that students ’ academic concerns do not prevent them from staying home when sick or prompt them to return to class or take examinations while still symptomatic and potentially infectious. do not require a healthcare provider ’ s note for students, faculty, or staff to validate their illness or to return to work, as healthcare provider offices and medical facilities may be extremely busy and may not be able to provide such documentation in a timely way. distance learning or web - based learning may also help students maintain self - isolation. ihes should determine quantities of supplies and space needed to facilitate self - isolation for example, hygiene supplies, masks and other personal protective equipment. ihes should take opportunities at the beginning of campus events to remind attendees about the importance of self - isolation when sick ; early evaluation by a healthcare provider for those who become sick, especially for people at higher risk for flu complications ; respiratory etiquette ; and hand hygiene. educational materials such as posters and flyers to enhance compliance with recommendations should be visible throughout the campus. information and links to credible sources should be posted on the ihe website. examples of these materials are available at www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu. the recommendations that follow are divided into two groups : 1 ) recommendations to use now, during this academic year, assuming a similar severity to april through december 2009 of the 2009 h1n1 flu outbreak, and 2 ) recommendations to consider adding if the flu begins to cause more severe disease. recommended strategies to use now, for flu conditions with severity similar to april through december 2009 of the 2009 h1n1 flu outbreak encourage vaccination against the flu : the best way to protect against the flu is to get vaccinated. the vaccine for seasonal flu is produced every year. groups that should be vaccinated against seasonal flu include : everyone 6 months through 18 years of age ; all people 50 years of age and older ; women who will be pregnant during flu season ; people age 18 through 49 with certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu complications ; healthcare workers ; and household contacts and caregivers of people who are at increased risk of severe illness from flu, including children less than 5 years of age, pregnant women, people 65 and older, and anyone with certain medical conditions. facilitate self - isolation of residential students with flu - like illness in their residence halls, dormitory rooms, the campus health service, or other locations, and help them stay away from others for the full recommended period : promote self - isolation at home by non -


self - isolation of residential students with flu - like illness in their residence halls, dormitory rooms, the campus health service, or other locations, and help them stay away from others for the full recommended period : promote self - isolation at home by non - resident students, faculty, and staff : emphasize respiratory etiquette : flu viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person in respiratory droplets of coughs and sneezes. this can happen when droplets from a cough or sneeze of an infected person are propelled through the air and deposited on the mouth or nose or are inhaled by people nearby. cdc recommends covering the nose and mouth with a tissue when coughing or sneezing and throwing the tissue in the trash after use. wash hands promptly after coughing or sneezing. if a tissue is not immediately available, coughing or sneezing into one ’ s elbow or shoulder ( not into one ’ s hand ) is recommended. to encourage respiratory etiquette, students, faculty and staff should have access to tissues and must be educated about the importance of respiratory etiquette, including keeping hands away from the face. visit : http : / / www. cdc. gov / flu / protect / covercough. htm for more information on respiratory etiquette. promote hand hygiene : perform and encourage routine environmental cleaning : - doorknobs, handrails, elevator buttons - desks, tables, chairs - counters and surfaces in cafeterias, meeting rooms, and offices - remote controls - telephone receivers and touch - tone pads - promote early treatment of students and staff at higher risk for flu complications : - discourage the public and visitors with flu - like illness from attending ihe events until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours : - considerations for specific student populations : - students studying abroad : - early / middle college students : - students with disabilities : - sports teams, bands, and other large student groups : - health - care profession students : permit students, faculty, and staff at higher risk for flu complications to stay home : increase social distances : if flu severity increases, ihes should explore innovative methods for increasing social distances while continuing to meet their educational mission. the goal should be for there to be at least 6 feet of distance between people at most times. this is not a simple or easy strategy and would typically require considerable flexibility. possible options to increase the amount of space between students include moving desks farther apart, leaving vacant seats between students, holding classes outdoors, and using distance learning methods. at an


this is not a simple or easy strategy and would typically require considerable flexibility. possible options to increase the amount of space between students include moving desks farther apart, leaving vacant seats between students, holding classes outdoors, and using distance learning methods. at an increased level of severity, ihes should consider whether to suspend or modify public events such as lectures, films, concerts, sporting events, worship services, and commencement or baccalaureate ceremonies. ihes could also discourage large gatherings that are not sponsored by the ihe, such as fraternity parties. consider postponing campus events : extend the self - isolation period : consider suspending classes : - large gatherings : - residential students : - resuming classes : - cdc will continue to work with state and local partners to monitor the spread and severity of flu illness, monitor for changes in circulating flu viruses that may confer increased severity of disease, identify promising methods for reducing morbidity and mortality, assist state and local health and education agencies to implement those methods and evaluate their effectiveness, and provide timely updates on new scientific findings as well as additional guidance as the conditions warrant. - the u. s. department of education ( ed ) will collaborate with federal, state, and local agencies as well as non - governmental entities to disseminate new guidance, provide support to state education agencies, and work with states to provide flexibility in regulations around funding. - ihes should : - work with state and local public health and education agencies to decide which strategies to implement and when, collect and share data, and disseminate emerging guidance. - establish collaborative relationships with local colleges of medicine, hospitals, urgent care centers, and emergency departments. - assure campus health services have established plans for triage, treatment, vaccination, and education of students. - examine and revise, as necessary, their current crisis or pandemic plans and procedures. - examine and revise, as necessary, sick leave policies for faculty and staff to allow them to stay home when sick and policies on missed classes and examinations and late assignments so that students ’ academic concerns do not prevent them from staying home when sick. - serve as resources for their students, parents, faculty, staff, visitors, and wider communities by providing education about ways to reduce the spread of flu. - students, faculty, and staff must take personal responsibility for staying home when sick and practicing respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. - identify the decision - makers. in some communities, local and state health, education, and homeland security agencies may have relevant decision - making


, and staff must take personal responsibility for staying home when sick and practicing respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. - identify the decision - makers. in some communities, local and state health, education, and homeland security agencies may have relevant decision - making responsibilities. public ihes will have different types of decision - makers than private institutions. - identify the stakeholders. stakeholders will vary between ihes, but may include : staff from campus health services and mental health services, emergency management, student affairs, residential life, security, communications, physical plant operations, and food service ; students ; faculty ; other staff ; community representatives ; and students ’ families. - do you have a process for regular input and collaboration on decisions? - are there strong, open communication channels between decision - makers and stakeholders? does this include frequent information sharing? - do you regularly review your crisis and pandemic plans? do you revise as needed? - what is the severity and extent of spread of the disease in the state or locality? how many people are making outpatient visits for flu - like illness? how many people are being hospitalized for flu - like illness? are the numbers of hospitalizations or deaths increasing? what percent of these hospitalized patients require admission to intensive care units? how many flu deaths have occurred in the community? are some groups being disproportionately affected? - how busy are local healthcare providers and emergency departments? how many visits are they getting for flu - like illness? are they able to meet the increased demand for care from people with flu - like illness? are local healthcare providers or emergency departments becoming overburdened? - are the hospital and intensive care unit ( icu ) beds full with flu patients? is there available space in the icus? are there enough ventilators? - do the hospitals have enough staff to provide care? is there increasing absenteeism in healthcare workers due to flu - like illness in themselves or their family members? - is there enough antiviral medicines in the community to treat sick patients at higher risk for flu complications? - what are the plans for seasonal and 2009 h1n1 flu vaccination clinics? - what are student absenteeism rates? rates for faculty? staff? - how busy is the campus health service? how many visits are they getting for flu - like illness? are they able to meet the increased demand for care from people with flu - like illness? are beds available for students who need to self - isolate? - what resources are available? do you have access


visits are they getting for flu - like illness? are they able to meet the increased demand for care from people with flu - like illness? are beds available for students who need to self - isolate? - what resources are available? do you have access to the funds, personnel, equipment, and space needed? - how long will the strategies take to implement? how long can the strategies be sustained? - are changes to policy needed? how feasible are these changes? - how can you most clearly communicate with the ihe community about steps students, faculty, staff, and students ’ families need to take and the reasons for recommendations? - how are public concerns affecting the community? are rumors circulating about the flu? about the strategies you are considering? what can you do to counter false rumors? - what can you do to empower personal responsibility for protective actions? what can you do to increase buy - in? - will the community support the strategies under consideration? what can you do to increase support? - what secondary effects ( for example, job security, financial support, health service access, and educational progress ) might result from the strategies under consideration? can these secondary effects be mitigated? vaccination to protect against the 2009 h1n1 flu virus should be encouraged. cdc ’ s advisory committee on immunization practices ( acip ) has recommended that initial doses of the 2009 h1n1 flu vaccine be prioritized for 5 primary target groups : pregnant women, people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age, healthcare and emergency medical services personnel, people age 6 months through 24 years, and people age 25 through 64 years who have certain medical conditions that put them at higher risk for flu complications. due to increased vaccine availability, everyone, including those over age 65 years, can now be vaccinated. students and staff should be encouraged to receive the seasonal flu vaccine and the 2009 h1n1 flu vaccine. for more information on the acip recommendations, visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / mmwr / pdf / rr / rr58e0821. pdf. ihes should contact their local health officials to determine where vaccine will be administered and to discuss the possibility of a vaccination clinic at the ihe. cdc recommends that individuals with flu - like illness remain at home and away from other people until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever ( 100° f [ 37. 8° c ] or greater when measured orally ), or signs of a


