History.

Kerry Airport was incorporated as a public limited company in July 1968, with its main objective of building and managing an airport at Farranfore. Various share capital fundraising programmes were undertaken and, together with great assistance from the various statutory bodies over the years, the airport has developed from a runway of 1,090 metres x 23 metres commissioned in 1969, to a runway of 1,239m x 30m commissioned in 1989, and a new runway of 2,000m x 45m opened in May 1994.  The first aircraft to land at Kerry Airport, on 25 August 1969, was piloted by Captain Milo Carr of the Department of Transport and Power. For a number of years the only aircraft using the aerodrome were light private aircraft and the occasional charter or cargo flight; extensive parachuting also took place. The first scheduled service was inaugurated in July 1979, using an Islander aircraft operated by Aer Arann.  Encouraged by the apparent success of other regional airports in Ireland, the board of directors drew up a development plan to lengthen and widen the runway to 1,200m x 30m and to extend and upgrade the terminal buildings and to install an Instrument Landing System and appropriate lighting.  The runway was completed on schedule; the first scheduled flight into Kerry was on 22 May 1989 from Dublin by Aer Lingus, followed the next day by Ryanair from London-Luton. The contract for the new runway of 2,000m x 45m and the new terminal was signed in May 1993, and the official sod-turning ceremony was performed by Dick Spring TD, the Tánaiste.  The Runway 08/26 was licensed by the Irish Aviation Authority on 20 May 1994, and the first flight landed at 13:23 local time on 20 May. It was a PA28 aircraft registration G-BLSD from Manchester, piloted by C. Gurley. This was followed by the first commercial flight by Aer Lingus, a Saab 340. Its registration was EI-CFD and it was commanded by Captain Peter Heinz.  The airport is a public limited company, but is not quoted on any stock exchange. It had an operating profit of €179,329 in 2009 on a turnover of €6,252,221. This represented a fall of 32% from the previous financial year. The operating profit for the year 2015 was €30,980.  In January 2011, it was announced that 20 of the airport's 65 staff would be made redundant, owing to a fall in passenger numbers following Ryanair's withdrawal from its public service obligation (PSO) contract.  It was announced in February 2012 that, owing to the codeshare agreement with Aer Lingus, the currently operated Dublin service with Aer Arann would be operated from 30 October 2012 under the brand Aer Lingus Regional. Aer Arann was later rebranded as Stobart Air. Passenger numbers on the Dublin route operated by Aer Lingus Regional, increased by 13.5% in 2014.  In February 2017, Ryanair announced they would commence a twice-weekly service to Berlin–Schönefeld from 2 November 2017.

Government support.

The Government of Ireland subvents regional services under a PSO programme. A tender is offered for airlines to provide a minimum level of service in return for subsidy and a monopoly of the route. The tender is published in the "Official Journal of the European Union". Aer Arann were re-awarded the PSO for the 2005 offer programme but in 2008 it was awarded to Ryanair.  In January 2018 Aer Lingus Regional, operated by Stobart Air, following a public tendering process has been awarded with a Public Service Obligation contract, linking the airport with Dublin, for the next four years.

Airlines and destinations.

Passenger.

The following airlines operate scheduled flights to and from Kerry Airport:

Ground transportation.

By Train.

Iarnród Éireann's Farranfore railway station is located to the south with services to, Tralee, Mallow, Cork, Limerick Junction and Dublin Heuston.

By Road.

Kerry Airport is located on the N23 approximately from Limerick and approximately from Cork. Dublin is around away from the airport. The N22 connects Tralee and Killarney where the N23 joins up with. Car Rental services at Kerry Airport are located in the Long Term Car Park, with Avis, Budget, Hertz, Europcar and CARHIRE.ie offering services. Kerry Airport also offers taxis from directly outside the terminal entrance. Simon's Tours also offers taxi services in the area of the airport to the extent of the Northern Ireland border.

By Bus.

An airport bus terminal opened in January 2006.  Bus Éireann services from/to the airport:

Kerry Airport, (, ), often called Farranfore Airport, is an International Airport in Farranfore, County Kerry, Ireland. It is north of the Ring of Kerry, and south-east of the county's capital Tralee. Passenger services are operated by Stobart Air for Aer Lingus Regional, and Ryanair. In 2017 Kerry Airport handled 335,480 passengers an increase of 3% over 2016.


Surrounding land.

Fallen Leaf Lake is located within the National Forest System lands managed by the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit, adjacent to El Dorado County. The land surrounding the lake is privately owned, leased from the U.S. Forest Service, and part of the Lake Tahoe Basin Management Unit. Like some areas where the Forest Service has leased land intermingled with private land, the two land types appear in a mosaic or checkerboard pattern.

Access.

Fallen Leaf Road is approximately 5 miles (8 km) long, and begins at State Route 89, which runs along the south shore of Lake Tahoe. The road intersects the highway approximately half a mile (800 m) west of Camp Richardson, a resort and campground on the southern shore of Lake Tahoe. The road runs generally to the south, is one lane wide and paved, and has turnouts to allow cars to pass each other. The road passes the Fallen Leaf Lake Campground, operated by the Forest Service, and then past privately owned meadows. Two miles south of State Route 89, Angora Road provides access to Angora Lookout, a Forest Service fire lookout on the east side of the lake and approximately 1,000 feet (300 m) above the lake's surface, and to Angora Lakes Resort. It also connects to US 50/SR 89 via Sawmill Road.  Fallen Leaf Road continues south past privately owned homes following the lakeshore. Emigrant Road connects to Fallen Leaf Road approximately three miles from SR 89, and provides access to houses above the lake on the eastern slope. There is little commercial development at the lake other than the tiny Fallen Leaf Marina and Store at the southern extremity of the lake. The road winds around the south end of the lake, past St. Francis of the Mountains, an Episcopalian chapel, and then across a concrete bridge spanning Glen Alpine Creek. Glen Alpine Road begins at the bridge and runs for about two miles southwest to Glen Alpine Springs, one of the trailheads to the Desolation Wilderness Area.  Cathedral Road also intersects State Route 89, and travels south to the houses on the west side of the lake. While it runs to within about three-quarters of a mile (1.2 km) of Fallen Leaf Road, they do not connect. Some of the homes on the west side of the lake have no road access and are accessed on foot or by boat.

Tributaries.

Fallen Leaf Lake is fed almost entirely by Glen Alpine Creek at the south end, which is in turn fed by several lakes in the Desolation Wilderness area including Gilmore Lake, Susie Lake, Heather Lake, and Grass Lake. In the spring, melting snow causes a vigorous flow of cold water into the lake which gradually tapers off during the summer months until the creek flow is greatly reduced in late summer and the fall. Other much smaller creeks and streams feed the lake, including Cathedral Creek, but they are not nearly as important as Glen Alpine Creek.  Taylor Creek is the only outflow, and it is controlled by a long, low concrete dam with an adjustable spillway to control the rate at which the water leaves the lake. This dam is 12 ft high and 265 ft in length. Taylor Creek flows northward, passing under State Route 89, and enters Lake Tahoe at Baldwin Beach.

The lake.

Fallen Leaf is approximately 415 feet (125 m) deep at its deepest point, which is east of the sheer face of Mount Tallac and north of Stanford Sierra Camp. The average depth of the lake is around 240 feet (72 m), and the bottom falls away rapidly as one moves away from the shorelines. Due to the action of the glaciers that carved the lake, the northern end of the lake has a much more gradual depth change, and the bottom can be seen from the surface for a quarter-mile (400 m) offshore. Along other shores, the bottom may be hidden in as little as 100 feet (30 m) offshore.  The water quality is extremely good due to the lack of commercial development (including golf courses and their fertilizer-rich runoff), the universal use of sewers, and modern sediment retention techniques associated with new development. Visibility runs around 40–50 feet (10–15 m) under most conditions. The water is potable, and many homes along the shoreline run a pipe offshore to provide water during the winter when other water systems may be turned off.  The water in the lake is exchanged every eight years, compared to the much deeper, therefore slower, Lake Tahoe, which exchanges every 700 years.  The surface elevation of the lake is 152 feet (46 m) above Lake Tahoe.  Mature conifer trees can be found on the bottom of Fallen Leaf Lake, preserved for some 800 years by the cold water. Some scientists believe that these trees show evidence of a so-called "megadrought" occurring between the 9th and 12th centuries that eliminated or reduced the lake, allowing conifers to grow to maturity. Even older trees have been identified by dendrologists dating to between 18 and 35 centuries ago. A recent expedition by the Undersea Voyager Project concluded that the ancient trees did not grow there during an ancient drought, but rather slid into the lake during one of the many seismic events that have occurred in the Tahoe Basin since it was formed.  After the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency banned two-stroke outboard boat motors in the late 1990s, pollution from these engines was virtually eliminated.

Local terrain.

As the glaciers receded from the Fallen Leaf basin, they left some dramatic rock formations including Cathedral Peak to the west, and the ridge upon which the Angora Lookout is located on the east (now forested). Cathedral Peak () might be better named Cathedral Ridge since, while it appears to be a solitary peak from the vantage point on the lake, it is really the beginning of a ridge that leads in the direction of Gilmore Lake and Mount Tallac. Incidentally, Mount Tallac () is familiar to anyone who was a fan of the television series "Bonanza" as it appeared with its characteristic cross of snow behind the Cartwright family as they rode towards the camera.  Cathedral Peak does not have a trail that leads directly to it, but can be reached by three different approaches. The Middle Trail to Tallac is a trail that begins near Lily Lake and which runs along the northern side of Glen Alpine Valley. It runs up to a junction which splits off to Gilmore Lake and Mount Tallac. Intrepid hikers can set off cross-country in the general direction of Cathedral Peak, about half a mile (800 m) away. Another route is from Gilmore Lake, to the same junction. Finally, the "Lake Trail" begins at the end of Fallen Leaf Road and slowly climbs up to Cathedral Lake and Floating Island Lake, and eventually to the Mount Tallac trail.

