Providing freeze protection is annoying. The plastic sheeting must be supported above the seedlings (so as not to crush them) but it must also be weighted down to prevent it from flying off in a gust of wind. Furthermore, it cannot be put into place until the sun is low in the sky (otherwise, the plants would cook) and needs to be removed shortly after sunrise (for the same reason). Ironically, the early morning hours can be the coldest of the day.
But the freeze protection has its positive side. There's the protection against freezing, of course. As a secondary benefit, however, the plastic sheeting also provides physical protection. A critter (or critters) romped through the garden last night as occurs several times each season. They rarely damage the plants but with the garden covered, there was absolutely no danger. The vegetable plants made it through the night untouched.
The beast (or beasts) had some fun with the uncovered east half of the east planter, though. What a mess! It isn't clear what they are looking for. Gold? Buried treasure? Buried acorns? Insects? Nor is it clear whether they found anything.
Regardless of the intent or success of the overnight raid, the soil and mulch were easily restored.
The warm temperatures have continued long enough that some of our bulbs have started to sprout. And because the deer are not the sort of critters to miss a feeding opportunity, the sprouts have already been nibbled. It must be very confusing for the bulbs (assuming that they have feelings) when the weather freezes and thaws and then freezes and thaws again without an intervening flowering.
I know how they might feel. The rise in temperature stimulates my desire for spring even though it is only early January. With the post-Christmas snow now almost completely melted, daytime temperatures in the 50s, and the road deeply in mud, it feels as if it must be time to get back outside and start planting, among other things. It is only my rational mind that tells me I have to settle for pleasant walks outdoors and a temporary respite from heavy coats and sweaters.
The question now, of course, is will there be a return to the much colder and snowier weather that is typical (climate change notwithstanding) for this time of year? And will we be going through the freeze-thaw cycle once again?


Multiple imputation to deal with missing EQ-5D-3L data: Should we impute individual domains or the actual index?
Simons CL., Rivero-Arias O., Yu L-M., Simon J.
PURPOSE: Missing data are a well-known and widely documented problem in cost-effectiveness analyses alongside clinical trials using individual patient-level data. Current methodological research recommends multiple imputation (MI) to deal with missing health outcome data, but there is little guidance on whether MI for multi-attribute questionnaires, such as the EQ-5D-3L, should be carried out at domain or at summary score level. In this paper, we evaluated the impact of imputing individual domains versus imputing index values to deal with missing EQ-5D-3L data using a simulation study and developed recommendations for future practice. METHODS: We simulated missing data in a patient-level dataset with complete EQ-5D-3L data at one point in time from a large multinational clinical trial (n = 1,814). Different proportions of missing data were generated using a missing at random (MAR) mechanism and three different scenarios were studied. The performance of using each method was evaluated using root mean squared error and mean absolute error of the actual versus predicted EQ-5D-3L indices. RESULTS: In large sample sizes (n > 500) and a missing data pattern that follows mainly unit non-response, imputing domains or the index produced similar results. However, domain imputation became more accurate than index imputation with pattern of missingness following an item non-response. For smaller sample sizes (n < 100), index imputation was more accurate. When MI models were misspecified, both domain and index imputations were inaccurate for any proportion of missing data. CONCLUSIONS: The decision between imputing the domains or the EQ-5D-3L index scores depends on the observed missing data pattern and the sample size available for analysis. Analysts conducting this type of exercises should also evaluate the sensitivity of the analysis to the MAR assumption and whether the imputation model is correctly specified.


text:
Certified SafeZone Allies
Become An Ally!
Home SafeZone
Everyone should feel safe.
Above all else, we should feel we are learning and working in an environment that's never threatening, always friendly. That's why the SafeZone Program at the UofM was created — to fully support gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, intersex, and questioning UofM students, faculty and staff. As we grow awareness for concerns relating to LGBTQ issues, it reinforces our commitment to diversity and civility, which are top priorities at the University of Memphis. And always will be.
Shifting Attitudes - Anti- LGBTQ bias is real and hurtful. It holds us back as a society — discouraging diversity and putting harmful limits on our relationships and roles in the campus community. Not to mention the negative impact it has on academic performance, school experiences, and the mental and emotional health of those discriminated against, as well as those who discriminate. In today's world, protection of LGBTQ students is more the exception than the rule. But change can come, starting at the grassroots level by people like you who are willing to make positive efforts through support, education, and publicity.
Be Part of the Change - SafeZones serve as a source of support and information free of judgment and hostility. SafeZone Allies will display the SafeZone logo to indicate that they have completed SafeZone certification and have signed a contract expressing their commitment to SafeZone policies and certification procedures. Outside of providing direct support for LGBTQ students, SafeZone members will be expected to challenge assumptions and prejudices related to sexual orientation and gender identity and to address heterosexist comments and/or behaviors in an educational, civil and informative manner.
Learn about SafeZone training!
If you would like additional information regarding Safe Zone training, including having your department or class trained, or if you would like to serve as a Safe Zone trainer, please contact Victoria Jones at vmaher@memphis.edu.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Q: ImportError: No module named pyreadability in conda env in my python code I've got the line:
from pyreadability import pyreadability as pyrb

And I'm getting the error :
ImportError: No module named pyreadability

I'm in Ubuntu, using python 2.7 and running code inside a conda env named mzh27.
I already tried these commands but none of them made the error solve
pip install PyReadability
conda install -c anaconda lxml
/home/{usr}/anaconda2/envs/mzh27/bin/pip install PyReadability
pip install readability-lxml
/home/{usr}/anaconda2/envs/mzh27/bin/pip readability-lxml

In all of those cases, the module installed successfully but error was still there.
Any Idea what to do for it?

A: The problem was the repository I've cloned was missing the file named pyreadability.py. The package was not the one I thought. It was implemented by the repository owner (who forgot to add files to the repository) and just have similar names to python packages that are available to install.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: Installing git on shared hosting - ./configure: no such file or directory Im trying to install git on shared hosting - (via SSH, gcc --version returns number) I downloaded the lasted git from GitHub: wget https://github.com/git/git/archive/v1.8.4.2.tar.gz then extracted it to a folder: tar zxvf v1.8.4.2 and navigated to the git folder: cd git-v1.8.4.2.
then tried to install it: ./configure prefix=/home/$USER --with-curl --with-expat.

the command returned bash: ./cofigure.ac: No such file or directory. its seems like there is no configure file? why? there is another file to configure?
i saw there is a file named configure.ac and started it. not worked:

what is the problem? how I can configure git before installing?

A: Just type
make configure

to create the configure file.


text:
Events

April events
 April 13 – The Virginia Central Railroad begins operations through the Blue Ridge Tunnel at Rockfish Gap, Virginia.

May events
 May – First known slip coach working, at Haywards Heath on the London, Brighton and South Coast Railway.
 May 3 – While under lease to Bristol and Exeter Railway, the Somerset Central Railway is extended to Burnham-on-Sea.
 May 31 - Carl Abraham Pihl presents the results of his investigation of the area along the river Drammenselva which concludes that the terrain between Drammen and Randsfjorden, in Norway, is favorable for a rail line.

July events
 June 17 – The Atlantic and North Carolina Railroad opens, operating 95 miles from Goldsboro to New Bern, North Carolina.

August events
 August 23 – The Round Oak rail accident in England kills 14.

October events
 October 30 – The Oriental Railway Company opens the first section of railway in the Ottoman Empire, from İzmir to Seydiköy.

September events
 John Ramsbottom (engineer) on the London and North Western Railway introduces the first Class DX 0-6-0 goods locomotives. There will be 943 engines built to this design, the largest steam locomotive class in the British Isles.

December events
 December 15 – Wien Westbahnhof railway station, the terminal of the Western Railway (Austria) in Vienna, opens.

Unknown date events
 John W. Garrett becomes president of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad.

Births

February births
 February 18 – Wilhelm Schmidt, German pioneer of superheated steam for use in locomotives (d. 1924).

April births
 April 23 - Leonor F. Loree, president of Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 1901–1903, D&H 1907-1938 and  Kansas City Southern Railway 1918–1920.

December births
 December 20 – David Blyth Hanna, first president of Canadian National Railway (d. 1938).

Deaths

July deaths
 July 31 – Edward Pease, first promoter of the Stockton and Darlington Railway (b. 1767).

November deaths
 November 25 – Edward Bury, English steam locomotive builder (b. 1794).

