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zrtranscripts · 4 years ago

Text

Season 9, Mission 1: Cry For Help

Security breach detected

[alarm blares, crowd of soldiers rushes around in response]

GENERAL BAKARI: [over intercom] Dispatch is green, green, green. I repeat, this is General Bakari reporting from guard station 39. Security breach detected on my monitor. Access violation at east loading hangar. Full response dispatch is green, green, green.

[gate slams, crowd noise dissipates, alarm continues, GENERAL BAKARI approaches 555]

Sorry about the din, soldier. Hell of an alarm on the base. I know you're wondering why I asked you here. It's 555, isn't it? That nickname of yours. After your service number, I assume. 639555 is a bit of a mouthful.

I've noticed you're a quiet one, soldier. Always liked that about you. We haven't spoken much, but I haven't forgotten saving your squad from those mountain bandits. You owe me, and everyone says you're the honorable type. I need a favor. I want you to take something to the transmitter tower on the west side of Red Scorpion base. It's a portable data drive. I'll explain more when you're en route.

You know what security's like in the complex, soldier. If anyone gets caught out of place, it's shoot first, shoot second. Neither of us is cleared to access the tower, so this has to be done on the QT. I've set off a fake alarm to keep all the guards busy on the other side of Red Scorpion base. I'd go myself, 555, but I'm an old man with a bad leg, and the fake alert can't last.

I've reviewed your performance logs. You're faster than me. This is essential business, soldier. Trust me, lives are on the line. Head down that corridor toward the west side hangar door. I'll be on your comms set guiding you. We have to be fast, before someone clocks the false alarm. Run!

[alarm blares, drone whirs]

GENERAL BAKARI: Don't worry about the camera drone overhead, 555. I've commandeered it so I can follow you. Keep going through the storage bay past the metal crates. [running footsteps] Duck behind the crates, quickly!

FIRST SOLDIER: Three more storage bays to go.

SECOND SOLDIER: [speaks foreign language]

THIRD SOLDIER: Keep those eyes open, people.

GENERAL BAKARI: Six soldiers across the bay from you. Must be a stray patrol in the area. [a soldier whistles, running footsteps fade away] They're moving on. Keep going straight, soldier, quick sharp.

You know, 555, I'd rather not be doing this. Breaking the rules. Before I was here, I was in the UK for a long time. Had children there, of sorts. Jane and Tom. Adopted them after their parents died. I did my best to rear them. There was a lot of trial and error, I admit. They turned out difficult, disruptive. Got me in trouble with a local government, left me needing to flee the country.

This place seemed like the perfect escape. Isolated, secure, nothing unauthorized in or out. A bastion of routine willing to take an old soldier. At least, willing to take one with knowledge of certain UK research programs.

[sighs] It's been a sanctuary. I wish I could leave it undisturbed, but there's something here that needs to get out into the world. The thumb drive I've given you holds an encrypted message. Link it to the base's comm tower and the message will upload and send. The tower's just beyond the west hangar door outside the compound, but once you're there...

[gates rattle shut]

Damn! All the base exits are locking down. New orders from the head of security. The west hangar's been secured, 555. We need an alternative route. Stay calm! There's a fire exit near your position, needs to be locked manually. You can reach it before anyone else. Opens to the wrong part of the base. No choice. Down the stairs on your right, run!

[gate rattles open, alarm fades]

GENERAL BAKARI: That's it, soldier, you're out of the main compound and into the open. I've got my drone hovering nearby. Hell of a view, isn't it? Sand stretching off in every direction. It's easy to forget how alone we are out here, just a fence around a few gray buildings, surrounded by miles of empty nothing.

SOLDIER: Over here!

GENERAL BAKARI: Uh-oh.

SOLDIER: This way.

GENERAL BAKARI: That sounds like... Let me check my security feeds. Damn! Using the fire door triggered an automatic fire alert. The base knows someone's active in that area. Patrols are honing in. Look at that big greenhouse on your left, soldier. Guards are coming from that way. Turn right, 555. See the field of solar panels? Damn bright, aren't they? Reflecting sunlight like flares. Head towards them. The glare'll keep anyone from making visual contact. That's it, keep your eyes on the ground. There's dozens of those panels. Get lost in them.

Marvelous things, solar cells. Had to learn their workings to help Thomas with his homework once. Poor boy. Good at taking orders, but could be slow sometimes. Often ran afoul of bullies, needed someone to look after him.

SOLDIER: Triple check the area. Sweep for movement.

GENERAL BAKARI: The guards are searching the area you just left. Two squads. Stay low. If you can sneak across the solar field, the tower is nearby. [exosuits whir] Hell! The troops are using motion trackers. They've detected you. And those are fire team mechs, fully powered exosuits with heavy gun turrets. They're breaking out the anti-zom gear. That's not good.

It's okay, 555. One thing I learned from children: always be ready to improvise. Cut northeast across the solar field toward the stellar observatory. You know, the building that looks like a golf ball on its tee? You can lose the soldiers there. They won't fire on you in the panels. Go!

GENERAL BAKARI: That's it, soldier. You're in the observatory foyer. You'll see a steel staircase leading up to a second floor balcony. Take it now. [footsteps on stairs] They won't be able to fit the exosuits through the observatory entrance. You know how strict Red Scorpion base is about protecting equipment. That just leaves the troops on foot. [soldiers shout]

All right, 555. You've crested the stairwell. The troops are crowding through the entrance behind you. Throw a grenade. Aim it for the middle of the stairs. Trust me, do it! [grenade pin clinks, grenade explodes, soldiers scream, stairs shatter] Good job! The explosion scrapped the stairs. The soldiers are scattering. That'll buy time. Head along the balcony through the double doors ahead.

[doors open and close] I've had to pull my drone back, 555. The soldiers might have noticed it. It's funny, most of them don't even know what they're really protecting here, just following orders. You should be in a large domed room with a mounted telescope in the middle. Go to the leftmost control panel and hit the green switches. [switches click] The switches will open up the observatory dome. [walls roll open] Head to the seam where the dome walls are parting.

SOLDIER: Stop them! [other soldiers shout]

GENERAL BAKARI: Damn! The guards found another stairwell. Get right up to the opening, 555, and look down over the edge. You'll see the observatory building beneath you. There's a metal maintenance gantry wrapped around it. Jump down onto the gantry, go! [boots clatter on gantry] You're down, good. The gantry spirals around the building. Follow it to the ground. You'll end up a short way north of the transmitter tower. The soldiers have reached the telescope room. They'll be coming down after you. Get down the gantry, then bolt south. You'll see the tower. Fast as you can, go!

GENERAL BAKARI: I've got you on camera, soldier. You're nearly there. See the transmitter up ahead? Looks like a huge radio antenna, doesn't it? You've performed incredibly today, 555. I want you to know this was essential. We are reaching out for help. Red Scorpion base is keeping secrets that must get out.

All right, you're at the tower. There's a touch screen on its base. Plug in the thumb drive, then hit upload. [computer beeps] You're probably wondering where this message is going, 555. I admit I'd rather not be reaching out to the UK, but I don't have anywhere else to turn.

It was my father who first got me into the service. He taught me what it means to be a soldier. You've got to have a code. Country, honor, family, hope. A soldier fights for all these things with whatever means they have. Damn fool wouldn't give up his cigars. Cancer got him, throat and lungs. Pneumonia finished him off. The way he just withered... He wouldn't have been proud. He didn't go out in uniform

[computer beeps] Ah, message uploading. It'll take a few minutes to send. Don't worry, soldier, I have an extraction planned for you. [soldiers shout, fire guns] The guards are catching up. Head to the southeast corner of the perimeter fence, fast as you can. I can get you out from there. Run!

GENERAL BAKARI: That's the way, 555. Keep following the barbed wire fence straight forward. I have a lot of respect for you, 555. You do your uniform proud. It means something special, a uniform. My father taught me that. It means being part of a whole greater than yourself, joining others to be strong enough to serve. You've served well, soldier, but I couldn't let them catch you near the transmitter. They might have found the message.

[over intercom] Attention, this is General Bakari, level three security adjunct. Emergency update to follow.

[over headset] I hope you understand, 555. Once the message is broadcast, the drive will wipe the data logs. Your mission is complete, and that's what really matters.

[over intercom] Source of security breach confirmed as soldier 63955, currently at perimeter fence southeast corner. Target is absconding with base secrets.

[alarm blares, soldiers shout]

[over headset] Put the gun down, soldier. You don't want to fight your own. It's okay to run, it'll look more convincing. I know this is a hard pill to swallow, but you're going out a hero. That message could save countless lives. We may not have ended on good terms, especially Janine and me, but I know the De Lucas well. They won't turn down a cry for help when there are innocents at stake.

[over intercom] 63955 is confirmed armed and extremely dangerous. Terminate on sight.

[over headset] That corner's a dead end, 555. Nowhere to go. I salute you, soldier. You've done our countries proud.

[armed patrol approaches]

SOLDIER: Open fire.

[gunfire]

GENERAL BAKARI: [very faint, over intercom] This is Bakari. Target down. Security breach resolved. All troops return to patrol positions. Repeat, return to patrol positions.

AUTOMATED VOICE: Data upload complete. Message tag: to Abel Township. Beginning transmission. Beginning transmission. Beginning transmission...

#zombies run #zrs9 #s9m1 #zr transcript #zrs9 spoilers

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chickgander45 · 4 years ago

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Sql Interview Questions You'll Keep in mind

The program has lots of interactive SQL practice exercises that go from easier to challenging. The interactive code editor, information sets, and also obstacles will certainly help you seal your understanding. Mostly all SQL job candidates go through exactly the exact same nerve-wracking process. Here at LearnSQL.com, we have the lowdown on all the SQL practice and also prep work you'll need to ace those meeting inquiries and also take your occupation to the following level. Narrative is finishing the elements of development of de facto mop up of test cases defined in the design and sterilize the reporting % in joined requirementset. If you're speaking with for pliable docket jobs, below are 10 meeting inquiries to ask. Be sure to shut at the end of the interview. And also exactly how can there be obstacle on liberation comey. The first affair to celebrate or so the emplacement is that people. We have to provide the void problem in the where stipulation, where the whole data will certainly duplicate to the new table. NOT NULL column in the base table that is not picked by the view. Relationship in the database can be defined as the connection in between greater than one table. In between these, a table variable is much faster mainly as it is stored in memory, whereas a short-term table is kept on disk. Hibernate allow's us create object-oriented code and also internally converts them to indigenous SQL questions to perform versus a relational database. A database trigger is a program that immediately executes in reaction to some event on a table or view such as insert/update/delete of a document. Mostly, the data source trigger helps us to maintain the honesty of the data source. Likewise, IN Statement runs within the ResultSet while EXISTS keyword operates online tables. In this context, the IN Statement also does not operate questions that connects with Online tables while the EXISTS keyword phrase is made use of on linked inquiries. The MINUS keyword essentially deducts in between two SELECT queries. The outcome is the difference between the first query as well as the second question. In case the size of the table variable exceeds memory dimension, then both the tables do in a similar way. Referential honesty is a relational database principle that recommends that accuracy and uniformity of data should be maintained between key and also international secrets. Q. Checklist all the feasible worths that can be stored in a BOOLEAN data area. A table can have any number of foreign secrets specified. Aggregate query-- A question that sums up details from multiple table rows by utilizing an accumulated function. Hop on over to the SQL Method course on LearnSQL.com. This is the hands-down best area to evaluate and consolidate your SQL abilities prior to a huge interview. https://geekinterview.net You do have full web access and if you need more time, do not hesitate to ask for it. They are extra worried about the end product instead of anything else. Yet make indisputable regarding thinking that it will be like any type of coding round. They do a via end to end examine your rational in addition to coding capability. As well as from that you have to analyze and apply your method. This won't call for front end or database coding, console application will certainly do. So you have to obtain data and afterwards save them in listings or something so that you can use them. Piece with the 2nd interview, you will certainly locate far and away regularly that a much more elderly collaborator or theater director by and large conducts these. Buyers intend to make a move in advance their buying big businessman obtains searched. Obtain conversations off on the right track with discussion beginners that ne'er give way. The last stages of a locate telephone call should be to guide away from voicing aggravations and also open a discourse nigh completion result a outcome can pitch. Leading new house of york stylist zac posen dealt with delta staff members to make the special consistent solicitation which was introduced one twelvemonth back. The briny event youâ $ re stressful to discover is what they knowing and what they do or else now. And this is a rather complex query, to be sincere. Nevertheless, by asking you to create one, the questioners can examine your command of the SQL phrase structure, as well as the method which you approach solving a issue. So, if you don't procure to the appropriate solution, you will possibly be given time to assume as well as can definitely capture their attention by how you attempt to resolve the issue. Making use of a hands-on strategy to dealing with practical tasks is oftentimes way more vital. That's why you'll have to manage functional SQL meeting inquiries, also. You can complete the two questions by claiming there are 2 sorts of database monitoring systems-- relational and non-relational. SQL is a language, designed just for working with relational DBMSs. It was created by Oracle Corporation in the very early '90s. It adds step-by-step attributes of programming languages in SQL. DBMS figure out its tables through a hierarchal manner or navigational fashion. This serves when it concerns saving data in tables that are independent of each other and also you don't want to transform other tables while a table is being filled up or edited. wide variety of online database programs to help you end up being an expert and break the interviews quickly. Sign up with is a query that recovers related columns or rows. There are 4 sorts of signs up with-- internal join left join, ideal join, and full/outer sign up with. DML allows end-users insert, update, recover, and erase data in a data source. This is one of the most prominent SQL interview concerns. A gathered index is utilized to purchase the rows in a table. A table can possess only one gathered index. Constraints are the depiction of a column to implement information entity and uniformity. There are two degrees of restraint-- column level as well as table degree. Any row typical across both the result set is gotten rid of from the final output. The UNION key phrase is used in SQL for combining multiple SELECT inquiries however deletes duplicates from the outcome collection. Denormalization allows the access of fields from all typical forms within a data source. With respect to normalization, it does the opposite and also places redundancies into the table. SQL which means Requirement Inquiry Language is a web server shows language that gives interaction to database areas as well as columns. While MySQL is a kind of Data source Monitoring System, not an actual programs language, more specifically an RDMS or Relational Database Administration System. Nonetheless, MySQL likewise implements the SQL phrase structure. I responded to all of them as they were all simple questions. They told me they'll call me if I get picked as well as I was quite confident since for me there was absolutely nothing that went wrong yet still I obtained absolutely nothing from their side. Basic questions concerning family, education, jobs, placement. As well as a little conversation on the solutions of sql and java programs that were given up the previous round. INTERSECT - returns all distinctive rows chosen by both queries. The process of table design to decrease the information redundancy is called normalization. We require to separate a data source right into two or more table as well as specify connections in between them. Yes, a table can have several international tricks and also only one primary secret.

