One of the most common problems users face with laptops is the issue with battery. The batter life of the laptops keeps getting lower over a period of time. The more worn out battery, the smaller battery life and eventually, the battery dies.

To plan your Windows 10 powered laptops battery replacement, you need to be aware of your devices battery health. But how can you check that? Well, here are a few methods using which you can keep a check on your laptops battery.

This will help you find out the battery wear level and if the wear information isnt blocked, the battery report will tell you what it is. Follow the below mentioned step-by-step guide:

If this battery wear or the number of cycles information is not available in the report, then you will need a third-party app to find the battery wear. Proceed to the next method for this.

One of the easiest way to check your laptops battery health is by using third-party applications. However, there are lots of such apps out there, making it difficult for the regular users to find out the one that works, and is easy to use. Well, weve done the hard work and here are the two apps that you can use.

App 1 Smarter Battery

This software can find the battery wear percentage of a battery and also shows other important details related to the battery. To use it, all you need to do is download the software (link here), install it and run it. Battery health related information are shown in the left-hand pane with battery wear details in percentage.

App 2 BatteryBar

This one comes in two options Free and Paid but the free version is more than enough to find out the battery wear information of your Windows 10 laptop. Just download and install the software and it will run in the taskbar. You just have to click on its icon in the task bar and itll show battery related information in a pop-up style.

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How to find battery health status in Windows 10 laptop - MobiGyaan

On March 4th 2007, at roughly 7.40pm, Fabio Capello turned to his bench.

With his Real Madrid side drawing 1-1 against Getafe in front of 74,000 expectant supporters at the Bernabeu, and only two minutes left to snatch three points, it was time to gamble.

Sevillas top-of-the-table win against Barcelona the previous day extended the Andalusians lead at the summit of La Liga, while a Fernando Morientes goal had moved Valencia above Madrid into third place.

Antonio Cassano, the enigmatic Italian with a PHD in pastries, and industrious academy graduate Ruben De La Red had already been called from Madrids bench, so Capello was lacking for options.

Michel Salgado, Raul Bravo and Alvaro Mejia werent going to trouble Getafes rugged 4-5-1 formation, leaving just one alternative.

Off trotted Gonzalo Higuain, whod toiled in an unfamiliar role on the right of Madrids attack in support of Ruud van Nistelrooy, and on came a 18-year-old Brazilian named Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior.

The youngster, who had arrived from Brazilian side Fluminense in the January transfer window, had experienced an inauspicious start to life as a Madrid player.

A debut defeat against Deportivo La Coruna was followed by a run of five games left out of the matchday squad. His return to action contributed to consecutive draws against Real Betis and Atletico Madrid, so hed proved to be anything but a lucky charm, let alone a Galactico-in-waiting.

And yet, with Capello desperate searching for three points to keep Madrids fading title bid alive, he turned to the Brazilian.

This is probably where youre expecting Marcelo to bag a 93rd-minute winner and ignite his Madrid career. But he didnt. The last two minutes petered out without incident, leaving Madrid six points adrift of Sevilla at the top of La Liga.

So why have you been forced to sit through 300 words about a nondescript 1-1 draw against Getafe thirteen years ago? Because those two minutes of Marcelos fourth Madrid appearance mark the only time he shared a pitch with Roberto Carlos.

Never has a baton been passed so smoothly from one of the worlds best in his position to another, and yet these two minutes mark the only occasion in which the master and apprenticeship actually bore fruit on the field.

Their paths never crossed at international level, with Carlos quitting after Brazils 2006 World Cup quarter-final exit at the hands of France and Marcelos first cap not coming until three months later in a 2-0 win against Wales.

Despite overlapping at Madrid for five months before the elder statesman moved to Fenerbahce, the Getafe game was the only time Marcelo and Carlos were even included in the same squad.

There was no direct substitution to mark the changing of the guard. Carlos played the full 90 minutes in all but three of his 23 La Liga appearances during his last campaign at the Bernabeu, with Raul Bravo, Miguel Torres and Cicinho the three players involved in those substitutions.

Instead, there were two minutes against Getafe. Two minutes in which the two best left-backs of the last two decades were on the same team. That the two best left-backs of their generation even briefly shared a pitch for Madrid is something of a freak occurrence.

Marcelo made a further two appearances that season, again replacing Higuain against Gimnastic de Tarragona before starting in a 2-1 loss to Racing Santander, after which he wasnt used again by Capello.

The transition wasnt perfect by any means, with Marcelo having to wait another three seasons of featuring heavily as a winger until the appointment of Jose Mourinho saw him blossom into the natural heir to Carlos.

But Madrid couldnt have cloned a more perfect replacement if Dolly the sheep had laced up a pair of football boots. If Ferland Mendy is half as successful succeeding Marcelo as the Brazilian was in following on from Carlos then Madrid will have won the lottery once again.

As for those five months in which Marcelo and Carlos were team-mates, an unlikely revival sparked by a run of just one loss in 13 games saw Madrid crowned La Liga champions on the final day of the season.

Both Madrid and Barcelona finished the season level on 76 points, so that draw against Getafe was far from futile after all.