recommends that individuals with flu - like illness remain at home and away from other people until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever ( 100° f [ 37. 8° c ] or greater when measured orally ), or signs of a fever, without the use of fever - reducing medicines. if possible, residential students, faculty, or staff members who live relatively close to the campus should return to their home to keep from making others sick. those leaving the ihe to go to a private home to recuperate should be instructed to do so in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible. for example, travel by private car or taxi would be preferable over use of public transportation. while the campus infirmary would be an ideal location for sick people, few ihes have them and such facilities could be rapidly overwhelmed during a flu outbreak. students with single rooms and private bathrooms should stay in their rooms. students living in suite - type living quarters should remain in their own rooms and receive care and meals from a single person, if possible. students could be asked to establish a “ flu buddy scheme ” in which students pair up as the identified caregiver if one or the other becomes sick. sick students should limit their contact with others and, to the extent possible, maintain a distance of 6 feet from people with whom they share living space. shared bathrooms should be avoided or receive frequent cleaning. if close contact with others cannot be avoided, cdc recommends people with known, probable, or suspected flu or flu - like illness to use a facemask if available and tolerable, or otherwise to cover their noses and mouths with a tissue when coughing or sneezing ( or an elbow or shoulder if no tissue is available ). for those caring for people with flu - like illness, cdc has recommendations for use of personal protective equipment. visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / masks. htm for information on appropriate personal protective equipment. close contact, for the purposes of this document, is defined as having cared for or lived with a person with flu - like illness or being in a setting with a high likelihood of contact with respiratory droplets and / or body fluids of such a person. close contact typically does not include activities such as walking by an infected person or sitting across from a symptomatic patient in a waiting room or office. for those who cannot leave campus, and who do not have a private room, ihes may consider providing temporary, alternate housing where those


as walking by an infected person or sitting across from a symptomatic patient in a waiting room or office. for those who cannot leave campus, and who do not have a private room, ihes may consider providing temporary, alternate housing where those who are sick can stay until 24 hours after they are free of fever. when logistically necessary, because sick students do not need to stay away from other sick students, some ihes have considered temporarily converting a gym or other large space to housing for sick people. local emergency management agencies might be able to assist with planning and arranging for necessary equipment, such as sleeping cots. locations should have good access to bathrooms ( which ideally should not be shared with well people ) and security services ; meals and medicines ( if indicated ) should be provided. internet access might allow students to continue their class work when feeling better but still self - isolating. some ihes have explored pre - arranging contracts with hotels or local landlords for temporary use of off - campus space. ihes should establish a method for maintaining contact with students who are in self - isolation. if resources permit, student affairs, housing staff, or healthcare providers ( for example, nurses or nursing assistants ) could be assigned to make daily contact with each student who is in self - isolation for flu - like illness in a dormitory or other university residential setting. for some ihes, residential advisors also may serve this function. possible contact methods include e - mail, text messaging, phone calls, or room visits. sick students should be provided guidance that reinforces hygiene and self - isolation. some ihes may choose to also check on roommates, suitemates, and others who come in close contact with the sick person to determine if they have also fallen sick. students should be instructed to promptly seek medical attention if they have a medical condition that places them at higher risk for flu complications, are concerned about their illness, or develop severe symptoms. severe symptoms include increased fever, shortness of breath, chest pain or pressure, rapid respirations, cyanosis ( bluish skin color ), vomiting, dizziness, or confusion. campus health services can communicate to the ihe community about these symptoms, how to contact health services, and groups of people at higher risk for flu complications. guidance for caring for flu patients in the home can be applied in the dormitory or residence hall as well. visit : http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / guidance _ homecare. htm for more information on caring


caring for flu patients in the home can be applied in the dormitory or residence hall as well. visit : http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / guidance _ homecare. htm for more information on caring for sick people in the home. students, faculty, and staff should be vigilant in identifying people who appear to be sick. these individuals should be encouraged by anyone who encounters them to self - isolate and to talk with a healthcare provider about whether they have flu, appropriate treatment, and actions to take if they experience severe symptoms. cdc recommends that individuals with flu - like illness remain at home until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever ( 100° f [ 37. 8° c ] or greater ), or signs of a fever, without the use of fever - reducing medicines. if possible, students, faculty, and staff with flu - like illness should be asked to stay at home or at a friend or family member ’ s home and avoid contact with other people until at least 24 hours after they are free of fever. students leaving the ihe to go to a private home to recuperate should be instructed to do so in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible. for example, travel by private car or taxi would be preferable over use of public transportation. if he or she can tolerate it, the sick person should wear a facemask while in close contact with others. visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / guidance / exclusion. htm for more information on staying home while sick. flu may spread via contaminated hands or inanimate objects that become contaminated with flu viruses. cdc recommends that students, faculty, and staff be encouraged to wash their hands often with soap and water, especially after coughing or sneezing. if soap and water are not available, alcohol - based hand rubs can also be used. however, hand rubs should not be used when hands are visibly soiled. soap and paper towels are critical for proper hand washing and should be readily available throughout the campus. ihes should educate all students, faculty, and staff about good hand hygiene through direct education as well as posting and disseminating communications materials such as signs, posters, and flyers. visit : www. cdc. gov / cleanhands for more information on hand hygiene. promote routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, and ensure adequate supplies of soap and paper towels. provide no - touch wastebaskets and empty them frequently


and flyers. visit : www. cdc. gov / cleanhands for more information on hand hygiene. promote routine cleaning of frequently touched surfaces, and ensure adequate supplies of soap and paper towels. provide no - touch wastebaskets and empty them frequently. establish regular schedules for frequent cleaning of high - touch surfaces : provide disposable wipes so that commonly used surfaces can be wiped down by students before each use. high - use surfaces include : encourage students to frequently clean their living quarters. students living together should regularly clean frequently used surfaces such as doorknobs, refrigerator handles, remote controls, computer keyboards, countertops, faucet handles, and bathroom areas. ihes should ensure that custodial staff and others who use cleaners or disinfectants read and understand all instruction labels and understand safe and appropriate use. instructional materials and training should be provided in languages other than english as locally appropriate. cdc does not believe any additional disinfection of environmental surfaces beyond the recommended routine cleaning is required. the epa provides a list of epa - registered products effective against flu : http : / / www. epa. gov / oppad001 / influenza - disinfectants. html people at higher risk for flu complications who become sick with flu - like illness should speak with their healthcare provider as soon as possible to determine if they need antiviral treatment. it ’ s very important that antiviral drugs be used early to treat flu in people who are very sick ( for example people who are in the hospital ) and people who are sick with flu and have a greater chance of getting serious flu complications. other people may also be treated with antiviral drugs by their doctor this season. cdc recommends that ihes encourage sick students, faculty, and staff at higher risk for flu complications to seek early treatment. students and staff at higher risk for flu complications who have had close contact with others who are sick with a flu - like illness should contact their healthcare provider to discuss whether they may need to take antiviral medicines. people on antiviral treatment may still shed flu viruses and therefore may still transmit the virus to others. these flu viruses may develop resistance to antiviral medicines. to lessen the chance of spreading flu viruses that are resistant to antiviral medicines, people on antiviral treatment should remain in self - isolation according to the current recommendations and adhere to good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. visit : http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu /


medicines, people on antiviral treatment should remain in self - isolation according to the current recommendations and adhere to good respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. visit : http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / recommendations. htm for more information on antiviral medicines. ihe events that draw the public and other visitors, such as football games or concerts, may pose a high risk of exposure and transmission of flu. ihes should use a variety of communication methods such as e - mail, posters, flyers, and media coverage to discourage people with flu - like illness from attending these events until they have been free of fever for at least 24 hours without the use of fever - reducing medicines and to encourage adherence to respiratory etiquette and hand hygiene. materials should be made available in the language ( s ) spoken by the ihe community, including those for whom english is not their primary language. ihes can also look for ways to modify these events to reduce close contact and increase distances between participants and may need to consider cancelling if modification is not possible and there is a high level of flu activity in the community. ihes should review their policies for study abroad programs, including how students can access health services abroad, how illness will be reported to the ihe, access to resources for students abroad who are unable to travel back to the u. s., and any legal liability issues. visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / travel for more information on considerations for travel. ihe plans and policies should consider high school students taking college classes for credit ; students and families touring the ihe ; and other k - 12 students who regularly come to campus. ihes should communicate with their partner k - 12 schools about their plans, policies, and strategies they are implementing. more than 11 % of undergraduates reported some type of disability in 2003 - 2004 ; 7. 5 % of these students reported a specific learning disability. ihes should determine if they need to use special communication strategies for these students. ihes should review their policies for sports teams, bands, and other large groups of students who spend a great deal of time together in close proximity. ihes may need to consider cancelling or postponing travel to off - campus events if there is a high level of flu activity in the community. ihes that train healthcare professionals such as physicians, dentists, and nurses represent environments with the potential for greater exposure and to amplify transmission to populations at higher risk for flu complications