Ecology.

Lahontan cutthroat trout ("Oncorhynchus clarkii henshawi") is the only trout species native to Fallen Leaf Lake, Lake Tahoe and the Truckee River Basin but were extirpated by introduction of predatory non-native lake trout ("Salvelinus namaycush"), other competing non-native salmonids, and overfishing. Re-introduction into Fallen Leaf Lake of the Pilot Peak strain of Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT), established as the LCT strain native to the watershed, began in 2006. This strain grows larger than any other LCT subspecies. Although the LCT suffer from heavy predation by lake trout, interbreeding with non-native rainbow trout ("Oncorhynchus mykiss"), and foraging competition with non-native kokanee salmon ("Oncorhynchus nerka"), their population is gradually increasing in the lake.

Water activities.

Most homes that have lake front property have docks and/or boathouses, generally with an older ski boat or a 16–20 feet (5–7 m) sailboat. The marina has room for approximately 60 boats, many of which are owned by property owners without direct access to the water. Wakeboard and waterski boats are the most common, followed by dedicated fishing boats, a few sailboats and pontoon boats, and some manually propelled craft. Kayaking is becoming more popular, as is recreational rowing.  Fishing is popular, if not particularly productive, for brown trout, rainbow trout and lake trout. The Forest Service stocks the lake and Glen Alpine Creek, which improves anglers' odds. The lake has also seen what appears to be a successful reintroduction of the Lahontan cutthroat trout, which were fished to extinction in the Lake Tahoe area in the twenties and thirties.  Sailing is challenging on the lake due to the shifty and gusty winds. The prevailing winds can either be southerlies from Glen Alpine Valley, or northerlies from Lake Tahoe. Sailors must contend with occasionally strong gusts, and the water temperature is not amenable to capsizes.

Fallen Leaf Lake is a mountain lake located in El Dorado County, California, near the California–Nevada state border, about one mile south west of the much larger Lake Tahoe. It is approximately aligned north-to-south and oval in shape, measuring approximately 2.9 miles (4.6 km) on the long axis and 0.9 miles (1.4 km) on the short axis. The lake was created by at least two glaciers that traveled northward down the Glen Alpine Valley. If the glacier had continued instead of stopping, Fallen Leaf Lake would be a bay of Lake Tahoe, similar to nearby Emerald Bay. A terminal moraine is visible at the north end of the lake on the northeast edge.


Club career.

Early years / Braga.

Born in Lisbon, Figueiredo played youth football for three clubs, including local Sporting CP from ages 10–16. In the summer of 2010 he joined S.C. Braga to complete his development, and made his debut as a senior with the latter's reserves, playing his first game in the Segunda Liga on 19 August 2012 in a 0–0 home draw against Associação Naval 1o de Maio (five minutes played).

Boavista.

In the 2013 off-season, Figueiredo dropped down to the third division and signed with Boavista FC. Even though the team finished outside the promotion zone, they were reinstated in the Primeira Liga following the final developments of the "Apito Dourado" affair.  Figueiredo's maiden appearance in the Portuguese top level occurred on 4 January 2015, as he featured the entire 3–1 home win over F.C. Arouca. He scored his first league goal on 16 August of that year, in a 2–2 away draw to Vitória de Setúbal.  During his spell at the "Estádio do Bessa", Figueiredo appeared in 72 matches all competitions comprised.

Rennes.

On 1 July 2016, free agent Figueiredo moved to Stade Rennais F.C. from the French Ligue 1 on a four year-contract. His official debut only arrived on 1 February of the following year, in a 0–4 home loss against Paris Saint-Germain F.C. for the Coupe de France. His first league came took place two months later, when he played roughly 30 minutes as a substitute in a 1–1 draw to Olympique Lyonnais also at the Roazhon Park.  On 30 January 2018, Figueiredo was loaned to PFC Levski Sofia from Bulgaria until the end of the season.

Return to Portugal.

Figueiredo returned to his homeland on 15 June 2018, signing with Rio Ave F.C. for two years. One year later, he agreed to a three-year deal at C.D. Aves also of the top tier.

International career.

Figueiredo played once for the Portugal Olympic team, featuring 30 minutes in a 4–0 friendly win with Mexico in the Azores on 28 March 2016. He was not, however, selected for Rui Jorge's squad for the Olympic tournament held that year.

Afonso Mendes Ribeiro de Figueiredo (born 6 January 1993) is a Portuguese footballer who plays for C.D. Aves as a left back.


Inscription.

<poem>  </poem>  The second to last stanza was intended to be taken from "Elegy to the Memory of an Unfortunate Lady" by Alexander Pope though there are some differences.

Accounts and speculation.

Early accounts.

In May 1833, a poem regarding a visit to the grave of the Female Stranger was composed for the "Alexandria Gazette", and published almost a year later, in March 1834. This was at first submitted under the initials S.D. and was later found to be the work of poet Susan Rigby Dallam Morgan of Baltimore, Maryland when her husband Rev. Lyttleton Morgan published his wife's poems posthumously.  The earliest appeal to the national audience was in 1836, when columnist "Lucy Seymour" of Maryland recorded the account in "The Philadelphia Saturday Courier". Lucy Seymour was the pen name of Susan Rigby Dallam Morgan.  In Seymour's account, the Stranger had been a young, foreign woman with a tearful face and a pale complexion. The woman also seemed ill and troubled. The Stranger's male companion appeared inauthentic to the locals as her husband. True to form, the man quickly left after the Stranger was buried. The only person that the Stranger confided in was a local pastor.  Seymour's sources are not explicitly named. She implies that she took interest in the cemetery first and then began to ask questions about the interesting gravesite. This pattern of discovery closely mirrors her earlier poem. Furthermore, Seymour speculates that the tombstone inscription was written in a manner "strangely calculated to awaken interest and elicit sympathy."  In September 1848, the "Alexandria Gazette" published a response to an article about the Female Stranger written in the "Baltimore Sun". The "Alexandria Gazette" writer states that the woman who arrived was indeed a beautiful woman of a pale complexion and further elaborates on her grace and the admiration of those around her. The author adds that the man's surname was "Clermont," and that after his sudden departure, it was revealed that the $1500 in English currency he had used to pay his bills was counterfeit. Lawrence Hill, one of the men to whom the money was owed, purportedly confronted Clermont sometime later at Sing Sing prison.  Lawrence Hill was indeed a businessman living in Alexandria at the time. He sold his house in Alexandria in 1830, and moved to New York. He died of cholera in New York in the spring of 1849.

Later accounts.

Since the 1880s there has been speculation that the woman may have been Theodosia Burr Alston, the daughter of Aaron Burr who was lost at sea. However, this idea seems contrived and the dates given for Theodosia and the Stranger are not consistent.  In September 1886, the "Hyde Park Herald" published Frank George Carpenter's piece about Alexandria, Virginia, including a section about the Female Stranger. This telling includes a doctor sworn to secrecy, two French maids, and a reclusive English husband who would not allow anyone to see his wife's face or attend her funeral. The author touches on how Alexandria was a wealthy trading port at the time, and it would not be odd for foreign diplomats to land there. In addition, perhaps the wife had another jealous lover, or she was a famous American such as Theodosia Burr Alston.  By 1887, Col. Fred D Massey of Alexandria wrote to the "Cincinnati Commercial Gazette" (which was later published nationally) that while the legend is well spread, it has only helped to further tangle the story and add to the confusion. The author's version of the story was that a noble couple, seemingly English, arrived by ship with a valet. The wife was a voluptuous blonde with large eyes and a small mouth. She became ill in Alexandria while the couple lived at the "leading hotel" at the time.  The husband, valet and doctor were the only ones to see her during the illness. She died in her husband's arms locked in a kiss. Further, only the husband and the valet were present at the burial. The husband left by ship, and was later reported to have been seen in New Orleans. He is rumored to have returned to Alexandria in the dead of night with a crew of seamen and exhumed the body, taking it with him.  The "Times-Picayune of New Orleans" rather boldly published in January 1893, that the grave was Theodosia Burr Alston's and that her husband, Governor Alston (misspelled as Ashton), was seen visiting the grave approximately seventy years prior to the article.  In the 1890s, the concept of the couple being star-crossed lovers was first introduced. In May 1898, the "Washington Evening Star" reported that two elderly people visited the grave and told church superintendent Webb that the female stranger was a "connection" of theirs, an English noblewoman who ran away with a British officer for love. They also said that they would visit again with more details, but never returned.  Many subsequent accounts have included all or most of these elements. There is also an addition of two local women, also sworn to secrecy, helping the Stranger during her illness.

Modern retelling.

