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warc | 201704 | Authors:Mark Tweeddale Hardcover ISBN:9780750677349 eBook ISBN:9780080469836 Imprint:Gulf Professional Publishing Published Date:25th June 2003 Page Count:529
There is much specialist material written about different elements of managing risks of hazardous industries, such as hazard identification, risk analysis, and risk management.
Managing Risk and Reliability of Process Plants provides a systematic and integrated coverage of all these elements in sufficient detail for the reader to be able to pursue more detailed study of particular elements or topics from a good appreciation of the whole field. The reader would use this book to keep up to date with new developments and, if they are new to the job, to learn more about the subject. The text includes a chapter of case studies and worked examples - including examples of risk assessments, which is consistent with the approach taken throughout the book of applying real-life scenarios and approaches.
Provides a source for reasonable understanding across the whole field of risk management and risk assessment.
Focuses on the how, what, and why of risk management using a consistent and well organized writing style interspersed with case studies, examples, exercises, as well as end matter.
Fills a need in the area of risk assessment and risk management in the process and chemical engineering industry as an essential multi-audience reference/resource tool, useful to managers and students.
Engineers and managers in the oil, gas, chemical, and other process industries. Job titles include: Safety Engineer, Chemical Engineer, Mechanical Engineer, Plant Engineer, Plant Manager, Safety Consultant. Also students and professors in engineering departments (use as undergraduate or graduate text).
Introduction; Hazard Identification; Ranking and Shortlisting of Risks; Defining Risk Criteria; Consequence Assessment; Frequency Assessment; Computer-Based Risk Assessment; Systematic Risk Reduction; Management of Process Safety and Reliability of New Plants; Management of Risk and Reliability of Existing Plants; Introduction to "Software" and the "Human Factor"; Appendices A-E: Conducting a Hazard and Operability Study (Hazop); Application of Rapid Ranking to Improve the Reliability of Supply to the Market; FMEA and FMECA; An Illustrative Audit Checklist for Process Safety and Reliability; U.S. Regulations.
No. of pages: 529 Language: English Copyright: © Gulf Professional Publishing 2003 Published: 25th June 2003 Imprint: Gulf Professional Publishing eBook ISBN: 9780080469836 Hardcover ISBN: 9780750677349
Dr Mark Tweeddale is a consultant specializing in management of technical and project risks, and facilitation and peer reviews of risk studies. As former ANSTO Professor of Risk Engineering and Executive Director of the University of Sydney's Centre of Advanced Risk and Reliability Engineering, Mark has presented over 100 invited talks and papers to professional societies, government seminars, industrial conferences and universities in Australia and overseas. In his 25 years with ICI Australia Ltd, he has held a variety of production, engineering and commercial positions including Corporate Project Safety Manager and Technical Manager of the ICI Botany Chemical Factory. A Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering, Mark was a member of the Research Standing Committee of the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission and participated in the Worksafe Australia Expert Working Group which prepared model regulations for Control of Major Hazards in Industry. He was a foundation member of the National Community Advisory Panel of the 'Responsible Care' program of the Australian Chemical Industry. In addition, he has chaired several committees of the Institution of Engineers, Australia, including the Chemical Engineering Branch of Sydney Division, the National Committee on Risk Engineering, and the Institution's Risk Engineering Society.
University of Western Australia
I believe that this book will be useful to chemical engineers who have to assess the safety and reliability of process plants, and reduce and manage their risks. - Journal of Loss Prevention in the Process Industries | 4,241 | 1,995 | 0.000504 |
warc | 201704 | Innovation Vouchers
The Innovation Voucher initiative was developed to build links between Ireland's public knowledge providers (i.e. higher education institutes, public research bodies) and small businesses.
Innovation Vouchers worth €5,000 are available to assist a company or companies to explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider.
Am I eligible?
The Innovation Vouchers initiative is open to all small and medium-sized
limited companies registered in Ireland. Applications are not restricted to clients of Enterprise Ireland.
Exclusions
Small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector are excluded in line with State aid guidelines.
Companies with charitable status, commercial semi-state companies, “not for profit” organisations, trade associations, company representation bodies such as Chambers of Commerce, Sports Clubs and other non-commercial bodies or associations are not eligible to participate in the innovation voucher initiative.
Small and medium-sized company definition (SME): For the purposes of the Innovation Voucher Initiative, a small and medium-sized enterprise is defined as a company or (if part of a group) a group of companies where the total number of full-time employees in the company (or the entire group) is less than 250 and has an annual turnover total not exceeding €50m and/or an annual Balance Sheet total not exceeding €43m. (Exclusions: small and medium-sized enterprises in the agricultural sector are excluded in line with State aid guidelines).
Eligibility Criteria and Conditions of Use
Small and medium-sized companies may make use of a maximum of three vouchers, one of which must be a 50-50 co-funded Fast Track voucher.
Companies that have been approved in excess of €300,000 (includes funding under the Enterprise Ireland Innovation Partnership programme) funding from Enterprise Ireland in the previous 5 years are not eligible to apply for a fully funded 5k Standard Innovation Voucher, but are eligible to apply for a Co-Funded Innovation Voucher provided they satisfy all other eligibility criteria.
A company may have one ‘active’ voucher at any point in time. Companies should ensure that the voucher has been redeemed by the knowledge provider before applying for a subsequent voucher.
Companies will not be eligible for further vouchers until their accounts with the knowledge providers are settled in full (including the payment of VAT).
Your voucher will also be accepted by registered knowledge providers in Northern Ireland as part of Enterprise Ireland’s arrangement with Invest Northern Ireland.
Please note that Innovation Vouchers are
You will be charged VAT by the knowledge provider and this cost MUST be settled separately by the company. EXCLUSIVE OF VAT.
If you wish to apply for an Innovation Voucher, there are two options:
Option 1: Standard Applications
You may only apply for a Standard Voucher during one of our open calls and the option to apply for a Standard Voucher is only available within the Online Application System during an open call. Outside of the open calls, a Sample Standard Voucher application form is available for download to help you prepare for submission in advance of the next call. Please note that this is available for information purposes only and should not be used to submit your application. All standard voucher applications must be made via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System in the normal fashion during one of our open calls.
See Call Schedule below
Call Schedule - Open Calls for Standard Innovation Voucher Applications in 2017 Opening Date Closing Date Wednesday 18th January, 2017 Wednesday 1st February, 2017 at 3pm Further calls will be announced during 2017
Option 2: 50-50 co-funded Fast Track Applications
50-50 co-funded Fast Track Applications - may be submitted anytime.
Available Voucher Types Standard Voucher:
Standard €5k vouchers are available to assist a company explore a business opportunity or problem with a registered knowledge provider. You can only apply for one of these standard €5,000 vouchers during one of our open calls. You do not need to identify your knowledge provider in advance and they are valid for 12 months from the date of issue. Please consult our schedule of calls when submitting your application. Co-funded Fast Track Application: Therefore, a company may use a Fast Track voucher to cover project costs up to €10,000 on a 50-50 co-funded basis. The company and the knowledge provider jointly agree on the work programme for the project in advance of submitting an application. Companies may wish to use this option when they are no longer eligible for a standard voucher (may have used two or more standard vouchers) or where time to market is critical and the schedule for the standard call is not suitable. This voucher application can be submitted at any time and a response may be expected within four weeks. The value of the voucher is €5,000 and the company contributes 50% of the project costs in cash. Permitted uses for a Voucher
Innovation Vouchers can be used for any kind of innovation such as:
new product/process development; new business model development; new service delivery and customer interface; new service development; tailored training in innovation management; innovation/technology audit.
Vouchers can be exchanged for knowledge transfer projects from the knowledge provider.
For the purposes of this initiative, a knowledge transfer project is defined as one that transfers knowledge of a scientific, technological or innovative nature that it is new to the small enterprise. The small enterprise may then use the new knowledge to innovate a product, process or service.
Ineligible activities
The Innovation Voucher may not be used to cover the costs of:
achieving compliance with statutory regulations or legislation; standard training courses; software purchases and software development; aid that would promote/subsidise the cost of exports; internships for students of knowledge institutions; design and production of advertising material; branding; sales activities; business plans, business strategies, economic appraisals, costs analysis, general business consultancy; standard website development and online optimisation; standard mobile applications development; activities such as market research and market surveys that may be readily provided by the private sector; calorie & nutritional analysis, recipe development etc for all Food Service Outlet menus; activities supported by the mainstream funding mechanisms available from other Development Agencies such as the Local Enterprise Offices; activities unlikely to result in commercial enterprise or business capable of generating jobs and/or exports; advice or assistance with the following areas;
Legal Commercial law Patents Taxation Training and mentoring; Marketing activities, digital marketing activities, marketing plans & strategies
If potential solutions to the knowledge question already exist in the marketplace, then Enterprise Ireland is likely to reject the application on the basis that the proposed activity may be undertaken by the private sector.
How do I apply?
Our Online Application System for Innovation Vouchers allows you to apply for both Standard 5K Innovation Vouchers and Co-funded Fast Track Innovation Vouchers. All voucher applications must be made via the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System. If you are a first-time applicant, you will have to register on the Enterprise Ireland Online Application System and create your own account.
All applications for our Standard Voucher must be made during one of our open calls, and we strongly recommend that you commence your application well in advance of the call close date and time.
Please note that you do not have to be a client of Enterprise Ireland, nor have an Enterprise Ireland Development Adviser to apply for a voucher.
APPLY NOW
Applications submitted beyond the call close date will not be accepted.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Download and read Frequently Asked Questions about our Innovation Vouchers initiative.
Case Studies
Watch video where
John D'Alton, Director of Grafico talks about how he worked with the TEC centre at Cork Institute of Technology to develop a prototype of a stock management tool for beer kegs: Knowledge Providers
To access the skills and research expertise in third level institutions you need to contact one of the knowledge providers listed below who have signed up to participate in the Innovation Vouchers initiative.
Enterprise Ireland is delighted to announce that Invest Northern Ireland is now also operating the Innovation Voucher initiative in Northern Ireland. As a result, there are an additional 10 Knowledge Providers from Northern Ireland participating in the initiative, bringing the total number to 38 in Ireland.
Please select a type: Borders, Midlands and West Dublin Northern Ireland South and East
For further information about the Innovation Vouchers initiative, please contact the Innovation Vouchers Programme Manager:
Innovation Vouchers Programme Manager
If you would like to collaborate with an Irish University or Institute of Technology on a larger research project, go to Innovation Partnerships Initiative. For more information on Enterprise Ireland Research and Innovation supports, go to our Research and Innovation section.
The Innovation Voucher Initiative was a key recommendation of the Small Business Forum in their report
Small Business is Big Business, published in 2006. Legal and State Aid Basis: The Innovation Voucher Initiative can be run under the powers set out in the Science and Technology Act, 1987. The State Aid basis for the Innovation Voucher Initiative is the ‘de minimis rule’. | 9,914 | 3,864 | 0.000262 |
warc | 201704 | ACT provides corrosion resistant sheaves and blocks for gate handling at hydroelectric dams, stoplog handling beams, gate handling equipment, and gate hoist machinery as well as cranes. We can provide our customers products with coatings, and designed for immersion in water.
The HS1000 is a 1MW pre-commercial demonstrator deployed at the EMEC tidal test site in the Orkney Isles. The device is essentially a scaled up version of the HS300, with some changes made to accommodate the facilities at the EMEC tidal test site. The turbine is heavily instrumented and will serve as a platform for future research and development ...
As far back as 250 B.C., Archimedes discovered the principle of the screw named after him. It enabled water to be brought up to a higher level. At that time, it was a revolutionary invention for the irrigation and drainage of large fields. The transfer of energy used in Archimedes' screw pump was later reversed to create a system for generating ...
The axial turbines are designed for projects with low and very low heads with a strong flow variation. VAPTECH offers mainly the classic vertical shaft Kaplan turbine with 3 to 6 runner blades and with double regulation. For runner diameters up to 1400 mm we use a steel spiral casing and for bigger runner diameters we recommend a concrete spiral ...
Hydroelectric power plants (HEPP) aim to generate electrical energy using the potential energy of the water. In order to generate energy, run-of-river plants separate river from its course and convey it by transfer structures in order to acquire desirable head then dispatch the water through pressured pipes (penstocks) to the turbines. This ...
Butterfly valves are used as safety hydraulic systems for low or medium pressure with minimum head loss when the water is passing through the rotor. They are used as gates and emergency devices at the turbine inlet or at the intakes.
The hydraulic turbine is a machine that turns hydraulic energy into mechanical energy, with a conversion yield of approximately 90%. This mechanical energy is then converted into electrical energy by means of an alternator.
Gilkes Francis Turbines are available as either horizontal or vertical units. The water enters the spiral, or scroll case, and is directed by a series of moveable guide vanes, or wicket gates, to the turbine runner. As the water passes through the runner it rotates and the water pressure drops. Water is then discharged through a draft tube into ...
The Pelton Wheel maintains a high efficiency over a wide flow range. Whenever possible two or more jets are specified. This increases the high efficiency flow range. Every Gilkes turbine is selected and optimised to your site conditions in order to provide the best annual energy production figures. Pelton turbines are medium to high head free jet ...
Many industrial facilities extract water from lakes, rivers or coastal waters for cooling installations, hydropower or water supply. The entrainment of floating debris or fish can have adverse effects on industrial processes and cause fish mortality. The innovative rotary drum screen that has been developed by FishFlow Innovations effectively ...
Unison, as a Capstone distributor, has successfully installed these turbines at landfills, wastewater treatment facilities, dairies, and food processing plants. We have also completed projects including combined heat and power, peak shaving, and stand‐by power.Capstone Turbine Corporation is the industry leader in turbine technology, ...
Trash-rack cleaning machines reliably remove deposited foreign bodies from the protective rack in front of the inlet openings and ensure unobstructed flow of water to the turbines. Depending on the scope of contamination, trash-rack cleaning machines secure high energy use of your hydropower station. In particular, in the autumn when leaves fall ...
Hydroelectric plants exploit the kinetic energy of flowing water on different levels. The primary energy source is the sun that sets in motion the 'water cycle'. The movement and the weight of the water of a waterfall can be used to put in rotation of the blades connected to a transmission shaft (rotor) in turn connected to a dynamo. The concept ...
As the industry leader in the water resources and hydropower engineering sector, SINOHYDRO specializes in the design and implementation of complex industrial projects in the energy sectors, including dams, power stations, and transport and storage solutions to handover of turnkey projects. SINOHYDRO controls 70% domestic market share.The large and ...
These bearings were designed to support very huge thrust loads as high as 2.500 kN or more. The are marketed under the ZT-line and they are equipped with trapezoidal thrust tilting pads. Beside this ZT-line there are also special tailor made designs to fullfill customer’s hard working conditions and limited spaces.
Spire Metering is proud to present the smallest yet powerful portable flowmeter /BTU meter on the market! Our innovation never stops! This Handheld Ultrasonic flow and BTU meter, RH40, is a revolutionary portable meter with numerous features and powerful functions. It is the most compact and mobile portable flow/BTU meter on the market. The meter ...
Getting information about snow by measurements is very difficult. There is the necessity to registrate many parameters to make reliable statements about the snow pack. Additionally, snow has an enormous variability in space and time. Until now there are only punctual measurements available for the relevant parameters. The Snow Pack Analysing ...
The generation of hydroelectric energy occupies the first place at a global level. In Europe the hydroelectric potential is now being entirely utilised. This is why, Enel Green Power is now concentrating on run-of-river hydro power, a type of system that, despite having a limited unit power, can give a significant contribution to the demand of ... | 5,984 | 2,823 | 0.000356 |
warc | 201704 | PITTSBURGH -- Bayer will welcome 13 high school students to Pittsburgh from the United States and Europe on July 25. During a two-week camp, students will have a unique opportunity to learn about environment, sustainable development and global climate change issues through urban-river experiences as part of the fourth annual Bayer International Summer Sustainability Camp.
The camp - funded by the Bayer USA Foundation and the Bayer Science & Education Foundation - is conducted by RiverQuest, a Pittsburgh-based, nonprofit educational organization. RiverQuest uses Western Pennsylvania's rivers as classrooms to connect students with their surrounding environment.
The students, recognized as Bayer Climate Fellows, hail from Germany, California, Utah, North Carolina, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The students will conduct hands-on field studies of aquatic biology on Western Pennsylvania's Allegheny, Monongahela and Ohio rivers and explore Western Pennsylvania's historic coal mines.
The students will also have the opportunity to visit various innovative green and eco-friendly landmarks in the Pittsburgh region, including a visit to Bayer's EcoCommercial Building Conference Center at Bayer Corporation's headquarters campus in Pittsburgh. The net-zero, net-energy building is a prototype for materials and technologies that can be used to produce zero-energy commercial buildings.
They will also travel aboard RiverQuest's Explorer, one of the world's first environmentally 'green' passenger vessels. The boat's hybrid diesel-electric propulsion system reduces per passenger energy consumption and reduces greenhouse gas emissions versus conventional propulsion systems.
Bayer's support for the camp is part of the Bayer Climate Program, a global initiative to develop and carry out environmentally sustainable programs.
'This camp fosters the intellectual development of a select group of international students for two weeks of sustainability education,' said Rebecca Lucore, Executive Director, Bayer USA Foundation. 'Once again working with RiverQuest, we're educating the next generation of leaders on energy, climate change and sustainable development, which are vital, global issues.'
'The Pittsburgh area's wildlife, rivers, universities and organizations provide endless opportunities for students to learn about the environment,' said Paul King, Executive Director, RiverQuest. 'This annual camp is an innovative tool that educates students on the environment, their surrounds and their cultural awareness.
About Bayer USA Foundation The Bayer USA Foundation is an endowed 501(c)(3) entity and is the primary source of Bayer Corporation’s philanthropy in the United States. With a programmatic focus on the environment and sustainability; education and workforce development; arts and culture; and health and human services, the foundation creates and supports organizations that improve communities in which Bayer employees live and work, as well as society at large. The Bayer USA Foundation is one of three corporate Bayer foundations worldwide, including the Bayer Science & Education Foundation and the Bayer Cares Foundation. About Bayer Science & Education Foundation Established in 2007, the Bayer Science & Education Foundation pursues the primary goals of honoring outstanding research achievements, assisting talented young scientists and supporting important scholastic projects. The Bayer Science & Education Foundation is one of three corporate Bayer foundations worldwide, including the Bayer USA Foundation and the Bayer Cares Foundation.
About Bayer Corporation
Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa., is the U.S. subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and high-tech materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. The company's products and services are designed to benefit people and improve their quality of life. The Corporation is committed to the principles of sustainable development and to its role as a socially and ethically responsible corporate citizen. Economy, ecology and social responsibility are corporate policy objectives of equal rank. In North America, Bayer had 2010 net sales of EUR 8,228 million ($10,861 million) and employed 16,400 at year-end. For more information, go to www.bayerus.com.
About RiverQuest
RiverQuest, formerly Pittsburgh Voyager, is an award-winning not-for-profit education organization offering river-based educational programs for students, teachers, and the community. RiverQuest also provides a range of public programs, including interpretive cruises and private charters for businesses, organizations and the public. RiverQuest operates a one-of-a-kind green laboratory vessel called Explorer, docked on the North Shore adjacent to downtown Pittsburgh, PA.
RiverQuest's mission is to connect people to their environment through river education adventures programs. Since launching programs in 1995, RiverQuest has served nearly 80,000 individuals through on-board education programming. More than 64,000 elementary, middle and high school students representing 239 schools from 66 school districts in 11 Western Pennsylvania counties have participated in standards-based learning programs, with themes ranging from environmental science and regional history to physical science and mathematics. Along with students, more than 2,500 teachers and college students and 17,000 members of the general public have participated in RiverQuest programs. For more information, visit www.RiverQuest.org.
Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements based on current assumptions and forecasts made by Bayer Group or subgroup management. Various known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors could lead to material differences between the actual future results, financial situation, development or performance of the company and the estimates given here. These factors include those discussed in Bayer’s public reports which are available on the Bayer website at www.bayer.com. The company assumes no liability whatsoever to update these forward-looking statements or to conform them to future events or developments. | 6,205 | 2,742 | 0.000366 |
warc | 201704 | Erowid References Database
Jasinski DR.
“Interdisciplinary Studies on Phencyclidine at the Addiction Research Cente, Lexington, Kentucky.”.
Psychopharmacol.Bull.. 1980;16(4):79-81.
Abstract A multidisciplinary approach to the study of phencyclidine, its derivatives and metabolites is reviewed. The most specific method for detecting phencyclidine (P) analogs is chemical ionization mass-spectrometry. Species differences in metabolism exist between the dog, rat, mouse and man but the primary metabolites are the 4-hydroxypiperidines and the 4-hydroxycyclohexyls, mainly in the conjugated forms. In vitro micromolar concentrations of P analogs are required to displace 3H-naloxone and clear orders of potency are obtained which are correlated with relative potencies for producing ataxia in mice. Clear orders of potency are also obtained for P analogs in displacing 3H-P. Cyclazocine and N-allylnormetazocine (SK+F 10,047) also displace specifically bound P. The ability to displace bound P is not correlated with ataxia production in mice. In chronic spinal dogs P produces a dose dependent depression of the flexor reflex, tachycardia, mydriasis, retraction of the nictitating membrane, increased latencies of skin twitch, and pupilloconstrictor reflexes, and hyperthermia. Behavior is further characterized by nystagmus, staring or tracking eye-movements, stereotypic head movements, salivation and opistotonic posturing. This drug profile resembles that produced by N-allylnormetazacine. Self administration studies of P and ketamine show that ketamine is 1/l5th as potent as P with regard to maintaining equal rates of drugreinforced responding. The l-phenylcyclohexyl-monoalkylamines are amongst the most potent P analogs for producing ataxia in mice, the carbonitrile compounds have the lowest LD -o values. Rats trained to discriminate between saline and P identified the 4-hydroxypiperidine metabolite and all the analogs identified as street drugs, as being P like. The carbonitrile precursors, the 4-hydroxycyclohexyl metabolite, amphetamine, morphine, LSD, ketocyclazocine and pentazacine were not identified as being P like. Rats did generalize between P and the psychotomimetic opioid derivatives cyclazocine and N-allylnormetazocine.
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warc | 201704 | Parametric Stats Tests
Home > Flashcards > Print Preview
The flashcards below were created by user Anonymous
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FreezingBlue Flashcards
. What would you like to do?
What are our goals in analysing data from continuous quantitative variables?
To construct an equation for predicting the DV from values of the IV To describe the strength of the relationship between variables The general term for this is regression analysis
What are analyses focusing solely on the strength of relationship known as?
Correlational analyses These often make no distinction between predictor and response variables
What are the individual distributions of the IV known as?
Conditional distributions Conditional distributions are distributions of the response variable conditional on a specified value of the predictor variable
What is the overall distribution of the DV known as?
The marginal distribution
What is the population regression line?
The straight line upon which the population means lie
What is the equation for the population regression line?
The mean population of Y values for a given value of X = (the intercept of the population regression line + the slope of the population regression line) x the value of X
What are the values of the intercept and slope of the regression line?
Population values that are needed to uniquely specify a straight line function The intercept value specifies how far up the Y axis the line is The slope value (regression coefficient) specifies how steep the line is
What does the slope of population line reflect?
The rate at which values on the Y axis are changing from one unit change in the X axis
What must we do when modelling sample data?
The slope and intercept values that provide the 'best fit' for data must be found
What is the basic equation for sample data
Score = model fit + residual
What is a best fitting line?
One which minimises the sum of squares of residuals
What is the residual?
The vertical line between data and regression line Observation-predicted value
What is the equation for the least squares estimate of the slope of the regression line?
Sum of products over sum of squares
What is covariance?
The sum of products divided by the degrees of freedom
What does variance reveal?
The similarity of the structure of the expressions of variance and covariance
What points do regression lines always pass through?
The means of the X and Y values
What would you like to do?
Home > Flashcards > Print Preview | 2,499 | 1,006 | 0.001011 |
warc | 201704 | Three Midwest Species Receive Endangered Species Act Protection By Georgia Parham External Affairs
In early September the Service designated the grotto sculpin, a small, cave-dwelling fish found only in Perry County, Missouri, as endangered. The Service first identified the grotto sculpin as a candidate for protection in 2002, due to a decline in water quality in the cave systems inhabited by the sculpin. Biologists have documented two mass die-offs in the cave systems in the past decade due to pollution at a single source entering groundwater.
The area where the grotto sculpin lives is characterized by hundreds of caves and thousands of sinkholes, where pollutants and other substances can rapidly find their way to underground waterways. The main threat to the grotto sculpin is water quality degradation and siltation in its habitat. Water quality is affected by contaminated agricultural runoff, sinkhole dumps, industrialization, and vertical drains installed without appropriate best management practices
Although some lands had been proposed as critical habitat for the grotto sculpin, no areas were designated, based on a comprehensive conservation plan developed by Perry County officials and other partners. The Service, citizens and government of Perry County, the Missouri Department of Conservation, and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources developed the Perry County Community Conservation Plan that addresses specific threats to the grotto sculpin and its habitat.
The Columbia, Missouri, Ecological Services Field Office worked closely with partners to develop the plan."The residents of Perry County are to be commended for their forward-looking approach to addressing water quality issues in their county," said Amy Salveter, project leader for ecological services in Columbia. "The partners have developed a plan that will not only conserve the habitat of the grotto sculpin, but will conserve and safeguard the water that supports the entire community."
Also in September, two freshwater mussels and a small cave fish were given Endangered Species Act protection. The Neosho mucket, found in Missouri, Arkansas, Kansas and Oklahoma, is listed as endangered, while the rabbitsfoot is listed as threatened. The rabbitsfoot is found in four Midwest Region states: Illinois, Indiana, Missouri and Ohio.
Threats to both the rabbitsfoot and Neosho mucket include loss and degradation of stream and river habitat due to impoundments, channelization, chemical contaminants, mining and sedimentation. The Service estimates that the Neosho mucket is gone from about 62 percent of its historic range, while the rabbitsfoot occupies only 36 percent of its former range.
More information on the rabbitsfoot, Neosho mucket, grotto sculpin and the Perry County Community conservation Plan can be found at www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered
-FWS- | 2,876 | 1,319 | 0.000762 |
warc | 201704 | Abstract
Background: Strong associations between delayed initiation of breastfeeding and increased neonatal mortality (2-28 d) were recently reported in rural Ghana. Investigation into the biological plausibility of this relation and potential causal pathways is needed. Objective: The objective was to assess the effect of early infant feeding practices (delayed initiation, prelacteal feeding, established neonatal breastfeeding) on infection-specific neonatal mortality in breastfed neonates aged 2-28 d. Design: This prospective observational cohort study was based on 10 942 breastfed singleton neonates born between 1 July 2003 and 30 June 2004, who survived to day 2, and whose mothers were visited in the neonatal period. Verbal autopsies were used to ascertain the cause of death. Results: One hundred forty neonates died from day 2 to day 28; 93 died of infection and 47 of noninfectious causes. The risk of death as a result of infection increased with increasing delay in initiation of breastfeeding from 1 h to day 7; overall late initiation (after day 1) was associated with a 2.6-fold risk [adjusted odds ratio (adj OR): 2.61; 95% CI: 1.68, 4.04]. Partial breastfeeding was associated with a 5.7-fold adjusted risk of death as a result of infectious disease (adj OR: 5.73; 95% CI: 2.75, 11.91). No obvious associations were observed between these feeding practices and noninfection-specific mortality. Prelacteal feeding was not associated with infection (adj OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 0.66, 1.86) or noninfection-specific (adj OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 0.55, 3.22) mortality. Conclusions: This study provides the first epidemiologic evidence of a causal association between early breastfeeding and reduced infection-specific neonatal mortality in young human infants.
Citation
American Journal of Clinical Nutrition (2007) Vol. 86, No. 4, pp. 1126-1131. | 1,858 | 920 | 0.00109 |
warc | 201704 | Companies and shareholders: introduction: evidence of ownership - registered shares
A company is required by law to maintain a register of members- a list of current shareholders, called the company’s share register. Shares whose ownership is recorded on the register are known as registered shares. The registrar is responsible for maintaining the register - in smaller private companies this is often the company secretary, but larger companies usually employ a specialist firm of registrars. The register must be kept at the company’s registered office, or some other office notified to Companies House. Any member has the right to inspect the register, without payment.
In order to record the name of the owner of a share, the registrar requires evidence of ownership in the form of either a share certificate or a stock account within the CREST settlement system (see STSM131050).
Share certificates are the documents issued by the company to the shareholder, certifying the details of ownership and bearing the name of the legal owner of the shares. That person may be the beneficial owner of the shares, or a nominee appointed to hold the shares on behalf of the beneficial owner. Use of nominees is a common and convenient way of managing an investment portfolio. Shares may also be held in ‘dematerialised’, electronic form in a member account in CREST.
The register must show the following particulars:
the name and address of each member; the number and type of shares held by each member; the amount paid, or agreed to be considered as paid, for the shares; the date at which the person was registered as a member, and the date at which he or she ceased to be a member.
When registered shares are transferred from one person to another, it is necessary for the register to be altered to record the change of ownership. See STSM071060.
Not all shares are registered shares. Bearer shares are not listed on a share register. See STSM071050. | 1,979 | 922 | 0.001101 |
warc | 201704 | The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) just issued a Notice to Proceed for BrightSource Energy's Ivanpah Solar Project, allowing the project's EPC, Bechtel, to resume the stalled next phase of construction at Ivanpah. The project remains on schedule, according to the company. Ivanpah sites II and III had received a temporary suspension on April 15.
The Ivanpah plant, slated for completion in 2013, has been the target of legal action from an environmental group despite approval of the project by both the Department of the Interior and the state of California. To mollify some objections, BrightSource scaled down the size of the project as part of the environmental mitigation process.
BrightSource has had to mitigate their environmental footprint to contend with the desert tortoise by avoiding long-term impacts to 433 acres of habitat, as well as acquiring additional land off the Ivanpah site for tortoise relocation within their home range. The 433 acres of habitat on the site and the additional mitigation land would remain available to tortoises for foraging, cover, and other lifecycle requirements. While it is unknown how many tortoises would be in this area at the time of construction, three of the 20 live tortoises observed within the project boundary during the 2007 and 2008 surveys would be avoided, resulting in the need to relocate about 15 percent fewer tortoises. At a minimum, 17 existing burrows in this area would also be preserved. Here's a link to a Biological Mitigation Document involving desert tortoises, rare plants, soil, and visual impact.
BrightSource has spent "a surprising amount of money" for tortoise mitigation, according to Bechtel -- the firm has to buy mitigation land whether they find a tortoise or not. BrightSource also has to monitor each tortoise for five years and perform a blood analysis to check for respiratory diseases. BrightSource has up to 100 biologists working at the Ivanpah site (!).
Ivanpah has 500 workers on site, including biologists and trade workers from California’s High Desert. The project will create an estimated 1,000 union jobs at the peak of construction.
Desert Tortoise Head-Start Program The Mojave Desert spans 20 million acres of land across four states and is home to the desert tortoise, a federally listed “threatened” species. To help rebuild the desert tortoise population in the Ivanpah Valley, BrightSource has started a "head start" program at the Ivanpah project site to prevent juvenile tortoise mortality. Head-start programs provide support and protection for hatchling and juvenile tortoises during the first five years of life, or until they are large enough to resist predators.
In addition to moving the desert tortoise out of harm’s way, the head-start program is enabling tortoises to be hatched within a protected area, watched over to ensure they are more likely to survive, and ultimately released into their natural environment.
More details about the heroic measures being taken to keep this threatened species afloat are here. | 3,068 | 1,499 | 0.000674 |
warc | 201704 | Earlier this month, Venrock and Oak Investment Partners invested $10 million in Phononic Devices’ thermoelectric approach to waste heat recovery. But North Carolina-based Phononic isn’t the only waste heat startup that recently attracted new capital.
In late February, Dresser-Rand invested $10 million in Echogen Power Systems for a 20% stake in the Ohio company. Based in Akron, Echogen (formerly known as reXorce Thermionics) is a 20-person, pre-revenue firm working to commercialize thermodynamic waste heat recovery systems that use supercritical carbon dioxide (ScCO
2) as their working fluid.
“Supercritical CO
2 has significant benefits in its energy density. It is a benign fluid that operates at high thermal efficiencies,” said Michael Persichilli, Echogen’s VP of Business Development, at the 2011 ARPA-E Summit. “We can provide a waste heat recovery system that takes up about 50% of the space of conventional systems at about a 30% lower capital cost and can operate over the lifecycle of a plant at less than four cents per kilowatt-hour on a levelized cost of electricity basis.”
For the past year, Echogen has been beta-testing its first demonstration unit, a 250kW system, with AEP at the utility’s facility outside Columbus, Ohio. By the end of 2011, Echogen plans to have a much larger, commercial-ready system available.
“Waste heat [recovery] could be a huge market,” said Yanev Suissa of New Enterprise Associates. “The problem is that you usually have to co-locate. If you are taking waste heat off of an electricity production facility, then you are fine, because you are tied to the grid. In other applications, you…have to take into account the transmission, which usually makes it not economically viable. If you are co-locating, then how big is your market?”
Echogen is targeting large markets: power generation and large energy-intensive industries including steel, cement, glass, and pulp and paper.
“When you are looking at waste heat, there is an interest if there is a very fast payback of less than two years when you are thinking of the stationary-furnace-type industries” said Paul Straub of Claremont Creek Ventures, an investor in thermoelectric waste heat recovery startup Alphabet Energy. “If you are looking at longer paybacks, it is challenging to have someone sponsor what is a relatively large cap-ex project.”
According to Echogen, its system costs range from $2,000 to $2,500 per kilowatt of net power available, or $2 to $2.5 a watt -- far below the cost of traditional waste heat converters, but above the $1 a watt targeted by Alphabet Energy. (Alphabet grew in part out of research conducted at UC Berkeley by ARPA-E director Arun Majumdar.)
“Our payback depends on the offset cost of power,” said Persichilli. “If you are looking at an average cost of power at six cents per kilowatt hour, the payback is approaching three years on a simple payback analysis without taking advantage of energy tax credits. If you are looking at a coastal state where the cost of power is 10 to12 cents, the payback is less than two years.”
Echogen claims LOIs with a multinational steel fabricator, a multinational glass company and a specialty products company, all of which have agreed to pilot projects in 2011 through 2012.
“We are looking for strategic partners in other industries similar to the model that we have with Dresser-Rand,” said Persichilli.
Should these startups join Phononic and target venture investors for their next financing rounds? Or should they echo Echogen and focus on strategic investors? Hard to tell.
“We are in a very odd time. [...] Strategic partnerships are actually leading financial investors to financing,” said Josh Green of Mohr Davidow Ventures. “Because of the large cash balance sheets that strategics have and [because] they understand the technology instantly, they are able to spend their money sooner. Then the financial types see that validation and endorsement and they come in behind.”
“We got the money [for Genomatica] from the strategics first and then VantagePoint came in seeing that validation. Very unusual. You don’t see it more than once a decade,” continued Green. "We are going through a phase in clean technology where that validation is very important for startups. Once we get into what a classic cleantech startup looks like, I think we will revert back.”
***
Yoni Cohen is a JD-MBA student at the Yale Law School and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. A former college basketball writer for Fox Sports , he tweets about greentech @Cohen_Yoni . | 4,739 | 2,298 | 0.000452 |
warc | 201704 | Top10Doctor insights on:Hyperthyroidism Symptoms Nausea 1Confused on what to do? I have no more symptoms of hyperthyroidism. Seen a cardiologist gave me lopressor (metoprolol tartrate) now going to see endor. All symptoms stop? 541doctors shared insights
Hypothyroidism is a medical condition that lowers the level of thyroid hormone to a point where the patient has a marked decrease in overall health. Often the patient does not notice the loss of thyroid hormone for several weeks or more. Once diagnosed with low thyroid hormone levels, the patient will be prescribed with thyroid hormone to a point where the thyroid levels are normal and ...Read more
1doctor agreed: 2Tsh .007 means my Synthroid (thyroxine) needs lowered but I have had moderate nausea over a week and not a symptom hyperthyroid not preg/flu/sick this concerning? 1doctor agreed: 2doctors agreed: 3Hyperthyroidism not under control having chest pain palpitations burning in chest all day nausea threw up & headache & dizzy. What should I do? 2doctors agreed: 4Sex on period on Sept 5 n 12. Overactive thyroid with shorter n lighter period. Nausea pressure when I have to pee. Vagina muscles sore. Pregnant? 2doctors agreed: 2doctors agreed: Many, many things:Most overweight people think/hope they have an under active thyroid gland, so doc can give them thyroid replacement and they'll lose the weight (i remember one case in 40 years practice). Many people think they have overactive thyroid when pulse is fast, palpitations in chest, sweat a lot, diarrhea frequently, lose weight or hair, ...Most don't, but check. I do thyroid screening tests routinely....Read more 1doctor agreed: Yes:But a test of your thyroid fucntion should detect it....Read more Medication therapy:In newborns, hyperthyroidism (also called graves disease) is usually from mother who has or has had graves disease herself. Graves disease in adults is an autoimmune disorder. Graves disease in pregnant woman // stillbirth, miscarriage, or premature birth. Symptoms fast heart rate, high bp, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, bulging eyes, difficulty breathing. Rx medications for overactive thyroid....Read more 513doctors shared insights Talk to a doctor live online for free Hyperthyroidism symptoms Complete list of hyperthyroid symptoms Emotional symptoms hyperthyroidism Ask a doctor a question free online Hyperthyroidism during pregnancy symptoms Symptoms of hypo and hyperthyroid Hyperthyroid in children symptoms Signs and symptoms of hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism Talk to a gastroenterologist online | 2,567 | 1,209 | 0.000828 |
warc | 201704 | Top10Doctor insights on:Side Effects Of Radiation Therapy For Breast Cancer 3doctors agreed: 3doctors agreed: Side effects include:Acute effects include erythema hyperpigmentation of skin, moist desquamation of skin
long term effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer include: radiation fibrosis of lung lymphedema of the affected side upper extremity myocardial injury hypothyroidism brachial plexus injury risk of second neoplasm (radiation induced malignancy)....Read more 1,337doctors shared insights
Breast cancer results when glandular cells lining the milk ducts and lobules of the human breast begin to grow in an unregulated manner. The growth occurs initially inside the ducts but eventually breaks outside into the breast tissue and ultimately spreads both to the lymph nodes in the armpit and via the bloodstream to other parts of the body. Because of the promoting affect of estrogen almost all breast cancer occurs in women and is a rarity in men. The unregulated growth is due to both inherited and acquired genetic defects. It is the most common malignancy in women but it often curable if found early and treated effectively with surgery, hormonal therapy, chemotherapy and targeted therapy, or a combination thereof. Early detection before the malignancy becomes large enough to be felt depends on mammography/sonography and MRI imaging of the breast ...Read more
5doctors agreed: 5doctors agreed: 7doctors agreed: 7doctors agreed: 2doctors agreed: 2doctors agreed: 4 to 6 months:The side effects of the skin need to heal and breast heals and any scarring internally improve. That takes 4 to 6 months. Even then that is the baseline mammogram and surgery and radiation changes will be seen. Then future mammograms will show these changes are improving....Read more 7doctors agreed: 7doctors agreed: Very effective.:Radiation therapy (rt) is never a primary treatment for breast cancer, but rather a supplement to surgery for the local treatment of breast cancer. Rt is mandatory following breast conserving surgery: local recurrence rates are decreased from >25% to <5% with rt. Rt is also used after mastectomy for patients that are at high risk for local recurrence....Read more 6doctors agreed: 6doctors agreed: Careful:Most but not all breast cancers need radiation therapy. Please be careful of claims made by alternative treatments for cancer and ask for independent well controlled studies that demonstrate benefit. At this time alternative treatments are of a supportive role to more conventional therapies. I personally know of women whose cancer got worse while they tried alternative methods....Read more 4doctors agreed: 9I got a scar tissue in lung after radiation therapy for breast cancer. No one told me it could happen. What should I do? 4doctors agreed: Very rare, but...:...Well-recognized complication of breast radiation therapy (of course, when you are that "one in a million", that doesn't help). Modern techniques are designed to maximize rx to the breast & minimize effects on the heart and lungs. Your radiation oncologist certainly should have discussed this with you pre-treatment--informed consent is a necessary part of any rx regimen....Read more 3doctors agreed: 3doctors agreed: Yes!:There is nothing that makes a surgeon more uncomfortable after a lumpectomy than hearing the question: "did you get it all?" cancer is very humbling and it's growth is not completely predictable. While our margins may be "clear", we know many women will return with cancer at this lumpectomy site within 2-3 years unless radiation therapy is given. With rare exception, radiation rx is necessary....Read more 4,224doctors shared insights
Cancer is a group of diseases that is characterized by uncontrolled cell growth leading to invasion of surrounding tissues that spread to other parts of the body. Cancer can begin anywhere in the body and is usually related to one or more genetic mutations that allow normal cells to become malignant by interfering with internal cellular control mechanisms, such as programmed cell death or by preventing ...Read more
This is light of extremely short wavelengths typically produced either among the stars / in cosmic rays or by radioactive element decay. Gamma rays form the background of normal radiation in which we all live; it is substantially greater than the exposure we get from imaging scans or should get from ...Read more
Talk to a doctor live online for free After effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer Long term effects of radiation therapy for breast cancer What are side effects of radiation therapy in the breast? Ask a doctor a question free online What are the side effects of the radiation therapy for eye cancer? Long term side effects of radiation for breast cancer After radiation therapy for breast cancer Effects of radiation therapy for lung cancer Talk to a gynecologist online for free | 4,913 | 2,180 | 0.00046 |
warc | 201704 | Top10Doctor insights on:What Should Be The Ideal Blood Sugar Level For Type 2 Diabetic 2doctors agreed: 2doctors agreed: Fasting AM:80-120:Ideally fasting blood sugar would be within normal range (eg 80-100), but between 80 to 120 is one commonly quoted goal for a fasting blood sugar for type 2 diabetic. Note that non-fasting blood glucose would be higher; ideally control the am fasting blood sugar and if A1c still not at goal then work work on lowering the blood sugar after eating....Read more
The blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the blood of a human or animal. The body naturally tightly regulates blood glucose levels as a part of metabolic homeostasis. Glucose is the primary source of energy for the body's cells, and blood lipids (in the form of fats and oils) are primarily ...Read more
3doctors agreed: 2• I am diabetic since 5 years,for the last 5 years my fasting blood glucose in between 125-134 mg/dL and my blood sugar level two hours after eati? 3doctors agreed: No specific question:The fasting blood sugar results you are providing do indeed point to diabetes. Are you under the care of a physician and being treated for the diabetes? If you are on medication I would advise that you follow up with your physician to discuss your results. Heed the lifestyle advice that your doctor gives you, changing your diet and exercising will greatly affect you long term outcome....Read more Great:Good level especially if you feel well....Read more 6How do I reduce a high blood sugar level my blood sugar level is 550 an had been slowly increasing for the last couple of months ... I am a type 2 diabetic Consult :Consult with nutritionist and your doctor. 7I am a diabetic what can I eat or drink when blood sugar is high how can I get it down? I am a type 2 and every other night and morning my blood level is in the 200 or 300 what do I do to bring it down? You :You need a comprehensive evaluation with a diabetes support team, which includes your doctor, a diabetes educator and/or a nutritionist. Your diet will be reviewed along with your medications. There are many reasons your blood sugar is elevated. The first being what you are consuming. The second is your medication may not be sufficient and an adjustment is in order. Actually both are likely to blame. In the meantime follow a strict diabetic diet, get plenty of exercise, and stay hydrated.All the best....Read more 8I really need to be educated on type 2 diabetes. My blood sugar is either too low or high. When should I take.my metformin. 166 two hr after eating. Lose the weight:The first part of treating diabetes is to lose weight. i know how difficult that can be but I'm just saying. Your medicine, metformin, is taken two times a day with food. The most important test which is done by the doctor is called hemoglobin A 1 C and its value should be from 6.7-7.5% It can be lower with great control but its the most important....Read more 2doctors agreed: 9My diabetic grandfather's blood sugar level two hours after eating is 470 mg/dl. He says he feels okay. Does he need medical attention? 2doctors agreed: 1doctor agreed: 10New type 2 diabetic here. 11pm and my blood sugar is 80. Is that too low to now go to bed? Worried about a night time drop...please advise..thanks 1doctor agreed: Maybe ok:With a blood sugar of 80 it may be ok to go to bed. depends on medications that are being used to control your diabetes. simple thing to do is to have something like peanut butter that provides a mix of protein, fats and sugar to limit the issue of dropping to low. If it keeps happening talk to your provider about adjusting medications....Read more Talk to a doctor live online for free What should be the ideal blood sugar level? What should the blood sugar level be for a diabetic? What should a diabetics blood sugar be? Ask a doctor a question free online What should blood sugar level be 2 hours after eating? What should fasting blood sugar be for a diabetic? What is the normal blood sugar level for diabetics? What is the correct blood sugar level for a diabetic? Talk to a diabetes specialist online for free | 4,177 | 1,874 | 0.000535 |
warc | 201704 | Young Adult Coverage
Under the Affordable Care Act, if your plan covers children, you can now add or keep your children on your health insurance policy until they turn 26 years old.
