text:
'Pay-per-Neet' scheme aims to help teenagers find work
21 February 2012 Last updated at 12:15
By Sean Coughlan BBC News education correspondent
Nick Clegg: Youth jobs situation "a real crisis"
Firms and charities are to be invited to bid for a payment-by-results scheme to try to get "Neet" teenagers into work or training, in a project launched by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.
The £126m scheme is aimed at 55,000 teenagers in England with poor qualifications who are currently not in education, employment or training.
Mr Clegg says it will help youngsters "into the world of work".
But Labour says the project is "too small and much too late".
Chris Keates, leader of the Nasuwt teachers' union, accused Mr Clegg of being responsible for an increase in Neets by scrapping the Education Maintenance Allowance.
'Ticking time bomb'
Mr Clegg described the problem of rising youth unemployment as a "ticking time bomb".
"Sitting at home with nothing to do when you're so young can knock the stuffing out of you for years," he said.
"We urgently need to step up efforts to ensure some of our most troubled teenagers have the skills, confidence and opportunities to succeed.
"Many of them will have complex problems: truancy, teenage pregnancy, a lack of GCSEs and health problems."
Mr Clegg said to see teenagers who have left school with no qualifications "slumped on the sofa in front of the telly is not only tragic for them… but it stores up huge problems for the future if we don't help them now".
He said it was also about getting "crucial early years in a child's life at school right" to "save on so much heartache later".
"If you start early it then allows children to start their school career with a sense of enthusiasm for learning," he said.
The scheme, part of the Youth Contract announced in the autumn, will invite bids for contracts worth up to £2,200 for each teenager who can be sustained in work, education or training for 12 months.
The target group will be 16- to 17-year-olds without any GCSEs at C grade or above.
The aim is for long-term savings from an early intervention.
Almost one in five young people aged between 16 and 24 are classified as Neet – with the most recent figure standing at 1,163,000.
This response from the government is aimed at teenagers at the lower end of this age range who are already at risk of "disengagement" from the world of work.
The organisations that win these contracts will have a free hand to decide their approach – with the emphasis on rewarding a successful outcome.
Payments will be staggered, so that the full amount will be paid only to contractors when young people have remained in work or training for a year.
The funding will reflect the highest level of Neet youngsters in this age group – with £14m available in the West Midlands, where 11.5% of 16- to 17-year-olds are in this category.
The project has been challenged by the ATL teachers' union, which accused the government of damaging the chances of teenagers "by dismantling the careers and advice service and abolishing the education maintenance allowance".
"We have deep misgivings that getting charities and businesses to provide support for unemployed youngsters outside the education system will undermine the likelihood of success," said ATL officer Adrian Prandle.
Shadow work and pensions secretary Liam Byrne also said the Youth Contract would not help most young unemployed people.
Mr Byrne said of Mr Clegg: "He promised big answers to the problem of youth unemployment yet what we have got today is something that won't help 95% of Britain's young unemployed.
"This is much too small and much too late to tackle a problem that is likely to cost our country £28bn over the next 10 years.
"The government needs to bite the bullet and put in place a sensible tax on bankers' bonuses in the next budget to help get 100,000 young people back to work."
'Job snobs'
Meanwhile, Work and Pensions Secretary Iain Duncan Smith has branded critics of the government's separate work experience scheme for young jobseekers as "job snobs".
The scheme offers unpaid work placements in stores such as Tesco and Maplin to 18- to 24-year-olds who have been unemployed for more than three months.
Mr Duncan Smith said in the Daily Mail: "The implicit message behind these attacks is that jobs in retail, such as those with supermarkets or on the High Street, are not real jobs that worthwhile people do.
"How insulting and demeaning of the many thousands of people who already work in such jobs up and down the country.
"I doubt I'm the only person who thinks supermarket shelf-stackers add more value to our society than many of those 'job snobs' who are pontificating about the government's employment policies."
Paul Champion
Strategic Project Manager
Mobile: 07540 704920


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Couplehood can be a wonderful blessing, but – as you may know – it can have its challenges, too.
In fact, money matters are the leading cause of arguments in modern relationships.* The age-old adage that love trumps wealth may be true, but if money is tight or if a couple isn't meeting their financial goals, there could be some unpleasant conversations (er, arguments) on the bumpy road to bliss with your partner or spouse.
These tips may help make the road to happiness a little easier.
1. Set a goal for debt-free living.
Certain types of debt can be difficult to avoid, such as mortgages or car payments, but other types of debt, like credit cards in particular, can grow like the proverbial snowball rolling down a hill. Credit card debt often comes about because of overspending or because insufficient savings forced the use of credit for an unexpected situation. Either way, you'll have to get to the root of the cause or the snowball might get bigger. Starting an emergency fund or reigning in unnecessary spending – or both – can help get credit card balances under control so you can get them paid off.
2. Talk about money matters.
Having a conversation with your partner about money is probably not at the top of your list of fun-things-I-look-forward-to. This might cause many couples to put it off until the "right time". If something is less than ideal in the way your finances are structured, not talking about it won't make the problem go away. Instead, frustrations over money can fester, possibly turning a small issue into a larger problem. Discussing your thoughts and concerns about money with your partner regularly (and respectfully) is key to reaching an understanding of each other's goals and priorities, and then melding them together for your goals as a couple.
3. Consider separate accounts with one joint account.
As a couple, most of your financial obligations will be faced together, including housing costs, monthly utilities and food expenses, and often auto expenses. In most households, these items ideally should be paid out of a joint account. But let's face it, it's no fun to have to ask permission or worry about what your partner thinks every time you buy a specialty coffee or want that new pair of shoes you've been eyeing. In addition to your main joint account, having separate accounts for each of you may help you maintain some independence and autonomy in regard to personal spending.
With these tips in mind, here's to a little less stress so you can put your attention on other "couplehood" concerns… Like where you two are heading for dinner tonight – the usual hangout (which is always good), or that brand new place that just opened downtown? (Hint: This is a little bit of a trick question. The answer is – whichever place fits into the budget that you two have already decided on, together!)
Huckabee, Tyler. "Why Do People In Relationships Fight About Money So Much?" Relevant*, 1.3.2018, https://bit.ly/2xiflG9.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
I've been hearing truly depressing things about people not voting because they're not sure they'll make the right choice, or that the election does not matter to them, or that their vote doesn't count.
This is going to be a very close presidential election. There are countless ballot initiatives and local offices on your ballot.
Any choice you make if you have read the ballot and understand the basic arguments, is right.
We all make mistakes, we all choose based on incomplete information. But the only mistake is not voting.
The results of the election will matter to every single American. This election determines how your local taxes are spent, who runs your water board and transit board and town. And this election will determine what the federal government will try to do for the next 2 years. And who will appoint Supreme Court justices.
Every vote counts. The 2000 election was won (maybe) by just over 500 votes. Five hundred votes. Changed the course of history forever.
Don't say you can't decide. Don't declare politics are not your cup of tea. Don't think it doesn't matter.
This is your country. People have died for your right to vote. It matters oodles and buckets and tons.
Go. Vote. Now. Or Tuesday. I don't care when. But vote.


text:
A recent client was looking for a community with a full wood working shop available to use. There are not that many. I headed to my computer and started checking with each community. Many do have wood carving clubs, but only a few are large enough and chose to do full wood working shops.
Here they are
Sun City Festival
Sun City Grand
Sun City West
Sun City
Westbrook Village
Del Webb has put woodworking shops into almost all of their "Sun City" communities – way to go Del Webb!


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|The stupid question is the question not asked
Re: virus log parserby Rhose (Priest)
|on Jul 02, 2002 at 20:44 UTC ( #178995=note: print w/replies, xml )
|Need Help??
How about collecting the information, then printing the record when you get to one of the '-----' lines? (This assumes all records -- even the last one -- end with a '-----' line.)
The following code reads from __DATA__ and writes its (tab delimited) records to the screen; you would probably want to open your log file for processing (open(LF,"$logFile")), and write to a results file (open(OF,">$outputFile")).
Comment: One other thing I found I like is opening files with three parameters. For example, instead of:
open(OF,">$outputFile") || die;
I use:
open(OF,'>',$outputFile) || die;
I hope this helps! *Smiles*
Now that I have re-read my code, I should have made
qw(name to file action virus)
a constant so it was defined but one place, and should have made the field separator a constant as well. This would simplify changes to the code. (Not that it is critical on such a small program, but it is a good practice... well, for me at least.)
In Section Seekers of Perl Wisdom


text:
As befits third-generation cosmetics royalty, Christine d'Ornano was raised with her three siblings in an expansive Paris apartment overlooking the Seine. It was a Belle Epoque riot of gilding, carving, swags, embroidery, tassels, porcelain, bronzes, silver, sculptures, and overstuffed chaise longues. "There were objects everywhere," d'Ornano remembers. "But there's something very cozy about my parents' home you can't help being influenced by."
Indeed. In the front drawing room of the London house she shares with her husband, financier Marzouk Al-Bader, flanked by modernist chairs by Joe Colombo and Gerrit Rietveld, sits an ormolu-encrusted desk, a present from her father on her 18th birthday. "It's a 19th-century reinterpretation of a 15th-century design," she says. "It belonged originally to his father, my grandfather. And it was given to him by François Coty, who got my family into cosmetics." Her grandfather Comte Guillaume d'Ornano cofounded Lancôme; her father, Comte Hubert d'Ornano, started Orlane, and after both firms were sold, he and his wife, Isabelle, launched Sisley, known for its high-end creams and other beauty products.