The most modern retelling of the story is recorded perhaps as early as 1913, and is quite elaborate given that it was published nearly one hundred years after the Stranger had died. A large spread, including a dramatic illustration, was featured in the "Ladies' Home Journal" for January 1913. It tells of the brig "Four Sons" en route from Halifax, Nova Scotia, to the West Indies diverting her course for the Potomac River and letting off a small lifeboat carrying a man and a woman. A sick woman covered in a black veil was lifted out of the boat and carried to "Bunch-of-Grapes Tavern" (a misnomer for Gadsby's Tavern, due to the image on the establishment's sign). The man, assumed to be the husband, found the best room at the tavern and sent for the doctor. The doctor was sworn to secrecy, and the woman's face remained covered. Two women staying at the hotel were also sworn to secrecy and helped to nurse the sick woman.  The husband alone witnessed the death, prepared the body for burial, and sealed the coffin. He disappeared, but returned every fall to put flowers on the grave. At some point, the grave fell into disrepair and three elderly people appeared at the site. When questioned by the church sexton, they revealed that they were relatives of the woman, and that she had married a British officer.  Another account stipulated that the woman was indeed Theodosia Burr Alston and the supposed husband was a pirate. Another theory suggests that the woman was Sarah Curran, fiancée of Irish Revolutionist Robert Emmet, who may have been forced to marry a British naval officer. However, the unknown author further acknowledges that this is "pure speculation."  "The Female Stranger: An Archibald Mercer Mystery" examines the story of the Female Stranger and goes with the theory of the Female's identity being that of Theodosia Burr Alston. The story also explains how the legend was created in order to protect her identity and misdirect anyone who tried to come after her. This story also looks into the death of Theodosia, namely due to the uncertainty as to how she died. While history does record her death being from a ship disaster, there is some speculation she may have been killed during a pirate raid on the ship she was sailing on.

DNA evidence.

It has been pondered in recent years whether or not the remains, if any exist, should be exhumed and tested. The grave is well-maintained for visitors, and while there was a dip when the casket eroded, there has never been any solid evidence of anyone tampering with the remains. The only changes to the grave have been the removal of the iron fence and the surrounding trees.

The Grave of the Female Stranger is a famous historical oddity as well as a local landmark and visitor's attraction in St. Paul's Cemetery of the St Paul's Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia.


Background.

Born in Jasin, Malacca in 1961, Liow had ambitions of being a doctor but graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Nutrition) from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) instead. He later obtained his MBA from the University of Malaya.  He is married to Datin Sri Lee Sun Loo and has three children. He is a strong advocate of healthy eating, especially eating organic food.

Political career.

Liow officially joined the Malaysian Chinese Association in 1981. Soon after graduating from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia in 1986, he joined MCA as a research assistant with a monthly salary of RM700. He became press secretary and later political secretary to MCA deputy president Lim Ah Lek from 1989 to 1999. After two decades of steady rise in the party, he was elected as MCA Youth Chief in 2005 and was elected as a Vice-President in 2008.  Liow was first elected as Member of Parliament for Bentong in 1999. In 2006, he was appointed as Deputy Minister of Youth and Sports in a Cabinet reshuffle. Following the 2008 general elections, Liow became Minister of Health under Prime Minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi. He remained in this position after Najib Tun Razak assumed the premiership in April 2009.

Call for Second Deputy Prime Minister.

In October 2008, Liow, who was the outgoing National Youth Chief of the MCA, raised the prospect of a second Deputy Chairman of Barisan Nasional to be appointed from among its component parties. The call was made at the MCA's internal party elections. As the Deputy Chairman of Barisan Nasional would be appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, it would mean creating a second Deputy Prime Minister position. Observers felt that Liow's proposal was simply a gimmick for him to win the internal MCA party elections.  While MCA accepted UMNO's leadership of the Barisan Nasional coalition, MCA felt that its seniority in the coalition should be reflected through a second Deputy Chairman's position that would be filled by the MCA. Liow said, "MCA is the second largest component party. The proposed deputy president should be represented by the MCA."  Various MCA leaders backed Liow's proposal. Wee Ka Siong, the incoming MCA youth chief, said: "It (Barisan top leadership) must be well represented. We don’t want to see any kind of perception that Barisan is nominated by one or two parties. We don’t want to paint a picture where Barisan is dominated by one party and its decisions are accepted by the rest." Chan Kong Choy, MCA's deputy president, said: "The history in Barisan Nasional shows that there is no hard and fast rule that only the senior leaders of any party can automatically assume the positions in the coalition. Tun (then Tan Sri) Michael Chen (a former MCA deputy president) was the Barisan Nasional secretary-general in 1974."  In response to Liow's call, then Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said, "The present Barisan setup is still workable. There is a history behind why the Barisan chairman is the Prime Minister and the deputy chairman is the Deputy Prime Minister and all the heads of the component parties become vice-chairmen. Since 1974 when Barisan was formed, it has been working very well. I don't think it is correct to say you cannot express your views because your post is only a vice-chairman. Sometimes you come and don't say anything at all, then even if you become deputy, it's useless."  Liow had planned to raise the issue at the Barisan Nasional level after the MCA had approved it. After winning his internal party elections, Liow, who had become the new MCA Vice-President, said: "One step at a time. Let us reform Barisan first. We reform Barisan, (and only) then we will reform the government."

2009 MCA crisis.

From late 2009 to early 2010, Liow became embroiled in a leadership crisis in MCA, vocally opposing the "Greater Unity Plan", a temporary political alliance between the factions aligned to president Ong Tee Keat and deputy president Chua Soi Lek. Liow led a third faction pushing for new elections, but was unable to persuade two-thirds of the central committee to resign, which would have triggered an election under the party constitution.  The crisis came to a close after Chua resigned on 4 March 2010. The subsequent election saw Chua being elected president, while Liow defeated Kong Cho Ha in the contest for deputy president.

MCA presidency.

In the 2013 general election, MCA suffered its worst electoral result in its history. Liow himself barely survived in his own parliamentary seat, winning by a majority of only 379 votes. MCA had previously passed a resolution not to take up cabinet posts in the government if it failed in the 13th general election. As a result of its poor performance, Chua announced that MCA would not take up its allotted cabinet posts, and Liow therefore was not appointed to a cabinet position.  In the following party poll for the presidency, Chua did not enter the contest, and Liow defeated Ong Tee Keat and Gan Ping Sieu, and was thus elected President of MCA on 21 December 2013. Shortly after Liow was elected, the MCA convened an extraordinary meeting to reverse several resolutions, including the resolution that stipulated that MCA members should not serve in federal and state governments.  The cabinet was reshuffled on 25 June 2014, and Liow was appointed as Minister of Transport in the aftermath of the MH370 incident. He was sworn in as Minister of Transport by Yang Di-Pertuan Agong on 27 June 2014.  In the aftermath of MCA's poor showing and Barisan Nasional's defeat in the 2018 general election, Liow announced that he will not stand for re-election in the next party elections. He is eventually succeeded by Wee Ka Siong.

Other appearances.

In 2009, Liow made a special appearance playing himself in a short film ""Healthy Paranoia"" of the 15Malaysia project commemorating Malaysia's independence.  In a six minute-long short video released in conjunction with the 2017 National Day celebrations entitled ""Citizens"" (), co-written and co-directed by Pete Teo and Liew Seng Tat, Liow played double roles as a minister and a citizen conversing to each other on the spirit of nation building.

External links.

Dato' Sri Liow Tiong Lai (; born 13 October 1961) is a Malaysian politician who had served in the Cabinet of Malaysia as Minister of Transport from 27 June 2014 to 10 May 2018. Previously he was Minister of Health from 18 March 2008 to 5 May 2013. He was President of the Malaysian Chinese Association (MCA), a major component party of the Barisan Nasional (BN) previous ruling coalition, from 2013 to 2018, and was the Member of Parliament for Bentong, Pahang, from 1999 to 2018.


Review.

August.

Arsenal began their season with the Community Shield against local rival side Chelsea. The Gunners won the match 1–0, following a goal by Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who scored via a drive into the top corner. The trophy was Arsène Wenger's 15th in 18 years of being in charge of Arsenal, and presented Wenger with his first win against a side managed by José Mourinho after 13 attempts. Soon after, Arsenal began their 24th Premier League season at home to West Ham United, and inspired by the signing of goalkeeper Petr Čech, many believed Arsenal to be title contenders for the first time in 11 years. The club's solid pre-season form, however, fizzled out as they failed to win in their first two home games, with a 2–0 defeat to West Ham on the opening weekend, leaving them third-bottom, and a goalless draw with Liverpool, although Aaron Ramsey was falsely ruled offside for an early goal. With two tight wins at Crystal Palace and Newcastle United, Arsenal went into September with seven points. Arsenal did not make additional signings after Čech, leaving manager Wenger to come under fire from fans and critics.

September.

Arsenal started September with a nervy 2–0 win over Stoke City at the Emirates, with Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud scoring. Between the Stoke clash and a trip to struggling champions Chelsea, Arsenal faced Dinamo Zagreb away in the Champions League. Despite appearing the stronger side, Arsenal slumped to a shock 2–1 defeat, with under-performing striker Giroud being sent off for two yellow cards. The week got worse as Arsenal lost 2–0 at Stamford Bridge, with Santi Cazorla (two yellows) and Gabriel being sent off, the latter incorrectly shown red by Mike Dean for a clash with Diego Costa in which the latter assaulted Laurent Koscielny. Gabriel's ban was reduced from three games to one, but Gabriel, Costa, Chelsea and Arsenal were all fined for player misconduct, with Costa suspended for three games. With the Chelsea incident resolved, Arsenal faced a tough League Cup tie with North London arch-rival club Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane. Mathieu Flamini became an unsung hero with a brace, the second of which was a volley from 20 yards, both goals on the other side of a Calum Chambers own goal. Arsenal, full of confidence after eliminating their rivals, visited the only unbeaten team in the league at the time, Leicester City, who were one point and one place above Arsenal. Despite a brace from Jamie Vardy, Walcott and Giroud scored either side of three goals from Sánchez, who ended a run of seven games without a goal. Arsenal ended their month on a sour note, however, as errors from second-choice goalkeeper David Ospina saw Arsenal lose 3–2 to Olympiacos at home in the Champions League, meaning they were bottom of their group with successive games against in-form Bayern Munich coming up.

October.

