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Mirrored Walls

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DRINKING, WASTEWATER & STORMWATER SYSTEMS

“Fille romaine à la fontaine” 1875 Léon Bonnat

Civilization has historically flourished around rivers and major waterways. Mesopotamia, the so-called cradle of civilization, was situated between the major rivers Tigris and Euphrates; the ancient society of the Egyptians depended entirely upon the Nile. Rome was also founded on the banks of the Italian river Tiber. Large metropolises like Rotterdam, London, Montreal, Paris, New York City, Buenos Aires, Shanghai, Tokyo, Chicago, and Hong Kong owe their success in part to their easy accessibility via water and the resultant expansion of trade. Islands with safe water ports, like Singapore, have flourished for the same reason. In places such as North Africa and the Middle East, where water is more scarce, access to clean drinking water was and is a major factor in human development.*

With this perspective, and our own “home waters” situated in the Great Lakes, we are attentive to water management standardization activity administered by International Organization Standardization Technical Committee 224 (ISO TC/224). The scope of the committee is multidimensional; as described in the business plan linked below:

BUSINESS PLAN ISO/TC 224

Water-related management standards define a very active space; arguably, as fast-moving a space as electrotechnology. The ISO TC/224 is a fairly well accomplished committee with at least 16 consensus products emerging from a 34 nations led by Association Française de Normalisation (@AFNOR) as the global Secretariat and 34 participating nations. The American Water Works Association is ANSI’s US Technical Advisory Group administrator to the ISO.

We do not advocate the user interest in this standard at the moment but encourage educational institutions with resident expertise — either on the business side or academic side of US educational institutions — to participate in it. You are encouraged to communicate directly with Paul Olson at AWWA, 6666 W. Quincy Avenue, Denver, CO 80235, Phone: (303) 347-6178, Email: [email protected].

The work products of TC 224 (and ISO 147 and ISO TC 282) are also on the standing agendas of our Water, Global and Bucolia colloquia. See our CALENDAR for the next online meeting, open to everyone.

Issue: [13-163]

Category: Global, Water

Colleagues: Mike Anthony, Christine Fischer, Jack Janveja. Richard Robben, Larry Spielvogel

Standing Agenda / Water

Qualität der Wasserversorgung

BEAUJOLAIS NOUVEAU

The release of Beaujolais Nouveau is not just about the wine itself; it’s a cultural and marketing phenomenon that brings people together to celebrate the harvest season, promotes the wine industry, and contributes to the economic and cultural vitality of the regions involved. The settlements listed below contribute significantly to wine-related research, education, and innovation. Some notable universities and research institutions in France that lead wine research include:

University of Bordeaux (Institute of Vine and Wine Science): The University of Bordeaux, located in one of the world’s most famous wine regions, is renowned for its research in viticulture, oenology, and wine-related sciences. The Institute of Vine and Wine Sciences (ISVV) within the university is a key research center in this field.
Montpellier SupAgro: Montpellier SupAgro, part of the Montpellier University of Excellence, is known for its expertise in agronomy, viticulture, and oenology. They offer research programs and collaborate with the wine industry.
University of Burgundy: The University of Burgundy, situated in the heart of the Burgundy wine region, conducts research in oenology and viticulture. The Jules Guyot Institute is a leading research facility in the field.
Institut des Sciences de la Vigne et du Vin (ISVV): Located in Bordeaux, this research institute is dedicated to vine and wine sciences and is affiliated with the University of Bordeaux.
University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne: This university, located in the Champagne region of France, has expertise in Champagne production and conducts research related to winemaking and viticulture.

These institutions, along with various research centers and organizations throughout France, contribute to advancements in wine research, including topics like grape cultivation, wine production techniques, wine chemistry, and the study of wine regions and terroirs. They often collaborate with the wine industry and help maintain France’s position as a leader in the global wine industry.

Beaujolais Nouveau is produced under specific regulations and standards set by the French wine industry. However, there isn’t a specific international standard for Beaujolais Nouveau like there is for some other wines, such as those with controlled designations of origin (AOC) or protected designation of origin (PDO) status.

The production of Beaujolais Nouveau is governed by the rules and regulations of the Beaujolais AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée), which defines the geographical area where the grapes must be grown, the grape varieties allowed, and the winemaking techniques that can be used. The AOC regulations ensure a certain level of quality and authenticity for wines carrying the Beaujolais Nouveau label.

Winemakers producing Beaujolais Nouveau must follow these guidelines, including using the Gamay grape variety, employing specific vinification methods (such as carbonic maceration), and releasing the wine within a limited time frame after the harvest.

While the production standards are regulated at the national level in France, individual producers may have their own techniques and styles within the broader framework of the Beaujolais AOC regulations.

It’s important to note that the term “Beaujolais Nouveau” itself is not a specific indication of quality or adherence to particular winemaking practices; rather, it signifies a style of wine that is young, fresh, and meant to be consumed shortly after production. As a result, the characteristics of Beaujolais Nouveau can vary from producer to producer within the general guidelines set by the AOC

Fuzzy Logic in Personalized Garment Design

Intelligent Fashion Recommender System: Fuzzy Logic in Personalized Garment Design

L. C. Wang – X. Y. Zeng – L. Koehl – Y. Chen

Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts et Industries Textiles

Abstract. This paper proposes a new intelligent fashion recommender system to select the most relevant garment design scheme for a specific consumer in order to deliver new personalized garment products. This system integrates emotional fashion themes and human perception on personalized body shapes and professional designers’ knowledge. The corresponding perceptual data are systematically collected from professional using sensory evaluation techniques. The perceptual data of consumers and designers are formalized mathematically using fuzzy sets and fuzzy relations. The complex relation between human body measurements and basic sensory descriptors, provided by designers, is modeled using fuzzy decision trees. The fuzzy decision trees constitute an empirical model based on learning data measured and evaluated on a set of representative samples.

