experiments with Matlab Identify Toolbox. A group of PID controllers are then designed based on the developed model. To verify the developed model and controllers, simulations and experiments for altitude control, position control and trajectory tracking are carried out. The results show that the quadrotor UAV well follows the referenced commands, which clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Quadrotor UAV, Modeling, Control, Aerodynamics, System Identification.
Improved Fuzzy Neural Modeling for Underwater Vehicles
O. Hassanein, Sreenatha G. Anavatti, Tapabrata Ray
The dynamics of the Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs) are highly nonlinear and time varying and the hydrodynamic coefficients of vehicles are difficult to estimate accurately because of the variations of these coefficients with different navigation conditions and external disturbances. This study presents the on-line system identification of AUV dynamics to obtain the coupled nonlinear dynamic model of AUV as a black box. This black box has an input-output relationship based upon on-line adaptive fuzzy model and adaptive neural fuzzy network (ANFN) model techniques to overcome the uncertain external disturbance and the difficulties of modelling the hydrodynamic forces of the AUVs instead of using the mathematical model with hydrodynamic parameters estimation. The models- parameters are adapted according to the back propagation algorithm based upon the error between the identified model and the actual output of the plant. The proposed ANFN model adopts a functional link neural network (FLNN) as the consequent part of the fuzzy rules. Thus, the consequent part of the ANFN model is a nonlinear combination of input variables. Fuzzy control system is applied to guide and control the AUV using both adaptive models and mathematical model. Simulation results show the superiority of the proposed adaptive neural fuzzy network (ANFN) model in tracking of the behavior of the AUV accurately even in the presence of noise and disturbance.
AUV, AUV dynamic model, fuzzy control, fuzzy modelling, adaptive fuzzy control, back propagation, system identification, neural fuzzy model, FLNN.
Control Technology for a Daily Load-following Operation in a Nuclear Power Plant
Keuk Jong Yu, Sang Hee Kang, Sung Chang You
In Korea, the technology of a load fo nuclear power plant has been being developed. automatic controller which is able to control temperature and axial power distribution was developed. identification algorithm and a model predictive contact former transforms the nuclear reactor status into numerically. And the latter uses them and ge manipulated values such as two kinds of control ro this automatic controller, the performance of a coperation was evaluated. As a result, the automatic generated model parameters of a nuclear react to nuclear reactor average temperature and axial power the desired targets during a daily load follow.
axial power distribution, model reactor temperature, system identification
Quadrotor Black-Box System Identification
Ionel Stanculeanu, Theodor Borangiu
This paper presents a new approach in the identification of the quadrotor dynamic model using a black-box system for identification. Also the paper considers the problems which appear during the identification in the closed-loop and offers a technical solution for overcoming the correlation between the input noise present in the output
System identification, UAV, prediction error method, quadrotor.
System Identification and Performance Improvement to a Micro Gas Turbine Applying Biogas
Chun Hsiang Yang, Cheng Chia Lee, Chiun Hsun Chen
In this study, the effects of biogas fuels on the performance of an annular micro gas turbine (MGT) were assessed experimentally and numerically. In the experiments, the proposed MGT system was operated successfully under each test condition; minimum composition to the fuel with the biogas was roughly 50% CH4 with 50% CO2. The power output was around 170W at 85,000 RPM as 90% CH4 with 10% CO2 was used and 70W at 65,000 RPM as 70% CH4 with 30% CO2 was used. When a critical limit of 60% CH4 was reached, the power output was extremely low. Furthermore, the theoretical Brayton cycle efficiency and electric efficiency of the MGT were calculated as 23% and 10%, respectively. Following the experiments, the measured data helped us identify the parameters of dynamic model in numerical simulation. Additionally, a numerical analysis of re-designed combustion chamber showed that the performance of MGT could be improved by raising the temperature at turbine inlet. This study presents a novel distributed power supply system that can utilize renewable biogas. The completed micro biogas power supply system is small, low cost, easy to maintain and suited to household use.
Micro Gas Turbine, Biogas; System Identification, Distributed power supply system
Wavelet Based Identification of Second Order Linear System
Sudipta Majumdar, Harish Parthasarathy
In this paper, a wavelet based method is proposed to identify the constant coefficients of a second order linear system and is compared with the least squares method. The proposed method shows improved accuracy of parameter estimation as compared to the least squares method. Additionally, it has the advantage of smaller data requirement and storage requirement as compared to the least squares method.
Least squares method, linear system, system identification, wavelet transform.
Route Training in Mobile Robotics through System Identification
Roberto Iglesias, Theocharis Kyriacou, Ulrich Nehmzow, Steve Billings
Fundamental sensor-motor couplings form the backbone of most mobile robot control tasks, and often need to be implemented fast, efficiently and nevertheless reliably. Machine learning techniques are therefore often used to obtain the desired sensor-motor competences. In this paper we present an alternative to established machine learning methods such as artificial neural networks, that is very fast, easy to implement, and has the distinct advantage that it generates transparent, analysable sensor-motor couplings: system identification through nonlinear polynomial mapping. This work, which is part of the RobotMODIC project at the universities of Essex and Sheffield, aims to develop a theoretical understanding of the interaction between the robot and its environment. One of the purposes of this research is to enable the principled design of robot control programs. As a first step towards this aim we model the behaviour of the robot, as this emerges from its interaction with the environment, with the NARMAX modelling method (Nonlinear, Auto-Regressive, Moving Average models with eXogenous inputs). This method produces explicit polynomial functions that can be subsequently analysed using established mathematical methods. In this paper we demonstrate the fidelity of the obtained NARMAX models in the challenging task of robot route learning; we present a set of experiments in which a Magellan Pro mobile robot was taught to follow four different routes, always using the same mechanism to obtain the required control law.
Mobile robotics, system identification, non-linear modelling, NARMAX.
System Identification with General Dynamic Neural Networks and Network Pruning
Christian Endisch, Christoph Hackl, Dierk Schröder
This paper presents an exact pruning algorithm with adaptive pruning interval for general dynamic neural networks (GDNN). GDNNs are artificial neural networks with internal dynamics. All layers have feedback connections with time delays to the same and to all other layers. The structure of the plant is unknown, so the identification process is started with a larger network architecture than necessary. During parameter optimization with the Levenberg- Marquardt (LM) algorithm irrelevant weights of the dynamic neural network are deleted in order to find a model for the plant as simple as possible. The weights to be pruned are found by direct evaluation of the training data within a sliding time window. The influence of pruning on the identification system depends on the network architecture at pruning time and the selected weight to be deleted. As the architecture of the model is changed drastically during the identification and pruning process, it is suggested to adapt the pruning interval online. Two system identification examples show the architecture selection ability of the proposed pruning approach.
System identification, dynamic neural network, recurrentneural network, GDNN, optimization, Levenberg Marquardt, realtime recurrent learning, network pruning, quasi-online learning.
Piezoelectric Transducer Modeling: with System Identification (SI) Method
Nora Taghavi, Ali Sadr
System identification is the process of creating models of dynamic process from input- output signals. The aim of system identification can be identified as " to find a model with adjustable parameters and then to adjust them so that the predicted output matches the measured output". This paper presents a method of modeling and simulating with system identification to achieve the maximum fitness for transformation function. First by using optimized KLM equivalent circuit for PVDF piezoelectric transducer and assuming different inputs including: sinuside, step and sum of sinusides, get the outputs, then by using system identification toolbox in MATLAB, we estimate the transformation function from inputs and outputs resulted in last program. Then compare the fitness of transformation function resulted from using ARX,OE(Output- Error) and BJ(Box-Jenkins) models in system identification toolbox and primary transformation function form KLM equivalent circuit.
PVDF modeling, ARX, BJ(Box-Jenkins), OE(Output-Error), System Identification.
On-Line Geometrical Identification of Reconfigurable Machine Tool using Virtual Machining
Alexandru Epureanu, Virgil Teodor
One of the main research directions in CAD/CAM machining area is the reducing of machining time. The feedrate scheduling is one of the advanced techniques that allows keeping constant the uncut chip area and as sequel to keep constant the main cutting force. They are two main ways for feedrate optimization. The first consists in the cutting force monitoring, which presumes to use complex equipment for the force measurement and after this, to set the feedrate regarding the cutting force variation. The second way is to optimize the feedrate by keeping constant the material removal rate regarding the cutting conditions. In this paper there is proposed a new approach using an extended database that replaces the system model. The feedrate scheduling is determined based on the identification of the reconfigurable machine tool, and the feed value determination regarding the uncut chip section area, the contact length between tool and blank and also regarding the geometrical roughness. The first stage consists in the blank and tool monitoring for the determination of actual profiles. The next stage is the determination of programmed tool path that allows obtaining the piece target profile. The graphic representation environment models the tool and blank regions and, after this, the tool model is positioned regarding the blank model according to the programmed tool path. For each of these positions the geometrical roughness value, the uncut chip area and the contact length between tool and blank are calculated. Each of these parameters are compared with the admissible values and according to the result the feed value is established. We can consider that this approach has the following advantages: in case of complex cutting processes the prediction of cutting force is possible; there is considered the real cutting profile which has deviations from the theoretical profile; the blank-tool contact length limitation is possible; it is possible to correct the programmed tool path so that the target profile can be obtained. Applying this method, there are obtained data sets which allow the feedrate scheduling so that the uncut chip area is constant and, as a result, the cutting force is constant, which allows to use more efficiently the machine tool and to obtain the reduction of machining time.
Reconfigurable machine tool, system identification, uncut chip area, cutting conditions scheduling.
Blind Impulse Response Identification of Frequency Radio Channels: Application to Bran A Channel
S. Safi, M. Frikel, M. M'Saad, A. Zeroual
This paper describes a blind algorithm for estimating a time varying and frequency selective fading channel. In order to identify blindly the impulse response of these channels, we have used Higher Order Statistics (HOS) to build our algorithm. In this paper, we have selected two theoretical frequency selective channels as the Proakis-s 'B' channel and the Macchi-s channel, and one practical frequency selective fading channel called Broadband Radio Access Network (BRAN A). The simulation results in noisy environment and for different data input channel, demonstrate that the proposed method could estimate the phase and magnitude of these channels blindly and without any information about the input, except that the input excitation is i.i.d (Identically and Independent Distributed) and non-Gaussian.
Frequency response, system identification, higher order statistics, communication channels, phase estimation.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Impact of pulmonary hypertension on exercise performance in patients with interstitial lung disease undergoing evaluation for lung transplantation. Source | CPX International Inc.
Armstrong HF; Schulze PC; Bacchetta M; Thirapatarapong W; Bartels MN.
complication in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD).
right heart catheterizations, PFTs and 6MWTs within 4 months of CPET.
Improving the evidence-base for preoperative cardiopulmonary exercise testing.


