I hate how impressive the wreckage looks. Some of these stumps are visually fascinating; extraterrestrial…

Rise, a high-end web design agency, uses WooCommerce as their go-to eCommerce solution. See how it helped them grow and why they won’t use anything else.

The post Rise Marketing Co: Why WooCommerce Is Our Go-To Solution appeared first on WooCommerce.

In an electric car, the (enormous) battery is a major part of the price. If electric car prices are decreasing, battery costs must be decreasing, because it's not like the cost of fabricating rubber, aluminum, glass, and steel into car shapes can decline that much, right?

On an electric scooter

We recently completed a full rebrand and website design project for Enterprise High School, a charter school located in Clearwater,...continue reading

The internet is an excellent resource for all kinds of information. However, with all of its advantages, there are also some things that you need to pay attention too. Knowing how to secure a website is a must, and anyone with an online identity needs to pay attention to this. As the internet can also […]

By Lauren McCauley Common Dreams Even scientists who question findings say ‘we ignore James Hansen at our peril.’ Dr. James Hansen, the former NASA scientist who is widely credited with being one of the first to raise concerns about human-caused … Continue reading →

Consistency is at the heart of good product design. But consistency is often misinterpreted as making things look or behave the same way. This ignores context and can lead to a foolish consistency. Instead of consistency, designers should adhere to the Principle of Least Surprise.

Technology has changed the way we live. A few decades back, we couldn’t even imagine making a video call to a person sitting in another corner of the world. With every technological advancement, mankind is treading towards greater development. From smart gadgets to machines, every invention has leveraged the human lifestyle.  There’s no doubt in […]

Original post: Best Alexa Skills That Will Actually Surprise You

The post Best Alexa Skills That Will Actually Surprise You appeared first on Daily Blog Tips.

St-Donat, Bas-St-Laurent, Québec

Stockhusen and Tantau (IPEC 2013) defined the operators paraW and paraBeta for parameterised space complexity classes by allowing bounded nondeterminism with multiple read and read-once access, respectively. Using these operators, they obtained characterisations for the complexity of many parameterisations of natural problems on graphs.

In this article, we study the counting versions of such operators and introduce variants based on tail-nondeterminism, paraW[1] and paraBetaTail, in the setting of parameterised logarithmic space. We examine closure properties of the new classes under the central reductions and arithmetic operations. We also identify a wide range of natural complete problems for our classes in the areas of walk counting in digraphs, first-order model-checking and graph-homomorphisms. In doing so, we also see that the closure of #paraBetaTail-L under parameterised logspace parsimonious reductions coincides with #paraBeta-L. We show that the complexity of a parameterised variant of the determinant function is #paraBetaTail-L-hard and can be written as the difference of two functions in #paraBetaTail-L for (0,1)-matrices. Finally, we characterise the new complexity classes in terms of branching programs.

Over the years, performance evaluation has become essential in computer vision, enabling tangible progress in many sub-fields. While talking-head video generation has become an emerging research topic, existing evaluations on this topic present many limitations. For example, most approaches use human subjects (e.g., via Amazon MTurk) to evaluate their research claims directly. This subjective evaluation is cumbersome, unreproducible, and may impend the evolution of new research. In this work, we present a carefully-designed benchmark for evaluating talking-head video generation with standardized dataset pre-processing strategies. As for evaluation, we either propose new metrics or select the most appropriate ones to evaluate results in what we consider as desired properties for a good talking-head video, namely, identity preserving, lip synchronization, high video quality, and natural-spontaneous motion. By conducting a thoughtful analysis across several state-of-the-art talking-head generation approaches, we aim to uncover the merits and drawbacks of current methods and point out promising directions for future work. All the evaluation code is available at: https://github.com/lelechen63/talking-head-generation-survey.

With all due respect to Greta Thunberg and Billie Eilish, nobody had a better 2019 than Baby Yoda. The real star of the Disney+ flagship Star Wars series The Mandalorian, the little green puppeteering/CGI marvel (aka "the Child") might be the most adorable creature ever created.…

Every serious pinball player remembers their first machine.…

Disclosed is a method for preparing optically pure (+)-ambrisentan and (+)-darusentan, comprising: firstly catalyzing the asymmetric epoxidation of a β-unsaturated alkene using a chiral ketone derived from fructose or a hydrate thereof as a catalyst, and then subjecting the product to an epoxy compound ring-opening reaction and substitution reaction successively to obtain optically pure (+)-ambrisentan and (+)-darusentan.

A method of automating the deployment of a number of enterprise applications on one or more computer data processing systems. Each enterprise application or update is stored in a dynamic distribution directory and is provided with identifying indicia, such as stage information, target information, and settings information. When automated enterprise deployment is invoked, computer instructions in a computer readable medium provide for initializing deployment, performing deployment, and finalizing deployment of the enterprise applications or updates.

