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Any bodybuilders famous or otherwise who have glaucoma or R glaucoma suspect? Diagnos

Any bodybuilders famous or otherwise who have glaucoma or R glaucoma suspect? Before you go TLDR (too long didn't read)...you might find all of this interesting in terms of prevention.... or help if you have glaucoma or are like me "a glaucoma suspect".... at the end, there's more positive...



  • OVER 40 FORUM

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Agnst (Part II), by C.N. Wanjiku (Kenya)

I have been folding my legs and my hands have been resting on my cheeks, vexed. I thought this rough road could be smooth the moment I tasted love, but I was wrong. I had missed an important point, that the end of one predicament is the beginning of another. I wish my life ended just there, where I smiled. I have no job. I have no money. I want to die now, before the twilight. I don’t know why, but I imagine the world of the departed is better.




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CF3208 CAMPAGNE, Carmen - Trois Anges Sont Venus

Catégorie - FEMMES » Genre - Noël




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Nissan Magnite facelift review: Small changes, big effect

It’s been nearly four years since Nissan brought the Magnite to India, and the compact SUV has shouldered the responsibility of establishing the Japanese brand's presence in the country. The X-Trail is a recent addition, serving more as a brand statement than a bread-and-butter model. Over the past six months, Nissan has despatched more than 12,000 units of the Magnite to its dealers (over 2,000 units every month) and has exported over 30,000 made-in-India models to international markets in the past four years.That the compact SUV will have to soldier on here, combined with the company's aim to export nearly 1 lakh units to 65 left-hand and right-hand-drive markets by 2026, underscores that a lot is riding on this facelift.

Nissan Magnite facelift: exterior, design

While the changes to the Magnite facelift’s design may seem insignificant when seen individually, together they add a dose of ruggedness to the compact SUV. The addition of a piano black appliqué that connects the grille and headlights makes the former look larger. The front bumper gets contrasting silver bits that protrude slightly, adding to the muscular appearance and also serving as fog light housings.

Facelift gets a more muscular-looking facia.

The new, smart-looking dual-tone 16-inch alloys add some freshness to the sides of the Magnite. The tail-lights get new 3D LED signatures that are quite attractive. Also, the Sunrise Copper Orange exterior colour is new and suits the Magnite well, especially with the contrasting black roof.

Nissan Magnite facelift: interior

It’s a similar story on the inside – there are small changes, but the effect is notable. The Magnite facelift’s cabin looks and feels far more premium, thanks to the copper-coloured leatherette finish on the dashboard and door panels, especially compared to the outgoing model’s nearly all-black plastic finish. The steering now gets an all-black finish that contrasts well with the dash, and the seats in the top-spec Tekna+ variant come in dual-tone copper-black leatherette covers that help keep one’s back and bottom cool, especially in conjunction with the strong automatic climate control system.

Leatherette on the dash and doors uplifts cabin tremendously compared to outgoing model.

However, not everything is perfect. The new ambient lights do add to the ambience, but the execution could have been a bit more seamless. In addition, the steering column is visible in the footwell, and the accelerator and brake pedals are placed a little too close together.

In terms of practicality and comfort, the Magnite facelift retains its ability to carry four passengers with ease – though three seated abreast in the back will find shoulder room lacking – and comes with a 336-litre boot, which is good enough for a couple of large suitcases, and expands to 690 litres with the rear seats folded.

Multi-colour ambient lighting feels a bit like an afterthought.
 

Nissan Magnite facelift: features

The faceliftcomes with a slightly expanded feature list. The Magnite has always been a well-equipped compact SUV, and it now adds goodies like engine remote start, auto headlights, an auto-dimming IRVM (the frameless unit picks up fingerprints and smudges too easily), a cooled glove box, and a USB C-Type port for rear passengers. The updated 7-inch digital instrument cluster is less gimmicky than that of the outgoing model, yet it displays the same amount of information, making it a welcome upgrade.

Updated 7-inch digital instrument cluster is less cartoon-ish, a welcome change.

The standard safety kit on every Magnite variant includes six airbags, three-point seat belts for all passengers, ISOFIX anchors, ABS, traction control, a tyre pressure monitor, and a hill-start assist. The higher Techna and Techna+ variants also get a 360-degree camera, which doesn’t have the best resolution but works effectively.

Nissan Magnite facelift: performance, ride and handling

The Magnite is still offered with either a 72hp, 1.0-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine or a 100hp, 1.0-litre turbo-petrol unit; we’ve driven the latter, and it’s just as enjoyable as before. This three-cylinder unit has a strong mid-range punch and works well with the smooth CVT to mask any lag at lower revs. Speaking of the CVT, at low and medium engine speeds, there’s barely any of that typical ‘rubber band’ effect, but if you drive with a heavy right foot, it will set in. Cabin insulation has improved marginally, but the three-pot engine’s clatter is still audible, and it gets boomier as the revs rise.

Punchy turbo-petrol and relatively light weight make the Magnite quicker than you'd expect.