D'Ornano is Parisian to her fingertips; her husband is originally from Lebanon, and both attended college in the States (after graduating from Princeton, she worked as a buyer for Saks Fifth Avenue). Nonetheless, there is something distinctly London about their home. It is full of contemporary art and objects, yet it is luxe and relaxed—elegant yet easy—and, to use a popular Britishism, lived-in.
When they found the double-fronted Victorian house three years ago (d'Ornano now oversees the U.K. operations of Sisley), they had work to do. Though the tree-lined streets of Notting Hill look like they've always been a fabulous place to live, the truth is that almost as soon as the mellow brick buildings were put up by enterprising developers, the area degenerated into a slum—the big houses were subdivided and suffered from neglect. "It was still flats when we bought it," says d'Ornano. But the couple relished the opportunity to expand. "We're a very good team," d'Ornano says. "We like doing things together."
And the structure had definite advantages: big windows, tall ceilings, a central tiled hall, and a spacious double drawing room. The walls in the front portion, overlooking the street, are lacquered gray; those in the back, facing the garden, are upholstered in pink linen. Throughout the space, works by Young British Artists (paintings by Gary Hume and Marc Quinn, and a neon piece by Tracey Emin) hang alongside large-scale photographs by Thomas Ruff and Elger Esser. But also pinned straight to the walls are curling family snapshots of the couple's three little girls (Isabelle and Alma, both 6, and 3-year-old Inès). Big sofas by George Smith are at the ready for flopping on. D'Ornano's mother stitched the tapestry seat for the André Dubreuil stool. "We like a sort of cozy environment," d'Ornano reiterates. "The only things not good for lounging are the Lalanne crocodile chairs. But they're lovely, and we only use them when we have too many people for the sofas."
The one major alteration was a rear extension, which encompasses the kitchen and terrace, designed by Alex Michaelis, a minimalist architect known for building his own underground abode in the neighborhood. "Our style is quite different from his," says d'Ornano, "but he knows what can and can't be done in Notting Hill." The result is a stunning glass-walled addition containing a monolithic white structure that holds everything from the sink to the teaspoons. "We can do small, casual dinners in the kitchen," d'Ornano says. "It's a bit more elegant dining in the library, and in the summer we entertain on the terrace. It's a very nice house for parties."
In the master bedroom and the adjacent bath/office/dressing room, the influence of her family's decorative style is most apparent. The walls are upholstered in a large-scale 1970s abstract floral. It's very French, d'Ornano says, to pad and cover walls this way. She had used the same fabric in their previous home, but set against a plain floor. "This time, we kind of went for it with the carpet," she says, laughing, referring to the busy geometric pattern. The jade, gray, and mustard of the fabric, the russet of the blanket, and the navy and white on the floor make a cacophony that is almost audible. "Even my parents, who are so bold, said, 'God! That's a bit too much, no?' " admits d'Ornano. "But it's still peaceful in there, isn't it?" It's her favorite room.
She is also very fond of the dining room/library, with its huge doors covered in sapphire-blue velvet and studded with brass, and its circular table surrounded by Louis XVI–style chairs. "My husband likes a comfortable chair, and I was really bent on having yellow leather," she says. "They're new, but they really make them well—so they look a little bit worn. My father says you should always have contemporary chairs, reproductions, which is funny when you think of how many precious antique ones they own. But he says the old ones collapse on you, and you're always having to mend them."
Click here to see the gallery for "A London Townhouse Revitalized."


text:
cash and accrual basis accounting
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Beta Site
Geography of Genetic Variants Browser
About / Help
Welcome to the Geography of Genetic Variants (GGV) browser!
To begin, pick a dataset on the dropdown menu. One can search variants within a dataset by its rsID or position (Use the format chromosome#:position, as in, 15:24608502 or chr15:24608502) and clicking the search button or the enter key. Click the "random" button to show a random marker from the chosen dataset.
The embedded IGV browser at the bottom of the page can also also be used to pick a variant for display.
To display the population name, minor allele frequency, minor allele count, and sample size, hover with the mouse over a data point. Click on the plot title to open up the UCSC genome browser at that variant.
Be sure to note we use a notion of a "frequency scale" to display rare variants and a "transparency scale" to indicate uncertain allele frequencies. These are explained in the legend.
If you use the maps in other works, include the source link:
and/or make a formal reference to:
Marcus & Novembre (2016) Visualizing the Geography of Genetic Variants.
Keep in mind that this is still an evolving project and many ideas/resources are in progress.
Questions/feedback/ideas/critiques are welcomed and appreciated!
Contact: josephhmarcus at gmail dot com or jnovembre at uchicago dot edu.
IGV Genome Browser Help
To use the embedded IGV Browser, input the number of the chromosome you would like to look at in the search box and hit enter. You can zoom in/out on the chromosome by clicking on the +/- buttons on the right side of the browser. You can zoom in on a specific section of the chromosome by clicking and dragging along the axis.
To move about the chromosome, you can use the arrow keys to move left or right. You can also click and drag on the genes and variants sections if you would like to make smaller movements. To jump to another section of the chromosome, you can click on areas you would like to look at on the upper chromosome display, and the red window will move there.
If you click on a variant (vertical grey bar) in the variants section, then that variant will be displayed on the map above. Also, if you search for a variant in the upper search box by the map, the browser will switch to the variant's chromosome and zoom into that variant's location along the chromosome.
copy paste a single column of snps
. Remeber to select the appropriate dataset!
Avoid overlap:
Either the SNP you searched is not in the chosen dataset or the search term is formatted incorrectly.
When using the query box, acceptable searches by chromosome/pos or rsID look like...
When using a url-based query, acceptable searches look like:
Query default data (1000 Genomes phase 3) by chromosome and position:
Query default data by rsid:
Query default data for a random SNP
Query an alternate dataset:
Save Plot As PDF
IGV Browser Help


text:
If it wasn't that the swastika was so closely related to nazism or that I'm such a sissy I would easily get a big fat swastika tattoo on my chest. Along with the Apple logo and the Nike swoosh the swastika is one of the most powerful and most good looking symbols/logos I can think of. The Crass logo don't even come close here. And dude spot the swastika on the sleeve! Awesome!
From Ontario/Canada comes School Jerks who where kind enough to send me their fantastic debut 7″. Sounds like the early 80's. You've heard it before. But they do have such a great feeling for it and I can't clearly say that they try rip a certain band off though it has that early CA feel to it. Would love if the kids could just give a fuck about their influences and throw in a synth or a banjo in here. But still… it's a great platter and you'll get it here: School Jerks at Myspace.
Country: Canada
Year: 2008
Label: Riff Raff
Format: 7″
Nothing Else.mp3
Passed Out.mp3


text:
The PS4 was just announced, the Xbox 720 (or whatever they're going to call it) will probably be announced soon, and the Wii U is already sitting in the living rooms of Nintendo fans everywhere. The next generation is upon us, and we're getting excited to see our favorite franchises make the leap to next-generation platforms.
Here are ten franchises we're hoping to see carried over into the next console cycle.
← Previous Next →


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The National Basketball Association announced today a new global partnership with Lenovo, making the world's third-largest PC manufacturer the "Official PC Partner of the NBA" and creating a new player statistic that will take the league one step closer to a sabermetric existence.
Lenovo, which acquired IBM's PC division last year, will supply computers to courtside statisticians, referees and coaches. The computer maker will also assist NBA Cares, the league's global community outreach initiative, in helping make computer technology "accessible to underserved communities," according to the league's press release.
The move is a shift from the league's prior relationship with Dell. "We were looking for a more global scope, as opposed to simply a hardware scope," NBA Commissioner David Stern said Monday. Financial details were not disclosed.
More From Popular Mechanics
From a fan perspective, the change will be noticeable in the creation of the Lenovo Stat, a new measurement that looks to quantify teamwork—both offensive and defensive—in much the same way as the National Hockey League's plus/minus statistic. The NHL counts the goals scored when a particular player is on the ice, and subtracts from that number the goals scored against his team while he's playing.
The NBA's new statistic will be compiled by crediting all players with their teams' points scored while they're on the floor. They are then debited the points scored by the opposition while they're in the game. In a major feat of number crunching, all 1-, 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-man combinations will be analyzed across the league.
The measurement doesn't count rebounds or assists—or any other variable—but "this single stat tells you the most effective combination of players," said Lenovo Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Deepak Advani. It has the distinct feel of "sabermetric" analysis and the computerized "search for objective knowledge about [a sport]" that analyst Bill James wrote about in his 1988 Baseball Abstracts. The approach was made famous in the 2003 book "Moneyball."
"The old idea that the ball is rolled out and the players play," Stern said, "is so much going by the wayside. This stat gives coaches more information as the NBA moves toward more stat-based analysis for making decisions."
