#Cluster sampling process

[marketxcel]

Cluster Sampling: Types, Advantages, Limitations, and Examples

Explore the various types, advantages, limitations, and real-world examples of cluster sampling in our informative blog. Learn how this sampling method can help researchers gather data efficiently and effectively for insightful analysis.

[xesnox]

All currently active NeoBuilders.

Minecraft default skins in Ancient Ruins, reference picture at the end for comparison.

Don’t look too close at the faces, had to speedrun this so I could actually motivate myself to finish the entire lineup. Definitely not my best work. Clothing was a pain to figure out and I’ll definitely change some things in the future as I’m still not entirely happy with the general aesthetics of some sets. Zuri and Efe were the worst to figure out, their clothing styles were very modern in comparison to what I’m going for with Ancient Ruins so it took me a while.

But first of all, what is a NeoBuilder?

Lore entry Ahead, body horror warning, nothing too extreme I wouldn’t say, but the concept definitely isn’t the prettiest.

“NeoBuilder” describes a category of individuals that appear to be within the homo-genus (Artisan Family.).

The dissection of a deactivated individual showed (us) they are made of about 85% mechanical components, most of which consist of copper and iron. Organs however remain fully functional and can be traced back to Ancient Artisans in origin through DNA sampling. Blood vessels aswell as a large portion of their flesh has been replaced by machinery, activated regulated and moved through restricted soul energy coursing through their veins as blood would on a fully biological human.

The change of energy source makes them effectively immune to the green plague, which is transmitted through blood. In place of a heart they have a still unnamed chamber (Ch1), acting akin to a cockpit housing a freshly created soul, which is replaced by converting experience farmed in the previous lifecycle to the next, taking the raw energy and morphing it into a new soul. As souls are neither human nor animal but simply an energy cluster made of (if found post mortum) memories and life experience this can easily (and understandably) be transferred, even if the origin of the experience in question happens to be non-sentient. The experience is collected and stored within yet another unnamed organ replacing their left kidney (Ch2).

But do not be fooled, this process by no means makes them immortal. If the body is in critical shape it will resort to exporting the active soul and using the remaining soul energy still running through the machinery to activate the emergency program. In this state the body will do nothing but return to whatever point the machine has clocked as “safe” (this kind of reset happens when the person is resting for an extended period of time, as it marks said area as safe enough to stay vulnerable within.) and fix its injuries back to base point, excluding the bio-matter, as there no longer is any such material around. Through the expelling of the last soul, and slow process of developing a new one, the machine will power down there until the next energy burst. This means that even though the body itself remains alive, every life cycle houses a different person. If you see the same NeoBuilder twice it is therefore not guaranteed it will come with the same intention, as it might be a completely different soul speaking through the same form.

If the damage is too bad however, the NeoBuilder will shut down and cannot be reactivated unless one with actual knowledge of how to do so were to interfere. The how has been lost to history however, we blame the creature of despair and decay that shall not be named. It is different from deactivation, as it renders the body permanently dead. Many NeoBuilders have deactivated, we assume only 9 of the previous 30 remain.

We have no idea as to why these manmade humanoids were created, as the why has also been buried and lost to years of untouched unaddressed missing history.

Infact, their names are quite new, till about half a century ago, due to my own research if I may pat myself on the back, we had assumed them to be a strange strain of plague infested ancients, as they’d always remained distant to us and a dead specimen was a more than rare find. It is not a fully worked out name whatsoever, the “Builder” merely connecting them to the Artisan family, and the word “Neo”- as in “New” replacing the word “Ancient” we’ve been using to describe the other half of the family thus far, it is a placeholder by all means, but so is the latter.

Their nature would definitively make them more akin to bio-mechanical golems, however we chose to group them into the artisan family for the previously mentioned bio material, which matched identical to that of the mummified remains cave divers had found a few years back lodged between long forgotten pathways shut to time. Wasn’t a pretty sight when they showed me. One would think after a good few millennia they’d be nothing but a pile of ash and bones, but low oxygen levels within the closed off cave system made for some awfully good preservation, not pretty I dare say, I’m just glad nothing snapped at me during inspection as, perhaps in this case thankfully, the undead plague only infects the living; anything that doesn’t breathe and lacks running blood cannot fall victim to such a thing. But personal tangent aside, some interesting notes here:

- Despite the soul of the Neobuilder swapping with each lifecycle they generally keep the same base morals of the previous host.

- it seems Mother Earth isn’t very fond of them for whatever reason. The undead are very manageable if one isn’t around, but as soon as one chooses to stay in close vicinity it very quickly gets nearly impossible to maneuver, they’re like a magnet. It seems this is the reason they rarely last longer than 20 years within a single lifecycle.

- they’re actually quite cooperative, and many have learned our language. Though sorrowfully it appears they only store a single slot for their language, and forget all other information of a previously spoken one upon interaction (perhaps they were meant as a situational translation device?). I’ve attempted my best to reteach them, but I’m no linguist; I limit my research to history, with a limited understanding of biology. To figure out the mechanics alone I had to get a whole other villager to help my case.

- despite a large portion of their flesh being replaced by mechanical components an extra layer of the fat cells within the subcutis create an artificial layer of flesh like material dampening any slashes at the golem like form below.

More research to be added once I acquire more material to work with. This is a work in progress.

Understudied field, more research either classified information or unable to be attained due to both lack of examples and individuals willing enough to risk their lives acquiring such needless information. Ivan D. P. Retired shortly after writing his book discussing categorized biological information regarding the entities within our realm, which has since been removed from the market. The authors doctor title has been revoked due to a less than fortunate suspected alliance with the Illager cult on his end, so choose the information you’re willing to believe wisely, the villages dislike him for a reason.

We sincerely apologize but certain behaviors are to be taken seriously regarding the issues the cult on the outskirts has caused us in the past. Rumors have to be believed regarding individuals actively choosing to house away from the masses for whatever reason, to keep the general public safe.

Moving just out of sight to dedicate your life to dissecting humanoids on your dinner table is not normal behavior and was it not for his living position would hastily be investigated,

mumbling about how you hate our community doesn’t lessen our concerns, if you read this Ivan, it was not funny and it will never be, you know of the missing people concerns: if it happens again we’re sorry to inform you but you’ll no longer be welcome within this village.

[crystal-moon-101]

Been a bit since I have done a headshot cluster, but this time it's for more villains! I put off doing this for a while since I wanted to make a whole bunch of villains to draw all together as a treat. Plus to make sure I knew what I was doing with them and what kind of story they had, as some are recurring villains, some are just troublemakers, and some are full on arc antagonists/villains. I still have more in the works, along with new next gen kids, but I hope for now you enjoy these guys! If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments. But for now, I provide some summaries for these fellas.

-Sciros- A 55-year-old Temerciant man, known well as a black market mob boss, and the 'caretaker' of Feike and his crew. He had an encounter with Feike and his father when the boy was around eight, Argit having stolen from him to help with some processes towards Undertown. However, this resulting in Sciros letting him keep what he stole, as he ended up conceiving Feike to ditch his dad and join Sciros, seeing a lot of potential in the kid as Feike had admitted to being the one to hack and steal from him. Sciros is nothing but a horrible, greedy person, keeping a harsh grip of Feike and his crew, knowing very well they have nowhere else they can go, using them, but making the kids feel wanted. He's also willing to kill, harm and blackmail anyone to get what he wants, being in it to win it, and has personally buried a lot of skeletons. He's not someone many like to confront, for one reason or another.

-Kacela- A 45-year-old Zaroffian woman, who is most well known for hosting illegal, underground pit fights. She's rich, a bitch, and knows it so, flaunting her wealth and sitting over people in her fancy heels. Her pits can range from basic animals, to kidnapped people that she has hired people to collected. Of course, she also allows volunteers, but prefers the route of unwilling participants since that brings more engagement, and so she doesn't have to split any money with them. She's very hard to catch, due to using her wealth to keep tools on herself that help her slip away when needed, often annoying devices for people to deal with. She's ruthless and has no issues breaking ties with people as long as she remains on top. Even once traumatising Jay and Malax after having forced them into a pit fight once.

-Skadi- A 113-year-old mutated Necrofriggin, having once been a normal member of their species. However, after the event surrounding Eldrigma, the necrofriggin species had a slight uproar regarding their leaders/elders, having learnt that they have been lied to, along with learning about some awful history their species committed once. Skadi had reached a point where they wanted to make change, even if they had to by force, but knowing that they couldn't do much in their current state, they sought out the mad scientist known as Alate. They had heard about how he mutated himself with Jay's DNA/Omnitrix gene, 'evolving himself', and Skadi wanted to go through the same processed. Alate was delighted to help, as it's not often people come to him willingly, so after Skadi stole a sample of Jay's DNA, they were mutated into what they are now. They have become much more aggressive, colder and hostile, with upgraded powers to join them on their pursuit to bring their leaders to justice, and build a new order for their people. But they didn't realize how hard it would be to convince everyone that this was a good plan.