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text:
Medical Crisis Looms: As Loyal Donors Age, Blood Banks Search For Youth To Fill The Gap
dericiousknitty October 2, 2017 2030 Agenda, New World Order, Total Control
When Corinne Standefer retires as a volunteer from the Lane Bloodworks in Eugene, Oregon, this month, she will have donated 37 years of her life — and almost 19 gallons of blood.
The 89-year-old gave her first pint decades ago to help a friend who had cancer.
"When they called me and said 'Could you donate again?' I just started coming in," she recalled.
So, every eight or nine weeks, as often as it's allowed, Standefer would roll up a sleeve and become one of the prized older donors who contribute the bulk of the U.S. blood supply.
Overall, nearly 60 percent of blood donations come from people over 40 — and nearly 45 percent come from people older than 50, according to the AABB, an international nonprofit focused on transfusion medicine and cellular therapies.
There's a problem with that, though. Like Standefer, many regulars are aging out of the donor pool. Increasingly, blood-industry experts say, there are too few young people lining up to replace them.
"The older generations seemed to have internalized the message that we always have to have an adequate supply of blood on the shelves," said Dr. James AuBuchon, president and chief executive of Bloodworks Northwest in Seattle. "The younger generations just seem less wired toward that message."
For people who grew up during World War II — and their children, the baby boomers — blood donation was a civic duty that became a lifelong habit.
"It was a cultural thing to donate," said Marie Forrestal, president of the Association of Donor Recruitment Professionals, or ADRP, a division of America's Blood Centers.
That cultural norm has changed, though, and for nearly a decade, blood banks have focused on recruiting teens and young adults, often through high school and college blood drives.
"We're trying to capture the people who are 16 and older," Forrestal said.
Reaching out to youth
The tactic has been successful: Kids in the youngest age groups — 16-18 and 19-22 — now account for about 20 percent of all donations.
But that's not enough to compensate for lower turnout among people in their late 20s and 30s who can be harder to reach, more mobile and less inclined to donate than other generations. Fewer than 10 percent of blood donations come from people ages 23-29, with a little more than 12 percent from people in their 30s.
"Sometimes we see them come back when life kind of smacks them in their face in their 40s," Forrestal said.
Overall, blood use has dropped by about a third in the past decade, largely because of improvements in surgical technique and a focus on blood conservation, AuBuchon said.
CDC notes a decline
The 13.1 million units of whole blood and red blood cells transfused in 2013 represented a 4.4 percent decline compared with 2011, a recent analysis by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention showed.
But the dip in donors has fallen faster. Latest figures aren't out, but AuBuchon, a former AABB president, estimates that about 11 million units of blood were donated last year, down from more than 14.2 million collected in 2013. He estimates the number of donors has dropped from 6.8 million to about 6 million in that time.
"It is increasingly difficult to keep this smaller amount of blood on the shelf," AuBuchon said. "There is considerable concern about the stability of the blood system."
Sporadic shortages often occur now in select areas of the country and at times of historically low donation — summer vacation, winter holidays, flu season. But those shortages could become worse if new donors aren't found, AuBuchon said.
The key to motivating younger donors is innovation, said Forrestal, who oversees donor recruitment for New Jersey Blood Services, a division of the New York Blood Center.
"Facebook was hot four or five years ago. Now it's much more Instagram and [the pitch has] got to be interesting and catchy," she said.
Forrestal's team lured Pokémon Go players to a blood center last summer. This year, they've partnered with Whole Foods markets to bring bloodmobiles to the grocery-store parking lots.
There are times, however, when donors, including many young people, turn out in droves. Lines stretched for blocks after the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Forrestal noted. The hard part is when interest subsides after a crisis.
"After 9/11, we had lines around the block at the donor center into the night," she recalled. "Two thousand people said they intended to donate blood. Maybe 2 percent to 5 percent came back."
The best hope for averting blood shortages may be donors like Courtney Stokes, 19, of Bellingham. She organized several drives as a high-school student — and donated nearly a gallon of blood during that time.
She reassures friends her age who may be afraid of needles or worried the technician won't be able to find a vein.
"I tell them each donation saves three lives," she said, quoting blood experts.
But she has another trick up her sleeve: "Honestly, the one thing that I do is tell people there's free food there," Stokes said. "Cookies, Goldfish [snacks], apple juice. That usually does it."
Original Article:https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/as-loyal-donors-age-industry-on-lookout-for-young-blood/
Read More:Using The Medical Industry To Assist Depopulation Efforts
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aging donor population, america blood centers, association of donor recruitment professionals, baby boomers, blood donor, bloodworks, crisis looms, james aubuchon, marie forrestal, medical crisis, socialized medicine
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Crossroads: Conversations about
Race, Gender & Disability
By Rasheera Dopson
Intersectionality: Race, Gender, & Disability
Disability will be seen as what she truly is: a beautifully complex public health concern impacting the lives of millions of people.
Rasheera Dopson Tweet
In winding down this summer session, after having many conversations surrounding so many relevant topics related to public health, it has been my most esteemed pleasure to unpack and cover subjects related to public health from an equitable and diverse lens: from having discussions surrounding intersectionality, to talking about the social determinants of health, to exploring the impact of structural racism on our present health care system, and to looking at the impact of social justice movement on black men's health. The girth of the diversity of these subject areas has lit a path to where the future of public health lies. Nevertheless, it behooves me as a thought leader within the public health space to talk about one of the largest and most vulnerable community as we close out these conversations. Yes, that's right, in this last discussion I want to bring to the surface: the Disability community.
Consisting of 61 million individuals, the disability community is the largest minority group that spans across all demographics. Disability is currently identified as the only minority identity that does not discriminate based on one's race, gender, sexual orientation, citizenship status, or income level. Disability impacts us all. And with that impact being widespread, I am calling to the mat emerging leaders, researchers, practitioners, and policy makers to think more about this vulnerable population and how our interaction with this community should not only be a priority, but it should be a public health priority.
We've seen in the past year how more people are becoming engrafted into this community. The lasting effects of the COVID-19 pandemic have caused thousands in this country to take on an identity and medical label that they thought they would've never had to encounter. With various diagnoses of disabilities being on the rise—as our culture shifts the paradigm of diversity and inclusion to include disabled voices one question remains– what does that mean for public health practitioners? How should we approach the subject of disability?
For me it is simple: disability is one of those topics that falls within the intersection of health and social sciences. How the disability community is structured, supported, and even developed depends holistically on the delicate balance of medical intervention and societal inclusion. I believe we are coming into an age where disability will not only be a subbranch of medicine approached from a restrictive lens, but that disability will also be seen as what she truly is: a beautifully complex public health concern impacting the lives of millions of people.
Disability it is one of those topics that falls within the intersection of health and social sciences. How the disability community is structured, supported, and even developed depends holistically on the delicate balance of medical intervention and societal inclusion.
More from Rasheera Dopson here.
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Auto Glass Windshields Glossary
Accelerated Aging: A set of laboratory conditions designed to produce, in a short time, the results of normal aging. Usual factors included are temperature, light, oxygen and water.
Acetone: A colorless, volatile, water-soluble, flammable liquid made from either alcohol or by bacterial fermentation of carbohydrates, used in paints and varnishes, as a general solvent, and in chemical manufacturing.
Acoustic Interlayer: Auto glass windshields having a thicker than normal inner vinyl laminate for noise reduction.
Acute Area: The area of the auto glass windshield directly in front of the driver's eyes. It measures approximately 5 ½ by 8 ½ inches. This area is used as the standard for the driver's critical vision area by most auto glass windshield shops and insurance companies in the United States.
Adhesion: The clinging or sticking together of two surfaces, especially dissimilar substances like glass and metal. The state in which two surfaces are held together by forces that interface.
Adhesive Failure: Adhesive failure indicated by the material's failing (pulling loose) at the surface of substrate. This is similar to "scotch" tape peeling off of a plastic substrate.
Adhesive: Glue. Any substance, inorganic or organic, natural or synthetic that is capable of bonding other substances together by surface attachment. The bonding agent used to adhere auto glass windshields to your vehicle.
Aerodynamics: The branch of physics that deals with the motion of a solid body through air and other gases.