Some of the initial findings are hardly surprising—though others will raise eyebrows. According to the league, the most effective five-man combination for the 2005-06 season was the Detroit Pistons starting five of Tayshaun Prince, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Chauncey Billups and Richard Hamilton. That combination of players scored 3,385 points while allowing 2,947—for a +438 (see graphic, right). The Pistons finished the regular season with the best record in the NBA.
Meanwhile, the Miami Heat, which won last year's championship, only had one lineup that would have cracked the league's top 10 in the Lenovo Stat: The combination of Gary Payton, Shaquille O'Neal, James Posey, Dwyane Wade and Udonis Haslem scored 1,058 points while allowing 971, good for a +87 and the ninth-best score in the league.
When the Heat faced the Dallas Mavericks in the NBA Finals, however, that outlook changed: According to the Lenovo Stat, the Heat proved more productive without perennial All-Star Shaquille O'Neal, who was named one of the 50 greatest players in NBA history, on the floor. The best combination against the Mavericks proved to be Payton, Alonzo Mourning, Antoine Walker, Posey and Wade. They compiled a +21 (see graphic).
That was enough to give retired Hall of Fame coach Lenny Wilkens pause. "This stat is a tool," he said. "We know up to a degree [what our gut tells us], but sometimes you want proof and evidence."
He chuckled.
"But I would start Shaquille O'Neal no matter what the statistics said." –Davin Coburn


text:
Rob Zombie talks to ESPN about Broad Street Bullies
Rob Zombie has already targetted his next movie project, this time a film based on the notorious Broad Street Bullies. Here he talks to ESPN about it. Enjoy!
The Broad Street Bullies terrified hockey fans in the 1970s. Children in places like Boston and Buffalo feared that Dave "The Hammer" Schultz or one of the other toothless goons from those infamous Philadelphia Flyers teams lurked underneath their beds.
Now, thanks to Rob Zombie, that horror will be shown on the big screen. But the rock star/director says it won't be a horror movie, per se.
"Maybe unintentionally," he said. "It will be the true story. It will be gory."
Departing from his usual slasher-film style that created cult-classics like "House of 1,000 Corpses" and "The Devil's Rejects," along with a remake of "Halloween," Zombie envisions the Broad Street Bullies as blending the real-world turmoil of the mid-1970s with the nearly cartoonish violence on the ice.
"It will be a period piece," he said. "Philadelphia was a terrible place in those days. It was also the time of Watergate and the gas shortage and Patty Hearst. It was social upheaval at the time."
He has kicked around the idea of a Broad Street Bullies movie for a couple years. After all, as a child, Zombie had a soft spot for the Broad Street Bullies even though he grew up in Massachusetts cheering for the Bobby Orr-led Boston Bruins.
But the timing was never right. Then he saw the Oscar-nominated "Moneyball."
"I watched 'Moneyball' and I said, 'I got to do this Broad Street Bullies movie," he said during a telephone interview last week.
First he has other commitments. His next film, "Lords of Salem," is in postproduction. On Aug. 7, an album called "Mondo Sex Head" filled with remixes of classic Zombie songs hits stores. Plus, he and his band have been in the studio dreaming up a new album. And — let's not forget — he embarks on a 28-city tour this fall with Marilyn Manson.
But what people have been asking about most is the future film about the Flyers.
"Everyone is into it," Zombie said. "I've never seen anything quite like it."
Zombie cautioned that the movie was still very much in the research phases. He's reading anything he can find about the Flyers. But that hasn't stopped Flyers great Bobby Clarke from getting pumped up. He told media outlets: "The great Rob Zombie making a drama feature film about the Broad Street Bullies is exciting and thrilling for all of us! I look forward to seeing it."
Wait, the great Bobby Clarke just said, "The great Rob Zombie."
"It's weird," Zombie said. "It's very odd. It's very nice; but very surprising."


text:
California Chrome wins for 'little guys'
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – A horse with a humble pedigree. A couple of working-stiff owners. A 77-year-old trainer with his first Kentucky Derby horse.
Even Hollywood couldn't have made this up.
California Chrome made it look easy on Saturday, pulling away down the stretch to win the Derby by 1¾ lengths.
In a sport dominated by wealthy owners and regally bred horses from Kentucky's bluegrass country, this was a victory for the little guys. Owners Perry Martin and Steve Coburn bred an $8,000 mare to a $2,500 stallion to produce the winner of the world's most famous race with their one-horse stable.
"This is just a dream come true and a great birthday present,'" said Coburn, who turned 61 on Saturday.
California Chrome ran 1¼ miles in 2:03.66 and paid $7, $5.60 and $4.20. The chestnut colt was sent off as the 5-2 favorite by the crowd of 164,906, the second-largest in the Derby's 140-year history.
His trainer, Art Sherman, became the oldest trainer to win the Derby, 57 years after he traveled from California as an exercise rider for Derby winner Swaps. He watched that race from the barn area; this time he smelled red roses in the winner's circle.
Sherman was all smiles after the race. "He gave me the biggest thrill I ever had in my life," he said.
California Chrome has the unlikeliest pedigree for a Derby champion. His mother, named Love the Chase, won just one race. She was purchased by Coburn and Martin, a move that prompted a trainer to call them "dumb asses" for getting involved in racing.
Feeling inspired, they named their operation DAP Racing, which stands for Dumb Ass Partners. Their silks include an image of a donkey.
Coburn lives near Reno, Nevada, rising at 4:30 a.m. for his job as a press operator at a 13-employee company that makes magnetic strips for credit cards and driver licenses.
Martin lives on the California side of the border near Reno, running a laboratory that tests high-reliability equipment such as car air bags and medical equipment.
Coburn and Martin's partnership is based on a handshake, and their wives are friends who enjoy the sport, too. The group came up with California Chrome's name by drawing it out of a hat. The horse hadn't even been out of his home state until this week.
"Sometimes you don't get a lot of respect," Sherman said. "We're in Kentucky and you know most of the Derby winners are bred here and few outside of Kentucky."
California Chrome extended his winning streak to five races, won by a combined 26 lengths. It was the second Derby win for Espinoza, who rode War Emblem to victory in 2002.
"I thought he rode him perfect," said Sherman, a former jockey. "I was riding the last 70 yards with Victor, so I think he was riding two. He had a lot of weight on him, I can tell you that."
Espinoza had California Chrome sitting comfortably in third in the 19-horse field as Uncle Sigh and Chitu set the early pace.
California Chrome made his move on the final turn in tandem with Samraat. It looked like those two would decide the outcome, until California Chrome sped away to become the first California-bred to win the Derby since Decidedly in 1962.
"This horse has so much talent," Espinoza said. "By the three-eighths pole I knew that was it. I could see other horses struggling a little bit, and he was just smooth."
Commanding Curve, a 37-1 shot, rallied for second, with Danza, named for actor Tony Danza of "Who's the Boss?" fame, third. Wicked Strong was fourth and Samraat finished fifth.
The top three
|California Chrome
|Commanding Curve


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The Problem
The rotator cuff is made up of tendons from the supraspinatous, infraspinatous, teres minor and subscapularis ('SITS') muscles, and plays an important role in the dynamic stability of the shoulder joint. These tendons may become damaged through an acute traumatic injury and/or through a chronic degenerative process of which multiple intrinsic and extrinsic risk factors have been described. A complete loss of continuity of one or multiple tendons is a full-thickness tear.
A full thickness cuff tear (RTC) can be classified by size (small, medium, large and massive i.e. >5cm), depth (partial or full thickness), degree of fatty infiltration (Goutallier classification, and tear pattern (ex. U-shaped, crescent, etc.).
Clinical Presentation
Patients classically present with pain and/or weakness. A detailed history should fully elucidate the nature of the pain – location, any radiation or accompanying paresthesias, quality and quantity, duration, ameliorating and aggravating factors. Information regarding how the pain changes throughout the day as well as previous treatment modalities (i.e. medications, physical therapy, injections) should also be obtained. Finally, an assessment of functional limitations with regards to impact on activities of daily living, as well as recreational and occupational pursuits should also be identified.
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Patients presenting with a full-thickness RTC tear typically complain of an achy-type pain that radiates laterally down the side of the shoulder, usually remaining above the elbow, often worse at night. They may or may not have had previous surgeries or interventions on the shoulder. Often, patients may also mention difficulty with reaching for objects on high shelves or pain with other overhead activities such as combing their hair or reaching for objects in their back pocket. Of note, the presence of pain and weakness for more than a year in the setting of a history consistent with full-thickness RTC tear, has also been reported to be associated with a worse prognosis.
Previous relevant surgical history, the presence of medical comorbidities, tobacco use and a general review of systems to assess candidacy for future surgical management should also be included.
Diagnostic Workup
Diagnostic workup begins with a history and physical examination. In the case of chronic tears, inspection may reveal muscle atrophy within the supraspinatus and infraspinatus fossae. For this reason, both shoulders should be inspected for comparison and symmetry. Concomitant degenerative processes may occur with findings of an enlarged acromioclavicular (AC) joint. On occasion, swelling due to an enlarged bursa can be identified. As with any general examination, previous surgical scars and the presence of any skin lesions should also be noted.
After inspection, palpating the bony prominences including the AC joint, greater tuberosity, acromion, and bicipital groove should be carried out in an attempt to elicit tenderness and potential sites of concomitant pathology. A systematic assessment of shoulder range of motion (ROM) is then performed. Both active and passive forward flexion, internal and external rotation of each shoulder is recorded.