What This Means for You
Before the health care law, insurance companies could remove enrolled children usually at age 19, sometimes older for full-time students. Now, most health plans that cover children must make coverage available to children up to age 26. By allowing children to stay on a parent's plan, the law makes it easier and more affordable for young adults to get health insurance coverage.
Children can join or remain on a parent's plan even if they are:
Married Not living with their parents Attending school Not financially dependent on their parents Eligible to enroll in their employer’s plan When Someone Turns 26
Under-26 coverage ends on a child’s 26th birthday. When a child loses coverage on their 26th birthday, they qualify for a Special Enrollment Period. This lets them enroll in a health plan outside Open Enrollment.
For More Information I’m Covered Stories: For this 26-er, Getting Insured Was a “No-Brainer” Report: Number of Young Adults Gaining Insurance Due to the Affordable Care Act Now Tops 3 Million. Read answers to frequently asked questions about young adults and the Affordable Care Act. Find detailed technical and regulatory information on this provision. | 1,415 | 758 | 0.001352 |
warc | 201704 | Does anyone know of any companies producing LED bulbs as functionalreplacements for standard incandescent bulbs in a home environment? I'mthinking of something that can replace a run-of-the-mill 60W to 100W bulb.Thanks for any pointers!Regards-Greg Pasquariello
Yes, I know how to google, so let me rephrase...Many of these "replacement" bulbs are not good replacements for the typicalhome lighting situations. In some cases the bulbs are too "focused", inother cases, not bright enough, etc.So I guess my real question is, can someone _recommend_ an LED replacementbulb manufacturer or product that works well as a replacement bulb in atypical home setting.
On Sun, 1 Jan 2006 13:59:49 -0700, "Greg Pasquariello"
If they could make such things, you'd hear about them all over.It's only in the last couple years they've tried to make flashlightswith leds, and they're not as good. The big thing they have going forthem is that the batteries last a very long time.Bulbs that are plugged in don't benefit from this.Remove NOPSAM to email me. Please letme know if you have posted also.
I mostly agree, except that LED flashlights have been around for morethan just a couple years and there are some good ones now and have beenat least a couple years - just more expensive than regular flashlights.Most LED flashlights are available mainly online rather than in retailestablishments. I suspect that retail establishments try to sellbatteries, but consumer demand for LED flashlights is in the process offorcing retailers to sell more LED flashlights.Check out http://ledmuseum.home.att.net/ledleft.htmThis is the website of Craig Johnson's "LED Museum" and "Punishment Zone"(mostly a review of hundreds of lighting items, mostly LEDs and LEDproducts, mostly flashlights).- Don Klipstein ( snipped-for-privacy@misty.com)
Just as a matter of what is currently available and at what cost:The LEDs shown in this part of the Osram website are mostly their"Golden Dragon" ones - their current greatest.Each LED in any of the systems shown is a roughly 1.2 watt LED.A datasheet for some of the ones shown there:http://www.osram.com/pdf/products/led/DT6-01-03-2005.pdf6-LED white unites draw 7.2 watts and produce 150 lumens of light.That's an efficiency of nearly 21 lumens per watt. Compare to 16.7-17.5lumens/watt for a "standard" 100 watt 120V incandescent.http://www.osram.com/products/led-systems/dragontape.htmlshows 150 candela rather than 150 lumens. Both documents show lightcoming out at an angle of 120 degrees, and most LEDs with that angle havelumens about pi times the candela. So one of these is probably wrong, asin having a typo. I would vote against the datasheet being the item withthe wrong figure, since I got a Golden Dragon (single 1.2 watt LED) fromDigi-Key a few months ago - at a cost about $10. It does not produce morethan 25 lumens. I have Luxeons and Cree XLamps of similar power lyingaround and seen datasheets for those also, so I know what theircapabilities are.
This page links to various LED lighting businesses. Watch for lack of(or exaggerated) specific claims of light output in lumens. Look forprices.Not that I spent much time following the links from that site, but Ihave yet to hear of a screw-in LED bulb that provides the 840-900 lumensthat a standard 60 watt incandescent (or a 14 or 15 watt compactfluorescent) provides. When something like that hits the market, I expectinitial prices many times that of compact fluorescents.I also have yet to hear of a screw-in LED bulb of any wattage withspecific claims of power consumption in watts and light output in lumens,and with an efficiency at least 60 lumens per watt (fairly common forcompact fluorescents). LEDs that efficient may be just around the corner(a year or two away) or, for some low power ones (around 1/8 watt), justabout now may be coming off the assembly line.Check back every year or two. LEDs and LED lighting systems are slowlyadvancing. Currently, they do well for decorative and accent lighting -and only in some applications.
Functional and led for replacements of incandescent is double negative. Canyou find them, Yes.Are they equal to the lumens of an incandescent, No.CF are the way to go if you looking for reducing wattage. If you looking fora night light then ya a LED would be a good idea.just my opinion
I have no experience with household bulb led replacements, but they are veryexpensive, running over 20 dollars per bulb, and not very efficient comparedto the leds used in small flashlights and such. Lumens per watt are lessthan even incandescent for the 60-100w range of household bulbs, and muchless than compact fluorescents. For lower wattages, like 15-30w range, ledsare indeed more competitive, efficieny-wise, with compact fluorescent bulbs,and more efficient than incandescents.You can get an idea of performance, choice, and price at www.theledlight.com, where you can find them in the "120v replacement led bulbs" section oftheir website.
see:http://members.misty.com/don/light.htmlhas done an enormous amount of homework on this.see lights and low lumens specs chart:http://www.superbrightleds.com/MR16_specs.htmin the meantime while we also look for brighter led's, we addedautomatic motion sensor lighting.
They say that some day in the future there will be a light that'ssimply a very fine piece of wire inside a sealed glass bottle with avacuum, and that wire will glow very bright when elektrizzity isapplied. It's said these will eventually replace candles and kerosenelamps. I'm looking forward to that.
HomeOwnersHub.com is a website for homeowners and building and maintenance pros. It is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here.All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners. | 5,807 | 2,848 | 0.000353 |
warc | 201704 | Javascript Disabled
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The Institution and BDO accountants and business advisers carried out a survey that questioned manufacturing companies to ask their opinions on the likely effects of Brexit on their businesses.
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From the Maudslay Ropeforming Machine to the PenydarrenLocomotive, our Engineering Heritage Awards recognise, conserveand preserve artefacts from our industrial heritage. You canfind out about each artefact and the engineers who designed them.
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Featured jobs from Top Engineering Jobs. | 4,217 | 1,910 | 0.000532 |
warc | 201704 | Presentation: "We Suck Less!" Is Not Enough
In this presentation filmed during Agile 2008, David Douglas and Robin Dymond discuss about companies which try to adopt Agile, but don't go all the way, resulting in failure and rejection of it, and predictably having a negative impact on Agile's future.
Watch:
"We Suck Less!" Is Not Enough (1h 25 min)
According to a study made by Forrester in 2007, cited by David, “Many of these shops (companies adopting Agile) aren’t completely clear about what Agile adoption really entails.” Many adopting Agile companies are happy if they are doing
"OK", which means a 50% productivity improvement. They are not aware they can have a 500% increase in productivity. David says the bar is set very low if our Agile adoption motto is "We suck less".
David says the current perception of Agile in the market today is:
Superior to current practice Set of tools (major financial services firm) Cheap, easy, and runs on its own (medical manufacturing company) Project solution
Agile should be perceived as:
An entire work system Designed for 5x+ productivity gains Requires organizational redesign Requires significant change management
Robin continues by giving several examples of large corporations which started doing Scrum at some point, but returned to the old waterfall approach. According to Robin, an important factor in Agile adoption failure is organizational structure which is not matching the development process.
David predicts Agile adoption failure cases will grow in the future and will have a negative impact on Agile. He recommends the following actions to be takes:
Recognize we have a problem and begin collaborating on a solution Be transparent about levels of Agility Create a clear position on what is Agile Measure and quantify productivity and speed Put organizational design on the Agenda Thats true with everything in this field by Francois Ward
Often, when new methodologies or technologies are introduced, there has been great in depth analysis of the potential pitfalls, and documentation on how to avoid them (often as part of the core methodology or tool or whatever). These are often ignored by teams as "not for us", "doesn't fit in our company", "people would never accept it", etc etc.
So then all of the severe flaws of the methodology, tool, technology, API, whatever which were thought about in the planning stage, are left wide open, and the people blame the methodology. Its -always- like that.
Re: Thats true with everything in this field by Mike Funk Only large projects? by Rukshan Jayaratna
Recently I've tested out a team where the team PM, was more "Agile Coach" role and the team consisted of a BA plus two developers. The result turned out good. No way of comparison, since from the start of the company we were into Agile.
Insights from presentation by Robin Dymond
Innovel is a leading Scrum, Agile, and Lean training and consulting firm. Industry and academic contribution are core parts of our business. In addition to this presentation, Robin Dymond presented a new training simulation that has been made available at no charge to companies and consultants training businesses to use Agile methods.
Regards,
Robin Dymond, CST
Managing Partner, Innovel
Assistant Producer Learning and Education Stage Agile 2008 | 3,351 | 1,689 | 0.000602 |
warc | 201704 | Like many college freshmen away from home for the first time, I gained 20 pounds my first year at Dixie College in St. George, Utah. While my gym teachers affectionately called it the “Freshman 20,” my brothers and I just called it fat.
As spring approached I became determined that I would somehow make time to include daily exercise. I really love to run, and I decided this would be the way for me to get back down to my normal weight. I plotted my running course very carefully. It was a beautiful one-mile route which included the block around the St. George Temple.
My only obstacle was getting out of bed. Morning after morning I would just turn off the alarm, roll over, and go back to sleep. One morning, however, I felt unusually alert and awake as I turned off the alarm. I decided this would be the day I would begin my running program. I quickly dressed, stretched, and walked outside, only to find that a light fog had settled in the valley. It was still fairly dark, and I began to feel discouraged.
As I ran I could sometimes hear other joggers’ footsteps coming from the other direction, but I could not see them until they were right in front of me.
I expected to see the temple soon with its beautiful whiteness illuminated by lights, but block after block I couldn’t see the temple. I found myself wondering why I couldn’t see the temple and many questions entered my mind. “Am I on the right route?”
Finally, though, I could see a faint glow as soft as candlelight in the distance. I came upon the west side of the temple. I can’t express the excitement I felt in my heart as I circled the temple, rejoicing in its beauty, marveling that I had not been able to see it just seconds before.
After my experience that foggy morning, I knew without a doubt that just as the temple was still there, though I couldn’t see it, so is eternal life and exaltation. Though some of our long-range goals are not tangible, they can be reached if we will just keep going in the right direction, despite the clouds of doubt. | 2,081 | 1,074 | 0.000955 |
warc | 201704 | Canned tomato products make cooking more convenient for busy cooks by reducing preparation time. Because canned products have an extended shelf life, you can have zesty, succulent tomatoes on hand without the fear of fresh fruit going bad. Canned diced tomatoes and canned stewed tomatoes are similar but have a few key differences that affect your dish.
Canned Diced Tomatoes
Because they are usually picked and processed at the peak of ripeness, canned tomatoes can rival or surpass the flavor of their fresh counterparts.
Diced tomatoes are peeled and mechanically cut into small, square bits before being added to a tomato juice bath and sealed in a can. The juice is often treated with chemicals and mixed with seasonings, such as salt and citric acid, during the canning process. Some manufacturers lightly cook diced tomatoes before canning, but they are not simmered like stewed tomatoes. Canned Diced Tomato Uses
When your recipe calls for chopped or diced tomatoes, canned diced tomatoes can be a time-saving option. Use canned diced tomatoes in soups, stews, pasta and other recipes where you need chunks of tomatoes. When fresh tomatoes are in short supply, combine canned diced tomatoes with diced jalapeno peppers and Mexican spices for an instant salsa.
Canned Stewed Tomatoes Stewed tomatoes have been cooked, sliced and canned. While still made from ripe tomatoes and peeled before canning like diced tomatoes, the stewed variety are sliced into rings rather than diced into cubes. They are often mixed with seasonings such as onions, celery and peppers. They are canned in their own juices along with chemical preservatives. Stewed Tomato Uses
Stewed tomatoes are best used in dishes that require either larger chunks of cooked tomato, such as pot roast, or foods that require longer cooking times, such as stew and chili. As stewed tomatoes cook, their cell walls break down, making them mushier and less firm than diced tomatoes. When used in dishes that require further cooking, the flavor of the stewed tomato infuses into the dish as the flesh continues to break apart.
Size, Texture and Tips
The main differences between the two types of canned tomatoes are size and texture. The diced are smaller, firmer chunks while the stewed are larger, softer pieces. If you cook them longer, you can generally use diced in place of stewed in most recipes. However stewed tomatoes don’t work as well in dishes calling for diced, because they are larger and mushier.
References and ResourcesDel Monte: Diced Tomatoes
Hunts: Stewed Tomatoes
Del Monte: Basil Pesto Pomodoro Sauce
Cooks Illustrated: Canned Diced Tomatoes
Hunts: Home-Style Pot Roast | 2,678 | 1,251 | 0.000805 |
warc | 201704 | Big news – big changes! In July, I helped at the Learning ZoneXpress exhibitor booth at the national FCCLA conference in Nashville. While there I realized how much I missed classroom teaching. So when I returned home I researched part time FACS job openings in my area (which were aplenty by the way). I found a good prospect but before applying for the position I contacted the building FACS teacher and the principal to learn more about their school. I asked them questions about the school climate, classroom size, the school schedule, the teacher schedule and challenges they face as a building. I KNOW that every school has its challenges, I had to determine if these were the challenges I wanted to face day in and day out.
Both the teacher and the principal were candid about the challenges, had positive attitudes and loved working in their building. The principal described the FACS program as hands-on, relevant and engaging; she mentioned that the FACS teachers worked hard to meet the needs of their students. Woo hoo! I could embrace this school and its challenges. When I interviewed for the position, I found the people I met to be truly friendly, caring and warm. This included the secretary in the front office, which I believe is HUGE tell-tale sign a school’s climate. I was impressed and pleased with the position. I was offered the job and here I am as a seasoned teacher, attending NEW teacher workshops in my new district. Lots of changes are happening and in the works.
How about you? As you anticipate and reflect on the start of a new school year, what changes and challenges are you facing? How will you be a positive change agent for your students? What changes can you make (and actually carry out) that will make your teaching experience more satisfying and less draining? Be emancipatory! What are your common state of affairs, what are your desired outcomes, and what are you going to do to get there? YOU can do this, YOU are the expert in change.
Whatever twists and turns you face this year, I wish you a wonderful and life changing (positive) school year for both you and your students! | 2,137 | 1,098 | 0.000917 |
warc | 201704 | The solar system, discovered by a team from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and the National Research Council of Canada (NRC) Herzberg Institute of Astrophysics with collaborators at University of California, Los Angeles and Lowell Observatory, orbits around a dusty young star named HR8799, which is 129 light years away. All four planets are roughly five to seven times the mass of Jupiter.
Now, the same research team has discovered a fourth planet that is about seven times the mass of Jupiter. Using high-contrast, near infrared adaptive optics on the Keck II telescope in Hawaii, the astronomers imaged the fourth planet (dubbed HR8799e) in 2009 and confirmed its existence and orbit in 2010. The research appears in the Dec. 8 edition of the journal Nature .
"The images of this new inner planet in the system is the culmination of 10 years worth of innovation, making steady progress to optimize every observation and analysis step to allow the detection of planets located ever closer to their stars," said Christian Marois, a former LLNL postdoc now at NRC, and first author of the new paper.
If this newly discovered planet was located in orbit around our sun, it would lie between Saturn and Uranus. At about 30 million years old, this giant version of our solar system is young compared to our system, which is about 4.6 billion years old.
Though the system is very much like our own, it is much more extreme than our own -- the combined mass of the four giant planets may be 20 times higher, and the asteroid and comet belts are dense and turbulent. In fact, the massive planets' pull on each other gravitationally, and the system may be on the verge of falling apart.
Lawrence Livermore scientists simulated millions of years of evolution of the system, and showed that to have survived this long, the three inner planets may have to orbit like clockwork, with the new planet going around the star exactly four times while the second planet finishes two orbits in the time it takes the outer planet to complete one. This behavior was first seen in the moons of Jupiter but has never before been seen on this scale.
Studying the planet's orbits also will help estimate their masses. "Our simulations show that if the objects were not planets, but supermassive "brown dwarfs," the system would have fallen apart already," said Quinn Konopacky, a postdoctoral researcher at LLNL's Institute of Geophysics and Planetary Physics and a key author of the paper. (Brown dwarfs are failed stars, too low in mass to sustain stable hydrogen fusion but larger than planets.)
"The implication is that we have truly found a unique new system of planets. We don't yet know if the system will last for billions of years, or fall apart in a few million more. As astronomers carefully follow the HR8799 planets during the coming decades, the question of just how stable their orbits are could become much clearer." (See the simulation showing thousands of years of evolution of the system if the planets are not in a clockwork orbit or are more massive brown dwarfs.)
Previous observations had shown evidence for a dusty asteroid belt orbiting closer to the star -- the new planet's gravity helps account for the location of those asteroids, confining their orbits just like Jupiter does in our solar system. "Besides having four giant planets, both systems also contain two so-called "debris belts" composed of small rocky and/or icy objects along with lots of tiny dust particles, similar to the asteroid and Kuiper comet belts of our solar system," noted co-author Ben Zuckerman, a professor of physics and astronomy at UCLA. ( See the movie .)
"Images like these bring the exoplanet field into the era of characterization," said Travis Barman, a Lowell Observatory exoplanet theorist and co-author of the current paper. "Astronomers can directly examine the atmospheric properties of four giant planets orbiting another star that are all the same young age and that formed from the same building materials."
"I think there's a very high probability that there are more planets in the system that we can't detect yet," Macintosh said. "One of the things that distinguishes this system from most of the extrasolar planets that are already known is that HR8799 has its giant planets in the outer parts -- like our solar system does -- and so has 'room' for smaller terrestrial planets -- far beyond our current ability to see -- in the inner parts."
A team led by Macintosh is constructing the Gemini Planet Imager , a new system that will be up to 100 times more sensitive than current instruments and able to image planets similar to our own Jupiter around nearby stars.
"It's amazing how far we've come in a few years," Macintosh said. "In 2007, when we first saw the system, we could barely see two planets out past the equivalent of Pluto's orbit. Now we're imaging a fourth planet almost where Saturn is on our solar system. It's another step to the ultimate goal -- still more than a decade away -- of a picture showing another planet like Earth." | 5,097 | 2,378 | 0.000424 |
warc | 201704 | Personal Statement
Lybrate.com has a number of highly qualified Gynaecologists in India. You will find Gynaecologists with more than 42 years of experience on Lybrate.com. Find the best Gynaecologists online in Thane. View the profile of medical specialists and their reviews from other patients to make an informed decision.
Info Location Book Clinic Appointment Consult Online Services Endometrial Ablation Procedure Treatment of Treatment of Breast Cancer Management of Abortion Hormonal Replacement Therapy Treatment Caesarean Section Procedure Contraceptive Advice Delivery Procedure Treatment of Gynae Problems Gynecology Laparoscopy Procedures Hpv Vaccination Treatment Of Female Sexual Problems Treatment Of Menopause Related Issues Treatment Of Menstrual Problems Treatment of Mirena (Hormonal Iud) Pap Smear Procedure Polycystic Ovary Syndrome Treatment Ureteroscopy Procedure Treatment of Uterine Bleeding Antenatal And Postnatal Exercise Antenatal Checkup Feed My periods are irregular, usually occurs every 2 month sometimes normally every month. After scanning a doctor told me that no problem to worry it is because of PCOD but ovulation is normal. Yesterday i felt a smaall amount of bleeding but my periods was on 31 jan. Is there any problem doctor? What are the problems to have sex with a two week post delivery mother? Will it affect the baby? How to have a safe sex? Please respond. Thanks.
When you think of healthy food, cornflakes and oatmeal are probably the first things that come to mind. For most people, eating healthy translates into eating boring, bland food. So, if you're on a diet, here's some good news for you. Healthy food does not have to be bland or expensive.
Here are 6 indigenous Indian healthy foods that are ideal for you:
Idli:This south Indian steamed dish is free from oil and fats and is rich in carbohydrates and proteins. Having a low fat content makes idlis very easy to digest. Idlis are prepared using a combination of rice and dal. Their amino acids complement each other and the fermentation process enhances the vitamin B and protein levels in the dish. Sattu:Sattu is a staple dish in Bihar that is made primarily from roasted gram flour along with barley and wheat flour. Sattu is rich in fiber, has cooling properties and has a low glycaemic index. Roasting the flour also helps retain all the nutrients in the flour. Sattu can be made in a number of ways including paranthas and ladoos. Dhokla:Dhoklas are steamed Gujarati snacks made using gram flour. As with idlis, the flour is allowed to ferment before steaming. This helps enhance its nutrient value. Dhoklas also have a very low glycaemic index and is easy to digest. Bajra:Bajra is a very humble grain that is commonly eaten in Rajasthan. Bajra is a rich source of energy and aids digestion. It has an anti diabetic effect and is also said to promote a healthy heart. The lignin in grains is also said to have cancer protecting properties. Bajra is a winter food that is usually made into rotis or khichadi. Daliya:Daliya is also known as broken wheat. Daliya recipes can be sweet and savoury. Daliya is a complex carbohydrate that is slow to digest and hence releases energy at a slow, sustained rate. This makes it an ideal food for people suffering from high cholesterol or diabetes. The high fiber content also makes daliya easy to digest. Sprouts:Almost every guide to healthy eating promotes sprouts. As the name suggests, sprouts are lentils that have been germinated till they 'sprout' a root. This germination process makes them easy to digest by breaking down the nutrients into simple forms. Sprouts are rich in fiber, vitamin, minerals and proteins. They can be eaten raw or cooked depending on your preference. I m 22 years of age. Recently I did sex with my fiancee and he told me that i m not a virgin. But I never done sex before. Then I checked my vagina with my fingers and I also have doubt that i m not a virgin because my vagina's hole is too big and I never felt pain when he entered his penis at the first time. I m I virgin or not? Hello sir, I did sex with my girl friend on 4 may. After that her regularly period comes on time for 2 time. But this time her period not come on time .sir, is any kind of problem is come. Sir is she pregnant?
Scratching a mosquito bite is your body’s response to the saliva that the female mosquito leaves behind after sucking your blood. Itching a mosquito bite inflames and irritates the skin further, causing your immune system to try even harder to fight off the foreign substance (mosquito saliva). This, consequently, results in more inflammation, and an itchy bump that refuses to go away.
Excessive scratching should be avoided as it can cause your skin to break and leave behind a scar called dermatofibroma. This small ball-shaped scar mark can appear wherever the mosquito bites. You can also end up with post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, which is basically a brown spot that appears on your skin when you scratch a lot. Further, scratching a mosquito bite can also lead to infection as bacteria from under your fingernails get injected into the bite, thereby infecting it.
Instead of scratching the mosquito bite, here are 2 ways to get respite from the itch, while avoiding the damage that it can cause to your skin.
1. Rub it with lemon
Lemon (or lime) contains citric acid, which has itch relieving properties. The next time a mosquito bites you, cut up a lemon into pieces and rub a piece gently on the affected area. You can even squirt some lemon juice on the bite to relieve itching.
2. Apply vaporub on the itchy area
Rubbing vaporub on your skin is another way to stop the itch. It contains ingredients like peppermint, eucalyptus oil or menthol, which possess itch-relieving properties. Moreover, the scent of a vaporub can be helpful in keeping mosquitoes away, consequently preventing mosquito bites.
The next time you feel the need to scratch a mosquito bite, don’t do so; instead try the above two alternatives for instant relief.
If you would like to consult with me privately, please click on 'Consult'.
I had protected sex with my partner 7 days back. It was first time for her and she had severe stomach ache for 2-3 days and now is feeling constipated. Her next periods are due on 15-16th of this month. Though we cross checked our protection, i. E, the condom leakage and everything was fine and I'm pretty much sure that I didn't ejaculated in her, is there still any chance of pregnancy looking at the symptoms. Should we go through a pregnancy test now or after the periods are missed, if so happens? Kindly help. If pregnancy test is negative in three times in 5 days interval then what is the chances of pregnancy? Every time my date use to come 6 days early n I use to get so much pain in stomach n full body and my urine is to pass less in periods time but this time it's came 2 days before and I'm not getting any pain in body n stomach. Why like this? And 6 month back same thing happened to me and after a period I came to know that I was pregnant n it's got miscarriage. Can I do pregnancy test or no. I had unsafe sex n next day I had an ipill. Next month my periods were 5 days early. I feel cramps and today I saw blood comings from my vagina while doing toilet. I am also facing mood swing. I am also facing vaginal discharge I am very tensed What should I do? Am I pregnant? I had sex 2 days ago with my husband. During sex the condom broke and he quickly changed the condom, it was a matter of split second. I went to urinate so as to wash away any sperm that might have escaped from the broken condom. However he is not sure whether he ejaculated or not. I do want to take any contraceptive pills due to their long term side effects. What should I do? Are there any chances of pregnancy? Sir since 2010 main Blood ki investigation karai thi tab HBsag Positive nikla tha. Meri shaadi 6 month pahle ho gayi hei. Meri biwi pregnant hai. Maine wife ka HBsag test kara liya hei result negative nikla. Iska koi bura prabhav padtha hei to kripya mujhe advice di jiye. Koi medicine iske liye ho to bataiye. Mera uterus ka operation ek mahiney pahley hua h face per pimple ho jata h aisa kyu? Aur ek baat sugar patient ko kaun sa soup de saktey h reply please.
Almonds make a delicious and healthy snack. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, proteins and healthy fats that are necessary for the body. Here is the list of the benefits of almonds that will give you enough reasons to add almond to your diet.
Regular consumption of almonds increases the level of high density lipoproteins and reduces the level of low density lipoproteins. Almonds are high in monounsaturated fats and health promoting fats. Almonds can lower ldl cholesterol up to 15 percent for every 7 grams of almonds per day. | 8,842 | 4,152 | 0.000242 |
warc | 201704 | These conservative governors know that Obamacare is enabling the creation of socialized medicine, and expanding Medicaid will bankrupt their states. By increasing the numbers thrown into the program, tax payers would be funding all these new patients while still having to pay for themselves. The money simply isn’t there.
For patients with little or no insurance coverage, MediBid is the answer. They simply place their request, then select the physician and price they want. Affordable medical care is at your finger tips, with no insurance applications or premiums to worry about.
Conservative Governors Are Right to Resist Medicaid Expansion http://cfif.org/v/index.php/commentary/56-health-care/1496-conservative-governors-are-right-to-resist-medicaid-expansion
By Ashton Ellis Thursday, July 12 2012
In the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s decision upholding ObamaCare, at least this much is clear: conservative governors are refusing to help socialize healthcare by expanding a Medicaid program that will bankrupt their states.
Here’s how some are framing it.
New Jersey’s Chris Christie calls it “extortion.”
Nikki Haley of South Carolina says it’s “un-American.”
Phil Bryant says Mississippi “can’t afford it.”
Rick Scott in Florida declares it “inconsistent” with his “mission to grow jobs.”
And Texan Rick Perry likens compliance to having “a gun to (the) head” or “adding a thousand people to the Titanic.”
It’s easy to see why they’re upset.
When the Supreme Court upheld ObamaCare’s individual mandate as a tax on individuals, it also struck down a penalty on states for not increasing their Medicaid spending.
As originally written, ObamaCare sought to entice states to expand their Medicaid rolls by covering all of the states’ added expenses for 2014-17, the first three years of implementation. Thus, states would be able to expand Medicaid eligibility up to 138 percent of the federal poverty line, adding millions of new people to their Medicaid rolls while letting Uncle Sam pick up the tab.
Then reality starts to set in. In 2017, ObamaCare reduces its Medicaid subsidy to 95 percent, eventually falling to 90 percent in 2020 and thereafter. Thus, after three years of pain-free entitlement expansion, states would start to be on the hook for up to 10 percent of the expanded spending.
As Chief Justice John Roberts noted in his ObamaCare decision, the average state spends 20 percent of its budget on Medicaid right now. Some states with large poor populations – the demographic most served by Medicaid – spend over 40 percent.
What Roberts didn’t say is that many states are addicted to Medicaid’s open-ended matching guarantee. For every dollar a state budgets for Medicaid, the federal government, on average, contributes 60 cents in subsidies. Since there is no limit to how much the federal government will spend, Medicaid gives states an incentive to overspend.
The numbers are obscene. A report by Physicians for Reform tracks the increase in national Medicaid expenditures from $75 billion in 1990 to $427 billion in 2010. This corresponds with the 192 percent increase over the past two decades in inflation-adjusted, per capita state Medicaid spending.
Overspending on Medicaid is having a crowding out effect on state budgets. During the last twenty years, increased Medicaid spending has come at the expense of funding other important state services. To compare, state Medicaid spending was four times larger than on education, and nine times larger than on transportation.
All of this undoubtedly played a pivotal, if unmentioned, role in the Supreme Court’s ObamaCare decision. According to ObamaCare’s terms, any state that refused to expand its Medicaid coverage – and the federal government’s three-year subsidy – would risk losing all of its federal matching funds to maintain its current level of services.
In effect, ObamaCare changed the rules of the Medicaid game by coercing the states to spend even more on the program. And since federal matching funds average more than 10 percent of every state’s budget, the Court said the penalty for not expanding Medicaid was too high a price to pay under the Constitution and struck it down.
But even with the Medicaid penalty gone, conservative governors are right to be wary of participating in ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion.
From the outset, President Barack Obama and his liberal allies in Congress have been clear that their ultimate goal is government-run health care. When they couldn’t get a single-payer system, they tried to insert a so-called public option to compete with private insurance. It was stripped out when it became clear that the public option would be subsidized by the government in order to attract customers at below-market rates. Supporters of socialized healthcare could then kill off private competitors with subsidized insurance before declaring the free market had failed and the federal government would then insure everyone.
After the public option died, attention turned to Medicaid expansion as a way to get more people on government insurance by reaching higher up the income ladder. Indeed, studies show that when states expanded Medicaid eligibility in the past, 6 of every 10 new Medicaid recipients were people who already had health insurance. Thus, under ObamaCare, Medicaid expansion will become the new public option.
The only way to stop ObamaCare’s steady increases in state spending toward government-run healthcare is for conservative governors to fully reject any and all compliance with ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion. Those that recognize and do this should be applauded. It’s time for others to join them. | 5,867 | 2,672 | 0.000389 |
warc | 201704 | Summary of step 5, Anatomy, Respiratory system (nerves, blood vessels, lymph vessels), physiology, Respiratory system, pathology, Infection of respiratory system (Airborne), Immune deficiencies in relation with lungs, pathophysiology, Relate the symptoms together to one disease, What causes chest pain in the right area?
Anatomy
Physiology
Patholog, pneumonia, epidemiology, most common infections cause of death in the US, 4 million cases per year, 60,000 people die each year, pathophysiology, How does the pathogen get in?, it passes through the defense system, mucous, cilia, weak immune system or strong pathogen, What happens next?, when contaminants enter, the immune system responses, it causes inflammation, alveoli get filled with puss and fluid, this makes it hard for o2 to reach the blood stream, What causes chest pain in the upper right area?, pneumonia in the upper right lobe, Pleural Effusion, Why are infections more common in the right lung?, because the anterior border is vertical, the left lung has the cardiac notch, symptoms, high fever, shacking chills, productive cough, yellow to green sputum, malaise, chest pain, stabbing, gets worse when you breath in, dyspnea, hemoptysis, people at higher risk, very young people (less than 2 years), very old (more than 65), patients with chronic illness, heart disease, immunocompromised patients, AIDS, organ transplantation, immune suppressive drugs, cancer patients, smokers, alcohol abusers, who work in construction or agriculture, dust, chemicals, air pollution or toxic fumes, they damage the lung, they make it susceptible for pneumonia, Native Alaskan or Native American, people in ICU or who had major surgery, Types, community acquired, caught in public places, may develop after you have a cold or the flu, types of bacteria, Streptococcus pneumoniae (most common), Staphylococcus aureus, Moraxella catarrhalis, Neisseria meningitidis, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Haemophilus influenzae, hospital acquired, from the ICU, after chest surgery, Aspiration pneumonia, when inhaling particles into your lungs, from vomiting, Opportunistic pneumonia, normal organisms affecting immune compromised, Pneumocystis jiroveci, pathogen type, viral, less common, symptoms appear gradually, SARS, flu, respiratory syncytial virus, rhinovirus, parasitical, mostly in immune-comramised patients, bacterial, most common, symptoms appear right away, most common bacteria types, diagnosis, stethoscope, chest x-ray or CT, blood test, phlegm culture, bronchoscopy, Pulmonary TB, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, tuberculosis pneumonia, acute bronchitis
history, what did they treat for in the first visits?, They thought it was flu, No antibiotics described, risk factors?, Type 1 diabetic
vital signs, wight 68, hight 150, temperature 39 c, pulse 80, blood pressure 110/60, looks sick
stethoscope, crackling sounds
tests results, o2 saturation 88%, hemoglobin is OK, high WBC count, High neutrophils, ESR: high, LDH: high, phlegm culture, no results yet, C reacting protein: high, Electrolytes are good, Glucose 220, x ray, showing pneumonia
Community acquired pneumonia (typical)
probably streptococcus pneumoniae
Inhalation of pathogen
passed to the right upper lobe
immune response causing inflammation
alveoli filled with fluid
decreased O2 passage to blood
productive cough
fever and chills
chest pain in the right upper area
low O2 in blood
chest x-ray
high WBC count
ESR confirms inflammation
LDH proves hemolysis
elevated c reactive protein confirms inflammation
Management, keep in mind he is diabetic type 1
prevention
intervention and treatment | 3,635 | 1,809 | 0.000557 |
warc | 201704 | The issue of Right to Work continues to play a major role in Missouri’s governor race. Republican Eric Greitens and Democrat Chris Koster couldn’t be farther apart on the issue.
Right to Work laws allow employees to operate without paying dues, which are normally required for union supported jobs.
Koster thinks such legislation, which would diminish the power of unions, will harm workers by lowering their wages. “There are a lot of wealthy people in this state who come up to me and say ‘You know, the state would be a better place if folks who make money on an hourly wage made less money’” said Koster. “When I go a woman who’s stocking the shelves at my grocery store and say ‘This is what these wealthy folks are saying. How would you like us to lower your salary from $11.00 to $9.00’, what she says to me is that it’s pretty hard to put food on her kids table at $11.00. She thinks it’ll be harder at $9.00. And what it means is that she’s got to work an extra seven weeks a year just to stay even.”
Koster claims he was strongly opposed to Right to Work even he changed his party affiliation seven years ago. “I have been against Right to Work for 22 years. I was a Republican leader and was against Right to Work. I stood up on the floor as a Republican against Right to Work. And I’m still against Right to Work.”
Greitens is solidly behind such legislation. In a statement issued yesterday, campaign spokesperson Austin Chambers said “Right-to-Work gives workers freedom and makes Missouri more competitive.”
And Republican State Senator Bob Onder, who’s endorsed Greitens, claims economic numbers favor Missouri becoming a Right to Work state. “In the decade that ended in 2013, job growth has been 8.6 percent in Freedom to Work states, and only 3.7 percent in states that do not have Right to Work.” (Onder uses the term “Right to Work” and “Freedom to Work” interchangeably.)
He contends workers flourish in states with Right to Work laws. “There is no question that job growth has been dramatically faster, and that wage growth, as well, has been greater in Freedom to Work states.”
Jake Rosenfeld of Washington University in St. Louis, who’s studied the issue at length, disagrees. He says Right to Work in Missouri “will leave low and middle income workers more prey to management whims because they’ll find it harder to organize”.
Big money on both sides of the issue is streaming into the governor’s race. David Humphries, a prominent southeast Missouri business owner who supports Right to Work, donated $500,000 to the Greitens campaign this week. Koster’s received a number of large contributions from unions, including the United Auto Workers and the United Food and Commercial Workers. According to the site Follow the Money, he’s received over $7 million from labor interests in the current campaign. | 3,014 | 1,470 | 0.000725 |
warc | 201704 | Abstract
Low doses of ethanol cause flies to become hyperactive, while high doses are sedating. The sensitivity to ethanol-induced sedation of a given fly strain is correlated with that strain s ethanol preference, and therefore sedation is a highly relevant measure to study the genetics of alcohol responses and drinking. We demonstrate a simple way to expose flies to ethanol and measure its intoxicating effects. The assay we describe can determine acute sensitivity, as well as ethanol tolerance induced by repeat exposure. It does not require a technically involved setup, and can therefore be applied in any laboratory with basic fly culture tools. | 658 | 384 | 0.002616 |
warc | 201704 | Abstract
Abstract Introduction Population-based evaluation on the incidence of postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) has not yet been reported for Asians receiving arthroplasty. In Taiwan, thromboprophylaxis was not commonly applied for patients. The population-based cohort study aimed to investigate the epidemiology, and to determine the risk factors VTE for patients receiving hip or knee replacement without pharmacological thromboprophylaxis in Taiwan. Materials and Methods We retrospectively acquired patients’ data from National Health Insurance databases representing more than 99% of about 23 million Taiwanese citizens. The primary outcome was the incidence of composite symptomatic VTE within 28days after receiving hip or knee replacement surgery. Results During 2002 to 2006, there were 114,026 patients undergoing hip (n=61,460) or knee (n=52,566) replacement surgery. The occurrence rate of overall postoperative VTE was 0.44%. The incidence of pulmonary embolism was four in 10,000 patients receiving hip replacement or seven in 10,000 individuals undergoing knee replacement. The weekly cumulative incidence of VTE was persistently rising up to 28days after surgery. Dramatic increase in risk of post-surgical VTE was associated with prior disease history of PE (p<0.001 for hip replacement, p=0.01 for knee replacement) or DVT (p=0.004 for hip replacement, p<0.001 for knee replacement). Prior claim of congestive heart failure was an independent risk factor associated with patients receiving knee arthroplasty (p=0.01). Conclusion Life-threatening PE occurred and increased cumulatively up to 28days after hip or knee arthroplasty in Asians. Proper prophylaxis for patients with the exposure of high risks needs to be scrutinized. | 1,765 | 870 | 0.001155 |
warc | 201704 | NFIB Study Finds Small Business Hiring Dropped in June
Despite nationwide economic growth that surpassed expectations in June, small business hiring dropped again last month, suggesting small businesses played only a minor role in gains made across the country. According to the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB), employment at small firms declined by an average of 0.09 employees, more than double the decline reported in May.
More small businesses are shrinking rather than growing, the report found, and optimism among entrepreneurs is falling. NFIB chief economist Bill Dunkelberg attributed some of the decline to confusion and concern over the major health care reforms that were recently delayed.
In a statement, Dunkelberg criticized the federal government for their small business policies.
“We only have to look to Washington for reasons why our economy can’t seem to maintain steam and is on a painfully slow journey towards job creation,” Dunkelberg said.
Although Washington practices have had mixed results in helping small business owners, the drop in hiring is likely also due to external factors. Sales have been lagging this summer, despite 195,000 new jobs being added to the economy in June.
Hesitant to hire Wary business owners may also be one of the root causes of slow hiring rates. Companies that have weathered the ups and downs of the economy over the past several years are still hesitant to make new hires and take on any additional overhead costs.
These business owners are, according to Sageworks chairman Brian Hamilton, waiting for the economy to show steady improvement before making any workforce changes. Hamilton went on to tell The
Washington Post that hiring rates are still lower than where he and other financial experts expected they would be by 2013.
With low sales numbers and slow growth, some small business owners are having a hard time making ends meet. If an individual is looking for advice on getting a small business loan, or needs a cash advance for business operations, they can consult National Funding for advice. | 2,112 | 1,087 | 0.000931 |
warc | 201704 | We're weather-proofing our trails
Here at Dinefwr, where conservation of the land and wildlife is a key part of what we do, erosion of the park's vegetation is something we want to avoid. Our work will maintain the quality of the natural environment which makes Dinefwr so special and gives it a status of Wales' only parkland National Nature Reserve.
So why are we doing this work?
Increasing visitor numbers and footfall on some of our more popular routes is bound to have an effect on the paths, especially in the wetter months. We are seeing increased erosion of vegetation on our more popular paths which exposes the soil underneath which then results in these paths becoming muddy and often very slippery.
So what are we doing?
The improvement work will take place on several key areas of the park including the Deer Park, mill pond and front fields. In our first phase of work we will be working on the following paths:
Browns Path – Deer Park – Surfacing of 500m of path through the deer park to the vista point Cattle Walk - Newton House to Home Farm – Surfacing of 250m of path and drainage installation Mill pond – extending the hard surfacing of the boardwalk across the mill pond wall. Flood Plain track – levelling and compacting the existing path surface to prevent water holding on the surface.
Each year the National Trust spends around £160,000 on the Dinefwr property just to maintain access and undertake day to day land management work on the estate.