READ MORE FROM THE WORLD OF DREAM TEAM:

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Two minutes of nondescript La Liga action marked footballs smoothest changing of the guard - Dream Team FC

Forres conservation area as detailed in Andrew Wrights council-approved appraisal of 2013.

A MORAY Councillor wants people thinking of moving to Forres to recognise the local property conservation rules.

George Alexander (Forres, Independent) raised the issue during his last round-up at Forres Community Council and called for anyone already living in the designated town centre area to be aware of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

He said: "The conservation area in Forres needs to be highlighted due to the effect it can have on any development ambitions. I would have to give careful consideration to the rules applied to any conservation area before I would consider buying a property in any such area."

Planning controls are stronger in designated conservation areas and the legislation is complex. Listed building consent is required for demolition of structures. Demolition of listed buildings in a conservation area is unlikely to be granted without proposals for replacements or building redevelopment. Where a structure makes a positive contribution to the character or appearance of a conservation area or is listed, the local authority is unlikely to give permission for its demolition.

The limits of permitted development - those not requiring planning permission - within conservation areas are lower to protect the character and appearance of the area. Minor works such as window and door replacement, external painting and stone cleaning, erection of fences, gates and porches, and extensions require planning permission.

Work which requires planning permission must be of a high standard appropriate to its surroundings. Planning legislation requires Moray Council to consider whether the proposed development preserves or enhances the special character of the conservation area. Work to buildings will be expected to use traditional materials. New design must acknowledge its special context in terms of its scale, form, siting, alignment, materials and landscaping.

In a designated conservation area, it is an offence for any person to cut, lop, top, uproot, wilfully damage or destroy any tree, unless six weeks notice has been given to the councils planning. The owner of the tree must submit a tree work notice application and await written consent, giving the council time to consider making a tree preservation order for trees which are seen as giving amenity value to the community.

In 2013, Moray Council accepted the Forres Conservation Area Character Appraisal and Management Plan, commissioned jointly by the Forres Conservation Area Working Group.

At the time, the team's leader, charted architect and heritage consultant Andrew Wright, said: "Management plans give valuable assistance to owners over the care of their properties and on how to avoid undertaking repairs that are damaging to the fabric of traditional buildings in the longer term.

"Advice is given on how to extend properties sensitively without harming those distinctive characteristics that make a historic burgh such as Forres so special, and appreciated by those who visit."

Cllr Alexander still appreciates the documents used by the local authority but also advocates common sense when considering planning applications.

He said: "I recognise the value of conservation of our built heritage and I am part of the council that agreed the present rules. However, I do think that there are occasions where there needs to be some flexibility in their application.

"The main issue that I have come across is that of window replacement. There have been a number of cases where planners have insisted on wooden sash windows whereas the applicant has wished to replace with PVC windows. Some applicants have even gone so far as to ignore the planning regulations and this has resulted in an order being put in place to have the PVC windows removed."

He added: "There have been many cases of development being permitted on properties within a conservation area but it is important that applicants discuss with planning officers first before charging ahead with changes."

In these testing times, your support is more important than ever. Thank you.

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Pay heed to Moray Council's conservation areas - Forres Gazette

ITV has made an industry out of people who arguably should never have made the jump from a karaoke bar to primetime television.

But now the channel is combining the two, and getting celebrities to be the punters.

9

Seven famous folk will have a sing-off, and then judge their fellow competitors on the show, which has the working title most unlikely to be used of Celebrity Karaoke Club.

And just like The Voice, the show will feature different rounds where they sing in a group, go head-to-head on the same song, and even have to sing random songs with no set lyrics.

A source said: ITV has always done singing shows and done them well, and with no X Factor on this year they are looking at new formats to fill the gap.

Theyve started casting for Celebrity Karaoke Club but youd need to be a brave star to have a go.

9

Or have a belting singing voice that youve been hiding all these years. The twist here is not having a Simon Cowell judging you, but each other.

So just like on a night out, if you think someone has had too much to drink and probably should step away from the mic, you can get rid of them.

The show, currently being prepared for ITV2, will start shooting at the end of July and bosses are hoping to get it on screen in September.

9

The show does sound similar to The X Factor: Celebrity, which aired last year with contestants including Martin Bashir, Vinnie Jones and a Love Island supergroup.

I was amazed that producers managed to get such a good cast for that, so I am intrigued to see who they can tempt to take part in this.

LOVE Island may be off the TV this summer the UK version, at least but former winner Amber Davies is still turning up the heat.

She soaked up the sun in a colourful bikini with only dog Oreo for company having vowed to ditch men on Dolly Parton's advice.

9

The country music legend told Amber, who starred in her West End show 9 To 5, that boys would ruin her life.

Amber said: I dont know what Id do with one at the moment.

With Instagram content like this, I cant imagine she is short of offers.

Must watch

WHAT? Remarkable Places To Eat, BBC2, 8pm.

WHY? First Dates break- out star Fred Sirieix travels to Vienna, sampling its best food and learning how to make a spinach, cream and bread dumpling.

SHE has made a boob of herself on telly a few times over the years but Gemma Collins has now reached the point where shes getting fed up of her own boobs.

She said: My breasts these days are rather large and I would like a reduction at some point.

