Usutu virus (USUV) is an African mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the Japanese encephalitis virus serocomplex. USUV is closely related to Murray Valley encephalitis virus, Japanese encephalitis virus, and West Nile virus. USUV was discovered in South Africa in 1959. In Europe, the first true demonstration of circulation of USUV was reported in Austria in 2001 with a significant die-off of Eurasian blackbirds. In the subsequent years, USUV expanded to neighboring countries, including Italy, Germany, Spain, Hungary, Switzerland, Poland, England, Czech Republic, Greece, and Belgium, where it caused unusual mortality in birds. In 2009, the first two human cases of USUV infection in Europe have been reported in Italy, causing meningoencephalitis in immunocompromised patients. This review describes USUV in terms of its life cycle, USUV surveillance from Africa to Europe, human cases, its cellular tropism and pathogenesis, its genetic relationship with other flaviviruses, genetic diversity among USUV strains, its diagnosis, and a discussion of the potential future threat to Asian countries.
The genus Flavivirus of family Flaviviridae is composed of more than 70 viruses. Among them, Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV), West Nile virus (WNV), Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MVEV), dengue virus (DENV), St. Louis encephalitis virus, and yellow fever virus are important threats to human health [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]. Usutu virus (USUV) is a mosquito-borne flavivirus belonging to the JEV serocomplex [ 2 , 4 ] and thus is closely related to JEV, MVEV, and WNV [ 4 ]. In 1959, USUV was isolated from Culex neavei mosquitoes in South Africa, and this strain, SouthAfrica-1959, is now considered as the reference strain [ 5 ]. Later, USUV was found to be associated with fever and rash in an African man [ 6 ]. In Europe, the first emergence of USUV was reported in Austria in 2001 [ 7 ]; however, retrospective analysis of archived tissue samples from bird deaths in the Tuscany region of Italy in 1996 [ 8 ] proved a much earlier introduction of USUV into Europe than previously assumed [ 9 ]. In the subsequent years, USUV was found to circulate in several other European countries by mosquitoes displacement or infected birds [ 10 , 11 ]. In comparison to the human USUV case in Africa, the human cases in Europe were more serious with typical flavivirus-related neuroinvasiveness and neurovirulence [ 12 , 13 ].
This review focuses on aspects of USUV related to its emergence from Africa and spread to Europe, as well as genetic diversity among different USUV strains.
The life cycle of USUV is quite similar to that of other members of the JEV serocomplex. Its natural life cycle involves mosquito-bird-mosquito cycles, in which mosquitoes act as vectors and birds as amplifying hosts. Many studies have demonstrated that multiple mosquito and avian species are involved in perpetuating the USUV life cycle [ 10 , 11 ]. Mosquitoes facilitate viral transmission to humans, horses, and rodents, which then act as incidental hosts [ 6 , 12 , 13 , 14 ]. Recently, USUV has also been isolated from bats in Germany [ 15 ]. The detection of USUV in bats raised questions for future research, including the potential role of bats as reservoirs in Africa and transmission by mosquito vectors.
USUV has been isolated from numerous mosquito species that include Culex pipiens [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ], Cx. neavei [ 5 ], Culex perexiguus [ 10 ], Aedes albopictus [ 16 ], Aedes caspius, Anopheles maculipennis [ 19 ], Culex perfuscus, Coquillettidia aurites, and Mansonia Africana [ 22 , 23 ]. Of these, Cx. pipiens is considered to be the most common vector [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 ]. In addition, Cx. neavei is the only mosquito species whose vector competence for USUV is known [ 24 ]; therefore, vector competence studies involving other mosquito species should be done to confirm their vector status.
Among avian species, Eurasian blackbirds ( Turdus merula) showed the highest mortality owing to USUV infection [ 18 , 19 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ]. Table 1 lists the diseased and non-diseased avian species with documented USUV infections along with their native geographic locations. USUV infection in the listed avian species was determined by immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-PCR, indirect immunofluorescence assay, ELISA, and plaque reduction neutralization assay [ 18 , 19 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].
Avian species infected with USUV in Europe.
| Species | Common Name | Country (year) | References |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dendrocopos major | Great spotted woodpecker | Belgium (2014) | [ 29 ] |
| Pyrrhula pyrrhula | Bullfinch | ||
| Columba livia domestica | Domestic pigeon | Greece (2014) | [ 30 ] |
| Turdus philomelos | Song thrushes | Spain (2012) | [ 31 ] |
| Turdus merula | Eurasian blackbird | Italy (2010–2011) | [ 18 , 19 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ] |
| Germany (2011) | |||
| Hungary (2003–2006) | |||
| Austria (2001–2005) | |||
| Alcedo atthis | Common kingfisher | Germany (2011) | [ 26 ] |
| Serinus canaria domestica | Canary | ||
| Alectoris rufa | Partridge | Italy (2010–2011) | [ 18 , 19 ] |
| Asio otus | Long-eared owl | ||
| Caprimulgus europaeus | Nightjar | ||
| Garrulus glandarius | Eurasian jay | ||
| Larus michahellis | Yellow-legged gull | ||
| Pica pica | Eurasian magpie | ||
| Streptopelica decaocto | Eurasian collared dove | ||
| Ardea cinerea | Grey heron | Germany (2011) | [ 18 , 19 , 26 ] |
| Merops apiaster | Eurasian bee-eater | Italy (2010–2011) | |
| Passer domesticus | House sparrow | ||
| Picus viridis | Eurasian green woodpecker | ||
| Sturnus vulgaris | Common starling | ||
| Strix nebulosa | Great grey owl | Germany (2011) | [ 26 , 27 ] |
| Austria (2001–2002) | |||
| Gallus gallus domesticus | Chicken | Italy (2007–2009) | [ 14 , 32 , 33 , 34 ] |
| Switzerland (2006–2007) | |||
| England (2006) | |||
| Spheniscus humboldti | Humboldt penguin | Switzerland (2006–2007) | [ 34 ] |
| Phoenicopterus ruber | Greater flamingo | ||
| Dacelo novaeguineae | Laughing kookaburra | ||
| Ciconia ciconia | White stork | Austria (2006–2007) | [ 34 ] |
| Leptoptilos crumeriiferus | Marabou stork | ||
| Neophron percnopterus | Egyptian vulture | ||
| Bubo bubo | Eurasian eagle owl | ||
| Bubo scandiacus | Snowy owl | ||
| Strix uralensis | Ural owl |
Following its identification in South Africa in 1959, USUV was reported in other African countries, including Central African Republic in 1969 (CAR-1969) and 1981 (CAR-1981), in Senegal in 1974 (Kedougou-1974), 1993 (Barkedji-1993), and 2007 (Barkedji-2007) [ 6 , 22 , 35 , 36 ], and in Tunisia in 2014 [ 37 ]. Since its introduction to Africa, it had typically been isolated from mosquitoes and had never been associated with serious illness in mammals. It had been isolated from mammals two times: the first instance was in an African furred rat ( Praomys sp.), and the second instance was in a man (CAR-1981) who exhibited fever and rash [ 6 ]. It is not known whether USUV originated in Africa or was introduced into this continent. Therefore, it is essential to gain a better understanding of the geographical distribution, ecology, epidemiology, and genetic diversity of this virus in Africa.
In 2001, the emergence of USUV was confirmed in Europe after a considerable die-off of Eurasian blackbirds ( T. merula) in Vienna, Austria [ 7 ]. In subsequent years, USUV was found in several other European countries, including Hungary (2003–2006) [ 25 ], Switzerland (2006) [ 11 ], Spain (2006–2009) [ 10 , 17 ], Italy (2009) [ 16 , 38 ], Germany (2013) [ 15 ], and Belgium (2014) [ 29 ], with virus isolation from mosquitoes, birds, and bats.
Moreover, USUV infection has also been demonstrated serologically in birds in England (2001–2004) [ 32 ], Czech Republic (2005) [ 39 ], Spain (2003–2006) [ 40 ], Poland (2006) [ 41 ], Switzerland (2006) [ 33 ], Germany (2007) [ 42 ], Italy (2007) [ 43 ], and Greece (2014) [ 30 ]. The recurrence of the virus in Italy (2010–2011) [ 18 , 19 ], Germany (2011) [ 26 ], Spain (2012) [ 31 ], and Czech Republic (2011–2012) [ 44 ] suggests persistence of the transmission cycle in the affected areas, possibly through overwintering mosquitoes [ 45 ]. In addition to wild birds, the prevalence of USUV has also been reported in birds of the zoological parks of Austria and Switzerland [ 34 ]. The broad immunological cross-reactivity between USUV and other flaviviruses could hamper the interpretation of results from serological-based studies on birds. Therefore, there is need for the development of standardized laboratory tests using validated methods that enable the differentiation of infections caused by USUV from those caused by antigenically related flaviviruses. The locations of the epidemiological studies confirming the presence of USUV in Europe are shown in Figure 1.
Geographic locations of USUV-related epidemiological studies on birds and mosquitoes in Europe. These studies were conducted using immunohistochemistry, reverse transcription-PCR, indirect immunofluorescence assay, ELISA, and plaque reduction neutralization assay [ 10 , 11 , 25 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 32 , 33 , 38 , 39 , 40 , 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. Each epidemiological study is indicated by ●.
Interestingly, similar blackbird deaths had also been reported in Italy in 1996 [ 8 ], as were in Austria in 2001 [ 7 ]. However, the virus responsible for those deaths was unknown at that time. Because this blackbird die-off event was only reported in a local Italian veterinary journal [ 8 ], it failed to get worldwide attention. In 2013, the partial nucleotide sequence of that unknown virus was compared with the Austrian strain (Vienna-2001), revealing complete sequence identity [ 9 ]. Based on these data, USUV emergence in Europe was much earlier than previously thought.
In addition to avian species, USUV has also been detected in humans. As previously discussed, the first case affecting a human was reported in Central African Republic in 1981 in a man with fever and rash [ 6 ]. Later, this strain was sequenced completely and designated CAR-1981 [ 46 ]. However, the history of the first human case of USUV-related illness is not very old in Europe. In 2009, the first European case was reported in Italy in a woman suffering from meningoencephalitis [ 12 ]. The analysis of cerebrospinal fluid by heminested RT-PCR assay that targets the prM and NS5 genes of flaviviruses, proved it a flavivirus infection. The nucleotide sequence of the yielded amplicon showed 98% identity to both Austrian (Vienna-2001) and Hungarian (Budapest-2005) strains and, thus, revealed the first human case of USUV-related neuroinvasive illness in Europe [ 12 ]. In addition, in 2009, USUV was isolated in Vero E6 cells from the blood of another Italian female patient who had undergone orthotropic liver transplantation [ 13 ]. This USUV-related viremia was confirmed by heminested RT-PCR assay targeting the NS5 gene of flaviviruses and subsequent identification by sequencing, which showed 98% identity to the USUV genome sequences available in GenBank [ 13 ]. This strain was sequenced completely and designated Bologna-2009 [ 47 ].
In 2012, a serological surveillance program was conducted in humans in southwest Germany [ 48 ]. A total of 4200 human serum samples were analyzed by an immunofluorescence assay for the detection of antibodies reacting with USUV antigen. All samples that were positive by this assay were double-checked by a commercially available USUV-specific IgG-capture ELISA kit. Among them, only one sample showed neutralizing antibodies against USUV, indicating a low and asymptomatic prevalence of USUV in Germany. A similar asymptomatic prevalence was reported in Italy, where four of 359 healthy blood donors tested positive for USUV-specific antibodies [ 49 ]. In 2013, neutralizing antibodies against USUV have also been detected in three patients in Croatia, suspected with WNV-related neuroinvasive infection [ 50 ].
Further studies should be implemented to assess the real risk of USUV infection in humans and to establish the usefulness of bird surveillance as a predictive marker for a USUV outbreak in humans.
USUV can infect cells of various tissues types derived from humans and a wide variety of animal species [ 51 ]. Bakonyi et al. investigated the susceptibility of various cell lines and cultures to USUV infection that include HeLa (human), Vero (simian), ED (equine), PK-15 (porcine), RK-13 (lapin), MDBK (bovine), MDCK (canine), DK (canine), CR (feline), BHK-21 (hamster), BF (hamster), C6 (rat), TH1 (turtle), primary goose embryo fibroblasts, and horse kidney cells [ 51 ]. Among them, Vero, PK-15, and goose embryo fibroblast cells developed cytopathic effects, indicating the suitability of these cells for diagnostic purposes. However, viral multiplication was detected in all mammalian cells by immunohistochemistry [ 51 ]. This difference in pathogenesis might have been influenced by several factors, including the role of defective interfering particles, immune response, and host resistance genes [ 52 ]. USUV has also been detected in brain, heart, liver, kidney, lungs, and intestinal tissues of laboratory infected mice [ 53 ] and natural infected birds [ 54 ], and this tissue tropism is similar to WNV [ 55 ]. However, demyelination of infected neurons was found to be a unique feature of USUV infection [ 53 ]. Further investigations involving different mammalian species will be important to estimate possible threat to domesticated animals and human population.
Autophagy is an important cellular pathway that contributes important roles in viral infections and pathogenesis [ 56 ]. In relation to genus Flavivirus, autophagy has been associated with multiple aspects of replication and pathogenicity of some members of this genus, including DENV [ 57 ], JEV [ 58 ], and USUV [ 59 ]. Some viruses, including USUV, can take advantage of autophagic process by incorporating the components from this cellular pathway in their own replication [ 59 , 60 ]. Upon USUV infection, the unfolded protein response due to Xbp-1 mRNA splicing and cytoplasmic aggregation of lipidated form of microtubule-associated protein 1 light chain 3 have been observed [ 59 ], which are considered as markers of autophagosome formation during viral infections [ 61 ]. Treatment with rapamycin, an inductor of autophagy, resulted in an increase in viral titer, whereas modulation of this pathway with inhibitors, wortmannin or 3-methyladenine resulted in a decrease in viral titer [ 59 ]. These findings provide the basis for the design of new antiviral therapies against USUV.
USUV is a small, spherical, enveloped virus with a diameter of 40–60 nm [ 62 ]. It has an 11-kb positive-sense, single-stranded RNA genome with a 5′ cap, but without a 3′ poly-A tail [ 62 ]. Similar to other flaviviruses, the genome contains a unique open reading frame spanning nucleotides 97–10,401. The USUV open reading frame encodes a polyprotein precursor of 3434 amino acid residues, which undergoes proteolytic cleavage by both viral and cellular proteases to yield three structural and eight non-structural (NS) proteins ( Figure 2). The structural proteins—core (C), pre-membrane (prM), and envelope (E)—contribute to the viral structural elements, whereas the NS proteins NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, 2K, NS4B, and NS5, regulate viral replication [ 62 ].
Phylogenetic analyses have been used to explore the genetic relationship among flaviviruses. In 2004, a phylogeny of the genus Flavivirus was established including one African (SouthAfrica-1959) and one European (Vienna-2001) strain of USUV [ 62 ]. This study was carried out by conducting both complete genome as well as polyprotein precursor sequence analyses [ 62 ] rather than partial nucleotide or amino acid sequence analyses, as was done previously [ 2 , 63 , 64 ]. These two USUV strains are 97% and 99% identical at nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively [ 62 ]. When comparing USUV to other JEV serocomplex viruses, the closest relative is MVEV that exhibits 73% and 82% identity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively. JEV and WNV exhibit 71% and 68% identity with USUV at the nucleotide level and 81% and 75% at amino acid level, respectively [ 62 ].