It’s also worth noting that this figure doesn’t include any of the additional areas of the estate under its care such as Newton House and the other property buildings and facilities.
Over the next two years we will be investing a further £125,000 on our path network and conservation objectives to show our continued commitment and investment in ensuring our visitors continued enjoyment of the park and the protection of its flora and fauna.
Can you help?
Over the next two years you will see us weather-proofing the most popular Dinefwr paths, installing new gateways, sign posting, and carrying out hedge row and boundary restoration, road repairs, tree maintenance and scrub clearance as well as a number of temporary path diversions to aid ground cover to re-establish.
We ask that you be patient with us whilst this work is going on and do what you can to help us by following any health and safety signage or directional signage you come across. | 2,483 | 1,249 | 0.00082 |
warc | 201704 | OBJECTIVE:
Prevalence of alcohol consumption and abuse among patients with medical emergencies, accidents and violence, attending an emergency room in one of three public health hospitals in Pachuca, Hidalgo, was studied.
MATERIAL AND METHODS:
Patients answered a questionnaire and their blood alcohol was measured on their first visit to the emergency room. The questionnaire gathered socio-demographic data, patterns of alcohol consumption and included scales for heavy and dependent drinkers, such as the CAGE and the alcohol use disorders identification test (AUDIT). Injured and non-injured patients were compared with the chi 2 statistics.
RESULTS:
A total of 1,511 patients were evaluated. Alcohol consumption was higher in those attending for accidents or violence than in medical patients. Positive blood alcohol levels were found in 17.7% of injured patients and 15.8% reported alcohol consumption 6 hours prior to the accident. According to the CAGE, 9.2% of the patients were alcohol-dependent, and 10.9% were heavy drinkers according to the AUDIT.
CONCLUSIONS:
Alcohol consumption, especially among emergency room patients attending for accidents or injuries is high. Preventive measures are indispensable to diminish social and individual costs of alcohol abuse in this population. | 1,304 | 686 | 0.001468 |
warc | 201704 | Microparticles (MPs) resulting from vesiculation of platelets and other blood cells have been extensively documented in vitro and have been found in increased numbers in several vascular diseases, but little is known about MPs of endothelial origin. The aim of this study was to analyze morphological, immunological, and functional characteristics of MPs derived from human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) stimulated by TNF, and to investigate whether these MPs are detectable in healthy individuals and in patients with a prothrombotic coagulation abnormality. Electron microscopy evidenced bleb formation on the membrane of TNF-stimulated HUVECs, leading to increased numbers of MPs released in the supernatant. These endothelial microparticles (EMPs) expressed the same antigenic determinants as the corresponding cell surface, both in resting and activated conditions. MPs derived from TNF-stimulated cells induced coagulation in vitro, via a tissue factor/factor VII-dependent pathway. The expression of E-selectin, ICAM-1, alphavbeta3, and PECAM-1 suggests that MPs have an adhesion potential in addition to their procoagulant activity. In patients, labeling with alphavbeta3 was selected to discriminate EMPs from those of other origins. We provide evidence that endothelial-derived MPs are detectable in normal human blood and are increased in patients with a coagulation abnormality characterized by the presence of lupus anticoagulant. Thus, MPs can be induced by TNF in vitro, and may participate in vivo in the dissemination of proadhesive and procoagulant activities in thrombotic disorders. | 1,616 | 816 | 0.001227 |
warc | 201704 | The neuropeptide calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) has long been postulated to play an integral role in the pathophysiology of migraine. While clinical findings are consistent with such a role, the specific pathogenic mechanisms of CGRP in migraine have remained speculative until recently. Through advances in molecular neuroscience, the pathogenic mechanisms of CGRP in migraine have begun to be elucidated. This paper discusses the hypothesized role of CGRP in migraine and reviews recent findings on the molecular mechanisms of this neuropeptide in migraine pathophysiology. Studies in cultured trigeminal neurons demonstrate that CGRP is released from trigeminal ganglia cells, that CGRP transcription is increased under conditions mimicking neurogenic inflammation, that migraine pharmacotherapies can both reduce CGRP release and inhibit CGRP transcription, and that tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), an endogenous inflammatory mediator implicated in migraine, can stimulate CGRP transcription. Together, the results suggest that, in migraine, activation of trigeminal nerves release CGRP and other peptides that cause the release of proinflammatory mediators. These mediators further increase CGRP synthesis and release over hours to days in correspondence with the 4- to 72-hour duration of a typical migraine episode. The increased CGRP synthesis and release might be mediated by activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase pathways, which, in turn, can be modulated by endogenous inflammatory substances such as TNF-alpha and affected by drugs such as sumatriptan. | 1,592 | 747 | 0.00134 |
warc | 201704 | Platinum-based regimens are the cornerstones of therapy in adjuvant and neoadjuvant management of early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, the survival benefit associated with platinum-based chemotherapy is marginal and therefore adequate patient selection is essential. Excision repair cross complementation 1 (ERCC1) is a key-enzyme in the repair of platinum-DNA adducts that has been demonstrated to influence the response to platinum-based therapy. We performed a systematic review of the literature from 1996 to September 2007 on studies that assessed the role of ERCC1 in resected NSCLC. Overall, nine studies were identified. ERCC1 expression has been assessed by mRNA expression (n=5) and/or by protein expression (immunohistochemistry) (n=5). One study assessed ERCC1 status by both methods. In these studies, patients with early stage NSCLC treated by surgery alone survived longer if ERCC1 levels are high (favourable prognostic value of high ERCC1 level). Conversely, patients treated by surgery and who receive chemotherapy, either as adjuvant therapy or for disease relapse, have a better overall survival when ERCC1 levels are low (favourable predictive value of low ERCC1 level). ERCC1 expression might assist in selecting patients who will respond to adjuvant (neoadjuvant) platinum-based chemotherapy. However, further investigation is necessary in order to prospectively confirm these results and to ascertain the most appropriate method of assessment. Thoracic surgeons should participate in this field of research. | 1,553 | 805 | 0.001244 |
warc | 201704 | NOT so long ago, in a galaxy really rather close by, a small band of rebels has taken up arms to overthrow a dark empire…
No, this isn’t bad
Star Wars fan fiction. It’s a pretty good description of a battle for cosmology going on right now. On one side is the mighty firepower of cosmology’s standard model. It brings order to everything from the patterns in the big bang’s afterglow to the evolution of galaxies. But it can only do so using dark powers. There’s dark matter, an additional unseen stuff amounting to a quarter of everything in the universe, which keeps galaxies and clusters of galaxies in line and stops them from flying apart. Far outgunning even this, however, is dark energy. Representing more than two-thirds of the universe, dark energy is a mysterious, expansionist force whose very identity is unknown – but which has dominated the cosmos for the past 5 billion years.
Not for much longer, if the rebels lining up on the other side against the universe’s established order have anything to do with it. “In 10 years’ time, dark energy is gone,” says Thomas Buchert of Claude Bernard University in Lyon, France. Dark energy’s power, the insurgents claim, is a mere illusion created by the machinery of the standard model itself. They now aim to bring it down.
At the heart of this unbalanced conflict lies a founding principle of the universe – or at least, of cosmology since the days of Copernicus. He argued in the 16th century that Earth didn’t occupy any special place in the universe. This assertion has | 1,607 | 874 | 0.001201 |
warc | 201704 | With 50% of the UK’s fossil fuel carbon emissions coming from businesses and industrial processes, the Government had no choice but to take significant action if it was to meet the Kyoto target and cut emissions by 20%.
DEFRA began to work with industry associations to identify areas of potential emission savings. The UK Trade Association ICMMA – Industrial Cleaning Machinery Manufacturers Association liaised with the DEFRA run Water Technologies Group to establish criteria for water efficient cleaning machines.
The result was the DEFRA Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme. The scheme encourages use of green technology by providing tax incentives for companies who purchase qualifying equipment.
The initiative encourages the use of environmentally friendly cleaning machines and in particular water efficient scrubber dryers. In short it encourages businesses to invest in water saving technology.
The DEFRA water scheme allows the whole cost of qualifying equipment to be claimed against tax in the first year. For larger companies the main rate of corporation tax is 28%. When buying scrubber dryers that qualify as water efficient, the purchasing company saves 28% on the cost of the machine. For smaller companies this rate is still a healthy 21%.
Qualifying machines are listed, by model, on the Water Technology List (WTL) and the manufacturer is entitled to use the WTL logo where appropriate.
Scrubber Dryer water efficiency is measured as the area of floor cleaned per litre of water used – (m2/l).
To become DEFRA approved, walk behind scrubber dryers must exceed 60 m2/l at a floor speed of 1.33 m/s, ride on machines must achieve a floor speed of 1.84 m/s.
All Companies, irrespective of size or industry segment can claim purchase costs against tax in the first year. Claims can only be made on investments in new machinery and costs can include installation and transport expenses.
The Nilfisk group have the greatest amount of water efficient Scrubber Dryers approved on the Water Technology List. Approximately 50 Nilfisk models are now DEFRA certified and can be found listed on the WTL site www.eca-water.gov.uk
Models range from the walk behind BA451 that has a scrub width of 450mm through to the ride on scrubber dryer BR855 with a cleaning path of 860mm. Models are regularly tested by DEFRA to ensure they meet the eligibility criteria and include the benefit of Ecoflex. The Ecoflex concept allows the operator of the machine to match the machines performance to the level of soiling using minimal amounts of water, power and detergent.
Nilfisk Sales Director, Leigh Mason, commented on the DEFRA initiative: ‘We are obviously delighted to have such a high number of models approved on the Water Technology List. This is testament to the valiant efforts of our product development teams over many years. Water is also now a significant cost factor so this initiative fits very well with our total cost of ownership focus.’
End users requiring information may contact the WTL advice line on 0844 875 5885 or email wtl@aeat.co.uk. | 3,097 | 1,519 | 0.000667 |
warc | 201704 | Increased competition in the NJ business environment places significant pressure on employers to control costs. Premiums are based, in part, on the extent and severity of a policyholder's workers' compensation claims. However, many costs associated with workers' compensation insurance are considered manageable expenses.
NJM offers the following resources to help policyholders prevent accidents and control their workers' compensation insurance expenses: | 459 | 281 | 0.003582 |
warc | 201704 | Book a consultation with one of our leading ophthalmic surgeons to determine whether cataract surgery could be right for you. They will run a detailed assessment to help you find the best course of treatment, and if you find you are not able to have cataract surgery, they will advise you on another solution, taking your needs and lifestyle into account.
From colours appearing faded to problems with bright lights, there are a number of cataract symptoms to be aware of. If you notice any of them, you should book an appointment with an ophthalmic consultant as soon as possible. Cataracts will get gradually worse as time passes, so there is no time to wait.
You are likely to be accepted for cataract surgery if your eyes are generally in good shape and you do not have any other type of serious eye condition that impacts your vision. However, the only way to know for sure if you are a suitable candidate for cataract surgery is to book an appointment with an ophthalmic surgeon. Cataract surgery with Optegra
Book a consultation with us, and one of our experienced consultants will carry out an in-depth assessment to find out whether cataract surgery is right for your needs. They will answer any queries you may have and talk you through what the operation entails.
You’ll see the same ophthalmic surgeon throughout the entire process, from your consultation to surgery and aftercare, so your treatment will be tailored to your needs at every step of the way.
At Optegra, we offer fixed prices for cataract surgery with numerous financing options available, so paying for your surgery is as straightforward as possible. | 1,640 | 791 | 0.001274 |
warc | 201704 | Selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) is a treatment for glaucoma.
What does selective laser trabeculoplasty (SLT) involve?
We’re one of the first eye hospital groups in the UK to offer SLT.
Step 1: Your in-depth consultation
Following a detailed assessment, your Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon will discuss the potential options and advise on the recommended course of treatment for you. The consultant will be the same person who carries out your procedure and your checks at follow-up appointments.
Step 2: The laser trabeculoplasty procedure
SLT uses a laser to stimulate the drainage tissue and promote drainage. It can be used as a primary therapy when glaucoma is first diagnosed and can be effective in lowering the eye pressure. It can also be used as a supplement to eye drop therapy to improve control of eye pressure.
Step 3: Rest and recovery
After your SLT procedure, you will be given details of any eye drops required before returning home. Your consultant may also provide you with some eye drops to use temporarily following treatment.
Step 4: Your aftercare
Your consultant will see you for a follow-up appointment to check on your progress, assess the results of your SLT procedure and answer any questions you may have. You will be provided with an emergency contact number so that if you do experience any unexpected symptoms, you can contact us.
Treatment Pricing
Click here for pricing information | 1,439 | 734 | 0.001381 |
warc | 201704 | Abstract
The effect of atmospheric turbulence on heterodyne lidar performance is studied by use of scattering theory. A theoretical analysis is carried out for both bistatic and monostatic lidar systems with independently variable transmitter and receiver parameters in regimes of weak and strong intensity fluctuations. The conditions of validity of a diffuse target model for description of the optical wave scattering by aerosols in a turbulent atmosphere are presented. The equations for signal power degradation and the conditions under which the time-averaged output of a heterodyne lidar does not depend on either turbulent conditions of propagation along the path or the transmitter parameters, including transmitter coherence length, are obtained. A physical interpretation of these results is given, and a comparison with the data of previous theories is made.
© 1993 Optical Society of AmericaFull Article | PDF Article
OSA Recommended Articles
Aniceto Belmonte and Barry J. Rye
Appl. Opt. 39(15) 2401-2411 (2000)
Kin Pui Chan, Dennis K. Killinger, and Nobuo Sugimoto
Appl. Opt. 30(18) 2617-2627 (1991)
Aniceto Belmonte
Opt. Express 11(20) 2525-2531 (2003) | 1,183 | 693 | 0.001463 |
warc | 201704 | The news flash: Researchers at McMaster University claim to have discovered how massage treats muscle soreness after exercise1 (delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS). This is a pretty hot news item, as allegedly good massage science news always is — everyone loves to love massage! — but there is too much hype and not enough good science. Unfortunately, there are several major problems with the study and its interpretation. The last time I checked, it’s just not safe to infer clinical mechanisms and benefits from a handful of biomarkers2 in a (very) small sample.
Inspired by the doubtful notion that “massage
may relieve pain in injured muscle” after intense exercise3 researchers Crane et al looked for changes in the proteins that cells constantly make (“gene expression” — more on this below). They compared muscle tissue samples with and without massage and concluded that “massage therapy appears to be clinically beneficial by reducing inflammation and promoting mitochondrial biogenesis.” Mitochondria are the energy-producing organs of cells — cell power plants — so promoting their growth sounds super helpful. Contributor Simon Melov has been particularly enthusiastic in his pronouncements [video]:
Our research showed that massage dampened the expression of inflammatory cytokines in the muscle cells and promoted biogenesis of mitochondria.
And the journal Science Translational Medicine summarized the article like this:
Beneficial effects of massage on tired muscles
workthrough anti-inflammatory and mitochondrial biogenesis pathways.
Sounds great, doesn’t it? If only we could believe it! The results of this study were actually
negative: the data showed that massage has no significant effects on gene expression muscle in cells,4 and certainly none that clearly explain any therapeutic effect.
The research was interesting and worthwhile, but the hype is much too thick. The authors, the journal, the media, and massage therapists everywhere are all talking like it’s now a science fact (“It’s science!”) that massage “reduces inflammation” and “stimulates mitochondrial growth.” But really, this a flawed and limited study with an interpretation that is debatable at best, and it panders to what we’d
like to believe about massage. It tries to explain an effect that doesn’t exist … an effect that massage didn’t really need. Massage feels great, regardless of whether it does anything to inflammation or mitochondria.
This is how myths are made, and it could well fall just as flat as the lactic acid myth — which is so ironic, because this paper actually put a nail in the coffin of that myth.5
The study was generally well-designed — the problems are almost entirely with interpretation. As massage studies go, it was clever, technical, and “science-y” and probably cost as much as a luxury sports car: Mark Tarnopolsky’s team profiled
gene expression in the damaged muscles of eleven athletes, with and without massage therapy. That’s just cool, and newsworthy in itself.
So what is gene profiling? It’s a method of analyzing which genes are
active — “expressed” — in a tissue sample. Genes are the code for proteins. So, this technique shows which proteins cells are busy cooking up.7 Specifically, they found a five-gene difference: cells in massaged muscle were, on average, making a little more or a little less of five proteins than cells in un-massaged muscle.
But how much more? How much less? Do we know what those proteins do? And how does this compare to changes in gene expression with exercise alone? I cannot emphasize enough how
mind-bogglingly complicated this biology is.
In fact, the differences were quite small. “None of them were particularly strongly turned on or turned off.”8
What can we really make of a handful of small differences in gene expression? Truly,
not much. The physiology is too complex to assume that these signals add up to anything therapeutic (or even benign).
Gene profiling is certainly interesting stuff and has great potential to solve many difficult problems in biology, but it is many steps removed from clinical reality and the actual results of a massage. The conclusions of the paper are no more than some educated, highly debatable guesses about the biological and clinical significance of those proteins … based on an older, simpler method of profiling to boot. Dr. Gorski:
These days, more sophisticated analyses, known as network analyses, are usually done. These involve looking for groups of genes that are turned on and off in synchrony that indicate broader pathways that are being turned on and off.
Single genes don’t actually mean all that much.It’s the groups of genes going up and down together as part of a pathway that truly indicate specific pathways being turned on and off.
So it is one thing to know that a protein is being produced and quite another to know what happens to it after that, and what it means. The biological fate of any given protein depends on many factors. As with other high-tech diagnostic and research methods, gene profiling creates both a marvelous opportunity
and the classic investigative hazard of “looking where the light is.”9 We tend to find and over-interpret whatever we can find and over-interpret. It’s extremely likely that other researchers could attempt the same research and get different results and/or come to different conclusions.
Clearly, exercise changes muscle cells — body builders are living proof of it. What about massage? Squishing muscle cells
might cause them to behave differently, and it was worth using this method to check. Cells are always making proteins — it’s what they do, constantly — and if they change which proteins they are making after a massage, that could certainly be interesting science.
Crane et al found a difference all right, but size matters — effect size. Bear in mind that there are
tens of thousands of genes.10 Five slight changes is no more than a biological blip.
It is all the more trivialized by a comparison to the effects of exercise. How much does a hard workout effect genetic activity? The effect of massage is simply
dwarfed by the number of genetic changes — many hundreds, even thousands — caused by exercise alone. And what is the clinical significance of all those changes? Your muscles’ cells are clearly doing things dramatically differently after exercise, and yet all you feel is “sore and weak.” In other words, it takes a lot of cellular changes to add up to a relatively minor change in your experience.
It makes all kinds of biological and evolutionary sense that exercise changes muscle, and we know that it does, and that is reflected in the genetics. In contrast, there’s no particular reason to believe that massage would change cells much, and this data seems to clearly show that it doesn’t — certainly not compared to exercise.
It is unclear how applicable knowledge of infection-induced inflammation is to other types of inflammation.
— Ruslan Medzhitov, “Origin and physiological roles of inflammation”
A major premise of Crane et al’s research is that intense exercise damages muscle and that the soreness we experience for a day or two afterwards — delayed-onset muscle soreness, or DOMS — is caused by “inflammation,” and that’s bad, and we should stop it if we can. Inflammation is always treated like a villain, but it is much too complex to assume that it is villainous … or even
present. Classic inflammation is mainly an infection-fighting system, and may have little or almost nothing in common with other recovery and healing processes.
The study identified only a few minor changes in gene expression, but inflammation itself generally involves many large changes in cellular behaviour. If massage were truly anti-inflammatory, it would cause much more significant changes — more like the changes caused by exercise itself.
One of the supposedly anti-inflammatory signs was a reduced production of cytokines (a gross oversimplification, but the same one that the authors of the paper chose). A cytokine is a class of proteins, and some of them are considered inflammatory. But cytokines are a large family of molecules used constantly by most cells for literally countless other reasons — so a small reduction in a particular cytokine is not smoking gun evidence of “reducing inflammation.”11 But even if it was, the decrease was truly unimpressive in size.
There’s an even more important, almost philosophical concern. DOMS isn’t particularly “inflammatory” to begin with — it’s radically different from classic inflammation, which is mainly an infection-fighting phenomenon. The immune system is not terribly worried about infection after a workout! The immune system is probably not terribly worried about infection after a workout. Anti-inflammatory medications like ibuprofen are considered anti-inflammatory because they suppress classic inflammation, and yet their effect on DOMS is distinctly underwhelming. In particular, their effect is notoriously “shallow”: they mask the pain without changing the duration or severity of DOMS, and you’re still just as weak.
There’s also evidence (and more pesky logic) that interfering with whatever is going on in DOMSy muscles could actually have
negative consequences. The pain may be a side effect of a necessary and natural recovery process that you don’t really want to mess with much. “Reducing inflammation” in this context may not be a meaningful therapeutic goal, or one that is entirely safe or free of unintended consequences — for instance, we know that icing muscles may disrupt adaptation to exercise!12
Assuming there’s an anti-inflammatory effect at all.
This paper claims to have found an
explanation for a therapeutic effect that doesn’t clearly exist, and this is where the gap between basic biology and clinical reality is most glaring: in the real world, massage does not reduce the pain of DOMS reliably or much.13 There is evidence that it helps, but the benefit is modest, “taking the edge off” at best. We can talk all day about cytokines and gene expression — whatever goes on in those cells, it does not add up to any significant pain reduction in people.
So we have here a classic case of an explanation in search of a phenomenon. And we’re a long way from a safe conclusion of clinical benefit. Perhaps the mitochondria thing?
“More mitochondria” is not actually what the paper found, although it sure does keep getting reported
as if it did14 and is discussed in that spirit. Massage therapy bloggers everywhere seem to be celebrating more mitochondria. As with the inflammation, it’s much ado about nothing.
What the authors actually reported is: “
potentiated mitochondrial biogenesis signaling” and “ promotes mitchondrial biogenesis.” More specifically, they might have found “one molecule that promotes the development of mitochondria by 20% at most” (Gorski). They didn’t find more mitochondria … they found a single mitochondrial growth signal. It’s the difference between finding bigger plants or just a few bags of fertilizer. Potash in a farmer’s barn does not mean there is a bumper crop.
Whether or not mitochondrial growth
actually happens depends on many biological inputs (like everything else that our cells do). Inferring from one signal in a small sample that “massage increases mitochondria” is an enormously optimistic leap. Here’s how another critic put it:
They literally haven’t shown that mitochondrial biogenesis is upregulated. Full stop. … There’s boatloads of assays these guys could have run in order to probe for higher levels of mitochondrial biogenesis, not to mention a plethora of genes related to biogenesis, fission, and fusion whose mRNA levels were not analyzed. Weak sauce.
— ScienceBasedMedicine.org commenter TheLabMix (“a researcher who works on mitochondria”)
The mitochondria claim here doesn’t make much biological sense,15 but it doesn’t explain anything about massage. There are no known effects of massage that have anything to do with growing more mitochondria. No such effect is even suspected or unwisely claimed. Since mitochondria provide energy to cells, growing more of them would improve muscle performance — a big deal. Imagine if that was true! Massaged athletes would have impressive, measurable advantages … which we already know is simply not the case. Massage is great stuff, but it’s not the secret sauce of Olympic champions.
Simon Melov said of his research: “There's general agreement that massage feels good, now we have a scientific basis for the experience.” We don’t have any such thing: it’s a few scraps of basic biology with
possible but unproven and unlikely relevance to massage effects that are minor at best. That’s half-baked. Over-interpretation of data like this is why “most research is wrong” — the more complex and further removed biology is from clinical outcomes, the more ways there are for it to get misinterpreted and distorted even by the researchers themselves (never mind science journalists and clinicians).16
More importantly, we
already have a scientific basis for why massage feels good which is perfectly understandable17 without resorting to a half-baked claim that massage treats inflammation, or even fully baked proof of it. Most people do not generally get massage to cure inflammation or DOMS! Post-event massage after intense exercise is fairly common among elite athletes, and doubtless that was the inspiration for the research, but such extreme exertions are irrelevant to most athletes,18 Certainly this research has nothing to do why the average person buys massage.19 Even if the paper is correct in every way — perhaps massage really is meaningfully anti-inflammatory — that would not remotely explain how most massage works.
I am a science writer, former massage therapist, and I was the assistant editor at ScienceBasedMedicine.org for several years. I have had my share of injuries and pain challenges as a runner and ultimate player. My wife and I live in downtown Vancouver, Canada. See my full bio and qualifications, or my blog,
Writerly. You might run into me on Facebook or Twitter. The proper conclusion of this study is that there was little or no significant effect in … gene expression from massage. That would have been perfectly fine as a conclusion. After all, negative studies happen and should be published. Yet that’s not what was concluded. They did not report what was in essence a negative study.Dr. Gorski’s analysis is thorough and much more technical than mine — he has done gene-profiling research — but well worth at least scanning through. Agree or disagree, his criticisms are so numerous and serious that it’s clear that the study can’t be a slam-dunk. BACK TO TEXT
It’s only one study, but …
yikes! This fascinating experiment done by Japanese researchers showed that regular icing for a few weeks after workouts resulted in a significant reduction in training effects: ice users didn’t get as strong. This implies that icing may interfere with normal post-exercise muscle physiology and prevent the process of muscles adapting to stress. This finding is reinforced by Tseng et al.
This
intensely intellectual paper — it’s completely, hopelessly nerdy — became one of the most downloaded articles in the history of the Public Library of Science and was described by the Boston Globe as an instant cult classic. Despite the title, the paper does not, in fact, say that “science is wrong,” but something much less sinister: that it should take rather a lot of good quality and convergent scientific evidence before we can be reasonably sure of something, and he presents good evidence that a lot of so-called conclusions are premature, not as “ready for prime time” as we would hope. This is not the least bit surprising to good scientists, who never claimed in the first place that their results are infallible or that their conclusions are “true.”
I go into much more detail here: Ioannidis: Making Medical Science Look Bad Since 2005.BACK TO TEXT | 16,790 | 7,010 | 0.00015 |
warc | 201704 | Deyo and Weinstein’s 2001 low back pain tutorial PainSci summary of Deyo 2001?This page is one of thousands in the PainScience.com bibliography. It is not a general article: it is focussed on a single scientific paper, and it may provide only just enough context for the summary to make sense. Links to other papers and more general information are provided at the bottom of the page, as often as possible. ★★★★☆?4-star ratings are for larger and better studies and reviews published in more prestigious journals, with only quibbles. Ratings are a highly subjective opinion, and subject to revision at any time. If you think this paper has been incorrectly rated, please let me know.
Although it’s getting old, this remains an excellent tutorial for health professionals, offering a thorough and sensible survey of current medical knowledge about low back pain. Deyo and Weinstein are strongly critical of overmedicalization and excessive imaging and surgery for low back pain, and emphasize the favourable prognosis for most back pain, the poor correlation between imaging results and symptoms, and the absence of any clear pathophysiological mechanism to explain most low back pain. All of their key points have been reinforced by scientific evidence ever since.
related content
These ten articles on PainScience.com cite Deyo 2001 as a source:
PS When to Worry About Low Back Pain — And when not to! What’s bark and what’s bite? PS Trigger Points & Myofascial Pain Syndrome — A guide to the unfinished science of muscle pain, with reviews of every theory and self-treatment and therapy option PS (Almost) Never Use Ice on Low Back Pain! — An important exception to conventional wisdom about icing and heating PS Save Yourself from Low Back Pain! — Low back pain myths debunked and all your treatment options reviewed PS Save Yourself from Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome! — Patellofemoral pain syndrome (aka runner’s knee) explained and discussed in great detail, including every imaginable self-treatment option and all the available scientific evidence PS A Historical Perspective On Aches ‘n’ Pains — We are living in a golden age of pain science and musculoskeletal medicine … sorta PS Your Back Is Not Out of Alignment — Debunking the obsession with alignment, posture, and other biomechanical bogeymen as major causes of pain PS MRI and X-Ray Often Worse than Useless for Back Pain — Medical guidelines “strongly” discourage the use of MRI and X-ray in diagnosing low back pain, because they produce so many false alarms PS Reading Guide for Skeptics — A tour of PainScience.com for readers who have doubts and concerns about the validity and efficacy of popular treatments for injuries and chronic pain PS Massage Therapy Kinda, Sorta Works for Back Pain — It works, but not very well, and “advanced” techniques are no better than relaxation massage | 2,997 | 1,517 | 0.000692 |
warc | 201704 | IVA – When switching from a Debt Management Plan
An Individual Voluntary Arrangement (IVA) is normally a five year agreement with your unsecured creditors that helps you avoid bankruptcy. You get protection from those creditors and you only pay back a proportion of your unsecured debts and write the rest off.
If you’re worried about your debts, PayPlan can help you. You can call us now on 0800 280 2816 PayPlan help all kinds of people in debt
Over the last twenty years, PayPlan have helped millions of people who were having difficulty in paying their debts.
Everyone’s circumstances are unique, and our experienced advisers will be able to suggest next steps for you no matter what your financial situation.
This page outlines a very specific case study: where a client was able to switch from her Debt Management Plan, avoid bankruptcy, and then repay only a proportion of her unsecured debts after we set up an IVA for her.
IVA case study – switching from a Debt Management Plan
We originally helped a shop assistant set up a Debt Management Plan (DMP). She owed £15,000 (mainly to credit cards) and, after her living costs were taken into account, could afford to make a monthly payment of £200 to her debts. She initially preferred a DMP as she felt she could pay her debts back in full.
However, even though creditors typically freeze interest and charges in a DMP, in her case one of her creditors was continuing to add interest and charges. This meant it would take a lot longer than expected to pay the debts back in full.
In view of this, we reviewed the client’s debt solution options with them. The client decided to proceed with an IVA, meaning all interest and charges were frozen and ensured that the client paid back their unsecured debts in five years.
An IVA may help you, even if you are currently in a Debt Management Plan
Are you serious about getting out of debt?
Successfully completing an IVA means avoiding bankruptcy and not having to deal with any more unsecured creditor demands for payment. You’ll normally make just one affordable payment for a set period of time, and creditors included in the IVA must freeze interest and charges at the point your IVA is agreed.
Become a PayPlan IVA client and you get:
A personal debt adviser to handle your IVA case Just one regular payment to make, based on what you can afford to pay All the support of a company who have, over the last twenty years, helped tens of thousands of people achieve debt-free status through an IVA After the agreed IVA period, whatever unsecured debt remains is written off
And remember, at PayPlan, we do not charge any upfront fees for setting up an IVA.
However you must bear in mind that if you were, for whatever reason, to stop making payments to your IVA then your plan may fail; in which case your creditors may re-apply interest and charges (which were frozen at the point your IVA was approved) or may even petition for your bankruptcy. Read more about the pros and cons of bankruptcy
Want to avoid bankruptcy? Think an IVA could help you manage your debts more affordably? Many people choose to call us on 0800 280 2816 for free no-obligation debt advice, while others prefer to fill in our online Debt Help form so we can call them back. | 3,311 | 1,547 | 0.000658 |
warc | 201704 | To stay warm and comfortable while hiking, Quechua and the Oxylane group component brands recommend that you dress according to the "3 layers" system as far as possible.
3 layers, 3 thicknesses of clothing.
But not just any old clothing.
1-Moisture management
2-Warmth 3-Protection against bad weather Here is the advice from Quechua and its partner component brands about how to dress properly for hiking. Protect yourself properly from the cold with different layers
To make the most out of outdoor activities it is essential to combine comfort and warmth. Here we reveal the most effective tip: the 3 layer technique!
The body sweats during physical activity even if it is cold which can cause a "freezing" effect when exertion becomes less intense. For optimal comfort it is therefore essential to know how to dress yourself according to your needs. Wearing three layers means you can respond to three needs: managing moisture from the body properly, being warm, being protected from bad weather.
> LAYER 1: MOISTURE MANAGEMENT
The first layer closest to the skin should be a technical base layer. Thanks to its specific components, it wicks moisture away from the body and keeps you dry.
During exercise, the technical base layer allows the body to wick moisture away and therefore to regulate its temperature. This prevents the body from overheating
After exercise it dries quickly, which limits the freezing-effect, the cooling down that occurs when the water trapped in the fabric evaporates.
> LAYER 2: WARMTH
This is the middle layer, which should be a sweater or a polar fleece jacket. Quechua fleeces which are made with Stratermic keep you warm and wick away moisture.
The purpose of the fleece layer is to use its thickness to create a layer of air between the first and the third layer. Air is actually the best thermal insulator.
> LAYER 3: PROTECTION
This is the last layer which is in contact with the outside. It should be a waterproof and breathable jacket with a Novadry membrane. The membrane stops water penetrating into the fabric (waterproof) and sweat is wicked away (breathable); the jacket protects you from rain, snow and wind.
For mid-seasons combinations may vary:
- technical base layer + jacket if it is raining or windy.
- technical base layer + wind-proof and breathable fleece.
Good to know: merino wool can be worn in winter and summer alike, because its hollow fibres prevent odours developing and it has a great capacity to absorb and wick moisture away from the body. | 2,532 | 1,264 | 0.000799 |
warc | 201704 | Hello, I'm planning on having the BBL procedure this year. My height is 5'2 and my weight is 175. Should I lose 20 more pounds before I have the procedure? My body shape is "V-shape". Also current jean size 14, after body contouring what size will I end up with? and what amount of fat will be removed overall? Thank you.
Getting a Brazilian Butt Lift, Should I Lose a Little Weight First? Doctor Answers 5 Recommendations for Brazilian Butt Lift Require and Examination
Hi there-
It would unfortunately be impossible to advise you without first examining you.
I would find a surgeon Certified by The American Board of Plastic Surgery whose work you admire and visit for a consultation.
How big do you want to be?
Dear Luna,
The answer to your question may lie in the answer to "how big do you want your buttocks to be?" In general, it is always better to lose weight before surgery and maintain that weight for at least 3-6 months to make sure that you can maintain it. However, many of my patients want to be as large as I can make them. And, many times I am limited by the amount of fat available for transfer. So, if your goal is to have as large a buttocks as possible, then you may want to save the weight loss for after the surgery. Good luck!
I am 5'2'' and 175 pounds. Should I lose 20 pounds before undergoing the Brazilian Butt Lift?
In order to undergo the Brazilian Butt Lift you need to have adequate donor fat. From your height and weight measurements it would seem that you have enough fat; in fact probably more than you need. If you want to lose 20 pounds, I would suggest losing the weight it prior tp your surgery. I think you will be a better candidate overall for the procedure. Good luck!
You might also like... BBL can have dramatic results!
BBL is really two procedures in one. The biggest and most complicated part is performing careful liposculpting to make sure you remove enough fat safely and to leave behind the right curves. This alone will dramatically improve the shape of your back and buttocks. The fat grafting to the buttocks for augmentation is technically a much smaller but equally important part of the surgery. This is best done when you are closer to your healthiest weight; you don't want to be too overweight or too underweight. Discuss your weight loss goals with your doctor. The healthier you are the safer the surgery. Make sure you go to a board-certified surgeon who performs this type of procedure regularly in a certified center (not in an office setting). Depending on your health status and the experience of the doctor, large volumes up to 5 to 7 liters can be removed safely. Good Luck
Weight loss before brazilian butt lift- depends on the patient
Based on your current weight, it would be a good idea to lose 20 pounds prior to a Brazilian buttock lift procedure. You will have fewer complications if you go into the surgery at a lower body weight. You should still have enough fat to perform the procedure properly. Consult with an experienced board certified plastic surgeon to determine that you are a good candidate for this surgery.
Best wishes,
Dr.Bruno
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship. | 3,411 | 1,637 | 0.000615 |
warc | 201704 | How Much Office and Personal Space Do You Want?—Motives and Causes of Spatial Preferences
In a previous article, “
Work Space and Office Creativity: Does Size Really Count?“, I argued that, contrary to research suggesting the size of a workplace space directly correlates with creative performance, it may count less as an influence on creativity than the quality of the space, including whether its boundaries and partitions create a sense of isolation or suffocation, privacy or teamwork.
Now, I want to consider, apart from benefits and costs of workspace size, the motivations and other causes of size preferences, irrespective of how those preferences actually directly impact work performance.
Knowing why an employee prefers a larger or a smaller space can provide valuable clues to other aspects of his or her personality, character, work perceptions and work style that independently of space can impact job role and performance.
Sizing Up the Size Motive
I suspect that If a staff member has a marked preference for bigger or smaller work space, one or more of the following may factor in as motivation or other contributing cause:
: When a staff member wants and gets a big office, we instinctively understand that this means power—both as a goal and as an outcome. But why is that? A close look at how the territorial instinct in other species works provides an answer: Acquisition and retention of prime turf and territory, including nests and nesting sites, are well-documented motivators—indeed, often blind instincts—underlying animal (including human) invasion, occupation, exploitation and defense of a space. Recall Hitler’s Lebensraum—”living space” expansionist obsession, as a rationale for territorial invasion and conquest. Territoriality
It is also well-known that in confrontations between otherwise well-matched adversaries (which was not the case with Nazi Germany vs. Poland in 1939) those occupying a territory are likely to have the edge in confrontations over it, if only because, in the animal kingdom, prime territories offer the best food sources, shelter, building materials, etc., that promote strength, vigor and vitality critical to competition, confrontation and continuation of the blood line.
However, on top of that, there is the curious, but compelling logic that explains why a resident territory occupier and defender—a black widow spider, for example, like the one shown here, will have the advantage when challenged by otherwise competitively nearly indistinguishable intruders of her or his own species.
The gist is this: If the intruder were to somehow generally have the edge, resident spiders would generally be forced to flee, thereby disrupting their entire life cycle, including breeding and feeding, forcing them to yield, vacate and themselves adopt the role of an intruder rather than breeder.
As a result, being a resident would be inherently unstable as a life strategy and too brief to permit successful breeding competition with intruders, who themselves, once residents, would be forced to vacate the territory upon the arrival of another intruder, thereby jeopardizing their own reproductive survival, and by implication, of their entire species.
Presumably, species of spiders that over the course of evolution opted for flight rather than fight in defense of a territory proved to be unsuccessful with limited or zero long-term reproductive survival prospects. This means that even if intruders were in some respect superior adversaries and always or generally triumphed, thereby outbreeding the displaced residents, once they dominated the population gene pool, resident flight would become the norm, with all of the unfavorable consequences for reproduction mentioned above, regardless or indeed because of the superior gene-controlled invader behavior.
The implication for the human workplace is that if some form of territorial drive underlies a staffer’s preference for a space that is not just big, but also bigger and better than that of others, (s)he probably sees himself or herself as a force to be reckoned with and not resisted, and fully capable of defense against any challenges. If the analogy with spider resident-edge logic holds, (s)he will probably be right.
: In some instances, an employee’s preference for a big workspace may be a marker and motivator for the exact opposite of the territorial alpha-(fe)male staffer’s or boss’s power ambitions. Rather than having a self-perception as an irresistible, superior force, the buffer-seeker may feel vulnerable and insecure and therefore want more space and distance from in-house threats. Buffer
On one interpretation, Russia’s desire to keep Ukraine out of a NATO quilt may be a manifestation of a desire for such a geo-political buffer (between itself and arch-invader Germany), rather than evidence of expansionist, overweening territorial ambition.
Hence, in the workplace, a strongly expressed preference or drive for a big(ger) or at least well-partitioned office may indicate a very defensive posture and objectives, rather than anything self-aggrandizing—with obvious implications regarding the likely course of in-house relationships and maneuverings.
I prefer small spaces—both personal and work space. By this I mean a preference for a smaller rather than larger total floor space and also for a single smaller space rather than a larger compartmentalized partitioned space, e.g., a 250 square-foot A-frame cottage, in preference to an 800 square-foot 1-bedroom condo with several rooms. Convenience:
Likewise, I prefer a workspace with only one smaller room over one with two rooms, irrespective of their size. One reason for this across-the-board preference is convenience. Because everything is in one compact space, fetching needed items is much easier.
I have never been able to fathom the appeal of a 10,000 square-foot Hollywood mansion, given the required traipsing about looking for car keys or the book put down somewhere—unless I also had servants tasked with that (if I were sure which rooms they are in and didn’t have to look for them as well).
It’s ditto for the workspace; by definition a separate room is one out of sight, unless all walls are glass, which means it cannot be scanned and must therefore be searched for desired items. No thanks. I like the panopticon features and convenience of a single smaller, cozier room.
: There’s a humorous recitation that nicely sums up America’s obvious obsession with “big”—”When I was a punk kid and wannabe, I wanted to become a big shot, and make the big time, with my big ideas. I got involved with some big shots, did some big deals, drove a big car, had a big condo, ate big steaks, made big money, scored big with the chicks, but made some big mistakes and got into big trouble with the law. I got sentenced to big time in the big house, stuck in a very small cell.” Gigantomania
As a corollary to territoriality, such gigantomania—obsession with bigness (including big muscles and breasts, gigantic HDTV screens, monster trucks, SUVs and Great Danes)—seems to value bigness as an end in itself (although in fact usually tied in with cravings for power, safety, status, etc.).
[Note: I am using the term "gigantomania" following usage in which it is broader than obsession with and production of gigantic architecture and statues of the sort Hitler commissioned.]
Accordingly, an employee or boss who insists on having a very big, if not the biggest office, may simply be afflicted with gigantomania—in the form of a culturally-fueled and structured desire for big space with big windows and a big desk, just because it is the American Way, rather than because of or in addition to some insecurity or arrogance.
: As I see it, a single smaller space offers greater ease of integration of all functional aspects of the space, be it personal or work space. Rather than being like an aggregate of contiguous cells (in the form of multiple rooms) or a single large cell (like an ostrich egg), the smaller single-unit space makes the integration of all functions visibly and logistically obvious, e.g., using a bed as a work and rest place or dinner table as a desk, with easy segues from one function to another. Larger and/or partitioned spaces don’t offer that. Integration vs. Compartmentalization
Why then, would anyone prefer unintegrated, separated and/or compartmentalized larger personal or work space? [Note: Although compartmentalization and size are independent variables, they tend to correlate proportionately, despite subdivision of rental spaces to generate more income from more affordable smaller units.]
Historically, the creation of and preference for functionally separate and therefore larger spaces was favored by the ruling class, be they aristocracies, warrior or wealthy merchant or landowning classes—mostly for the buffering purposes of privacy, safety and perpetuation of their mystique (as a peasant control technique).
For example, they instituted separation of the servant and sentinel quarters and toilets from the masters’, or reception areas reserved for guests, distant from the living quarters of nobility. (This was in contrast to peasant hovels in which the living quarters were often shared with livestock.)
It is, I suggest, therefore quite likely that such functional separation of the sort typical of Hollywood A-list stars and Silicon Valley titan mansions. e.g., into den, solarium, rec room, sauna, music room, studio, stable and the like, is inspired by the status and cachet of such privileged antecedents, much as the chic and form of the popular sports jacket derived from the hunting apparel of landed gentry.
Manifestations of snobbery-motivated functional separation and demarcation of work space won’t be hard to find, even if harder to justify than truly functional “functional” workspace compartmentalization of the kinds found in a factory or lab.