if there is a high level of flu activity in the community. ihes that train healthcare professionals such as physicians, dentists, and nurses represent environments with the potential for greater exposure and to amplify transmission to populations at higher risk for flu complications. students in the heath care professions who spend any time in a clinical setting should be reminded to self - monitor for symptoms of flu - like illness, practice respiratory etiquette and good hand hygiene, and use appropriate personal protective equipment. visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / clinicians for guidance for healthcare settings. recommended strategies to add in the event of increased flu severity compared to april through december 2009 of the 2009 h1n1 flu outbreak cdc will work with state and local health departments to continue to assess the severity of illness caused by 2009 h1n1 flu and disseminate the results of these ongoing assessments. if global, national, or regional risk assessments indicate an increased level of severity compared with the april through december 2009 of the 2009 h1n1 flu outbreak, cdc will consider the need to recommend additional strategies. decisions to add strategies should be based on information on the severity of illness reported in global, national, and regional assessments, local goals, epidemiology, and healthcare system capacity, bearing in mind the feasibility and acceptability of the strategies being considered. the following strategies use a variety of methods for increasing social distance, while attempting to maintain operability of most ihes. feasibility and acceptability of these strategies will vary considerably. although the following strategies have not been scientifically tested in the ihe setting, they are grounded on basic principles of infection control. implementing these strategies is likely to be more difficult and to have more disruptive effects than the previously described strategies. these strategies should be considered if flu severity increases and are meant for use in addition to the strategies outlined above. if flu severity increases, students, faculty, and staff at higher risk for flu complications may consider staying home while flu transmission is high in their community. such people should make this decision after consulting with their healthcare provider. people who elect to stay home should also attempt to decrease their exposure in other ways - - for example, by avoiding large public gatherings. ihes should consult with their boards and legal counsel about policy accommodations that might be necessary. for example, ihes might be able to make provisions for distance learning methods such as conference calls and internet - based lessons or students at higher risk for flu complications might be allowed to withdraw for the semester without


counsel about policy accommodations that might be necessary. for example, ihes might be able to make provisions for distance learning methods such as conference calls and internet - based lessons or students at higher risk for flu complications might be allowed to withdraw for the semester without penalty. sick leave policies might be tailored to address the needs of faculty and staff at higher risk for flu complications. work responsibilities and locations potentially could be modified to keep people at higher risk for flu complications from coming into contact with potentially sick individuals. to the extent possible, telecommuting and distance learning could be made more widely available. at an increased level of severity, ihes should consider whether to suspend or modify public events such as lectures, films, concerts, sporting events, worship services, and commencement or baccalaureate ceremonies. ihes could also discourage large gatherings that are not sponsored by the ihe, such as fraternity parties. if flu severity increases, individuals with flu - like illness should self - isolate at home for at least 7 days after symptom onset, even if symptoms resolve sooner. individuals who are still sick 7 days after they become sick should continue to self - isolate until at least 24 hours after symptoms have resolved. this recommendation is based on viral shedding information. flu virus shedding generally occurs for 5 to 7 days for seasonal flu infection. longer periods of exclusion of people who have flu symptoms also may be considered based on setting - and population - specific characteristics. see information above for self - isolation for residential and non - residential students. visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / guidance / exclusion. htm for more information about staying home while sick. cdc recommends that ihes review and revise, as necessary, pandemic flu plans that can be readily implemented if flu severity increases. officials should balance the risks of flu in their community with the disruption suspending classes will cause in both education and the wider community. ihe officials should work closely and directly with their local and state public health officials to revise their plans, to make sound decisions based on local conditions, and to implement strategies in a coordinated manner. when ihes suspend classes, they should use multiple channels to communicate a clear message about their reasons for doing so and the implications for the students, faculty, staff, and the community. reactive class suspension might be appropriate when ihes are experiencing high rates of absenteeism due to flu - like illness among students, faculty, or staff, when a large number of students are visiting campus health services for flu - like


and the community. reactive class suspension might be appropriate when ihes are experiencing high rates of absenteeism due to flu - like illness among students, faculty, or staff, when a large number of students are visiting campus health services for flu - like illness, or when the ihe is not able to maintain normal functioning due to severe flu conditions in the community. preemptive class suspension can be used to decrease the spread of flu virus or to reduce demand on the healthcare system. ihes might be asked to suspend classes to decrease the spread of flu virus if global, national, or regional risk assessments indicate an increased level of severity compared with the april through december 2009 of the 2009 h1n1 flu outbreak. suspending classes is likely to be more effective in decreasing the spread of flu virus in the community when used early in relation to the appearance of the virus in the community and when used in conjunction with other strategies. ihes should consider whether they can allow faculty and staff to continue to use their facilities while classes are not being held. keeping facilities open may allow faculty to develop lessons and materials, to continue teaching through distance learning methods, to advise students using methods such as telephone calls and e - mail, and to engage in other essential activities, such as research projects. visit http : / / www. cdc. gov / h1n1flu / vaccination for more information on the 2009 h1n1 flu vaccination. if an increase in community - wide transmission occurs shortly before vaccine - induced immunity is anticipated, or before a scheduled break, some ihes may consider suspending classes temporarily. if classes are suspended preemptively, other large gatherings should be cancelled or postponed. this would include sporting events, dances, performances, commencement ceremonies, and other events that bring large groups of people into close proximity with one another. large gatherings might also need to be cancelled, postponed, or modified during a reactive class - suspension period. ihes with residential students should plan for ways to continue essential services such as meals, custodial services, security, and other basic operations for students who remain on campus. when possible, dismiss students, faculty, and staff who can drive home or who can go to the nearby home of a relative, close friend of the family, or an international student ’ s host family. students leaving the ihe should be instructed to do so in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible. for example, travel by private car or taxi would be preferable over use of public


or an international student ’ s host family. students leaving the ihe should be instructed to do so in a way that limits contact with others as much as possible. for example, travel by private car or taxi would be preferable over use of public transportation. international students and others who do not have easy access to alternative housing should stay on campus, but increase the distance between people and minimize crowding to decrease the likelihood of flu transmission. for example, if multiple roommates remain on campus, one might be able to move to a friend ’ s vacant room for this time period. additionally, ihes can explore distance - based learning methods to facilitate continued education both for students who remain on campus and those who leave. faculty and staff should be allowed continued use of their facilities while classes are not being held. the length of time classes should be suspended will vary depending on the reason for suspending classes as well as the severity and extent of illness. when the decision is made to suspend classes, cdc recommends doing so for at least 5 to 7 calendar days. before the end of this period, the ihe, in collaboration with public health officials, should reassess the epidemiology of the disease and the benefits and consequences of continuing the suspension or resuming classes. based on this reassessment, the ihe may decide either to extend the period for which classes are suspended ( and reassess again ) or to resume classes. in the event that global, national, and regional risk assessments indicate a much higher severity than that seen in april through december 2009 of the 2009 h1n1 flu outbreak, ihes should plan for more prolonged periods of class suspension. complete closing of the campus ( which would include suspension of research activities ) is not possible or desirable for most ihes and is unlikely to be recommended. however, ihes should plan for ways to care for animals and maintain critical research activities while minimizing contact between people. collaboration is essential : many different stakeholders have important roles to play in the decision - making process, implementing strategies, and ensuring their effectiveness. to decrease exposure of students, faculty, and staff to the flu virus, cdc recommends a combination of targeted, layered strategies applied early and simultaneously as the best means to reduce spread of flu. the selection of strategies should be based on trends in the severity of the disease, characteristics of the virus, feasibility, and acceptability. a course of action should be determined through collaborative decision - making involving public health agencies, ihe faculty and staff ; students ; students ’


should be based on trends in the severity of the disease, characteristics of the virus, feasibility, and acceptability. a course of action should be determined through collaborative decision - making involving public health agencies, ihe faculty and staff ; students ; students ’ families, and the wider community. cdc and its partners will continuously look for changes in the severity of flu and will share what is learned with state and local agencies, the public, and other stakeholders. however, states and local communities can expect to see a lot of differences in disease patterns from community to community. every ihe has to balance a variety of objectives to determine the best course of action to help decrease the spread of flu. decision - makers should explicitly identify and communicate their objectives which might be one or more of the following : ( a ) protecting overall public health by reducing community transmission ; ( b ) reducing transmission among students, faculty, and staff ; and ( c ) protecting people at higher risk for flu complications. some strategies can have negative consequences in addition to their potential benefits. the following questions can help begin discussions and lead to decisions. decision - makers and stakeholders are all the right people involved in the decision - making process? what is the process for working together? information collection and sharing can local or state health officials determine and share information about the following? what does the ihe know about the following? do you have the resources to implement the strategies being considered? have you determined how to address the following challenges to implementing the strategies? get email updates to receive weekly email updates about this site, enter your email address : - centers for disease control and prevention 1600 clifton rd atlanta, ga 30333 tty : ( 888 ) 232 - 6348 24 hours / every day