Arsenal started October on a high, as three early goals—two from Alexis Sánchez and one from Mesut Özil—at the Emirates saw Arsenal breeze past Manchester United to leapfrog them into second place in the league table, behind Manchester City. Arsenal travelled to Vicarage Road two weeks later to play Watford, where goals from Sánchez, Aaron Ramsey and Olivier Giroud saw Arsenal claim another 3–0 win. Arsenal hosted German heavyweights Bayern Munich in an attempt to turn around their Champions League. Despite the German team losing only once all season, Arsenal claimed a shock 2–0 win, with Giroud and Özil scoring late in the second half. Giroud's return to form saw him return to the starting lineup ahead of Theo Walcott. Giroud thanked Wenger by inspiring the Gunners to a 2–1 win over Everton at the Emirates. Arsenal's only loss in October came between the Everton win and a 3–0 victory over Swansea City, courtesy of goals from Giroud, Laurent Koscielny and Joel Campbell, when they were stunned by Championship side Sheffield Wednesday, going out of the League Cup in a 3–0 defeat that saw Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain off injured, with goals from Ross Wallace, Lucas João and Sam Hutchinson.

November.

Arsenal were humiliated at the Allianz Arena to start November, with Bayern Munich cruising to a 5–1 win, putting Arsenal's Champions League progression in doubt. Arsenal hosted rivals Tottenham on the Sunday that followed, but with stars Héctor Bellerín, Theo Walcott, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain on a list of ten injured Arsenal players, the Gunners had to struggle for a 1–1 draw. November only got worse for Arsenal, with Francis Coquelin looking at three months out, Mikel Arteta facing several weeks out after both were injured in a 2–1 defeat at West Bromwich Albion, with Santi Cazorla missing a vital penalty late on. Arsenal's Champions League form bounced back, with an Alexis Sánchez brace giving Arsenal a 3–0 win over Dinamo Zagreb at the Emirates. With Olympiacos thrashed by Bayern, Arsenal would need a two-goal cushion or a 3–2 or higher victory in Athens to progress. Arsenal's horrid month ended with more misery, with Sánchez and Cazorla both suffering injuries in a 1–1 draw with Norwich City, with Cazorla's keeping him out for three months. Oxlade-Chamberlain, Ramsey and Walcott, however, all returned at the end of the month, with the crucial Olympiacos game and a match with Premier League title contenders Manchester City coming up.

December.

Arsenal returned to form in December, starting with a 3–1 win over Sunderland, with Joel Campbell and Aaron Ramsey scoring either side of goals at either end from Olivier Giroud. Arsenal then traveled to Olympiacos, where they had failed to win in their last three games, with their last win in Greece coming in 1998. Fears were erased by a Giroud hat-trick, putting Arsenal through and demoting Olympiacos into the Europa League, only for Arsenal to draw holders Barcelona, who had knocked Arsenal out in the 2010 quarter finals and in 2011 at the same stage. The Spanish side also beat the Gunners in the 2006 final. Arsenal recorded successive victories before Christmas, winning 2–0 at Aston Villa, before a 2–1 home win over Manchester City. As things were looking up, a Boxing Day defeat at Liverpool saw surprise leaders Leicester loosen their grip on first, giving Arsenal a chance to go top with a win against Southampton, but a Shane Long brace saw Arsenal thrashed 4–0. Despite this, Arsenal still finished 2015 top of the Premier League, after a 2–0 win against AFC Bournemouth was enough to keep Arsenal ahead of Leicester on goal difference, who drew 0–0 with Manchester City in their final game of 2015.

January.

Arsenal started 2016 with an unconvincing 1–0 win over relegation scrappers Newcastle, courtesy of a late Laurent Koscielny goal. Arsenal kicked off their FA Cup defence against Sunderland at the Emirates. Their 3–1 win mirrored the clash in December, with Joel Campbell, Olivier Giroud and Aaron Ramsey scoring Arsenal's goals in identical fashion to the league tie, despite an early Jeremain Lens goal. This was followed by two away league fixtures at Liverpool and Stoke; the former was a 3–3 draw with Giroud scoring a brace and Ramsey finding the net for Arsenal, whereas the latter finished scoreless. On 24 January, Arsenal hosted local rivals Chelsea and were defeated 1-0 after Per Mertesacker was sent off. This meant they had failed to win a league game against Chelsea for the ninth league meeting in a row, and it was the sixth consecutive time they had failed to score in the fixture. Six days later, Arsenal advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup, with Calum Chambers and Alexis Sánchez scoring in a 2–1 defeat of Championship side Burnley at home. Arsenal made one signing in January, Basel's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny completed a £5 million move.

February.

In the beginning of February, Arsenal failed to score for the third consecutive league match, playing Southampton to a stalemate at the Emirates. Mesut Özil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain led Arsenal back to winning ways with a 2–0 away victory at AFC Bournemouth. Arsenal then won a dramatic top of the table clash with league leaders Leicester, coming back after a Jamie Vardy penalty to win 2–1 at home, with late goals from Theo Walcott and Danny Welbeck, reducing the gap between Arsenal and Leicester in second and first to two points. Despite a dominant performance at home, Arsenal were held to a 0–0 draw by Hull City in the fifth round of the FA Cup. Arsenal subsequently returned to Champions League action by hosting title holders Barcelona. A Lionel Messi brace condemned Arsenal to a 2–0 defeat. Arsenal ended February with an away game at Manchester United, with goals from Welbeck and Özil not enough to avoid a 3–2 defeat.

March.

Arsenal started March suffering a third consecutive loss at the hands of Swansea at home; Joel Campbell's goal was cancelled out and the match finished 2–1 to Swansea. Arsenal then visited local rivals Tottenham in a make-or-break clash, as defeat would put Arsenal six points off their rivals, above Arsenal in second. Aaron Ramsey gave Arsenal a crucial lead, but a Francis Coquelin sending off for two yellow cards turned the game on its head. Toby Alderweireld and Harry Kane struck back to put Spurs ahead, but Alexis Sánchez helped the team rescue a point with a late goal, with the match finishing 2–2. Olivier Giroud and Theo Walcott scored two goals each against Hull City in the FA Cup fifth round replay to reach the quarter finals, but Arsenal went out after a 2–1 home defeat to Watford, with Danny Welbeck scoring the lone goal for the team as Arsenal's defence ended, after winning the previous two titles. Arsenal went out of their second cup competition just days later, being condemned a sixth-straight last-16 elimination from the Champions League with a 3–1 away loss to Barcelona, Mohamed Elneny's first Arsenal goal proving a mere consolation. One promising note from the defeat was the performance of Nigerian youngster Alex Iwobi, and he was rewarded with his second Premier League start against Everton at the end of March. His first club goal, and a fourth goal in nine games since return for Danny Welbeck, saw Arsenal win 2–0.

April.

Arsenal got off to a flying start in the penultimate month of the season; goals from Alexis Sánchez, Héctor Bellerín and Theo Walcott, as well as a second Premier League goal on a second start for Alex Iwobi, saw Arsenal crush Watford 4–0 at Emirates Stadium. The result kept Arsenal firmly in the title race ahead of a crucial clash at sixth-placed West Ham the following weekend, having lost the reverse tie on opening day. The result saw praise for Iwobi, who was referred to as "the next Ian Wright" by Garth Crooks. Arsenal visited West Ham the following matchday, where they blew away a 2–0 lead to draw 3–3. Sánchez, Özil and Koscielny scored. Arsenal's title hopes suffered a big blow when they were held 1–1 at home by Crystal Palace despite dominating the match, with Sánchez scoring for the team. Arsenal hosted and defeated West Brom 2–0, courtesy of a brace from Sánchez. Arsenal's chances of ending a 12-year Premier League title drought became mathematically impossible after a 0–0 away draw at Sunderland, which left them 12 points behind leaders Leicester with only three matches to play. Arsenal ended April with a 1–0 win over Norwich at Emirates Stadium, with Danny Welbeck scoring the solitary goal.

May.

After Manchester City were defeated by Southampton, Arsenal stayed in third ahead of a clash with fourth placed City. Arsenal came from behind twice to recover a 2–2 draw. Olivier Giroud ended a 15-game goal drought dating back to January with the first, while Alexis Sánchez added his seventh goal in nine games for Arsenal's second. The draw failed to secure Champions League football for 2016–17, but after Manchester United lost 3–2 to West Ham two days later secured at least a place in the qualification round. Arsenal needed a point against Aston Villa to secure automatic qualification and third place. Arsenal would have to hope a win and a shock victory by already-relegated Newcastle against Tottenham for Arsenal to pip their rivals to second. Newcastle did the impossible with a 5–1 rout of Spurs, and an Olivier Giroud hat-trick powered Arsenal to a 4–0 win over Villa. Captain Mikel Arteta, who came on as a substitute in what was his final appearance before retirement, forced an own goal by shooting in off the bar and Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn. Arteta was given a standing ovation, while second-longest-serving player Tomáš Rosický received a guard of honour, with the club confirming both would leave at the expiration of their contracts.

Players.

Transfers.

Transfers in.

Total spending: Undisclosed

Transfers out.

Total incoming: Undisclosed

Overall transfer activity.

Spending  Summer: Undisclosed  Winter: Undisclosed  Total: Undisclosed  Income  Summer: Undisclosed  Winter: Undisclosed  Total: Undisclosed  Net expenditure  Summer: Undisclosed  Winter: Undisclosed  Total: Undisclosed

Club.

Kit.

Supplier: Puma / Sponsor: Fly Emirates

Kit information.

This is Puma's second year supplying Arsenal kit, having taken over from Nike at the beginning of the 2014–15 season.

Squad statistics.

Appearances and goals.

"Numbers in parentheses denote appearances as substitute. Players with number struck through and marked left the club during the playing season."

Pre-season.