So, when dealing with personnel, designers or bosses who favor or propose multiple single-function spaces, it is important to ask whether or not the resulting design and allocation of the space is about actual utility or mere vanity.
With insight into the motives and factors underlying their preferences for bigger or smaller work space, one can peer into the character and personality of the colleagues, employees or bosses who occupy or are preoccupied with it and decide exactly how much space or wide a berth to give them…
…while making some space for expanded self-understanding.
Post your resume to the largest network of recruiters on the planet. START | 10,806 | 4,944 | 0.000207 |
warc | 201704 | Short term effects of not drinking enough water include fatigue, the inability to focus and headaches, and long term effects can range from constipation to kidney stones. In severe cases, dehydration can lead to death, according to WebMD.Continue Reading
Usually, one of the first signs of not drinking enough water is a dry mouth or a feeling of thirst. However, by the time a person feels thirsty, dehydration has already begun. Besides feeling thirsty, people who are suffering from dehydration sometimes suffer from headaches, dizziness, heart palpitations and confusion, notes WebMD. In addition, the person will urinate less frequently, and the urine will be a dark yellow. If dehydration is the culprit behind these health issues, drinking water should alleviate the symptoms.
In some cases, dehydration is brought about due to other health conditions. For example, diabetes, diarrhea and skin infections can all make retaining water difficult for the body.
In other cases, too much exercise can also lead to dehydration. However, one problem athletes commonly face is drinking too much water. When a person drinks too much water, they risk diluting the vital sodium balance within the body. This may cause seizures and confusion. Sports drinks are made to hydrate without ruining the sodium balance and are important for those who exercise more than one hour in warm temperatures.Learn more about Nutritional Amounts & Limits | 1,438 | 730 | 0.001375 |
warc | 201704 | While it varies, the ideal range for blood glucose in most adults is between 70 and 130 milligrams per deciliter before meals. This increases to less than 180 milligrams per deciliter within two hours of eating, as Healthline explains.Continue Reading
Blood glucose transports needed energy to cells, explains WebMD. Blood glucose levels are tested by either a fasting plasma test or an oral glucose test. Both tests require fasting for at least eight hours. For the fasting test, blood is drawn and tested immediately, while the oral glucose test is taken by consuming a sugary beverage, waiting two hours, then testing glucose levels.Learn more about Medical Ranges & Levels | 679 | 396 | 0.002536 |
warc | 201704 | This course focuses on real world community problems, engaged scholarship and the evaluation of Penn programs and partnerships intended to improve social conditions in West Philadelphia. The course is rooted in Public Interest Anthropology (PIA). Two trends emerge from the rubric of public interest social science: 1.) merging problem solving with theory and analysis in the interest of change motivated by a commitment to social justice, racial harmony, equality, and human rights; and 2.) engaging in public debate on human issues to make the research results accessible to a broad audience. Combining these focus areas, this course will deal with critical research and the evaluation of programs organized around academically-based community service (ABCS) with a focus on social change. As part of the course, students will conduct an evaluation of an actively-running Netter Center/Penn program designed to improve quality of life and/or health status among West Philadelphia children, youth and families to support a mutually-beneficial partnership. The focus of the evaluation will be dependent upon student interest, the number of students in the course, and program needs.
Section 401 - SEM -
W 0200PM-0500PM
SUESS, GRETCHEN E. L.
UNIVERSITY MUSEUM 419
Department of AnthropologyMuseum, Room 325, 3260 South Street Philadelphia, PA 19104Phone: (215) 898-7461 Fax: (215) 898-7462 | 1,395 | 797 | 0.001261 |
warc | 201704 | Editor's Note: We are republishing this new story from our February 1995 issue as part of our in-depth report on Science at the Movies.
The world was safe all along. Back in the 1950s, moviemakers regularly served up the spectacle of creatures from other planets attempting to take over our bucolic little orb. Heroic earthlings fought the aliens with dynamite, napalm, atomic torpedoes and bad acting. But had the heroes been better acquainted with life-history strategies -- the reproductive behaviors that determine patterns of population growth -- they might not have bothered.
“In general,” says May R. Berenbaum, professor of entomology at the University of Illinois, “none of [the aliens] exhibit the opportunistic sorts of reproductive traits or characteristics of organisms that successfully colonize.” Her findings help to explain why earthlings should be afraid of at least some contemporary invaders “such as zebra mussels, bark beetles, medflies and, perhaps, the sluglike aliens featured in one of last year’s movies, The Puppet Masters. Berenbaum’s first try at sharing her interest in cinematic biology was an abortive attempt to organize an insect film festival while she was a graduate student in entomology at Cornell University. “I thought it could be a way to attract a large audience to insect issues,” she recalls. Shortly after joining the faculty at Illinois, however, she teamed up with Richard J. Leskosky, assistant director of the university’s Unit for Cinema Studies, to get the bug film festival finally flying. The couple went on to produce several papers on insects in movies and cartoons, as well as a daughter -- the aficionado of entomology and the film buff were married in 1988. In 1991 Berenbaum was invited to lecture at the Midwest Population Biology Conference. “I thought it might be entertaining to look at population biology in the movies,” she says. “And a recurrent biological theme in films is the idea of invading organisms.” It seemed a testable hypothesis to see whether fictional invaders share the attributes that invading organisms in real biotic communities display. So Berenbaum and Leskosky looked at the life histories of aliens in science-fiction movies released in the 1950s, a time when movies were lousy with invading organisms. (Film historians attribute the obsession to the recent memory of Nazi aggression and to cold war paranoia.) The two used Keep Watching the Skies, an exhaustive compilation of science-fiction flicks, as their database. Their lecture -- a version of which was published in 1992 in the Bulletin of the Ecological Society of America -- ended with films from 1957, the last year the book covered. Of the 133 movies described in the text, 67 fulfilled Berenbaum’s requirement for inclusion in the study: they depicted an extraterrestrial species. Analysis showed that invading is a dicey lifestyle choice. “We determined that, collectively, alien beings in science-fiction films do suffer from high mortality,” Berenbaum and Leskosky wrote. Indeed, in only three of the movies do aliens survive to see the credits. They die at the hands of humans and through acts of God or the director -- earthquakes, volcanoes and avalanches all come to the rescue of humans. But heroic deeds or natural disasters were probably less threatening to the long-term survival of the invading species than their own poor fecundity. Opportunistic species, those good at colonizing new environments, exhibit so-called r-selection. “These species have a set of traits -- small body size, rapid growth, huge brood sizes,” Berenbaum explains. Those qualities lead to a high r, the intrinsic rate of increase, which can cause big problems in real life as well as in real bad movies. “European bark beetles, just reported in Illinois a year or two ago, almost shut down the entire Christmas tree industry,” Berenbaum notes. “A National Academy of Sciences study showed that introduced species have caused about $90 billion worth of economic damage. “On the other hand, those species marked by slow development, reproduction later in life and large body size -- traits of so-called K-selection -- are good at competing in a stable environment but poorer at colonizing a new one. Thus, California farmers find themselves fearing r medflies far more than K elephants. The typical 1950s alien invader, however, is far closer biologically to an elephant than to an insect. The aliens also suffer from overconfidence. Berenbaum and Leskosky found that 42 of the movies showcased either a lone invader or a pair. Only 21 films have the earth threatened by more than six intruders. The small initial invading force, combined with failure to go forth and multiply once they reach the planet, renders most movie aliens nothing more than short-term threats. The few invaders who do try to reproduce once they land make efforts that are biologically questionable. For example, the attempts of the title character in Devil Girl from Mars (1955) to mate with humans is “an undertaking fraught with hazards associated with postzygotic reproductive isolating mechanisms,” Berenbaum and Leskosky point out. (Strictly speaking, the humanoid Devil Girl was less interested in colonization than in the abduction of human males that she could import back to her home planet for breeding stock.) Students of Stanislavsky would therefore do well to contemplate population biology in addition to “The Method” before accepting roles in science-fiction films starring K-type invaders. They would not act so scared. | 5,685 | 2,752 | 0.000372 |
warc | 201704 | UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEEDING
I.
The Securities and Exchange Commission ("Commission") deems it appropriate and in the public interest that public administrative proceedings be instituted pursuant to Sections 15(b), 15B(c), and 19(h) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange Act") against William J. Bramble, Jr. ("Bramble").
In anticipation of the institution of these administrative proceedings, Bramble has submitted an Offer of Settlement that the Commission has determined to accept. Solely for the purpose of this proceeding and any other proceedings brought by or on behalf of the Commission, or to which the Commission is a party, and admitting the findings herein, Bramble consents to the entry of this Order Instituting Public Administrative Proceedings, Making Findings, and Imposing Remedial Sanctions ("Order").
Accordingly, it is ordered that proceedings pursuant to Sections 15(b), 15B(c), and 19(h) of the Exchange Act be, and hereby are, instituted.
II.
On the basis of the Order and the Offer of Settlement submitted by Bramble, the Commission makes the following findings:
A. William J. Bramble, Jr. is 38 years old and was a registered representative of Seasongood & Mayer from July 1989 to September 4, 1996 ("relevant time period").
B. Seasongood & Mayer was formed in 1887, and became a limited partnership in 1944. It has been registered with the Commission as a broker-dealer pursuant to Section 15(b) of the Exchange Act since 1949. During the relevant time period, Seasongood was also a municipal securities dealer registered with the Municipal Securities Rulemaking Board. It is located in Cincinnati, Ohio, and employs 24 registered representatives.
C. Between 1990 and August 1996, Bramble engaged in a scheme to defraud in which he misappropriated six customers' municipal bearer bonds worth approximately $2 million. In furtherance of his scheme, Bramble misrepresented to his customers that he would purchase, sell, or safekeep bearer bonds for their accounts. Based on these misrepresentations, he obtained funds from his customers to purchase bearer bonds or obtained bearer bonds from his customers to sell for their accounts. Bramble then misappropriated these bearer bonds and converted them to cash through resale, liquidation, or by depositing them in a brokerage account at another broker-dealer, where they were margined for cash. Bramble used the proceeds from the bonds to purchase personal assets such as homes, automobiles, an apartment building, and an airplane.
D. Bramble perpetuated and concealed his fraud by, among other things, opening accounts at Seasongood to trade certain misappropriated bearer bonds, which he used to sell those bonds to his customers. Bramble also changed the addresses on his defrauded customer's accounts to that of a post office box that he controlled. By doing so, Bramble was able to intercept legitimate account statements and trade confirmations that would have exposed his fraud. Bramble then created false account statements, trade confirmations, tax forms, and receipts using authentic looking materials he obtained from Seasongood's back office, and sent those false documents to his customers. Those documents misstated his customers' portfolios and misrepresented to them the activity in their accounts.
E. On February 20, 1997, Bramble pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of interstate transportation of stolen securities, arising from the same conduct discussed in Sections II.C. and II.D. of this Order. On June 2, 1997, Bramble was sentenced to 46 months imprisonment. Bramble is currently serving his term of imprisonment at the federal correctional institute in Eglin, Florida. Bramble was also ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $1,500,812.96.
F. Based on Bramble's conduct described in Sections II.C. and II.D. of this Order, Bramble willfully violated Section 17(a) of the Securities Act, Section 10(b) of the Exchange Act, and Rule 10b-5 thereunder.
G. Based on Bramble's criminal conviction described in Section II.E. of this Order, for theft of securities occurring within the preceding ten years, Bramble is subject to sanctions pursuant to Section 15(b)(6)(A)(ii), Section 15(b)(4)(B)(iii) and Section 15B(c) of the Exchange Act.
III.
In view of the foregoing, it is in the public interest to impose the sanction specified in the Offer of Settlement.
Accordingly, IT IS ORDERED that:
That Bramble be barred from association with any broker, dealer, or municipal securities dealer.
By the Commission.
Jonathan G. Katz | 4,632 | 2,060 | 0.000489 |
warc | 201704 | What Causes RAID Data Corruption?
Data corruption is fairly uncommon on most RAID arrays thanks to a number of safeguards that protect against common sources of file loss. However, when corruption does occur due to logical or physical issues, RAID users often face serious consequences.
Although redundant RAID configurations protect against hard drive failures, most setups will not provide protection from data corruption.
Some of the most common causes of RAID file corruption include:
Virus Damage Physical Media Failures Controller Issues Sudden Power Outages and Electrical Events Software Errors and Malfunctions
Because most RAID systems will detect hard disk failures and adjust accordingly, data corruption due to a single hard drive failure is unlikely on RAID 5, RAID 1 and other common configurations. A notable exception is RAID 0, which is not redundant. Logical (software-based) corruption is far more likely for most arrays, but data recovery engineers need experience with both logical and physical failure scenarios to treat RAID file corruption.
At Secure Data Recovery Services, we specialize in RAID data recovery and array repair. Our engineering teams have significant experience with all types of RAID data corruption, and by using a unique team-oriented approach, we give each case the attention it needs for fast, reliable results.
We offer free media diagnostics for RAID 0, 1, 5, 10, 6 and all other configurations. Contact us today to set up an evaluation or for more information.
Avoiding Data Loss When Treating Corrupt RAID Systems
You should immediately back up functional data before attempting to treat RAID file corruption. If the corrupt files are critically important, you should contact a professional data recovery company before taking any further actions.
Do not run chkdsk on a RAID array if you suspect that a physical media issue is causing file corruption. Filesystem utilities can cause data loss on degraded striped arrays, and we regularly receive RAID 5 systems that are inaccessible due to a chkdsk process.
Do not run data recovery software on a RAID array. Most data recovery utilities are designed for non-striped data and may cause file access issues. Never try to rebuild a failed array if you have a problem with widespread data corruption or filesystem corruption. The best course of action is to shut your system down to preserve your files in their current condition and to contact a professional data recovery provider.
Choosing a Reliable RAID Data Recovery Provider
RAID arrays can lose data in hundreds of ways, and data recovery companies should have experienced engineering teams that can create an appropriate strategy for any failure scenario. Even when RAID data corruption was clearly caused by a certain event or file process, engineers might need to try several strategies to restore damaged files.
Factors that can affect the data recovery process include: Number of RAID Hard Drives Extent of File Corruption Operating System and Filesystem Location of Corruption RAID Configuration Level Controller Type
Secure Data Recovery Services' engineers have years of experience with all common RAID configurations. We can treat corrupt databases, email archives and other large files with proprietary utilities, and if your array has physically damaged hard drives, we can perform essential repairs in our Certified Class 10 ISO 4 Cleanroom. Cleanroom technology filters potentially harmful particles from the data recovery work space, allowing for more reliable physical repairs.
We always make complete clones of all RAID drives before treating corrupt files in order to preserve your original media. Secure Data Recovery Services offers fast, safe RAID repair and recovery, and our free diagnostics give you an easy way to assess RAID data recovery costs before committing to the process.
A Secure Option for RAID Data Recovery
RAID arrays typically contain hundreds of sensitive and protected files. To keep your data safe, you need a secure data recovery provider with up-to-date networks and media access protocols.
Secure Data Recovery Services has an advanced set of security credentials. We were the first RAID data recovery company to earn a SSAE 16 Type II Certification and one of the first providers to join the United States General Services Administration's contracting schedules.
Our credentials include: PCI Security Certification Information Systems Security Association Member SAS 70 Certification SSAE 16 Type II Certification
If your RAID array has corrupt or inaccessible files, contact Secure Data Recovery Services to schedule free media diagnostics. Our engineers can accurately determine the causes of RAID file corruption, and within 24 hours we will provide a media failure report with a turnaround estimate and price quote. We offer several service levels for RAID data recovery including a 24/7/365 emergency service with a 48-hour average turnaround.
For no-risk media diagnostics or for more information, call Secure Data Recovery Services today. | 5,070 | 2,194 | 0.000458 |
warc | 201704 | Filter Results: Publication Year
1998
2015
Publication Type Co-author Key Phrase Publication Venue Brain Region Cell Type Method Organism
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INTRODUCTION Cardio-metabolic risk factors have been associated with poor physical and mental health. Epidemiological studies have shown peripheral risk markers to be associated with poor cognitive functioning in normal healthy population and in disease. The aim of the study was to explore the relationship between cardio-metabolic risk factors and cortical… (More)
IQ in early adulthood has been inversely associated with risk of the metabolic syndrome in midlife. We tested this association in the British 1946 birth cohort, which assessed IQ at age eight years and ascertained the metabolic syndrome at age 53 years based on modified (non-fasting blood) ATPIII criteria. Childhood IQ was inversely associated with risk of… (More)
The direction of the association between mental health and adiposity is poorly understood. Our objective was to empirically examine this link in a UK study. This is a prospective cohort study of 3 388 people (men) aged ≥ 18 years at study induction who participated in both the UK Health and Lifestyle Survey at baseline (HALS-1, 1984/1985) and the re-survey… (More)
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warc | 201704 | Filter Results: Publication Year
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2016
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We sought to analyse the presence of human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis and cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection in women with epithelial ovarian carcinomas. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based detection of microbial infections was carried out. A total of 39 tissue samples were analysed with consensus and type-specific primers for HPV, primers… (More)
PURPOSE To study the comparative structural and functional changes between wild-type (wt) and N-terminal congenital cataract causing αA-crystallin mutants (R12C, R21L, R49C, and R54C) upon exposure to different dosages of gamma rays. METHODS Alpha A crystallin N-terminal mutants were created with the site-directed mutagenesis method. The recombinantly… (More)
The main goal of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of leptospirosis among field rodents of Tiruchirappalli district, Tamil Nadu, India. In total 35 field rats were trapped and tested for seroprevalence by the microscopic agglutination test (MAT). Isolation of leptospires was performed from blood and kidney tissues and characterized to serovar level.… (More)
PURPOSE This study was designed to examine the constrictive potential of C-Phycocyanin (C-PC) in regulating changes imposed on gene expression in the selenite-induced cataract model. METHODS Wistar rat pups were divided into three groups of eight each. On P10, Group I received an intraperitoneal injection of normal saline. Groups II and III received a… (More)
Leptospirosis is an infectious bacterial disease caused by Leptospira species. In this study, we cloned and sequenced the gene encoding the immunodominant protein GroEL from L. interrogans serovar Autumnalis strain N2, which was isolated from the urine of a patient during an outbreak of leptospirosis in Chennai, India. This groEL gene encodes a protein of… (More)
BACKGROUND Composing of less than 1% of all ovarian cancers, immature teratoma is a malignancy that mainly affects the young, and they present with advanced disease. The treatment of immature teratoma is conservative primary surgery usually involving unilateral salpingo-oophorectomy followed by combination chemotherapy. CASE PRESENTATION Here we present a… (More)
BACKGROUND While the effect of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) on natural history of cervical lesions remains controversial, resource limited countries need to understand the relevance of their own data to their settings. We compared the risk of cervical disease in HAART-experienced women with that in women in the general population of… (More)
BACKGROUND Leptospirosis is a re-emerging infectious disease that is under-recognized due to low-sensitivity and cumbersome serological tests. MAT is the gold standard test and it is the only serogroup specific test used till date. Rapid reliable alternative serogroup specific tests are needed for surveillance studies to identify locally circulating… (More)
Futuna is a small Polynesian island in the South Pacific with a population of 3,612 in 2013. The first human leptospirosis case was confirmed in 1997. Active surveillance started in 2004. Cases were confirmed by PCR or real time PCR, or by serology using MAT or a combination of IgM-ELISA and MAT. A retrospective analysis of surveillance data shows that the… (More)
The lens transparency depends on higher concentration of lens proteins and their interactions. α-Crystallin is one of the predominant lens proteins, responsible for proper structural and functional architecture of the lens microenvironment, and any alteration of which results in cataract formation. The R12C, R21L, R49C and R54C are the most significant and… (More) | 3,828 | 1,925 | 0.00053 |
warc | 201704 | Filter Results: Publication Year
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Erasure coding is a technique for achieving high availability and reliability in storage and communication systems. In this paper, we revisit the analysis of erasure code replication and point out some situations when whole-file replication is preferred. The switchover point (from preferring whole-file replication to erasure code replication) is studied,… (More)
A 56-year-old female was referred to our hospital due to a mass measuring 5 cm in size in the left pelvic cavity, which was found incidentally during a health examination by ultrasonography. Exploratory laparotomy was performed and the mass was located at the left retroperitoneal parametrium without invasion of the uterus and ovary. The pathology report… (More)
Variable-bit-rate (VBR) encoding is known to provide a more consistent visual quality compared to constant-bit-rate (CBR) encoding. However, the resultant bit-rate variations greatly complicated the allocation of disk and network bandwidth in a video-on-demand system. This paper investigates a new scheduling algorithm with monotonic-decreasing rate… (More)
Emphysematous pyelonephritis (EPN) is a life-threatening infection characterized by the formation of gas. Complications of EPN include septic shock, acute renal failure, and disseminated intravascular coagulation. Spontaneous subcapsular hematoma (SCH) has also been reported as a rare complication of EPN, although there have been no reports to date of this… (More)
Jugular foramen neurilemmoma is frequently manifested as a jugular foramen syndrome or extraaxial mass. Neurilemmoma arising from the cranial nerves of the foramen, although rare, may be manifestated as an intracranial or extracranial mass lesion. When the tumor is located only in the intracranium, it is often misdiagnosed as an acoustic neurinoma or a… (More)
Survival rate over a 5-year period were studied in a series of 658 proven primary lung cancer patients treated by thoracic surgeons at 8 institutes during the period from 1976 to 1987 in Korea. The study was designed as a multi-center cooperative work for the statistical analysis of the followup result. Clinical data of age, sex, morbidity, and staging of… (More)
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warc | 201704 | Each week targets one indirect therapy technique that is research-based and child-centered. These are techniques that speech-language pathologists use in therapy to increase speech output:
• Self Talk and Parallel Talk: Providing a running commentary of what you or your child are doing (Paul, 2007, pg 77)
• Expansions: Adding on to what a child has said, increasing probability that the child will imitate part of the expansion (Paul, 2007, pg 77 • Sign Language: Research Shows that use of augmented communication (such as sign language) does not inhibit speech production and can actually encourage it! (Millar, et. al., 2006) | 649 | 396 | 0.002601 |
warc | 201704 | Disability
Disabled people are fatally discriminated against by the law on abortion in the UK, which allows for abortion of disabled babies right up to birth. There are obvious eugenic aspects of abortion for foetal anomaly and selective feticide in multiple pregnancy.
There is often subtle or not-so-subtle pressure exerted on parents by health professionals and others to accept tests, including tests that can cause miscarriage, and to agree to abortion when disability is diagnosed.
Over 90% of unborn babies detected with Down's Syndrome are aborted. This shocking fact is not well-known and it says much about our society that there is so little awareness of and reaction to it.
Justice is about honouring the dignity of human beings in virtue of their membership of the human species. This inherent value is core to who we are irrespective of our abilities at any given time. To judge which members of the human family may or may not be subjected to lethal discrimination is to judge arbitrarily, and this is to judge in a way opposed to justice.
Protecting the most vulnerable
Political parties which proclaim their commitment to equal opportunities for disabled adults are ignoring their duly to afford equal protection to disabled preborn human beings. Sadly, many of the latter are betrayed by the very organisations which should be protecting them. Society has adopted a double standard: on the one hand providing more support and protection for born disabled people than ever before; on the other devising ever more ruthless techniques for seeking out and destroying preborn disabled babies.
Abortion for disability exploits and encourages the dangerous and demeaning attitudes towards disabled people which our society seems eager to tell us it has overcome. Such procedures have nothing to with good medicine and perpetuate an entirely negative view of disabled people. On top of this, abortion, as viewers of the SPUC Schools Talk will be well aware, damages women. This is especially true of abortion for disability.
It is worth remembering also that neonatal euthanasia is already practised 'under the radar'. Some have even argued that neonates could be 'weeded out' before their births are officially recorded.
No Less Human
This should not surprise us as before birth we have witnessed much 'genetic screening' both of older unborn children by means of abortion and in the context of IVF, where embryos (human beings at the earliest stages of development) are discarded and destroyed like manufactured products if deemed to be 'abnormal'.
SPUC has vigorously campaigned in favour of the rights of disabled people through our No Less Human division. In ignoring the plight of disabled people we ignore our own humanity and allow ourselves to forget what justice and medicine are about at their most basic. | 2,839 | 1,445 | 0.000695 |
warc | 201704 | The three of us Tim, Charles, and me were sitting around the office at the end of the day brainstorming well, not really brainstorming. The truth is, we were all taking turns on one of those wooden Bolo paddles with the ball attached by a rubber string; you know, the kind where you slap the ball into the air with the paddle and the string pulls it back? Well, Tim had gotten 163 in a row and my best effort had produced a heroic 85. Charles, however, was doing his best to hit the ball just once. In his frustration, he began swinging at the ball wildly, taking out a few lamps, a copier, and Tim's rare collection of porcelain poodles in the process.
The only way to make him stop was to start talking about training. It worked. It was like playing the violin to Frankenstein's monster. He put the Bolo paddle down and we started talking about neural drive and muscle fiber make-up and all the other stuff that makes the big fella's heart sing.
But right in the middle of our discussion, it occurred to us that our website didn't really contain any workouts. I mean, if you, the loyal reader, just wanted to log on and pull out a new workout, you couldn't do it. You'd probably have to resort to pulling out a copy of Ironman or something (shudder).
With that in mind, we went through the pile of workouts that Charles has written up in the last few years and decided to include them on our site. Hence this once-in-awhile column.
This particular one's a chest and back workout. We'll simply describe the exercises, sets, reps, etc., but we won't necessarily go into all the reasons why this particular exercise should be done in this particular way. Hell, we want to give you a new workout; not lull you to sleep.
Chest and Back Workout
A1) Pull-ups
Sets: 3 Reps: 1 Tempo: 30-0-30 Rest: 120
A2) Chest Dips
Sets: 3 Reps: 1 Tempo: 30-0-30 Rest: 120
B1) Mid-Grip Bench Press
Sets: 3 Reps: 10-12 Tempo: 3-1-1 Rest: 0
B2) Flat Flyes
Sets: 3 Reps: 10-12 Tempo: 3-1-1 Rest: 120
C1) Wide-Grip Pulldowns (to the front)
Sets: 3 Reps: 10-12 Tempo: 3-0-2 Rest: 0
C2) Wide-Grip Pulldowns (behind the neck)
Sets: 3 Reps: 15-20 Tempo: 1-0-1 Rest: 60
D) High Pulley Rows (to the neck)
Sets: 3 Reps: 8-10 Tempo: 3-2-1 Rest: 60
A few words about the movements:
Pull-ups and Chest Dips
Okay, nothing too tricky here (well, maybe a little tricky, but we'll get to that in a minute). Take a shoulder-width grip with your palms facing away from you. Now, if looked at the above workout and you're an eagle eye, you noticed that you're only supposed to do one rep. Easy, huh? Not so fast, lat-breath. Yes, you'll do one rep, but the tempo on this one rep is 30-0-30. That means you're to take a full 30 seconds to pull yourself up, and without pausing, take a full 30 seconds to lower yourself.
Now, you may not be able to do this it's really hard. If you can't, use a 15-0-15 tempo and work up, adding a couple of seconds each workout until you hit 30.
After your first set of pull-ups, lie on the floor and gasp for air for 120 seconds. At that point, go over to the dip rack and do your first set of dips. Make sure you keep your elbows out on this movement in this case, we're using the dip rack as a chest movement and not a triceps movement.
Again, take a full 30 seconds to lift yourself and a full 30 seconds to lower yourself, making sure you dip all the way down, Charlie. There'll be no goldbricks in this outfit. If 30 seconds is too rough, start with a 20-0-20 tempo and work your way up.
Rest 120 seconds and then go back to the second set of your pull-ups. Continue bouncing back and forth between your A1 and A2 movement until you've done three sets of each.
Barbell Bench Presses and Flat Flyes
Most of you won't like the idea of doing barbell bench presses when you're chest is already incredibly fatigued from the first chest movement, but that's the breaks. This is a fairly standard bench press movement here, but we'd like you to keep a shoulder-width grip instead of a wide, I'm-getting-ready-to-flap-my-arms-and-fly-like-a-birdie grip. The wide grip would allow you to lift a little more weight here, but don't worry; you'll already have to use so much less weight than you normally would that you'll be hopelessly embarrassed anyhow.
(In fact, it was at this point in TC's workout that Charles used his now-famous insult: "You are the only person I know who's IQ is higher than his bench press.")
Take three seconds to lower the weight, a one-second pause at the bottom of the movement, followed by a one-second raising of the weight.
Do 10-12 reps, and then, without resting, do 10-12 reps of a flat-bench flye. However, instead of using your conventional grip on the flyes, turn your thumbs (and the dumbbells) in. Keep them that way for the duration of the movement. (That's the way you should do flyes most of the time, anyhow.)
Rest 120 seconds, and then go back and embarrass yourself further on the bench press. Continue bouncing back and forth between B1 and B2 until you've done three sets of each.
Wide-Grip Front Pulldowns and Wide-Grip Behind the Neck Pulldowns
These are fairly conventional, but given that so many people use horrible, potentially damaging form on pulldowns, they probably should never be referred to as "conventional." In any event, take a wide grip on a parallel grip pulldown bar (the kind that has the handles built into it so that you can grab it with your palms facing each other). While maintaining a slight arch in your back, pull the bar to the top of your chest. Don't sway, don't lurch, and don't invoke the Lord's name in vane. Take two seconds to pull the weight down, no pause, and three seconds to guide the bar to the starting position. Do 10-12 reps.
Then, without resting, adjust the weight as necessary and begin doing wide, parallel grip, behind the neck pulldowns. Make sure you've scooted up on the seat as far forward as possible so that when you pull the bar down, you're pulling it straight down. This movement can be an orthopedic nightmare if you have to pull the bar down at an extreme angle.
Take one second to pull the weight down, no rest, and one second to guide the bar up. Make sure the bar touches the trapezius on each rep. Do 15-20 reps.
Then, after resting for only 60 seconds, go back to the second set of the wide, parallel grip, front pulldowns.
Continue bouncing back and forth between C1 and C2 until you've done three sets of each.
High Pulley Rows to the Neck
This movement probably isn't familiar to a lot of you. And, if you're like the average trainee, you won't be able to use much weight. Unfortunately, most people have pathetically weak rhomboids and mid-traps. Okay, so they're not a prestige muscle. Very few IFBB judges or bodybuilding mag cub reporters ever said, "Man, look at Flex's rhomboids!" However, these muscles provide a lot of thickness to the back, as well as giving a lot of assistance to bench press movements. Strengthen them and your bench press will go up.
Here's how to do 'em: attach a rope to a long-pulley row. Pretend that you're going to do conventional long-pulley rows (keeping the back slightly arched, the chest and head up). Now, grab the ends of the rope as if you were holding dual hammers. Now, while keeping your arms high in the same plane as the tops of your shoulders pull back with your elbows until they won't go any further back and
squeeze. In other words, the movement looks just like a regular long-pulley row, except that you're using a rope and your arms are much higher than they would be in a conventional long-pulley row.
Do 8-10 reps, using a 3-2-1 tempo (three seconds to pull the weight back, two seconds to squeeze the elbows back, and one second to return the weight to the starting position). Rest 60 seconds and do the next set.
If you're like the average trainee, you'll only be able to use about 50 pounds on this movement. Amazing, huh? Don't worry, it'll go up fast, as will your bench press.
Conclusion
This workout might not seem like much, but you'll definitely be cursing us the day after. Again, we chose not to go into the specifics behind each movement. Suffice it to say that there's
some rhyme or reason behind every exercise, every rep scheme, every grip, and every tempo and rest period.
Hopefully, this workout the first of many to follow will help you get out of a rut and make you excited about going to the gym today. | 8,436 | 3,744 | 0.000269 |
warc | 201704 | "I believe that a lot of these new structures will be in place, but whether they are ready to commission a full range of services, I doubt it."
"Primary care and clinical commissioning groups are ready and have been for some time. Secondary care is not ready because for years they have refused to talk to primary care and actually work out common and efficient pathways of care."
Local government role "I work in sexual health and it's perfectly clear that most local authorities have no idea of the responsibilities they will assume."
"I work in a local authority in public health. There are so many changes with new organisations coming into place, we're finding it very hard to find our way through. It will take at least 18 months to shake down."
Recruitment "Many staff are yet to be reallocated to the new commissioning structure from the soon-to-be-defunct strategic health authority and primary care trust organisations."
"My local GPs still speak about the clinical commissioning group in terms of what the clinical commissioning group is doing to them and are unable to take any ownership. The commissioning support unit is still bickering over what contracts it will and won't take. Public Health England hasn't advertised most of its jobs yet let alone filled them. The NHS Commissioning Board hasn't started yet and won't be able to hit the ground running."
"It is very concerning that there are still vacancies of posts in the larger organisations. It is very difficult to get information about the management structures and organisational structures of the commissioning support units."
Regional differences "Our local Healthwatch has improved significantly over the past three years and is ready to go forward under experienced leadership, as is our GP locality group. But is every locality in England ready? I fear they may not be." Uncertainty "There appears to be utter confusion about the way in which complaints will be investigated and dealt with after 1 April."
"Most people I know don't know if they have a job, or if the contracts they manage will be recommissioned as they have nobody to speak to about it."
"The system is in chaos. With increased fragmentation and newly emerging structures, no one is clear about roles, responsibilities or reporting and accountability structures. NHS workers are unclear of communication and accountability structures and are unable to advise statutory partners."
"I am in an organisation that is being merged into Public Health England. We know nothing about what is going to happen or even what job we might have or where it will be. Public Health England seems to have no knowledge of the vast array of organsations and people its taking on. It's going to be a disaster."
"Staff in the acute-integrated care trusts do not know what is going on and those about to leave former primary care trusts have no succession-handover plan."
This article is published by Guardian Professional. Join the Healthcare Professionals Network to receive regular emails and exclusive offers. | 3,078 | 1,457 | 0.000695 |
warc | 201704 | BOX AND STRIP CONSTRUCTION BOX AND STRIP CONSTRUCTION. Box and strip construction is an efficient method of erecting small wooden buildings without elaborate frameworks. It consists of using standard-dimension lumber to build houses or other structures in the manner in which a large wooden box was constructed. Box and strip is a simple technique. Supported upon rocks, wooden piers, or a concrete foundation, a floor platform is first assembled with joists, usually two-by-sixes spaced about two feet apart, and wooden flooring. Nailed vertically (rarely horizontally) to the sides of this platform are one-by-twelve boards forming the walls; there are no studs. Then strips, ordinarily one-by-threes or one-by-fours, sometimes with molded edges, are nailed over the cracks between the boards. A two-by-four plate nailed to the top of the boards forming the walls supports the rafters and ceiling joists, also of two-by-fours. Shingles nailed to strips supported by the rafters complete the roof. Openings for doors and windows are framed with two-inch members. A hammer, saw, level, and square are all the tools required for construction.
The historical origins of box and strip construction are presently uncertain, but the technique probably comes from England, where whip-sawn or pit-sawn boards on simple frameworks were used in buildings. In colonial America barns, shops, and other service buildings also had board walls. Eventually box and strip construction was greatly facilitated by mass production techniques of the Industrial Revolution. The efficient manufacture of dimension lumber by power sawmills and the mass production of nails greatly increased the economy of this type of construction. With the extension of the railroads over the treeless prairies and plains, lumber buildings replaced adobe or sod houses. Although balloon or platform framing with studded walls was generally employed for large houses, box and strip was used for small houses and service buildings.
In Texas box and strip buildings are particularly noteworthy in the treeless Panhandle and on the South Plains and other westerly regions. While the railroads economically transported lumber to numerous towns, it had to be hauled laboriously by wagon to rural areas; hence the need for efficiency in the use of materials. Often the interiors of box and strip houses were lined with either center-matched siding or beaded ceiling material, installed horizontally, which produced both a more attractive and more air-tight building.
Numerous buildings of many sorts, including churches, have been built with box and strip technique. It was used for a jail erected about 1890 in Floydada and a courthouse built in Leakey about the same time. Several examples of circa 1900 can be seen at the Ranching Heritage Center in Lubbock, where the Harrel House and the Box and Strip House exemplify the technique. It was also used in the Reynolds-Gentry Barn and the Barfield School, although in the latter the strips were removed, building paper installed, and weatherboards applied on the exterior to decrease drafts.
The Architecture of Country Houses(New York and Philadelphia: Appleton, 1850; rpt., New York: Da Capo Press, 1968). William H. Pierson, Jr., American Buildings and Their Architects(Garden City, New York: Doubleday, 1978). Willard B. Robinson, Gone from Texas: Our Lost Architectural Heritage(College Station: Texas A&M University Press, 1981). Willard B. Robinson, The People's Architecture: Texas Courthouses, Jails, and Municipal Buildings(Austin: Texas State Historical Association, 1983). Image Use Disclaimer
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Citation The following, adapted from the Chicago Manual of Style, 15th edition, is the preferred citation for this article. Handbook of Texas Online, Willard B. Robinson, "Box and Strip Construction," accessed January 22, 2017, http://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/cbb01.
Uploaded on June 12, 2010. Published by the Texas State Historical Association. | 4,689 | 2,277 | 0.000441 |
warc | 201704 | This essay has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work written by our professional essay writers.
The administrative process of Development Control may vary in different countries but in essence the objective remains the same; which is to ensure the supply of sustainable development in line with social, economical and environmental factors for the benefit of the community. The need for which became increasingly apparent in the post war period to rebuild parts of the land and to cope with the industrialization and urbanization movement which was required for the economic growth and benefit of the country.
Development Control in the UK for instance was established by the Town and Country Planning Act of 1947 (following the Second World War) which laid down the framework for the system, and later underwent a few alterations to be further consolidated into the Town and Country Planning Act of 1990. According to which, any proposals for development (as defined within Section 55 of the same Act) requires the developer to secure planning permission from the local authority prior to commencing any works. According to the Regional Strategies and Local Development Frameworks put in place, the Local Planning Authority defines a set of documents which describe its strategy, site allocation/use and policies for the development and use of land, in line with its Local Development Scheme. These documents and policies serve as a guideline for proposed development and ensure consistency and adherence to building regulations, restrictions and quality standards.
The threat to non-implementation of development control systems could result in a multitude of negligent developments which may have adverse effects on various aspects; such as:
Community Living Conditions:
From past example, the rapid development of industrial towns and cities in the United Kingdom during the Industrial Revolution resulted in the indiscriminate location of developments, residential and industrial properties were being built alongside each other in a way which resulted in there being an unhealthy environment for residential occupiers. Development also tended to occur irrespective of whether there was adequate infrastructure (- Source: extracted from Property Development by A.F Millington, Pg.66.)
Social Conditions:
In more recent years, according to figures quoted by Shelter in 2006 there are 1.6 million youngsters in Britain living in housing judged to be temporary, overcrowded or unfit. To which the housing minister responded: "For the first time, the planning system will have to identify and meet the housing needs of children"(Online Ref 1); recognizing the social and cultural impact this could have on the countries youth and population.
Sufficient (Affordable) Housing:
To offer a local example, according to an article and market advice from consultants according to consultants A.T. Kearney (Online Ref 2); "In Egypt there is a shortage of 280,000 units annually and in Saudi Arabia there is an annual shortage of 150,000 units", stating that Governments and municipalities will have to get involved to ensure balanced urban development by monitoring short term private interests and supporting the development of the middle income market.
A recent example is the announcement by the Urban Planning Council in Abu Dhabi that all developments larger than 75,000 square meters must set aside rental options for the middle income group.
Economic:
Albeit market forces represent the prevailing trend of demand and supply, it would be misguided to let the market run its course without any structure or guidelines. Without regulation developers would continue to develop property on the basis of their assumption of market demand (which may well be a function of hype and speculation). This could, in the long run create an over(artificial) supply in the market if there is no genuine demand to absorb it. Subsequently the high vacancy rates would cause the property rent and sales prices in the market to fall, which would have a knock on effect on those in the industry as well as those related to it, eventually causing unemployment, change in lending rates, under-valuing of properties etc.
Environment Factors:
The UK and several other developed countries adopt an Eco Friendly approach to development such as the (UKs) Code for Sustainable Homes and EPC; regulations which help reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment. (Online Ref 3)
Preservation of Wildlife & Heritage:
As part of the UK's application process for permitted development, some areas are exempt from certain developments. Such as National Parks, plants and/or wildlife, Green Belts, Historical sites etc
Without development controls, some of the countries precious resources may be jeopardized intentionally or unintentionally by a developer's works which may also result in an economic loss.
Heriot Hardbacks, a bookstore, located on a popular retail high street in London has in recent years noticed a fall in revenue largely due to the increasing popularity of online trading sites which have proved a competitive source of books for their customers. Anton, the owner of the bookstore, has decided to convert a significant part of his premise into a coffee shop to try and encourage customers to visit his store. At the same time, Anton's friend, Sarim, believes the premise would be best used as a taxi business given the lack of public transport available in the town. Use your knowledge of planning law to advise: (a) Anton on his proposal to build a coffee shop within his bookstore and (b) Sarim's proposal to offer a taxi business from the premise.
In order to assess where planning permission is required, one needs to understand the prevailing development control policies. For instance, the UK follows a plan- led system, wherein Development Plans are formed and submitted for approval to the local planning authority.
Planning permission is required for the execution of any development to the land however, it is essential to determine whether the intended proposal requires permission or not.
'Development' by definition is said to mean (-Source: from university tutorial notes):
a) demolition of buildings;
b) rebuilding;
c) structural alterations of or additions to buildings; and
d) other operations normally undertaken by a person carrying on business as a builder
Furthermore the 2 main principles of development are (-Source: from university tutorial notes):
a) Operations- which deals with something that changes the physical character of the building
b) Change of Use- '"use", in relation to land, does not include the use of land for the carrying out of any building or other operations on it.'
The requirement to obtain planning permission extends not only to new construction, but also in substantive changes of use of a property. There are various 'use classes', and change of use to a different use class generally requires Planning permission. Let us examine this in the context of the 2 scenarios described in the case:
Coffee Shop
With regard to Anton's proposal to convert a significant part of his bookstore into a coffee shop, I would advise him to first evaluate the scope of works involved and development control guidelines in order to conduct the same. According to the Use Class and Permitted Use Guide defined by the Planning authorities in the UK, Anton's bookstore falls under Class A1, pertaining to shops (- Source: ref Appendix 1.)
However note that a change within the same Use Class would not require separate permission, but would be restricted to the purpose types and conditions delineated within the same class. "Planning permission is not required when both the present and proposed uses fall within the same 'class', or if the Town and Country Planning (Use Classes) Order says that a change of class is permitted to another specified class". For instance Anton could convert part of his bookstore into a Sandwich Bar without requiring separate permission, which would mean he could only serve sandwiches and cold food which are to be consumed off the premises. Hot food takeaways fall within use class A5, but ancillary sales of hot food will also still be permitted within class A1. However Anton would not be able to build a full fledged coffee shop within the premises without applying for development permission as it would be considered a material change of Use (Class) from type A1 to A3 (Restaurants and Cafes i.e. constitutes consumption on premises). A key factor in determining use is the split between between takeaway sales and sales for consumption on the premises. If the primary use will be for the sale of food or drinks to be consumed within the outlet, then the proposed use will fall within class A3. At times the dominant use may fluctuate which may result in a mixed class A1 and A3 use, which would still require planning permission.
