The brothers Luis and José Badia i Miarnau had a forge at Carrer de Nàpols, no. 278, Barcelona. They made artistic wrought ironwork, some pieces commissioned by the architects Antoni Gaudí and Josep Maria Jujol.
They worked with Joan Oñós on the entrance gate and coat of arms of Güell Palace.
In 1927 they put the following advertisement in the magazine Guia Consultiva de Construcción: 'Luis Badia, general Mechanical Construction workshop. Nápoles, 278. Barcelona'. With the claim 'we made the Güell Palace gate'.
The wrought ironwork at Güell Palace by the Badia Miarnau brothers, Joan Oñós and Salvador Gabarró, is plentiful and remarkable. All of them, smiths whom Gaudí trusted, executed Gaudí's designs admirably using traditional artisanal techniques. Gaudí was very familiar with iron and brass, as his father and grandfathers were boilermakers (in his father's workshop, Gaudí learned to beat copper sheets to shape iron).


The hacker culture is a subculture of individuals who enjoy the intellectual challenge of creatively overcoming limitations of software systems to achieve novel and clever outcomes. The act of engaging in activities (such as programming or other media) in a spirit of playfulness and exploration is termed "hacking". However, the defining characteristic of a hacker is not the activities performed themselves (e.g. programming), but the manner in which it is done and whether it is something exciting and meaningful. Activities of playful cleverness can be said to have "hack value" and therefore the term "hacks" came about, with early examples including pranks at MIT done by students to demonstrate their technical aptitude and cleverness. Therefore, the hacker culture originally emerged in academia in the 1960s around the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)'s Tech Model Railroad Club (TMRC) and MIT Artificial Intelligence Laboratory. Hacking originally involved entering restricted areas in a clever way without causing any major damages. Some famous hacks at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology were placing of a campus police cruiser on the roof of the Great Dome and converting the Great Dome into R2-D2.Richard Stallman explains about hackers who program: What they had in common was mainly love of excellence and programming. They wanted to make their programs that they used be as good as they could. They also wanted to make them do neat things. They wanted to be able to do something in a more exciting way than anyone believed possible and show "Look how wonderful this is. I bet you didn't believe this could be done." Hackers from this subculture tend to emphatically differentiate themselves from what they pejoratively call "crackers"; those who are generally referred to by media and members of the general public using the term "hacker", and whose primary focus—be it to malign or for malevolent purposes—lies in exploiting weaknesses in computer security.


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How to save time and money with a sound process improvement model.
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Wow, what an amazing opening ceremony for the games, I LOVED it, especially the cauldron, awesome!!
There's MORE new Craftwork Cards Card Candi, and more general accessories at what I believe to be very good prices!
Convert those Ikea mirrors into clocks!
There's loads of twine on here, (in fact there's 50 metres) great for Christmas projects!
It looks like to weather is finally being kind to us in the north. Enjoy your weekend whatever you are doing!


text:
Watertown Daily Times
Parenting Skills Can Have Huge Payoffs
By JUDI LIGHT HOPSON, EMMA H. HOPSON & TED HAGEN. Tribune News Service
If someone took a poll on what supports good mental health, it's likely this concept would make the list: "Have two great parents who love you."
Being loved and feeling lovable will seal your fate. This mental state of knowing what it's like to be valued carries a lot of warm and fuzzy feelings.
The truth is, however, this love can also come from others besides your mom and dad. Aunts, uncles, cousins, teachers, grandparents and more can "parent" you. Nurturing, kindness and thoughtful instruction don't have to come from just your biological parents.
"I wish I had told my niece and nephew how much I love them," says a nurse practitioner we'll call Deborah. "They are in their late 30s now, but I should have told them before kindergarten. I didn't realize the power I had to strengthen their emotional well-being."
Strengthening your family unit means never overlooking an opportunity to build someone up.
Bragging on someone, speaking good advice, or giving solid encouragement are great opportunities to "parent" other people.
"My husband and I had immature parents," says a legal assistant we'll call Deann. "We recently joined a small group of adults in a therapy research project. Our goal is to support each other verbally and emotionally over the course of one year. We've made a pact to essentially 'reparent' every person in the group. We want to build up everyone's psychological health."
Nurturing tips from this group include the following:
n Make time to listen to someone. This might be having lunch in person or talking by phone twice each week.
n Don't pretend to have all the answers. People cannot feel we're nurturing them, if we lord our opinions over theirs.
n Give some unconditional love. For example, if your cousin has struggled with substance abuse, you can mail him a birthday card. Or you can occasionally ask him if you can send pizza by delivery.
n Practice setting your own boundaries. Being kind to others doesn't mean you'll allow others to "use" you. We all know that being able to say no protects our own world. We never have to set ourselves up for being taken advantage of.
"I think a big concept we're learning in our close-knit group," says Deann, "is to stop feeling sorry for ourselves. This takes a lot of hard work. Some in our group suffer from what's called 'learned helplessness.' They feel they can't reach their goals."
Helping individuals, including yourself, have power in life means learning to reach tough goals. Adults don't quit, regardless of the sacrifices and self-discipline it takes. Self-esteem comes from being able to go after and conquer our deepest desires.
That's why children must learn to clean their rooms, help with dinner, feed their pets, and take on tougher chores as time goes by. You can't become an adult without practicing the steps to maturity.
But in the process, hugs, smiles, small gifts and kind remarks provide support to the child part of our personalities. Every mature person should still have a "healthy child" living inside, psychologists say.
A man we'll call Aaron told us this: "I never got a sweet hug during my entire childhood. My wife gives me extra special hugs and sweet words, though. The feeling is so wonderful. Sure, other adults might think this is strange, but I love being babied like this."
Aaron says he makes it a priority to give his teenage sons a big hug once a day. "I want them to feel they don't have to be tough all the time," he emphasizes.
Judi Light Hopson is the Executive Director of the stress management website USA Wellness Cafe at usawellnesscafe.com. Emma Hopson is an author and a nurse educator. Ted Hagen is a family psychologist.
A Dad's Guide to Raising Emotionally Healthy Boys
How to support your LGBTQ+ children: Parent resources for understanding, advocacy and communication
How to navigate the newborn cluster feeding stage
Advice For Parents Whose Teen Wants To Start Wearing Makeup

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


Q: My next-door neighbor cut down large pine trees that shaded my wall of star jasmine two days ago. Is there any point trying to rig a shade cloth to get through the rest of the summer hoping they can "harden off" to full sun or should I basically pronounce them dead and start the grieving process now?
COURTESY Star jasmine can handle full sun if it's planted in good soil.
COURTESY An alternative to Italian cypress is the Skyrocket juniper. It is hard to find but stays narrow like Italian cypress.
A: Star jasmine can handle full sun if it's planted in good soil. But you are right, it will probably go through some shock to have it this exposed to the hot sun at this time of year.
These plants will probably have some leaf scorch and some dieback as they transition to full sun. But I think it will rebound. You may have to cut the damaged parts back, fertilize it in October and let it regrow. At this point, I would wait and see what happens.
Plant health has a lot to do with how plants handle hot weather. Plants that are not as healthy will have more difficulty during hot weather than plants that are in good health. In a contrast to this, plants that are not as healthy can grow in protected environments and still look good.
I would encourage you to buy some decent compost and spread about an inch layer at the base of these plants and water it in. This should improve their health. The best compost for this I found is at Viragrow in North Las Vegas available in bulk bags. Soil improvement will go a long way in improving plant health and their ability to withstand adverse conditions.
Because of the high light intensity and warmer temperatures, they might begin to use more water in this location. I don't necessarily think you need to apply water daily in this spot but you may have to increase the volume of water 20 or so percent and maybe add an extra day of watering.
Try adding this water with a hose first but avoid daily watering if you can. Watering daily might create some problems for these plants if the soil doesn't drain very well.
If there is no surface mulch surrounding these plants on the soil surface then put down a 3- to 4-inch layer. Wood mulch is better than rock mulch for soil improvement. You can get wood mulch free from the university orchard in North Las Vegas, which is 100 yards east of the corner of Horse Drive and North Decatur in Aliante any Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday morning.
Q: I have a butterfly bush that is struggling. It looked wonderful this past spring but now the leaves and blooms are much smaller. There are many leaves turning black. The bush has full sun and gets watered regularly. Do you know what the problem might be?
A: Check for grubs (worms) eating the roots. This is a common problem on butterfly bush this time of year. Use a liquid insecticide as a soil drench to wash the roots and kill the grubs or use granular insecticide and watered into the soil. Look for one that is for grubs at your nursery or garden center.
A: The last time I saw this kind of browning on the surface of a saguaro is in a landscape where they were wrapping it each winter in an attempt to protect it from winter cold damage. They used burlap.
It caused a lot of surface disease problems on the cactus because of a lack of air circulation. They finally stopped doing that, but the damage was already done and the surface of the cactus had a lot of brown damaged areas.
I hope you are not wrapping it during the winter. If you are, stop it. Let it breathe and take your chances. I know they are expensive.
Make sure that water is applied to the surface of the soil surrounding out to a distance of 6 to 8 feet and water is not spraying the trunk. Do not water too often. Water deeply in these areas about every two to three weeks. I would rather see it watered every three weeks rather than two weeks and actually three weeks is really too often.
These plants store water in their fat bodies and can live on this stored water for a long time. When water is present in the soil after a rain or irrigation the roots absorb it like a sponge, very quickly and that fat body swells up and expands like an accordion. That's why it's ribbed.
Don't wrap it in the winter time and water it deeply and not very often.
Q: I removed two Italian cypress trees, which was harder than I imagined, especially the stumps. When is a good time to replace this tree and what size hole does it require? Does the soil need any special preparation prior to planting?
A: I can imagine that was a very difficult job removing Italian cypress. Probably the easiest way to do it is to cut it off and rent a stump grinder and grind out the stumps. The stump grindings mixed with soil makes a fabulous mulch.
The best time to replant is in the fall months, but the problem is plant selection. There is usually not much to pick from. The best stuff is gone and the nurseries don't want to be stuck with anything through the winter so availability of plants from wholesalers is limited to stuff that didn't sell. But you can still find things if you're willing to look around.
An alternative to Italian cypress is the Skyrocket juniper. It is hard to find but stays narrow like Italian cypress yet doesn't grow as big. I have never seen any available in the Southern states. They used to be popular 30 or 40 years ago.
You should not have a problem planting in the same holes if the Italian cypress was healthy. Dig a hole three to four times the diameter of the container it comes in. If the soil from these holes already has quite a bit of organic matter in them (the soil will be dark brown), then don't add anything to the soil. Otherwise, mix the soil you take from the hole 50/50 with compost.
Q: Last year I purchased a home with four mesquite trees, a tree I was unfamiliar with because I'm not from the area. This year, I have a million or so unsightly seed pods cluttering up my rock mulch. They are very hard to pick up and I am 89 years old.
Is there anything that can be done to reduce the number of pods these trees produce?
A: Sorry, but there really isn't anything you can do about the pods. It is just a biological fact that we have to live with.
An alternative might be to use a different color rock mulch beneath it. A multicolored rock mulch rather than a solid color rock mulch hides these pods a lot better.
An alternative might be to burn them with a fire weeder fueled on propane, but a lot of people don't want to go that route.