los angeles, ca — a researcher at charles drew university of medicine and science is investigating the potential use of non - pathogenic baker ’ s yeast as a promising, natural therapy for cancer. dr. mamdooh ghoneum presented his findings tuesday, feb. 2 at a special conference on “ cell death mechanism, ” sponsored by the american association for cancer research ( aacr ) at the omni san diego hotel in san diego. “ the central focus of the meeting is cell death regulation and how to mine and exploit it for therapeutic gain, ” a written evaluation of the aacr special conference states. “ this conference includes new complexities of cell death and cell survival, new technologies, and clinical translational aspects necessary for the evolution of new therapeutic strategies. ” for more than two decades, dr. ghoneum has pursued a theory that cancer cells self destruct when exposed to small quantities of yeast. in laboratory tests, dr. ghoneum exposed cancer cells to yeast and observed as they ingested the yeast — through a process known as phagocytosis — and then as the cancer cells died. first, he investigated this phenomenon in test tubes ( in vitro ), introducing yeast to breast, tongue, colon, and skin cancers. “ i have no doubt that i am close to unlocking the mystery as to why cancer cells weaken to the point of destruction after eating common baker ’ s yeast, ” dr. ghoneum said. “ the cells just gravitate to the yeast. i call it fatal attraction. ” in later experiments, yeast was injected inside the tumors of mice and, again, he observed a decrease in the size of the tumor mass. then, in his most recent tests, he examined whether yeast could kill cancer cells in mice that had cancer metastasized to the lung. these tests also showed significant clearance of the cancer cells from the lung. “ we observed that when the cancer cells eat the yeast, they die, ” dr. ghoneum said. the next step, dr. ghoneum said, is to conduct clinical trials to determine safety, efficacy of dosage and a method of treatment. born in egypt, dr. ghoneum earned his ph. d. at the university of tokyo in 1980 and did his postdoctoral studies at ucla, school of medicine. dr. ghoneum is an internationally recognized immunologist, who is an expert in cancer immune therapy. he holds patents for inventing three biological response modifiers for the treatment of cancer. he has been a


in the last few years, a number of methods have been developed to repair cartilage damage. these include osteochondral transplantation, microfracture surgery and autologous chondrocyte ( cartilage cell ) implantation. a feature common to all of these techniques is that they are limited to the repair of focal lesions. patients with oa are excluded from treatment. oa cartilage lesions are usually larger and unconfined and so do not provide an appropriate environment for chondrocytes to be retained long enough to build a framework ( matrix ). so... successful repair of oa cartilage damage is dependent on the ability to form a matrix within the joint. effective cartilage engineering protocols have already been developed in which chondrocytes in young animal models have been shown to be effective in creating cartilage. generating cartilage using adult human cartilage cells is far more challenging. older oa patients have cartilage that is less responsive to stem cell stimulation and their stem cells seem to respond less well to the usual growth factors. there are three potential avenues for obtaining stem cells. the first are embryonic stem cells which have the attraction of being relatively pristine. however, political and ethical interests have made this source of stem cells unobtainable. plus, there is the theoretical possibility that theses stem cells may grow unchecked leading to unregulated growth, ie cancer. a second source are mesenchymal stem cells grown in a laboratory from normal volunteers. while carefully screened for diseases and genetic problems, these stem cells do carry the potential for possible rejection reactions. finally, the last source and the one that seems to have the most promise - at least for now - are autologous stem cells. these are stem cells harvested from the iliac crest of the patient. autologous stem cells provide an attractive option for osteoarthritis patients and their clinicians. however it must also be recognized that autologous therapies are expensive. ideally, it would be good to treat the specimen obtained from the iliac crest to growth factors, cytokines, and chemokines, to stimulate an increase in the number of stem cells. however, both governmental regulations as well as sterility concerns preclude this step. in addition, the search for better matrix production to allow stem cells a " home " to grow in and multiply is still being studied. there have been a few clinical trials that


regulations as well as sterility concerns preclude this step. in addition, the search for better matrix production to allow stem cells a " home " to grow in and multiply is still being studied. there have been a few clinical trials that have demonstrated some promise. the first comes from murdoch university in australia. working with australia ' s adult stem cell company, mesoblast limited ( asx : msb ), the university ' s pre - clinical trials of mesoblast ' s patented adult stem cells had shown the therapy to significantly protect cartilage against damage in knee osteoarthritis. the project ' s principal investigator, professor rick read stated, " we are delighted with the significant cartilage protective effects of mesoblast ' s allogeneic ( donor unrelated ) cells in our large animal model of knee osteoarthritis, without any adverse events of the cells at all. " mesoblast ' s cartilage trials evaluated the effectiveness and safety of the company ' s allogeneic adult stem cells to treat osteoarthritis of the knee in 48 arthritic sheep joints. the results showed that osteoarthritic sheep knee joints receiving mesoblast ' s stem cells had significantly greater thickness of joint cartilage, reduced cartilage breakdown, and greater biomechanical strength three months later than did control joints receiving hyaluronic acid. in another study, duke university medical center researchers have " reprogrammed " adult stem cells taken from a small deposit of fat behind the kneecap into functioning cartilage, bone, or fat cells that could potentially be grown into replacement tissues for osteoarthritis. the research team has provided evidence that stem cells taken from different adult sources have the potential to be transformed into multiple specialized cell types. in the current study, the researchers took the fat pads from patients whose knee joints were removed during total joint replacement surgery. the fat pad is a dense structure behind the patella, or kneecap that is unlike typical fat tissue found throughout the body. they were able to isolate and grow adult stem cells from this tissue. according to scientists at cardiff university, stem cells identified in their studies can be turned into cartilage cells ( chondrocytes ) in huge quantities. this may mean that limitations in cartilage transplants, in which healthy cartilage cells are collected and transplanted into a damaged joint, could be overcome. however, despite recent


##ilage cells ( chondrocytes ) in huge quantities. this may mean that limitations in cartilage transplants, in which healthy cartilage cells are collected and transplanted into a damaged joint, could be overcome. however, despite recent media reports that heralded the identification of these stem cells as a breakthrough in the treatment of osteoarthritis, this research is currently only being considered to treat people with limited cartilage damage only. dr. nathan wei states, " our current understanding of stem cell biology is obviously not where it needs to be. however, early work at our center using autologous stem cells obtained from iliac crest bone marrow and then concentrated has shown very promising results in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. it is important to comment on the fact that prior to introduction of the stem cells, irritation of the cartilage and adjacent capsule is important to initiate an inflammatory response which then leads to cell proliferation which is an essential part of healing and subsequent cartilage regeneration. " dr. wei adds, " for sure, though, i feel that this approach which is relatively painless will prove to be more effective than other therapies we currently have for osteoarthritis. " for more information about stem cells and osteoarthritis, call the arthritis and osteoporosis center of maryland at ( 301 ) 694 - 5800.


the three gorges dam along the yangtze river today, china is a leading producer in hydroelectricity. the dam is situated in sandouping of yichang city, hubei province. the usd 27. 2 billion three gorges project dam is the largest water conservancy project ever built in china and in the world, with an installed capacity of 22. 5 gigawatts. a large percentage of china ' s renewable energy is provided by this controversial dam project. the three gorges dam has been named among the world ' s top 10 renewable energy projects by the globally renowned science magazine scientific american in july 2009 on may 20, 2006, china completed construction of the world ' s largest and most powerful hydro - electric project the three gorges project, 3 years ahead of schedule. the construction of a dam along the yangtze river has long been in the minds of the chinese even before the idea was first proposed in 1919. the primary objective is for harnessing and developing the yangtze with comprehensive benefits mainly in flood control, power generation and navigation improvement. historically, the population in the middle and lower reaches of the yangtze river suffered tremendous losses in human lives and property due to the yangtze flooding. in 1931 alone, as a result of flooding, 333 thousand hectares of cultivated land were stricken, 145 thousand people were in 1998 the flood caused 4, 150 lives, and damage worth usd 38 the three gorges project serves multi - functions in : china ’ s three gorges dam helps alleviate severe flooding ( july 2010 ) in central china. the three gorges dam on yangtze river helped to buffer the worst floods in decades as it blocked more than 40 % of upstream water from the swollen yangtze river. in 2010, china experienced frequent incidences of torrential rains across the country. unusually heavy rains had caused extensive flooding, numerous lives, damaged houses and buildings, reduced crop outputs, displaced millions of people and resulted in usd billions of economic losses. the three gorges dam in july helped alleviate what might have been a worse repeat of the 1998 flood which killed 4150 people in china. it accomplished this much needed task by containing the raging water from the upper reach of yangtze river, swollen from torrential rains, rambling down with a ferocious speed of 70, 000 m3 a second. this was 20, 000 m3 a second higher than the worst flood of china, the 1998 mega floods. the rains had raised the level of the three gorges reservoir by 4m ( 13ft ) overnight, just 20m below its