Aging: The progressive change in the chemical and physical properties of a sealant or adhesive.
Airbag: A passive restraint system that uses an explosive device to inflate a bag at a high rate of speed. The bag inflates with a gas and then quickly deflated when a vehicle occupant is thrown into it.
American National Standard Institute (ANSI): oversees the development of auto glass replacement standards for products, services, processes, systems, and personnel in the United States.
Anneal: The controlled process for making auto glass windshields stronger and less brittle in which the glass is heated and then cooled.
Antenna: A conductor by which electromagnetic waves are sent out or received, consisting commonly of a wire or set of wires.
Anti-Lacerative Glass: Auto glass windshields that has a resilient layer (PVB) added to the inner surface. It prevents passengers from coming into contact with broken glass edges on the inner surface in the event of a collision.
Anti-Theft Vehicles: Vehicles equipped with an anti-theft device or with laminated tempered glass, which prevents breaking.
A-Pillar: Roof support member adjacent to the auto glass windshield.
ARG/AGR: An abbreviation of the aftermarket auto glass windshields industry. Automotive Replacement Glass/Aftermarket Glass Replacement.
Auto Glass: Glass that is specifically manufactured for use in an automobile. Auto glass is either a tempered glass, such as a door glass, or back glass; or a laminated glass, such as an auto glass windshield, both types of auto glass are used as safety devices in the automobile.
Automotive Glass Replacement Safety Standards (AGRSS): created the Automotive Glass Safety Standards and is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI).AGRSS addresses procedures, education, and product performance that focus on proper auto glass windshields installation methods.
Backlite: Back glass (or back car window)
Bead: A sealant or adhesive compound after application in a joint, irrespective of the method of application, such as a urethane bead applied to a pinchweld. A bead looks like a ribbon of adhesive rather than a round drop of adhesive.
Belt Molding: A rubber molding between the inner and outer panels of a vehicle door through which the door glass is raised and lowered.
Body Fillers: Compounds used to build up and level low areas that cannot be brought back to their original contour by straightening.
Bond Strength: The force, per unit area, necessary to rupture a bond.
Bond: The attachment at an interface between substrate and adhesive or sealant.
Bonded Part: An auto glass part that has attachments on the glass such as: mirror brackets; reveal moldings, glass channels, and hardware.
B-Pillar: Roof support member immediately behind driver door glass.
Bruise: A small crack which starts at a chipped edge of an auto glass windshield.
Bug: Also know as "monogram" or "sandblast": Identifies the manufacturer information including: Trademark (brand/type), Logo, Plant Code (where part was made), Type of AutoGlass (laminated or solid tempered), Manufactured Date (month and year), Model Number, Department of Transportation (DOT) certification number, and Glass Code.
Bull's Eye: Impact damage to laminated glass that is marked by a clean, separated cone in the outer layer of all auto glass windshields.
Bullet-Resistant Glass: Consists of multiple layers on laminated glass and polyvinyl butyral (PVB).
Butyl: An adhesive used in earlier model vehicles for auto glass windshields retention. It is a petroleum product that requires no curing or hardening. Butyl is available in rolls of approximately 15 feet. It is sometimes called "butyl tape kit" or "tape kit," and is available in various thickness and shapes.
Ceramic Frit: Ceramic paint band baked onto edge of all auto glass windshields.
Channel Tape: A cork and rubber composition material used to reduce auto glass windshields breakage and noise and to correct alignment of movable glass parts.
Channel: A piece of U-shaped metal lined with felt; used to reduce auto glass windshields breakage and noise and to correct alignment of movable auto glass parts.
Chemical Cure: Curing by chemical reaction. This usually involves the cross-linking of a polymer.
Chip: Damage to auto glass windshields caused by a rock or other object that causes a small piece of glass to be removed from the windshield.
Clips: Devices which hold decorative chrome to the vehicle body, or hold moldings, and so forth.
Close-Cut or Partial Cut Installation: An installation method that leaves most of the existing bead/bed adhered to the metal frame and adds a small fresh bead of adhesive into which to set the glass. Some vehicle manufacturers do not recommend this method.
Coated Glass: Have a chemical film applied to the auto glass. The film can provide enhances performance characteristics as privacy, solar, or mirror effects.
Cohesion Failure: Adhesive failure indicated by hardened material on both substrate surfaces. The material itself failed (the body of the adhesive or sealant pulled apart).
Cohesion: The ability of a sealant or adhesive to hold itself together. The internal strength of an adhesive or sealant.
Combination Crack: A break in all auto glass windshields that involves more than two types of breaks.
Contaminant: A substance, liquid or solid, which is present in a break in auto glass windshields. Contaminants must be removed from a break before a windshield repair can be performed.
Corrosion: The chemical reaction of air, moisture, or corrosive materials on a metal surface; also called rust or oxidation. The process of wearing away the surface of a solid.
Cosmetic Surface: A surface that is finished or decorated to improve its appearance and includes such things as paint, auto glass windshields and upholstery.
Crack: An extended crack in all auto glass windshields from both sides of an impact point.
Cross-Linked: Molecules that are joined side by side as well as end to end.
CSR: Abbreviation for customer service representative. Usually a title for a dispatcher, bookkeeper or receptionist.
Cure Time: The time required for a chemical or material to dry or set at a given temperature and humidity. Cure time varies with the type of material used and the thickness of the application.
Cure: The hardening of a liquid material or adhesive by means of chemical reaction.
D.O.T. Number: Department of Transportation Code – referring to the manufacturer of the part and must be displayed within the bug according to federal law.
Dam: A device having a two-fold purpose: 1. A dam cushions and separates the glass from the metal frame where auto glass windshields adhere. 2. A dam holds the liquid adhesive and prevents it from flowing into the interior of the vehicle.
Dauber: A disposable cotton applicator for applying primers and preps to the metal and auto glass windshields bonding surface.
Delamination: The failure of the bond between the layers, as when auto glass windshields separate from the inner layer of vinyl, or when paint peels from the substrate beneath it.
Department of Transportation (DOT) :Responsible for improving the quality of life and ensuring a fast, safe, efficient, accessible and convenient transportation system for the United States. All auto glass windshields part manufactured must have a DOT certificate code stamped on the glass. This code describes the manufacturers' identification information. To find out who manufactured your auto glass windshield visit the DOT database and enter the two-digit code located on the bug.
Distortion: A defect in all auto glass windshields that causes a haze, ripple, wave or other visual imperfection.
Dot Matrix Pattern: The painted black ceramic pattern around the perimeter of a piece of glass. Typically, dotted in some places.
Drive-Away Time: Safe drive-away time defines the amount of time that your car is required to remain out of service until the auto glass windshields part installed can properly operate as a safety device.
Drop Cloth: Protective blanket used by installer to protect the car finish during an installation. Also known as a hood cover or fender cover.
Dry-Set: A procedure by which a technician sets the auto glass windshields in the vehicle opening before applying any adhesive or primer. The process is used to position all auto glass windshields and mark the position with alignment markings or tape. To trial fit a glass assembly before applying adhesive.
Elasticity: The ability of a material to return to its original shape after removal of a load.
Electrochromic Mirror: Also known as Auto-Dim Mirror. A rear view mirror that senses light and automatically dims.
Elongation: A property of urethane adhesive: an increase in length expressed numerically as a fraction or percentage of initial strength.
Encapsulated Auto Glass: A type of auto glass fabrication. Pre-assembled parts which contain hardware such as moldings, fasteners, clips, or gaskets. The decorative molding appears around the perimeter of the auto glass, in whole, or part. The encapsulation can also act as a channel guide. The molding (encapsulation) is actually part of the auto glass and can be removed only by cutting it off the glass.
Fast Cure Urethane: An adhesive for which curing time is faster than normal adhesives. The actual rate is determined by the surrounding temperature and humidity.
Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS): A series of standards required of the automobile manufacturers by the federal government. All vehicles must meet these standards before they are allowed to be sold in the United States.
Fender Cover: Protective blanket used by installer to protect the car finish during an installation. Also known as a hood cover or drop cloth.
Filler Strip: A strip inserted into a rubber gasket after the glass is installed to force the gasket against the glass to form a seal and keep the glass in place. Also known as a locking strip.
Flat Glass: Glass that has no curvature.
Flat Laminated Glass: Laminated glass sold in sheets to be cut to fit a variety of openings.
Float Glass: A method of flat glass manufacture in which molten glass is fed into a float bath of molten tin.
Flowering: A flower petal effect around the outer edge of a windshield repair. This is caused by the laminate detaching from the outer layer of auto glass windshields.