This will be a costume Moulin Rouge 30th birthday party. Even though this party is next year, I'm trying to get a head start on pricing.
Wouldn't you love for your cocktail hour, wedding reception, or banquet to go off without a hitch? We can all appreciate when entrees are brought out promptly, plates are cleared to make room for dessert, and all the guests get their champagne in time for the toast. This is all made possible by your sharp and dedicated servers, waiters, and waitresses. A professional waitstaff is key to any successful dinner, cocktail party, or private event. Let the professionals handle the details so you can enjoy your event! Search for Waitstaff in Gardena, California above.
Please note that these Waitstaff may also travel to Lawndale, Monaco, Del Aire, Manhattan Beach, Hermosa Beach, Harbor City, North Long Beach, Lomita, El Segundo, Wilmington, Ladera Heights, Rolling Hills Estates, Palos Verdes Estates, Vernon, Maywood, Playa Del Rey, Playa Vista, Signal Hill, Palos Verdes Peninsula, Rolling Hills, Marina Del Rey, Commerce, San Pedro, Venice, Santa Fe Springs, Artesia, Century City, Hawaiian Gardens, West Los Angeles, and Rossmoor.


text:
Home / China / National affairs
Xi, Putin cite group's 60 years of service
By Wang Qingyun | China Daily | Updated: 2017-10-11 06:59
President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin sent congratulatory messages on Monday to the Russia-China Friendship Association on the 60th anniversary of its founding.
Xi said in his message that over the past six decades, the association has adhered to the principle of friendship in managing relations with China, actively carried out people-to-people exchanges, and contributed significantly to promoting mutual understanding and friendship between the two peoples.
Calling the association an important force in cementing and developing China-Russia ties, Xi stressed that the key to sound relations between states lies in amity between the peoples.
China-Russia relations have reached a new historical starting point, Xi said, expressing his hope that the association will open up a new chapter in promoting exchanges between peoples of the two nations and make greater contributions to strengthening people-to-people bonds, fueling the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination at a high level.
In the message released by the Kremlin, Putin said: "The association was there through almost the entire modern history of Russian-Chinese relations, which have now reached the level of all-embracing trusting partnership and strategic cooperation."
The two congratulatory messages have "demonstrated fully" the great importance the two leaders attach to China-Russia ties, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Tuesday.
The China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination is proceeding at a high level, and bilateral ties are stronger than they ever have been, Hua said at a daily news conference in Beijing.
She noted that Xi and Putin have met four times this year to lead the two countries in deepening political mutual trust and promoting pragmatic cooperation, as well as exchanging views in time over major international and regional issues.
Li Jianmin, a researcher at the Institute of Russian, Eastern European, Central Asian Studies with the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said people-to-people exchanges are important, as they help the public of the two countries better understand bilateral ties.
The two sides should continue working closely to promote such exchanges among young people and lay a strong foundation for friendship in the future, Li said.
Xinhua and Zhou Jin contributed to this story.
World's largest telescope finds new pulsars
In pics: autumn scenery across the country
North chills; south awaits floods
Amazing China: Overseas outlook
Northwest China's autonomous county gets first highway
Season of harvest decorates the landscape
Highlights from Xi's speech at a workshop
China's path to global leadership
Roller skaters make a 567-km trip to Beijing
Odd pairs gain mutual benefits in sharing home
Train design for 2022 Games goes public
PLA's new light tank is unveiled
Taiwan's tourism industry feels chill
China to expand reform in public hospitals
Medical reforms undertaken in the year
Major economic achievements under Xi's leadership
Xi's diplomacy: Philosophy, wisdom and honors
Student entrepreneurship on the rise
Forbidden City adopts online-only ticket model
Northernmost post office in China draws 1 million tourists
Ten photos from across China: Sept 22-28
CPC encyclopedia
Celebrating 90th anniversary of PLA's establishment


text:
Students gain insight on how to break into healthcare industry
Students from Ark schools came together to receive top tips and study tricks from former students now in medical-based courses and careers.
More than 60 students attended the Project Healthcare Launch in Kings Cross, on Wednesday (22 January), to gain insight on how to break into the industry and the range of options that are open to them.
Olufunke Moronfolu, who studied at Ark Elvin Academy in Wembley, said she was always encouraged to pursue medicine by her family and teachers. However, when she began studying the course she realised it wasn't for her.
The 20-year-old said: "When I was small all I kept on hearing was 'you should do medicine'. I felt like I was conditioned to do it. I always wanted to help others, but when we started working with patients, we had to go quite in-depth with how they were feeling.
"I think most people don't realise that medicine is really emotionally draining.
"I left and went on to study biomedical science at Kings College and I love what I am doing now."
Isaac Newton Academy (INA) student, Shaan Johol, attended the Project Healthcare Launch to support her medicine application to Queen Mary University.
The year 12 student has always fostered a desire to help people struggling with their health, but she also wanted to break down the gender stereotype within the profession.
"Women get that you can be a nurse or a midwife, but when you say you want to be a doctor, people are taken back. It was great seeing young, powerful women who studied at Ark doing what I want to do."
Shaan said throughout her schooling experience, INA has supported her career goals.
"The school is amazing, the support I have received is second to none. The workload is more, but it's for the better. The school have given us a good stepping stone because they listen to you and tailor your learning for what you want to do."
Project Healthcare is the sister programme to Project Oxbridge, which was launched last year. The programme aims to help sixth form students to achieve their ambitions of pursuing a career in the health sector.
To find out more about Ark schools, visit the website.


Acorn Bank at Temple Sowerby at Penrith has an annual Apple Day festival so who better to ask about the best apples for eating than their gardeners? Sizergh Castle's another great place for apple-themed events.
So what can you do with your hoard of fresh apples? Apart from gobbling the lot, you could make a homemade apple pie or crumble! It will be extra yummy with the apples you picked yourself. You could even make an easy peasy apple sauce to go with a Sunday roast chicken. Just be sure to check if the apples are eating apples or cooking apples (you might want to ask an adult to help you) - if you eat raw cooking apples they might give you a tummy ache!
Click for more information about Acorn Bank at Temple Sowerby, and the dates of the Apple Day festival.


