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Review: Agamemnon/Court Theatre
November 17, 2015 at 2:00 pm by Joy Miller
by Joy Miller
November 17, 2015 June 16, 2016 Filed under:
Gary Wingert, Thomas Cox, Alfred Wilson, Mark Montgomery, Sandra Marquez, Gabriel Ruiz and Michael Ghantous/Photo: Michael Brosilow
With the holidays descending quickly upon us, you might be dreading all of the time you'll be spending with your family in the next six weeks. Cousin Joey might corner you in the living room to explain why he got rid of all of his smoke detectors and replaced them with something better. Your mom may spend the entirety of Thanksgiving dinner loudly praising your sister for having her fourth child while the first sits next to you throwing peas into your pile of rancid mashed potatoes. Uncle Karl might drink too much and then sob into the cranberry sauce.
Still, no matter what problems your family has they're absolutely nothing compared to the trauma explored in "Agamemnon" at Court Theatre in Hyde Park: now there is a family with some serious issues. But hey! The Trojan War ends at the beginning of the play, there's something positive, right? Well, that's where the good news stops for the family of Agamemnon with their long list of evil deeds including (but not limited to): curses, bigamy, incest, cannibalism and adultery. When I say cannibalism, I mean brothers literally feeding their nephews to their brothers. It lends a whole new meaning to "mystery meat."
The second play in the three-year "Greek Cycle" put on by Court, "Agamemnon" is a whole lot of side story told in rather flat speeches by a chorus of three elderly men and one boy—symbolic of the men left behind in Argos during the war. They spend nearly the entire play at the base of the grand entry way into the house of Agamemnon and his wife Clytemnestra, who claims to have spent years chastely waiting for her husband to return from war.
The set is literally slick. Black marble floor, black walls, a black stairway to a grand black front door, which, when opened, reveals a hallway covered in graffiti where Iphigenia's name is scrawled over and over again. Agamemnon sacrificed her, his own daughter, so that the Greeks could go fight the Trojan War. Meanwhile Clytemnestra obsessively scribbles her daughter's name on the walls, dreaming of revenge. Happy holidays! (Joy Miller)
Court Theatre, 5535 South Ellis, (773)753-4472, courtheatre.org. $45-$65. Through December 6.
Courage, Brothers: A Review of "The Island" at Court Theatre Actors John Kani and Winston Ntshona were inspiration for the two prisoners serving decade-long sentences, arrested for performing radical works to interracial audiences during Apartheid.
No Fear of Depths: A Review of "The Lady from the Sea" at the Court Theatre Written in 1888, the play centers on Ellida, the daughter of a lighthouse keeper who grew up near the open sea.
Black Comedy at its Best: A Review of Arsenic and Old Lace at Court Theatre Homemade soup is given to ailing neighbors. And homemade poisoned wine is given to elderly gentlemen with no families who come looking for a room.
Plague Years: A Review of The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice at Court Theatre How could it not draw on our afflicted times?
Welcome to the Jungle: A Review of Campaigns, Inc. at TimeLine Theatre Will Allan's "Campaigns, Inc." is an origin story of modern political mendacity, found in the 1934 governor's race between the incumbent buffoon Frank Merriam and the visionary progressive Upton Sinclair.
What's In a Name? A Review of The Great Khan at Redtwist Theatre Michael Gene Sullivan's new play is a lively reminder that those who came before are not just names to memorize in grade school. Their legacies, infamous or not, follow us in ways seen and unseen.
Alfred Wilson
Court Theatre
Gabriel Ruiz
Gary Wingert
Mark Montgomery
Michael Ghantous
Sandra Marquez
Thomas Cox
Previous Post Review: You Can't Take It With You/Northlight Theatre
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You Name It: A Review of "Do the Right Thing, No Worries If Not" at The Second City Mainstage


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\section{Introduction}

Attosecond science \cite{attoscience} is rapidly developing nowadays thanks to the laser-based techniques such as
chirped-pulse amplification and high-harmonic generation.
There are also different schemes proposed for generation of attosecond X-ray pulses in free electron lasers
\cite{attofel-oc,oc-2004-2,atto-b,atto-e,atto-f,prstab-2006-2,ding,huang-24as}.
Many of these schemes make
use of a few-cycle intense laser pulse to modulate electron energy in a short undulator, and then to make only a short slice (a fraction of wavelength) efficiently lase in a SASE undulator. In particular, in the chirp-taper scheme \cite{prstab-2006-2}, a slice with the strongest energy chirp is selected for lasing by application of a strong reverse undulator taper that compensates FEL gain degradation within that slice. The lasing in the rest of the bunch is strongly suppressed due to uncompensated reverse taper.

Creation of a short lasing slice can also be done without using a laser. In particular, nonlinear compression of multi-GeV electron beams \cite{shuang} and self-modulation in a wiggler of a bunch with the special temporal shape \cite{duris} allowed to generate a few hundred attosecond long pulses at the Linac Coherent Light Source (LCLS).
However, creation of sub-femtosecond features in the electron bunch at lower electron energies ($\simeq 1$ GeV) is problematic.

Typically, pulse duration in SASE-based short-pulse schemes is limited by FEL coherence time \cite{book}. For hard X-ray FELs, coherence time is usually in a few hundred attosecond range. For such a case an adequate choice of a laser could be a Ti:Sapphire system providing a few mJ within 5 fs (FWHM) with the central wavelength at 800 nm. However, for XUV and soft X-ray regimes the coherence time is in femtosecond range, and a longer wavelength laser is needed \cite{fawley} to match a lasing slice duration and coherence time.
In this paper a simple method is developed \footnote{A similar concept was proposed by the author as an option for FLASH upgrade \cite{FL-CDR} but was not studied.}
to overcome this barrier and to produce XUV and soft X-ray pulses that are much shorter than FEL coherence time, and can be as short as few hundred attoseconds.

\section{Principles of operation}

\begin{figure}[tb]

\includegraphics[width=1.0\textwidth]{Atto-scheme.eps}

\caption{
Conceptual scheme for generation of attosecond pulses. Dashed rectangle illustrates a particular realization of suppression (separation) of a radiation background from the SASE undulator.
}
\label{fig:atto-scheme}
\end{figure}

Conceptual representation of the attosecond scheme is shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:atto-scheme}. Few-cycle laser pulse is used to modulate a central part of an electron bunch in energy in a short (typically, two-period) modulator undulator. The wavelength $\lambda_L$ is chosen such that the lasing slice is much shorter than FEL coherence length. In particular, for generation of attosecond pulses in XUV and soft X-ray regime one can consider Ti:sapphire laser. A typical shape of energy modulation after the modulator undulator is shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:mod4MeV}.

Then the bunch enters a long SASE undulator tuned to a wavelength $\lambda$. The undulator is operated in the same way as in the classical chirp-taper scheme \cite{prstab-2006-2}: it is reverse-tapered to compensate for the energy chirp within the central slice (positioned at $t=0$ in Fig.~\ref{fig:mod4MeV}). In this way the FEL gain degradation within this slice is avoided, and the amplification proceeds up to the onset of saturation. The rest of the bunch suffers from the uncompensated reverse taper, and the lasing is strongly suppressed (except maybe for two satellites positioned around $t = \pm 2.7$ fs on Fig.~\ref{fig:mod4MeV} with the negative time derivative). The difference with the standard scheme is that now the central lasing slice is much shorter than FEL coherence time. The distribution of bunching (density modulation amplitude) is rather narrow and is localized at the end of that slice but the radiation slips forward, and a relatively long pulse (on the order of coherence time) is produced.

\begin{figure}[tb]

\includegraphics[width=0.6\textwidth]{Mod4MeV.eps}

\caption{
Energy modulation induced by the laser. Bunch head is on the left side.
}
\label{fig:mod4MeV}
\end{figure}

The next task is to get rid of this relatively long radiation pulse (as well as of the background radiation from the rest of the bunch) while preserving the bunching. This can be done in different ways. In Fig.~\ref{fig:atto-scheme} a possible realization is illustrated: an offset chicane with a reflector or absorber inside. Alternative options are discussed below in this Section: excessive reverse taper, an achromatic bend, a kick with a quadrupole, a dogleg, and a harmonic afterburner.

Finally, the microbunched beam radiates in a short radiator undulator. The bunching is strong in the central slice, it is weaker in the two satellites around $t = \pm 2.7$ fs, and much weaker in the rest of the bunch. Note that reverse tapering is very efficient in suppression of the radiation but the bunching can reach high values, depending on conditions \cite{rev-tap}. We use sufficiently strong chirp and taper to make sure that the the bunching stays at low level in the whole bunch except for the mentioned slices. In addition to that, another feature of the process is used to strongly suppress the ratiation from unwanted parts of the bunch, including satellites. Namely, the central slice is stretched in the main undulator due to a strong energy chirp so that the frequency of the bunching is red-shifted with respect to the resonance frequency at the entrance of SASE undulator. The satellites have a weaker red shift. The rest of the bunch also has a red shift due to undulator taper \cite{stupakov-taper} but it is even weaker. The radiator undulator is set to the resonance with the central slice, and the number of periods is approximately equal to the number of cycles of density modulation within that slice. The other parts of the bunch are non-resonant and radiate very weakly. Below in this Section the operation of the radiator is discussed in more details.