Arsenal started the 2015–16 season retaining Puma as their kit supplier and Emirates as their shirt sponsor. In July, they went on a preseason tour to Asia. During this, they participated in the Premier League Asia Trophy in Singapore along with fellow Premier League sides Everton and Stoke City as well as a Singapore Selection XI. Following this tournament, Arsenal will then play in their traditional yearly Emirates Cup tournament at the Emirates Stadium, with Lyon, Villarreal and VfL Wolfsburg also participating. The match against Wolfsburg marked the return of former Arsenal striker Nicklas Bendtner, who made his first return to the Emirates Stadium with Wolfsburg.

The 2015–16 season was Arsenal's 24th season in the Premier League and 96th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club entered the season as the FA Cup holders, and participated in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, Community Shield and the UEFA Champions League. Arsenal were favourites to get their first league title since 2004, having been league-leaders towards the New Year, but a loss of form which included successive defeats to Manchester United and Swansea City saw them lose ground on eventual winners Leicester City, although they recovered to get 2nd, their highest finish in 11 years. Arsenal's attempt of winning a third consecutive FA Cup was unsuccessful, losing to Watford at the quarter-final stage, as well as exiting in the League Cup fourth round to Sheffield Wednesday. In Europe, Arsenal recovered from a poor start to qualify for the knockout-stages, but they were defeated in both legs against Barcelona. The season covers the period from 1 July 2015 to 30 June 2016.


Career.

Ellington attended Oak Hall School in Gainesville, Florida. He had committed to attend Florida State University on a scholarship to play college baseball for the Florida State Seminoles. He underwent Tommy John surgery in September 2007, and decommitted from Florida State due to differences of opinion on how he should rehabilitate his arm after the surgery. He enrolled at Chipola College and transferred to Florida State College at Jacksonville, before finishing his collegiate career at the University of West Florida.

Miami Marlins.

The Miami Marlins selected him in the 16th round of the 2012 MLB draft. Ellington played for the Jupiter Hammerheads of the Class A-Advanced Florida State League in 2014. After the regular season, he was assigned to the Salt River Rafters Arizona Fall League (AFL), and appeared in the AFL Fall Stars Game.  In 2015, Ellington played for the Jacksonville Suns of the Double-A Southern League. The Marlins promoted Ellington to the major leagues on August 3, 2015. He made his major league debut that night. During the 2015 through 2017 seasons, Ellington appeared in 97 games with Miami, pitching to a record of 7–4 with a 4.65 earned run average (ERA) and 98 strikeouts in innings pitched. Ellington was designated for assignment on April 1, 2018. He was released by the Marlins on April 6.

Arizona Diamondbacks.

On April 20, 2018, Ellington signed a minor league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. After appearing in 15 minor league games, he was released on July 28, 2018.

Boston Red Sox.

On February 1, 2019, Ellington signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. He began the seasons with the Double-A Portland Sea Dogs, and was promoted to the Triple-A Pawtucket Red Sox in early June. He was released on June 26, 2019.

Kansas City T-Bones.

On July 3, 2019, Ellington signed with the Kansas City T-Bones of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

Seattle Mariners.

On July 31, 2019, Ellington's contract was purchased by the Seattle Mariners. He became a free agent following the 2019 season.

Toros de Tijuana.

On February 3, 2020, Ellington signed with the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League.

International career.

Ellington was chosen to play for the United States national baseball team in the 2015 Pan American Games.

Brian Michael Ellington (born August 4, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Toros de Tijuana of the Mexican League. He has previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Miami Marlins. Listed at and, he throws and bats right-handed.


History.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences was formed as the result of a merger of 14 smaller institutions of higher professional education on 1 September 1987. Technische Hogeschool Rijswijk (TH Rijswijk) later merged with the institution in 2003 and was relocated to the Delft campus in 2009. The main campus in The Hague was finished in 1996. The 82,000 square metre site was designed by architects Atelier Pro and took from 1990 to 1996 to complete. The campus is designed with several teaching wings with classrooms and laboratories spanning out from an oval shape atrium.

Campuses.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences is divided into four campuses. The main campus is located in The Hague with satellite campuses in Delft, Laan van Poot and Zoetermeer. A new sports orientated campus, Zuiderpark Sports Campus, has opened in 2016 on the old site of ADO Den Haag football stadium in The Hague.

Laakhaven.

The main campus building was completed in 1996 and is located on Johanna Westerdijkplein in The Hague next to Hollands Spoor railway station and the Laakhaven Canal. The design includes the central glass atrium main hall, offices, laboratories and classrooms. The main campus also includes offices central to the university's administration such as the Enrolment Centre which processes applications, registrations and tuition fees, the International Office which takes care of all non-academic student matters relating to English courses, exchanges and internships and the Student Affairs Office which looks after student welfare.  The Central Library stores magazines, dissertations and electronic data resources and has 400 study areas, many with PCs and Internet connections. Other facilities include a fitness centre and sports hall, a central ICT service desk providing scanning, printing and audio-visual equipment, a health centre, a main restaurant and several departmental cafés serving snacks.

Delft.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences’ building on the Delft University of Technology campus opened in 2009. The Delft campus, venue for the Technology, Innovation and Society Academy, offers seven degrees taught in Dutch including Mathematics and Applications, Electrical Engineering, Project Leader in Engineering (associate degree), Industrial Engineering and Management, Computer Engineering, Engineering Physics, Mechanical Engineering and Mechatronics.

Laan van Poot.

The Laan van Poot Campus, home of the Sport Studies Academy, is located in the Vogelwijk district of The Hague known for its access to North Sea beaches and sand dunes. Two bachelor's degrees are taught here including the Physical Education Teacher Training Programme (known as HALO) and Sport Management.  A new sports and education complex, the Zuiderpark Sports Campus, is scheduled to open in 2016 at Zuiderpark on the site of the old ADO Den Haag football stadium. The complex is a joint venture between The Hague University of Applied Sciences, the municipality of The Hague and Vestia housing association. The Hague University of Applied Sciences' Physical Education Teacher Training (HALO) and Sport Management bachelor's degrees will be taught here as well as the senior secondary vocational level (MBO) Sport and Exercise course offered by the ROC Mondriaan Regional Training Centre. The complex will also include a sports hall, gymnasia, a ballroom and beach volleyball facilities.

Zoetermeer.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences established its Faculty of IT & Design in Zoetermeer, a city in the western Netherlands close to The Hague in 2003, tapping into the city's business community. In 2013 the faculty moved to the Dutch Innovation Factory, which is part of the Dutch Tech Campus. Three bachelor's degrees are taught here in Dutch: Computer Engineering, Business IT and Management and Information Security Management. The Information Security Management (ISM) program was established in 2008 in cooperation with the Platform for InformatieBeveiliging (PvIB) and the lectorate for Cyber Security & Safety. It was the first bachelor program in The Netherlands to focus on the management of information security.

Organisation and administration.

An executive board and a supervisory board govern The Hague University of Applied Sciences. The executive board is supported by service departments and an executive office support. Study programmes are grouped within academies, which are led by directors. The university also runs several research groups.  There are two types of universities in Dutch higher education: traditional research universities and universities of applied sciences. The Hague University of Applied Sciences falls under the latter category. Research universities are mainly responsible for offering research-oriented courses, whereas universities of applied sciences offer courses that focus on the practical application of arts and sciences with a focus on training and career preparation.  As of 31 December 2012, The Hague University of Applied Sciences employed a workforce of over 1,932 people, of which 65 per cent are employed as educators and 35 per cent in supporting services. The number of staff members has increased in proportion to the growing number of students. Since 2011 there has been an increase of 63 staff members.  Of the teaching staff, 73.7 per cent have a master's degree and five per cent have a PhD. In 2009, The Hague University of Applied Sciences introduced a policy whereby lecturers are only granted a permanent contract if they have a master's degree and have acquired extra skills on top of a basic teaching qualification.  The Hague University of Applied Sciences operates an 'internationalisation' policy to ensure that students obtain international competencies during their studies. Courses are structured to ensure that students can spend time abroad for studies, attend internships or summer school and take courses in a culturally diverse classroom taught by international guest lecturers.  The Hague University of Applied Sciences runs student exchange programmes in collaboration with around 300 international partners.

Faculties.

The Dutch higher education system allows students to obtain a bachelor's degree on successful completion of an undergraduate phase, and a master's degree after passing the graduate phase. Bachelor's degrees at The Hague University of Applied Sciences take three or four years of full-time study and require 240 European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits. One ECTS credit represents 28 hours of full-time study and the study/work load for one academic year accounts for 60 credits.  The Accreditation Organisation of the Netherlands and Flanders (NVAO) validates study programmes offered by Dutch universities. All international bachelors and masters programmes offered by The Hague University of Applied Sciences are recognised by NVAO.  EU and non-EU students must pay tuition fees for bachelor's and master's degrees and finance their living arrangements. There are a number of loans, grants and scholarships available, including The Hague University of Applied Sciences' World Citizen Scholarship.  The academic year at The Hague University of Applied Sciences starts in September and ends in mid-July. Each academic year is split into two semesters, which are divided into two half terms of six weeks, with a week's break in between. There is a six-week summer holiday and two-week Christmas break. Other breaks fall in February/March, May and October.  The university is organised into 7 Faculties:

Student body.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences saw a substantial increase in student numbers in 2012, with a student body totalling around 23,400. This represents an increase of more than two per cent from 2011, when a total of just over 22,900 students were enrolled. Enrollment in full-time courses grew by five per cent full-time and on dual programmes by six per cent.  In 2012 nearly half of the students were enrolled in economic courses and just over a quarter were enrolled in technology programmes. The Hague University of Applied Sciences' education and healthcare domains attracted eight and six per cent respectively. Approximately 13 per cent of students were enrolled in behaviour and society themed courses. International and European Law was the most highly subscribed course in 2012, with around 1,600 students, followed by European Studies, with almost 1,300 students. Around 13 per cent of students followed an English-taught programme in 2012.