text:
DJI Partners with Delair to Enhance Visual and Geospatial Data Collection
Recently, DJI partnered with Delair to collaborate on enhanced and integrated solutions for visual data collection and analysis for businesses. As a result, DJI is improving its technology to better support the commercial industry, and Delair will sell DJI products through its sales channel, along with launching a relationship to build compatibility across platforms.
To provide professionals with complete Mapping & Surveying solutions, DJI is now expanding the capabilities of its product portfolio.
"The product improvements we are introducing at InterGeo are significant steps to solidifying DJI's role as a provider of a next-generation geospatial data collection platform – an essential tool and an integral driver of growth for countless service providers and solution developers," said Dr. Barbara Stelzner, Director, Marketing and Corporate Communication, DJI Europe.
For example, the new Matrice 210 RTK V2 + Zenmuse X7 solution is fully capable of surveying, and produces photogrammetry models with centimeter-level accuracy. Also, the Phantom 4 RTK + GS RTK v2.2 solution is receiving updates to provide more intuitive controls and give users more flexibility in mission execution. Earlier this year, DJI launched DJI Terra, an easy to use mapping software developed to help industry professionals transform real-world scenarios into digital assets. Now, the company is expanding the software's capabilities to accelerate data processing, improve accuracy, and streamlines operation, making it a truly comprehensive surveying software. Users can set Ground Control Points and Checkpoints to achieve high accuracy reconstructions using non-RTK-enabled drones, and convert maps and models into 8500+ global coordinate systems.
By partnering with Delair, DJI Systems will be compatible with the delair.ai Cloud platform, designed for various industries, including Mines & Aggregates, Construction, Agriculture & Forestry, and Power & Utilities. With the delair.ai platform, customers have access to a wide range of tools to help derive insights from drone data, including industry-specific analytics tools optimized for specific use cases. It allows users to create digital twins, field inventory calculations, vegetation encroachment, automatic defect detection, automatic stockpile detection and volume measurements, along with any application which is based on AI object detection for asset management.
"Drones for enterprise are more than just hardware solutions: the real key is tapping into and leveraging the data these powerful machines can gather, " said Benjamin Benharrosh, Co-founder and VP Sales at Delair. "DJI's developer technologies and existing install base allow Delair to build an industry leading analytics suite that can be utilized instantly across a customer's fleet. Both DJI and Delair recognize the importance of providing enterprise-caliber solutions from trusted partners to enable true digital transformations by our customers."
To showcase these solutions, both companies were at the 2019 INTERGEO event in Stuttgart, Germany - Booth #C4.052 (DJI)and #A3.062 (Delair).
Phase One's Purpose-Built, Industrial Grade Cameras for Drones Spark New Use Cases
Technology in general makes João Antunes tick, but the specific ways it has created and changed the landscape in IT, gaming and computers ignited curiosity that's turned into a passion for him. As the son of a journalist writing about how these industries have emerged and evolved, he has an incredible perspective when it comes to understanding the kind of disruption new technologies can create in a given space. He's committed to showcasing what that disruption will mean for professionals as they work to utilize brand new pieces of hardware, software, systems and processes.
Highlights of 5 Things You Need to Know About Surveying with a Drone Webinar
AiRXOS Enterprise Energy Solution: An Economical, Dynamic and Unified UAS Platform for Executing Efficient Inspection Operations
Corteva Agriscience Is Leveraging Drone Technology to Transform the Way Farmers Manage Their Crops


text:
Q: Script for gzip-inflate of HTTP messages in file One of the tools I'm using saves the HTTP data into log files per connection. I was wondering if there is some kind of script to inflate gzip compressed messages in the file.
The data looks like this:
GET /something HTTP/1.1
Content-Type: text/plain
User-Agent: Mozilla/5.0
Connection: Keep-Alive
Accept-Encoding: gzip, deflate
Accept-Language: en-US,*
Host: something.somedomain

HTTP/1.1 200 OK
Content-Encoding: gzip
Content-Type: text/xml;charset=UTF-8
Date: Wed, 28 May 2014 20:33:14 GMT
Server: something
Content-Length: 160
Connection: keep-alive

<GZIP SECTION ...

FOLLOWING MORE REQUESTS/RESPONSES

I thought I could do it by hand but that would take too much time. Then I thought I could make a script but since I'm not quite an expert with bash/python/perl/whatever I was hoping somebody already had created such script.
Thanks for any tips.

A: Well I helped myself out and slapped together a C++ app to do what I want. Perhaps somebody might find it useful some day. Also handles chunked encoding. How I use it  'ls | grep ".log$" | ungzip'. The log files were from SSLSplit.
// ungzip.cpp : Defines the entry point for the console application.
//

#include "stdafx.h"

void inflate(std::istream& dataIn, std::ostream& dataOut)
{
    boost::iostreams::filtering_streambuf<boost::iostreams::input> in;
    in.push(boost::iostreams::gzip_decompressor());
    in.push(dataIn);
    boost::iostreams::copy(in, dataOut);
}

struct membuf : std::streambuf
{
    membuf(char* begin, char* end) {
        this->setg(begin, begin, end);
    }
};

int _tmain(int argc, _TCHAR* argv[])
{
    boost::iostreams::mapped_file fileIn;
    std::ofstream fileOut;

    // For each filename on stdin
    for (std::string fileName; std::getline(std::cin, fileName);)
    {
        // Try opening memory mapping of that file.
        try
        {
            fileIn.open(fileName);
            if (fileIn.is_open() == false)
            {
                std::cout << "Error 1" << std::endl;
                continue;
            }
        }
        catch (std::exception e)
        {
            std::cout << e.what();
            continue;
        }

        // Open file to write inflated output to
        std::string strOut = fileName;
        strOut += ".ugz";
        fileOut.open(strOut, std::ios::binary);
        if (fileOut.is_open() == false)
        {
            std::cout << "Error 2" << std::endl;
            fileIn.close();
            continue;
        }

        // Load whole file into string to verify if it atleast has HTTP/1.1 somewhere in it.
        //Doesnt mean its not binary, but better than nothing.
        char * pchData = fileIn.data();
        std::string strWhole(pchData, pchData + fileIn.size());
        std::regex reg("HTTP/1.1 ");
        std::smatch match;

        std::stringstream ss(strWhole);

        // Interesting header information
        enum {REGXCNT = 3};
        std::regex regs[REGXCNT] = { std::regex("Content-Length: (\\d+)"), std::regex("Content-Encoding: gzip"), std::regex("Transfer-Encoding: chunked") };

        // Verify
        if (std::regex_search(strWhole, match, reg))
        {
            int len = 0;
            bool bGzipped = false;
            bool bChunked = false;

            // While there is something to read
            while (!ss.eof())
            {
                std::string strLine;
                std::getline(ss, strLine);

                // Empty line between Header and Body
                if (strLine == "\r")
                {
                    // Print out the empty line \r\n
                    fileOut << strLine << std::endl;

                    // If its gzipped or chunked treat it differently
                    if (bGzipped || bChunked)
                    {
                        // GZipped but not chunked
                        if (bGzipped && !bChunked)
                        {
                            // Construct helper structures inflate and write out
                            char * pbyBinaryData = new char[len];
                            ss.read(pbyBinaryData, len);
                            std::stringbuf stringBuf;
                            membuf gzipdata(pbyBinaryData, pbyBinaryData + len);
                            std::istream _in(&gzipdata);
                            std::ostream _out(&stringBuf);
                            inflate(_in, _out);
                            std::stringstream ssOut;
                            ssOut << _out.rdbuf();
                            std::string strDataOut = ssOut.str();
                            fileOut.write(strDataOut.c_str(), strDataOut.length());
                            delete [] pbyBinaryData;
                        }
                        // Chunked data goes here
                        else if (bChunked)
                        {
                            // This vector is used for gzipped data
                            std::vector<char> unchunkedData;

                            // Load all chunks
                            while (true)
                            {
                                std::getline(ss, strLine);
                                // Strip \r from it. It should be always at the end, but whatever - performance is not the issue
                                strLine.erase(std::remove(strLine.begin(), strLine.end(), '\r'), strLine.end());
                                // Load chunksize
                                int nChunkSize = std::stoi(strLine, 0, 16);

                                if (nChunkSize != 0)
                                {
                                    // Each chunk is ended \r\n -> +2
                                    char * tmpBuf = new char[nChunkSize + 2];
                                    // Read actual data
                                    ss.read(tmpBuf, nChunkSize + 2);
                                    if (!bGzipped)
                                    {
                                        //Data not gzipped. Write them out directly
                                        fileOut.write(tmpBuf, nChunkSize);
                                    }
                                    else
                                    {
                                        //Data gzipped. Add them to vector to decompress later
                                        unchunkedData.insert(unchunkedData.end(), tmpBuf, tmpBuf + nChunkSize);
                                    }
                                    delete[] tmpBuf;
                                }
                                else
                                {
                                    // All chunks loaded. Break the while loop.
                                    break;
                                }
                            }
                            // Data was gzipped. Time to decompress
                            if (bGzipped)
                            {
                                std::stringbuf stringBuf;
                                membuf gzipdata(unchunkedData.data(), unchunkedData.data()+unchunkedData.size());
                                std::istream _in(&gzipdata);
                                std::ostream _out(&stringBuf);
                                inflate(_in, _out);
                                std::stringstream ssOut;
                                ssOut << _out.rdbuf();
                                std::string strDataOut = ssOut.str();
                                fileOut.write(strDataOut.c_str(), strDataOut.length());
                            }
                        }
                    }
                    // Reset flags
                    bChunked = false;
                    len = 0;
                    bGzipped = false;
                }
                // Otherwise just save it and try to find a key header info in it
                else
                {
                    fileOut << strLine << std::endl;
                    for (int i = 0; i < REGXCNT; ++i)
                    {
                        if (std::regex_search(strLine, match, regs[i]))
                        {
                            switch (i)
                            {
                            case 0:
                                len = std::stoi(match[1]);
                                break;
                            case 1:
                                bGzipped = true;
                                break;
                            case 2:
                                bChunked = true;
                                break;
                            }
                            break;
                        }
                    }
                }
            }

        }

        fileOut.flush();
        fileIn.close();
        fileOut.close();
    }

    return 0;
}

Header stdafx.h:
#pragma once
#pragma warning (disable: 4244)

#include <tchar.h>
#include <iostream>
#include <boost/tokenizer.hpp>
#include <boost/iostreams/filtering_streambuf.hpp>
#include <boost/iostreams/filter/gzip.hpp>
#include <boost/iostreams/copy.hpp>
#include <boost/iostreams/stream.hpp>
#include <boost/iostreams/device/mapped_file.hpp>
#include <fstream>
#include <regex>
#include <vector>
#include <streambuf>
#include <sstream>

