text:
THE CONSERVATION CRISIS
Josep Oriol
Managing Partner
Josep has extensive experience in investments, law and private equity spanning over 20 years in Africa, Europe, USA and Japan: first in Conservation Capital and subsequently at Kibo capital partners an SME private equity investor with $100M under management. Josep has acquired substantial experience in environmental conservation through investments in wildlife, tourism, forestry, carbon and his role on several board positions. He holds an MBA from Duke University, a degree in Law (LLB) from Universidad Internacional de Catalunya and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Universidad Autonoma de Barcelona.
Giles Davies
Giles has over 20 years' experience in private equity and impact investing in Africa, Europe and USA. He founded Conservation Capital (CC) and is widely recognized as one the of world's leading specialists in conservation enterprise development and related investment financing. He started his career at Price Waterhouse Coopers. In addition to his work with CC, Giles has considerable experience as a non-executive director of both private and listed companies.
Brett Stevenson
Impact and Sustainability Lead
Brett leverages over 15 years of experience in program design and performance management, primarily in Africa. She has developed digital tools for improving data and analytics capacity for non-profits, social enterprises and multi-national companies. She is the Chief Operating Officer for AWF's Conservation Bonds. She also worked for Global Impact Investing Network (GIIN), building industry training on impact measurement and ESG practice. Brett holds an MBA from NYU and an engineering degree from the University of Calgary.
Caroline Chepkwony
Sr Investment Manager & CFO
Caroline is a seasoned finance professional with 14 years of extensive experience in financial management. She founded Pesa crowd and previously worked for Fanisi Capital as a Chief Finance Officer and Investor Relations. Caroline started her career at Price Waterhouse Coopers in finance and business advisory roles. She holds an MBA from the University of Oxford.
Elijah Gachohi
Analyst
Elijah has built his career at the intersection of financial investment and impact analysis. He previously worked for Gatsby Foundation where he acted on forestry analytics, economic and impact analysis. Prior to that he worked for PKF and his engagements included M&A transactions, modelling and valuations. He holds a Bachelors in Economics and is a certified public accountant.
Caroline Njoki
Administrative Assistant
Caroline has experience in administration and customer service. She started her career at Aculaser institute.
She holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations from the University of Nairobi.
Nyokabi Manguyu
Nyokabi has over 16 years' experience in investment banking. She is a Principal and Head of M&A at Horizon Africa, where she has led over $600m of transactions. Nyokabi was previously at Goldman Sachs, and Merryl Lynch. She is a CFA charter holder and has a BSc in Economics and Finance by Ithaca College, NY.
Jon Mellberg
Jon has over 25 years' experience in energy and investment banking. He is a partner at Westbeck Capital Management fund focused on energy. He spent ten years as a Managing Director at Tudor, Pickering, Holt & Co., a leading energy investment and merchant bank. In addition to his management experience, he's held roles in institutional sales, capital markets and research. He serves as a board chairman at Conservation Strategy Fund.
Charlotte Ward
Charlotte is a Managing director at the Global Innovation Fund. Previously she was a senior partner at AHL Venture Partners, the manager of impact investment for the Lundin family office and the AHL Growth Fund. Charlotte spent the last ten years in Kenya working in development and investment (grant and venture capital) in early stage businesses. Prior to that she worked at GSMA and Deutsche Bank where she was vice president. Charlotte serves on several SMEs boards and holds a Masters in Applied Environment Studies from the University of Bristol.
Elizabeth Littlefield
Advisor
Elizabeth is a Senior Counselor at Albright Stonebridge Group, a global business strategy firm. Previously, she was the President and CEO of OPIC with a $24 billion portfolio to support private investment in sustainable economic development. From 2000 until 2010 Littlefield was a director at the World Bank and the CEO of CGAP, a policy and research center for inclusive finance. Earlier in her career Littlefield was a Managing Director at JP Morgan's capital markets and financing for Europe, Middle East and Africa. Elizabeth serves on several boards: The World Wildlife Fund, DAI, and Mkopa. She has also served on boards of Master card Foundation and Calvert Foundation.
Christine Hemrick
Christine was the Vice President of Technology Policy and Consulting Engineering at Cisco Systems. She was also a Director of Cisco Learning Institute, and the Executive Sponsor for Cisco's Networking Academies in Africa. She has been a significant funder of conservation initiatives for more than two decades. She began impact investing in 2009 and was a founding investor in African Wildlife Foundation (AWF) Conservation Bonds. She serves on the boards of AWF and the Wildlife Conservation Network.
Carl F. Muñana
Carl is the former CEO of the Inter-American Investment Corporation, the multilateral private sector investment banking affiliate of the Inter-American Development Bank. Previously, he was head of investment banking for Mexico at J.P. Morgan & Co, and he served on several boards, including Voxiva Inc., Microvest Funds, Ashoka (Spain), Global Citizen Year, and Emzingo. Carl co founded Beeck Center for Social Impact and Innovation at Georgetown University.
Andrew Reicher
Andrew has over 30 years' of private equity investment and 10+ years investment banking experience. He previously worked at the Commonwealth Development Corporation (CDC) and the private equity firm Actis when it was spun out of CDC, as the Chief Investment Officer.
Andrew serves on the investment committees of Berkeley Energy, Catalyst Principal Partners and Energy Access Ventures Fund and has a personal portfolio of angel investments in early stage energy access and rural livelihood businesses in Africa.
Thomas Hancock
Tom is a South African entrepreneur with diverse interests in sustainability. He is the Managing Director of Avoca Developments, a company which develops affordable or GAP housing. He is also the Managing Director of Rockwood Leisure (hotels and lodges) in South Africa. Tom serves as the chairman of BioCarbon Partners and has also served as chairman of Timbavati Game reserve. He is a chartered accountant, and worked with Price Waterhouse Coopers.


text:
@implementation DWZImageHandle

+ (UIImage*)imageWithPureColor:(UIColor*)color{
    CGRect rect = CGRectMake(0, 0, 1, 1);
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(rect.size);
    CGContextRef context  = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();
    CGContextSetFillColorWithColor(context, color.CGColor);
    CGContextFillRect(context, rect);
    UIImage *img = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext();
    return img;
}

+ (UIImage *)grayImage:(UIImage *)sourceImage {
    int width = sourceImage.size.width;
    int height = sourceImage.size.height;
    CGColorSpaceRef colorSpace = CGColorSpaceCreateDeviceGray();
    CGContextRef context = CGBitmapContextCreate (nil,width,height,8,0,colorSpace,kCGImageAlphaNone);
    CGColorSpaceRelease(colorSpace);
    if (context == NULL) {
        return nil;
    }
    CGContextDrawImage(context,CGRectMake(0, 0, width, height), sourceImage.CGImage);
    UIImage *grayImage = [UIImage imageWithCGImage:CGBitmapContextCreateImage(context)];
    CGContextRelease(context);
    return grayImage;
}

+ (UIImage *)hanleImage:(UIImage *)image CoverWithColor:(UIColor *)color
{
    CGSize originSize;

    originSize = image.size;
    UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(originSize);

    CGRect contextRect;
    contextRect.origin.x = 0.0f;
    contextRect.origin.y = 0.0f;
    contextRect.size = originSize;
    // Retrieve source image and begin image context
    CGSize itemImageSize = originSize;
    CGPoint itemImagePosition;
    itemImagePosition.x = ceilf((contextRect.size.width - itemImageSize.width) / 2);
    itemImagePosition.y = ceilf((contextRect.size.height - itemImageSize.height) );

    UIGraphicsBeginImageContext(contextRect.size);