9

"Now I cant wait to rip my bra off and let them hang out. And literally just get the cool air, the breeze, on them.

But the GC has another big expense before she can go under the knife buying a house.

And she believes she has found the perfect property in Essex, because a tree in the garden told her its the place to be.

Speaking on The Gemma Collins Podcast, she said: Its so weird, I knew it was the house for me because literally when I rode up to the house on my bike there was this tree, and it was a rather big tree, and I felt like the tree was talking to me.

9

It moved in this way it was like whispering to me.

When I see this tree, I truly believe weve got a bond. This tree is telling me, Gemma youre meant to be here.

I dont know why but it gives me huge comfort.

DAVINA McCall has confirmed that filming for ratings winner The Masked Singer will go ahead this autumn.

She also revealed plans are still in place to have an audience despite doubts over whether it was possible due to social distancing.

9

On her podcast Making The Cut, she said of the show: Its coming back! We are going to start filming in September or October.

Joining Davina, presenter Jonathan Ross, US comedian Ken Jeong and pop star Rita Ora will again be on the judging panel.

The pandemic has hit the entertainment industry hard. Earlier this year Ant and Decs Saturday Night Takeaway went ahead without an audience for the first time.

ITV also did away with audiences for other shows and cancelled this years Love Island.

9

Davina said: The audience situation will be easier with a one-metre rule.

"But things are changing so rapidly now with the easing that September is a lifetime away. It may well be that social distancing has gone out the window by that point.

Girls Aloud star Nicola Roberts was unmasked as the UKs first winner beating Jason Manford and Katherine Jenkins in the final.

I am already looking forward to series two.

bizbit

TELLY regular Denise Van Outen says her partner, commodities trader Eddie Boxshall is the one.

She said: If there was ever a test then its lockdown. We have had a lot of laughs together.

SOME of the stories Ollie Ollerton and the SAS: Who Dares Wins lads tell on the Channel 4 show seem too crazy to be true, but now hes getting paid to write fiction.

The Sunday Times bestselling author is penning his first novel.

9

SICK JIBEMel Gibson fired from Chicken Run sequel after Winona's 'oven dodger' claims

RED HOTLouise Redknapp sizzles in bikini after revealing she's ready to find love

Exclusive

Kris CrossKatie Price reported to cops for 'trying to get into ex Kris & Bianca's house'

KATE'S HOPEKate Garraway thanks fan who insists critically ill husband will recover

'happy man'Mark Wright swoons over wife Michelle Keegan's abs and 'can't believe his luck'

'I'M LOST'Dancing On Ice's Alex Murphy 'devastated and shocked' as she's axed from show

His first fiction thriller, Scar Tissue, will be published in November and introduces the world to a new hero, Alex Abbott, an ex-special forces soldier whose troubled past is about to catch up with him.

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GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAILexclusive@the-sun.co.uk

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ITV creates new show Celebrity Karaoke Club after X Factor was scrapped this year - The Sun

Emerging retail emporium Hammonds of Hull remains on course to open in 2020.

Further investment from the owner, Redefine Paragon Square Hull Ltd, has allowed a new roof and replacement of the staggering 472 windows to be commissioned, with work expected to begin within a fortnight.

The prominent former House of Fraser will feature the Artisan Food Hall and Club HoH, bringing 60,000 sq ft of space for independent operators across the dining, grocery, fashion, convenience retail, entertainment and leisure sectors.

Next month will see expressions of interest taken.

Inside the iconic city location a huge atrium is being created to open up the historic building so visitors can see its vast scale.

Floors that have been disused for years will be brought back into use, creating a modern, fully functional mixed-use building, with consent for serviced apartments and office space already granted. Four new lifts are also being installed, along with new mechanical and electrical plants to each floor.

Jeremy Seymour, project lead for Hammonds of Hull, said: Firstly, wed like to thank the owner for the undoubted resolve and commitment theyve shown through these most challenging times.

We are tremendously excited to support the launch of the Artisan and Club HoH brands that will occupy the ground and basement floors, which are now fully integrated with additional stairwells and openings.

A dynamic, creative and flexible environment will be created where we hope all can flourish and a community can grow.

Garness Jones is to manage the letting of space, with the aim that 75 per cent of occupiers will be from the Humber region.

We appreciate how difficult a time this has been for everyone and we hope this opportunity for creators and entrepreneurs to market and grow their business will be a positive and exciting step forward, Mr Seymour said.

In particular we would like to thank the on-site delivery team whose relentless effort to meet impossible time frames has been outstanding!

We would also like to thank the Hull City Council planning officers whose open dialogue, guidance, transparency and willingness to engage has been fundamental in allowing us to make such excellent progress. It is based on their guidance that the external image of the building will remain now as close to its original heritage as possible.

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Hammonds of Hull remains on track for 2020 opening as roof and 472 windows to be replaced - BusinessLive

About 15 years ago, Peninsula Temple Sholom in Burlingame installed a set of windows in the religious school engraved with the names of some 175 prominent Jews, from biblical figures to famous actors.

One of them, sandwiched between Zionist leader Vladimir Jabotinsky and former Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, was Judah Benjamin, the most prominent Jewish official in the Confederacy. Benjamin, who enslaved 140 people on a Louisiana sugar plantation, served variously as the Confederate attorney general, secretary of war and secretary of state.