As a result, few hundred attosecond long pulses with low background can be produced in XUV and soft X-ray ranges.
The prerequisite for operation of this scheme is a sufficiently long SASE undulator. Note that there is always the range of photon energies at XUV and X-ray FEL facilities for which the saturation occurs well before the undulator end, and there is a reserve for operation with different advanced schemes.

\subsection{Chirp-taper compensation effect}

If there is a linear energy chirp at the undulator entrance, it can have a significant  effect on SASE FEL properties, in particular on the gain. The strength of this effect can be characterized by the energy chirp parameter \cite{prstab-2006-2}:

\begin{equation}
\hat{\alpha} = -\frac{d \gamma}{dt} \frac{1}{\gamma_0 \omega_0 \rho^2} \ ,
\label{eq:chirp-parameter}
\end{equation}

\noindent where $\rho$ is the well-known FEL parameter \cite{bon-rho, book}, and $\gamma$ is relativistic factor.
Factor $\gamma_0$ for a reference particle
and reference frequency $\omega_0$ are connected by the FEL resonance
condition: $\omega_0 = 2ck_w \gamma_0^2/(1+K^2/2)$. Here $K$ is the undulator parameter and $k_w = 2\pi/\lambda_w$ with $\lambda_w$ being the undulator period.

It was shown in \cite{prstab-2006-2} that a degrading effect of a linear energy chirp on SASE FEL gain can be compensated for by applying a linear undulator taper as soon as the following condition is satisfied:

\begin{equation}
\frac{d K}{dz} = - \frac{(1+K_0^2/2)^2}{K_0} \frac{1}{\gamma_0^3} \frac{d \gamma}{c dt}
\label{compensation}
\end{equation}

\noindent Here $K_0$ is the value of undulator parameter at the undulator entrance. Note that the condition (\ref{compensation}) is applicable when $4 \pi \rho \hat{\alpha} \ll 1$, and a perfect compensation is only possible in the limit $\rho \to 0$. However, for practical applications a perfect compensation is usually not required.

\subsection{Chirp-taper compensation for a short lasing slice}

Operation of SASE FELs with short bunches was studied in \cite{bon-short,we-short}. A relevant parameter to characterize an effect of bunch length on FEL operation is $\rho \omega \sigma_z/c$ with $\sigma_z$ being rms bunch length. When this parameter is smaller than one (i.e. when bunch is shorter than FEL coherence length $c(\rho \omega)^{-1}$), one can observe an increase of saturation length and a reduction of FEL efficiency.

The condition (\ref{compensation}) is also valid for short bunches or for short lasing slices (as it was mentioned above, an ideal compensation is only possible when $\rho \to 0$). In this paper we deal with long bunches but short lasing slices having the strongest laser-induced energy chirp.
For such a case, instead of $\sigma_z$ one can consider a reduced laser wavelength, $\lambar_L = \lambda_L/(2\pi)$. Thus, a relevant parameter is now $\rho \lambda_L/\lambda$ where
$\lambda = 2 \pi c/\omega$ is the FEL wavelength. It follows from numerical simulations with laser-modulated beam that an increase of saturation length for a short lasing slice with respect to a normal SASE with long bunches can be approximated as follows:

\begin{equation}
\frac{L_{\mathrm{sat}}}{L_{\mathrm{sat}}^{\mathrm{(long \ bunch)}}} \simeq \left(\rho \frac{\lambda_L}{\lambda} \right)^{-1/2}  \ \ \ \ \ \ \ \mathrm{for} \ \ \ \ \ \ \  \rho \frac{\lambda_L}{\lambda} < 1
\label{short-sat}
\end{equation}

The dependence is similar to that for short bunches \cite{bon-short,we-short}.
For the purpose of the proposed scheme, one should stop at the onset of saturation (typically 80\% to 90\% of saturation length) to avoid an increase of the width of bunching distribution within the lasing slice.
Thus, a total increase of the required undulator length can be acceptable in many practical cases even for a small parameter $\rho \lambda_L/\lambda$.

\subsection{Suppression of background from the main undulator}

One of the advantages of the proposed scheme is that one can get a clean attosecond pulse from the afterburner. However, we need to get rid of the background produced in the main undulator. Let us consider possible ways of doing this.

\subsubsection{Excessive reverse taper}

Reverse taper is efficient in suppression of the radiation, although under some conditions the bunching can survive \cite{rev-tap}. In case of the considered scheme one can apply reverse taper which is stronger than the one needed for compensation of the energy chirp in the main lasing slice. With some delay of the saturation, one can get a strong bunching there but almost no radiation. Excess of reverse taper would then be even stronger in the adjacent slices with the same sign of energy chirp but a weaker amplitude. There one can suppress the radiation even stronger, and the bunching factor saturation is delayed also stronger than in the main slice. In general, the intensity of the radiation from the main undulator can be made sufficiently small. Then, in the radiator a strong power is produced only within the main slice, also due to a frequency offset mentioned above \footnote{Note that in some cases a regular undulator segment (if it is sufficiently short) with optimized K value can play a role of the radiator undulator.}.
A disadvantage of this method is that it requires a longer main undulator which is not always possible. Also, bunching within the main slice can be weaker than in a case without over-compensation, depending on parameters.

\subsubsection{Achromatic bend or a kick with a quadrupole}

Another way to produce clean attosecond pulses in the afterburner is to create an angle between the radiation from the main SASE undulator and from the radiator by using an achromatic bend \cite{bend-kulipanov} or
a kick with a quadrupole \cite{macarthur}. The latter technique (in combination with reverse taper) was successfully used for generation of circularly polarized radiation with high purity at LCLS \cite{lutman-circ}.

\subsubsection{Chicane or dogleg}

One can also create an offset between the electron beam and the radiation from the SASE undulator with the help of a chicane, as shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:atto-scheme}. Then the radiation is either absorbed directly or reflected to an absorber. A possible difficulty is that the longitudinal dispersion, characterized by a transfer matrix coefficient $R_{56}$, is generated in the chicane. This can be a useful effect: additional bunching can be created, so that one can stop earlier in SASE undulator; moreover the lasing slice is stretched even stronger which helps in suppression of background in the radiator.
However, these two functions of the chicane (a technically reasonable offset and an optimal $R_{56}$) should be matched which is not always easy to do. A more flexible system could be a chicane with quadrupoles in the dispersion regions \cite{thompson} so that one can efficiently control $R_{56}$ while the required offset is kept.

Another possible solution is a dogleg that creates a sufficient offset but the $R_{56}$ is typically too small to influence longitudinal dynamics.

\subsubsection{Harmonic afterburner}

Radiation at the even harmonics of SASE undulator is weak. Thus, tuning the radiator to the second harmonic, for example, would help to provide low-background attosecond pulses. Radiation at the fundamental of the undulator can be filtered out if it disturbs an experiment.

\subsection{Suppression of satellites in the afterburner}

One of the problems of laser-based methods for production of the attosecond pulses is an insufficient contrast of laser modulation that leads to generation of satellite pulses shifted in time by a cycle of the laser light \cite{atto-f}. They are weaker than the main pulse but can still be a problem for user experiments. In the proposed scheme we rely not only on a less efficient generation of bunching for the satellites, but also (and mainly) on the fact the frequency of bunching in the main slice is different (more red-shifted) from that in the satellites. The radiator is tuned to the frequency of the main slice, and the radiation from the adjacent slices is strongly suppressed because of the offset from resonance. Spectral properties of the radiator are characterized by the well-known sinc-function:

\begin{equation}
f_1 (\omega) = \left( \frac{\sin (N_w \pi \frac{\omega -  \omega_r}{\omega_r})}{N_w \pi \frac{\omega - \omega_r}{\omega_r}} \right)^2
\label{sinc}
\end{equation}

\noindent Here $\omega_r$ is the resonance frequency of the radiator and $N_w$ is the number of periods. The latter parameter should be chosen such that it is approximately the same as the number of cycles in the bunching distribution within the main lasing slice. At the same time, as it can be seen from (\ref{sinc}), for an efficient suppression one needs to satisfy the condition $N_w \ge \omega_m/(\omega_s - \omega_m)$ with $\omega_m$ being the frequency of bunching in the main slice and $\omega_s$ in the satellites. One can even adjust parameters such that the satellites are positioned in frequency domain at the zeros of the sinc function, i.e. when $N_w \simeq n \omega_m/(\omega_s - \omega_m)$, where $n$ is a natural number. In this case the suppression will be especially effective.

The density modulations in the bulk of the beam (not modulated by the laser) are much weaker than those on the slopes. In addition, they have a much larger frequency offset from the resonance in the radiator, so that the radiation is strongly suppressed. As a result, one can obtain a clean attosecond pulse from the radiator.