At slower speeds, there is an underlying firmness to the Magnite’s suspension setup, but it doesn’t feel uncomfortable at any point. On the highway, the suspension does a much better job of filtering out road undulations, making it an able cruiser. What also helps is the steering that weighs up as the speeds rise, and the 195/60 tyres offer a decent amount of grip, instilling confidence when going through twisty ghat sections. On the other hand, despite doing a good job, the brakes don’t lend as much confidence as they should as the pedal feel is mushy, and there’s some slack before the brakes bite.

Nissan Magnite facelift: price, verdict

On the face of it, it may seem like not much has changed with the Magnite facelift, but that’s not true. It retains all the qualities of its predecessor –brilliant design, comfort, a sporty feel, and a well-equipped interior, all with an attractive price tag– while showing marked improvements in areas such as interior ambience and feel-good features.

 

Other than the visible cost-cutting and the lack of a sunroof at this price point (models such as the Venue, Nexon, and XUV 3XO offer one at the Rs 11.50 lakh that this top-spec Tekna + variant retails for), the Magnite is a more than competent package, especially when one considers that you pay just Rs 23,000 more for it compared to the outgoing model’s top-spec trim. The Magnite model should help Nissan maintain a foothold in India, at least for the near future.

All prices, ex-showroom, India

Also see:

Nissan Magnite: new versus old

Nissan Magnite facelift price, variants, features explained




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Skoda Octavia facelift review: Czech magnate

The Octavia is to Skoda what the City is to Honda or the Swift is to Maruti – a product with a rich history and dominance in its segment, making it a brand in itself. For years, the Octavia was the stalwart for the Skoda brand in India, but the tide turning towards SUVs and the rapidly declining demand for sedans resulted in it being phased out. Now though, it looks to make a comeback, and we got a chance to take a quick spin of the Sportline variant in its hometown in Czechia to get a gist of what to expect.

Skoda Octavia facelift: design

The ‘Sportline’, as the name suggests, aims to look more sporty than luxurious. The variant coming to India will most likely carry the ‘Exclusive Selection’ or the more familiar ‘L&K’ name, which would make sense given the Octavia’s premium positioning in our market. On the Sportline, what would have otherwise been chrome, is all blacked out, and it is quite close to the RS model in terms of styling. Unsurprisingly, the facelift has the same length and wheelbase as the earlier version, but it’s a few millimetres longer, thanks to its revised bumpers and a new headlamp design with the LED Daytime Running Lamps stretched down into the front bumper.

The grille remains as it was, but the bumpers are sharper with better-defined creases. Over to the side, the 18-inch wheels look aggressive, but again, the India-spec car will likely get 17-inch wheels like the ones on its predecessor. The rear features mild revisions to the tail-lamp cluster, but retains its strong lines and is unmistakably an Octavia.

Skoda Octavia facelift: features and interior 

On the inside, the layout is minimalistic with a massive new 13-inch touchscreen – lifted from the Enyaq iV – taking centre stage. It gets Skoda’s new OS, which now gets an AI assistant that’s aptly named Laura. The screen is responsive, good in resolution, features wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and a crisp 360-degree camera, among other features. The Sportline features a dark interior with plenty of recycled materials used, but the basic features list remains similar to the outgoing version.

All-black interior for the Sportline. India-spec version likely to get bright upholstery.

Physical switches exist under the touchscreen, and it also gets wireless charging and a sunroof. The shift-by-wire gear selector returns, and what we could also get in the updated Octavia is Level 2 ADAS. Space up front is good, and the rear seat, too, remains unchanged with excellent space and comfort. The Octavia hallmark, a massive 600-litre liftback boot, still manages to impress. On the version coming to India, you can expect the same layout, albeit with brighter upholstery. Skoda would want to reserve the sporty aesthetics for the ‘RS’ model that will follow.

Skoda Octavia facelift: powertrain

The last Octavia in India featured a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine (EA888), which was loved unanimously. It was creamy smooth, power delivery was linear yet urgent, and it was a driver’s delight. However, the cost of getting the engine to comply with BS6.2 emissions norms was at odds with the limited demand, and that resulted in the car being phased out. 

Big on refinement, and it gets mild-hybrid tech for added efficiency.

Globally, this engine is all but phased out of the Octavia entirely, leaving just a 1.5-litre engine (EA211 evo2) making 150hp, which is similar to the Slavia’s 1.5. The engine also features the ACT+ cylinder deactivation like on the Slavia, which can shut off two cylinders in low-load conditions.

Globally, the engine is available with (or without) a mild-hybrid system that Skoda calls ‘e-tec’, which is essentially a 48V battery that powers ancillaries and a start/stop function for better efficiency. The power output with or without the system remains the same, however. 

Performance and refinement are adequate while ambling around town, but the punch and pep of the 2.0-litre TSI are missing and, as a result, it isn’t as fun to drive. While it is comfortable and adequate at highway speeds, the top-end performance of the older car will surely be missed. 

Rear seat space and comfort still excellent. Sun blinds and three-zone climate control included.