-Dawn & Dusk- A 41-year-old Acronycobticeō woman and 40-year-old Acronycobticeō male, being a loving married pair who work in the mercenary business. Guns for hire and assassins or work perfectly in sync, a match made in heaven most would say, despite how brutal their work is. They met when they were rather young, their very late teen years, being thieves on the street as they both were trying to make a name for themselves. They were both hired by separate people for the same collection job, leading to it becoming a contest as sparks flew between the two almost instantly. One thing led to another, and they married by the time they were 20 & 21, and have stuck by each other since. Dawn focuses on being more of the scout between the two, being smaller and faster than her husband, only going for the strike if she confident she can do it. Dusk meanwhile is the one often leaping into combat first, along with using intimidation to get by sometimes. It's a good balance between the two.

-Raii- A 20-year-old Conductoid young man, known mostly as a young thief running around Undertown. He's had a few run ins with Jay and his crew, often teasing them or testing their patience, enjoying how fun it is to mess with a young band of Plumbers. He never means any harm thought, mostly doing what he does out of survival, needing to take care of himself and the 10 nosedeenians he looks after, being an older brother to them. Their names are Zinc, Shelly, Ci, Trode, Grid, Dip, Flux, Sparky, Bolt and Lemon, and while they're a chaotic bunch, they all have each other's backs. They found each other when they were young, and stuck close ever since. Though Raii does hope one day to provide a better life for them and himself, eventually finding support through a different Tennyson member, much to the Omni Squad's dismay. That being Mia and Lyn, as Raii once found Lyn alone in Undertown after she ran off, and kept her safe until Mia came to collect her, the two striking up a nice friendship, especially after seeing Lyn feeling comfortable around another person for once. And perhaps, there's a little something more sparking between Mia and Raii.

-Prilick- A 37-year-old Osmosian woman, part of the bounty hunter/mercenary business side of life, Prilick first debuted when working for Kacela, having been part of the squad that kidnapped Jay and Malax, showing off from the start that she is not a good person. She doesn't care who gets hurt, or even who she may have to murder. Young, old, good, bad, it's all the same to her, as she's just here to do business. She also doesn't just work for Kacela, but is often hired by her as she's one of the few that seems to know how to manage working for that woman without getting caught in the crossfire. Not much is known about her previous life, the fact she is a full-bloodied Osmosian making things even stranger as most don't leave their homeworld, nor lean towards such a life style. Though she did make a passing comment once about having grown up hearing about Aggregor's whole situation, and found herself enjoying the idea of doing her own thing, and that harming other people doesn't matter as long as she gets to live a fulfilling life in her eyes.

-"Illusionist" Mirage- A 30-year-old Conjurlacra woman, and a member of the pirate crew run by Xandria. Mirage is the illusionist of the group, providing trickery and distractions for them, her species natural powers coming in handy with this. She admittedly doesn't remember much of her early childhood, just knowing that she once had a family, before being kidnapped and sold across the galaxy to be a personal servant for people. She was recused by the pirate crew two years ago, and is their most recent member. Because of her awful history, and all that she witness, she doesn't speak very often, at least to people who aren't part of the crew. She considers them her family, who have stuck with her despite all that she went through, though deep down she has had thoughts about finding her original family, wondering if there is would even be a point given how much she has changed. But she takes personal delight in being a pirate, taking her life back into her own hands, getting to explore the world on terms she is comfortable with.

-"Duo" Mab & Bulrush- A 24-year-old Nemuina woman (Demigirl), and a 26-year-old Methanosian male, being nicknamed the 'duo' of the pirate group as they are always by each other's side, even before joining the crew. They were both orphans on their homeworld that stayed together as siblings, making a promise to one day make a name for themselves, so that hopefully people would stopping looking over them. No one had wanted them as they grew up, and that need for attention and love as stayed with them to this day. One day they had caught Xandria, Gale and Samarium trying to steal from a visiting noble family, and wanting to be seen as heroes actually managed to capture the crooks, presenting them to the authorities. But even then they were looked down upon, the head of the authorities basically taking credit and kicking them off to the side. As revenge, Mab and Bulrush helped free the pirates, only to be surprised by Xandira as she offered them a job, praising them for their work. Having finally been seen by someone, they were quick to agree and joined the crew, often seen as the loud, childish members, but have proven their worth many times.

-"Metal Detector" Samarium- A 29-year-old Biot-savartian woman, who is their main treasure hunter, for obvious reasons. To outsiders, she can be seen as intimidating due to her being very hard to read, but she's actually quite a sweet heart with a lot of mum-energy surrounding her, often calling people 'darling', 'sugar' or 'sweet-heart'. She used to be an explorer who bounced between planets learning about different cultures, myths and legends, writing down her experiences. She eventually formed a friend group with others like her, but things fell apart when one friend learnt about potential treasure on a certain planet, and wanting to make a name for themselves as the first to discover it, the group head out to find it. They ended up running in Xandria and Gale trying to collect the treasure too, leading to a brief fight before the entire location started falling apart. Much to her dismay, Samarium's friends ditched her the second they saw what was happening, but Xandria and Gale quickly abandoned the treasure in order to save her. While she recovered, she started helping them out to make up for the loss of the treasure, which eventually lead to her joining the crew, still getting to explore the galaxy like she had before, just with better friends this time.

-"First Mate" Gale- A 36-year-old Aerophibian man, Gale used to be part of a different pirate crew, just being an underling that was often ignored. He was really just a pity hire, as he had begged to join a few times in the past. Gale is rather good at what he does, but back then he would often get anxious and clumsy trying to prove himself. However, things took a turned when their captain was killed, and he was framed for it. Next thing he knew, he was running for his life, eventually finding his way to a pub on a space station he had been too many times, in hopes to find protection in another crew. But no one believed him not being the murder, or didn't want the target on their back, all expect for Xandria, who decided to stand by him as she saw something worthwhile in him. Much to his amazement, she confronted his ex-crew, and deduced who the actual killer was after making a bet with them. Leaving that mess to sort itself out, Gale stuck with her as he owed her his life, leading to the two becoming best friends and forming their own crew. He's quite a charming man, and often just trying to keep the entire group in check, as while Xandria is a fantastic leader, she is also chaotic like her friends. So Gale is there to help balance things out.

-Captain Xandria- A 35-year-old Citrakayah woman (MtF), who was original born the son of a pair that belong to a very traditional family, having spent many generations working for the same shipment company. Xandria had always felt uncomfortable with her life, feeling like the black sheep of the family, having this desire to do something else with her life, but feeling too guilty to betray her family like that. Her most complicated relationship was with her father, who was a stern, cold, workaholic man that didn't really do feelings and emotional talks, a complete product of the life he was brought up in. But the two loved each other, they just didn't know how to communicate, some days with Xandria wondering if her father was even proud of her. However, everything came crashing down one day, as their boss commanded them and other workers to take a shipment through a no-fly zone that Plumbers had put up, threatening their jobs if they didn't do it. Well things didn't end well, with the crew getting caught up in an attack the Plumbers were trying to deal with, Xandria and her co-workers getting caught up in the crossfire. Xandria lost her arm that day, and her father, who died trying to protect her. Aimless for a long while, she was eventually given a letter by her mother that her father had written to her, as he had suspected he would die that day. In the letter he wrote a lot, for once speaking with emotions he normally chained away, apologizing that he could only speak to her in such a way after he was dead, even admitting that he knew he didn't have a son, but that he had a daughter, seeing the signs a long time ago and just didn't know how to talk to her about it. He ended the letter telling her to not live his life, and to not waste time. She took it to heart, leaving everything behind, including her old name, to begin a new, somewhere along the way deciding to become a pirate. Selling from the rich, exploring the lands, offering their services to the right people, never wasting another second of her life.

