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11-year-old Bismarck Girl Scout learns how to fly
BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) - Scouting teaches courage and confidence. An 11-year-old Girl Scout from Bismarck is soaring to new heights through her involvement in the organization.
“Alright, you ready?” asked Bismarck Aero Center flight instructor Clint May.
“Yup!” responded Arabella Archambault.
11-year-old Arabella has looked forward to this day ever since she flew to Minneapolis years ago.
“I noticed that there weren’t very many female pilots. So, I thought it would be a really cool job because you get to like travel the world,” said Arabella.
“Bismarck tower. Runway 13. Cleared for takeoff,” said an air traffic controller.
Her journey starts with the Girl Scouts. The CEO of the Girl Scouts Dakota Horizon invited Arabella to speak at the Cookies, Corks and Brews.
“She told the crowd, ‘Hey, when I grow up, I know I want to be a professional pilot,’” said Bismarck Aero Center’s FBO Director Shae Helling.
Helling heard Arabella’s speech and invited her to fly.
“I guess I never really expected that to happen,” said Arabella.
The Federal Aviation Administration reported that less than six percent of pilots in the U.S. are women.
Arabella hopes her dream inspires others to follow their goals.
“Just keep doing what you want to do because you can do it, just like how I did it,” said Arabella.
Flight instructor Clint May said he loves seeing student pilots excited about flying.
The minimum age to earn a pilot’s license is 17 years old. Arabella said she plans to go to flight school as soon as she’s old enough.
Copyright 2022 KFYR. All rights reserved. | https://www.kfyrtv.com/2022/08/01/11-year-old-bismarck-girl-scout-learns-how-fly/ |
They say that no two snowflakes are the same, but like all natural ice crystals they are only variations on the same six-sided theme. Now physicists have found the first evidence of pentagonal ice crystals.
The unusual rod-like ice crystals were formed on a copper surface in an ultrahigh vacuum at temperatures of -173 °C. Under those conditions, a tiny quantity of water begins to adsorb onto the copper, spontaneously forming into freestanding rods.
“Since these chains were first observed a couple of years ago it was assumed they must be built from hexagons,” says chemist Angelos Michaelides at University College London.
He is a member of the team that studied the rods under a microscope and noticed that the top of each rod has a regular zigzag arrangement of protrusions. These are too small to be the usual hexagon arrangements of water molecules – known as hexamers – that underlie natural ice crystals.
The team calculated that the pattern was in fact caused by projecting oxygen and hydrogen atoms from water molecules, forced upwards rather than lying flat as usual. Simulations show that this could only be down to a pentagonal arrangement of water molecules rather than hexagons.
Liquid water can occasionally take on a pentagonal form in “caged compounds” – lattices of one kind of molecule that trap and contain a second kind of molecule – but it was thought ice was always hexagonal.
The first water molecules that cling to the surface stick to high points formed by the copper atoms. The shape they take on forces the next water molecules into the pentagonal form as they attach to the surface.
However, it is unlikely that anything other than hexagonal snowflakes will ever be found in nature. “Macroscopic ice pentagon structures [would] require growth in more than one dimension, and we know we cannot fully fill even 2D space with pentagons,” says Michaelides.
“This is a fascinating piece of work,” says Martin McCoustra at Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, UK, who was not involved in the study.
“There is no doubt that the more we learn of water and how it behaves, the more complex this simple yet universally important solvent appears to get,” he says. | https://www.newscientist.com/article/dn16715-lab-discovers-first-pentagonal-ice-crystals-by-chance/ |
Evaluation of Electric-Turbo-Charging applied to Marine Diesel-Engines.
In:
(Proceedings) 14th International Naval Engineering Conference and Exhibition.
Institute of Marine Engineering, Science and Technology
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Evaluation of Electric-Turbo-Charging applied to Marine Diesel-Engines.pdf - Accepted Version
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Abstract
Electro-Turbo-Compounding (ETC) is a system whereby energy contained in the hot gas of a diesel-engine exhaust is partially recovered through its conversion via a high-speed gas turbine driven alternator into electrical energy. ETC makes a diesel-engine system work more cleanly and effectively thereby improving power density and fuel efficiency. The technology is equally suited to new-build and retrofit applications. Applications to date have been extensive in the 150 kW – 2 MW range and the 10 MW – 20 MW but almost exclusive to shore-based power stations across the world. This paper reports on the progress of an Innovate UK funded project (2015-18) to develop ‘marinised’ units with partners UCL, Bowman Power Group Ltd., Lloyd’s Register and Rolls Royce PLC. With an expectation on the shipping industry (including naval ships) to reduce their carbon footprint the ETC is suitable for marine engineering application in those ships not easily able to use the conventional Rankine Cycle exhaust gas waste heat recovery system. The paper discussions include the design, modelling and practical testing approaches, results on performance for various arrangements for propulsion and electrical power, and importantly the integration challenge to ensure NOx Compliance and Certification. Within the paper discussion is also made about the financial aspects for propulsion and electric generation applications. The operating profile of different vessels gives different paybacks which are particularly favourable at times of rising fuel prices. | https://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/id/eprint/10056049/ |
You probably haven’t read about it in the morning newspaper, for example. It’s unlikely that the question of “reality” has been the topic of conversation in your weekly staff meetings or at the office water cooler . . . that is, unless you’re a scientist working to understand the nature of that reality.
For these people, the revolution is akin to a huge earthquake that registers “off the scale”—while leveling some of the most sacred beliefs of science. Its effects are thundering through their laboratories, classrooms, and textbooks like a never-ending sonic boom.
In its wake, it’s leaving a wide swath of outdated teachings, along with the painful reevaluation of long-held beliefs and even entire careers.
Although it may seem to be quiet, the transformation that this reality-revolution brings to our lives has erupted with a force unmatched by anything in the past, because the same discoveries that have sparked the questions have also led to the conclusion that the “facts” we’ve trusted for 300 years to explain the universe and our role in it are flawed.
Paradigm-shattering experiments published in leading-edge, peer-reviewed journals reveal that we’re bathed in a field of intelligent energy that fills what used to be thought of as empty space.
Additional discoveries show beyond any reasonable doubt that this field responds to us—it rearranges itself — in the presence of our heart-based feelings and beliefs.
And this is the revolution that changes everything It means that since the time when Isaac Newton’s “laws” of physics were formalized in his 1687 release ofPhilosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica (Mathematical Principles of Natural Philosophy), we’ve based what we accept as our capabilities and limits on information that is false or, at the very least, incomplete.
Since that time, most science has been grounded in the belief that we are insignificant in the overall scheme of things. It has written us right out of the equation of life and reality!
Is it any wonder that we often feel powerless to help our loved ones and ourselves when we face life’s great crises? Is it at all surprising that we frequently feel just as helpless when we see our world changing so fast that it has been described as “falling apart at the seams”? Suddenly everything from personal capabilities and limitations to our collective reality is up for grabs. It’s almost as if the conditions of our world are pushing us into the new frontier of consciousness itself, forcing us to rediscover who we are in order to survive what we’ve created.
The reason why you are a powerful key in this revolution is that it’s based entirely on something that you and I are doing right now, in this very moment. Alone and together, individually and collectively, consciously and unconsciously, we are all choosing the way we think of ourselves and what we believe to be true of our world. The results of our beliefs surround us as our everyday experience.
The revolution of scientific understanding suggests that from our personal health and relationships to global war and peace, the reality of our lives is nothing more and nothing less than our “belief waves” shaping the quantum stuff that everything is made from. It’s all related to what we accept about our world, our capabilities, our limits, and ourselves.
Excerpted from pages x to xii of Spontaneous Healing of Belief by Gregg Braden. | http://www.awaken-consciousness.com/blog/2016/01/23/the-new-frontier-of-consciousness/ |
Dr Phisit began his inspection at about 8pm, joined by Kathu District Chief Somprat Prabsongkram and other relevant officials, along with Patong Entertainment Business Association (PEBA) President Weerawit Kreuasombat.
Along both sides of the street, venue staffers came out holding placards pleading for help from the government, as Patong’s entertainment industry remains devastated by the fallout from the COVID-19 economic crisis and the lack of tourists visiting the town.
The placards featured a host of messages written in Thai, including “Operators can’t live, staff can’t live either”, “Look at us, we’re dying and need help”, “Your red area, but our heart is here” and “What do we get from 4 months closure?” among others
Dr Phisit noted that the entertainment venues on Bangla Rd were showing good cooperation in upholding the measures required of them to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
In total, in addition to closing at midnight, pubs, bars and other entertainment venues must comply with 18 health regulations set out especially for the entertainment industry. Operators have been warned to comply with the regulations, introduced under the Emergency Decree, or face being ordered to close.
“As I can see, the venue operators are strictly complying with the government regulations, but only a few establishments are open, as only a small number of tourists are coming here,” Dr Phisit said.
Mr Weerawit pointed out that the Patong nightlife area had been open for just over one week, and that there had been very few visitors.
“A lot of people came on the first day [of reopening, July 1], but that may have been just because people missed the atmosphere of Bangla Rd,” he said.
“At this stage, less than 30 venues are open, but if the economic situation stays bad like this and staff do not get help from the government, some venues may need to be closed permanently, as operators cannot handle the expenses,” he said.
“I have already proposed to the Patong Mayor to open Bangla Rd for local people to sell products, in order to make the atmosphere better and help tuk-tuk and taxi drivers,” Mr Weerawit said.
“And I have already filed a formal request to the central government for help, and asked the Phuket Government to help mediate between landlords and tenants to reduce the rents [being levied] and the cost of utilities,” he added. | https://www.thephuketnews.com/bangla-workers-plea-to-health-ministry-for-help-76636.php |
Experience the healing energy of crystals and gemstones. Crystals have been used for thousands of years and revered for their healing abilities, according to Michael Harner, author of The Way of the Shaman, quartz crystal is considered to be the strongest power object in aboriginal cultures. Research scientist Marcel Vogel claims that quartz is capable of amplifying and directing natural healing energies.
You must experience this unique treatment for yourself. | https://scottsdaleskinrejuvenation.com/crystal-healing/ |
Job Details:
About Core & Main
Major Tasks, Responsibilities and Key Accountabilities
- Receives, counts and records shipment data into the system. Matches packing list information to actual packed merchandise. Prepares packages/merchandise for storage.
- Record receiving data using computer.