References

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Dolphin Keeksake Pendants will hold cremains, lock of hair or dried ceremonial flowers. Sterling Silver and Gold Satin Vermeil Pendants include 24" box chain. 14K Gold Pendant comes without chain. Measurements: 1" W x 1/2"H.


text:
/**
 * @class Ext.ux.WebSocket
 * @author Vincenzo Ferrari <wilk3ert@gmail.com>
 *
 * Wrapper for HTML5 WebSocket
 *
 * This class provide an interface for HTML5 WebSocket.
 *
 *
Pure text communication

 * The communication is text-only, without objects or any other kind of data.
 *
 *     var websocket = Ext.create ('Ext.ux.WebSocket', {
 *       url: 'ws://localhost:8888' ,
 *       listeners: {
 *         open: function (ws) {
 *           console.log ('The websocket is ready to use');
 *           ws.send ('This is a simple text');
 *         } ,
 *         close: function (ws) {
 *           console.log ('The websocket is closed!');
 *         } ,
 *         error: function (ws, error) {
 *           Ext.Error.raise (error);
 *         } ,
 *         message: function (ws, message) {
 *           console.log ('A new message is arrived: ' + message);
 *         }
 *       }
 *     });
 *
 *
Pure event-driven communication

 * The communication is event-driven: an event and a String or Object are sent and the websocket handles different events.
 *
 *     var websocket = Ext.create ('Ext.ux.WebSocket', {
 *       url: 'ws://localhost:8888' ,
 *       listeners: {
 *         open: function (ws) {
 *           console.log ('The websocket is ready to use');
 *           ws.send ('init', 'This is a simple text');
 *           ws.send ('and continue', {
 *             'my': 'data' ,
 *             'your': 'data'
 *           });
 *         } ,
 *         close: function (ws) {
 *           console.log ('The websocket is closed!');
 *         }
 *       }
 *     });
 *
 *     // A 'stop' event is sent from the server
 *     // 'data' has 'cmd' and 'msg' fields
 *     websocket.on ('stop', function (data) {
 *       console.log ('Command: ' + data.cmd);
 *       console.log ('Message: ' + data.msg);
 *     });
 *
 *
Mixed event-driven and text communication

 * The communication is mixed: it can handles text-only and event-driven communication.
 *
 *     var websocket = Ext.create ('Ext.ux.WebSocket', {
 *       url: 'ws://localhost:8888' ,
 *       listeners: {
 *         open: function (ws) {
 *           console.log ('The websocket is ready to use');
 *           ws.send ('This is only-text message');
 *           ws.send ('init', 'This is a simple text');
 *           ws.send ('and continue', {
 *             'my': 'data' ,
 *             'your': 'data'
 *           });
 *         } ,
 *         close: function (ws) {
 *           console.log ('The websocket is closed!');
 *         } ,
 *         message: function (ws, message) {
 *           console.log ('Text-only message arrived is: ' + message);
 *         }
 *       }
 *     });
 *
 *     // A 'stop' event is sent from the server
 *     // 'data' has 'cmd' and 'msg' fields
 *     websocket.on ('stop', function (data) {
 *       console.log ('Command: ' + data.cmd);
 *       console.log ('Message: ' + data.msg);
 *     });
 */

Ext.define('Ext.ux.webserver.WebSocket', {
    alias: 'websocket',

	alternateClassName: 'Ext.ux.WebSocket',

    mixins: {
        observable: 'Ext.util.Observable'
    },

    requires: ['Ext.util.TaskManager', 'Ext.util.Memento'],

    /**
     * @event open
     * Fires after the websocket has been connected.
     * @param {Ext.ux.WebSocket} this The websocket
     */

    /**
     * @event error
     * Fires after an error occured
     * @param {Ext.ux.WebSocket} this The websocket
     * @param {Object} error The error object to display
     */

    /**
     * @event close
     * Fires after the websocket has been disconnected.
     * @param {Ext.ux.WebSocket} this The websocket
     */

    /**
     * @event message
     * Fires after a message is arrived from the server.
     * @param {Ext.ux.WebSocket} this The websocket
     * @param {String/Object} message The message arrived
     */

    config: {
        /**
         * @cfg {String} url (required) The URL to connect
         */
        url: '',

        /**
         * @cfg {String} protocol The protocol to use in the connection
         */
        protocol: null,

        /**
         * @cfg {String} communicationType The type of communication. 'both' (default) for event-driven and pure-text communication, 'event' for only event-driven and 'text' for only pure-text.
         */
        communicationType: 'both',

        /**
         * @cfg {Boolean} autoReconnect If the connection is closed by the server, it tries to re-connect again. The execution interval time of this operation is specified in autoReconnectInterval
         */
        autoReconnect: true,

        /**
         * @cfg {Int} autoReconnectInterval Execution time slice of the autoReconnect operation, specified in milliseconds.
         */
        autoReconnectInterval: 5000,

        /**
         * @cfg {Boolean} lazyConnection Connect the websocket after the initialization with the open method
         */
        lazyConnection: false,

        /**
         * @cfg {Boolean} keepUnsentMessages Keep unsent messages and try to send them back after the connection is open again
         */
        keepUnsentMessages: false
    },

    /**
     * @property {Number} CONNECTING
     * @readonly
     * The connection is not yet open.
     */
    CONNECTING: 0,

    /**
     * @property {Number} OPEN
     * @readonly
     * The connection is open and ready to communicate.
     */
    OPEN: 1,

    /**
     * @property {Number} CLOSING
     * @readonly
     * The connection is in the process of closing.
     */
    CLOSING: 2,

    /**
     * @property {Number} CLOSED
     * @readonly
     * The connection is closed or couldn't be opened.
     */
    CLOSED: 3,

    /**
     * @property {Object} memento
     * @private
     * Internal memento
     */
    memento: {},

    /**
     * @property {Array} memento
     * @private
     * Internal queue of unsent messages
     */
    messageQueue: [],

    /**
     * Creates new WebSocket
     * @param {String/Object} config The configuration options may be specified as follows:
     *
     *     // with a configuration set
     *     var config = {
	 *       url: 'your_url' ,
	 *       protocol: 'your_protocol'
	 *     };
     *
     *     var ws = Ext.create ('Ext.ux.WebSocket', config);
     *
     *     // or with websocket url only
     *     var ws = Ext.create ('Ext.ux.WebSocket', 'ws://localhost:30000');
     *
     * @return {Ext.ux.WebSocket} An instance of Ext.ux.WebSocket or null if an error occurred.
     */
    constructor: function (cfg) {
        var me = this;

        // Raises an error if no url is given
        if (Ext.isEmpty(cfg)) {
            Ext.Error.raise('URL for the websocket is required!');
            return null;
        }

        // Allows initialization with string
        // e.g.: Ext.create ('Ext.ux.WebSocket', 'ws://localhost:8888');
        if (typeof cfg === 'string') {
            cfg = {
                url: cfg
            };
        }

        me.initConfig(cfg);
        me.mixins.observable.constructor.call(me, cfg);

        try {
            // Initializes internal websocket
            if (!me.getLazyConnection()) me.initWebsocket();

            me.memento = Ext.create('Ext.util.Memento');
            me.memento.capture('autoReconnect', me);
        }
        catch (err) {
            Ext.Error.raise(err);
            return null;
        }

        return me;
    },

    /**
     * @method isReady
     * Returns if the websocket connection is up or not
     * @return {Boolean} True if the connection is up, False otherwise
     */
    isReady: function () {
        return this.getStatus() === this.OPEN;
    },

    /**
     * @method getStatus
     * Returns the current status of the websocket
     * @return {Number} The current status of the websocket (0: connecting, 1: open, 2: closed)
     */
    getStatus: function () {
        return this.ws.readyState;
    },

    /**
     * @method close
     * Closes the websocket and kills the autoreconnect task, if exists
     * @return {Ext.ux.WebSocket} The websocket
     */
    close: function () {
        var me = this;

        if (me.autoReconnectTask) {
            Ext.TaskManager.stop(me.autoReconnectTask);
            delete me.autoReconnectTask;
        }
        // Deactivate autoReconnect until the websocket is open again
        me.setAutoReconnect(false);

        me.ws.close();

        return me;
    },

    /**
     * @method open
     * Re/Open the websocket
     * @return {Ext.ux.WebSocket} The websocket
     */
    open: function () {
        var me = this;

        // Restore autoReconnect initial value
        me.memento.restore('autoReconnect', false, me);
        me.initWebsocket();

        return me;
    },

    /**
     * @method send
     * Sends a message.
     * This method is bind at run-time level because it changes on the websocket initial configuration.
     * It supports three kind of communication:
     *
     *    1. text-only
     *      Syntax: ws.send (string);
     *      Example: ws.send ('hello world!');
     *    2. event-driven
     *      Syntax: ws.send (event, string/object);
     *      Example 1: ws.send ('greetings', 'hello world!');
     *      Example 2: ws.send ('greetings', {text: 'hello world!'});
     *    3. hybrid (text and event)
     *      It uses both: see examples above
     * @param {String/Object} message Can be a single text message or an association of event/message.
     */
    send: function () {
    },

