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Following the previous notebook, it was time to elaborate on what else was implied by those charts and findings.
If a Markowitz bullet illustrates the concept behind a portfolio's efficient frontier, then dealing only with the residuals was not enough. You needed a trend to show it had something. Otherwise, what you got was as presented in the previous notebook: not much. Just a statistical blob of portfolios centered around the zero-return line. Or, you could view it as portfolios trying very hard to reduce variance and volatility to such an extent that they succeeded in doing so.
Evidently, that was under the condition that prices series were the result of normally distributed random-like price series where no trends were even considered. Nonetheless, by commenting out the random seed: # np.random.seed(123) in the code module below, one could have ran as many different scenarios as they wished. And would have found that most ended about the same or quite close to each other. In fact, stating that the optimizer could not find anything in the residuals.
Using an optimizer on normally distributed price functions, as the one used in that notebook, did squash performance as you increased the number of stocks in the portfolio. And that should have been expected.
The Markowitz bullet simply shrank and migrated toward a zero-density expectancy as the number of stocks in the portfolio was increased.
That is not good news. Regardless, it is what it should have done, and it did.
The task of any portfolio manager, or a stock trading program, is to determine the allocation to any one stock for some duration. It should be done based on merit and expectancy. If you do not have a positive expectancy, why place a bet or invest in that stock in the first place?
The objective, whatever the method of play, is to make a profit: $\;q \cdot \Delta p > 0$. That you are long or short ($\,q\,$ or $\,-q\,$) does not change the profit definition.
A portfolio of stocks to show a profit needs to sum the outcome of all its trades and positions: $\sum_i (q_i \cdot \Delta^i p_i) > 0$. If this sum is not greater than zero, whatever the trading method, the strategy was most certainly not profitable. There is not much to add to this: in the end (over the long run) whatever our programs do, either a portfolio of stocks is profitable OR it is not!
We do simulations to find out how our trading strategies would behave IF. You are not looking for precise answers. It is more like how it will behave? Every scenario is a "what if" this or that happened and then what? Doing simulations is a lot less expensive than trying it out live. But still, our simulation environments should aspire to be a representation of the real world. So, one question should be: how realistic is this?
The previous notebook established that if you did not have some underlying trend in a diversified group of stocks, you might have had nothing return wise, or close to it. You need something to break the random component of the stochastic price function, otherwise, you are left with a quasi-Gaussian distribution. If you cannot predict future prices over the very short-term then the end results could be considered as close to the equivalent.
Over the short-term, most of the long-term trends are drown in all the noise. And over the short-term, the ability to extract the signal from the noise is rather limited. Most often, the signal to noise ratio is so low, it is difficult to even identify it.
A normalized randomly generated distribution of returns has an expectancy of zero. No matter the length of the sequence, the expectancy remains zero. That you throw in an optimizer in an attempt to find something in it does not matter, there is nothing to be had in the first place.
The closer the distribution of trades approaches 50/50, the closer it has the characteristics of a quasi-normal distribution. It will be something that will have a tendency to show about half of the returns going up and the other half going down.
You do not need to add much upside for the optimizer to show an advantage since a slight trend could be partially picked up by the optimizer and be taken advantage of. It would be like putting back $\,\mu dt\,$ into the stock's stochastic equation: $\;p(t) = \mu dt + \sigma dW$. Let's do that. The two main numbers of interest in this notebook are drift and alpha.
Take the scenario from the previous notebook using 100 securities to which is added a long-term linear drift. The optimizer will not be able to take advantage of it all, but still, it will be sufficient to move the average portfolio's center of mass up (expected average return) as depicted in the chart below.
The code does not say what is the origin of the drift, only that it is there, and linear. 5,000 portfolios were generated, yet, they are all clustered together and spread over a small vertical slice or risk.
The cluster of portfolios could be even more concentrated simply by adding more stocks to the mix since the size of the cluster is related to the bet size. Smaller average bet size, smaller and more compact clusters.
Only a statistical part of the drift was detected by the optimizer and taken advantage of. Moving the cluster of portfolios higher the return space for about the same level of risk. And it did not change the signature of the return vector by much as the next chart shows.
# Plot a single return vector (normally distributed).
# Pick a number between 0 and (n_assets -1).
Re-run the above code snippet to see another stock's quasi-random return-stream.
We can see the impact of the added trend in its corresponding price chart (next code snippet).
#Plot selected return stream as if an index, since only the percentages are of interest.
The funny thing is that the drift comes with the game itself, or at least, some of it as built-in. And the optimizer can catch some of it. If we exclude the drift from our trading procedures by demeaning price series and only trying to find "factors" in the "residuals", this becomes the same as having transformed our price series to quasi-Gaussian distribution. And as such, should produce the charts of the last notebook.
In fact, saying that there is no profit to be had if there is no drift. Therefore, excluding it from structural strategy design might not be the most promising. However.
What about if you bring in some alpha of your own? As in: $p(t) = (\mu + \alpha)dt + \sigma dW$. By adding some skills to the mix, you can raise the bar: drift += 0.002 + alpha. Just a little alpha above the drift can make quite a difference. Making add_drift = False will eliminate any consideration for the drift and alpha making the program behave exactly like in the previous notebook.
Another thing that should be considered. If the drift is there for the taking, just for participating in the game, and that any method of play can catch part of it, are you really exercising some skills or just going along for the ride?
In real life, you might not be able to separate the trend and the alpha generation of your trading strategy or strategies. However, one thing should be evident, and that is if you demean your price series to only consider detecting your alpha from the residuals, you will be missing out: $p(t) = \alpha dt + \sigma dW$ since your alpha will need to work much harder to compensate for what was thrown away. The optimizer could have made good use of that underlying trend, even if it can only catch part of it.
Should you not be able to generate some alpha, it will produce: $p(t) = \sigma dW$. Then, you would be right back in the previous notebook analyzing residuals which in aggregate would hover around the zero-return line.
The chart below tries to maximize the Sharpe ratio using the same program snippet as in the previous notebook.
by optimizing the Sharpe ratio.
Observe how the 5,000 portfolios are concentrated in a single spot. From randomly generated price series, they all clustered around their center of mass. There is still a Markowitz bullet in there and it is relatively close to the optimal portfolio. Also noteworthy, any one of the 5,000 portfolios could have been a good choice since their relative differences are quite small (in the order of rounding errors).
You could re-run the notebook programs as many times as you want. Each time generating 5,000 new portfolios with a new set of 100 randomly generated stock prices. The Markowitz bullet would still be close to the optimal portfolio. Indicating that it is not the price series that got it there, but the drift and the alpha: $\,\bar g = \mu + \alpha$.
You could redo all the above after adding some alpha. See code line: alpha = 0.000 in the second code module and make it alpha = 0.001 for instance. Then look at the difference it can make.
This does not say how you get your alpha, only that if you get it, it is what it would do. Not only at the portfolio level, but also when considering the aggregated Sharpe ratio of all those portfolios. It would strongly suggest that you need it if you want to outperform your peers.
There are 5,000 dots (portfolios) in the small cluster under the optimal portfolio. The spread is not wide, as if saying that the outcome of 5,000 portfolios of randomly generated stocks, which were in essence quasi-random return sequences, would all aggregate to a high density and compact spot on the chart. As if saying, the trading method did not matter so much as long as you could take advantage of the drift and bring your own skills to the job. And also, that the set of chosen stocks was large enough as to diversify the overall variance.
The problem one needs to consider is: where is the alpha? Not so much where is the drift since it is technically already built-in. We might not be able to separate the alpha from the drift: $\,\bar g = \mu + \alpha$. But, we can still get it all: $p(t) = \bar g dt + \sigma dW$.
There is more to consider, even with this limited setup. It should open new doors.