\section{Numerical simulations for FLASH}

In the first XUV and soft X-ray FEL user facility
FLASH \cite{flash-nat-phot,njp} the electron bunches with maximum energy of 1.25 GeV are distributed between the two
undulator lines. The facility operates in the wavelength range 4 - 60 nm with long pulse trains (several hundred pulses) following with 10 Hz repetition rate. After the planned upgrade, the electron energy will reach 1.35 GeV, this energy is used in numerical simulations.
Electron bunches with the charge 100 pC and the following quality \cite{zemella} are considered in this paper: peak current 1.5 kA, normalized emittance 0.5 mm mrad, uncorrelated energy spread 200 keV. Parameters of the second undulator line FLASH2 are used in the simulations. Segmented variable-gap undulator with the period of 3.14 cm and the maximum K about 2.7 consists of twelve 2.5 m long segments with quadrupoles in the intersections. Average beta-function of the FODO structure is 7 m.

Modulator undulator has two periods with the period length of 15 cm and the K value of 12. The Ti:Sapphire laser system generates 5 fs long pulses (FWHM intensity), a pulse energy is 0.25 mJ. The Rayleigh length is chosen to be 1 m. Energy modulation of the electron beam for this parameter set of laser-modulator system is presented in Fig.~\ref{fig:mod4MeV}, the maximum energy deviation is 4 MeV.

FEL simulations were performed with the code SIMPLEX \cite{simplex}.
The results of simulations at three different wavelengths with respectively optimized afterburners are presented below for illustration.

\subsection{Case I: the fundamental at 4.7 nm}

\begin{figure}[tb]

\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{bunching-4nm.eps}
\includegraphics[width=0.5\textwidth]{power-4nm-one-shot.eps}

\caption{
Bunching factor at the entrance to the radiator (upper plot) and power at its exit (lower plot) for a single shot. Bunch head is on the left side.
}
\label{fig:4nm}
\end{figure}

Let us first consider the case when energy-modulated beam (see Fig.~\ref{fig:mod4MeV}) radiates in FLASH2 undulator tuned to 4 nm at the entrance ($K_0 = 1.25$). Since the parameter $\rho$ for the considered beam and undulator parameters is $1.9\times 10^{-3}$, one can use (\ref{eq:chirp-parameter}) to find that $\hat{\alpha} \simeq 4$ for the central slice.
The reverse step-taper is applied such that $K$ increases by 0.025 in each undulator segment, we use ten segments in simulations. Note that the chosen reverse taper is about $20 \%$ stronger than the one needed for the perfect compensation. This helps reduce background from the main undulator without affecting significantly the generation of strong bunching within the central slice. However, a much stronger excessive reverse taper would lead to a significant increase of the undulator length and cannot be considered as the main method of background reduction for given parameters.

Let us discuss an increase of undulator length with respect to that needed for saturation of long bunch with the same slice parameters (which is 18 m). The parameter $\rho \lambda_L/\lambda$ is 0.38 in the considered case, so that an increase of saturation length is about 60 \% according to Eq.~(\ref{short-sat}). We do not aim at reaching saturation since there is a broadening of the bunching distribution at that point. Lasing is stopped a bit earlier, at about 90 \% of the saturation length, so that the required increase of the undulator length is about 40 \% (from 18 m to 25 m).

The distribution of bunching factor in the modulated part of the bunch at the exit of the tenth undulator segment is shown for a single shot in Fig.~\ref{fig:4nm} (upper plot). One can see not only strong bunching within the central lasing slice but also a significant bunching in the satellites. In this simulation we assume that the $R_{56}$ between the main undulator and the radiator is negligible (to avoid an effect on bunching distribution it should be below $\simeq 1 {\mu}m$). Thus, the electron beam without modifications is sent to the radiator while the radiation from the main undulator is suppressed with the help of one of the methods discussed in the previous Section.

The radiator is the short undulator with 40 periods, period length of 2.5 cm and the undulator parameter 1.804. In Fig.~\ref{fig:4nm} (lower plot) one can see the temporal profile of radiation pulse at 4.7 nm emitted by the beam with bunching shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:4nm} (upper plot). The wavelength increase is due to stretching of the central slice in the main undulator. One can also see that satellites are strongly suppressed despite a significant bunching factor, the mechanism is explained above. Total background (that includes satellites and the radiation produced in the bulk of the beam) does not exceed a few per cent level.

\begin{figure}[tb]

\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{power-4nm-four-shots.eps}

\caption{
Radiation power for four representative shots at 4.7 nm. Bunch head is on the left side.
}
\label{fig:4nm-four-shots}
\end{figure}

Forty simulation runs were performed to study the properties of the attosecond pulses. Four representative shots are shown for illustration in Fig.~\ref{fig:4nm-four-shots}. Pulse duration is in the range 300 - 400 as (FWHM) which is by an order of magnitude smaller than FEL coherence time in the main undulator. The average pulse energy is 70 nJ with the rms shot-to-shot variations about 40 \%. It is interesting to note that despite a significant variation of pulse energy, the timing is very stable (contrary to the case of a standard single-mode lasing of short electron bunches \cite{duesterer}). This opens up a possibility of pump-probe experiments with near infrared (NIR) and soft X-ray pulses keeping sub-cycle synchronization. Indeed, the laser-modulated beam after emission of an attosecond X-ray pulse can be sent through magnetic chicane for conversion of energy modulation into density modulation on the scale of laser wavelength. Then it can radiate a NIR pulse in the short undulator (similar to modulator undulator).
Both pulses (soft X-ray and NIR) can be transported to a user instrument through the same mirror system thus preserving timing. At the experiment one can either use NIR pulse directly or (if it is too weak) do cross-correlation with a powerful laser pulse thus preserving timing information for every shot.

Finally, let us discuss accuracy of the predictions with FEL simulation codes in the considered case of the strong energy chirp. Note that the parameter $4 \pi \rho \hat{\alpha}$ is about 0.1 which is sufficiently small for FEL theory with energy-chirped beams to be applicable. At the same time, one cannot expect a per cent level accuracy of the predictions, they are rather in the ten per cent range. In particular, one can expect a significant stretching of the central lasing slice in that range. The evolution of the process in time-frequency domain is correctly simulated by FEL codes (all the necessary information is contained in phases), however the change of average electron density is neglected in these codes. Thus, the radiated power is somewhat overestimated in the simulations presented here.

\subsection{Case II: the second harmonic at 2.4 nm}

The macroparticle distributions from simulation runs at 4 nm in the main undulator were used for simulations of the radiation at the second harmonic in the dedicated afterburner. The undulator  parameters are as follows: period length is 2 cm, number of periods is 20, K equals 1.134. Three representative shots are shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:2nm}. Again, due to the stretching, the wavelength of the second harmonic is not 2 nm but 2.4 nm. Pulse durations are in the range 250 - 300 as (FWHM), and the average pulse energy is 6 nJ.

\begin{figure}[tb]

\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{power-2nm-three-shots.eps}

\caption{
Radiation power for three representative shots at 2.4 nm. Bunch head is on the left side.
}
\label{fig:2nm}
\end{figure}

\subsection{Case III: the fundamental at 9.3 nm}

It is also constructive to illustrate the operation of the scheme at a longer wavelength. The electron beam is the same as it was in the previous simulations. The main undulator is now shorter, it consists of nine segments. The period of the afterburner is the same as that of the main undulator, but the number of periods is only 25, so that it is shorter than a segment of the main undulator.
Four representative shots are shown in Fig.~\ref{fig:9nm}. Average pulse energy is 75 nJ, and the pulse duration is about 400 as (FWHM).

Note that three different periods of the afterburners were used in three considered cases. They are all relatively short (about 1 m) and can be placed behind each other. In practice one can optimize the parameters and the number of devices depending on the operating range of the attosecond facility and a range of electron energy (in simulations only one energy was used).

\begin{figure}[tb]

\includegraphics[width=0.8\textwidth]{power-9nm-four-shots.eps}

\caption{
Radiation power for four representative shots at 9.3 nm. Bunch head is on the left side.
}
\label{fig:9nm}
\end{figure}

\section{Prospects for hard X-rays}

The standard chirp-taper attosecond scheme was originally intended for application in hard X-ray FELs. Indeed, the coherence time (a few hundred attoseconds) naturally matches lasing slice when a few-cycle short wavelength laser (like Ti:sapphire) is used. The scheme, described in this paper, can potentially be applied to push pulse duration to few tens attoseconds regime if the following approach is used. One can apply so-called eSASE scheme \cite{atto-f} and use the same laser to create energy modulation in the electron bunch with a subsequent conversion of these modulations into density modulations (current spikes). The duration of the central spike with the highest peak current is then in sub-hundred attosecond range.
A strong energy chirp is accumulated along this spike due to longitudinal space charge field in front and inside of the SASE undulator \cite{sc-und}. Then the chirp-taper compensation is used in the same way as in the case of laser-induced chirp. And to avoid pulse lengthening due to the slippage one can use the method developed in this paper. Note that in some cases the application of excessive reverse taper can be adequate, and a regular segment of an X-ray FEL undulator can be used as a radiator. One can also consider the second harmonic generation in one segment. In other words, application of this method might not require any modification of existing SASE undulators.