Patients with pain and/or weakness secondary to supraspinatus muscle/tendon dysfunction may display a "painful arc" during shoulder abduction, as well as a "drop arm" sign in which the arm collapses to the side from a position of abduction. The presence of concomitant shoulder stiffness as marked by diminished active and passive ROM should be identified and treated prior to RTC surgery in order to minimize the chances for postoperative range of motion difficulty.
Several provocative tests and physical examination maneuvers have been described to evaluate the rotator cuff. The Jobe sign is performed by having the patient's arm abducted 90 degrees in the scapular plane and fully internally rotated (thumbs down). The examiner then forces both of the patient's arms downwards; the inability to resist the examiner's push is a positive sign.
The lift-off test and belly press tests are both used to evaluate the subscapularis. The belly press test which is reportedly more specific for the superior fibers of the subscapularis, is positive if the patient is unable to maintain the elbow anterior to the plane of the body while pressing on the belly. The lift-off test, which is more specific for the inferior portion of the subscapularis is performed with the hand behind the back. A positive test is marked by the inability to lift the hand off the back and push the examiner's hand away.
The teres minor is assessed with the hornblower's sign. The patient's arm is placed into 90 degrees of abduction and external rotation. An inability to maintain this position constitutes a positive sign and calls into question the integrity of the teres minor.
Finally, to test the infraspinatus the elbow is flexed to 90 degrees and the arm is adducted. The examiner fully externally rotates the arm while the elbow remains in a flexed position and if the patient's arm lags back towards the chest wall rupture of the infraspinatus tendon should be suspected.
The presence of marked weakness marked by < 4/5 strength on manual muscle testing for any of the four RTC muscles generally carries a worse prognosis for successful repair.
The presence of external or outlet impingement is identified by positive impingement signs as described by Neer and/or Hawkins. Concomitant proximal biceps tendon pathology should also be evaluated by biceps tension signs using the Speeds and Yergason's tests. The acromioclavicular joint should also be assessed as a potential source of pain by direct palpation or by performing provocative maneuvers (i.e. cross chest adduction or active compression test).
Finally, a neurovascular examination of all the peripheral nerves and pulses should be performed and fully documented, along with an examination of the elbow and cervical spine.
A complete set of plain radiographs including anteroposterior, outlet, ancillary and acromioclavicular joint views should be obtained when evaluating patients with suspected rotator cuff pathology. Findings associated with rotator cuff disease include a decreased acromiohumeral distance (i.e. <7mm) or proximal humeral head migration, subacromial spur formation, acromioclavicular joint arthritis with downward projecting osteophytes, an os acromiale, and cyst formation and sclerosis in the region of the greater tuberosity.
While ultrasound has proved to be an excellent screening tool for diagnosing patients with full-thickness rotator cuff tears its accuracy is operator-dependent and consequently MRI remains the imaging modality of choice. Typically, all the sequences are examined with particular emphasis on the T2 sequence, to identify the presence of a RTC tear. The approximate size, thickness of the tear, tendons involved and the amount of retraction are noted (Figure 1).
MRI also allows for the amount of fatty infiltration in the corresponding muscle bellies to be assessed. A classification system has been proposed by Goutallier: 1- some fat, 2-muscle > fat; 3-fat = muscle, 4-fat>muscle. The MRI should also be evaluated for other pathology involving the labrum, biceps, and articular surfaces to complete the imaging assessment of the shoulder joint.
Non–Operative Management
A combination of physiotherapy, corticosteroid injections, and/or NSAIDs are often suggested as first line interventions for patients with a symptomatic RTC tear, although there may not be an abundance of level 1 studies to support the use of these interventions. Typically, physiotherapy is prescribed for restoration and preservation of shoulder range of motion, along with periscapular and RTC strengthening exercises. There is controversy regarding the use of corticosteroid injections in the setting of a full-thickness RTC tear. These injections can, however, provide short-term pain relief. Multiple injections should be avoided as tendon integrity can be compromised if surgery is being considered.
Duration of non-operative management varies. Decision-making on the duration of non-operative management is influenced by the chronicity of the tear, tear size, physical examination findings of marked weakness and radiographic findings of concomitant degenerative change or fatty infiltration of the muscle belly. Commonly, physiotherapy, NSAIDs and injections are used for at least 6-12 weeks prior to considering surgical intervention. Patient characteristics are also considered as those physiologically young with acute tears who present with marked weakness may benefit from operative interventions sooner.
Indications for Surgery
Pain refractory to non-operative care in the setting of a full-thickness RTC tear on MRI is the primary indication for surgical intervention.
Surgical Technique
Surgical options include:
Open RTC repair – open versus mini-open
Arthroscopic RTC repair
Latissimus dorsi and pectoralis major transfers for massive, irreparable RTC tears – please refer to the section on massive RTC tears
Reverse total shoulder arthroplasty in the setting of concomitant arthropathy (i.e. Rotator cuff arthropathy)
Rotator cuff repair is typically performed as an outpatient, ambulatory procedure. For both arthroscopic and open rotator cuff repair, patients may be administered a regional interscalene block and/or general anesthetic. Interscalene blocks offer the advantage of post-operative pain control lasting several hours, thus minimizing recovery room stay and the need for parenteral and oral narcotics during this time period. A systematic examination under anesthesia of the involved shoulder is then performed. Range of motion is assessed in all planes and compared to the contralateral shoulder. A careful manipulation is performed to release any capsular contracture as needed.
The procedure can be performed in either the beach-chair or lateral decubitus position according to surgeon preference. A careful, systematic diagnostic arthroscopy of the glenohumeral joint and subacromial space is performed initially. Concomitant pathology (i.e. biceps tendon lesions, labral tears, subacromial spurs, symptomatic acromioclavicular joint arthritis) is addressed at this time.
The basic principles of rotator cuff repair are the same regardless of technique and approach. These include tear identification, classification (i.e. morphology, size, degree of retraction, tissue quality), mobilization, footprint preparation, and secure fixation to bone. Rotator cuff tears are identified at the time of glenohumeral arthroscopy performed through a standard posterior viewing portal. Full-thickness tears will permit direct passage of the arthroscope into the subacromial space. Articular-sided tears should be debrided and tagged with a suture marker placed percutaneously along the lateral border of the acromion using an 18-gauge spinal needle, for later identification in the subacromial space. The arthroscope is re-directed into the subacromial space. A lateral portal is created approximately three fingerbreadths from the lateral border of the acromion. We prefer to place this portal using the spinal needle such that it is centered over the mid-portion of the tear. A bursectomy is performed as needed. An acromioplasty and and/or distal clavicle resection is typically carried out at this point if deemed appropriate based upon the pre-operative examination and imaging studies.
The rotator cuff tear should be assessed from both the posterior and lateral portals in order to gain a full appreciation of its size, shape, and degree of retraction and to formulate a plan for configuration of the repair (Figure 2).
A grasper is used to assess tear mobility and the need for releases. Arthroscopic elevators and radiofrequency or electrocautery devices are used to carefully release any bursal adhesions. An elevator can be directed towards the coracoid process while placing gentle traction on the rotator cuff with a grasper thereby releasing the coracoacromial ligament. If needed, a superior peri-labral release can be performed, however, instruments should not be directed too far medially (>1.5-cm) to avoid injury to the suprascapular nerve. If needed, anterior and/or posterior interval slides can be performed, but this is beyond the scope of this chapter. Once the tendon has been adequately mobilized and can be re-approximated to cover the footprint without excessive tension with the arm in adduction no additional releases are necessary.
Footprint preparation can be done using a motorized shaver or burr. A bleeding cancellous bed is created being careful to remove only the superficial cortical layer of bone so as not to compromise suture anchor fixation.
The surgeon can then proceed with either a mini-open or all arthroscopic repair according to preference and/or experience. Mini-Open RTC repair is performed through a small skin incision which is typically made in Langer's lines by extending the lateral portal by a few centimeters. The incision is made and subcutaneous flaps are raised in all directions. A self-retaining retractor can be placed and a deltoid splitting incision is made from the acromion laterally for a distance of no more than 4-5-cm so as to avoid injury to the axillary nerve. A suture can be placed at the distal extent of the deltoid split to further protect the nerve. The retractor can be replaced at this time beneath the deltoid exposing the underling rotator cuff. The mayo scissors are then used to remove any residual overlying bursa, which may be identified with IR/ER of the humeral head. The cuff is then visualized and the tear identified and repaired.
A multitude of repair techniques and configurations have been described with the common principles of secure suture-tendon and tendon-bone fixation. In general, we prefer to use heavy number 2 non-absorbable braided solid-core suture material placed in a locking fashion (i.e. modified Mason-Allen) across the tendon edge to minimize the potential for suture cut-through. Fixation to bone can be accomplished either through transosseous tunnels or suture anchors. Transosseous tunnels are placed at the lateral extent of the footprint and exit lateral to the greater tuberosity. These are created by fashioning converging tunnels with either a drill, curved awl or in the case of "soft" bone by simply using a stout curved tapered needle. If suture anchors are chosen we typically prefer to use the "screw in" variety placed lateral to the tuberosity at 45 degrees with respect to the line of pull of the rotator cuff ("deadman's" angle). Such placement has been shown to minimize the chances for anchor pull-out. Single, double or even triple loaded anchors can be used offering multiple options for repair configuration.