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As you are planning your Walt Disney World Vacation, one of the things that you must decide is whether you want to include the Disney Dining Plan as a part of your package. But, is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?
The short answer to this question is, it depends on how you plan to eat on your vacation. If you know that you want to do several character meals or sit-down meals, then I highly recommend the Disney Dining Plan and possibly even the Deluxe Dining Plan. If you prefer to eat on the go, without any sit-down meals, then the Quick Service Dining Plan may be the way to go for you!
So, what is included with the dining plan? There are three options when looking at dining plans for your Walt Disney World vacation package.
The Disney Quick Service Dining Plan consists of two Quick Service (QS) meals and two snacks, per person, per night of stay. Each person on the dining plan will also receive a refillable resort mug. A quick service meal consists of a meal ordered at a counter, or via the mobile app and includes one entrée and one beverage including specialty beverages such as a milkshake, hot chocolate, and coffee. For those over 21 years of age, alcoholic beverages are also included. The cost of this dining plan per night is approximately $52/adult and $24/child.
The Disney Dining Plan consists of one Table Service (sit-down) meal, one Quick Service meal and two snacks per person, per night of stay. There are over 50 table service restaurants and many only require one meal credit, including many character meals. There are also options that require two meal credits, known as Signature Dining. The table service meals also include your choice of dessert and beverage, alcoholic for those over 21 years of age or non-alcoholic. The cost of this dining plan per night of stay is approximately $75/adult and $28/child.
The Deluxe Dining Plan consists of three meals and two snacks per person, per night of stay. It is important to note that there is no distinction between quick service and table service meals with this meal plan. Therefore, guests can choose to use these credits as they want. With the Deluxe plan, guests are also eligible to receive appetizer, entrée, and dessert with each table service meal. The cost of this dining plan per night of stay is approximately $116/adult and $44/child.
Another important thing to remember about any of the dining plans is that you are not restricted to using a certain number of meals each day. You will notice when you use the dining plans that there will be a total number of credits available on any receipts that you get. This is also available to view on the My Disney Experience app. If, for example, you want to go to breakfast at a character meal that is 1 table service credit, use a snack credit for lunch and have another table service meal for dinner, you are able to do so!
So, given this information, is the Disney Dining Plan worth it?
I mentioned above that it depends on how you plan to eat during your vacation. The dining plans are not the best option for everyone. If you are traveling alone or know that you prefer to get snacks throughout the day, then this may not be the option for you.
The biggest factor in my opinion is – do you want to eat any sit-down meals? When visiting Walt Disney World, one of the best dining options, in my opinion, is character dining, which is considered a table service meal. These meals allow you to dine and meet some of your favorite Disney characters without waiting in line. The average cost for one of these meals is approximately $50/adult, depending on the meal. The average quick-service meal with a drink is approximately $12-15/adult and the average snack is $4-5 each. This adds up quickly throughout the day, especially if you want to do more than one, or two, character meals throughout your vacation. If you want to grab some cold bottles of water, ice cream, iced coffee at Starbucks or Joffrey’s or some of the fabulous new treats that are available as part of Mickey’s Birthday Celebration, many of these count as snack credits! Just look for the purple and white symbol indicating that an item is a snack credit on the dining plan (see the picture below). Personally, I also like the convenience of having all of my food paid for ahead of time. It’s nice to just scan my MagicBand and not have to worry about anything except gratuity at the table service restaurants.
Check out just a few examples of snack credits below!
Any of the dining plans can also be used when taking advantage of the mobile ordering feature throughout Walt Disney World. Mobile ordering is one of the newer features on the My Disney Experience app and is very convenient when you are looking to grab a quick service meal. To use the meal plan, you simply order your food and the appropriate dining credits will be applied. A balance of credits will also be given.
Whether you are going alone, on an adults-only trip or the whole family, there is a meal plan that will work for you. For my family, the Disney Dining Plan is the perfect option. We like going to the character meals and will often use snack credits to get a quick breakfast on the go. If you are a foodie and enjoy exploring all the different dining options available, you may want to consider the Deluxe Dining Plan. This is also a good option if you would like to experience several signature dining restaurants since these meals require two dining credits each. This was a perfect option while on my honeymoon! The Quick Service Dining Plan is a good option if you still want to pre-pay for all of your food but prefer to eat on the go. There are so many great restaurants throughout Walt Disney World that are considered quick service and you will not be disappointed!

industry_corpus2: Travel & Geography


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Same Agra Tours, a leading Agra Private tours proving company offers you Same day Agra tour by car for the amazing experience of Taj Mahal. You can Explore Agra And Other Major City of India In Budget.
Golden Triangle Tour 3 Days is the best tour package to explore Indian culture, Indian historical monuments in maximum a week. Every known Indian is the most beautiful and historical country, where everyone wants to come and also want to explore these all interesting things with friends and family. Our Golden triangle tour provides an unforgettable experience of the rich and diverse culture of India.
There are also Other tour packages available that are most popular in India. because tourist can visit and explore Indian in less day with good experience. so if someone wants to explore Agra city in one day then Same Day Agra Tour package is the best tour package for him. They can visit every monument of Jaipur in one day.
We are professional and Budget tour package provider and we always care about our client money. We will help you to Understand Each thing of India. So give us a chance to make you happy.


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LEED® – Spring Engineering, Inc.
Spring Engineering, Inc. was commissioned to design a new Toyota dealership for Gettel Automotive Group. This facility is 78,125 SF, on a 19.17 acre site located at East State Road 64 in Bradenton, FL. This project includes a brand new Toyota Showroom/Service Center (enclosed building), as well as an attached outdoor canopy area and a detached Carwash Building. This facility is LEED Certified as per the U.S. Green Building Council. Some of the positive outcomes from using sustainable methods and materials in the building during construction are; reducing carbon dioxide emissions and ozone depletion, reduces the use of potable water.
In 2009, Spring Engineering, Inc. was commissioned by The ARC Nature Coast to design a facility that provided educational and independence training for adults with developmental disabilities. The project also was to serve as a safe haven for this often overlooked community in their most vulnerable state during hurricane events. Energy efficiency, safety, health and occupant comfort were focal points in the building’s design, laying the positive foundation needed for The Arc’s customers to thrive. In 2011, this unique hurricane shelter project was completed and in 2012 was awarded the certification for LEED Gold for new construction. The scope of.
The Mike Fasano Regional Hurricane Shelter was designed for Pasco County and is located in Hudson, Florida. This facility was the first hurricane shelter in the country designed to the stringent ICC-500 Design Standard, which is a new standard developed by the International Code Council and National Storm Shelter Association. The structure is hardened to resist 190 mph winds and impact of wind borne debris. The 38,395 S.F. facility is located on 5.54 acres and consists of three large storm shelter rooms capable of housing 1,000 occupants, a commercial kitchen and a 7,900 S.F. health clinic and is design to be self-sustaining.