The inclusion of Benjamins name on the wall didnt arouse much protest until 2013, about eight years after the installation. That was when a congregant named Howard Wettan listened to a podcast about the Civil War as his daughter attended Hebrew school in the building.

I connected the dots, Wettan said. I saw the name once more and said theres something really wrong with that.

Wettan launched a years-long campaign that coincided with a national reckoning over Confederate monuments and eventually persuaded the synagogue to grapple with the names significance. Benjamins name is now covered in tape and will be replaced, along with two other names, later this year.

The first handful of times I noticed it, I wasnt sensitized, Wettan said. It was just an historical artifact and I didnt place a lot of meaning behind it.

Wettans complaint brought a version of a much larger debate over national historical memory to a synagogue far from the former Confederate States.

Across the country, Confederate monuments have drawn challenges for years from people who say they glorify those who enslaved Black people and fought against the United States. Defenders of the monuments, including some white Southerners, have argued that the monuments are necessary to teach about a painful moment in American history.

But the statues that memorialize those leaders were largely erected long after the Confederacy was defeated, many in the 20th century in support of white supremacy at a time when Southern governments were fighting to maintain legal racial segregation.

A poll released Wednesday shows that a majority of Americans favor taking down those monuments. Protesters over the past few weeks have pulled down monuments on their own, as others did during demonstrations in years past.

Peninsula Temple Sholom did not put Benjamins name on the window to glorify white supremacy. The idea was to include names of significant figures from all corners of Jewish history, according to the synagogues chief community officer.

I believe the original intention was to create a wall that was somewhat educational, said Karen Wisialowski. It hasnt really served that purpose.

Wisialowski added: Having names of folks on our wall to a viewer would feel as if these were people that we were admiring and expressing pride in, and ultimately thats why we decided to take the names down.

Relatively few memorials to Benjamin exist as opposed to, say, the plethora of monuments to Jefferson Davis or Robert E. Lee. But Peninsula Temple Sholom is not alone in Jewish history when it comes to honoring the Confederacys most senior Jewish official.

In the late 19th and early 20th century, according to Jewish historian Shari Rabin, there was a general American tendency to paper over the worst aspects of the Confederacy, as well as a general interest in the war. Jews of that time, she said, celebrated Benjamin in that context, including by publishing a childrens book about him.

In the decades after the Civil War, there was a general celebration of service, and Jews want to write themselves into that history, said Rabin, a professor of Jewish studies at Oberlin College. Theres a history of Southern Jews and also American Jews more broadly using Judah Benjamin as a way to show Jewish contributions and to make a claim to Jewish belonging.

Benjamins role as a leader of a white supremacist rebellion was the main problem with that approach, Rabin said, but it wasnt the only one for specifically Jewish memorials. Benjamins opponents tarred him for his Judaism, but he never really embraced being a Jew. He married a Catholic woman, raised his kids Catholic and was not involved in Jewish institutions. He fled to the United Kingdom after the war.

By the time of the Civil War, he was pretty far removed from organized Jewish life or personal Jewish commitment, Rabin said. The people who were calling Benjamin a Jew were the people who didnt like him.

At first, Peninsula Temple Sholom responded to Wettans complaint by doubling down on the wall as a teaching tool. Wettan would come to religious school classes and teach the students about Benjamin and the Civil War. But after the August 2017 far-right rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, which was sparked by the removal of a Lee statue, Wettan again asked the synagogue to erase Benjamins name.

After some back-and-forth, Wettan requested at a synagogue board meeting in December 2018 that the name be removed. In the end, a task force was formed to address the issue, and Benjamins name was covered up with tape. Some months later, the synagogue began the process of contracting an artist to replace the name.

There was a lot of concern about how weve got names literally etched in glass and someone who we think is perfectly fine on the list today we might not think is fine on the list tomorrow, Wisialowski said. Should we pull the whole wall down? Should we pull them down and recognize that we might need to make changes in the future as well, if issues come to light that are counter to our values as an organization?

In the end, the congregation opted to keep the wall but replace three windows bearing what they deemed to be problematic names at a cost of approximately $7,500.

Along with Benjamin, the congregation is removing the names of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach, a prominent Jewish musician who died in 1994, and the actor Dustin Hoffman. Both Hoffman and Carlebach have been accused of harassment and assault by several women, in Carlebachs case posthumously.

The congregation has taken the new windows as an opportunity to include more womens names. The names will be replaced by those of the biblical figure Deborah, the prominent Jewish musician Debbie Friedman and Regina Jonas, the first woman to be ordained as a rabbi.

(Asked whether the windows also included the name of Woody Allen, the filmmaker accused of child sexual abuse, Wisialowski said, Amazingly, no.)

If an issue pops up again, if lots of issues pop up again, then we will have to also handle them based on our values, which are really, really clear about the kind of organization we want to be and the kind of message that we want to put into the world about the importance of individuals and social justice and equality, she said.

Looking back, Wettan says the years-long process gave the congregation an opportunity to articulate its values and come to a deliberate decision. It also showed him, he said, how fraught it can be to deal with historical memory and an engraved memorial.