Additionally "permission will also be required for commercial extractor flues if cooking is intended to be carried out on the premises." I.e. Anton would also need to bring the food & beverages preparation practice to the attention of the authorities when applying for permissions as a precautionary measure in order to assure them that there is no overbearing fumes, odours, etc that would dramatically change the current environment of the existing and/or neighbouring areas.
Also should Anton wish to place "any tables and chairs on the highway*/sidewalk accompanying his shop, it would be likely that he would require a licence from the highway authority to allow them to assess factors such as pedestrian movements, sight lines and road safety".
*Highway refers to footways and verges associated with publicly maintained roads."
Any changes in signage are also likely to require expressed advertisement consent.
(-Source: Excerpts extracted from Online Ref 4)
Taxi Business
Unlike with the Coffee shop, the taxi business falls within the 'Sui Generis' Category which means they are considered to be a use class in themselves, and not part of an existing use class. Therefore in order to covert the premise in a way that it can provide taxi services, Anton would require to apply for permission to proceed with his business plan. It would be beneficial to his application to provide rationale/research demonstrating the lack of public transport available in the town.
Conclusion
In any event, Anton needs to conduct his due diligence on the business opportunity he wishes to pursue in terms of the Return on Investment and assess the merits and demerits of each proposal. We have observed that in both cases development permission would need to be sought unless Anton would only convert a part of his premise into a Snack Bar as opposed to a café or change his entire operation to a taxi service business.
Accordingly he would need to consider that should he require planning permission, this could be a time consuming process and factor in the relevant fee charges.
A permission application should be made accurately and contain all relevant information and supporting documentation to demonstrate that the project is sustainable towards the community, environment, economy and blend in with the aesthetics of the local area. Of course the final decision on whether the project can go ahead or not rest with the Local Planning Authority.
Furthermore, if the proposed conversion (to either a café or taxi service) requires any works as defined in Regulation 3 of the Building Regulations (2010) guide, it is the responsibility of the entity carrying out the building works to adhere to the standards specified. It is also important to assess whether additional Health and Safety approvals must be sought depending on the scale and anticipated impact of works.
As with all building work, the onus of complying with the relevant planning rules and building regulations lies with the property owner.
That said, the dynamics of the approval process may vary should Anton's relationship to the property be on a leasehold basis, as in this situation he would most likely need to acquire prior consent from the building landlord.
Boris, a retired tennis player, has recently moved to a large country estate in the UK located in a major national park. Whilst he likes the natural beauty of his new home and its surroundings he cannot help but miss the game of tennis. That said, Boris decided to get underway with constructing a tennis court on his premise. Some weeks later, Boris received a notice from the local authority asking him to cease the construction of his tennis court. Boris is somewhat confused as he believed that he could build the tennis court without planning permission. Advise Boris on the following: (a) whether he needs planning permission (b) enforcement action of the local authority and (c) any relevant appeals.
Within national parks, it is the National Park Authority who is responsible for granting planning permissions for changes in building and land use or new buildings, with a purpose:
to conserve and enhance the natural beauty, wildlife and cultural heritage of the area, and
to promote opportunities for the understanding and enjoyment of the park's special qualities by the public.
The UK Government supports the need for stringent planning and implementation processes, which is even stricter than with Local Planning Authorities who regard:
"National Park designation as conferring the highest status of protection as far as landscape and scenic beauty are concerned." The Countryside - Environmental Quality and Economic and Social Development (1997)
Therefore inhabitants and third parties who wish to conduct any sort of development should be aware of the policies and definition of permitted and non permitted development requiring permission applications to be made, as set out by the National Park Authority for their respective area. E.g. Dartmoor National Park Authority, Lake District National Park etc.
With some National Park Authorities a certain level of alterations and extension works are permitted. For example, according to the Dartmoor NPA cartilage building / (garden) structures such as decking, a shed, greenhouse or an oil tank fall under permitted developments, except in the following conditions:
Containers with capacity greater than 3,500 litres
Any structures forward of the 'principal elevation' of the house
Any structures to the side of the house
Any structures higher than 4 metres
Any verandas and balconies
Any raised platforms (including decking) more than 300mm high
Curtilage structures greater than 10 square metres in area and more than 20 metres from the house
As relates the building of a tennis court, one would expect that there is a fair amount of ground excavation, surface levelling and the installation of fencing and perhaps even the installation of flood lights. To demonstrate my point regarding permitted developments and exceptions, below an excerpt from the Dartmoor NPA (-Source: Excerpts extracted from Online Ref 5) with regard to permission requirements for the installation and change of hard surfacing:
"From 1 October 2008 the permitted development rights that allow householders to pave their front garden with hard standing without planning permission have changed in order to reduce the impact of this type of development on flooding and on pollution of watercourses. Â You will not need planning permission if a new or replacement driveway of any size uses permeable (or porous) surfacing, such as gravel, permeable concrete block paving or porous asphalt, or if the rainwater is directed to a lawn or border to drain naturally. Â If the surface to be covered is more than five square metres planning permission will be needed for laying traditional, impermeable driveways that do not provide for the water to run to a permeable area." Similarly with the fencing; "Repair or replacement of an existing wall or fence would not normally require permission. Â Next to a road or public footpath, you can build a new wall or fence without planning permission as long as it is not more than one metre high. You can build a new wall or fence up to two metres high anywhere else without needing planning permission." Floodlights on the other hand is often referred to as a planning problem (-Source: Excerpts extracted from Online Ref 7), given the effect on its surrounding which can be somewhat manipulated according to its intensity, frequency of use and brightness. In fact it is worth referring to Kensington and Chelsea Royal London Borough Council v C G Hotels (1981) on the 'material affects' of the lighting on the building exterior and by definition that it was held that it could not be considered development.
Therefore, albeit the proposed location of the tennis court falls within the parameter of Mr. Boris's estate, the premise is still located within a National Park (restricted development) and hence will be subject to the prevailing development regulations and approval process for those works exceeding permitted development.
Ideally Mr. Boris should have applied for permission to the relevant authorities prior to proceeding with construction works or alternatively consulted with them in case of any grey areas as regards to the intended development, bearing in mind that , some areas are exempt from certain developments.
Reasons for special protection include (-Source: Excerpts extracted from Online Ref 4)
Protect attractive landscape - e.g. national parks
Protect interesting plants and/or wildlife
Control the spread of towns and villages into open countryside - e.g. Green Belts
Protect monuments or buildings of historical or architectural interest
(b) Enforcement action of the local authority
Given that Mr. Boris was issued with a notice to cease works, officially known as a 'Stop Notice', one can assume that he was in breach of planning control (conducting unauthorized development).
Mr. Boris is therefore obliged to cease works immediately as failure to comply could result in summary conviction and fines of up to £20,000, or an unlimited fine if convicted on indictment.
(c) any relevant appeals.
"Generally a Stop Notice must refer to the enforcement notice (the terms of the injunction) and must have a copy of the enforcement notice attached to it" (-Source: Excerpts extracted from Online Ref 6) and is usually issued when a party continues to have an interest in the land or be engaged in any activity forbidden by the enforcement notice.
There is no right of appeal to the Secretary of State against the prohibition in a stop notice. However this may be challenged by appealing to the High Court to apply for judicial review, in accordance with the Rules of the Supreme Court.
In Mr. Boris case however it is not clear whether he had been previously served with an enforcement notice nor is the grounds for the stop notice evident. Because the power to serve a stop notice only derives from the issue of a planning enforcement notice, we can assume that Mr. Boris's estate may have been classed under listed buildings, conservation control, or under protection for trees or from hazardous substances effecting the environment and therefore his development works may have been substantial enough to justify the LPA's decision to serve the stop notice .i.e. unauthorized development and/or the use or operation of materials that may be considered harmful to the health and environment of his surroundings.
In no more than 250 words outline the validity of planning conditions in England & Wales. Reference to relevant case law should also be discussed. (10 marks)
Rather than being viewed as a hindrance, planning conditions can actually serve to be a facilitator in the attainment of planning permission. Wherein planning permission may be granted subject to certain valid conditions being fulfilled which are essential and relevant to the development, instead of declining the application.
The validity of which is sometimes debateable due to the ambiguity of the conditions and its necessity. It is the responsibility of the Local Planning Authority who is setting out the conditions to clearly delineate achievable expectancies and timelines. As in the case with Henry Boot Homes Limited v Bassetlaw District Council [2002] All ER 421 (Online Ref 8), where the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 ("the Act") makes provision for the expiry of planning permissions not implemented within a certain time. This is enforced by the planning permission being subject to conditions that the development must be begun by the stated time period. Failure to commence by the end of that period means it is no longer authorised by the given permission.
Also to ensure clarity the conditions must be measurable in order to evaluate whether the necessary action was taken to constitute the works being permissible.
In essence and as a matter of policy, conditions should only be imposed where they satisfy all of the following six tests (Online Ref 9):
i. necessary;
ii. relevant to planning;
iii. relevant to the development to be permitted;
iv. enforceable;
v. precise; and
vi. reasonable in all other respects
Online References:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/6194116.stm
http://www.nuwireinvestor.com/articles/real-estate-in-the-middle-east-insufficient-supply-for-expanding-55889.aspx
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/buildingregulations/greenerbuildings
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/planning/planningsystem/planningpermission
http://www.dartmoor-npa.gov.uk/index/planning/pl-devcontrol/planning_advice/pl-planningpermission.htm ;
http://www.nationalparks.gov.uk/livingin/planning.htm
http://www.mylawyer.co.uk/ml/index.cfm?event=base:articleHYPERLINK "http://www.mylawyer.co.uk/ml/index.cfm?event=base:article&node=A76061B0D76474#link29"&HYPERLINK "http://www.mylawyer.co.uk/ml/index.cfm?event=base:article&node=A76061B0D76474#link29"node=A76061B0D76474#link29)
http://www.sportslightinguk.co.uk/index_Floodlight_Planning_Services.htm
http://vlex.co.uk/vid/52575099
www.HYPERLINK "../page1.htm"planning-applications.co.uk | 22,243 | 9,038 | 0.000111 |
warc | 201704 | This essay has been submitted by a student. This is not an example of the work written by our professional essay writers.
As my essay is based on the scrutiny that St. Patricks Institution has been under for several years, that is what my essay will be based on. Firstly I will provide a brief introduction about St. Patrick's Institution and mention some of the problems within the Institution. The reports that I will discuss are a report by the European Committee for the prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT), a report by the Ombudsman for Children, which is titled 'Young People in St. Patrick's Institution' and the final report that I have looked at in relation to my essay is a report by the inspector of prisons, which is titled 'Report on an Inspection of St. Patrick's Institution by the Inspector of prisons Judge Michael Reilly'.
The report by the CPT was carried out from 25th January to 5th February 2010. The report by the Ombudsman for children was carried out in 2011 and the report by the Inspector of Prisons was carried out in 2012.
According to the Inspector of Prisons St. Patrick's Institution opened its doors in 1902. The prison provides for males aged sixteen to twenty-one. Within the prison the young people and the adults are supposed to be segregated from each other, with the B Block of the prison catering for the young offenders, the C Block catering for the older prisoners and the region in the prison known as 'The Unit' caters for both the young and old.
It is not only in recent years that St. Patrick's has being under scrutiny. According to the report by the inspector of prisons in 1985 a man named T.K. Whittaker suggested that the prison should be closed down. In the report it states that Dr. T.K Whittaker declared that St. Patrick's Institution was unable to help any individual within the prison to change and be ready to become an active member of society when they leave the prison. He claimed that the prison would not have the ability to assist or help anybody for the better even if it was redecorated and modernized.
The reports that I mentioned above brought to light many of the problems within the prison. Some of these problems are more serious than others, but all of them need to be addressed sooner rather than later, as it is not a suitable atmosphere or setting for people to be living their day to day lives in. I will now discuss some of the problems mentioned in the three reports that I have mentioned.
Their own building
The first problem that is mentioned in the report by the CPT is that young people under the age of eighteen should be located in a detention school specifically for children. In 2010 when this report took place young people between the ages of sixteen and seventeen were being help in St. Patrick's Institution and they had no date set as to when the youths may be relocated to a children's detention center. It has being said however, that a new children's detention center will be opened at Oberstown, Lusk, Co. Dublin in 2013/2014. To my knowledge I do not think a specific opening date has being set. The report also stated that the conditions within St. Patrick's are not suitable for minors. It is unfair to the young people staying in St. Patrick's Institution to be living under unsuitable conditions. When the young people are moved to the new detention center in Lusk, the staff will more than likely to be trained to deal specifically with young people and will be better able to meet the needs of the young people than St. Patrick's Institution.
Safety
One positive aspect of the report by the CPT is that within the Institution, levels of violence had fallen, as the prison had put procedures in place in relation to violence happening within the prison. However, it was stated by the report by the Ombudsman for children that some of the young offenders younger than eighteen had their cells on the same floor as the inmates who were on protection. These inmates that were on protection had problems with their mental health and had a tendency to try and harm themselves. I believe that this may have put the young people under some amount of danger and possibly put their lives at risk. Even though the Institution may have had difficulty keeping certain inmates away from each other, I do not think it was in the best interests of the young people to place them on the floor with older prisoners experiencing difficulties within their lives. The Ombudsman for children also found that the young offenders did not strictly have the B Division to themselves which they were meant to. Individuals over the age of eighteen were also in the B division of the Institution. As the youths were been mixed with prisoners over the age of eighteen, this was deemed unsafe. The youths within this section of the prison could also get their hands on drugs if they wanted to. This is another reason why this section of the prison may be deemed unsafe for the youths.
The report by the Inspector of Prisons also mentioned that drugs were a huge problem within St. Patrick's Institution. Procedure have being put in place to try and stop drugs circulating around the prison, but unfortunately it is still an issue.
Schooling
Even though there is a school in the Institution for the young people to gain an education while inside, it has its downsides according to the report by the Ombudsman. According to the young people they do like school, but they hoped that they would have had access to the workshops within the prison, which they did not. This was a result of trying to split up the older prisoners from the young offenders. I think this is a huge downfall for the young people. Possibly the prison could introduce a roster for the workshops, which would have certain hours for the older prisoners and certain hours for the young offenders, which means that they would not be coming in contact with each other. The workshops would be of huge benefit to the young people when they leave the prison.
Staffing
The report by the CPT suggested that not all staff working in the Institution were trained to deal with the adolescents. The staff that is employed to deal specifically with the young people should be chosen carefully, as it takes a certain type of person to work with young people. Working with young people can be a very challenging job, as it is your responsibility to make sure the young person is being looked after properly within the prison system. The report recommended that when it comes to employing people to deal and work alongside the young people, that they should be selected very carefully and that the process of selection should be thorough. It also suggested that all individuals working with the youths should be suitably trained and attend any additional courses in relation to young people and also attend refresher courses, so that information will be fresh in their minds and they will be better able to deal with young people and the challenges they face. In the report from the Ombudsman for children, Brian Purcell, the director for the Irish Prison service stated that the employees working alongside the young offender had being received training in relation to working with young people. He also mentioned that the prison system operates alongside the Youth Justice system in relation to training for staff members. They also have interaction with additional organizations that help to train staff working with the young people.
The report by the ombudsman man was carried out in 2011, which was a year after the report of the CPT. I wonder had the training of the staff members working alongside the young people being carried out within that year.
Cells
Another positive aspect is that the cells within the institute met the proper standards in relation to lighting, sanitary facilities and sufficient aeration. This was stated in the report by the CPT. The report stated that there were renovations taking place within the Institution. According to some of the young people within the Ombudsman's report they were dissatisfied with their cells. They complained about the bad condition of the mattresses in the cells and the storage space. They also mentioned that in the winter months the cells can get quite chilly. According to the report by the inspector of prisons the cells were not in a suitable condition and not up to the proper standards that they should be.
Twenty three hour a day lock up & Workshops
The report by the CPT found that a high percentage of the prisoners were spending a great deal of time confined to their cells. Thirty-five of the prisoners were not part of any of the workshops or the educational programs taking part within the prison. The prison stated that the reason for this was because they wanted to keep certain groups within the prison apart from each other. However, the committee stated that more needed to be done to make sure that all the prisoners were given the opportunity to take part in the workshops and the educational courses. This will allow the prisoners to gain skills and talents which will help them in the outside world when they are released from prison. The committee suggested introducing incentives to the prisoners so that they would take part in the courses and workshops.
Another problem is that some inmates in the prison are locked up for up to twenty-three hours a day. Locking somebody up for that long is inhuman treatment and nobody deserves or should be treated like that. Even though the prison may put forward good reasons, such as avoiding conflict between certain groups of prisoners if they were put together for having the prisoners locked up for this long. The prisoners in the C3 division of the prison only really get access to the activities outdoors, which is unfair as they do not get access to workshops or the educational programs taking place within the prison. The prisoners that are locked up most of the day are suffering from illnesses, such as mental health issues. I do not think that locking up these prisoners is the answer. At some point these people are going to leave the prison and be back in the outside world. I think the prison should do as much as possible to try and rehabilitate these people back into society. It is unfair that they are marginalized within the prison system due to their personal problems. I totally agree with the committee's views in regards to this problem. They state that prisoners that are locked up for a large proportion of the day should be provided with adequate health care within the prison system and that they should be able to take part in the activities that are offered to all the other prisoners in the prison.
The report by the inspector of prisons found that one of the downfalls of the workshops within the prison is that they never receive resources and supplies they need in the workshops when they are supposed to receive them.
Health Service
Another problem that was identified during the inspection by the CPT was that the institution had on some levels an insufficient health care service. The doctor should be on the premises of the institution for more than one and a half hours every day as there is a lot of prisoners within the prison, and sometimes the amount of time the doctor may be there for each day may be insufficient. St. Patrick's also needs psychiatrists and psychologists that are specifically trained to deal with young people and the problems that they may present. Even though these inmates within these prisons may have done wrong, which is the reason that they are there, they still deserve to have the right to be able to access adequate health care whenever they may need it. It is a human right to receive medical care, and this right should not be taken away from anyone.
The report by the Inspector of prisons had no huge criticisms against the health care provided within the prison. It did however mention that the psychology facility within the Institution cannot deal with the capacity of prisoners that it has to deal with. This is an issue that needs to be looked at, as this service is vital to some of the prisoners within the Institution.
Rules and Regulations
When the report by the Ombudsman was carried out it was made aware to her that not many of the young people were aware of the procedures or the rulings set out by the prison. The prison had failed to provide information in relation to this issue. I think that young people coming into the prison should be given a set of the guidelines which they must abide by whilst in the prison. If the young people did know the guidelines to stick to it make life easier for them and the workers within the prison.
Some of the young people said that they had gotten a copy of the guidelines which they must abide by whilst they are in the institution. This made me wonder whether or not there was a policy in the prison to ensure that each member had a copy of the guidelines of the prison, or whether only a few people had received them. I believe that this is an issue that needs to be cleared up. I believe all young people should receive all the information they need in relation to behavior in the prison or attending the working shops and courses. The report also found that there was a problem regarding literacy levels among the youths, so they found it difficult with receiving written handouts in relation to the prison. The youths specified that an individual meeting with a staff member after entering the prison would be beneficial as it would cover all they need to know about life inside and the opportunities available to them. I feel that the prison needs to take all these issues and the opinions of the youths into account to try and better a young person's life within the prison. This system should be reviewed, revised, and bettered to the best of their ability. I believe everybody would benefit from this.
The report by the Inspector of prisons states that the information leaflets that were distributed had incorrect information in them and were only available in English, which in a way is being racist against other nationalities that may enter the prison as it is not available in their language.
Care Plan
The Ombudsman for children also found that none of the youths seemed to know much or be aware that a plan should be set up for them throughout their time in the institution in relation to education or other opportunities within the prison. This is quite shocking. At some point in time these youths will leave the prison for the outside world. I believe that the youths should be given the best opportunities in the institution which will help them to adapt to the outside world when they get out.
The points I made above about the youths having individual meetings with a staff member and establishing a plan for the youths whilst in prison is the reason why the staff working in the institution needs to be properly trained. Thus, this will result in the best outcomes for the young offenders.
Clothing
Another problem also mentioned in the Ombudsman's report was that the young people wanted to wear their own clothing. They wanted to wear their own clothing because they disliked having to wear the clothing that the prison provided for them. The clothing they had to wear had been worn by other prisoners and was in a bad state.
Overcrowding
In the report produced by the Inspector of prisons it mentioned in one section of it that overcrowding within the prison was a problem. However, in another section of the report it stated that overcrowding in the prison was not a problem. This left me wondering as to whether overcrowding within the prison was a problem or not. It seems a bit strange that the report has contradicted itself. It also leaves the reader of the report unsure of whether exactly overcrowding in the prison is an issue. In the other two reports that I have mentioned overcrowding was not mentioned. It seems peculiar for one report to state overcrowding is a problem if it is not mentioned in other reports.
Conclusion
It is clear to see from the points I have made throughout my essay that within St. Patrick's Institution that there are many issues that need to be addressed. Personally I do not think that St. Patrick's Institution is a place for young people. I hope within the next few months the new detention center in Oberstown will open, as it will be of huge benefit to the youths. The staff working within this center will be specifically trained to deal with youths, thus having the best interests of the young people at heart and wanting the best outcomes for them when they leave the prison.
Even though the youths will be leaving the prison when the new detention center is opened in Oberstown, I believe that the issues in St. Patrick's Institution still need to be addressed. The older population within the prison still has to live their daily lives within this prison, which is why the issues need to be dealt with. It would be unfair for anybody to be living in such conditions, whether they may be criminals or not. They should have the chance to have the amenities and services within the prison system to help them to change and lead better lives when they do leave the prison.
I am aware that prisons are possibly trying to be harsh to prisoners that they will not reoffend when they leave prison, thus making them live in harsh conditions. These harsh conditions may make a person rethink their actions and change for the best so that they will not reoffend in the future. If a prison system does not want people reoffending when they leave the prison system they should provide them with skills and education that may enable them to get jobs when they leave the prison, thus resulting in them not reoffending. This is why St. Patrick's needs to change and better itself, thus providing it's prisoners with the best opportunities that it can.
I believe that all the problems I have talked about in my essay need to be addressed and addressed promptly. I know the country may be short of money as we are experiencing a serious fiscal crisis, but the Government needs to act quickly and provide the funding to the prison to better its amenities and resources that will allow the prisoners to better themselves when they are in prison and lead a better life when they leave. Yes these people have obviously committed crimes, which is why they are in jail, but do they not deserve the chance to redeem themselves and make a better life for themselves and their families.
References
Dr. Paul Michael Garrett (2012), Transforming Children's Services: Locking up Children and Young People', SP698: Transforming Children's Services, National University of Ireland, Galway, Unpublished
Office of the Inspector of Prisons (2012) Report on an Inspection of St. Patrick's Institution by the Inspector of prisons Judge Michael Reilly. Tipperary: Office of the Inspector of Prisons
Ombudsman for Children (2011) Young People in St. Patrick's Institution. A Report by the Ombudsman for Children's Office. Dublin: The Ombudsman for Children
The European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (2010) Report to the Government of Ireland carried out by the European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (CPT) Strasbourg: European Committee for the Prevention of Torture and Inhuman Treatment or Punishment | 19,532 | 6,769 | 0.000148 |
warc | 201704 | READ. TUTOR. MENTOR. Make a pledge to influence a child's future.
United Way of Hays County believes that everyone can make a difference by volunteering in their community, and that by reading, tutoring or mentoring a child, you can change the future. United Way's volunteer READ TUTOR MENTOR initiative will mobilize 250 new education volunteers in Hays County as part of a larger national movement by United Way Worldwide challenging the nation to cut in half the number of high school dropouts by 2018.
Importance of mentors.
Research proves that caring volunteers working with students of all ages, have the power to help kids boost academic achievement and put young people on track for a bright future.
Mentoring and tutoring programs across Hays County have shown successes at improving grades in school, increasing high school graduation rates, and the likelihood of pursuing a secondary degree. These positive successes are imperative to changing the lives and outcomes of Hays County youth.
Give an hour a week, and make a positive influence on a child!
How to be involved!
For most Hays County children, caring adults are the difference between academic success and failure. Be the difference. Just one hour a week is all it takes to impact the life of a child. Can you spare an hour to READ. TUTOR. MENTOR.? Sign up here.
Reader: Volunteers read to preschool-age children in a child care setting. United Way is working to place readers in pre-k classes in schools and daycare centers throughout Hays County during special events held during the school year and summer. Individuals and groups are also needed to volunteer for Sunday Stories, a monthly program hosted by UWHC at the San Marcos Public Library. Tutor: Volunteers help school-age children improve their reading skills. Sign up with the United Way Readers program, an initiative to place reading tutors in elementary classrooms in San Marcos and Hays CISD, to help ensure that all children are reading on grade level by the 3 rd grade. In addition, UWHC works with partner programs to recruit math, science and reading tutors for after-school tutoring sessions. Mentor: Volunteers improve a child's social and emotional development in a one-on-one or group setting. United Way of Hays County is working with multiple mentoring programs, like Big Brothers Big Sisters and the Centro Cultural Hispano de San Marcos SIS (Stay in School) program, throughout Hays County to recruit mentors for both traditional and non-traditional mentoring positions. United Way of Hays County also invites professionals to participate with the Lunch. Learn. LIVE UNITED program, which brings professional speakers and mentors to give education and career advice to local high school students. Support Makes A Difference!
With funding through a Community Development Block Grant from the City of San Marcos, United Way of Hays County has launched the Mentors Make a Difference initiative to help recruit readers, tutors and mentors and connect them to our local programs providing services to SMCISD students of all ages.
Partner programs provide a reader, tutor, or mentor either during school hours, or during out-of-school time, depending on the needs of the student. Several programs allow for any youth in need of a mentor or tutor to enroll, while other programs serve more specific at-risk groups including adolescent girls, youth from single-parent homes, elementary-age students struggling with reading and comprehension skills, and middle-school and high-school age youth. Each program plays a crucial role in providing the guidance that our Hays County youth need to be successful in school and the future.
For more information contact: Zoe Eslinger, UWHC Program Coordinator
Email Unitedway.zoe@gmail.com or call 512.353.1420. | 3,804 | 1,765 | 0.000569 |
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MSM is a sulphur-containing compound that is used as an analgesic and anti-inflammatory. It is a derivative of DMSO and is safer to use because it does not accumulate as rapidly in the body and does not have an offensive odour. As a source of organic sulphur, MSM helps to build protein, connective tissue, hormones and enzymes. Its pain relieving activity is believed to be fourfold. Firstly it can reduce the transmission of pain signals along nerve fibers. Secondly it increases blood flow to an area. Thirdly it reduces muscle spasms. And lastly, MSM stops the release of inflammatory compounds. MSM can also help the body to detoxify by supporting the functioning of the liver. MSM can be helpful for those individuals who have inflammatory conditions like arthritis, lupus and interstitial cystitis, suffer from seasonal allergies, or have pain due to other health conditions.
Collagen Type II
There are four types of collagen in the body. Collagen type II is the primary component of cartilage, with types I and III also being present but to a lesser degree. Cartilage is the connective tissue disk that acts as a cushion and eliminates friction in your joints. As we age our ability to make collagen type II decreases and loss of collagen type II decreases the integrity of cartilage.
Wear-and-tear injuries occur in the joints and cause less support, less cushioning and more friction. Collagen type II also has anti-inflammatory properties, which help the joint to repair itself after injury. As a supplement collagen acts as a source of amino acids for use in making and repairing connective tissue all over the body.
Reducing Joint Pain Naturally
Most people over age 35 have at least some wear and tear in their joints, but that doesn't mean it should cramp your style.
Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis. It usually has a gradual onset and begins after the age of forty. The knees, hips, fingers and vertebrae are most susceptible. The joint deterioration is due to faulty or deficient repair of bone and cartilage in the joint. The standard North American diet is deficient in the minerals necessary for proper joint repair; therefore it is not surprising that osteoarthritis is a common concern. Osteoarthritis causes stiffness and joint pain on motion.
It is typically worse in the morning. Initially there is no inflammation or swelling of the joint. As the damage progresses the joint may become inflamed and deformed. Muscles around the joint can tense up, joint mobility may decrease and there may be a grating feeling on movement. The pain becomes constant and occurs even when at rest.
Drug Treatments Actually Worsen Arthritis
Conventional treatment with non-steroidal anti-inflammatories has been shown to worsen arthritis. Side effects of some drugs are gastrointestinal bleeding, stomach ulcers, heart attacks and liver problems. Some of these medications, especially the NSAID group can actually accelerate the degradation of joint tissue and can cause a loss of bone mass.
Organika Liga Joint - Premium 830mg Reviews*
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*Review Disclaimer: Not everyone has these results. Product experiences vary from person to person. Please use these reviews for information only as they have not been reviewed by a medical professional. Do not substitute the informatioin in the reviews for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. | 5,310 | 2,330 | 0.000431 |
warc | 201704 | Helps in the development and maintenance of bones and teeth. Calcium intake, when combined with sufficient vitamin D, a healthy diet and regular exercise, may reduce the risk of developing osteoporosis.
Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the human body and it is an essential factor in maintaining strong bones and teeth. Daily stress and pollution deplete our calcium levels and most diets do not provide us with adequate calcium. This may be part of the reason that one in four women as well as one in eight men over the age of 50 develop osteoporosis, leading to fractures and often permanent disability. SISU Calcium & Magnesium 2:1 is a convenient way to supplement your diet with those essential nutrients and vitamin D to prevent bone loss and improve bone density.
Product Information Product Information
High-potency formula of calcium citrate, magnesium oxide and vitamin D2
Calcium citrate is better absorbed in post-menopausal women
Magnesium improves vitamin D activity and decreases the risk of developing osteoporosis
Vitamin D is essential to calcium absorption and helps support bone density and reduce fractures
Vitamin D2, the vegetarian form of this nutrient, has been proven equally as well-absorbed as the animal-sourced vitamin D3
Three tablets per day provide 900 mg of elemental calcium and 450 mg of elemental magnesium in a 2:1 ratio
Take in divided doses throughout the day for better absorption
SISU Calcium & Magnesium 2:1 Advantages
High-potency tablets for those wanting to supply their needs with fewer pills
Tapered tablet with a smooth, water-based coating
Formulated to dissolve when stirred in hot water for those with slow digestion or who prefer not to swallow pills
Shellfish free calcium citrate
Suitable for vegans
Contains no ingredients that are a source of gluten
*Review Disclaimer: Not everyone has these results. Product experiences vary from person to person. Please use these reviews for information only as they have not been reviewed by a medical professional. Do not substitute the informatioin in the reviews for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging.
Suggested Use
Adult dosage: Take 1-3 Calcium & Magnesium 2:1 tablets daily. with food or as directed by a health care practitioner. Take a few hours before or after taking other medications.
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size: 1 TabletServings per Container: 180
Amount Per Serving
% Daily Value *
Calcium (calcium citrate)
300 mg
†
Magnesium (magnesium oxide)
150 mg
Vitamin D2 (ergocalciferol)
5 mcg (200 IU)
* Percent daily values are based on a 2000 calorie diet† Daily Value not establishedNote: Serving Sizes are rounded to the nearest whole serving
Warning:Store in a cool, dry place. Keep out of reach of children. Keep in bottle. As with any dietary or herbal supplement, you should advise your health care practitioner of the use of this product. If you are nursing, pregnant, or considering pregnancy, you should consult your health care practitioner prior to using this product.Use only as directed. Always read the label.
*The savings shown are overall savings when you buy that quantity, not individual savings per product
Product Disclaimer
The products and the claims made about specific products on or through this site have not been evaluated by Vitamart.ca or the Canadian Food and Drug Administration and are not approved to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent disease. The information provided on this site is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for advice from your physician or other health care professional or any information contained on or in any product label or packaging. You should consult with a healthcare professional before starting any diet, exercise or supplementation program, before taking any medication, or if you have or suspect you might have a health problem. Vitamart.ca is not responsible for any statements or claims that various manufacturers make about their products or the general information provided for each product on this website. We cannot be held responsible for typographical errors or product formulation changes. Please consult with your own physician or health care practitioner regarding the suggestions and recommendations made at Vitamart.ca and especially before using any product sold on this website. | 4,441 | 1,995 | 0.000507 |
warc | 201704 | Glucosamine + Fish Oil Capsules by Blackmores 90 Capsules Ease Joint Inflammation Details
Blackmores Glucosamine + Fish Oil provides effective arthritis pain relief. This formula helps to reduce joint inflammation and swelling, and relieve the pain caused by osteoarthritis.
Combined arthritis pain relief. Results expected after 2-4 weeks. No artificial surfactants to disguise fishy odours. Helps to increase joint mobility and reduce joint stiffness. Helps to reduce joint inflammation and swelling.
Glucosamine and sulfate are natural components found in the cartilage matrix and synovial fluid. Glucosamine is a major building block of the substances that together with protein form the structural units in cartilage. These structural units, called aggrecans, are important for the elasticity, resilience and shock-absorbing properties of cartilage. Ageing decreases the body's ability to restore and manufacture normal cartilage. Supplementary glucosamine can be an important source of this vital component of cartilage as we age.
Osteoarthritis is characterized by joint degeneration and loss of cartilage. As we get older the ‘wear and tear' effects of use cause degenerative changes in the cartilage. The cartilage becomes more susceptible to breakdown and damage, which may result in the typical symptoms of osteoarthritis. These symptoms include decreased mobility, increased joint stiffness, inflammation and pain.
Glucosamine may help to provide relief from these symptoms, as well as helping to reduce cartilage wear and provide temporary relief of the pain associated with this condition.
Researchers found in a clinical trial that patients with osteoarthritis of the knees had a clinically significant improvement in pain and mobility after a period of four weeks using glucosamine sulphate 500 mg three times daily.
Fish oils are a source of omega-3 fatty acids. Omega-3 fatty acids are important for the production of substances known as prostaglandins and leukotrienes. Prostaglandins and leukotrienes are important in immune function, smooth muscle function, platelet aggregation and inflammation. Fish oils have an anti-inflammatory action because prostaglandins and leukotrienes from omega-3 fatty acids have less inflammatory activity than prostaglandins and leukotrienes derived from other types of fatty acids.
Fish oil helps to maintain and support a healthy heart and cardiovascular system. It can assist in the maintenance of normal eye and brain function, as well as decreasing fat (triglycerides) in the blood in healthy people. Fish oil inhibits triglyceride synthesis in the liver and so helps to lower fats (triglycerides) in blood, therefore supporting a healthy cardiovascular system.
Dosage: Adults – Take 1 capsule 3 times a day with meals, or as professionally prescribed. Children under 12 years – Only as professionally prescribed. Cautions: This product is derived from crustacean shells. People who are allergic to seafood should exercise extreme caution. Contains 180 mg sodium per daily dose. Contains sulfites. Active Ingredients:
Glucosamine sulfate sodium chloride complex
Equiv. to glucosamine sulfate 500 mg
650 mg Fish Oil (natural)
Containing omega-3 marine triglycerides 150 mg as:
Eicosapentaenoic Acid (EPA) 90 mg
Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) 60 mg
500 mg Warnings: This food is not a sole source of nutrition and should be used in conjunction with a nutritious diet and with an appropriate physical training or exercise program. This food is not suitable for children under the age of 15 or pregnant women. It should only be used under medical or dietetic supervision. Keep out of reach of children. Additional Information
SKU POS-BLACK122 Our Brands Blackmores Ingredients N/A Flavour N/A Grade N/A Scent N/A Card Value N/A Variety N/A Display Actual Price Use config Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price $26.99 | 3,900 | 1,796 | 0.000562 |
warc | 201704 | Celldex Therapeutics, Inc. (CLDX - Free Report) reported third-quarter 2016 loss of 29 cents per share, narrower than both the Zacks Consensus Estimate and the year-ago loss of 32 cents.
Total revenue in the third quarter of 2016 surged 120% year over year to $2.2 million, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.1 million. Revenues were generated mainly under the clinical trial collaboration with Bristol-Myers Squibb Company (BMY - Free Report) , and the research and development agreement with Rockefeller University.
Research and development expenses inched up 1.2% from the year-ago period to $25 million, reflecting higher contract manufacturing costs and personnel costs including higher stock-based compensation expense. On the other hand, general and administrative spend declined 17.6% to $7 million, due to lower commercial planning costs. Earlier this month, Celldex inked definitive agreement to acquire Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a privately held clinical-stage company. The transaction is expected to be completed by 2016 end. Following the transaction, Celldex will acquire the rights to two candidates in Kolltan’s pipeline – KTN0158 (phase I) and KTN3379 (phase Ib). Celldex will also acquire Kolltan’s multi-faceted TAM program. Meanwhile, Celldex is conducting a phase IIb study (METRIC) on glembatumumab vedotin, its most advanced pipeline candidate, in patients with metastatic triple-negative breast cancers that overexpress gpNMB. The candidate is also being evaluated in several other studies. Meanwhile, the company is evaluating varlilumab in combination with Bristol-Myers’ Opdivo in a study that includes cohorts in advanced non-small cell lung cancer, colorectal cancer, ovarian cancer, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, renal cell carcinoma and glioblastoma. In addition, varlilumab is being evaluated in combination with Roche’s (RHHBY - Free Report) Tecentriq (atezolizumab) in a phase I/II study for multiple solid tumors. Varlilumab is also in several other combination studies. Celldex expects that cash, cash equivalents and marketable securities plus anticipated proceeds from future sales of its common stock under the agreement with Cantor to be enough to fund working capital requirements and planned operations, including the integration of Kolltan Pharmaceuticals, through 2018.
Zacks Rank & Key Picks Celldex currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold). Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (INFI - Free Report) is a better-ranked stock in the healthcare sector with a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Infinity’s loss estimates narrowed from $3.84 to $3.79 for 2016. The company has posted a positive surprise in all of the four trailing quarters with an average beat of 67.62%. Zacks’ Best Private Investment Ideas In addition to the recommendations that are available to the public on our website, how would you like to follow all Zacks' private buys and sells in real time? Our experts cover all kinds of trades… from value to momentum . . . from stocks under $10 to ETF and option moves . . . from stocks that corporate insiders are buying up to companies that are about to report positive earnings surprises. You can even look inside exclusive portfolios that are normally closed to new investors. Starting today, for the next month, you can have unrestricted access. Click here for Zacks' private trades >> | 3,474 | 1,747 | 0.000581 |
warc | 201704 | In the aftermath of the 7 May 2011 general election, a creeping policy U-turn is becoming discernible in transport and housing policies. There is no grand change of heart yet, but with each announced step, the government is turning its back on its former policy of protecting corporate profitability at the expense of service delivery.
That former policy was demonstrated in a number of ways. For example, when the Northeast metro line was opened in 2003, the ministry allowed SBS Transit, the operator, to keep Buangkok and Woodleigh stations closed because there wasn’t enough traffic to justify costs. SBS Transit, which had most of the bus routes through the northeast corridor, also discontinued several bus services that ran parallel to the line for part of the distance, in order to drive passengers onto the metro line, regardless of whether those commuters’ final destinations were anywhere along the line.
Recall the ‘bus rationalisation’ exercises that riled residents. Whenever a new rail line is built, most trunk bus services running parallel to it are removed.
Hougang and Serangoon residents had the most recent bitter taste of this policy thinking – when the North East Line starting running in 2003. No fewer than a dozen bus services were removed from the corridor. Besides SBS Transit and SMRT services, supplementary Scheme B buses – run by private operators – were also ‘rationalised’.
— Straits Times, 11 June 2011, Go bigger on buses, even as rail network expands, by Christopher Tan
Meanwhile, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) put virtually all its housing program on a Build-to-order (BTO) basis. Under BTO, construction tenders are not even called until a project has pre-sold 70 percent of the flats within it. Another way of looking at it is this: the first 70 percent of buyers have no certainty when or whether their apartment blocks will be completed. The aim of this policy is to sustain pent-up demand — never mind the frustration it causes citizens — in order to protect the profitability of the HDB.
This madness can be traced to the 1980s, when in the wake of the Thatcherite revolution in Britain, the Singapore government embraced the idea of “privatisation” — with a twist. Most of the time, what happened was corporatisation, where an erstwhile government department was reconstituted as a corporate body charged with paying its own way. This idea swept though the transport, housing, health, telecom and power generation sectors, among others. However, in most of these sectors, the second, and essential, part of privatisation was not carried out, that of opening up all these sectors to competition. Instead, the newly-corporatised units continued to enjoy either legal or effective market monopoly (or duopoly) through subsequent regulatory actions of the government.
There were also complaints that these bodies were filled with ex-civil servants, ex-military officers and People’s Action Party (PAP) stalwarts. For example, a quick look at the 2010 Annual Report of SBS Transit will reveal that the non-executive chairman of the Board of Directors, Lim Jit Poh, is a “a former top civil servant” (page 8), while the Chief Executive Officer, Gan Juay Kiat, “started his career in the Singapore Armed Forces where he held several senior command and staff appointments” (page 9). The board also comprises at least two former PAP members of parliament whose names I recognise: Chin Harn Tong and Wee Siew Kim.
Gan Juay Kiat earned a total compensation of between $500,000 and $750,000 in 2010 (see page 76 of the Annual Report). About half was salary and half bonus. The other eight directors (all non-executive) earned a combined $333,000 in directors’ fees, or an average of $42,000 each.
Between the need to go easy on these
amakudari personalities, and the dogma of trickle-down economics, the social responsibility of government was all but forgotten. Trickle-down was the convenient excuse to look away. If corporations remain profitable, they would have the means to provide good service, it was believed. Having the means was confused with actually providing it. The possibility that making profits might be achieved at the expense of good service (especially in the absence of competition) seemed to have been ignored.
Not any more. After the erosion of vote-share in the general election, the PAP realised that it cannot be business as usual from now on. Khaw Boon Wan, taking over the housing ministry, announced that he was tweaking policy:
In his
Housing Mattersblog, Minister Khaw said that he has ordered the HDB to ramp up capacity and to bring forward projects scheduled for early next year to this year.
In line with this, the HDB has confirmed that it will be able to raise the number of build-to-order (BTO) units from the earlier planned record number of 22,000 to 25,000.
He said he also told HDB to “build ahead of demand” by tendering projects as soon as architectural drawings and documents are ready.
At present, a tender is called only after 70 percent of orders have been confirmed, hence the term BTO.
“Given robust demand, I told them to proceed to build, knowing that the orders will definitely come,” he said. “We can return to normal BTO approach after we have stabilised the situation.”
— Yahoo News Singapore Scene, 28 May 2011, HDB ordered to ramp up building of flats. Link.
He is abandoning the 70-percent rule for the time being, building ahead of demand instead to ease the backlog. What he hasn’t yet done is to ease the pricing problem, an equally big issue.
Meanwhile, Lui Tuck Yew, the new transport minister, acknowledged problems with public transport. After personally riding trains and buses soon after taking over the ministry, he announced that:
. . . the Government will be working with the two bus operators to add ‘significant capacity’ to the bus network in the next three to four years, as new rail projects are being built.
He said that if it were left to the bus operators to add capacity to the overall system, they would take a ‘relatively cautious and gradual’ approach.