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


NJEGUSI VILLAGE – With the mountains hovering all around and fields of wild grass covering every square inch of land, the character of this small mountain top village, at the altitude of 900 m above the sea level, in southern Montenegro within Cetinje municipality, shines through. It is located on the slopes of Mount Lovcen, within Lovćen national park. Njegusi consists of a spacious field, while the houses were built in an oval formation, which is a specific type of architecture for old villages in Montenegro. This village is best known as birthplace of Montenegro's royal dynasty of Petrovic that ruled Montenegro from 1696 to 1918. One can visit the house in which Njegoš was born. It is located near the road passing through the village. This is a small stone house, very simple and modest, but everything in it reminds that a great man lived in it. The exposition presents not only household items, but also literary works, among which the first edition of the poem "The Mountain Crown", printed in Vienna in 1847. Here you can see the portraits of Njegoš, his bronze bust of the famous sculptor Ivan Meštrović, as well as the genealogical tree of the Petrovic family. At present, his relics rest near the village in the Mausoleum of Njegos on Mount Lovcen.
Njeguši, while quaint, is very famous for its smoked ham (Njeguski prosciutto) and homemade cheese (called Njeguški sir), natural mountain honey and for its well-preserved traditional folk architecture. Now the village has become a real tourist town, with a population of just less than 50 houses and about 200 people. You can also see how this meat is done here, buy as a souvenir a whole leg or try the prosciutto in local taverns (home restaurants).


text:
公司新闻(英文)
February 4, 2010 / 9:35 PM / 9 years ago
UPDATE 2-Bebe Q2 earns tops mkt; says young shoppers returning
* Q2 EPS $0.03 vs est $0.01
* Q2 sales down 22 pct
* Sees Q3 breakeven to loss 5 cents/shr (Recasts; adds conference call details, analyst comments)
By Nivedita Bhattacharjee
BANGALORE, Feb 4 (Reuters) - Women's apparel retailer Bebe Stores Inc BEBE.O posted a second-quarter profit that topped market estimates on lower markdowns and costs, even as it battles dwindling traffic at its stores and sluggish sales at its revamped sports line PH8.
However in a conference call with analysts, Chief Executive Manny Mashouf said the company is seeing some of its younger customers come back to stores, with comparable sales in January down 13 percent — much better than the 22.5 percent decline it saw for the second quarter ended Jan 2.
Total sales at Bebe dropped 22 percent to $141.5 million during the quarter, but it has been making efforts to ramp up sales, including bringing in fresh styles, newer colors to its lines and making changes to store displays.
These efforts will enable the company to go after its core customer base, Betty Chen, Vice President Equity Research at Wedbush Securities said.
"It is our strategy that we need to have that '18-year-old and up' age group that is fashion forward (shop at Bebe stores)," the CEO said on the call.
Earlier in the day, the company announced the launch of its bebe-Kardashians line starting mid February, in collaboration with socialite Kim Kardashian and her sisters.
For the financial year ending in June, the company said it expects to close two bebe stores, one 2b bebe store and up to 11 PH8 stores.
Last year, the company had revamped its Bebe Sport store concept, renaming it PH8 in the process, in a bid to stem sales declines and preserve brand equity at the main bebe line.
"Our belief is that PH8 is not within their core competency, and that it might be in the interest of the company to focus all their energy on their core bebe business," analyst Chen said.
IMPROVING MARGINS
Second-quarter net income at the company, which targets women in the age group of 18 to 25, came in at $2.4 million, or 3 cents per share, compared with $6.8 million, or 8 cents a share, a year earlier.
Analysts were looking for earnings of 1 cent a share.
"We are not dragging a bunch of old goods any more. We have cleaned up our past indiscretions and we really saw improved margins in the December quarter," Mashouf said.
Selling, general and administrative expenses fell 17 percent during the quarter, while gross margins came in at 39.2 percent, compared with 38.6 percent last year.
For the current third quarter, the Brisbane, California-based company expects a loss ranging from slightly below breakeven to 5 cents a share.
Analysts on average were expecting a loss of 3 cents a share, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S.
Shares closed at $6.28 Thursday on Nasdaq. (Reporting by Nivedita Bhattacharjee in Bangalore; Editing by Anne Pallivathuckal, Anthony Kurian)


Jeff Glucker October 2, 2014 Comment Now!
To truly test a brand new tire, you have to abuse it. You have to beat it up, thrash it, and run it as hard as you can. If it can last through the punishment unleashed upon it, it should be able to handle anything the average consumer throws its way. That's fine for street tires. Strap them on a set of wheels, put said wheels on a fast car, and head to a race track. Lap after lap will provide the driver with a whole heap of information from how the tire is performing to how its wearing out.
What do you do if you have an off-road tire though? Well, you'd think it'd be as simple as popping these tires on a truck and hitting a few trails. That might be fine for some, but the folks at BFGoodrich are a bit mental when it comes to the performance of their rubber. They should be mental though, because BFGoodrich tires have a part of 80 wins down in Baja. In order to keep up that pace, they have to be putting out some damn good rubber. For years, the BFGoodrich KO tire has been just that... but now it's evolved, and it's better than ever.
We trekked down to Baja, Mexico to see what the new BFGoodrich KO2 is all about.
An all-terrain tire is one that is designed for vehicles driven on the street, but ones that also like to get dirty at certain times. That means these tires need to be able to handle anything a trail can throw at its usually delicate sidewalls. In fact, according to BFG, the majority of tire failures occur in the sidewall area through rips, tears, and fissures. The manufacturer has decided to apply its race-proven technology found on its KR2 racing tire, and created an extremely tough sidewall that's built to be treated poorly. In fact, it laughs while it's being hit... the sidewall has a problem, and it has no desire to see a doctor.
It's not just a strong sidewall that off-roaders are looking for though, as traction is rather important to keep things moving in the right direction. Due to the design of the shoulder rubber and the tread footprint, BFGoodrich states that the KO2 has 10% more traction in mud and 20% more traction in snow compared to the outgoing KO tire. Now, the KO was never a slouch, but after spending a few days battling Baja's toughest terrain we think those numbers might even be low. Well, minus the snow bit seeing as there were no flakes falling from the Mexican sky. We did get a bit of rain though, and the conditions varied greatly out on the trails.
Our starting point was Ensenada, which serves as the starting point for the Baja 500 and the 1000. From there we headed inland into uncertainty and a rising altitude figure on the GPS. Our main vehicle was the Baja Challenge Buggy used by the crew from Wide Open Baja. It's a tough-as-nails machine with tons of suspension travel, a 1,600-cc Volkswagen engine, and a fairly simple four-speed transaxle gearbox... which costs about $12,000, so don't break it. A handful of Ford Raptors were also along for the journey, and all vehicles were obviously equipped with the new KO2 tires.
The day started fairly easily as we traversed a few whoop-laden trails. This quickly changed, however, as stable dirt started to give way to loose rock-covered hill climbs, muddy sections, soft shale, dust blasted high speed sections, and even a few water crossings. It was clear that BFG wanted us to see just how tough these tires actually are, and the proof came quickly. This is the type of stuff that the average off-roader won't see. The trails we traversed are actual trails used during the Baja races. They're brutal, hard on the vehicles, and hard on the bodies piloting the vehicles. To say they're also hard on the tires is an understatement.
There was an equipment failure with one of the buggies, as a driver managed to run out of talent and ruin some suspension, but the tires all held up. We later came to find out that some of the tires in the group weren't even brand new. They'd actually seen a few thousand miles on the buggies in actual racing scenarios. You couldn't tell by looking at the tread, as all the tires looked ready to go... and they were.
After a night spent out at Mike's Sky Ranch (an off-road mecca in the middle of nowhere, Mexico), we trekked back toward the beaches of Ensenada. The dust finally began to settle, the buggies were sent back into the hills, and all of us in attendance began to watch the sun set over the Pacific Ocean. Beers were served, tales were being told, and hot showers were a not-too-distant dream. The one thing on everybody's mind, however, was the truly stellar performance of BFGoodrich's latest tire. They didn't need us to prove that the tire was any good though, as a pair of motorsports standouts were also part of our group.
One of them, Bryce Menzies, had already sampled the tire on his fire-breathing Trophy Truck. He did so last year, when he used the KO2 to win the Baja 500.


Site 1 - K/2008/0938/RM - Foundations commenced for a 4 Bedroom 2 storey house.
Site 2 - K/2009/0025/RM - Foundations commenced for a 4 Bedroom 2 storey house and garage.
Directions - From Lack to Omagh turn left after C.3.4 miles onto the Dooish Road, then after C.1.3 miles turn right onto the Tattysallagh Road. Sites are C.0.7 miles on right hand side.
Check out the property I found on PropertyPal.com: Tattysallagh Road, Drumquin BT78 4RQ.