    /**
     * @method initWebsocket
     * Internal websocket initialization
     * @private
     */
    initWebsocket: function () {
        var me = this;

        me.ws = Ext.isEmpty(me.getProtocol()) ? new WebSocket(me.getUrl()) : new WebSocket(me.getUrl(), me.getProtocol());

        me.ws.onopen = function (evt) {
            // Kills the auto reconnect task
            // It will be reactivated at the next onclose event
            if (me.autoReconnectTask) {
                Ext.TaskManager.stop(me.autoReconnectTask);
                delete me.autoReconnectTask;
            }

            // Flush unset messages
            if (me.getKeepUnsentMessages() && me.messageQueue.length > 0) {
                while (me.messageQueue.length > 0) {
                    // Avoid infinite loop into safeSend method
                    if (me.isReady()) me.safeSend(me.messageQueue.shift());
                    else break;
                }
            }

            me.fireEvent('open', me);
        };

        me.ws.onerror = function (error) {
            me.fireEvent('error', me, error);
        };

        me.ws.onclose = function (evt) {
            me.fireEvent('close', me);

            // Setups the auto reconnect task, just one
            if (me.getAutoReconnect() && (typeof me.autoReconnectTask === 'undefined')) {
                me.autoReconnectTask = Ext.TaskManager.start({
                    run: function () {
                        // It reconnects only if it's disconnected
                        if (me.getStatus() === me.CLOSED) {
                            me.initWebsocket();
                        }
                    },
                    interval: me.getAutoReconnectInterval()
                });
            }
        };

        if (me.getCommunicationType() === 'both') {
            me.ws.onmessage = Ext.bind(me.receiveBothMessage, this);
            me.send = Ext.bind(me.sendBothMessage, this);
        }
        else if (me.getCommunicationType() === 'event') {
            me.ws.onmessage = Ext.bind(me.receiveEventMessage, this);
            me.send = Ext.bind(me.sendEventMessage, this);
        }
        else {
            me.ws.onmessage = Ext.bind(me.receiveTextMessage, this);
            me.send = Ext.bind(me.sendTextMessage, this);
        }
    },

    /**
     * @method flush
     * It sends every message given to the websocket, checking first if is there any connection
     * If there's no connection, it enqueues the message and flushes it later
     * @param {String} Data to send
     * @return {Ext.ux.WebSocket} The websocket
     * @private
     */
    safeSend: function (data) {
        var me = this;

        if (me.isReady()) me.ws.send(data);
        else if (me.getKeepUnsentMessages()) me.messageQueue.push(data);

        return me;
    },

    /**
     * @method receiveBothMessage
     * It catches every event-driven and pure text messages incoming from the server
     * @param {Object} message Message incoming from the server
     * @private
     */
    receiveBothMessage: function (message) {
        var me = this;

        try {
            /*
             message.data : JSON encoded message
             msg.event : event to be raise
             msg.data : data to be handle
             */
            var msg = Ext.JSON.decode(message.data);
            me.fireEvent(msg.event, me, msg.data);
            me.fireEvent('message', me, msg);
        }
        catch (err) {
            if (Ext.isString(message.data)) me.fireEvent(message.data, me, message.data);
            // Message event is always sent
            me.fireEvent('message', me, message.data);
        }
    },

    /**
     * @method receiveEventMessage
     * It catches every event-driven messages incoming from the server
     * @param {Object} message Message incoming from the server
     * @private
     */
    receiveEventMessage: function (message) {
        var me = this;

        try {
            var msg = Ext.JSON.decode(message.data);
            me.fireEvent(msg.event, me, msg.data);
            me.fireEvent('message', me, msg);
        }
        catch (err) {
            Ext.Error.raise(err);
        }
    },

    /**
     * @method receiveTextMessage
     * It catches every pure text messages incoming from the server
     * @param {Object} message Message incoming from the server
     * @private
     */
    receiveTextMessage: function (message) {
        var me = this;

        try {
            me.fireEvent(message, me, message);
            // Message event is always sent
            me.fireEvent('message', me, message);
        }
        catch (err) {
            Ext.Error.raise(err);
        }
    },

    /**
     * @method sendBothMessage
     * It sends both pure text and event-driven messages to the server
     * @param {String/String[]} events Message(s) or event(s) to send to the server
     * @param {String/Object} data Message to send to the server, associated to its event
     * @return {Ext.ux.WebSocket} The websocket
     * @private
     */
    sendBothMessage: function (events, data) {
        var me = this;

        // Treats it as normal message
        if (arguments.length === 1) {
            if (Ext.isString(events)) me.safeSend(events);
            else Ext.Error.raise('String expected!');
        }
        // Treats it as event-driven message
        else if (arguments.length >= 2) {
            events = Ext.isString(events) ? [events] : events;

            for (var i = 0; i < events.length; i++) {
                var msg = {
                    event: events[i],
                    data: data
                };

                me.safeSend(Ext.JSON.encode(msg));
            }
        }

        return me;
    },

    /**
     * @method sendEventMessage
     * It sends event-driven messages to the server
     * @param {String/String[]} events Event(s) to send to the server
     * @param {String/Object} data Message to send to the server, associated to its event(s)
     * @return {Ext.ux.WebSocket} The websocket
     * @private
     */
    sendEventMessage: function (events, data) {
        var me = this;

        events = Ext.isString(events) ? [events] : events;

        for (var i = 0; i < events.length; i++) {
            var msg = {
                event: events[i],
                data: data
            };

            me.safeSend(Ext.JSON.encode(msg));
        }

        return me;
    },

    /**
     * @method sendTextMessage
     * It sends pure text messages to the server
     * @param {String} event Message to send to the server
     * @return {Ext.ux.WebSocket} The websocket
     * @private
     */
    sendTextMessage: function (event) {
        var me = this;

        me.safeSend(event);

        return me;
    }
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


With every new school year comes a new set of challenges, and for the Robotics Design Team, it's preparing for the 2017 Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition, or IGVC for short. The competition takes place At Oakland University in Rochester, Michigan on June 2 – June 5, 2017. The contestants must design an outdoor terrain vehicle of at least 3 feet long, and navigate though an obstacle course, 100% autonomously. This means no member of our team can touch or control our robot. This competition will challenge all aspects of design on our team.
Our Mechanical Division will build a rugged chassis and manage a multitude of systems from hydraulics to weather proofing. The Electrical Division is responsible for all sensors and power requirements, while the Computing Division will do work with multiple system interfaces and intelligent control. The technologies involved with IGVC have many applications in emerging industries such as military mobility, intelligent transportation systems, adaptive cruise control, mobile robotics, and surveillance systems. The team is excited to bring these skills to it's new members.
thanks Mst. but i have question. should i ask here ?
Good luck in your new school year.