- Pack, unpack, and mark stock items, using identification tag, stamp, or electronic marking tool or other labeling equipment
- Identify incorrect/short shipped items and immediately notify supervisor.
- Deliver products, supplies, and equipment to designated area. May operate forklift or other machinery in order to complete tasks.
- Verify computations against physical count of stock. Examine and inspect stock items for wear and defects.
- Maintains condition of work area (i.e. free of trash, product in correct location, etc.). Follows company safety policies and procedures and encourages other associates to do the same.
- May perform order layout and make changes to carriers or picking method. Performs other duties as assigned.
- Refers complex, unusual problems to supervisor.
- Under general supervision, exercises some judgment in accordance with well-defined policies, procedures, techniques. Work typically involves regular review of output by a senior co worker or supervisor.
- Ability to lift and carry up to 50 lbs in a physical environment. Ability to stand for periods of time up to and exceeding 60 minutes. Ability to make repetitive movements including, but not limited to, using a 10-key or calculator, bending or squatting.
- Typically in a comfortable environment but with regular exposure to factors such as temperature extremes, moving machinery, loud noise, and fumes, which may cause noticeable discomfort.
- Typically requires overnight travel less than 10% of the time.
- Must be a minimum of 18 years of age or older
- Must pass pre-employment assessment(s) if applicable
- HS Diploma or GED,strongly preferred. Specialized skills training/certification may be required. Generally 2 - 5 years of experience in area of responsibility.
Preferred Qualifications & Job Specific Details:
- Knowledge of machines and tools.
- Computer experience.
- Time management and organization skills.
- Ability to understand written material and basic math skills
- Interpersonal and communication skills. Ability to work with others in a group, cooperate with others, offer to help when needed, and foster a team climate within the group where members are committed to a common goal.
Job Location Information:
City: Indianapolis
State: In
Country: Us
Location: Indianapolis, In 46226
Date Posted: 2021-07-22
Job Listing No# : 148345
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Conclusion
When finding a Job, don’t waste time on applications that are complicated for a job you don’t know if you want. Don’t open positions that are not exactly what you want. Tap on them thinking that it may be an approach to get your foot in the entryway. | https://indianapolis.knownjobs.com/job/warehouse-associate-ii-fire-protection-vacancy-core-and-main-9d087677a3f1b3d2/ |
G*Power is a tool to compute statistical power analyses for many different t tests, F tests, χ2 tests, z tests and some exact tests. G*Power can also be used to compute effect sizes and to display graphically the results of power analyses.
Whenever we find a problem with G*Power we provide an update as quickly as we can. We will inform you about updates if you click here and add your e-mail address to our mailing list. We will only use your e-mail address to inform you about updates. We will not use your e-mail address for other purposes. We will not give your e-mail address to anyone else. You can withdraw your e-mail address from the mailing list at any time.
For more help, see the papers about G*Power in the References section below.
To report possible bugs, difficulties in program handling, and suggestions for future versions of G*Power please send us an e-mail.
G*Power is free for everyone. Commercial distribution is strictly prohibited.
G*Power is distributed from this website. If you wish to distribute G*Power in some other way, then you need to seek permission from the authors. Please send us an e-mail in which you specify how and for what purpose you intend to distribute G*Power.
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Considerable effort has been put into program development and evaluation, but there is no warranty whatsoever.
Download G*Power 3.1.9.4 for Windows XP, Vista, 7, 8, and 10 (about 20 MB). Please make sure to choose “unpack with folders” in your unzip tool.
Download G*Power 3.1.9.4 for Mac OS X 10.7 to 10.14 (about 2 MB).
Fixed a bug in “Linear bivariate regression: One group, size of slope”. Negative effect directions, that is, slope|H1 < slope|H0, were not always handled correclty. Furthermore, the restriction (|slope| < |sy/sx|) on the effect size, which was previously ignored, is now checked.
Fixed a bug that could cause crashes.
Fixed a bug in the χ2 tests, Goodness-of-fit tests: Contingency tables module which prevented the computed effect size from appearing in the effect size drawer.
Fixed a bug that could occur under very specific circumstances when transferring an effect size from the effect size drawer to the main window.
Now includes the calculator that previously has been included only in the Windows version.
Fixed a bug in the sign test’s sensitivity analysis which led to an offset of -0.5 in the reported effect size.
Changed the behaviour of all tests based on the binomial distribution. The upper and lower limits are now always within the range [0,n] instead of [-1,n+1]. This change may lead to alpha values larger than the requested alpha values, but now we have the advantage that the upper and lower limits correspond to actual decision boundaries. For instance, in a two-sided test H0 is rejected if, for the observed number x of successes, it holds that x <= lower limit or x >= upper limit. Note, however, that the change affects the results only when N is very small.
Improvements in the logistic regression module: (1) improved numerical stability (in particular for lognormal distributed covariates); (2) additional validity checks for input parameters (this applies also to the poisson regression module); (3) in sensitivity analyses the handling of cases in which the power does not increase monotonically with effect size is improved: an additional Actual power output field has been added; a deviation of this actual power value from the one requested on the input side indicates such cases; it is recommended that you check how the power depends on the effect size in the plot window.
Fixed a problem in the exact test of Proportions: Inequality, two independent groups (uncontional). The problem only occurred when p1 > p2.
Fixed a problem in the sensitivity analysis of the logistic regression. The problem only occurred when p2 >= p1.
Fixed a problem in Fisher’s exact test.
Fixed a problem with the effect size drawers of ANOVA: Fixed effects. The drawers now appear correctly after clicking on the Determine button.
Fixed a problem in the test of equality of two variances. The problem did not occur when both sample sizes were identical.
Fixed a problem in calculating the effect size from variances in the repeated measures ANOVA.
Added an options dialog to the repeated-measures ANOVA which allows a more flexible specification of effect sizes.
Fixed a problem in calculating the sample size for Fisher's exact test. The problem did not occur with post hoc analyses.
Fixed a bug in the ANCOVA module. Changing the number of covariates now correctly leads to the appropriate change in the denominator degrees of freedom.
Renamed the Repetitions parameter in repeated measures procedures to Number of measurements (Repetitions was misleading because it incorrectly suggested that the first measurement would not be counted).
Fixed a problem in the sensitivity analysis of the logistic regression procedure: There was an error if Odds ratio was chosen as the effect size. The problem did not occur when the effect size was specified in terms of Two probabilities.
The Window menu now contains the option to hide the distributions plot and the protocol section (Hide distributions & protocol menu item) so that G*Power can be accommodated to small screens. This option has been available for some time in the Windows version (see View menu).
Added procedures to analyze the power of tests for single correlations based on the tetrachoric model, comparisons of dependent correlations, bivariate linear regression, multiple linear regression based on the random predictor model, logistic regression, and Poisson regression.
Re-enabled options dialog for Correlation: Bivariate normal model.
Added procedures to analyze the power of tests referring to single correlations based on the tetrachoric model, comparisons of dependent correlations, bivariate linear regression, multiple linear regression based on the random predictor model, logistic regression, and Poisson regression.
Fixed a problem in the X-Y plot for a range of values for Generic F tests. The degrees of freedom were not properly set in the graph, leading to erroneous plot values.
Eliminated the brushed metal look for better readability under Mac OS X 10.5.
Fixed some minor GUI problems (buttons had German titles; button in file dialog named "open" instead of "save").
Fixed problems with distribution plots (plots were sometimes not appropriately clipped when copied or saved as metafile; drawing glitches with some very steep curves).
The file dialog shown when saving graphs or protocols now uses the user's home directory (myDocuments) as defaults directory.
Fixed a serious bug in the CDF routine of the noncentral t distribution introduced in the bugfix release 3.0.7. Please update immediately if you installed version 3.0.7.
Fixed a bug in the function calculating the CDF of the noncentral t-distribution that occasionally led to (obviously) wrong values when p was very close to 1. All power routines based on the t distribution were affected by this bug.
Fixed a bug in the routine that draws the central and noncentral t distributions for two-tailed tests. When alpha was very small, this bug could cause G*Power to crash.
Fixed a bug in the Power Plot (opened using the X-Y-plot for a range of values button) for F tests, MANOVA: Global effects and F Tests, MANOVA: Special effects and interactions. Sometimes some of the variables were not correctly set in the plot procedure which led to erroneous values in the graphs and the associated tables.
Fixed a bug in the Power Plot (opened using the X-Y-plot for a range of values button) for F Tests, Multiple Regression: Special (R2 increase). The numerator df value was not always correctly determined in the plot procedure which led to erroneous values in the graphs and the associated tables.
Fixed some minor problems with t tests. G•Power now checkes for invalid null effect sizes in a priori analyses. The t distribution PDF routine is now more robust for very large degrees of freedom by explicitly using a normal approximation in these cases.
When the Power Plot window was first opened by pressing the X-Y plot for a range of values button, the default was to show 4 plots simultaneously. The default has been changed to 1 plot.
Corrected some parsing errors in the calculator (in the Mac version, this only concerns text input in normal input fields).
Corrected a label in the effect size drawer for ANOVA: Fixed effects, omnibus, one-way. In the From variance input mode, the Variance within group field was erroneously labeled Error variance.
Fixed a problem with moving the main window when the effect size drawer is open. Sometimes the mouse pointer appeared to be "glued" to the window and the movement could not be stopped properly.
Fixed a bug in the X-Y plots for a range of values for F Tests, ANOVA: Fixed effects, special, main effects and interactions. The df1 value was not always correctly determined in the plot procedure which led to erroneous values in the plots.
Fixed the problem in the plot procedure that (due to rounding errors) the last point on the x-axis was sometimes not included in the plot.
Fixed a probem with tooltips for effect size conventions which were not always shown.
The distribution/protocol view and the test/analysis selection view in the main window can be hidden temporarily to save space. To hide/show these sub-views press F4 (plot/protocol) and F5 (test/analysis), respectively, while the main window is active. There are also corresponding entries in the View menu.
The Graph window can now be made resizable. To do this choose "Resizable Window" in the View menu of the Graph window. Besides enabling (restricted) resizability this option initially shrinks the window to a size that fits into a 800 x 600 screen. Deselecting the option restores the Graph window to the fixed size for which G*Power was optimized.
Fixed a cosmetic problem when drawing “extreme” central and non-central distributions.