Restore Me Ministry was started in 2015 by Dan and Sherry Johnson. The Johnsons have served in local church ministry for over 40 years. Upon retiring in 2015, Dan and Sherry found they still had a heart for the Church and its ministers. Their desire to continue serving led them to establish Restore Me Ministry – a personal retreat space, guidance for ministers and their families, and help for churches looking to help th eir ministers.


text:
FeKK - Ljubljana Short Film Festival
Ljubljana 1000
View Map Slovenska kinoteka
28 Miklošičeva cesta
View Map Kinodvor
13 Kolodvorska ulica
And 1 Additional Venue Collapse Venues
Kraken - Short Film Promotion Society
FeKK is the largest international short film festival in Slovenia, with a competition programme focusing on short films from a variety of Balkan countries (Albania, BiH, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia) on one side and a Slovenian competition programme on the other. The accompanying programme brings curated retrospectives, thematic and historical programmes, guest festivals, industry events, workshops, panel discussions, masterclasses, live music acts and more.
The festival was established in 2015 by a group of young film critics, filmmakers and cinephiles in order to put a spotlight on the many different aspects of the short film form. FeKK aims to professionally present films of the emerging generation of filmmakers on an international level with an affinity for unique and often subversive cinematic voices. The festival aims to bring together authors, producers, curators, critics and other film professionals from this region and elsewhere.
FeKK takes place in the scenic centre of Ljubljana with venues that consist of the Slovenian Cinematheque's cinema and its open air cinema at the Metelkova's Museum District, Kinodvor - City Cinema and elsewhere, underground and alternative venues such as the famous Metelkova district included.
FeKK - Ljubljana Short Film Festival won the award for the best pitch in the Pitch Your Fest section at Torino Short Film Market in 2021. FeKK is a member of the Short Film Conference.
The eight edition of FeKK - Ljubljana Short Film Festival will take place between 15th and 20th of August in Ljubljana, Slovenia.
FeKK Grand Prix
The main festival award for the best film from all competition programmes. Grand Prix comes with a 500€ money prize.
Best FeKK BAL award
The international jury award for the best film in the international competition. Grand Prix comes with a 250€ money prize.
Best FeKK SLO award
The international jury award for the best film in the national competition. The award also secures 3000€ worth post production services by 001 and Teleking.
FeKK BAL Critics' Jury Award
The critic's jury award for the best film in the international competition.
FeKK SLO Critics' Jury Award
The critic's jury award for the best film in the national competition.
SHARPENING THE GAZE Award
Award given by the young film critics jury.
APPLICATION RULES:
- We accept short films from the following countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Greece, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro, Romania, Serbia and Slovenia.
- Maximum length of films is 30 minutes.
- Year of production should be 2021 or 2022.
- All genres are welcome.
Rough cut versions can be submitted if the film is not finalised before the end of the submission deadline and under condition that the final version will be provided within the 30 days following the final submission deadline.
If selected the author(s) agrees to public screenings of the film at the festival and/or potential online geoblocked screenings during the festival.
Sunčica Fradelić
Great festival, great organization, I was happy to participate!
Žiga Krajnc
10/10 bravo to the organisers!
Filip Jembrih
This festival is perfectly organized, with amazingly picked film program, best staff and its a lot of fun ! I am happy and honored to be a part of the festival this year :)
Kirineos Papadimatos
From my experience so far, i undertsood that there are only a few festivals around the world that happen with real people and real movies. When you are fortunate enough to attend this kind of festivals you should definitely be there. Unfortunately i wasn't :). I don't know if i' ll have the chance to share any movie again in the future, but i sure hope this festival to be there for many years to come. Our wishes from Athens.
Stanka Gjuric
Hvala na svemu, svima, no napose Robertu, Peteru, Matevžu, Jeleni, Mateju...
Osjećala sam se kao doma.


Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), also known as surface potential microscopy, is used in a wide range of applications, such as photovoltaic effects on solar cells, corrosion analysis of alloys, and surface analysis. Conductive AFM and KPFM are nanoscale electrical characterization tools that complement each other, and they are the most commonly used. Conversely, lack of measurement precision and repeatability as well as limited spatial resolution have restricted its use in certain major areas, such as in material discrimination in composite materials, detection of acceptor and donor domains in hetero-junction organic solar cells, and trapped or immobilized charges on insulators.
Frequency modulation KPFM (FM- KPFM) and amplitude modulation KPFM (AM-KPFM) are the two critical KPFM detection methods. This article provides an intuitive and geometrically rational probe model to describe their radical variations in spatial resolution and precision. This modeling allowed Bruker researchers to integrate KPFM-FM with a novel AFM mode called PeakForce Tapping®™. This mode provides ease of use and concurrent quantitative nanomechnical property mapping capability through PeakForce QNM®. This latest approach, along with an auto-optimization software and a new probe design, has significantly increased the performance of KPFM.
In 1898, Sir William Thomson, who was later known as Lord Kelvin, used a gold-leaf electroscope and found that copper and zinc plates placed on insulating shafts produced charge when they were allowed to come into electrical contact and then move apart. This discovery can now be explained with respect to work function variations. The work function refers to the minimum work or energy required to take out an electron from a solid, to a point beyond the surface of solid (or energy required to shift an electron from the Fermi level into vacuum). Figure 1 shows a diagram of energy and charge, illustrating the principle of Kelvin probe method.
Figure 1. Energy and charge diagram illustrating Kelvin probe technique principle.
Let us consider two different conductors, brought into electrical contact through an external wire contact. On doing so, electrons will travel from one conductor with a lower work function to the one with a higher work function, balancing the Fermi energies. If the conductors are made into a parallel plate capacitor, the surfaces will be induced with equal and opposite charges.
The potential determined between these two surfaces is known as the contact potential difference (CPD), surface potential, or contact potential, which equalizes the work function variation of the two materials. As a result, CPD measurement is made relatively simple. The capacitor is applied with an external potential or backing potential until the surface charges vanish completely. The external potential, at this stage, equals the CPD. So far, the numerous Kelvin probe methods developed mostly vary on how this charge-free state is actually identified.
William Zisman from Harvard University introduced the nulling concept and the vibrating electrode method in 1932. When the tip is vertically vibrated across a sample, the capacitance will differ as the distance changes. This causes charge to flow, resulting in an AC current. The backing potential, at which AC current is 0 (nulled) or at a minimum, is observed equal to the CPD. This approach results in the development of systems that automatically monitor shifts in contact potential as a result of changes in the sample's work function.
Combining the Kelvin method with AFM was first attempted by J.M.R. Weaver and coworkers, who accepted the nulling concept to locate the charge-free point, and tapped the special capability of AFM to identify tiny forces and force gradients. The main idea is that when the charge disappears, both the electric force gradient and the electric force between the two plates of a capacitor will turn into 0. It is appropriate to call the method Kelvin probe force microscopy (KPFM), as was done by Nonnenmacher in 1991. The KPFM technique paved the way to determine CPD, and work function in the nanometer regime. The combination of FM-KPFM and AM-KPFM are based on electric force gradient and electric force detection, respectively.
According to the above equation, the AC bias applied at frequency ω promotes the electric force to modulate at ω and 2ω, which can be directly quantified with cantilever deflection. The forms, recommended by the above equation, is shown in Figure 2.
Figure 2. DC deflection (top), amplitudes at frequency ω (center) and 2ω (bottom) when the DC tip bias is swept while an AC bias with frequency ω is superimposed, corresponding to the DC term, ω term and the 2ω term described in equation 1.
Interestingly, the most significant fact is that oscillation amplitude at ω (given as amplitude 1) falls down to 0 when VCD is equal to VCPD, - the basis for "nulling" the electric force to locate surface potential in amplitude modulation KPFM.
Likewise, VCD is equal to VCPD when the modulation amplitude of the electric force gradient at ω falls down to 0, the very basis for "nulling" the electric force gradient to locate the surface potential in frequency modulation KPFM.
The modulated electric force, through the application of an AC bias between the sample and tip, can be easily determined using the cantilever oscillation. Often, the AC bias frequency is chosen to be the resonant frequency of the AFM cantilever to realize better sensitivity provided by the quality factor Q of cantilever. Utilizing the oscillation amplitude as input, the KPFM feedback modified a DC bias until the oscillation amplitude falls down to 0, when VDC equalizes CPD (Figure 3).
Figure 3. AM-KPFM diagram. An AC bias with a frequency ω, typically the resonant frequency of the cantilever, is applied between the probe and the sample, giving rise to an alternating electric force between the probe and sample that causes the probe to oscillate.
It is not easy to identify the electric force gradient as the force gradient modifies the cantilever's effective spring constant. When a conductive cantilever is placed in an electric field, the effective spring constant of the cantilever is the sum of the electric force gradient and its natural spring constant k, the same effect of linking two springs in a parallel fashion.
Modulation of the electric force gradient, as induced by an AC bias, leads to modulation of the cantilever's resonant frequency. As prescribed in the equation, resonant frequency is modulated at the AC bias frequency ω as well as at its second harmonic 2ω. On mechanical shaking of the cantilever at its resonant frequency ω and concurrent application of an AC bias at frequency ωm, typically a few kHz, the modulation of the resonant frequency results in two pairs of sidebands at ω ± ωm, and ω ± 2ωm (Figure 4).
Figure 4. Amplitude vs. frequency plot of the vertical deflection signal recorded with high-speed data capture when a MESP-RC probe is shaken, near a sample surface, by the tapping piezo at its resonant frequency while an AC bias of 2kHz is applied, illustrating the emergence of sidebands due to AC bias-induced frequency modulation.
The resonant frequency modulation amplitude is determined by the sideband's amplitude. The point of VCD=VCPD can be acquired by utilizing the sideband's amplitude at ω ± ωm for KPFM feedback, and modifying the DC bias until they vanish completely.
With regard to practical implementations, the amplitude of the sideband is rarely determined at the sideband frequency with a single lock-in amplifier. Two cascaded lock-in amplifiers are used in a more standard technique, with the first lock-in amplifier locking at the resonant frequency, whose phase output is fed into the second lock-in amplifier that locks at the AC bias frequency. The amplitude sum of ω ± ωm is determined by the amplitude output of the second lock-in amplifier. The ω ± ωm is subsequently applied for KPFM feedback (Figure 5).
Figure 5. FM-KPFM diagram. An ac voltage is applied to the tapping piezo to oscillate the AFM cantilever at its resonant frequency ω. An AC bias at frequency ωm, usually a few kHz, is applied between the probe and the sample, modulating the resonant frequency. Two cascaded lock-in amplifiers are used to detect the sum amplitude of sideband pair ω ± ωm.
Probe modeling provided a better understanding about spatial resolution and precision rendered by the two KPFM modes. A practical but simple method was used to model the probe to better understand the amount of the tip that needs to be included to account for 50% of the total electric force gradient in FM-KPFM, or 50% of the total electric force in AM-KPFM.
The capacitor model of sample and probe was initially used, and the probe was approximated to contain a tip cone with a point end and a micro-cantilever (Figure 6). Since the probe is a good conductor, the probability is uniform throughout the probe, and charges exist only on the surfaces. The combined capacitance of the tip cone and cantilever can be expressed analytically. Electric force gradient and electric force are interpreted from the first and second derivatives of capacitance.
Figure 6. Model of a KPFM Probe with a rectangular cantilever. The capacitance of the cantilever is an integration of capacitance of each tiny rectangle along the cantilever. As the same force would cause different deflection depending on its distance to the base of the lever, the capacitance is normalized to recognize this.
The simulation result of the SCM-PIT probe is shown in Figure 7. The probe possesses the following geometry: cantilever 30 µm wide, 225 µm long, cone half angle of 22.5°, and tip 10 µm tall. The comparative contribution of the tip cone, combined to height (h), against complete interaction, is plotted against the height of the tip (Figure 7).
Figure 7. The contribution of the tip cone integrated up to height h over total electric force (blue) and electric force gradient (purple) are plotted versus height from tip end for a SCM-PIT probe. Geometries are: cantilever 225 µm long, 30 µm wide, tip 10 µm tall, and cone half angle of 22.5°. The "BLUE" plots are electric force at tip-sample separation 5 nm and 50 nm. The "purple" plots are electric force gradient at tip-sample separation 5nm and 50nm.
In order to measure KPFM's spatial resolution, the similar definition utilized by Cohchero was implemented, i.e., the ring's radius at the height till which the integral contribution of the tip cone justifies half of the total electric force gradient for FM-KPFM, or half the total electric force for AM-KPFM.
In the case of AM-KPFM, when lift height measures 5nm, the relative contribution of the entire tip cone remains less than 50%, implying that its spatial resolution is controlled by the thickness of the cantilever-on the micrometer scale and also indicating that the acquired CPD is not local, but rather a convolution across the large area enclosed by the cantilever. This questions its level of accuracy, except for large and homogeneous samples.
However, in the case of FM- KPFM, lifting the tip 5 nm over the surface, 50% of the signal is collected from up to 15 nm above the end of the tip, corresponding to 12 nm diameter. This implies that 10 nm resolution could be obtained with the FM-KPFM technique. The acquired CPD data is local to the area just beneath the tip providing convincing precision. When the tip is lifted higher, say for example, 50 nm above the surface, the spatial resolution decomposes to about 200 nm. This shows the reliance of spatial resolution on sample-probe distance.
Although the modeling described above is just a first order approximation, it would be useful to gain a theoretical understanding because it does arrive at the same conclusion as Colchero, who applied entirely different kinds of assumptions. It was observed that the electric force from the cantilever and tip cone tends to predominate over that from the minute tip-apex, so AM-KPFM does not serve as a suitable quantitative nanoscale measuring tool. In contrast, FM-KPFM, where dominating electric force gradient signal arises from the tip-apex, provides precise local CPD data and high spatial resolution. The impact of tip geometry on spatial resolution is less important.
Surface potential measurements can be accessed on the nanometer scale by using the KPFM technique, which combines the AFM and Kelvin probe methods. Typically, KPFM works along with TappingMode™, but there are several reasons to integrate it with the well-established PeakForce Tapping mode. Table 1 shows the four possible combinations; the naming of individual combinations will be utilized in this article.
A number of these combinations can be done in a dual-pass (lift-mode) manner in which AFM imaging mode is operated on the first pass and KPFM is operated on the second pass using lift-mode, or in a single-pass manner in which KPFM measurement and AFM imaging concurrently run on a single scan line.
PeakForce KPFM™, the combination of FM-KPFM and PeakForce Tapping mode, combined the capabilities and advantages of PeakForce Tapping - ease of operation and concurrent PeakForce QNM capability - in addition to the excellent precision and spatial resolution of FM-KPFM. It can be optimally performed in a dual-pass manner. PeakForce KPFM can be implemented in a single-pass way, but not without affecting the KPFM performance. This is because interference arising from PeakForce Tapping can be severe at times.
KPFM-FM is performed in a single-pass manner. While it can also be performed in a dual-pass manner, PeakForce KPFM provides all the required benefits. It would be useful to clear some uncertainty in the literature, where single-pass KPFM is not properly used now and then to refer entirely to KPFM-FM, although KPFM-AM can also be performed in a single-pass manner.
A standard KPFM sample, supplied by Bruker, is patterned with silicon, gold, and aluminum strips. Both of the gold and aluminum films have a thickness of 50 nm deposited on an n-doped silicon substrate. Theoretically, when the tip remains on any one of the three varied regions, it is important to read a constant potential value or CPD.
A staircase potential profile is anticipated across the three varied materials. However, a perceptible slope can be seen on each of the stairs of the possible profile obtained with PeakForce KPFM-AM. This can be easily elucidated by the probe modeling illustrated above. The possible data is a convolution from the tip cone, the tip, and the cantilever. While the tip is on a single material, the large cantilever encloses the other materials, thereby contributing a major part of the overall value.
For example, when the tip remains on the silicon/aluminum interface, just half of the cantilever is over aluminum, with most of the other half over silicon, and a smaller portion extending over the gold. The ultimate quantified value ends up as a weighted average of the work function of silicon, gold, and aluminum.
As and when the tip shifts away from the edge, aluminum contributes more than that of gold and silicon, giving rise to the slope. This is true for all of the interfaces, and speaks of the inferior lateral resolution of AM-KPFM as well as its incorrectness due to convolution. The stairs on the potential profile, obtained with PeakForce KPFM, are found to be mostly level, indicating that the dominant contribution comes from the tip apex. As a result, the contribution of cantilever becomes insignificant. The data validates the fact that FM-KPFM provides a relatively higher lateral resolution, due to the relatively better precision than that of AM-KPFM and the minimal contribution from the cantilever. Figure 8 shows height and potential profiles utilizing PeakForce KPFM and PeakForce KPFM-AM on the Bruker KPFM standard sample.
Figure 8. Height (top) and potential profiles using PeakForce KPFM-AM (middle) and PeakForce KPFM (bottom) on the Bruker KPFM standard sample, on the same location and with the same tip (PFQNE-AL).
This point is further demonstrated with the data obtained on a Sn-Pb alloy. The topography shows varied domains in the alloy (Figure 9, right), and these domains appear to be evidently resolved on both potential maps obtained with PeakForce KPFM (Figure 9, middle) and PeakForce KPFM-AM (Figure 9, left), with a slight variation that can be seen through qualitative assessment of the potential maps. However, their cross section shows a severe contrast.
Figure 9. PeakForce KPFM and PeakForce KPFM-AM potential maps and cross section profile of a Sn-Pb alloy (60:40 by weight, at right is the topography (4µm scan).
While PeakForce KPFM shows a difference of 240 mV between the two chosen domains, which is consistent with the work function variation between Pb (4.25 eV) and Sn (4.42 eV), KPFM-AM provides a mere difference of 97 mV, which is relatively less than the predicted theoretical variation, and half of what was observed from PeakForce KPFM. Once again, this emphasizes the better precision of FM-detection KPFM compared to AM-detection KPFM. The lateral resolution is defined as the tiniest dimension on which a certain precision (90%) can be obtained, the difference here being whether the difference can be resolved or whether the difference can be resolved precisely.
Figure 10. Height (left) and PeakForce KPFM potential (right) map of single- walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) laid on a Si substrate. A single strand CNT (pointed to by the upper arrow) sticks out of a CNT bundle (pointed to by the lower arrow), which can be resolved in potential map, but no longer with accuracy as the dimension is too small to give dominant contribution in FM- KPFM.
A height and PeakForce KPFM potential map of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) is shown in Figure 10. The SWCNTs are laid on a silicon substrate. The 30 nm part indicates a CNT bundle with one strand CNT measuring about 2 nm in diameter and sticking out at the top, and this is displayed on the potential map. A difference of 30 mV from the substrate is acquired on the strand CNT, which is merely a third of that read on the CNT bundle (105 mV). While PeakForce KPFM is capable of resolving nanometer properties, it is not precise.