text:
I am Jim Henson
Jan 2017 · Sold by Penguin
family_home
Switch to the audiobook
About this ebook
Jim Henson, the creator of the Muppets and Sesame Street, is the 11th hero in the New York Times bestselling picture book biography series for ages 5 to 8. (Cover may vary)
Jim Henson, was always dreaming up something new, and always expressing his belief in the goodness of people. Henson was a born performer with a terrific sense of humor, and he used those talents to help create two of the most beloved programs in television history: The Muppet Show and Sesame Street. Through his Muppets, Jim showed the world that there's nothing more beautiful than imagination, especially when it's accompanied by laughter and kindness.
This friendly, fun biography series inspired the PBS Kids TV show Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. One great role model at a time, these books encourage kids to dream big. Included in each book are:
• A timeline of key events in the hero's history
• Photos that bring the story more fully to life
• Comic-book-style illustrations that are irresistibly adorable
• Childhood moments that influenced the hero
• Facts that make great conversation-starters
• A character trait that made the person heroic and that readers can aspire to
You'll want to collect each book in this dynamic, informative series!
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text:
Agenesis of paranasal sinuses and nasal nitric oxide in primary ciliary dyskinesia
M. Pifferi, A. Bush, D. Caramella, M. Di Cicco, M. Zangani, I. Chinellato, P. Macchia, A.L. Boner
European Respiratory Journal 2011 37: 566-571; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00068810
M. Pifferi
For correspondence: m.pifferi@med.unipi.it
A. Bush
D. Caramella
M. Di Cicco
M. Zangani
I. Chinellato
P. Macchia
A.L. Boner
Agenesis of paranasal sinuses has only been described in case reports of patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD). As agenesis of paranasal sinuses may contribute to low nasal nitric oxide levels, a common finding in PCD, we speculated that this condition might frequently occur in PCD patients.
Patients referred for PCD evaluation were consecutively recruited for 30 months. In addition to standard diagnostic testing for PCD, a computed tomography (CT) scan of paranasal sinuses was performed in all subjects.
86 patients (46 children aged 8–17 yrs) were studied. PCD was diagnosed in 41 subjects and secondary ciliary dyskinesia (SCD) was diagnosed in the remaining 45 subjects. Frontal and/or sphenoidal sinuses were either aplastic or hypoplastic on CT scans in 30 (73%) out of 41 PCD patients, but in only 17 (38%) out of 45 with SCD (p = 0.002). There was a significant inverse correlation between the score for aplasia/hypoplasia of each paranasal sinus and nasal NO values in the PCD patients (p = 0.008, r = −0.432) but not in SCD (p = 0.07, r = −0.271).
The findings of aplasia/hypoplasia of the frontal and or sphenoidal sinuses may be part of the spectrum of PCD and this finding should prompt exclusion of this condition.
Agenesis
nasal nitric oxide
paranasal sinuses
primary ciliary dyskinesia
secondary ciliary dyskinesia
Most exhaled breath nitric oxide (NO) originates from the upper airways, in particular from the paranasal sinuses 1 and the nasal mucosa 2. NO is important in local, upper airway host defense mechanisms 1. In patients with sinusitis and those with primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD), a disorder characterised by increased susceptibility to sinus infections, nasal NO levels are generally low 3, 4. To date, agenesis of paranasal sinuses has only been described in case reports of patients with PCD 5. There is no longitudinal study in a large number of patients. We hypothesised that sinus agenesis or decreased sinus pneumatisation in PCD would be associated with a lower nasal NO and worse upper and lower airway disease. The aim of this study was to assess paranasal sinus anatomy in a large series of patients with PCD and to correlate the findings with nasal NO levels and clinical manifestations of the disease.
86 subjects (26 with situs inversus) aged ≥8 yrs, with a clinical history and signs suggestive of PCD were consecutively evaluated in the Dept of Paediatrics at the University of Pisa (Pisa, Italy). A diagnosis of PCD was made on the basis of structural and/or functional ciliary abnormalities, as described previously 6–10. In all subjects, ciliary motion analysis, ultrastructural assessment of cilia, ciliary function after ciliogenesis in culture of nasal brushing samples, and nasal NO measurements were performed when the subject had been free from respiratory infection for ≥4 weeks. Other underlying conditions which could have been responsible for recurrent upper and lower respiratory tract infections were excluded. All patients underwent chest and sinus computed tomography (CT) scans, which were evaluated for the degree of pneumatisation of each paranasal sinus and the severity and extent of local inflammation.
Informed consent for nasal brushing was obtained from each adult patient or the children's parents and the local hospital ethical committee (Pisa, Italy) approved the study protocol.
CT scanning of paranasal sinuses
All patients underwent unenhanced CT scans (multislice CT; General Electric Medical Systems, Milwaukee, MI, USA) of the sinuses and axial, sagittal and coronal images were acquired. The CT assessment of the degree of pneumatisation of each paranasal sinus was always performed by the same radiologist (D. Caramella) who was blinded to the results obtained by the other researchers. In patients aged ≥14 yrs (when sinus development is generally complete) 11 sinus aplasia or hypoplasia were defined according to radiological criteria recently used in adults with cystic fibrosis (CF) (fig. 1, table 1) 12. Moreover, to better evaluate the morphology of the paranasal sinuses in relation to the patients' age 11 a volumetric 3-dimensional reconstruction of the CT datasets were performed and the following scores allocated: 1 = hypoplasia; 2 = agenesis of each sinus. In consideration of the developmental stages of paranasal sinuses and in line with previous studies 11, a delay in pneumatisation in children aged >8 yrs was considered as hypoplasia and a total lack of pneumatisation in children aged >10 yrs as aplasia, even though the sphenoidal sinus only attains its mature size by the age of 14 yrs. Likewise, although the frontal sinuses achieve their final size after puberty, a delay in their pneumatisation (hypoplasia) was diagnosed either if the top of the frontal sinuses was not at the level of the orbital roof by 8 yrs of age, or if the top did not extend into the vertical portion of the frontal bone by 10 yrs of age as previously suggested 11.
Computed tomography images of a) agenesia of right frontal sinus and hypoplasia of left frontal sinus in a volumetric 3-dimensional reconstruction, b) frontal sinuses agenesia in a volumetric 3-dimensional reconstruction, c) coronal view demonstrating sphenoid sinuses agenesia and d) axial image demonstrating maxillary sinus hypoplasia.
Table 1– Definitions of radiological features
The degree of inflammation was assessed using the Lund–Mackay system 13, in which a score of 0 is assigned to sinuses with no mucosal thickening, a score of 2 is assigned to completely opacified sinuses, and a score of 1 is assigned to lesser degrees of abnormality. The frontal, anterior ethmoid, maxillary, posterior ethmoid and sphenoid sinuses as well as the ostiomeatal complex on each side, is scored with a possible maximum total score of 24. As previously reported, a modification of this system was used because of the prevalence of sinus aplasia 12. Briefly, if a patient lacked an evaluable sinus the total score was adjusted to account for the lack of this structure. This was performed by multiplying the patient's total score by the possible total 24 and dividing by the actual score for that patient (24–2 × number of missing structures) 12.
CT scanning of the chest
In all patients a high-resolution CT of the chest was performed using the same scanner. 1-mm thick slices were obtained with 10-mm spacing (120 kV, 130 mA) in the supine position at full inspiration. No intravenous contrast was injected and no anaesthesia was needed. All images were evaluated by the same radiologist (D. Caramella) who was blinded to the clinical data and scored using the system of Bhalla et al. 14, while bronchiectasis was identified according to standard criteria 15.
Baseline variables are described as group mean±sd. Nasal NO values, scores for sinus agenesis and modified Lund–Mackay scores, which were non-normally distributed, were expressed as median (interquartile range; IQR). Differences between means were evaluated by the two-tailed un-paired t-test. Differences between medians were assessed by Mann–Whitney (Wilcoxon) U-test.
Correlations between quantitative evaluation for the degree of pneumatisation of each paranasal sinus or for the severity/extent of local sinus inflammation and nasal NO measurements were examined using the Pearson correlation test. The same test was also applied to evaluate the correlation between sinus disease, presence of bronchiectasis and lung impairment. The Chi-squared test was used to verify the association between the complete development of paranasal sinuses and nasal NO levels >250 ppb in PCD patients or between their agenesis and PCD diagnosis. This value was selected because it has been previously shown to have the best combination of sensitivity (97%) and specificity (90%) for the diagnosis of PCD 4.
A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant. All statistical calculations were performed using SPSS version 15.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago, IL, USA).
Out of the 86 (42 males) subjects studied, 46 were children (age range 8–17 yrs, mean±sd 10.7±2.9 yrs) and 40 were adults (18–58 yrs, 32.0±9.2 yrs). Immunological abnormalities were excluded in all patients. No subject had CF or CF gene mutations (the 33 most common mutations in the population were sought), and careful examination permitted the exclusion of swallowing problems and supraoesophageal complications of gastro-oesophageal reflux.
In 41 (47.7%) patients (19 children) the diagnosis of PCD was established. In 30 of these (13 children) the diagnosis was made with ciliary motion analysis (abnormal motion patterns, including immotile cilia and/or very low ciliary beat frequency) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) evaluation of cilia (alterations of the central pair and deficiencies of the dynein arms, associated with a small proportion of swollen cilia and compound cilia) while in the other 11 patients (six children) the diagnosis of PCD was reached with functional ciliary evaluation after ciliogenesis in culture when there was complete absence of either migration or rotation of spheroids. Ciliogenesis in culture was performed in patients with a highly suggestive clinical presentation but with atypical functional and structural features.
In the remaining 45 (52%) patients (27 children), ciliary motion analysis demonstrated abnormal patterns in a small proportion of cilia, prevalence of thick cilia and low ciliary beat frequency, compatible with secondary ciliary dyskinesia (SCD). In these 45 subjects, TEM evaluation and ciliogenesis in culture confirmed the diagnosis of SCD. These subjects served as controls. There was no significant age difference between patients with PCD (21.3±12.6 yrs) and SCD (19.4±13.0 yrs).
Frontal and/or sphenoidal sinuses were either aplastic or hypoplastic in the CT scans of 30 (73%) out of 41 PCD patients, but in only 17 (38%) out of 45 with SCD (p = 0.002). In the PCD patients, 26 (32%) out of 82 frontal sinuses were aplastic and 17 (21%) were hypoplastic. Likewise, 38 (46%) out of 82 sphenoid sinuses were poorly developed, with 12 (15%) being aplastic and 26 (32%) being hypoplastic. Maxillary hypoplasia was less common, affecting 10 (12%) out of 82 maxillary sinuses.
In subjects with SCD only 10 (11%) out of 90 frontal sinuses were aplastic and 15 (17%) were hypoplastic. Only nine (10%) sphenoid sinuses were poorly developed, with six (7%) being aplastic and three (3%) hypoplastic; two (2%) of the maxillary sinuses were hypoplastic.
There was a significant difference (p<0.0001) between the score for aplastic or hypoplastic sinuses in patients with PCD (median (IQR) 4.0 (6.0)) compared to subjects with SCD (0.0 (2.0)). There was no significant correlation between the age of the patients and agenesis of paranasal sinuses in either group.
In the PCD patients the group median nasal NO was 107.7 ppb (IQR 231.4), but 10 (24%) out of 41 had a nasal NO >250 ppb (498.2 (482.9) ppb, range 290–1,000 ppb). In the PCD group, 12 patients had specific immunoglobulin E to one or more perennial allergens (cat, dog, house dust mites) and/or seasonal allergens (tree, grass pollens, Parietaria officinalis) and of these only three subjects had a nasal NO level >250 ppb suggesting that in these patients high nasal NO is not driven by the atopic status. Three patients had nasal polyposis and all had nasal NO <250 ppb.
The SCD group had significantly different nasal NO values (685.0 (520.2) ppb, p<0.0000001); 10 (22%) out 45 had nasal NO <250 ppb (109.7 (74.1) ppb) with a range between 31 and 202 ppb. In this group 16 subjects were allergic, seven had nasal polyposis, which was associated with severe sinusitis in two subjects who also had a nasal NO level of <250 ppb.
There was a significant inverse correlation between the score for aplasia/hypoplasia of each paranasal sinus and nasal NO values in the PCD patients (p = 0.008, r = -0.432) (fig. 2), but not in SCD (p = 0.07, r = -0.271) (fig. 3). There was a significant association (table 2) between the complete development of paranasal sinuses and nasal NO levels >250 ppb in patients with PCD (p<0.001). No correlation was found between aplasia/hypoplasia and bronchiectasis or lung impairment.
Correlation between the score for aplasia/hypoplasia of paranasal sinuses and nasal nitric oxide (NO) values in patients with primary ciliary dyskinesia. r = -0.432, p = 0.008.
Correlation between the score for aplasia/hypoplasia of paranasal sinuses and nasal nitric oxide (NO) values in subjects with secondary ciliary dyskinesia. r = -0.271, p = 0.07.
Table 2– Significant association between the complete development of paranasal sinuses and nasal nitric oxide (NO) levels >250 ppb in primary ciliary dyskinesia (PCD) patients
As expected, sinus inflammation was more frequently found in PCD patients. The median (IQR) modified Lund–Mackay score was 9.0 (6.5) in PCD, and only 3.5 (7) in subjects with SCD (p<0.001). However, in both groups of patients there was a significant inverse correlation between the severity and extent of local sinus inflammation and nasal NO (PCD: p = 0.002, r = -0.499; SCD: p = 0.01, r = -0.365). Moreover, in PCD patients there was a significant positive correlation between agenesia/hypoplasia of the frontal or sphenoidal sinuses and the degree of inflammation of the remaining developed sinuses (p = 0.002, r = 0.486) (see supplementary material).
Finally, there was a positive correlation between sinus inflammation and the presence of bronchiectasis (p = 0.01, r = 0.362) in SCD but not PCD. There was no correlation between sinus inflammation and the score of Bhalla et al. 14. There were significant positive correlations between the score of Bhalla et al. 14 and presence of bronchiectasis in both groups (PCD: p = 0.02, r = 0.363; SCD: p<0.001, r = 0.733).
We have demonstrated that the frontal and/or sphenoidal sinuses were either aplastic or hypoplastic in a significant proportion of patients with PCD and significantly more frequently than in SCD. For ethical reasons we did not perform scans on normal controls. From the literature, the frontal sinus is the last paranasal cavity to expand and aplasia is present unilaterally in 15% and bilaterally in 5% of normal adults 11 which is less than we observed, even in subjects with SCD. Aplasia of a sphenoidal sinus is extremely rare 11. Therefore, a lack of pneumatisation of the sphenoidal sinus in patients aged >10 yrs is abnormal and PCD should be excluded. We suggest that for the first time that sinus aplasia/hypoplasia is part of the clinical spectrum of PCD, although given the higher than normal prevalence in SCD this finding cannot be considered diagnostic. From our data, the positive predictive value (PPV) of low nasal NO is 75.6% for distinguishing PCD from SCD, with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 77.8%. The equivalent PPV for aplasia/hypoplasia of the frontal/sphenoidal sinuses is 63.8% and the NPV is 71.8%. Depending on the clinical context, possible nasal NO measurements could be used to reduce the need for sinus CT scans to diagnose sinus hypoplasia, although this would need to be confirmed on a larger series of patients. If precise anatomical information was required this could not be provided by nasal NO measurements.
The fact that only the development of those paranasal sinuses which have post-natal growth (frontal and sphenoidal) is compromised might indicate that this effect is secondary to chronic post-natal upper airways infection and inflammation 16, 17, and hypothetically related to the premature ossification of the cartilage surrounding the paranasal recesses [16, 17.] The higher than normal prevalence in SCD would support this hypothesis. In animal models it has been demonstrated that air-filled spaces in the cranium are formed by invasion of nasal mucous epithelium into neighbouring nasal capsule cartilages 18. Nasal ventilation has been demonstrated to be an important factor in the development of the paranasal sinuses 19 and thus nasal obstruction, which is an early event in infants with PCD but which is also seen in SCD and other conditions 20, might be a further contributing factor to reduced expansion of the sinuses. These possibilities are further supported by the recent findings of aplastic or hypoplastic frontal and sphenoid sinuses in a high proportion of adult patients with CF, a disease also characterised by chronic airway infection 12. It is possible that nasal hypoventilation and chronic infection both need to be present in order to produce sinus hypoplasia, since unilateral choanal atresia is not associated with ipsilateral sinus hypoplasia 21.
Whether NO is an active mediator in this process or only a passive bystander is a matter of speculation. NO regulates a number of physiological processes such as blood flow, neurotransmission and host defences 22. Genetically modified animals lacking inducible NO synthase are more vulnerable to viral and bacterial infections 23; thus, the lower level of nasal NO usually found in PCD patients 4 could predispose to more severe upper airway infections and, we speculate, to a reduced development of the sinuses. The fact that in our patients sinus aplasia/hypoplasia was more severe in PCD than in SCD patients, that only those sinuses which develop post-natally were involved and that there was no correlation between sinuses aplasia/hypoplasia and the age of the patient suggests that both exogenous causes and genetic background contribute to pathogenesis.
As previously reported we also observed a correlation between a low level of nasal NO and the severity of sinusitis 3. This may be due to a reduced resistance to infections 3, but the possibility that the infections may also cause a fall in nasal NO cannot be excluded in a cross-sectional study such as this. In a healthy volunteer the application of an NO synthase inhibitor topically in one maxillary sinus was associated with a unilateral marked decrease of NO production and with the appearance of CT proven maxillary sinusitis after 3 days 24. Whether maxillary and/or ethmoidal sinusitis was a predisposing factor to aplasia/agenesia of post-natal developing sinuses is practically impossible to study in humans. However, the fact that a decrease of nasal NO concentration can be secondary to absence and/or occlusion of paranasal sinuses is corroborated by a study showing that baboons, which constitutively have no paranasal sinus cavities, have very low nasal NO (∼1 ppb) compared to the nasal NO measured in rhesus monkeys with paranasal sinuses (∼100 ppb) 25.
Finally, we found a correlation between the severity of sinusitis and bronchiectasis in patients with SCD. Mucociliary clearance is an essential first-line defence of both the upper and lower airways, and it is well known that ciliary function impairment is present both in PCD and SCD. Failure to recognise and treat both upper and lower airway infections may lead to the development of chronic sinusitis as well as bronchiectasis. Chronic sinusitis and bronchiectasis are frequently associated 26, particularly when the two diseases share a common host defence abnormality 27. In our patients with PCD the observation that there was no correlation between sinusitis and bronchiectasis is unexplained. It might possibly be related to the fact that sinusitis may be an earlier event than bronchiectasis and consequently antibiotic treatment might have lead to improvement in sinusitis severity. Since compliance with treatment decreases with age it is possible that later complications may be more severe, but this is speculative 28.
In conclusion, we suggest that the findings of aplasia/hypoplasia of the frontal and or sphenoidal sinuses may be part of the spectrum of PCD, and this finding should prompt exclusion of this condition. However, SCD and other chronic respiratory disease can also cause sinus aplasia and hypoplasia thus specific testing for PCD should always be performed.
This article has supplementary material accessible from www.erj.ersjournals.com
Support Statement
Financial support was provided by Unione Industriali Pisana (Pisa, Italy).
Received May 2, 2010.
Accepted June 28, 2010.
©ERS 2011
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European Respiratory Journal Mar 2011, 37 (3) 566-571; DOI: 10.1183/09031936.00068810
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For many captains, crew and sea travelers, what is today the North Carolina coastal resort vacation islands known as the Outer Banks means treacherous ocean currents and shipwrecks.
It is very much a part of local history and lore on these barrier islands. An untold number of ill-fated boats and ships as well as many of the courageous crews who manned them have gone down beneath the waves.
The Tiger, an British ship of Sir Richard Grenville's expedition, was the first known unfortunate vessel, wrecking here in June 1585. The latest may be in tomorrow's headlines. Why have so many boats and ships been lost, even after the deadly dangers of the "Graveyard of the Atlantic" became widely known? Unfortunately, avoiding these navigational hazards is much more difficult than simply recognizing them. In days passed, it was the wooden sailing ship carrying trade goods and passengers that kept the nation's commerce afloat. To follow the trade routes along the coast, thousands of these ships had to round not only North Carolina's barrier islands, which are located as much as 30 miles off the mainland, but also the infamous Diamond Shoals, a treacherous, always-shifting series of shallow, underwater sandbars extending over ten miles out from Cape Hatteras.
Navigating Diamond Shoals is not the only challenge, there are several other complicating factors. First, there are two strong ocean currents that collide off Hatteras and Ocracoke islands, the cold-water Labrador Current from the north and the warm Gulf Stream from the south, converge just offshore from the cape. To make use of of these currents, vessels must come very near the Outer Banks. Usually using this course wouldn't lead to trouble, but the winds and storms common to the region can sometimes make it a dangerous practice. Hurricanes and northeasters overpower ships with strong winds and heavy seas or force them ashore to be battered apart by the crashing breakers. Since the low islands offer no natural landmarks, ships caught in storms often grounded before spying shore and recognizing their misfortune. When combined, these natural factors form a navigational horror story that's feared as much as any worldwide.
Pirates and privateers, the Civil War, and German submarine attacks have added to the large toll nature has claimed. The grim total of boats and ships lost near Cape Hatteras is estimated at over a thousand. While these ships now rest in the Graveyard of the Atlantic, their legacy endures. Seamen marooned on the islands often chose to remain, establishing families and a heritage, which remains to this day. A lot of island inhabitants made a significant part of their living scavenging cargoes (a practice called "wrecking") and more than a few of local buildings were built entirely or in part from wreck timbers.
Because of the frequent storms and many other navigational hazards resulting in great loss of vessels, the U.S. Lighthouse Service and U.S. Lifesaving Service which became the U.S. Coast Guard have kept a steady watch for approximately 200 years. Though most of the area wrecks have decayed and are lost to the ocean forever, divers have access to a diverse assortment of sunken vessels offshore. Many shipwrecks also lie hidden under the sand dunes and can be exposed by storms. After a little time they're again covered when beach sands shift.
The Laura Barnes is representative of the many wooden sailing ships that were lost on the Outer Banks. The four-masted schooner came ashore in dense fog on the night of June 1, 1921, and the crew was rescued by Coast Guardsmen from nearby Bodie Island Station.
Her remains have since been relocated a mile south of their original location to Coquina Beach (across from the Bodie Island Lighthouse) for public viewing. An exhibit provides additional information about the wreck. Directions: 4.7 miles south of Whalebone Junction, or 3.3 miles north of Oregon Inlet campground. Drive to Coquina Beach parking area. Walk over to the beach.
One of the Outer Banks' most recent shipwrecks, the Lois Joyce was a 100-foot commercial fishing trawler lost in 1981 while attempting to enter Oregon Inlet during a December storm. Though the crew was rescued by Coast Guard helicopter, the $1,000,000 vessel was a total loss. The wreck is located on the northern, ocean-side hook at the mouth of Oregon Inlet, and is best viewed at low tide. It is accessible by four-wheel drive vehicles only.
A Federal transport during the Civil War, the steamship Oriental has been grounded in her present position since 1862. Local rumor has it that some of the area's largest fish make their home in the Oriental's rusty remains. You can sometimes see the exposed boiler and smokestack in the ocean surf off Pea Island National Wildlife Refuge. Directions: Seven miles south of Oregon Inlet campground, or 30 miles north of Buxton. Park at turnout for Pea Island Comfort Station. Board walk leads to wooden remains which are occassionaly exposed on the beach nearby. A wooden bow is located on the beach 1 mile north.
Located 14 miles south of Oregon Inlet Campground and 25-miles north of Buxton. Park on road strip 1 mile north of Rodanthe, cross the dunes, then walk 1.8 miles north on the beach. The wooden shipwreck is lying open, keel up, at the surf line.
Drive to the Rodanthe Fishing Pier, 15 miles south of Oregon Inlet campground, or 25 miles north of Buxton. Look north from Ramp 10 near the pier for the steel wreck in the water.
Driven ashore by a hurricane in 1933, the huge, four-masted schooner G.A. Kohler remained stranded on the beach for ten years.
The ship was subsequently burned during World War II for her iron fittings, but the charred remnants of the Kohler remain. Often obscured by shifting sand, the wreck is located off Ramp #14.
Drive to the parking lot near Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. Walk over the ramp to the beach, then south along the beach approx. 1/2 miles.
On Ocracoke Island there are unidentified wooden remains near the first visitor parking turnout.
Vacationers on the hunt for stunning scenery won't have to look very far when they land in Beaufort, NC. Well known for its vibrant downtown region, its centuries-deep historical roots, and its location that is literally surrounded by water, finding a spot to sit and enjoy a picturesque view is a breeze in this barely-coastal destination.