FMVSS 208 Occupant Crash Protection: This is a seat belt and airbag test that vehicles must undergo to meet specified requirements to reduce the number of deaths of vehicle occupants. This relates to the auto glass windshields industry because; a vehicles auto glass windshield is the backstop to the airbag. Therefore, manufactured auto glass windshields and installation procedures must meet specified requirements to pass.
FMVSS 212 Windshield Mounting: This is a test that places two dummies in a passenger vehicle and crashes them into a wall at 30 miles per hour. The test is to determine if the windshield could keep the dummies safely inside the vehicle. It requires that a minimum retention around the edges of the auto glass windshield to remain intact. If the vehicle fails the test it cannot be sold in the Unites States. This means that the auto glass windshields thickness, strength, and installation method must be able to withstand the demanding test.
FMVSS 216 Roof Crush Resistance-Passenger Car: This test requires that a rigid block be forced downward on a vehicle roof until it reaches a force of 1 ½ times its weight or 5,000 pounds. The resistance force must be reached before the block moves downward 5 inches. This is important in the auto glass windshield industry because the windshield helps support the vehicles roof.
FMVSS Title 1-Motor Vehicle Safety Standards Section 108: Holds manufacturers, distributors, and auto glass windshield companies accountable for producing and installing auto glass windshields that keep the general public safe and secure.
Frit: The painted band around the perimeter of all auto glass windshields.
Full Strip Installation: An installation method whereby the technician removes the existing bed/bead of adhesive from the vehicle frame. Approximately 1-2 mm of old adhesive remains. The technician applies new/fresh adhesive on top, then sets the auto glass windshield into the fresh adhesive.
Gasket: A seal, usually of rubber, that holds all auto glass windshields to the vehicle body. There are various sizes and shapes of auto glass part gaskets, depending on vehicle design.
Glass Color: Almost all auto glass windshields are tinted with a specific color, which is typically blue, green, gray or brown. To determine which color is in your vehicle, simply hold a piece of white paper behind your auto glass windshield.
Glass Composition: Refers to the chemical and physical makeup of glass type.
Green Strength: A term used by some adhesive manufacturers to describe initial strength of an adhesive.
Hairline Crack: A long crack in an auto glass windshield that resembles a single piece of hair.
Half Moon: Damage to a windshield that has a half-circle separation around the impact point. It is similar to a bull's eye.
Haze: A cloudy defect in auto glass windshields.
Headliner: The fabric which lines the roof of a vehicle's passenger compartment.
Heads-Up Display (HUD): A feature in auto glass windshields that will allow the dashboard measurements to be projected up on the glass to prevent the driver from having to look away from the road to monitor vehicle performance.
Heated Backlite: A back glass with defroster grid-lines printed on the glass to defrost or defog the back glass.
Heated Urethane: A type of adhesive that is heated to a prescribed temperature before application. The heat "pre-cures" the adhesive for faster release of the vehicle.
Heated Wiper Park Area: Auto glass windshields containing heated grids across the lower part of the glass where the windshield wipers rest. Usually visible as brown or grey lines running horizontally at the base of the auto glass windshield.
High Modulus Adhesives: High modulus is a rigidity requirement of cured adhesive. It measures the ability of the adhesive to withstand a variety of stresses and still return to its original form. High modulus adhesives are stiffer than normal adhesives.
Hook Tool: A tool designed for use in installing an auto glass windshields into a gasket. Sometimes known as a cotter pin puller.
I-CAR: An International, not-for-profit training organization formed by the collision industry in 1979. All I-CAR activities and resources focus on helping the industry achieve a high level of technical training.
Idler Guides: Devices used to secure roll-able windows.
Impact Resistance: The measurement by which it is determined how much impact is required for breakage.
Impact Site: The actual location on the outside layer of all auto glass windshields, where it was struck by an object (usually a stone). Typically a small piece of glass is missing.
Impact: This is the most common break. It occurs when an object hits all auto glass windshields.
Independent Glass Association (IGA): Is an association that is dedicated to independent auto glass windshield companies throughout the United States. It is committed to defending consumers' rights in choosing auto glass service providers, ethical business practices, promoting safe and proper services, and serves as an advocate for customers, insurers, and legislative entities.
Infrared (IR): Part of the light spectrum. Wavelengths of infrared light are responsible for heat gain inside a vehicle.
Installation: The process of removing a damaged piece of auto glass and replacing it with a good one.
Insulated Door Glass: Consists of two or more lites of glass that are spaced apart and hermetically sealed to form a single unit with an air space between the lites. (i.e., Mercedes)
Interchange: An auto glass part that can directly replace another auto glass part, by having exactly the same dimensions.
Keyless Entry: Vehicles with this feature have an antenna on the rear windshield for the keyless entry system.
Lacing Tool: Tool whose eyelet threads the locking strip while its heel presses the locking strip into the channel.
Laminated Glass: A type of safety glass that has a layer of plastic bonded between the layers of glass. Laminated glass is used mainly for auto glass windshields.
Light Sensor: A sensor, usually located on auto glass windshields that senses the absence of light and turns the headlights on.
Lite: A term for a pane or a finished piece of glass.
Locking Beads: A term for filler strips.
Mirror Button: Hardware used to hold rear-view mirror on auto glass windshields.
Mobile Unit: A vehicle, usually a van or light truck, properly equipped with installation and safety equipment and tools, driven to an auto glass customer's home or place of business from which glass installations are made.
Modular Glass: A auto glass windshields or parts that has a molding or assembly attached to it. Also known as encapsulated glass.
Molding: Preformed rubber gasket that surrounds the auto glass windshield in the vehicle.
Monogram: Also know as "bug" or "sandblast": Identifies the manufacturer information including: Trademark (brand/type), Logo, Plant Code (where part was made), Type of Glass (laminated or solid tempered), Manufactured Date (month and year), Model Number, Department of Transportation (DOT) certification number, and Glass Code.
MSDS: Material Safety Data Sheet. Data Sheet required by law to accompany the sale of chemical products and other materials defined as hazardous on demand.
National Auto Glass Specifications (NAGS): They create, assign, determine, and publish auto glass part numbers, list pricing, and labor installation times for the auto glass windshields industry.
National Glass Association (NGA): Is a trade association for auto glass windshields, architectural glass, and window and door industries. They provide education and training programs that upgrade technical skills, improve management practices, and enhance quality workmanship for the glass industry.
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) :This is a subsidiary of the U.S. Department of Transportation that is responsible for the safety of cars. Among other things, they are responsible for the FMVSS series of laws that covers the safety of vehicles including auto glass windshields.
Night Vision: An infrared camera mounted on the auto glass windshield which detects objects further ahead than headlights, and displays the images on a section of the windshield.
Nitrile Gloves: Special gloves that is able to protect against solvents, urethanes, acids and resins. Auto glass technicians typically wear this type of glove to protect hands from chemicals and to keep from contaminating the glass surface.
Nonconductive Adhesives: Standard auto glass windshield adhesives are inherently conductive due to the presence of carbon. Nonconductive adhesives are low in carbon and change high frequency antenna impedance. Sensitive electronic signals in some luxury vehicles require specialized nonconductive adhesive to maintain optimal operating levels.
Obsolete Glass: Auto glass that is no longer manufactured and is difficult if not impossible to find.
One-Part Urethane: An auto glass windshield replacement adhesive that has only one component.
Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEM): in the auto glass windshields industry refers to original equipment manufacturers such as Pilkington (LOF), Carlite, PGW (formally PPG), Guardian, Mopar, and many others.
Paint Band: Black or grey paint band on perimeter of glass used to hide all the perimeter mechanics when installed in the vehicle. Typically ceramic.
Partition Glass: A divider between the front seat area and the back seat area, which is common in limousines.
Passenger Restraint System: A system of protection that requires no effort on the part of the occupants of a vehicle; i.e., self-retracting seat belts, airbags, windshield.
Perimeter: The outside edge approximately about one inch of auto glass windshields where the urethane bead is applied.
Pinchweld: Types of metal weld joint: a flange extending from the body of a vehicle into the opening of the glass parts, usually extending from the side pillars and roof. In the auto glass windshields industry, the pinchweld is the part of the vehicle frame where the auto glass adheres.
Plexiglas: Brand name for plastic sheets of various thicknesses used in residential and commercial glazing applications. It can be molded and is used in a variety of ways from display cases to windowpane installation.
Poly Vinyl Butyral (PVB): Vinyl inner layer of laminated glass.
Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC): A thermoplastic resin used for making moldings. Can also be used to encapsulate glass.
Polysulfide: An adhesive used, prior to the advent of urethane, to bond auto glass windshields to the vehicle.
Press Bending: Glass is heated and pressed between a "male" and "female" mold to form the correct configuration.
Primer: A material used to prepare auto glass windshields surface for bonding to insure a strong installation bond.