The phylogeny of important flaviviruses, including USUV, based on complete genome and polyprotein precursor sequence analyses is shown in Figure 3. The phylogenetic trees are constructed by the neighbor-joining method using MEGA [ 65 ]. The relative accession numbers of selected sequences are listed in Table 2 .
USUV model, its gene structure, and the proteins encoded by its genome. The polyprotein precursor is cleaved by cellular and viral proteases to yield three structural proteins (C, prM, and E) and eight non-structural proteins (NS1, NS2A, NS2B, NS3, NS4A, 2K, NS4B, and NS5).
( A) Phylogenetic tree based on complete genome sequence analysis. This figure illustrates the close genetic relationship between USUV and MVEV, WNV, and JEV. The relative accession numbers of selected flavivirus sequences are listed in Table 2 . The number at each node is the percentage of 1000 bootstrap replicates. ( B) Phylogenetic tree based on polyprotein precursor sequence analysis. This figure illustrates the close genetic relationship between USUV and MVEV, WNV, and JEV. The relative accession numbers of selected flavivirus sequences are listed in Table 2 . The number at each node is the percentage of 1000 bootstrap replicates.
Complete genome sequences and complete polyprotein precursor sequences used for the phylogenetic analyses.
| Virus Name | Nucleotide Accession Number | Protein Accession Number |
|---|---|---|
| Alfuy virus | AY898809 | AAX82481 |
| Apoi virus | NC_003676 | NP_620045 |
| Bagaza virus | HQ644144 | AEI27245 |
| Dengue virus type 1 | AF309641 | AAK62993 |
| Dengue virus type 2 | M29095 | AAA42941 |
| Dengue virus type 3 | AY679147 | AAT79552 |
| Dengue virus type 4 | AF326573 | AAK01233 |
| Ilheus virus | KC481679 | AGJ84083 |
| Japanese encephalitis virus (CH2195LA) | AF221499 | AAF34186 |
| Japanese encephalitis virus (JaOArS982) | M18370 | AAA81554 |
| Japanese encephalitis virus (RP9-190) | KF907505 | AHK05344 |
| Louping ill virus | KF056331 | AGN32859 |
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus (MK6684) | KF751869 | AIA58169 |
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus (NG156) | KF751870 | AIA58170 |
| Murray Valley encephalitis virus (OR156) | KF751871 | AIA58171 |
| Omsk hemorrhagic fever virus | AY193805 | AAP29989 |
| Powassan virus | L06436 | AAA02739 |
| Rocio virus | AY632542 | AAV34158 |
| St. Louis encephalitis virus | NC_007580 | YP_001008348 |
| Tick-borne encephalitis virus | KF151173 | AGP05331 |
| Usutu virus | AY453412 | AAS59401 |
| West Nile virus (Eg101) | AF260968 | AAG02039 |
| West Nile virus (NY99) | DQ211652 | ABA62343 |
| West Nile virus (WN Italy 1998-equine) | AF404757 | AAM81753 |
| Yellow fever virus | DQ235229 | ABB69689 |
| Yokose virus | NC_005039 | NP_872627 |
| Zika virus | AY632535 | AAV34151 |
Many USUV strains have been identified and sequenced. Of these strains, the genomes of only 15 have been sequenced completely ( Table 3 ), whereas the remaining strains have been only partially sequenced [ 15 , 46 , 47 , 66 ]. When compared with the reference strain (SouthAfrica-1959), all of the completely sequenced strains, except CAR-1969, exhibit 97% and 99% similarity at the nucleotide and amino acid levels, respectively, whereas CAR-1969 shares 81% nucleotide and 95% amino acid similarity. These data were confirmed by BLAST analysis (
The comparative analysis of the polyprotein precursor of all completely sequenced strains, except CAR-1969, to the reference strain revealed amino acid substitutions at specific positions ( Figure 4) [ 15 , 26 , 46 , 47 ]. A total of 11 amino acid substitutions (G569S, T716P, N790S, R1117K, N1267D, L1695M, R2030I, E2032Q, L2166F, S2290G, and S2849G) are common in all strains. However, certain substitutions are seen in particular strains, which may contribute to yet unknown strain-specific characteristics. These distinct substitutions are present in Kedougou-1974 (I283V, R891K, V1190I, F1240L, A1436T, V1492I, and K2706R), CAR-1981 (S1299L, Y1977H, and H2702Q), Barkedji-1993 (C994W and I1179V), Vienna-2001 (A1779V and F2367L), MeiseH-2002 (I822V and X2483L), Budapest-2005 (I176T and I1197T), Spain BM119/06 (R101K, L112V, M153T, G172D, G273S, V454A, I563V, V636A, Y967H, I1067V, V1227A, F1270L, V1460I, R1645K, Y1771H, D1791H, S1981G, I2009V, V2075I, H2301P, T2355N, E2552D, D2695E, K2902R, Y3055H, and I3322V), Barkedji-2007 (A30V, L568S, D1942E, N1983S, N2296S, and C2662Y), Italy-2009 (R181K and L3363P), Bologna-2009 (D3425E), BAT1USUTU-BNI (Q306E, V1841A, and M1870K), and BAT2USUTU-BNI (M3350V). Interestingly, S595G and D3425E substitutions in Bologna-2009 are considered important because they might have played a role in promoting the human-specific neuroinvasive capacity of this virus [ 47 ]. These substitutions are not seen in CAR-1981, which was associated with symptoms, such as fever and rash in a man [ 6 ]. Therefore, when comparing the two strains affecting humans, the two Bologna-2009 substitutions (S595G and D3425E) may contribute to the difference in virulence between them. Moreover, the Bologna-2009-related substitutions (S595G and D3425E) are common to some other flaviviruses (DENV, JEV, WNV, and MVEV) that also threaten human health [ 47 ]. DENV-2 isolates in Southern-Asia associated with human encephalitis [ 67 ] and Bologna-2009 have the same amino acid (serine) at position 595 in the DIII-Ir domain of the E protein [ 47 ]. Domain DIII of the E protein of flaviviruses is the likely receptor binding domain and the major determinant of virus cellular tropism [ 68 ]. Specific amino acid substitutions within Domain DIII of WNV have been implicated as mediators of virus infectivity, antigenicity, and virulence [ 69 ]. In addition, the D3425E substitution in Bologna-2009 is similar to that found in certain strains of JEV, WNV, and MVEV [ 47 ]. Studies on WNV have shown that substitutions in virtually equivalent positions were associated with variation in the ability of WNV to invade the central nervous system of laboratory-infected mice [ 70 ]. Furthermore, A1236V and L1549F substitutions in Mannheim-2011, BAT1USUTU-BNI, and BAT2USUTU-BNI are also considered important because similar mutations in the related WNV modulated the host antiviral response by inhibition of interferon signaling [ 71 ].
Nucleotide and amino acid sequence similarity in fully sequenced USUV strains.
| Strain | Geographical | Genome | Total | Nucleotide | Amino Acid | Nucleotide | Protein |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Origin | Length (bp) | Amino Acids | Similarity % | Similarity % | Access. No | Access. No | |
| South Africa-1959 | South Africa | 11064 | 3434 | - | - | AY453412 | AAS59401 |
| CAR-1969 | CAR | 10745 | 3434 | 81 | 95 | KC754958 | AGP50649 |
| Kedougou-1974 | Senegal | 10837 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | KC754954 | AGP50645 |
| CAR-1981 | CAR | 10800 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | KC754955 | AGP50646 |
| Barkedji-1993 | Senegal | 10837 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | KC754956 | AGP50647 |
| Vienna-2001 | Austria | 11066 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | AY453411 | AAS59402 |
| MeiseH-2002 | Austria | 11047 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | JQ219843 | AFE85504 |
| Budapest-2005 | Hungary | 11065 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | EF206350 | ABP88817 |
| Spain BM119/06 | Spain | 11064 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | KF573410 | AHA57377 |
| Barkedji-2007 | Senegal | 10825 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | KC754957 | AGP50648 |
| Italy-2009 | Italy | 11065 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | JF266698 | AEK21245 |
| Bologna-2009 | Italy | 11065 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | HM569263 | AEF13245 |
| Mannheim-2011 | Germany | 11003 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | HE599647 | CCD57503 |
| BAT1USUTU-BNI | Germany | 11065 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | KJ859682 | AIN76231 |
| BAT2USUTU-BNI | Germany | 11065 | 3434 | 97 | 99 | KJ859683 | AIN76232 |
Comparison of polyprotein precursors of fully sequenced USUV strains. Anchored C protein (1–126), prM protein (127–293), E protein (294–793), NS1 protein (794–1145), NS2A protein (1146–1372), NS2B protein (1373–1503), NS3 protein (1504–2122), NS4A protein (2123–2248), 2K protein (2249–2271), NS4B protein (2272—2529), and NS5 protein (2530–3434). All amino acid substitutions are shown with bolded and enlarged letters.
To gain a better knowledge about these strain-specific amino acid substitutions, comparative pathogenesis studies on different USUV strains will be important using animal models.
The 5ʹ and 3ʹ UTRs play important roles in flavivirus genome replication and translation [ 72 , 73 , 74 ]. The first 96 and the last 666 nucleotides in the genomes of different USUV strains contribute to the 5ʹ and 3ʹ UTRs, respectively [ 63 ]. Comparative analysis of all completely sequenced USUV strains, except CAR-1969, using the reference strain as a baseline revealed various nucleotide substitutions in the 5ʹ and 3ʹ UTRs of the strains ( Figure 5) [ 15 , 26 , 46 , 47 ]. In the 5ʹ UTRs, all strains showed common nucleotide substitutions at positions 31, 32, and 38. At position 14, only six strains (Kedougou-1974, CAR-1981, Barkedji-1993, MeiseH-2002, Barkedji-2007, and Mannheim-2011) showed a common nucleotide substitution. At position 10, MeiseH-2002 and Mannheim-2011 showed a common nucleotide substitution. However, MeiseH-2002 showed distinct nucleotide substitutions at positions 3 and 4.
In the 3ʹ UTRs, the nucleotide substitution scenario may be more revealing than in the 5ʹ UTRs. The most common nucleotide substitutions were observed at positions 10428, 10558, and 10698. At positions 10898 and 10945, only European strains showed common substitutions. The pattern of distinct substitutions also varied among different USUV strains. These distinct substitutions were observed in Kedougou-1974 (positions 10409, 10429, 10435, 10455, and 10770), Barkedji-1993 (10468, 10475, and 10484), MeiseH-2002 (10557), Spain BM119/06 (10420, 10424, 10478, 10537, 10665, and 10696), Barkedji-2007 (10479 and 10659), and Bologna-2009 (11050). CAR-1981 exhibited the most distinct features in its 3ʹ UTR with four unique substitutions (positions 10434, 10459, 10489, and 10715) and 16 nucleotide deletions ( Figure 5). These deletions were not observed in the Bologna-2009 strain, which might have played a basic role in the capability of this isolate to infect and provoke disease in a human [ 46 ].
CAR-1969 is the most divergent strain of USUV, as mentioned earlier. Because it has the most diversity when comparing the USUV strains, historically it has been difficult to determine whether it should be classified as a separate viral species. The genetic distance between all USUV strains, including CAR-1969 (0.00–0.19 substitutions per site), which do not exceed those observed for other closely related viruses of the JEV serocomplex, namely WNV (0.00–0.22 substitutions per site) or JEV (0.01–0.21 substitutions per site), categorized it as an USUV strain [ 46 ]. Furthermore, cross-reactivity between SouthAfrica-1959 and CAR-1969 has also been demonstrated using complement fixation assay [ 75 ].
Comparison of 5ʹ UTRs and 3ʹ UTRs of fully sequenced USUV strains. 5ʹ UTR (1–96), open reading frame (ORF;97–10,401), 3ʹ UTR (10,402–11,064). All nucleotide substitutions are shown with bolded and enlarged letters. Nucleotide deletions are indicated by an asterisk (*).
The occurrence of human cases of USUV infection has underscored the need to develop reliable and confirmatory diagnostic tools for detection. In this regard, Cavrini et al. developed the first rapid, USUV-specific real-time RT-PCR assay based on Austrian and Hungarian strain sequences [ 76 ]. This assay could detect USUV in human blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples with high specificity and sensitivity, but its detection reliability was limited to a few European strains. This limitation was overcome by another recently developed real-time RT-PCR assay based on African and European strain sequences [ 77 ]. These diagnostic assays allow the detection of USUV in blood and cerebrospinal fluid samples at the viremic stage; therefore, serological testing is important to identify the infection following the viremic stage.
In 2012, Gaibani et al. developed the first USUV-specific IgG-capture ELISA assay for serological diagnosis of USUV [ 49 ]. This assay can detect USUV-specific IgGs in both Italian and German healthy blood donors, as mentioned earlier [ 48 , 49 ]; cross-reactivity between USUV and WNV was resolved by adapting a diagnostic algorithm [ 78 ] and the plaque reduction neutralization test [ 49 ]. The latter test is a current standard to discriminate between closely related flaviviruses [ 49 ]. Interestingly, in flaviviruses, cross-reactivity is higher for IgG than for IgM [ 79 ]; therefore, USUV-specific IgM-based assays must be developed. Considering that USUV infections have been documented throughout Europe and that few approaches are available for reliable detection and diagnosis, the scope of USUV-related diagnosis is wide open, and additional efforts are needed to adequately prepare for a possible large-scale USUV outbreak.
In Africa, USUV is typically isolated from mosquitoes and generally infects only four avian species, namely Bycanistes sharpei (piping hornbill), Andropadus virens (little greenbul), Turdus libonyanus (Kurrichane thrush), and T. merula (blackbird) [ 35 ]. However, the non-migratory behavior of these species suggests that they have not been involved in dispersing USUV throughout Europe. In Austria (2005), a serological study demonstrated the presence of USUV-specific antibodies in several migratory bird species, including Sylvia communis (whitethroat), Sylvia curruca (lesser whitethroat), Sylvia borin (garden warbler), Falco tinnunculus (kestrel), Circus aeruginosus (marsh harrier), Delichon urbica (house martin), Acrocephalus scirpaceus (reed warbler), Ficedula hypoleuca (pied flycatcher), and Hirundo rustica (barn-swallow) [ 80 ]. Based on their migratory habits and the presence of USUV-specific antibodies, these bird species may have played a role in the introduction of USUV into Europe, but further investigation into this possibility is still needed. Moreover, Cx. pipiens mosquitoes and Eurasian blackbirds ( T. merula) are two important causes of USUV dissemination in Europe [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 , 21 , 25 , 26 , 27 , 28 ].
The migration pattern of blackbirds brings them in Eastern Asian countries, including Eastern Russia, Eastern China, Taiwan, Korea, and Japan [ 81 ], whereas Cx. pipiens mosquitoes are also common in Asian countries [ 82 , 83 , 84 ]. Considering these factors, USUV might be a potential threat to populations in Asia. However, competence studies of the local population of the potential vectors should be evaluated for real risk assessment in Asian countries. To prevent the emergence of USUV on a larger scale, veterinary-, human-, and entomology-based surveillance programs should be established throughout Europe.
Newly developed USUV-specific real-time RT-PCR assays and ELISA are very helpful for screening and diagnostics [ 49 , 77 ]. However, attaining a USUV-specific serological diagnosis will be quite challenging in certain areas where other flaviviruses occur along with USUV. Such potential cross-reactivities must be ruled out by plaque reduction neutralization test. An inactivated Japanese encephalitis vaccine formulated with Advax adjuvant has induced a cross-protective immune response against MVEV and WNV [ 85 , 86 ]. Because USUV is a member of the JEV serocomplex, Japanese encephalitis-Advax vaccine might be an alternate approach to control USUV infection, and, thus, threat to Asia can be reduced in JEV-immune populations. Furthermore, a recently developed WNV recombinant subviral particle vaccine showed a cross-reactive humoral response against USUV in mice [ 87 ]. A multidimensional approach is also necessary for effective USUV-related risk assessment and to determine the involvement of various elements (bird, mosquito, human, rodents, and horses) in the USUV infection cycle.
This work was supported by Chinese national special research programs for non-profit trades (200903037), 863 programs (2011AA10A2), and 948 programs (2011-G24).
U.A., J.Y., and S.C. wrote the manuscript. U.A. and X.R. prepared the figures. U.A, S.W., and B.Z. contributed to the section on the genomic structure and phylogenetic analysis of USUV.
The authors declare no conflict of interest.