Its easy for someone in Northern California to look at the South and say thats them, not us, he said. Its hard to change. To change, you cant be afraid to acknowledge that maybe you didnt get something right the first time.

Visit link:
Why Burlingame synagogue covered up name of Confederate Jewish official in window - The Jewish News of Northern California

When the NBA announced their plan to resume action later this July with 22 qualifying teams in Orlandos Disney World, it was no surprise when we found out the Boston Celtics had made the cut.

Prior to the COVID-19 induced hiatus on March 11th, the Cs managed to muster up a record of 43-21, ranking them third in the Eastern Conference standings, fifth in the entire NBA and, with their victory over the Indiana Pacers on March 10th, were on their way to their sixth consecutive postseason appearance.

Now, as the countdown begins for when the league will resume action assuming it still will despite contradicting reports , its understood that players and team personnel are gearing up for what many project to be a deep playoff run, what with their fifth-ranked placement within NBA.coms most recent power-ranking.

Currently rostering one of the best core groups in these bubble games, the Celtics look to be a matchup nightmare for virtually any team they could face in the early rounds of the playoffs. With guys like Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker, Jaylen Brown, Gordon Hayward, and Marcus Smart, its easy to see why.

However, thats not to say the rest of their roster is as sound as it is at the top.

From their lackluster scoring punch off the pine to their underwhelming center rotation, there are quite a few holes within the rotation that could use some patching up.

Now, due to the newly reported transaction window that will allow teams to add players via free agency, G-League call-ups, or conversations of two-way/ 10-day contracts, theres a chance the Boston Celtics could look to add some extra talent for a presumed deep playoff push.

However, with additions, there are bound to be subtractions.

Read on to see who on the active roster may be at risk of being replaced in the lineup via the upcoming transaction window:

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Boston Celtics: 2 players that could be replaced during transaction window - Hardwood Houdini

The Reno County Commission on Tuesday will review plans for four major restoration or repair projects at the Reno County Courthouse that are cumulatively estimated to cost more than $3.2 million.

The largest project, which is expected to take a year to complete, is the repair and restoration of deteriorating windows on the historic six-story building, estimated at just under $1.6 million.

Other work, which will be partially covered by insurance, is for more than $1 million in structural and plaster repair work for damages from last years pair of 4.0-plus magnitude earthquakes.

The final project is a proposed general weatherization and tuck-pointing maintenance project recommended to occur every 10 years, now a year overdue, on the outside of the building.

Reno County maintenance director Harlen Depew will update the commission on the four projects, including updated cost estimates, funding recommendations, and project timing. No action is scheduled to be taken by the board.

Windows

According to a memo from Depew, all but a handful of the 212 windows in the 91-year-old courthouse are original to the building. Since the building is a registered national historic place, replacing the windows is an option the Kansas State Historical Society would likely not approve.

In December, the county commission contracted with Wichita-based GLMV Architecture to put together bid documents for the window project.

The length of the project is dictated by the window sashes having to be removed from their frames a few at a time and taken to a contractor shop for restoration work, Depew noted.

The window frames themselves are anchored in the walls of the building, and so will have to be restored on site.

"There is a lot of plaster repair within many of the window openings from years of sunlight, condensation, and in some cases, water infiltration, that will need to be completed as part of the project," Depew said.

Another cost is removing and then rebuilding various trim materials that have been added in different locations during interior remodeling projects over the years that obstruct access to the window frames.

Other issues

Theres also a unique issue on the west side of the building.

"When the building was constructed, the west side of the third floor, where the Division II courtroom is now located, was a mirror image of the east side courtroom, which is two stories high," Depew said.

The west side, however, was left unfinished with the intent of finishing out a second "grand courtroom" in the future.

When a decision was finally made to add a second courtroom on the third floor, "presumably sometime during the 1960s," Depew said, it was created only as a single-story courtroom, with a floor added above it to create the Division IV courtroom on the fourth floor.

When that was done, new wood stud frame walls were built on the interior of the original exterior west wall of the building, which covered up the tall windows on that side of the building and made them inaccessible. The new walls were filled with insulation, which is visible through windows and has started to sag in places.

"During the window restoration project, this wall will need to be opened up to gain access to the windows, and we would recommend that we take this opportunity to clean up this visual eyesore by finishing out the walls in a way that will once again reveal these windows from inside the building," Depew said.

"Doing so will provide natural light to the third and fourth floors and leave the restored windows accessible from inside the building for future maintenance purposes," he said.

Replacing non-functional blinds or other window treatments in some of the windows is also included in the cost.

The $1.597 million project estimate from Pishney Restoration Services is based on the project being done in a single phase. If spread out over multiple phases, the cost would be expected to ride, Depew said.

Weatherization

The window project as well as the one to weatherize and tuck-point the outside of the building, estimated at more than $604,000 should qualify for a 25% reimbursement through Kansas income tax credits, Depew said.

The weatherization project must be done periodically to maintain the integrity of the stone and masonry exterior of the building.

The work consists of an inspection of the building exterior which will be done using drone photography then cleaning all the surfaces, patching or replacing any broken material, cutting out and replacing deteriorating mortar joints, caulking around doors, windows and other penetrations, and finally applying a water repellant product to the surface.