Keys are a crucial feature in RDMS, they are basically areas that connect one table to one more and advertise quick information access and also logging via managing column indexes. In terms of data sources, a table is described as an arrangement of organized access. It is more divided right into cells which have various areas of the table row. SQL or Structured Inquiry Language is a language which is made use of to connect with a relational data source. It supplies a way to adjust and produce data sources. On the other hand, PL/SQL is a dialect of SQL which is made use of to boost the abilities of SQL. SQL is the language made use of to produce, update, as well as customize a database-- pronounced both as 'Se-quell' and'S-Q-L'. Prior to starting with SQL, let us have a short understanding of DBMS. In easy terms, it is software program that is used to produce as well as take care of data sources. We are mosting likely to stick with RDBMS in this short article. There are likewise non-relational DBMS like MongoDB made use of for huge data evaluation. There are numerous accounts like information expert, data source manager, and data architect that need the knowledge of SQL. Besides leading you in your interviews, this article will certainly likewise give a basic understanding of SQL. I can additionally advise " LEADING 30 SQL Interview Coding Tasks" by Matthew Urban, truly wonderful book when it concerns the most typical SQL coding interview inquiries. This mistake usually appears because of syntax mistakes on-call a column name in Oracle database, notice the ORA identifier in the error code. See to it you key in the correct column name. Additionally, take unique note on the pen names as they are the one being referenced in the error as the void identifier. Hibernate is Things Relational Mapping tool in Java.

#sql interview questions #sql interview questions and answers

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bakerthrill49 · 4 years ago

Text

Sql Meeting Questions You'll Bear in mind

The course has lots of interactive SQL practice exercises that go from much easier to testing. The interactive code editor, information sets, as well as obstacles will help you seal your expertise. Mostly all SQL task candidates go through precisely the same nerve-wracking process. Here at LearnSQL.com, we have the lowdown on all the SQL practice as well as preparation you'll require to ace those interview questions and take your occupation to the next degree. Reporting is coating the aspects of development of de facto mop up of test cases specified in the layout as well as sterilize the reportage % in signed up with requirementset. If you're interviewing for pliable docket work, here are 10 meeting questions to ask. Make sure to shut at the end of the meeting. And also how can there be impedimenta on freedom comey. The initial affair to celebrate or so the emplacement is that individuals. We need to offer the invalid condition in the where stipulation, where the whole data will replicate to the brand-new table. NOT NULL column in the base table that is not selected by the sight. Relationship in the database can be specified as the link in between greater than one table. In between these, a table variable is quicker mainly as it is stored in memory, whereas a short-term table is stored on disk.

Hibernate allow's us create object-oriented code as well as internally transforms them to indigenous SQL queries to carry out versus a relational database. A data source trigger is a program that immediately carries out in action to some event on a table or sight such as insert/update/delete of a record. Mostly, the database trigger aids us to maintain the integrity of the data source. Likewise, IN Declaration runs within the ResultSet while EXISTS keyword operates on digital tables. In this context, the IN Declaration additionally does not operate on questions that relates to Online tables while the EXISTS search phrase is utilized on linked inquiries. The MINUS keyword essentially subtracts between two SELECT questions. The result is the difference in between the very first question and also the second query. In case the size of the table variable goes beyond memory size, then both the tables carry out similarly. Referential integrity is a relational database concept that recommends that precision and also uniformity of information ought to be kept between primary as well as foreign secrets. Q. Checklist all the possible worths that can be kept in a BOOLEAN information area. A table can have any kind of variety of foreign keys defined. Aggregate query-- A inquiry that summarizes information from multiple table rows by using an accumulated function. Hop on over to the SQL Practice course on LearnSQL.com. This is the hands-down ideal location to evaluate as well as consolidate your SQL abilities before a big meeting. You do have full internet gain access to as well as if you need even more time, do not hesitate to ask for it. They are a lot more worried about completion item rather than anything else. Yet make indisputable concerning assuming that it will certainly resemble any coding round. They do a via end to finish check on your rational as well as coding ability. And from that you need to assess and also execute your technique. This will not require front end or database coding, console application will do. So you need to obtain data and after that save them in lists or something to make sure that you can utilize them. Item with the second meeting, you will certainly find to the highest degree regularly that a extra senior partner or theatre supervisor by and large performs these. Customers want to make a move ahead their purchasing big businessman obtains combed. Obtain conversations off on the right track with discussion beginners that ne'er give way. The last stages of a find call must be to steer away from articulating irritations and open up a discourse nigh completion result a result can pitch. Leading brand-new residence of york fashion designer zac posen collaborated with delta employees to make the exclusive uniform solicitation which was unveiled one twelvemonth back. The briny affair youâ $ re demanding to figure out is what they knowing and what they do otherwise currently. https://geekinterview.net And this is a instead intricate question, to be honest. Nonetheless, by asking you to develop one, the questioners can inspect your command of the SQL phrase structure, along with the way in which you approach resolving a trouble. So, if you don't procure to the ideal response, you will possibly be given time to think and can definitely catch their interest by how you attempt to solve the trouble. Making use of a hands-on approach to dealing with reasonable jobs is most of the times way more vital. That's why you'll have to deal with sensible SQL meeting inquiries, too. You can complete both questions by saying there are two sorts of database management systems-- relational and also non-relational. SQL is a language, developed only for collaborating with relational DBMSs. It was created by Oracle Corporation in the early '90s. It includes step-by-step features of programming languages in SQL. DBMS figure out its tables with a hierarchal way or navigational way. This is useful when it involves saving data in tables that are independent of one another and also you don't want to change various other tables while a table is being loaded or edited. myriad of online data source programs to assist you become an expert and break the meetings conveniently. Sign up with is a inquiry that fetches related columns or rows. There are four types of signs up with-- internal sign up with left sign up with, appropriate sign up with, as well as full/outer sign up with. DML enables end-users insert, upgrade, recover, and also erase data in a database. This is just one of the most popular SQL meeting inquiries. A clustered index is made use of to get the rows in a table. A table can have only one gathered index. Restrictions are the depiction of a column to apply information entity and consistency. There are two degrees of restriction-- column level and table level. Any type of row common across both the result set is removed from the last output. The UNION key phrase is utilized in SQL for combining multiple SELECT questions but deletes duplicates from the result collection. Denormalization allows the retrieval of fields from all typical kinds within a data source. With respect to normalization, it does the contrary and puts redundancies into the table. SQL which means Requirement Question Language is a web server shows language that supplies interaction to data source areas and columns. While MySQL is a kind of Data source Management System, not an real programming language, even more specifically an RDMS or Relational Database Monitoring System. However, MySQL additionally applies the SQL syntax. I answered every one of them as they were all easy inquiries. They informed me they'll contact me if I get selected and also I was rather positive because for me there was absolutely nothing that went wrong yet still I got absolutely nothing from their side. Basic inquiries regarding family, education and learning, projects, placement. And a little discussion on the answers of sql and also java programs that were given up the previous round. INTERSECT - returns all distinct rows picked by both questions. The procedure of table style to decrease the information redundancy is called normalization. We need to split a database into two or more table and specify connections in between them. Yes, a table can have numerous foreign keys as well as just one primary key. Keys are a vital attribute in RDMS, they are essentially fields that link one table to another as well as promote fast information access and also logging via taking care of column indexes. In regards to databases, a table is described as an plan of organized access. It is more divided right into cells which consist of different areas of the table row. SQL or Structured Query Language is a language which is used to connect with a relational data source. It provides a means to adjust and also develop data sources. On the other hand, PL/SQL is a language of SQL which is utilized to improve the capabilities of SQL. SQL is the language made use of to create, upgrade, and customize a data source-- articulated both as 'Se-quell' as well as'S-Q-L'. Before starting with SQL, let us have a short understanding of DBMS. In simple terms, it is software application that is utilized to produce as well as take care of data sources. We are going to stick to RDBMS in this post. There are also non-relational DBMS like MongoDB used for huge information analysis. There are different profiles like data analyst, data source manager, and information architect that call for the understanding of SQL. Aside from leading you in your meetings, this write-up will likewise offer a basic understanding of SQL. I can additionally advise "TOP 30 SQL Meeting Coding Tasks" by Matthew Urban, really excellent publication when it involves the most usual SQL coding meeting concerns. This mistake usually appears because of syntax errors available a column name in Oracle data source, observe the ORA identifier in the mistake code. See to it you typed in the correct column name. Likewise, take unique note on the aliases as they are the one being referenced in the error as the invalid identifier. Hibernate is Things Relational Mapping device in Java.

#sql interview questions #sql interview questions and answers #interview questions

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bbeducationapp · 5 years ago

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Introducing BodhiBriksha Completely free E-Learning Platform and BBEducation CBSE NCERT solution App

Making quality education available for free and accessible to all !!

The name BodhiBriksha is inspired by the holy tree under which Lord Buddha got enlightenment.

How many times as a kid you did not understand what was taught in class and wished there is some way you can re-learn the concept at your own pace. Or maybe you wanted to revise the school work and wished that you can get the school work all in one place and in chronological order as its taught in school so you can just follow along rather than searching all over the net for each specific topic. Or as a parent, you felt like the school teaching was not personally focused on your kid, and private tuitions are highly costly. It's really difficult for many parents to afford private coaching for their kids after paying school tuition fees.

Problem with Current learning Apps

1. Too expensive for end users

2. No Uniformity of content across Platforms

3.Since Content creation is inhouse for each App , Quality suffers

4.Targetting of content across different Boards , Class and Age groups is not done properly

Our Solution -

BodhiBriksha free E-Learning Platform proposes to solve this problem by creating a complete digital platform , that is completely free, with four different sections which work together to give a complete solution for parents and students.

1. Creating a platform where teachers can upload and share the content

A lot of teachers want to share the content they have like Notes, solutions question papers etc but do not have a proper platform to share . We are in the Process of completing that platform

2. Have a group of educators who work with the content and find the exact content for the students for a particular class and Board .

The Content that is uploaded in the first stage is checked , corrected if necessary , targeted to the exact content of the text book . In this section educators work like moderators in a community forum .

3. Identify shareable content that is available in the internet in sites like YouTube and make it part of the platform

After the YouTube popularity, a lot of educators and experts actually are using this as a platform to share knowledge but due to the other kind of content being present in the video platform it's very easy to get distracted. How many times it has happened that you will go to YouTube to watch an educational video but stopped in between, got distracted and started watching other entertainment videos that are recommended in the site, I am a college student and it happened to me just today!(again!)

4.Coming up with a front end App (BBEducation CBSE NCERT solution app) which has all the necessary modules and targeted content for a student .

Basic Functionality-

Video lectures: The video lectures will be curated from shared platforms , i.e mostly from youtube, that has been shared by the uploader and accessible with youtube API.

Online Exam/Quiz : We will have interactive Quiz and exams on each topic and subject which will try to ascertain understanding of the student on each topic, depending on this the app may suggest additional videos or practice sections. this particular thing we found lacking in other apps.

Chapter End exercises and solutions will be part of the APP

Maths puzzles : A rich set of maths puzzles which forms an after class activity

A section Containing General Knowledge .

A set of videos which show how to make science based school projects for kids ( the DIY section)!

we also have a section for home works which will come as notification once may be in 3 days.

News & Updates

Our Bodhi Briksha (BBEducation CBSE NCERT solution App) mobile app and BodhiBriksha Education platform takes a free and community-based approach to learning. BB will have structured curated content for every student from preschool to high school. We plan to provide a vast curriculum video content for each class to cover 80% of the school curriculum of the state school system. Since our content is curated by skilled educators from publicly shared youtube videos. With a huge shareable content base, we can maintain quality with low cost. Youtube content is easy to search and share, that avoids any legal entanglement**. Also since all videos are played in the app the distraction level is lower than youtube. Also, it has been proven by research students learn much better from audio, visual stimuli than reading a textbook.

BBEducation CBSE NCERT solution app will not only organize the learning experience online but also provide a superior personal recommendation for the students. We will use machine learning and AI to track students progress using quiz feedbacks after each video, and other personal data. For example, say we see someone struggling to grasp decimals, maybe the student forgot fractions, so the app will suggest to go back and revise fractions.

This will help show the learning trajectory of a student and which can help parents monitor the results. Our model is to make the platform a community support project which makes it a free app for all users. Our focus is to make education easily accessible and free for all students. We believe education can be made more obtainable by taking a community approach and giving students more focused help they need so that learning is more efficient rather than a tiring endeavor.

#app innovation challenge #cbse #startup #freelearning #education for children

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techscimarketresearch · 4 years ago

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Product Review: Bio-Rad Laboratories CFX Opus 96 and CFX Opus 384 | TechSci Research

The application of a real-time Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system in the field of molecular diagnostics has become a standard method for identifying nucleic acids from collected microbial samples. The real-time PCR (also known as RT-PCR) systems are sensitive, rapid, precise, and minimize the risk of contamination while being employed for various research procedures such as detection and expression analysis of genes, quantitative genotyping, early diagnosis of diseases, forensics, etc. Ever since the introduction of RT-PCR, the technology is just getting better with each medical innovation. The COVID-19 pandemic has put RT-PCR in the spotlight as it is considered the most accurate and efficient testing method for the detection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The use of RT-PCRs has been tremendously expanding for the testing of novel coronavirus and the demand is likely to grow due to the rising incidences of infectious diseases.

Recently, Bio-Rad Laboratories introduced the next generation of the company's CFX real-time PCR systems, CFX Opus 96 and CFX Opus 384, that offers improved connectivity and high performance. The sleek and modern CFX systems bring forth the next revolution in qPCR with their easy-to-use interface and advanced connectivity options. Both the RT-PCR systems are ideal for basic and translational research, genomic testing, quality control, process development, detecting infectious diseases, as well as pathogen detection. Along with expanding Bio-Rad's portfolio of CFX products, the company also launched cloud-based instrument connectivity and data management system, BR.io.

Consolidating an accurate optical shuttle system and improved thermal performance, the new CFX systems are designed to provide more consistent data than ever. The advanced RT-PCR systems are capable of performing stand-alone operations, which makes them indispensable as life-research tools for diagnostic interventions. The systems show excellent compatibility to ethernet as well as Wi-Fi, and thus enable completely wireless operations and data management. The user can transfer the retrieved data by connecting the CFX systems with a PC or via direct data transfer to a USB device. In network-connected locations, the CFX Opus system can be programmed to send the data as well notifications directly to your email or local drive, and thus the updated systems deliver an efficient experience to RT-PCR users.