Na
v
y
Home
{% block sidebar %}
Usage
Getting started
Day-to-day usage
Developing services
Working with Multiple Navies
Advanced
Node API tutorial
Writing plugins
HTTP proxy
Reference
Navyfile.js config
API Documentation
{% endblock %}
View on GitHub
{% block body %}{{ content | safe }}{% endblock %}


The evolve function will evolve the network to conform the given training set. If you want to perform neuro-evolution on problems without a training set, check out the NEAT wiki page. This function may not always be successful, so always specify a number of iterations for it too maximally run.
View a whole bunch of neuroevolution algorithms set up with Neataptic here.
Initiating the evolution of your neural network is easy:
await myNetwork.evolve(trainingSet, options);
Please note that await
is used as evolve
is an async
function. Thus, you
need to wrap these statements in an async function.
Where trainingSet
is your training set. An example is coming up ahead. An example
of a training set would be:
// XOR training set
var trainingSet = [
{ input: [0,0], output: [0] },
{ input: [0,1], output: [1] },
{ input: [1,0], output: [1] },
{ input: [1,1], output: [0] }
];
There are a lot of options, here are the basic options:
cost
- Specify the cost function for the evolution, this tells a genome in the population how well it's performing. Default: methods.cost.MSE (recommended).amount
- Set the amount of times to test the trainingset on a genome each generation. Useful for timeseries. Do not use for regular feedfoward problems. Default is 1.growth
- Set the penalty you want to give for large networks. The penalty get's calculated as follows: penalty = (genome.nodes.length + genome.connectoins.length + genome.gates.length) * growth;
This penalty will get added on top of the error. Your growth should be a very small number, the default value is 0.0001
iterations
- Set the maximum amount of iterations/generations for the algorithm to run. Always specify this, as the algorithm will not always converge.
error
- Set the target error. The algorithm will stop once this target error has been reached. The default value is 0.005.log
- If set to n, will output every n iterations (log : 1 will log every iteration)schedule
- You can schedule tasks to happen every n iterations. An example of usage is schedule : { function: function(){console.log(Date.now)}, iterations: 5}. This will log the time every 5 iterations. This option allows for complex scheduled tasks during evolution.clear
- If set to true, will clear the network after every activation. This is useful for evolving recurrent networks, more importantly for timeseries prediction. Default: falsethreads
- Specify the amount of threads to use. Default value is the amount of cores in your CPU. Set to 1 if you are evolving on a small dataset.Please note that you can also specify any of the options that are specified on the neat page.
An example of options would be:
var options = {
mutation: methods.mutation.ALL,
mutationRate: 0.4,
clear: true,
cost: methods.cost.MSE,
error: 0.03,
log: 1,
iterations: 1000
};
If you want to use the default options, you can either pass an empty object or just dismiss the whole second argument:
await myNetwork.evolve(trainingSet, {});
// or
await myNetwork.evolve(trainingSet);
The default value will be used for any option that is not explicitly provided in the options object.
This function will output an object containing the final error, amount of iterations, time and the evolved network:
return results = {
error: mse,
generations: neat.generation,
time: Date.now() - start,
evolved: fittest
};
XOR
Activates the network. It will activate all the nodes in activation order and produce an output.
async function execute () {
var network = new Network(2,1);
// XOR dataset var trainingSet = [ { input: [0,0], output: [0] }, { input: [0,1], output: [1] }, { input: [1,0], output: [1] }, { input: [1,1], output: [0] } ];
await network.evolve(trainingSet, { mutation: methods.mutation.FFW, equal: true, elitism: 5, mutationRate: 0.5 });
network.activate([0,0]); // 0.2413 network.activate([0,1]); // 1.0000 network.activate([1,0]); // 0.7663 network.activate([1,1]); // -0.008 }
execute();