In an effort to mimic the biomechanical strength of a transosseous repair, double row techniques have been developed in which two rows of anchors are utilized. A medial row is placed just adjacent to the articular margin of the numeral head while a second row of anchors is inserted just lateral to the greater tuberosity. Medial row sutures are placed in a horizontal mattress fashion while lateral row sutures are placed in a simple or locking fashion to secure the tear edge. Alternatively, a "transosseous-equivalent" repair configuration can be chosen in which the limbs of the medial row sutures are "bridged" over the tendon edge and secured lateral to the tuberosity using knotless suture anchors. Medial row sutures are typically criss-crossed over the tendon in order to enhance footprint contact and re-approximation. The repair is then assessed and the wound closed in layers beginning with the deltoid split, followed by the subcutaneous tissue and skin (Figure 3).
The all-arthroscopic repair technique employs all of the same principles as the mini-open and open procedures. This technique, however, requires advanced arthroscopic skills and typically entails a rather steep learning curve to master.
An ancillary portal is placed just adjacent to the lateral edge of the acromion. This portal, which is first localized using a spinal needle, is used for anchor insertion. Several instruments have been developed to assist in suture passage. These can be categorized as either direct suture passing or suture shuttling devices. Additional anterior and posterolateral portals are created as necessary to assist with suture management and better access to the tear. Surgeons performing this technique must be proficient in arthroscopic knot-tying. Newer generation knotless anchors have been developed, however, to make these techniques somewhat simpler and more accessible to surgeons who may not perform a lot of repairs.
When choosing a technique it is worthwhile to keep in mind that well-performed open repair will typically yield a better outcome than a poorly performed arthroscopic repair. The technique chosen should therefore reflect the surgeon's level of experience and training.
Pearls and Pitfalls of Technique
Mini-open RTC repair
Ensure the underlying cuff is protected prior to distal clavicle excision
Repair of deltotrapezial fascia is crucial to outcomes
Can be converted to latissimus dorsi transfer intra-operatively if tear assessed and too massive for repair
Larger incision cosmetically than arthroscopic procedure
Greater detachment of the deltoid and greater trauma to overlying soft tissues
Cannot address concomitant intra-articular pathology in single approach
Arthroscopic RTC repair
Pre-operative MRI allows assessment of degree of fatty infiltration of rotator cuff muscle bellies
Lateral decubitus may be preferable if suspected concomitant labral tear repair required
Arthroscopic technique allows for assessment of other glenohumeral pathology
Decreased cerebral perfusion and associated risks of beach-chair positioning
Cannot convert beach-chair positioned patient intra-operatively to tendon transfer for massive irreparable cuff tear
Potential Complications
Complications pertaining to any surgery in beach-chair position including decreased cerebral perfusion and pressure sores on the face are present, as are complications associated with anesthesia and peri-operative resuscitation.
Other complications specific to this procedure include injury to the axially nerve, wound dehiscence, and repeat tears may occur although varying frequencies are cited, as well as the possibility of continued weakness and remnant pain despite the repair.
Post–operative Rehabilitation
Post-operatively, depending on the size of the tear, rehabilitation protocols may vary. Generally, small repairs may be mobilized within 2 weeks. In the case of a larger tear, however, physical therapy may be delayed for up to 6 weeks following surgery. In either case, an arm sling is maintained for the first 6 weeks during which patients are instructed to perform active range of motion exercises for the elbow, wrist and hand. Active range of motion exercises are usually not initiated until 6 weeks after surgery and rotator cuff strengthening is not begun for 12 weeks. Constant surveillance is required during the early post-operative period to avoid shoulder stiffness. Patients should be encouraged to be an active participant in their rehabilitation through physical therapy attendance and daily home exercises. Full or near-full range of motion is generally desirable by 3-4 months while strength recovery can take considerably longer with strength restoration taking up to a year or more following repair.
Outcomes/Evidence in the Literature
Pedowitz, RA, Yamaguchi, K, Ahmad, CS, Burks, RT, Flatow, EL, Green, A, Ianotti, JP, Miller, BS, Tashjian, RZ, Watters, WC, Weber, K, Turkelson, CM, Wies, JL, Anderson, S, St Andre, J, Boyer, K, Raymond, L, Sluka, P, McGowan, R. "Optimizing the management of rotator cuff problems". JAAOS. vol. 19. 2011. pp. 368-379. (Review of literature: Four practice recommendations with moderate evidence to support – include exercise, use of NSAIDs for rotator cuff symptoms; that routine acromioplasty is not indicated; and finally that porcine based patches not be used in RTC repairs.)
Bak, K, Sørensen, AK, Jørgensen, U, Nygaard, M, Krarup, AL, Thune, C, Sloth, C, Pedersen, ST. "The value of clinical tests in acute full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon: does a subacromial lidocaine injection help in the clinical diagnosis? A prospective study". Arthroscopy. vol. 26. 2010. pp. 734-42. (Level 1 study: subacromial lidocaine injection improves specificity but decreases sensitivity of a positive lag sign in predicting a full thickness supraspinatous tear.)
Castoldi, F, Blonna, D, Hertel, R. "External rotation lag sign revisited: accuracy for diagnosis of full thickness supraspinatus tear". JSES. vol. 18. 2009. pp. 529-34. (Level 2 study: External rotation lag sign is highly sensitive and specific for the diagnosis of a full-thickness supraspinatous rotator cuff tear.)
Furcentese, SF, von Roll, AL, Pifrmann, CW, Gerber, C, Jost, B. "Evolution of nonoperatively treated symptomatic isolated full-thickness supraspinatous tears". JBJS Am. vol. 94. 2012. pp. 801-8. (Natural history of non-operative management of small full-thickness cuff tears over an average of 3.5 years found variability in tears that remained versus those that increased in size. Despite conservative care for small cuff tears, patients had mean Constant score of 75 points over this time period.)
Kuhn, JE, Dunn, WR, Sanders, R, An, Q, Baumgarten, KM, Bishop, JY. "Effectiveness of physical therapy in treating atraumatic full-thickness rotator cuff tears: a multicenter prospective cohort study". JSES. 2013. (Level 1 study: Evidence that physical therapy is an effective treatment for atraumatic full-thickness RTC tears in 2 year follow-up.)
Koh, KH, Kang, KC, Lim, TK, Shon, MS, Yoo, JC. "Prospective randomized clinical trial of single- versus double-row suture anchor repair in 2- to 4-cm rotator cuff tears: clinical and magnetic resonance imaging results Arthroscopy". vol. 27. 2011. pp. 453-62. (Level 1 study: No difference in retear rates of full-thickness RTC tears between single row and double row arthroscopic repairs.)
Zhang, Z, Gu, B, Zhu, W, Zhu, L, Li, Q. "Arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair: a prospective, randomized study with 24-month follow-up". European Journal of orthopaedic Surgery and traumatology. 2013. (Level 1 study: Arthroscopic repair of full thickness RTC tears has better post-operative strength but higher retear rate compared to mini-open repair.)
Van der Zwaal, P, Thomassen, BJ, Nieuwenhuijse, MJ, Lindenburg, R, Swen, JW, van Arkel, ER. "Clinical outcome in all-arthroscopic versus mini-open rotator cuff repair in small to medium-sized tears: a randomized controlled trial in 100 patients with 1-year follow-up". vol. 29. 2013. pp. 266-73. (Level 2 RCT study: No difference was found in functional outcomes, pain, range of motion and complications at 1-year post-op between those patients treated with an all-arthroscopic technique versus those treated with a mini-open technique, although the arthroscopically treated group attained benefits from surgery at earlier time points in followup.)
Slabaugh, MA, Friel, NA, Karas, V, Romeo, AA, Verma, NN, Cole, BJ. "Interobserver and intraobserver reliability of the Goutallier classification using magnetic resonance imaging: proposal of a simplified classification system to increase reliability". Arthroscopy. vol. 40. 2012. pp. 1728-34. (Good inter- and intra- observer reliability for looking at RTC on MRI and assessing degree of fatty infiltration.)
Cuff, DJ, Pupello, DR. "Prospective randomized study of arthroscopic rotator cuff repair using an early versus delayed postoperative physical therapy protocol". JSES. vol. 21. 2012. pp. 1450-5. (Level 1 study: No difference in early (post-operative day 2) versus late (post-operative week 6) mobilization protocols after full-thickness rotator cuff repair.)
Full-thickness rotator cuff tears are diagnosed with the help of a thorough history and physical examination, as well as the use of imaging studies, most commonly, MRI. Symptomatic full thickness rotator cuff tears can be managed surgically. Surgical repair can often be performed arthroscopically. Post-operatively a graduated physiotherapy protocol is initiated, that may be adjusted depending on intra-operative findings.
Copyright © 2017, 2013 Decision Support in Medicine, LLC. All rights reserved.
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SAN MATEO, Calif.— Like all great DIY projects, the 3rd annual Maker Faire bonanza here this weekend had all the key hands-on ingredients: tools, geeks and BBQ. From fire-breathing robots and algae-gargline biofuel pumps to inspiring talks from PM's own MythBusters, our buddies at MAKE Magazine threw one helluva gonzo builderfest. Equally celebrating creativity, innovation and the future of science education, this backyard on steroids deployed hundreds of the country's top tinkerers—including this handful of genius minds whose creations could someday upstage the corporate competition.