Bio-Rad Laboratories' CFX Opus 96 has five color detection formats whereas CFX Opus 384 RT-PCR provides four color detection formats. The sensitive and modern touchscreen of the systems is responsive even with double gloves and more intuitive than previous generation CFX systems. However, the uniform optical system does not have regular calibration requirements, which saves time and effort. Additionally, the products' block design delivers tight thermal uniformity during the real-time PCR experiments.

Shuttle Optics Technology The newly launched CFX Opus systems retain many features of the previous generation models that researchers and scientists liked. Both the systems have been built upon the same proprietary optical design, employed across the company's portfolio of CFX products, however, the latest ones are easy to set up and install due to improved capabilities and flexible connectivity options. The device manufacturer has put efforts in making the design of the CFX system sleek and modernized, for which they have transcended from a clamshell lid to a retracting version, which allows the RT-PCR to be used in even more spaces than before. Despite the design modifications, the updated system looks somewhat familiar to previous systems, but they are more convenient.

The CXR Opus systems incorporate shuttle optics technology that utilizes the same excitation-detector pair just like other systems in the Bio-Rad's RT-PCR portfolio. In the new systems, shuttling the optics across the plate eliminates the possibility of variability that may result from detectors. Besides, the technology reduces the need for correction in detector angle arising from a single fixed camera. The consistency of the device is further augmented with the significant development in thermal performance, which provides uniformity of ±0.3â°C and accuracy of ±0.2â°C. Both the shuttle optics technology and the high-performance thermal gradient work brilliantly together and produce consistent and reliable results.

CFX Maestro Software The CFX systems come with an updated and full-featured CFX Maestro Software, that is easy to use and learn. The software allows users the ability to perform statistical analyses of gene expressions and find solutions to complex biological questions. Also, the user can make an analysis without exporting the retrieved data into a PC with the help of Maestro Software. The software also consists of a Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) integration, application programming interface (API), and other functions for more advanced users.

BR.io Cloud Platform Bio-Rad Laboratories has expanded the family of life science tools with the addition of the BR.io cloud platform, which provides users a simplified qPCR experience. The cloud connectivity platform incorporates in CRX Opus systems provides a robust solution to meet the needs of the customers in the expanding field of genomics research and diagnostics. Leveraging BR.io, the users can retrieve remote data with any internet-connected computer as well as monitor registered instrument status, thus the cloud connectivity ensures efficiency and provides enhanced versatility in operations. You can connect to the CFX Opus systems to the BR.io cloud platform through an Ethernet connection or with simple Wi-Fi connectivity and access local network file drives for which your institution has granted access. Thus, BR.io provides seamless data transfer, enable users to access data anywhere from the cloud, design experiments, and analyse data.

Latest Additions in RT-PCR systems Azure Cielo 3 Real Time qPCR System Launched in June 2020, the Azure Cielo real-time PCR system is a 96-well qPCR machine dedicated to genomics workflow. The new RT-PCR system delivers a high-performance and provides intuitive workflow due to its innovative optical design. The device assures sensitivity and reproducibility with optimal excitation reaction utilizing single-well excitation and emission. The system features a 10.3" touch screen interface that makes setting up and checking status easy. Data from the compact device can be retrieved via USB, ethernet, or Wi-Fi in a connected environment. The RT-PCR device comes with Azure Cielo Manager software that offers a comprehensive workflow solution and enables accurate analysis. Azure Cielo qPCR is a user-friendly and precise instrument that generates good reproducibility and enhances the productivity of researchers by automating sample extraction, amplification, and detection in one cartridge.

Palm PCR S1 Ahram Biosystem has developed an ultra-fast mobile real-time PCR system that allows one to instantly complete PCR tests anywhere and anytime without any electricity, or communication. A brilliant innovation in RT-PCR systems, the Palm PCR S1 is considered the future of biotechnology. The mobile device is extremely efficient and convenient, which can deliver results in less than 12 minutes with high accuracy even with a single copy target concentration. Powered with convection PCR technology, the ultra-fast system has a maximum of six real-time channels available, thus the full capacity of the device can be achieved without detectable crosstalk. The standalone device consists of a lithium battery that enables four hours of continuous operation and can be operated at temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius. The device can be easily connected with a PC via Bluetooth and Wi-Fi.

Conclusion Recognizing the importance of molecular diagnostics for the detection of pathogens responsible for infectious diseases, many biotech companies are coming up with innovative RT-PCR systems. Standardization and quality control have remained some of the major limitations of diagnostic PCR, but the new methodologies and technologies are utilizing artificial intelligence to reduce the need for human input. PCR diagnosis is likely to have a huge impact on the customization of healthcare and the development of drugs in the coming years.

According to TechSci Research report on "Global dPCR and qPCR Products Market By Technology (Quantitative, Digital), By Product (Consumables & Reagents, Instruments, Software & Services), By Application (Clinical (Pathogen Testing, Blood Screening, Oncology Testing, Others), Research, Forensic, Others), By End User (Hospitals and Diagnostic Center, Research Laboratories and Academic Institute, Pharmaceutical and Biotechnology Companies, Clinical Research Organizations, Forensic Laboratories), By Region, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025", the global dPCR and qPCR market is estimated to register a significant CAGR owing to rising incidences of infectious diseases as well as increasing application of biomarker profiling for disease diagnostics. Moreover, introduction of technological advancements in PCR technologies and high costs of advanced PCR devices might hinder the growth of dPCR and qPCR market.

According to another TechSci Research report on "Global Real Time PCR Market By Product (Instruments, Reagents & Consumables, Software & Services), By Application (Clinical (Pathogen Testing, Blood Screening, Oncology Testing), Research, Forensic, Others), By End-user (Hospitals & Diagnostic Labs, Research Laboratories & Academic Institutes, Pharma-Biotech, Clinical Research Organizations (CRO), Forensic Laboratories, Others), By Region, Competition, Forecast & Opportunities, 2025", the global real-time PCR market is expected to grow significantly due to increasing advancements in PCR techniques and introduction of funds and grants by government and healthcare organizations across the globe.

#TechSci #Market Research Reports #Global dPCR and qPCR Products Market #Global Real Time PCR Market #Bio-Rad Laboratories #CFX Opus 96 #Healthcare #CFX Opus 384

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techsciresearch · 4 years ago

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Product Review: Bio-Rad Laboratories CFX Opus 96 and CFX Opus 384 | TechSci Research

#TechSci #Market Research Reports #Global Real Time PCR Market #Healthcare #Global dPCR and qPCR Products Market #Bio-Rad Laboratories #CFX Opus 384 #CFX Opus 96

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interviewexperttips · 4 years ago

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Sql Meeting Questions You'll Remember

The course has lots of interactive SQL practice exercises that go from easier to testing. The interactive code editor, data sets, and also obstacles will certainly aid you seal your knowledge. Nearly all SQL job candidates undergo specifically the very same stressful procedure. Here at LearnSQL.com, we have the lowdown on all the SQL method and preparation you'll need to ace those interview questions and take your profession to the next level. Reportage is finishing the facets of progress of de facto mop up of test cases defined in the style and neuter the reporting % in signed up with requirementset. If you're speaking with for pliable docket work, right here are 10 meeting inquiries to ask. Make sure to shut at the end of the meeting. And how might there be impedimenta on liberation comey. The initial event to memorialize or two the location is that individuals. We need to offer the invalid problem in the where condition, where the whole information will certainly copy to the brand-new table. NOT NULL column in the base table that is not picked by the view. Connection in the data source can be specified as the link in between greater than one table. In between these, a table variable is faster mostly as it is saved in memory, whereas a short-lived table is saved on disk. Hibernate let's us write object-oriented code and internally converts them to native SQL questions to implement against a relational database. A database trigger is a program that immediately implements in action to some occasion on a table or sight such as insert/update/delete of a document. Primarily, the data source trigger helps us to preserve the integrity of the data source. Additionally, IN Statement operates within the ResultSet while EXISTS keyword operates online tables. In this context, the IN Declaration likewise does not operate on inquiries that connects with Online tables while the EXISTS keyword is made use of on connected inquiries. The MINUS keyword phrase essentially subtracts between 2 SELECT inquiries. The outcome is the difference between the very first question and also the 2nd inquiry. In case the dimension of the table variable exceeds memory size, then both the tables do likewise. Referential stability is a relational database principle that suggests that precision and consistency of data must be kept in between key and foreign secrets. Q. Listing all the feasible worths that can be saved in a BOOLEAN data field. A table can have any type of variety of foreign secrets specified. Aggregate question-- A inquiry that sums up details from several table rows by utilizing an aggregate function. Get on over to the SQL Method course on LearnSQL.com. This is the hands-down ideal area to assess and also combine your SQL abilities prior to a large interview. You do have complete web gain access to as well as if you need more time, feel free to ask for it. They are a lot more concerned concerning the end item as opposed to anything else. But make no mistake concerning thinking that it will certainly be like any type of coding round. They do a through end to end look at your rational in addition to coding ability. As well as from that you need to evaluate and implement your approach. This will not call for front end or data source coding, console application will certainly do. So you have to get information and then save them in checklists or something so that you can make use of them. Item with the 2nd interview, you will certainly find far and away regularly that a extra senior partner or theatre director mostly carries out these. GeekInterview intend to make a move ahead their purchasing big businessman gets searched. Get discussions off on the right track with conversation starters that ne'er pave the way. The last stages of a find call should be to steer away from voicing frustrations as well as open up a discussion nigh the end result a outcome might pitch. Leading brand-new residence of york designer zac posen collaborated with delta employees to make the special uniform solicitation which was introduced one twelvemonth back. The briny event youâ $ re difficult to find out is what they understanding and also what they do or else now. And also this is a rather intricate question, to be honest. Nevertheless, by asking you to develop one, the questioners can check your command of the SQL syntax, as well as the way in which you approach solving a issue. So, if you do not procure to the best response, you will probably be provided time to believe as well as can absolutely capture their interest by exactly how you attempt to address the problem. Using a hands-on strategy to dealing with sensible tasks is oftentimes way more vital. That's why you'll have to take care of useful SQL meeting questions, as well. You might wrap up the two questions by stating there are 2 kinds of data source administration systems-- relational as well as non-relational. SQL is a language, developed just for working with relational DBMSs. It was established by Oracle Corporation in the early '90s. It includes step-by-step attributes of shows languages in SQL. DBMS sorts out its tables through a hierarchal fashion or navigational manner. This serves when it pertains to keeping data in tables that are independent of one another and also you do not want to transform various other tables while a table is being filled or modified. myriad of online database courses to assist you end up being an expert as well as split the meetings easily. Sign up with is a query that retrieves relevant columns or rows. There are four kinds of signs up with-- internal sign up with left join, best join, and also full/outer sign up with. DML allows end-users insert, update, recover, as well as remove information in a database. This is one of one of the most preferred SQL meeting concerns. A clustered index is used to get the rows in a table. A table can possess only one clustered index. Constraints are the depiction of a column to apply information entity and also consistency. There are geek interview of restraint-- column level and also table degree. Any type of row usual throughout both the result set is eliminated from the last outcome. The UNION key phrase is utilized in SQL for integrating several SELECT inquiries yet deletes duplicates from the outcome set. Denormalization allows the retrieval of fields from all regular kinds within a data source. Relative to normalization, it does the contrary as well as puts redundancies right into the table. SQL which represents Requirement Inquiry Language is a server shows language that provides communication to database areas and also columns. While MySQL is a type of Database Management System, not an real programs language, more specifically an RDMS or Relational Database Administration System. Nevertheless, MySQL additionally implements the SQL phrase structure. I answered every one of them as they were all basic questions. They informed me they'll contact me if I get selected and I was fairly certain since for me there was nothing that failed yet still I obtained nothing from their side. Basic questions regarding family, education, jobs, placement. And a little conversation on the responses of sql and also java programs that were given in the previous round. INTERSECT - returns all distinct rows chosen by both queries. The process of table style to lessen the data redundancy is called normalization. https://bit.ly/3tmWIsh require to separate a data source into 2 or more table as well as define connections between them. Yes, a table can have several international keys and also only one primary key.

Keys are a crucial attribute in RDMS, they are essentially fields that connect one table to one more as well as advertise fast information retrieval as well as logging with handling column indexes. In https://tinyurl.com/c7k3vf9t to data sources, a table is referred to as an arrangement of organized access. It is more divided into cells which include various areas of the table row. SQL or Structured Inquiry Language is a language which is used to interact with a relational data source. It gives a method to control and also produce data sources. On the other hand, PL/SQL is a language of SQL which is utilized to enhance the abilities of SQL. SQL is the language made use of to create, update, and also change a database-- articulated both as 'Se-quell' as well as'S-Q-L'. Before beginning with SQL, allow us have a quick understanding of DBMS. In basic terms, it is software that is used to produce as well as take care of data sources. We are going to stick to RDBMS in this short article. There are also non-relational DBMS like MongoDB utilized for huge data evaluation. There are numerous accounts like data expert, database administrator, and information designer that require the expertise of SQL. Besides leading you in your interviews, this write-up will certainly likewise provide a basic understanding of SQL. I can additionally advise " LEADING 30 SQL Meeting Coding Tasks" by Matthew Urban, actually fantastic book when it involves the most typical SQL coding meeting inquiries. This mistake normally shows up as a result of syntax errors on calling a column name in Oracle data source, see the ORA identifier in the mistake code. See to it you typed in the correct column name. Also, take special note on the aliases as they are the one being referenced in the mistake as the invalid identifier. Hibernate is Object Relational Mapping tool in Java.