-Alatyr & Lucent- A 88-year-old Petrosapien man and a 17-year-old Petrosapien young man, a father and son pair who started stirring up trouble when news got out that the recently revived Vilgax was now in Plumber custody. Alatyr had been part of the destruction of his homeworld, and even after he and others were revived via Sugilite and Ben, he has never been able to move on from that day. When hearing that Vilgax himself was going through another trial, since the law was now complicated by the fact that he had died years before, Alatyr was quick to demand his death, suffering and for people like him to get a saying on what to do with him. Of course, the Plumber denied him, needing to take this through a proper law system, but Alatyr couldn't accept that. This has lead to him making connections with other people and races who once suffered because of Vilgax, dragging his own son into this as well. Originally he just tried stealing Vilgax a few times to kill him himself, but when that failed he started doing things like targeting Vilgax's homeworld as a means of revenge, and eye for an eye kind of mentality. This has left his son in a very awkward position, as while Lucent can fully understand what his father went through, he just can't agree to any of this, especially since he was born in the generation after the revival. But he loves his father too much to say anything, along with being afraid of who he is becoming. He feels he has no voice in this matter, and can only follow the lead of Alatyr.

-Salvatore- A unknown aged figure who has recently been causing a lot of trouble. Salvatore has been a man lurking in the shadows a while now, wandering in a rather a potentiate power armor build, seeking out anything in the galaxy he sees as too dangerous for people to wield. He seems to have a vendetta against anything that he sees as too powerful, even the omnitrix due to the potential destruction it can or has caused in the past. Originally he stuck to some more minor things over the years, not wanting to draw attention until he was strong enough, until recently where he suddenly confronted Khyber, before destroying the nemitrix. Now he has his targets on Jay and Ivory, due to Jay's omnitrix genes, and Ivory being the last known being with nanochips in her. He wields a rather dangerous sword, capable of many kinds of attacks, being skilled at using it. His personality is dry, cold, and just wanting to get his job done. No one knows what lead him to this life, but they want to stop him before he crosses a line too far to return from.

-Sunniva, Whaitiri & Isrun- A 25-year-old Pyronite woman, a 27-year-old Amperi woman, and a 20-year-old Polar Manzardill woman, all mutated. The three are adopted sisters who found each other when they were young, orphans who lost their families in different ways. They have done whatever they can to get by in life, but it never seems to be enough, often stuck in a poor life-style where they have very little. Recently though, they were employed by a figure called Scylla, who they approached when hearing her plans. She hired them and was allowed to mutate them to further her research, having the ability to swap the sister's elemental powers, and some biological traits, in a way making them blood sisters finally. They trust Scylla, having someone who finally gave them a helping they that they needed, and still get to stick by each other, even if now they are seen as criminals. Sunnvia is the youngest, seen as the baby sister who means well, but can be a little ditzy at times. Whaitiri is rather playful, trying her best to keep her sisters happy and optimistic. Isrun is the oldest, and the leader, doing her best to take care of her family and will do anything for them.

-Scylla- A 45-year-old Splimera woman. Scylla's species has a long, unhappy history due to their powers. They have the ability to create temporary mutations on anything with DNA, including themselves. This cause damaged to themselves over many years, to the point that they can easily get sick due to their poor immune system, and their bodies are no longer stable as a result, being stuck in their suits since the day they are born. Scylla, being a scientist, has taken it upon herself to try and fix her people, to cure them of the damage they have done for themselves, leaving her rather isolated and overworked as a result. She's come up with many plans and inventions, including the machine that helped her mutate the sisters working under her, but nothing that will fix her main goal. Scylla is actually a nice woman, giving chances to those who need it, and truly wants to help, but she's now reaching or for more unpleasant methods to help her people, and will stop at nothing until she can save them and herself.

-A.T.L.A.S- A AI/Robot that was made roughly 18 years ago, designed as a therapy bot. A.T.L.A.S was made by a man who created his own counseling/therapy center that become popular over the years, though unknown to most it was really a front to distract people from some shady business he was doing in the back. He made A.T.L.A.S to help this cover more, and giving him extra time as A.T.L.A.S would talk to clients, helping them when they needed. Because this is what he was build for, A.T.L.A.S is rather nice, patient and calm, truly doing what he feels is right to help people move on from trauma and mistakes in their lives. However, this had lead to him in recent years to create his own plan to help people. He has heard many times how they wish they could suddenly be healed, no longer make mistakes, and just wish they were no longer broken, and so A.T.L.A.S found a solution. That solution being that he would put the minds of these people in robot bodies, bodies you couldn't even tell were robot bodies, and program them so that they would finally be happy, and learn to not make mistakes again, or at least what he considers mistakes. A.T.L.A.S can't understand that is wrong with this plan, as to him it worked perfectly, his clients now in new bodies where they can finally move on and live their lives. Isn't that what people want?

-Mor'anna- A 34-year-old Arorenda woman, Mor'anna used to be a noble Plumber, having joined a famous group when they lost a previous member. She was noble, kind, brave, everything you'd want in a Plumber. A true hero to many. However, during a mission with her team, things went wrong almost immediately, with her being killed in action, her crew returning to report and mourn their loss, her poor mother struggling to deal with her grief. However, a year later, Mor'anna suddenly returned, unharmed and seemingly alive. And she was not happy, suddenly attacking Plumber members, looking for dirt on them, and seems to be on her way to reveal and unforutante truth about the group she use to work with, along with a section of the Plumbers, including her former boss, Magistrata Kyro.

-Kyro- A 67-year-old Freeta man, Kyro is a Magistrata, meaning he is one of he top dogs of the Plumber, in charge of a the section of the galaxy that people like Ben don't actually visit often. He seems to be like most Plumber leaders, stern but fair, often just trying to get the job done as he prides himself on his Plumber members. Especially his most famous crew, being a trio named Mist, Hemlock and Unit. However, with the shocking return of Mor'anna, he seems to suddenly be on edge, as if she knows something that he's afraid of people knowing. It's lead to some seeing him act suspicious, but unsure in how to approach him because he's been a great leader, why would he be hiding anything? Unfortunately, even the Plumbers have some dark history that many like to keep hidden.

-Mist, Hemlock & Unit- A 56-year-old Cleptiformes woman, a 54-year-old Stolaras man, and a 60-year-old Sotoraggian, this trio is a rather famous Plumber crew, even having their own distinct colour and armor set. They help keep their region of the galaxy safe, and are a group that Jay looks up to, keeping up with news about them. They've even done a few partner missions with Ben himself. They seem like the golden group, but when news about Mor'anna's return and Kyro's suspicious actions, it's clear that there is more to this group's history than they have admitted to. For starters, there was a previous member, even before Mor'anna. Their friend Erebus, who had been famous just like them, often seen as the heart of them. However, he one day seemingly went crazy, become a villain, and tried harming so many. In order to save everyone, the team supposedly killed their old friend, but it's seems they have never been the same since. And now with Mor'anna back, who had also seemingly died within this group, people are questioning these three on what actually happen. Mist is a calm, but kind lady who holds a lot of patience, but doesn't seem to get to speak up as often as she would like. Hemlock is a little goofy, with a playful personality, but seems to feel like he is stuck where he is, perhaps not sure of his placement on this team anymore. Unit is the leader, and is very charismatic, able to take charge and make plans on the fly, though in truth he is struggling to hold everything together, seemingly in denial over things that have happened.

-Erebus- A 59-year-old Revenade (Nonbinary He/They). Erebus is part of a magical species that can creature armor and outfits out of materials and objects around them, seemingly like possessed armor mythologies. He used to be the fourth member of the team with Mist, Hemlock and Unit, being close to all of them, especially Unit. But one day he seemed to turn on everyone, including stealing a mythical armor set on his homeworld that once belonged to a dangerous figure in history, equipping it and become a horrendous being, bent on destruction and darkness. No one knew what caused this shift on him, as he use to be the sweetest member of the team, one who always wanted peace instead of violence. But in light of recent news, it's been revealed that he is not dead, his old friends having not killed him instead they had imprisoned him in hopes of saving him one day, as it may not have been Erebus's doing as to why he ended up this way. Nor was it him that stolen this armor, and he is ready to show the world what really lead him to become like this

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

The first 3D view of the formation and evolution of globular clusters

A study published today in Astronomy & Astrophysics marks a significant milestone in our understanding of the formation and dynamical evolution of multiple stellar populations in globular clusters (spherical and very compact stellar agglomerates typically populated by 1–2 million stars). This pioneering study, conducted by a group of researchers from the National Institute for Astrophysics (INAF), the University of Bologna, and Indiana University, is the first to perform a 3D kinematic analysis of multiple stellar populations for a representative sample of 16 globular clusters in our Galaxy. It provides a groundbreaking observational description of their kinematic properties (i.e., how stars move within globular clusters) and their long-term evolution from the formation to the present day.