$500 Open-Source Multi-Touch Table /// Tony DeRose
We've followed the next generation of hands-on computer interfaces all the way from the labs to Jeff Han's wall-mounted display for CNN and the CIA, from the hype surrounding Microsoft's Surface to the reality of the touchscreen table arriving in AT&T stores. And while we were disappointed that Eyebeam's much-ballyhooed, open-source Cubit device didn't end up making it to Maker Faire, this "happy accident" from four geek colleagues more than made up for it. In about three combined day's worth of tinkering after work at a computer-graphics firm in the movie industry, DeRose teamed with his son and software engineers Josh Minor, Brendan Donohoe and Rudro Samanta to turn an Instructables project into a laptop-powered version of Surface—for 500 bucks (including $100 in maple for the table itself, plus the computer and a projector). "It's a cool little recipe," DeRose says of the DIY hardware, which uses cheap LEDs for basic functionality ranging from a music sequencer to Pong—though not much else. "We didn't invent anything here, just took the system that Jeff Han built and did it on the cheap." We politely beg to differ.
More From Popular Mechanics
Hand-Built UAV Sharpshooters /// Chris Benton
A University of California at Berkeley professor of architecture professor by day, Benton's Kite Aerial Photograph Collective was featured on the cover of MAKE's first issue—and has been growing ever since. You (and maybe the U.S. military) would like to think his team's contraptions are surveillance UAVs available on the cheap, but they're really nothing more than cameras and remote-control circuitry rigged to drug-store frame kites. While trying to bring down costs for the increasingly popular hobby and spreading its appeal on photo sites like Flickr, they've developed a stable of stock photos, some real-time video and an army of micro-controllers to keep these snap-happy drones from dying a quick death. "It keeps taking pictures until the battery's dead or your card's full," says photographer Ben Peoples. "And it's a whole lot cheaper than renting a helicopter."
Open-Source Rock Band Mod /// Louis Ingenthron
We were beyond prepared to roll our eyes at yet more pre-teens stumbling through a classic-rock ballad on the Rock Band drum set and guitar duo at a Microsoft booth—that's so last year's tech conventions. But the more be-pimpled Full Sail University game-dev student Louis Ingenthron described Unsigned, his take on the Harmonix gaming powerhouse (PM-tested, Bon Jovi-approved), the more we wanted to snag the hardware off of eBay and download our own songs instead of grabbing the game. "It's all legal, I promise," Ingenthron pleaded. And best of all, it's free—right here.
10,000-Year Crawling Clock /// Long Now Foundation
Life-size "Mouse Trap" be gone! This was the coolest demo of purely mechanical prowess we may have seen at all of Maker Faire. The folks at Long Now are all about extending the lifetime of the world's landmark devices. So to preserve a 20-ft.-tall, multi-ton timekeeper near Silicon Valley, they devised this Walking Bearing Prototype—sans ball bearings. With phased cams passing along clock pieces—"like crowd surfing," as one exhibitor described it—flusher hinges can essentially bend pieces of metal without long-term corrosion ... ever.
Solar-Powered Stirling Engine /// Doug Lonner
We've seen truly breakthrough gadgets powered by the sun and available at a low-cost, but Conner's machine is a great backyard beginning. "I've been doing these projects for years," Conner says. "And I think it can handle a lot more torque than this." Well 2-in.-lbs. and 70 rpms ain't bad for a guy operating from his garage—and not using the valves normally required for Stirling power. Check out how it works here, and explore more of this weekend's DIY prowess over at MAKE.


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RequirementsThis tutorial assumes you have access to:
- SQL Server 2008 or higher
- NOTE: If you are using the default database configuration and SQL Server Management Studio, connect to the server instance as (LocalDB)\v11.0
- An Azure Search Service (learn more here)
- Visual Studio 2012 or higher
- Source Code for sample
Configuring the SQL Server to Azure Search SampleAt this point you should have downloaded the sample project and opened it up in Visual Studio. In the sample Visual Studio project, you will need to add the connection information for your Azure Search service. Please also make note of the connection information for your SQL Server database in case it needs to be modified. Open up app.config and make changes to the SearchServiceName and SearchServiceApiKey values to reflect your Azure Search service and Azure Search Service API Key which can be found in the Azure Portal.
Adding Change Tracking to Your SQL Server DatabaseWhen you launch this application, a new database called "AzureSearchSyncTest" along with a table called Products is populated with data. Once this table is created, Change Tracking for this table will be enabled.
OPTIONAL: If you wish to try this in your own SQL Server database, there are two scripts in the \sql folder that you can use. Or simply change the connection information in the app.config file to point to your SQL Server instance.One file that is worth reviewing is the add_change_tracking.sql file located in the \sql folder. Note that only two SQL Commands are required to turn on Integrated Change Tracking for this table:
The first command turns on change tracking in the database and tells SQL Server to retain change information for 2 days, after which the change data will be deleted to avoid taking too much database space. The second command tells SQL Server which table to track. For this demo, we have told SQL Server to only track rows that were changed and not to track column specific updates. An alternative approach is to enable change track on columns. You should do this if it makes more sense to send the columns that have changed rather than the entire row that changed. Keep in mind that this would increase the amount of storage allocated for change tracking, however, it might be worth it if you are making a lot of data changes and the changes are usually limited to a few columns in a row.
ALTER DATABASE SyncTest SET CHANGE_TRACKING = ON
ALTER TABLE Products ENABLE CHANGE_TRACKING
How it WorksLet's take a closer look at this console application that does the synchronization from SQL Server to Azure Search. In the previous step, you would have opened the application in Visual Studio. If you have not done so, please open it now.
Detecting ChangesThe ability to detect the changes efficiently in SQL Server is key to this application. Open the Program.cs file and move to the Main(string[] args) function. The first line we want to make note of is:
_lastVersion = -1;SQL Server Integrated Change Tracking uses a Change Version which gets incremented every time a change is made to one of the tracked tables. Using this Change Version, you can ask SQL Server to send back the changes that have occurred since a specific Change Version. This _lastVersion variable is used to track the Change Version that was used when the previous sync successfully completed. In this case, we are running the app for the first time, so we set it to -1 which will tell the application to sync all of the data for the first synchronization. An optional enhancement you could make to this application is to store this _lastVersion value somewhere and load it when the application runs. That way you can pick up where you left off even if you close the application. The next lines of this function initialize change tracking in the SQL Server database as well as to create the Azure Search index which will receive the data. If we move to the while (true) loop we can see that this application will check for changes every 5 seconds [Thread.Sleep(5000)]. Within this loop we can see that a ChangeEnumeratorSql is created. This is the query that will be used to do a full upload of the data from SQL Server to Azure Search the first time through. Next, changeEnumerator.ComputeChangeSet(_lastVersion) is called. This call does quite a bit of work which you can see if you open the ChangeEnumerator.cs file and move to the ComputeChangeSet(Int64 lastVersion) function. First, it calls GetChangeSetVersion(con), which will ask SQL Server what the most recent Change Version is. We will remember this, because the next time we run through this, we want to use this value to find any changes that have happened since this point. Next, we see a call to EnumerateUpdatedDocuments(con, lastVersion), which gathers all of the data changes into an IEnumerable<Dictionary>. If you drill into this EnumerateUpdatedDocuments function you will notice the first time (where _lastVersion is -1) it will do the full select of the data. If the _lastVersion is > -1 it will only get the changes. You can see that the table CHANGETABLE is key to being able to get the changes. This table is an internally table maintained by SQL Server. You might also notice the following lines which say we only want to get the Inserts and Updates that have happened to the Products table:
If you want to add the ability to sync deletes, you can also call this table in a similar way where you request CT.SYS_CHANGE_OPERATION = 'D'. SQL Azure does not currently support Integrated Change Tracking, so you would need to alter this application to implement a different change tracking method (e.g., rowversions + tombstones).
sqlCmd += "and (CT.SYS_CHANGE_OPERATION = 'U' ";
sqlCmd += "or CT.SYS_CHANGE_OPERATION = 'I') ";
Pushing changes into Azure SearchNow that we have reviewed the method used for getting changes, let's go back to the while (true) loop in the Main(string[] args) function of Program.cs. Picking up where we left off we can see a call to ApplyChanges(changes). This will take the ChangeSet received of the data that is to be uploaded to Azure Search. If you drill into this function you will see that this will upload the changes in batches of 999. It also uses an action called: "mergeOrUpload". This tells Azure Search that the data that is being received should be inserted if the document key does not exist and update the values in the corresponding document if the key does exist. A key field is used to uniquely identify a document in Azure Search. In our case, the field productID is uses as our key field. One optional enhancement you could make is if you are uploading new rows and you're sure they are new, upload should be faster than merge and mergeOrUpload.
Scheduling of SyncThis is a very simple console application that uses a while loop to check for changes every 5 seconds and is run. In a production environment on premise, you would want to consider making this a windows service or implement some sort of scheduling job. If you are running this in the cloud (say against a SQL Server VM), a Webjob or a WebRole is probably the best way to implement this functionality.