Bachelor's degrees.

As of 2012, The Hague University of Applied Sciences offered 42 full-time bachelor's degree programmes in the fields of economics, healthcare, behaviour and society, information technology, education and technology.  The university also offers nine international bachelor's degrees taught in English: Industrial Design Engineering, Process and Food Technology, International and European Law, Safety and Security Management Studies, European Studies, International Communication Management, International Public Management, International Business and Management studies and International Financial Management and Control. Three are available as three year, fast-track curriculum and the other seven are four year courses.  Students require the equivalent of a Dutch system HAVO or VWO diploma to apply for a bachelors, the equivalent of a US high school diploma. The International or French Baccalaureate, German Abitur and UK A-levels are acceptable qualifications for three-year programmes. Other diplomas may also be accepted and are considered on a case-by-case basis.  Candidates who do not have a relevant international qualification can qualify for four years bachelors programmes by taking the 21+ Admission Test. To be eligible students must be at least 21 years old on 30 September 2013, be a citizen of Switzerland or a European Union or European Economic Area country and have a valid entry visa and residence permit.

Master's degrees.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences offers several master's degrees and professional courses.  Since 2004, the university has offers masters courses run by the Academy for Masters and Professional Courses (MPC) to ensure higher professional education for career development. Since 2012, the academy offers seven master's degrees, of which two are organised in collaboration with the Open University.  MPC currently runs three international masters programmes taught in English: Master of Business Administration (MBA), Masters in International Communication Management (MICM) and Master of Financial Management and Control (Formerly Master Accounting and Control). These programmes enrol students from the Netherlands and abroad.  In addition MPC offered 27 professional courses in 2012. This included courses varying from four days to a year.  The entry requirements for masters vary according to the course. Applicants must be aged 22 or older. The Masters in Accounting and Control (MAAC) requires a minimum of two years of relevant work experience and a business-related degree from a recognised university. Master's in Business Administration (MBA) applicants need a minimum of two years' relevant work experience, or a business degree or certificate from a recognized university or academic institution. Masters in International Communication Management (MICM) entrants must have a recognised bachelor's degree and a minimum of two years' work experience in communications.

International exchanges.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences welcomes around 400 exchange students from 40 nationalities on international exchanges yearly. Exchanges with universities in EU member states fall under the Erasmus programme.

International student exchange programs.

Dependable on the curriculum of a course at The Hague University of Applied Sciences, a lot of students go on exchange in order to study at a partner university. In order for students to go to another university, they have to pertain a certain amount of credits to enable themselves to do their exchange. This range and amount of time depends on the various courses The Hague University of Applied Sciences offers. This University offers student exchange programs all over the globe. These programs are based upon exchange contracts with other universities in order to provide a wide range of opportunities for the students. Not only partners are added but from time to time partnerships also end which decreases the range of possible exchange destinations. The university tries to gain more contracts in order to increase and maintain the range of partners.

English academic preparation course.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences (THU) offers six-month or one year English Academic Preparation courses (Prep School) to improve English skills and prepare students for life in the Netherlands. This concludes with an International English Language Testing System (IELTS) exam to access further courses.

Research.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences carries out practice-based research via research group leaders and their "kenniskringen", or knowledge networks. Research projects, often multidisciplinary, are determined by relevant issues from professional practice. The institution uses the new knowledge and insights generated by this research to update its teaching.  As of 1 January 2012, The Hague University of Applied Sciences had a total of 21 research groups, six of which are classed as'special' research groups, established in collaboration with external partners. The research groups were grouped into six categories in 2012: global citizenship, public administration and urban environments; economics, leadership and entrepreneurship; quality of life; from education institution to knowledge institution; the new world and (physical) technology.  In 2011 research groups at the institution organised more than three hundred lectures, seminars and conferences for both internal and external participants.  The Hague University of Applied Sciences uses a quality assurance system to assess its research. An independent, external committee assesses the research group categories once every four to six years. The quality assurance system is validated every six years by a national validation committee for research quality assurance (VKO). The quality assurance system at The Hague University of Applied Sciences received a positive validation in 2010.  The Hague University of Applied Sciences and its research group leaders also provide research methodology courses though the Academy for Masters and Professional Courses.

Student life.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences is located in The Hague, which offers cultural attractions for students such as the Gemeentemuseum Den Haag, Mauritshuis gallery and the Peace Palace, as well as many music venues and theatres. The city is close to Scheveningen’s beaches, boasts green spaces like Haagse Bos and Scheveningse Bosjes and hosts the Parkpop music festival every year in June.  The city is home to many important international organisations and global companies. The Hague is known as the International City of Peace, Justice and Security and is home to around 131 international institutes and 80 justice organisations. International institutions include the Permanent Court of Arbitration, the International Court of Justice, Europol and the International Criminal Court. Multinational companies and organisations, including Shell, Siemens and T-Mobile are also located in The Hague.

Residential life.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences does not have student accommodation on campus. The university works with the student letting agency, DUWO, to supply rooms and apartments to students. DUWO supplies around 400 rooms and apartments to international students in The Hague. The rent for DUWO accommodation (known as Short Stay Housing) includes utility costs, Internet access and local taxes. All rooms are completely furnished with a bed, bed linen, a cupboard, a desk, a chair and kitchen utensils. All DUWO rooms are located in The Hague, around five to 20 minutes from the university campus. Many rooms are single rooms with shared facilities. The buildings have mixed occupancy, so men and women live together, unless specified otherwise. Shared rooms are always shared with a student of the same gender.

Groups and activities.

There are a number of student organisations run by The Hague University of Applied Sciences and concentrated in The Hague.  The Hague Student Union supports students in The Hague in areas such as housing, education and international issues. They run several debates a year.  The Foreign Student Service (FSS) is a national organisation for foreign students in the Netherlands or those planning to study there. It provides services such as study and residence information, publications including a monthly newsletter, help finding accommodation and social activities.  Organisations improving contact between international students include Interaccess and Erasmus Student Network (ESN). Interaccess organises speakers, presentations, festivals and debates and weekend social activities. ESN is one of the biggest student bodies in Europe with 12,000 members in 36 countries.  There are several student social groups in The Hague including the Haagsche Studenten Vereeniging (HSV), which runs the social club, Sociëteit Megara. HSV is a social group for students from The Hague, Delft, Leiden and Rotterdam organising social activities, sports, meals, society evenings, galas and parties. ACKU offers courses and theatre tickets and organises pub-crawls, concerts, exhibitions and films events.  The Hague Model United Nations Society is a student organisation, which simulates United Nations debates. Students discuss important and current issues in the international arena.  There are several student bodies covering areas of specific cultural and religious interest. HSFN is an organisation for Hindu students and students interested in Hinduism. Students interested in Indian and Pakistani culture and the Islamic religion can join Mashriq SV. EurasiaSV organises activities and events for students who come from Turkey or are interested in countries, culture and people. Christians and non-Christians can join Navigators Studentenvereniging Den Haag (NSDH) which runs parties, social events and weekly bible studies.  Musical societies include the Haags Studenten Symfonie Orkest. Rehearsals take place at The Hague University of Applied Sciences and students from any institution can join.

Sports.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences Sports Office organises a range of sporting activities. Students can purchase a sports and fitness card to use the sporting facilities and join classes. Sports and classes are available for members including aerobics, capoeira, golf, lacrosse, rowing, swimming, tennis, Yoga and Zumba.  The university runs a number of internal leagues in its sports hall in disciplines such as badminton, basketball, table tennis, volleyball and indoor soccer.  The Hague offers some sports orientated clubs and organisations for students, like INTAC, which organises hockey, sailing trips and skiing and the rowing club Pelargos. The Hague University of Applied Sciences has its own sailing club, Team Haagse Hogeschool, which races to the UK every year against other university teams in the Netherlands.

The Hague University of Applied Sciences (), abbreviated THUAS, is a university of applied sciences with its campuses located in and around The Hague in the Randstad metropolitan region in the west of the Netherlands. The city is the Dutch seat of government and home to many major international legal, security and peace institutions. Since the university was founded in 1987 it has expanded to four campuses in the near-side cities of The Hague, Delft and Zoetermeer. The main campus in The Hague is located behind The Hague Hollands Spoor railway station by the Laakhaven Canal.


Toxicity.

Lupinine is a hepatotoxin prevalent in the seeds of leguminous herbs of the genus "Lupinus". Lupinine and other quinolizidine alkaloids give a bitter taste to naturally growing lupin flowers. Due to the toxicity of quinolizidine alkaloids, lupin beans are soaked overnight and rinsed to remove some of their alkaloid content. However, when the cooking and rinsing procedure is insufficient, 10 grams of seeds are able to liberate as much as 100 milligrams of lupinine.  The neurotoxicity of lupinine has been known within veterinary medical circles for some time due to the use of lupins as a forage feed for grazing livestock since it has high protein content. It is found to produce lupinosis, which is a morbid, and often fatal condition that results in acute atrophy of liver function and which affects domestic animals such as cattle and sheep. When ingested by humans, quinolizidine alkaloid poisoning causes trembling, shaking, excitation, as well as convulsions. Lupinine, in addition to being orally toxic to mammals, is also an insect antifeedant as well as a growth inhibitor for the grasshopper.

Relative toxicity.