Effect size calculation for t Tests, Difference between two indepent means (two groups), case n1 = n2: The wrong means—those of case n1 ≠ n2—were used to calcultate the effect size. This problem has been fixed. | http://gpower.hhu.de/ |
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abstract: 'Spatial gradients in refractive index have been used extensively in acoustic metamaterial applications to control wave propagation through phase delay. This study reports the design and experimental realization of an acoustic gradient index lens using a sonic crystal lattice that is impedance matched to water over a broad bandwidth. In contrast to previous designs, the underlying lattice features refractive indices that are lower than the water background, which facilitates propagation control based on a phase advance as opposed to a delay. The index gradient is achieved by varying the filling fraction of hollow, air-filled aluminum tubes that individually exhibit a higher sound speed than water and matched impedance. Acoustic focusing is observed over a broad bandwidth of frequencies in the homogenization limit of the lattice, with intensity magnifications in excess of 7 dB. An anisotropic lattice design facilitates a flat-faceted geometry with low backscattering at 18 dB below the incident sound pressure level. Three dimensional Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integration that accounts for the anisotropic refraction is used to accurately predict the experimentally measured focal patterns.'
author:
- 'Theodore P. Martin'
- 'Christina J. Naify'
- 'Elizabeth A. Skerritt'
- 'Christopher N. Layman'
- Michael Nicholas
- 'David C. Calvo'
- 'Gregory J. Orris'
- Daniel Torrent
- 'José Sánchez-Dehesa'
title: Transparent gradient index lens for underwater sound based on phase advance
---
Metamaterial lattices composed of sub-wavelength scattering components have been used increasingly in recent years to control the propagation of both electromagnetic and acoustic waves through two- and three-dimensions. One primary goal of acoustic metamaterial design has been to achieve effective fluid, or “metafluid,” material properties that minimize shear coupling and propagation. The coupling between a fluid-born acoustic wave and a composite elastic material at off-normal incidence results in mode-mixing of dilatation and shear modes that complicates the interaction. For underwater applications requiring strong acoustic coupling, compliant materials such as rubbers have been a standard material used for coupling and encapsulation due to their relatively close impedance match with water and low shear moduli. Traditional compliant materials often have larger densities and/or lower dilatation moduli than water, making them useful for applications requiring low relative sound speed. For example, a sonic crystal lattice of rubber cylinders with a gradient filling fraction was recently used to achieve an underwater omnidirectional absorption coating [@Naify2014APL], which requires a radially decreasing sound speed. [@Li2011APL; @Climente2012APL]
Metafluids with complementary material properties compared to rubbers, e.g. high relative sound speeds with matched impedance, have been more difficult to achieve in underwater applications because they require high stiffness but low relative density. Sonic crystal lattices feature metafluid functionality in the homogenization limit of the lattice, including shear decoupling and broadband performance, and hence they have the potential to expand the range of realizable metafluid material properties to include high sound speeds. Thin-walled, hollow elastic shells have been recently proposed as high-sound speed sonic crystal components in water. [@Martin2012PRB] By carefully tuning the wall thickness of the shell, an impedance-matched condition can be obtained assuming the shell material has higher impedance than the background fluid. Additionally, by using shell elements which are individually impedance matched, it has been shown that any phononic crystal configuration of the elements will also be impedance matched in the homogenization limit of the crystal lattice. [@Martin2012PRB] Given that local variations in the element filling fraction create a variation in refractive index, acoustically transparent devices with tunable wave-guiding capability should be achievable using hollow shell elements. The concept of hollow shell elements has also been extended to include structural components inside the shells to improve control over the material properties.[@Titovich2014JASA]
Here we report the design and experimental demonstration of an acoustically transparent gradient index (GRIN) lens that focuses sound by *advancing* the phase of waves propagating through an aqueous background. GRIN geometries have been utilized for a broad range of metamaterial applications including scattering reduction [@Zhang2010PRL; @Yin2012APL], wave focusing [@Torrent2007NJP; @Climente2010APL; @Martin2010APL; @Peng2010APL; @Sanchis2010APL; @Zigoneanu2011PRB; @Lin2012JAP; @Chang2012NJP; @Hladky2013APL] and bending [@Ren2010APL; @Layman2011APL; @Li2011APL; @Climente2012APL; @Naify2014APL]. In contrast to previous lens designs, we present a lens composed of impedance-matched, hollow shell elements with sound speeds higher than water. The higher sound speed enables the phase of propagating waves to be advanced beyond what is possible in the background propagation medium, which is important to a number of metamaterial applications (for a review, see Refs. ). The lens is intended as a proof of concept to demonstrate that both transparency and broadband wave-guiding functionality can be achieved simultaneously using a lattice of non-compliant, low refractive index scattering elements.
The GRIN lens is constructed using cylindrical, air-filled aluminum tubes arranged in a lattice that function as a broadband, uniform effective medium at wavelengths $\lambda$ larger than the lattice spacing $a$ ($\lambda>4a$). With a wall thickness of $1/20$th the diameter, each individual cylindrical tube scatters sound as an impedance-matched effective fluid cylinder [@Martin2012PRB] resulting in negligible backscattering over the lattice as a whole. An anisotropic lattice spacing is used to vary the filling fraction similar to what was proposed by Lin, Tittmann, and Huang [@Lin2012JAP]. The anisotropic design simplifies the lens construction by using a single cylindrical tube geometry and features a flat lens facet. While the objective of many metafluid applications is to achieve anisotropy in the wave speed, the transparency of the lattice results in an approximately isotropic scattering configuration despite the underlying anisotropy of the design. Our design goal is to tune the anisotropy to produce a convex refraction gradient that focuses sound while simultaneously minimizing lens aberration.
Figure \[fig:1\](a) shows the rectangular unit cell of the cylinder lattice. A variable refractive index can be achieved by lengthening one of the lattice constants $a_y$ compared to the lattice constant $a_x$ in the orthogonal direction. Phase speeds $\bar{c}_{xx}$ and $\bar{c}_{yy}$ in the primary Cartesian directions are shown in Fig. \[fig:1\](b) as a function of the anisotropy ratio $a_{y}/a_{x}$ for a fixed aluminum tube outer radius $R=0.4a_{x}$. The double index on the phase speeds delineates components in an anisotropic tensor. Phase speeds $\bar{c}$ with an over-bar are normalized to the water background, which is assumed to have density $\rho_{b}=1000$ kg$/$m$^3$ and sound speed $c_{b}=1480$ m$/$s. The phase speeds are derived from the longitudinal dispersion bands of the acoustic band structure calculated for each anisotropy ratio. The anisotropy in phase speed can also be derived by considering multiple scattering effects in the lattice. [@Torrent2008NJPb]
Examples of the acoustic band structure are shown in Fig. \[fig:1\](c,d). Blue and red lines, with slopes corresponding to the phase speeds in Fig. \[fig:1\](b), demonstrate that the longitudinal bands have linear dispersion up to an upper cutoff frequency $\omega a_{x}/2\pi c_{b}\simeq 0.3$. The cutoff frequency is constrained by the wrapping of the longitudinal band at the Brillioun zone boundary in the $\Gamma Y$ direction for the highest anisotropy ratio considered. The longitudinal band in the $\Gamma M$ direction in Fig. \[fig:1\](c) has a slowness that deviates slightly from circularity due to the underlying cubic symmetry. In addition to the longitudinal bands, narrow resonance bands arising from the core-shell architecture of the unit cell are predicted at various frequencies.[@Titovich2014JASA] While we do not observe evidence of coupling to these bands in our measurements, the resonant bands should not, in general, be overlooked depending on the lattice geometry.
Our lens design consists of a constant lattice spacing in the $x$-direction, which produces a flat lens facet, while a prescribed lattice anisotropy in the $y$-direction produces the convex GRIN profile \[see Fig. \[fig:2\](b)\]. The primary impact of increasing the anisotropy ratio is to decrease the effective sound speed irrespective of propagation direction. As is evident in Fig. \[fig:1\](b), the difference between $\bar{c}_{xx}$ and $\bar{c}_{yy}$ is small even at $a_{y}/a_{x}=2$, resulting in approximately isotropic acoustic transport over the entire Brillioun zone. Therefore, an approximate, isotropic sound speed $\bar{c}_{avg}=\left(\bar{c}_{xx}+\bar{c}_{yy}\right)/2$ was used to initially guide the design of the GRIN geometry. A number of GRIN profiles that result in convex lensing are commonly used in the literature; our design combines two common refraction profiles in order to minimize lens aberration in the “optical” (ray) transport limit, $$\begin{aligned}
\label{eqn:1} \bar{n}^{2}(y) & = & \frac{1}{\left[\bar{c}_{avg}(y)\right]^{2}} \nonumber \\
& = & \left(\beta \frac{\bar{c}_{0}^{2}}{1-\left(\alpha_{1} y\right)^{2}} + \left(1-\beta\right)\bar{c}_{0}^{2} \left(\cosh{\alpha_{2} y}\right)^{2}\right)^{-1} \\
\label{eqn:2} \alpha_{1} & = & (2/h)\sqrt{1-\left(\bar{c}_{0}/\bar{c}_{h}\right)^{2}} \\
\label{eqn:3} \alpha_{2} & = & (2/h)\operatorname{arccosh}\,(\bar{c}_{h}/\bar{c}_{0})\,\end{aligned}$$ where $h$ is the lens height in the gradient direction, $\bar{c}_{0}=\bar{c}_{avg}(0)$ and $\bar{c}_{h}=\bar{c}_{avg}(h/2)$ are the extremal sound speeds obtained from the chosen range of $a_{y}/a_{x}$, and $\beta$ is a parameter that mixes the two GRIN profiles.
An iterative ray tracing routine based on the eikonal approximation [@Parazzoli2006JOSAB] was used to determine the optimal value of $\beta$ that minimizes the lens aberration. The isotropic refraction gradient in Eq. (\[eqn:1\]) prescribes $\bar{c}_{avg}(y)$ and hence the lattice geometry $a_{y}/a_{x}$ for a given value of $\beta$; however, to optimize $\beta$ an eikonal approximation that accounts for the anisotropic sound speeds in the lattice was employed to improve the accuracy of the physical geometry. The differential equation governing the eikonal function $\xi(\mathbf{x})$ in the presence of anisotropy can be derived for acoustic metafluids in a similar manner to the electromagnetic case, [@Parazzoli2006JOSAB] $$\begin{aligned}
\label{eqn:4} \bar{c}_{xx}^{2}\xi_{x}^{2}+\bar{c}_{yy}^{2}\xi_{y}^{2}-2\bar{c}_{xy}^{2}\xi_{x}\xi_{y} = 1\end{aligned}$$ where $\xi_{[x,y]}=d\xi/d[x,y]$. The off-diagonal sound speed $\bar{c}_{xy}$ can be calculated from the band structure or by considering multiple scattering effects. [@Torrent2008NJPb] The off-diagonal term was found to be negligible compared to the on-diagonal terms for each anisotropy ratio in our lattice.