Andrea Falzetti's
#JavaScript30
This is my implementation of the
30 Day Vanilla JS Coding Challenge
JavaScript Drum Kit


Hello, my username is Minjie. I am playing to become a better person at Plant Earth server. I believe knowledge is the key to a better world. The belief was formed through out my way levelling up from primary school, middle school and university. I was trained mostly in science and technology and I love that. I had the dream of becoming an Engineer and build things back in my childhood, and I am glad all the choices I have made lead me to this path.
There are always better things.
I started programming for work from early 2015. The work includes data processing, graphical visualisation and full stack web development. Since that, I am fascinated by the world of coding. I realised the potential of software products to make everybody's life better, just like how machines did in past two centuries.
There are always better things yet to come.


CPhysicalDiskFile - This class makes it easy to read data from a disk in raw format. In other words, this class reads a disk like it was a file without regard to file system on that disk. Want to read an individual sector on the disk? This is the class for you.
CQueue - Fixed a problem where, on multiple CPU systems, the add index would sometimes cause an exception. This has been fixed. It has also been rewritten for speed optimization. Adding to the queue does not prevent another thread from reading from the queue.
CExtensibleMarkupLanguageDocument -
Christopher Remington
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Found a bug where I wasn't initializing the
m_ParseErrorEncountered
member correctly. It is fixed now.
CExtensibleMarkupLanguageElement - Mats Johnsson<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Found a couple of problems. One was AddAttribute() was not normalizing attribute values according to section 3.3.3 of the XML specification. He also added a new method called GetAttributeByName() the returns a pointer to the CExtensibleMarkupLanguageAttribute. Mats also suggested a method called GetParent() that accepts a name of an element and will return the pointer to that element in the parentage of this element.
CExtensibleMarkupLanguageElement -
Pei-Chiang Ma<EMAIL_ADDRESS><EMAIL_ADDRESS>Found a bug in the section of code responsible for writing
CDATA
sections.
CFileTime -
David LeBlanc
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>found a bug in the dynamic_cast
operator in
Visual C++ 4.2.
CSerialFile - Glenn Brude<EMAIL_ADDRESS>found a bug in Write(). If everything didn't get sent in the first call, it would not loop. If you were sending lots of bytes, not all of them may have been sent. DOH!
CSerialFile -
Jim Peng
<EMAIL_ADDRESS>found a minor bug in Purge(). I was returning a
value from GetLastError
() instead
of FALSE.
Sam Blackburn<EMAIL_ADDRESS>Return to Sam's Home Page


Use this page very responsibly. You have the super power to do things right or destroy things completely!
Sync with Nexus Now


This class is a container of scalarization functions. It is responsible for their deallocation.
More...
#include <IndiffCurveContainer.h>
This class is a container of scalarization functions. It is responsible for their deallocation.
| void IndiffCurveContainer::addCurve |
( |
int |
odPairIndex, |
|
|
IndiffCurve * |
curve |
|
) |
| |
This method adds curve curve to the internal container in index odPairIndex. If this index is invalid (negative or higher than number of O-D pairs) or if there is a scalarization function assigned to this index, the assertion will stop the program.
| IndiffCurve * IndiffCurveContainer::createCurve |
( |
int |
maxNbPointsPerCurve, |
|
|
TollType |
maxToll, |
|
|
FPType |
maxTime, |
|
|
FPType |
minTime |
|
) |
| |
|
privatevirtual |
| void IndiffCurveContainer::deallocateCurves |
( |
| ) |
|
|
private |
Deallocates all scalarization functions.
- Warning
- Doesn't work correctly if the same pointer to was added twice.
| void IndiffCurveContainer::generateRandomCurves |
( |
int |
maxNbPointsPerCurve, |
|
|
TollType |
maxToll, |
|
|
FPType |
maxTime |
|
) |
| |
Deallocates previous scalarization functions (if there are any) and generate random ones.
- Parameters
-
| maxNbPointsPerCurve | maximum number of breakpoints per curve. |
| maxToll | maximum value of toll. |
| maxTime | maximum value of time. |
Deallocates previous scalarization functions (if there are any) and generate random ones based on efficient paths.
- Parameters
-
| maxNbPointsPerCurve | maximum number of breakpoints per curve. |
| shPath | one-source bi-objective shortest path algorithm. |
| mat | O-D matrix. |
| void IndiffCurveContainer::generateRandomTolls |
( |
std::set< TollType > & |
randomTolls, |
|
|
TollType |
maxToll, |
|
|
int |
nbPoints |
|
) |
| |
|
private |
Generates random tolls and writes them into randomTolls. All tolls are in the interval [1, maxToll]. All tolls are unique.
- Parameters
-
| nbPoints | number of tolls that must be generated. |
| IndiffCurve * IndiffCurveContainer::getCurve |
( |
int |
odPairIndex | ) |
const |
- Returns
- pointer to a scalarization function of O-D pair odPairIndex.
| void IndiffCurveContainer::print |
( |
| ) |
const |
Prints all scalarization functions on screen.
| void IndiffCurveContainer::writeToFile |
( |
const std::string & |
fileName, |
|
|
const ODMatrix & |
mat |
|
) |
| const |
Writes scalarization functions in to file specified in fileName.
The documentation for this class was generated from the following files:


Preparation time
less than 30 mins
Cooking time
less than 10 mins
Serves
Serves 4
Dietary
Steam the green beans and mangetout for 3 minutes. Place in a colander and refresh under cold running water. Drain.
Place the beans, mangetout, beansprouts, onion and mushroom in a large bowl and mix well.
In a small bowl mix together the vinegar, soy sauce, sesame oil, and sugar. Stir in the coriander and basil leaves, pour over the salad ingredients and toss together well.
Transfer to a serving platter and scatter over the spring onions, herb leaves and toasted sesame seeds.


Planet Sick-Boy: http://www.sick-boy.com "We Put the SIN in Cinema"
© Copyright 2001 Planet Sick-Boy. All Rights Reserved.
We all know bad stuff happens under bridges. It is, after all, where Anthony Kiedis drew some blood because he felt like he didn't have a partner. Hellgate Bridge in Astoria, Queens, which marks the place where Long Island Sound becomes the Atlantic Ocean, isn't much different, as evidenced by the opening scene of the film that shares its name. We don't know who Jimmy is when Under Hellgate Bridge reveals he's died of a heroin overdose, but his passing sets off a tragic chain of events that, 90 minutes later, seems to be cut from the same cloth as almost every low-budget mobster film (save Reservoir Dogs) made either in an attempt to ride the coattails of The Sopranos to success or as a creative outlets for artistic gangster-wannabes.
Jimmy, it turns out, is the younger brother of Bridge's protagonist, Ryan (Another World's Michael Rodrick), who has just been released from prison in time to show up for the funeral. He's been in the clink for two years, sent up for a crime he never committed. We learn the ex-junkie Ryan was set up by an aspiring gangster named Vincent (Jonathan LaPaglia), who, in addition to being "brought along" by the neighborhood heavy (Frank Vincent), has also married Ryan's old girlfriend Carla (Jordan Bayne), fathered her child, and, at least indirectly, killed Jimmy. Vincent also has his fingers into Ryan's other brother - another junkie named Eddie (Brian Vincent).
What follows is a predictable battle between Ryan and Vincent, culminating in a very stylish shootout, which is, by far, Bridge's highlight. The film, full of heavy-handed music and a strong religious push, is also exceedingly dark and contains a surprising lack of humor for something that aspires to be Goodfellas. The no-name acting, which includes two players from The Sopranos (Vincent "Big Pussy" Pastore and Dominic "Uncle Jew" Chianese, Jr.), is pretty decent, while cinematographer Leland Krane makes Bridge look like a film with more than a $1 million budget.
The problem is with writer/director Michael Sergio's been-there/done-that script. Other than the finale, most of the story is as predictable as they come (and the climax was only surprising because it was so much better than the rest of the somber picture). Could I have done better with a tiny budget? Probably not, but don't be snowed into thinking it's the second coming of Mean Streets.
If Sergio has done one thing well, it's his sales pitch for Bridge. I screened the film as part of the Sarasota Film Festival and stuck around for a Q&A session with Sergio and a few members of his cast when the film was over (mostly because I was in the back row and hate trying to sneak out in front of the people who poured their time and money into a film I didn't particularly care for). When the Q&A thing was finished, Sergio and the Bridge's other talent strategically placed themselves at the theatre's exits, so that nobody would be able to get out of the place without being personally thanked and/or touched in some friendly way by somebody associated with the film (believe me - I tried). Something seems really wrong with that sort of thing.
1:30 - R for language, violence and strong sexual content, including rape
========== X-RAMR-ID: 29258 X-Language: en X-RT-ReviewID: 219301 X-RT-TitleID: 1107911 X-RT-SourceID: 595 X-RT-AuthorID: 1146
The review above was posted to the
rec.arts.movies.reviews newsgroup (de.rec.film.kritiken for German reviews).
The Internet Movie Database accepts no responsibility for the contents of the
review and has no editorial control. Unless stated otherwise, the copyright
belongs to the author.
Please direct comments/criticisms of the review to relevant newsgroups.
Broken URLs inthe reviews are the responsibility of the author.
The formatting of the review is likely to differ from the original due
to ASCII to HTML conversion.
Related links: index of all rec.arts.movies.reviews reviews