Since the building was listed as a historic place in 1999, weatherization projects have been done twice.

Since there is no longer a Reno County-based architect that specializes in historic restoration projects, however, Depew is recommending contracting with GLMV to do the drone photography and create project specifications for up to $93,000, which is not included in the project estimate.

Earthquake damage

In August 2019, a 4.2 magnitude earthquake caused significant damage to the upper dome of the building, shifting stone slabs, blowing out mortar joints between them and leaving some stones significantly out of alignment, Depew reported.

Temporary repairs were done in late 2019 to seal up the open joints to prevent freeze-thaw damage, pending the creation of a plan to make permanent repairs.

Hutchinson structural engineer Brent Engelland determined through 3D modeling that adding reinforcement to the steel trusses in the roof system will be required under modern building codes, but it would also minimize the chance of repeat damage from future quakes.

The estimate for repairs, which includes the added steel, disassembling the stone veneer on the dome to reset it properly, and new mortar and caulking is about $420,800. Architectural services are another $94,500.

Since the expense should be covered by the countys insurance coverage, the project is not eligible for tax credits.

Besides the doom repairs, an initial estimate for plaster repairs is around $600,000, Depew said, which should also be covered by insurance.

Timing

Depew is recommending the weatherization and earthquake repairs to the dome be done this summer, using Capital Improvement Project dollars in the 2020 budget, and that the window and plaster projects be done in 2021.

"(We) would be able to fund the windows through our CIP fund, or the Board may wish to consider utilizing the Public Building Commission as a means of funding this project over several years," Depews memo said.

Link:
Estimated $3.2 million in courthouse work on commission agenda - The Hutchinson News

In normal times, many professionals can give their homes a cooling break all day long while they're at work during the summer. This year, however, many offices still have work-from-home policies in place. And kiddos who usually enjoy camp from May to August are also stuck at home. This means your air conditioning units are working harder to ensure a comfortable body temperature and sanity.

Though seemingly necessary, all that air conditioning can run your electricity bill incredibly high. After all, there's a big difference between just cranking up the AC at night versus having it blasting an icy breeze all day long.

Since you don't want to be sweating as you take another Zoom meeting, but you also want to be mindful of your budget, how can you save money this season? Here, home experts offer their most cost-effective strategies for keeping a cool space.

Consider where you spend the most time during the day: The home office? The living room? Kitchen? Rather than having the AC running through every room, it's better for your wallet to select specific areas only. Unfortunately, this is tricky if you have an older unit, or your home hasn't been recently updated. Luckily, recent tech developments have created a loophole via smart thermostats, according to home flipper and Villa Real Estate Realtor AJ Olson Whitfield.

"It is time to invest in a thermostat that allows you to set a range. This helps your unit from working in overdrive to maintain a constant temp," she explains. "Also, smart thermostats have eco settings to help you save on your energy bills. Look for the leaf on packages."

Try this: Google Nest Learning Thermostat ($224, originally $249; amazon.com)

Google Nest Learning Thermostat

This is the first smart thermostat to receive Energy Star certification, and the company estimates it can pay for itself in bill savings within two years. As an additional benefit, you can geek out via its app, which shows your energy history, humidity levels, trends and more.

Believe it or not, your outdoor landscaping can have a significant impact on your indoor temperatures, according to interior designer Jodi Davison. By selecting climate-smart greenery and planting it on the sunny side of your home, you cut back on the sunlight that pours through your windows. Also, indoor plants create humidity from the leaves, cooling the air around the plant and room. Davison recommends ficus trees or ferns for the best results.

Try these: Ficus Lyrata Plant in 9.25 in. Grower Pot ($25.23; homedepot.com)

Ficus Lyrata Plant in 9.25 in. Grower Pot

As beautiful as they are useful, consider purchasing a few of these. It's a win-win for home decor and temperature regulation.

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Fiddle Leaf Fig ($195; bloomscape.com)

Measuring about 4 feet tall, this gorgeous plant comes with a planter in a lovely muted shade, and with plenty of instructions on how to keep it alive and thriving.

Have you looked up recently? There's a reason ceiling fans have never gone out of style, since they are one of the easiest and most efficient ways to cool down any area.

"They continually circulate air throughout the room like a cool breeze and help to make the room feel colder than it really is," explains Ward Schraeder, a DIY home improvement expert and co-host of "Bargain Mansions" on HGTV. In the summer, he says, the blade rotation should be set to force the air straight down for the best results.

Try this: Merwry 52 in. Integrated LED Indoor Ceiling Fan ($119; homedepot.com)

Merwry 52 in. Integrated LED Indoor Ceiling Fan

With more than 2,000 reviews, this sleek, energy-efficient fan is loved by reviewers, and it's available in three colors: white, brushed nickel and matte black. The best part? It comes with a remote control, so you can turn it on without leaving your couch or bed.

Whitfield says the saying "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" does not apply to your air conditioning unit. How come? She explains it's a hard-run piece of equipment that requires frequent cleaning and maintenance.