Transmission duties are via the trusty 7-speed DSG, which, with constant evolution, is now even smoother and precise. However, shifting via the paddles is only enjoyable on a docile drive. Aggressive or sporty shifts are met with a hint of delay and it is best to avoid the paddles if you want quick shifts. In the past, the Octavia was the best car to drive in its segment, but with this one, the powertrain is what holds it back. 

Skoda Octavia facelift: ride and handling

 

While the engine may have lost its charm, the Octavia still handles incredibly well. The chassis balance and steering calibration is spot on, and it is excellent in the corners. In Sport, the steering gains heft, the suspension stiffens and you get faster responses from the powertrain. The ride on the highways is just as pliant as before, but the 18-inch wheels on this version tend to result in a bouncier ride at low speeds. The 17-inch wheels with a higher tyre profile, will be a lot more absorbent. 

Skoda Octavia facelift: verdict

1.5 TSI engine feels adequately quick, but doesn’t charm like the old 2.0 TSI did.

The updated Octavia, unsurprisingly, continues to drive well, is comfy and practical and has that strong Skoda build. While it may now use a similar powertrain to the lesser Slavia, what the Octavia will sell you on is its better space and comfort, plusher interiors, and the fact that it will be a CKD, which will give it a slight edge on the quality front. Skoda would want to price the Octavia between Rs 30 lakh and Rs 35 lakh, which will help bridge the gap between the top spec Slavia, which is currently at Rs 18.7 lakh ex-showroom, India, and the Kodiaq that’s priced at Rs 40 lakh. In this SUV-driven market and in a segment that no longer exists, it won’t sell in the same numbers as it did in the past, but having an Octavia on the showroom floor will do a lot more for Skoda than not having it. It is, after all, a brand in its own right.

Also see: 

New Skoda Octavia under evaluation for local assembly in India




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The new Nissan Magnite comes with big updates at the same price

Nissan Motor India has launched the new Nissan Magnite at a special introductory price of INR ₹5.99 lakhs, positioning it as a strong contender in the competitive subcompact SUV segment




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Magnolia

Frederica interviews her musician son David Mathewes about music composition, as well as his new CD titled Magnolia.




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The Magnificat

As we continue to remember the significance of the Annunciation, Fr. Tom gives a helpful reflection on the Magnificat.




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Magnetic Nanoparticles: A Novel Solution for Removing Dangerous Microplastics from Water




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New Analysis Reveals Uranus’s Magnetic Field Was in Rare State During Voyager Flyby




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Holy Martyr Agnes of Rome




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Holy Martyr Agnes of Rome




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Hieromartyr Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia




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Jan 21 - Holy Martyr Agnes of Rome




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Hieromartyr Haralambos, Bishop of Magnesia




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Hieromartyr Haralambos (Charalampus), bishop of Magnesia (202)

"This great saint was bishop in Magnesia, and suffered for Christ at the age of 113. When a violent persecution broke out under the Emperor Septimus Severus, the aged Charalampus did not hide from his persecutors, but freely and openly preached the Christian faith. He endured all tortures as though not in the body, and when they flayed the living flesh from him, the godly saint said to the Emperor's soldiers: 'Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.' He performed many wonders and brought many to the Faith. Even the Emperor's daughter, Gallina, repudiated the paganism of her father and became a Christian. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, St Charalampus raised his arms to heaven and prayed for all men, that God would give them bodily health and salvation of soul, and that He would grant them the fruits of the earth in abundance: 'Lord, Thou knowest that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Thy blessing on all.' After praying thus, the saintly elder gave his soul to God before the executioner had laid his sword to his neck. He suffered in 202. Gallina took his body and buried it." (Prologue)   The Great Horologion puts his age at 103.




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Hieromartyr Haralambos (Charalampus), bishop of Magnesia (202)

"This great saint was bishop in Magnesia, and suffered for Christ at the age of 113. When a violent persecution broke out under the Emperor Septimus Severus, the aged Charalampus did not hide from his persecutors, but freely and openly preached the Christian faith. He endured all tortures as though not in the body, and when they flayed the living flesh from him, the godly saint said to the Emperor's soldiers: 'Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.' He performed many wonders and brought many to the Faith. Even the Emperor's daughter, Gallina, repudiated the paganism of her father and became a Christian. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, St Charalampus raised his arms to heaven and prayed for all men, that God would give them bodily health and salvation of soul, and that He would grant them the fruits of the earth in abundance: 'Lord, Thou knowest that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Thy blessing on all.' After praying thus, the saintly elder gave his soul to God before the executioner had laid his sword to his neck. He suffered in 202. Gallina took his body and buried it." (Prologue)




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Hieromartyr Haralambos (Charalampus), bishop of Magnesia (202)

"This great saint was bishop in Magnesia, and suffered for Christ at the age of 113. When a violent persecution broke out under the Emperor Septimus Severus, the aged Charalampus did not hide from his persecutors, but freely and openly preached the Christian faith. He endured all tortures as though not in the body, and when they flayed the living flesh from him, the godly saint said to the Emperor's soldiers: 'Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.' He performed many wonders and brought many to the Faith. Even the Emperor's daughter, Gallina, repudiated the paganism of her father and became a Christian. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, St Charalampus raised his arms to heaven and prayed for all men, that God would give them bodily health and salvation of soul, and that He would grant them the fruits of the earth in abundance: 'Lord, Thou knowest that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Thy blessing on all.' After praying thus, the saintly elder gave his soul to God before the executioner had laid his sword to his neck. He suffered in 202. Gallina took his body and buried it." (Prologue)   The Great Horologion puts his age at 103.