    CGContextRef c = UIGraphicsGetCurrentContext();
    // Setup shadow
    // Setup transparency layer and clip to mask
    CGContextBeginTransparencyLayer(c, NULL);
    CGContextScaleCTM(c, 1.0, -1.0);
    CGContextClipToMask(c, CGRectMake(itemImagePosition.x, -itemImagePosition.y, itemImageSize.width, -itemImageSize.height), [image CGImage]);
    // Fill and end the transparency layer

    const CGFloat* colors = CGColorGetComponents( color.CGColor );
    CGContextSetRGBFillColor(c, colors[0], colors[1], colors[2], .75);

    contextRect.size.height = -contextRect.size.height;
    contextRect.size.height -= 15;
    CGContextFillRect(c, contextRect);
    CGContextEndTransparencyLayer(c);

    UIImage *img = UIGraphicsGetImageFromCurrentImageContext();
    UIGraphicsEndImageContext();

    return img;

}
@end

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


She will fall in love with this divine ring! This stunning morganite ring is crafted to perfection in 18ct rose gold and boasts a shimmering rectangular corner claw set cushion cut morganite which rests on stylish scrolled shoulders. She will love showing this ring off on one hand with you on the other.


text:
About HCA Virginia
Virginia Pricing Transparency
More from HCA Virginia
Reston Hospital Center nationally recognized with an 'A' for the Spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade
HCA Virginia /
Newsroom /
Reston Hospital Center nationally...
Reston Hospital Center
Reston, VA – Reston Hospital Center was awarded an 'A' in the spring 2020 Leapfrog Hospital Safety Gradea national distinction recognizing Reston Hospital Center's achievements providing safer health care. The Leapfrog Group is an independent national watchdog organization committed to health care quality and safety. The Safety Grade is a letter grade assigned to all general hospitals across the country and updated every six months, assessing how well the hospital prevents medical errors and other harms to patients.
"Our top priority is creating a culture of safety to ensure the best outcomes for our patients," said John Deardorff, President and CEO of Reston Hospital Center and HCA's Northern Virginia market. "The collaboration between our medical staff and care team has been instrumental in delivering these outstanding results. We are extremely proud of this achievement and recognition from The Leapfrog Group."
"As the Nation copes with a challenging pandemic, our gratitude extends to hospital leadership and health care workers everywhere for their tremendous dedication," said Leah Binder, president and CEO of The Leapfrog Group. "We hope this 'A' helps to thank the people who work and volunteer for Reston Hospital Center. They are role models in putting patients first, and their service has been extraordinary in our country's time of need."
Developed under the guidance of a national Expert Panel, the Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade uses up to 28 measures of publicly available hospital safety data to assign grades to more than 2,600 U.S. acute-care hospitals twice per year. The Hospital Safety Grade's methodology is peer-reviewed and fully transparent, and the results are free to the public.
Reston Hospital Center was awarded an 'A' grade, when Leapfrog updated grades for spring 2020. To see Reston Hospital Center's full grade details and access patient tips for staying safe in the hospital, visit hospitalsafetygrade.org and follow The Leapfrog Group on Twitter and Facebook.
About The Leapfrog Group
Founded in 2000 by large employers and other purchasers, The Leapfrog Group is a national nonprofit organization driving a movement for giant leaps forward in the quality and safety of American health care. The flagship Leapfrog Hospital Survey and new Leapfrog Ambulatory Surgery Center (ASC) Survey collect and transparently report hospital and ASC performance, empowering purchasers to find the highest-value care and giving consumers the lifesaving information they need to make informed decisions. The Leapfrog Hospital Safety Grade, Leapfrog's other main initiative, assigns letter grades to hospitals based on their record of patient safety, helping consumers protect themselves and their families from errors, injuries, accidents and infections.
For Media: Preparedness
HCA Virginia has protocols in place to care for patients with infectious diseases and we are preparing for any potential impacts of COVID-19.
COVID-19 Media Preparedness
HCA Virginia
901 E. Cary St
Quick Links About us--About HCA Virginia--Our mission and values--Community involvement--Newsroom--Phone directory--Physician careers--eNewsletter sign-upOnline tools--Patient portal--Classes and events--Medical records--Patient Payment Estimator--Consult-A-Nurse

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Osteomyelitis is bone infection, usually caused by bacteria. The infection in the bone typically shows up within weeks or months of an injury, or after an underlying disease develops.
Osteomyelitis in children usually occurs in long bones like arms and legs, but it can affect any bone in the body. The growth plates found in long bones are commonly infected because they are softer and weaker than other areas. The condition develops more often in boys than in girls. Fifty percent of cases occur in children under 5.
Through the bloodstream. Germs from an infection in another part of the body—such as an ear infection—might travel through the bloodstream to a weakened area of bone.
From an adjacent infection. Sometimes deep wounds transmit germs far inside the body. If a wound becomes infected, germs can spread to nearby bone.
Direct infection. This can happen if a bone breaks so severely that it is exposed to open air. Direct infection can also happen during some surgeries to replace a joint or repair a fracture.
Swelling, redness or warmth in the infected area.
Decreased use of an infected arm or leg.
Because the infection can reduce blood circulation within the bone, the condition can cause bone death (also known as osteonecrosis). When the infection is in the growth plates of arm or leg bones, children experience growth impairment.
At Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, specialists can diagnose osteomyelitis in your child using a combination of tests, a physical examination and a review of medical history.
Blood tests can uncover underlying infections, inflammation and changes over time.
X-rays, which can show the severity of bone damage, usually after osteomyelitis has been present for several weeks.
Computed tomography (CT) scans, which can provide a more detailed view of bones, making osteomyelitis easier to diagnose.
MRIs, which can provide detailed images of infected bones and surrounding tissues.
Bone biopsies are the most effective way to determine the type of bacteria infecting a bone. Typically a needle is inserted into the infected area to extract a small sample of bone. Knowing the type of bacteria causing the infection helps us prescribe the best type of antibiotic to treat the infection.
Treatment options for your child depend on age and the severity of infection. Antibiotics and surgery are two common treatments.
Open the infected area and drain fluid.
Clean and remove infected bone and tissue—this is called a debridement.
Fill in remaining space after infected bone and tissue are removed, until your child is ready for a bone or tissue graft.
In extreme cases, when osteomyelitis has not responded to other treatments, your child might need amputation to prevent the infection from spreading throughout body.


Apply now for Transaction Manager jobs in Investment banking/M&A. 1,372 positions are currently open at eFinancialCareers.
Investment banking/M&A, Transaction Manager: currently 1372 jobs.The latest job was posted on 24 Apr 19.