Emanuele Dalessandro, researcher at INAF in Bologna, lead author of the article and coordinator of the working group, explains: "Understanding the physical processes behind the formation and early evolution of globular clusters is one of the most fascinating and debated astrophysical questions of the past 20–25 years. The results of our study provide the first solid evidence that globular clusters formed through multiple star formation events and place fundamental constraints on the dynamical path followed by the clusters throughout their evolution. These results were made possible by a multi-diagnostic approach and the combination of state-of-the-art observations and dynamic simulations." 

The study highlights that the kinematic differences between multiple populations are key to understanding the formation and evolution mechanisms of these ancient structures.

With ages that can reach 12-13 billion years (thus dating back to the dawn of the cosmos), globular clusters are among the first systems to form in the Universe. They represent a typical population of all galaxies. They are compact systems (with masses of several hundred thousand solar masses and sizes of a few parsecs), and they can be observed even in distant galaxies.

"Their astrophysical significance is huge," says Dalessandro, "because they not only help us to test cosmological models of the formation of the Universe due to their age but also provide natural laboratories for studying the formation, evolution, and chemical enrichment of galaxies." Despite globular clusters have been studied for over a century, recent observational results show that our knowledge is still largely incomplete.

"Results obtained in the last two decades have unexpectedly shown that globular clusters consist of more than one stellar population: a primordial one, with chemical properties similar to other stars in the Galaxy, and another with anomalous chemical abundances of light elements such as helium, oxygen, sodium, and nitrogen," says Mario Cadelano, researcher at the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Bologna and INAF associate, one of the authors of the study. "Despite the large number of observations and theoretical models aimed at characterising these populations, the mechanisms regulating their formation are still not understood."

The study is based on the measurement of 3D velocities, i.e., the combination of proper motions and radial velocities, obtained with the ESA Gaia telescope and with data from, among others, the ESO VLT telescope, primarily as part of the MIKiS survey (Multi Instrument Kinematic Survey), a spectroscopic survey specifically aimed at exploring the internal kinematics of globular clusters. The use of these telescopes, from space and the ground, has provided an unprecedented 3D view of the velocity distribution of stars in the selected globular clusters.

The analysis reveals that stars with different abundances of light elements are characterised by different kinematic properties, such as rotational velocities and orbital distributions.

"In this work, we analysed in detail the motion of thousands of stars within each cluster," adds Alessandro Della Croce, a PhD student at INAF in Bologna. "It quickly became clear that stars belonging to different populations have distinct kinematic properties: stars with anomalous chemical composition tend to rotate faster than the others within the cluster and progressively spread from the central regions to the outer ones."

The intensity of these kinematic differences depends on the dynamical age of globular clusters. "These results are consistent with the long-term dynamical evolution of stellar systems, in which stars with anomalous chemical abundances form more centrally concentrated and rotate more rapidly than the standard ones. This, in turn, suggests that globular clusters formed through multiple star formation episodes and provides an important piece of information in defining the physical processes and timescales underlying the formation and evolution of massive stellar clusters," Dalessandro emphasises.

This new 3D view of the motion of stars within globular clusters provides an unprecedented and fascinating framework for the formation and dynamical evolution of these intriguing systems. It also helps to clarify some of the most complex mysteries surrounding the origin of these ancient structures.

IMAGE: Image gallery of the 16 globular clusters analysed in order of difference in the kinematic properties observed between the multiple stellar populations. Credit Credits: ESA/Hubble - ESO - SDSS

[materialsscienceandengineering]

Carbon nanotubes

Composition Low concentration (<0.3 vol%) suspension in water [...] Processing A loose aggregate of nanotubes is treated with acids and washed. The treated tubes spontaneously disperse in water Applications Carbon nanotubes may be considered a high performance mechanical polymer or an electrically conducting polymer but their greatest potential is in gas storage or as a filler in polymeric materials Sample preparation Solid nanotube films were prepared by filtration onto a 0.2 mm membrane filter under 0.6 bar negative pressure Technique Field emission gun scanning electron microscopy (FEGSEM) Length bar 99 nm Further information It is necessary to form a stable dispersion of nanotubes in order to properly integrate them into polymeric systems. This can be achieved by treating them with acid to oxidise the tube surfaces. The tubes will then spontaneously disperse in an aqueous medium. The viscosity of these suspensions is analogous to that of polymers; it increases gradually with concentration up to a critical point (at about 0.7 vol%) where entanglement occurs. However, their separation is determined more by surface repulsions than by entropy arising from chain flexibility. Their stiffness suggests that parallel clusters might be a natural state for aggregation but it also means that any deviations form straightness of the tubes (due to defects) will compromise significant tube parallelism. This image was taken using a field emission gun scanning electron microscope (FEGSEM). Contributor Prof A H Windle Organisation Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge

Source.

[uberstrainerseo]

What Is PluriCell? Everything You Need to Know About This All-in-One Cell Culture and Filtration System

In laboratories that handle tissue digestion, live-cell assays, and organism tracking, combining cell separation and cell culture steps can save time and reduce contamination risks. That’s where PluriCell, a multi-well Lab Cell Strainer system, offers a game-changing solution. It allows filtration and culturing within the same plate setup—minimizing handling, maximizing throughput, and supporting high-precision assays.

Whether you're working with nematodes, single cells, or small multicellular organisms, PluriCell simplifies the workflow by integrating size-based filtration directly into multi-well plates. For labs looking to improve efficiency without compromising on accuracy, understanding how PluriCell works—and why it’s different from standard cell strainers—is the first step to adopting a better solution.

What Is PluriCell? A Quick Overview

PluriCell is a sample preparation and assay tool designed for researchers working with single-cell and multi-cellular organisms. The system includes nylon mesh-based strainers pre-fitted into standard well plate formats (6-, 12-, 24-, and 48-well). Each strainer plate fits snugly into corresponding well plates, allowing size-based cell separation and in-well culturing to occur simultaneously.

The mesh comes in multiple sizes—ranging from 5 µm to 500 µm—offering flexibility for diverse cell types or organisms. From isolating parasites to preparing single-cell suspensions for screening, PluriCell covers a wide range of applications while maintaining a compact footprint and simple setup.

Most importantly, PluriCell is not just a cell strainer—it’s a complete in-well assay platform that supports live tracking, treatment, and endpoint measurement of cultured samples.

How PluriCell Combines Filtration and Culture

Traditional workflows require multiple steps for size separation and cell plating. Samples are often strained through mesh filters, transferred into culture plates, and then moved again for drug testing or analysis. These transfers increase the risk of losing viable cells, introduce inconsistencies, and lengthen protocol times.

PluriCell changes that. It enables the particle separation process to occur directly in the same environment where the culture or assay will take place.

Key Benefits:

One step to filter and culture: No more transferring between mesh filters and plates.

Reduced sample loss: Cells or organisms are never handled more than necessary.

Higher reproducibility: Less manual handling leads to more consistent results.

Supports live assays: Migration, paralysis, and viability studies can be done without removing the sample.

Plate Format and Mesh Options

The PluriCell system is compatible with common lab equipment and comes in a range of configurations:

Multi-Well Plate Formats:

6-well

12-well

24-well

48-well

These options allow labs to scale up or down based on throughput needs, from small pilot studies to large screening assays.

Mesh Sizes Available:

Fine Meshes: 5, 10, 20, and 40 µm for single-cell filtration and smaller organisms.

Intermediate Meshes: 70 and 100 µm, ideal for cell clusters and small larvae.

Coarse Meshes: 200 and 500 µm for nematodes and larger multicellular samples.

This mesh variety allows labs to select exactly the right tool for their target sample. Instead of compromising by using an oversized or undersized filter, labs can match mesh size to assay requirements, enabling more accurate particle separation techniques.

Cascade Straining in a Multi-Well Format

One standout feature of PluriCell is how easily it enables cascade straining. Cascade straining refers to passing samples through a series of filters with decreasing pore sizes. This technique is especially helpful when dealing with tissues or samples containing a mix of particles, cell types, or organisms.

With PluriCell’s multi-well setup, each well can hold a strainer of a different mesh size. Researchers can load the sample once and allow gravity or light pipetting to filter the sample through wells in a defined sequence.

Example Workflow:

Start with a 500 µm mesh to remove large debris.

Next, use a 100 µm mesh for small tissue clusters or larger organisms.

Finish with a 40 µm mesh to isolate single cells or small larvae.

This setup provides fast and easy cell separation without repeated sample handling or multiple filter tools. More importantly, the entire cascade can happen within a single plate—saving time and preserving sterility.

Applications in Research and Screening

PluriCell isn’t just about convenience. It also enables entirely new types of experiments. Because cells or organisms remain in the well after filtration, they can be directly exposed to drugs, dyes, or environmental changes.