"Replace those air filters and hose down/clean those fan coils, so your units are running at optimum efficiency," she says. "This will save on your energy consumption and make sure you get through the hottest days with a functional unit."

Try this: LG Electronics 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner ($549; homedepot.com)

LG Electronics 14,000 BTU Dual Inverter Smart Window Air Conditioner

If you're due for a new window unit, try this Wi-Fi-enabled smart option from LG. Its line of inverter window models has been recognized by Energy Star's Most Efficient Products, and it earned Emerging Technology Awards in 2018 and 2019.

One of the most stressful times to break out in a sweat is while you're trying to fall or stay asleep. Rather than blast freezing air conditioning throughout the night or have a fan blowing on your face, experts like Davison recommend rethinking your bedding. A simple change in sheets, pillows and mattress protectors can make a big difference in your ability to catch z's comfortably.

Try these: Celliant Sheets by Sleepletics (starting at $114.99; amazon.com)

Celliant Sheets by Sleepletics

These sheets are considered an FDA-determined medical device, offering luxury hotel-like feel with impressive technology to keep you fresh. They're created with sateen, long-staple cotton and patented Celliant polyester yarns, and reviewers say it really does feel like they're adjusting throughout the night to ensure you aren't overheating.

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Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Mattress Protector (starting at $99; brooklynbedding.com)

Brooklyn Bedding Luxury Cooling Mattress Protector

You can turn off the fans and the AC with this uber-cooling mattress protector. Pair with cotton or humidity-fighting sheet sets, and you'll enjoy those summer nights.

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Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow ($169; tempurpedic.com)

Tempur-Cloud Breeze Dual Cooling Pillow

While most of the time folks flip over their pillows for the chilly side, with this option, every angle will offer a break from sweating. Thanks to the double layer of Tempur-Breeze Gel, you'll also sink into comfort when you rest your head.

You may never enter your attic in the summer months, but it is hot, and that heat permeates the rest of your house. That's why Whitfield suggests installing a solar attic fan to draw that hot air out and promote fresh air circulation.

"It costs a few hundred dollars, but it's worth it, plus with the solar power you aren't adding to your monthly energy bill, a definite win," she adds.

Try this: Remington Solar 25-Watt 1450 CFM Black Solar Powered Attic Fan ($339; homedepot.com)

Remington Solar 25-Watt 1450 CFM Black Solar Powered Attic Fan

Not only does this lower the temps in your attic, but it also fights moisture that could promote mold growth. As a bonus, it takes the pressure off your HVAC system, thus lowering your electricity bills.

When you're under stress say, from working remotely it's easy to get overheated. The uptick in anxiety causes a physical response too, which could make you feel super-hot for a short period of time. Rather than cranking up the AC, Davison suggests having a personal fan nearby that you can flip on when you need it.

Try these: Honeywell TurboForce Air Circulator Fan Black ($14.94, originally $15.99; amazon.com)

Honeywell TurboForce Air Circulator Fan Black

This small but mighty fan offers a breeze you can feel from 27 feet away. Compact enough to fit on a table or cool down an entire room, it features three different speeds and a 90-degree pivoting head so you can aim it exactly where you want.

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Gulaki Hands Free Portable Neck Fan ($23.99, originally $29.99; amazon.com)

Gulaki Hands Free Portable Neck Fan

Wrap it around your neck and take the cooling powers of the fan wherever you go. Imagine how nice this would feel if you're working outside, too.

If you've been cooped up in the house more than usual, you may crave the outdoor breeze more than ever. To keep your space cool, though, Whitfield suggests opening the windows in the early morning and late evening to circulate the air in your area.

Try this: Deconovo Room Darkening Window Curtain ($13.99; amazon.com)

Deconovo Room Darkening Window Curtain

When you aren't letting the outside in, keep your shades pulled to reduce heat indoors. And to sleep in a little later, consider blackout curtains like these that will prevent even the smallest ray from sneaking through.

If you live in an apartment or smaller home and don't want to buy separate air conditioners for the living room and the bedroom, consider investing in a high-quality portable option. This way, you can take the cool air with you, and you avoid having two units running at the same time.

Try this: Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Air Purifier Fan ($608.19, originally $649.99; amazon.com)

Dyson Pure Hot + Cool HP04 Air Purifier Fan

Though expensive, this Dyson hot and cool air purifier fan is among the highest-rated out there. Not only will it clean your air, but it cools it down with 10 fan speeds. You set the preferred temp and then let it do its magic year-round. That's right: It also works in the winter to save you money. It's a smart choice for those with babies as well, since it's Quiet Mark-certified, so it won't wake them from slumber.

Though it may be a pricey upfront investment, installing energy-efficient blinds, like cellular shades, can reduce the overall AC use in your home. As Schraeder explains, a well-made window covering can reduce heat transmission from the outside in.

"If you keep them closed during the day, especially on the south side of your home, your energy bill will be substantially reduced since your AC will not have to work as hard," he says.

Try this: Levolor Light-Filtering Cellular Shade ($78.88; homedepot.com)

Levolor Light-Filtering Cellular Shade

Sometimes called honeycomb blinds, this type of window covering filters the light that flows into your home. This not only creates a pretty ambient effect that makes for beautiful light, but the cell shape builds a barrier between the window glass and your space. In other words: It keeps it more refreshing.