How It's New York: The film premiered at the inaugural Golden Egg festival in New York's Tribeca Cinemas, where it won best feature.
How It's Irish: Set in Cork, it's a love story between a local and an American woman who has moved to Ireland.
"Choosing Signs" is about a woman who lets her life, and the central decision of who to spend it with, be dictated by the flimsiest of "signs" from The Universe. Though the plot is often implausible, the telling of the tale is so sweet and frequently funny that you allow yourself to be taken.
You fall for the impishly, charming hero, Eamon (Owen Dara)–speaking for women, at least! So, you root for him to get the girl, Jennifer (Jessica Lancaster), who has yoked herself to a laughably shallow archetype of the Celtic Tiger offering her financial security at a high price.
Jennifer is surrounded by male madness. The socially acceptable version is Mark (Stiofan Wyley), her live-in partner; the other is her brother, Matty (Jeremiah Ocanas), a patient in the psychiatric hospital where Eamon works. Both Mark and Matty are obsessed: Mark with wringing the last cent out of immigrants by cramming them into miniature apartments; Matty with mechanical inventions that have no commercial value.
E amon is light relief from their intensity and comes across as the true representative of Ireland. Mark and Jennifers' Russian immigrant housekeeper, Svetlana (Betsy Douds) adds to the fun of a very playful film through her dourness.
Moreover, this feature film was screened after a bleak short film set in The States ("Wracked"). The net effect was to make the portrayal of Ireland seems so idyllic in "Choosing Signs" that you'd wonder was it stealth marketing for The Gathering—an Irish tourism marketing effort whereby all those with connections to Ireland and "invited" to visit in 2013!
Eamon engineers his way into Jennifer's heart with a kind of childlike innocence. He secures his first date with her by phoning up and acting as if she had suggested it. Realizing that she finds Irish (Gaelic) romantic, he recites a "poem" that is, really, him counting to ten and back—seemingly his full repertoire in the language.
What Dara, particularly, has done is very impressive. He wrote, directed, produced and acted in this, his first feature film, as well as composing and singing the music. And all this on $25,000.
Dara's co-producer was Lancaster, who is his partner in real life. The autobiographical similarities end there, the couple says.
"" won best feature in the festival, albeit as one of just two feature films among the 24 shown. Douds also won Best Supporting Actress as Svetlana.


text:
using System;
using System.Collections.Generic;
using System.Data.SqlClient;
using System.Linq;
using System.Text;
using System.Threading.Tasks;

namespace webjob_snapshot_sql
{
    class DatabaseConnection
    {
        private SqlConnection _sqlConnection;

        public DatabaseConnection(string connectionString)
        {
            var scsb = new SqlConnectionStringBuilder(connectionString)
            {
                MultipleActiveResultSets = true
            };

            _sqlConnection = new SqlConnection(scsb.ConnectionString);
            _sqlConnection.Open();
        }

        public SqlConnection Connection { get { return _sqlConnection; } }
    }
}


The Honda Odyssey has come a long way since 1994 with newer models boasting rear-seat gadgets for the kids, plenty of trim options, climate control, a rearview camera, and blind-spot monitoring. The make's essentials, though, never changed: welcoming interiors, smooth road manners, fuel efficiency, and a reliability trusted by millions. In addition to a plethora of features already present in your van, our catalog of Odyssey aftermarket accessories and performance parts will add even more functionality to your van.
Be sure to check out our hitches from Curt, manufactured with robotic welds to ensure maximum towing performance. If you're taking the bikes out for the weekend or just helping a friend move, this hitch will stay as smooth as the rest of your Odyssey thanks to its A-coat pre-finish. For those messy people who share the comfort of your car, keep your floors clean with a set of WeatherTech all-weather floor liners. These mats trap all fluid and debris, rather than leak them into your carpet and are sturdy as they come. With AAG's free shipping, what's not to like? We're confident enough in our pricing to offer you a 1-year Price Match Guarantee, meaning we'll beat our competitors' price by $1 if you can find your preferred Odyssey Accessory someplace cheaper. Auto Accessories Garage delivers comfort, without sacrificing economy or dependability--the same reasons you bought your Odyssey. Our product experts will field your questions and concerns 7 days a week, readier than ever to help find the best fit for you.
Although the installation instructions were a little confusing, it was fairly easy to install the LeBra Front End Bra on my 2012 Honda Odyssey. So far, it has held up well and looks good on my vehicle. I bought this because the car I just traded had significant rock chips and road damage on the front end, which brought the trade-in value down considerably. I am hoping that my investment in this product will protect my investment in my van!


Multitech, was established in Cyprus on the 23rd of June 1993 as a Limited Liability company with the name Don't Panic Computers Ltd, initially distributing only consumables and then adding a range of computer peripherals and accessories to its line-up. Within the years Multitech has established various collaborations with well-known brands, offering first class products and services to the Cyprus market. The company has been awarded with the ISO 9002 certification, confirming the company's commitment to the best quality products and the high standards of customer service. Today Multitech is considered a market leader.
From more than 30 leading manufacturers.
MULTITECH IS ONE OF THE BIGGEST DISTRIBUTORS IN THE FIELDS OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRODUCTS, TVS, HOME APPLIANCES, AIR CONDITIONERS, SECURITY PRODUCTS, MOBILE PHONES AND CONSUMABLES IN CYPRUS.
To profitably provide our valued clients merchantable products with a planned market strategy that is aimed at driving growth and expanding existing market share. Making ethical business practices a core corporate value that will continue to distinguish Multitech in the market place.These core value based policies and practices allow Multitech to operate in a climate of trust, a climate in which when difficulties arise, as they inevitably will, they can be resolved quickly, effectively and efficiently: Fostering of a culture of positive outcome, especially when the market place is experiencing a downturn. Providing both an internal and external climate of confidence in the decision making processes ensures a positive and creative set of outcomes that lead high levels of customer satisfaction and inevitably to the building of strong customer loyalty.


I adore Nova Ren Suma's stories and I've been so anxious for new stuff from her!
Nice choice! I saw this one the other day and immediately added it to my TBR. I wasn't a huge fan of Imaginary Girls, but this one sounds really interesting.


The Samsung Gear 360 camera is a great camera from a company that has a history of innovative products besides cool phones. This 360-degree camera allows a 360 complete capture at the push of a button. The Samsung Gear 360 mounting option is enabled using an industry standard 1/4″ – 20 threaded screw hole. This screw hole is common to a tripod as well as many camera mounts.
The Samsung Gear 360 weighs in at a little less than six ounces. That's fairly light but the camera itself isn't fairly inexpensive so choose a mount that is well made and will hold the camera reliably and steady.
You would think that Samsung would offer an assortment of mounts and stands for the Samsung Gear 360 but they don't. Fortunately there are a lot of third-party mounts and stands that will do the job. Now we'll recommend some mounts and tripods for the Samsung Gear 360 camera.
Overlooked by many is a basic tripod. Use one if you have it around the house. Need a tripod? Consider the Acuvar 50″ Inch Aluminum Camera Tripod which works fine with the Samsung Gear 360. Just screw the Samsung Gear 360 onto the tripod and adjust the head to the proper angle. Be sure to place the tripod where it will not get knocked over. The Samsung Gear 360 is simple to install and remove from this tripod. Just a matter of turning it until the tripod screw engages or disengages.
Bolting the mount to a flat surface will work well. The Arkon Camera Wall Mount for CCTV POV Camcorders Cameras is what is in the photo that accompanies this article. It is a good heavy duty choice for action and security cameras. This is a mount for a wall or table. Anything flat. Attach this metal mount to and use one of the three adjustment points to get the proper angle. The top adapter rotates and swivels. This mount has a 2-year warranty and includes screws for mounting.
An excellent suction cup option is the Fat Gecko Camera and Camcorder Mount . This is great for attachment to non porous flat surfaces (not a wall). Another heavy duty entry. This one has steel frame construction coupled with dual 3″ suction cups that can hold the Samsung Gear 360 without a problem. The mount attaches to any flat smooth surface. The mount pivots at a ball and socket connection at the base and tip.
Another interesting type of mount that will work with these cameras is the clamp variety. A clamp is a good way to attach the Samsung Gear 360 to a rail or post.
Consider the Bracketron Xventure Xlip Flexible Camera Mount. This mount combines a clamp with a flexible gooseneck. The ending has the requisite adapter needed to fit the Samsung Gear 360. The clamp opens two inches wide and the flexible gooseneck is seven inches tall. The ability to get the best position for the camera is important and the addition of the flexible gooseneck helps a lot to get that done.
On the body, there are a variety of mounts that can accommodate the tripod mounting pattern. However, the shape of this camera makes wearing it on the body a bit awkward so we aren't going to dive into these types of mounts.
There are lots of mounts and stands available to fit the Samsung Gear 360. We presented a few in this article. Others may work better for you depending upon your unique requirements and application.