\section{Conclusion}

A modification of the chirp-taper scheme allows to produce FEL pulses that are much shorter than FEL coherence time. Thus, generation of attosecond pulses in XUV and soft X-ray regimes is enabled.
Application of such a scheme to a user facility like FLASH would make it possible to create a unique source for attosecond science.

\section{Acknowledgment}

The author would like to thank Wim Leemans for his interest in this work, and Martin Dohlus for careful reading of the manuscript and useful suggestions.

\clearpage

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaArXiv


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Vicki Wysocki received her PhD from Purdue University and, following a National Research Council postdoctoral appointment at the US Naval Research Laboratory, became an Assistant Professor at Virginia Commonwealth University. She joined the University of Arizona in 1996 and served as Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry. In 2012 she moved to Ohio State University where she is Ohio Eminent Scholar of Macromolecular Structure and Function and Director of the Campus Chemical Instrument Center. In 2009, she received the Distinguished Contribution to Mass Spectrometry Award from the American Society for Mass Spectrometry, jointly with Professor Simon Gaskell. Her laboratory is part of the Waters Center of Innovation program. She is an associate editor for the ACS journal Analytical Chemistry. She is the 2016 awardee of the ACS Field and Franklin Award for Outstanding achievement. Professor Wysocki's research interests include bioanalytical mass spectrometry, peptide fragmentation mechanisms, proteomics biomarker discovery and disease diagnosis using proteomics methods, ion-surface interaction chemistry, and instrument development for improved dissociation and characterization of non-covalent protein complexes.


Background and purpose: The MyotonPRO is a portable device that measures muscle tone and bio-mechanical muscle properties objectively. MyotonPRO has already proven to be effective in measuring muscle properties in healthy and diseased populations. However, to the best of our knowledge, it has never been tested in individuals suffering from paratonia, a form of hypertonia frequently accompanying dementia. The aims of the present study were to (1) compare muscle tone, elasticity, and stiffness between 3 different subpopulations of young and old healthy adults and individuals with paratonia, and (2) investigate the intra- and interrater reproducibility of MyotonPRO measurements of the biceps brachii (BB) muscle in each subpopulation.
Methods: MyotonPRO measurements of muscle tone, elasticity, and dynamic stiffness were carried out by 2 investigators on 2 different days over the BB muscles of 54 participants (18 healthy young adults, 20 healthy older adults, and 16 older individuals with paratonia). Muscle properties were compared between subpopulations using ANOVA/Welch and post hoc tests. Reliability (intraclass correlation coefficient) and agreement parameters (standard error of measurement and the minimal detectable change) were calculated.
Results: Statistically significant differences between subpopulations were found in all parameters, except for stiffness between healthy elderly and individuals with paratonia. In the healthy subpopulations, (a) intrarater reliability was very high and intrarater agreement was good between 2 consecutive series, (b) between days intrarater reliability was low to high and intrarater agreement was variable, (c) interrater reliability was high to very high and interrater agreement was good. In individuals with paratonia, (a) intrarater reliability was moderate to high and agreement was variable between series, (b) between days intrarater reliability was poor to moderate and agreement was poor, (c) interrater reliability ranged from low to high with poor agreement.
MyotonPRO measurements of the BB muscle showed good reproducibility in both healthy subpopulations, particularly for measurements performed within the same day. In individuals with paratonia, reliability and agreement were substantially lower. MyotonPRO can be used in clinical assessment and research. However, in individuals with paratonia, careful interpretation of results is required. Research in a larger sample of persons with paratonia at different stages of disease severity is recommended.


How does a music license work and will I have copyright issues?
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This is how Big Impact Sound works.
Royalty free does not mean copyright free!
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An electrical fault that causes intermittent power fluctuations can be annoying at best and even dangerous or cause damage to your appliances in extreme cases.
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All our recommended qualified electricians will be able to identify these electrical faults and fix them and in this article we explain how this works and when you may need them.
When a problem arises in your home, it can be tempting to save some money and try to fix the problem yourself. However, electrical systems can be, and are dangerous to work on without formal training.
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1: someone who insists on something; "a stickler for promptness"
Stickler Stic"kler (st[i^]k"kl[~e]r), n. [See Stickle, v. t.] One who stickles. Specifically: (a) One who arbitrates a duel; a sidesman to a fencer; a second; an umpire. [Obs.] Basilius, the judge, appointed sticklers and trumpets whom the others should obey. --Sir P. Sidney. Our former chiefs, like sticklers of the war, First sought to inflame the parties, then to poise. --Dryden. (b) One who pertinaciously contends for some trifling things, as a point of etiquette; an unreasonable, obstinate contender; as, a stickler for ceremony. The Tory or High-church were the greatest sticklers against the exorbitant proceedings of King James II. --Swift.


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What Do You Call A Guy Who Thinks He Was Jack The Ripper In A Previous Life?
If you haven't been following the Derb's notes on the consciousness studies conference he's attending, you should be. This stuff is awesome.
You can follow along here and here and here and here and here and no doubt in further posts in The Corner, so do check back again later today or tomorrow.
As someone with a lot of instinctive sympathy for Roger Penrose's position on these matters (in a nutshell: quantum reality is really strange; the "hard problem" of consciousness is really strange; quantum reality is really strange in ways that seem to implicate consciousness in the structure of reality itself; and neuronal microtubules appear to present a mechanism for quantum-level reality to be implicated in the functioning of consciousness; therefore some version of panpsychism may actually correspond to reality), I'm very encouraged that there's some real research going on in this area, producing actual data. I'm also really excited to learn a new word – hylozoism – that turns out actually to be an old word, and a very good conjecture to boot.
Oh: the answer to the title question? A metempsychotic.
Aren't you sort of begging the question? Isn't the notion that "real research… producing actual data" is preferable to the alternative actually one of the assumptions that is challenged by panpsychism?
Freddie: I'm not sure I follow you. Why would (any of the various hypotheses that go by the name of) panpsychism challenge the assumption that data is good?
I don't know, I was mostly just being a punk. It's been a long day.
I wonder if prayer is a subject addressed during the conference. Praying people often have stories of having a moment here and there of awareness of someone else's needs without being told.


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text:
Q: powershell to calculate 20th business day from today trying to calculate\determine 6th Business from today in powershell.
is there a script\function available for same?
example :
if today's date is 4th Feb 2018, 6th business day from today is 12th feb 2018.
how do i get that date using powershell?

A: I think this would work for your situation.
It adds 2 days if the current iteration lands on a Saturday and 1 day if it lands on a Sunday.  There may be a better way but I know this works.
Edit: I didn't think about it if you need to account for holidays let me know and I may be able to edit this script to include it.
$daystoadd = 7

$CurrentDate = Get-date

For ($i = 1; $i -le $daystoadd; $i++) {
    $CurrentDate = $CurrentDate.adddays(1)
    if ($CurrentDate.DayOfWeek -eq 'Saturday') {
        $CurrentDate = $CurrentDate.adddays(2)
    }
    if ($CurrentDate.DayOfWeek -eq 'Sunday') {
        $CurrentDate = $CurrentDate.adddays(1)
    }

}

$CurrentDate

A: @Sumanth specifically asks for the sixth business day, so this should do the trick:
function SixthBusinessDay($date)
{
    $daysToAdd = 8,8,8,8,8,10,9
    $weekDay = $date.DayOfWeek.value__
    $sixtBusinessDay = $date.AddDays($daysToAdd[$weekDay])
    return $sixtBusinessDay
}

It's based on that all days require at least six days and one weekend to make it the sixth business day, but Friday requires two extra days and Saturday one extra day.
Running this:
(SixthBusinessDay (Get-date "2018-1-29")).ToString("dddd dd/MM")
(SixthBusinessDay (Get-date "2018-1-30")).ToString("dddd dd/MM")
(SixthBusinessDay (Get-date "2018-1-31")).ToString("dddd dd/MM")
(SixthBusinessDay (Get-date "2018-2-1")).ToString("dddd dd/MM")
(SixthBusinessDay (Get-date "2018-2-2")).ToString("dddd dd/MM")
(SixthBusinessDay (Get-date "2018-2-3")).ToString("dddd dd/MM")
(SixthBusinessDay (Get-date "2018-2-4")).ToString("dddd dd/MM")

gives the following result:

Tuesday 06-02
Wednesday 07-02
Thursday 08-02
Friday 09-02
Monday 12-02
Monday 12-02
Monday 12-02

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Q: selection of Kruskal-Wallis test for two groups I used a clustering tool to partition patient samples into two groups (group 1: n = 1035 patients; group 2: n = 1138 patients). Next, I want to see the statistical differences between them in terms of clinical features: Lymph nodes (continuous variables) and tumor stages (categorical variables)
Now, I used Kruskal Wallis test for the two clinical features above instead of Wilcoson sum rank test for Lymph node and Pearson's Chi-square for tumor stage. Is it accepted theoretically?
p/s: in the clustering processing, input is just a matrix whose rows are genes, columns are patients.