PRINTED
Friday, January 01, 2010
After welcoming the New Year in we finished watching the movie. It was 2AM before we got to bed. I woke about 6:30 AM, read my scriptures, shaved and showered. My ear is still hurting so Mae put more drops onto my ears. I went back to sleep for a while and then Mae woke me for breakfast. In as much as Mae and I are going home, our families will not be together for my birthday nor for Roy’s birthday, so Mae and Shellie felt that Roy and I should open our Birthday Gifts now. It seems that somehow Roy and I both received the book “Temples of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints”, produced by Thunder Bay Press. It is a beautifully produced photo collections of all the Temples that have been dedicated from the St. George Temple, dedicated April 6, 1877 to the Drape Utah Temple, dedicated March 20, 2009. Roy and his neighbor ------- administered to me for relief from the discomfort I am experiencing with my ear. Roy and the boys then left for a Seymore family reunion and will be gone until tomorrow around noon. Mae and Shellie went for a walk and shopping. I took some Ibuprofen for my ear ach and took a nap. Mae has also been getting things packed up to go home. Shellie and I played a board game which Shellie won. For dinner this evening I grilled rabbit and sweet potatoes while Shellie and Mae prepared the rest. After cleaning up the three of us played Rummy Cube. We each won a game and then we came downstairs and watched a movie. Even though the edit program removed language and nudity seines I still thought it was a dumb show with pour taste. After the movie we cleaned up and then visited for quite a while. It was late when we got to bed.
Saturday, January 02, 2010
I woke shortly after 4 AM and couldn’t go back to sleep. I read my scriptures and caught my journal up, letting Mae sleep longer. With Roy and the boys gone Shellie could have slept in but she got up and had breakfast with us. I got things packed into the truck and we left about 10AM for home. We stopped into Phoenix to get natural gas. I had called the natural gas company to find out where a filling station was located. I had tried to find out a location through the internet, but couldn’t find anything that way. We had to go out of the way to find the one given to us by the CNG co. When we got there, it is a total different filling nozzle and would not work on my truck. We drove on using regular gas. Even with that we did some chasing around just finding a filling station. Once we left Phoenix we drove on thru to Kanab with only two potty stops. After getting to Judy Giles we took her out to eat at a Chinese restaurant and just enjoyed the dinner and visiting. We went back to Judy’s and watched a Jazz bale game. That was a disappointment. We got to bed fairly early this evening.
Sunday, January 03, 2010
I woke about 6AM and got up. After reading my scriptures I took my shower. Mae was up shortly after that. We got ready to attend Sacrament meeting with Judy. We enjoyed the meting and most of the testimonies. As in most Wards there are children that need to be taught the purpose of Testimony. Some of then were very sincere and most of the Testimonies were very appropriate and inspiring. We drove to Panguitch where we stopped for a Sub-Way Sandwich. Another stop in Fillmore for CNG and then stopped in Provo to see Mike and his family for a few minutes. It was about 5:30PM when we got home. I drove into the back yard and unloaded our things. After removing the weight from the pickup I was stuck. I decided to just let it wait there until tomorrow. I will take the car to work in the morning and get the truck out when I come home. We talked to all our family to let them know that we got home ok. We set an appointment with Bishop Smith to turn in our mission papers, on Wednesday evening. Mae tried to get through all the mail that had came while we were gone, but didn’t make it. I filled out my journal entry and I think we will try to get to bed early tonight.
Monday, January 04, 2010
I didn’t sleep very well last night and got up before 3AM. I slept some in the recliner after that. My morning bus run went well. I had a sub-assistant this morning. When I got home I took care of the chickens and rabbits. The young doe had eight kits and they seem to be doing well. I put tire chains on the pickup and drove it right out of the back yard. I took a nap before lunch and then took my afternoon run. It went on except that Tyler had a bad day. Two teacher aids rode home with us just in case Tyler got out of hand but it went ok. I did appreciate the aids being with us. This evening Mae had a nice dinner and we relaxed for the evening and watched a DVD. Well that was our plans but Bob needed my help so I went upstairs and help him move a bed and then he said that a man was bringing a new bed shortly. We didn’t want to get involved in a show and then get called away. It got late and with work tomorrow we decided against start a movie. Bob later called and said the fellow didn’t need my help.
Tuesday, January 05, 2010
I didn’t sleep very well last night and spent most of the night in the recliner. My morning run went well. I met with Janice in payroll for an orientation as to the pay and bidding system that I know fall under. That took over an hour. When I got home Bob and Mae were trying to repair the new chicken water tank. Bob and I drove to CAL Ranch and bought a new and better unit. Mae had lunch ready when I got back and Scott was here so I ate lunch with them. I then set the water tank up for the chickens before I left for my afternoon run. That run also went well. I came home and Bob and I took the pickup load of Mark’s junk to the dumps. That gave me enough time to eat dinner with Mae before Mae and I went to the Family History Center. I didn’t get much accomplished this evening as I was too tired. We had a young couple come into the center and in five minutes he could use the New Family Search program so good that he latterly was running circles around me after being in this calling almost a year. When we got home I filled out this entry and we went to bed.
Wednesday, January 06, 2010
My runs went well today. Between runs I feed the animals and thought I could relax and take a nap. I called the phone co. to clear up a $200.00 charge on Bob’s phone bill that indicated it was for canceling the internet service. Bob has never had internet service on his phone. When Bob and I changed our services for the telephones, the dish TV reception and our high speed internet to Qwest, it has been a real night-mare. I was on the phone for 1 ½ hours and after they could not find a reason for the charge, they said that they would give us credit for the $200.00 on the next bill. I did eat my lunch while I was on hold so when I finished talking to the phone representative, I did take a nap for a few minutes. I had to hurry to get to the afternoon run. This evening I checked the animals and helped Bob for a few minutes. Bob gave me a letter that Mark sent to me. It contained a check for four hundred dollars for the money that Bob and I put out on a new motor for the rotor-tiller. He then proceeded to put the blame on me for him not checking the oil on the tiller before he used it and burned up the motor. Mae and I were also to blame for the reasons that Bob asked him to move, and he itemized the money that we should have been charged for his work in the garden, and the work he did to take care of Mother and how we charged Aunt Vida for expenses while she lived here. I really could not believe the insinuations that Mark made about me. Oh well, I hope things work out for him. Mae and I went over to meet with Bishop Smith and turned in our papers. Bishop went from his office to the office of President Mitchell. However President Mitchell wasn’t there so he talked to President Erickson. Bishop then came over to our house to visit with us. They have questions as to how to handle the money that will come from Uncle Dale’s estate. He will continue to check it out and we will check with Bryce and with Diane. Mae talked to Bryce and Deanna and they said that it did go through their ward, so they gave us the ward clerk’s number and we tried to call him. He was not at home so I just left a message and ask if he would call us back. Mae still has lots of questions and concerns. She had me give her a Priesthood blessing but we were interrupted before I completed the blessing and had to cut it short. Bishop Smith came by to tell us that he had talked to President Erickson and they didn’t know how to work the money at this point. He also visited us about Mark. After Bishop Smith left we soon went to bed.
Thursday, January 07, 2010
Morning run went well and after the run I attended a meeting for all Special Ed. Bus Drivers and assistance. It was quite informative on the subject of seizures. I came home but Mae had already taken care of the chickens and rabbits. I did get time for a short nap before lunch and then went back for the afternoon run. When we picked the youth up from school the teachers said that we could be in for some problems as they had several during the day. They sent two aids home with us today. Shortly after we left the school Tyler got out of his seat harness. It took both aids and my assistant LeAnn to get him strapped back down. When we got him home and both aids were trying to get him off the bus, he jumped and hit me in the mouth with his fist and at the same time kicked LeAnn in the stomach. Neither of us was hurt much but just really surprised. After getting home I checked the rabbits, added feed to the chicken feeders and gave them more water as Mae couldn’t open the water tank earlier when she fed them. Mae has been cleaning up Christmas decorations most of the day and the house was looking very nice when I returned. Mae and I took eggs over to Good Earth and bought some bread and cereal. We went to Wal-Mart’s for a few items and then went to Chuck-A-Rama for dinner. We stopped at Bed-Bath and Beyond to look for a bath set. I realized that I didn’t have my Browning Cap, so I went back to the restraint and found it. We were tired when we got home so I made this entry and we soon went to bed.
Friday, January 08, 2010
The morning run went well. I stopped after the run to see about a bus for tomorrow’s field trip run and Roberta said that she needed to visit with me about the run. The High school should have put in for an over-night run, but it got bid as two runs. Therefore I will drive an empty bus up and get the wrestling team at the motel in Logan and take them to Smithfield, plus any transportation they need up there and when they are finished return them back to Bountiful High School. I can take my bus so I can take it home today and leave from my house. When I got home Mae prepared some eggs and toast for breakfast and then I took care of the animals. Bob brought a phone bill down for an internet service. I called and could not find why as the service was no longer in use. After I hung up things began to come together. Mark had put High Speed internet into his room. He then had it disconnected when he move and left the billing onto the house phone service, which explains the $200.00 billing on my phone bill. I now need to get back to the phone co. and get this whole thing straightened out and the billing charged to Mark. I have also got to write Mark a letter and challenge him as to the accusations he made to my integrity. After I finished the afternoon run, I filled my bus and got it ready for tomorrow. I then went in and visited with Sherrie about my route and put in for some route changes. I brought the bus home with me and left my truck at the bus compound. I checked the chickens and rabbits and then had dinner. We are trying to get ready to leave early in the morning and get to bed early tonight. We did take Marks check and deposit it. While doing so I had them clear the check right then so that I know it was a good check.
Saturday, January 09, 2010
We got up at 3AM to leave with the bus at 4:45AM. We made it to the motel in Logan by 6AM and the wrestling team was ready to go to Sky View high school where each boy weighed in for the tournament. We then returned them to the motel to check out and eat breakfast. We had brought our own breakfast so we went out to the bus and ate it while we were waiting for them. We took the team back to the school and then Mae and I went back to town as the team will be in competition until 3PM or later. We stopped at IMF to see if they handled egg cartons but they didn’t. We spent a while just shopping there as it was warm. We next went to Kmart and parked in there lot and slept for a little while but it was cooled and not very comfortable. We then went to Golden Corral at their breakfast special. After eating we stayed and played cards at their table. It was warm and more comfortable and we enjoyed playing cards together. I beat Mae at Rummy and Mae beat me at Knock. We went back to the school and watched some of the tournament. I then took a short nap and Mae read more in her book. It was about 5PM when we got the team back to Bountiful High and about 6:30PM by the time we took the bus to the compound and got home. I went out and checked the animals while Mae got us something to eat. We called Bishop Smith when we got home and he asked if we would make an appointment with President Mitchell and visit with him about the money. We called Bishop Wheaton and made an appointment for 10:45 AM tomorrow. Before going to bed I asked Bob if he would like to cook fish for breakfast. I said he would so I took him three filet trout and some hamburger to make gravy out of.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
I woke at 5AM concerned with the mission money. I was afraid that I couldn’t go back to sleep so I went into the front room. I knelt and pleaded with my Father in Heaven for his guidance. After I lay in the recliner and though thoughts were continuously going through my mind, I slept until 8AM. Bob fried the fish and made biscuits and gravy for us for breakfast. It was really a good breakfast. I fed the rabbits and chickens and then got ready for our appointment with President Mitchell. Mae also went with me. We had a good visit with him and he will check the handling of the money with Salt Lake and let us know tomorrow as to what he finds out. We attended meetings on the new block time change. After Priesthood meeting I visited with Brother Kelly Bodily about the chickens and rabbits and told him that it is likely that Mae and I will go on another mission. Brother Thompson also asked me about Mark. As he is our Home Teacher I confided quite a bit of information as to the feelings and problems we have experienced. I also gave Bishop Smith the letter that Mark had sent to me. He later read it and then stopped at our place on his way home. I suggested that I totally ignore the letter and run it through the shredder and suggested that I view it being sorry for him and the position that he has made for himself. Scott and his family came over at 5PM for dinner and we enjoyed the evening with them.
Monday, January 11, 2010
Mae got up with me and got my breakfast. My bus would not heat up this morning and yet the temperature gage would clime almost to the top and then in a minute or two would drop back down. After taking the youth to the school I called and reported the problem to the shop. I was told to bring the bus in to the shop so they could check it. When I came home I took care of the animals. I also put my tire chains on Bob’s pickup and used it to take the Christmas decorations out to the shed. I got just a short nap before taking the afternoon run. I went back into the shop a little early to check the bus. They had to install a new radiator cap and fill the coolant. When I got home from the afternoons run I again took care of the animals and then entered some time into the payroll and also bid on a couple of extra runs. We then ate dinner and after that I entered my journal. We watched the DVD “Christmas Shoes” that Shellie’s family gave us and it is really a good story.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I woke about 3AM but cuddled up with my sweetheart and sure slept good until the alarm went off. I let Mae sleep in. My assistant did not show up by 7:38AM so I called her and woke her. The alarm hadn’t gone off. She said she would meet ne in route so I left. I picked her up at the third stop but we made it being just a few minutes late at the school. When I got home Mae fixed a morning break snack and then I took care of the animals. Yesterday Bob and Carroll had bought an electronic air filter for the furnace and the technician came and installed it. I took a nap before we had lunch and I took the PM route. This afternoons run went better. This evening Mae and I went to the Family History Center. I worked on our lesson for Sunday. When we got home I filled in this entry while Mae made us a snack before we went to bed.
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I had miss-set my alarm but I woke before 5:30 AM anyway. I woke Mae by 6:30AM and she had breakfast ready for us by the time I shaved and showered. Mae went to work at the Deseret Industries in 445 Wall Avenue as a volunteer for 4 hours this morning. My run went well and I got home in good time. I took care of the animals and then made a phone call to Qwest concerning the $200 charge for the early disconnect of Mark’s internet. I told her that I could give her Mark’s address but she said that it has already been written off and if she reinstalled it, the bill would again go to Bob. Mark had put Bob’s name on the bill when he ordered the service. I thanked her for her understanding. I next called on the HP online computer service. The technician had me turn the computer over to his control and then I got me something to eat and took a nap. About an hour later the technician call me and returned control of the computer back to me and said that all the problems should now be eliminated. Mae got home about 12:4PM and changed and then left to go Visiting Teaching. My afternoon run went well. I thought that we might go looking for a new lap top computer but our desk top computer would not make connection with internet server so I had to get back on with a technician from H.P. and have them do more work on it. Bob and I went Home Teaching this evening. We visited with Brother Casey and then a long visit with Patriarch and Sister Johnston. It was too late to stop and see if we could visit with Sister Fallis. It was getting late when we got to bed.
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Mae got up and prepared breakfast for us. My bus runs went quite well except when we got to Nicholas’s and went to turn around in the school faculty parking. There were four cars parked in my way unloading children. Two of them were left empty and it looked like the driver had taken the children into the school. By the time a couple of cars moved so I had room, other cars had come into the parking lot behind my bus and let their children out. The children ran through parked cars and in front and behind my bus. I was really nervier watching children and cars and was very happy when I got out of the lot. When I got back to the bus compound I went in and talked to Rosa about the incident and what could be done to make it safer. We considered the situation and Rosa suggested that we try starting the route five minutes earlier and see if that gets us out of the area before parents start bringing their children. When I got home I took care of the animals, ate a snack, and wrote up a time schedule for the student pick up. I got a call from Elder Bretzing asking us if we could respond to a call to go to Bakersfield California on the 1st of March. I told him that we could. He said that the decision was up to the Presiding Bishopric, and that he was just doing the leg work. I did get a few minutes to take a short nap before going back in for the afternoon run. This afternoon run went well and was quite short as we only had two students to take home. Mae and I ate some dinner, took a Birthday card to Bob, and then went shopping for a lap-top computer. We bought a Hulet Packard lap-top computer. When we got home I entered this journal entry and Mae filled out a survey on the purchase we made this evening. We were going to run through our lesson for Sunday, but ran out of time.