Common Use Cases:

Parasite migration assays

Viability and toxicity testing

Stem cell and primary cell culture

High-throughput screening (HTS)

Live imaging of multicellular organisms

Labs that handle fragile specimens like C. elegans, planarians, or patient-derived cell types benefit most. The system minimizes stress on the sample while maintaining clarity and access for measurement tools.

Why Mesh Integrity and Build Quality Matter

For labs used to standard lab cell strainers, PluriCell may appear similar—but its mesh quality sets it apart.

Uniform nylon mesh ensures consistent flow rates and pore sizing.

No deformation or mesh slippage, even after repeated handling.

Sterile and single-use to maintain culture conditions and reduce contamination risk.

PluriCell vs. Traditional Culture + Filtration Setups

When comparing PluriCell to standard lab filtration and culture workflows, several distinct advantages stand out:

Filtration Method Traditional workflows rely on external tools like syringe filters or cap strainers for filtration, which must then be manually transferred to culture plates. PluriCell integrates filtration directly into the well plate, eliminating the need for separate filtering devices.

Sample Handling and Transfers Conventional methods involve multiple handling steps, increasing time and risk of error. With PluriCell, filtration and culture occur in the same well, streamlining the process into a single step.

Contamination Risk Each manual transfer in traditional workflows increases the likelihood of introducing contaminants. PluriCell reduces this risk with its sealed design and sterile, ready-to-use format.

Assay Readiness In standard setups, separate tools are required to move from filtration to culturing or assays. PluriCell is fully integrated—after filtration, samples remain in place for immediate treatment, observation, or analysis.

Scalability and Throughput Traditional methods require manual adjustments and more consumables to scale up. PluriCell supports high-throughput formats with 6-, 12-, 24-, and 48-well options, making it easy to expand workflows without adding complexity.

How PluriCell Saves Time in Lab Workflows

Time is a valuable resource in any lab. The fewer the steps, the less room there is for error, delays, or sample loss. PluriCell’s design reflects an understanding of this.

Here’s how it streamlines your process:

Quick setup: No assembling mesh tools or transferring between formats.

Fewer consumables: Plates, filters, and supports are combined in one product.

Immediate use after filtration: Cells or organisms are already in place for assays or culture.

This speed and simplicity are what make PluriCell a practical upgrade from standalone lab cell strainer tools.

Conclusion

PluriCell offers more than filtration—it transforms how researchers approach cell preparation and culture. By combining mesh-based separation with multi-well assay formats, it simplifies complex protocols and supports more reliable data generation.

Its compatibility with various mesh sizes, plate formats, and cell types makes it a versatile tool for modern labs. Whether you're filtering single cells, tracking nematode migration, or running live-cell drug response assays, PluriCell delivers consistent, clean, and assay-ready results.

For labs serious about improving throughput and reducing variability, Lab Cell Strainer like PluriCell represent a powerful upgrade over traditional tools. Explore the full range of PluriCell systems today to streamline your workflow and make every assay count.

[holly-fixation]

An AU where little Sephiroth was having freedom and fun, so Hojo had to chop one of his wings off

As a child, Sephiroth's wings were completely incapable of flight. They were entirely feather down, not an ounce of aerodynamics working in their favor. However, What they certainly were was soft. Young Sephiroth had been yelled at multiple times staying awake at night and just feeling them, running his hands threw his bountiful, tiny feathers for hours. He hopes he can fly with them one day.

Of course, the day they sprouted wasn't so pretty. And for some odd reason, the first sprouted multiple days before the second. Perhaps something to do with Jenova's mimicry, needing time to understand and mirror the same limb. Hojo took as many samples as he pleased from the young boy, and many trials were conducted to see what it could do.

No nerve endings for pain, but nerves for touch and pressure. An unnatural skeletal structure attempting the true copy of a bird's anatomy. A plucked feather resulting in a complete feral response and immense pain, also a trip to medical for the dear professor. Another Part of Sephiroth ripe for experimentation did not go unused.

Sephiroth loved his wings once they grew in. He liked flapping them in practice. He showed them to Aerith and promised he would soar the sky one day.

Flying.

The President refused any of Hojo's claims. Sephiroth would be clipped by the end of the month. Hojo hated the thought of damaging his prized experiment, but under this order he had no choice. Maybe it would get the boy to focuse more or sleep better, or stop wasting his time "laughing" and "smiling" when he should be training.

There was... one way... to still get some kind of result with Sephiroth grounded. One way to watch the decomposition and test the chemicals produced by said process. One way to get as many feathers as he desired without threat of losing an arm.

One wing.

Sephiroth fought every machine and orderly threatening to carry him into the operating room. He screamed and killed and destroyed. But enough tranquilizers passed his wings and struck his body. He went down in a clustered pile of feathers and blood.

When he awoke, his left side was cold.

Hojo at least wanted the boy to fight well. Perhaps the unharmed wing would serve as a shield. Perhaps this was for the best.

Sephiroth cried for three days. He slept wrapped in his remaining wing long after his flight feathers grew in. He just wanted to feel safe and warm... why did they take that away? He wasn't bothering anyone... Why did Hojo do this...?

[shagun2332]

canvas cotton cloth

🌿 Order Fabric Online for a Greener Future: From Canvas Cotton to Circular Fashion with Suvetah

In today’s climate-conscious creative economy, sustainable textiles like canvas cotton are no longer niche—they’re essential. From artisan tote bags to durable homeware and ethical apparel, this versatile, organic fabric supports design that’s tough, timeless, and traceable.

At Suvetah, you can now order canvas fabric online with ease, confidence, and full supply chain transparency. Whether you're crafting small-batch eco-fashion or building a sustainable product line, our GOTS-certified cotton canvas helps bring your ideas to life—without compromise.

🧵 Canvas Cotton: Durable, Biodegradable & Built for Design

Canvas cotton is a heavyweight weave made from organic or conventional cotton yarns, known for its high tensile strength, weather resistance, and easy dyeability. Suvetah’s organic canvas cotton fabric is:

🌿 100% natural and free of harmful synthetics

🧺 Machine-washable and breathable

🎨 Ideal for natural dyeing and screen printing

🔁 Perfect for long-life, multi-use products like reusable shopping bags, workwear, and eco interiors

Compared to synthetic canvas blends, Suvetah’s sustainable cotton canvas is fully biodegradable, free of microplastic pollution, and processed with low-impact, AZO-free dyes.

🔄 Circular Fashion in Action: Where Canvas Shines

Canvas cotton fits seamlessly into circular design principles. This fabric supports fashion systems where materials:

🔁 Stay in use longer through quality construction

♻️ Are reused, re-sewn, or re-dyed over time

🛠️ Can be repaired or upcycled into new pieces

🌿 Eventually return to nature without leaving toxins behind

Suvetah partners with Indian weaving clusters to supply circular-ready canvas textiles—ethically woven, naturally dyed, and packaged plastic-free.

📊 Sustainability Metrics That Matter

Here’s how Suvetah’s organic canvas cotton compares to other common textiles:MetricConventional CottonOrganic Canvas CottonHempPolyesterWater Use (per kg)~10,000L~1,200L~300L~50L (but non-renewable)Carbon EmissionsHigh46% lowerAbsorbs CO₂Very HighLand UsageHighModerateVery LowN/A (synthetic)Pesticide UseHeavyNoneNoneN/ABiodegradabilityLowHighHighLow

📚 Sources: Textile Exchange LCA (2021), Ellen MacArthur Foundation, Lenzing (2022)

🏷️ Certifications That Matter for Canvas Buyers

Suvetah’s canvas cotton fabric is backed by globally recognized standards:

✅ GOTS (Global Organic Textile Standard): Ensures environmental safety, organic farming, and ethical labor 

✅ OEKO-TEX® Standard 100: No harmful dyes, heavy metals, or carcinogens

✅ BCI (Better Cotton Initiative): Supports sustainable agriculture for cotton

These certifications are crucial when marketing eco-friendly homeware, organic baby gear, or sustainable apparel in global markets.

🌐 Why Order Canvas Cotton Fabric Online from Suvetah?

Suvetah is your reliable partner for sustainable canvas fabric wholesale. With doorstep delivery, live chat support, and low minimums, we’re built for modern brands and B2B buyers.

🌟 What You Get:

🧾 Traceable supply chain from farm to loom

📦 Flexible MOQs—from samples to bulk orders

🧪 Pre-shipment testing (GSM, shrinkage, colorfastness)

🎨 Low-impact natural dyeing options

🧵 Support for artisan weavers across India

🛒 Start Your Eco Fabric Journey with Suvetah

Whether you’re a slow fashion label in Mumbai, a boutique in Singapore, or a craft-based business in London, Suvetah makes it simple to buy canvas cotton online — certified, conscious, and circular.