a second. this was 20, 000 m3 a second higher than the worst flood of china, the 1998 mega floods. the rains had raised the level of the three gorges reservoir by 4m ( 13ft ) overnight, just 20m below its maximum capacity. water was then released at a safe level downstream. torrential rains continued and on july 28 2010, the dam passed yet another challenge after it was able to withstand another raging water from the upper yangtze river. highest flow rate that hit the dam this time was 56, 000 m3 per second. water level in the reservoir rose to 158 m, just 17 m below its maximum capacity of 175 m. so far, floods in 2010 in china has resulted in economic losses of usd 22 billion and affected 120 million people. more than 1, 000 people have died or disappeared, the highest death toll since the 1998 flooding. about the three gorges project : ( source : xinhuanet ) floods of yangtze river critics on the construction of the three gorges project to critics worldwide, it is a social and environmental disaster. they question whether both effects of flood control and power generation can be achieved at the same time as each requires low and high water level respectively ; suggest that both could be achieved by faster, less expensive means in place of dam construction. they doubt whether the human and cultural losses are worth the project benefits. when the dam becomes operational, over a million people will have been relocated, over a thousand archeological sites will be submerged beneath the reservoir, and endangered species may be driven to extinction. " the world ' s largest — had the potential of becoming one of china ' s biggest environmental nightmares, triggering landslides, altering entire ecosystems and causing other serious environmental problems — and, by extension, endangering the millions who live in its shadow : " this is my opinion, but who am i? nobody, so, don ' t take to heart if you disagree. harnessing liability from nature into assets for man ( the tgp way ) first of all, we have to really look at the yangtze river with which the chinese have been living since early chinese civilization. it is their mother river, which they love and respect for the means of livelihood and natural habitat provided by it. but, though they hate to say it aloud, it has also been their endless source of hardship and sufferings : frequent flooding causing damages of agricultural products, properties, lands and above all, hardship and countless lives. the main consideration behind the construction of this dam, is the numerous valuable lives


aloud, it has also been their endless source of hardship and sufferings : frequent flooding causing damages of agricultural products, properties, lands and above all, hardship and countless lives. the main consideration behind the construction of this dam, is the numerous valuable lives lost in every flood. the august 1998 flood of the yangtze river, caused 4, 000 lives, and 24 billion dollars worth of damage. it may have been weighed many times before the final and difficult decision was made, placing human lives above all other important issues, like natural habitats, farmland, historic sites, culture and relocation. then comes the subsequently important issues of energy to help china solve 1 / 9 of its energy need. loss of culture heritage needs the least worry from outsiders, as china is a country richest in culture preservation. no effort would have been spared to ensure maximum salvage of culture preservation and minimum loss of heritage along the affected areas. moreover, river floods are the ones that have all along been destroying cities and cultural sites. in the processes of development and modernization, haven ' t we been tearing down old buildings and structures, haven ' t we been changing our lifestyle for better comfort? are not these constituting loss of our ( previous ) culture? archeological and endangered species losses could not be the primary concern to millions of people who have been living under hardship conditions. the relocation was clearly a positive move with new cities having modern plumbing and using coal gas for heating and cooking, electricity and water facilities, minus the fear factor. what is wrong for china to stop the massive flooding, for generating a cleaner energy to reduce emissions! use other options? has not china been venturing into other options too?! are not the so called environmentalists placing wrong emphasis? no doubt, the heritage and the endangered species are our very concern. but which is of utmost importance : to avert the possible loss of millions of lives, in addition to having an added facility to generate cleaner hydroelectricity for ghg reductions ; or heritage and endangered species? i already answered it. so what is yours? ( comment posted on china big push for r. energy ) 01 / 08 / 2008 tom lin, ny 7 / 29 / 05 mark st. leger, lake elmo, minnesota modernization is more important than preservation of antiquities. this happens in every city in america, as city fathers exert eminent domain for the greater good, taking farmlands and buildings, tearing down antiquated buildings for modern business, and so called urban renewal. only time will tell if the dam does provide energy for the long term


america, as city fathers exert eminent domain for the greater good, taking farmlands and buildings, tearing down antiquated buildings for modern business, and so called urban renewal. only time will tell if the dam does provide energy for the long term, or will it silt in like the aswan dam. only time will tell if this is ten year or twenty year fix, or one of longer standing. china is moving forward for better or worse. history will be the judge of its consequences. three gorges does have some ecological problems associated with it as stated in your article. however, the dam was built as a " flood control " structure ( the electrical power generation is an ancillary benefit ) because over 300, 000 people have died in yangtze river floods in the 20th century ( 156, 000 in 1840 ; 142, 000 in 1935 ; over 33, 000 in 1954 ; and most recently over 3, 000 in 1998 ). naturally, when you build a large dam with its associated large reservoir, there will be ecological problems that were not previously existent ; and these must be handled. however, the logic dictates that you build the dam to save the thousands of human lives. then you must address the ecological problems that were unforeseen prior to the construction of the dam. hydropower electrical production is much more efficient than wind energy ( 85 % overall efficiency vs. wind energy ' s 40 % overall efficiency ). hydropower also in summary, the dam was required to avoid the loss of human life due to the frequent flooding of the yangtze river ; and the saving of human lives on such a large scale is imperative. the ecological problems created have to be addressed. the electrical power generation is a large ancillary benefit. regardless of the differing perspectives, everyone agrees that the three gorges dam is an incredible undertaking. like china ' s great wall, it will be one of the few man - made structures visible from space. the impacts on the environment and the benefit of this dam have to be monitored for the next 20 years at least to make a conclusion. by 2006, the second largest hydroelectric power plant in the world is itaipu dam, a project jointly developed by brazil and paraguay. with a capacity of 12. 6 gw. it produced 26 % of the total energy demand of brazil in 1997and 79 % of paraguay.


in a new paper released today in nature, biofrontiers institute scientists at the university of colorado boulder, tom cech and leslie leinwand, detailed a new target for anti - cancer drug development that is sitting at the ends of our dna. researchers in the two scientists ’ laboratories collaborated to find a patch of amino acids that, if blocked by a drug docked onto the chromosome end at this location, may prevent cancerous cells from reproducing. the amino acids at this site are called the “ tel patch ” and once modified, the end of the chromosome is unable to recruit the telomerase enzyme, which is necessary for growth of many cancerous cells. “ this is an exciting scientific discovery that gives us a new way of looking at the problem of cancer, ” cech said. “ what is amazing is that changing a single amino acid in the tel patch stops the growth of telomeres. we are a long way from a drug solution for cancer, but this discovery gives us a different, and hopefully more effective, target. ” cech is the director of the biofrontiers institute, a howard hughes medical investigator and winner of the 1989 nobel prize in chemistry. co - authors on the study include postdoctoral fellows jayakrishnan nandakumar and ina weidenfeld ; university of colorado undergraduate student caitlin bell ; and howard hughes medical institute senior scientist arthur zaug. telomeres have been studied since the 1970s for their role in cancer. they are constructed of repetitive nucleotide sequences that sit at the ends of our chromosomes like the ribbon tails on a bow. this extra material protects the ends of the chromosomes from deteriorating, or fusing with neighboring chromosome ends. telomeres are consumed during cell division and, over time, will become shorter and provide less cover for the chromosomes they are protecting. an enzyme called telomerase replenishes telomeres throughout their lifecycles. telomerase is the enzyme that keeps cells young. from stem cells to germ cells, telomerase helps cells continue to live and multiply. too little telomerase produces diseases of bone marrow, lungs and skin. too much telomerase results in cells that over proliferate and may become “ immortal. ” as these immortal cells continue to divide and replenish, they build cancerous tumors. scientists estimate that telomerase activation is a contributor in up to 90 percent of human cancers. to date, development of cancer therapies has focused on limiting the enzymatic action of telomerase