Primerless Urethane: A type of urethane adhesive that requires no primer on the glass surface. Metal primer may be necessary.
Privacy Glass: Dark glass used behind the B-Pillar on vans and sport utility vehicles to prevent looking in. Also reduces ultraviolet and infrared rays and improves appearance.
Quarter Glass: The quarter glass, which is often triangular in shape, is glass found on the side of the vehicle closest to the back glass. Also known as quarterlite.
Rain Sensor: A sensor, usually located on auto glass windshields, which senses rain and turns the wipers on automatically.
Rear Windshield: This auto glass part stretches across the rear of the vehicle at the trunk or tailgate. It is also referred to as the back glass or backlite.
Regulator: A manually- or power-operated device which rolls a vehicle's window up and down.
Repair: Typically refers to a windshield repair which uses a resin and vacuum technique that is used to seal damage in a windshield and prevent it from spreading.
Resin: A clear liquid hardener used in rock chip or crack repair of a windshield. Once it has filled the chip or crack, it is cured with ultraviolet light to prevent further damage to auto glass windshields.
Reveal Molding: Chrome or plastic molding which fits over and covers the edges of a windshield or back glass.
Safety Glass: A general term used for either laminated or tempered glass. Only glass which has been laminated, however, can specifically be called laminated safety glass.
Salvage Part: A part, removed from a vehicle being scrapped, that is intended to be used as a replacement part.
Sausage Packs: A type of packaging for adhesive materials. The material is packaged in an aluminum foil pack. When the material is forced out of the package, the foil is crushed, reducing the amount of disposable water.
Score: A mark on a lite of glass made with a glass cutter.
Sealant: Any of various liquids which, when applied to a joint, dry to form an air-tight seal.
Setting Block: A small piece of neoprene or other suitable material that positions the glass in the frame or opening. A small, hard rubber block that is set along the bottom pinch weld during an auto glass windshields installation to maintain the position of the glass while adhesive cures. An automotive part on which the glass rests in place.
Shaded Glass: Laminated glass in which a dark color has been added to the top section of the inner vinyl layer to improve driver visibility glare.
Shard: A sharp piece or fragment of glass.
Skinned Over: The appearance of an adhesive when it has started to cure.
Sliders: Window and frame assembly which is generally used as the back autoglass for pick-up trucks, but can also be on vans. The window opens by sliding in a track within the frame assembly.
Solar Glass: Autoglass that blocks out the sun's harmful infrared and UV rays to protect the automobile interior, and keeps vehicle cooler.
Solvent: A liquid in which another substance can be dissolved.
Spider Crack: Autoglass damage with several crack lines projecting from one impact point. Spider cracks occur on windshields only.
Splines: A term used to denote filler strips.
Star Break: Damage to a windshield marked by various-sized cracks radiating from the central impact point.
Stone Break: A break on the outer layer of a laminated windshield. Typical stone breaks are star breaks, bull's-eyes, moon breaks, and combination breaks.
Stress Cracks: Cracks resulting from unusual forces acting on the glass body.
Structural Integrity: The ability of your vehicle to retain roof strength and structure during a rollover.
Substrate: A hard surface, such as glass or metal, to which a sealant or adhesive is bonded. It is used to test adhesive product strengths.
T Part: Flat laminated or tempered part with assigned NAGS number and cutting pattern (also known as DT, FT, DL or FL parts)
Tack, Tackiness: The stickiness of the surface of a sealant or adhesive.
Tempered Glass: Is a single pane of glass that has gone through a tempering, or heating, process with rapid cooling that strengthens the glass. Tempered glass is five too ten times stronger than normal flat glass, and it can withstand drastic temperature changes. Tempered glass when broken; break in very small oval shaped pieces called dicing.
Tensile Strength: The strength demonstrates by the vertical pull of two substrates until adhesive failure.
Tinted Glass: Glass to which a small amount of color has been added consistently throughout the autoglass.
Tinting Film: Plastic film of varying darkness, which is adhered to auto glass to simulate privacy glass.
Toughened Part: The English term for a tempered part.
Translucent: Permitting light to come through without distortions so objects on the other side can be seen clearly.
Transparent: Permitting light to come through without distortions so objects on the other side can be seen clearly.
Ultraviolet light (UV): Part of the light spectrum. An ultraviolet light is used during the windshield repair process. Which cause chemical changes in rubbery materials or polymers (resin).
Unleaded Frit: A painted band around the perimeter of the auto glass applied with unleaded paint. It requires special preparation before bonding.
Urethane Breakdown: Results when urethane is exposed to ultra-violet light. Urethane breakdown appears as a chalky black powder on the surface of the hardened adhesive.
Urethane: An extremely strong and flexible adhesive used in modern day auto glass-to-metal bonding to add to the structural strength of a vehicle. Usually formed by the reaction of a disocyanate with hydroxyl; also called polyurethane. Any of the several strong polymer adhesives that are used to install auto glass. Urethane requires heat and humidity to harden. Urethane adhesives are necessary to meet government standards for windshield retention in most late-model passenger vehicles.
Vacuum Cup: An auto glass suction tool used for picking up glass without contamination.
Vehicle Identification Number (VIN): This is a 17-digit combination of letter and numbers that is unique to your vehicle. Your VIN is embossed onto a small plate attached to the dashboard at the bottom left side of your windshields.
Vehicle Make: This is the brand of vehicle that you drive. Examples are Ford, Toyota, Honda, Lexus, GMC, and Chevrolet.
Vehicle Model: This is the type of vehicle that you drive. Examples are the Mustang, Corolla, Accord, ES350, and C1500 Pickup truck.
Vehicle Style: The vehicles body design such as 2-door, 4-door, SUV, convertible, or station wagon.
Vent: The vent glass (usually triangular in shape) is glass found on the side of the vehicle which opens with the vehicle doors.
VIN (Vehicle Identification Number): is a unique 17-digit combination of letters and numbers assigned to each vehicle that identifies the vehicles year, make, model, and other manufacturer's details.
Vin Etching: A vehicle theft deterrent measure in which a vehicles identification number is gently etched into all of the automobiles glass. Car thieves generally avoid VIN etched vehicles because all of the glass must be stripped and replaced before a thief can get rid of the car, a costly and time consuming process. VIN etching is harmless to windows and it won't mar the look of the vehicle.
VIN Notch: Cut away in the paint band on a windshield to reveal VIN plate on vehicle dash board.
VIN Plate: A permanently installed plate, displaying the vehicle identification number, which is viewable through the windshield from outside the vehicle. Also, VIN stickers are typically found on the inside drivers front door jam.
Windscreen: The English term for windshield.
Windshield Pit: The impact point from which a small piece of glass is missing from the outer layer of a windshield. A pit does not crack the outer piece of glass therefore the glass cannot be repaired. However, pits do not typically break out from the point of impact.
Windshield Repair: A technique that is used to repair damage in a windshield, such as a crack, nick, chip or ding, and prevent it from spreading.
Windshield: A piece of laminated glass used to protect the inside of the vehicle from the elements, as well as promote the structural integrity of the vehicle.
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Ross County chairman Roy MacGregor has called for a "task force" to assess how effectively young Scottish players of quality are being produced.
Former Dundee United defender Maurice Malpas has suggested the Tangerines - who are bottom of the Premiership - are playing too many youngsters.
"There is something that we're not grasping in how we bring through young players," MacGregor told BBC Scotland.
"Maybe we're looking at too many and we need to concentrate on more elite."
"We need to do well in the Under-20s training and Under-20 games. Everybody knows, if you do that, you'll get your chance, so everyone is working hard to get it. I've played in the Europa League, which was a big step up for me, because I'd only played three or four first-team matches"
MacGregor fears if the standard is not increased then it will continue to have negative knock-on effects.
"Three of the four home nations have qualified for Euro 2016 and teams with less population than ourselves seem to be putting the football right," said MacGregor.
"I think it's time for a task force to have an in-depth look at what has gone wrong over the last 20 years.
"As a Scot I'm naturally really disappointed with the national team not qualifying [for Euro 2016] and I'll be really disappointed if Celtic don't get through in the Europa League."
Ahead of Ross County's trip to play Inverness Caledonian Thistle in the Scottish League Cup quarter-final, MacGregor feels the Dingwall men are still "a long way" from lifting a major domestic trophy.
Caley Thistle's Scottish Cup triumph in 2015 was the first in their history while County, under then-manager Derek Adams, were runners-up to Dundee United in the same competition in 2010.
"We're a community club punching above our weight," said MacGregor.
"But credit must be given to both Highland clubs. I was delighted Inverness won the Scottish Cup. It put the Highlands on the map and got people to sit and think."
The Staggies have failed to beat Inverness in their last six attempts but are five places higher in the Scottish Premiership than John Hughes' side.
"Derbies are great events and it's nip and tuck; who wants it most on the night," added MacGregor.
"It's a cup game and there's a semi-final to look forward to. I think Caley Thistle are favourites as they've won most of the last games."