Friday, January 15, 2010
I didn’t
sleep very well because I was thinking of all we need to do before we leave for
this mission call. The frustrating thing is that we don’t know if the call
will be made yet. It is like waiting for Christmas Day to arrive when you
can’t sleep Christmas Day. Mae is willing but not really happy about it.
There was a lot of fog in the area this morning but the run went quite well
anyway. After the run, I went over to Green’s and bought some chicken feed. I
next went to the service station and got fuel for my pickup. While I was there
I got a car wash. I came home and fed my animals. I talked to Bryce about his
1996 Buick. He will have a transmission installed in it and we will talk
price. I just had time to eat and go for the afternoon run. That run went
well. Mae wasn’t home when I got home. She stopped after leaving Georgia’s
and picked up the new computer and a second instructors book on the Family
History class that we are to teach starting Sunday. I did get the computer to
start up and Mae found out how to shut it down. We did get the DVD player to
work and we started to study for our lesson when
Sandy called and said that the dinner was ready. We quit and went to their
place. They had made a bean soup and a tossed salad. After eating the four of
us played a game of Canasta. At first Sandy and Mae were really pulling a head
but then Irven and I had three good hands and won the game. I filled out my
journal and we went to bed.
Saturday, January 16, 2010
Neither Mae nor I slept very well last night, thinking of the mission call, wondering where we are to go and what do we need to get ready to go. After breakfast I took care of the animals. I really hate to get rid of our chickens and rabbits but I don’t know what else to do with them. I went over to Irven and Sandy’s and worked on their distiller. Mae cleaned house. Mae and I went to Kylan’s basketball game so support him. After the game we went over to Scott and Mishelle’s where we told them of our mission call. Kylan and Ashley were in tears and felt bad that we will be leaving. Mae went up to Kylan’s room and comforted and explained to them of our love for the Lord and so we need to accept this call, but it would only be for 1 year. Kylan said “But you won’t be here for my birthday.” Mae told him that we were having a big family birthday party on Grandpa’s birthday, Feb. 27th, and they would get their birthday gifts there. She spent some time with them hugging them and helping them. Finally they felt some better. Scott and Mishelle were very supportive. Mishelle was about in tears too because she loves us and likes to be with us. That sure makes us feel good that our children love us and want to be with us. We came home and worked on our lesson for tomorrow. At 6PM we went to a basket ball game that Tyler played in. After the game we invited David and his family to come over to our place for something to eat and some ice cream. David helped us with our new computer. We told David, Shauna and the children about our mission call. We were a little surprised that they took it so well. We had also called Mike and told him of the call. We were going to go down and visit with Mike and Becky but they are leaving for a long week end to Los Vegas – just the two of them. We will go out to Tooele and visit with Sandi and Nick on Monday. We also will visit with Jeff and Gail tomorrow. After David and Shauna left I worked on our Family History lesson. I also tried to switch my journal from our old lap-top computer to our new lap-top. I have some learning to do. It was almost mid-night when we went to bed.
Sunday, January 17, 2010
I woke about 6:30AM. After reading my scriptures, having morning prayers and doing some stretch exercises, I started playing with my new lap-top. I was able to move my journals over and start this new entry. Mae got up shortly after 8AM. Mae prepared breakfast while I shaved. After breakfast I fed the animals. We then worked on our Family History lesson and I worked on our new computer. I tried to set up a short cut to my journal but instead lost this year’s file. Church meetings started at 1PM so we were there a little early so that we could check out the room for our Family History class. We checked with Brother Higley about the student lesson manuals and found that they weren’t there. We will have to wing it without them. Our lesson went fairly well but we were disappointed not to have the manuals. Mae had put a roast on to cook while we were at Church. When we got home from Church we got things ready to go to Jeff’s. I gathered the eggs and gave water to the rabbits. We then drove over to Jeff and Gales, taking the roast with us. Jeff had made a tossed salad, vegetables and mashed potatoes. Mae made gravy at their house. After dinner we told Jeff and Gale about our mission call. We also played a couple of games. Jeff and I also worked on the computer for a little while getting my journal back in the file where it belonged. It was after 10PM when we left. Jeff is visible upset that we are leaving for a mission. When we got home I entered the rest of this entry. It’s late so we soon went to bed.
Monday, January 18, 2010
The phone woke us at 6:30AM by Sandy calling as she wanted to catch me before I went on my bus run. She didn’t realize that I the day off because of Black Day (Martin Luther King). We didn’t go back to sleep so got up and started the day. After breakfast I fed the rabbits and chickens. David brought Tyler, Emily and Connor for Mae to tend as Shauna had to work and David had to fly to Phoenix on business. Mae and the kids tried slaying on the hill at the park but came home when Tyler took a fall and got hurt. Not too serious but it took the fun out of the sledding. They played a lot of table games. I worked on the new computer trying to learn how it worked. This afternoon I went to Irven and Sandy’s and finished the repairs on their distiller and I put a cabinet latch on a china hutch that Dug had given them for Christmas. Mae and I then went out to Sandi’s. When Nick got home we went out to eat at Applebee’s. As I was trying to select something from the menu the waitress had the manager come out and he had a special meal prepared for me by the chef. Nick paid for our meal. When we got back to Sandi and Nick’s we played a game of marbles before going to bed.
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
We did sleep in and when we got up Sandi, Mae and I had breakfast. Nick had already gone to work. Mae and I got back to our place about 10:30AM. Mae started preparing for lunch; I took care of the animals. Scott and Jeff came for lunch with us. We sure enjoyed having then for even a few minutes. I spent time working on the new lap-top, getting some of the pictures transferred over so we have them with us when and if our mission call comes through. Mae and I took a nap this afternoon. Bob prepared dinner for us today. Mae didn’t feel the best this evening so she stayed home and I went to the Family History Center. After returning home I took a shower and entered two days of journal entry before going to bed.
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
I got up about 5AM but let Mae sleep in. I woke her just before I left for my bus run. Jeff brought their children over for Mae to tend as Gale has a substitute teaching job this morning. My run went well and I got home about 10AM. I took care of the chickens and rabbits before I ate some breakfast Mae prepared for me. I did take a nap before my afternoon run. The mail didn’t get here until almost 1PM but the calls for the mission did not arrive. The afternoon run also went well and I was home before 4PM. I worked on the lap-top computer trying to get a picture down load program installed on it but it didn’t install correctly so I will have to get some help. After dinner this evening I did more computer work. Bishop Smith, Brother Higley and our Stake High Councilman assigned to our Ward came visiting this evening. Bishop said that they wanted to visit us before we left so they felt they should come this evening. We just enjoyed their visit and appreciated Bishop Smith’s prayer before they left. Irven called and we visited for a few minutes about Doug and Chris. They are having some business problems that are affecting their friendship. I sure hope they can work it out. I worked on the computer and became very frustrated. I had started a word document with a write up on the rabbits and chickens to put on KSL.COM but then I couldn’t get it to save. I am sure that it is very easy but I nor Mae could get it to save. I finally got upset and just closed the computer and went to bed.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
I got up at 5:15AM and let Mae sleep until after 6AM. Mae then got up and prepared my breakfast. My morning run went well and I got home before 10AM. After feeding the animals I went out to check the mail. It hadn’t came but the news paper was there so I took it to Bob and Carroll. They had a salesman there and wanted me to stay and see what he had. He was selling new vinyl windows. His produce did look good but then I had to leave to get a short nap and eat before my afternoon run. This afternoon run went well and we finished early. The bus wash was open so I took the bus through it. We have two possible sells for some chickens. We still have no idea as to where or when the mission call is for. This evening after dinner we relaxed and watched a show. We watched “Top Gun” until we got tired of the profanity, vulgarity, sex and the using of the Lord’s name in vain. The show was rated PG in error and should have been rated garbage. We did enjoy being together.
Friday, January 22, 2010
Up again at 5AM and off to work with Mae’s helped with breakfast. The morning run went well. After the run I went over to Irven and Sandy’s and disassembled the drain valve to their water distiller. I then went to Durk’s and bought a replacement for the old valve. This valve was made of brass instead of plastic as was the one I removed. I came home and took care of the chickens and rabbits. Mae was on the phone with Qwest for almost 1 ½ hours about our billing. She was very upset and it really upset me. I called Doug Durbano’s law office and his secretary gave me a few suggestions. At 4PM Paul Tayler came and purchased eight hens and paid me $50.00 for them. Mae and I then went to Dr Toone’s in Bountiful and he gave me a treatment for my back pain. The adjustment took affect almost immediately and most of the pain went away. We met Bob and Pauline Hein at the Sizzler in Bountiful. It was good to get together with them and we visited for over two hours. I asked Bob if he know anything about Larry and Tammy and explained that I had heard the possibility that Tammy had died and Larry had taken his life. That set the conversation off and it was the main topic the remainder of the evening. It was sure good to see from them again. On the way home it snowed heavy and made the roads very bad from Kaysville to Clearfield. I entered this entry and we went to bed.
Saturday, January 23, 2010
I didn’t sleep the best last night and when I woke early I went back to lay down in the recliner. Mae got up when the alarm went off but let me sleep. I woke and she was getting ready to go to Kylan’s basketball game. I told her that I was going with her, so we ate some breakfast and went to the game. After the game we went to Irven’s and I repaired their distiller. They wanted me to install an earth quake stabilizer to their china cabinet but I will have to do some modifications to the cabinet or find a different type of stabilizer. We came home and Mae went to a bridal shower for Mysha. Gale went with Mae so Jeff and the children stayed here. I took them out to feed the animals and see the bunnies. I caught 6 hens and took them to Alan Moulhaur who paid me $20.00 for them. After Mae came back from the shower she went to a special county convention to vote for a replacement for Senator Killpack who resigned after being arrested for DUI. Jeff, Gale and the children went home. I set down to watch a TV show but slept through most of it. I did watch a show on Hallmark. Mae got home and watched the last part of it. I would like to have seen the next show but Mae told Jeff that we would go over there. David’s family was there so we joined then and played some games. Before coming home I checked a dresser drawer that was not closing all the way. I really didn’t find the problem but by changing it to another position it worked ok. After entering this journal entry we went to bed.
Sunday, January 24, 2010
I slept in until almost 8AM. Mae had got up shortly after 7AM. We ate some breakfast and then took our showers. I took care of the animals and in doing so took the mother doe away from the kits. Bob and Carroll invited us for dinner. Bob cooked chicken and made gravy. We attended our meetings and then after church we went over to Scott and Michelle’s for another dinner. We enjoyed being with them and Scott helped me with our laptop computer.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Mae didn’t sleep very well so I let her sleep in a little longer but she woke before I left for my bus route. The route went well and we got back about 9:15AM. I called Mae to let her know that I was going to stop and get natural gas before coming home. She told me that Elder Bretzing called and said that we are being called to serve in the farm at Bakersfield California and they want us to (and this is what we are not sure of yet) to be there by March 1st. Our call will be mailed today so we should get it tomorrow. When I got home Mae had taken care of the animals. My afternoon runs went well and after getting home Bob and I went over to a window company and looked at their windows. The company that came the other day gave four reasons that their windows were the best and when I checked this company’s windows they contained the same features. This evening we went upstairs and played Canasta with Bob and Carroll. Bob and I won tonight without any questions.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
It was a fairly normal day with my runs except my assistant was off sick. Scott and Jeff came over for lunch. Scott helped us with some computer questions while he was here. I bought a new thermostat for our fireplace and installed it. We did receive the official mission call today so this evening at the Family History Center I spent my time writing an acceptance letter to the Presiding Bishopric. Tonight will probability be our last night at the Family History Center as we have so much to get ready before we leave. We are being asked to be at the farm in Wasco California on March 1st. It’s almost 10 PM so we had better get to bed.
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
Mae got up and fixed breakfast for me. The run went well this morning. I took care of the animals when I called Elder Bretzing to see if we could check in at the farm on the 2nd instead of the 1st. He said it would be no problem. I also visited with him about some other things. Mae had sent President Brimhall an e-mail and let them know that we are going on another mission. President Brimhall asked to know Elder Bretzing’s first name. He know a Bretzing many years ago. When I talked to Elder Bretzing he to remembered Grant Brimhall. This afternoon’s bus run went well except when I took the Farmington exit and came to a stop at the intersection, I checked for traffic and being clear I started through the intersection. Jennifer called to me and said that it was a red light. I was too far through the intersection so went on. There was a highway patrolman right behind me but he just went back onto the north bound interstate. That was a close one. This afternoon I worked on the computer transferring pictures, scanned some pictures and documents to the new laptop. We had thought that we could go to bed early enough to watch a show but things just took too long, we therefore took showers and went to bed. At 10 to 10 Bishop Smith returned a earlier call that I had made to him. We were sound to sleep and I was afraid that we might not go back to sleep but we did and slept pretty well.
Thursday, January 28, 2010
Mae got up about the time I finished my breakfast. My bus run went well. I had something to eat before taking care of the animals. I straightened my tool trailer so it was ready to pull out this afternoon and take to Irven’s. Mae went to Farmington to meet with Jackie Thompson. The two of them spent most of the afternoon together. After getting home from my afternoon run I put tire chains on the pickup and hooked onto my tool trailer. Mae got home just as I was doing that. After getting the trailer out of the yard I removed the chains. Mae went with me to Irven and Sandy’s. I installed earth quake straps to their china cabinet. We ate dinner with them and after I finished the cabinet we played cards. We got home about 9PM and after entering this entry we went to bed.
Friday, January 29, 2010
Mae didn’t sleep very well so I was going to let her sleep in. She woke anyway and got up and got my breakfast. My morning run went well and I got home before 10AM. When I came in the house, Mae had the bedroom door closed so I figured that she had gone back to bed. The phone rang and I picked it up on the first ring but it woke Mae anyway. It was a sales representative from Qwest asking how I liked the services. I took the next ½ hour letting her know how disappointed I was in the Qwest Bundle we had purchased. I am sure she was sorry that she had called me by the time I finished. I moved the trailer to the back yard. I wanted to put it between the rabbit pens and the boat canapé buy there wasn’t enough room.  Mae had taken Kylan and Ashley to Dinosaur Park for the afternoon. I therefore stopped at the Credit Union and opened us an account for our missionary fund. When I got home I fed the animals and brought in the eggs. I filled our water bottles with distilled water and worked on the computer, trying to transfer more files to the laptop but wasn’t successful. Mae stopped and bought Sub-Way sandwiches for dinner this evening. Scott and Mishelle brought the twins over and we tended them while Scott and Mishelle went out for the evening. We enjoyed the children but the twins kept us going. We did watch a Hall Mark show that was cute. We watched a DVD movie before going to bed.
Saturday, January 30, 2010
We slept in a little later this morning. I took care of the animals while Mae prepared breakfast. After breakfast we went over to watch Kylan play basketball. We made a couple of stops before going home. I started this journal entry and also transferred more pictures from the desk top to the lap top computer. Time went fast when we got home. I did get a nap and then helped Mae vacuum the house. We then had to hurry and get ready to attend the Temple. We didn’t make the 5PM session but we had others from our Ward that was also late. After the session Mae and I went out to the Chuck-Wagon for dinner. When we got home we put a movie on and watched that. I first started a down load of pictures, so after the movie I stayed up and finished that down load. It was almost 2AM before I got to bed.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
We didn’t get up until almost 9AM. I took care of the animals, we just had some toast and apple sauce as Bob is having dinner at 11:30AM. Time sure goes fast and Mae is trying to schedule time to spend with our children before we leave. I did get a short nap before we went to church. Meetings were very good. After Sacrament meeting I visited with Bishop Smith about the finances for our mission. I also visited with Sister Fallis as her home teacher. Mae cooked a nice dinner and Sandi and Nick came for the evening. We played three games of marbles after dinner and Nick and I lost all three. After Sandi and Nick left I took the garbage out to the curb. I then called Elder and Sister Judd at the South Valley Farm in Wasco, California. We had a nice visit and found out more as to what we are to do. I entered my journal before we went to bed.