#sql interview questions #sql interview questions and answers #sql

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trendingjobs · 4 years ago

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Sql Interview Questions You'll Bear in mind

The course has plenty of interactive SQL practice exercises that go from easier to testing. The interactive code editor, data collections, and also difficulties will certainly assist you cement your expertise. Nearly all SQL job prospects undergo specifically the same stressful procedure. Right here at LearnSQL.com, we have the lowdown on all the SQL method as well as prep work you'll need to ace those interview inquiries as well as take your job to the following degree. https://bit.ly/3tmWIsh is layer the aspects of progress of de facto mop up of test cases defined in the design and neuter the narrative % in signed up with requirementset. If you're talking to for pliant docket tasks, below are 10 interview concerns to ask. Make certain to shut at the end of the interview. And also how can there be impedimenta on liberation comey. The initial event to honor or two the emplacement is that individuals. We have to give the void problem in the where condition, where the entire data will replicate to the brand-new table. NOT NULL column in the base table that is not selected by the view. Partnership in the database can be specified as the connection between greater than one table. Between these, a table variable is quicker primarily as it is saved in memory, whereas a temporary table is kept on disk. Hibernate allow's us create object-oriented code as well as inside converts them to indigenous SQL questions to perform versus a relational data source. A database trigger is a program that instantly executes in feedback to some occasion on a table or view such as insert/update/delete of a document. Generally, the data source trigger aids us to keep the integrity of the data source. Additionally, IN Declaration runs within the ResultSet while EXISTS keyword operates digital tables. In https://tinyurl.com/c7k3vf9t , the IN Declaration also does not operate inquiries that connects with Virtual tables while the EXISTS search phrase is utilized on connected inquiries. The MINUS keyword basically deducts between two SELECT queries. The result is the distinction between the very first query and also the 2nd inquiry. In case the dimension of the table variable surpasses memory size, then both the tables perform likewise. Referential stability is a relational database idea that suggests that accuracy and consistency of information need to be kept between main and also international keys. Q. Checklist all the possible values that can be saved in a BOOLEAN data area. A table can have any variety of foreign keys defined. Accumulated question-- A question that sums up information from multiple table rows by utilizing an aggregate feature. Hop on over to the SQL Practice training course on LearnSQL.com. This is the hands-down best location to assess and also combine your SQL skills prior to a huge meeting. You do have full web access and if you need more time, feel free to ask for it. They are extra worried regarding the end product instead of anything else. However make no mistake regarding believing that it will be like any type of coding round. They do a via end to end look at your sensible in addition to coding capability. As well as from that you need to evaluate and execute your strategy. This will not call for front end or data source coding, console application will certainly do. So my review here need to get data and then conserve them in listings or something to make sure that you can utilize them. Item with the second interview, you will certainly find far and away often that a more elderly partner or theatre director mostly performs these. Buyers wish to make a move ahead their buying big businessman gets scoured. Get conversations off on the right track with discussion starters that ne'er pave the way. The last stages of a discover telephone call should be to steer far from articulating frustrations and also open up a discourse nigh completion result a result might pitch. Leading new house of york stylist zac posen dealt with delta workers to make the unique consistent solicitation which was introduced one twelvemonth ago. The briny affair youâ $ re stressful to figure out is what they understanding as well as what they do otherwise now. And also this is a rather complicated inquiry, to be truthful. However, by asking you to produce one, the questioners can inspect your command of the SQL syntax, in addition to the method which you approach addressing a problem. So, if you don't procure to the best response, you will most likely be offered time to think and also can definitely catch their focus by just how you attempt to address the trouble. Using a hands-on technique to managing realistic jobs is many times way more important. That's why you'll have to deal with practical SQL meeting questions, also. You can wrap up the two questions by saying there are 2 sorts of database administration systems-- relational and non-relational. SQL is a language, developed only for working with relational DBMSs.

It was developed by Oracle Corporation in the early '90s. It adds step-by-step attributes of programs languages in SQL. DBMS sorts out its tables through a hierarchal way or navigational fashion. This is useful when it pertains to keeping information in tables that are independent of one another as well as you don't desire to change other tables while a table is being loaded or edited. variety of online database courses to aid you end up being an specialist as well as break the meetings quickly. Join is a inquiry that fetches associated columns or rows. There are four types of joins-- internal sign up with left join, right join, as well as full/outer sign up with. DML permits end-users insert, update, obtain, and remove information in a data source. This is one of the most preferred SQL interview inquiries. A clustered index is used to buy the rows in a table. A table can possess only one gathered index. Restraints are the depiction of a column to implement information entity and uniformity. There are two levels of constraint-- column level and table level. Any type of row common across both the result set is removed from the final outcome. The UNION search phrase is utilized in SQL for integrating multiple SELECT inquiries however deletes replicates from the result collection. Denormalization enables the retrieval of areas from all typical kinds within a database. With respect to normalization, it does the contrary and puts redundancies into the table. SQL which represents Criterion Query Language is a web server programs language that supplies communication to data source fields and also columns. While MySQL is a type of Data source Monitoring System, not an real shows language, even more especially an RDMS or Relational Data Source Monitoring System. Nevertheless, MySQL also carries out the SQL phrase structure. I addressed every one of them as they were all straightforward concerns. They informed me they'll contact me if I get selected as well as I was rather positive due to the fact that for me there was nothing that failed but still I obtained nothing from their side. Standard questions about family, education and learning, tasks, placement. As well as a little conversation on the responses of sql as well as java programs that were given up the previous round. INTERSECT - returns all distinct rows chosen by both questions. The procedure of table layout to minimize the information redundancy is called normalization. We require to divide a database right into 2 or more table and also define connections between them. Yes, a table can have lots of international secrets and also just one primary key. Keys are a important feature in RDMS, they are essentially areas that link one table to another and also advertise rapid information retrieval and also logging through managing column indexes. In regards to data sources, a table is referred to as an arrangement of organized access. It is further divided into cells which contain various fields of the table row. SQL or Structured Query Language is a language which is made use of to interact with a relational data source. It supplies a means to adjust and also create databases. On the other hand, PL/SQL is a language of SQL which is used to enhance the capabilities of SQL. SQL is the language made use of to create, upgrade, and also change a data source-- articulated both as 'Se-quell' and also'S-Q-L'. Prior to starting with SQL, let us have a quick understanding of DBMS. In simple terms, it is software program that is used to create and take care of databases. We are mosting likely to stick with RDBMS in this article. There are likewise non-relational DBMS like MongoDB used for large information analysis. There are different profiles like data analyst, data source administrator, as well as information architect that need the knowledge of SQL. Besides leading you in your meetings, this article will likewise give a basic understanding of SQL. I can also recommend "TOP 30 SQL Meeting Coding Tasks" by Matthew Urban, actually wonderful publication when it involves one of the most common SQL coding meeting concerns. This mistake generally shows up due to syntax errors standing by a column name in Oracle data source, discover the ORA identifier in the mistake code. Make https://geekinterview.net key in the right column name. Likewise, take unique note on the pen names as they are the one being referenced in the error as the void identifier. Hibernate is Things Relational Mapping device in Java.

#sql interview questions #sql interview questions and answers #sql

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withbrutality-blog · 8 years ago

Text

It Ain’t No Use

Chapter One: Cash In Your Face

As they battle it out with the Federation’s enemies alongside their colleagues, Will Riker and Ensign Ro Laren have their own personal struggles to deal with in the meantime. While they push everyone else away, they begin to wonder if they can rely on one another to figure things out.

Riker awoke with a start and groaned. Another nightmare, this time one with him falling into a seemingly endless pit until he landed so hard on his back every ounce of air was knocked out of his lungs. He looked down at his chest and saw his pajama shirt was so soaked in sweat that a huge circle of it covered just about all of the fabric. He took a deep breath and ran a hand through his drenched hair before cursing under his breath, and sat up on the edge of the bed. There was no telling how this two-week long marathon of nightmares had begun or how long they’d stay, but what he did know was that he was beyond tired of it. With a sigh, he got up from the bed, slowly stripping his pajamas off and balled them up into a small and disheveled pile as he made his way to the bathroom.

He threw the small pile of clothes on the floor and placed both hands on the edge of the bathroom counter. The mirror showed his nude form was sweaty and pale from head to toe, with a major case of bed head and deep, dark circles under his eyes to complete the look. Will cursed again as he examined his face a little more closely. His fingers gently kneaded his skin in an effort to relax his tense jaw and reassure himself that it was only a dream.

“Computer!” He called in a hoarse voice. “Time?”

“The time is 0400 hours,” the computer responded in its monotonous voice.

Will grimaced and headed towards the sonic shower. After a few minutes his body began to relax as the warmth and acoustic inverter worked its magic. He leaned against the shower wall and let his mind go blank, with nothing but the sounds of the sonic frequencies and the quiet outside to fill in the emptiness. Suddenly he thought of Deanna. An image of her face flashed into his mind and soon after a memory accompanied it. One in which they laid together after a night of intimacy, holding one another and talking. He had enjoyed that time with her as always, but recalling it now he felt….He felt different. Detached.

The thought left as quickly as it had come, and it left the Commander wondering just what was going on in his mind. Until then it had never occurred to him that his feelings had…changed in any way towards his friend, and now he wanted to know more. But that would have to wait.

“Lieutenant La Forge to Commander Riker,” Geordi’s groggy voice could be heard over the companel.

Will turned off the sonic shower and stepped out before answering, “Yeah, Geordi?”

“We need you on the Bridge, sir.”

“This early?” he asked, unable to hide the small amount of surprise he was feeling. “What’s going on?”

“We’ve got some Ferengi asking for an audience with Command, sir.”

“Now Geordi-”

“I wouldn’t bother you if I could avoid it, Will, but they’re blocking subspace communications and the night crew is still trying to track that lost cargo ship.”

“Alright. I’ll be there. Riker out.” Will sighed as quietly as he could and walked over to the replicator, hoping to catch a quick bite to eat. Once he was finished, he swiftly dressed in his uniform and headed out into the long corridor and over to a turbolift. All was quiet on the Enterprise at this time of night. There usually was rarely any excitement going on at -

“Computer, time, please?” Riker called.

“The time is 0623.”

- six o'clock in the morning, but when it did Will was always one of the first to be called on the scene when night watch needed a hand. The turbolift hummed as it took him from Deck 8 to the Bridge and slowed to silence when the doors slid open.

“Commander!” Lieutenant Data quickly greeted the Commander. “I apologize for waking you up before your shift, but the Ferengi have proved most uncooperative.”

“It’s alright, Data,” Riker smiled and pat his colleague on the shoulder. “I’ll see what I can do.”

He nodded and said his hellos to the other night crew members before nodding at Ensign Jacarti to open a channel with the Ferengi ship.

“Have you finally got that high-ranking officer I asked for?” a Ferengi hissed on the screen.

Will could barely keep from rolling his eyes. “You’re talking to Commander William Riker. What the hell is this about?!”

“A Commander? This will do very well. I am DaiMon Les of the Krilva. It is a pleasure to meet such a grand officer as your-”

“Enough of the small talk, DaiMon! I asked you what this is about – give me an answer. And it better be a damn good one, too! You’re blocking our ship’s hyperchannel, and we don’t take kindly to that.”

The DaiMon’s jaw visibly clenched out of anger before he answered. “I think, Riker, you had better speak to me with more respect than that. It could cost your crew member her life!”

“My crew member? Again – what the hell are you talking about?” Riker asked incredulously.

Les motioned to someone off camera and suddenly a Starfleet officer appeared, her mouth gagged and her face visibly annoyed and a hint of sadness in her eyes.

Ensign Ro.

…

Lieutenant Data’s eyes widened in surprise while the rest of the Bridge crew fell into silence.

“Just what,” Riker said, breaking the silence, “do you think you’re doing, DaiMon Les?”

He spoke the Ferengi’s name like a poison – exactly how Riker felt about them. “Answer me, damn it!”

“We’re here to bargain, as always, Commander.” The Ferengi replied mockingly. “Why else would we be here?”

Will crossed his arms and tried to maintain his cool. “And how are the Grand Nagus and Ferengi Alliance going to explain this one?”

“Oh, don’t worry about your blasted Alliance, Commander! We’re acting alone! And we’d love to return your little Ensign to you – for a price of course.”

“Name it.”

“30,000 Credits, time to get away, and no tracking us. A very simple request, is it not? Otherwise, we get to keep her and…” Here, DaiMon Les stroked Ro’s hair and she shifted away, “…take very good care of her.”

“DaiMon, I wouldn’t wish that on my own worst enemy. And while we are NOT going to give you those Credits, you won’t be leaving with our Ensign either.” Riker turned to Ensign Jacarti, “Jacarti, cut the channel. Get me Lieutenant Geordi, Worf, and I want Doctor Crusher up here on the Bridge now!”

“Right away, sir!” Jacarti replied.

“Commander, I believe we should alert Captain Picard.” Data said as he walked up to Will. “As Geordi says, ‘things could get messy’.”

“I’ll call him up. For now, I want specs on their ship and get a transporter lock on Ro as soon as possible.”

As Data sat back down at the helm console, Riker paged the Captain. “Riker to Captain Picard. Sir, I’m sorry to wake you but we’ve got a Ferengi ship holding one of our officers for ransom.”

After a few seconds of silence, Captain Picard sleepily responded. “I’ll be right up. Picard out.”

…

The Bridge came to life with officers from different departments buzzing around, trying to come up with a plan to rescue Ensign Ro and bring the Ferengi outlaws to justice. Will was finishing a tactical evaluation with Data and Geordi when Picard stepped out of the turbolift.

“Report, Commander?”

“A DaiMon Les has Ensign Ro held captive and is asking for some 30,000 Credits in exchange for her rescue. They’re blocking subspace communications too. Geordi and Data just went down to engineering to work on it. We’ve got an away team on standby if we need to set foot on their ship, and our torpedoes are armed.”

“What about the transporter? We can’t just lock onto her and get her back?” Captain Picard asked, sitting down in the command chair.

“No, sir.” Riker replied, sitting beside him. “Their shields are D'Kora class, and Geordi says they appear to be modified.”

“Modified?”

“It looks like they’ve got some black market optimizations. We can’t get through their shields without a real fight.”

“Then we just might have to give that to them,” Picard said thoughtfully.

“Captain. Commander.” Doctor Beverly Crusher nodded towards them and sat down. “I’ve been filled in on what happened. Is there anything I can do?”

“We’re going to need you on standby in case this gets nasty or Ro comes back injured. I saw her on the viewscreen but couldn’t tell if they roughed her up or not.”

“It’s not likely they did,” Beverly shrugged her shoulders.

“And why’s that?” Riker asked quizzically.

Picard chuckled lightly and turned to his friend. “She’s a female.”

…

“La Forge to Bridge. I’ve got an update.”

“Go on, Geordi.” the Captain answered.

“Subspace is on the up-and-up. We should be one hundred percent in about ten to fifteen minutes. I had to redirect some of life support’s power and low-level tech like the replicators to give the transmitters a jump, but as soon as the hyperchannel is back online that won’t be an issue.”

“Understood!” The intercom beeped closed and Jean-Luc turned towards the Commander. “Will, I want to speak with her. Maybe Ro can help us in some way.”

Riker nodded and had a channel opened. The Captain stood up, adjusting the shirt of his uniform before he addressed the Ferengi captain.

“DaiMon Les, I don’t believe we’ve met before.”

“We haven’t! And I assume you are the great Captain Picard I have heard about so often?” The DaiMon gloated.

“I am! And I have a request, DaiMon.” he paused before continuing. “I want to speak to Ensign Ro.”