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Holy Martyr Agnes of Rome (~304)

She was a virgin of noble birth who lived in Rome during the reign of Diocletian. She was martyred at the age of twelve. From an early age she loved chastity ("Agne", the origin of her name, means "pure" or "chaste" in Greek.) Her purity became so well known that she was sought out by many women of Rome, whom she exhorted to accept Christ as the one true God, and to honor him with their chastity. For this she was in time arrested and brought before the City Prefect. When she refused to deny Christ, the Prefect had her handed over to a brothel; but everyone who attempted to violate her was mysteriously prevented, and one especially vicious and lewd attacker was miraculously struck dead. In front of the Prefect's soldiers, Agnes prayed to God and the dead man was restored to life. Many pagan spectators, and the Prefect himself, cried "Great is the power of the Christians!" But others claimed that Agnes had performed this wonder by sorcery and should be killed. The Prefect ordered that she be burned to death. She gave up her life serenely and with prayers on her lips. Some Christians gathered her relics and placed them in a tomb where a magnificent church was later built. Saint Agnes' holy relics remain a source of healing to this day.




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Hieromartyr Haralambos (Charalampus), bishop of Magnesia (202)

"This great saint was bishop in Magnesia, and suffered for Christ at the age of 113. When a violent persecution broke out under the Emperor Septimus Severus, the aged Charalampus did not hide from his persecutors, but freely and openly preached the Christian faith. He endured all tortures as though not in the body, and when they flayed the living flesh from him, the godly saint said to the Emperor's soldiers: 'Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.' He performed many wonders and brought many to the Faith. Even the Emperor's daughter, Gallina, repudiated the paganism of her father and became a Christian. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, St Charalampus raised his arms to heaven and prayed for all men, that God would give them bodily health and salvation of soul, and that He would grant them the fruits of the earth in abundance: 'Lord, Thou knowest that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Thy blessing on all.' After praying thus, the saintly elder gave his soul to God before the executioner had laid his sword to his neck. He suffered in 202. Gallina took his body and buried it." (Prologue)   The Great Horologion puts his age at 103.




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Hieromartyr Haralambos (Charalampus), bishop of Magnesia (202) - February 10th

"This great saint was bishop in Magnesia, and suffered for Christ at the age of 113. When a violent persecution broke out under the Emperor Septimus Severus, the aged Charalampus did not hide from his persecutors, but freely and openly preached the Christian faith. He endured all tortures as though not in the body, and when they flayed the living flesh from him, the godly saint said to the Emperor's soldiers: 'Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.' He performed many wonders and brought many to the Faith. Even the Emperor's daughter, Gallina, repudiated the paganism of her father and became a Christian. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, St Charalampus raised his arms to heaven and prayed for all men, that God would give them bodily health and salvation of soul, and that He would grant them the fruits of the earth in abundance: 'Lord, Thou knowest that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Thy blessing on all.' After praying thus, the saintly elder gave his soul to God before the executioner had laid his sword to his neck. He suffered in 202. Gallina took his body and buried it." (Prologue)   The Great Horologion puts his age at 103.




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Hieromartyr Haralambos (Charalampus), bishop of Magnesia (202)

"This great saint was bishop in Magnesia, and suffered for Christ at the age of 113. When a violent persecution broke out under the Emperor Septimus Severus, the aged Charalampus did not hide from his persecutors, but freely and openly preached the Christian faith. He endured all tortures as though not in the body, and when they flayed the living flesh from him, the godly saint said to the Emperor's soldiers: 'Thank you, my brethren, for scraping off the old body and renewing my soul for new and eternal life.' He performed many wonders and brought many to the Faith. Even the Emperor's daughter, Gallina, repudiated the paganism of her father and became a Christian. Condemned to death and led to the place of execution, St Charalampus raised his arms to heaven and prayed for all men, that God would give them bodily health and salvation of soul, and that He would grant them the fruits of the earth in abundance: 'Lord, Thou knowest that men are flesh and blood; forgive them their sins and pour out Thy blessing on all.' After praying thus, the saintly elder gave his soul to God before the executioner had laid his sword to his neck. He suffered in 202. Gallina took his body and buried it." (Prologue)   The Great Horologion puts his age at 103.




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Scientists Call It Cardioelectromagnetic Communication, We Just Call It…

Fr. John Oliver reflects on forgiveness, and the energies of the heart.




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Magnolias, Oaks and Superheroes

The legend of Sunshine Boy and his lesson in humility.