industry_corpus2: Automobiles


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Buying gifts for your mom doesn’t have to be difficult and those gifts don’t have to be things that remind her of her age or health issues. There are plenty of great gift ideas out there for mom. All you need to do is take a little bit of time to make sure you know your mom’s hobbies, interests and preferences. Also make sure you know what kind of décor her home has and the colors she likes.
We have listed 10 excellent Birthday gift ideas for mom below. These gifts cover things for her personally such as gift baskets of her favorite things, things for the house and much more. If none of these suggestions appeal to you, use them as a springboard for your own ideas.
The main thing to remember is break out of the usual grab something quick and go mode. Mom will love that you took the time to think about what SHE would really like.
Customers love the beautiful collection of artwork that is perfect for moms.
Adult coloring books have gotten really popular over the last couple of years. It has been found to be an excellent resource for de-stressing, relaxing and getting rid of anxiety.
This coloring book is just for moms with a collection of artwork that is beautifully drawn. The drawings are very artistic and provide plenty of hours of relaxation.
All drawings are full page illustrations with the reverse side of the page blank. This is so Mom can take them out of the book and frame them and display them.
There are 64 pages for mom to enjoy. Pair it with a huge pack of colored pencils and gel pens for a wonderful gift that she will enjoy whenever she is looking for a way to unwind and de-stress.
Customers love the brightly colored design and humorous sentiments that can brighten anyone’s morning.
If your mom loves to drink coffee or hot tea on a regular basis, get her this brightly colored, fun mug. It is made of high fired ceramic stoneware and is microwave and dishwasher safe.
It has a witty and humorous sentiment on it that is sure to make mom smile when she sees it.
This is the perfect coffee mug to enjoy her morning hot drink or evening soothing tea. With all of the bright colors that are on this mug make it something that feels happy and enjoyable.
This bold collection is created by Lorrie Veasey and includes other sentiments. Add this to a gift basket filled with different gourmet coffees, various teas and other fun things.
Customers always choose this gift set for their beloved mothers.
This set is already put together in a great gift set that is all ready to give to her. This hand repair kit contains natural ingredients that will soften cuticles and nourish both hands and nails.
The cotton gloves are excellent for holding in all the excellent benefits of these products so they penetrate and work the best.
Customers love the gorgeous construction and bright colors this butterfly has.
This incredible sun catcher will look beautiful hanging in her window and bringing color and sunshine into her home.
They are made of durable metal and hand painted glass and the sun shines through them providing a beautiful addition to any window.
Regal art has a large collection of sun catchers that transform a window into a work of art.
This blue butterfly has a pink flower at the head and light green and metal accents that will delight her with their beauty.
Customers love the sturdy construction and truly beautiful look of this candleholder.
Moms like pretty things and she will definitely love this beautiful heart candle holder that is made of glass and features a beautiful message on it.
There is a place behind the heart for a tea light that will illuminate the message when lit.
On the front of the heart there are beautiful painted roses and flowers that surround the sentiment.
This heart will look beautiful on a side table, dresser, bathroom vanity, mantle or anywhere else that it can be lit and enjoyed.
The sweet message will make her feel loved and cherished. The heart measures almost 6” tall and has metal trim around the heart. The whole candle holder is sturdy and exquisite.
Customers love the stronger scents and beautiful healing and relaxing benefits these bath bombs provide.
Give mom the gift that will allow her to relax and rejuvenate. These bath bombs are handmade and all natural as well as organic. Each bath bomb is the size of a golf ball.
There are 8 bath bombs in this gift box each with a wonderful scent and ingredients that provide different benefits. The bath bombs in this set have two times the scent than other brands.
These terrific bath bombs are packages in a way that makes them look like wonderful jewels in a gift box.
The ingredients that they contain in things like shea butter, clays, essential oils, vitamins and much more. They do not contain dyes or artificial colors.
Customers love the unique and colorful bear and balloon light.
Give your mom this sweet, 3D illusion night light that will please anyone who sees it. It is perfect for people of all ages from babies to adults.
The see through acrylic 3D effect does not require a lot of space and does not get hot so it is safe to put anywhere. There are 7 different colors that she can choose from or it can rotate through all the different colors.
All it takes to change the color is the press of one button. There are two forms of power that this 3D night light is powered: a USB cable and a regular plug. There is very little energy consumption used with this device.
It is perfect for adding light to a dim area without having to leave lights on which do take more energy to run. She will love the teddy bear and balloon design and it will thrill the grandchildren every time they come over as well.
This paperweight and keepsake will show your mom just how special she is to you. This gorgeous Lucite has beveled edges and it has an engraved design on the front and will never rub off.
It measures 4” x 1” thick and does not require a stand to stay upright. The sentiment that is engraved on the front is from Kate Posh and speaks of how special and irreplaceable mom is.
She will be touched when she sees this beautiful keepsake that will look wonderful on a side table, her desk, dresser, beside table, mantle or anywhere else she wants to show it off. It comes in an attractive gift box all ready for gift-giving.
Customers always love this gift for their mom for special occasions like birthdays or anniversaries.
If mom loves to try new fragrances, she will love this one. From Philosophy, the Live Joyously Duo includes a spray fragrance and body lotion.
The scent of this wonderful fragrance has pink peony blossoms, a hint of patchouli and tangerine. This light scent will please her and make her feel good as well.
Fragrances can sometimes be difficult to purchase for someone else, but the scents that Philosophy offers are not overpowering which makes them excellent choices to use for daytime, work, casual and even nighttime occasions.
Customers love the quality and uniqueness of this photo frame display.
This unique and incredible gift gives mom a way to display a lot of her family on this metal family tree. It is made of fine metal and measures 20” high and 18” wide.
It comes with 10 mini photo frames that will hold 2” x 3” with a frame opening that is 1 ½” x 2 ½”. More mini frames can be purchased.
This is a very striking way for mom to be able to proudly display photos of her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.
She will love sitting this stunning way to display photos on her mantle or side table. Her visitors will definitely take notice and comment about this unusual means of showing off her lovely family.
Moms love their kids so much that even if she is given something that she really doesn’t like or want, you will never know it. She will Ooooh and Ahhhh about it simply because one of her kids gave her something. This is fine when her kids are all young, but what about when they are older?
She should not still have to pretend to like the gifts she is given when her kids are older. Purchasing gifts for mom that she will love is not difficult if you pay attention to a few tips and points that we will provide you. Below we have listed valuable tips that will help make choosing a gift for mom easy and fun and she will truly love what you have gotten her.
Take several things into consideration when you are looking for the right gift for mom. Things like her hobbies, interests, likes, color preferences, food preferences, etc are all excellent ways to find terrific gifts for her that she won’t have to pretend to like, she will sincerely like them.
Give yourself the time to find something terrific for your mom. Waiting until the last minute is a guarantee that you will just be grabbing the first thing you can find rather than finding something that she will really use a lot and love receiving.
Have fun searching for gifts that she will love and enjoy. Gift buying shouldn’t be a bother or frustrating. When you consider the tips we’ve listed here, you will find that shopping feels relaxing and enjoyable and not stressful and worrisome.
Take advantage of the fact that moms usually will love anything their kids give them simply because they are her kids. When a child is little, dad can play an instrumental part in teaching their children how to shop in a way that ensures enjoyment on the part of the shopper and the receiver.
Give gifts that have to do with medical issues. Giving her a special walker if she uses one, or something of that nature can be helpful but isn’t much in the way of a real gift. Save medical items and health related stuff for NON gift giving occasions. Look for gifts that give her something to be excited and happy about.
Choosing that perfect gift that makes someone smile and be very happy is a great feeling. By following the tips and points above, you will not have the trouble finding the right gifts the way some people have because they are not focused on the person they are purchasing a gift for. When you sincerely take the time to pay attention to what mom really loves and you choose her gifts from things that represent those likes and interests, she is sure to love that gift.