A method and an apparatus is disclosed that uses a gas lift tubing arrangement to produce synthetic hydrocarbon related products. Using the Fischer Tropsch process as an example, the tubing is packed with a suitable catalyst and then hydrogen and carbon monoxide are injected into the top of the tubing in a fashion similar to a gas lift process. As the gases travel past the catalyst, synthetic hydrocarbons are formed and heat is rejected. The synthetic hydrocarbons and water flow out of the bottom of the tubing and travel up the annulus to the surface. In some embodiments, this process is carried out in a producing well or a in producing riser. In a producing well or a producing riser, the production from the well which flows up the annulus cools the synthetic hydrocarbon derived products. In additional and alternate embodiments, this process can be used in non-flowing wells.

A method and an apparatus is disclosed that uses a gas lift tubing arrangement to produce synthetic hydrocarbon related products. Using the Fischer Tropsch process as an example, the tubing is packed with a suitable catalyst and then hydrogen and carbon monoxide are injected into the top of the tubing in a fashion similar to a gas lift process. As the gases travel past the catalyst, synthetic hydrocarbons are formed and heat is rejected. The synthetic hydrocarbons and water flow out of the bottom of the tubing and travel up the annulus to the surface. In some embodiments, this process is carried out in a producing well or a in producing riser. In a producing well or a producing riser, the production from the well which flows up the annulus cools the synthetic hydrocarbon derived products. In additional and alternate embodiments, this process can be used in non-flowing wells.

Distributed mobile device management including a plurality of management agents is disclosed. Management-related information may be retrieved from a storage location accessible to a plurality of management agents. The management-related information may have been provided to the storage location from a management agent associated with a managed application. And at least one operation may be performed based at least in part on the management-related information.

Provided are a system and method for protecting data in an electronic communications environment. An interested entity establishes one or more controls for a received unit of data. At a source device in the electronic communications network, the unit of data is encapsulated with self-protection security data that includes the one or more controls. The encapsulated unit of data is delivered from the source device to a destination device in the electronic communications network. A data broker facilitates the delivery of the data to the destination device according to the controls. Facilitating the delivery of the data includes: identifying for the receiving device a collection of services corresponding to the controls independently of the network.

A magnetic storage medium is formed of magnetic nanoparticles that are encapsulated within nanotubes (e.g., carbon nanotubes).

A print shop consolidation system including a print shop consolidation management system with an application is provided. The application is used to (1) evaluate, with a set of information, an operational capacity of a first print shop to process both a first group of print jobs and a second group of print jobs, (2) evaluate, with the set of information, an operational capacity of the second print shop to process both the first and second groups of print jobs, and (3) use the evaluations of (1) and (2) to consolidate processing of the first and second groups of print jobs at one of first and second print shops.

A method and apparatus for repairing and/or reinforcing a Boiling Water Reactor (BWR) jet pump riser pipe. The repair includes attaching two collars to the riser pipe using match drilling to drill holes through the collars and the riser pipe and plugging the holes with expandable plugs. Support columns are attached to the collars. Brace supports are slideably attached to the support columns. Gaps between each brace support and its respective collar are then narrowed as ratchet bolts may apply a force that pulls downward on an upper collar and pulls upward on a lower collar, thereby exerting a compression force on the riser pipe. A clamp assembly may also be located between the two collars that applies a hoop force on the riser pipe.

Disclosed is a system for transferring electric energy to a vehicle, in particular to a track bound vehicle such as a light rail vehicle. The system includes an electric conductor arrangement for producing an alternating electromagnetic field and for thereby transferring the energy to the vehicle. The electric conductor arrangement includes at least one alternating current line. Each alternating current line carries one phase of an alternating electric current. The conductor arrangement includes a plurality of consecutive segments. The segments extend along the path of travel of the, vehicle. Each segment includes one section of each of the at least one alternating current line.

A marine riser includes one or more buoyancy modules running along a length of the marine riser, wherein the one or more buoyancy modules are molded such that an umbilical may be secured along a length of the one or more buoyancy modules.

A tensioning apparatus for applying a substantially constant tension to a workover riser (12) includes a first portion (40) adapted to be coupled to a workover riser, a second portion (44) adapted to be coupled to a marine riser (14) and tensioning means (46) for providing relative movement between the first portion and the second portion to, in use, tension the workover riser.

A method and a device for enabling the use of riserless drilling fluid recovery from a seabed-based borehole (1) which is to be drilled by means of a casing (26), the casing (26) being provided with a drill bit (28) at its lower portion and with an inner wellhead (30) at its upper portion, and there being a conductor casing (6), which has an outer wellhead (8), in the seabed (2), the method including: —providing a suction module (12) with a dividable adapter (16) which fits complementarily in the outer wellhead (8); —drilling a length of the borehole (1) by means of the casing (26) extending through the suction module (12), while, at the same time, drilling fluid is flowing via the suction module (12) from the borehole (1); —subsequently pulling the adapter (16) up from the outer wellhead (8) and dividing the adapter (16); and—lowering the casing (26) with the inner wellhead (30) through the suction module (12) and the adapter (16) to its position in the outer wellhead (8).