text:
Peyton (Laheen)
Hamilton Peyton, a younger son of John Peyton of Laheen, county Leitrim, married Susannah daugher of William Chambers of Kilboyne, county Mayo, and widow of Edmond Fynn of Ballymagibbon. They had a son John Hamilton Peyton and a grandson Bernard Peyton of Castlebar.
McNamara (Leitrim) John Peyton of Laheen married Mary Nugent Reynolds of Letterfyan in the late 1700s. He died in 1806 and she subsequently married Richard McNamara.
Reynolds George Nugent Reynolds was the owner of Letterfine in the late 18th century. McParlan records Mr. Reynolds of Letterfyan as a resident proprietor in Leitrim in 1802. Tradition suggests he was afterwards murdered by Richard Keon, a lawyer. His daughter Mary married John Peyton of Laheen and secondly Richard McNamara. His son George Nugent Reynolds (1770-1807) was a noted ballad writer. Members of the Reynolds family were High Sheriffs of Leitrim four times in the seventeenth century.


Radeon czy GeForce w The Division 2? TEST GPU!
Counter-Strike 1.6 Благотворительный стрим. Паблик + (вебка).
BEKLEDİĞİMİZE DEĞDİ Mİ? — Apple AirPods 2 Kutu Açılışı!
Yellowstone, Long Valley, Newberry, Mt Rainier Deformation & Quake Activity! Volcano March Data!
Fallout 4: How to Fire up auxiliary power for the ship.
Ведьмак 3: Дикая охота — Вступительный ролик.