industry_corpus2: Others


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Sandy thought absently, “Perhaps I am in, and all the rest of you are out.” The thought passed.
Sandy had sworn that she would never return to rural Alberta, much less return with two children, little money and riding the Greyhound. But here she was, and she wasn’t even sure there would be anyone meeting her when the bus ride was over. The thought took her deeper into her depression.
Three-year-old Travis was asleep on his mother’s lap while seven-year-old Julie dozed fitfully under the protection of Sandy’s right arm. Neither of the children had slept well during the long night of crossing southern Saskatchewan and Alberta. Both had woken up at the bus depot in Calgary but went back to sleep after changing busses for the trip north to Innisfail. The trip from Toronto had been tediously long. Tiring almost beyond description. Sandy had never known such exhaustion.
She watched the now familiar countryside go by in the early dawn light feeling defeat and a deep sadness, deepened by her need of sleep. She soon started to recognize some of the farm homes and absently named off old familiar names, as the houses and barns passed into sight. Most of the home-sites had all-night yard lights burning. Many had lights already showing in the houses and the barns.
“Early morning country,” Sandy said to herself.
Julie was satisfied with the answer. She sat up straighter to try to shake off her sleepiness.
Sandy thought then about Uncle Herman. Uncle Herman, who has always been kind and gentle with every living creature.
A tear trickled from the corner of Sandy’s eye and Julie noticed it.
“What’s wrong Mom”, she asked.
Sandy went off to Toronto to complete her studies nearly ten years before. She was a good student and a popular member of her school. Her natural beauty caused many young men to vie for her attention. At the university she met Walter, and in a matter of weeks they were married. She hadn’t even told her family about the wedding until two weeks later. That act drove a wedge between her and her mother as perhaps no other could have. She knew its cruelty but didn’t really understand it.
Sandy was a headstrong nineteen years old. She was ready to throw off the customs and habits of small-town Alberta. Having a big wedding was not at all important to her.
Her mother was the opposite. A lover of tradition, her thoughts didn’t extend beyond the familiar. She gave no indication over the years of having forgiven Sandy for her thoughtlessness.
After the birth of her own daughter, Sandy reflected on her actions and a glimmer of understanding began to take form.
But at least the marriage had been good. She and Walter loved each other deeply. They welcomed their two children with great hopes for their futures. Sandy had been able to complete her studies and get established in a good job. Their careers were going well, and they had saved towards the purchase of a home. If they could have written their life script, there would have been little changed.
But in a moment of carelessness, on a coal-black, bitterly cold night, amidst broken glass, torn metal, exploding gas tanks and screams that no one heard, their dream life came to an end.
There was no question that the fault had been Walter’s. The police report said he was dialing a number on his cell phone. He wandered across the centerline, and in trying to correct on the snow-covered highway he had turned into the path of an oncoming minivan. The minivan carried a family of five. Walter was killed instantly along with the mother of the family, and one of the children. The father had injuries that would keep him from ever working again.
Sandy had memorized every word of the phone call from the police. In the months since, she had repeated those words over and over to herself. “Mrs. Terblain, this is Constable Walker of the Ontario Provincial Police—–.” Sometimes at night she would dream, and then wake up hearing those words; “Mrs. Terblain, this is—-.” She had cried until there were no tears left. She cried for herself and her children, but she also cried for the other family that was torn apart. She carried considerable guilt over the other deaths, although she knew it was out of her control.
She had phoned her Mother and they cried together on the phone. A short note arrived from Uncle Herman. Uncle Herman was never much at writing, but the note was welcome, and she kept it in her purse. Most of her Toronto friends seemed to disappear. Their busy lives didn’t allow for much more than a surface friendship. Sandy found herself more alone than she ever thought possible.
The money saved with such difficulty for their dream house was soon gone to lawyer’s bills and other expenses. Within a few months her financial position was desperate.
Her own income was dependent on turning technical data into easily understandable journals. She tried to work a few times but found that she was unable to concentrate, or finish the tasks assigned to her. Finally, she picked up the phone again and talked with her father. She was thankful that it was her father that answered. She could talk to her father, but she and her mother seemed to clash no matter how hard they tried not to.
Even the day of Walter’s death, although Sandy’s mother had felt genuine sorrow, they still clashed. Sandy couldn’t even remember what the clash was over. It just seemed to be a pattern they had fallen into years ago and had never broken.
After much assurance from her father, Sandy made the preparations for the long trip. She sold enough of her possessions to pay for the fare, and for two months storage on the remainder of her furniture.
Finally, the Greyhound slowed to make the turn into the overpass that would take Sandy and the children into the small town that her family had called home for three generations. Sandy sat up straighter, amazed at the changes that had come over the little town. She had pictured it as it had been. She was unprepared for the sight of shopping malls and new businesses. She hardly recognized the place.
It was only a matter of moments before the bus was wheezing to a stop and the driver opened the door, letting in a blast of early morning cold.
Sandy stood in response to the question and bent over to glance out the window on the other side of the bus. She stared in amazement, not believing what she saw. The tears came then and flowed freely.
“Who are all those people, Mom?” Julie asked again.
Sandy stepped off the bus into a rush of opened arms and a barrage of questions. Her father soon had Julie wrapped in his big arms and Uncle Herman tucked the baby inside his oversized winter coat. Sandy held back for just a moment but then she returned her Mother’s embrace and the two of them stood there crying and hugging. In a few minutes Sandy was able to greet her two brothers, then Herman and Mary, plus three cousins.
Sandy’s brothers picked up the suitcase and the two cardboard boxes Sandy brought with her and placed them in the back of a pickup truck.
Except for a new machinery shed and the new roof on the house, the old farm looked just as Sandy remembered it.
Sandy and the kids were soon in bed. They slept soundly for most of the day.
The teasing was good-natured, and Sandy took it that way.
Sandy was never quite sure what to expect from her mother. One day her mother would seem to be friends with the whole world and the next day she would rail endlessly over some trite issue. But there had never been any open problems until Sandy made it up in her mind to go off to school. Sandy’s mother had no experience to prepare her for the idea of her daughter seeking a different life than the one she herself had known.
She had always assumed that Sandy would marry someone from their home area and settle down to be a wife and mother. Throughout high school Sandy made her plans and expressed her wishes. And with each plan and each wish a wall was built between her and her mother.
Finally, they fought, and Sandy left. That was the only time Sandy had seen her father with tears in his eyes. Her parents had been to Toronto a few times to visit but Sandy had never been back home. Lying in her old bedroom she wondered how much, if anything, had changed.
The first days back on the farm went by quickly, with Sandy spending most of her time looking after the children or leaning on the rail fences as she watched her father and brothers work in the barns and corrals. Occasionally she took the children for a walk in the woods behind the house showing them where she played as a little girl and where to find spring crocuses. One of Sandy’s brothers helped her repair the old swing and Julie spend hours swinging under the newly budding poplar trees.
Sandy looked away from the cattle and turned her eyes in the direction her father was looking. There, standing in the shade of a small clump of diamond willow stood a horse. An old roan horse with a liberal sprinkling of gray, showing his age. He stood on three legs, his head down, his tail brushing at the circling flies.
Sandy stepped out of the truck and walked slowly over to the old horse. Sammy had always been a lively animal but now, with old age upon him, Sandy was able to walk right up and touch him. She hugged his neck and stroked his face and looked happier that she had looked in months, remembering the many happy hours spent raising and grooming and riding this old horse.
Sandy was absorbed with the horse for the next few days. Although she didn’t ride herself, she managed to get both of the children on the old gelding’s back. He seemed to enjoy it as much as the kids did.
Sandy had very little else to do. The first day home she had offered to help in the kitchen, but her mother made it plain that her help was neither wanted nor appreciated. Sandy was hurt by the rebuff, but she kept her thought to herself.
When the fields dried up enough to get the machinery on them Sandy took a turn driving the tractor. It was a good, if temporary, tonic. But all the while Sandy was asking herself what her future was. She was wise enough to know that her time back on the farm was a short-term respite at best. She knew it was impossible to truly go back home after so long a time, and some days she longed to be back in Toronto. Other days she was not so sure. The good memories of the city, and there were many of them, were overshadowed by the horror of her loss. The self-confidence she knew for so many years had melted into a pool of misery and doubt.
Her long days of mourning and depression slowly changed into a serious quietness, forcing a maturity to develop that had not been needed when she and Walter had each other to lean on.
Herman and Mary took Sandy out to dinner a few weeks after her return. They ate and visited and then fell silent.
“Thanks, Uncle Herman. It’s good to be back. I wasn’t sure just how welcome I would be. I said some very foolish things back then. I hope you’ve forgiven me. And I may not have outgrown your little town as much as I use to think. Some days the big city seems very far away. I don’t know. I just don’t know. My life seems to be so full of confusion right now that I can’t make any decisions. I think one thing and then another. And then I walk in those woods behind the house and cry. I plan one thing and then think up a hundred reasons why it won’t work.
“Don’t you be too quick about that renting idea,” said Herman, “If I know your folks, and I do, you’re welcome there for as long as you want to stay. Why, I saw your dad in town the other day with your little Julie tagging along, just the way you used to. I had to look twice just to make sure it wasn’t you, twenty years ago. Your Dad, why he was as proud as a Banty rooster, strutting around with his big hand holding Julie’s, showing her the feed mill and the hardware store. Your Dad looked twenty years younger.
The next day Sandy phoned her old boss and was pleased to hear that she was missed and that she was still considered under contract. He promised to send out an assignment immediately.
The same day she found a little cottage to rent. It was within walking distance of the grocery store and there was a playground for the children just two blocks away. Although she had no intention of staying, and still thought of Toronto as her real home, Sandy made up her mind to stay the summer at least, and to see what happened after that.
She telephoned a friend in Toronto to ask her to look after the sale of some stored items. She arranged for the shipment of the few items that were worth the cost of the freight.
Sandy was soon settled into the little cottage and Julie was registered for school. Sandy set up her computer in one end of the oversized kitchen and found that if she restricted her work to four hours a day she could manage quite well. That wouldn’t provide a full income, but the cost of living was so much less than what she spent in Toronto that she was able to scrape by. Her periods of mourning and depression were becoming less frequent.
Bly Davis owned one of the more prosperous farms in the area, just a few miles west, across the Red Deer River. Bly was thirty-three years old, a bachelor, a graduate in Economics from the University of Alberta, and a man who had never doubted what he wanted to do with his life, and who had set about doing it the day he sold his first 4H calf.
When Frenchy got to rambling there was no stopping him.
Bly smiled and turned again to his work. He reached for a wrench, but Frenchy picked it up first and held it away from him.
Bly protested a little but eventually took off the greasy coveralls and climbed into the pickup. Frenchy spun the wheels on the gravel of the machine shop floor, backed onto the wet yard grass and turned the steering wheel sharply, causing the pickup to lurch sideways and then head out the driveway. The dog charged from around back of the pump house and chased the truck out of the yard, barking furiously.
At the auction the two old friends climbed out of the pickup and ran through the pouring rain, laughing and calling out to a group of men huddled beneath the shelter of an overhang on the side of the auction market. On the wall above was a sign that announced “Daines Auction Market.” Both men knew most of the people in the crowded auction room, but Bly spoke only to a few.
Frenchy shouted and waved at anyone who caught his eye, as if he hadn’t seen them for years. Frenchy glad-handed his way through the crowd, while Bly quietly found his way into the cattle barn which, that day, was full of horses. He wandered down isle after isle of horses, seeing only a few that he felt were worth buying.
He had no intention of buying a horse, although he owned several and rode regularly. He just didn’t need another one. But there are few happenings more sociable than a small-town horse sale, so he looked at horses and talked to old friends.
Frenchy didn’t wait for an answer, nor did he seem to need one. He appeared to be looking for someone, turning his head this way and then that way, like an owl sitting on a branch. Finally, with a look of recognition that Bly didn’t notice, Frenchy turned down an isle, pulling Bly along with him. About halfway down the isle a young woman was holding two children up on the pen railing so they could pet a particularly friendly horse.
Bly was embarrassed, as several people looked his way smiling. The young woman also looked his way.
“Bly?” she asked, “Is that really you?” Bly didn’t notice Frenchy grin and turn back the way he had come. Frenchy was soon lost in the crowd, his self-appointed task for the day completed.
The children said hello and Bly smiled at them nervously. Bly had no experience at all with children, and he felt awkward. In fact, he felt quite awkward with Sandy too. He had dated Sandy a few times in high school but neither one took it seriously. And the difference in their ages seemed to get in the way. When he heard about her marriage, he experienced feelings that he couldn’t quite identify. He had buried himself in his studies and, later, in his work. He had dated no one since and had given little thought to it.
Sandy and Bly were both awkward with the meeting, and yet there was something good about it, like rediscovering an old taste from food long forgotten.
Just as Sandy started to say, “How is….” Bly started to ask, “Do you……” They both stopped and laughed nervously.
Sandy assured Bly that it would be all right to carry the three-year-old and they all headed for the restaurant.
Frenchy, watching from the end of the isle, where he was laughing it up with a group of young men in high-heeled boots and big hats, could hardly contain himself. He was grinning even more than he usually did and he was congratulating himself for a good idea well carried out.
The kids sat in awe of the mound of food placed before them. Bly and Sandy ate in an awkward silence. The place was alive with activity and noise. Several people came over to the table to speak to them.
With that he grinned again and walked away looking for someone else to talk to.
“Are you home to stay,” asked Bly.
They talked for a while longer and parted after Bly made Sandy promise that she would bring the kids out for a horse-back ride sometime soon.
On the ride home Frenchy talked without stopping. He talked about how lonesome Bly must be and how a home really needed more than one person and a dumb dog.
“Needs a woman, and some chickens,” he said.
That’s all he managed to say on the entire trip. Frenchy was still talking and grinning when he slid to a stop in front of Bly’s machine shop. Bly got out of the truck and, waving to his friend, entered the machine shop and reached for his coveralls. He held the coveralls in his hands and watched Frenchy’s truck disappear down the driveway. He made a move to pull on the coveralls when an overwhelming feeling of aloneness overcame him. Suddenly the desire to work was gone. He shut off the machine shop light, pulled the door closed and walked towards the darkened house. He was deep in thought as he washed up and took some leftover stew from the refrigerator. The house was always silent, but he seldom noticed it. Tonight, he did.
Later, after Travis was in bed, Sandy and Julie were watching TV. Sandy had spoken very little since coming home from the auction.
Sandy didn’t answer right away. Too much was happening. It was too soon after the accident. She was too unsure of herself. She didn’t dare to make a decision in her present frame of mind. But she felt so loved and accepted by everyone but her mother. Some days she thought even her mother was softening. And what, after all, was calling her back to Toronto?
She told herself that Bly had nothing to do with her indecision, but she didn’t really believe it. Maybe. Just maybe.
She would need some time.