The complex relation between basic sensory descriptors and fashion themes, given by consumers, is modeled using fuzzy cognitive maps. The combination of the two models can provide more complete information to the fashion recommender system, making it possible to evaluate if a specific body shape is relevant to a desired emotional fashion theme and which garment design scheme can improve the image of the body shape. The proposed system has been validated in a customized design and mass market selection through the evaluations of target consumers and fashion experts using a method frequently used in marketing study.

CLICK HERE to order complete paper

Sankore Masjid

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Radio Sorbonne Université

Société des Amis de la Constitution

An exploration of the resemblance of 17th Century France academia and the present 21st Century United States academia in upending hard won, and hard to keep civilization. The Jacobins are out there.

https://www.study.eu/university/universite-de-paris

The Jacobins were a radical political faction during the French Revolution, known for their role in advocating for and implementing significant social and political changes. They played a crucial role during the most intense phase of the Revolution, particularly between 1792 and 1794.

The Jacobins were originally a debating society founded in 1789 by a group of liberal and reform-minded individuals who wanted to discuss political and social issues. As the Revolution progressed, their influence grew, and they evolved into a more cohesive political group with a particular focus on advancing republican ideals and social equality.

Key characteristics of the Jacobins during the French Revolution included:

Radicalism: The Jacobins were known for their radical stance on political and social issues. They supported the idea of a republic rather than a monarchy and advocated for the abolition of the monarchy and the establishment of a democratic government.
Popular Support: The Jacobins had significant support from the working class and urban poor, who saw them as champions of their interests and aspirations for equality and social justice.
Commitment to Equality: The Jacobins believed in social equality and aimed to dismantle the privileges enjoyed by the aristocracy and the clergy. They pushed for measures that would redistribute land and wealth more equitably among the population.
Robespierre’s Leadership: Maximilien Robespierre, a prominent Jacobin leader, became one of the most influential figures of the Revolution. He was a staunch advocate of virtue, equality, and the use of revolutionary measures to achieve these ideals.
Reign of Terror: The Jacobins’ most controversial phase was the Reign of Terror (1793-1794), during which they held significant power and implemented severe measures to suppress counter-revolutionary activities. This period was marked by mass executions, including that of King Louis XVI and many perceived enemies of the Revolution.
Centralization of Power: The Jacobins’ pursuit of their ideals sometimes led to the centralization of power in the hands of the Committee of Public Safety, which effectively concentrated authority under their control.
Decline and Fall: The extreme measures of the Reign of Terror eventually led to public disillusionment and opposition. Robespierre’s increasing authoritarianism and perceived disregard for individual rights contributed to his downfall. In 1794, he and several other prominent Jacobin leaders were arrested and executed, marking the end of the Jacobin era.

The legacy of the Jacobins is complex and debated. They were instrumental in pushing forward radical reforms and republican ideals, but their methods, especially during the Reign of Terror, have also been criticized for their brutality and disregard for human rights. The Jacobins’ role in the French Revolution remains a topic of historical analysis and interpretation.

The Jacobin debating society in French was called “Société des Amis de la Constitution” or “Society of the Friends of the Constitution.” This society was initially formed in 1789 as a political club focused on discussing and advocating for constitutional reforms in France. Over time, it evolved into a more radical and influential political faction during the French Revolution, known simply as the “Jacobins.”

The University of Paris, particularly the Faculty of Arts, had a notable affiliation with the Jacobins during the French Revolution. The Faculty of Arts, also known as the Collège de France, was a center of education and intellectual activity in Paris. Many influential Jacobin leaders and supporters were educated at the University of Paris and were influenced by Enlightenment ideas that circulated within its academic circles.

Robespierre, one of the most prominent Jacobin leaders, studied law at the University of Paris. His education and exposure to revolutionary ideas played a role in shaping his political beliefs and his eventual leadership within the Jacobin movement.

It’s important to note that while the University of Paris had connections with the Jacobins, the movement itself was not limited to any single institution. The Jacobins had a broader presence throughout France and drew support from various social and educational backgrounds.

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the Jacobins were responsible for the mass killings that occurred during the Reign of Terror, which involved the extensive use of the guillotine as a method of execution. The Reign of Terror, a period from 1793 to 1794, was marked by extreme political repression and violence carried out by the Committee of Public Safety, a powerful body dominated by Jacobin leaders.

During the Reign of Terror, the Committee of Public Safety, under the leadership of figures like Maximilien Robespierre, implemented measures to suppress perceived enemies of the French Revolution and to root out counter-revolutionary activities. This led to the establishment of revolutionary tribunals that conducted trials and issued death sentences, often with little regard for due process.

The guillotine became the primary method of execution during this time because it was seen as a more egalitarian and efficient way of carrying out executions compared to previous methods. The guillotine was used to execute not only members of the aristocracy and perceived enemies of the Revolution but also a significant number of common citizens who were accused of being counter-revolutionaries or threats to the state.

The widespread and systematic use of the guillotine during the Reign of Terror resulted in a staggering number of executions across France. While the Reign of Terror was carried out under the banner of the Committee of Public Safety, the Committee was heavily influenced and led by Jacobins, making them directly responsible for the policies and actions that led to the mass killings during that period.