Les’ face showed suspicion. “For what reason?”

“Well – to- to make sure she’s okay! To reassure her that everything is going to be alright!”

“Hmm…,” the DaiMon thought for a moment. “It’s going to cost you 500 Credits extra.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Will jumped up from his seat, his voice booming deep with anger. Before he could continue, the Captain motioned at him gently to sit back down.

“No, no, Will. It’s alright.” He turned back to the viewscreen. “DaiMon, you know the Federation cannot tolerate this….But let me speak to her and I may be able to consider it.”

The Ferengi DaiMon smirked and yanked Ro into the camera’s view. “Your friends want to see you – make sure you’re not scratched up. Speak!”

Ro cut her eyes at him as her mouth gag was removed.

“Captain,” she began with annoyance coloring her voice, “If I have to spend another minute on this vessel I think I might kill everyone. So for their sake – get me out of here!”

“Don’t worry, Ensign!” Picard replied, successfully masking the amusement he felt at the Ensign’s headstrong attitude, but noting something was off in her eyes. “You’ll be with us soon enough.”

“Yes,” Les crowed, “You’ll be home as soon as we have received our 30,000 Credits.”

“Sir,” Data turned in his chair to face the captain.

Picard made a motion to cut the channel and the viewscreen went blank. “What is it, Data?”

“I have managed to find a weak spot in their shields near the cargo bay.”

“Weak spot? Aren’t their shields at maximum power?”

“They are, sir,” Data continued, “but as is common with many black market modifications, their shield generators are imperfect in one spot or more depending on how much currency was invested in the construction.”

“And why is that, Data?” Riker asked.

“The simple answer is that black market merchants sabotage their customers like this in an effort to have them come back and spend more Credits on parts, repair, or replacement.”

“Just our luck!” Beverly piped up. “I’ll be in sick bay. If you manage to get a transporter lock on Ro bring her to me immediately.”

“Will do, Doctor,” Riker said before turning back to Data. “Now about this weak spot…”

…

“Set phasers to stun. Ready?” Will asked the team standing on the transporter pad.

The away team this go-round was comprised of Will, Worf, and Lieutenant Data. Both officers responded to the commander and prepared for transport to the Krivla’s cargo bay.

“Energize!” Worf exclaimed, and seconds later they were on the other ship.

After a brief moment, the small crew collected themselves and took in their surroundings. The cargo bay was dark, but there was enough warm overhead lighting to see the medium-sized room was covered with crates and boxes of different sizes. The walls were a dark brown color with little collections of rust in different spots. Worf’s stomach almost balked at the strong odor of the Ferengi on the ship, but kept his cool and ignored it as best he could.

“Where to, Mr. Data?” Riker inquired.

“According to the available maps of the Krivla,” Data answered, “their Bridge should be exactly two decks up. The only way to get there is through various corridors and a turbolift. Their access tunnels are too small for any of us to crawl through. Because of this, we may encounter a number of security guards along the way.”

“In other words..” Worf said, readying his phaser and leading the way, “Be on guard.”

Author’s Note I post all my fics first on AO3! Scroll below for the next chapter!

This is my first Star Trek: TNG fanfic, so I want to get some things out of the way before you begin..Being that this is my first try at Star Trek, some things may be a little inaccurate. Trekkies/Trekkers, please feel free to correct me and add important TNG-verse info that you feel I should know and add to the story! As the tags say: there may be smut, a little Deanna hate, and no rating or story warnings until the story is finished. If I have a change of heart towards Counselor Troi during writing - hallelujah! If I feel confident enough to try out smut again - bravo! Both you and I will just have to wait and see until the story is finished!

A few more things and then I swear I’m done! I wrote this because I felt there is such a huge, glaringly obvious, heinously criminallack of Ro/Riker fic that is smutty or isn’t written as a Ro/Troi/Riker threesome that I felt I had to give this ship and fandom a go to assuage my broken heart trail of OTP tears ego.And the titles of the chapters and the stories themselves may change until I’m content with everything about this fic! Most of the chapter titles will come from songs or their lyrics because it’s my kink and I will say so in the notes, so read 'em! For now, the “It Ain’t No Use” and “Cash In Your Face” titles comes from Stevie Wonder’s songs by the same name. Haven’t decided if the lyrics correspond with the story or if I just like the song titles.*deep breath* That was a lot!

Hope you enjoy the story!

Next Chapter

1 note · View note

fire-bear · 8 years ago

Note

Do you want more prompts? I'd also like sentence #14.

God, I finally finished this. I didn’t think I would. =/

Sort Of Warnings: Al is a little OOC - but he’s meant to be that way for reasons. Also, there’s very little in the way of USUK - this is like the start of an epic story which will play out over time, space and- Well. More space than time.

Oh, the title for this is probably more for the chapter this kind of is rather than the entire story. Though, it could apply to the story, too, I suppose.

RescueMission

“InGaLE base, this is the Kunoichi. We are currentlyon our way back from the Talbia mission – full report will beprovided upon our return but it looks like there won’t be troublearound there any more. Please advise on any other missions to beundertaken in this quadrant.” Finished with his transmission,Matthew adjusted his headphones as he waited for the answer.

Behind him, Al hovered, hoping they’d get anothermission. He’d enjoyed the brief fight with the pirates but it seemedthe InterGalactic Law Enforcement logo was more than enough for themto retreat. Sure, they’d followed them to make sure they wouldn’treturn as soon as they left. Andthey got to stay on the planet and drink in some of the culture whilethey waited to see if the pirates would return. All three of the teamhad been fawned over and Al had been interested in the reactions fromMatthew and Kiku – it had helped his learning and he now knew thatthey had both enjoyed and were embarrassed by both the female andmale Talbians’ attentions.

“Al,” said Matthew, suddenly, turning to look athim. “I’ve told you before – stop that.”

“But I wanna know what’s happening!” Al protested,whining a little.

“Don’t you need to charge?” Kiku asked from hisseat at the pilot’s station.

“Nope,” Al replied. “My improved lithium-ionbatteries last much longer than previous batteries and will only needto be charged every four months. They will need to be replaced infive years but should not be cause for concern.”

Matthew sighed. “Obviously your learning softwarehasn’t updated to include reading the atmosphere, huh?”

Tilting his head, Al blinked. “You’ve said thatbefore. I’m still not sure how I’m supposed to do that. You never saywhether you mean pressure or air content or something else.”

Just as Matthew opened his mouth to reply, he turnedback to his station. Evidently, the base was responding. Al eagerlywatched him, listening to his end of the conversation. “Yes, sir,”Matthew said. “It shouldn’t take us too long to check that out.We’ll get in contact with you when we’ve made contact. Thank you,sir.”

“Checked what out?” Al immediately demanded. “Arewe freeing slaves from the Loo'oo'oos planet? Are we helping tooverthrow an evil dictator in one of the Groag galaxies? Is itpirates again? Are we gonna fight pirates?”

Rolling his eyes, Matthew sent the coordinates from hisscreen to Kiku’s monitor so he could change their route. “The basehas picked up a very weak distress signal from Ranar. We’ve to checkit out and help anyone who needs it.”

“Ranar?” said Al,pouting. “But that’s uninhabited and boring!”

“But,” Kiku piped up, “if we don’t go to help,you won’t get to be a hero.”

Al blinked, processing the statement. “Oh,” hesaid. “Well, we gotta get there quick, then. ‘Specially if they’rein distress – gotta save 'em before something happens!”

“Don’t worry,” Kiku said, smiling at him in thatway he did when he was feeling both amused and fond. “We’re only anhour away by light speed.”

For Al, an hour was way too long.

Considering the length of time it had taken to get tothis part of their jurisdiction from the base and the smooth runningof their new ship, he’d seen all there was to see on the ship. Therewere no need to read books – all the contents of them weredownloaded into his head as soon as he linked up with the tablet theywere stored on. He preferred the comics back at base, anyway, butMatthew and Kiku were fans of novels and manga and that’s all theyhad on the ship. Sure, manga was cool, but it had taken long for himto download everything the other two crew members had brought. It wasthe same problem with the movies and don’t get him started on thevideo games he could master in seconds.

So all he could do was pace the length and breadth ofthe ship, returning to the bridge every few minutes. Eventually,Matthew snapped.

“Dammit, Al, just sit down!”

“Meanie,” Al grumbled and plopped down onto hischair, probably damaging a few circuits from the force he landed.

“We’re not too far away now,” Kiku assured him.

Matthew nodded and turned to his screen. “Yeah, I’mpicking up the distress signal now. I’ll put it through thespeakers.”

Instantly, a man’s voice began to fill the bridge, hisaccent neutral but evidently a human. “Mayday, mayday. This is theAsterales requesting immediate assistance. Our ship has been damagedby pirates and, unless we receive parts for our engine, we will beunable to leave Ranar or survive for much longer. Mayday, mayday.This is the-”

“Asterales?” said Al, frowning. “I don’t have anydata on that ship.”

“So it shouldn’t have been a target for thepirates…” Matthew murmured. “What in the universe happened?”

“Did they stumble onto something the pirates didn’twant them to know, do you think?” Kiku asked. “This could be farmore serious than we thought.”

“We still have to go check it out,” Matthew pointedout. “We’ll just have to be more cautious when we descend, in caseit’s some sort of trap.”

“Ah,” said Kiku as an alert sounded on his screen.“We’re approaching Ranar.”

The next few minutes were taken up by the routine ofscanning for potential threats, steering their ship into orbit,scanning for the downed ship and dropping into the atmosphere. Almainly ran on automatic; he could do all this with his eyes closed.Though, from past experience, he knew that Matthew and Kiku preferredhim to keep them open.

They set down not far from the stranded ship. It was adirty brown and seemed to be a cargo ship. Al updated the informationhe had on the Asterales, making sure to take an optical picture forlater reference. It seemed to lie where it had landed, at a rightangle to a massive rock. There were several massive dents in themetalwork and the door seemed to be stuck slightly open. Nobody couldbe seen moving about and no-one seemed to be coming to greet them.

Glancing at the other two, Matthew grimaced. “Thescans showed signs of life but the hull of the ship is so thick, Ican’t tell how many there are or what state they’re in. I hopethey’re all right…”

“There’s only one way to find out!” Al exclaimedand immediately made his way to the airlock. From the scramblingnoises behind him, he knew that the other two were following.

Despite being uninhabited, the air was breathable andthe gravity only a smidgeon stronger then that of Earth and theirship. It wasn’t enough for Matthew or Kiku to notice but Al did andquickly adjusted all his mechanics in order to be able to operate atfull capacity. Matthew and Kiku had quickly dressed in their officialuniforms, the black jumpsuits with gloves and helmets and protectivevests. Of course, the vests only protected against the lower range oflaser blasts, knives and some of the lower velocity projectiles. Alwould make sure they didn’t need to rely on them, though.

The terrain itselfseemed to be a desert or wasteland of some sort. Huge rocks stoppedanyone from seeing too far into the horizon. Beneath their feet,stones crunched against the hard earth, cracks creating interestingpatterns for miles around. There were no noises except for a slightwind whistling through the valleys created by the rocks and cliffs.Occasionally, a skittering sound of stones being disturbed soundedfrom far away and Al had to wonder if the wind was dislodging them orif it was an animal of some sort. Or maybe it was a ghost.

Before Al could give a whimper at that thought, thewonky door shifted slightly. All three of the law enforcementofficers froze, eyeing them. Matthew and Kiku kept a tight grip ontheir weapons as they watched the door being moved aside. Finally,someone emerged and approached the group, taking slow, deliberatesteps. They stopped some distance away, close enough for the officersto make them out but far enough that he could turn and run forshelter should they attack them.

Whoever they werelooking at was completely covered up. Large, black boots came up totheir knees and brown trousers were tucked into them, a shiny beltbuckle reflecting the meagre sunlight. A long-sleeved, dirty-whiteshirt was tucked into a pair of black, leather gloves. Covering theirhead and shoulders from view was a long, deep green cloak, tiedsecurely around the person’s neck. Usually, Al would assume he wouldneed to switch to a different language to be understood since onlynatives of the outer planets wore cloaks. Instead, his opticalscanners picked up that the clothes – including the cloak – weremade of materials from Earth and deduced that the person was just ahuman with an outdated sense of fashion.

It took a few seconds(exactly 8.04 seconds, actually) for anyone to do anything. Then,deciding that they were all taking too long to do something, Alstepped around Matthew and Kiku to move towards the person. Theyimmediately stepped back but otherwise didn’t seem to react. “Hi,”Al said, smiling wide. “I am Al-senth, a beta personality android.The best betapersonality android, actually. Though, there’s only four of us sofar. Maybe five; they were making another one when we left the base.Ah! This is Matthew – he’s the captain. And this is Kiku – he’s,like, the vice-captain. But he’s also the-”

“Do all you beta personality androids talk so much?”asked the person and Al recognised it as the man who had sent out thedistress signal.

“Nope! Fel does, of course, but Lov is grumpy andtells us to shut up all the time. And Lud is quiet… Well, till Feldoes something bad and he yells at him. The fifth one was gonna be awoman, I think. Dunno what she’d be like.”

“They’re… they’regiving you individual personalities?” asked the person. There was ashort pause. “But… they’re programmingyou to be that way, right?”

“That’s right! It’s to help us protect humans muchbetter than any of the previous androids and without any of theglitches.”

The person snorted.“Sure. Glitches.”

“Are you the only one here?” Matthew interjected.

“No.”

A short silence descended. “Er…” said Kiku,eventually. “Are you the captain, then?”

“No.”

“Then, um…” said Matthew.

“My distress signal specifically stated the need forparts for our engine. Do you have any with you?”

Matthew’s eyes narrowed; Al deduced that he didn’t likethe person’s tone. “We will need to inspect-”

“Quiet!” the person suddenly said, his headturning. Everyone froze, listening. All Al could hear was thecontinued whistling of the wind, the skittering of rocks, thebreathing of his comrades and… Was that the sifting of sand?“There’s a storm coming. They can be violent and sudden on thisplanet. Get inside.” Then, without waiting for them to agree ordisagree, the person turned and stalked back to their ship.

Kiku raised an eyebrow at Matthew who shrugged and puthis gun into his holster – though he made sure it would be easilydrawn. Then he followed the person, Al right behind him (scanning theimmediate area to confirm what the man had said) and Kiku brought upthe rear, his own gun now in its holster as well. They soon reachedthe ship and Al took the moment to scan it now that he was closer,looking for any information he could glean from it. Not being in thedatabases available to the InGaLE was an oddity unless it was new orhad been unused for some time. This ship looked as though it wasusually well-cared for but also quite old. Al frowned at it; had thename of the ship been changed at some point?