##lenish, they build cancerous tumors. scientists estimate that telomerase activation is a contributor in up to 90 percent of human cancers. to date, development of cancer therapies has focused on limiting the enzymatic action of telomerase to slow the growth of cancerous cells. with their latest discovery, cech and leinwand envision a cancer drug that would lock into the tel patch at chromosome ends to keep telomerase from binding there. this approach of inhibiting the docking of telomerase may be the elegant solution to the complex problem of cancerous cells. cech, a biochemist, and leinwand, a biologist, joined forces to work on their latest solution. “ this work was really made possible by the fact that our labs are so close, ” leinwand said. “ my lab was able to provide the cell biology and understanding of genetics, and tom ’ s lab allowed us to explore the biochemistry. we have a unique situation at biofrontiers where labs and people comingle to make discoveries just like this. ” leinwand is the chief scientific officer of the biofrontiers institute and a professor of molecular, cellular and developmental biology. researchers at the university of colorado have a significant history in developing marketable biotechnologies. cech founded ribozyme pharmaceuticals inc. leinwand co - founded myogen with cu professor michael bristow, hiberna and recently launched myokardia ( http : / / www. myokardia. com / about. php ). the biofrontiers institute is an interdisciplinary institute housed at the jennie smoly caruthers biotechnology building at cu - boulder. the institute is dedicated to training the next generation of interdisciplinary scientists through its iq biology interdisciplinary quantitative biology ph. d. program. for more information about biofrontiers visit http : / / biofrontiers. colorado. edu emilia costales, biofrontiers institute, 303 - 735 - 3001


the stresses subsea cables are subjected to in these days of globalization, keeping the world connected is imperative. information needs to pass as freely and quickly as possible in order to keep markets up - to - date with the latest news and to ensure that commerce can be conducted without hindrance ( at least of the technical kind ). so what do you do – look to the sky? the answer is no ; in fact, 99 % of this information is carried by undersea cables. these unsung heroes sit at the bottom of the sea. there they are buffeted by the high pressures and general movement of the surrounding water, and the rough terrain they lay upon. even so, they provide instantaneous messaging between countries and peoples of different cultures. how do subsea cables withstand the stresses they are subjected to? the latest issue of comsol news touches on this subject, with reports on jdr cables. this is a company based out of the uk that designs and manufactures subsea umbilical systems of cables and reelers for oil and gas and renewable processes. they ’ ve been doing this for years, but increased requirements for quality and cost controls has led them to use modeling for their designs. these subsea cables are not simple. they often contain a number of different wires of varying sizes, with different purposes in mind, as part of the cable package. these wires are all wound together within thick armature shells made of material tough enough to withstand the undersea environment. once the cables have been manufactured, they are then wound onto large reels or spindles, placed onto a boat and then wound up and down as part of the laying process. together with the harsh environment of the sea and wind, the cables also have to withstand the tensile forces that the cables are subjected to as part of the reeling process. these subsea cables are not simple. how jdr was able to simulate this is explained in the comsol news article. part of their challenge was that they identified over 3, 000 localized regions of high contact within the cable package. but once they, and their comsol certified consultant, continuum blue, were able to achieve this, they found their models cost half as much as physical testing, with further reductions in manufacturing costs. login to comment - create account - forgot your password?


changing cod distribution observed as ecosystem warms bottom to top during the first six months of 2012, sea surface temperatures in the northeast shelf large marine ecosystem were the highest ever recorded, according to the latest ecosystem advisory issued by noaa ' s northeast fisheries science center ( nefsc ). above - average temperatures were found in all parts of the ecosystem, from the ocean bottom to the sea surface and across the region, and the above average temperatures extended beyond the shelf break front to the gulf stream. the annual 2012 spring plankton bloom was intense, started earlier and lasted longer than average. this has implications for marine life from the smallest creatures to the largest marine mammals like whales. atlantic cod continued to shift northeastward from its historic distribution center. the northeast us continental shelf large marine ecosystem ( lme ) extends from the gulf of maine to cape hatteras, north carolina. the nefsc has monitored this ecosystem with comprehensive sampling programs from 1977 onward ; prior to 1977, this ecosystem was also monitored by the nefsc through a series of separate but coordinated programs dating back decades. " a pronounced warming event occurred on the northeast shelf this spring, and this will have a profound impact throughout the ecosystem, " said kevin friedland, a scientist in the nefsc ' s ecosystem assessment program. " changes in ocean temperatures and the timing of the spring plankton bloom could affect the biological clocks of many marine species, which spawn at specific times of the year based on environmental cues like water temperature. " friedland said the average sea surface temperature ( sst ) exceeded 10. 5 degrees c ( 51°f ) during the first half of 2012, exceeding the previous record high in 1951. average sst has typically been lower than 9 degrees c ( 48°f ) over the past three decades. sea surface temperature in the region is based on both contemporary satellite remote - sensing data and long - term ship - board measurements, with historical sst conditions based on ship - board measurements dating back to 1854. in some nearshore locations like delaware and chesapeake bays in the middle atlantic bight region, temperatures were more than 6 degrees c ( 11°f ) above historical average at the surface and more than 5 degrees c ( 9°f ) above average at the bottom. in deeper offshore waters to the north, bottom waters were 1 degree c ( 2°f ) warmer in the eastern gulf of maine and greater than 2 degrees c ( 3. 6°f ) warmer in the western gulf of maine. ocean bottom temperature data cited in the advisory posted today


, bottom waters were 1 degree c ( 2°f ) warmer in the eastern gulf of maine and greater than 2 degrees c ( 3. 6°f ) warmer in the western gulf of maine. ocean bottom temperature data cited in the advisory posted today came from a variety of sources, including emolt, a cooperative research program between the northeast fisheries science center and lobstermen who deploy temperature probes attached to lobster traps. while some of the temperature probes from the emolt program are still in the water and have not yet been returned, those that have been returned indicate that bottom water temperatures in 2012 were the warmest since the emolt program began in 2001. atlantic cod distribution in the gulf of maine continues a northeasterly shift, with the spring 2012 data consistent with a response to ecosystem warming. warming ocean temperatures and the resulting impact on the distribution of 36 fish stocks was reported by the center in a 2009 study published in marine ecology progress series. that study analyzed annual nefsc spring survey data from 1968 to 2007 and other information and found that about half of the 36 fish stocks studied in the northwest atlantic ocean, many of them commercially valuable species, have been shifting northward over the past four decades, with some disappearing from us waters as they move farther offshore. friedland notes that although cod didn ' t shift as much as other species like hake in the 2009 study, the effects of warming water on ocean currents and other ocean circulation patterns could change that. " cod distribution continues to be dynamic, with northerly shifts detected in the spring 2012 data, consistent with a response to ecosystem warming, " friedland said. " the big question is whether or not these changes will continue, or are they a short - term anomaly? " mike fogarty, who heads the ecosystem assessment program, says the abundance of cod and other finfish is controlled by a complex set of factors, and that increasing temperatures in the ecosystem make it essential to monitor the distribution of many species, some of them migratory and others not. " a complex combination of factors influence ocean conditions, and it isn ' t always easy to understand the big picture when you are looking at one specific part of it at one specific point in time, " fogarty said, a comparison similar to not seeing the forest when looking at a single tree in it. " we now have information from a variety of sources collected over a long period of time on the ecosystem, and are continually adding more data to clarify specific details. the data clearly show a relationship between all of these factors. " the 2012 spring


it. " we now have information from a variety of sources collected over a long period of time on the ecosystem, and are continually adding more data to clarify specific details. the data clearly show a relationship between all of these factors. " the 2012 spring plankton bloom, one of the longest duration and most intense in recent history, started at the earliest date recorded since the ocean color remote sensing data series began in 1998. in some locations, the spring bloom began in february, and was fully developed by march in all areas except georges bank, which had an average although variable spring bloom. the 2012 spring bloom in the gulf of maine began in early march, the earliest recorded bloom in that area. " what this early start means for the northeast shelf ecosystem and its marine life is unknown, " fogarty said. " what is known is that things are changing, and we need to continue monitoring and adapting to these changes. " intensive surveys of environmental conditions on the northeast shelf from cape hatteras, north carolina to nova scotia were conducted from 1977 to 1987 as part of the marine resources monitoring, assessment & prediction ( marmap ) program. the efforts continued at reduced levels through the 1990s and are ongoing today as part of the center ' s ecosystems monitoring ( ecomon ) program. plankton samples are collected six times a year in each of the four subareas of the northeast shelf : the middle atlantic bight, southern new england, georges bank, and the gulf of maine. ecomon scientists also collect water samples and other oceanographic data about conditions during each season in each of the four areas to provide a long - term view of changing conditions on the shelf. ecosystem advisories have been issued twice a year by the nefsc ' s ecosystems assessment program since 2006 as a way to routinely summarize overall conditions in the region. the reports show the effects of changing coastal and ocean temperatures on fisheries from cape hatteras to the canadian border. the advisories provide a snapshot of the ecosystem for the fishery management councils and also a broad range of stakeholders from fishermen to researchers. the spring 2012 ecosystem advisory with supporting information is available online.


the european - mediterranean seismological centre and the u. s. geological survey said the quake struck at 1343 gmt ( 9 : 43 a. m. edt ), followed by a 5. 2 - magnitude temblor eight minutes later. the usgc said the stronger quake hit at a depth of 5. 3 miles ( 8. 6 kilometers ), 58 miles ( 93 kilometers ) northwest of jan mayen, a norwegian island with a research station but no permanent population. the quake could be felt on the island, but didn ' t cause any damage or injuries, said erik persheim, an electronics engineer at the research station. " we watched the mountain as the loose stones and shale came sliding down, " persheim told the associated press. " it didn ' t seem very big and i don ' t think much of anything broke, but we ' ll have to have a thorough inspection. " he said there are currently 44 people on island involved in various research and maintenance work. normally, the station houses about 18 engineers and other personnel. norwegian seismologist tormod kvaerna said jan mayen, about 370 miles ( 600 kilometers ) east of greenland, lies near a fault line and is often exposed to earthquakes though he couldn ' t remember any previous temblors there of that size. " this is very big, " he said, adding that it probably wasn ' t in 2008, a 6. 2 - magnitude earthquake off the svalbard islands was billed as the most powerful earthquake on record in norway. it was unclear whether the epicenter of thursday ' s quake was inside norwegian territorial waters.