If your home is multilevel, remember that heat rises and cold air falls, Schraeder says. Thus, one of the easiest ways to reduce waste in your cooling bill is to shut your lower-level AC vents and open the upper-level vents. Or vice versa, depending on where you spend the majority of the day.

"If you wish to have a more consistent temperature throughout the home, run your fan continuously and make sure your cold air returns are unobstructed," he continues. "This allows just the fan to circulate cool air throughout the home."

Try this: Lasko 2510 Oscillating Tower Fan, 36 Inch ($50.99; amazon.com)

Lasko 2510 Oscillating Tower Fan, 36 Inch

From one of the most trusted brands for high-quality products, this oscillating tower fan from Lasko can cool a larger area. Plus, it has a variety of colors and designs, so you can find something that seamlessly blends into your home decor.

Note: The prices above reflect the retailers' listed prices at the time of publication.

See original here:
11 cost-effective ways to cool your home this summer - CNN

Ensemble activity and perception

The mechanisms by which sensory percepts are encoded in neural ensembles are still incompletely understood. Chong et al. used single-spot optogenetic stimulation to control neuronal activity in mouse olfactory glomeruli in space and time. Animals were trained to recognize a learned activity pattern that was likely perceived as a specific odor. The authors then systematically varied the activity patterns by changing either the activated glomeruli or the timing between activation of glomeruli to evaluate their impact on odor recognition. Glomeruli that were activated early during the synthetic odor contributed more to odor recognition than glomeruli that were subsequently activated. This approach allows neuroscience to explain how features combine in complex patterns to generate perception.

Science, this issue p. eaba2357

Advances in monitoring brain activity at large and fine scales have revealed tremendous complexity in how the brain responds to, and represents, the external world. Although many features in brain activity patterns (which brain cells fire and when) are found to correlate with changes in the external sensory world, it is not yet known which activity features are consequential for perception and how they are combined to generate percepts. Some studies have shown that many of these correlated changes in activity may be redundant or even epiphenomenal.

To address how brain activity generates perception, we directly and systematically manipulated neural activity in the mouse olfactory system while measuring perceptual responses. Mouse olfaction is an attractive model system because the relevant brain circuitry has already been carefully mapped out and is accessible for direct manipulation. We used genetically engineered mice in which brain cells can be activated simply by shining light on thema technique known as optogenetics. Optogenetics allowed us to directly generate and manipulate brain activity in a precise and parametric manner. We first trained mice to recognize light-driven activity patterns in the olfactory system, or synthetic odors. Subsequently, we measured how recognition changed as we systematically manipulated learned activity patterns. Some manipulations led to larger changes in recognition than others, and the degree of change reflected the importance of each manipulated feature to perception. By the additional manipulation of multiple features simultaneously, we could precisely quantify how individual features combined to produce perception.

The perceptual responses of mice not only depended on which groups of cells were activated, but also on their activation latencies, i.e., temporal sequences akin to timed notes in a melody. Critically, the most perceptually relevant activation latencies were defined relative to other cells in a sequence and not to brain or body rhythms (e.g., animal sniffing) as previously hypothesized from observational studies.Moreover, earlier-activated cells in the sequence had a larger effect on behavioral responses; modifying later cells in the sequence had small effects.To account for all results, we formulated a simple computational model based on template matching, in which new activity sequences are compared with learned sequences or templates.The model weighs relative timing within each sequence and also accounts for the greater importance of earlier-activated cells.Based on our model, the degree of mismatch between the new sequence and learned template predicts the extent to which recognition should degrade as neural activity changes across many different manipulations.

We developed an experimental and theoretical framework to map a broad space of precisely and systematically manipulated brain activity patterns to behavioral responses. Using this framework, we uncovered key computations made by the olfactory system on neural activity to generate percepts and derived a systematic model of olfactory processing directly relevant for perception. Our framework forms a powerful, general approach for causally testing the links between brain activity and perception or behavior. This framework is especially pertinent given the continued development of advanced tools for manipulating brain activity at fine scales across various brain regions.

(A) We trained mice to recognize synthetic odor patterns: artificially stimulated neural activity in the olfactory bulb. Patterns were defined in space (top right) and time (bottom right). (B) Perceptual responses were measured across systematic modifications of trained patterns. (C) Template-matching model of pattern activity (left) accounts for perceptual responses (right).

How does neural activity generate perception? Finding the combinations of spatial or temporal activity features (such as neuron identity or latency) that are consequential for perception remains challenging. We trained mice to recognize synthetic odors constructed from parametrically defined patterns of optogenetic activation, then measured perceptual changes during extensive and controlled perturbations across spatiotemporal dimensions. We modeled recognition as the matching of patterns to learned templates. The templates that best predicted recognition were sequences of spatially identified units, ordered by latencies relative to each other (with minimal effects of sniff). Within templates, individual units contributed additively, with larger contributions from earlier-activated units. Our synthetic approach reveals the fundamental logic of the olfactory code and provides a general framework for testing links between sensory activity and perception.

Read more from the original source:
Manipulating synthetic optogenetic odors reveals the coding logic of olfactory perception - Science Magazine