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Episode 49: Rocking Ragnorok

The guys watched Thor: Ragnorok and kind of liked it. They discuss Marvel’s presentation of “gods," the significance of things and places, and the predictable nature of evil. They end with their Top 5 Moments Where Everything Was At Stake.




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Light From the Canticles 10: Magnifying the Savior

This week we read the first part of Canticle 9 (Luke 1:46-55); interpreting it in the light of Hannah’s song, David’s joy in the Ark of the Lord (2 Sam/2 Kingdoms 6:9-15) 2 Cor 10:15, and Gen 22:17-18. Her humility and joy are models for us as we learn to “magnify” the Savior.




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Saint Agnes

"Saint Agnes," from Women of Faith, written by Calee M. Lee, illustrated by Lisa Graves (Xist Publishing, 2015)




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'Magnificent' Jones shocks Trump to reach semi-finals

Watch the closing stages of Jak Jones' surprise 13-9 victory over Judd Trump to reach the semi-finals of the World Snooker Championship at The Crucible, Sheffield.




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MND dad: I must keep working despite terminal diagnosis

When Scott Stewart was diagnosed with motor neurone disease, he knew he wanted to keep working to support his family.




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'I felt broken until my autism diagnosis at 70'

An estimated 90% of autistic people over 50 have not received a diagnosis, research suggests.




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Tony Mowbray speaks openly about bowel cancer diagnosis

The Boro legend speaks at length about "the toughest year of his life"




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Liver patients with no symptoms diagnosed in NHS first

About 700 patients have been identified as being at risk of developing serious liver problems.




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Mowbray eyes return after bowel cancer diagnosis

Former Sunderland and Birmingham City boss Tony Mowbray speaks about his battle with bowel cancer and hopes of returning to football.




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Espagne : des problèmes sanitaires dans les zones sinistrées par les inondations

Espagne : des problèmes sanitaires dans les zones sinistrées par les inondations




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Coup d'envoi de la saison des carnavals à Cologne en Allemagne

Coup d'envoi de la saison des carnavals à Cologne en Allemagne




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Retour d’expérience sur une campagne de boycott d’entreprises au Maroc

 

Le 20 avril 2018, un appel au boycott a été lancé sur les réseaux sociaux marocains contre trois entreprises leaders dans leurs secteurs d’activités. L’eau minérale de Sidi Ali, le lait de Centrale Danone et les stations de services Afriquia (pétrole) ont été victimes d’une guerre d’information, justifiée selon les internautes par des prix de vente élevés. Les appels au boycott ont été relayés par les internautes Marocains via des groupes et des pages ...




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Automatic pectoral muscles and artefacts removal in mammogram images for improved breast cancer diagnosis

Breast cancer is leading cause of mortality among women compared to other types of cancers. Hence, early breast cancer diagnosis is crucial to the success of treatment. Various pathological and imaging tests are available for the diagnosis of breast cancer. However, it may introduce errors during detection and interpretation, leading to false-negative and false-positive results due to lack of pre-processing of it. To overcome this issue, we proposed a effective image pre-processing technique-based on Otsu's thresholding and single-seeded region growing (SSRG) to remove artefacts and segment the pectoral muscle from breast mammograms. To validate the proposed method, a publicly available MIAS dataset was utilised. The experimental finding showed that proposed technique improved 18% breast cancer detection accuracy compared to existing methods. The proposed methodology works efficiently for artefact removal and pectoral segmentation at different shapes and nonlinear patterns.




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Medical Community of Inquiry: A Diagnostic Tool for Learning, Assessment, and Research

Aim/Purpose: These days educators are expected to integrate technological tools into classes. Although they acquire relevant skills, they are often reluctant to use these tools. Background: We incorporated online forums for generating a Community of Inquiry (CoI) in a faculty development program. Extending the Technology, Pedagogy, and Content Knowledge (TPACK) model with Assessment Knowledge and content analysis of forum discourse and reflection after each CoI, we offer the Diagnostic Tool for Learning, Assessment, and Research (DTLAR). Methodology: This study spanned over two cycles of a development program for medical faculty. Contribution: This study demonstrates how the DTLAR supports in-depth examination of the benefits and challenges of using CoIs for learning and teaching. Findings: Before the program, participants had little experience with, and were reluctant to use, CoIs in classes. At the program completion, many were willing to adopt CoIs and appreciated this method’s contribution. Both CoIs discourse and reflections included positive attitudes regarding cognitive and teacher awareness categories. However, negative attitudes regarding affective aspects and time-consuming aspects of CoIs were exposed. Participants who experienced facilitating a CoI gained additional insights into its usefulness. Recommendations for Practitioners : The DTLAR allows analyzing adaption of online forums for learning and teaching. Recommendation for Researchers: The DTLAR allows analyzing factors that affect the acceptance of online fo-rums for learning and teaching. Impact on Society : While the tool was implemented in the context of medical education, it can be readily applied in other adult learning programs. Future Research: The study includes several design aspects that probably affected the improve-ment and challenges we found. Future research is called for providing guidelines for identifying boundary conditions and potential for further improvement.