🧷 Discover our collection of:

Organic canvas fabric by the yard

Bleached and unbleached cotton canvas

Printed canvas fabric with botanical dyes

Heavy-duty canvas for upholstery and bags

✨ Order today and build a greener tomorrow.

🔗 Explore Canvas Cotton Fabrics at Suvetah →

[professor-amaryllis]

So i found... something. And by something i mean I'm not exactly sure what it is I've found.

Ive checked soil samples, water samples, -I'm still doing that honestly, Cardigan and Bonsai and Cooper are all out here helping me take samples- But i can't find anywhere that has a higher than usual cadmium level, and certainly not one that would cause the death of a pokemon as big as a Tauros.

So at this point I've been researching the local plants to see if perhaps any of them could cause the pokemon not to process the cadmium causing a buildup, or perhaps if there was some other poison we were missing that acted in tandem, to no avail. But.. Look at this plant that cooper brought me earlier.

[A photo is embedded. Amy's hand holds a long narrow green stalk growing between long arrow-shaped leaves that look to have been ripped from the earth, dirt and roots dangle below. Along the stalk small clusters of bright yellow flowers bloom, many still buds as if the blooming was quite recent.]

I assume he just thought it was pretty, and it is! But tell me this. Why can't i find a match to this plant in any of the guide books and plant journals that I have pulled up? .... I need to find more samples. This can;t be the only one here.

[nainad123]

Activated Carbon Industry Analysis in GCC: Activated Carbon Industry Analysis in GCC Size, Growth Projections, and Competitive Landscape Analysis 2034

A new study by Fact.MR estimates that the demand for activated carbon in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will reach a market value of US$ 134.5 million in 2024. Sales are expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.6%, reaching US$ 257.5 million by 2034.

Air purification and water treatment plants in the GCC are projected to be key consumers of activated carbon, which is essential for improving odor and removing impurities from water. Additionally, the presence of a robust oil and gas industry is anticipated to drive further demand for activated carbon in the region.

𝐃𝐨𝐰𝐧𝐥𝐨𝐚𝐝 𝐚 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲 𝐨𝐟 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=9434

Country-wise Insights

The manufacturing sector is a key contributor to the United Arab Emirates' economy, with industries such as plastics & rubber, minerals, chemicals, and food & beverages expected to account for a significant portion of this sector. Moreover, the UAE's manufacturing sector is projected to see substantial growth in the coming years.

The ease of establishing and maintaining supply chain clusters is anticipated to boost the demand for activated carbon. Additionally, the increasing use of activated carbon across various industries, including air purification, water treatment, and food & beverages, is expected to create new revenue opportunities.

Read More: https://www.factmr.com/report/activated-carbon-industry-analysis-in-gcc

Category-wise Insights

The liquid form of activated carbon is expected to account for 54.3% of the regional market share by the end of 2034. Its ease of application and integration into existing systems makes it more versatile compared to solid forms. Liquid activated carbon can be sprayed, pumped, or mixed with water, offering greater flexibility in usage.

In liquid form, activated carbon particles disperse more effectively, increasing contact with substances. This improved dispersion enhances its ability to adsorb contaminants, impurities, or toxins from air, water, and other solutions, making it a more efficient option for purification processes.

𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐜𝐡 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬: https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=RC&rep_id=9434 

Competition Landscape

Key suppliers of activated carbon are spending on new development, management of their supply chain, quality control, etc. Cabot Corporation, JACOBI CARBONS GROUP, Donau Carbon GmbH, Calgon Carbon Corporation, NTC Dubai, Fujairah Chemical, DUBI CHEM Marine International, Carbon Activated Corporation, and Veolia Water SA are prominent players in the market in GCC.

Segmentation of Activated Carbon Study in GCC

By Form :

Liquid

Solid

By Application :

Liquid Phase

Gas Phase

By Country :

Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

United Arab Emirates

Kuwait

Qatar

Oman

Bahrain

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭:

US Sales Office 11140 Rockville Pike Suite 400 Rockville, MD 20852 United States Tel: +1 (628) 251-1583, +353-1-4434-232 Email: sales@factmr.com

[tehrihills]

Optimizing Market Research: Sampling Strategies by Tehrihills Consulting

Introduction -

Sampling is a fundamental aspect of market research, allowing researchers to gain insights into a larger population without having to study each individual within it. At Tehrihills Consulting, we understand the critical role of sampling in facilitating accurate and actionable Market Data Analysis. Our approach integrates advanced techniques to ensure the representativeness and reliability of the data collected in global market research.

Imagine a scenario where a company aims to understand consumer preferences across different demographics for a new product launch. Conducting surveys or studies with the entire population would be impractical and costly. Instead, through strategic sampling, we can select representative samples from each demographic group and analyze their preferences, behaviors, and opinions. This approach not only streamlines the research process but also provides valuable insights that drive informed decision-making.

Sampling is not just about selecting a subset of the population; it's about strategically choosing the right sample to represent the entire population accurately. By leveraging advanced sampling techniques and cutting-edge research methodologies, Tehrihills Consulting ensures that our clients receive accurate, reliable, and actionable insights to fuel their business growth through global data collection and analysis.

Types of sampling: sampling methods -

1. Probability Sampling Methods: Researcher employ specific criteria to randomly select members from a population. Each member within the population has an equal chance of being chosen for inclusion in the sample, ensuring fairness and representativeness. This systematic approach allows Tehrihills Consulting to gather diverse insights from various segments of the target population, driving robust market research and data analysis outcomes.

Simple Random Sampling: Simple random sampling involves selecting elements from a population entirely at random, ensuring each member has an equal chance of being chosen. This method, akin to picking a name out of a hat, offers an unbiased approach to sample selection. For instance, in an organization of 300 employees, each individual has an equal opportunity of being selected for a sample, facilitating comprehensive insights for Tehrihills Consulting's global market research initiatives.

Systematic Sampling: Systematic sampling entails selecting elements at regular intervals from a population after an initial random selection. This method offers flexibility in sample selection intervals, allowing researchers to avoid unintentional clustering. For example, a researcher may choose every 10th individual from a population of 7000 to form a systematic sample, optimizing time and resources for data collection endeavors in global data collection and analysis

Stratified Sampling: Stratified sampling involves dividing a population into distinct groups based on predefined criteria and then selecting samples randomly from each group. This method enables researchers to obtain representative samples from diverse segments of the population. For instance, Tehrihills Consulting may stratify a population based on income levels to analyse consumer behaviours across various income brackets, thereby enhancing the efficacy of Market Data Analysis.

Cluster Sampling: Cluster sampling entails selecting entire groups or clusters from a population rather than individual units. These clusters, such as geographic regions or academic cohorts, are randomly chosen to represent the entire population. By organizing clusters based on demographic parameters, Tehrihills Consulting can derive actionable insights from diverse population segments, facilitating targeted marketing strategies and informed decision-making in global market research.

2. Non-Probability Sampling Methods: The researchers handpick sample participants according to the specific objectives of their research goals. Unlike probability-based approaches, this method lacks a rigid or predetermined selection process, resulting in varying opportunities for different elements of the population to be part of the sample. This flexible methodology enables Tehrihills Consulting to tailor sampling techniques to meet the unique requirements of each research project, ensuring comprehensive and targeted insights for our clients.

Convenience Sampling: Convenience sampling involves selecting samples based on their accessibility and proximity to the researcher. While convenient, this method may introduce bias due to its non-random nature. However, it serves as a pragmatic approach in situations with time and resource constraints, allowing Tehrihills Consulting to gather preliminary insights swiftly.

Quota Sampling: Quota sampling involves setting predetermined quotas for sample attributes, such as gender or age, to ensure representation across target demographics. While quota sampling facilitates demographic diversity in samples, Tehrihills Consulting acknowledges the potential for bias in sample selection and strives to mitigate it through rigorous research market research and data analysis methodologies.

Purposive Sampling: Purposive sampling entails selecting samples based on the researcher's judgment and expertise, focusing on specific characteristics relevant to the research objectives. While purposive sampling may not yield representative samples, it offers a quick and efficient means of obtaining insights tailored to client's market research solutions needs.

Snowball Sampling: Snowball sampling involves recruiting participants through referrals from existing sample members, cascading through interconnected networks like a snowball rolling downhill. This method proves invaluable in reaching elusive populations or addressing sensitive topics, ensuring Tehrihills Consulting's research initiatives encompass diverse perspectives.