A: This is not directly related to the specific test used, but it's worth being aware of the problem of "double dipping", and if necessary correcting for it. In this case you are double dipping by using the same data to define clusters, and to test the hypothesis.
Here is a reference: Selective Inference for Hierarchical Clustering

Testing for a difference in means between two groups is fundamental to answering research questions across virtually every scientific area. Classical tests control the Type I error rate when the groups are defined a priori. However, when the groups are instead defined via a clustering algorithm, then applying a classical test for a difference in means between the groups yields an extremely inflated Type I error rate.

A: Kruskal-Wallis for 2 groups instead of 2-Sample Wilcoxon: Seems OK.
Using a Kruskal-Wallis test (which will accommodate $k\ge 2$ levels
of a factor, for only two levels, is essentially the same as using
a two-sample Mann-Whitney-Wilcoxon rank sum test.
In R, the syntax is a little different. And because the K-W test
can handle more than two levels, a few rounding conventions,
corrections for ties, and so on, may be implemented a little
differently between the two R procedures kw.test and wilcox.test.
So for many purposes, the two tests are equivalent. However, if
you have only two groups, why not use wilcox.test to get the
simpler version.
Here is an illustration:
set.seed(2020)
x1 = rnorm(500, 100, 15)
x2 = rnorm(500, 105, 15)
x = c(x1,x2);  g = rep(1:2, 500)
wilcox.test(x ~ g)

         Wilcoxon rank sum test
       with continuity correction

data:  x by g
W = 128900, p-value = 0.3933
alternative hypothesis:
  true location shift is not equal to 0

kruskal.test(x,g)

        Kruskal-Wallis rank sum test

data:  x and g
Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared = 0.72898, df = 1,
   p-value = 0.3932

Also, it is easy to do one-sided tests with wilcox.test and
not so easy with kruskal.test.
Using K-W for categorical data maybe not OK.
However, because tumor stages is a categorical variable and
the K-W test and Wilcoxon SR test are for ordinal data, I would
have to know more about your data and objectives to say you can
use K-W instead of a chi-squared analysis of counts in a table.
Unless tumor stages are clearly ordinal, you could be making a mistake there.


text:
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Mitch Kapor
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For his development of Lotus 1-2-3, a groundbreaking software application for the IBM PC.
Lotus Notes advertisement
Mitch Kapor was born in Brooklyn, New York, in 1950. He received a B.A. in psychology from Yale University (1971) and an M.A. in psychology from Beacon College (1978).
Kapor founded Lotus Development Corporation in 1982 with Jonathan Sachs, co-creator of Lotus 1-2-3. Released in January 1983, Lotus 1-2-3 was the first "killer app" for the IBM personal computer (PC). It combined a spreadsheet, charting and graphing, and rudimentary database operations into one application. Used primarily for its spreadsheet function, it was the leading program of its type for dos-based personal computers for several years, outselling VisiCalc by a significant margin.
Lotus 1-2-3 also became a benchmark, along with Microsoft Flight Simulator, for checking that an IBM "clone" was 100 percent hardware-compatible. Lotus 1-2-3 was eventually surpassed by Excel, the Microsoft Windows-based program.
In 1990, with fellow digital rights activists John Perry Barlow and John Gilmore, he co-founded the Electronic Frontier Foundation and served as its chairman until 1994. Kapor has been involved in a number of successful start-ups and was the first chairman of the Mozilla Foundation. He has also served as an adjunct/visiting professor at MIT and has written and lectured widely on technology and society.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
TAX TRAVEL
Five Companies That Went Thousands of Miles to Use Mauritius
Here are five companies that illustrate the vast geographic reach of Mauritius as a tax haven.
By Delphine Reuter
Image: Marwen Ben Mustapha / Inkyfada / ICIJ
Mauritius may be a tiny island 1,200 miles from the African continent, but its reach in the business world stretches far and wide. That much was made clear during our Mauritius Leaks investigation, published in collaboration with 54 journalists in 18 countries.
To unravel how and why companies might include Mauritius as part of their business structures, we spent hundreds of hours combing through details of offshore companies buried in more than 200,000 leaked files from the Mauritius office of the Bermuda-based offshore law firm Conyers Dill & Pearman. We published a spreadsheet to help make this rarely-disclosed information publicly available.
Several cases we found along the way stuck with us. Some showed the vast geographic reach of Mauritius as a tax haven. Others showed the diversity of businesses using the offshore world, ranging from humanitarian aid programs to online travel planning services.
Here are five companies that illustrate this distance and diversity — you can find even more by exploring the data yourself:
1. Golden Agri-Resources Ltd (3,465 miles)
Head office: Singapore
Distance to Mauritius: 3,465 miles
Industry: Palm oil
Golden Agri-Resources Ltd is one of the world's largest palm oil producers. Listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange but incorporated in Mauritius, it was used between 2013 and 2017 to guarantee at least $2.276 billion in loans to subsidiaries in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and Singapore, and to invest in companies in Liberia and Germany. Golden Agri-Resources Ltd told us that the information was out of date.
Here is the Group Structure Chart behind Golden Agri-Resources' investment in Golden Veroleum (Liberia) Inc., which was found in the documents.
2. Trident Enterprises Limited (9,174 miles)
Head office: Montreal, Canada
Industry: Airline
Canadian-based DAC Aviation International, which charters humanitarian flights for the United Nations World Food Programme and and the European Commission's ECHO missions, financed the purchase of two aircraft through Mauritius company Trident Enterprises Ltd. Two of those aircraft were sold to MG Kenya Leasing Limited and leased back to the Mauritius company, which then subleased them to Dac Aviation (EA) Limited, a Kenyan company and subsidiary of DAC Aviation International. DAC did not reply to ICIJ's requests for comment.
Read the 2012 board resolutions of Trident Enterprises Limited.
3. SSM Holdings Mauritius Limited and SSM Investments Mauritius Limited (3,746 miles)
Head office: Bangkok, Thailand
In 2010 Craig Cogut, the founder and CEO of Connecticut-based investment firm Pegasus Capital Advisors, asked Conyers for background on Mauritian companies SSM Holdings Mauritius Limited and SSM Investments Mauritius Limited. Cogut was considering investing in Six Senses, a chain of luxury resort hotels and spas headquartered in Bangkok that was using several companies in Mauritius to structure its multiple investments.
Both SSM Holdings and SSM Investments acquired shares in spas in Thailand. They had the same shareholding partner, Six Senses Mauritius Ltd, and one of their directors was Indian hotelier Sonashah "Sonu" Shivdasani, the chairman and CEO of the international Six Senses chain.
By the end of 2011, Six Senses Mauritius, which owned the Six Senses and Evason trademarks, held intellectual property rights for spas operating in other countries and had signed management, marketing and other contracts for tourism operations in Spain, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan, the Maldives, Oman, Thailand, Kuwait, Fiji, the United Kingdom, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Portugal, Malaysia, Turks and Caicos and India, among others.
Six Senses Mauritius sold its interests in the eponymous brand to Pegasus in 2012. The same year, Pegasus founder Cogut established Sustainable Luxury Mauritius Limited, of which he was the beneficial owner. In 2019, his firm sold Six Senses to InterContinental Hotels Group, owner of the Crowne-Plaza hotel chain among others. Cogut and Pegasus did not respond to our questions.
Here is the shareholding structure of Six Senses as of July 2010, including Six Senses Mauritius Ltd, SSM Holdings Mauritius Limited, and SSM Investments Mauritius Limited.
4. MakeMyTrip Limited (3,592 miles)
Head office: Gurugram, India
Industry: Travel
Dubbed "the largest online travel company in India" and with a corporate office located close to New Delhi, MakeMyTrip is headquartered in Mauritius. It has several subsidiaries: MakeMyTrip (India) Private Limited (the corporate office); MakeMyTrip Inc. (USA); MakeMyTrip FZ LLC (UAE); Luxury Tours & Travel Pte Ltd (Singapore); Luxury Tours (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd; the Hotel Travel Group; the ITC Group; and the EasyToBook.com Group.
In 2010, the company listed its shares on the NASDAQ — codenamed "Project Karma." The Conyers law firm advised on Mauritian law as part of the public listing. The Mauritius company had a tax residency certificate, which allowed it to benefit from a double taxation treaty with India. MakeMyTrip did not respond to our questions.
Here are the details of MakeMyTrip's share listing on the NASDEQ, which was codenamed "Project Karma."
5. Persianas Ltd. (4,106 miles)
Head office: Lagos, Nigeria
Industry: Residential and commercial real estate development and management
The Mauritius company Persianas Ltd. was used in relation to "an investment structure involving assets of the Persianas Group in Nigeria", according to Conyers documents. The Persianas Group is a Nigerian real estate development and management company that owns several shopping malls in Lagos and other cities under the brand name "The Palms."
In 2012, Snap Blu Ltd., another company registered in Mauritius but owned by Nigerian businessman Adetayo Amusan, transferred its shares in Persianas to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private finance arm of the World Bank, and the IFC's African, Latin American and Caribbean Fund. One of the law firms that facilitated the deal was Udo Udoma & Belo-Osagie, a Nigerian corporate law practice that at the time was headed by Nigeria's current minister of budget and national planning, Udoma Udo Udoma.
Contacted about the case, Minister Udoma Udo Udoma directed ICIJ to the law firm, which declined to comment. Pierre Mejlak, the IFC's spokesman, confirmed the investment in Persianas, noting that "only a very small amount of the investment ($1 million of ALAC's $25 million investment) was made by purchase from Snap Blu Ltd." Mejlak added that his organization was mindful of widely accepted international principles regarding the availability of information to tax authorities. "All applicable IFC investments must comply with our Policy on the Use of Offshore Financial Centers which follows Global Forum reviews on tax transparency standards," he said.
Read the details of the investment structure in the equity completion checklist
Will Fitzgibbon, Richard H. P. Sia, Hamish Boland-Rudder, Fergus Shiel and Karrie Kehoe
Topics: Data journalism, Mauritius Leaks, Offshore finance, Tax havens
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The Volvo EW160E wheeled excavator features fuel efficiency settings, world-class operator comfort, improved controllability and maximum versatility. The cab is designed for optimum low sound level and excellent visibility including on the right hand-side and rear of the machine. Controls are ergonomic, all easily reachable from the comfort of the Deluxe seat. Increase the safety of your operations with the optional Volvo smart view providing a live 360 view around the machine. With its tool box and optional adjustable trailer hitch, this wheel excavator can transport tools and parts between job sites on its own. It provides three work modes combined with three travel speeds to ensure optimum performance and fuel efficiency from light to heavy duty applications. The wheel excavator offers high ground clearance (360 cm) so the undercarriage is clean and uncluttered, ideal when working off road. Volvo offers a wide range of tailor made attachments such as buckets, as well as tailor made breakers to suit any application. The machine real time performance is monitored and displayed on the operator's control panel and via CareTrack, the telematics system designed by Volvo, so you can stay ahead of unscheduled down-time and make sure your machine is being operated efficiently.