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DAR hosting its annual American History Contest
By Mount Vernon News | September 7, 2019 | 12:42 am
Mount Vernon Newsnews@mountvernonnews.com
MOUNT VERNON — The Lucy Knox Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution invites area students to enter its 2019-20 American History essay contest. All fifth through eighth-grade students in a public, private or parochial school, or those who are home schooled are eligible.
The title of the essay will be: "The Voyage of the Mayflower." 2020 marks the 400th anniversary of the voyage of the Mayflower and the founding of the Plymouth Colony. Students are to imagine they are one of the passengers on the Mayflower. Knowing what materials were available in 1620, what would they have packed to prepare for the trip and starting a new life in the wilderness? After experiencing more than two months at sea, then finally landing at Plymouth Colony on Nov. 9, 1620, do they think they would have made different choices and why?
Entries for grade five must be 300-600 words. Entries for grade six, seven and eight must be 600 to 1,000 words. All of the essay must be the original work of the student, and include a title page with specific information and a bibliography.
The contest deadline is Oct. 10. One essay at each grade level will be selected as the chapter winner and the essay will be forwarded to the next level in the state competition.
For additional information, students should contact any fifth through eighth grade Language Arts or Social Studies teacher at his or her school or DAR member Suzy Davidson, at suzydavidson2@gmail.com or 740-504-9117.
Mount Vernon News: 740-397-5333 or news@mountvernonnews.com and on Twitter, @mountvernonnews
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ALL ABOUT THE G-SPOT
WHAT IS THE G-SPOT?
Named after Dr. Ernst Grafenberg, the urologist who discovered it, the G-Spot is a scientifically researched area that can give women incredible pleasure. It is identified as the female prostate, demonstrating similar traits and functions as the male prostate; all women have one and are capable of ejaculating prostatic fluid.
WHY IS THE G-SPOT SO SPECIAL?
The female prostate is a vine-like structure that surrounds the urethral canal (the tube that urine exits the body). It is only one-fourth the size of the walnut-shaped male prostate, but it has much more ducts/glands. For both men and women, these ducts/glands supply prostatic fluid which can be ejaculated from the urethra. The quantity of women's prostatic fluid can be as little as a teaspoon to a gushing one-half cup. If this amount is hard to imagine, think of all the liquid two little tear glands can produce.
The G-Spot is surrounded by the nerve-rich clitoral bulb. It also has its own nerve supply (pelvic nerve), creating a highly enjoyable place for women to explore. This dual nerve innervation not only makes it possible for women to have two distinct types of orgasms (clitoral and G-spot), but also to experience an amazing combination of these two types simultaneously.
WHERE IS THE G-SPOT?
Many women have difficulty finding their G-Spots, but with a little instruction, this pleasure- factory can be found. It is important to realize that this is an area stimulated through the vaginal wall, and it is easiest to identify once a woman is aroused. The G-Spot can be found anteriorly (the roof of vagina) and depending on one's G-Spot anatomy, it will be found in different locations. The majority of women will find their G-Spots right beyond their vaginal entrances, but the rest will find it either mid-way or further back by the cervix. The area feels like corduroy ridges and is more pronounced (and feels more enjoyable) after stimulation causes its tissues to swell.
The ridged tissue can be followed to the tail of the G-Spot. When stimulated in a gentle "come hither" motion, one can experience pleasing sensations while feeling the body of the prostate. Additionally, since the urethral meatus (the hole that urine exits the body) is generally the head of the G-Spot, many women like the way it feels when this area is stimulated.
Since women both urinate and ejaculate through their urethral canals, residual urine can be identified in female ejaculate (explaining the claims that ejaculate is only urine). Yet, female ejaculate has been scientifically studied and found to be a fluid in its own right. It is a clear liquid with a higher PH than urine, and its taste and smell have been found to vary depending on where the woman is in her menstrual cycle. It contains prostatic fluid along with glucose and trace amounts of urine. Ejaculate's higher PH and glucose content are thought to play a positive role in fertilization; both promote a supportive environment for sperm to survive while traveling through the vagina.
Small amounts of ejaculate seep into the vagina during G-Spot stimulation. If the full amount of accumulated ejaculate is not expelled, it moves backwards into the bladder and is urinated out (and explains the reason women why feel like their bladders' have filled during vaginal penetration). Many women mistake the urge to ejaculate as the need to urinate, and therefore contract the pelvic muscles to prevent it. Whether they decide they want to release the ejaculate or not, spectacular G-Spot orgasms can still be experienced!
IS IT EJACULATE OR URINE?
All about the G-Spot originally appeared on Rumble & Buzz
Angie Davis
Sharing is Caring, Le Wand, G-Spot
Wellness & Sexual Health
© 2020 Darker Shade of Gray