Lupinine, in comparison to other quinolizidine alkaloids commonly found in lupins, such as lupanine and sparteine, shows a lower toxicity. Lupinine, with a minimal lethal dose of 28–30 mg/kg and a toxic dose of 25–28 mg/kg, is about 85 percent as toxic as d-lupanine and about 90% as toxic as sparteine. The relative toxicity of lupinine with other quinolizidine alkaloids commonly found in lupins is shown in the table below.

Mechanism of action.

Studies on the hydrochloride of lupinine have shown it to be a reversible inhibitor of acetylcholinesterases. Lupinine, a nitrogen-containing heterocycle, has a structure similar to the ammonium "head" of the acetylcholinesterase endogenous agonist, acetylcholine. At physiological pH, the amine of lupinine is protonated which leads to ion-ion interaction with the acetylcholinesterase anionic site in the same manner as the ammonium on acetylcholine interacts. Previous studies of reversible onium inhibitors similar to lupinine have shown that the ammonium groups (corresponding to the protonated amine of lupinine) enter the gorge of the active center of the acetylcholinesterase in the region of the Trp residue. This leads to the formation of an enzyme-sorption complex with the anionic portion of the acetylcholinesterase located on the active site of lupinine, namely the amine. This complex blocks the access of acetylcholine to the active center which decreases the catalytic hydrolysis and subsequent breakdown of acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase. Enzyme inactivation leads to an accumulation of acetylcholine in the body, hyperstimulation of both the muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors, as well as subsequent disruption of neurotransmission. However, it was found that the time of incubation did not affect the inhibition, leading to the conclusion that lupinine is a reversible inhibitor.  Studies have also shown that lupinine has a binding affinity for both muscarinic and nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. Lupinine was found to have an IC value of >500 μM for nicotinic receptors and an IC value of 190 μM for muscarinic receptors. However, it has yet to be determined whether this affinity is agonistic or antagonistic in nature.

Synthesis.

Biological.

Lupinine is naturally biosynthesized from l-lysine in the "Lupinus" genes of plants along with various other quinolizidine alkaloids. In the biosynthetic process, lysine is first decarboxylated into cadaverine, which is then oxidatively deaminated to the corresponding aldehyde. The aldehyde is then spontaneously cyclized into two tautmers which couple through an aldol type mechanism in which the allylic amine attacks the iminium, forming a dissymmetric dimeric intermediate which is then hydrated. The primary amine is then oxidized and an intramolecular condensation occurs, giving the quinolizidinealdehyde. The aldehyde is then reduced to an alcohol, giving, enantioselectively, (-)- lupinine.

Synthetic.

Lupinine has a chiral carbon atom; therefore, total syntheses of lupinine need to be enantioselective for (-)-lupinine in order to provide the biologically active product. The first racemic total synthesis of lupinine occurred in 1937 by Clemo, Morgan, and Raper. Six more total syntheses of lupinine followed between 1940-1956, with the first enantioselective synthesis of lupinine occurring in 1966 by Goldberg and Ragade. Since that initial enantioselective synthesis, there have been numerous total syntheses of both enantio-pure and racemic lupinine. One synthesis, notable because it describes the preparation of all four stereoisomers of lupinine, and containing many references to earlier work in this field, was published by Ma and Ni. Another total synthesis of specific note due to the enantioselectivity and limited number of steps is by Santos et al. In 2010, Santos et al. synthesized enantioselective (-)- lupinine in 36% yield over eight steps using a double Mitsunobu Reaction. First, they employed asymmetric addition of the starting materials using a Lewis acid, followed by treatment with a reducing agent and a base. This gave the (R,R)-alcohol. This configuration was inverted using a Mitsunobu reaction followed by hydrolysis, affording the (R,S) configuration of the alcohol. The alcohol was then reduced with alane, underwent another Mitsunobu reaction, was hydrolyzed to the acid and finally reduced to (-)-lupinine via alane reduction.

Isolation.

One of the earliest isolations of lupinine, from "Lupinus palmeri" collected in Utah, USA, is that reported by Couch, who was able to obtain crystalline lupinine without the use of chromatographic techniques.

Applications.

Pest control.

Lupinine is an insect antifeedant. Studies of its insecticide activity have shown it to be effective against culicine mosquito larvae which are vectors for viruses, filarial worms, and avian malaria.

Botany.

Lupins are often found growing with Castilleja (Indian paintbrush) which uses lupins as a host and confers lupinine and other alkaloids to itself. This works in tandem with the increase in nitrogen fixation to increase parasitic reproduction rates and potentially reduce herbivory activity; however, studies have shown mixed results in the efficacy of alkaloid transfer in prevention of herbivory activity.

Pre-clinical.

It has been found that lupinine shows moderate antiglycation activity with an IC value of 7.12.176 ± 7.745 μM "in vitro". Protein glycation is one of the main causes of late stage diabetic complications. In this process, proteins and sugars couple, leading to the formation of advanced glycation end-products which alter the structure and function of the proteins. The end-products lead to damage within most vital organs including nephropathy of the kidney and nerves, cataracts in the eyes, and atherosclerosis of the blood vessels which leads to impaired wound healing. This glycation process naturally increases with old age and is a well-known cause of pre-mature aging. The key therapeutic approach to prevention of this process is inhibition of the end-product formation which has been found to be facilitated by lupinine. It is hypothesized that the amine of lupinine may interact with the sugar, making it unavailable for binding with the protein. It was also found that lupinine lacks cytoxicity and therefore could function as a safe and effective antiglycation agent. However, since these findings are pre-clinical and have not been reproduced, they may not translate consistently into clinical effects on people and future studies are necessary to determine the efficacy of lupinine in preventing protein glycation in humans.

Regulations.

The European Chemicals Agency (ECA) labels lupinine under the hazard statement codes H302, H312, and H332, which indicate that lupinine is harmful if swallowed, harmful in contact with skin, and harmful if inhaled, respectively. It is given a GHS07 labeling which indicates its acute oral toxicity is category 4.

Lupinine is a quinolizidine alkaloid present in the genus "Lupinus" (colloquially referred to as lupins) of the flowering plant family Fabaceae. The scientific literature contains many reports on the isolation and synthesis of this compound as well as a vast number of studies on its biosynthesis from its natural precursor, lysine. Studies have shown that lupinine hydrochloride is a mildly toxic acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and that lupinine has an inhibitory effect on acetylcholine receptors. The characteristically bitter taste of lupin beans, which come from the seeds of "Lupinus" plants, is attributable to the quinolizidine alkaloids which they contain, rendering them unsuitable for human and animal consumption unless handled properly. However, because lupin beans have potential nutritional value due to their high protein content, efforts have been made to reduce their alkaloid content through the development of "sweet" varieties of "Lupinus".


The sport.

All that is known about the extinct sport is comes from one written eye-witness account, one engraving, oral tradition and archaeology. An Englishman named William Mariner who lived in Tonga between 1806 and 1810 described:  A 1793 engraving by the French Captain D’Entrecasteaux corroborates Mariner’s story.

The mounds.

In Tongan, pigeon snaring mounds are called "sia heu lupe". The general shape of a pigeon snaring mound was described as “more or less circular platforms, 20-35 m wide and 0.6-5 m high, with a flat top. The characteristic feature of the Tongan pigeon mound is a circular central pit, 5—7 m in diameter, which has stone-faced walls. Some pigeon mounds in addition have large stone-lined pits filled with large boulders. The function of these structures is unknown.” The central depression puzzles archaeologists because it is not described in William Mariner’s account and no one knows how it was used to snare the pigeons. There are also many mounds, especially in Ha’apai, that do not have the depression.  While "sia heu lupe" can be found throughout Tonga, and even in American and West Samoa, the best studied are those in the Ha’apai Island Group, where many were constructed in the 15th and 16th centuries by the Mata’uvave line of chiefs. A 1990-1992 archeological survey of northern Ha’apai by Simon Fraser University identified two on Nukunamo island, one on the northern tip of Foa Island, none on Lifuka Island, eight on U’oleva Island, one on Tatafa Island and none on ‘Uiha Island. One of these mounds, called Sialufotu on U’oleva island, is known as the personal mound the Mata’uvave and is the largest known "sia heau lupe" in Tonga.  The Simon Fraser study classified mounds into one of three types: mounds with central depression lacking stacked-stone retaining walls, complex mounds with stone retaining walls and access ramps, and flat-topped mounds. As pigeon mounds were created not only for the sport but to project status, the second type would exalt the highest status of the three as it required the highest investment of labor.  The Simon Fraser study also found several characteristics of pigeon mounds. "First, they were situated in areas without a large, if any, human population and this would have facilitated an expansive cover of forest growth to which pigeons would be attracted... Second, the mounds were constructed in protected areas that, while within the proximity to the shore, tended toward the center line of the island upon which they were built... this pattern conforms to the expected flight path of a migrating pigeon flock as it might be pursued by hunters."

The culture of pigeon snaring.

Constructing pigeon snaring mounds required substantial investments of labor from many people, but the sport was tabu, or forbidden, to all but the Tongan chiefs. Any pigeons captured by commoners were to be given to chiefs, and anyone caught eating a pigeon could be punished by "whipping or even death".  The sport could be played for rather basic, small mounds, so the variety in size ornamentation of the mounds is attributed to their projection of status for the chiefs who commissioned their construction. According to one historian, "pigeon mounds, together with the royal tombs (langi), can be considered as the highest ranking sites in Tonga." The larger one’s mound, the higher one’s status.

Pigeon snaring was sport played exclusively by Tongan chiefs atop artificial mounds. The appearance of these mounds began in the 12th century but its popularity waned after centuries. By the 1700s, when Europeans began visiting Tonga and recording their observations, the sport was no longer played regularly. By the early 1800s, it was not played at all.


Specifications.