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S.C.'s Beasley to leave world's top humanitarian organization
by Andy Brack December 17, 2022 December 17, 2022
Beasley, accepting the Nobel Peace Prize in 2020. Photo: WFP/Rein Skullerud
Former S.C. Gov. David Beasley, who has been executive director of the United Nations' World Food Programme (WFP) since 2017, today said he would step down from heading the organization in April 2023.
"Serving in this capacity has been the greatest joy and deepest heartache of my life. Thanks to the generosity of governments and individuals, we have fed so many millions of people," Beasley said in a statement today after an inquiry by the Charleston City Paper on Thursday. "But the reality is we have not been able to feed them all – and the tragedy of extreme hunger in a wealthy world persists."
In December 2020, Beasley accepted the Nobel Peace Prize on behalf of the organization for its work to alleviate hunger worldwide.
At the time, he said, "Waking up in this wealthy, modern, technologically advanced world, it's hard to imagine us going through a famine like that. But my tragic duty today is to tell you: Famine is at humanity's doorstep for millions and millions of people on earth. Failure to prevent famine in our day will destroy so many lives and cause the fall of much we hold dear."
Beasley, 65, served as South Carolina's governor from 1995 to 1999. Eighteen years later, after a business career mixed with missionary work, he became the executive director of the WFP, the world's largest humanitarian agency. It helps more than 100 million people in 88 countries to battle hunger every year.
When Russia's war on Ukraine started earlier this year, Beasley was asked to extend his leadership as the conflict interrupted grain supplies. Ukraine was the world's seventh largest producer of wheat, much exported to Africa, before the war.
In his statement, Beasley noted the organization's difficulties faced by "the unprecedented global hunger crisis sparked by a perfect storm of conflict, climate change, COVID-19 and now exacerbated by the war in Ukraine and soaring global food prices."
Making a difference after leaving governor's office
Beasley in Uganda in 2017. Photo courtesy of WFP.
Beasley has been described as South Carolina's Jimmy Carter for his work after serving as South Carolina's chief executive because of the difference he has made since leaving public office.
"All of the darkness of the world can't put out the smile on a face," Beasley said in 2017 just months after taking the job that has jetted him from hunger-sapped countries to European capitals in search of funding to help more people. "This job brings humanity down to the core level. When you see a hungry person, you don't see a Democrat or a Republican, a black or white. You see a brother or sister who is struggling to survive. That transcends politics. All you want to do is help them."
Beasley said a search for a successor is underway to take charge after he steps down.
"It has been an honor to serve this inspiring organization and to work with its 23,000 dedicated women and men," Beasley said. "I thank the United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres for giving me this role to play.
"But most of all, I thank the women, men and especially the children who live in poverty and hunger: every day, they show an extraordinary strength, courage and generosity of spirit the whole world needs to learn. They are an example to us all."
If you would like to donate to the WFP to fight hunger, click here.
Tagged: David Beasley, Hunger, Jimmy Carter, Ukraine, United Nations, World Food Programme


Now that my daughter has moved into a 'big kids' bed - I get to do some redecorating in her room....and I love decorating. So....I have been looking for a suitable bedside table lamp for a while now. I didn't want anything too big and fussy and I certainly didn't want anything that could easily be knocked over. When I came across this very cute lamp by Heico of Germany at Lark's online shop I was sold.
I think that this lamp is perfect for my little girl's room. The lamp is made out of durable resin and it emits a warm glow - perfect for a little night light (so I can sneak in and tuck her in without waking her up with any bright lights).
The lamp stands at 26cm high and is hand-made - so not two bunnies are the same. Very cool.


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Special counsel to probe Biden's handling of government documents
Biden aides have been searching for additional classified materials that might be in other locations after a set of classified documents were found in November.
Published: JANUARY 11, 2023 23:01
Updated: JANUARY 13, 2023 00:17
US PRESIDENT Joe Biden delivers remarks during a meeting with business and labor leaders at the White House, last week. The result of the midterm election considerably enhanced Biden's credibility, says the writer
President Joe Biden's own administration named a special counsel to probe the improper storage of classified documents at his home and a former office on Thursday, an embarrassing echo of a wider-ranging inquiry directed at his main political rival, Donald Trump.
The inquiry is a distraction for a Democratic president who has criticized his Republican predecessor's handling of classified material, and could cast a shadow over Biden as the two gear up for a possible 2024 election rematch.
Garland said Robert Hur, who served as the top federal prosecutor in Maryland under Trump, will act as a quasi-independent prosecutor to determine whether classified records from Biden's time as vice president had been improperly stored at his residence in Delaware and a think tank in Washington. Garland said Hur will examine "whether any person or entity violated the law."
The White House pledged to cooperate.
"We are confident that a thorough review will show that these documents were inadvertently misplaced," White House lawyer Richard Sauber said in a statement.
President Joe Biden answers a question during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron at the White House during an official state visit (credit: KEVIN DIETSCH/GETTY IMAGES)
Difference between Biden and Trump investigations
While Biden and Trump now face inquiries from special prosecutors, who are typically appointed to politically sensitive cases to ensure a degree of independence from Justice Department leadership, that does not mean their cases are the same.
Biden's attorneys said they have found fewer than a dozen classified documents and turned over the relevant papers after finding them. Trump resisted doing so until an August FBI search turned up about 100 classified documents, raising questions about whether Trump or his staff obstructed the investigation.
"The facts cannot be more different. The only similarity is there were classified documents that were taken out of the White House to somewhere else, said Kel McClanahan, head of National Security Counselors, a law firm.
The special counsel investigating Trump's handling of documents is also leading inquiries into the Republican's attempts to overturn his November 2020 election defeat to Biden.
Biden's legal protections as president
As a sitting president, Biden faces less legal risk than Trump. He has broad latitude to declassify documents and will likely be shielded from prosecution, as the Justice Department has a long-standing policy of not bringing criminal charges against the occupant of the Oval Office.
Trump, by contrast, lost those protections when he left office.
Garland said he decided a special counsel was necessary in the Biden case after an initial investigation conducted by John Lausch, a Trump appointee who serves as the top federal prosecutor in the Chicago region.
"This appointment underscores for the public the department's commitment to both independence and accountability in particularly sensitive matters, and to making decisions indisputably guided only by the facts and the law," Garland said at a news conference.
Hur, in a statement, said he would conduct the investigation impartially.
Republicans criticize appointment of special counsel
"When special counsels are appointed, it limits our ability to do some of the oversight investigations that we want to do."
Rep. James Comer (R-KY)
Republicans said they would be in a better position than the Justice Department to handle the investigation.
"When special counsels are appointed, it limits our ability to do some of the oversight investigations that we want to do," said Representative James Comer, who will head the House Oversight Committee.
Garland named a special counsel, Jack Smith, in November to oversee investigations of Trump, shortly after Trump said he would seek the Republican nomination to run again for president in 2024.
About 100 documents marked as classified were among thousands of records seized during an August search at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Biden called Trump's behavior "totally irresponsible" in September.
Biden, 80, is expected to formally begin a re-election campaign in the coming weeks.
"People know I take classified documents, classified material seriously," Biden told reporters on Thursday.
The White House said Biden does not know what is in the documents.
Sauber, the White House lawyer, said Biden's personal attorneys found fewer than a dozen classified records in a locked closet in November when they were packing files at an office Biden formerly used at the Penn Biden Center for Diplomacy and Global Engagement, a University of Pennsylvania think tank.
White House officials say those lawyers gave the material to the US National Archives, the agency responsible for the preservation of government records.
The White House revealed the discovery to the public on Monday. Hours before Garland's announcement, a White House lawyer said a second set of classified papers from that time was found at a storage space at his Delaware home.
Garland revealed on Thursday that the Delaware documents were found on Dec. 20, meaning that the White House knew about them and did not mention them when it made its initial Jan. 9 disclosure.
White House spokeswoman Karine Jean Pierre told reporters that the Justice Department's review prevented the administration from telling the public.
Trump during his presidency faced a special counsel, Robert Mueller, who found insufficient evidence to conclude that contacts between Trump's campaign and Russia in the 2016 presidential race amounted to criminal conduct. Mueller did not exonerate Trump of obstruction of justice but then-Attorney General William Barr, a Trump appointee, subsequently cleared him.
Democratic President Bill Clinton was likewise dogged by an independent prosecutor, Ken Starr, who uncovered evidence of an extramarital affair with a White House intern, which led to Clinton's impeachment.
Tags United States washington Joe Biden white house