My sister has started a great blog that captures her incredible garden.
My grandmother was the embodiment of the amazing gardener.
My Mom and both of my sisters have beautiful yards and gardens at their houses, each one different from the other.
As I've indicated before, I must have been busy dreaming of sewing when the gardening genes were passed out. Not that I don't like flowers, trees, and vegetables; I just want them to appear magically, with a storybook version of me picking the fruits in a nice basket and cutting bouquets.
The pokers are poking here and there! which I got from Gretchen last year. Two years ago she gave me a bunch of columbine seeds which are now in every stage from newly sprouting tiny pinhead size leaves out in the triangle area to some that are in bloom. These ones are along the north end of the shop, along with the grape hyacinth ( also from Gretchen ) and some astilbe that I planted last year that are coming back. Two years ago, Mom gave me lily bulbs, and I think I remember planting six or eight along the west side of the shop; now I count at least two dozen coming up! Now, this is my kind of gardening.
The poppies are coming up all over. I put out a ton of seed that I collected from last year's bounty. And Mom gave me a couple of peonies that are growing well and have big marble sized buds that look like they'll open in a couple of weeks. Our fruit trees are not doing so good, as they've really been battered by the wind and rain. Ditto the lilac that Mom gave us. In the past 24 hours we've had 1&1/2 inches of rain, which brings us to a total of nearly seven inches for the month. I did spend some of the weekend while it wasn't raining finishing weeding all of the garden areas that we have, and I reseeded the whole lawn and scattered the dirt that we bought for the veggie garden over top. Now that it's warm, rainy, and sunny it should fill in well.
We did make the decision that for this year we'll forgo our idea to get a vegetable garden going. Maybe next year. I just don't want to devote that much time and energy to it, honestly. I feel like we need to give the things that we already have going more attention: Trim and cut down trees that are a liability – mostly the scrawny tall pine trees, which would give the fir trees some room to grow better. Work on removing more of the wild rose on the west side of the house where Sunny runs and chases the kritters.
I've done a little sewing in the past week, and thought about another three hundred projects that I want to start. I'm still thinking about painting in the kitchen too…………………………………..
Great pics. Everything looks really nice, wind-battered and all.
Thanks for the blog link. Lots of good stuff there.
Honestly I had no idea that there were spring bulbs, fall bulbs, and summer bulbs until a couple years ago. I truly think they are the lazy person's mana from heaven.
In addition to a lot of info, Gretchen is a really good writer and photographer as well.
Boy, I sure didn't get the gardening gene. I can't even grow house plants unless they are succulents and even then, they have a slim margin for living! Shawn always wants a veggie garden and then looks to me to do it…this year he finally started one after years of my telling him I just wasn't capable of growing things and he'd have to do it himself. I can never figure out when to plant things and when mom tries to tell me I can't seem to follow along, or remember what she said. Erynn has the green thumb in spades! She had huge growth in her garden last year and she was hardly there all summer, go figure..
I saw pics of Erynn's garden last year – amazing. I guess we each have our 'special talents'.
I know a lot of it is my perception of having a garden – I always think that the time spent gardening would be time I couldn't spend sewing, and I'm not willing to do that.