text:
Il singolare del torneo di tennis South Australian Open 1978, facente parte del WTA Tour 1978, ha avuto come vincitrice Kerry Reid che ha battuto in finale Beth Norton 7-5, 6-7, 6-1.

Teste di serie

 Kerry Reid (Campionessa)
 Rosie Casals (terzo turno)
 Regina Maršíková (terzo turno)
 Dianne Fromholtz (secondo turno)

 Lesley Hunt (quarti di finale)
 Renáta Tomanová (terzo turno)
 Marise Kruger (secondo turno)
 Beth Norton (semifinali)

Tabellone

Finali

Parte alta

Sezione 1

Sezione 2

Parte bassa

Sezione 3

Sezione 4

Collegamenti esterni

South Australian Open 1978

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Numbers of black and white points are placed on a plane. Let's imagine that a straight line of infinite length is drawn on the plane. When the line does not meet any of the points, the line divides these points into two groups. If the division by such a line results in one group consisting only of black points and the other consisting only of white points, we say that the line "separates black and white points".
Let's see examples in Figure 3. In the leftmost example, you can easily find that the black and white points can be perfectly separated by the dashed line according to their colors. In the remaining three examples, there exists no such straight line that gives such a separation.
The first line contains two positive integers separated by a single space; n is the number of black points, and m is the number of white points. They are less than or equal to 100. Then n + m lines representing the coordinates of points follow. Each line contains two integers xi and yi separated by a space, where (xi , yi ) represents the x-coordinate and the y-coordinate of the i-th point. The color of the i-th point is black for 1 ≤ i ≤ n, and is white for n + 1 ≤ i ≤ n + m.
For each dataset, output "YES" if there exists a line satisfying the condition. If not, output "NO". In either case, print it in one line for each input dataset.