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Diagnostic and Functional Dependencies of Credibility




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Understanding the Direction, Magnitude, and Joint Effects of Reputation When Multiple Actors' Reputations Collide

Despite the extensive research into the effects of reputation, virtually all of this research has examined the effect of one type of reputation on one or more specific outcomes. In this study we ask the question: How do the reputations of analysts, CEOs, and firms individually and jointly affect firm outcomes? To answer this question we focus on a context where reputations are particularly relevant - changes in analyst recommendations and the effect of those changes on stock market reactions. Our study makes contributions to the growing reputation literature by being one of the first studies to recognize and measure how the market accounts for multiple reputations. Further, we argue and find that the reputations of different actors interact with each other when determining particular firm outcomes. We find that different actor's reputations influence the reactions of observers.




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Magnification and Correction of the Acolyte Effect: Initial Benefits and Ex Post Settling up in NFL Coaching Careers

What are the long-term consequences of initially beneficial high-reputation workplace ties? Under uncertainty, acolytes (i.e., subordinates with work connections to high-reputation industry leaders) are likely to benefit in terms of signaling fitness for promotion in the external job market. Analysis of promotion outcomes of coaches in the NFL over 31 years showed that the acolyte effect was reduced for individuals for whom uncertainty was the least (acolytes with considerable industry experience or high centrality in the co-worker industry network). There was no support for either a knowledge-transfer or an intrinsic quality explanation for why acolytes initially gained advantage. Rather, the evidence supported the idea that ties to high-reputation leaders were somewhat randomly distributed so that acolytes faced ex post settling up consequences after their promotions: fewer further promotions or lateral moves, more demotions. Thus, acolytes initially benefited from a loose-linkage between their unobservable quality and signals offered by their industry-leader ties, but they also suffered as the unreliability of social network signals became evident. The results suggest that a competitive job market may exhibit self-correction over time. We offer countervailing theory and evidence to the prevailing view that high-reputation third-party endorsements perpetuate a rich-get-richer social structure resistant to performance outcomes.





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wethepeople "Battleship Magnum" BMX Frame


The wethepeople "Battleship Magnum" BMX Frame comes with some new features like the hydroformed top tube and down tube gussets, new shape dropouts for perfect hubguard/peg fit and a short rear for modern techical BMX street riding. The specialty of the wethepeople "Battleship Magnum" BMX Frame is a taller standover with 9.75" and the new hydroformed seat tube, which creates an optimal connection to the bottom bracket housing and also generates more stiffness in the area of the bottom bracket. Furthermore the wethepeople "Battleship Magnum" BMX Frame includes a integrated seat clamp, wider rear triangle for for a 2.5" tire and has now brake hardware holes (brakeless).

  • Wheel Size: 20"
  • Material: 100% 4130 Japanese CrMo, hydroformed top tube and down tube gussets, hydroformed seat tube, butted tubes, integrated headset, integrated seatclamp
  • Geometry:
    Top Tube Length (TT): 20.75", 21.0" or 21.25"
    Chainstay Length (CS): 12.7" (32.26cm) - 13.25" (33.65cm)
    Head Tube Angle (HA): 75.5°
    Seat Tube Angle (SA): 71°
    Bottom Bracket Height: 11.7" (29.72cm)
    Standover Height (SO): 9.75" (24.77cm)
  • Seat Clamp: integrated
  • Seat Post Diameter: 25.4mm
  • Bottom Bracket: Mid BB
  • Dropouts: Laser Cut, 6mm thick, 14mm slots, new shape for perfect hubguard/peg fit
  • Chain Tensioners: without
  • Brake Type: without (brakeless)
  • Brakemounts: without
  • Brakemounts included with delivery: No
  • Gyro compatible: No
  • Features: wide rear end for fat 2.5" tires, hydroformed top and down tube for the strongest possible connection to the headtube, hydroformed seat tube for optimal connection to the bottom bracket shell, taller 127mm extended headtube for less spacers with an uncut fork
  • Model Year: 2021


from 386.51 EUR





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2,179 people diagnosed with coronavirus in Sindh

CM Murad says province's daily testing capacity has been stretched to 12,000




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Kink Champagne BMX Video Premiere Berlin





When: Friday, November 1st 2019 (8 pm)
Where: Bar Deggendorf, Petersburgerstr. 74A, 10249 Berlin

Presented by: Kink & Traffic Distribution

On 01.11.2019 the premiere of the new Kink Champagne BMX video takes place in the bar Deggendorf! The new full-length team video will be released worldwide on DVD & Blu-Ray on November 2nd. Over 2 years of filming, over 20 cities in the US, Australia, Canada and Europe, video parts by kink drivers like Travis Hughes, Agus Gutierrez, Chad Osburn, Calvin Kosovich, Hobie Doan, Dan Coller and Nathan Williams are sure to be guaranteed BMX entertainment!



Feel free to join us!