Figure \[fig:2\](a) shows the ray paths derived using Eq. (\[eqn:4\]) for a GRIN lens insonified by a plane wave after optimizing the parameter $\beta$. The lens has thickness $10a_{x}$, height $h=27.1a_{x}$, and lattice spacing $a_{x}=15.6$ mm; these parameters were also used to manufacture the physical lens. The choice of $\beta=0.65$ produces a focal point at $x\simeq 1.2$ m from the center of the lens with minimal aberration of the ray trajectories. The $\beta$-optimization routine starts with the average sound speed profile $\bar{c}_{avg}(y)$ as input and converts to the anisotropic phase speeds from Fig. \[fig:1\](b). The optimization routine also ensures that the gradient in the lattice spacing $a_y(y)$ is properly discretized to be consistent with the total height $h$ of the optimized GRIN profile.
A schematic of the upper half of the $\beta$-optimized lens design is shown in Fig. \[fig:2\](b). The full lens is symmetric about the $y$-axis. A photograph of the assembled lens is shown in Fig. \[fig:2\](c). The lens is constructed of identical 1 m long hollow aluminum cylinders with air inside. Each cylindrical tube has a diameter of 12.5 mm and nominal wall thickness of 0.625 mm. Rubber end caps are adhered to both ends of each cylinder to prevent water infiltration. Additionally, $\sim 2.5$ cm of foam was inserted into the tube ends to damp the excitation of axial modes. The tubes are mounted on plexiglass end-plates into which holes with the designed lattice pattern are drilled. Two additional rows of cylinders with spacing $a_{y}=a_{x}$ are placed at the top and bottom of the lens to help mitigate the sharp transition where the edge of the lens ($\bar{c}_{avg}=1.36$) meets the open water ($\bar{c}_{avg}=1$).
The lens was submerged at the center of a $6\times6\times4$ m$^3$ water tank. Acoustic waves were produced by a 0.1 m diameter spherical source located in the plane that bisects the lens midpoint in the axial direction ($z$-axis). In order to demonstrate the lens directionality, two in-plane source locations were considered at $(x,y) = (-1.6,0)$ m and $(x,y) = (-1.6,0.43)$ m corresponding to incident angles of $0^{\circ}$ and $15^{\circ}$ respectively from the lens central axis ($x$-axis). Wave propagation was measured using hydrophones at a sampling rate of 0.8 MHz. Hydrophones were mounted on a three-axis translation positioning system to record measurements of the sound pressure levels, $P(x,y)$ and $P_{0}(x,y)$, in the presence and absence of the lens respectively. Measurements were taken at 10 mm increments. The sound pressure level was measured at individual frequencies by averaging over a 10-cycle pulse in the transmission region (as indicated in Figs. \[fig:3\] and \[fig:4\]) and a 20-cycle pulse in the reflection region. The longer pulse cycle used in the reflection region ensured overlap between incident and reflected waves so that the measured total field could be properly compared with simulations. The length of the incident pulses were short enough to isolate reflections from the tank walls.
Measurements were performed in the $xy$-plane perpendicular to the cylindrical axis of the lens over a broad range of frequencies $\omega a_{x}/2\pi c_{b}<0.3$. Examples of the measured and numerically modeled pressure intensity $(|P|/|P_{0}|)^{2}$ in the vicinity of the lens are shown in Figs. \[fig:3\] and \[fig:4\] for frequencies $\omega a_{x}/2\pi c_{b}=0.077$, 0.138, and 0.256. In both the measured and predicted results, the pressure intensity is normalized (at each position) to that of the source intensity in the absence of the lens. Given the symmetry of the lens about the $y$-axis, measurements were obtained over the bottom half of the scattering plane with a small overlap into the upper half-plane to detail the on-axis forward scattering pattern. The regions scanned in the measurement are also outlined in the upper panels of Figs. \[fig:3\] and \[fig:4\] for ease of comparison with the numerical predictions. Note that although the measurements at $\omega a_{x}/2\pi c_{b}=0.077$ and 0.256 lie within two of the resonance bands identified in Fig. \[fig:1\], no obvious additional resonant features are observed in the intensity maps that can be attributed to these resonance bands.
The upper panels (a-c) of Figs. \[fig:3\] and \[fig:4\] show a prediction of the transmitted and reflected pressure intensity calculated using two-dimensional multiple scattering theory (2D-MST). [@Martin2012PRB; @Torrent2008NJPb] The MST accounts for elastic scattering in the cylindrical tubes and assumes insonification by a cylindrical monopole source located at positions that match the experiment. The experimentally measured acoustic intensities in panels (d-f) show good qualitative agreement with the MST-predicted results. The reflected signal, $R=20\log_{10}[(P-P_{0})/P_{0})]$, was estimated relative to the incident amplitude $P_0$ using the sound pressure level $P$ measured in front of the incident face of the lens (regions to the left of the lens in Figs. \[fig:3\] and \[fig:4\]). The measured reflection was at or below $13\%$ of the incident amplitude ($R\le-18$ dB) over the range of operational frequencies, which demonstrates significant transparency and is commensurate with recent Fresnel lens designs in air. [@Moleron2014APL; @Li2014NSR] The measured reflection includes additional constructive interference compared to the MST due to diffraction from the finite aperture size in the axial direction.
In the forward direction a focusing peak is observed that strengthens in intensity and moves out away from the lens with increasing frequency. The frequency-dependence of the focusing peak is expected. At very low frequencies the aperture is diffraction-limited; the wavelength is too long to adequately resolve the index gradient and there is also significant diffraction around the aperture. As the frequency increases, the transmission approaches the geometric limit of ray-acoustics where a focusing peak would be located beyond the focal point predicted by the ray tracing in Fig. \[fig:2\](a). At the lowest example frequency, $\omega a_{x}/2\pi c_{b}=0.077$ \[panels (a,d)\], the lens is close to the diffraction limit with height-to-wavelength ratio $h/\lambda<2$. As the frequency is further reduced the focusing peak intensity becomes significantly suppressed. Therefore, an operational bandwidth can be identified ranging between $\omega a_{x}/2\pi c_{b}\approx0.05$–0.30, where the lower cutoff is constrained by the diffraction limit and the upper cutoff by the homogenization limit of the lattice.
It is apparent in Figs. \[fig:3\] and \[fig:4\] that the 2D-MST does not accurately predict the precise location of the intensity maxima nor the small-scale, near-field interference features in the forward direction. The discrepancy is due to the assumption of infinite cylinders in the 2D theory compared to the finite size of the lens aperture in the experiment. The diffractive corrections arising from the finite size in the axial direction can be predicted using a three-dimensional (3D) Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integral. The pressure at a position $(x,y,z)$ in front of an acoustic aperture located at $x=0$ can be calculated by integrating over the aperture, [@born1999] $$\begin{aligned}
\label{eqn:5} P(x,y,z) & = & \frac{x}{i\lambda} \iint\limits_{A} \tilde{P}(y',z') \frac{e^{ikr}}{r^2} dy' dz' \\
\label{eqn:6} \tilde{P}(y',z') & = & \psi(y',z')e^{i\phi(y',z')} \\
\label{eqn:7} r^{2} & = & x^{2}+\left(y-y'\right)^{2}+\left(z-z'\right)^{2}\,\end{aligned}$$ where $\psi(y',z')$ and $\phi(y',z')$ are the real-valued acoustic amplitude and phase of the complex pressure $\tilde{P}(y',z')$ on the aperture facet, and $\lambda$ and $k$ are the wavelength and wave number respectively. Here the integration aperture is simplified by the flat facet of our lens design, with the integration carried out over a simple rectangular area at the *forward* face of the lens.
The pressure on the aperture facet $\tilde{P}(y',z')$ can be calculated using anisotropic ray-tracing under the eikonal approximation of Eq. (\[eqn:4\]). A schematic in Figure \[fig:5\](a) depicts the ray trajectories of wave-fronts that emerge from the spherical source and traverse the forward facet of the lens. The calculation iterates over a discrete set of rays that enter the *rear* facet (i.e. the incident face) at equally spaced intervals. The phase function $\phi(y',z')$ on the forward facet was determined by advancing the phase of each ray along the path lengths defined by $\xi(\mathbf{x})$ assuming a constant phase at the source. The effective path length is altered by the spatially-dependent local sound speed in the lens. The phase difference $\Delta \phi=\phi(y',z')-\phi(0,0)$ relative to the phase at the lens central axis is shown in Fig. \[fig:5\](b), where positive or negative values represent a phase advance or delay respectively. The calculation is performed for a source position on the lens central axis. Given the symmetry of the lens only one quadrant is shown. Curve fits in Fig. \[fig:5\](d) indicate that $\Delta \phi$ is approximately quadratic in both the $y$- and $z$-directions.
The amplitude function $\psi(y',z')$ is inversely related to the square root of the local areal density of the rays. This was approximated by calculating the average nearest-neighbor separation of rays intersecting the forward facet; a relative amplitude $\bar{\psi}(y',z')=\psi(y',z')/\psi(0,0)$ can then be estimated from the inverse of this nearest-neighbor separation. Figure \[fig:5\](c) shows the variation in $\bar{\psi}(y',z')$ after normalizing to the predicted amplitude in the absence of the lens. It is clear that the lens refraction has minimal impact on the amplitude ($<3\%$) and that the diffractive correction is primarily influenced by the change in phase over the aperture.