build a solid foundation in science, formulation and product development — find out more! most popular in : dyeing to be natural by : katie schaefer, cosmetics & toiletries magazine posted : june 30, 2009, from the july 2009 issue of cosmetics & toiletries. page 2 of 3 henna, a commonly used natural dye, did not exhibit the efficacy he was after. “ the dyes we selected have a performance advantage over henna. with henna, you can only get some reds and oranges. also, the pigment coats the hair, so if the consumer decides they do not like it, it is hard to remove or color over it, ” said greaves. the main objective for greaves was to achieve natural permanent hair colors that are stable, strong and that stick. in many cases, greaves bred plants specifically to create strong plant dyes. “ we have plants such as madder [ an herbal extract ] that are selectively bred for their pigments. madder contains multiple pigments in various forms but we only wanted certain ones - and we wanted to breed down the solids and sugars that we would have to pull out. there is a lot of trial and error to get the pigment you want, ” conceded greaves. this trial and error can involve plant exchange resins and solvent extraction. “ we are not separating the molecules, ” explained greaves. “ we are just isolating them. ” most of the edible pigments chosen by greaves are from vegetables. for example, he formulates with indigo from indigofera tinctoria, a violet pigment from red cabbage, and anthocyanins from purple sweet potato, red radish and purple carrots. “ some of the traditional anthocyanin sources such as grape are less stable, ” said greaves, who added that they also contain an overabundance of tannins and sulfur dioxides. instead, he searched for dyes containing double bonds to make them resistant to oxidation. reaction for deposition to deposit the dye into the hair, greaves ’ color kit reacts the plant - based dyes with mineral salts and the protein in hair to form a stable complex. the mineral salt is a divalent or trivalent ion that creates a bond with the protein. the dye does not open the cuticle like traditional dyes. “ typically the isometric point of hair is around 4. 5. an oxidative dye molecule is too large to get into hair. therefore, the formulator would have to use an amine to raise the ph


what is the purpose of the ban on patching compounds and artificial ash and embers that contain respirable free - form asbestos? these regulations eliminate from certain products respirable free - form asbestos fibers that may cause lung or other cancers. where can i find the bans on consumer patching compounds and emberizing materials containing asbestos? the bans are published in the code of federal regulations ( c. f. r. ) in title 16, parts 1304 and 1305. what is respirable free - form asbestos? respirable free - form asbestos is asbestos that is notbound, woven, or otherwise “ locked in ” by a glue orresin to a patching compound or to artificial ashes orembers. because they are not locked in, asbestosfibers can get into the air and be inhaled when thepatching compounds are sanded or the ashes andembers are heated. what forms of asbestos are subject to the ban? the bans cover products containing amosite, chrysolite, crocidolite, anthophyllite, actinolite, and tremolite asbestos. which products must meet this regulation? the ban covers the following products containing asbestos : ( 1 ) products such as spackling compounds, tape joint compounds, and other mixtures that consumers use to patch or seal cracks, holes, or other imperfections in drywall and other surfaces. these products may be in dry form ready to be mixed with water or may be an already - mixed paste. the ban only applies to patching compounds to which asbestos has been intentionally added as an ingredient or which contain asbestos because the manufacturer knowingly used a raw material that contained asbestos. when a manufacturer finds out that a patching compound contains asbestos, the commission will consider the manufacturer to have knowingly used a raw material containing asbestos, unless the manufacturer reduces the amount of asbestos as much as is feasible. ( 2 ) decorative simulated ashes or embers that are placed under artificial logs in gas - burning fireplaces and that, when heated, glow like real burning embers. the ban includes material containing asbestos that is glued to artificial logs either at the factory or by consumers using an “ emberizing ” kit, and also covers artificial embers and ashes used in artificial fireplaces for decorative purposes. synthetic logs made of cellulosic material that burn completely are not subject to the ban, nor are electric artificial logs and artificial ash beds used in electric fireplaces, which do not contain asbestos. where can i find additional information


although the weather can seem fairly random from day to day, the weekly and monthly patterns are driven by the overriding impact of the seasons. likewise, the stock market has long - term “ secular ” cycles driven by the fundamentals of finance and short - term “ cyclical ” cycles within these secular cycles. because the market movements often appear random, conventional wisdom assumes a random walk for the market. yet conventional wisdom too often includes shortcuts that create blinders to insight. whether you invest or trade, an understanding of the cycles and their implications can be invaluable toward financial success. secular stock market cycles are extended periods of above - average returns ( secular bull markets ) and below - average returns ( secular bear markets ). just like seasons of the weather, these secular cycles are not coincidental patterns or long - term phenomena ; rather, these periods are caused by fundamental drivers of returns. why does this matter to a trader or investor? an understanding of the patterns and drivers can greatly enhance success in the market. the market is not a random pattern of results or a simple game of chance, such as flipping a coin or spinning the roulette wheel. in games of chance, the odds are known and are unaffected by previous events or current conditions. the market more closely relates to a game of skill, where past events and current conditions actually affect future results. this article should help you to “ count the cards ” in the market to know when it is winter or summer and to know when to fade a winter warm spell or lean into the emerging spring. if returns in the market were occurring randomly over time, then 10 - year periods in the stock market would presumably show relatively random results. however, figure 1 presents quite a different pattern. it undulates from below - average to above - average. the chart reflects all 10 - year periods since 1900 : the first is 1900 to 1909, then 1901 to 1910 and so on. each bar is the average compounded return including dividends during every 10 - year period since 1900. the pattern clearly is not random, and it is driven primarily by the significant factor of market valuation. figure 1. s & p 500 index total returns by decades to understand a multifaceted situation, it is sometimes helpful to break it into the component parts. stock market returns consist of three parts : earnings growth, dividend yield and the change in the price - to - earnings ratio ( p / e ). the growth of earnings represents the core driver of stock market appreciation. as the earnings of companies increase


stock market returns consist of three parts : earnings growth, dividend yield and the change in the price - to - earnings ratio ( p / e ). the growth of earnings represents the core driver of stock market appreciation. as the earnings of companies increase over time, the value of companies tends to increase. if p / e ( the valuation multiple of the market ) stays the same, then the stock price ( or overall market ) will increase consistently with earnings growth. but the stock market often increases by more than earnings growth or, at times, declines despite earnings growth. in these instances, respectively, earnings growth is multiplied by an increase in p / e or offset by a decrease in p / e. the big picture the price / earnings ratio for the overall market is developed by dividing a price index by the aggregate earnings of companies in the index. p / e is a valuation multiple because it essentially reflects the number of years worth of earnings that investors will pay today for a future stream of income from stocks. when inflation and interest rates are high, investors want higher returns, so they pay a lower price upfront for stocks. when deflation occurs, future income and dividends reflect a declining deflationary trend, so investors pay lower prices here, too. only in conditions when inflation is low and stable do investors pay higher p / es for stocks. therefore, trends in inflation or deflation drive p / es through a cycle of higher and lower levels. because p / e is a multiplier of earnings growth, a rising trend in p / e can often double or triple the level of return from earnings growth. a declining trend in p / e, however, can offset some or all of the benefit from earnings growth. beyond the return that is driven by earnings growth and the change in p / e, an investor also receives dividends from a portfolio of stocks. so dividends add a final component to the total return from the stock market. what ’ s the cycle? the key point, as detailed in the book unexpected returns : understanding secular stock market cycles, is to recognize that the cycle in p / e drives the secular stock market cycles. as earnings tend to grow over time, a rising p / e will multiply earnings growth and drive above - average returns. a decline in p / e will offset earnings growth and deliver below - average returns. the impact of the price / earnings ratio on the stock market is reflected in figure 2. the red and green bars represent the year - end level of the market ; the colors of


p / e will offset earnings growth and deliver below - average returns. the impact of the price / earnings ratio on the stock market is reflected in figure 2. the red and green bars represent the year - end level of the market ; the colors of the bars represent secular bear and secular bull cycles, respectively. the blue line on the bottom of the graph is p / e. as it rises, we experience green - bar, secular bull market periods. as p / e falls, we experience red - bar, secular bear market periods. figure 2. secular stock market cycles explained most noteworthy, the pattern of p / e is not random … and the red - bar and green - bar periods are not random. the price pattern for secular bull markets is a generally rising stock market driven by an increase in earnings and an increase in p / es. the price pattern for secular bear markets is a generally choppy stock market driven by an increase in earnings and a decrease in p / es. implications for trading for long - term investors, a multi - year and multi - decade perspective is often sufficient, especially when the environment is a green - bar, secular bull market. but for traders and curious investors, a look inside a typical secular bear market can be revealing. for example, although the himalaya mountains may appear to be little hills from an airplane flying over them, the terrain is quite different for someone taking each step on the ground. the red - bar, secular bear market of the 1960s and 1970s in figure 2 appears muted across a century of time. yet the daily, trail - worn path “ feels ” quite different. figure 3 reflects the dramatic short - term cyclical bull and bear cycles that occur throughout the longer secular bear market period. the magnitude of the swings, presented as percentages between peaks and troughs, is much more significant than most people expect. figure 3. living through the last secular bear market additionally, the relatively short periods for the cyclical bulls and bears further multiplies the drama. the investment approach employed not only by investors, but also particularly by traders, should adjust to the different conditions of secular bulls and secular bears. whether your strategy is long - or short - biased, each of the secular market animals presents a unique environment of challenges and opportunities. secular bear markets, with their repeatedly changing and erratic short - term cycles, pose especially challenging conditions. however, one trader ’ s challenge is another ’ s opportunity. outlook for the next few years in chapter five of reminiscences of a stock operator