Continue reading "Gloria Steinem is an Idiot"
February 21, 2019 February 21, 2019 | by Geoff | Leave a Comment on Were the Spartans Pederasts?
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Continue reading "The Parody of Modern Conservative Ideology"
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Continue reading "Evidence for Stoicism"
Continue reading "The Tao of Bro-Science"
Continue reading "Dallas Willard on the Beatitudes"
January 31, 2019 January 31, 2019 | by Geoff | 3 Comments on What is a virtue?
Continue reading "What is a virtue?"


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Q: Driver for a Dell 964 Photo printer I have a Dell 964 photo printer that I use when running Win XP; however, 90% of time I am in Ubuntu Linux. The Dell printer does not work. I need a driver for Ubuntu Linux to continue using the Dell 964.

A: As it seem's Ubuntu does not support Dell, but there is an answer in the link here Where can I find the Ubuntu drivers for a Dell 1700 printer., try it,hope it helps.


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It's not too late to be counted: Census deadline extended
By Submitted Article
Published 5:40 pm Monday, October 5, 2020
The Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs (ADECA) – in partnership with Alabama Counts! – confirmed that the U.S. Census Bureau plans to officially end the 2020 Census nationwide on Oct. 31.
During the extension, the Census Bureau's field workers, including door-to-door census takers, will continue their work to follow up with households that haven't yet responded.
Have you completed the 2020 Census yet?
"The Census Bureau informed Alabama that it has made the decision to ultimately extend the census to October 31," ADECA director and Alabama Counts! chairman Kenneth Boswell said. "This gives the state of Alabama an extended time to complete their census and make Alabama count."
All Alabamians who have not already participated in the 2020 census can do so by self-responding online at www.my2020census.gov, by phone toll-free 844-330-2020, by returning the mailed paper form or by giving household's information to a socially distanced door-to-door census taker. Any information given in the 2020 Census is protected by strict federal law.
State leaders are hoping to see the overall participation rate among Alabama households continue to rise with the extended time.
"This extra time will make a difference as Alabama households have more time to be counted" added Boswell. "It takes a matter of minutes to determine the future of our state, let's use this time to cement our tally and influence all that depends on this final count."
ADECA and Alabama Counts will continue to stay in contact with the U.S. Census Bureau and will provide any further updates as they are received.
For more information on the 2020 Census in Alabama, please visit https://alabama2020census.com.
Party headquarters opens in Troy
The Pike County Republican Party officially opened its headquarters Thursday morning for the 2020 Presidential Election at the former Dirty... read more


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Young Migrants, Some Arriving Without Parents, Seek A Safe Place : Parallels In Munich last weekend, 195 children seeking asylum showed up alone. The growing number of unaccompanied minors presents a special challenge to German authorities, who generally don't deport children.
Many Stories, One World
Young Migrants, Some Arriving Without Parents, Seek A Safe Place
September 12, 20158:12 AM ET
Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson
Migrants seeking asylum wait at the registration center on August 27, 2015 in Ingelheim, Germany. Germany is receiving more than 1,000 new migrants a day from countries like Syria, Eritrea and Afghanistan. In some cases, those migrants include unaccompanied minors, as NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson found at a similar center in Munich. Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images hide caption
Thomas Lohnes/Getty Images
Migrants seeking asylum wait at the registration center on August 27, 2015 in Ingelheim, Germany. Germany is receiving more than 1,000 new migrants a day from countries like Syria, Eritrea and Afghanistan. In some cases, those migrants include unaccompanied minors, as NPR's Soraya Sarhaddi Nelson found at a similar center in Munich.
Among the steady stream of asylum-seekers pouring into Germany every week, there are scores of children traveling on their own.
Over Labor Day weekend, 195 of them arrived in Munich, including 17-year-old Syrians Malaz and Wissam. NPR is identifying them only by their first names because they are minors dealing with difficult personal and legal situations.
Of the two boys, Malaz is the more outgoing. The hazel-eyed teen grabs Wissam's arm and with a big smile, says: "We are friends!"
Theirs is a new relationship, forged two days earlier when they met at a Munich migrant intake center located in Bayernkaserne, a German military barracks built during the time of the Nazis. The teens say they look out for one another in the male dormitory filled with strangers from many countries.
Seeking Asylum In Germany Can Mean Living In Limbo
Malaz says he finished 10th grade in Damascus and that his family paid $3,000 to a smuggler to get him to Germany. He wants to learn German and go to school here, at least for a while.
"I'm not going to stay here, I think. Go to U.K.," he says. "I think. I don't know for right now."
Wissam winces at the thought of his friend leaving, and says it's very hard. He says he only has one goal: "I want to be safe, here."
Making these children feel safe is a top priority, says Monika Steinhauser, who heads Munich's Refugee Council.
"They are supposed to go to specialized homes for young people and of course we don't have enough places now because the numbers have gone up considerably," Steinhauser says.
Other refugee advocates say the increase has been three-fold in Munich over last year. The European Commission in a recent report estimated 4 percent of the migrants that arrived in Europe last year were unaccompanied minors.
Hungary's Leader Pushes His Anti-Migrant Platform To Bolster Support
At least four out of every five unaccompanied minors were boys, and most came from Afghanistan, Eritrea, Somalia and Syria, according to the report. Refugee advocates say the children's parents send them here to escape poverty or war and other violence, or to protect them from being drafted.
The European Commission report says the children's favorite destinations are Sweden and Germany, where they look for work in order to send money back to their families.
Officials and refugee advocates say that, like the adults, the children coming to apply for asylum almost never carry identity documents. Steinhauser says German authorities estimate 40 percent of the unaccompanied minors are actually adults who lie about their age to avoid deportation. In most cases, Germany won't send children back before they turn 18, even if their asylum requests are denied.
"Authorities I think are wrong in half those cases, if not more," Steinhauser says. "Because when those young people they arrive here, they have gone through very, very hard situations, so they look old when they come here."
One of the places the children go to recover is a newly opened group home in Munich run by hpkj e.V., an organization that provides education and therapy to at-risk children. Ninety boys and girls ranging in age from 6 to 17 who came to Germany over the past few months live in a building run by the organization.
One of the home's directors is Anna Lena Goedeke, who says they provide unaccompanied children a stable environment where they eat three healthy meals a day, learn German and, most importantly, heal.
"When they are here, it's too early to look deep [into their problems]," Goedeke says, but adds they are evaluated to make sure they won't hurt themselves or others.
Occasionally signs of the conflicts from countries they left behind erupt at the home, Goedeke says. For example, some of the Afghan residents who are Pashtuns won't associate with ethnic Hazara residents. Nor do Eritrean and Somali kids tend to like each other, she says.
Goedeke says for the most part, the young residents quickly settle into their new routine and are happy just to be kids again. Laughter echoes in the large playroom, where a dozen smiling boys crowd around a foosball table.
Even so, it will be a long time before these children are whole, says hpkj e.V. administrator Jutta Stiehler.
"During the night, maybe the ghosts come back, the fear and the sleeplessness," she says, adding that she fervently hopes these children will heal "in the soul and in the heart."