text:
Q: When does the == operator depend on Equatable and when does it not? I have an array of the following struct:
struct AtomCameraType
{
    var APIIdentifier: Input.HDRCamera
    var name: String

    init(...
}

That APIIdentifier, of type Input.HDRCamera, is a generated Google Protocol Buffer enum in Swift:
enum HDRCamera: SwiftProtobuf.Enum {
    typealias RawValue = Int
    case standard // = 1
    case sony // = 2
    case canon // = 3
    case panasonic // = 4
    case arri // = 5
    case jvc // = 6
    case red // = 7
    case rec2100 // = 8
    case fujifilm // = 9
    case nikon // = 10
    case proResRaw // = 11

    init() {
      self = .standard
    }

This may not conform to the Equatable protocol.
Attempts to match one of these enums against another with == works in a straight if statement, but fails when using == in firstIndex(where:.
So this works (cameraTypes is the aforementioned array of AtomCameraType):
for testType in AtomCamera.cameraTypes()  // array of struct AtomCameraType
{
    if testType.APIIdentifier == camType.APIIdentifier
    {
        debugPrint("Match found.")
    }
}

but this doesn't:
if let camIndex = AtomCamera.cameraTypes().firstIndex(where: { $0.APIIdentifier == camType.APIIdentifier })
{
    debugPrint("Match found.")
}

but finally, it works if I add rawValue:
if let camIndex = AtomCamera.cameraTypes().firstIndex(where: { $0.APIIdentifier.rawValue == camType.APIIdentifier.rawValue })
{
    // This works.
    ...
}

So it seems to me that == doesn't always need conformance to Equatable, but sometimes it does. Or is there something else going on here?
UPDATE: So, with no changes to this code, it now works. I made extensive changes in the AtomCamera object, but not to these structs or cameraTypes(). And, as you can see from the working/non-working examples (which I had in the code at the same time), they're both using the same call to cameraTypes() to fetch the array.
Returning to this issue, I looked for other firstIndex(where:) calls with similar structs and ==, and found that they worked. So I removed the ".rawValue" from this troublesome one experimentally... to find that the firstIndex now works. Baffling.
What's the protocol here? Delete this or close it, or just leave it?

A: The == operator "doesn't need" Equatable. In fact, no function, subscript, property or operator requirement of any protocol "needs" its protocol. Being present is a requirement for the protocol, but even without the protocol, nothing prevents an == operator from being defined, no different from any other arbitrary protocol.
I don't know what the definition of cameraTypes() is, but there is no difference between the == operator used in your if statement and that used in the firtIndex(where:) call. I don't know why it's exhibiting different behaviour for you.
Your rawValue example works because the rawValue's type is Int (or some integral type, IDK the specifics of SwiftProtobuf.Enum), which is Equatable (and thus, necessarily has a == operator defined).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


The Medical Centre manages patient information in accordance with existing laws and with guidance from organisations that govern the provision of healthcare such as the Department of Health and the General Medical Council.
Risk stratification is a process for identifying and managing patients who are at high risk of requiring emergency or urgent care. Typically this is because patients have a long term condition such as COPD, cancer or other medical condition at risk of sudden worsening. NHS England encourages GPs to use risk stratification tools as part of their local strategies for supporting patients with long-term conditions and to provide care plans and planned care with the aim to prevent avoidable admissions or other emergency care.
If you have received treatment within the NHS your personal information may be shared within a strictly monitored, secure and confidential environment in order to determine which CCG should pay for the treatment or procedure you have received.
The Data Controller, responsible for keeping your information secure and confidential is Mr Christopher Simmonds. Any changes to this notice will be published on our website and displayed in prominent notices in the surgery.
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Fusion Cookie Used to store whether you have agreed to accept Cookies from this website (will only be used with agreement). It contains no personal details.
The Medical Centre • 2 Frances Street , Doncaster, DN1 1JS.