‘We are mindful that sometimes, it may not be at the speed necessary given the bottlenecks that we face in the transportation network,’ he said after the launch of tunnelling works for the MRT’s Downtown Line Stage 2 in Bukit Timah.
‘So, it is necessary for the Government to work together with the operators so that we can inject this capacity in a very timely fashion,’ he said, but did not elaborate.
Mr Lui, who took over the transport portfolio on May 18, said that adding significant capacity to Singapore’s public transport system was ‘very, very high’ on his to-do list.
‘We do need to buy more trains, we will build more lines, but they will take time to come into effect,’ he said, noting how rail projects can take seven to eight years to materialise. ‘So, for me, buses will be a matter of high priority in the coming months.’
— Straits Times, 9 June 2011, Coming your way: More buses, travel information, by Christopher Tan
But who will pay for the new buses? One idea being examined is that of the government buying and owning the vehicles and letting SBS Transit ad SMRT operate and maintain them, just like the arrangement for train sets. These two companies have the duopoly for public transport in Singapore. With this, the government is taking back responsibility for public transport, now acutely aware that despite the mantra of privatisation, in citizens’ minds, public transport has never left the responsibility of government. Actually, the previous transport minister, Raymond Lim, made the first U-turn, when he took back control of route planning. He must have realised that these corporate entities were not all that interested in planning routes that catered to commuter needs.
Frankly, I am not sure why Lui should be so quick to let SBS Transit — the larger of the two bus operators — off the hook by musing about the government paying for buses. SBS Transit made an after-tax profit of S$54.3 million on revenue of S$720.9 million (7.53 percent), which translated to an 18 percent Return on Shareholders’ Equity (page 6 of Annual Report). This is not particularly rich, but should it be when it is one of a protected duopoly?
No doubt the details will be picked apart and argued over, but the significance is still worth noting. At long last, the government is paying more heed to its social responsibility. Finally, it realises it cannot go on prioritising the concerns of the big corporations, the rich and the powerful. But this is only just the beginning. It is very easy, after giving a few sops to the angriest of the citizens, to revert back to form, since its powers of coercion and muzzling remain in place. It still has not embraced the idea of greater competition for government-linked companies; it has not even begun to question
amakudari and the distortions this practice brings.
Keep up the pressure, not just on transport and housing, but over a slew of other issues fundamental to liberty, democratisation and the citizens’ right to speak up. Without these, the U-turn will not be permanent. | 9,410 | 4,406 | 0.000234 |
warc | 201704 | Read the original text on Evropeyska Pravda.
Today's youth lives in a technologically and economically developed world and has the best health and education.
In 2016 Deloitte study refers to the generation born in the 1980-2000: "They are not the leaders of tomorrow, but more and more they the leaders of today".
This is easily confirmed by the ratings of 30 to 30, which include young startups and civil society activists.
At the same time, their less "star" of the same age cannot find a place in the modern world, shaken by financial crises, wars and social unrest. In some countries, they feel the same unprotected, as well as youth of their age 50 years ago.
Researchers from VoxUkraine analyzed unemployment among Ukrainian youth and the EU after the crisis of 2008 and during the recent economic downturn.
How big is this problem in Ukraine?
The unemployment rate is low. The youth unemployment rate in Ukraine is lower than the average rate of EU countries. Thus, according to the results of 2013 it amounted to 15% in Ukraine and 22% in the European Union.
This shows the seriousness of this issue for European countries. In six EU countries, unemployment among recent graduates is more than 30%, and in Greece it reached 55%.
The gap between the unemployment among young people and among the adult population varies between 3% in Germany and 32% in Greece, with the average for the European Union at 12%.
Ukraine’sindicator is below average one, with the gap between youth unemployment and adult population at the level of 9%.
Reliable job
Temporary contracts, part-time, precarious employment are considered as uncommon for Ukraine and there is no evidence that this form is more common among young people than among adults.
For example, temporary contracts comprises about 4.6% of Ukrainian graduates, compared with an average of 26% in the European Union. Part-time was 5.3%, compared with 13.3% for the European countries.
The young people of Europe are numerous among temporary workers because, for the first time entering the labor market, they have neither the experience nor the professional network of contacts, or reputation. But in the case of part-time the situation is different.
Youth labor market is more resistant to economic crises. Ukrainian youth labor market is more resistant to economic recessions. In 2013, Ukraine's real GDP was 4% lower than in 2007 - as in many other countries, such as Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, Denmark. At the same time the unemployment rate was little changed among young people, compared with the countries that are also affected by the crisis.
The last economic crisis in Ukraine also did not lead to the appearance of the army of the unemployed - the official statistics show that at constant annual fall of GDP, led to a 20% fall compared with January 2011, the unemployment rate even fell, and it was 9% in the second quarter of 2015.
Does this mean that graduates in Ukraine have the same opportunities as young men in Sweden, the Czech Republic, Great Britain, Estonia and Belgium - countries that are close to Ukraine by the level of unemployment among young people? The answer is negative.
First, a group of young workforce is narrower in Ukraine than in most European countries.
We can see this by comparing the high percentage of young people studying in higher education institutions and a relatively high percentage of people in this category "NEET - not in education neither in employment nor training", which are excluded from the denominator in the calculation of the level of unemployment.
According to the latest report on the index of global competitiveness (Global Competitiveness Index), Ukraine occupies 13th place among 144 countries on the prevalence of higher education - only Greece, Finland and Spain show a higher rate in the European Union.
On the one hand, a country with a low demand for young professionals creates incentives to study longer. On the other hand, the longer people learn, the lower the proportion of the economically active population of youth we have.
29% of Ukrainians, like in European, are not envolved into education, job, or training. Taking into account the large proportion of students, and a large share of inactive youth, we see that the unemployment rate in Ukraine is really low, but it applies only to a relatively small group of young people, which is still involved in the labor market.
Secondly, more than 15% of young people are employed in the shadow economy. If the country was working according to more stringent rules,managing the relationship of employer and employee, as in many countries of the European Union, these people would have been unemployed.
According to the European Social Survey (ESS), Ukraine is one of the leaders in terms of employment outside the scope of national legislation. Only two European countries has informal employment higher than in Ukraine - Ireland and Cyprus.
Thirdly, you may find a job in Ukraine easier than in the EU, but the labor charge will be less.
For example, the average salary in Ukraine is very low, now it is about $ 170 a month and the minimum wage is barely $ 60 a month, which makes the Ukrainian salaries the lowest in Europe.
As the study Gorry, in 2013, the minimum wage, as well as labor market regulation as a whole, a negative impact on employment, especially among young people.
Useful findings
Ukrainian labor market seems to be more favorable to young people than in the EU countries. It is quite resistant to economic downturns.
Unemployment for Ukraine is less complicated problem than in Europe, where it reaches a maximum of 55% with a wide gap between the employment of young people and people over thirty, such as in Greece among young people at the level of 15% in 2013. However, these strong data hides the low level of participation in the labor market, unstable employment and working conditions, long years of education, which are then not rewarded.
Moreover, young Ukrainians who work, receive lower salaries than their counterparts in the European Union, which can be detrimental to the health and well-being in the long term.
Traditionally, labor policies and reforms are on the periphery of the attention of officials. Despite their numerous campaign promises to increase wages and create new jobs.
This phenomenon is in some way due to the fact that all efforts to promote economic growth, liberalization of markets, deregulation of the economy and reducing the tax burden, both are directed on the creation of jobs and the reduction of structural unemployment.
But the state of the labor market - not just a derivative of economic growth. It, in turn, plays an important role either in promoting economic development, either in its containment, damaging human capital and reducing labor productivity.
So, for example, in the Index of Economic Freedom for 2016 Ukraine is 147th out of 186 countries in terms of labor freedom, gaining 47.9 points, and 162 places in the overall ranking of countries.
The indicator includes various aspects of legislative and regulatory labor market field of the country, including regulations regarding minimum wages, layoff, the conditions of termination of the employment contract, measurable regulatory restrictions on hiring and work hours, plus an indicator of participation in the labor force, which measures the potential market opportunities labor.
To get closer to the most successful economies - such as Hong Kong, Singapore, UK or the US - Ukraine should speed up work on the Labour Code, a draft of which is now subjected to severe criticism from trade unions. | 7,656 | 3,379 | 0.000298 |
warc | 201704 | It is envisioned that the establishment of the ITSO or patent library network will help address the challenges faced by a developing country to participate meaningfully in the international patent system by providing affordable and localized access to patent information, patent protection guidance and assistance.
ITSOs offer the following services:
1. Access to patent and scientific and technical databases; 2. Assistance and advice in using patent databases; 3. Assistance and advice on IP management – Licensing, technology transfer; Preliminary market study and business analysis; Patent drafting, prosecution; 4. Patent search services - Freedom to operate, clearance; Novelty, patentability; State of the art; Validity; 5. Other services: • IP Valuation • Assistance and advice on other IPs e.g. Industrial Design, Copyright, Trade/Service marks • Experts networking • Conduct of trainings on IP management and Entrepreneurship • Access to analytical and laboratory services • Development of feasibility studies, business plans and market studies • Enterprise creation and Business development - Technology Business • Incubator and Science and Technology Park | 1,216 | 643 | 0.001621 |
warc | 201704 | Motorists in many states are now paying about $4 a gallon for gas. The latest weekly report from the US Energy Department today is expected to show another price jump in the past week. But oil industry analysts say it may not go much higher. Trilby Lundberg, whose firm puts out its own survey of pump prices, says crude oil prices have started to ease, and there's plenty of supply and refinery capacity.
The changeover from winter to summer gas formulas is the latest cause of higher prices. But these pressures ease after refineries complete the switch. Looking ahead to the summer and fall gas prices may come down a bit, but "in the rest of the world the demand for crude oil, mostly from developing countries, is pretty brisk," says Tom Kloza of the Oil Price Information Service. The global cost of crude is the biggest cause of high US gas prices.
Will expensive gas take a sizeable bite out of consumer confidence? We may find out more this week. Two new reports on confidence will be released. The National Association of Realtors pending home sales index will also be released, giving a reading on the spring outlook for sales.
As Americans pay about $4 per gallon for gasoline, they're wasting 1.9 billion gallons of it annually in traffic jams, a new Treasury Department report says. Traffic congestion costs drivers more than $100 billion annually in wasted fuel and lost time, according to survey. The findings were released in support of President Obama's plan to upgrade and expand America's transportation infrastructure. The White House wants more spending, but most Republicans in Congress oppose additional federal spending on public transportation projects.
If you can't beat 'em join 'em. Many hedge funds took a real beating in the past six months betting against stocks. Now says Bloomberg News, hedge funds are becoming more bullish, "giving up on bearish bets and buying stocks at the fastest rate in two years." The S&P 500 stock index is up 27 percent since early October.
Red faces at BATS. The CEO of BATS Global Markets has made a public apology for the sudden withdrawal of his company's initial public offering. The exchange operator messed up the listing of its own IPO on Friday. When BATS was launched seven years ago it claimed the firm was the future of stock trading with faster and more efficient price quotes. The computer glitch at BATS gives ammunition to critics of the current computerized market system. But regulators say circuit breakers kicked in once the BATS system went down.
Richard Davies Business Correspondent ABC NEWS Radio twitter.com/daviesabc | 2,615 | 1,397 | 0.000719 |
warc | 201704 | Greece has a debt that stands at 160 percent of its GDP. Its unemployment rate, meanwhile, hovers somewhere between 20 and 25 percent. European leaders want to see both of these numbers substantially slashed.
Even if Greece can get austerity cuts passed and make turn a bailout package into reality, a few larger questions looms on the horizon. Will the Eurozone recover? Can the continent handle another debt crisis? Considering the rapid pace at which government debt is rising relative to GDP in several countries – chief among them Spain, Portugal, and Ireland – it’s not inconceivable that the Greek debt crisis will quickly give way to a Spanish and Irish incarnation. Will those countries be able to successfully implement austerity measures without threatening political and social disorder? It’s a question that few European finance minister are willing to ask but one that many have probably considered.
All signs suggest that Greece is not the final roadblock in the EU’s effort to emerge from the financial turndown. It is likely that future bailouts and austerity plans are in the future for several other countries. While Greece may have shouldered most of the burden this time around, there’s little doubt that, the longer this issue persists and the more widespread it becomes, the more likely all of Europe is to descend into a period of mid-term stagnation. Furthermore, many analysts predict that large-scale austerity measures will only initiate a negative feedback loop that stifles recovery and pushes Europe further into a new recession.
In Europe, recovery and growth will both depend highly on the power of state resources. Too much austerity, and growth will be difficult to spark. Too little, and spiraling debt will only further exacerbate budgets and markets. In order to move forward, then, as a strong and unified continent, Europe needs to forge an appropriate path between the two – in Greece as well as in Spain, Portugal, and Ireland. Until that happens the global economy will continue to feel its reverberations. | 2,089 | 1,081 | 0.000943 |
warc | 201704 | Most Popular
Cause marketing is big. Brands as diverse as KFC and Gucci are jumping on the bandwagon. Clients are asking if they should, too.
Well, what's really working? Google "cause marketing," and you'll find plenty of research that confirms it: People want to buy from companies that "do good." Yet a great deal of cause marketing fails to make an impact. The issue is that often people find cause marketing to be confusing at best -- and flat out dishonest at worst.
What's missing in the conversation is who's doing it right -- which cause campaigns are breaking through. There are plenty of expert opinions, but no real research on consumer impact. Which messages are sticking and which brands are consumers opening their wallets for?
The biggest loser -- Gucci's "Chime for Change"
This was a surprise. Gucci's "Chime for Change" has received incredible media coverage. It was launched with great fanfare at TED with the celebrity firepower of Salma Hayek and Frida Giannini. Its mega-concert last November was headlined by Beyonce, Madonna and Jennifer Lopez. The press gives it high marks for being "innovative" in engaging consumers using a crowd-funding platform called Catapult.
So what impact did this star-studded, tech-trendy approach have with consumers?
Virtually none.
Not a single one of the people we surveyed had ever heard of it.
The big winners: Toms, Patagonia and Product Red
In contrast, Toms' "One for One," Product Red and Patagonia's "Common Threads" initiatives have made a huge impact. Many people bring up Product Red and Toms unaided and have purchased from them because of the causes they support.
Patagonia's "Common Threads" initiative is not as well known (only 29% awareness vs. Product Red's 74% and Toms' 64%). But among people who have heard of it, its persuasive power is incredible: two-thirds of consumers who have bought Patagonia tell us they chose it because of the causes it supports.
What's going on in the consumer's head?
To understand what's driving these results, we turned to science. In addition to our survey, we conducted an experiment to understand what motivates consumers in cause marketing. We put up a lemonade stand in San Francisco's Dolores Park, and gave people a choice: "regular" lemonade for $1 or "charity" lemonade for $2, with all proceeds going to support the San Francisco Food Bank. Then we asked them to explain their choices. (And yes, we are giving the regular lemonade money to the Food Bank, too)
1) Cause marketing works at the point-of-purchase.
Cause marketing can be an effective way to push consumers to pick one brand over another and "clinch" the final sale. But like other marketing tools that are good at pushing sales (discounts, coupons), "cause-to-close" marketing does little to build brand preference and loyalty.
2) For cause marketing to work on the brand level, it needs to be unique, authentic, talkable and iconic.
That's the magic of Toms -- the "One for One" program (in which Toms gives away a pair of shoes for every pair purchased) is unique to Toms, it's a great story consumers can talk about, and the shoes are distinctive and desirable. That's also why Patagonia's "Common Threads" initiative (where Patagonia takes back worn clothes to recycle) is so powerful. No one has done anything like that before, it's true to the brand's core values, and consumers find it more credible. Supporting causes that are widespread and generic (breast cancer awareness, Fair Trade, etc.) may win the battle temporarily at the point of purchase -- but won't win long-term brand love in people's hearts and minds.
3) Cause marketing messages are failing on the brand level.
That's largely because those messages don't pass the B.S. test. Consumers are skeptical of companies -- especially big ones -- using cause marketing to push products and green-wash brands.
(I don't blame them. Search "Gucci Chime for Change," and you'll find plenty of content about celebrity endorsers and Gucci perfumes. Stories about the causes and the women Chime supports? Not so much.)
Cause marketing tomorrow
One of the key questions we asked about cause marketing was, "Are we due for a backlash as consumers fatigue of all the cause marketing out there?" To our surprise, despite complaints, we learned that consumers continue to be receptive to cause marketing.
They're just better at filtering out and ignoring the messages that don't appeal to them. | 4,487 | 2,167 | 0.000467 |
warc | 201704 | Rather, Mr. Light is asking agencies to share their ideas in progress with other shops, a request sure to spark debate on compensation and the value of ideas. "We're going to have idea-poaching and we're going to encourage it," said Mr. Light. "I know how difficult it's going to be."
To accommodate regional differences, particularly on obesity and health issues, the marketer will "collect" ideas in progress from agencies during the next two months and present the best ones with global potential at an April marketing summit. Regional marketing managers will have until May or June to choose the ideas that work best for them.
Executives from McDonald's agency referred questions to the marketer. But some advertising-industry executives argue that their ideas are their intellectual capital and that giving them away without financial reward is unorthodox at best and unfair at worst. One likened it to McDonald's sharing their best advances and ideas with Burger King or Wendy's.
"Intellectual property is owned by the client, not the agency," said Mr. Light. "It's work for hire."
Tom Collinger, associate professor of integrated marketing communications at Northwestern University, said such debate illustrates the evolution of marketer/agency relationships since the old days when agencies "had the confidence of the client and capabilities to take an idea and execute it."
"While [Mr. Light's] comment seems cold-hearted to the developers of big ideas, it's true that they long ago had given up the ability to get paid for the development of good ideas." Yet he sympathizes with shops. "What you have is the industry being paid for effort, not for quality and that doesn't make sense." | 1,718 | 914 | 0.001109 |
warc | 201704 | 31
DOVP Week: Don Glass on Applying Universal Design for Learning (UDL) to Evaluation
Hi! I am Don Glass an independent education and evaluation consultant, and a former UDL Fellow at Boston College and CAST. Over the past several years I have been interested in how we can be as inclusive as possible in the gathering and analysis of data, as well as in the sharing and use of evaluation findings. Like our colleagues Jennifer Sulewski and June Gothberg, I am interested in applying Universal Design to evaluation for the purpose of removing barriers, providing access and flexibility, and promoting engagement, understanding, and use for a wide range of stakeholders.
To do so, we are exploring the use of Universal Design for Learning (UDL) as a translational framework for guiding the design and evaluation of curriculum, programs, and materials. The framework moves beyond accessibility to include learning design. UDL provides a research-supported conceptual framework, as well as a well-structured heuristic for guiding inclusive design and evaluation decision-making. UDL prompts for the design of multiple, flexible options to address variability and supports expert learning across the affective, recognition, and strategic neural networks of the brain. I would locate the use of the UDL framework in the transformative evaluation paradigm, and argue that it prompts for evaluation design that aligns with many of the principles of Empowerment Evaluation.
Hot Tips: Monitor and evaluate outcomes for knowledge, use, AND values.We typically evaluate participant knowledge and use of an intervention or program. Consider measuring and responding to outcomes that also monitor affect and engagement- initial interest, sustained motivation, self-regulation, relevance, and value to the stakeholders. Provide flexible options for data collection and sharing.The same paper survey may not be accessible or appropriate for everyone. Remove physical, cognitive, cultural, and language barriers in your instrument and report design. Provide options for vocabulary, language, and comprehension supports. Present information in multiple ways (i.e., diagrams, stories, tables, explanatory text). Support expert learning strategies.Build capacity for executive functions and self-regulation that have value and use beyond the evaluation. Provide the reflective and evaluative strategies for goal-setting and planning, managing information, and acting on formative feedback. Support the development of expert practitioners and expert learning organizations! Rad Resources UDL Guidelines. A digital version of the UDL Guidelines with comprehension supports, examples, resources, and supportive research evidence. UDL AA-AAS Evaluation Tool. An interactive online tool that applies UDL to the design and administration of state alternate assessments based on alternate academic achievement standards. UDL Connect. A ning group on the topic of applying UDL to evaluation. The American Evaluation Association is celebrating the Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Populations TIG (DOVP) Week. The contributions all week come from DOVP members. Do you have questions, concerns, kudos, or content to extend this aea365 contribution? Please add them in the comments section for this post on the aea365 webpage so that we may enrich our community of practice. Would you like to submit an aea365 Tip? Please send a note of interest to aea365@eval.org . aea365 is sponsored by the American Evaluation Association and provides a Tip-a-Day by and for evaluator. | 3,549 | 1,694 | 0.000591 |
warc | 201704 | February 8, 2013 An alternative to greed and austerity
Times are still difficult for North Carolina’s working families. The decisions made by the N.C. General Assembly in the 2013-14 legislative session will be crucial in determining the future of those families. As in the past, the N.C. State AFL-CIO will be a leading, and sometimes the only, voice for workers and their families on work-place related issues at the legislature.
It will be extremely challenging this session to garner support for our issues. As a result, it is more important than ever that legislators hear from union members about the issues important to working families. And it is equally important that we hold legislators accountable when they vote for policies that hurt workers’ interests.
We have adopted an agenda that we believe addresses the most fundamental needs of North Carolina workers and their families. Our agenda promotes good jobs, safe workplaces, and strong protection of our rights as workers, voters, and consumers. It is an agenda that will move our economy forward by putting people back to work and enabling them to provide for their families. It is an agenda that recognizes that helping workers is how we help the overall economy.
Grim reality greets conference attendees
When the 2013 Labor Legislative Conference (LLC) convened in Raleigh on Tuesday, participants learned the outlook at the start of the new biennium of the North Carolina General Assembly for working people, consumers, the environment, clean elections advocates, and many other constituencies is grim, indeed.
In less than a fortnight, Republican lawmakers in Raleigh have introduced and passed bills to make devastating cuts to our unemployment insurance system, to fire the members of all state oversight boards (like the Utilities Commission, the Environmental Management Commission, the Board of Elections, and the Industrial Commission, for example), and to reject full federal funding to expand Medicaid to cover 500,000 more North Carolinians.
Nevertheless, after getting up to speed on our legislative agenda, a delegation of about 90 union members walked over to the legislative building on Jones Street and met with their representatives and senators – Republicans and Democrats – to hand-deliver a DVD of the video NC Stories of Life on Unemployment and to urge them to oppose cuts our state’s vital unemployment insurance system. But their pleas fell on deaf ears. On Tuesday afternoon, as many LLC delegates looked down from the House gallery, the House voted along party lines to approve cuts to unemployment.
Western North Carolina CLC president, Mark Case, described a futile visit he and his delegation had with one lawmaker who supported the cuts:
“I had one Republican legislator try to explain this plan to me, and he closed with the following, ‘Mark, we have to get people back to doing what our parents and grandparents did. If there is no work here in NC, follow the work to wherever it is at.’
“I didn’t respond anymore; he was a hopeless individual. What he was telling his constituents was, ‘If you can’t find a job here, move to another state.'”
State Rep. Deborah Ross honored as A Friend of Workers
At the LLC Awards Banquet on Tuesday night, state AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer, MaryBe McMillan, presented State Representative from Wake County, Deborah Ross, with our 2013 Friend of Workers Award for her “many years looking out for workers and the most vulnerable in our society.”
Hours before accepting the award, Rep. Ross was arguing forcefully on the House floor against Republican lawmakers’ extreme and devastating cuts to North Carolina’s unemployment insurance program. “That we got folks on the record saying that they really did not care about unemployed workers, I think, is extraordinary,” said Rep. Ross, a Democrat from Wake County:
“
Without good workers, North Carolina and North Carolina businesses can’t do anything.And when you devalue people, you break their spirit. And when you break their spirit, you can’t have a great state.
“When we talk about North Carolina, we say that we want to bring everybody up. And that the only way North Carolina will be a great state again – because it is going down hill – is to bring everybody up, to grow the middle class.
“
The bill that we dealt with today turns the middle class into a poverty class.It doesn’t recognize the temporary struggles people have. If we don’t invest in our people our state is not worth very much.
“It’s gonna get worse before it’s gonna get better.
But every single morning when we get up, we have to see the vision, we have to know what we need to do, and we have to keep fighting, every single-solitary day until we reclaim this state.” — Rep. Deborah Ross, 2/5/2013 Pictured at top: LLC delegates prepare to lobby lawmakers with a role-play exercise. | 5,028 | 2,354 | 0.000441 |
warc | 201704 | 1General Practitioner, Department of Health, Hajtaleb Medical Complex of Alternative and Complementary, Bojnurd, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
2General Practitioner, North Khorasan University of Medical Sciences, Bojnurd, Iran, Islamic Republic Of
3Pharmacy Student, Student Research Committee, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
Abstract
Introduction: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus is a kind of multi-system autoimmune disorder with unknown etiology and is along with produced antibodies against various tissues. Case Presentation: A 44-year-old female patient with a history of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus for approximately 5 years along with underlying diseases including peptic ulcers, asthma, hypertension and diabetes in the past ten years. The patient referred to traditional medicine clinic for counseling in July 2012, with a bad complaint related to Systemic Lupus Erythematosus in addition to relevant medical treatment complications. The patient was put under the health and nutrition control after arrival in traditional medicine clinic. In this case, the pharmaceutical measures were taken according to temperament and disease status and the medicinal plants and combination drugs are applied. The manual actions including cupping therapy, massage, Hijama and leech therapy were used for patient according to a compiled program. The pain and disease symptoms completely disappeared and the clinical tests began for investigating the patient's laboratory status after about 3 months. The first experiment indicates that the lupus and diabetes items were normalized, so that there were not any effect of clinical and laboratory symptoms of diseases after 6 months and the patient did not take any chemical drug. Finally, during 4 years of patient follow-up from 2012 up to 2016, the patient did not have any symptoms of lupus, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, headache and digestive problems; and all tests were repeated and they were all normal in 2016. Conclusion: Given the patient's recovery process with an approach to her physical power, mental status, blood sugar control, and significant recovery of patient's Systemic Lupus Erythematosus and underlying diseases, it seems that the combination of modern and traditional medicine can pave the way for most of the common diseases, and thus it is essential to conduct widespread assessments of different diseases based on teachings of Iranian Effective Medicine.
Highlights
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus; Traditional Medicine; Modern Medicine; Iranian Effective Medicine; Leech Therapy
Systemic Lupus Erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease which affects the several systems and organs of body at different times and causes extensive damage to connective tissue, blood vessels and serous membrane [1]. This disease has unknown etiology and different clinical and laboratory symptoms, and has a wide geographical spread around the world, so that there have been numerous differences in its symptoms between various ethnic and geographical groups [2]. The prevalence of lupus is estimated 40 per 100000 in Iran based on a comprehensive community-oriented study on control of rheumatic diseases by Rheumatology Research Center of Tehran University of Medical Sciences [3]. This disease usually has an adverse effect on patient's physical, psychological and social health by involving the vital organs of body. Living with disease symptoms including skin and appearance symptoms can lead to a threat to identity, changes in roles, and changes in mental image or lifestyle in the long term, and thus any major change or reduced function ability needs more physical, social, and psychological adaption by patient and family. The patient and her family need time to accept the change in individual ability for doing tasks and proper planning in this field [4]. As a systemic disease, SLE has different clinical symptoms which may not occur at the same time and be displayed in different periods. Therefore, the diagnosis of this disease is based on different diagnostic criteria; and the American College of Rheumatology criteria are the first and foremost ones [5]. Therefore, the patients are evaluated in terms of different clinical symptoms (constitutional, musculoskeletal-mucosal, skin-mucous, neural-mental, respiratory, cardiovascular, and blood symptoms) and paraclinical tests including the complete blood count, platelet count, inflammatory factors, serum creatinine, and urine analysis, in addition to immunological tests such as antinuclear antibodies, complement factors, and rheumatoid factors [6]. The treatment of SLE is very complicated and requires great accuracy. Furthermore, the strategy of this treatment requires familiarity with clinical symptoms of disease and treatment side effects associated with it in addition to the severity of disease and its prognosis based on the valid clinical classification [7]. Based on the teachings of modern medicine, lupus is not treated, but controlled and managed. Patients should see their physicians regularly and be monitored. The physician regularly changes the types of treatment depending on the status of disease. The most important lupus treatment measures are as follows: 1) Anti-inflammatory drugs including the anti-inflammatory drugs such as indomethacin, ibuprofen, Celecoxib, piroxicam, meloxicam, mefenamic acid, and naproxen which reduce the patient's joint and muscle pain. 2) Hydroxychloroquine is applied in treatment of skin lesions, fatigue and joint pain. 3) Corticosteroid or Cortone is applied in severe cases of disease. 4) Drugs which weaken the immune system such as azathioprine, cyclosporine, cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and mycophenolate are used in some patients with SLE. These medications weaken the immune defense system and increase the risk of infection in patients [8]. In other words, all treatments for treating the SLE have relative effects on its treatment and even have severe complications. Therefore, we should evaluate the new combined methods and drugs which have the highest therapeutic effect in the short term and report them scientifically based on a combined school of modern and traditional medicine, or in other words, the Iranian Effective Medicine (IEM).
Case Presentation
Medical History andExaminationaccording to ModernMedicine
A 44-year-old female patient with a history of SLE for approximately 5 years along with underlying diseases including ulcers, asthma, hypertension and diabetes in the past ten years. The patient was an official employee in Ministry of Defense and was retired due to the history of diseases particularly SLE diagnosis, and disease status according to the Medical Council. The patient had a bachelor's degree in nursing and was living in Tehran; weighing about 87 kg and height about 152 cm. Guided by an acquaintance, the patient referred to Hajtaleb medical center of traditional and modern medicine for treatment, with a bad complaint of constitutional symptoms, skeleton-muscular symptoms, skin symptoms, and neural-mental symptoms related to SLE in addition to relevant medical treatment complications. According to examination, the patient was anxious, tired and depressed and had a severe headache, bone pain, generalized obvious edema, cold and wet skin at the arrival at clinic. The patient's vital signs were as follows: temperature: 37.8 °C, respiratory rate: 19 per minute, pulse rate: 90 per minute, blood pressure: systolic 170 mm Hg to diastolic 90 mm Hg. Based on the full history and medical documents, the patient had the following illness records.
A- She had a history of diabetes since January 1998. The patient did their tests under the supervision of endocrine disease specialist at Tehran Pathobiology Laboratory Center. The patient was under the treatment of oral Glibenclamide 5 mg and Metformin 500 mg twice a day, and it was changed to injection of regular insulin and NPH in different doses after a few months due to the lack of appropriate response. According to available documents, the patient had fasting blood sugar of about 309, 280, 245, 187 and 161 at different times. Two-hour glucose after a meal was 590, 330, 280, 275, and 198. She had a brief history of repeated blood fat and glucose 2+ in urine.
B- Patient has a history of asthma as recurrent weekly attacks and then monthly since 2001. She underwent lung disease and infectious disease specialists. She was under the treatment with Salbutamol and Becotide inhalers, and Bromhexine and Theophylline syrups, and hydrocortisone tablet. She had a history of frequent hospital admission in the emergency for severe asthma attacks. The patient had a history of broad-spectrum antibiotics.
C- The patient had a history of dyspepsia and epigastric pain since 2006 and mentioned a history of ulcers and positive H. pylori infection in endoscopic procedure in 2009. She was under the supervision of gastroenterology specialist. The patient underwent quadruple therapy against Helicobacter and long-term treatment by Omeprazole while fasting once a day.
D- Patient had a history of headache, palpitations, blurred vision, and high blood pressure since 2008. She was under the supervision of cardiovascular disease specialist, and had done all cardiovascular and 24-hour blood pressure control, heart echo stress test, and heart scan and Color Doppler ultrasound of renal artery. She was under the treatment of Losartan 25 mg tablet twice a day and hydrochlorothiazide 50 mg tablet daily.
E- Patient had a history of fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, frequent dizziness, abundant hives and rash especially on the face and back of spine along with symptoms of arthritis including the pain and swelling, edema and warmth in joints of left hand wrist and elbow muscles, and big toe since 2008. The patient was under the supervision of rheumatology disease specialist. The patient underwent the full blood tests and a biopsy of skin areas with hives as well as the full bone scan. The patient received the service exemption in 2009 based on American College of Rheumatology criteria and her physician's view, and Medical Council Commission of Khanevadeh Hospital affiliated to NEZAJA Department of Health with a diagnosis of SLE and osteoporosis. The patient underwent regular chemotherapy with specified treatment regimens and varied doses of corticosteroid therapy and methotrexate and Hydroxychloroquine pills, folic acid tablet, and intramuscular vitamin D3, and vitamin D3 tablet, and Osteofos tablet since the diagnosis until admission to clinic.
Medical History andExaminationsaccording to IranianTraditional Medicine
The patient had no knowledge of traditional medicine therapies and did not follow the eating practices and health protection principles, included in traditional medicine, in everyday life. The patient had a dominating simple bad temperament and was phlegmatic (cold and moist), but the melancholic bad temperament was created in different parts of body (cold and dry). The patient's innate temperament (congenital) seemed to be a combination of mucus and melancholy. She was severely depressed, sad and disappointed. Her pulse was weak and had low intensity. The cold and moist was felt in touch, but there was abnormal swelling because of too much consumption of Corticosteroid.
According to the patient's physical condition, her suffer from various diseases, extensive use of chemical drugs, side effects of medication and bad psychological and mental conditions, it was necessary pay attention to several important points: We were faced with four diseases and their complications and also the rates of medicines and their complications in patient. The patient was very weak with unready mental conditions. She had a lack of confidence in medicine due to the lack of treatment and recovery during 4 years ago. How should we start the traditional medicine treatment methods? What kind of drugs and methods and in what order and time interval should we used? And to what extent should we use the knowledge of traditional medicine? During therapy by IEM methods, we should decide how to cut the chemical drugs which were consumed by patient for several diseases in order to receive the recovery and prevent the new problem cause by discontinuation of corticosteroid, and how replace the drugs and methods of effective medicine. Could we think of full recovery in this patient? If we had a beginning and ending, how long would it take?
Treatment
Measures to Protect Health and Nutrition:
The patient's treatment started on 21/06/2012. In the first session, the patient underwent the full counseling about disease and IEM methods and it was emphasized that the treatment should be long-term and continuous, so that it might take several years. On the other hand, according to the patient's mental condition and her non-trust in medical schools, the necessary explanation was given to patient about disease refractory and maybe incurability, and also the possibility of their treatment based on the IEM. During this session, the patient's questions were scientifically answered as the patient was an experienced nurse. This session was held in the presence of her husband as he reassured the patient and his trust in start and continuation of treatment. According to the patient's conditions, the duties were assigned for family members in order to help the treatment.
The nutrition instructions and especially the six essential principles (six principles of health in traditional medicine including the air, movement and rest, sleep and waking, retention and vomiting, food and beverage, mental events) were fully explained for patient. A CD including the nutritional practices was given to patient in order to help the treatment by learning the principles of nutrition in traditional medicine. In particular, some foods such as spices and cold- temperament foods like vinegar of pickled vegetables, buttermilk, yogurt, icy water, salad, ice cream, cold- temperament fruit, etc were removed from the patient's diet. In the case of preventing problems for patient with this diet, milk was recommended instead of buttermilk and yogurt, and various vegetables recommended instead of salad, and the patient was recommended consuming any food with its reformer. There were few meat dishes, so it was recommended excluding for some time, thus the nutritious foods were recommended to strengthen the patient's physical force. It was emphasized that the compliance with nutrition principles would be very effective in treatment process.
Pharmaceutical measures:
The herbal and combination drugs were used in this patient according to the temperament and disease status. Due to the complexity of situation, the medical measures with traditional methods were very difficult in this patient, and thus the innovation and personal clinical experience were used in patient's medical measures with IEM system. Therefore, the use of drugs was along with identification of active ingredient and medicine and patient temperament; and most importantly, the prescription of traditional and herbal drugs in this patient was in a way that it should explain several goals: 1) They should play the temperament reforming roles and solve the patient's material and simple bad temperament in the entire body and organs. 2) They should be the alternatives to patient's modern medicine. 3) They should strengthen the patient's body forces. 4) They should not have side effects for patient. 5) The plants, which were known and there were available plant therapy for them, were applied for patient. 6) The regimes of herbal drugs were constantly changed during treatment in order not to make the patient's body dependant.
Furthermore, we used the medicinal plants which were both mucus mature and also had active ingredients for treatment of lupus and control of co-morbidities and also played the roles of laxatives and mucus disposal.
Nigella Sativa: This plant was prescribed orally with honey. Nigella is a potent anti- phlegm drug, as it matures the phlegm and also the active ingredient of plant plays the effective role in strengthening the immune system and reduces body swelling and pain in this patient. However, due to the patient's temperament, Nigella was one of the best medicines applied during the treatment. Two teaspoons of Nigella Sativa mixed with honey per day was prescribed for 3 months.
Camomile: This plant is a potent anti-inflammatory plant, so that it played an effective role in reducing arthritis and asthma treatment in this patient. In this case, this plant was used along with thyme and mallow because these two plants are among the best plants which strengthen the anti-inflammatory property of this plant in the presence of chamomile especially Thyme which was very useful for patient's asthma based on the experience and scientific reports. According to the patient's physicians' experience, this combination had scientific and specific effects due to the active ingredient and is a strong melancholy cleaning combination. This plant was prescribed to be boiled and drank 1-3 cups per day according to the patient's situation.
Combination ofLavender, Valerian and Orange Blossom: These three plants are the best plants affecting the nerves in traditional and modern medicine and are prescribed to treat depression and strengthen the brain and nerves. In addition to a strong effect on the nervous and psychiatric system, they can restore the patient's morale and this increases the blood flow and faster disposal of mucus. Among these plants, Lavender has a special feature in pain-killing and anti-anxiety treatment. These three plants are prescribed to be boiled and used one or two glasses per day during treatment with regard to the patient's overall health.
Sesame Oil: This oil is one of the drugs which should be prescribed for massage in patients with lupus in a long time because it has strong effect on the patient power, anti-inflammatory processes and increased blood flow, cleaning (corrupted humors mature) and laxatives (excretion of humors), and anti pain. However, the use of oil massage in these patients during the treatment depends on their temperaments and conditions.
Sekanjabin Syrup: In addition to being a useful beverage for almost all temperaments and most of the diseases, Sekanjabin syrup has an extraordinary effect on treatment of autoimmune diseases. Therefore, it was prescribed for a long time in this patient. However, the way of application and time of Sekanjabin syrup in IEM differs from the traditional medicine.
Rose and Securigera Varia: These two plants were used as laxatives in this patient at a specified time and certain circumstances different from other patients.
Manual Measures:
Cupping Therapy: Cupping the full back especially around the chest and waist backbone was advised every other day because it strengthens the body and increased the blood flow as well as helping to dispose the corrupted humors, and most importantly, strengthening the immune system. It can even help to mature mucus.
Massage: Sesame oil massage was advised on the patient's back for about 15 minutes per night during treatment for a long term.
Hijama (Bloodletting or Wet Cupping): Hijamawas advised for several times in this patient. However, it was carried out with a little blood-letting. According to the IEM, Hijamais effective in reducing symptoms in patients with rheumatologic problems and it should be done periodically by taking into account the patient's general condition and body forces. It has both stimulation effect and disposes the corrupted mucus. Hijamawas often performed between two shoulders with low blood and in a total of4 times during treatment. If Hijama is unprincipled in these patients, it could have the adverse effects.
Leech Therapy: Leech therapy is not a kind of manual action in IEM because the leech is used in them due to the effective ingredient of Saliva, and its blood taking is in the second priority. According to the anti-inflammatory compounds of leech saliva and Hirudin, which increases the body flow in patient's body, the leech therapy plays an effective role in treatment. However, the use of leeches in these patients by IEM is like other methods as a new model combined with personal experiences, so that the leech therapy period was very different in this patient, and thus we cannot define a constant framework which is used in all patients. Leech therapy was mainly done on ankles, over liver from the back, and behind the ears; and the sizes and numbers of leeches were changed according to patient's conditions and recovery during treatment. Due to the long duration of treatment and number of treatments, we could not be sure of exact numbers of leech therapy in this patient. However, the patient underwent approximately 10 sessions of leech therapy. The following cases were taken into account in leech therapy for this patient:
A) With respect to the patient's anemia and overcome Phlegmatic temperament, and also to prevent more phlegm in patient due to bleeding by leeches and not increased dried body, the patient drinking was enhanced and smaller leeches used.
B) To maintain the patient's physical force during leech therapy, the gap between leech therapies was increased in give the patient's body the opportunity to have natural reconstruction.
Treatment Results
The signs of recovery appeared after disappearance of headache and reduced muscle pain created after a week of treatment by IEM, and the patient left the second week behind with good general status and more confidence in IEM. In the third and fourth weeks of recovery, Corticosteroid discontinuation was done according to scientific principles and certain gap, and also the other drugs consumed by patient for co-morbidities, were also discontinued. The patient's clinical symptoms were regularly controlled during discontinuation of drugs. The discontinuation of chemical drugs especially Corticosteroid and Methotrexate was one of the most important stages of treatment, so that the recovery became faster by discontinuation of chemical drugs and influence of drugs and therapies of effective medicine, and the pain and symptoms of disease were completely controlled after about 3 months, and then the clinical tests began for checking up the patient's status. The first tests indicated that SLE and diabetes items became normal and this was satisfactory along with recovery signs for physician, patient and her family, so that there was not any clinical and laboratory symptoms of diseases after 6 months, and the patient did not use any chemical drugs. Finally, the patient did not have any symptoms of lupus, diabetes, hypertension, asthma, headache, and digestive problems in 2016 and after 4 years of follow-up from 2012 to 2016, and thus all tests were repeated and all of them were normal.
Discussion
SLE is an autoimmune systemic disease with vast clinical and immunological symptoms. Gender has more susceptibility to this disease, so that this disease is more frequent in young women at childbearing age than the men with gender ratio of 9 to 1. This ratio is lower before the puberty and after menopause [9-10]. The disease has a variety of unpredictable symptoms and can occur from the mild to serious symptoms for patients [11]. It is very unexpected, often debilitating and disfiguring; and its treatment requires prescription of potential toxic drugs [12]. The high morbidity and cost of treating this disease impose a significant burden on person and community health system [1]. On the other hand, due to the growth of this disease in Iran and its chronic nature, we need more effective and less costly treatment methods. Therefore, considering the high cost of treatment and repeated hospitalizations and also serious complications of medications, different methods have been used to treat this disease around the world and new therapies are being investigated [12] as this article can be assessed in this regard. The studied patients on this report had SLE and did not respond to common treatments. Nowadays, all treatments applied for SLE have relative effects on treatment. Therefore, this report attempts to use the most effective and safest methods in modern and traditional medicine schools for patient healthcare and treatment by integrating the modern and Iranian traditional medicine called the IEM, and then report them in scientific report.