All the best

Your kunstform BMX Shop Team




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Kink Champagne BMX Video Premiere Stuttgart





When: Friday, November 8th 2019 (8 pm)
Where: kunstform BMX Shop (Stockroom), Rotebühlstr. 63, 70178 Stuttgart

Presented by: Kink & Traffic Distribution

On 08.11.2019 the premiere of the new Kink Champagne BMX video takes place at kunstform BMX Shop Stuttgart! The new full-length team video will be released worldwide on DVD & Blu-Ray on November 2nd. Over 2 years of filming, over 20 cities in the US, Australia, Canada and Europe, video parts by kink drivers like Travis Hughes, Agus Gutierrez, Chad Osburn, Calvin Kosovich, Hobie Doan, Dan Coller and Nathan Williams are sure to be guaranteed BMX entertainment!



Feel free to join us!

All the best

Your kunstform BMX Shop Team




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Fast and Loose "Magnetar" DVD - Now in stock



The Fast and Loose "Magnetar" DVD has finally arrived. This video is already now one of the best that has come out so far and will come out during this year and since we've only got a small amount of them, we recommend you to be fast to grab your copy.




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5.3-magnitude earthquake hits Islamabad, parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

A representational image showing a Richter scale reading. — AFP/File

Quake originated at 10:13am as per Pakistan Meteorological Dept.Epicentre of 220km deep quake located in Hindu Kush region.Hindu Kush area hotspot for seismic activity due to its position.


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Vardis Vardinoyannis, Greek business magnate and Kennedy family friend, dies at 90

Vardis J. Vardinoyannis, a powerful and pivotal figure in Greek shipping and energy who survived a terrorist attack and cultivated close ties with the Kennedy family, died Tuesday in Athens. He was 90.




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Catalogna. Gli indipendentisti ancora in carcere. La Spagna torna al Franchismo?

FARO DI ROMA
10-03-2018

Mario Castellano

 
Le ultime notizie dalla Catalogna riferiscono che neanche la sessione del Parlamento della Generalità programmata per lunedì prossimo eleggerà il nuovo Presidente, destinato a succedere a Puigdemont.

E’ tuttavia importante considerare la candidatura avanzata dalla maggioranza indipendentista: si tratta di Jordi Sanchez, capo di uno dei due movimenti sorti nella società civile che, affiancando i Partiti favorevoli all’autodeterminazione, sono stati protagonisti della mobilitazione popolare culminata nel referendum dello scorso 1 dicembre.

Sanchez si trova in prigione a Madrid, privato della libertà e per giunta deportato in uno Stato straniero che occupa ed opprime il suo Paese.
La sua posizione dal punto di vista penale è inoltre diversa da quella del Presidente Puigdemont, e dei suoi Ministri, sia in esilio, sia incarcerati in Spagna.

Mentre infatti questi ultimi, dal punto di vista delle Autorità di Madrid, avrebbero attentato alla integrità territoriale dello Stato, Sanchez è responsabile soltanto di un delitto di opinione, consistente nell’aver sostenuto il diritto dei Catalani all’autodeterminazione.

Permane dunque, ed anzi si aggrava, la situazione aberrante determinata dall’emissione dei mandati di cattura contro i dirigenti indipendentisti: per la prima volta dopo la Seconda Guerra Mondiale – e per quanto riguarda i Paesi Iberici dopo la fine delle dittature franchista e salazarista tra il 1974 ed il 1975 – in Europa Occidentale vengono private della libertà alcuni cittadini che non hanno commesso nessuna azione violenta, limitandosi a svolgere una attività politica considerata altrove perfettamente legale.

Anche ammesso che l’indizione del referendum, l’accoglimento dei suoi risultati e la proclamazione dell’Indipendenza risultassero degli atti legislativi ed amministrativi illegittimi, ciò non determina di per sé – in un uno Stato di Diritto – alcuna responsabilità penale a carico delle persone fisiche incorporate negli organi di un Ente Pubblico che li hanno adottati.

Per giunta, le Autorità di Madrid ritengono che tali atti non siano annullabili, bensì nulli, in quanto esorbitano – secondo la loro opinione – dall’insieme delle competenze dei soggetti di Diritto Pubblico.

Qui si rivela una contraddizione manifesta nella posizione degli organi dello Stato spagnolo: mentre un atto illegittimo produce i propri effetti fino a quando viene deciso il suo annullamento, un atto nullo non produce – per definizione – nessun effetto giuridico.

E’ naturalmente possibile che l’emanazione di un atto amministrativo determini la consumazione di un reato, ma la violazione della legge penale in tanto sussiste in quanto precisamente la situazione giuridica è stata modificata, il che però non avviene nel caso di un atto nullo.

In conclusione, dunque, delle due l’una: se l’atto emanato dagli organi della Generalità è nullo, non si può configurare nessun reato; se invece sussiste una responsabilità penale, ciò significa che l’atto ha prodotto degli effetti giuridici.