text:
The inside story of China's stunning rise from tech imitator to innovator
In her new book, 'Tech Titans of China,' journalist Rebecca Fannin profiles some of the key players and companies driving China's booming tech economy.
[Images: GDJ/Pixabay; sezer ozger/iStock]
By Marcus Baram long Read
With the Trump administration's trade war with China making headlines every day and Chinese companies leaping ahead of their global competitors in key technologies, there is plenty of interest in how the country's tech sector got to its current level of dominance and where it's headed in the coming years. Veteran journalist Rebecca Fannin, who was one of the first American journalists to write about China's entrepreneurial boom, provides some answers in her new book Tech Titans of China, which has detailed of some of the key players and companies in sectors ranging from social media platforms and AI to the sharing economy and e-commerce.
[Photo: courtesy of Rebecca Fannin]
Fannin spent many months reporting from China's venture and tech ecosystem, which includes bustling incubators, accelerators, workshops, and networking events, where she interviewed venture capitalists, investors, and entrepreneurs to capture how the country has leapfrogged the U.S. in key areas. And she warns that China's shakeup of the status quo should be a wakeup call for American business leaders. As one of her sources tells her, "China is going to eat Silicon Valley's lunch."
Fannin spoke with Fast Company about China's most dynamic tech sectors, most impressive startups, and what she would advise the Trump administration.
Fast Company: You delve into such detail, and there's such a breadth of technologies you describe. In what areas, whether it's 5G or AI, is China most equipped to overtake the U.S. in a way that will have an impact for decades to come?
Rebecca Fannin: For one, electric vehicles. I think the new Detroit is over in China and that the U.S. is just not in the same category in terms of where they are.
It's interesting because there are a number of Chinese electric vehicle makers that have set up in L.A. So there's this cross-border element going on between L.A and China. And so BYD is in L.A., and Nio has a place in L.A., and several other ones do that. Karma does. There are something like 40 Chinese electric car makers that have some kind of R&D hub or some kind of facility in the U.S.
It's not necessarily leaving the U.S. out; it's bringing the U.S. in. And so for instance, Xiaopeng Motors, the company that I write about in the book, they have an AI lab in Silicon Valley that I visited, and they've been hiring from Silicon Valley. In fact, they've been in the middle of some lawsuits from Tesla over engineers that have moved from one place to another to their companies.
So it's a very close tie. But I think China is the production hub for electric vehicles going forward. And also there's a lot of AI development of autonomous driving happening in China. So I think the electric vehicle market is just poised to give China the lead. And if you look at what's happening in Shanghai and in Shenzhen, their entire bus fleet is electric. They are getting ahead in autonomous driving research, and they're getting ahead in this application of AI and electric together for public fleets. They're way ahead of that, and they can just dictate it, so it's more easily done than in the U.S. It's the same thing with high-speed rail, where in China you can easily go from one city to another by high-speed rail. It's not a big hassle. That's just another area.
FC: And what about partnerships? You mentioned that 40 companies are operating in different parts of California and have labs set up. Do a lot of them have partnerships set up with American companies or American startups or American car companies? Or not really.
RF: Honda is working with Baidu on autonomous driving. So that's one example . . . I believe that GM and Ford also have some alliances coming forward in China where they're going to be working with Chinese companies. Ford entered into a new joint venture to produce electric vehicles in China and plans to start producing self-driving vehicles in Michigan by 2023. And Toyota's first electric-only cars will go to China first and then to the United States and Europe.
It's all relatively new, the American involvement, that rain chime in and development of electric vehicles is pretty new.
FC: In what other areas—maybe not quite as impactful as electric vehicles—is there such a potential for a huge advance by Chinese companies?
RF: I see it in the e-retail space. Alibaba is so far advanced, and so is JD, another big e-commerce company. I visited those big retailing outlets in the big cities in China. They're very impressive. They're much more advanced than what Amazon has with Amazon Go, with Whole Foods, for instance. It's all very automated and just very crisp and fresh looking, and everything is mobile payments. You can use AR to look at ingredients of foods, digitally, right above the countertop where you're buying the food. And there's no cash. You can eat inside the supermarket. They have in-store restaurants where the food comes to you. You order it electronically and then the food comes to you on these trays on a robot-controlled conveyor belt and it lights up next to your table and you take the food out and the little robot goes away.
Anyhow, I think all this is going to come to the U.S., but China is just way ahead on it and way ahead on on-demand delivery, too. An example is Starbucks and Luckin Coffee. So Starbucks is basically copying the Luckin Coffee model of instant delivery and on-demand delivery, all by mobile. Instead of going in and standing on line, if you order it by mobile app, a scooter comes and delivers your coffee to you in the morning. Same thing for takeout lunches, everything is done by a mobile app. So the mobile app generation in China is very advanced, everything is mobile. China just skipped right past the PC era. And it went straight to mobile, and China has a young, digitally savvy population who like to try new things.
FC: Is that what accounts for how far advanced that technology is developed, that there is a much more kind of automatic transition to mobile whereas here it took a little bit longer?
RF: Yeah, definitely. I mean here we're still using credit cards and we're still using cash. Apple Pay is not nearly as in use as WeChat pay or Alipay in China. Everyone is using mobile payments. It's pervasive. It just caught on really quickly, and it's all very convenient. We have legacy systems in the U.S., so that's more difficult to get around.
FC: And what was the most impressive startup you came across in your reporting? You know, it could be something really small. It doesn't have to be a big company like Alibaba, but one that you were really blown away by—the technology they were developing and what its implications are.
RF: I like the drone company DJI in Shenzhen. They have well over half the market share globally. That's a breakthrough for a Chinese company to have that kind of global impact. They gave me a demo of all these various drones that they have at their headquarters in Shenzhen, and they're moving to a new space, one that would make Steve Jobs envious.
Their founder is very visionary. He started at the Hong Kong Science and Technology Park as a student, and then he developed this technology into a business, and he's very secretive. And he's raised a lot of money, and he has the breakthrough technology. Has the capital. He has managed to fight back a U.S. competitor who broke off from DJI. And so I give him a lot of credit.
FC: This is a very broad question but, what lessons do you think can be learned from what you observed, this huge renaissance in Chinese tech companies and how they're developing so fast?
RF: Well, definitely there's an entrepreneurial culture that's alive and well and is very strong, stronger than I've seen in the U.S. So China has been playing catch-up for a long time, for about two decades now since the entrepreneurial boom began. And now they've gotten to the level that they are in many in many cases on par or close to being on par with the U.S. The U.S. will continue to be the global leader, I think. But China has that entrepreneurial energy, that work ethic. They have the venture capital, they have entrepreneurial heroes like we have in the U.S. They have their equivalent of Steve Jobs, Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates.
FC: And it seems like there's more government backing. Like the government will throw billions at a technology?
RF: No, the government is not really backing these privately financed companies. What's interesting about them is that they have financing from both China and the U.S. and Europe and Japan. So SoftBank has been there quite a bit. And Sequoia and Draper and NEA. If you go down Sand Hill Road, all the major players have invested in Chinese startups. So the government has this overall overarching plan to boost technology. And they also have a fund that invests in technology, but they're not investing directly into these companies. Companies have money from the venture capital and private equity funds, who are financed by the pension and endowment funds in many cases and family offices. Look, the government has encouraged this technology to develop in China and they have also blocked U.S. companies from getting in, including some leading U.S. digital companies like Google and Facebook and Twitter and several media outlets as well.
Tech Titans of China: How China's Tech Sector is Challenging the World by Innovating Faster, Working Harder & Going Global by Rebecca A. Fannin
So you could argue, these companies like Baidu and Alibaba and Tencent and Xiaomi, they got ahead because the American companies were blocked. But on the other hand, in some cases, I think the American companies were outmaneuvered by their Chinese counterparts. So if you look at Uber and Didi and the ride-hailing space, that's what happened. Didi just kept bulking up. They bought a Chinese competitor, they won the price war with Uber. Uber said, 'Well, OK, we're just losing millions, billions over here. At some point we have to either win this market or give up,' and so they sold out to Didi in China. And the same thing happened with eBay and Alibaba. What happens in many cases is an American company still struggling to get the right management into China and can react quickly enough to local changes know what the local market needs.
I think they're getting smarter at that. I think Starbucks did. Their fast reaction to Luckin coffee is a good example of a company that says, 'Hey, we know what we have to do, we have to get into this on-demand delivery and this mobile generation. We've got to get in there.' Even Amazon, they've largely failed in China. And eBay failed, too. You just go down the list. Google claims it withdrew because of censorship, but they were also losing the market to the local competitor, Baidu. Look, these Chinese entrepreneurs are fierce competitors.
FC: And they know their market obviously a little better than Amazon or eBay would.
RF: Yes, and they will cut prices. They will go after your share, no matter what. I mean, I spoke to a venture capitalist who was working at eBay back at the time. He said the Alibaba people would stand outside their company door at the end of the day and try to persuade them to come work for Alibaba. To stand right outside where you work and say, "We can give you all better salaries, better this and that," they're very, very fierce competitors. I don't think we're quite used to that level in the U.S.
FC: What kind of advice would you give, I guess—given this intense trade conflict we're in now—for the Trump administration in terms of helping develop our own tech, from 5G to AI? And with this trade crisis, how to negotiate a deal here?
RF: Well, the trade issue is a whole other aspect of it. But with technology I think there's something to be said for the way that China has a top-down government mandate for advancing technologies. Like, you know—and we used to have this—we're going to go to the moon.
FC: And with renewables, too. They've been very aggressive with that.
RF: Well, that's true. I wish we had more mission-oriented policies to push our technology. What we're doing now is we're fighting back. We're saying, 'We're not gonna let you in, we're not gonna sell you our components. We're not gonna let you come into the market.' And that's a defensive maneuver. I wish we had a more proactive stance. This country needs internet throughout the country. Large portions of the country don't have internet. Also, look at our highways. When you go to China, all the infrastructure works. Our infrastructure is failing. We have a defensive policy, not a proactive policy.
I think that we need to pay more attention to national R&D spending. China is on the same level as the U.S. now for national R&D spending. And it's about on par as well with scientific academic papers. If you look at patent applications, it's about on par, too. China's caught up considerably, and I quote this in my book that China has 21% of the world's patent application patent filings. And the U.S. has 22%. All of these things are real indicators.
Look, we need to get our act together. We need to have some sort of centralized or visionary technology program, not necessarily like China. We're not going to be a communist country, we're not going to have top-down . . . It just seems that we don't have anything today like "let's go to the moon." And China has that.
FC: What about intellectual property concerns? I mean, is that something that should be pressed by the U.S., as it has been by the administration? I mean, that's obviously a central issue that's always talked about in tech.
RF: Definitely. Well, this is an issue that always comes up with China. The Chinese have come to the U.S., they have gone to our best universities, worked at our best technology companies for numerous years, and then gone back to China and created copycats. But it goes deeper than that because of technology that's being stolen from U.S. companies. The FBI is investigating about a thousand instances right now, and we'll see what they find.
Look, the Chinese have become better when you're an American company or a foreign company going into China. Now that China has its own IP to protect, there's more recognition that IP matters. This was kind of a new concept in China. But now that China has its own, the Chinese are bringing their own [IP] cases. And so this what I hear from the lawyers—and they're winning them.
When you have knowledge workers and you have an exchange of information as well, which often happens when you have new technology that's developing, the information flow is really key to the development of new technologies. Having the U.S. and China and Japan and other leading countries all contributing to technology advances is good overall. Individual companies can be protected—that's the other side of it.
The whole trade issue, I think what the market needs globally is for the best products and the best services to come from the best places. Right now, the U.S. doesn't have a replacement for the China market. China has a replacement for the things that they can get from the U.S. They can turn to other countries for agricultural products.
The U.S. can't find another China opportunity. The U.S. did a lot of these joint ventures with the Chinese in the early days, and they traded their technology for market access to China. And that's still going on. Today, you do see Chinese buyers coming into the U.S., and some of these deals are getting blocked by the U.S. government in sensitive areas. I don't have an issue with that. I think we do need to protect those kinds of technologies, particularly anything to do with military uses. IT is an area to watch. Each market is deciding whether they're going to go with Huawei or not. And we may see a situation where we're going to see a division over 5G—some going for the China side and others going for the Western side.
The ocean is as hot as if we'd dropped 3.6 billion atomic bombs into it
The perfect ergonomic keyboard is here
Dive into a trove of France's most famous art, now available for free
4 ways to foster a leadership mentality across your company