Following a similar procedure as was used by Gao *et. al.*, [@Gao2012OE] Eq. (\[eqn:5\]) is evaluated numerically within the 2D plane of the measurement using quadratic approximations to $\phi(y',z')$ and $\psi(y',z')$. Intensity maps produced by the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integration are shown in Fig. \[fig:3\](g-i) and demonstrate significantly improved quantitative agreement with the experiment. As was the case for the measurement and MST modeling, the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld-based pressure intensities are normalized to the pressure intensity of the spherical source in the absence of the lens. The 3D Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integration more accurately predicts both the location of the focal positions and their magnitude. The measured magnification in sound pressure level ranges between 4.5–7.3 dB over the operational bandwidth. The 2D-MST predicts magnifications that are as much as $40\%$ lower than the measured values, whereas the magnifications predicted by the Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integration agree to within $10\%$. We emphasize that the 2D lattice only focuses along one axis ($y$-axis) resulting in lower magnifications than would be produced by axisymmetric 3D designs. [@Moleron2014APL; @Li2014NSR] The magnification can be increased by extending our 2D design to three dimensions using tubes bent into a toroid configuration. [@Sanchis2010APL; @Chang2012NJP]
We now place our results in context with other metafluid design concepts. Traditional underwater and ultrasound applications have achieved an impedance-match by utilizing rubbers that have sound speeds less than water. While rubbers have been used as components in transparent metafluid lattices, [@Naify2014APL] there have been other recent advances in acoustic impedance-matched designs. For example, negative-index complementary metamaterials have been proposed to significantly enhance the transparency through aberrating materials. [@Shen2014PRX] A class of metafluids based on the concept of space-coiling have also featured prominently in the literature. [@Kock1949JASA; @Liang2012PRL; @Xie2013APL] Space-coiled Fresnel lens designs have been reported that show significant focusing while utilizing a thin aperture compared to the wavelength. [@Moleron2014APL; @Li2014NSR] Although the strength of the space-coiling design is the ability to significantly modify phase within a confined space, there is a drawback that it can only delay the phase over a lengthened path; similar to rubbers in water, the effective sound speed of these devices is less than the background fluid. The space-coiling design has not yet been demonstrated in water, where a higher viscosity and lack of rigid boundary conditions may impose additional challenges.
Our design extends the reach of aqueous transparent metafluids to include the option of *phase advance* and decreased effective path length. While not necessarily required for traditional lensing, there are metamaterial applications that require higher sound speeds compared to the propagation medium, [@Maldovan2013Nat; @Kadic2013RPP; @Ren2010APL; @Layman2011APL; @Garcia2014PRB] the most prominent of which is scattering reduction. The requirement of higher relative sound speeds features prominently in scattering reduction designs based on both coordinate transformation [@Cummer2007NJP; @Chen2007APL; @Cummer2008PRL] and scattering cancellation. [@Guild2012PRB; @Martin2012APL] The realization of a high-sound speed, transparent GRIN lens represents an important proof-of-concept: it demonstrates that phase-advance metafluids can be constructed with significant tunability in both sound speed and impedance, including the option of matched impedance. Given that the concept of core-shell lattice components has now been extended to also include core modification, [@Titovich2014JASA] a wide range of GRIN and anisotropic designs should be achievable in water based on metafluid lattices.
\[Work is supported by the Office of Naval Research.\]
![(a) Schematic unit cell of the anisotropic lattice with $a_{y}=2a_{x}$. (b) Phase speeds in the homogenization limit of the lattice plotted as a function of anisotropy ratio $a_{y}/a_{x}$. Lines are fits to the data based on Ref. \[\]. (c) Acoustic band structure calculated using the Finite Element Method (FEM) for an isotropic lattice with tube outer radius $R=0.4a_{x}$. Blue lines plot the acoustic sound speed in the $\Gamma$X direction. (d) Acoustic band structure calculated for an anisotropic lattice with tube outer radius $R=0.4a_{x}$. Blue and red lines plot the acoustic sound speed in the $\Gamma$X and $\Gamma$Y directions respectively. Insets show the directions of the bands in $k$-space.[]{data-label="fig:1"}](TPMPRXFig1.eps){width="11cm"}
![(a) Ray paths through the lens (blue lines), which originate from a plane wave at normal incidence, are calculated using an eikonal approximation in the $xy$-plane; the red box indicates the location of the lens. Only rays incident on the upper half-plane of the lens are shown. (b) Schematic showing the locations of the lattice sites in the upper half-plane of the lens; the resulting sound speed profile is plotted to the right. The lattice sites are symmetric about $y=0$. (c) Photograph of the assembled lens composed of 1 m long, hollow aluminum cylinders arranged in the desired lattice pattern.[]{data-label="fig:2"}](TPMPRXFig2.eps){width="13cm"}
![(a) Schematic showing the experimental setup; blue lines indicate ray paths emerging from the spherical source and Rayleigh-Sommerfeld integration vectors from the forward facet of the lens to hydrophone locations in the measurement plane. (b) Change in phase $\Delta \phi(y^{\prime},z^{\prime})$ (degrees) over the forward facet (due to symmetry only the 1st quadrant is shown). Blue regions represent a phase delay, red regions represent a phase advance. (c) Normalized amplitude $\bar{\psi}(y^{\prime},z^{\prime})$ over the forward facet, where normalization is with respect to the amplitude of the spherical wave in the absence of the lens. (d) Red and blue lines show the phase change $\Delta \phi$ plotted as a function of position along the $y^{\prime}$- and $z^{\prime}$-axes respectively. Data points are calculated by advancing the phase along ray paths based on an eikonal approximation, lines are quadratic fits to the data.[]{data-label="fig:5"}](TPMPRXFig5.eps){width="13cm"}
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The popularity of skateboards has given rise to the desirability to mount a motor thereon whereby the skateboard becomes self- propelled. A conventional skateboard normally has pairs of front and rear wheels mounted thereunder for limited universal movement. Such mountings normally comprise a universal joint and an elastomeric bushing whereby both the front and rear wheels are adapted to pivot in an infinite number of planes. In addition to adversely affecting the drive characteristics transmitted to the driven rear wheel, the rear wheels tend to pivot in a horizontal plane which causes the rider's platform to wobble and become unstable and to also reduce needed traction of the rear wheels.
In addition, the motor mounted on the platform of a conventional skateboard normally drives one of the rear wheels by a single chain and a pair of sprockets to provide a relatively low drive ratio. Also, no centrifugal clutch or the like is employed in the drive train for a conventional motorized skateboard whereby throttle control must be regulated very carefully to prevent sudden accelerations or decelerations. Also, a kill-switch is normally not employed on the throttle control for a conventional motorized skateboard to stop the motor instantaneously should such become necessary.
SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION
An object of this invention is to overcome the above, briefly described problems by providing a skateboard exhibiting improved ride characteristics. The skateboard comprises a horizontally disposed rider's platform and a pair of laterally spaced front wheels connected beneath a forward end of the platform and a pair of rear wheels. The rear wheels are mounted beneath a rearward end of the platform for solely permitting vertical pivotal movements of the rear wheels about a pivot axis disposed in a vertically disposed plane intersecting a longitudinal axis of the skateboard.
The skateboard is preferably motorized whereby drive input to one of the rear wheels will be at a maximum while yet permitting the rider to pivot the rear wheels for steering purposes. A motor is mounted on a bracket attached to the pivot mounting for the rear wheels and a stepped- down gear train, including a centrifugally actuated clutch, is preferably operatively connected between an output shaft of the motor and a rear drive axle for the driven rear wheel. In addition, a kill switch is preferably mounted on a throttle control of the pistol grip type whereby the engine may be stopped upon depression of the switch by the rider.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description and accompanying drawings wherein:
FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of a motorized skateboard embodying this invention;
FIG. 2 is a bottom perspective view of the skateboard;
FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of a rearward end of the skateboard, illustrating a pivot mounting for rear wheels thereof and a motor mounted on the skateboard and adapted to drive one of the rear wheels via a stepped-down drive train;
FIG. 4 is an exploded isometric view of the rearward end of the skateboard;
FIG. 5 is a rear elevational view of the skateboard, particularly showing the motor and drive train;
FIG. 6 is an enlarged side elevational view, partially schematic, illustrating an adjustment means employed in the drive train for selectively adjusting the tension on a pair of endless chains employed therein, the view being taken generally in the direction of arrows VI-- VI in FIG. 4;
FIG. 7 is a bottom plan view of the adjustment means, taken in the direction of arrows VII--VII in FIG. 6;
FIG. 8 is a top plan view generally illustrating a conventional motorized skateboard;
FIG. 9 is a transverse section, taken in the direction of arrows IX-- IX in FIG. 8; and
FIGS. 10 and 11 are views similar to FIGS. 8 and 9, respectively, illustrating comparative movements of the platform employed in the skateboard of this invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a motorized skateboard comprising a rider's platform 10 mounted on front and rear wheel assemblies 11 and 12, respectively. A motor 13 is mounted on a bracket 14, secured rearwardly on the platform, to selectively drive the rear wheels via a drive train, generally shown at 15. The throttle control lever 16 is pivotally mounted on a pistol-like grip 17, adapted to be held by a rider, to selectively vary engine speed via a throttle cable 18 attached to a throttle lever 19 of the engine.
Front wheel assembly 11 comprises a non-rotating axle 20 having a pair of front wheels 21 rotatably mounted on opposite ends thereof. Axle 20 is mounted on a bracket 22, secured beneath a forward end of platform 10, by a conventional ball and socket connection 23, including elastomeric bushings, and an elastomeric bushing mounting 24. As will be hereinafter more fully described, such mounting permits axle 20 and thus wheels 21 to have limited universal movement relative to platform 10 and a conventional skateboard has a like mounting attaching rear wheels thereof to a skateboard.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, rear wheel assembly 12 comprises a pair of laterally spaced wheels 25, both of which are freely rotatable on an axle 26 and only one of which is driven by drive train 15. The axle is fixedly mounted on an elongated channel bar 27 of bracket assembly 14 which also mounts motor 13 thereon. Bracket assembly 14 further comprises a pair of longitudinally spaced support brackets 28 and 29 adapted to support the rearward end of rider's platform 10.
In particular, a mounting bracket 30 is secured beneath the platform to pivotally mount the platform on bracket assembly 14 by means of a pivot pin or bolt 31. The bolt extends through an elongated bore, defined in a tubular extension of mounting bracket 30. Brackets 28 and 29 straddle opposite ends of such tubular extension and have holes formed therein to receive the bolt therethrough for pivotally mounting the brackets on support bracket 30.