In tal caso, però, l’indipendenza della Catalogna verrebbe paradossalmente riconosciuta dagli organi giurisdizionali dello Stato spagnolo.
Gli indipendentisti di Barcellona sono comunque impegnati con Madrid – come abbiamo già scritto – in un braccio di ferro che durerà molto a lungo, dando luogo ad un contenzioso giuridico che coinvolge altri Stati.

Abbiamo già scritto che la Catalogna ha vinto un’importante battaglia giudiziaria, ingaggiata nel Belgio, dove Puigdemont è riparato con una parte dei suoi Ministri dopo essere stato colpito da un mandato di cattura internazionale emesso dall’Autorità Giudiziaria spagnola.

L’esecuzione di tale atto da parte di uno Stato straniero di tale deve essere decisa dalla sua Autorità Giudiziaria, che deve semplicemente valutare se il reato imputato alla persona colpita dal mandato di cattura è considerato tale anche in base alle proprie norme.

E’ chiaro che a questo punto Puigdemont rischiava di essere estradato, non potendo in alcun caso i Giudici belgi valutare nel merito la sua asserita responsabilità penale.

Gli Avvocati fiamminghi del Presidente della Generalità, i quali non avevano nella vicenda giudiziaria soltanto un interesse professionale, ma erano anche intenzionati ad asserire la piena legalità e la piena legittimità di una eventuale dichiarazione di indipendenza delle Fiandre, hanno compiuto a questo punto una mossa vincente, consistente nel presentare domanda di asilo politico al Belgio.

L’esame di questa istanza non spetta all’Autorità Giudiziaria, bensì agli organi del Potere Esecutivo, benché l’interessato possa impugnare il suo rigetto davanti alla Giurisdizione Amministrativa.

L’asilo politico, in base alle Convenzioni Internazionali sottoscritte dal Belgio, viene concesso anche alle persone ricercate dalla Giustizia del Paese di origine se la loro condanna in sede penale, ovvero il provvedimento restrittivo della libertà personale, risultano determinati anche parzialmente da motivazioni politiche.

Per evitare che le Autorità di Bruxelles accertassero la sussistenza di tale tale situazione, la Spagna ha ritirato il mandato di cattura internazionale, non solo subendo una umiliazione in Europa, ma anche riconoscendo implicitamente che Puigdemont era un perseguitato politico.

Questo riporta il Paese iberico alla condizione in cui si trovava al tempo di Franco, quando era tenuto fuori dalla porta dell’Europa. Il cammino iniziato con la morte del “Caudillo” subisce dunque una regressione preoccupante.

Ora, con la prospettata elezione di Sanchez alla Presidenza della Generalità, i Catalani hanno intrapreso una nuova battaglia giuridica.
Se l’esponente della società civile viene scarcerato, la Spagna ammette implicitamente che egli è un Capo di Stato: ciò non significa di per sé riconoscere l’Indipendenza della Catalogna quale soggetto di Diritto Internazionale, ma si ammette che la Generalità è un soggetto membro di una Confederazione, vale a dire uno Stato.

Ammettendo il principio per cui la Spagna è una Confederazione, affermato dal Re Juan Carlos in moltissimi discorsi ufficiali, si riconosce implicitamente il diritto della Generalità di sciogliere i suoi vincoli con Madrid.

Qualora invece Sanchez fosse trattenuto in prigione, verrebbe impedita la normale attività di un soggetto di Diritto Pubblico, e in tal caso, la Spagna non potrebbe più essere considerata uno Stato di Diritto.

Dal punto di vista politico, si deve riconoscere che i Catalani stanno giocando molto bene la loro partita: in primo luogo, la dichiarazione di sovranità adottata a suo tempo dal Parlamento di Barcellona non è mai stata ritrattata, ed inoltre la Generalità tratta alla pari con la Spagna in qualità di Stato indipendente.

Che cosa succederebbe se il Presidente della Repubblica Italiana fosse trattenuto in prigione a Parigi dalle Autorità francesi?
Come minimo, si aprirebbe un contenzioso internazionale.
Si potrà obiettare che l’Italia è uno Stato indipendente, mentre la Catalogna non lo è ancora, ma è proprio questa la ragione per cui Barcellona sta deliberatamente aggravando il proprio conflitto con Madrid, sapendo che le decisioni assunte dal Belgio hanno già modificato un rapporto di forze destinato comunque ad evolvere ulteriormente.

Nel frattempo, la Generalità continua ad esercitare le competenze legislative ed amministrative che comunque la Spagna le riconosce, affermando però che la dichiarazione di Indipendenza è tuttora pienamente vigente.

Può Madrid impedire questo esercizio della sovranità?
Naturalmente non può farlo, salvo negare la vigenza della propria stessa Costituzione e dello Statuto della Generalità.

Il braccio di ferro è destinato a continuare, e noi continueremo a commentarne i vari episodi dal punto di vista giuridico.
Resta fermo comunque che la Liguria – come ha affermato solennemente con voto unanime il Consiglio Comunale di Genova – sostiene il diritto dei fratelli catalani ad esercitare l’autodeterminazione.