A geomorphic analysis of Sinai's drainage pattern. Evidence for interpreting the distribution of uplift?
Transient fluvial incision as an indicator of active faulting and surface uplift in the Moroccan High Atlas.
Quaternary incision rates in the Vesubie River, Southern Alps, France, from cosmogenic nuclides datings: implications for recent tectonics and climate controls.
Inverting longitudinal profiles of rivers to constrain the history of tectonic rock uplift rate: Application to the Inyo Mountains in western Basin and Range, CA.
Long-term landscape evolution of Namibia as revealed by thermochronological data.


The California Expanded Learning strategic planning process brought together Expanded Learning practitioners, K-12 education representatives, after school technical assistance providers, regional technical assistance leads ("Regional Leads"), intermediary and nonprofit organizations, and California Department of Education Expanded Learning Division (EXLD) staff to craft a plan that is both rooted in field experience and knowledge and vetted by the EXLD for feasibility and alignment with state-level priorities. This core approach, emphasizing strong field engagement, resulted in an innovative planning process that provided a forum for deep discussion and understanding of the EXLD's challenges, opportunities, and roles as well as the best ways for EXLD and the field to support each other.
To launch the strategic planning process, EXLD conducted a Discovery Phase consisting of research and field engagement that rapidly gathered core information about the current Expanded Learning landscape in California. The EXLD then formed a 16-member Design Team to analyze these data and recommend the ASD's vision, purpose, core values, strategic initiatives, and goals. The results of the Design Team's work are reflected in the team's final product, the ASD Statement of Strategic Direction (SSD). Using the SSD as a foundation, the EXLD then formed an 80-member Strategic Implementation Team (SIT) to engage in detailed planning work. The SIT was subdivided into four smaller Initiative Teams, each primarily focused on planning for one of the initiatives identified by the SSD. Each Initiative Team crafted objectives, activities, and indicators of success.
As implementation of this plan builds momentum EXLD will continue to integrally involve the field. This will not only ensure that ASD's work is aligned with field needs, assets, and opportunities – it will be essential to achieve the ambitious work outlined in this plan and ultimately to realize the vast potential of our state's investment in Expanded Learning.
The ongoing collaboration between the California Department of Education After School Division (ASD), program practitioners, support providers, and K-12 educators has been vital throughout the strategic planning process, including current plan implementation. We would like to thank everyone involved for their ongoing support and commitment to this process. These efforts will help more and more of our students enjoy and benefit from participating in high quality Expanded Learning opportunities in the coming years.


After eventually winning over City Council with a redevelopment proposal last summer, Slate Property Group filed plans Friday for a 125-unit apartment building at 176 Woodward Avenue in Queens' Ridgewood neighborhood.
Although the original proposal called for 88 units, new plans call for 37 more apartments in a total building space of 89,000 square feet, including 5,000 square feet of commercial space, part of which is expected to be reserved for artists who can use the space for as little as $10 a year. Ariel Aufgang Architects is designing the corner-lot building, which will also have a retail component.
Silverstone Property Group, the company that Slate principal Martin Nussbaum co-founded prior to forming Slate in 2013, acquired the junk yard at 176 Woodward Avenue in 2012.
Last year, Slate won a bid to rezone the address from industrial to residential use, but that required a good deal of negotiating with City Council member Antonio Reynoso, Queens Borough President Melinda Katz, and local residents, who insisted the project include a substantial percentage of affordable housing.
The rezoning proposal, approved by the city last year, stated that 50 percent of the units would be affordable.


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Trinidad and Tobago/ Guyana MOU welcomed
(Article Courtesy Kaieteur News, Sep 21, 2018)
President of the Guyana Oil and Gas Energy Chamber (GOGEC), Manniram Prashad, has welcomed with open arms, the recently signed Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Energy between Guyana and Trinidad and Tobago.
In fact, the Energy Chamber President believes that Guyanese, and the Government by extension, should be taking the opportunity to make use of Trinidad and Tobago's 100 years of oil and gas experience and expertise.
In a missive to the media, Prashad said, "Trinidad has tremendous experience and expertise in the oil and gas industry and we should make use of that. The MoU sets out the framework for co-operation and collaboration between the two countries to work with each other…
"I am in support of Trinidadian companies investing in Guyana as they have been doing so over the years…"
He added, "Guyana has benefited significantly from debt write offs from Trinidad and their favourable petroleum dealings. In fact, when our country was in a bad state, many Guyanese went to Trinidad in search for a better life and were accommodated by Trinidadian families. We must not forget that…"
But even as Guyana pursues a symbiotic relationship with Trinidad in the oil sector, Prashad said that there needs to be greater focus on agriculture and trade related issues which over the years, have worked against Guyanese exporters.
He insisted that Guyana must confront these issues with Trinidad. Once this is done, Prashad said that he would urge all private sector bodies in Guyana to partner with GOGEC and explore joint ventures with the Trinidadian Private Sector.
SINGING OF HISTORIC MOU
After several rounds of "intense" discussions, President David Granger and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Keith Rowley, signed the MoU on Energy on Wednesday morning at State House.
President Granger promised that the MoU is not a "sell out" of the sector to Trinidad and Tobago. He insisted that there is nothing for the private sector to worry about; that the agreement will allow both countries to benefit from the wealth to come.
Granger said, "The MoU is largely concerned with energy but there are other areas of interest. We extended our conversation in the area of agriculture, sport, and security, and we expect as a result of this engagement today, relations between the two Republics will become stronger."
The Head of State added, "There is much to be learnt from Trinidad and Tobago in terms of exports, standard of living, education, and the petroleum sector. By collaborating, we will be able to combine our natural resources with their entrepreneurial expertise and it will turn out to be a win-win situation. This is a significant step in making both parties stronger. We will be able to benefit from the experiences of Trinidad."
Prime Minister, Dr. Rowley said that he was honoured to have inked such an important agreement with Guyana but did not hesitate to express his disappointment with the controversy that it sparked.
The politician said, "To those who are mindful of a TT takeover of Guyana's good fortunes, to me, that is disappointing because we are working for all people of CARICOM to do better. So to come up against that, it is disappointing. This is simply the participation of a good neighbour with those who have a need for our finance, our skills, our experience. It is my expectation that investment from Guyana too would be welcomed in Trinidad and Tobago."
Dr. Rowley also sought to remind that when Guyana found itself in the grip of a serious economic crisis in 1981, it was Trinidad and Tobago that loaned it $98M. By 1996, that debt climbed to $536M and Trinidad was at the end of its oil boom.
The Twin Island Republic desperately needed to be repaid but Guyana was still cash strapped. Rowley reminded this morning that the TT government took the decision to write off the debt.
He said, "But we are not holding that as any quid pro quo (a favour for a favour) now. We treated that as circumstantial and we maintain that we are willing to cooperate with Guyana. We hope to continue to travel this road together."