A nut 34 is secured on a threaded end of bolt 31 to secure the pivot mounting in place. A flat washer 32 and an elastomeric or rubber grommet 33 are mounted on an opposite end of the bolt and disposed between bracket 28 and an end of bracket 30 whereby the grommet may be compressed under a predetermined force to pre-set the degree of pivotal movements of board 10 relative to bracket assembly 14. Bracket 29 is secured on bar 27 by fastening means comprising a bolt 35 extending through a slot 36, formed through the bar, to provide adjustment means for selectively adjusting the longitudinal distance between brackets 28 and 29.
As clearly shown in FIG. 3, a longitudinal axis a of bolt 31, defining the pivot axis for board 10 on bracket assembly 14, is disposed at an acute angle x relative to a longitudinal axis A of the skateboard. Such angle is preferably selected from the range of from 10° to 45. degree. and is shown as approximately 20° in FIG. 3. The diverging disposition of axis a relative to axis A, towards a forward end of the skateboard, facilitates substantial ground clearance beneath a rearward end of bracket assembly 14, having motor 13 mounted thereon, and also aids in disposing the effective weight of the rider and tractive effort on a forward portion of the footprint of rear wheels 25.
Referring to FIGS. 3-7, drive train 15 comprises a first sprocket 37 secured to an output shaft 38 of motor 13. A first endless chain 39 is entrained about sprocket 37 and is further entrained about a second sprocket 40, secured to a countershaft 41. A third sprocket 42 is secured to an opposite end of countershaft 41 and has a second chain 43 entrained thereabout.
The latter chain is further entrained about a fourth sprocket 44, secured to a hub 25a which is further secured to the one driven wheel 25 (FIG. 5). As shown in FIG. 5, both wheels 25 are rotatably mounted on axle 26 by standard bearing assemblies.
In one drive train embodiment of this invention sprockets 37, 40, 42 and 44 had drive teeth numbering nine, forty, eleven and twelve, respectively. With this drive train, the drive ratio from sprocket 37 to sprocket 44 approximated 5:1. Such stepped-down gear ratio can be readily varied by merely changing sprocket 44 to comprise a different number of drive teeth thereon.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate a mounting for motor 13 comprising a mounting bracket 45. The bracket is releasably attached to an outboard side of channel bar 27 by a pair of bolts which extend through elongated slots 47. The bracket and the tension on chain 39 can thus be adjusted upon selective loosening and tightening of the bolts.
FIGS. 6 and 7 more clearly illustrate means for selectively adjusting the final tension on chains 39 and 43. Such adjustment means comprises a T-shaped member 48 having a tubular member mounted on the shank of a bolt 49. The bolt extends through elongated slots 50 and 51, formed through side plates of channel bar 27, and further extends through aligned holes formed through a pair of upstanding plates 52 and 53 disposed in laterally spaced relationship on either side of the channel bar. The plates are further secured to the bracket assembly by a pair of fastening means, comprising bolts 54 and 55 which extend through elongated slots 56 and 57, also formed through side plates of the channel bar.
Countershaft 41 is rotatably mounted on plates 52 and 53, as exemplified by a bearing bushing 58 in FIG. 4 which is adapted to rotatably mount one end of the shaft on plate 52. Member 48 has a threaded stud 59 secured thereon to extend through a hole 60, formed through a back plate 61 of channel bar 27 of bracket assembly 14. A nut 62 is threadably mounted on the stud whereby selective loosening of bolts 49, 54 and 55 will permit rotation of nut 62 to adjust the longitudinal displacement of countershaft 41 relative to the bracket assembly to thus adjust the tension imposed on chains 39 and 43.
Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a centrifugally actuated clutch 63 is mounted on countershaft 41 to provide an idling condition of skateboard operation and to also provide a smooth load pickup upon the rider's actuation of throttle control lever 16 (FIG. 1). The clutch may be of a standard design comprising an outer casing 64 suitably secured to sprocket 42. Countershaft 41 extends through the sprocket which is rotatably mounted thereon.
An end of the countershaft is suitably secured by a key and set screw 65 to a hub 41a of the clutch which defines three radial spokes 41b (one shown) circumferentially spaced thereon. A weight 63a, biased inwardly by a tension spring 63b, is disposed between each pair of circumferentially adjacent spokes. When the countershaft exceeds a predetermined speed, the weights will move radially outwardly to frictionally engage casing 64. The clutch will thus engage through centrifugal force to permit the motor to start-up easily and when the countershaft and hub 41a come up to speed, the total torque capacity will increase to couple the hub with the casing to drive sprocket 42.
Engine 13 may constitute a 1.2 horsepower, two-cycle gasoline engine. As shown in FIG. 2, a recoil handle 66, having a rope connected thereto in a conventional manner, is adapted to start the engine upon pulling thereof. A fuel tank 67 is suitably secured beneath rider's platform 10 and a fuel line 68 communicates fuel to the engine. As shown in FIG. 3, throttle control cable 18 is suitably attached to engine speed or throttle control lever 19, the pivoting of which is controlled by lever 16 (FIG. 1). A kill or button switch 69 is mounted on grip 17 and is normally spring-biased to a closed position to ground the magneto (not shown) of the engine to stop the motor. Upon start-up and during a ride, normal grasping of grip 17 will open the switch to permit running of the engine. Should the rider let go of the grip the switch will close automatically to stop the engine.
FIGS. 8 and 9 illustrate a conventional skateboard wherein the front and rear wheels thereof are adapted to pivot in a horizontal plane, through an angle Y. As discussed above, such movement of the rear wheels will not only decrease riding stability, but will also reduce the tractive effort of the driven wheel. In contrast thereto, FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate the skateboard of this invention wherein the rotational axis of wheels 25 on axle 26 will prevent any displacement of the axle relative to its perpendicular disposition relative to longitudinal axis A of the skateboard and only permit the axle to oscillate in a vertical plane through an angle Z. It should be further noted that such angle is substantially greater, i.e., 15°, than the corresponding angle permitted by the rear roadwheels of the conventional skateboard illustrated in FIG. 9. | |
9. Chautauqua reached its peak in the early 1920s
Chautauqua is more a movement than a single destination, though it enjoyed enormous popularity in 1921. The first Chautauqua site, organized in 1874 on the shores of New York’s Lake Chautauqua, offered an educational summer camp for families. It became known as the Mother Chautauqua. Its popularity led to the establishment of “Daughter Chautauqua’s” in communities throughout the United States. Finally, traveling Chautauqua’s were established. They traveled a prescheduled route, usually in smaller towns, and remained open for several days before moving on to another community. All offered lectures, speeches, entertainment, and other forms of diversions for participants.
Whether one traveled to a Chautauqua or attended one which came to their town, they proved highly popular during the summer of 1921. Often they were held near a body of water a la the Mother Chautauqua, which offered swimming, boating, and fishing to the attendees. Theodore Roosevelt called the Chautauqua movement both healthful and praiseworthy, stating it was “the most American thing in America”. Driven largely by the Populist Movement which arose around the turn of the 20th century, by the end of the 1920s it largely died out. Chautauqua enjoyed a brief resurgence during the Great Depression, though it never again reached the level of popularity of the 1920s. | https://historycollection.com/this-is-what-tourist-destinations-were-100-years-ago/9/ |
• Lee Ann Womack: Artists don’t really make albums like Lee Ann Womack’s THE LONELY, THE LONESOME & THE GONE anymore. Albums that seem to exist separate and apart from any external pressures. Albums that possess both a profound sense of history and a clear-eyed vision for the future. Albums that transcend genres while embracing their roots. Albums that evoke a sense of place and of personality so vivid they make listeners feel more like participants in the songs than simply admirers of them.
• Marty Stuart and His Fabulous Superlatives: With legends like George Jones, Johnny Cash and Merle Haggard all passed on, country music purists often echo the question Jones himself asked: “Who’s going to fill their shoes?” The answer, in part, is Marty Stuart. | |
Citation: N/A Interpretive Summary: Significant amounts of a birdsfoot trefoil seed crop can be lost at harvest time if the pods shatter before harvest. This research determined how seed shattering is related to irrigation practices and climatic conditions at the time of seed harvest. Increasing amounts of applied irrigation water increased the percentage of the potential seed yield that would shatter by harvest time. This finding strengthens the argument that birdsfoot trefoil grown for seed in western Oregon should not be irrigated.
Technical Abstract: Seed shattering is a major problem in birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus L.) seed production. The objectives of this research were to (i) quantify the effects of soil-water availability on seed shatter and (ii) determine optimal harvest time based on a heat unit method to minimize seed shatter losses under western Oregon climatic conditions. Irrigation treatments varying in water depletion percentage and replenishment amount were applied in 1994, 1995, and 1996 on a Woodburn silt loam soil (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Aquultic Argixeroll) near Corvallis, Oregon. The total amount of shattered seeds was correlated with total harvested seed yield. Manipulation of the reproductive development pattern by different irrigation treatments did not affect the times of peak seed shattering events. The crop water stress index (CWSI) was inversely related to the percentage of total seeds shattered at harvest time. Increasing amounts of applied water increased the percentage of the potential seed yield that would shatter by harvest time. Seed shatter losses fluctuated during the late reproductive development period but were not influenced by the irrigation treatments. Fluctuations were also observed for average temperature, relative humidity, and vapor pressure deficit, but did not predict the times of multiple peak seed shatter events. A total of 109 HU using a 10 deg C base temperature (approximately 11 d) accumulated from the time of initial pod dehiscence until rapid seed shattering initially occurred. The average seed yield losses due to shattering from pod dehiscence was 3 to 5.3 kh/ha/day. | https://www.ars.usda.gov/research/publications/publication/?seqNo115=96528 |
Some 120 million jobs could be lost in tourism due to COVID-19: Guterres
United Nations Secretary General, Antonio Guterres has warned that some 120 million direct jobs could be lost in the tourism sector due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
This was revealed in his latest policy brief related to the impacts the pandemic is having on various sectors. The brief argues that the crisis has provided an opportunity to rethink how tourism interacts with societies, other economic sectors and our natural resources and ecosystems and calls for urgency in mitigating the impacts on livelihoods especially for women youth and informal workers.
The UN Chief says, “Tourism is one of the world’s most important economic sectors. It employs one in every 10 people on earth and provides livelihoods to hundreds of millions more. It boosts economies and enables countries to thrive. It allows people to experience some of the world’s cultural and natural riches and brings people closer to each other, highlighting our common humanity. Indeed, one might say that tourism is itself one of the wonders of the world. That is why it has been so painful to see how tourism has been devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Guterres says the first five months of this year, international tourist arrivals decreased by more than half and some $320 billion dollars in exports from tourism were lost.