markets, with their repeatedly changing and erratic short - term cycles, pose especially challenging conditions. however, one trader ’ s challenge is another ’ s opportunity. outlook for the next few years in chapter five of reminiscences of a stock operator by edwin lefevre, the stalwart sage mr. partridge has a jousting exchange with investment newbie elmer harwood. harwood was focused only on the current stock trade ; partridge ’ s many years of experience taught him not to ignore the overall trend. harwood would ultimately learn, while partridge would profit. the underlying conditions of the market were as relevant a century ago as they are today. but today, unlike the secular bull market of the 1920s, we are in the middle of a secular bear market that started in 2000. for the remainder of this secular bear — which can be expected to last many more years — we can expect a couple or several years of surges punctuated by a year or two of decline. while inflation remains relatively low and p / es are commensurately high, the fundamentals are not in place to enable p / es to double or triple to generate the next secular bull market. the pattern will be frustrating for those who are not aware of it, yet rewarding for those who see the opportunities. the secular bear roller coaster reflected in figure 3 emphasizes the need to stay aware of the current normalized p / e. after the first quarter of 2010, p / e is in the lower end of the typical valuation range for relatively low inflation environments. crestmont research updates quarterly, or more often as warranted, a complimentary assessment of the current state of p / e in the stock market section of its website. for now, the short - term cyclical bull has momentum ; within quarters or years, another short - term bear will likely add another punctuation point to the current longer - term secular bear market. for thousands of years, early man observed a pattern of seasons — from winter to spring, then on to summer, and concluding with fall. for many millenniums, seasons were a constant, though unexplained, pattern. at times, a warm day in the middle of winter would be confused with the beginning of spring. farmers would run out and plant crops, only to be nipped by the continuation of winter. then about 500 years ago, astronomers determined that the tilt of the earth caused the seasons. suddenly they knew that summer cannot start in the middle of winter, no matter how long the warm spell


a risk factor is something that increases your likelihood of getting a disease or condition. it is possible to develop low back pain or sciatica with or without the risk factors listed below. however, the more risk factors you have, the greater your likelihood of developing low back pain or sciatica. if you have a number of risk factors, ask your doctor what you can do to reduce your risk. risk factors include : sedentary job or lifestyle muscles that support the back can become weak with lack of exercise. work that requires the following motions puts additional stress on the back : - heavy lifting - bending or twisting - exposure to vibrations, such as riding in a car or operating heavy machinery participating in strenuous or contact sports injuries from contact sports or falls can result in back pain. smoking may contribute to degeneration of the discs in the spine. maintenance of good weight is important for your overall health. while scientific evidence is inconclusive as to how much obesity contributes to back pain, extra pounds can increase pressure on the spinal muscles and disks. improper lifting techniques when you lift objects with your back muscles instead of the stronger muscles in your legs, you increase your risk of back injury. as you grow older, the discs in your back begin to lose water content and degenerate. this increases the risk of disc problems and back pain, especially after age 40. however, even with some disc degeneration, most people do not have back pain.


| this page will not teach you everything about modbus, but will attempt to answer some of the most frequently asked questions. if you still have questions about modbus after reviewing this information, just click support above. what is modbus? modbus is an industrial protocol standard that has been in use for many years. modbus ascii and modbus rtu are relatively simple serial protocols that use eia - 232 or eia - 485 to transmit data packets. the protocol defines function codes and the encoding scheme for transferring data as either single points ( 1 - bit, coils ) or as 16 - bit data registers. this basic data packet is then encapsulated according to the protocol specifications for modbus ascii, rtu, or tcp. the tcp version of modbus follows the osi network reference model ; however the serial implementations of modbus do not. modbus / tcp defines the presentation and application layers in the osi model. modbus protocol is defined as a master / slave protocol, meaning a device operating as a master will poll one or more devices operating as a slave. this means a slave device cannot volunteer information ; it must wait to be asked for it. the master will write data to a slave device ’ s registers, and read data from a slave device ’ s registers. a register address or register reference is always in the context of the slave ’ s registers. modbus / tcp makes the definition of master and slave less obvious because ethernet allows peer to peer communication. the definition of client and server are better known entities in ethernet based networking. in this context, the slave becomes the server and the master becomes the client. there can be more than one client obtaining data from a server. in modbus terms, this means there can be multiple masters as well as multiple slaves. rather than defining master and slave on a physical device by device basis, it now becomes the system designer ’ s responsibility to create logical associations between master and slave functionality. where do i start? here are the first few things you need to find out : ( 1 ) what is the physical connection? modbus rtu uses rs - 485 or rs - 232. modbus tcp uses ethernet. if you are looking for a control solutions gateway, you will need to pick the model that matches the electrical interface of the equipment you want to connect. if you are choosing a control solutions i / o device, pick one that matches your network. ( 2 ) how are the registers mapped? when


, you will need to pick the model that matches the electrical interface of the equipment you want to connect. if you are choosing a control solutions i / o device, pick one that matches your network. ( 2 ) how are the registers mapped? when using a gateway to interface a modbus device to a non - modbus network, you need to get documentation from the equipment manufacturer that describes the available registers and how to address them. modbus protocol does not provide a means for registers to automatically identify themselves. control solutions cannot determine this information for you. you must consult the equipment manufacturer. when using control solutions i / o devices ( such as addme iii ) you will find this information in the online help files that came with the device, or on our web site. ( 3 ) what are the communication parameters? modbus rtu requires that you know or define baud rate, character format ( 8 bits no parity, etc ), and slave id ( aka slave address, unit number, unit id ). a mis - match in any of these will result in no communication. modbus tcp requires that you know or define ip addresses on the network. in some cases, you also need unit id ' s. control solutions modbus tcp devices may use the unit id, or may ignore it, depending on the device and the application. review of modbus register types the types of registers referenced in modbus devices include the following : • coil ( discrete output ) • discrete input • input register • holding register whether a particular device includes all of these register types is up to the manufacturer. it is very common to find all i / o mapped to holding registers only. coils are 1 - bit registers, are used to control discrete outputs, and may be read or written. discrete inputs are 1 - bit registers used as inputs, and may only be read. input registers are 16 - bit registers used for input, and may only be read. holding registers are the most universal 16 - bit register, may be read or written, and may be used for a variety of things including inputs, outputs, configuration data, or any requirement for " holding " data. control solutions gateways will support all register types when the gateway is the master, or when operating in direct mode ( babel buster sp - gw ). control solutions gateways that connect a non - modbus device to a modbus network use only holding registers to represent the non - modbus device data ( e. g. copy lonworks network variable data


. | slave device failure | | an unrecoverable error occurred while the slave was attempting to perform the requested action | slave device busy | | the slave is engaged in processing a long - duration command. the master should try again later. | gateway path unavailable | | specialized use in conjunction with gateways, usually means the gateway is misconfigured or overloaded | gateway target device failed to respond | | specialized use in conjunction with gateways, indicates no response was received from the target device. modbus : when 40001 really means 1, or 0 really means 1 documentation for modbus is not well standardized. actually there is a standard, but not well followed when it comes to documentation. you will have to do one or more of the following to decipher which register a manufacturer is really referring to : a ) look for the register description, such as holding register, coil, etc. if the documentation says # 1, and tells you they are holding registers, then you have holding register # 1. you also have user friendly documentation. b ) look at the numbers themselves. if you see the first register on the list having a number 40001, that really tells you register # 1, and it is a holding register. this form of notation is often referred to as the old modicon convention. c ) look for a definition of function codes to be used. if you see a register # 1, along with notation telling you to use function codes 3 and 16, that also tells you it is holding register # 1. important : register 1 is address 0. read on … d ) do the numbers in your documentation refer to the register number or address? register # 1 is address zero. if it is not clear whether your documentation refers to register or address, and you are not getting the expected result, try plus or minus one for register number. all control solutions products refer to register numbers in configuration software or web pages. however, some manufacturers document their devices showing address, not register numbers. when you have addresses, you must add one when entering that register into configuration software from control solutions. 40001 : modicon convention notation for modbus registers modbus was originally developed by gould - modicon, which is presently schneider electric. the notation originally used by modicon is still often used today, even though considered obsolete by present modbus - ida standards. the advantage in using the modicon notation is that two pieces of information are included in a single number : ( a ) the register type ; ( b )