industry_corpus2: Agriculture & Fisheries


text:
Welcome to Safari Extendr. We aim to be the most comprehensive and usable Safari Extensions directory around.
Established in June 2010, we intend to be an alternative source for obtaining Safari 5 extensions, driven by the community.

industry_corpus2: Computing & Telecommunications


text:
Porsche is following the competition now with a coupé version of its large SUV. The Cayenne Coupé must therefore compete with cars such as the Audi Q8, BMW X6 and Mercedes-Benz GLE Coupé.
The Cayenne Coupé is its highest point two centimeters lower than the regular Cayenne. In addition, the windshield is slightly flatter. The license plate is now no longer on the tailgate, but now has a place in the bumper. Porsche also mounts a rear spoiler, which comes up at 90 kilometers per hour for extra downward pressure.
The Cayenne Coupé comes standard with a glass panoramic roof, while a carbon-fiber model is on the option list. A normal rear seat must also be checked separately, since the car is factory-fitted with two rear seats. The luggage space of the Coupé is 625 liters smaller than that of the regular Cayenne, which can hold 770 liters.
The entry level model is powered by a 340 hp V6 engine. This version accelerates to 100 kilometers per hour in 6 seconds and reaches a top of 243 kilometers per hour. The Turbo version has a V8 with 550 hp under the hood. With this the car sprints to 100 kilometers per hour in 4 seconds and continues to 286 kilometers per hour.
In the long term, an S-version and a plug-in hybrid will most likely follow. The prices of the Cayenne Coupé start at 124,000 euros. The Turbo version costs 204,000 euros.


text:
The cheapest Business Class flight to Lima was £1995 with Iberia, followed by LAN Airlines at £2033 and Air Europa at £2152. Other airlines with business class fares include Avianca and KLM.
To search and book business class flights to Lima from the UK, please fill in your travel requirements above and click the search button. The fares we display are found by actual searches made by Just the Flight customers within the last 7 days.
According to a recent survey, entrepreneurs in Lima are optimistic and expect to see their businesses grow in the future. When surveyed 72 percent said that their sales had improved, whilst 47 percent said their purchasing power had increased, and 74 percent thought that the economy was performing well. Lima is seen as an important hub of international business in Latin America and this was underlined by the Madrid based IE business school that holds its global alumni forum in the city each year. Lima is also hoping to attract more tourists to the city with the opening of the House of Peruvian Gastronomy. Food-loving tourists will be able to sample not only many local dishes, but also international dishes at this South American destination.
As the capital city of Peru, Lima has a full calendar of events and festivals, many are of a religious nature, but there are also ballets, concerts and theatrical performances. In mid-April the city hosts the Peruvian Jazz Festival which is organised by the International Jazz Association of Peru. The festival features not only some of the best known Peruvian jazz musicians, but also leading international musicians from around the world.
Visitors to the festival can enjoy a variety of musical offerings from the different strands of jazz that exist around the world. The festival features concerts and workshops and in the past it has featured legendary performers such as the American pianist Kenny Werner and the award-winning Afro-Peruvian Jazz Sextet. There are free outdoor concerts, master classes and competitions.

industry_corpus2: Transportation


text:
Objective: This study was conducted to explore and to describe the causes of medication errors in Intensive Care Units (ICUs) from the perspective of physicians, nurses, and clinical pharmacists. Methods: The study was conducted using a descriptive qualitative method in 2016. We included 16 ICUs of seven educational hospitals affiliated to Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Participants included 19 members of the healthcare team (physician, nurse, and clinical pharmacist) with at least 1 year of work experience in the ICUs. Participants were selected using purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through semi-structured individual interviews and were used for qualitative content analysis. Findings: The four main categories and ten subcategories were extracted from interviews. The four categories were as follows: “low attention of healthcare professionals to medication safety,” “lack of professional communication and collaboration,” “environmental determinants,” and “management determinants.” Conclusion: Incorrect prescribing of physicians, unsafe drug administration of nurses, the lack of pharmaceutical knowledge of the healthcare team, and the weak professional collaboration lead to medication errors. To improve patient safety in the ICUs, healthcare center managers need to promote interprofessional collaboration and participation of clinical pharmacists in the ICUs. Furthermore, interprofessional programs to prevent and reduce medication errors should be developed and implemented.
Medical treatment for fistulizing Crohn's disease (FCD) is changing rapidly over the time by the introduction of novel therapeutic medicines, while no global consensus is available. This study aims to accomplish a systematic review and meta-analysis on the efficacy of tumor necrosis factor-alpha antibodies (anti-TNF-α antibodies) versus placebo in FCD. A systematic review of published literature was carried out till December 2016, and a meta-analysis of identified studies was done. Data have been explored from PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane Library Database, and Web of Science. Predefined exclusion criteria for included studies in meta-analysis are based on search methodology and are as follows: Randomized clinical trial about Crohn's disease (CD) patients without fistula, pediatrics CD, randomized clinical trials about pregnant women with FCD, nonhuman studies, randomized clinical trials with surgical therapies interventions, conference abstracts, case reports, and language other than English studies. All randomized placebo-controlled trials were included. To assess risk of bias, Jadad score was applied to evaluate trials' methodological quality. Relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence intervals were computed using Mantel-Haenszel and/or Rothman-Boice (for fixed effects) or Der Simonian-Laird (for random effects) techniques. Nine studies attained defined inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis results showed that anti-TNF-α antibodies are remarkably more effective in comparison to placebo for fistula closure maintenance (RR = 2.36; 95% confidence interval: 1.58–3.55; P < 0.0001) in patients with FCD, whereas anti-TNF-α antibodies were not superior to placebo neither in fistula improvement nor in fistula closure. We concluded that adalimumab and certolizumab pegol are both effective in fistula closure maintenance in adult patients with FCD.
Objective: This study is conducted on Iranian pharmacists, coaches, and athletes regarding sports supplements to assess their knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) regarding sports supplements. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study conducted in 2015. The study population consisted of all community pharmacists, bodybuilders, and bodybuilding coaches. The questionnaire was applied consisting some demographic questions and 25 questions for assessing KAP (6, 9, and 10, respectively). The collected data were analyzed with independent t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Findings: In all three studied groups, the mean of KAP was upper than intermediate level 3 (P < 0.05) except the pharmacists' knowledge. A statistically significant difference appears between knowledge and age of pharmacists (P = 0.007). In addition, there was a significant relationship between coaches' practice and age (P = 0.04). Conclusion: According to the results although the studied groups have the intermediate level of KAP, organized and regular education courses are highly recommended along with paying more attention to the curriculum taught in the pharmacy schools according to the community current needs.
Missing the benefit of metformin in acute myeloid leukemia: A problem of contrast?
Objective: To evaluate whether metformin's cancer-related benefits reported in patients with solid tumors (ST) are also present in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) patients. Methods: Baseline demographic and clinical history for all diabetes mellitus patients newly diagnosed with AML or cancer of the breast, ovary, prostate, gastrointestinal tract, lung, or kidney at Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo, NY (January 2003–December 2010, n = 924) was collected. Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were assessed by Kaplan–Meier (KM) analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression (hazard ratio [HR]). Findings: Baseline metformin use provided significant OS and DFS benefit in ST but not in AML (KM: PST-OS= 0.003; PST-DFS= 0.002; PAML-OS= 0.961; PAML-DFS= 0.943). AML median survival was slightly better with metformin use, but users derived no relapse benefit. In ST, metformin nonusers had shorter median survival, 57.7 versus 86 months, and poorer outcomes (HRST-OS= 1.33; PST-OS= 0.002; HRST-DFS= 1.32; PST-DFS= 0.002). These findings remained significant in age-adjusted models (HRST-OS= 1.21; PST-OS= 0.039; HRST-DFS= 1.23; PST-DFS= 0.02) but not fully adjusted models (HRST-OS= 0.96; PST-OS= 0.688; HRST-DFS= 1.0; PST-DFS= 0.94). Higher mortality was noted in AML patients taking insulin versus oral diabetes pharmacotherapy at baseline (HRAML-OS= 2.03; PAML-OS= 0.04). Conclusion: Lack of metformin benefit in AML could be due to advanced age at cancer diagnosis. Metformin substitution with insulin before computed tomography scans with contrast – a frequent AML assessment practice – may also explain the lack of subsequent benefit despite taking metformin at baseline. A temporary metformin substitution is recommended by the package insert due to a possible drug interaction with the contrast dye. Our data suggest that metformin substitution was permanent in many patients. Nonetheless, the observed benefit in other malignancies warrants further investigation of metformin use in AML.
Objective: This study aimed to determine the portion of Iranian patients who attain therapeutic serum concentrations of voriconazole (VRCZ) following administration of fixed doses. In addition, the effect of CYP2C19 polymorphism on serum levels of VRCZ was also investigated. Methods: Forty-eight adult patients of Iranian origin with hematologic malignancies, who received VRCZ for treatment of invasive aspergillosis, were recruited into the study. Blood samples were drawn at day 4 of treatment to measure trough drug concentrations and determine genotyping of CYP2C19 polymorphisms of each patient. High-performance liquid chromatography method was used for measuring VRCZ serum level and CYP2C19 polymorphisms were conducted by Sanger sequencing. Demographic and clinical characteristics of patients alongside with CYP2C19 polymorphisms were assessed to determine the effective factor/s on VRCZ serum concentration. Findings: Seventy-three percent of patients achieved therapeutic serum concentrations of VRCZ with administration of usual fixed doses in clinical practice. There was no correlation between weight-adjusted dose and serum concentrations of VRCZ. Mean serum levels were significantly different neither in genders nor in routes of administrations. Extensive and ultrarapid metabolizers (URMs) comprised 48.7% and 21.6% study population, respectively. CYP2C19 polymorphism dramatically influenced the trough levels of VRCZ, so that all patients with subtherapeutic levels expressed URM phenotype. Conclusion: With respect to high incidence of URM phenotype in Iranian population, and observed association of this phenotype with sub-therapeutic levels in our study, performing therapeutic drug monitoring is strongly recommended for all patients.
Objective: Although mechanical ventilation is frequently a life-saving therapy, its use can result in unwanted side effects. It has been well documented that the choice of sedating agent may influence the duration of mechanical ventilation. Melatonin is a sedative and analgesic agent without any respiratory depressant effect which makes it an attractive adjuvant for sedation in the intubated patients. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of melatonin on the duration of mechanical ventilation in patients with hemorrhagic stroke. Methods: Forty adult intubated patients with hemorrhagic stroke, who were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) within 24 h of onset, were enrolled in this randomized double-blind study. Subjects in the melatonin group received 30 mg of melatonin every night throughout the nasogastric tube. Length of ICU stay, mortality, and duration of mechanical ventilation were recorded for all patients. Findings: The duration of mechanical ventilation and length of ICU stay were shorter in patients who received melatonin in comparison with the control group, and this difference was statistically significant for the length of ICU stay and marginally significant for the duration of mechanical ventilation. Although not statistically significant, the mortality rate of the control group was 30%, almost double that of the study group (15%). Conclusion: Melatonin possesses hypnotic, analgesic, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidative properties that distinguish it as an attractive adjuvant in patients under mechanical ventilation. In conclusion, the administration of melatonin may facilitate the weaning process through decreasing the consumption of sedatives with respiratory depressant properties as well as preventing ventilator-associated lung injury.
Recently published reports have suggested that antiangiogenic drugs such as sunitinib could potentiate the osteonecrosis of the jaw (ONJ) induced by bisphosphonates (BPs) and even induce this adverse effect per se. We reported a case of ONJ with renal cell carcinoma under sunitinib medication and history of BPs therapy. A 53-year-old man was referred to the oral surgery clinic complaining of painful exposed oral lesion and bone extraction from right lower jaw in the mouth. He underwent nephrectomy followed by 5 months treatment with cycles of 50 mg sunitinib (Sutent®) once a day for 4 weeks followed by 2 weeks drug free before lesion exposure in October 2016. However, the patient has encounter to intermittent mucositis and gingivitis in oral cavity several times. Our patient had a history of zoledronic acid (4 mg intravenously two times) administration due to primary cancer misdiagnosis. In our case, no dental procedure contributed to the occurrence of ONJ. The lesion was improved by sunitinib cessation and administration of antibiotics through 2 weeks. Mucosal injury induction as well as inhibition of angiogenic signaling pathways by sunitinib administration may have precipitated the occurrence of ONJ. In addition, a possible synergistic effect by previously BP treatment is another accused.
Objective: Medical students need proper education in drug prescription. The aim of the present study is to introduce a course that improves the students' prescribing skills and also promotes an interprofessional collaboration between medicine and pharmacy schools. Methods: This study was done in a skill laboratory at the pharmacotherapy department of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The course was an 18-h interactive workshop in 3 days under the supervision of clinical pharmacists. A total of 18 medical students participated in these classes before their internship. Before and after each class, they were given tests and paired t-test was done to compare the marks. Findings: A total of 18 medical students participated in this study. The results showed that the knowledge of the students on pharmacotherapy, drug information, and prescribing skills has been significantly improved at the end of the course. Conclusion: Using clinical pharmacists to the present pharmacotherapy course could be an effective model for medical students to obtain better prescribing skills.
Brain hemorrhages are rare complications of acute methanol poisoning. There is a debate on association of brain hemorrhage in methanol toxicity and application of systemic anticoagulation during hemodialysis (HD). A 70-year-old male presented to us with severe metabolic acidosis and a methanol level of 7.6 mg/dL. Ethanol and folinic acid were administered, and HD was performed. Brain computed tomography (CT) scan which was normal on presentation showed extensive bilateral subcortical supratentorial hypodensities on the 3rd day after commencing the treatment. However, the next CT scan performed 2 weeks later revealed expanding hemorrhagic transformation in previous hypodensities. Hemorrhagic changes could not be explained by patient's coagulation profile on the 3rd day. Anticoagulation agents such as heparin are used routinely during a dialysis session to prevent clot formation in dialysis circuits. This case is possibly questioning the role of heparin in hemorrhagic brain lesions of methanol intoxication.