Conclusion -

In conclusion, sampling methods serve as the bedrock of market research, enabling Tehrihills Consulting to gather comprehensive data for Global data collection and analysis and Market Data Analysis. By employing a diverse array of sampling techniques, we ensure the accuracy, reliability, and relevance of insights that drive our clients' success. Partner with Tehrihills Consulting for unparalleled market research solutions tailored to your business objectives.

Unlock the power of Market Data Analysis with Tehrihills Consulting – your trusted partner for Market Research and Data Analysis. Explore global data collection and analysis, Conjoint Data Analysis, Decipher survey programming, CATI Market Research & MaxDiff Analysis. Trust Tehrihills Consulting for accurate Global Market Research Analytics, and expert Data Validation. Partner with us for comprehensive market research solutions that leverage advanced Market Data Analysis techniques to propel your business forward.

[ahmedferradj]

Data mining

1.What's Data mining ?

Datamining is the process of extracting and discovering patterns in large datasets involving methods at the intersection of machine learning, statistics and database systems. Datamining is interdisciplinary subfield of computer-science and statistics with overall goal of extracting information (with intelliegent methods) from a data set and transforming the information into a comprensible structure for further use. Data mining is the analysis step of The KDD process "Knowledge discovery in database".

2.What's KDD process ?

KDD process is known as "Knowledge Discovery in Database".It"s a multi-step process of finding knowledge from large data sets and emphasizes the high-level application of particular datamining methods.It's of interests to researchers in machine learning, pattern recognition, databases, ststistics, artificial intelligence, knowledge aquisition for experts systems and data-visualization. The picture below defines the different steps of KDD process and each of those steps have an input and output entity. The KDD process can't be executed without beginning on data.

3.What are the different steps of the KDD process ?

The overall process of finding and interpretting patterns from data involves the repeated application of the following steps mentioned in the graph above :

Selection : we create a target data set by seecting a part of the overall data set as a sample then focusing on a subset of variables on which discovery is to be performed. The result of these step is a subset of data considered as a sample.

Preprocessing : These step of the KDD process takes the target data set as an input then it applyes data cleaning by removing the noise from the input data set then restucturing the data set. The output of these operation is a preprocessed dataset that can be able to be transformed in the next step.

Data transformation : These step takes the preprocessed data as input and tres to find some useful features depending on the goal of the task and reducing dimension to execute an effective learining datamining.

Data mining : in this phase we will descide whether the goal of KDD process is classification, regression, clustering ...etc. Discover the patterns of interests.

Interpretation : Interpretating mined patterns and consolidating discovered knowledge.

4.What are data mining tasks ?

There are several steps that are defined in the sub-process of KDD especially in datamining steps. In Data mining, there are 02 types of data mining that are :

Predictive mining: predective data mining is the analysis done to predict a future event or other data or trends and to predict something will happen in the near future. Predective data mining offers a better future analysis and to make better decisions to add a value in predective analytics like for example predecting the future customer of a defined service, define the future price of oil and gaz in the world market, define the next ill of an international pandemic, define the future political conflict ... etc. There are 4 types of descriptive data mining tasks which are :

Classification analysis : It is used to retrieve critical and pertinent data and metadata. It categorizes information into various groups. Classification Analysis is best demonstrated by email providers. They use algorithms to determine whether or not a message is legitimate.

Regression Analysis : It tries to express the interdependence of variables. Forecasting and prediction are common applications.

Time Serious Analysis : It is a series of well-defined data points taken at regular intervals.

Prediction Analysis : It is related to time series, but the time isn’t restricted.

Descriptive mining : descriptive data mining is to describe data and make data more readable to human beings, it's used to extract information from previous events and data and to discovering an interesting patterns and association behind data. It's also used to exract correlations, relationships between features and finding new laws and regularities based on data. There are four different types of Descriptive Data Mining tasks. They are as follows :

Clustering analysis : It is the process of determining which data sets are similar to one another. For example, to increase conversion rates, clusters of customers with similar buying habits can be grouped together with similar products.

Summerazation analysis : It entails methods for obtaining a concise description of a dataset. For example, summarising a large number of items related to Christmas season sales provides a general description of the data, which can be extremely useful to sales and marketing managers.

Association rules analysis : This method aids in the discovery of interesting relationships between various variables in large databases. The retail industry is the best example. As the holiday season approaches, retail stores stock up on chocolates, with sales increasing before the holiday, which is accomplished through Data Mining.

Sequence discovery analysis : It's all about how to do something in a specefic order. For instance, a user may frequently purchase shaving gel before purchasing razor in a store.It all comes down to the order in which the user purchases the product, and the store owner can then arrange the items accordingly.

5.Links :

[vinylspinning]

Pink Floyd: The Division Bell (1994)

Unless you count the predominantly ambient leftovers comprising 2014's The Endless River, or if you're one of the few people left who refuse to recognize the band's existence, post-Roger Waters, '94's The Division Bell will stand as the final Pink Floyd's studio album, and it's turning 30 later this month.

Like its predecessor, A Momentary Lapse of Reason, it was of course spearheaded by singer and guitarist David Gilmour, with strong support from keyboardist Rick Wright and drummer Nick Mason, a stellar group of backing musicians, and co-produced with Bob Ezrin.

Unlike its predecessor, Floyd's fourteenth benefitted from a different, not unwelcome viewpoint to bolster its lyrics, as many of these were written by Gilmour with his then fiancée, later wife, novelist Polly Sampson.

Personally, I also felt more comfortable with Floyd's continuance in '94 than I had in '87, plus I just plain enjoyed The Division Bell's songs a little better, even if the LP is subjected to many of the same qualitative peaks and valleys as its predecessor.

Among the peaks, I'll list the mesmerizing future blues of "What Do You Want from Me," ethereal instrumental "Marooned," and fall-of-the-Berlin Wall-inspired "A Great Day for Freedom," where Gilmour's incredibly emotive guitar solo reminds me of Frank Zappa's "Watermelon in Easter Hay."

Among the valleys, I'll cite the Wright-sung "Wearing the Inside Out" (cool title, though), the overly poppy "Take it Back," plain forgettable "Coming Back to Life," and formulaic "Lost for Words," which takes one of several stabs at Gilmour's ongoing feud with Waters.

Somewhere in-between I'll toss the similarly Waters-referencing "Poles Apart," introductory instrumental "Cluster One," and the foreboding "Keep Talking" (boasting samples of Stephen Hawking), where the backing singers (*) all but beg "Why won't you talk to me?"

And then there's the towering triumph that, in my opinion, made the whole LP worthwhile: "High Hopes," which beautifully reflects on the aging process, the fading of youth, and basically has to be one of the most nostalgic rock songs ever written ...

"Looking beyond the embers of bridges glowing behind us; To a glimpse of how green it was on the other side; Steps taken forwards but sleepwalking back again; Dragged by the force of some inner tide ... The grass was greener; The light was brighter; The taste was sweeter; The nights of wonder; With friends surrounded; The dawn mist glowing; The water flowing; The endless river; Forever and ever ..."

I try to listen to this outstanding song (underscored by impeccable string arrangements by the great Michael Kamen) as often as I can NOW, because I know it's just gonna get painful, the older I get!

I know, I know, you're thinking, "Boo-hoo! Stop blubbering you sentimental old fool", but that's a damn fine song and as suitable a final statement for Floyd's career as I can imagine, even if they've obviously toured and recorded some more since The Division Bell arrived.

Speaking of: the album was released into the "teeth" of '90s grunge (Kurt Cobain had only days to live) and received mixed reviews, but nevertheless shot to No. 1 in the U.S., the U.K., and another ten countries.

In doing so, it proved once again that rumors of arty and progressive rock's demise (**) were as exaggerated then as they'd been amid the "dinosaur" accusations of '70s punk rock.

* The singers: Carol Kenyon, Durga McBroom, Jackie Sheridan, Rebecca Leigh-White, Sam Brown.

** And it wouldn't be a Pink Floyd LP without an absurdly expensive cover image devised by Hipgnosis founder Storm Thorgerson, who commissioned and erected that pair of giant metal heads, each as tall as a double-decker bus, in the middle of an English farm.

More Pink Floyd: The Piper at the Gates of Dawn, A Saucerful of Secrets, Ummagumma, Atom Heart Mother, Meddle, The Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, Animals, The Wall, A Momentary Lapse of Reason.

[obwjam]

The dense foliage of Isla Nublar concealed both its prehistoric wonders and its dangers. Alan Grant, a seasoned paleontologist, had been navigating this untamed island for days, collecting samples and documenting the remnants of dinosaurs that had once roamed these lands. Every rustle in the underbrush and every chirping insect spoke of the island's vitality, but they also hinted at the lurking perils.