ADRIAN, Mich.--Adrian College has been selected to host an American Collegiate Hockey Association Division 1 Men's Game of the Week shown live on the ESPN3 platform on Saturday when the Bulldogs host Midland University in a battle of nationally-ranked squads. The puckdrop is scheduled for 7 p.m. at Arrington Ice Arena.
The video streaming link is http://golivesportscast.com/2017/02/acha-on-espn-game-of-the-week-midland-at-adrian-sat-feb-11th-7pm-est/. The game also is available on WatchESPN and the Watch ESPN App.
This marks the second time this season the Bulldogs will be shown as part of the ACHA Game of the Week produced by GoLiveSports. Adrian previously played Davenport University in an ESPN3 contest back on Oct. 28, a tough 5-4 loss for the only blemish on its ledger.
Adrian comes into the weekend series ranked No. 3 in the latest ACHA national poll while Midland is 16th. The Bulldogs are riding a 16-game winning streak on the way to a 24-1 overall record under first-year head coach Gary Astalos. The Warriors are 20-10 on the season.
Adrian opened the 2016-17 campaign in Fremont, Neb., where it swept Midland in a two-game non-conference series, 10-1 on Sep. 30 and 4-2 on Oct. 1.


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Sir George Carteret, förste baronet, född omkring 1610 och död 18 januari 1680, var en engelsk ämbetsman.

Carteret deltog i det engelska inbördeskriget på kungens sida och gjorde tappert motstånd mot parlamentet även efter Karl I:s död. 1651 emigrerade han till Frankrike, återvände efter restaurationen och erhöll höga ämbeten. Carteret var intresserad av kolonisationen av Nordamerika och en av grundläggarna till kolonierna Carolina och New Jersey.

Källor
 Svensk uppslagsbok. Lund 1930

Personer i England under 1600-talet
Födda 1600-talet
Avlidna 1680
Män
Baronetvärdiga personer

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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Nikon Micro lens comparison
Written by Thomas
Nikon offers no fewer than six modern macro lenses designed for close-up photography, and still sells four older models in some regions. These are all known as Micro-Nikkors and of the six modern options, two are specialist PC-E tilt-shift models, leaving four for general macro use: the DX 40mm f2.8G, 60mm f2.8G, DX 85mm f3.5G VR and 105mm f2.8G VR.
All four are AF-S lenses, which means they'll autofocus on any Nikon DSLR including entry-level models. The 40mm and 85mm are DX models which means they're only corrected for use on DX-format bodies with smaller APS-C sensors, while the 60mm and 105mm will work on any Nikon DSLR including full-frame FX-format models. And finally, the 85mm and 105mm models also sport Vibration Reduction facilities to combat camera shake.
On this page I'm comparing the optical quality of the latest three Micro-Nikkors, the DX 40mm f2.8G, DX 85mm f3.5G VR and the 105mm f2.8G VR. Since two of the three are only corrected for the DX-format, I've used a DX body to test them. These results accompany dedicated reviews of each of the three lenses, so to find out more, please check them out at the following links:
Nikon 40mm Micro-Nikkor review
Nikon 105mm Micro Nikkor review
Optical formula / cross-section
The following images show the cross-section through the lenses, ED glass elements are depicted in yellow. The 40mm lens has the simplest construction (which is not necessarily bad) while the 85mm and 105mm designs are more complex and look pretty similar to each-other.
Nikon Micro Nikkor cross-section
DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G
DX Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G VR
VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G
The three Micro-Nikkors
Form left to right: 40/2.8G, 85/3.5G VR, 105/2.8G VR
Sharpness and contrast
Following are the MTF-charts of the three lenses as measured by Nikon:
Nikon Micro-Nikkor MTF
These charts show the lens-performance at the largest aperture. To read these charts you only have to understand that higher values are better and that the closer the dotted and the continuous lines are together the less astigmatism (= resolution depending on the orientation of the test-pattern) the lens displays.
When comparing the MTF-charts of those three lenses you should not forget that this is not on an apples-to-apples basis: The chart for the f2.8-lenses shows performance at f2.8, a disadvantage of 2/3 of a stop compared to the 85/3.5G. As lenses sharpen up pretty quickly when stopped down (at least up to f5.6) there is no way to know or calculate how the 40/1.4G or 105/2.8G perform at f/3.5 from these charts. So what we need to compare these lenses are real test-shots with a challenging target: the Siemens-stars. The other thing to keep in mind is that the performance of the 105/2.8G is shown for the FX image-circle (21.5mm radius) while the charts for both DX-lenses only go to 14mm radius
This following comparison of Siemens-star test-shots comes in four parts: normal center, normal DX corner, macro center, macro DX corner. And in each part we'll be showing the 40/2.8G in the first column, the 85/3.5G in the second column and the 105/2.8G in the third column.
Processing was done in CaptureNX2 at standard settings, with white-balance adjusted to a neutral white and some exposure compensation to make the brightness match. CA-removal was ON. Focus was achieved using live-view and a little optimization by hand and performed separately for the center and corners to avoid any effect from field curvature.
These are all 100% crops. Note some macro lenses operate at a slightly slower maximum aperture at certain focusing distances.
Part 1: Center performance at standard (1:35) magnification
Shot from a printed test-target
AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 40mm f/2.8G with Nikon D300
100% crop from center
AF-S DX Micro-Nikkor 85mm f/3.5G ED VR with Nikon D300
AF-S VR Micro-Nikkor 105mm f/2.8G IF-ED with Nikon D300
f2.8, 200 ISO
f3.0, 200 ISO (max aperture at 1:35)
f4, 200 ISO
Part 2: Corner performance at standard (1:35) magnification
100% crop from corner
Part 3: Center performance at around 1:2.6 magnification
Shot from a test-target on a black and white negative 24×36 film
f3.3, 200 ISO (max aperture at 1:2.6)
f3.5 not available at 1:2.6
f5.6,200 ISO
f11, 200 ISO
Part 4: Corner performance at around 1:2.6 magnification
At normal distances (1:35 magnification) the center performance of the 40/2.8G and the 105/2.8 are top-notch while the 85/3.5G only catches up at f5.6. In the corners the 105/2.8G performs best followed by the 40/2.8G and 85/3.5. From f8.0 on performance is almost indistinguishable. Interestingly the close-field performance at magnifications of 1:2.6 doesn't follow the same pattern. Close-up at f3.3 the 40mm macro lens is a bit better than the 105mm in the center, while the 105mm leads in the corners. From f4.0 onwards the 85mm macro-lens takes a surprisingly clear lead in the center and the corners as well. From f5.6 the center performance is pretty comparable but in the corners the 85mm lens continues its lead well up to f11.
All three contenders are very competent lenses – be it under "normal" shooting conditions or in their special discipline of macro-shooting. So you can pretty much select a lens based on features, price and focal length. There is really only one major point to keep in mind: to get 1:1 magnification with the 40mm lens you need to get as close as 3cm to your subject.
For my detailed reviews of the Micro-Nikkors see the following links:
Lenses, Nikon lenses
Nikon, Nikon Micro-Nikkor lens comparison
Canon EOS M50 review