Running the Application to Upload Data Changes from SQL Server to Azure SearchAt this point we are ready to launch the application. You may wish to add a breakpoint in the Main function located within the Program.cs file so that you can step through the application. You should see text in the Console as follows:
Sync Processing Started...
Creating SQL Server database with Products table...
Enabling change tracking for Products table...
Uploading 294 changes...
Sync Complete, waiting 5 seconds...
Sync Complete, waiting 5 seconds...Notice how the first execution of the application uploaded all 294 rows. At intervals of 5 seconds, the application will check for changes and then upload them. Let's make a change to one of the rows and see what happens. While keeping the application running, connect to the SQL Server database AzureSearchSyncTest and execute:
UPDATE [Products] set Color = 'Green' where ProductID = 680Go back to the console window and you should see the following message:
Uploading 1 changes...The application found the one update and uploaded it to Azure Search. This will also work if you Insert a new row. Please note, Integrated Change Tracking will also track row deletions, however, this has not been added to this sample.
Verify Data in Azure Search IndexNow that we have data synchronizing up to your Azure Search Index, let's query the index and make sure all of the data is there. To do this we will use Fiddler.
- From Fiddler, choose the "Composer" tab and then choose the "Parsed" tab
- In the combo box choose: GET
- In the URL enter the following, replacing with your Azure Search Service name: https://[AZURESEARCH_SERVICENAME].search.windows.net/indexes/catalog/docs('680')?api-version=2014-07-31-Preview
- In the Request Header section enter the following, replacing the api-key value with your valid API key
- Press Execute
Double click on this row and you should see a window open displaying the JSON result for this row.Notice how this row does exist and also the Color of green has also been uploaded. At this point you have synchronization running between SQL Server and Azure Search.
Optional Enhancements to SampleHere are some enhancements you may wish to make to this sample:
- Add support for uploading deletes to Azure Search. For more details on how to execute deletes in Azure Search, please visit the Azure Search API Docs for this topic.
- Every time the application starts a _lastVersion value is set to -1. This tells the application to execute a full upload of data changes to Azure Search. You might want to store that last successful Change Version in your database and retrieve this when the application starts so that the application can pick up where it left off.
- Consider modifying this console application into a Windows Service.


text:
eso9532 — Science Release
A Surprise From the Pulsar in the Crab Nebula
20 November 1995
New observations of the spectrum of the rapidly spinning neutron star (the `pulsar') in the Crab Nebula have been carried out with the ESO 3.5-metre New Technology Telescope (NTT) by a group of Italian astronomers [1]. Because of greatly improved spectral resolution which allows to register even very fine details in the pulsar's spectrum, they are able to determine for the first time with high accuracy the overall dependance of the emission on wavelength, i.e. the 'shape' of the spectrum. Quite unexpectedly, they also detect a hitherto unknown 100 A (10 nm) broad 'absorption dip', which can be securely attributed to the pulsar. These results open an exciting new window for the study of the extreme physical processes close to a pulsar.
The Nature of Pulsars
It is estimated that there may be as many as 100 million neutron stars in our Galaxy. A neutron star is the superdense remnant of the extremely violent supernova explosion that occurs at the end of the life of a comparatively massive star. In fact, all stars that are more than about 6 times heavier than the Sun are believed to end their lives as supernovae.
During the explosion, the central core of the dying star collapses in a few milliseconds and the matter at the centre is compressed to a density comparable to that of an atomic nucleus. Due to the enormous inward pressure, the atomic particles are squeezed together into a kind of neutron jam. The outcome is the formation of a neutron star with a diameter of 10-15 kilometres, weighing as much as the Sun. In accordance with the physical law that implies that the rotation momentum of the exploding star must be conserved, newborn neutron stars will rotate very rapidly around their axis, in some cases as fast as 100 times per second. In the same way, the new neutron star is expected to possess a strong magnetic field.
Of these myriads of neutron stars, about 700 have been observed to emit radio pulses (hence the name 'pulsar'). A few of these can also be detected at optical wavelengths and only one is bright enough to allow reasonably detailed spectroscopic observations with currently available optical telescopes.
The Crab Pulsar
This is the famous Crab Pulsar, also known as PSR 0531+21. It was discovered as a radio pulsar in 1968, soon after the detection of the first known radio pulsar. A little later, pulsed optical emission from the Crab Pulsar was also observed. It was quickly recognized that this emission obeys Pacini's law [2]. Stated in simple terms, this implies that the emission of optical light from the pulsar is due to the interaction between very energetic elementary particles close to the neutron star and its incredibly strong magnetic field.
The Crab Pulsar is especially interesting, because we have detailed historical information about the event from which it was born: the very bright 'guest star' which was so well observed and described by Chinese astronomers in the year 1054 AD in the constellation of Taurus (the Bull). At the exact location of this supernova is now observed the famous Crab Nebula in which the Crab Pulsar is embedded.
The Crab Nebula is a very conspicuous object in the sky (the name alludes to its overall form), and it emits a very significant amount of energy at all wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum that have so far been explored, from long-wave radio waves to gamma-rays of ultra-high energy. At X-ray wavelengths (above 1 keV), it is in fact one of the brightest, continuously emitting sources in the sky. The Crab Pulsar also emits at all wavelengths, but it is much fainter than the surrounding nebula. This Press Release is accompanied by a photo with caption, showing the pulsar in the innermost region of the nebula.
At optical wavelengths, the Crab Pulsar is a comparatively faint, point-like object of magnitude 16.6. It is interesting to note that, from the measured, outward motion of the individual condensations in the Crab Nebula, this object was recognized, already a decade before the discovery of pulsars, as the possible central remnant of the Crab Nebula [3]. This was fully confirmed when its pulsed radio emission was detected in 1968.
At this optical brightness, about 10,000 times fainter than the faintest stars that can be perceived with the unaided eye, the Crab Pulsar is still by far the brightest of the few known neutron stars whose optical light has been detected. It is in fact more than 1,000 times brighter than the next brightest pulsar, PSR 0540-69 in the Large Magellanic Cloud, a satellite galaxy to the Milky Way system in which we live.
Observations of the Crab Pulsar Spectrum
Thus it was possible for American astronomer J. Beverley Oke (Caltech) to perform the first optical measurements of the Crab Pulsar spectrum already in 1969. Although this was quite an observational feat at the time, the information content of that measurement is not very high by modern standards; the spectral resolution was only about 200 A (20 nm). Oke's spectrum of the Crab Pulsar qualitatively confirmed the theoretical expectations by being flat and featureless and no isolated spectral features were seen at this low resolution.
It appears that since 1969, nobody has obtained spectrum of the Crab pulsar with a better spectral resolution than Oke. This seems amazing, but may at least partly be explained by the fact that this object is deeply embedded in the much brighter Crab Nebula of expanding gas. Any spectrum of the pulsar is therefore necessarily strongly contaminated by that of the surrounding nebula, making it difficult to obtain a 'pure' spectrum of the pulsar.
Now, however, the group of Italian astronomers has performed a much improved spectral measurement of the Crab Pulsar with the EMMI multi-mode instrument at the ESO NTT. The resulting spectrum has a resolution of 2 A (0.2 nm), i.e. dramatically better than the one achieved in 1969, and reflecting the incredible evolution of astronomical instrumentation during the intervening quarter of a century. It thus shows many more spectral details. The analysis of the spectrum required very careful work; as would be expected, it was in particular the effective 'subtraction' of the background light from the Crab Nebula that caused the greatest problem.
The new, first-ever 'clean', high-resolution optical spectrum of a pulsar, is a spectacular scientific result; the corresponding graph and its caption are attached to this Press Release. First of all, the overall shape of the spectrum, i.e. the dependance of the emission from the pulsar on wavelength is now defined with unprecedented accuracy. Theory predicts a straight line; this is well confirmed and the slope of the line can be determined with a precision better than 1 percent. This new measurement has a direct implication for our understanding of the acceleration of energetic particles, close to the surface of the pulsar and also of the structure and intensity of its magnetic field.
A Mysterious Feature in the New Spectrum
Moreover, for the first time a feature is detected in the spectrum. Close to 5900 A (590 nm), i.e. at a wavelength that corresponds to orange light, a rather wide absorption 'dip' (100 A or 10 nm) is apparent in the otherwise featureless spectrum. It goes without saying that the astronomers have checked very carefully whether this feature might not, after all, have an origin outside the pulsar. But the measurements show that this dip is neither due to the Earth's atmosphere, absorption in interstellar space between the pulsar and us, nor absorption in the Crab Nebula around the pulsar. It thus appears firmly established that this feature must arise in the immediate surroundings of the neutron star.
What is the cause of this mysterious dip? Unfortunately, the present measurements do not allow a firm interpretation as to its physical nature. Normally the exact wavelength of a spectral feature will indicate the origin, but the observed wavelength does not correspond to any obvious feature in classical atomic-line spectra.
The matter is further complicated by the presence of a strong gravitational field near the surface of the pulsar which introduces a wavelength shift of an unknown size. This is the so called 'gravitational redshift', a relativistic effect that may be observed in intense gravitational fields. The size of the wavelength shift is proportionate, at least to a first approximation, to the strength of the gravitational field to which the emitting atoms are subjected. But the strength of the pulsar's gravitational field decreases with the altitude above the surface and as we do not know at which altitude the ions that produce the observed 'dip' are located, the induced shift is of unknown size.