Kids' brutally honest reviews of 2019's Top 12 Christmas toys - from Nerf guns to Lego
Barbie, Blume Dolls, Frozen dolls, L.O.L, Lego and PAW Patrol all feature in the Dream Toys 2019 top toys for Christmas - but what do the kids think?
by Zoe Forsey, https://www.facebook.com/zoeforseymirror/December is creeping closer and closer which means it's almost time to sit the kids down to write their Christmas lists.
And while this brings the benefit of every parent's favourite "well, Father Christmas won't come if you're naughty" threat, it also means it's time to start thinking about what to get them.
Dream Toys has put together its annual list of the top toys for Christmas 2019, including breakthrough pieces and a number of old classics.
Blume Dolls, L.O.L, Nerf guns, PAW Patrol and LEGO have all made this year's list.
Juliet Ward, head of toys at Argos was part of the committee that put together the list. She told Mirror Online: "It's a really lovely mix of tech and traditional. Some of the tech stuff is really educational but it's great to have the imagination in some of the traditional things as well.
"I think there is a really good selection, I think there is real range in terms of price - there is something for everyone."
The panel of experts know exactly what they're talking about when it comes to toys, but they are grown-ups - so what do the kids think?
We spoke to a load of kids to find out what they think of the top 12...
Blume Dolls - £9.99
Trilyna Mah, six, said: "They've got different hair. Their hair is good and has flowers and diamonds.
"It's like magic because it comes up really quickly and it's fun.
"You get to play with all of them when they're out."
Gwen McDonald, eight, added: "It is really fun, I like it when it opens up."
Frozen 2 'Into the Unknown' Elsa Doll - £39.99
Trilyna said: "She's got a really nice dress with a diamond on it.
"I like Frozen because there are lots of characters and Olaf is funny.
"You could get all of the dolls and play with them."
Charlie Bonner-Davies, 10, added: "It is pretty tall. It's pretty well made."
L.O.L Surprise! 2-in-1 Glamper - £99.99
Liana Pierce, seven, "My favourite bit is the pool. I like the mirror because it's the shape of a love heart and it's got bits around it.
"I would play with it with my sister.
"It's nice because it's big enough for everyone to play with it."
Nerf Elite Fortnite SP-L - £19.99
Peter Olunloyo said: "It is really fun because there is one bit where you can aim to hit what you want to shoot at.
"The shoots can bounce off the walls."
Charlie added: "My favourite toy was the Nerf gun. I just like it because of how far it shoots. The reload quality is good. It hardly gets jammed, only if you really squish it in."
Owleez - £49.00
Gwen said: "It was really cool when it flew in the air.
Fiona added: "I really like it because you have to teach it to fly. I like that because it flies, like actually flies in the air."
PAW Patrol Mighy Pups Super PAWs Mighty Jet Command Centre - £59.99
Charlie said: "I think it's a decent toy. First of all, you can get a lot of stuff in it as there is a lot of space. And it has all these little things. The legs are pretty cool.
"It's something special."
Mofe Akinsamni, six, is also a fan, adding: "I think this is a good toy because of the front bit. I don't know what it does but I like the windows.
"I like how high it is."
Ryan's World Super Surprise Safe - £44.99
Gwen said: "I think it's fun to play with because it's basically a magic trick. I think it's really cool."
Fiona Mah, 10, added: "I do really like it because it's like a safe and you keep keep stuff secret.
"I like the key because you can take it out and out it back in. It's a big one too."
Barbie Dreamplane Playset - £79.99
Liana Pierce, seven, said: "I like it because of the inside. I like the chairs because they can move. I like the Barbie because she's got a nice long dress and it's very sparkly.
"I like it a lot."
LEGO Harry Potter Knight Bus - £34.99
Harry Keogh, seven, said: "So it's very shiny. My favourite thing about it is that it's smoother than a normal bus.
"I like Harry Potter and the bus because it has magic."
Peppa Pig Peppa's Stage Playset - £39.99
Fiona: "I like it because you can change the scene because there are little things.
"I watched Peppa Pig a lot when I was little but not much now."
But Trilyna wasn't as impressed.
She said: "I don't like Peppa Pig because it's not really my type. I don't like the show so I don't like the toy."
Rizmo - £59.99
Gwen: "I thought she was really cool. I don't really know why, I just thought she was really cool.
"I like the colour light on her tummy."
Fiona added: "I really like it because it moves and it's really cute and funny."
Toy Story 4 True Talkers - £17.99
Charlie: "I think it's pretty good that you can change its faces. It would be good for babies.
"For me I would say it's a bit young for me but it would be fine for my friend.
"It makes difference voices.