As I understand it, Moodysson published 5 books of poetry before deciding to become a filmmaker.
i have read most of his poetry. he has kept on writing - or returned to - poetry, his last two books (the latest one published last year is the one i haven't yet read) are book-length poems. frankly i like him much better as a poet than as a film maker.


Robert, Kristen y Taylor en Entertainment Weekly. . HD Wallpaper and background images in the Twilight Series club tagged: twilight series breaking dawn twilight saga.
This Twilight Series photo might contain bridesmaid, maid of honor, portrait, headshot, and closeup.


Holy Grail Products for Thick 2c/3a Curly Wavy hair?
I'm in desperate need of some good products for my mess of a 2c/3a wavy uncontrollable Greek head of hair! I'm a year into my hair journey, am recovering from excessive heat and color damage, and have been reading Naturallycurly articles left and right to gain more knowledge about what's best for my crazy locks. Do you have any holy grails (both high and low end) that you could recommend to me? Thanks so much!
I have several products that I really like. Keep in mind I'm not fully CG. These just work or my hair. Mine is 2b , long , thick (but each hair is fine) . 1. Crème of Nature Strength and Shine ( my detangler)2. Garnier Sleek and shine argan serum ( has silicones.) occasional use3. Shea moisture Milks (yucca or coconut ) I like both4. OGX Creamy Argan Hair Butter5.Cantu Define and Shine custard 6. African Pride Curly CustardI detangle ,very wet , the add a cream or milk. The I use a flexible styler (custard ) . Im not big on crunchy gel. These products are very hydrating , so I don't use a lot of each. I twist into rope like coils . Then air dry, or dry on low setting.Hope this helps..


So begins the cover story of the May 2017 issue of Spotlight magazine, focusing on The Arcade. In the article, you'll learn the origins of the Arcade, and a bit about its owners, Octagons Yazimoto, Katharine McGinnis, and Emery Milneaux. Also, read about The Arcade from the focus of designer Ashleey Andrew of Garbaggio, blogger Neva Saljan, and Arcade shopper, Hendrix Portal.


A romantic port town made up of elegant Venetian houses lining narrow streets, Nafplio was the first modern capital of Greece. It attracts a happy mix of visitors and the best places to stay in Nafplio reflect this with a wide range of accommodation from pensions and guest houses to boutique hotels.
Weekending Athenians mingle with international travellers in the cafes and tavernas along the waterfront, browsing the upmarket boutiques and sampling the local cuisine.
Some of its beauty, and romance comes from its position, beneath the Palamidi Fortress, a vast citadel built on top of an outcrop of rock 200 metres above Nafplio's port. But this is an ancient town and so the fortress is not its only attraction, there are many museums, several smaller forts and some charming churches to explore.
and Bourtzi, also built by the Venetians, which sits on an islet just west of the main port.
The Old Town, which covers the peninsula, is the most romantic part of town and is one of the best places to stay in Nafplio if you appreciate fine architecture. It has a very Italian feel to it, but look closer and you'll begin to see the Byzantine and Ottoman influences. Everything within the Old Town is within walking distance and one of the greatest pleasures of any stay here is just strolling the lovely streets.
The area around Psaromachala, is less grand than the other parts of town, but has its own Greek Island feel. Several of the larger mansions in this area have been converted in to guesthouses, and this is one of the best places to stay in Nafplio if you want to feel like you're away from other visitors.
Some of the little fishing villages around Nafplio are worth exploring, and you'll discover some beautiful lagoons, quiet beaches, picturesque old churches and friendly tavernas.
Nafplio has a fascinating Archaeological Museum, which is set in one of the beautiful old Venetian buildings overlooking Syntagmatos Square, Nafplio's main square.
The Nafplio branch of the National Gallery is also housed in a particularly lovely building.
Alternatively, spend an afternoon at the well-regarded Folklore Museum or the War Museum.
The ancient town of Argos is also worth popping out to if you get a chance, it's quiet and rural now, but it's also thought to be the oldest town in Europe.
Lastly, Nafplio is an excellent base for visiting Mycenae and the Epidaurus Theatre.
During the summer high season, like elsewhere in Greece, the town can get very booked up so in order to snag one of the best places to stay in Nafplio be sure to book well in advance.
The Hotel Byron. This townhouse has been converted from an ancient building, right in the heart of the old town. Take one of the balcony rooms and you'll have a wonderful view of the rest of the town and the sea. With rooms starting from only €40 per night B&B, the value is unbeatable.
The Aetoma Hotel is a must. The hotel has been created from an 18th-century mansion and is located in the heart of the Old Town. Its five rooms are traditional and comfortable and some enjoy marvellous sea views. Breakfast is a highlight too, with home-made bread and jams.
The Nafplia Palace is one of the best places to stay in Nafplio if you're here for a special occasion, or you just want to treat yourself to a beautiful setting, sweeping sea views, a private beach and plenty of luxury.
If you'd prefer the privacy of a self-catering apartment then we suggest you browse through the wide variety available online with our partner, Booking.com.
If you're here for the weather then come in July and August, with the average temperature rising to 31°C in these months.
This, however, is peak season, so for a cheaper and quieter alternative consider coming in the spring or autumn instead.
Fly into Athens International Airport before taking a bus or a train over to Nafplio.
If you fancy the freedom of having a car then browse through the wide selection available with our partner, Rentalcars.
Browse though our list of all the best places to stay in Nafplio.
For more choices check out our full list for the Peloponnese.
Alternatively, contact one of our friendly gurus for advice.
This traditional, family-run hotel is situated on an idyllic street in central Nafplio. The individually styled rooms have modern, hand-selected furnishings; the best have a balcony overlooking the pretty town. Enjoy breakfast on the picturesque terrace at this smart yet homely bed and breakfast.
This boutique guesthouse is in the Gialos neighbourhood of Nafplio. Sitting within a restored heritage building, suites are individually styled with unique, retro design pieces and commissioned artworks; the best offer a private jacuzzi. Pop into the Adiandi café for a coffee; a charming hotel.
This boutique hotel is located in Nafpoli's old town on a quiet pedestrian street. The themed rooms are individually styled and feature artworks by Italian artist Francesco Moretti; expect upcycled décor and cosy linens. Enjoy a homemade Greek breakfast in the Adiandi Café. A delightful guesthouse.
Small, pretty townhouse hotel with balconies and views and a sunny terrace above the harbour, a good value base for local exploring.
This hotel sits within an elegantly renovated 19th-century mansion in Nafplio. Rooms feature crisp white linens and have dark wood and brass accents in keeping with the hotel's heritage; the largest suites can accommodate up to 4 people. Enjoy breakfast in the garden at this historic hotel.
Charming 'neoclassical' pension in an 18th century mansion in the old Venetian town of Nafplio with wonderful sea views. An excellent base for exploring ancient Greek sites in the Peloponnese. Family run, the delightful owners give a warm welcome. Everything from the jams to the bread are homemade.
B+B - Wonderful breakfasts in the sunny first floor dining room served until midday!
This smart period hotel is located in a landmark building in Syntagma Square, Nafplio. The building has been lovingly restored, with exposed stone walls and antique, dark wood furniture. The best suites have separate living space and a terrace. Pop in to the hotel café for a coffee. A luxury stay.
This boutique hotel occupies a renovated neoclassical residence in Nafplio. Rooms boast luxurious linens and regal furnishings in keeping with the hotel's history; the best suites have a cosy fireplace. Dine at the grill-oriented restaurant or have a drink at the sleek bar. A smart heritage hotel.
Seafront hotel in Greece's ancient capital. The terrace has lovely romantic views of the harbour, while interiors are chic and smart. Expect bright airy rooms with simple modern fittings, and a delicious mix of Greek and Mediterranean food at the hotel's two restaurants. A wonderful sun filled base!
A neoclassical mansion turned refined boutique in central Nafplio. The charming suites offer Italian furnishings, marble floors, reproductions of famous artworks and most offer balconies. The central courtyard and pool are a real coup, and the off-site restaurant is utterly delicious! A rare find.
Highly luxurious hotel in a beautiful setting. Sea-facing rooms and suites in contemporary style with private balconies, all the mod cons and private pools. Two excellent restaurants, pool, and private beach. A holiday haven for romantics.