According to the report, the patient had an incurable disease called SLE. The patient was treated by modern medicine methods. There has not been any reported treatment and pathophysiology for this disease and similar ones in traditional medicine of Iran and other countries. In summary, there is not any specific definition of SLE in traditional and modern medicine, so that there is not any specific diagnosis and treatment for SLE in traditional medicine based on the evidence in available sources. The important thing in this patient was the existence of three refractory diseases along with lupus including the blood pressure, asthma and diabetes, and the patient also took the chemical medicines according to modern medicine. In addition to these diseases, she suffered from the complications of disease and consumed drugs, so that the severe headache, body swelling, severe overweight, severe depression, etc often made pain higher than diseases for patient; so that this patient referred to traditional medicine clinic with sever joint pain, skin problems, severe headache, depression and anxiety and explained her physical-mental conditions as follows: {Every day I woke up, I thought Oh God, what's today like? My joints were aching; I had overweight of over eighty kilos. When I woke up in the morning and wanted to get out of bed, I was struggling with myself for two or three hours on the bed to move my body. Sometimes, I walk on all fours in order to make my joints a little softer. I had high blood pressure, and I felt this severe headache on the back head was due to the blood pressure, and thus I increased drugs}. These words were a part of patient's symptoms and conditions.
Given the status of disease and other disease diseases, the consumption of chemical drugs, side effects of medications, and patient's psychological conditions, the treatment was impossible with any sources in traditional and modern medicine because the illness and other co-morbidities created complex temperament in the whole body and organs, and it was very difficult to make decision for treatment. There was not any accurate definition of these diseases and their treatment in traditional medicine texts; and the traditional medicine just consider them as combined diseases, but when patient referred with SLE and three other dangerous diseases, how we should manage the situation towards the recovery by the help of methods and drugs of traditional medicine. Therefore, it was sought to treat the patient based on the teachings of IEM with new approach to traditional medicine of Iran and use of modern medicine; hence, the drugs and methods of traditional medicine are used in this method with new creativity and approach and without any side effects on patient, and thus the treatment methods and consumed drugs were changed and considerable recovery observed [13].
In this case, the principles of nutrition and specially six essential principles were considered according to IEM in this patient. Despite the fact that the IEM represents the food instruction in accordance with temperament, it has also paid attention to active ingredient which is recommended in modern medicine, and thus the food, which has active ingredient for strengthening the body force, is used and this type of diet which pays attention to temperament (in traditional medicine) and active ingredient of foods (in modern medicine) is called the principle of Iranian effective nutrition. In other words, if we only consider the food temperament, not its ingredient, we will not achieve any result, and vice versa, if we pay attention to active ingredient of food and ignore the temperament, we will not be successful in treatment. Several studies have found that the change in lifestyle towards a healthy lifestyle including the consumption of healthy food, proper nutrition, exercise, not smoking, and living with good mental health can raise the health indices even in a patient and significantly reduce the risk factors and complications of disease [14]. In this study, a CD including the nutritional practices was given to patient in order to help the treatment by learning the principles of nutrition in traditional medicine. The pharmaceutical measures were used in this case according to the temperament and disease condition and combined drugs such as Nigella Sativa, along with thyme and mallow, combined with Lavender, valerian and Orange blossom, Sesame oil, Sekanjabin syrup, Rose and Securigera varia. The application of laxatives and cleaner and the type of applied plants in IEM was based on objective evidence of personal clinical experience. In particular, the time of applying the laxatives and cleaners is longer for these patients and famous medicinal plants are used because if we want to use the synthetic drugs, referred in traditional medicine books, we will not be able to properly justify the possible side effects or treatment progress due to the lack of sufficient scientific evidence for confirming them scientifically. However, when we use the plants with scientifically described properties in traditional medicine and in herbal medicine, the prescription and control of symptoms and justification of recovery process will be scientific. Therefore, when we use a plant like Lavender as cleaning drug affecting the nerves, we utilize the temperament of this plant and pay attention to its active ingredient as cleaning medicine and it is prescribed on the basis of clinical experience. On the other hand, the effects or possible side effects of this herb are explained in numerous herbal medicine books. The drug therapy of this patient is complex and along with clinical experience in Iranian effective medicine, and thus it cannot be used for another patient with lupus unless the physician has sufficient experience in medical application and is experienced particularly in treatment of autoimmune diseases [15-16]. In this case, melancholy was accumulated in all parts of patient's body and it was increasing due to the various reasons every day. All informants know the principles of traditional medicine and the harmful accumulation of melancholy in body, as it is worse than other temperaments such as choler, phlegm and sanguine and is excreted harder. However, the accumulation of melancholy is different in each patient and disease especially in patients who have several diseases and have used various medications with different side effects in long term. This patient had such a situation. Therefore, a complex melancholy should have a tough melancholy disposal as it cannot be put in any form. The effective medicine uses the principles of traditional and modern medicine, but it does not use anyone with predetermined format, but provides a better format. This was the same in this case and the melancholy disposal was performed in this patient in a way that it caused the disease recovery. The effective medicine physician uses the most effective and safest melancholy disposal method as it has been experienced for several years [13]. Unfortunately, there has not been any conducted study on leech therapy. We could not do more blood sampling in this patient due to severe complications of disease and consumed medications and poor physical and psychological forces. Furthermore, according to the patient's phlegmatic temperament, it was better not getting high blood sample, and relative contraindication of blood and leech therapy was in traditional medicine. Saliva therapy was the leech therapy approach in this patient and there was no need for blood sampling. However, since the leech does not give saliva unless it takes the blood, we had to take the blood by leeches; therefore, we increased the beverages for patient and used smaller leeches. Furthermore, we increased the gap between the leech therapies in order to give the patient's body the opportunity for natural reconstruction. According to the anti-inflammatory compounds of leech's saliva and Hirudin, which increase the body flow in patient's body, the leech therapy played the effective role in treatment [17]. In conclusion, given the history of medicine over the last century, we can conclude that none of the medical schools are complete in the world; hence, the medical schools such as modern medicine, traditional medicine of Iran, Ayurveda in India, Chinese medicine, etc aim at protecting the human health and treatment which are the real purpose of medicine. However, they have numerous strengths and weaknesses due to the lack of comprehensive in spite of providing the striking medical services.
Conclusion
As a combination of two effective modern and traditional medicine schools, the Iranian medicine can have effective results in treating certain diseases such as SLE. Therefore, the use of effective medicine method will reduce spending higher cost and use of chemotherapy drugs in treatment of SLE. Given the patient's recovery process with an approach to her physical force, mental status, blood sugar control, and significant recovery of SLE and underlying diseases, it seems that the combination of Iranian modern and traditional medicine can pave the way for most of the common diseases, and thus it is necessary to conduct wide assessment and studies on different diseases based on the teachings of IEM.
List of Abbreviations
SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
IEM: Iranian Effective Medicine
CM: Centimeter
KG: Kilogram
MG: Milligram
FSB: Fasting Sugar Blood
C: Centigrade
MMHG: Millimeters of Mercury
CD: Compact Disk
%: Percentage
Competing Interests
The authors have no conflict of interest in publication of this article.
Contributing Authors
This article is the outcome of treatment measures by Dr. Hassan Hajtalebi. Dr. Hassan Khani and Hamid Hajtalebi cooperated in documenting and writing the article.
Acknowledgments
The paper authors appreciate the patient and her family's cooperation to participate and complete all treatment and healthcare processes, and all nurses in Haj-Taleb medical center of traditional and modern medicine to perform treatment processes for patient.
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warc | 201704 | I’m free!
Such was the tried-and-true motto I claimed as my own when I graduated from high school a semester early during my senior year. It was 1987, and I dreamed of nothing more than to kick off the dust of small-town Iowa to start my grown-up life in Iowa City, the artsy hub of the Midwest, where I planned to wait tables and save money for fall semester classes at the University of Iowa. What did I want? Who would I be? How would I live? The choices were exhilarating.
At 17, I was both proud of, and careless with, my newfound independence. My hometown boyfriend drove to Iowa City to spend most weekends with me, and I obtained a fake ID that made it easy to drink in bars with my legal-aged coworkers almost every night of the week. Drinking too much and eating poorly, I did not lead a healthful lifestyle and wasn’t too concerned when I missed a few periods that summer. Not until my 18th birthday had come and gone and I was an official college freshman did it occur to me that I was gaining weight and might actually be pregnant.
Conveniently for me as a female student at the U of I, the Emma Goldman Clinic was situated just a block off campus, next door to a sorority house, and directly across the street from my apartment. Access to women’s health care couldn’t have been easier. At my next-day appointment, I answered a few questions, took a pregnancy test and was informed that I was approximately three months pregnant. A clinic worker explained the three outcomes of this scenario: plan to keep “it,” give “it” up for adoption after birth or have an abortion before “it” developed any further. Since I was a legal adult and responsible for my own actions, no parental advice or consent would be needed if I chose to terminate the pregnancy.
I wish I could say I agonized over what to do about my unplanned pregnancy. The truth was, I knew right then and there that I would choose abortion and had no intention of sharing the situation with anyone other than my boyfriend. The justifications were numerous. Neither my boyfriend nor I had any interest in getting married or being parents at the time. Even had he suggested otherwise, I wanted only to consider my own future. Choosing abortion seemed to me — a late teen of the 1980s and the daughter of divorced baby boomers — like a rite of passage into modern womanhood. Why, having an abortion was my right as a woman, part and parcel of female independence. Wouldn’t having a baby mean living with my mother and stepfather in the sticks, being on welfare and never finishing college? Furthermore, I couldn’t think of any women, let alone men, in my personal circle who would have offered congratulations and encouraged me to sacrifice my education and future career for the sake of unborn “it.”
Given these notions and presumptions, I returned to the Emma Goldman Clinic in mid-October firmly resolved to terminate my pregnancy. There, as I lay exposed on the exam table and felt the cramping pressure of “it” being extracted into a machine that sounded like a vacuum, I was overcome by a crying fit and a flood of emotions I could not understand. What was there to cry about? Wasn’t I only rejecting the dead-end lifestyle of small-town motherhood? What else was there to consider? After all, weren’t abortions just routine medical procedures scheduled and performed daily by doctors and nurses in tidy clinics like the one in my own neighborhood?
As a pregnant 18-year-old girl, it did not occur to me that some future day, after years of feeling inexplicably broken in so many areas of my life, I would be drawn to Entering Canaan, a ministry through Project Rachel that would help me trace the brokenness back to that fateful October day on the table. It did not occur to me that I would eventually have to process the inevitable physical and emotional trauma resulting from abortion, and the intense shame in my heart — at the irresponsibility of getting pregnant in the first place, at the selfishness of choosing abortion so that I could be “free” to live my life as it pleased me on any given day, at the realization that I had rejected not just a
lifestyle but an actual life, the life of my first baby.
No, my abortion story cannot appeal to the sympathies of the unfortunate young girl or woman whose unplanned pregnancy was the result of rape or incest. I am deeply saddened by her plight, and I pray that she will be surrounded by the hands-on support and counseling she needs to move forward from the rape and incest itself, let alone the complexity of her “choice.”
My abortion story is for all the rest of us who become pregnant at an inconvenient time in our lives. Whether we like it or not, pregnancy is a risk we all take as women when we choose to become sexually active. This means, of course, that if we say no to that lifestyle, we avert the risk entirely and will never have to make the choice to keep, give up or abort the life we helped create with the man with whom we may or may not share a commitment.
Just say no to sex? In our self-serving, indulgent culture, that’s viewed as a pretty ridiculous and religious-extremist notion. I mean, it takes a lot of self-control to say no to our material wants and physical desires, especially when we’re overrun by hormones as teenagers. And yet that is
all it takes: some self-control.
Imagine, for a moment, a world in which people regularly exercised self-control in response to their emotional and physical impulses. It’s my body, my life, and I have the freedom to say no to sex or any other action with perennial consequences. That sounds a whole lot like the peace and freedom — and women’s reproductive “rights” — we all claim to stand for.
Lani McDonald is a wife and mom who writes news articles and literary nonfiction from a new-feminist, wholistic Catholic perspective. Her work has appeared in newspapers, poetry journals, and various business and diocesan publications. Follow Lani on Twitter @catholicchick13 and on Facebook, or email catholicchick13@gmail.com. | 6,205 | 3,031 | 0.00034 |
warc | 201704 | Perhaps for the first time in modern history, Euro-America finds itself in a situation where it may potentially lose to other states its authority to determine who is included in economic, political, and military alliances. As this centrality, entangled with modernity and postmodernity, is ceded in favor of the discussions that revolve around ideas of contemporaneity and the local and the global, the dominant world history has been critiqued for its linearity and essentialism. The Western canon in art history, with its categories and narratives, has itself been broken up, opening up to a new kind of art history still in the making. A contemporary art of diverse origins that is produced, viewed and discussed concurrently around the world has now taken its place.
In this geo-historical moment of global flux, there is an increasing interest in the subjectivities that lie outside the once accepted histories that are often constructed within the old Cold War frameworks or the neoliberal dreams that succeeded them. These increasingly fluid borders and social structures have weakened previously stable links to the historicized past, which provided coherence and legitimacy to communities and states. These links are being renegotiated into new “official” stories of culture, identity, and history. The unmooring of such particular or localized identities, starting in large part after 1989 has brought people from many different places, economies, and political regimes closer. Oddly, a unifying force for this contemporaneity is the expulsion of memories of communism and the Cold War and subsequent retelling of these stories. Another link is the transfer of wealth to new centers of cultural ambition in Asia and the Middle East, with Beijing, Abu Dhabi, Hong Kong and Istanbul that now serve as artistic hubs in the new global cultural context taking shape—a shift that follows the changes in political and economic authority and highly market-driven flows. In the post ‘89 period, neoliberalism instigated an amnesia of specific histories and subjective worlds that left individuals depoliticized and without fixed imagery or vocabulary. The challenge for artists and institutions is to develop a vocabulary to speak about a past and a present that are not yet historicized. Excitingly, this challenge has also introduced new modes of critical knowledge production and critiques of the hegemonic structures of the museums and collections that operate transversally.
In
New Forms in Cultural Production Zdenka Badovinac introduces a deep analysis of our shifting understanding of history in post-socialist Europe and how the roles of the museums and their collections can be revisited and reconfigured in line with changing social perspectives. Starting with Moderna galerija in Ljubljana as an example, Badovinac’s essay is a manifesto for a critical museum that is escaping from traditional Western norms, as well as an enticing documentation of the ways in which the institutional practice is shaped by societal turns affected by historical political changes. On the other hand, Özge Ersoy poses a set of questions on the formation of private cultural institutions and museums in new hubs of the contemporary art world, specifically Abu Dhabi and Istanbul. Contemporary Art Museums, Presumed Ruptures, and Urgent Demands is a provocative essay that investigates whether these new private institutions have the potential to create new support structures for the arts especially in the absence of public institutions or whether they are merely symbolic capital.
Meanwhile,
Charles Esche offers an insider’s look at the Picasso in Palestine project, which was initiated by artist Khaled Hourani and recently viewed at dOCUMENTA 13 as video documentation. A Picasso in Search of a Context tells the project’s two-fold story—a simple loan request from the Van Abbemuseum and its attendant legal and cultural impingements, as well as the implications of mobilizing a canonical art historical work from “the West” to one of the “bystanders” of modern times.
The challenge in talking about the contested or alternative histories that have not yet acquired the status of an accepted collective narrative requires particular expressions from the once excluded or overlooked past of the “non-modern” lands. While cultural institutions seek new strategies to formulate the past and the present, artists have responded to this call in unprecedented ways that can only be articulated within this contemporary condition. Memory operates as an active process that synthesizes this new writing of history where the facts and personal stories often become entangled. Building on the memorial, fictional, or documentary formats of their predecessors, these narratives and questions expand beyond national borders and identities and unite similar groups artistically, socially, and politically. In this issue, we’ll take a closer look into artists’ childhood obsessions of Western popular culture turning casting a magnified lens onto the recent past in the Middle East.
Haig Aivazian’s Six-Shooter Lessons: The 12 Clint Eastwoods Project, was originally a lecture performance and has been adapted as a publication. It tells the parallel and often uncannily overlapping histories of American Olympic basketball teams and American military interventions in Iraq in a fashion that cannot be processed without Aivazian’s childhood obsession with Michael Jordan coupled with his exposure to America’s narrative of the Gulf War. Similarly, Michael Rakowitz speaks about a recent work, The Breakup, which is a culmination of his Beatles collection which he started at age eleven, and culminated in a radio program series with a Beatles cover concert in Jerusalem by Sabreen that was compiled in an LP. What brings Jerusalem and the Beatles together is the elaborate story brought Rakowitz stitches together, and draws parallels between the band’s break up and the concurrent failed negotiations in the Middle East. In his essay “Gulf Studies”, Murtaza Vali introduces a critical look at the national identity and belonging/unbelonging in the UAE through works of expatriate artists Lantian Xie and Haig Aivazian, who both enact their own displacement by drawing on local image economies and voiding those so-called icons, including such symbols as Burj Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai’s constitutional monarch.
Retelling histories indicates the necessity of, and the search for, new kinds of relations in art and democratic politics. Moving forward beyond the unstable post-Cold War condition to the recent uprisings associated with the Arab Spring, shifting to Europe and later the United States, this mode of retelling unhinges the status quo and poses fresh models of civil organizations that politicize people and public spaces bounded by unfulfilled promises. In these situations, individual narratives acquire a new importance, as if they might anticipate new artistic and political languages constructed to respond to an immediate or actual moment. The question of subjectivity is raised within the uncertainties of this global turn. Taking as his departure point the events surrounding Printemps des Arts in Tunisia this year,
Anthony Downey probes the place of art and culture in the realm of the civic. He argues that art is inextricably linked to politics, that it is always already charged, even while it may not overtly contend with politics as its medium or subject matter. Common Grounds: Artistic Practices, Civil Society, and Secular Determination in Tunisia Today explores the role of art to foster civil society, and hails cultural practitioners to reclaim the rhetoric surrounding their artistic output in the public sphere.
This issue attempts to pose a set of questions and to uncover who we are in this global condition, how and why we can be connected and rebel at the same time. In an era when almost all metastructures, categories, and narratives are demolished or in flux, what new kinds of strategies and questions will take their place?
Ceren Erdem is a curator and writer based in New York. She is the co-curator of Court Square, a Long Island City based project space devoted to supporting the production and exhibition of new work by emerging artists, writers, and curators and co-funder and editor-at-large of Interventions, a web-based journal and curatorial platform of Modern Art: Critical and Curatorial Studies program at Columbia University where she received her MA degree. She previously worked in the Istanbul Biennial and the British Council where she initiated international programs in Turkey and wider South East Europe across different art forms and creative sectors. Erdem also holds an MFA degree in Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design from Sabanci University in Istanbul. | 8,979 | 4,233 | 0.00024 |
warc | 201704 | Certainly in 1960s Texas it was going away like a horrific backwash. Each Sunday on our way to church my family would pass the informally named Wolf Corner, where I would lean forward in my seat to see the corner fencepost where ranchers had hung that week's bounty, the little coyotes and the larger red wolves, by their heels, for all the honest world to see. It was out by Highway 6, which was once gently waving grassland--it's blanketed now with dazzling superstores, an eight-lane highway, the vertical glittering skyscrapers reflecting the hot Houston sun in myriad directions, like the light envisioned perhaps by the prophets who beheld in their own exalted dreams the streets of heaven (assuming they were not holding the wrong end of the spyglass and witnessing instead the oppositional alternative territory described by those same prophecies). But back then it was only sweet balming tall-grass prairie, yielding weekly its grisly bounty--the little wolves' legs fractured and bloodstained from where they had gnawed for hours or even days at the traps' grip, some of the wolves and coyotes stiffened and sun-dried, hanging like loose shingles after a storm, and others, newly killed, still limp and soft, like sheaves of tobacco hanging in some deathly curing house.
Always, there was something there, placed partly as warning and partly as triumphant victory-show, a marker of how the war against--what? obsolescence, frailty, insignificance, loss?--was faring. Some weeks there were more carcasses than others, and over the years the offerings gradually declined, though almost always there would be at least one, as if the ranchers were trawling the grassy sea, and as if their nets would always find something, some wildness deep within that green grass. As if that country to the west--just beyond the barbed-wire corner fencepost--would slow, but never entirely cease, in giving the wolves up.
This was the dailiness and drama of my childhood, situated peculiarly between the Deep South and the far West, in oil-hungry, oil-rich, brash and arrogant and violence-born Anglo Texas. The vertical strata of time mattered, but the story, the myth, of the westering frontier was also present, just over the horizon. There was not just the echo of it, there was still, barely, the real and physical essence of it; we saw it, every Sunday. In those first few years of the 1960s, while the rest of the country--the Southeast, the Northeast and Los Angeles in particular--stewed and broiled over civil rights issues, we were attending the premieres of movies like "How the West Was Won" and "The Alamo," in which--not to sound too much like a bleeding-heart liberal--vast territory existed for the taking and, quite naturally, force was the way to take it, particularly since it was inhabited by Mexicans or Indians. Let Mississippi stew over drinking fountains, and Boston and New York argue over segregated schools and busing; in Texas, we were busy looking longingly to the past, and to the West.
Hard country, sometimes. Or once it was, before we set about breaking it, then crushing it. It's an accepted law of biology that in a harsh or austere physical environment, species will often develop elaborate and highly specialized adaptations that allow them to inhabit the various demanding niches in that environment, and thus it is that in a stonier, more arid landscape, one shaped alternately by glaciers, volcanoes, earthquakes and forest fires, a magnificent and amazing array of creatures evolved to fit that continuous scroll of disturbance, to fit that Big Story of the West. Nimble-footed snow-white goats cling with utter improbability to the sides of steep mountains, and 800-pound grizzly bears eat butterflies, ladybugs and lilies, and sleep underground for five months of the year. Golden eagles glide with seven-foot wingspans, and all-seeing condors soar with spans of nine feet.
And upon a landscape dominated by such dramatic disturbance events, which result in the release of stored vegetative energy in wild all-or-nothing amplitudes, magnificent stories of the ultimate prosperity, that of long-term survival, are also created. The myth, the holy grail, of life is sustainability, a word so oft-used and malleable as to lose all currency, and yet a word that lingers nonetheless, like a fever or a hope lodged always within us, though buried and forgotten, replaced instead with another word, tomorrow. | 4,447 | 2,287 | 0.000438 |
warc | 201704 | Kyle Botkin, 22, left, passes a bucket to Armando Pena, 28, during an exercise… (Mel Melcon, Los Angeles…)
"These guys are soft right now," Paul Martinez said. "They're going to struggle."
He was right. We were watching a group of apprentice ironworkers with hard hats on their heads and 35-pound tool belts around their waists trying to climb a vertical girder, using nothing but hand strength and the leverage of their work boots on slippery steel. The girder was marked at 10 feet with a strip of white tape. That was the finish line. As we watched, one made it and eight failed. Some could barely get one foot off the ground before giving up.
"By Friday, they'll all be making it," Martinez said.
Martinez, 47, knows what he's talking about. He's a third-generation ironworker born and bred in San Pedro. He joined the ironworkers union in 1984 and helped put up the Los Angeles Convention Center, the Anaheim Pond and the new tower at LAX. Since 1998 he's been the coordinator of the apprenticeship training program for Ironworkers locals 416 and 433, which operates out of a squat industrial building in La Palma.
Every six months the program graduates 50 to 80 workers from apprenticeship to journeyman status. The upgrade roughly doubles their hourly wage to about $33 (plus about $22 an hour in retirement and health benefits) and certifies that they've had four years of training in the latest techniques of bridge and building construction, welding, and safety. That's four years of classroom instruction and physically taxing hands-on training on the program's model work site out back, doled out at the rate of one full week every three months, with the rest of the time devoted to on-the-job experience.
"For some of these kids, this is the first thing they've ever graduated from in their lives," says Robbie Hunter, executive secretary of the building and construction trades council of Los Angeles and Orange counties and a former Ironworkers president.
"Kids" may be a misnomer. The average age of the apprentices is about 32, which tells you a bit about the convoluted life paths some followed before landing in a program providing them with a ladder to the middle class. Some worked in dead-end jobs stacking boxes in warehouses. Some had felony records, including gang-related offenses.
"Once they come here and find their second family with us, they transition away from that," Martinez told me. "This is a path out of that lifestyle, so you can move to someplace like Apple Valley and raise your kids in a safe environment." Women generally make up about 5% of the class.
The La Palma program is a rebuke to the all-too-popular stereotype that a union exists only to provide featherbedding for workers and fat salaries for officers. This is one of the ways a union demonstrates its importance: by bringing the next generation along and doing its part to uphold standards of construction technique and workplace safety that save lives, including those of the people who live and work in and drive on the projects they built.
The Southern California construction trade isn't a closed shop — midsize projects are 60% to 70% unionized, Hunter estimates — but on major sites such as skyscrapers and bridges the ratio is close to 100%, and for good reason: If you're in an office or a hotel room 50 or 60 stories high or careening around a roller coaster at 60 miles per hour, wouldn't you want to know that the workers who built it had the best training available, as well as the pride and dignity that comes from a living wage and the prospect of a humane retirement?
That's the true theme of the Labor Day we're about to celebrate; not, as you may have been led to believe, that the end of summer is the perfect time for a Toyotapalooza.
Getting into the ironworkers apprenticeship program isn't a snap. It may help to have a relative, or even a well-wishing neighbor or family friend, in the Ironworkers, but that's not a prerequisite, nor is it enough. Applicants, who have to be at least 18 with a high school diploma or equivalent, must line up a construction contractor willing to sponsor them with at least six weeks of employment before they can start. That explains why, with the local construction market still soft and the building trades still suffering from about 40% unemployment, there's a waiting list of about 5,000 applicants looking for sponsors right now.
They have to come in with the right mind-set. They'll be clambering up steel girders and over beams, laying corrugated decking and hauling steel tubes and rebar, and doing so loaded down with tools and bolts. They'll be playing with fire, handling torches in the La Palma facility's welding shop.
"They've got to want it, they've got to love it," Dennis Skoug, the apprenticeship program's welding instructor, told me. "If they're coming just because their father told them to get off the couch, they're not going to make it." | 4,975 | 2,511 | 0.000403 |
warc | 201704 | Exploring estuarine eutrophication sensitivity to nutrient loading
Limnol. Oceanogr., 58(2), 2013, 569-578 | DOI: 10.4319/lo.2013.58.2.0569
ABSTRACT: The sensitivity of surface chlorophyll (Chl) and bottom water dissolved oxygen (DO) to total nitrogen (TN) load was investigated using a Bayesian-based process model fit to data from a range of estuaries. The model was used to test if the sensitivity of DO depletion to TN loads is dependent only on factors controlling the sensitivity of surface Chl, or if additional factors are important. Results indicate that separate processes control Chl and DO sensitivity, and that these sensitivities vary among estuaries. Analysis of fitted parameters across estuaries showed that Chl sensitivity to TN loading was positively correlated with water residence time, and DO sensitivity to Chl was positively correlated with relative mixing depth. | 891 | 512 | 0.001962 |
warc | 201704 | There are many reasons that people feel the need to give up their pets. What may seem an impossible situation might be resolved without sacrificing the companionship of your Aussie.
The links on this page offer information and alternatives to assist in resolving many kinds of problems encountered by owners.
If you can find a solution to the problem that works for both you and your pet, that's one less animal that needs to be rescued -- a win/win situation for all.
We strongly encourage you to pursue every avenue before making that final decision. If everything you try fails, and the problem cannot be resolved, then please complete our
and a representative will contact you. listing application
The links below also provide a wealth of helpful hints and training tips for those who are not necessarily looking to rehome their dog, but are seeking advice on common pet problems. | 891 | 519 | 0.001942 |
warc | 201704 | When it comes to running an online business in our hyper-connected world, you’re going to have to use specific tools to remain profitable and stay ahead of your competition. As much as you may want to cling to them, legacy systems just won’t cut it anymore. It isn’t just about intelligence and experience, it is also about speed. Who can get to market first? Who can ensure their site is always running? Who gets the data first? This is why – if you want technology on your side – you have to invest in an online fax service and cloud VPS hosting.
Why does an online fax service matter?
Imagine if you work in the financial industry or the legal field. You probably have piles of paperwork to contend with. As it stands, 24 hours is just not enough time to fax all of the paperwork involved in these two industries and others. In the past, you would use physical fax machines to send critical documents between offices. If you are waiting for a judgment, a deposition or data for compliance, you don’t have time to feed stacks of documents through a fax machine and wait for it to send.
If the line is busy, tough luck. If your line is down, I guess you’ll just have to wait. Then, when the line finally works, it takes a few minutes just to send each sheet. Why bother with this exercise in futility? Clear and expedient communication is imperative for an online business. You have to know what’s going on. The fax has been used for years, but it’s time for a slight modification. Now, you can use an online fax service that takes the stress out of waiting.
To illustrate, all you have to do is open the software, send your document and hit send. If someone sends you an online fax, it simply shows up as a PDF file. Now, you have a simple and effective means of sending a fax. Another amazing advantage is you can send a fax from your laptop, desktop or any other computer.
This means you’re not restricted to your office location. All you have to do is scan your documents to save them electronically. Now, you don’t have to worry about the fax machine jamming at the worst possible time. The last time I checked, eFax has around 11 million users worldwide. You should also boost your business by reading these blogs catered to entrepreneurs.
Say goodbye to expensive equipment
Whether you’re trying to cut down on costs or save space, you no longer have to make a major investment in a fax machine. This is because all incoming fax documents will be sent directly to your inbox. In addition, you get a dedicated eFax number.
When hackers are going after email addresses, this special number will be secure. Since you no longer have to use a physical fax machine, this means that sensitive data won’t be hanging around the office any longer. Plus, it stores your data in the cloud. Speaking of the cloud, that is another technology you need to utilize.
The cloud and VPS hosting
What is VPS? This stands for a virtual private server. The cloud is a technology that allows you to store your data in the cloud via companies that house server farms. With VPS, virtualization software partitions a single server to create multiple servers within it. So, if you want to make a full-time income selling digital goods, you can!
Each server acts like an actual networked server. When your company has its own allotment of resources, you can enjoy faster load times. VPS hosting also gives you more disk space, RAM and CPU.
Back in 2013, at the Gartner Symposium/ITxpo, Gartner predicted that the bulk of new IT spend would be on cloud computing. They also predicted that nearly half of all large enterprises would have hybrid cloud deployments by the end of 2017. That time is approaching quickly. Chris Howard, research vice president at Gartner put it this way:
“Overall, there are very real trends toward cloud platforms, and also toward massively scalable processing. Virtualization, service orientation and the Internet have converged to sponsor a phenomenon that enables individuals and businesses to choose how they’ll acquire or deliver IT services, with reduced emphasis on the constraints of traditional software and hardware licensing models. Services delivered through the cloud will foster an economy based on delivery and consumption of everything from storage to computation to video to finance deduction management.”
In addition, earlier this year, a RightScale study showed that hybrid cloud environments grew 77 percent between 2015 and 2016. Moreover, cloud users run applications on 1.5 public clouds and on 1.7 private clouds. Interesting, isn’t it? To illustrate, Web24 is Australia’s Cloud. This Australian cloud company is changing Australia’s global business strategy with technology partners such as Microsoft, Dell, VMWare and Citrix. They feature rich cPanel & Plesk Web Hosting Plans and dedicated servers. In fact, over 5,000 businesses trust and utilize the services of Web24.
So, flexibility is the key here. If your business has growing or fluctuating bandwidth demands, you really have to move to the cloud. That way, if your needs increase, you can always scale up. This, without a doubt, gives you a real advantage over your competitors.
If you’re still hooked on legacy systems, it’s time to break up. There has never been a better time to switch to online fax services, VPS hosting and the cloud. Only one question remains, are you ready to transform your business? | 5,522 | 2,636 | 0.000388 |
warc | 201704 | Somehow, as a bit of a surprise to me, I came in under budget!
Money spent this week - $48.29
Bringing my total so far to - $381.09
Remaining budget - $18.91
I only have time for a quick check in and to say thank you for joining me this month. I'd love to hear how things finished for you, if you have a moment to visit the comments.
I did what I set out to do. I spent less, and we still ate really well.
There was careful planning and lots of time in the kitchen, it all worked out. Though if we were to operate on a budget of "half" on a more regular basis, it would have to be a vegan diet with the exception of meat that is hunted (something my family has done for generations). We lean heavily towards a plant-based diet to begin with so it wouldn't be much of a departure, but the cost of quality animal food adds up fast. There is no way to include the purchase of raw dairy and pastured meat on a minimal budget in our area. For me, vegetables come first.
At this point, I am in need of a market trip, but not to the degree one might expect. Basically, I need produce... but I always seem to need produce! We're out of honey. After plenty of cocoa from the weekend snowstorm, Emily sure would like me to pick up some milk. We are out of that. I still have plenty of beans, nuts and grains that I stocked up on earlier in the month.
The coffee still has not been replaced, which is really fine. Nettles in the morning have been a wonderful replacement.
My daughter has been eating a lot more oatmeal which isn't usually her first choice in the morning, so that has been nice to see.
This was a great month for me. Aside from it being my favorite month of the year, I've spent some time reflecting on many things - finances, scheduling, priorities, this blog. All from a grocery challenge! The energy that has moved in and out of my life over the last several weeks has been a wise teacher, indeed.
I feel a change on the horizon - though it isn't perfectly in sight yet. My family, this blog, me personally... we are all growing and evolving. Sometimes I wonder if what I have going on here best reflects that. These are wonderful things to think about as this year
slowly comes to a close.
It's nice to be back here at the start of November, another favorite month of mine. The break was quite good too. I need to remember that.
Thanks again for joining in this month, and for supporting my own quest to save money while still feeding my family well. | 2,477 | 1,320 | 0.000763 |
warc | 201704 | An autonomous 18-wheeler has been given a license to drive the long stretches of open road that crisscross Nevada. And while Google's high-profile personal vehicles have been much in the news, automated commercial driving could transform the economy in a more fundamental way by changing how goods are transported across the globe.
At a ceremony last week at the Hoover Dam, automotive manufacturer Daimler premiered the Inspiration Truck, a semi-autonomous transporter of goods designed to travel alongside passenger vehicles on America's municipal roadways. Industry analysts are already expecting makers of other large vehicles such as garbage trucks and city busses to express interest in adapting the technology.
The Inspiration Truck knows how to stay in a lane, change speeds depending on location and traffic patterns, and to avoid collisions by using a camera that scans 100 meters in front of the truck for obstacles and tricky road conditions. A radar attached to the truck also monitors a full 250 meters ahead checking for similar conditions.
In addition to fulfilling safety requirements, the trucks may prove economically beneficial, and not because it would eliminate human drivers (it won't, at least for now):
"For one, they could help cut fuel use, as they accelerate and decelerate more gently than a human driver might. Programming multiple trucks to travel in convoys would be beneficial, too: one truck could draft behind another, reducing air resistance and so using less fuel."
With its new Nevada license, Daimler is free to collect real-world data on the truck, such as how it handles along commercial roadways. Until there is another leap in technology, however, a human driver will remain behind the wheel in case the truck needs to change lanes or deal with circumstances unforeseen by the truck's computers.
In his Big Think interview, Peter Diamandis discusses what innovations are coming to personal vehicles. As he explains, humans are generally not the best control system to operate heavy machinery when there is a suitable electronic alternative.
Read more at
New Scientist.
Photo credit: Shutterstock | 2,151 | 1,143 | 0.00088 |
warc | 201704 | SoCalGas, Escondido demonstrate biogas technology
Southern California Gas Co. (SoCalGas) and the city of Escondido in southern California have begun testing a biogas purification technology at the city’s wastewater treatment plant that, if successful proved, would allow the gas to be directly injected into a natural gas pipeline.
What makes the system unique in nature is that instead of burning or flaring the methane without generating energy, which is currently done at the facility and is typical at wastewater treatment plants because the gas is not suitable for pipelines, the pressure swing adsorption system takes the raw gas originating from sewage, upgrades and purifies it through a multistate process to meet pipeline-quality gas standards for direct injection. Quebec-based Xebec Adsorption Inc. provided the technology.
Denise King, SoCalGas spokeswoman, said the company has been working with the city for more than a year on the project, which is being funded by the company’s research and development group. “We’re testing this technology and validating that it can consistently, reliably produce methane gas that meets the stringent California gas standards for injection into the pipeline system,” she said. Testing will continue for the next 12 months.
With completion of the demo project, there are a number of options as to what the next step will be, a likely one is that the city will choose to commercialize the equipment and keep it on site, according to King.
If the city makes that decision, some other costs would be involved, including an interconnection with the pipeline system, but it would eventually save ratepayers money.
“We’re very excited about this project, because it’s the first in California and there’s only one other similar project in the U.S.,” King said. “If the technology proves itself, it would open up a whole new market for renewable natural gas that could be used by electric utilities to create green power. Yesterday [the system] was producing 99.9 percent methane, and that’s exactly what we want and expect.”
SoCalGas has been closely evaluating the potential for a renewable natural gas market, according to King. “We’re looking to help create the market, talking with dairies, wastewater treatment facilities and others that have organic waste. “
The opportunities to transform organic waste into power are seemingly boundless, King points out. For example, Gills Onion, the largest onion producer in California, uses its waste to produce energy to power fuel cells on-site. “In California, there’s probably enough organic waste to produce 16 percent of the state’s energy,” King said. “We think this is a growing market, and we’re working to help make it happen.” | 2,851 | 1,360 | 0.000769 |
warc | 201704 | Abstract. Adult stem cells (SCs) hold great potential as likely candidates for disease therapy but also as sources of differentiated human cells in vitro models of disease. In both cases, the label-free assessment of SC differentiation state is highly desirable, either as a quality-control technology ensuring cells to be used clinically are of the desired lineage or to facilitate in vitro time-course studies of cell differentiation. We investigate the potential of nonlinear optical microscopy as a minimally invasive technology to monitor the differentiation of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) into adipocytes and osteoblasts. The induction of ADSCs toward these two different cell lineages was monitored simultaneously using coherent anti-Stokes Raman scattering, two photon excitation fluorescence (TPEF), and second harmonic generation at different time points. Changes in the cell’s morphology, together with the appearance of biochemical markers of cell maturity were observed, such as lipid droplet accumulation for adipo-induced cells and the formation of extra-cellular matrix for osteo-induced cells. In addition, TPEF of flavoproteins was identified as a proxy for changes in cell metabolism that occurred throughout ADSC differentiation toward both osteoblasts and adipocytes. These results indicate that multimodal microscopy has significant potential as an enabling technology for the label-free investigation of SC differentiation. | 1,460 | 760 | 0.001322 |
warc | 201704 | Why One Employee Is Your Greatest Security Threat
Today’ most precious commodity is data. It’s in very high demand. And where there is demand, there’s a market just waiting for someone to capitalize on it. This goes a long way in explaining why advanced targeted attacks are becoming increasingly more sophisticated—and focused. It’s not unusual for hackers to target specific individuals within an organization to breach security perimeters. Only one user has to be compromised for an attacker to burrow into a company’s network and filch IP, deal data, legal documents, and more.
7 Steps of a Targeted Attack Although the motivations for different attacks are many, their structure is often the same. Step 1 – Size up the Organization Hackers leverage social media to identify an individual within the targeted organization. For instance, LinkedIn is a fantastic tool for hackers to identify a database administrator at an organization, and then using the available contact information for spear phishing purposes. Step 2 – Compromise a User Through a spear phishing campaign, or an exploit of a vulnerability, hackers gain access to the compromised user's machine, and deploy malicious software that allows control and data gathering. Step 3 – Login & Begin Initial Exploration Using credentials obtained by a compromised user, cyber criminals can begin a reconnaissance of company data. A prize finding might be charts and illustrations of the network’s architecture. Just like that, a hacker has a blueprint for success. Step 4 – Solidify Presence within the Organization Hackers steal additional usernames and passwords, leveraging them to increase their efficiency. Now they can install back doors like phantom user accounts and gain entry to the network at a later time. Step 5 – Impersonate a Privileged User Because privileged users are closely monitored, a hacker will escalate permissions of compromised users to extend his reach throughout the datacenter. Greater reach means greater opportunity to uncover valuable data. Step 6 – Steal Confidential Data It’s every hacker’s favorite s-word. Yep, he can steal the data he wants, at a time of his own choosing. Step 7 – Cover Tracks & Prepare for Return Visit Like every criminal, a hacker will try to avoid detection by covering his tracks. This includes deleting interim accounts and log records, and resetting registry settings and returning escalated permissions. A clean exit is a prelude to a return visit at a later time. How To Protect Your Data From A Targeted Attack There’s an irony at work here. The datacenter often contains the most sensitive and important information. But it often has the weakest security controls in place. If valuable data is in such high demand, an improved security stance should be, too. If you’re interested to learn more about protecting your organization from malware and targeted attacks, download our SlideShare presentation. Authors & Topics: | 3,042 | 1,507 | 0.000685 |
warc | 201704 | I’ve been too busy to read most of the magazines I subscribe to lately, but last weekend, I found the time to flip through some piled-up issues. An article in Elle from earlier this summer called “Going for Broke” caught my eye.
The journalist, Jessica Firger, tells her story of going through bankruptcy. I have to admit that I’m guilty of assuming most people who file for bankruptcy have simply made poor decisions. I haven’t heard anyone tell their story in detail about how they got there, so I found it really eye-opening. While the writer does admit to living a bit above her means, it didn’t come from buying a flashy car or huge flat-screen TV; it crept up over time.
Firger explains she had several low-paying jobs, two periods of unemployment, student loans and an expensive health problem (and it didn’t help that she lived in Manhattan). Then there’s the credit card she used too often. She explains, “I can’t blame shoes or vacations for the $30,000 hole I found myself in. I can blame the new mattress I desperately needed when I moved into my first apartment at 23. I also blame the $15 lunches bought at the closest upscale deli in midtown Manhattan when my boss wouldn’t tolerate my absence for more than 10 minutes.” Whenever she thought she was getting ahead on payments, something else — being laid off, for one — would set her back.
She argues that Gen-Xers such as herself are prime for bankruptcy. “Our identity has been shaped by the immense debt we’ve racked up in an effort to maintain the standard of living we enjoyed with our baby-boomer parents,” she says. “Yet bankruptcy is often still viewed as a personal declaration of moral weakness — even in the midst of our Great Recession. In many cases, perhaps even most, however, bankruptcy is precipitated by significant misfortune.”
The author goes on to share statistics about how most bankruptcies are due to job loss, income decline or medical bills. I immediately realized how wrong I was about people simply getting there by making poor decisions. It turns out many people who file for bankruptcy do so for reasons beyond their control.
Long story short, Firger realized she needed help and qualified for bankruptcy. After getting through it, she took an online credit counseling course, straightened out repayment plans for student loans and traded out her regular credit cards for secured credit cards.
I love his paragraph toward the end:
“The fact that I’m still standing — housed, clothed and fed — surprises many of my friends, and some barely conceal their disgust at my financial condition, the big scarlet B on my chest, behind a look of grave pity, as if I’ve confided news of a recently acquired STD. But others dropped their guard once they’d recovered from their initial surprise or horror and turned to interrogating me about the process — quite obviously fingering the aching tooth of their own financial worries.”
I loved reading her story about how she found herself in such a dark place and what it took to get out of it and move on. It gave me more sympathy for people who find themselves in over their heads. I hope you’ll check out her article and read on for my roundup of my favorite personal finance blog posts from the past week!