“Overall, some 120 million direct jobs in tourism are at risk. Many are in the informal economy or in micro, small and medium-sized enterprises, which employ a high proportion of women and young people. The crisis is a major shock for developed economies, but for developing countries, it is an emergency, particularly for many small island developing states and African countries.”
“For women, rural communities, indigenous peoples and many other historically marginalized populations, tourism has been a vehicle for integration, empowerment and generating income. Tourism is also a key pillar for the conservation of natural and cultural heritage. The fall in revenues has led to increased poaching and habitat destruction in and around protected areas, and the closure of many World Heritage Sites has deprived communities of vital livelihoods.”
“It is imperative that we rebuild the tourism sector. But it must be in a way that is safe, equitable and climate-friendly. Transport-related greenhouse gas emissions could rebound sharply if recovery is not aligned with climate goals. Supporting the millions of livelihoods that depend on tourism means building a sustainable and responsible travel experience that is safe for host communities, workers and travellers.”
To aid recovery, Guterres have identified five priority areas.
* First, mitigate the socio-economic impacts of the crisis;
* Second, build resilience across the entire tourism value chain;
* Third, maximize the use of technology in the tourism sector;
* Fourth, promote sustainability and green growth;
* And fifth, foster partnerships to enable tourism to further support the Sustainable Development Goals. | https://www.safinancenews.com/news/some-120-million-jobs-could-be-lost-in-tourism-due-to-covid-19-guterres/ |
Abstract: Natural resources and raw materials such as metals and minerals are often taken for granted in today’s society. Without them, the offerings of an enormous variety of modern conveniences, including computers and mobile phones, would not be possible. The production of these everyday items depends on a secure, sustainable, and reliable supply of critical raw materials. In addition, product development also requires new hybrid materials when targeting lightweight structures, etc. However, the mandatory recyclability of new products or materials is not obligatory or even prevailing practice in present manufacturing business. Therefore, the main research question in this article is: “how to solve the challenge of recycling in industrial system?” In this article, a comprehensive approach to recycling based on the findings of research projects is presented. Simplified, this involves moving the challenge from the end of the product’s life cycle to the beginning, to the design or even to material development phases. Life cycle and system thinking and material know-how in the design phase are found to be essential elements of a new approach to recycling. This approach stems from the material development and market economy perspectives. Furthermore, the vulnerability of the industrial system to create uncertainty to recycling is also demonstrated. | https://research.aalto.fi/fi/publications/recycling--the-importance-of-understanding-the-complexity-of-the-issue(9f93b77d-6bc7-4883-bd26-524a956cf949).html |
Our vision of youth development
A 2007 evaluation shows that for the vast majority, positive behaviour change is brought about, helping young volunteers develop practical and social skills, providing physical activity and promoting social inclusion. At Quest4Change, we work to draw out the talents of each young person we work with.
We also help young people to develop particular skills & qualities:
Teamwork and leadership skills
We give our young people the opportunity to take the lead in organising different aspects of an expedition, both prior to departure and out in the field, all the while supported by our staff.
- Before leaving, each team will work hard on fundraising events and challenges, learning about organisation and planning.
- Out on expedition, the young people are helped to take the lead in tasks from cooking and shopping, through to liaising with project staff to delegate tasks for the day.
- Gving students the knowledge they can make a positive difference in the world instils self confidence and proactivity which shine through in future ventures and interviews.
Tackling new challenges
Overseas adventures can make a real difference in widening horizons.
- Being away from a known environment, experiencing new cultures, new foods and comfort levels, all of these can be enormously beneficial in opening students’ eyes to the variety of lived experiences in the world.
- Any travel develops self-knowledge and independence, but volunteering in particular is a great way for students to unearth talents they never knew they had.
- Adventurous activities also build self-awareness and confidence, and expose students to new experiences, as well as the endorphins that come from physical challenges.
- We can also work with our young people on wilderness skills and campcraft, including using tents, safe fire making and camp cooking.
Risk literacy - the ability to understand & make critical judgements on risk
“Security is mostly a superstition. It does not exist in nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it.” (Helen Keller)
- We take an approach of positive risk taking, encouraging young people to make informed decisions that balance benefits against risks. One of the main advantages of an expedition is the chance to for students to experiment and to take risks positively, so we help equip them with the tools to do this safely, involving them in ongoing risk assessment.
- Learning about how best to travel in developing countries, responsibly, safely and having fun, is also an important part of our expeditions, equipping students with the knowledge for future travels.
Moving forward
It isn’t all about what happens on the project though – we work with volunteers before, during and after the expeditions to come up with ways they can use their experience, not only for their own but also for their community’s benefit.
- After the end of an expedition, we work with volunteers to give them the skills to let others know about what they’ve achieved.
- How teamwork skills have improved, finding personal examples of leadership abilities, applying skills learnt to CVs & applications, completing portfolios for ASDAN CoPE Level 3. | http://www.quest4change.org/teamwork.html |
Rada Electronic Industries (RADA) has 1 split in our RADA split history database. The split for RADA took place on September 14, 2016. This was a 1 for 2 reverse split, meaning for each 2 shares of RADA owned pre-split, the shareholder now owned 1 share. For example, a 1000 share position pre-split, became a 500 share position following the split.
When a company such as Rada Electronic Industries conducts a reverse share split, it is usually because shares have fallen to a lower per-share pricepoint than the company would like. This can be important because, for example, certain types of mutual funds might have a limit governing which stocks they may buy, based upon per-share price. The $5 and $10 pricepoints tend to be important in this regard. Stock exchanges also tend to look at per-share price, setting a lower limit for listing eligibility. So when a company does a reverse split, it is looking mathematically at the market capitalization before and after the reverse split takes place, and concluding that if the market capitilization remains stable, the reduced share count should result in a higher price per share.
Looking at the RADA split history from start to finish, an original position size of 1000 shares would have turned into 500 today. Below, we examine the compound annual growth rate — CAGR for short — of an investment into Rada Electronic Industries shares, starting with a $10,000 purchase of RADA, presented on a split-history-adjusted basis factoring in the complete RADA split history.
|
Growth of $10,000.00
|
Without Dividends Reinvested
|Start date:||10/25/2010|
|End date:||10/23/2020|
|Start price/share:||$4.66|
|End price/share:||$6.41|
|Dividends collected/share:||$0.00|
|Total return:||37.55%|
|Average Annual Total Return:||3.24%|
|Starting investment:||$10,000.00|
|Ending investment:||$13,756.82|
|Years:||10.00|
|About Rada Electronic Industries|
|Rada Electronic Industries develops, manufactures and sells defense electronics, including avionics solutions (including avionics for unmanned aerial vehicles and airborne inertial navigation systems), airborne data/video recording and management systems and tactical land-based radars for defense forces and for border protection systems. Co.'s product lines are: Military avionics (Data/video recorders, core avionics for aircraft and UAVs) and airborne Inertial Navigation Systems; and Tactical Radars for defense forces and border protection systems (land based). According to our RADA split history records, Rada Electronic Industries has had 1 split.|
|RADA Split History Table|
|Date||Ratio|
|09/14/2016||1 for 2|
|Technology Stock Splits|
|RADA is categorized under the Technology sector; below are some other companies in the same sector that also have a history of stock splits: | https://m.splithistory.com/rada/ |
The cooperation between the railways of Azerbaijan and Iran within the International North-South Transport Corridor project, as well as the increasing transit revenues of the two countries create favorable conditions for the further development of the non-oil sector in both countries.
Iran Railways and Azerbaijan Railways have beneficial cooperation, said Saeid Rasouli, President of Iran Railways.
He added that Azerbaijan Railways is involved in the implementation of infrastructure projects in Iran's Astara. In his words, Azerbaijan Railways continues construction of a railway station and a cargo terminal in Astara.
Azerbaijan Railways will build four terminals in the Iranian city of Astara. These terminals include oil and grain terminals, a terminal for processing containers and a general-purpose terminal.
A cargo terminal was built in Iran’s Astara with the support of Azerbaijan in the first quarter of this year. The Azerbaijani side took the terminal for a 25-year lease. The capacity of the terminal, built as part of the North-South project, is 2 million tons annually, and it is planned to be increased to 5 million tons in the future.
“Azerbaijan is actively participating in the complete formation of the International North-South Transport Corridor,” Rasouli said.
He further stressed that as a result of this cooperation, the border regions of Iran and Azerbaijan will integrate into economic development. “Thousands of jobs have been created on both sides, helping improve the welfare of the population.”
Rasouli went on to note that as a result of cooperation between Iran and Azerbaijan in the railway sector, Asia and Europe will be united in terms of railway transportation.
“Asian countries will gain access to Europe, and European countries, in turn, will get access to Persian Gulf coast and Southeast Asia. This will give impetus to the trade and economic development of both continents,” he said.
The projects implemented by Azerbaijan and Iran, designed to integrate regional transport networks, will increase the competitiveness of International North-South Transport Corridor as well as deepen the relations in the regional format.
North-South transport route envisages connecting India with the Middle East and the Caucasus, Central Asia and Europe. The project aims to increase the efficiency of transport communications in the organization of freight and passenger transportation, to assist in increasing the volume of international transportations.
Within the North-South corridor, Astara-Rasht-Qazvin railway project envisages the construction of a new railway line in Iran, which will connect Astara (Azerbaijan) to the Iranian cities of Astara, Rasht and Qazvin, as well as the reconstruction of the existing railway in Azerbaijan.
Qazvin-Rasht line section has already been commissioned. The construction of the Rasht-Astara line will be completed in the next two years, thus the railway systems of Iran and Azerbaijan will be connected.
Recently, Azerbaijan, Russia and Iran have agreed to set up a working group to eliminate infrastructure restrictions and remove administrative barriers in the transportation of people and goods along the western route of the North-South corridor.
The cooperation between Azerbaijan and Iran on customs also contributes to expanding the transit potential of both countries and increasing the competitiveness of international transport.
The e-TIR international system aims to ensure the secure exchange of data between national customs systems related to the international transit of goods, vehicles or containers according to the provisions of the TIR Convention and to allow customs to manage the data on guarantees, issued by guarantee chains to holders authorized to use the TIR system.