Working from home can be
Productive.
Stressful.
Flexible.
Some Tips
Keep A Dedicated Workspace
Establish a place that is just for work, for at least part of the day — a place where you can be in office mode, and where others in the house know not to disturb you unless necessary.
Take Breaks
No one works eight hours uninterrupted at the office nor should you at home.Regularly get up and stretch your legs, grab a tea or coffee, take a lunch break.
When you're done, stay done
No one works eight hours uninterrupted at the office nor should you at home.Regularly get up and stretch your legs, grab a tea or coffee, take a lunch break.
Title
Maecenas quis facilisis tortor, id ultricies metus. Maecenas pharetra nisl mi, a malesuada diam dapibus in. Suspendisse potenti. Cras ornare risus ac enim egestas, at sollicitudin sem aliquet. Cras sem urna, scelerisque eu cursus at, pharetra in ipsum. Vivamus pharetra orci id massa consectetur, et sodales lectus interdum.


{{ template "snippets/header.html" . }}
Username* * Your username is only used for logging in and will not be visible to anyone else
Password
Retype Password
Create Key
Import Key
Private Key (WIF)
Disclaimer: {{ template "snippets/disclaimer.html" }}
Already have an account? Login here.


Jab we met
Events
Family
Our roots
RSVP
Prerna & Abhimanyu
have found their soul-mate in each other...
Join us as we celebrate their special day!
April 22, 2016
RSVP


Let $f$ be a non-negative function on the real number line and suppose
$$ \int_{-\infty}^\infty f(x)dx ~ = 1 $$Then $f$ is a probability density function or just density for short.
For example, the function $f$ defined by
$$ f(x) = \begin{cases} 0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \text{if } x \le 0 \\ 6x(1-x) ~~~~~ \text{if } 0 < x < 1 \\ 0 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ \text{if } x \ge 1 \\ \end{cases} $$is a density. It is easy to check by calculus that it integrates to 1.
Note: The calculus used in this section is very straightforward. You should be able to do it easily by hand. Later in this chapter we will give you Python tools for calculus.
Here is a graph of the function $f$. The density puts all the probability on the unit interval.
In the example above, $f(0.5) = 6/4 = 1.5 > 1$. Indeed, there are many values of $x$ for which $f(x) > 1$. So the values of $f$ are clearly not probabilities.
Then what are they? We'll study that in the next section. In this section we will see that we can work with densities just as we did with the normal curve.
First, a labor-saving device: If $f$ is positive only on a subinterval of the line, then usually we will just write its definition on the interval where it is positive. It will be assumed to be 0 elsewhere.
$$ f(x) ~ = ~ 6x(1-x), ~~~ 0 < x < 1 $$And we will draw the graph of $f$ only over the region where it is positive:
A random variable $X$ is said to have density $f$ if for every pair $a < b$,
$$ P(a < X \le b) ~ = ~ \int_a^b f(x)dx $$This integral is the area between $a$ and $b$ under the density curve. The graph below shows the area corresponding to $P(0.6 < X \le 0.8)$ for $X$ with the density in our example.
The area is $$ P(0.6 < X \le 0.8) ~ = ~ \int_{0.6}^{0.8} 6x(1-x)dx ~ = ~ 0.248 $$
The cdf of $X$ is the function $F$ defined by
$$ F(x) ~ = ~ P(X \le x) ~ = ~ \int_{-\infty}^x f(s)ds $$You are already familiar with the cdf defined as $F(x) = P(X \le x)$; what's new is that we can compute the probability by integrating the density function.
In our example, the only possible values of the random variable $X$ are between 0 and 1, so $F(x) = 0$ for $x \le 0$ and $F(x) = 1$ for $x \ge 1$. For $x$ between 0 and 1,
$$ F(x) ~ = ~ \int_0^x 6s(1-s)ds ~ = ~ 3x^2 - 2x^3 $$In terms of the graph of the density, $F(x)$ is all the area to the left of $x$ under the density curve. The graph below shows the area corresponding to $F(0.8)$.
As before, the cdf can be used to find probabilities of intervals. For every pair $a < b$,
$$ P(a < X \le b) ~ = ~ F(b) - F(a) $$That's the same as the answer we got earlier in the section by integrating the density between 0.6 and 0.8.
By the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus, the density and cdf can be derived from each other:
$$ F(x) = \int_{-\infty}^x f(s)ds ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ f(x) = \frac{d}{dx}F(x) $$You can use whichever of the two functions is more convenient in a particular application.


Elliot Dawson
Awful place, I cannot believe they brought my entreé out before I finished my appetizer. And when I snapped, they tried telling me to watch my temper! Unbelievable
2 months ago
ArtKitchen
Nearby
Search
About Me
More
Recommended Reviews
Dodd Frank
Start your review...
Sam Altman
This is an amazing place! I brought my current girlfriend here on our first date, and they made her pay! I love their steak and fries, especially when it's free!
15 days ago


September 21
September 28
October 19
October 26
November 30
December 7
September 21
- Murray et al., A Comparison of Agent-Based Models and the Parametric G-Formula for Causal Inference, 2017. pdf
September 28
- O’Hagan, Bayesian Analysis of Computer Code Outputs: A Tutorial, 2006. pdf
October 19
- Wong et al., Development and Validation of an Electronic Health Record-Based Machine Learning Model to Estimate Delirium Risk in Newly Hospitalized Patients Without Known Cognitive Impairment, 2018. pdf
-
Rose, Machine Learning for Prediction in Electronic Health Data, 2018. pdf
- Jon’s Slides
October 26
November 30
-
Singhvi et al., Predicting Bike Usage for New York City’s Bike Sharing System, AAAI Workshop: Computational Sustainability, 2015. pdf
-
Li et al., Traffic Prediction in a Bike-Sharing System, Proceedings of the 23rd SIGSPATIAL International Conference on Advances in Geographic Information Systems, 2015. pdf


What's New
Harmony 2 has come a long way since the last release <IP_ADDRESS>. Here are all the changes:
New
CI/CD on Azure, Travis and AppVeyor
Switched to MonoMod.Common
for shared low level patching with MonoMod project
Works with more .NET versions
Inline prevention for Mono
4th patch type: Finalizer
- for handling and manipulating exceptions
Reverse Patching (original onto one of your stub methods)
Convenience extension methods for CodeInstruction
Selective debug log with [HarmonyDebug]
annotation - works even with future changes of the method
Prepare
/Cleanup
will be called even with exceptions during patching
Cleanup can now receive and return the current Exception during patching
Better exception reporting with HarmonyException
Automatic documentation generated to https://harmony.pardeike.net
AccessTools has methods for declared members
FastAccess
now deals with generics
Manipulator
transpiler helper
Get IL code from a method
Support for IL InlineSignature (patching methods with CALLI)
Fixed
Priority field spelling
Traverse
can handle static members
Methods returning struct types are now patchable
Main API is now properly divided into static/instance methods
HarmonyMethod
and other high level API throws on null input
Patch sorting
DeepCopy works with nullable types
Patch annotations API cleaned up
FieldRef
covers more cases and is simplified
__result
assignability checks
Handling __state
without Prefix
Debug log writes out full type names
Documentation now uses compiled code snippets for correctness
Traverse
works with inherited fields, properties and methods
Changes
Removed Self-patching
Renamed Add()
extension on IEnumerable<T>
and T[]
to AddItem()
to avoid conflicts
HarmonyInstance
is now called Harmony
and Harmony
namespace is now called HarmonyLib