industry_corpus2: Health & Medicine


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A newer (and more “by-the-book”) way of solving this problem is using the will-change: transform declaration — see dev.opera.com/articles/css-will-change-property/.
The Running Cat by Rachel Nabors, is an awesome animation proving that fleshless animations are our future (although it will take some time). See cdpn.io/e/rCost + 24ways.org/2012/flashless-animation/.
If you want to set the trajectory of an animated object, take a look at the Stylie tool: jeremyckahn.github.io/stylie/.
The Ceaser tool will let you define your own animation timing function. See matthewlein.com/ceaser/.
Advanced CSS3 animation tutorial. See netmagazine.com/tutorials/masterclass-css-animations.


text: Ashadha Month of hindu calendar, 7th day – Saptami, Krishna Paksha, Nakshtra at the time of Sun rise in Hast Nakshtra and will be till 07:52 Hrs (IST), Moon will move in Chitra Nakshtra at 07:52 Hrs (IST). Shiva Yog, Vanij Karan. Sun Rise in New Delhi will be at 05:39 Hrs (IST) and Sunset at 19:15 Hrs (IST). At the time of Sun rise, Moon will be in Virgo sign and moves in Libra sign at 20:00 Hrs (IST). Bhadra will be from 13:35 Hrs (IST) to 01:26 Hrs (IST) on 20-07-2018. Vivasvat Saptami.


text:
Venezuela will be guarding its borders and “won’t tolerate any foreign interference” no matter what side it comes from, Vice President Delcy Rodriguez said on Sunday.
“We are always ready to protect our territory and our values… No one should doubt that if we are attacked, we will respond,” she noted.
The official’s statement comes after earlier in the day US President Donald Trump has called a US military intervention in Venezuela’s current political crisis an “option”, CBS broadcasted him saying in the interview.
Despite the concern Washington has voiced regarding Venezuela’s current affairs, when Trump was approached by the administration of President Nicolas Maduro with a request to have a meeting, he said he rejected it.Venezuela has been recently going through a political crisis, which further escalated after opposition leader Juan Guaido declared himself interim president.
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, in turn, has repeatedly accused Washington of orchestrating a coup in his country in a bid to oust him and even suggested in an interview with Sputnik that US President Donald Trump had ordered the “Colombian mafia” to kill him.

industry_corpus2: Politics & Administration


text:
Was born in 1955 in Riga, Latvia.
He studied at the Belorussian State Institute of Theatrical Art and Design in Minsk.
Since 1978 he has been living and working in St. Petersburg.
Since 1985 Gerasimov has been a permanent participant of the exhibitions of the Association of Experimental Art.
The Radolfetcel City Museum, Germany.

industry_corpus2: Film & Entertainment


text:
Preheat a deep fryer filled with oil to 365 degrees F, or fill a large deep skillet with a few inches of oil and heat to 365 degrees F.
For the wings: In a bowl, combine the flour, granulated garlic, black pepper, Lawry's Seasoned Salt and Italian seasoning. Toss the wings in the seasoned flour.
Fry the wings in batches until golden brown and cooked through, about 6 minutes. (If using the skillet, flip the wings once halfway through cooking.) Drain the wings on paper towels to soak up any extra oil.
For the dipping sauce: In a bowl, combine the buttermilk, sour cream, vinegar and garlic. Stir in the blue cheese and season with salt and pepper.
Sprinkle the wings with the Parmesan. Serve the wings warm with the sauce for dipping and some carrot and celery sticks on the side.