text:
America Does Actually Have a Single-Payer Health System
Other Side: The Best of The Week
FPH Exclusive: Mojave Red Drops Catchy New Single
Added on April 22, 2017 Russel Gardin Billie Joe Armstrong , SWMRS , Walters Downtown , White Reaper
Crazy To Think About: An Interview with White Reaper
White Reaper. Photo: Jesse DeFlorio
Kentucky garage rockers White Reaper will begin their tour in Houston, filling as direct support for pop-punk group SWMRS. While this may be the first time that some will hear the name White Reaper, it's worth noting that the group has landed on the radar of musical legends such as Eddie Vedder and Billie Joe Armstrong. Fresh off the release of their sophomore record, The World's Best American Band, the band is likely to make a name for themselves within the next few years. Lead vocalist Tony Esposito spoke to Free Press Houston about their discography prior to their show on Sunday at Walter's Downtown.
Free Press Houston: What makes you guys the world's best American band?
Tony Esposito: You need to make a really good record, kind of like we did. We're just the world's best American band.
FPH: It seems like Billie Joe Armstrong is no American Idiot, as he's a fan of the band. What was it like reading something like that?
Esposito: It was just crazy, that's crazy to think about. [Green Day songs] are songs I've heard my whole life. I grew up with that music. It's crazy to think that he's listened to our band and likes it. Yeah, that's wild.
FPH: And now you're touring with his son! What is Joey Armstrong like? Does he resemble his dad? Is it basically like touring with Green Day?
Esposito: I've actually only met Joey once, very briefly, before the tour. The tour starts really soon. If you come to the Houston show, I can come outside and tell you what I think [of Joey].
FPH: Eddie Vedder has also given you guys a shout out. Are there any others that we should know about?
Esposito: You know that movie Cat in the Hat with Mike Myers? One of the kids in that movie's a fan of the band. It's pretty funny.
FPH: Have you officially done it again with this album?
Esposito: Yeah, I suppose you could say that.
FPH: There are some obvious differences with this one, though, in terms of the sound being more rhythmic compared to the garage-er sound of the last one. Before you started writing these, were you out to do something entirely different?
Esposito: I don't know if we wanted to make something that sounded completely different, but we wanted to challenge ourselves. I think we worked a lot harder on this one. We just spent more time on the studio, and a lot more time on the songs. I think we wanted to see how we could challenge and improve ourselves with the instruments.
FPH: Who took that photo for the cover for the new album? Is it you holding the guitar?
Esposito: Yeah, that's me on the cover. A buddy of ours, Jesse DeFlorio, took the photo. It was a really fun shoot; We went to the studio with a white background and took, like, 300 photos. We finally got the image we were looking for, so then we just partied.
FPH: How exactly do you outdo yourself when your last album was described as "A half hour onslaught of sugary psychedelic keyboard leads and fierce-dirty hook filled garage punk?"
Esposito: Well, it's hard to outdo an onslaught. We put all of that stuff to the side and did this one like we've never done a record before. So, we didn't want to worry about the last record while making this one.
FPH: Let's talk about Kentucky rock bands. It seems like one group from there has become one of the largest touring bands. Do you have any history with Cage The Elephant?
Esposito: I've met them at a show in Nashville, I think.
FPH: But you have some ties to My Morning Jacket. How important was it to you to have this record produced by Kevin Ratterman?
Esposito: Kevin is a really good friend of ours. He worked on the last record too. It's hard to imagine making a record without him at this point. It was awesome, and he's basically another member of the band. He was really important in a lot of the decisions made about the songs, so it was great working with him.
FPH: Tone is arguably the most important faction of a record. What kind of tone can you get out of a hot dog?
Esposito: It can be anything: baseball themed, etc. A hot dog means something different to each person. The possibilities are endless.
FPH: What gear are you using on this tour?
Esposito: Well, the kind folks at Gibson in Nashville gave me a Les Paul. I'll also be playing a Marshall 900. There's a lot of interesting stuff we bring in our little trailer.
White Reaper plays Walter's Downtown on Sunday, April 23rd with SWMRS and No Parents. The all ages show has tickets available for $17 at the door.
by Russel Gardin


text:
Q: How to define the principal for an AWS policy statement? I'm starting from http://awspolicygen.s3.amazonaws.com/policygen.html to create a policy that will grant upload rights to a specific S3 bucket for a list of users. I'm not clear on how I define who those users should be.
The docs refer to a principal as "a person or persons" without an example of how to refer to said person(s). One assumes "email address" and the policy generator will accept it, but when I paste the generated statement to the bucket policy editor, I get:

Invalid principal in policy - "AWS" : "steve@here.com"

Full statement:
{
  "Id": "myPol",
  "Statement": [
    {
      "Sid": "Stmt130",
      "Action": "s3:*",
      "Effect": "Allow",
      "Resource": "arn:aws:s3:::myBucketName",
      "Principal": {
        "AWS": [
          "steve@here.com"
        ]
      }
    } ]
}

A: A principal can be another AWS account or an IAM user. These docs are helpful Specifying Principals in Bucket Policies and Integrating IAM with S3

A: [HttpPost]
public ActionResult Uploaddemo(HttpPostedFileBase file) {
    try {
        IAmazonS3 client;
        using (client = Amazon.AWSClientFactory.CreateAmazonS3Client(_awsAccessKey, _awsSecretKey,RegionEndpoint.USWest2)) {
            var request = new PutObjectRequest() {
                BucketName = _bucketName,
                CannedACL = S3CannedACL.PublicRead, ACCESIBLE
                Key = string.Format("visumes/{0}", file.FileName),
                InputStream = file.InputStream,//SEND THE FILE STREAM
            };

            Amazon.S3.AmazonS3Config s3Config = new Amazon.S3.AmazonS3Config() {
                ServiceURL = "http://s3.amazonaws.com"
            };
            string HOST ="http://s3-website-us-west-2.amazonaws.com";
            client.PutObject(request);
        }
    } catch (Exception ex) {

    }
    return View();
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


Opinions. Insight. Information. Food history. Enthusiasm. Love.
That's because I've been writing about San Antonio's food and dining scene, officially and formally, for more than 11 years. My assignments have given me liberty to chat freely with chefs, bakers, restaurant owners, artisanal food producers, farmers, chicken ranchers, plus cattle-men and cattle-women. I feel close to many, intimate with only a few.
I recently stepped down as the monthly restaurant reviewer for San Antonio Magazine. Yet because I still operate Food Chick Tours, an active boutique food tour business, I intend to stay just as embedded in the food world as I ever was. I plan to keep exploring foods from around the world, tasting new products, developing my own kitchen skills. Because knowing what's going on makes my tours more interesting. And in the end, fascinating content is the most important component of a food tour.
I look forward to sharing my opinions, insights, information, food history, enthusiasm and love with you on a semi-regular basis. I hope you'll find some of it fun, and much of it enriching.