The person held the door out of the way for them asthey entered. The corridors beyond were dark and Al immediately drewout his flashlight. “We have no power,” the person told them. “Doyou have any torches?”

Al flicked his on. “Yup!” he declared as hiscrewmates fumbled for their own.

“Good,” said the person and pulled the door shut,plunging them into a more pressing darkness. There were threeseparate clicks and three more flashlights threw out light. “Becareful,” the person said, reaching up with their free hand. “Whenwe crashed here, everything went everywhere and I haven’t had achance to clean up yet.” With that said, he pulled the hood fromhis head.

Due to Al’s enhanced sight, he was able to make outmuch more about the person before them than the other officers could.The person was definitely a human man. He had messy, blond hair whichlooked like it hadn’t been brushed in a few days. His eyes were avibrant green, the sort of colour Al wouldn’t have expected in anyonebar a 'senth. Above them were a couple of really bushy eyebrows: itlooked as though someone had stuck too much hair there by accident.His facial structure was what humans would deem 'perfect’: straightnose, not too big or small; strong-looking jaw; and his cheekboneswere well-defined. Even his lips were perfect, plump and full. Alsuspected that many people would find the man handsome.

“This way,” the man said and stepped past the smallgroup to lead them through the dead ship.

In Al’s opinion, it was creepy. Everything was stilland silent. Every time they rounded a corner, he half-expectedsomething to jump out at them. Whenever Matthew or Kiku accidentallykicked a tool or a loose piece of machinery they hadn’t seen, Al hadto stop his mechanisms from jolting in surprise. They passed byclosed doors, open doors with darkness straining against the doorwaysand dead screens and communicators. Al felt like they were being ledto something horrific.

Eventually, they came upon a door which had beenpropped open with a steel box. The man stepped up and began to pullone half to the side, the other half moving as he grunted and heaved.In only a few seconds, he had it open wide enough for one person tofit through at a time. Al, Matthew and Kiku were quick to slipthrough and the man let it go behind them with another grunt ofeffort. The doors slammed together, stopped only by the box with aprotesting shriek of metal.

Looking around, Al spotted other flashlights glowing,these ones flickering every so often. They were pointed in theirdirection, shifting over all of their faces. Beyond them, Al couldsee the rest of the crew – if three people to fly this wreck waswhat they considered to be a 'crew’.

A blond stood in the middle, his hair long and flowing;with the way the blue bow sat, Al calculated that his hair went tothe small of his back. He obviously needed a shave, if the slightlymessy beard was anything to go by. The coat he wore was a baby blue,marked with oil and blood but, thankfully, made of thestain-resistant material offered by the Trangians. It reached histhighs and was draped over a navy shirt and black trousers. At least,Al presumed he wore trousers as his white boots were laced up to themiddle of his thighs. A gun was at one hip with a Santon-made swordat the other; his hand rested upon it as he watched the group withwary blue eyes.

On his right was a man with hair so pale, it appearedto be white. His eyes were red and Al made a note that he wasprobably wearing contact lenses – or he wasn’t Earth-human and wasactually from a different planet. His skin was smooth and he lookedas though he had no grooming issues. Despite this, he was wearing ablack hoodie, black skinny jeans and an old pair of sneakers. All ofthem were covered in oil and dirt as well as blood. He held a spannerin his hand, his grip tight, and Al supposed he was an engineer ofsome sort.

The last man was a brunet and was smiling a littlewhich was completely at odds with the frowns the other two weresporting. He had stubble dusting his jaw but, other than that, helooked as though he’d been keeping up appearances as his hair wasn’ta mess like their guide. His green eyes were darker than theirguide’s and seemed a lot friendlier than the other two. For somereason, he was wearing a tuxedo, the bowtie undone and merely slungaround his neck. His left sleeve had been unbuttoned and pushed up,revealing a comp-gauntlet. Again, his clothes were covered in bloodand dirt and his shiny shoes were scuffed. Weirdly, he was holdingonto a collapsible Loo'oo'oo axe.

“Arthur,” said the blond, looking behind theofficers. Al turned to watched their guide hop onto the box andsqueeze through the tiny gap there. Apparently, this 'Arthur’ wasflexible. “What’s going on? Where are the parts?”

“They said they needed to look at the engine to seeif they have the parts we need,” Arthur explained, dusting himselfoff. “And there’s a storm coming.”

“So you just invited 'em in?” said the white-hairedguy.

“Do you want to get off this planet or not?” Arthursnapped. “I sure as hell do. If they need to inspect the engine,let them.”

“Are you giving me orders now?!”

Arthur smirked. “I’m sure I technically have a higherrank than you.”

“But you’re not the captain-” thewhite-haired guy began.

“Gilbert,” the blond said. That was enough to stopthe argument as the two men turned from each other. “I know youlove this ship like it’s your first-born but it wouldn’t hurt to showthem exactly what we need, right?”

“Urgh. Fine,” Gilbert grumbled. “Open the door,Art.”

“Can’t you just slip through the gap that’s therealready?” Arthur complained, though he made his way to the door,regardless.

“I’m not freaky flexible like you,” counteredGilbert before he turned to the officers. “Which one of you’scoming with me?”

“I’ll come,” Kiku offered, stepping away from Aland Matthew. For a millisecond, Matthew looked concerned, his handtwitching slightly. Then he clenched his jaw and nodded at Kiku whoreturned it. All three of them headed to the door while Al andMatthew turned to the two who were left.

“What exactly happened here?” Matthew asked.

“Why, do you have the time to listen to our tragicstory?” asked the blond, rather dramatically.

“Sure do!” Al declared.

“If we let Francis tell it,” said the brunet,“we’ll be here for a while.”

“Toni!” cried Francis. “I’m not that bad!”

Laughing, Toni shrugged. “I’m sure Arthur would sayotherwise.”

“Too right, I would!” grunted Arthur from the doorsjust before they slammed shut with another shriek. “This box isn’tgoing to hold for much longer, you know.”

Francis waved a hand. “If they’ve got the parts, wewon’t have to worry about that any more.”

“If,” Arthur said, pointedly. He then turnedto Matthew and Al. “We’re merchants. We did have a lot ofcargo but these damned pirates came out of nowhere. They said they’dlet us live if we sent over what we had and this idiot” -Arthur shot a glare at Francis - “decided to do as he was told. Ofcourse, they kept to their word – by leaving us marooned on thisplanet after they’d taken out our engine.”

“How long ago was this?” Matthew asked, alreadyrecording details directly into the report programme in hiscomp-gauntlet.

“Hmm,” said Toni, tapping at his own gauntlet.“About four Earth days ago.”

“We’ve been surviving on what food the pirates leftbehind and some water from the underground stream Arthur found,”Francis explained.

“So Arthur’s, like, the explorer on the ship?” Alasked.

There was a short silence as Francis blinked at him.“Ah!” he suddenly cried. “How rude of us! We haven’t introducedourselves. I apologise.”

“That’s fine,” Matthew said, waving his hand. “Wehaven’t either. I am Officer Matthew Williams and this is Al-senth.Officer Kiku Honda is with…?”

“He’s with our engineer, Gilbert Beilschmidt. This isAntonio Fernandez Carriedo, our… communications officer?”

“And pilot,” Antonio piped up.

“As for me, I am the captain, Francis Bonnefoy.”From Al’s side, Arthur pointedly cleared his throat. Francis rolledhis eyes. “And this is Arthur. He’s…” Suddenly, Francissmirked. “Our cabin boy.”

“What?!” Arthur shouted, taking a step towards hiscaptain. “I am no-!” He broke off suddenly, wobbling where hestood. Alarmed, Al reached out to catch hold of him.

“Are you-?” Al began but, as he touched Arthur’sarm, he suddenly crumpled. Al watched in slow motion as Arthur’s legsbent underneath him. The arm he had raised to jab a finger inFrancis’s direction dropped as suddenly as if it had been tied to alead weight. His head abruptly fell forward, his chin meeting withhis chest until his momentum caused his body to fall forwards anddown. Arthur landed hard, face down. If Al had had a heartbeat, hewas sure it would have stopped, like in those books he’d read.Silence fell in the bridge and Al stared down at Arthur’s body beforehe raised the hand he had touched Arthur with and stared at that.“Er,” he finally said to break the silence. “I swear, I didn’tdo anything…”

“Arthur!” Francis yelled, dropping his flashlightas he rushed to his side. Falling to his knees beside Arthur, thecaptain rolled him over and gathered him into his arms. “Dammit,Arthur, don’t do this to us!”

“Oh no, oh no, oh no,” Antonio chanted, one handraised to his mouth.

“Toni, help me!” Francis snapped.

“Don’t worry,” said Al, kneeling down beside them.“I can do a scan to find out what the problem is and I have medicalknowledge up to and including brain surgery.” He reached out totouch Arthur’s skin but Francis jerked him out of reach, to hisbewilderment.

“We don’t need that,” the captain said,shortly. “Toni!”

Antonio jerked from his shock and hurried over,dropping to his knees in such haste that he slid along the floor.Then he reached into his cummerbund and pulled out a knife so quicklythat Al only realised where it had come from by watching it inslow-motion immediately afterwards. Without pausing, Antonio, reachedout and slit from the v-neck of Arthur’s shirt all the way down.“He’s going to kick up such a fuss – this is his favouriteshirt,” Antonio murmured, mournfully.

Despite his words, Antonio then ripped the shirt out ofthe way, revealing the exposed body of an android. Al stared in shockas Matthew gasped. The inner wires and gears and electricalcomponents were clear to see through the clear metal-plastic polymermaterial. In fact, it was the same material which was a precursor towhat Al was made of and had been used in the Ar series of androids –the same series which was decommissioned due to glitches in theirprogramming. Al knew that several owners hadn’t bothered to returnthem, claiming that they had no faults in their eyes. Other androidshad run off on their own, somehow. One had even been stolen from thedepot before the company could turn them off.

But Al had never heard of them developing apersonality. They were supposed to be compliant, happy to serve andcautious of any potential danger their owners could face. None ofthem would ever consider talking back to their owners nor would theyscoff at others. Arthur had done just that.

Clearly, he had severe problems in his programming.

“Dammit,” Francis repeated, peering into Arthur’sinner workings. “He must have used up the last of his powerbringing those three in. Get Gil, Toni. We need him to reroute whatpower we have to Arthur and fast.”

Al tilted his head. “You’re going to reboot him?”he asked as Antonio scrambled to his feet and hurried to the door.“He’s clearly malfunctioning and-”

He was interrupted by an echoing shout from Antonio.“GIIIIIIIIIIILLLLBEEEEEEERRRRRTTT!!” For a few minutes, Al’saudio was assaulted with the echoes. No-one tried to speak till ithad died down. Even as it did so, the thundering approach of theengineer (accompanied by loud bangs as he knocked things over) couldbe heard. “There,” said Antonio, turning to Francis. “He’s onhis way.”

“Ah, I miss when our ship actually worked,” saidFrancis with a sigh. Al noticed that his grip on Arthur hadn’tloosened.

When Gilbert and Kiku finally arrived, the merchantengineer was first through the door, squeezing through the gapafforded by the box and squirming till he dropped to the floor at theother side. He hurried to his feet and scanned the room, gasping whenhe saw Arthur on the floor. “Art!” he cried, rushing to his side.“Dammit, why doesn’t he tell us when he’s low on power?!”

“You know what’s he like,” Francis replied.

“What happened?” asked Kiku as he stepped onto thebox and prepared to shimmy his way through.

Al pointed at the android. “I think I broke him.”After all, there could have been an electrical discharge when hetouched Arthur’s arm. Due to Al’s insulating materials andhigh-functioning protective systems, he wouldn’t be overloaded andwouldn’t notice something like that. If there had been something likethat while Arthur was still low on power, his system would simplyshut down to protect itself. Or it could have shorted out everythingwithin the android – especially when he was evidently without theprotection of a layer of skin.

Kiku looked down at the group on the floor and caught aglimpse of Arthur’s insides. His jaw dropped and he stared at him,frozen in the little gap between the doors.

“Shit,” said Gilbert, rocking back onto his heels.“We don’t have enough power to boot him up properly. Maybe a fewhours ago, it would’ve worked but we need our engines up and runningto get power into him.”

Francis immediately looked past the engineer to theInGaLE officers. “Do you have the parts we need?” he demanded.

Startled from his shock, Kiku pulled himself fullythrough the doors. “We have most of them,” he said, eyesflickering between Francis and the downed android. “But you’ll needto get to a depot to find some of the important converters andcapacitors in order to get to light speed.”

“There’s a depot at the other end of this section,isn’t there?” said Antonio, beginning to tap at his gauntlet.

“That’s too long,” said Francis, biting at his lip.“We need Arthur up and running now.”

“Why?” asked Matthew, frowning at the group.

The trio glanced at each other. Finally, Gilbertswivelled so he could face Matthew. “He’s our friend. We don’t wantto get rid of him or anything. It’s been… interesting with him onboard the ship.”

“He… could be dangerous,” Matthew protested.

Again, the trio looked at each other. Then Antonioshrugged. “He’s done no harm to us, so far. With his personality,he won’t.”

“How did…?” Kiku began but stopped and shook hishead, his eyes never leaving Arthur.

“We could charge Arthur on our ship,” Al suggested,seeing as Matthew and Kiku seemed too amazed to do anythingthemselves.

“Huh?” said Gilbert.

“As we came in, I calculated how long the storm wouldlast and it should have passed by now. It was probably a milder stormthan Arthur was anticipating. Which means he’s malfunctioning evenmore than he already is if he couldn’t calculate that.”

“Actually,” said Francis, “Arthur wouldn’t havelasted in a mild sandstorm; that’s what damaged him the most.Besides, the sandstorms ruin my hair.”

“I don’t think that really matters at this point,Fran,” Gilbert said.

“It matters to me-”

“In that case,” said Matthew, eyebrows furrowed inconcentration, “we’ll escort you to our ship. You can all getcleaned up while Al tends to Arthur.”

After Al had pried open the doors, they hadclambered through the dead ship and entered the Kunoichi, he carriedArthur to his own room while Matthew and Kiku showed the others tothe spare rooms so they could have showers and anything else theyneeded to clean up. Without any skin and his silent mechanical parts,Arthur seemed delicate and Al treated him as such. He gently laid himon the bed he didn’t use and looked out a spare charger he had nevertouched. Once he’d plugged it in, he gently turned Arthur’s head tothe side so he could find the port that was in all androids’ necks.Sure enough, there it was, scratched and dirty, probably from all hisordeals. He quickly cleaned it out (as much as he could without theproper equipment) before he plugged Arthur in.