industry_corpus2: Hospitality & Catering


text:
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The ConJet ® high-density bed jet mill is a spiral jet mill combined with a patented dynamic air classifier. This classifier enables the ConJet ® to achieve highest finenesses independent of the product load, and therefore also highest throughput rates. Applicable for finenesses from 2.5 to 70 µm (d97). Machine sizes available for grinding air volumes from approx. 50 to 2,400 Nm³/h.
The table below lists a few sizes of Grate Discharge Ball-Tube mills with their typical capacity based on wet grinding 8 mesh feed to 100 mesh in closed circuit with a suitable classifier. For dry grinding reduce capacity approximately 30% to 50%.
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High capacity wet pan mills, gold ore grinding mills machine, US $ 3,500 - 5,500 / Set, New, wet pan mill, AC Motor.Source from Zhengzhou Huahong Machinery Equipment Co., Ltd. on Alibaba.com.
850 Gold Ore Grinding Wet Pan Mill/gold Mill Machine/ Wheel Mill . 850 Gold Ore Grinding Wet Pan Mill/gold Mill Machine/ Wheel Mill For Gold . This machine mainly used for choosing gold, silver, lead, zinc, iron, molybdenum, copper and antimony mine, etc. . After quality assurance date, if theequipments need to be repaired, we only .
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industry_corpus2: Mining


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Do You Want to Learn Adobe XD but Don’t Have Time? How About Learning It in Under 5 Minutes?
Yes, I know. You are insanely busy and stopping to learn a new tool or process is just not happening.
Keeping up with all the Adobe XD updates is hard.
One of our biggest challenges when trying to show customers the progress the team is making with XD is the fact that people are just too busy to stop to watch a video, a tutorial, or read a blog post. Yes, if you saw XD let’s say one or two years ago, it evolved a lot. After the 1.0 release at MAX in 2017 in October, more than 60 features were released, and it keeps getting better and better. Every month there is a new update!
We work really hard to inform our users with live streams on Facebook, YouTube, Behance, contests, training, workshops, UI kits, customer visits all over the world, pilot projects, Creative Jams, and a lot more.
Again, I know you’re busy. But what if there were a quick way to learn XD? In like, 5 minutes.
XD is fast, powerful, and can change the way you and your team work.
If you’re interested in trying XD now, I just wanted to let you know that it has a free version available for Mac and Windows 10.
And if you have any feedback, don’t hesitate to contact us on UserVoice or Twitter using #AdobeXD.
Thanks for taking the time to see this. And happy prototyping!


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The Soul is one of the best homegrown bands to date.
Sri Lanka has a robust music scene with artists and bands harnessing different genres as their tools of communication and entrancing the audience with their unique vocal ranges and musical styles.
The Soul is yet another addition to this kaleidoscope of musicians and bands. They're essentially a group of wizards with musical instruments as their wands, and they spend most of their time putting their audience in a headlock full of soul soothing spiritual awakenings, and other fun stuff. Doesn't sound like a feasible description, but who's to say it's not 100% true?
We got to experience all this first hand at their last gig at Musicmatters where the entire crowd went ballistic, and essentially fused to be part of the band. Lots of dancing, moshing, out of body experiences and emotional awakenings ensued.
The band comprises of lead singer Dave Roberts: an ingenious master of vocal technique who uses his silky smooth baritone to enamour his audience, putting us in a trance of sorts.
Sarani and Uvindu Perera man the guitar and the bass respectively. If you observe carefully you'll notice that they stroke and strum their instruments as if caressing a living, breathing entity.
*From far left: Khazim Miskhin (Guitar), Uvindu Perera (Bass), Divanka Sewmin (Drums) and Sarani Perera (Guitar).
Divanka Sewmin handles the drums, his passion apparent as he swings and jives, belting out fast and slow tunes with great gusto. All smiles, his talent shows clearly through his singing drums.
Finally there's Khazim Miskin, also on guitar. Positive wizard ID confirmed. You'll have to see him to believe it. This guy plays the guitar like nobody's business, extracting sounds and notes well outside the range of the average virtuoso. I can't explain man. I tried, but I can't.
Here's a link to their Soundcloud. My favourites are No Doctor Witch Doctor, Alive, Butterflies in Flight and on it goes.
They regularly update their socials with event notifications and whatnot so stay on the lookout! Plus their Instagram page is a combination of hilarious captions, photos and a personal connection with every one of their fans.
So next time you're wondering what to do, put on a song by The Soul and enjoy your beheth, or head to one of their events. You'll spot me somewhere in the crowd absolutely spaced out over the magic and music. See you there!
Oops! Fixed it. Thank you!


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When you step into a room at The Downtown Clifton Hotel, you step into the swankest bunkhouse this end of a trail ride, appointed in mid-century hip with all the modern amenities. Our eclectic, electric western vibe is made uniquely Tucson with in room craftsmanship and art collected from and created by Tucson’s own artists and artisans.
Every room offers a queen bed on a wooden platform, handmade here in Tucson, and meant to complement the original wood beam ceilings. Brightly colored saddle blanket bedspreads serve as a cheeky contrast to polished concrete floors and point to the splash of color that each bathroom hides in its original 1940s tile work. Our personal favorite is the emerald green bathroom in Room 8, but the posh black and cream tile work in Room 6 provides a sophisticated backdrop for washing off the day’s dust in a newly resurfaced tub or shower.
On the walls you’ll find a rotating selection of local art both for enjoyment and for sale, and in the fridge, you’ll find tasty snacks made in Tucson by local food producers. Though we, sadly, can’t serve alcohol at the hotel, you sure can drink it. Neighborhood go-to Midtown Liquors is right around the corner or downtown darling Tap & Bottle is up the street. That and the individually selected low ball glasses and other drinking accoutrements make it easy to enjoy a nightcap of Campari and orange bitters (that’s what we would do) while you kick back with our curated selection of vinyl or books with actual paper pages or turn on the flat screen high-def TV with built-in Roku that streams Netflix, Hulu Plus, Pandora and more.


text: THE BEST FUNCTIONALITY AND LUXURY 4X4 AROUND!!! Packed with a Bunch of Goodies including: Tow bar, Electric Sunroof, Leather seats, GPS/Reverse camera and sensors, Air Bag suspension, Cruise control, Electric Tinted windows,Electric mirrors, Dual Batteries, and much more!! EASY FINANCE AVAILABLE $$ It is priced to sell and wont last long, come for a TEST DRIVE today! Buy it with confidence, knowing that you are buying from Australia most trusted car dealership, Family Run for the past 36 years and selling only the best RVs, Cars, and 4WD?s. More Reasons to buy from us! ? 36 Years of professional and trusted service ? Quick and easy finance options available to our valued customers ? Trade ins welcomed! -Thorough safety checks on all our vehicles ? Smorgasburg selection of vehicles ? Australia?s Trusted Warranty Packages Trouble selling your vehicle? We can do it for you!


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“When I received my MS diagnosis, it was difficult to remain positive and find anything to be happy about. As time went on and I wasn’t able to work anymore, it occurred to me one day that my inactivity could be a good thing because at last I had a chance to paint!
“Painting has always been a rewarding way to express myself. Ironically, I find that as my disabilities increase, so does the quality of my work increase.
“I consider myself to be a very positive and optimistic person, but it was difficult maintaining that attitude when I first learned of my diagnosis, even for me! I’ve always loved to paint, but there constantly seemed to be a situation or reason that demanded my immediate attention first. Now, however, I choose to do something creative with my time rather than giving in entirely to my illness, sitting in a corner mourning my losses.