Only a non-dominant portion is contributed by the smaller dimension to the entire electric force gradient, with the rest coming from the substrate and ending up with a relatively smaller contrast as a result of signal convolution. When PeakForce KPFM-AM is used, an even smaller value can be read, since the contribution from the tip-apex reduces significantly. This shows that PeakForce KPFM has nanometer resolving power and provides precise results on 10 nm or larger features.
KPFM-FM integrates TappingMode AFM with FM-KPFM, while PeakForce KPFM integrates PeakForce Tapping mode AFM with FM-KPFM. Theoretically, their significant difference mainly lies on the AFM side. PeakForce Tapping provides ease of use with concurrent quantitative and characteristic mechanical properties, and TappingMode affords phase contrast, leading to data uncertainty.
When it comes to KPFM performance, a slight difference is anticipated, and this is mostly true with certain exceptions. Figure 11 depicts the potential maps on Sn-Pb obtained with KPFM- FM and PeakForce KPFM on the same spot using the same probe, PFQNE-AU, prototype. Using the two modes, the contrasts between Pb (darker) and Sn (lighter) domains were determined and these were found to be very similar, 235 mV and 240 mV respectively. However, their absolute values vary by roughly 100 mV, which is not fully justified.
Figure 11. PeakForce KPFM and KPFM-FM Potential Maps and cross section profiles (top) of the Sn-Pb (60:40 by weight), and at bottom are the respective adhesion and phase imaging (4µm scan).
PeakForce KPFM's adhesion channel reveals a clear contrast between the Pb and Sn domains, showing good correlation with potential data and providing more assurance in the identification of domains. However, TappingMode does not show much contrast on the phase map. The PeakForce QNM is an excellent capability that enables concurrent quantitative nanomechanical property mapping, which can only be provided by PeakForce Tapping. This is additionally demonstrated on a polymer film containing low-density-polyethylene (LDPE) and polystyrene (PS) deposited on a silicon substrate. Besides the potential map, data related to adhesion, modulus, and deformation was acquired (Figure 12).
Figure 12. PeakForce KPFM data including height, potential and quantitative mechanical property maps such as Young's modulus, deformation and adhesion on a polymer blend consisting of polystyrene (PS) and low-density-polyethylene (LDPE) (10µ scan).
The tapping phase image obtained from KPFM-FM shows only a slight contrast on the Sn-Pb alloy sample (Figure 11). Though this can be regarded as a limitation of TappingMode in showing mechanical features, a small phase contrast is compulsory to make accurate KPFM measurement. Phase is used by frequency modulation KPFM as a way of frequency shift detection. Any major phase change resulting from the direct contact between the tip and the sample can be a source of error, which would ultimately lead to artifacts in the potential map.
In light of this, if any major phase contrast occurs, the potential map should be least affected. This can be achieved by using light tapping, i.e., to use the highest possible tapping amplitude setpoint. Light tapping is a default setting in Bruker's implementation. Based on experience, light tapping is useful in majority of situations. However, it may not be adequate to prevent potential artifacts for specific samples when single-pass-based KPFM-FM is run.
Sometimes, phase contrast can be so powerful that even single-pass KPFM-FM would not be able to eliminate phase cross-talk, for example on strong dipole polymers. In such a situation, dual-pass based methods should be used, where adequate lift-height can be utilized for the tip to clear the surface of the sample and remove phase shift resulting from direct contact between the tip and sample.
In this regard, PeakForce KPFM has been shown to be valuable, and can even be used to detect potential artifacts. Whenever the lift height is changed incrementally and if potential contrast displays a sudden change in response to a slight change in lift height, then it can be determined without doubt that the acquired potential contrast below a specific lift-height includes artifacts. This effect is shown in the imaging of a sample of brush polymer on mica, where on changing the lift height from 25 to 27 nm, the chain structure vanishes completely rather than a blurring of the potential contrast on the chains as the tip moves up (Figure 13). At smaller lift heights, the chain pattern observed is the result of artifacts. PeakForce KPFM offers a new way to detect and remove potential artifacts arising from direct contact between the tip and sample.
Figure 13. Sequential PeakForce KPFM maps of a brush polymer sample on mica substrate versus lift height. An abrupt change in potential contrast is observed when lift height increases from 25 nm to 27 nm, suggesting that the potential contrast of the polymer chains seen at a lift height of 25 nm or below are artifacts, caused by phase shift from direct tip-sample contact. Scan size is 250 nm. The inset at the upper-left corner is the height image.
It should be noted that KPFM-FM provides certain benefits when imaging features that are smaller than several nanometers. This is because the average separation of the tip and sample can be kept smaller than that attained with lift-mode-based PeakForce KPFM. Conversely, this does not compensate the considerable benefits rendered by PeakForce KPFM.
Apart from KPFM potential data, KPFM phase data is also acquired at the same time, which can be quite useful. It mirrors the sample's dielectric constant contrast. As a reference to equation 2 given above, the second derivative of capacitance, which relies on the material's dielectric constant between the conductive portion of the sample and the tip, can be acquired from the 2ω term. The same can be acquired from the DC term, particularly when VCD=VCPD, which happens to be the case when KPFM is running actively. This is comparable to the phase imaging of electrostatic force microscopy (EFM) with the added benefit that dielectric data and work function are isolated, while the normal EFM phase imaging is a combination of dielectric data and work function.
Though it has been shown that repeatability of relative contrast in a single KPFM image has been practically good, even while using the same type of probe, absolute values can differ hundreds of mV from one experiment to another. As such, a major step is to enhance the measurement uniformity toward quantitative work function measurement. Using a novel probe design along with optimized instruments, several ways were identified to limit probe-to-probe measurement scatter to within a standard deviation of 50 mV. This presents a key advancement for measuring KPFM, which in turn extends the utility of KPFM in more demanding applications. Some of the major sources contributing to measurement inconsistency are listed in Table 2.
As such, a ScanAsyst® KPFM operation mode was used to resolve these uncertainties. It is similar to ScanAsyst as it offers automated imaging optimization yet varies in its technical implementation. In the case of ScanAsyst KPFM, the algorithm looks for the cantilever's resonant frequency using thermal tune to assure the consistency and precision of the operating frequency. When performing KPFM-FM or PeakForce KPFM, the cantilever is constantly driven to a free-air oscillation amplitude of 20 nm, and the drive phase is automatically and precisely set all the time.
Potential DC current flow between the sample and tip is eliminated with a proprietary probe design, and the silicon tip that is uncoated ensures that no major work function change occurs from tip wear, as is often the case with metal coated probes. These improved capabilities have considerably inched KPFM repeatability. The repeatability acquired with nine varied PFQNE-AL probes on the Bruker KPFM sample is shown in Figure 14.
Figure 14. PeakForce KPFM data obtained using nine different PFQNE-AL (Bruker) probes on the Bruker KPFM standard sample. The value on Al (grey triangle), Au (gold triangle) and their differences (blue diamond) are plotted. Standard deviation of each is listed at right, which is on the order of 5x improvement over traditional KPFM measurements.
A typical deviation of below 20 mV was obtained in the potentials quantified on a gold strip, an aluminum strip, and in their potential variation. Proper calibration of the tip work function helps in deducing a precise work function of the sample. Additonally, the ScanAsyst KPFM mode provides ease-of-operation.
However, it should be noted that under UHV or without air damping, the Q of standard EFM probe would be many times larger than in air, promoting increased signal amplification of the FM-KPFM in ambient conditions, because the signal convoluted from the tip cone, tip apex, and the cantilever is sufficiently large with traditional EFM probes. However, the low Q in air presents a practical issue in the detection of FM-KPFM, where the signal is not strong enough because most of the signal comes only from the lower portion of the tip cone and from the tip apex - the same reason that FM-KPFM has superior spatial resolution. A large Q/k ratio (larger Q and smaller spring constant) is expected from the probe.
PeakForce KPFM creates the potential for enhancement, compared to the TappingMode KPFM-FM. In TappingMode, the cantilever should have a large spring constant so to resolve capillary forces from water layers present on the surface of samples. Also, the Q should not be too large as that would restrict the TappingMode bandwidth. These limitations are resolved by PeakForce Tapping, enabling the use of cantilevers with a relatively larger Q and smaller spring constant and thus providing space to optimize the probe. At present, PFQNE-AU probes are two times as sensitive as the SCM-PIT probes commonly utilized. Probes with higher Q/k ratio can be developed to additionally enhance the sensitivity of PeakForce KPFM.
Bruker Dimension Icon® and MultiMode® 8 AFMs include all KPFM modes, which be utilized in tandem with a wide range of accessories.
For samples requiring rigorous environmental control, for example, cathode materials, lithium battery anode, light emitting devices, or organic photovoltaic, a 1 ppm-level of water and oxygen capable glove-box can be utilized (Figure 15). The glove box solution has been shown to be useful for measurement repeatability of samples, including most metals and semiconductor materials, that are subject to change on exposure to ambient air.
Figure 15. Turnkey glove-box enabling all AFM functions to be performed in a 1ppm level oxygen and water environment. Shown inside is a Dimension Icon AFM, a version of glove-box for the MultiMode 8-HR is also available.
The Dimension Icon system features the Photoconductive AFM module, which is compatible with the proven Newport solar simulators to allow uniform, backside illumination of sample over the scan area. This enables KPFM potential mapping and simultaneously illuminating with attainable intensities comparable to 300 suns, allowing the analysis of dynamic and static photovoltaic responses to illumination of organic materials and solar cells.
Figure 16 displays PeakForce KPFM data on a MDMO (poly[2-methoxy-5-(3',7'-dimethyloctyloxyl)]-1,4-phenylene vinylene)-PCBM ([6,6]- phenyl C61-butyric acid methyl ester) bulk heterojunction solar cell; work function down-shifts 535 mV under illumination replicating an intensity equivalent to 300 suns.
Figure 16. PeakForce KPFM Potential map (third from left) of MDMO-PCBM bulk heterojunction solar cell on an ITO substrate in dark (bottom half) and under illumination with an intensity equivalent to 300 suns (top half). A 535mV downshift of work function is seen under illumination, a 3D rendering and histogram of potential data is at the right. Sample courtesy of Dr. Philippe Leclere, University of Mons.
KPFM-HV is a dual-pass method with PeakForce Tapping as the base AFM mode. It stands for High-Voltage KPFM mode, which determines electrostatic potential further than ±10 V. There are questions surrounding why such a high voltage would need to be measured. KPFM determines the work function disparity between the tip and sample. On looking through the elements' work function table, 5.93 eV (Osmium) is the highest work function and 2.14 eV (Cesium) is the lowest work function. The highest possible work function variation will not go beyond 3.79 V. Up to ±10V is covered by all the KPFM methods described above, and is adequate for any task related to work function measurement.
dC/dz mirrors the dielectric constant differences across the sample.
KPFM-HV is applied in a dual-pass manner. PeakForce Tapping is utilized to acquire mechanical properties and topography on the initial pass, and while on the second pass or lift-mode, PeakForce Tapping drive is halted, and an AC bias with a frequency less than 50% of the cantilever resonant frequency is applied between the sample and the tip (Figure 17).
Figure 17. KPFM-HV diagram, in the first pass, surface topography and mechanical properties are obtained in PeakForce Tapping; in the second pass, an AC bias at a frequency lower than half of the cantilever resonant frequency is applied between the probe and the sample, which causes the probe to oscillate at frequency ω and its second harmonic 2ω. The electric potential between the tip and sample is calculated based on the oscillation amplitude at frequency ω and 2ω. Note that no KPFM feedback is involved.
Two synchronized yet separate lock-in amplifiers are concurrently fed with the vertical deflection signal; one lock-in amplifier was used to track the phase and amplitude at the drive frequency, and the other was used to detect the amplitude at the second harmonic. Measurement is done in the background to acquire electrostatic potential variation ΔΦ and dC/dz. This approach helps to measure voltage in the range of ±200 V with less than 15% error. It is also possible to measure higher voltage of up to ±1000 V with precision that is only restricted by nonlinearity of photodetectors in the AFM. This method is available on MultiMode 8 AFMs, without any need for extra hardware as well as on Dimension Icon AFMs; a PeakForce HV module is needed to reduce measurement distortion resulting from electronic interference).
There are certain polymers that can be charged via contact electrification. Merely contacting and then isolating two dissimilar or similar polymer pieces, or contacting it to and then isolating it from a conducting surface, promotes charge on surfaces that are being contacted. The potential map (left), phase (middle), as well as a 3D rendering of the potential map of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) film is shown in Figures 18 and 19.
Figure 18. KPFM-HV images of PDMS (polydimethylsiloxane) films after being charged by peeling off from the silicon substrate upon which it was cast. The HV Potential data (left) shows the electrostatic potential and the sign of charge; HV Phase data (middle) denotes negative charge with negative phase, and positive charge with positive phase. At the right is a 3D rendering of the potential map, the negative charge gives rise to an electrostatic potential of -99V at its center, and some of the adjacent positive charges go as high as 158V.
Figure 19. KPFM-HV potential map on PDMS, encasing five previously scanned sites in a square-center arrangement. Sequential images from left to right reveal that the negative charges are accumulating, spreading out and merging with each other as scanning goes on.
Sample preparation is done by depositing a PDMS film of 0.5 mm thickness on a silicon wafer. A piece is removed from the silicon substrate to image its underside. The potential map reveals the electrostatic potential mirroring sign that is learned from the phase data as well as electrostatic charge density (or absolute value). The 3D rendering reveals at least -99 V at the middle of a negatively charged area, with positive charges featuring a high 156 V electrostatic potential. It is easy to acquire PDMS samples. A PDMS gel-pad can be often seen in AFM probe packaging. Here, a piece of gel-pad can be cut from the base of an AFM probe box and can be charged using the contact electrification method. It is also possible to introduce charge via triboelectric charging, which is a type of contact electrification done through rubbing, for example, by continuously scanning the same area for a prolonged time period. Figure 19 (left) reveals five earlier scanned sites having negative charges. Sequential imaging denotes the negatively charged areas scattering out and combining with one another as scanning continues. KPFM-HV mode offers a simple way to determine electrostatic potential of trapped charges as high as ±200 V.
Table 3. shows a probe selection guide for individual modes. For current data, guidance is given in the NanoScope® software. While other probes not specified in the list can also work, their performance with respect to KPFM measurement sensitivity, precision, and/or repeatability could not be ensured.
It realizes high repeatability via rigorous parameter control using the new probe design and the ScanAsyst KPFM operation algorithm.
It maintains the high spatial resolution and precision of FM-KPFM (probe modeling shows that FM-KPFM provides a 10 nm resolution without affecting the measurement precision, unlike the micrometer-scale resolution afforded by AM-KPFM).
It exploits PeakForce QNM to create concurrent electrical and mechanical data, thereby improving its material identification power.
It promises more improvement to FM-KPFM sensitivity (PeakForce Tapping prevents the limitations on probe selection caused by TappingMode, and cantilevers having higher Q and lower spring constant can be used for better sensitivity).
PeakForce KPFM has advanced towards quantitative and high-resolution work function measurements. It is well set to address the major complications in those applications that require improved precision and repeatability as well as higher spatial resolution. With industry-standard applications on organic materials, semiconductor materials, and metals, the excellent capabilities of PeakForce KPFM promise considerable advantages for sophisticated application areas, including bio-materials.