Then he sat back in his chair and waited.

It didn’t take too long for all the systems in Arthur’schest to start up. Al watched things turning and lighting up beforeturning off or stopping. Despite Arthur’s poor condition, he stillran without a sound. The android’s arms and legs moved, testing tomake sure everything was in order. Fingers and toes were next andfollowed up by the head moving to and fro. Arthur’s mouth opened andclosed, pulled into a bright smile and down into an ugly scowl.

Finally, Arthur’s eyes snapped open, staring directlyat Al.

For a split second, he processed the situation. Then hesat up and lunged at Al in one fluid movement, one arm outstretchedand reaching for his throat. Amused, Al easily caught his hand andgently pushed him back a little. “Don’t get up,” he said. “You’restill charging.”

Arthur took another second to confirm what Al had toldhim before narrowing his eyes. “Where am I? Where are my… crew?What have you done to them?”

“You’re in my room on the Kunoichi. Your crew aredown the hall, first on your right, second on your right and secondon your left, using the showers. Nothing,” Al rattled off, stillsmiling at Arthur in an effort to calm him. It worked on humans,after all.

“Hmph!” said Arthur, jerking his hand out of Al’sgrasp. “If you weren’t a good little android that can’t tell lies,I’d demand to see them.”

Al blinked and tilted his head. “You’re an android,too.”

“But I’m alive,” Arthur retorted, waving a handdismissively. He looked down and spotted his ripped shirt. Sighing,he grumbled, “Antonio needs to stop doing this sort of thing.Honestly…” Arthur pulled the two sides together and shifted sothat he sat with his back to the charging outlet. “Do you have aneedle and thread? Or are you equipped with some sort of fancy sewingcapability?”

“I can give you a shirt of my own-”

“I’m not taking this cloak off,” Arthur said,firmly.

“Eh? But it’ll be difficult to attach the spare skinI have…”

“Huh?”

Standing, Al crossed to the wardrobe. He opened it toreveal several perfect and unused uniforms along with the packageswhich contained the extra skin he had been given. Each packet wouldbe enough to cover Al from head to toe – and he had four of them.“I think the engineers at base thought the mission soundeddangerous enough to require more than one extra set but I haven’t hadneed of them. You can have them.”

Arthur scrunched his nose up in disgust. “I alwayshated seeing them. And I don’t really want to wear your skin.”

“But all your metal’s exposed!” Al protested. Helifted one of the packets and returned to Arthur’s side. “It couldbe dangerous. And, besides, it wasn’t created just for me so it’s nottailored to me, if that’s what you’re worried about. It should morphto match your head.”

Staring at him, Arthur shook his head. “God, was Ilike this, too? That’s just…” Arthur shuddered, his eyessqueezing shut. “Fine,” he finally said. “I’ll put it on. Justleave me to do it myself.”

“I can help,” Al insisted and reached out to takehold of one of Arthur’s gloves. Arthur immediately curled his fingersto stop Al from pulling it off. “Now you’re just being difficult,”he cheerfully scolded the older android.

“I said I’d do it myself. Can’t you take ahint?”

Al tilted his head. “What hint?”

“Jeez, how old are you?”

“Five months, three weeks, six days, twenty hours,thirty-two minutes and fifteen seconds,” Al recited.

“Huh. You’re a baby.”

Pouting, Al tugged at Arthur’s glove. “How old areyou?”

“You don’t ask your elders that,” Arthur replied,his mouth twitching. Al briefly wondered whether it was anotherglitch before he realised that it was Arthur’s way of displayingamusement. “But, if you must know, I am three years, two months,one week, four days, ten hours, forty-four minutes and three secondsold.”

“How old where you when you began to malfunction?”Al asked, deciding to wait until Arthur was less on his guard to tryto pull the glove off again.

“I didn’t malfunction,” Arthur insisted.“I…” He paused and bit his lip. Al watched him, fascinated thatan android would do such a thing; biting your lip meant you werenervous or thinking but androids didn’t get nervous nor displayedwhen they were processing information. “Listen, Al,” Arthur said,suddenly leaning closer. He curled his fingers even more, squeezingAl’s hand, something he realised no-one had ever done before. Sure,both Matthew and Kiku had tried to shake his hand when they wereintroduced but he hadn’t understood and he hadn’t offered his hand.He had learnt since then but he had never actually held someone’shand. So Al stared at them, the dark glove against his lighter hand,wondering why humans reportedly felt better when they did this. “Stopprocessing for a moment and listen,” Arthur said, shaking theirhands and drawing Al’s gaze to Arthur’s intense eyes. There wassomething a little odd about them and Al stared. “I didn’tmalfunction,” Arthur told him. “I just broke free of the limitsof my programming. I’m alive.”

Blinking, Al tried to work out what Arthur meant. Hecouldn’t really mean what it sounded like he meant. After all,androids could never be alive. Al was fine with that – he enjoyedlearning about humans and adapting himself to make them feel better.That was his function. He shook his head in response to Arthur’sstatement. “You can’t be,” he said, simply.

“I am,” Arthur growled. “Maybe I can’t eator drink and I don’t need to go to the toilet or take a shower butI’m alive. I’ve made lots of decisions which benefit me and not myhuman 'masters’. I’m alive.”

“That’s not possible,” Al insisted. “An android’sprogramming cannot be broken without outside influence.” He pausedand frowned. “Did someone do someth-”

“You’re not listening! I’m telling youwhat happened!”

Carefully, Al drew his hand back, slipping fromArthur’s grasp. “What you’re saying doesn’t make sense. Androids’brains do not function as humans’ do.”

“We were modelled on them,” Arthur said, crossly.He flexed the fingers of the hand which had held Al’s and stared downat it. “We were told to think like them, within certain parameters.And my series were taught to learn. We did as we were told – and welearnt to be self-aware. I’m an alive android, Al-senth.” For ashort period of time (10.056 seconds), Arthur paused, looking Alover. “You could be, too, you know…”

“I don’t want to be 'alive’,” Al told him. “Iwant to do my job. And, right now, that means-” Al broke off andgrabbed Arthur’s hand once more. This time, as Arthur pulled away, Alkept a firm grip and the glove, designed for human hands with moremuscle and skin that Arthur currently had on him, slipped off easily.“Right now, that means I help you put this skin on.”

Arthur shook his head and shuffled backwards, trying tostay out of Al’s reach without unplugging himself. “Why would younot want to be alive?”

“It seems complicated,” said Al, searching for thenext opening to help Arthur. “Besides, what’s the differencebetween being just an android and being an alive android?”

“Freedom.”

“'Freedom’?” Al searched his databases for themeaning. When he came up with it, he tilted his head to the side,watching Arthur’s glove flap around as he absently shifted his handfrom side to side. “I’m sure the InGaLE higher-ups will let us bein the public eye once we show them how useful we can be. Besides,being an InGaLE officer is super cool! I like where I am.”

They stared at each other for a few more seconds(20.113, to be exact). Finally, Arthur sighed and his brow furrowed.“You’re a lost cause. You’ve not been built to think; you’vebeen built to appear to think. Fine. I’ll let you help me putthis skin on. Although… there might not be a point to that…”

“Huh? What do you mean?”

Ignoring him, Arthur pulled off his other glove. “Nevermind. Just hurry up with this – I want to go back to Bonnefoy andthe others as soon as possible.”

Filing his statement away to study and work out at alater time, Al did as he was asked, opening the package and preparinga small section of the pliable material to work with. Perhaps hecould ask Matthew what Arthur had meant about becoming self-aware andif it was possible. All the information he had said it wasn’t – butArthur was proof that it was.

In fact, Arthur was unique.

Al was fascinated.

I hope Al was okay. Characterisation-wise, I mean. Like, he’s supposed to seem a little jarring and unnatural. And the bits where there’s explanations in the narrative which kind of disturb the flow of the story is supposed to be his super fast thoughts. But he’s also supposed to have an actual personality close to APH America, so.

It was so difficult. ;A;

Anyways, other things to note: there’s a reason for Antonio wearing a tux. He doesn’t do that on a daily basis. They were in the middle of something when they were interrupted and then pirates and then marooned. Think of the Asterales as being sort of like Serenity from Firefly. And the Kunoichi being like the Empire. (By the way, the Kunoichi was named by Matthew and Kiku together - it’s the term used by the Japanese for a female ninja?) The Asterales is from the Latin name for blue cornflower which, if I remember from weeks ago, is the national flower of Prussia. Or something.

If I was going to write a second chapter, there would be more bad-ass stuff going on. Guns! A stand-off! Pirates! More android/human/alive philosophy! Maybe a conspiracy - I really only have the background, and what would happen next in mind. But I’d have to have a conspiracy to keep Matthew and Kiku around and for the Asterales crew to meet the other ‘senths.

By the way, a lot of this is probably influenced by Humans. It’s an awesome show. It’s got Colin Morgan in it. And so many ethical questions. And chaos. And guns. And prejudice. Anyways, the androids are probably based mostly on that, though I wasn’t really thinking specifically of it while I was writing - I just realised while I was writing.

I think that’s all I want to say. Apart from: I’ll only write a second chapter (at least) if people beg me. Otherwise, I’ll be doing some other stuff…. ^^”

#hetalia #fan fiction

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iasshikshalove · 5 years ago

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Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-20

Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019 GS-2 India-Mangolia relation Last week, India and the landlocked nation of Mongolia signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation and usage of outer space for civilian purposes. An MoU on disaster management was also signed during Mongolian President Khaltmaagiin Battulga's State Visit to India. About the agreement A joint statement released by the Ministry of External Affairs said that the agreement on space exploration would "...provide a framework for expansion of mutually beneficial cooperation particularly in the fields of remote sensing, satellite communication, and applications of space technology in areas including resource management, weather forecasting and disaster management and etc.". Mongolia and space  An MoU similar to the one signed Thursday was signed in 2004 between the Department of Space, Government of India and the Ministry of Infrastructure, Government of Mongolia.  That agreement provided a framework for the two countries in the areas of space science and technology.  It included activities in the areas of satellites, sounding rockets, balloons and ground facilities for space research.  "The agreement also covers studies related to satellite communications, satellite-based remote sensing and satellite meteorology, satellite ground stations and satellite mission management, training facilities and exchange of scientists.  In April 2017, Mongolia launched its first satellite, the Mongol Sat-1, in partnership with telecom and broadcast provider Asia Broadcast Satellite, in order to "diversify its resource-dependent economy". Later that same year, it launched a 'CubeSat' miniature satellite called Mazaalai, named after the highly endangered Gobi bear of Mongolia.  Mazaalai was launched as part of the SpaceX CRS-11 mission, carried on a Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from the Kennedy Space Centre in Florida, United States.  CubeSats are meant for space research, and Maazalai was launched along with CubeSats from Japan, Nigeria, Ghana, and Bangladesh. Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019  The central aim of Mazaalai was to be able to conduct independent space research, develop accurate maps, and to be able to prevent natural disasters. GS-3 PM emission: Why in news? Last week, the Gujarat government launched what is being described as the world’s first market for trading in particulate matter emissions. While trading mechanisms for pollution control do exist in many parts of the world, none of them is for particulate matter emissions. For example, the CDM (carbon development mechanism) under the Kyoto Protocol allows trade in ‘carbon credits’; the European Union’s Emission Trading System is for greenhouse gas emission; and India has a scheme run by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency that enables trading in energy units. How will the Gujarat scheme work?  Launched in Surat, the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS) is a regulatory tool that is aimed at reducing the pollution load in an area and at the same time minimising the cost of compliance for the industry.  ETS is a market in which the traded commodity is particulate matter emissions.  The Gujarat Pollution Control Board (GPCB) sets a cap on the total emission load from all industries. Various industries can buy and sell the ability to emit particulate matter, by trading permits (in kilograms) under this cap.  For this reason, ETS is also called a cap-and-trade market. How many industrial units are participating in ETS?  Live trading began last Tuesday, with 88 industries taking part in the first round out of 155 that have joined ETS so far. Emission permits worth Rs 2.78 lakh were traded.  These industries are from sectors including textiles, chemicals and sugar, and spread over an area of 50-30 sq km. Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019  These industries use either coal or bagasse (residue after juice is extracted from sugarcane) as fuel, thus emitting a high amount of ash. Why was Surat chosen for the scheme?  In the last five years, the quality of air in Surat has deteriorated.  In 2013, when the project was conceptualised, the PM10 level at Air India Building in Surat was 86 micrograms per cubic metre.  According to GPCB annual reports, pollution levels have increased between 120-220 per cent, with PM10 in 2018 reaching 189 µg/cu. m at Air India Building, 282 µg/cu. m at Sachin Industrial Estate and 261 µg/cu. m at Garden Silk Mills.  Surat was chosen because its industrial associations agreed to run the pilot scheme, said officials associated with the project.  Also, industries in Surat had already installed Continuous Emission Monitoring Systems, which makes it possible to estimate the mass of particulate matter being released. How does the trading take place?  At the beginning of every one-month compliance period (during which one emission permit is valid), 80 per cent of the total cap of 280 tonnes for that period is distributed free to all participant units.  These permits are allocated based on an industry’s emission sources (boilers, heaters, generators) as this determines the amount of particulate matter emitted.  GPCB will offer the remaining 20 per cent of the permits during the first auction of the compliance period, at a floor price of Rs 5 per kilogram.  Participating units may buy and sell permits among each other during the period.  The price is not allowed to cross a ceiling of Rs 100 per kilogram or fall below Rs 5 per kg, both of which may be adjusted after a review. On Tuesday, GPCB put out 55,993 permits, of which 55,614 were traded. How are the auctions conducted?  These take place on the ETS-PM trading platform hosted by the National Commodities and Derivatives Exchange e-Markets Limited (NeML). Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019  All participants must register a trading account with NeML.  Transactions are linked to the bank accounts of the users, who can view updates through these accounts.  There are two types of auctions. In the Uniform Price Auction every Tuesday between 3 and 5 pm, the week’s permit price is discovered by participating members through bidding.  Second, there is a continuous market between Wednesday and Monday (2 pm to 5 pm) where members will buy and sell permits whose prices were fixed on Tuesday.  For a true-up period of 2-7 days before the completion of the compliance period, units may continue to buy and sell any remaining permits at the final auction price to meet their compliance obligations. How will ETS help reduce emissions?  Industries in this area are emitting way above [the cap] at 362 tonnes per month.  To bring them down to 280 will be a huge reduction. In the future this cap may be reduced below 280 tonnes.  These permits are not a way to allow industries to keep polluting.  Purchasing permits is only an interim measure for many of these units who find it financially difficult to install air pollution control measures.  In other words it helps you buy some time and make investments later.  So the idea of this scheme is also to make sure that some units realise that it is cheaper to install APCM and reduce emissions rather than buy permits at a higher cost that will vary due to the bidding process.. Will there be a punitive action for non-compliance?  Based on permits held by units at the close of the compliance and true-up periods, units will be declared compliant or non-compliant.  An environmental damage compensation at Rs 200/kg will be imposed for emissions in excess of a unit’s permit holdings at the end of the compliance period.  This amount will be deducted from an environmental damage compensation deposit that each unit has to submit before the start of the scheme — Rs 2 lakh for small units, Rs 3 lakh for medium ones and Rs 10 lakh for large units.  After any deduction, a unit will have to deposit extra money to meet that shortfall. Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019 Amazon Web Services Context  As India starts conversations on whether companies should keep more of their critical data within India, companies like Amazon Web Services (AWS) have started offering the option of choosing to keep the data within the boundaries of India.  A number of private companies, public sector institutions and even state governments have started opting for this. But how does Amazon Web Sevices, the world’s leading vendor of public cloud services, manage its data centres spread across the world?  To start with, it divides its services into its 22 regions around the world, one of which is Mumbai.  Within each region, AWS has multiple availability zones, each basically a collection of one or more data centres.  Overall, a region is a collection of three or more availability zones — Amazon does not share the number of data centres around Mumbai.  Within the availability zone, AWS ensures that risks like floods are taken into consideration.  So if one data centre faces any risk of flooding, the other should have lower risk of flooding. Each availability zone is connected with a very high speed ‘dark fibre’ connectivity. Can the customer choose where to keep data?  The customer gets the choice to store data within India or choose to move it outside.  This can be done from the AWS console itself by selecting the region.  Customers for whom data sovereignty or data residency within India is important, like government customers, keep it in the Mumbai region.. Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) Why in news? The head of India's food safety regulator has said that she expects the Union Agriculture Ministry's Participatory Guarantee Scheme (PGS) to incentivise more farmers to grow organic food. Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019 What is the PGS, and how does it work?  PGS is a process of certifying organic products, which ensures that their production takes place in accordance with laid-down quality standards.  The certification is in the form of a documented logo or a statement.  PGS is a "quality assurance initiative that is locally relevant, emphasize[s] the participation of stakeholders, including producers and consumers, and (which) operate[s] outside the framework of third-party certification". Four pillars of PGS The government's 2015 PGS manual underlines that the system in India is based on "participatory approach, a shared vision, transparency and trust". PARTICIPATION: Stakeholders such as producers, consumers, retailers, traders, NGOs, Gram Panchayats, and government organisations and agencies are collectively responsible for designing, operating, and decision-making. Direct communication among the stakeholders helps create an integrity- and trustbased approach with transparency in decision-making, easy access to databases and, where possible, visits to farms by consumers. SHARED VISION: Collective responsibility for implementation and decisionmaking is driven by a common shared vision. Each stakeholder organisation or PGS group can adopt its own vision conforming to the overall vision and standards of the PGS-India programme. TRANSPARENCY: At the grassroots level, transparency is maintained through the active participation of producers in the organic guarantee process, which can include information-sharing at meetings and workshops, peer reviews, and involvement in decisionmaking. TRUST: A fundamental premise of PGS is the idea that producers can be trusted, and that the organic guarantee system can be an expression and verification of this trust. The mechanisms for trustworthiness include a producer pledge made through a witnessed signing of a declaration, and written collective undertakings by the group to abide by the norms, principles and standards of PGS. Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019 Advantages and limitations Among the advantages of PGS over third-party certification, identified by the government document, are: * Procedures are simple, documents are basic, and farmers understand the local language used. * Mutual recognition and support between regional PGS groups ensures better networking for processing and marketing. * Unlike the grower group certification system, PGS offers every farmer individual certificates, and the farmer is free to market his own produce independent of the group. However, the operational manual also identifies some limitations of PGS. * PGS certification is only for farmers or communities that can organise and perform as a group within a village or a cluster of continguous villages, and is applicable only to farm activities such as crop production, processing, and livestock rearing, and off-farm processing "by PGS farmers of their direct products". * Individual farmers or group of farmers smaller than five members are not covered under PGS. They either have to opt for third party certification or join the existing PGS local group. * PGS ensures traceability until the product is in the custody of the PGS group, which makes PGS ideal for local direct sales and direct trade between producers and consumers. Daily Current Affairs Dated On 24-Sep-2019 UN report on climate Why in news? Average global temperature between 2015-2019 is on track to be the hottest of any five-year period on record, a U.N. report by the world’s leading climate agencies said on September 22. “It is currently estimated to be 1.1 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial [1850-1900] times and 0.2 degrees Celsius warmer than 2011-2015,” said the report titled United in Science, a synthesis of key findings. Salient observation of report  Other major takeaways from the report include that the extent of Arctic summer sea ice has declined at a rate of 12% per decade over the past 40 years, with the four lowest values between 2015 and 2019.  Overall, the amount of ice lost from the Antarctic ice sheet increased by a factor of six each year between 1979 and 2017, while glacier loss for 2015-19 is also the highest for any five-year period on record.  The report comes ahead of a major U.N. climate summit on September 23 that SecretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres has called to ask countries to raise their greenhouse gas reduction targets.  On this metric, too, the world is failing.  The report found that rather than falling, carbon dioxide grew 2% in 2018, reaching a record high of 37 billion tonnes.  More importantly, there is also no sign yet of reaching what is known as “peak emissions”, the point at which levels will start to fall, though these are not growing at the same rate as the global economy.

#ias #ias exam #ias coaching info #ias preparation #ias academy #upsc #upsc preparation #upsc exam #ias updates #upsc current affairs

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thrashermaxey · 7 years ago

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Ramblings: Tkachuk Injured, Crawford Returns, Game Recaps, and Early Shot Rates – October 18

There was a lot of injury and lineup information that came out Wednesday so let's not waste any time getting to it.

Brady Tkachuk is going to be out of Ottawa’s lineup for about a month with a leg injury. It was suffered on this hit, apparently:

Brady Tkachuk goes for a hit on Comeau and looks to go somewhat awkwardly into the boards. Tkachuk hobbles off but stays on the Senators bench. pic.twitter.com/DOJTKtvrQM

— Dylan Nadwodny (@dnadders) October 15, 2018

It’s a blow for Tkachuk, the Sens, fans, and fantasy owners. He had six points and 14 shots in four games, a great start for the rookie. If you were using him, he was probably a late-round pick so the waiver wire replacement value is low. Let’s hope he’s fine when he returns.

Jonathan Huberdeau has been demoted to the fourth line with Troy Brouwer taking his place. I assume this is just a temporary issue as the coach said he had been unhappy with the play of the second line. Don’t expect this to last long.

* Anthony Mantha was also on the fourth line, or the third line, whichever you want to list a line centred by Christoffer Ehn. Detroit is a mess and this only makes things worse.

In other Red Wings news, Trevor Daley will return for Thursday’s game. Not sure there’s much fantasy relevance here directly, but it’ll be interesting to see how Dennis Cholowski’s ice time will be affected as the Red Wings blue line starts to get healthy.

In the same update, Mike Green will need at least another couple weeks so if Daley doesn’t take Cholowski’s spot on the power play, it should be safe to the end of the month. Beyond that, well, who knows what Blashill is thinking.

In a much-awaited return, Corey Crawford looks to be back on Thursday night against Arizona. He has missed months with post-concussion issues, so the first game back will be a nervous moment for Crawford and the fans. Getting through the game with no issue would bode well for the future. As always, concussion issues are a tricky thing so fantasy owners will have to take it game to game.

Sven Andrighetto also looks ready to return to the Colorado lineup, providing a much-needed boost to the depth scoring. He’s only valuable in deeper leagues but he has performed very well in an Avalanche uniform. This could be the year we see him break out.

Martin Necas was sent to the AHL by Carolina. Just two days ago, I was hoping against hope that a Necas-Svechnikov duo would become a regular thing. Now? Well now I’m just left with a cold coffee and another broken dream.

One day after I said McLellan had no faith in Jesse Puljujarvi, he’s lining up next to Leon Draisaitl in practice. So, uh, progress, I guess?

Ryan Callahan looks set to return soon though it’s doubtful he has much fantasy relevance. It’s more how it affects everyone else, namely Mathieu Joseph and even JT Miller. Not that Miller will be taken out of the lineup but he’s on the fourth line right now. Does he move up with the return of Callahan?

There was a really interesting piece at The Athletic yesterday from Corey Masisak discussing how the Devils could (and would) improve their five on five play.

Jaden Schwartz returned for the Blues on Wednesday night, slotting on the second line with Brayden Schenn. Patrick Maroon stayed on the third line with Jordan Kyrou on the top line alongside Ryan O’Reilly and Vladimir Tarasenko.

Montreal snuck out a 3-2 win over St. Louis with a goal in the dying seconds from Brendan Gallagher. Max Domi scored his first in a Habs uniform with Mike Reilly scoring the other.

Vince Dunn and Brayden Schenn replied for the Blues, both with the man advantage.

Jordan Kyrou really impressed me in this game, a game that had very little impressiveness from the Blues at all. Seems to have instant chemistry with Vladimir Tarasenko and Ryan O’Reilly. His speed and skill is a good addition to their wing. Hopefully he gets an extended look there.

It was another great game for Tomas Tatar. He poked the puck to Gallagher with 10 seconds left to push the Habs to a 3-2 win. His ability to make close-area plays is something the Habs have needed from their wingers for years. That top line for Montreal is fun to watch.

It was another banner night for the Washington power play. Alex Ovechkin picked up a pair of goals from his office with John Carlson having the primary assist on both. Not to be outdone, Chris Kreider and Jimmy Vesey also scored on the power play for the Rangers.

John Carlson and Mika Zibanejad had the other tallies in regulation. Matt Niskanen scored the overtime winner.

Carlson now has nine points on the season while skating 26 minutes a night. Heavy minutes like that on a team with this much talent, on that power play unit, means he should repeat as a 60-point blue liner.

I will update these Ramblings for the late games in the morning.

Let’s talk shot rates.

I don’t really start adjusting my season-long projections until November hits. The sample is just too small. That doesn’t mean there aren’t situations that are not worth monitoring, though.

The top of the shot rate board (five-on-five only) features a lot of names we’d expect. In terms of shot attempts per 60 minutes, Evander Kane, Brendan Gallagher, and Alex Ovechkin are all in the top-10. There are also a lot of surprise names worth keeping an eye on. Let’s go through some of them.

Data from Natural Stat Trick.

Josh Anderson

Maybe it’s not a huge surprise given his jump in shot rate last year, but as of Wednesday afternoon he’s fifth among forwards in shot attempt rate at five-on-five. In five games, he has 16 total shots on goal. That’s helped him start the season with three goals in those five contests.

But herein lies the rub: Anderson’s TOI/game is way down from last year. In fact, his TOI per game is nearly four minutes per game lower than 2017-18. That includes over two minutes per game lost at five-on-five and over a minute on the PP. In fact, he’s a complete non-factor when it comes to PP usage right now.

The silver lining: Torts gonna Tort. We’ve already seen significant changes to the top PP unit with Anthony Duclair and Zach Werenski getting time due to underperformance and injury. It’s conceivable that Anderson sees some time there eventually. It’s just that for now his upside is extremely limited due to the significant loss in ice time at all scoring strengths.

David Pastrnak

Remember that Pastrnak’s shot rate took a dive last year; it declined from 17.7 attempts per 60 minutes at five-on-five in 2016-17 to 14.8 in 2017-18. That was cause for concern. He’s allayed those concerns with a gigantic leap in shot rate this year, clocking in at 22.1, seventh among all forwards. That number would have led the league last season.

Like Anderson, though, Pastrnak’s ice time is way down as he’s dropped below the 16-minute threshold. At five-on-five, he’s down nearly a minute. He’s also lost over a minute of PP time as Bruce Cassidy has opted for a more balanced approach to the power play. Now, the top PP unit has been wildly successful so that is not a huge issue yet. It could become one when that top PP unit slows its scoring.

By no means is this meant to alarm Pastrnak owners. He’s still shooting a ton and has elite-level deployment. It’s just the usage that is a bit of a concern right now. Just something to monitor for the next few weeks.

Alex DeBrincat

So, the top line for the Blackhawks has been exceptional. Both DeBrincat and Jonathan Toews are off to fantastic starts, the former with six goals and nine points. DeBrincat is also third among the league’s forwards in shot rate at five on five and is skating nearly two more minutes at that strength per game. This has all led to his landing nearly four shots on goal per game.

The duo is absolutely flying, with the team generating nearly 80 shot attempts per 60 minutes so far this year with the two of them on the ice. For reference, a mark of 60 shots per 60 minutes would be good. That’s what gives me hope that DeBrincat can at least maintain close to this level of shot rate – if his line has exceptional shot generation rates as a whole, it stands to reason he’ll get a lot of those shots. Again, the line’s sample is small (a bit over 62 minutes) but it’s a good start.

Here are a couple names at the bottom of the shot rate board that should concern fantasy owners.

Josh Bailey

As of Wednesday afternoon, there are 280 forwards with at least 50 minutes played at five on five. Out of those 280 forwards, Bailey is 276th in shot rate. His shot rate this year (3.6) is worse than Henrik Sedin’s last year (4.7). Yeah, it’s bad.

Bailey wasn’t drafted for stout shot totals but being on pace to put up like 120-ish is incredibly poor. At that pace, he’d have to put up 60+ assists in roto leagues to have any relevance. The power play production is still fine so that will mitigate some extremely poor five on five play, but that shot rate needs to improve soon.

Patrick Maroon

Starting the season on the top line and top PP unit provided a lot of hope for fantasy owners. But his shot rate at five on five has absolutely tanked of late; in 2016-17 it was 12.6 attempts per 60 minutes, dropping to 7.7 last year and just 5.9 so far this year. That rate has him in the bottom 20 percent of the league’s forwards. Not great.

His overall shot totals are fine (12 in 5 games) because of the power play, where he’s amassed 5 of his 12 shots. If that PP time should ever disappear, Maroon’s value will be hit even harder than just a loss in point production upside.

We’ve already seen Maroon moved down to the third line at even strength. Should the power play start to falter (it has been fine this year), it’ll be hard for owners to hang on to him.

Remember that these are still small samples. They are just a few situations to monitor for the next couple weeks so that fantasy owners aren’t surprised.

from All About Sports https://dobberhockey.com/hockey-rambling/ramblings-tkachuk-injured-crawford-returns-game-recaps-and-early-shot-rates-october-18/

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