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Looking to buy a new North Palm Beach Hyundai Sonata SEL for sale near you? Look no further! North Palm Beach Hyundai would like to invite everyone in Stuart, Jupiter, Wellington, Riviera Beach, and surrounding areas to come take advantage of our incredible new Hyundai Sonata SEL deals. That's right! We're offering this incredible new vehicle at incredible new price. Don't miss your chance to come experience the comfort and luxury of this new Hyundai Sonata for sale. Trust us! Once you get your hands on this car your never going to want to let it go. Come see and drive the new North palm Beach Hyundai Sonata SEL for sale near you at our local Hyundai Dealership located at 3703 Northlake Blvd, Lake Park, FL 33403.
If you act now, you can be one of the first few people to save big on a new Hyundai Soanta SEL. But you must hurry. This vehicle is going fast. And, we don't want you to miss your chance to save BIG.
If you want to save time and money, fill out the free online form above. It's quick. It's easy. And it's free. Plus there is no obligations. All you have to do and you can instantly get cash off of your next Hyundai SEL purchase. So, what are you waiting for.
If you still want to learn more about this vehicle, check out our new 2019 Hyundai Sonata SEL review below.
If you're the kind of driver who doesn't mind paying a little more for a lot more the 2019 Hyundai Sonata SEL Price is more than worth it. This vehicle comes standard with everything you would expect to find in a luxury high-end luxury midsize sedan except the price tag. And, it drive like a champ. You're going to love how much more you can with remarkably stunning Hyundai midsize sedan. And that's just part of the story. We haven't even shown you our exclusive North palm Beach Hyundai Sonata SEL price. We're making it easier than ever for everyone to get their hands on this incredibly affordable luxury vehicle. There's never been a better way to raise your standards. Come discover how much more money you could save on a new car when you purchase a new Hyundai Sonata SEL for sale at our local North Palm Beach Hyundai Dealership near you. We're certain, once you see how much money you can save our local Hyundai lot, you're going to wish you came sooner. But don't just take our word for it. Come see for yourself.
Beyond the price, the new North Palm Beach Hyundai Sonata SEL looks amazing. At first glance, this vehicle stands out with ultra-bright LED Daytime Running Lights, and dual fold-away heated power body color side mirrors with mounted turn signal indicators. Enhanced with chrome exterior door handles, and a Hands-Free Smart Trunk, this car is a must have for everyone. The new Hyundai Sonata SEL even comes standard with a responsive Proximity Key. Therefore, you never have to worry about settling for less. This vehicle helps you raise your standard with today's most advanced exterior features. And make no mistake. This car still gives you all the room in the world. For additional style points, the new Hyundai Sonata SEL also comes standard with 17-inch alloy wheels wrapped in all season tires.
If you think the new North Palm Beach Hyundai Sonata SEL is all about looks, guess again. Boasting with a 2.4 Liter Inline 4-Cylinder Engine that generates 185 horsepower, and 178 pound-feet of torque, this vehicle is revved up and ready. Paired with a 6-speed automatic transmission with SHIFTRONIC controls, there's no stopping this midsize sedan. You going to love how the new Hyundai Sonata SEL accelerates off the line. In addition, this vehicle gives you a smooth comfortable drive that you can enjoy everywhere. And, this car shifts gears with ease. Believe it or not, driving the Hyundai Sonata SEL is like driving on air. This car has been revamped with today's most advanced technology to give you the power to conquer the road. All the while, handle the twist and turns with ease. Whether you're driving through the rain, sleet, or snow, this vehicle can handle anything you throw it. Come see why so many people in North Palm Beach enjoy driving the new Hyundai Sonata SEL for sale.
Now that you know that the new North Palm Beach Hyundai Sonata SEL offers great performance, you should also know that this vehicle comes standard with an excellent interior cabin space. Furnished with power heated front row leather seats, and a matching leather steering wheel, this car feels like true happiness. The new 10-way power drivers seat with lumbar support will instantly put you in your comfort zone. This vehicle also come standard with a magnificent sound system. We're talking a HD Radio Technology, Sirius XM Satellite Radio, Apple CarPlay Compatibility, and Android Auto Compatibility. Complimented with an all-new Blue Link Telematic System, and a Blue Link Remote Package. All in all, this vehicle gives you everything you need right where you want it. Nothing beats the power and comfort of this fabulous new Hyundai Sonata model. Come all of the wonders that the ne North Palm Beach Hyundai Sonata SEL has in store for you. Give yourself a chance to experience luxury like never before.


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Today, it was announced at Midtown Comics in New York City by Marvel Comics’ Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort that the Marvel Universe will come to an end this May with the new Secret Wars mini-series.
In Secret Wars, segments of different Marvel realities, including the Marvel Universe 616 or the main universe that has been in existence for 75 years will be combined into a new planet called Battleworld. The Marvel editors claimed that from now on this Battleworld will be the new Marvel Universe. Fans of the regular Marvel Comics know that for some time the Marvel superheroes have been dealing with the “Incursion” events, that is where parallel worlds/realities have been colliding with each other. Now it’s the turn of Marvel 616 and the one from the Ultimate comic books as the two realities will smash into one another. The remains of these universes will join other universe segments on Battleworld.
This event can best be described as Marvel’s version of Crisis on Infinite Earths, the famous DC Comics mini-series that sought to eliminate the confusing amount of alternate realities into one single universe. All fans know that the Crisis event was the springboard for DC to revamp their superheroes and titles, which included John Byrne’s updating of Superman, among others.
We can only hope that Marvel has better luck in producing a more coherent universe than DC did. While the event was good on paper, there were many inconsistencies with many DC titles, which led to more mini-series events that tried to rectify this to no avail. Ultimately, DC was able to correct this and present a clean ending to their comics universe and start over completely with the Flashpoint mini-series and The New 52 reboot.
With the main Marvel Universe ending, this is undoubtedly a sad turn for fans of the Marvel comic books, but it’s a terrific way of starting over and clearing the plate. For some time, the Marvel Universe had become convoluted with too many characters and realities. Let’s look at the X-Men for example. There are so many different characters, many of which come from alternate futures and dimensions, that it’s daunting for non-regular readers to keep up with. How many storylines have there been in the X-Men comics where someone comes from the future? All these futures are different from one another! How can the future seen in “Days of Futures Past” be reconciled with a future seen in Wolverine: Old Man Logan? Simple, it’s impossible!
Then there is the mess Marvel made with Spider-Man in undoing his marriage to Mary Jane. Instead of just having the couple get a divorce, a convoluted story was made up (“One More Day”) where Spider-Man went completely out of character and made a deal with the Marvel equivalent of the Devil to save his aunt’s life. This led to a time-travel quirk where he never married Mary Jane and reality in the regular Marvel Universe was altered. The upcoming event “Renew Your Vows” is a good way to rectify this mistake as seen with the preview image of Spider-Man, Mary Jane and their daughter.
Speaking of Spider-Man, the recent Spider-Verse story illustrates how convoluted and crowded the Marvel multiverses have become with the many different versions of Spider-Man.
That is why the end of the Marvel Universe is a good way to streamline things and provide a jumping on point for new readers and lapsed fans who couldn’t keep up with the vast myriad of timelines. As with Spider-Man’s marriage, the clean slate allows for mistakes to be undone and to approach characters and stories with a new, fresh perspective. Then again, how long before alternate reality or future stories begin to come back? Let’s hope it will be a while.
For this year’s Free Comic Book Day event on May 3, Marvel will release free copies of Secret Wars #0 that will bring readers up to speed to the shattering event.
Amidst all the celebration of Marvel Comics’ 75th anniversary is the notion that famed writer Stan lee singlehandedly created the entire lineup of the Marvel Universe. That couldn’t be farther from the truth.
His biggest collaborator in the early days was Marvel Comic’s co-creator Jack Kirby. Kirby was not only the dynamic, genius penciler with fantastic layouts and renditions, he was more than a co-plotter on stories “written” by Stan Lee.
Stan allowed his artists to plan out the full issue after just speaking with them for a few minutes or having a one sentence plot. It was up to Jack to find the action, the comedy, the tragedy, the pacing and the tone as he was also creating the art. So, by saying that Jack was a co-plotter is not giving Jack enough credit. Together Stan and Jack created the X-Men, the Avengers, the Fantastic Four and all the supporting characters and villains that appeared in those books during Marvel’s origin years- the early 1960s. Stan also had other collaborators too, such as Steve Ditko, co-creator of Spider-Man and Dr. Strange, and he had a similar working relationship with Ditko.
As the Marvel universe began to take shape during the ’60s, which was known as the Silver Age of comic books, other artistic collaborators followed– Gene Colan, John Buscema, Bill Everett, Wally Wood, Jim Steranko, all embellished upon the house of characters that Jack, Stan, and Steve built. So for accuracy’s sake remember as we celebrate Marvel Comics’ 75th anniversary, although he was a critical part in the formation of the Marvel Universe, Stan Lee did not create the Marvel Universe all by himself.
The 20th century needed a new group of heroes that reflected then-modern sensibilities. During the Golden Age of comic books, superheroes belonging to DC Comics (then named National Periodical Publications) such as Superman, Batman, and Wonder Woman fulfilled this need with their wild superhuman exploits that captured the imagination. By the post-war era in America, DC’s superheroes were pretty much the standard: the Establishment.
By attempting to have the most likeable characters, DC’s superheroes had no character or emotional flaws, and the stories gravitated towards plot-driven, farcical adventures rather than character-driven stories.
In the wake of DC’s success, other comic book companies were founded and tried to emulate DC. Out of the many companies, only Timely Comics had staying power and here we are celebrating the 75th anniversary of that company that will later become Marvel Comics.
The Flawed, Science Heroes: Comics changed forever with the start of the so-called Marvel Age. The birth of the Marvel Universe took place in the early 1960s. This was a period that people were in awe with all of the wonders of science and space exploration. The Space Race and the Cold War were on the minds of the people. The Zeitgeist was the fear of the imminent Red Invasion and the Promise of Science- where will it take us?
The core of the first generation of Marvel superheroes were essentially Science Heroes. With the exception of Dr. Strange, the rest of the Marvel Universe was largely a world of weird science and science fiction. Spider-Man, Fantastic Four, Captain America, Giant-Man, the Wasp and the Hulk were Radioactive Heroes. Peter Parker was bitten by a radioactive spider. The astronauts from Reed Richard’s group were exposed to cosmic rays during their maiden voyage into outer space. In an unfortunate accident, Dr. Bruce Banner was hit with the full blast of Gamma Rays. Tony Stark built an electronic-laden armor with tons gadgets and abilities. Captain America was a patriotic hero that survived World War II by being frozen due to his exposure of Vita-Rays; part of the catalyst that transformed Steve Rogers from a skinny kid to an athletically proportioned hero. Giant Man and the Wasp benefitted from Hank Pym’s size magnification and reduction experiments, along with side studies in insect communication and gene splicing.
Great concepts- ahead of its time- but what made the Marvel Universe different, however, was not only the science aspect, but rather the fact that these Marvel heroes were emotionally flawed, imperfect, and fallible. Tragedy strikes as often as victories. Moral dilemmas were as large as the threat.


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