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The first government responsibility is the fixing of the rate at which medical expenses should be negotiated, and it does so in two ways: The Ministry of Health directly negotiates prices of medicine with the manufacturers, based on the average price of sale observed in neighboring countries. A board of doctors and experts decides if the medicine provides a valuable enough medical benefit to be reimbursed (note that most medicine is reimbursed, including homeopathy). In parallel, the government fixes the reimbursement rate for medical services: this means that a doctor is free to charge the fee that he wishes for a consultation or an examination, but the social security system will only reimburse it at a pre-set rate. These tariffs are set annually through negotiation with doctors' representative organisations.
Public programs provide the primary source of coverage for most seniors and also low-income children and families who meet certain eligibility requirements. The primary public programs are Medicare, a federal social insurance program for seniors (generally persons aged 65 and over) and certain disabled individuals; Medicaid, funded jointly by the federal government and states but administered at the state level, which covers certain very low income children and their families; and CHIP, also a federal-state partnership that serves certain children and families who do not qualify for Medicaid but who cannot afford private coverage. Other public programs include military health benefits provided through TRICARE and the Veterans Health Administration and benefits provided through the Indian Health Service. Some states have additional programs for low-income individuals.[43] In 2011, approximately 60 percent of stays were billed to Medicare and Medicaid—up from 52 percent in 1997.[44]
Medicare Supplement policies are designed to cover expenses not covered (or only partially covered) by the "original Medicare" (Parts A & B) fee-for-service benefits. They are only available to individuals enrolled in Medicare Parts A & B. Medigap plans may be purchased on a guaranteed issue basis (no health questions asked) during a six-month open enrollment period when an individual first becomes eligible for Medicare.[128] The benefits offered by Medigap plans are standardized.
The United States health care system relies heavily on private health insurance, which is the primary source of coverage for most Americans. As of 2012 about 61% of Americans had private health insurance according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.[56] The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) found that in 2011, private insurance was billed for 12.2 million U.S. inpatient hospital stays and incurred approximately $112.5 billion in aggregate inpatient hospital costs (29% of the total national aggregate costs).[57] Public programs provide the primary source of coverage for most senior citizens and for low-income children and families who meet certain eligibility requirements. The primary public programs are Medicare, a federal social insurance program for seniors and certain disabled individuals; and Medicaid, funded jointly by the federal government and states but administered at the state level, which covers certain very low income children and their families. Together, Medicare and Medicaid accounted for approximately 63 percent of the national inpatient hospital costs in 2011.[57] SCHIP is a federal-state partnership that serves certain children and families who do not qualify for Medicaid but who cannot afford private coverage. Other public programs include military health benefits provided through TRICARE and the Veterans Health Administration and benefits provided through the Indian Health Service. Some states have additional programs for low-income individuals.[58]
In July 2009, Save Flexible Spending Plans, a national grassroots advocacy organization, was formed to protect against the restricted use of FSAs in health care reform efforts, Save Flexible Spending Accounts is sponsored by the Employers Council on Flexible Compensation (ECFC), a non-profit organization "dedicated to the maintenance and expansion of the private employee benefits on a tax-advantaged basis".[109] ECFC members include companies such as WageWorks Inc., a benefits provider based in San Mateo, California.
The Affordable Care Act dramatically expanded Medicaid. The program will now cover everyone with incomes under 133% of the federal poverty level who does not qualify for Medicare, provided this expansion of coverage has been accepted by the state where the person resides. Meanwhile, Medicaid benefits must be the same as the essential benefit in the newly created state exchanges. The federal government will fully fund the expansion of Medicaid initially, with some of the financial responsibility gradually devolving back to the states by 2020.
Carrin, Guy; James, Chris (January 2005). "Social health insurance: Key factors affecting the transition towards universal coverage" (PDF). International Social Security Review. 58 (1): 45–64. doi:10.1111/j.1468-246x.2005.00209.x. Retrieved 10 March 2013. Initially the health insurance law of 1883 covered blue-collar workers in selected industries, craftspeople and other selected professionals.6 It is estimated that this law brought health insurance coverage up from 5 to 10 per cent of the total population.
Conversely, an IBD/TIPP poll of 1,376 physicians showed that 45% of doctors "would consider leaving or taking early retirement" if Congress passes the health care plan wanted by the White House and Democrats. This poll also found that 65% of physicians oppose the White House and Democratic version of health reform.[55] Statistician and polling expert Nate Silver has criticized that IBD/TIPP poll for what he calls its unusual methodology and bias and for the fact that it was incomplete when published as responses were still coming in.[56]
Through the 1990s, managed care insurance schemes including health maintenance organizations (HMO), preferred provider organizations, or point of service plans grew from about 25% US employees with employer-sponsored coverage to the vast majority.[69] With managed care, insurers use various techniques to address costs and improve quality, including negotiation of prices ("in-network" providers), utilization management, and requirements for quality assurance such as being accredited by accreditation schemes such as the Joint Commission and the American Accreditation Healthcare Commission.[70]
Private health care has continued parallel to the NHS, paid for largely by private insurance, but it is used by less than 8% of the population, and generally as a top-up to NHS services. There are many treatments that the private sector does not provide. For example, health insurance on pregnancy is generally not covered or covered with restricting clauses. Typical exclusions for Bupa schemes (and many other insurers) include:
Healthcare in Switzerland is universal[34] and is regulated by the Swiss Federal Law on Health Insurance. Health insurance is compulsory for all persons residing in Switzerland (within three months of taking up residence or being born in the country).[35][36] It is therefore the same throughout the country and avoids double standards in healthcare. Insurers are required to offer this basic insurance to everyone, regardless of age or medical condition. They are not allowed to make a profit off this basic insurance, but can on supplemental plans.[34]
Hospital indemnity insurance provides a fixed daily, weekly or monthly benefit while the insured is confined in a hospital. The payment is not dependent on actual hospital charges, and is most commonly expressed as a flat dollar amount. Hospital indemnity benefits are paid in addition to any other benefits that may be available, and are typically used to pay out-of-pocket and non-covered expenses associated with the primary medical plan, and to help with additional expenses (e.g., child care) incurred while in the hospital.[19][95]
Typically, employer-sponsored plans can include a range of plan options. From health maintenance organizations (HMOs) and preferred provider organizations (PPOs) to plans that provide additional coverage such as dental insurance, life insurance, short-term disability insurance, and long-term disability insurance, employer-sponsored health plans can be comprehensive to meet the insurance needs of employees.
Since people who lack health insurance are unable to obtain timely medical care, they have a 40% higher risk of death in any given year than those with health insurance, according to a study published in the American Journal of Public Health. The study estimated that in 2005 in the United States, there were 45,000 deaths associated with lack of health insurance.[14] A 2008 systematic review found consistent evidence that health insurance increased utilization of services and improved health.[15]


text:
Arts & Entertainment CT Briefs The Arts
Ledger Online / September 25, 2013 / No Comment
Jewish Film Series set to open in Southbury
SOUTHBURY – The Jewish Film Festival Series, hosted by the Jewish Federation of Western CT, will open on Sunday, Oct. 13 at 2 p.m. with "Koch," the acclaimed documentary about New York's popular three-term mayor, Ed Koch. Other films in the series include "The Other Son" on Oct. 27 and "Hava Nagila" and "A Journey of Spirit" on Nov. 17.
All films will be screened at the Heritage Hotel, 522 Heritage Road in Southbury. Filmgoers can enjoy the Heritage Hotel brunch at a special price, which will be offered 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Admission is $18 for the entire film series; $7 per film. Registration is required. Space is limited. For tickets and information call (203) 267-3177 or email rsvp@jfed.net.
Renowned historian Judith Wechsler to receive film award
Reviving Prospero
Fighting elder abuse in Fairfield County