The present invention relates to a three dimensionally fiber-reinforced riser and to the unitary or single-step methods of making the same. In one embodiment (a cross bow riser for example), the riser has an interior support with opposed side members and a front brace. The front brace has a depression centrally located therein. Two side ribs are also provided for structural support. Two pockets each optionally having a divider wall defining a top and bottom section are provided for receiving respective top and bottom pieces of a split limb, when a split limb is used. The riser can be made of a composite material having fibers aligned there within in the directions of the highest stresses for enhancing the structural strength of the riser. Other bow parts or components can likewise be made via composite material as well.

A protective riser guide for scissors is provided in the present disclosure. In certain embodiments, the protective riser guide is integrally formed with an arm of a pair of scissors. In other embodiments, the protective riser guide is removably attached to the exterior surface of a scissor arm. Preferably, the protective riser guide is in the shape of an arc extending away from the interior surface of the arm if the guide is integrally formed with the arm, or from the exterior surface if the guide is removably attached to the exterior surface. Due to the shape and position of the protective riser guide on the arm of a pair of scissors in certain embodiments, the protective riser guide is ergonomic and increases the safety of the operator of the scissors without interfering with the operator's cutting techniques.

A domestic appliance includes at least one component having a surface that can become laden with organic dirt. The surface includes a photocatalyst and is made from a primary-formed first material in which the photocatalyst is dispersed. A photoradiation source is provided for irradiating the photocatalyst with an activating electromagnetic radiation.

Systems and methods for consistent data generation across an enterprise involves explosion of seed data received in at least one of two or more databases present across the enterprise based on an identified reference data field in the received seed data and a pre-defined pattern. A lightweight map of key-value pairs is created wherein the key is data in the reference data field of at least one data record and the value is a pointer to a transformed value of either the data in the reference data field or at least one data field other than the reference data field, the transformed value being based on the pre-defined pattern. Based on the exploded seed data, the map is continually appended for further data explosion such that consistent data is generated across the enterprise.

A corner block has spaced-apart front and rear sections interconnected by two spaced-apart side sections that jointly define an internal cavity. Upper protrusions are provided on the top face of the block, and inner protrusions are provided inside the cavity at the bottom of the block. The upper and inner protrusions are configured and arranged relative to one another so that when two corner blocks are stacked one atop another with one block rotated 90° relative to the other, the upper protrusions of the lower block interlock with the inner protrusions of the upper block to interlock the two blocks. The corner blocks are constructed in two variants, a corner block A and a corner block B, which are mirror images of each other. The corner blocks A and B are alternately stacked upon one another to construct a 90° corner of a segmental wall structure.

News you don't want to miss for Easter Weekend:

Oakland will temporarily close 74 miles of city streets to automobile traffic in an effort to give ample space for pedestrians, bike riders, and runners during the covid-19 shelter in place, The Guardian reports.…

This is a warning to every UK worker aged 22 or over. You’re about to get a pay rise, but it may cost you, and you may not even be told.

IT’S the “life-saving” organisation that is slowly emerging from the shadows.

A FURTHER four people who have tested positive for coronavirus have died in Hampshire in the last 24 hours.

A FURTHER four people who have tested positive for coronavirus have died in Hampshire in the last 24 hours.

A FURTHER five people across Hampshire have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

A FURTHER two people across Hampshire have died after testing positive for coronavirus.

NINE more people who have tested positive for coronavirus in Hampshire have died in the last 24 hours.

Some of the bills passed by Connecticut lawmakers in committee this week challenge Governor Ned Lamont’s control of state finances, which could lead to testy budget negotiations with the governor in coming days.

Sharon is touched as daughter Kelly Osbourne surprises her with a special Mother's Day gift and the host shows it off to her co-hosts and fans on her TV show 'The Talk'.

Sharon is touched as daughter Kelly Osbourne surprises her with a special Mother's Day gift and the host shows it off to her co-hosts and fans on her TV show 'The Talk'.

Greater visible presence of officers on the streets to reassure the public.

Should private companies be undertaking police work? Dave Woodhall argues not.

Jake Ellenberger, a retired UFC fighter and Marine, joins Joey Diaz and Lee Syatt live in studio. We also have a special visit from Kate Quigley.

This podcast is brought to you by:

City enterprises combine for celebration of brewing.

West Midlands charities receive donations from Mondelēz International.

Airborne bread delivery helps reduce impact on the natural world.

The survey which covered over 1,300 HR professionals across sectors, aimed to understand the impact of the lockdown on the country’s employment scenario. More than 72% hiring managers said companies are devising new job roles that will be limited to remote working only.

The economy has been severely impacted due to the COVID-19 pandemic but the government and policymakers are looking for segments that are in the best position to help revive the economic activity the quickest.