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/*
3. The third case is the first that matches, with `x` bound to 1 and `y` bound
to 2.
*/


We believe that if we work towards our vision for the future, we can surely make it happen. Like every human being, every Organisation also has its own vision encoded in it. We just need to give an intuitive edge to our heart and this vision will be decoded. Here is our vision for Loving in 2020.
Connecting souls together through the establishment of City Centers – Loving City Centers in all major cities.
Organic Farming practices to combat the harmful effects of chemical fertilizers (as the old saying goes- 'We become what we eat'). We have initiated grassroot level changes to help curb unhealthy farming practices.


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Celtics tie down Garnett, Wilcox, Bass
Published On July 15, 2012 | By Jill Saftel
Ray Allen might be headed to South Beach, but the Celtics aren't at a loss for players excited to be back in green this upcoming season. According to a report from CBS Sports, the Celtics announced the re-signings of Kevin Garnett, Chris Wilcox, and Brandon Bass Saturday.
Garnett signed for $34 million and Bass for $20 million, both three year contracts. Wilcox is coming back from heart surgery but is expected to be ready to go by training camp. The power forward appeared in 28 games last season, averaging 5.4 points and 4.4 rebounds over 17.2 minutes per game.
Jeff Green and Jason Terry joined Wilcox and Bass, along with president Danny Ainge and owner Steve Pagliuca, at the presser Saturday announcing the three re-signings, but neither player is officially inked yet due to ongoing tweaks in their contracts. Green, like Wilcox, underwent heart surgery last season.
According to ESPN, the Terry situation became more complicated when Allen signed with Miami, leaving the Celtics looking to fill that void, especially since the C's current starting shooting guard, Avery Bradley, will be undergoing shoulder surgery that will leave him questionable for the start of the upcoming season.
Despite the complications, Terry was formally introduced and it's clear the free agent wants to be in green.
"Well, if they need me to wash the uniforms or sweep the floor, whatever role (coach) Doc (Rivers) wants me to play I'm here to do it at 100 percent and give my all," Terry said. "That's what I've done my whole career, and pretty much whatever it takes to win. Whatever puts us in the best position to win these games and win a championship is what I'll be doing."
Most importantly, the Celtics achieved their first priority this summer, and that was keeping Garnett in Boston. At 36 years old with another three years as a Celtic, this is likely Garnett's last contract.
Avery BradleyBrandon BassCelticsChris WIlcoxDanny AingeJason TerryJeff GreenKevin Garnett
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Rivers reception no surprise to this reporter


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How to Use Robots for Nonrepetitive Tasks
Vision guided robotics help industrial applications where robot fingers need to maneuver objects of different shapes and sizes or that touch or overlap.
From Teledyne DALSA
Editor's Note: This article is adapted from the white paper, "A Close Look at Vision Guided Robotics (VGR)." Download the full white paper that describes ideal manufacturing environments and applications for VGR in industries such as medical device, pharmaceutical, food packaging and agriculture; explains how machine vision and robotics combine using hardware and algorithms to create VGR; and provides a real-world case study.
We've all seen videos of robots rapidly assembling cars with little or no human intervention. Industrial robots like these have increased productivity in almost every manufacturing sector, but they have one shortcoming: they can't "see."
Programmed to repeat exactly the same motions over and over again, they can't detect and maneuver objects of different shapes, sizes and colors, or objects that touch and overlap. So, if a product changes or is added to the production line, the robots must be reprogrammed. And if product components are delivered to the line by traditional hoppers and shake tables, bowl feeders must be retooled.
Beyond Repetitive Tasks
A new generation of robots guided by advanced machine vision is taking robots beyond repetitive tasks. Fueled by smaller, more powerful and less expensive machine vision cameras and other vision sensors, increasingly sophisticated robotic algorithms and processors with machine vision-specific hardware accelerators, these vision guided robot (VGR) systems are transforming manufacturing and fulfillment processes.
VGR makes robots highly adaptable and easier to implement for industries in which new products are introduced frequently and production runs are short, including medical device and pharmaceutical manufacturing, food packaging, agricultural applications, life sciences and more.
What About 3D Vision?
Often, VGR systems use more than one type of sensor to build 3D images. For example, a robot with a 3D area sensor locates and picks randomly positioned parts in a bin. Then a 2D camera detects the orientation of each part on the fly, so that the robot can correctly place them on a conveyor.
Download the Free White Paper
Download the complete white paper "A Close Look at Vision Guided Robotics (VGR)" to learn about ideal manufacturing environments and applications for VGR in industries such as medical device, pharmaceutical, food packaging and agriculture, and how machine vision and robotics combine using hardware and algorithms to create VGR. Also get a real-world case study.
By combining laser 3D Time-of-Flight (ToF) scanning and snapshot 3D image capture, some VGR systems gain the resolution to work with a wider spectrum of objects than with a scanning system alone, but without needing to move the camera as with traditional snapshot camera systems.
ToF scanning, which measures the time it takes light from a laser to travel between the camera and an object's surfaces to determine its depth, has the advantage of working in any lighting condition.
Robust Hardware and Algorithms
These advanced vision systems can process large amounts of data by using hardware accelerators such as field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) and application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs). This gives them the capability to handle thousands of SKUs on production lines and in order fulfillment applications.
A critical component of advanced VGR systems is algorithms that prevent the robot and its end-of-arm gripping tool from colliding with the sides of the bin or other objects. This interference avoidance software must be exceptionally robust because every pick from the bin requires a different path plan, and parts are often intertwined.
VGR use is now approaching 50% of robotics in consumer electronics (above the circuit-board level) and other light assembly in Asia. And as random bin-picking technology fast becomes a flexible, easy-to-understand and interchangeable commodity, it's within the reach of small and medium-sized companies looking to reduce manual intervention, improve safety and quality and increase productivity.
Teledyne DALSA, based in Billerica, Massachusetts, is a participating Encompass™ Product Partner in the Rockwell Automation PartnerNetwork™ program. The company provides machine vision components and solutions including image sensors, cameras, acquisition boards, sophisticated vision software and intelligent vision systems.
The Journal From Rockwell Automation and Our PartnerNetwork™ is published by Putman Media, Inc.
Automated plant delivers cleaner, better-tasting water to a Cape Cod vacation town and meets fluctuating water demand with one staff shift.
Water System Boosts Compliance, Slashes Costs
See how migration to a modern distributed control system helps a municipality increase wastewater capacity, streamline control and minimize overtime.
DCS Upgrade Boosts Wastewater Plant Efficiency
A U.S. Navy veteran explains what PM practices on a nuclear submarine can teach manufacturers about preventing failures to help avoid costly downtime.
A Submariner's View of Predictive Maintenance


Browsing the blog archives for April, 2008.
I've no idea what this is going to look like, this is my first attempt at using the Flock Browser to post a blog post. It seems kinda strange because there is no sign of any form of formatting for my specific blog. Lets see what happens when I click publish.
And I promise I will admit to any changes I have to go into the normal back end to make… go publish!