The presence of this feature is an unexpected bonus for the study of the physics of neutron stars. Following a preliminary investigation of the possible causes, the astronomers are now of the opinion that it may have to do with light being absorbed due to the peculiar motion of atoms in the superintense magnetic field around the pulsar [4].
To cast more light on this problem, the group is now planning to obtain spectroscopic observations with an even higher spectral resolution. If not before, this will in any case become possible when the first 8.2-metre VLT Unit Telescope enters into operation in about two years' time.
[1] The group consists of Giovanni Bignami, Patrizia Caraveo, Roberto Mignani and Francesco Nasuti from Istituto di Fisica Cosmica e Tecnologie Relative in Milan, Italy.
[2] Named after Franco Pacini, Director of the Florence observatory and former President of the ESO Council.
[3] Much of this work is due to Lodewijk Woltjer, a Dutch astronomer, who was ESO Director General from 1975 to 1987.
[4] However, better data are needed to understand the nature of the absorption. While Iron has some lines in this spectral range, it could as well be cyclotron absorption for Hydrogen.
About the Release
|Release No.:
|Legacy ID:
|Crab Nebula, Crab Pulsar, Spectrum
|Milky Way : Star : Evolutionary Stage : Neutron Star : Pulsar
Milky Way : Nebula : Type : Supernova Remnant
|New Technology Telescope


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Owner of Mahoney's Garden Centers celebrates 50 years in the business
When Paul Mahoney started selling vegetables in 1959, he knew he was in a "growing" business.
He just didn't know how much.
Mahoney, now 74, has cultivated the seed of Mahoney's Rock Ledge, the small farm stand he planted on Winchester Street a half-century ago, into a $30 million-a-year operation, Mahoney's Garden Centers.
Mahoney's celebrated its 50th anniversary this week.
"It was just a canvas top with posts and rocks on the floor," Mahoney recalled of his first stand. "I wouldn't have quite believed what it has become."
Originally from Melrose, Mahoney moved to Winchester in 1946 after a death in the family left the land under control of his mother, Martha Russell Mahoney.
Mahoney worked on the farm — roughly 53 acres and used mostly for vegetables, cut flowers and pansies — from age 11, and began to sow seeds of success as a teenager.
"When I was a sophomore in high school, I went door-to-door selling corn and tomatoes," he said. "I made $1,200 that summer."
Mahoney's career aspirations, however, were still in flux. He attended Boston College after high school and graduated in 1957 with a bachelor's degree in economics.
He intended to follow in the footsteps of his father and sister by becoming an attorney.
However, after a brief stint with the U.S. Army and a short teaching gig in Boston, Mahoney realized his true calling.
"His heart was in the land," said Mahoney's wife Doris. "He always was a very proud farmer."
Mahoney's heart was also with Doris. The two were sweethearts in high school, and married in September of 1959, the same month he opened up shop.
"I remember we had to take a vacation that first month for our honeymoon," Mahoney said smiling.
The sapling years
Doris, a lifelong Winchester resident, said she enjoyed her early years of farming, when the land in town was less built-out and the methods of farming it were more picaresque.
"It was just beautiful waking up in the morning, and seeing Fred [an employee] out there with his horse plowing the field," she said. "A lot of things have changed."
For instance, back then, Mahoney's had quite a few competitors in town.
"There aren't many farms left in Winchester now," she lamented.
Doris said she and Mahoney enjoyed raising their six kids on the farm very much — even if they did greet customers in a somewhat unorthodox fashion.
"One day I said, 'You have to do something with the boys,'" Doris recalled with a sideward glance at her husband. "So he brought them down to the stand and said, 'OK boys, you're going to check out all the potatoes and throw out the bad ones.'"
Which, technically, they did.
"I come back a while later and they're throwing rotten potatoes out of the building near the customers," Mahoney said with a smile.
"There's one of the potato throwers," he said a few minutes later as Tom Mahoney strode into the room.
Tom admitted to the crime, with one clarification.
"We were throwing them at the customers, not near them," he said. "We figured if they could withstand that, they'd be good for buying stuff."
Business rooted in family
After their spud-chucking days were over, the Mahoney kids settled nicely into the family business.
Tom and his brother Peter Mahoney work at the Winchester location, and continuously turn over ideas for the future of the company like a gardener tilling soil.
"We're looking to the future of lawn care in America," said Tom, who is focused on creating the best organic fertilizers possible.
"We think the green venture is here to stay."
Peter agreed, and said that in just the last five years, the ratio of chemical to organic fertilizer sales has gone from 3-to-1 chemicals to 3-to-1 organic.
"The technology over the past five years has increased tenfold, and we're hoping to deliver a much better product for this area."
The brothers agreed that laws banning chemical fertilizers are already on the books in Wellesley and Weston, as well as in Quebec, Canada, and that they expect similar legislation to be enacted once the detrimental effects of chemicals on the health of humans and pets are more fully understood.
With this in mind, Tom said Mahoney's spent $200,000 building the prototype of a special truck for its SafeLawns and Landscapes service, which utilizes a living liquid biological "amendment" called SafeTea that rehabilitates lifeless soils.
The truck requires a special aeration system to ensure the microorganisms survive, and according to the Mahoneys, can promote a fully healthy, lush lawn without the use of "harmful synthetic chemicals."
"Twenty years from now, we think everyone's going to know about this," said Tom.
Branching out
Though his family's farm has been firmly rooted in Winchester since 1878 (see timeline below), Mahoney, with the encouragement of his family, decided to open a second retail location in Tewksbury in 1980.
The success of that location, Mahoney's Too, led to a number of other ventures in surrounding towns over the next two decades.
"The kids got into the business and were really thinking ahead," said Mahoney.
He said that his son Paul Jr. is currently running the company's locations on Martha's Vineyard, while another son Mike is working on a line of organic herbs and vegetables called "Uncle Mike's," which will debut next spring.
"He's a fanatic about tomatoes and his veggie garden," said sister Laurie, who serves as the company's marketing director. "He knows everything about pesticides and organics."
Mahoney said he is proud to see his children carrying out the kind of innovative and forward-thinking customer service that he has been providing to customers for 50 years.
"What's made us successful is putting in the time and keeping on the edge of new [plant] varieties as they come out," he said.
For instance, he said that while they offered three kinds of impatiens when they opened, they now offer between 15 and 20.
"We are always attending shows all over the country to look for the best varieties," he said.
Giving back
Though the company now has eight locations across the state, Mahoney said he is proud that 40 percent of his business still comes from his original store in Winchester.
"It's great to be able to provide jobs for a lot of kids in town," said Mahoney, who added that he's seen multiple generations of youngsters walk the aisles of the greenhouse as kids and return as teenagers and adults for employment.
"No matter where we go, we always meet someone who reminds us that they once worked for us," said Doris. "It's a very satisfying feeling to know how many went on to successful careers of their own."
The couple also thanked the late Jim Amundsen, who never chose to move on, working for Mahoney's for about 50 years, until his death.
"He was really our first employee," said Doris.
In addition to providing jobs to the region, the company also donates landscaping to the Jenks Center and Town Hall Honor Roll, and recently provided parking for the Cal Ripken 12-Year-Old World Series.
"That was fun to watch," said Mahoney. "They really played well.
He added that out-of-state visitors seemed to like not only his business, but the town as well.
"It'll grow on you," he said with a smile.
A look at Paul Mahoney
Age: 74
Years in town: 64
Street: Socrates Way
Education: Boston College, B.S. in economics
Mahoney's accolades
- Mass. State Outstanding Young Farmers Award
- 1982 Recognized for generous Arbor Day contribution (Mass. Arborist Association)
- 1985 Award of Distinction (Mass. Flower Growers Association)
- 1986 Man of the Year (Mass. Flower Growers Association)
- 1993 Winchester Man of the Year for the beautification of the town
- 2001 Mass. Flower Growers Association Award of Excellence
- Boston Magazine Hall of Fame for Best Garden Centers in Boston
- Finalist in the Mass. Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
- President's Cup Award (New England Flower Show)
Mahoney Family Farm and Business Timeline
- 1700s: Major William Johnson owns 900 acres of land, some of which extends into Burlington
- 1726: Deed of Sale to William Belknap includes 200 acres, a barn and a house
- 1750: Deed of Sale to Daniel Reed includes 109 acres, a barn and house
- 1800s: After staying in the Reed family for three generations, 80 acres is sold to John Carlton
- 1878: The 80 acres was sold to John Russell and has been in the Mahoney/Russell family ever since
- 1946: Mahoney moves to the farm at age 11 after his mother comes into possession of 53 acres.
- 1959: Mahoney's Rocky Ledge farm stand opens.
- 1963: Mahoney builds the North Greenhouse, which helped improve flower quality.
- 1971: Mahoney purchases the Winchester Conservatories
- 1980: Mahoney's opens a second retail location, Mahoney's Too, in Tewksbury.
- 2007: With the addition of Chelmsford, the business now has eight locations and a state-of-the-art, 200,000 square-foot growing facility
- Present: The farm in Winchester has been in the family for four generation and expanded to 182 acres.