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NFSJ Founding President Karki bestowed with science and technology award
Science Journalist and Editor Chhatra Karki has been honored with 'Science and Technology Journalism Award-2021' initiated by Nepal Academy of Science and Technology (NAST) which bears an amount of Rs. 50,000.
Vice-Chancellor of NAST, Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, bestowed the award to Karki in a programme organized at the auditorium hall of NAST, in Khumaltar, Lalitpur on Wednesday.
"This award has been conferred to Karki for informing the general people regarding scientific, enlightening and factual information of science and technology through multimedia,' said the press release of NAST. Karki is the founding President and Program Head of Nepal Forum of Science Journalists (NFSJ).
He has over two decades of experience in newspaper, multimedia and online news portal. He covers science, Climate change, Environmental health and current affairs for national and international media outlets.
He has worked as Bureau Chief for Nagarik daily Newspaper and served as Editor for Nepal News, Nepal's first online News portal, Kendra bindu online media, and Drishya TV. Currently, he is working as Nepal Writer for gavi, the vaccine Alliance. Karki has served as Program Director of Himalayan Climate Boot Camp 2022 funded by Spark Grant Initiative of World Federation of Science Journalists (WFSJ).
In the program, Over the dozens scientists, researchers, teachers and academicians also were awarded. On the eve of international Science day, NAST has awarded those who have made contributions in various field of Science.
Vice-Chancellor of NAST, Dr. Sunil Babu Shrestha, put forwarded his felicitation to the awardees and urged them to keep on engaging in scientific researches and activities for prosperity of the country. Meanwhile, Vice- Chancellor Shrestha released the glossary of Crop Science published by NAST.
'Science and Technology Journalism Award-2021Chhatra KarkiDr. Sunil Babu ShresthaNASTNepal Forum of Science JournalistsScience and Technology award
Himalayan Climate Bootcamp 2022
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UNESCO hosts climate crisis response workshop for newly elected MPs
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Nepal Forum of Science Journalists (NFSJ) is a nonprofit social organization where a total of 25 science journalists working in news agency, newspaper, TV and online are affiliated with.
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Lida is only 8 years old when she is arrested and separated from her younger sister, Larissa during WWII.Although officially she is too young to be useful to the Nazis, she convinces them she is 12 and is sent to the work camps where living condition are terrible. Can she survive with only her skills as a seamstress and her wits?
Donovan Curtis is definitely not gifted. So how did he end up at the Academy of Scholastic Distinction surrounded by gifted kids who do math for fun? After pulling a prank that should have gotten him into major trouble, Donovan needs to hide out where no one would ever think to look for him. It will take dodging a grumpy dog, fooling suspicious teachers and building a fighting robot to help Donovan discover some new friends in the most unlikely of places.
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Interest level: Grades 7 and up.
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Interest level: Grades 6 and up.
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Kids Can Press, 2012. 9781554538232.
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Interest level: Grade 5 and up.
Raised by a thief to be a thief, 15 year old Henry Holloway nevertheless has a strong code of slightly crooked ethics. When he finally gets apprehended in a B&E and sentenced by the courts, he gets put into care with an endearing family of misfits in Snowflake Falls. Just as he is beginning to settle in with this peculiar group, his Uncle Andy turns up wanting his help. Is "once a thief, always a thief" always true?
After a member of the newly formed North West Mounted Police catches 15 year old Hamlet Hamlin picking pockets, Hamlet finds himself employed by a grumpy old wagon master who is accompanying the inexperienced Redcoats on their 1874 expedition to bring law to the Canadian West. Being a city kid, Hamlet is unprepared for the physical hardships and astounded by the unruly characters and the wild situations he and the troupe encounter along their way.
13 year old Henry's family life has been torn apart as a result of his brother Jesse's decision to take their father's rifle to school. As part of his recovery, Henry reluctantly agrees to his therapist's urgings to write a journal. Sometimes humorous, sometimes tragic, the entries reveal Henry's insight into coping with grief and adversity, the importance of accepting and being accepted, and the challenges of creating a new life.
16 year old Seraphina's gift of music is inherited from her dragon mother. When a dragon becomes the main suspect in royal murder, Seraphina's closely guarded secret could be revealed, undermining her growing relationship with Prince Lucien Kiggs, detroying her family and, perhaps, throwing the kingdom into war.
Simon and Schuster, 2012. 9781554683420.
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