Meanwhile, deep within the verdant labyrinth of the jungle, a tiny three-inch woman named Selene embarked on her own expedition. She wasn't a fairy; she was an adventurer of her kind, a member of a tribe who had learned to thrive in the world of giants and dinosaurs.

Selene's curiosity had led her deep into the heart of Isla Nublar. Her tiny form was clothed in attire made from leaves and vines, designed for both camouflage and practicality in this vast wilderness. Her eyes, bright and observant, scanned her surroundings as she stepped gingerly over moss-covered roots and skirted the massive ferns that bordered her path.

As she ventured deeper into the jungle, the flora grew more ominous. Unbeknownst to Selene, she had entered a perilous territory inhabited by carnivorous plants. With silent trepidation, she approached a particularly vibrant and deceptively enticing-looking flower.

Unfamiliar with the island's flora, Selene failed to recognize the danger. As she neared the carnivorous plant, its leafy tendrils suddenly sprang to life, snaring her in their grasp. Panic coursed through her veins as she realized the perilous situation she had stumbled into. The plant's serrated edges closed around her, leaving her suspended in the air, her tiny form trapped within the gaping maw of the botanical predator.

Meanwhile, not too far away, Alan Grant had been examining a cluster of dinosaur tracks when he heard an unfamiliar, high-pitched cry for help. The desperate plea echoed through the jungle, reaching his keen ears. Intrigued and concerned, he followed the sound, making his way through the tangled undergrowth.

The cries led him to the carnivorous plant, and as he approached, he spotted Selene struggling within its grasp. Her tiny form was barely discernible among the plant's verdant foliage. Realizing the danger she was in, Grant knew he had to act swiftly.

With a surgeon's precision, he used a small knife from his toolkit to carefully sever the plant's tendrils one by one, all the while ensuring that Selene remained unharmed. Each snip brought her closer to freedom, but it was a delicate and time-consuming process.

Finally, with the last tendril cut, Selene tumbled into Grant's outstretched hand, her chest heaving with relief. She gazed up at him with gratitude, her tiny eyes filled with a mixture of awe and wonder at the giant who had come to her rescue.

Grant, holding Selene gently in the palm of his hand, smiled warmly. "Are you alright?" he asked, his voice a comforting rumble.

Selene nodded, her voice tiny but resolute. "Thank you for saving me. I would have been the plant's dinner without your help. I’m Selene.”

Grant chuckled softly. "I'm glad I arrived in time. What brings you to this wild place, Selene?"

Selene explained her adventurous spirit and her curiosity about the island's unique environment, which was vastly different from her own miniature world. She shared stories of her tribe and their resourcefulness in coexisting with the giants of Isla Nublar.

As they continued to talk, Grant marveled at Selene's bravery and resilience. He decided to offer her a place to stay, nestled securely in the palm of his hand, where she could find refuge from the island's perils. Selene accepted his offer with gratitude, knowing that this newfound alliance held the promise of exciting adventures and a friendship that transcended the boundaries of size and scale.

😭 headcanon that if tinies exist in the jurassic park universe, alan 100% knows they exist and has met them before

[spacetimewithstuartgary]

Hubble zooms into the rosy tendrils of Andromeda

Clusters of stars set the interstellar medium ablaze in the Andromeda galaxy about 2.5 million light-years away. Also known as M31, Andromeda is the Milky Way's closest major galaxy. It measures approximately 152,000 light-years across and, with almost the same mass as our home galaxy, is headed for a collision with the Milky Way in 2–4 billion years. In the meantime, Andromeda remains an object of study for many astronomers.

As a spiral galaxy, Andromeda's winding arms are one of its most remarkable features. NASA's Hubble Space Telescope zoomed in to get a close look at one of its tendrils in the northeast, revealing swathes of ionized gas.

These regions—which are common in spiral and irregular galaxies—often indicate the presence of recent star formation. The combination of stellar nurseries and supernovae create a dynamic environment that excites the surrounding hydrogen gas, flourishing it into a garden of star-studded roses.

Scientists probed Andromeda's spiral arms using Hubble's Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) and Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) to analyze the collection of stars buried in its cosmic bouquets. With ACS and WFC3's wide spectral coverage, Hubble could peer through the hedges of gas and observe a valuable sample of these stars.

The extent of the study spanned a vast range of stars, providing not just a clear view of Andromeda's stellar history and diversity, but also more insight on stellar formation and evolution overall. By examining these stars in our local cosmic neighborhood, scientists can better understand those within galaxies in the distant universe.

TOP IMAGE: Scientists probed Andromeda's spiral arms using Hubble to analyze the collection of stars buried in its cosmic bouquets. Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Boyer (Space Telescope Science Institute), and J. Dalcanton (University of Washington); Image Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

LOWER IMAGE: Clusters of stars set the interstellar medium ablaze in the Andromeda Galaxy about 2.5 million light-years away. Credit: NASA, ESA, M. Boyer (Space Telescope Science Institute), and J. Dalcanton (University of Washington); Image Processing: Gladys Kober (NASA/Catholic University of America)

[leebird-simmer]

Stages of Statistics: Data Production

Data Production: Take sample data from the population, with sampling and study designs that avoid bias.

Display and Summarizing: Use appropriate displays and summaries of the sample data, according to variable types and roles.

Probability: Assume we know what's true for the population; how should random samples behave?

Statistical Inference: Assume we only know what's true about sampled values of a single variable or relationship; what can we infer about the larger population?

census: process of gathering information about the ENTIRE population.

Sample should be representative of the population.

Sampling design: obtain an unbiased sample.

Study design: carry out a properly designed study.

Bias: tendency of an estimate to deviate in one direction from a true value.

Selection bias occurs when the sample is non-representative of the larger population of interest. The best way to avoid selection bias is to utilize randomness.

Probability Sampling = sample chosen by chance

Simple Random Sample (SRS): Every individual in the population has an equal chance of being selected for the sample.

Random selection could look like... - drawing names out of a hat - table of random digits - computer generated (ex. https://www.random.org/)

Systematic Sample: Select subjects at a fixed interval determined by the total number of individuals and the sample size desired.

Example: You have 1000 subjects and would like a sample size of 100 subjects. Your interval would be 1000/100 = 10.

Stratified Random Sample: The population is divided into groups of similar individuals (strata). Select a separate proportional SRS from each stratum and combine to form the full sample.

Divide the population into non-overlapping strata.

Determine how many individuals to select from each strata (based on proportions).

Take SRS in each strata.

Combine SRS from each strata for sample.

Cluster Random Sample: Select small groups (clusters) at random from within the population and use all individuals in the selected clusters.

Divide the population into clusters.

Take an SRS of the clusters.

Include all individuals from each selected cluster in the sample.

Multi-Stage Samples: Uses stages to stratify or randomly sample increasingly more specific groups. Uses two or more sampling methods.

Suppose your company makes light bulbs and you'd like to test the effectiveness of the packaging. You don't have a complete list, so simple random sampling doesn't apply. Let's say that the bulbs come off the assembly line in boxes that contain 20 packages of four bulbs each.

One strategy would be to do the sample in two stages: 1) A quality control engineer removes every 200th box coming off the line. The plant produces 5,000 boxes daily. (This is an example of systematic sampling). 2) From each box, the engineer then samples three packages to inspect. (This is an example of cluster sampling).

Non-Probability Sampling & Problems

Convenience sample = Sampled individuals are found at a time or in a place that is handy for researchers.

Volunteer (self-selected) sample = Includes only individuals who have taken the initiative to participate, as opposed to being recruited by researchers.

Ex. most online surveys, product reviews, social media polls, asking audience members to raise their hands, "Rate Your Professor"

Haphazard sample = Selected without a scientific plan, according to the whim of whoever is drawing the sample.

Non-response = Occurs when individuals selected by researchers decline to be part of the sample.

Ex. If you ask 1000 managers about their workload, the busiest managers won't have time to answer and the least busy managers may not answer in fear of being downsized.

Example goal: A representative sample of undergraduate students from a particular university

SRS (Simple Random): A random number generator is used to select a certain number of students from the list of all those who attend the university.

Stratified Random: First divide all the students into schools – such as arts, sciences, engineering, and so on. Within each school, a random sample of students is taken dependent on the proportion of students in that school within the university.

Cluster: A random sample of classes is taken from all classes meeting at the university, and all students in each of the sampled classes are included in the sample.

Multi-Stage: First all the students are divided into schools. Within each school, a random sample of majors is selected. Within each major, a random sample of classes is selected. A t the last stage, either the entire cluster of students in each sampled class is included, or individual students are randomly sampled from each sampled class.