The T19 Howitzer Gun Motor Carriage was similar to the M3 Half-track, as it shared the same chassis, engine, suspension, armor, and fuel tank. It was 20 ft 2 in long, 7 ft 3.5 in wide, 7 ft 8 in high, with a weight of 9.54 short tons. The suspension consisted of semi-elliptical longitudinal leaf springs for the wheels and vertical volute springs for the tracks. It was powered by a White 160AX, 147 hp, 386 in, six-cylinder gasoline engine with a compression ratio of 6.3:1. It was capable of a maximum road speed of 45 mph. The power-to-weight ratio was 14.7 hp/ton.  The vehicle was operated by a crew of six. Maximum armor was only 0.5 inch at the windshield and 0.25 inches everywhere else. The armament consisted of one 105 mm M2A1 howitzer (equipped with eight rounds of ammunition) with a single.50 caliber (12.7 mm) M2 Browning machine gun (equipped with 300 rounds of ammunition) for local defense.

Development.

In the autumn of 1941, when the Armored Force expanded, an urgent need for self-propelled artillery arose. Although a full-track chassis was preferred, the situation required the use of whatever vehicles were immediately available. The M3 Half-track was selected to carry a 105 mm M2A1 howitzer. Although this design had originally been suggested in September 1941, it had not been taken up. However, the urgency of the requirement resulted in the approval by the Adjutant General and the construction of a prototype was authorized by OCM 17391, dated 31 October 1941; the new vehicle designated as the 105 mm Howitzer Motor Carriage T19.  As with other American self-propelled guns produced during the early World War II period, the prototype was assembled and tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground. The M2 recoil mechanism and other parts of the M2 howitzer carriage were used in the vehicle mounting. After several tests, the gun carriage proved fragile on bumpy terrain. The problem was corrected by reinforcing the frame, and redesigning the howitzer mount. Demountable headlights were recommended because of the muzzle blast, although they were not available for early production models. Early models had no shield for the howitzer either, but a foldable shield was added during testing. The gun faced forward, like many other half-track models. The total traverse was 40 degrees and the elevation was from −5 to +35 degrees. The armored windshield cover was remounted so it could fold onto the hood. After further testing, it was accepted for production.  After the design was accepted, a prototype was shipped to Diamond T as a guide for production. The first production vehicle was delivered to the US Army in January 1942. A total of 324 T19s had been made by the time production ended in April 1942.

Service history.

The T19 HMC was designed as a stopgap measure until better self-propelled artillery pieces were made; it served in the Tunisia Campaign in North Africa in 1942–43. It was employed mainly in most battalions' headquarter platoons, and the "cannon companies" of infantry divisions. The T19 was soon replaced in armored divisions by the M7 Priest, a 105 mm howitzer on a fully tracked chassis.  It served with only a few units in Sicily and Italy. On one occasion in Sicily, a T19 company (part of the 16th Infantry Regiment) halted a German tank attack by destroying six tanks, for the loss of one T19. That unit was later awarded the Presidential Unit Citation. A few served as late as 1945 in southern France. It was finally declared obsolete in July 1945. That month, the contractor Brown & McLaughlin converted 90 T19s into M3A1 Half-tracks.

The T19 Howitzer Motor Carriage (HMC), was a howitzer mounted on a M3 Half-track chassis. It saw service during World War II with the U.S. Army. Its secondary armament consisted of an air-cooled M2 machine gun for local defense. It was produced by Diamond T between January 1942 and April 1942.


Overview.

Electoral system.

The Parliament of La Rioja was the devolved, unicameral legislature of the autonomous community of La Rioja, having legislative power in regional matters as defined by the Spanish Constitution and the Riojan Statute of Autonomy, as well as the ability to vote confidence in or withdraw it from a President of the Autonomous Community. Voting for the Parliament was on the basis of universal suffrage, which comprised all nationals over eighteen, registered in La Rioja and in full enjoyment of their political rights. Additionally, Riojans abroad were required to apply for voting before being permitted to vote, a system known as "begged" or expat vote ().  The 33 members of the Parliament of La Rioja were elected using the D'Hondt method and a closed list proportional representation, with a threshold of 5 percent of valid votes—which included blank ballots—being applied regionally. Parties not reaching the threshold were not taken into consideration for seat distribution.  The electoral law provided that parties, federations, coalitions and groupings of electors were allowed to present lists of candidates. However, groupings of electors were required to secure the signature of at least 1 percent of the electors registered in La Rioja. Electors were barred from signing for more than one list of candidates. Concurrently, parties and federations intending to enter in coalition to take part jointly at an election were required to inform the relevant Electoral Commission within ten days of the election being called.

Election date.

The term of the Parliament of La Rioja expired four years after the date of its previous election. Elections to the Parliament were fixed for the fourth Sunday of May every four years. The previous election was held on 22 May 2011, setting the election date for the Parliament on Sunday, 24 May 2015.  The President of the Autonomous Community had the prerogative to dissolve the Parliament of La Rioja and call a snap election, provided that no motion of no confidence was in process, no nationwide election was due and some time requirements were met: namely, that dissolution did not occur either during the first legislative session or within the legislature's last year ahead of its scheduled expiry, nor before one year had elapsed since a previous dissolution. In the event of an investiture process failing to elect a regional President within a two-month period from the first ballot, the Parliament was to be automatically dissolved and a fresh election called. Any snap election held as a result of these circumstances would not alter the period to the next ordinary election, with elected deputies merely serving out what remained of their four-year terms.

Opinion polls.

The table below lists voting intention estimates in reverse chronological order, showing the most recent first and using the dates when the survey fieldwork was done, as opposed to the date of publication. Where the fieldwork dates are unknown, the date of publication is given instead. The highest percentage figure in each polling survey is displayed with its background shaded in the leading party's colour. If a tie ensues, this is applied to the figures with the highest percentages. The "Lead" column on the right shows the percentage-point difference between the parties with the highest percentages in a given poll. When available, seat projections are also displayed below the voting estimates in a smaller font. 17 seats were required for an absolute majority in the Parliament of La Rioja.

The 2015 Riojan regional election was held on Sunday, 24 May 2015, to elect the 9th Parliament of the autonomous community of La Rioja. All 33 seats in the Parliament were up for election. The election was held simultaneously with regional elections in twelve other autonomous communities and local elections all throughout Spain.


Spacecraft.

"Johannes Kepler" consisted of two sections: the Propulsion Module, with four main engines and 28 smaller maneuvering thrusters, and the Integrated Cargo Carrier, which attached directly to the ISS and could hold up to eight standard payload racks. The four solar wings of the spacecraft provided up to 4,800 watts of electrical power to its rechargeable batteries.  The ATV's rendezvous and docking system mounted a telegoniometer, which functioned as a radar system, and two videometers, which fired laser pulses at cube-shaped reflectors on the ISS' "Zvezda" service module for range detection. The nose of the spacecraft contained rendezvous sensors and Russian docking equipment.

Mission payload.

GeoFlow II.

"Johannes Kepler" delivered the GeoFlow II hydrodynamics experiment container to the ISS. This experiment was designed to observe liquid movements in microgravity, and compare them with computer simulations, thus helping scientists to understand convection currents within the Earth's mantle.

Mission summary.

Launch.

On 16 February 2011 UTC, "Johannes Kepler" was launched on an Ariane 5ES rocket from the Guiana Space Centre in Kourou, French Guiana. The launch was conducted by Arianespace on behalf of the ESA.  The first launch attempt, on 15 February 2011, was halted four minutes before lift-off, due to an erroneous signal from one of the rocket's fuel tanks.

Docking.

Docking with the ISS was completed on 24 February 2011 at 15:59 UTC, after a 15-minute delay. The spacecraft traveled over eight days to catch up with the space station, and arrived at the aft port of the station's "Zvezda" service module. During the rendezvous operations, ATV-2 traveled a total of 2.5 million miles. The docking occurred as ATV-2 and the ISS flew over the coast of Liberia in western Africa. Hooks and latches engaged a few minutes later to firmly attach ATV-2 to the ISS.  The "Johannes Kepler" mission marked the first time European astronauts were on board the International Space Station during an ATV mission, with Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli welcoming the ATV's arrival. ESA astronaut Roberto Vittori was also aboard the ISS at the same time as the ATV, having arrived on Space Shuttle "Endeavour" on the STS-134 mission in May 2011.

ISS altitude Increase.

"Johannes Kepler" was used to boost the ISS's standard altitude from about 350 kilometers (220 statute miles) to 400 km (248 miles). The higher altitude has lower atmospheric drag, which reduces the propellant needed annually to maintain the station's altitude from 6,800 kg (15,000 lb) to roughly 3,630 kg (8,000 lb), depending on atmospheric conditions. The ATV used about 4,500 kg (9,900 lb) of rocket fuel to accomplish this change, with the reboost occurring incrementally over several months.

End of mission and deorbit.

On 20 June 2011, "Johannes Kepler" undocked from the ISS. At 18:30 UTC (20:30 CEST) that same day, while preparing to deorbit, the ATV was forced to conduct a debris-avoidance maneuver, using some of its remaining fuel to move into a safe orbit after NASA warned of a potential collision with orbital debris. On 21 June 2011, the ATV deorbited, burning up in the atmosphere as planned over the South Pacific Ocean at around 22:44 CET.

The "Johannes Kepler" ATV, or Automated Transfer Vehicle 002 (ATV-002), was an uncrewed cargo spacecraft built to resupply the International Space Station (ISS). It was launched on 16 February 2011 by the European Space Agency (ESA). "Johannes Kepler" carried propellant, air and dry cargo weighing over, and had a total mass of over, making it, at the time, the heaviest payload launched by the ESA. The spacecraft was named after the 17th-century German astronomer Johannes Kepler.