1. Long-distance relationships aren’t just hard because you miss your partner.
Well Heeled Blog discusses how expensive they can be.
2.
My Dollar Plan helps readers travel more cheaply with these nine tips for saving money on hotels.
3.
Money Crashers offers tips on how to create a preparedness plan for a natural disaster — a worthy investment, especially if you live somewhere often hit by tornadoes.
4.
Money Smart Life explains why college students need to start digging out of debt as early as possible.
5.
Prairie Eco-Thrifter lists eight ways you can cut down on your grocery shopping costs without coupons.
6.
Free From Broke reveals five habits that may be keeping you from reaching your goals without you even knowing it.
7. A guest post on
Budgeting in the Fun Stuff explains how budgeting can truly change your life and free you from debt.
8.
Ready for Zero offers a clever post about four things great white sharks can teach us about getting out of debt.
9.
PT Money explains how couples can have issues when one is a spender and one is a saver and how to get on the same page.
10.
Little House in the Valley discusses ways to keep your finances organized and develop efficient systems. | 4,624 | 2,356 | 0.000442 |
warc | 201704 | Soon Devices Will Matter Less, In the Meantime Prioritize
The good news is that there are more computers in schools these days--a little better than a computer for every two students on average. The bad news is they are often many different types running different operating systems purchased at different times for different reasons with different funds.
When an EdLeader finds an EdTech mess what's the right path forward? I asked Scott Ellis of The Learning Accelerator (our co-author for the Blended Learning Implementation Guide). He responded with five observations about the journey of innovation:
1. Supplement to core. This [mess] is a characteristic of the transition from tech being a "nice-to-have supplement" to being "integrated in core instruction." I envision a future state in which tech in schools is managed the way it is in good companies and other organizations: systematically and effectively to maximize performance, uptime, and supportability. For example, at the last nonprofit where I worked (about 200 staff) we made intentional strategic decisions about the IT platforms staff used, hardware, software, support, integration, etc. We had a head of IT who did this, in partnership with me as the COO and others. Schools and districts will need to do the same thing--otherwise it will of course be a mess. This is a well-known issue in tech for all sectors, and education is no different.
2. Work in progress. I think part of the discussion with schools is to explicitly identify this phenomenon and articulate it as a stage of the journey to where we want to be, and then the key is to work with them on IT strategy. Is blended and personalized learning a strategic priority? If so, then the plan to create the technology context must also be a priority, and this means getting the right hardware and software, managing it, and supporting it on an ongoing basis.
3. Support teacher leaders. If they are very constrained on resources, they may need to consolidate their existing tech resources to support a few identified teachers or classrooms. I am working with one district that wants to offer support to hundreds of teachers, but they lack the devices and support infrastructure. So I am advising them to really focus on the 40ish "blended learning pioneers" and ensure those teachers have a really solid tech environment--this is a surer path to success than spreading the devices more broadly with spotty support. If other teachers get annoyed because they want tech as well, then I think the key is to get more resources, not spread existing resources more broadly.
4. Solutions focus. I am increasingly thinking about how EXACTLY everything comes together in the classroom to bring blended learning to life: personalizing learning, making it competency-based, and using real-time data effectively. What exactly is the software system? What data about student mastery is gathered and where is it stored? How is this used by teachers and students to get the outcomes we seek, etc.? With this lens, I think it is feasible to advise schools and districts to really focus on having a few interventions that really work end-to-end (same direction as #3 above).
5. Share successes to accelerate innovation. I actually think it is good that more and more districts are getting connectivity and devices for more teachers and students--this is critical for enabling scale down the road. It will be a bit messy for now, but as long as we focus on clarifying how the end-to-end solutions should really work so we have the exemplars to emulate, then we will be able to implement them at scale soon. And as this happens more, funding for support will follow--once people see how blended learning works and how it helps students, they will want more of it, and will see that effective technology environments are critical enablers that need to be funded.
Keith Krueger, CoSN CEO, agrees on the importance of compelling narrative about learning and finding a way to enable an e-learning culture that is scalability. While he acknowledge that the device mess can be a big challenge right now, but with the rise of BYOD the whole question "seems so last year."
"Given increasing cloud delivered content, theoretically devices should matter less and less," added Krueger, "The big challenge is developing the human capacity to leverage the opportunities we have."
In the meantime advises Ellis, "We can get through it by prioritizing scarce resources to make sure things work well for a subset of teachers and students by pushing for greater clarity about how exactly everything comes together to create the kinds of learning environments we are seeking with blended learning." | 4,717 | 2,247 | 0.000448 |
warc | 201704 | By Phil Wennblom, Director of Standards Policy and Greg Slater, Director of Global Trade Policy By enabling products and technologies from different companies to interoperate, or work together, standards are fundamental to advancing innovation. Standards simplify product development, facilitate … Read more
Monthly Archives: October 2013
I was honored to share the stage last night with Walter Isaacson, Tom Friedman and Aneesh Chopra. The occasion was the Aspen Institute’s event “Harnessing the Power of Open Data to Fuel American Innovation”, which was part of Intel and … Read more
By Audrey Plonk, global security and Internet policy specialist at Intel Despite turmoil in Washington and a reduced US Government presence, the global cyber community will convene in Seoul, South Korea tomorrow at the third annual international conference on cyberspace … Read more
October 11 marks the second annual International Day of the Girl, a United Nations designated holiday to recognize girls’ and women’s rights around the world. In celebration of this year’s theme, “Innovating for Girls’ Education,” Intel recently announced She Will Connect, … Read more
Big Data refers to huge data sets that are orders of magnitude larger (volume), more diverse, including structured, semi-structured and unstructured data (variety) and arriving faster (velocity) than any organization has had to deal with before. This flood of data … Read more
Last week, the privacy community gathered in Warsaw, Poland, for the 35th International Conference of Data Protection and Privacy Commissioners. I delivered a speech (view the text and the slides at the links below) at one of the plenary sessions, titled Privacy … Read more | 1,790 | 980 | 0.00107 |
warc | 201704 | Home prices aren’t just slowing down – they’re on track to skid next year as supply rises and income growth remains tepid, economists said Tuesday.
According to a fresh forecast from CoreLogic, an Irvine, Calif.-based analysis firm, year-over-year home-price growth will slow to 6% by May 2015, compared with almost 9% this May.
Meanwhile, analysts at Capital Economics, focusing on the S&P/Case-Shiller price gauge that tracks 20 major cities, expect annual growth to drop to 4% by the end of 2015, compared with almost 11% in April. Similarly, Freddie Mac /quotes/zigman/226335/delayed /quotes/nls/fmcc FMCC , the federally controlled mortgage-finance giant, sees Case-Shiller’s home-price gauge slowing to 3% next year.
“Although home sales are now recovering, a further increase in the supply of homes to the market will ensure that house price inflation continues to slow,” said Paul Diggle, property economist at Capital Economics.
Also, as homes become pricier, that will curb some demand, limiting further growth.
While homeowners won’t love slowing appreciation, it’s far from all bad. Double-digit growth rates simply aren’t sustainable, especially given tepid income growth. Real weekly earnings for full-time workers have actually declined 3% since the recession ended, according to government data.
“Home buyers are starting to feel an affordability pinch,” said Len Kiefer, Freddie’s deputy chief economist.
Home-price growth of 3% to 4%, or about 1% factoring in inflation, is a sustainable rate over the long term, analysts say.
“I see slower appreciation as a positive sign we are moving toward a normal housing environment. Several more years of double-digit growth would incentivize reckless behavior again,” said Jack Micenko, a housing analyst with Susquehanna Financial Group.
But here’s one negative about slowing appreciation: It may take longer for owners of troubled properties to regain equity and return to financial health. Escalating prices over the past year helped sharply narrow the pool of underwater properties — a home for which an owner owed more on a mortgage than the property was worth.
“Many borrowers are deeply underwater. Those borrowers are going to continue to have a very hard time,” Freddie’s Kiefer said. “Those that are current on their mortgage and keep paying it down will get to positive equity, but it won’t be instantaneous.”
–Ruth Mantell
Check out these Capitol Report links: As Britain’s economy snaps back, incomes still lag Obama to target tax loopholes in highway fight, and more must-reads | 2,685 | 1,395 | 0.000755 |
warc | 201704 | Apr 16, 2014 1:07 PM ET
Botch something on your tax return?
Tax professionals say it’s best to come clean about a tax mistake as soon as you catch it, but the exact process for doing so will depend on the magnitude of the blunder. Not everything requires filing an amended return by using Form 1040X.
Certain mistakes, like math errors, can be automatically corrected by the IRS, which also receives copies of W-2 forms, 1099s and other statements that can help the agency double check the math on your return. Taxpayers also shouldn’t stress if they forgot to attach certain forms such as a W-2 form or a schedule. If it’s important, the IRS will send you a letter asking for it.
Apr 15, 2014 5:22 PM ET
Not even Donald Rumsfeld understands his tax returns.
The former defense Secretary penned an annual letter to the Internal Revenue Service stating that he has “absolutely no idea whether our tax returns and our tax payments are accurate.” In the letter, links to which were posted from by Rumsfeld’s Twitter account Tuesday afternoon, he notes that despite being a college graduate (slightly understating his resume) he and his wife do not understand their tax returns and that neither do most other Americans. “As in past years, I have spent more money than I wanted to spend to hire an accounting firm to prepare our tax returns,” he writes.
Apr 15, 2014 10:34 AM ET
It’s April 15, which means that you’ve paid your tax bill– or you will very soon– and you might be wondering about what exactly the government is going to do with your hard-earned cash.
To help taxpayers feel (slightly) better about writing those big checks, the White House updated its federal taxpayer receipt, a tool that helps people see where their tax dollars actually go. Taxpayers can type in how much they paid in Social Security tax, Medicare tax and income tax and see a breakdown of how much of what they paid might go toward say, veteran benefits (5.4%) versus unemployment insurance (0.54%). “Regular people like us, we are paying these bills and we need to have more of a say on where these tax dollars are being spent,” says Jasmine Tucker, a research analyst with the National Priorities Project, a federal budget research organization that also offers a personalized tax receipt tool to help people estimate how their tax dollars are being spent.
Apr 14, 2014 10:22 AM ET
The clock was ticking down to tax day when I realized that I made a huge mistake. I had picked a retirement investment a year earlier thinking I was being proactive about the future, but it was about to bite me back on April 15, and take a serious toll on my bank account.
As a millennial who’s also a journalist, I don’t have any illusions that a yacht or private island await me in retirement. I was always told that saving now gave me the best chance of having a substantial income once I no longer work. And why not do it while I don’t have the financial burden of a mortgage or children?
So when a job change last year gave me the chance to decide what to do with my old work-sponsored 401(k), I decided to convert the amount I had previously accumulated to a Roth IRA. Such investment vehicles require savers to pay taxes now but then savings can grow tax free so you aren’t paying taxes when you pull the money out in retirement, like you otherwise would with a traditional IRA. I figured that paying the taxes now, rather than later in life, might mean I pay while I’m in a lower bracket than I might be at the end of my career.
Apr 11, 2014 9:15 AM ET
Why do some taxpayers wait until April 15 to file their taxes?
Unsurprisingly, human nature has a lot to do with it. People who procrastinate on finishing their tax returns until late in the filing season are likely to be putting off the process because they owe the taxman, or at least aren’t getting a very large tax refund, data shows.
Consider, virtually everyone who submits a tax return during the first week of the filing season– or 99%– collects a tax refund, according an analysis of weekly filing statistics from the Internal Revenue Service. The share of people receiving checks from Uncle Sam instead of writing them declines each week as we get closer to April 15 and was down to nearly 70% as of March 28, according to the latest data available from the IRS.
Apr 10, 2014 12:12 PM ET
For most taxpayers using a professional tax preparer, the tax filing proves consists of handing someone a stack of papers, getting another stack of papers in return, and signing on the dotted line.
With the advent of e-filing, some taxpayers complete the process without ever setting eyes on the flagship 1040 form that is at the crux of their tax returns. But that could be a mistake, say tax experts working to help people develop a deeper understanding of what goes onto their tax returns. “It’s very much a black box for most people,” says Roberton Williams, an economist with the nonpartisan Tax Policy Center, which just released an annotated version of the 1040 form that offers plain English explanations of every line on the form—all 77 of them—as well as the Schedule A.
Apr 9, 2014 6:13 PM ET
Security experts broke the news Tuesday night nearly anyone who has ever used the Internet over the past two years may have vulnerable to a security bug dubbed Heartbleed.
The security flaw affected OpenSSL, an encryption tool used by roughly two-thirds of all websites. The vulnerability may have exposed people’s passwords, emails, credit card information and potentially their tax information, changing the rules for how people can securely browse the Internet and requiring most web users to reset the majority of their passwords.
Wednesday afternoon, Intuit TurboTax issued a press release saying that it “has examined its systems and has secured TurboTax to protect against the ‘Heartbleed’ bug.”
Apr 9, 2014 3:05 PM ET
In many cases, using a paid tax preparer will get you a larger refund than if you did your own taxes, but a recent Government Accountability Office survey suggests you might not be entitled to that money in the first place.
With an estimated 56% of the 145 million U.S. tax returns filed in 2011 through a paid preparer, Internal Revenue Service data shows that the median refund among filers across all income levels was 36% higher than it was for those taxpayers who filed on their own.
But that’s where the good news gets tenuous. In an undercover survey, the GAO selected 19 commercial tax preparers at random and gave them a fictional tax return to prepare, either for a “waitress” who was a single mother, or a “mechanic” who was married filing jointly.
Apr 9, 2014 7:30 AM ET
WASHINGTON — With Tax Day around the corner, many Americans are up to their eyeballs in receipts and forms. The IRS fears many could also be in the trenches with a fraudulent tax preparer.
IRS officials and taxpayer advocates told the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday that about one-third of the tax forms filed last year were prepared by people who aren’t licensed or regulated, leading to mistakes, unethical behavior and fraud. Americans filed 142 million individual income tax returns for 2012. Almost 80 million of them were put together by paid preparers, and 42 million of those were compiled by preparers who were not subject to government oversight.
“For the second time in eight years, the Government Accountability Office has done an independent inquiry and proven that the absence of meaningful oversight of much of the tax preparer industry is harming too many citizens who can least afford it,” said Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden, D-Ore.
Apr 8, 2014 12:58 PM ET
Every year around this time, Americans take what is often the largest windfall they’ll get all year — their tax refunds — and put the money in the bank or use it to fix up their homes, upgrade their wardrobes or pay for a getaway. So far this year, the average check is $2,800 and more than 70 million taxpayers have already received the cash, according to the Internal Revenue Service. Here is a look at what MarketWatch readers say they plan to do with the extra money.
« Previously in Tax Watch Next in Tax Watch » About Tax Watch
Only two things in this world can be said to be certain, according to Benjamin Franklin.
Tax Watchis about one of them. The blog examines the complicated tax issues and legislative changes to help you tackle tough personal finance challenges – and avoid costly tax missteps. The lead writer is MarketWatch reporter Jonnelle Marte. Contributors include columnists Bill Bischoff, Andrea Coombes, and Eva Rosenberg. Also on MarketWatch Blogs
How and when to file an amended return
Did you file your taxes correctly? That’s a known unknown
Online tools offer a breakdown of how tax revenue is spent
A millennial wades through the tax challenges of retirement planning
People who file early tend to receive larger tax refunds
An interactive version of the 1040 offers plain explanations of the form line-by-line.
Some online services are reviewing their systems
A government report found that 17 out of 19 paid preparers calculate refunds incorrectly
For the second time in three years, the government is trying to regulate the industry
With the 15th of April fast approaching, we asked readers what they bought (or plan to buy) with their tax refund. From arachnids to stock, here are some of the best responses. | 9,653 | 4,531 | 0.000228 |
warc | 201704 | A piano: I can smell it before I see it—wood and dust and what else I’m not sure. I don’t know what makes piano-smell different from the tang of generic wooden furniture. Maybe all the other parts, the felt and steel and iron, give it that unique character. But I know that smell, even before I can name it.
Then I turn around, and, seeing it, amend my analysis. What I’m looking at
was a piano, but now it’s a tangle of splintered wood and coiled strings. I’d heard there’s a tradition here at MIT of annually mixing a piano with precipitous height and adding gravity. I’m a little taken aback by the sight of this shattered instrument, given pride of place in the MIT Museum beside so many examples of the school’s renowned history of engineering, exploration, innovation—creation. While the rest of the museum extols the incredible work that gets done at MIT, this one exhibit seems a quiet acknowledgment of the cost of that famous innovation; it speaks to the pressures students find themselves under, and the lengths to which they might go for a moment’s ease.
Struggling to keep up with work loads and sleep schedules both, yoked to the Sisyphean effort of meeting the expectations of peers, professors, parents, and—especially—ourselves, it’s easy to get wound so tight we either find an outlet to release all that tension, or snap. So I understand the catharsis of breaking things when we’re at the breaking point. But a piano is not a
thing to me.
My grandmother’s old piano stands at the center of many of my best childhood memories, in early-morning lessons and half-remembered melodies. I remember standing on tiptoe beside her piano to watch the hammers move as she played, or lying beneath it to feel the ground resonate with the low notes. I was reading music when I was learning to read words; I was playing that piano before I could ride a bike. Several of our ancestors formed the Hamlin half of Mason & Hamlin; my grandmother’s father was a piano-tuner. And she, of course, was a piano teacher. A piano is a link to my family, to my home. It’s part of what defines who I am, and where I come from.
I wonder how difficult it was to scrape the pieces up off the ground, imagining the unfortunate soul tasked with pulling splintery piano-bits out from between blades of grass. I wonder what it sounded like, all eighty-eight keys and however many strings.
My mother says it sounds like a bomb. She has a story she occasionally tells, always prefaced with the admonishment that I never should tell it (so of course I do), about a certain ill-fated piano during her own college days. It wasn’t a tradition at her school; just a group of friends with too much time and not enough supervision, a very tall building with an accessible elevator shaft, and a piano they deemed irreparably out of tune, and therefore of no further musical use.
I expect my grandmother doesn’t know that story about my mom. But none of my grandmother’s children grew up to play the piano, and I realize I don’t know why. Just like preachers’ daughters, it’s said, are almost fated to raise Cain as adults, maybe being a piano-teacher’s daughter all but guaranteed my mother would derive greater satisfaction from smashing a piano than playing it. If I had been my grandmother’s daughter, I might’ve wanted to send a piano to the bottom of an elevator shaft, too.
But as it is, for me a piano is a repository of happy memories, and a crucible of musical alchemy. Sartre said, “Suffering is justified as soon as it becomes the raw material of beauty.” When I bring my pressure and stress to the piano, anger and sadness and frustration and fear are laid down on the keys and transformed. What I give to the piano it gives back, but what comes back to me is better and brighter than what I put in.
When the MIT students make their annual musical sacrifice to the gods of academia, I probably will make the short pilgrimage to go see it. As you can see below, a piano being pushed off a tall building is quite a sight. But, for me, that piano’s potential would be far greater were it safe safe on the ground. | 4,257 | 2,088 | 0.000498 |
warc | 201704 | Wall Street Journal of Atmospheric Sciences: Reply to Jenkins Stuart Gaffin is a climate researcher at Columbia University and a regular contributor with his blog “Exhausted Earth”; this is a reply to a blog by Holman Jenkins, a Wall Street Journal columnist and member of the WSJ editorial board. Thomson Reuters is not responsible for the content – the views are the author’s alone.
Mr. Jenkins replies that the clarification of his perplexing column is reiteration of his original sentence “…We don’t really have the slightest idea how an increase in the atmosphere’s component of CO2 is impacting our climate, though the most plausible indication is that the impact is too small to untangle from natural variability…”
He still doesn’t say where his ‘most plausible indication’ comes from except for his reference to some unnamed : “ … many scientists who have pursued empirical results [that] show the human contribution [has] been …maddeningly elusive or indeterminate.”
By contrast, I have no hesitation to say I was referring to IPCC when quoting the 90% confidence attribution of warming to human activities.
With regard to the first part of his dismissal of the present impact of CO2 on our climate, this has been the focus of core IPCC studies for many years and is called the ‘radiative forcing’ of the atmosphere compared to pre-industrial times (e.g. 1750). This is the energy imbalance created in the atmosphere by a factor such as greenhouse gases, aerosols, solar energy, clouds, land use. The resulting bar chart (see figure below) is famous. CO2 dominates the chart and is estimated in 2005 to be contributing a +1.66 Watts/square meter positive imbalance, greater than any other forcing, including solar by five times.
The point is Mr. Jenkins says I misread his statement about science not knowing “…how an increase in the atmosphere’s component of CO2 is impacting our climate …” But I responded directly to this claim when I wrote he is effectively saying we know nothing about how “CO2 affects … Earth’s energy balance” — I was referring to the energy imbalance chart shown above and the +1.66 Watts/square meter forcing.
Also, current warming from CO2 isn’t the only thing we ‘actually care’ about.
Here are at least three other scientific issues and facts about CO2 that will have major implications for society and the environment, even if Mr. Jenkins does not care about them: (i) how high will CO2 levels go if Mr. Jenkins had his way ? 700 ppm ? 1000 ppm ?; (ii) the atmospheric CO2 excess we are creating will last 100’s to 1000’s of years into the future; (iii) as excess CO2 dissolves in the oceans it is acidifying them and will adversely impact marine life worldwide.
Since Mr. Jenkins raises the ‘global warming has stopped’ claim, 2008 was the ninth warmest year on record since 1880 and the 10 warmest years on record have occurred between 1997-2008.
Moreover right now we are in a cool phase of both the 11-year sunspot cycle and also the cool phase of the powerful oceanic El Nino cycle so it’s not surprising that the last few years haven’t broken all-time records. The sunspot and El Nino cycles will turn around and warm again. Meanwhile CO2 and other greenhouse gases continue to grow unabated.
Mr. Jenkins seems strangely unaware that the warming of the 20th century has coincided with 20th century increases in CO2. Also the current rate of CO2 and other greenhouse gases increases are extraordinarily unprecedented during the last 2000 years of human civilization (see figure below), which is no doubt the most important period to consider for modern society.
I called attention to Mr. Jenkins use of “contribution” because it is a peculiar word to use to describe something that is wholly due to human activities, unless you want to leave the door open in reader’s minds that natural emissions are playing a significant role in the observed increases. Skeptics try to confuse the public about this by saying that since natural fluxes of CO2 from the ocean and biosphere are larger than human emissions, our emissions can’t be significant. But these fluxes have been tightly in balance over the last few thousand years as seen from ice core data for example (below). More importantly, Mr. Jenkins still doesn’t fully acknowledge this fact about the cause of today’s CO2 rise. | 4,554 | 2,169 | 0.000486 |
warc | 201704 | [Note: the following is an excerpt from an article that originally appeared in the November/December issue of
Rural Cooperatives, a magazine published by USDA Rural Development]
Puget Sound Meat Producers Cooperative has been operating for just over a year, with a roll of 60 voting members in nine contiguous counties, and another 30 associate members.
Perry Schermerhorn, president of the co-op, says the idea for the cooperative occurred to Cheryl Ouellete, a local hog farmer looking for ways to add value to her product. Selling butchered meat instead of live hogs seemed the natural solution. But the local slaughterhouse had closed, meaning that the nearest processing facility was hundreds of miles away in Oregon.
With the big population centers of Seattle and Tacoma nearby, a market for locally grown meats was assured – if the meat carried USDA inspection stamps. Island Grown’s approach seemed like the answer.
The first exploratory meeting, in February 2008, drew 80 local producers, and with the help of the Washing State Small Business Assistance Center at Green River Community College, a business plan was put together and the idea pitched to the Pierce Conservation District board of directors, which approved $200,000 in funds to build the trailer in June 2008.
The cooperative itself was set up that November, and in June 2009 the mobile processing unit was delivered. Puget Sound’s unit is based on the Island Grown design, but larger. Built on a 45-foot semi-trailer, it has bigger storage facilities and the ability to process more animals at a time.
The Puget Sound co-op works a little differently than the Island Grown co-op. Instead of making appointments to slaughter at each customer’s farm, the slaughter unit operates at three venues on a weekly, or semi-weekly, schedule. Producers transport their animals to the most convenient location. Members can purchase a special class of stock to have priority in scheduling. Two of the locations are on members’ property; the third is provided at no cost by a local landowner.
The cooperative doesn’t offer cutting and wrapping services. Those are provided by private packing facilities in nearby Rochester and Bremerton.
Schermerhorn says the cooperative has the capacity for about 140 new members; the slaughter unit currently operates at about 25 percent of capacity. Members each market their own products. Some retail their products directly at farmers’ markets and similar venues. This sales strategy, Schermerhorn says, offers the highest margins: 50 to 100 percent.
Other producers have contracts to provide high-quality meats to restaurants, local food stores, and even food co-ops. They typically garner markups of 10 to 30 percent. Overall, Schermerhorn says, “We get about a 50-percent net gain over marketing live cattle.” Read more | 2,877 | 1,469 | 0.000694 |
warc | 201704 | Chris Facha, USDA Food Distribution Program Coordinator at the Oregon Department of Education and American Commodity Distribution Association (ACDA) President Elect, samples the new pepper/onion blend served during the USDA/State Agency Meeting’s “USDA Foods: Behind the Scenes” session.
The USDA Foods Available List is a lot like any other menu, with dozens of healthy options for state agencies to order and distribute through USDA’s nutrition assistance programs. And every year, foods are added or removed from the list based on customer demand and market conditions. Some offerings are modified to improve nutrition content or make the product and its packaging easier to work with in the kitchen or more acceptable to kids.
The USDA Foods program is a collaboration between the Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), the agency that procures the food, and the Food and Nutrition Service (FNS), the agency that distributes the food. This school year, the USDA Foods team’s goal for training and conferences is to provide more opportunities to taste new and reformulated products. That way, state agencies can confidently order them and school districts can incorporate them into their menus. Read more »
Royal Food Service in Atlanta brings the farm to 1,900 schools through the DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program.
What do the military’s logistical network, peaches and peppers, and school children have in common? The first delivers the second to the third through a unique partnership between the Department of Defense (DoD) and USDA.
October is National Farm to School Month and the perfect time to celebrate the DoD Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program, which connects schools with fresh and often local produce using their USDA Foods entitlement dollars. Schools order local foods from a variety of sources, and according to the 2015 USDA Farm to School Census, 29 percent of districts participating in farm to school are receiving local foods through DoD Fresh. Read more »
Veteran Tracy Robinson’s military experience counted toward farming experience, allowing him to access USDA microloan funding.
Graduating from high school in the small town of Blakely, Georgia, Tracy Robinson was required to take an armed forces aptitude test. When asked what he wanted to do with his life, Robinson said he wanted to farm. The Marine recruiter told him he would be a great field artilleryman.
“I heard the word field and thought it had something to do with farming,” said Robinson. He enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps and after finding out field artillery had nothing to do with farming he stayed and fought for his country for 24 years, serving in Desert Shield, Afghanistan and Iraq. Read more »
Summer meal and farmers market offerings include local cherry tomatoes.
This National Farmers Market Week, we celebrate a growing national trend that exemplifies the power of partnership in achieving common goals. Across the country, sponsors of USDA’s Summer Meals Programs are joining forces with their local farmers markets, realizing a multitude of shared benefits. These partnerships increase access to the local seasonal bounty the summer months have to offer and help keep kids and their families nourished and active while school is out. Check out how three communities are taking full advantage of all that farmers markets during the summer months! Read more »
Passport in Time volunteers use a wooden shaker to assist with excavations. Photo credit: Holly Krake
Signed by President Lyndon Johnson fifty years ago, the National Historic Preservation Act marked a fundamental shift in how Americans and the federal government regarded the role of historic preservation in modern life.
The U.S. Forest Service has a long history of protecting significant heritage resources, to share their values with the American people, and contribute relevant information and perspectives to natural resource management. Protecting these resources ensures that future generations have an opportunity to discover the human story etched on the landscapes of our national forests, grasslands and prairie. Read more »
A fascinating part of Gene Sterling’s job is learning the different uses for the products that are being tested by USDA audited laboratories across the country. Did you know that peanuts are used in sauces, gravy and soup mixes as well as snack foods?
July is the height of summer grilling season, and throughout the month USDA is highlighting changes made to the U.S. food safety system over the course of this Administration. For an interactive look at USDA’s work to ensure your food is safe, visit the USDA Results project on Medium.com and read Chapter Seven: Safer Food and Greater Consumer Confidence .
From soup to nuts, we use science to help ensure the quality of agricultural products for consumers worldwide. As a Microbiologist for USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS), I am one of a small group of highly-qualified auditors that travel across the country to certify over 70 private laboratories. These labs are consistently testing to verify the quality and wholesomeness of U.S. food and agricultural products.
Our Laboratory Approval Service approves, or accredits, labs that test agricultural products in support of domestic and international trade. Our programs cover a variety of products from aflatoxin testing in peanuts and tree nuts to export verification for meat and poultry products. Read more » | 5,552 | 2,610 | 0.000391 |
warc | 201704 | By Karen Johnson
While Canada’s central bank is forecasting stronger economic growth next year, it can’t be entirely pleased about the two engines it sees driving that growth.
The first, Canadian consumption, has been worryingly in overdrive. The second, business investment, has been stubbornly unreliable.
A failure in either engine could imperil the modest, 2.3% economic growth the Bank of Canada sees in 2013, according to its October forecasts. | 465 | 306 | 0.003377 |
warc | 201704 | #
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Human Chow/People Kibble: Update
A little over 2 years ago,
MrVisible opened one of the most intriguing threads ever on the SDMB: Why don't they make People Kibble?
The above thread, its companion IMHO thread, and various other discussions have all touched on the desire for a simple-to-prepare, fast, and above all nutritionally complete food.
1. Is there a market for Human Chow?
As I see it, there's definitely a market for some sort of human chow.
MrVisible, Commander Fortune, LazarusLong42, jeyen, justwannano, toadspittle, Green Bean, SmackFu, caircair, Sunspace, Lynn Bodoni, Derleth, Tzel, Caldazar, LifeWillFall, Spiny Norman, Sam Stone, El_Kabong, Myron Van Horowitzski, Jrob, dil, Togepi no Miko, bluecanary, Phobos, featherlou, sliv, Fiver, drewbert, Czarcasm, zenith, hypergirl, fishcrawford, Troy McClure SF, Smeghead, Helena, Gerome, Iteki, Harmonix, interface2x, FlyingDragonFan, ski, CalMeacham, Legomancer, Coil, Cheesesteak, neutron star, Katisha, stargazer, Neidhart, Xavier, Sublight, Koffing, elfkin477, Kevin Partida, and broccoli! all expressed varying degrees of positive interest in some sort of perfect, all-in-one food on the SDMB (not always for themselves; see below).
Interest in Human Chow is not confined to the SDMB. Try searching on Google for 'People Kibble', 'Human Chow', or 'People Chow'. There's also a well-known pop-culture reference to Bachelor Chow in
Futurama.
Target markets for Human Chow that have been suggested include:
2. What would Human Chow consist of?
Many different possible "people kibbles" have been suggested, ranging from a "red pill" (
fishcrawford) to "4-5 slim jims plus a basket of fries" ( jesuslynch. I believe the three most worthwhile nominations are as follows:
[list=1][*]Purina (Mills) High Protein Monkey Diet is intended as a "constant nutrition complete life cycle diet" for all primates (it says monkeys on the website, but I don't see why, if that includes orang-utans, chimpanzees and bonobos, it shouldn't include humans. I'm not sure if it'd be OK to copy and paste the nutritional info for the chow to this post, but it's there on the linked website if you're interested. Small modifications could be made to the formula, which comes in extruded biscuits, to make it a) more palatable to humans, and b) more suitable for specific sections of the population e.g. dieters, young adults, vegan, high-exercise etc.
[*]Dilberitos don't appear to be as
complete as the Purina Kibble, but on the other hand have the advantage of resembling human food rather than pet food (they are microwavable vegetarian burritos). They were devised by Dilbert creator Scott Adams and food technician Jack Parker and contain 100% daily value for most vitamins and minerals (no mention of proteins, fatty acids etc. though). They aren't quite what we're after, though.
[*]Prison Loaf is in need of a snazzy new name first and foremost. It is used for each and every meal for certain prisoners (the example linked to, which features a recipe just in case you fancied making some at home, is from Fairfax County Adult Detention Center in Virginia), is vegetarian (vegan?), and consists primarily of wheat bread, but also contains spinach, beans, (non-dairy) cheese and carrots.[/list=1]
What do you think? Is anyone up for bringing Human Chow to the masses?
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Wow. I was just thinking about Human Chow last night. In fact, I was thinking of trying to develop a recipe for a homemade meal replacement product myself.
I'm all for bringing it to the masses.
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I remember reading that thread a long time ago, and frankly there are many many nights when I would love to be able to just grab a bowl of monkey chow and be done with it. Has anyone ever seen monkey food? Is it 'greasy' like dog food? What does it smell like? If it is just like a Saltine cracker kind of thing I could go for it, but if it is dog foodesque then I am out. I also note that they recomend serving 2-4% of body weight. For me that would be 3.5-7 lbs of food! (I am a 6' 5" 180lb male) That is a hell of a lot of food! I need something more concentrated than that, like all dietary needs, calories etc packed into 12-16 oz.
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I'd love it. I'd eat it if it were kibble-like, sure, and I'm sure a lot of people would, but to move it out of the `disaster relief and desperate' demographic, you'd need to make it look a little more appealing. Dilberitos sound somewhat better, but humans do need protein and lipids and even cholesterol (for hormones), so a completely `vegan' approach would be wrong in this instance. After all, we're talking about something you could live on for
life if it came to that. (I know you could technically live on jujubees and licorice for life. It would be a very short life. Human chow should go beyond that and provide you with everything. The only need human chow shouldn't provide is water.)
Kibble-type and cracker-type foods have the advantage of being easily crushable and convertable into a paste for infants and the infirm. Dilburritos can, too, but probably only with more mess and work. Plus, Dilburritos don't have the shelf life I'd want (if they have to be frozen, that's a dead giveaway), and the ideal human chow shouldn't need any kind of preparation at all for the average person to eat it. I want human chow to feed everyone, to provide everyone with a certain baseline nutrition cheaply and efficiently. The Salvation Army should be able to buy it by the double-truckload and use just that to feed everyone in a given area.
I'd love to buy reasonably-priced human chow, no matter what it ends up looking like.
__________________
"Ridicule is the only weapon that can be used against unintelligible propositions. Ideas must be distinct before reason can act upon them."
If you don't stop to analyze the snot spray, you are missing that which is best in life. -
Miller
I'm not sure why this is, but I actually find this idea grosser than cannibalism. -
Excalibre, after reading one of my surefire million-seller business plans.
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Quote:
Gross Energy, kcal/gm - 4.07
Physiological Fuel Value, kcal/gm - 3.37
Metabolizable Energy, kcal/gm - 3.11
I'm not sure which one is applicable, but if you need 3000 kcal/day, that would translate to between 730 and 960 grams per day. Still more than you wanted, but not quite as unmanageable.
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I'll take whatever someone comes up with, as long as it doesn't get soggy in a bowl of Jack Daniel's.
__________________
Sent from my TVC 15 using Tapatalk
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Wow. It's really gratifying that this keeps popping up in people's minds. Thanks for bringing it back to the front burner,
bluecanary, and thanks for all the research that went into your post. Jomo Mojo, those bars don't live up to the criteria in the OP. Besides not being nutritionally complete, they aren't a meal replacement; they provide a short-term burst of energy, but don't leave you feeling full.
Something with more bulk, more dietary fiber, and more yumminess would be needed. And after watching the past two seasons of
Unwrapped on the Food Network, I don't doubt that someone out there has a manufacturing plant that could turn this stuff out by the bushel.
It's come to my attention that the Red Cross and other famine relief organizations sometimes rely on high-protein biscuits for populations in need. This link has some discussion about the biscuits, some dissent as to their necessity, and (ta-da!) a nutrtional comparison chart of various biscuits and their availability. It even has the name of the manufacturer of the biscuits, Survival Industries, though I've had no luck turning up much information on the company.
As to the Prison Loaf, I've even been able to turn up the recipe, thanks to NPR. According to the article, the loaf "adheres to all nutritional guidelines, and even meets the needs of most special diets." But it's pretty disgusting. I have faith, though, that through the wonders of modern food processing, something with this simple a list of ingredients could be made palatable, and even tasty. Heck, anything can be made to taste like sour cream and onion. Here's the recipe:
Special Management Meal
Yield - Three Loaves
• 6 slices whole wheat bread, finely chopped
• 4 ounces imitation cheddar cheese, finely grated
• 4 ounces raw carrots, finely grated
• 12 ounces spinach, canned, drained
• 2 cups dried Great Northern Beans, soaked,
cooked and drained
• 4 tablespoons vegetable oil
• 6 ounces potato flakes, dehydrated
• 6 ounces tomato paste
• 8 ounces powdered skim milk
• 4 ounces raisins
Mix all ingredients in a 12-quart mixing bowl. Make sure all wet items are drained. Mix until stiff, just moist enough to spread. Form three loaves in glazed bread pans. Place loaf pans in the oven on a sheet pan filled with water, to keep the bottom of the loaves from burning. Bake at 325 degrees in a convection oven for approximately 45 minutes. The loaf will start to pull away from the sides of the bread pan when done.
As it turns out, I'm going to be out of work, doing some programming training, for the next several months. If anyone has any ideas on how to push this project forward, and I can be of any help, let me know. I'd love to see this thing come to fruition.
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It ought to be possible to make several different varieties/flavours, but all with the same basic nutritional breakdown in theory, it ought to be possible to formulate a recipe using bananas, nuts, oats/dried fruits etc that has a similar nutritional value set as another made from rice/wheat, cheese, beans (but not beef ).
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Has anyone ever tried Purina (Mills) High Protein Monkey Diet?
C'mon, with everything else we have on the Dope there's gotta be at least one zoo or animal lab employee around here...
I could see a fad where Monkey Chow starts to compete with ramen noodles as a survival food for college students...
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an interesting link:
Compact Foods
I've heard of MREs before, but the search that led me to the above link also turned up something called PORs (Packaged Operational Rations) - can anyone fill me in on the details of what these are?
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There is a sort of "people chow" already available. It's called Unimix, from what I understand, and I hear it's often used for disaster relief. It's something like cornmeal with added nutrients and oils, and can be used to make bread or porridge or whatever, or even eaten straight from the bag.
Admittedly, it doesn't sound much like what we're talking about.
So let's talk criteria:
1. It should meet all the nutritional requirements for an average human. I'm used to eating three times a day, so three servings should equal 100% of my USDA requirements.
2. It should be extremely convenient to serve -- no cooking, no preparation. Edible straight from the box, or pour into a bowl. At best, one should have the option of adding milk, or perhaps tap water to make a delicious gravy, or whatever.
3. It should be quite cheap. I'd feed the cats on tuna and chopped chicken livers if cat food weren't cheaper.
4. It should be readily available. Naturally, every store would have to carry the stuff, preferably in fifty-pound bags.
5. It should keep, travel, and store well, hence the fifty pound bags.
6. It should come in a variety of flavors; we're all going to get sick of Beef And Cheese after a couple of meals. Maybe the fifty pound bags weren't such a great idea.
7. It should match a wide variety of dietary preferences... there would be Baby Chow, Elderly Chow, Diabetic Chow, Vegan Chow, Lo Carb Diet Chow, Sugarless Chow...
...in fact, this whole idea is starting to sound pretty unwieldy. In fact, the only way I'm seeing that it will really work at all is if it has a relatively appealing taste... and sells for pennies a pound...
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People Chow is a wonderful idea! I'm all for it. Think of all the time and money it would save, as well as contributing to public health, by ensuring that people eat a well balanced diet. Sign me up!
Love, Kn*ckers
P.S.: Soylent Green is made from people!
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Wang-Ka: I'm going to have to disagree with your points 6 and 7. The point is to come up with something an average person can survive on. Additional flavors and formulations would be nice, and the idea of different formulations has a lot of merit, but I think the point is that it is a survival food, and everything else is just gravy (delicious gravy).
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Wang-Ka, they already do all that. For dogs. Different flavors, different formulations, wide distribution, extreme shelf life, complete nutrition.
Why not for humans?
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I checked out Mangetout's Compact Food link, and that pretty much seems like People Kibble. There are several varieties, and it can be eaten straight from the bar or made into porridge.
So, People Kibble is being manufactured and used to some extent. But obviously not in the ways we are thinking of. You can't buy Compact Food at the supermarket.
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Actually, the Prison Loaf doesn't sound too bad to me. I'd eat it. There are plenty of times that I eat just because I have to and it's time to eat, not because I want a luxurious experience.
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1) Solvent Green
2) Although it doesn't have everything you need many people exist almost completely on cereals. What would they have to add to say Total to make it a balance diet?
3) In one of my jobs I work with dogs. It's a pet peeve of mine that people will buy the top premium pet food for their poodle, and allow it no people food because it's not good for them, but cram their kids and themselves full of absolute junk.
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I love this idea As a college student, I would definately buy it, providing it was cheap enough. I see it as being in a cereal-like form, something you would simply pour in a bowl and eat.
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I have the perfect model for you guys to build on. Grape Nuts (the cereal). It's nicely crunchy, goes great in milk, but doesn't really taste like much of anything. But I, at least, could eat it constantly. If it wasn't so darn expensive.
But I see a variety of forms. Who wants to carry a little baggie of cereal when they can carry a Powerbar-ish People Kibble Bar in a pocket or backpack? That could be the on-the-go form. And maybe a one-meal "potato chip bag" form, for snacking on the couch. You eat the whole bag, hey, it's dinner!
Great thread!
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Peace,
~mixie
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Broomstick-
I have! I worked at an exotic bird 'store' (nothing like PetCo etc...The woman who ran it used to be an exotics vet at the San Diego Animal park and all sorts of other good things) And part of the bird's 'dry bowl' was monkey chow..many a late nights waiting for hatchlings to emerge we had MC and milk.
At that job I also ate mealworms, many varieties of fruit, raw beef, and flowers. It was an enriching experience, all right.
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So, all that would have to be done is reformulate Monkey Chow a bit to customize it for human digestive systems, and morph it into tasty snack food form. That shouldn't be much of a problem, right?
And
Troy, Ensure isn't exactly a filling meal replacement. But it is a testament to the potential for success of People Kibble, as well as proof that what we envision can be accomplished.
So... nobody here runs General Mills or Nabisco, huh?
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Ellen Buchman Ewald's
Recipes for a Small Planet has quite an extensive section on loaves, from Savory Bean Loaf with Tomato Cheese Sauce to Savory Nut Cake. I haven't tried them but they've got to be better than Prison Loaf.
(Ewald's book was from back in the day when vegetarians were concerned that they'd die of protein deficiency if they didn't combine food groups at every meal. Quite a few of the recipies feature wheat germ.)
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You can make People Chow easily from easily available products.
Get store-brand corn flakes. Get Slim Fast, Ensure, or equivalent. Mix.
Nutritionally complete, cheap, tasty, plentiful food that takes moments to prepare.
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