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Austin City Limits 2013
Entertainment // Music & Stage
The Austin City Limits Music Festival begins its second weekend Friday. Check out these shots from the first weekend.
Oct. 4, 2013 Updated: Oct. 10, 2013 10:33 a.m.
Jack Plunkett/Associated PressThe crowd cheers as Vampire Weekend takes the stage on Day 1 of the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on Friday, Oct. 4, 2013, in Austin, Texas.
Jack Plunkett/Associated PressThe Cure's Robert Smith performs on Day 2 of the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 in Austin, Texas.
Jay Janner/Associated PressKendall Becker, 17, and Kenneth Ruddy, 17, wait for The Cure at the Austin City Limits Music Festival, Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas.
Jack Plunkett/Associated PressHaim's Este Haim performs on Day 2 of the 2013 Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park on Saturday, Oct. 5, 2013 in Austin, Texas.
Jay Janner/Associated PressColin Dieden of The Mowgli's gets close to his fans during his performance at the Austin City Limits Music Festival at Zilker Park in Austin, Texas, on Sunday Oct. 6, 2013.


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Sea Tulip, PET and Family Friendly!
Ocean View! Steps to Beach!
Oceanside family rental in Surf City, New Jersey. Second from the ocean!
Our Long Beach Island house is perfect for families to spend time together. Private location - no streets bordering the property. Private walkway to the beach.


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Ok.. I have a confession. I'm not a huge salad person. I mean I like them a lot and eat them regularly but I get so bored with them! I have to have some punch and some flavor. The typical "house salad" better have a mean homemade ranch dressing on it other wise I'm done. I've posted a few salads before such as this WonTon Chicken Salad, Tropical Fusion Summer Salad (which is delicious) and Arugula Salad. All of those salads have some bold flavors going on.. from mango to crispy won tons.. I need some action in my salad. So I decided to play with some radish.
When I go grocery shopping and I'm not in any huge rush or being frenzied by oodles of children (which is hardly ever), I like to peruse the produce isle. I try to be inspired for more creative dinners by what is in season and looking fresh. Sometimes I find new veggies or herbs I realize I haven't really tried before. Well, call me crazy but one day I realized I hadn't eaten many radishes in my day, let alone cooked with them. Therefore my kids hadn't eaten them either. Exposing my kids to various foods is important to me- even if the don't like it.
I figured it was time to bring the radish home.
So radishes can be a little bitter, even spicy at times. I suppose this is why it isn't everyone's go-to salad ingredient like the creamy avocado. But they can add a fun dimension to a salad. Radishes have a nice crunch and pairs well with cucumbers. I diced mine up to give little portions with each bite. The flavor isn't quite as overwhelming that way. I also made the salad with a lemony vinaigrette. The lemon really helps balance out the bitter. You can try the dressing below or use your own favorite dressing, but I highly recommend it be a lemon vinaigrette of some sort.
Toss the salad ingredients with the dressing and eat just as it is or over a bed of greens. I added a little feta cheese because that is what I love on salad, but play with your and add your favorites! Try out the good ole radish and find some new veggies to throw in down the produce isle! Playing with your food is half the fun!
A yummy recipe to spice up your salad life.
Combine vinaigrette in a container and shake well to combine. Allow to rest for 30-60 mins for garlic to infuse and flavors to be stronger.
Drizzle over salad and serve.
This looks so refreshing and crunchy! Your recipes are always so innovative and beautiful.


One of my favorite movies and soundtracks: The Last Unicorn. I've watched this movie many times, read the book many times.
Inspired by this post at mysteriouscats.com, I crocheted my first cat beanie last night. More of a coaster with ear holders than a hat, it was still funny to try it on the cats.
My cat is sad because his new hat is too big.


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Location shooting for the 22nd James Bond film looks destined to take place in Austria as negotiations to use the floating opera stage near completion...
Bond 22 Pre-Production Diary (20)
As MI6 first reported, the production crew of the upcoming Bond 22 movie have considered Austria as a shooting location since August. Local news confirms today that shooting arrangements have been finalised for for the 22nd James Bond film.
A casting session for around 2000 extras will be held in Bregenz in mid-January. Although there is no contractual agreement in place yet, the tight shooting schedule is reportedly behind the move to make arrangements. The extras will make up an "audience" for a performance of the opera "Tosca" - which will act as a backdrop to action involving 007.
Above: The impressive set for the production of Tosca on the floating stage in Bregenz, Austria
Leonhard Gmür, the manager of Swiss production company Unicorn, told reporters he is bust preparing filming for Vorarlberg, which includes casting extras and making accommodation arrangements for cast and crew. Gmür and Unicorn has previous experience working for Eon Productions with "Goldeneye" (1995) and "Tomorrow Never Dies" (1997).
Gmür stressed that shooting arrangements had not been finalised yet due to ongoing negotiations with the team behind "Tosca" and the Bregenz Festival because they have to consent to the use of the stage and its design and direction. Axel Renner, spokesman for the festival, said talks were in full swing, and the timetable is not yet at risk.
The opera stage "Seebühne Bregenzer" is currently scheduled to host James Bond in late April with filming to take place at night. A short driving sequence (presumable in the recently confirmed Aston Martin DBS) will take place in the old town of Feldkirch.
Above: The city of Bregenz in the Voralberg region of Austria.
Bond 22 In Austria - A Brief History
Austria first hit the Bond 22 newswires in August, when MI6 reported that the production team had visited the city of Bregenz to take in a rehearsal performance of "Tosca" a unique Opera stage which floats on the water (known as the "Seebühne"). The stage is a key tourist attraction of the region, and due to the expensive sets used in the productions, each opera is featured for two consecutive years. The production team also visited the Festival Opera House in the city during the trip.
Above: The central 'eye' rotates in the stage backdrop (left),
the 7000-strong audience watches from inclined seating (right)
A month later, location scouting took place again in Voralberg, the westernmost state of Austria. Though it is the nation's second smallest state in terms of area (Vienna is the smallest), Voralberg borders Germany, Switzerland and Liechtenstein. Bregenz is the capital of the Voralberg region, which also is one of the five cities (the other four are: Dornbirn, Hohenems, Feldkirch and Bludenz). Production representatives were also interested in the modern architecture around the Rhine Valley region Ländle. Location scouting also took in the art gallery in Bregenz, the area of Bodensee around Lake Constance, and the nearby Friedrichshafen airport across the border in Germany, and then between the cities of Dornbirn and Friedrichshafen.
On November 23rd, location scouts flew in to Friedrichshafen airport and moved to the Old Town of Feldkirch in the Voralberg region. Press reports that the production team ignored the Christmas market that had just been put in place for the holidays, instead focusing on the historic buildings and arcades. A day later, members of the production team were in the nearby town of Bregenz to develop negotiations. Agreements to film the floating opera stage that currently hosts "Tosca" were ongoing.