The first phase of Iran-Azerbaijan e-TIR project officially started on May 22, 2019. | http://today.az/print/news/business/185528.html |
This paper considers the Quay Crane Scheduling Problem (QCSP) with non-crossing and safety clearance constraints for a single vessel. The problem determines the order of unloading and loading operations that a specific number of quay cranes (QCs) perform to serve a vessel in minimum time. The QCs move on a single rail and therefore cannot cross each other, and every two consecutive cranes must leave a specific safety distance between them. Due to the difficulty of this problem, most researchers have used heuristics to solve it. However, the QCSP is normally used as a building block of bigger ports’ optimization problems that are very difficult to solve without some decomposition techniques like Lagrangian relaxation. For these methods to succeed, the sub-problems must be solved to optimality in reasonable computational time. This paper presents an improvement on a recent novel formulation for the problem, followed by a new exact and computationally fast technique to solve it. The technique is a two-step approach initiated by a partitioning heuristic and terminated by a Branch and Price algorithm. Through computational experiments, we demonstrate that the proposed solution approach can solve real-sized cases in a fast computational time and has low sensitivity to all parameters. Finally, we introduce a method, formulated as a traveling salesman problem, to acquire operationally practical solutions by minimizing crane re-positioning movements and accounting for crane initial positions. | https://nyuscholars.nyu.edu/en/publications/the-quay-crane-scheduling-problem-with-non-crossing-and-safety-cl |
1.1. These general terms and conditions govern the rights and obligations of the parties arising from the purchase agreement concluded between the seller, which is Juraj Volcko, with its registered office at Budovatelská 2, 08001 Prešov, ID: 41547543, registered in Zap. in: District Office in Prešov Trade Licensing Department 750-24966 No. Žo-2005/00620/2 / ZHD, VAT No .: SK1073888805, operation market.sk / plasice.sk, ul. Vodárenská, 080 01 Prešov ,, (hereinafter referred to as the "seller") and the buyer, the subject of which is the purchase and sale of goods on the website of the seller's e-shop.
Contact details of the seller:
mail: [email protected]
phone: + 421/903/040562, Tel-2.:0650 40 1234 (T-com)
fax: + 421/650 406 789
postal address: PaedDr.K.Volckova Slavikova; Vodarenska 11, 08001 Presov
Account number for non-cash payments:
FIO bank: 2200689171/8330
IBAN: SK7483300000002200689171
BIC (SWIFT): FIOZSKBAXXX
Supervisory authority:
Slovak Trade Inspection Authority (SOI)
SOI Inspectorate for the Prešov Region
Obrancov mieru 6, 080 01 Presov 1
Department of Technical Product Inspection and Consumer Protection
tel. No .: 051/7721 597
fax no .: 051/7721 596
1.2. The parties agree that by sending the order to the seller, the buyer confirms that he agrees that these general terms and conditions and their terms and conditions will apply to all purchase contracts concluded on any e-commerce website operated by the seller, under which the seller delivers the goods presented on the website in question to the buyer (hereinafter referred to as the "purchase contract") and to all relations between the seller and the buyer, arising in particular when concluding the purchase contract and claiming the goods.
1.3. The General Terms and Conditions are an integral part of the purchase agreement. In the event that the seller and the buyer enter into a written purchase agreement in which they agree on conditions different from the general terms and conditions, the provisions of the purchase agreement will take precedence over the general terms and conditions.
1.4. The list of goods on any e-commerce website operated by the seller is a catalog of commonly delivered goods and the seller does not guarantee the immediate availability of all listed goods. The availability of goods will be confirmed for the buyer based on the buyer's question.
2. Method of concluding the purchase contract
2.1. The Purchase Agreement is concluded by the binding acceptance of the proposal to conclude the Purchase Agreement of the Buyer by the Seller in the form of the Buyer's e-mail sent to the Seller and / or in the form of the Buyer's completed and sent form on the Seller's website and / or in the form of the Buyer's telephone order. ").
2.2. The binding acceptance of the buyer's order by the seller is an e-mail confirmation by the seller to the buyer of the order's acceptance after the buyer's previous acceptance of the order and verification of the availability, valid prices and delivery date of the goods required by the buyer. If a higher price is found, the seller is obliged to request the customer's consent to change the price according to the current price list before confirming the order. Only by granting the customer's consent to the price change and subsequent confirmation (acceptance) of the order by the seller, the contractual relationship is considered concluded. All prices for goods and services and all fees in the online store are listed including VAT. The automatically executed Notification of receipt of the order in the electronic system of the seller, which the buyer receives to his e-mail address immediately after sending his order, is not considered binding acceptance of the order; this Notice is for informational purposes only in order to notify the Buyer of the receipt of his order. If necessary, all other information regarding the buyer's order will be sent to the buyer's e-mail address.
2.3. Binding acceptance of the order contains in particular information on the name and specification of the goods, the sale of which is the subject of the purchase contract, information on the price of goods and / or other services, information on delivery time, name and information on the place where the goods are to be delivered and information on price, conditions, method and date of transport of goods to the agreed place of delivery of goods for the buyer, details of the seller (business name, registered office, ID number, registration number in the commercial register, etc.), or other data. | https://market.sk/gb/content/3-obchodne-podmienky |
The Duquesne University Athletic Department announced today that it was cutting 4 athletics programs: baseball, men’s swimming, men’s golf, and men’s wrestling. The move was made to offset budget shortfalls in the other sports, and the University claims that more than $1 million will be allocated to other programs.
SwimmingWorldMagazine has reported that there is leaked information that the team might have been given a $2 million goal to avoid being shut down, although that information could not be confirmed. Considering the AD’s statement that $1 million would be re-allocated from all 4 programs, $2 million seems like a high goal.
The most troubling aspect of this development is the fact that all 70 athletes that are losing their spot are male, perhaps another unwanted byproduct of Title IX legislation.
The Duquesne men’s swim team is a member of the Atlantic-10 Conference and was ranked no. 25 in the most recent CSCAA Division-1 Mid Major poll.
Here is the full release from the Duquesne University Athletics Department:
PITTSBURGH – Duquesne University today announced a strategic restructuring of its varsity sports program in an effort to maximize financial resources and ensure sustained athletic success. The move will reduce the number of varsity sports from 20 to 16 and keep all related scholarship and operational funding within the athletic department.
“Focusing on and strengthening a core group of sports will maximize our ability to compete at the highest level, enhance the student athlete experience, and better utilize existing funding,” said Greg Amodio, Duquesne athletic director. More than $1M will be reallocated annually throughout the athletics program as a result of the move, which will discontinue baseball, men’s swimming, men’s golf and wrestling.
“This action is in no way meant to diminish the dedication, effort or ability of these fine student athletes, coaches and alumni. They have contributed greatly to Duquesne athletics and to the vitality and history of the University,” Amodio said.
As many as 70 student athletes will be affected by the elimination of these sports. Four full-time and one part-time coaching position will be eliminated. All coaches will remain on contract through June 2010.
The student athletes currently participating in the affected sports who plan to complete their undergraduate education at Duquesne University will continue to receive their athletic scholarships at their current levels for a period equal to their remaining eligibility.
The athletic department will also assist athletes in these sports that choose to transfer to another institution.
“The decision follows an extended period of comprehensive research,” Amodio said. “Although it is an extremely difficult move, it will place the athletics program in the very best position to be successful in the future,” he said, adding that this will better align the programs offered with the department’s operational budget and donor base.
“The fiscal challenges facing collegiate athletic departments across the country require making difficult decisions to ensure viability,” he said. “We are committed to maintaining a financially prudent athletics program while providing our student athletes with a positive environment to achieve their academic and athletic aspirations.”
Duquesne University athletics currently serves more than 475 students with a $10.8 million operating budget. | https://swimswam.com/duquesne-to-discontinue-mens-swimming-program/ |
Author pages are created from data sourced from our academic publisher partnerships and public sources.
- Publications
- Influence
Validity of the patient health questionnaire-9 for depression screening and diagnosis in East Africa
- B. Gelaye, M. Williams, Seblewongele Lemma, N. Deyessa, X. Zhou
- Medicine
- Psychiatry Research
- 15 December 2013
Depression is often underdiagnosed and undertreated in primary care settings, particularly in developing countries. This is, in part, due to challenges resulting from lack of skilled mental health… Expand
Sleep quality and its psychological correlates among university students in Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
- S. Lemma, B. Gelaye, Y. Berhane, A. Worku, M. Williams
- Psychology, Medicine
- BMC Psychiatry
- 28 December 2012
BackgroundSleep is an important physiological process for humans. University students in most resource limited countries often report poor sleep quality due to changing social opportunities and… Expand
Epidemiology of maternal depression, risk factors, and child outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries.
- B. Gelaye, M. Rondon, R. Araya, M. Williams
- Medicine
- The lancet. Psychiatry
- 1 October 2016
Maternal depression, a non-psychotic depressive episode of mild to major severity, is one of the major contributors of pregnancy-related morbidity and mortality. Maternal depression (antepartum or… Expand
Prevalence of Metabolic Syndrome among Working Adults in Ethiopia
- A. Tran, B. Gelaye, +5 authors M. Williams
- Medicine
- International journal of hypertension
- 26 May 2011
Objective. To evaluate the prevalence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) according to the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and Adult Treatment Panel (ATP) III criteria among working East African… Expand
Knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) of hygiene among school children in Angolela, Ethiopia.
- A. Vivas, B. Gelaye, N. Aboset, A. Kumie, Y. Berhane, M. Williams
- Medicine
- Journal of preventive medicine and hygiene
- 2 June 2010
INTRODUCTION Poor hygiene practices and inadequate sanitary conditions play major roles in the increased burden of communicable diseases within developing countries. This study evaluated the KAP of… Expand
A systematic review of randomized controlled trials of interventions designed to decrease child abuse in high-risk families.
- E. Levey, B. Gelaye, +4 authors M. Williams
- Medicine
- Child abuse & neglect
- 1 March 2017
Child abuse is a global problem, and parents with histories of childhood abuse are at increased risk of abusing their offspring. The objective of this systematic review is to provide a clear overview… Expand
Adverse childhood experiences are associated with adult sleep disorders: a systematic review.
- S. Kajeepeta, B. Gelaye, C. Jackson, M. Williams
- Psychology, Medicine
- Sleep medicine
- 1 March 2015
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) represent substantial threats to public health and affect about 58% of youth in the US. In addition to their acute effects such as injury and physical trauma,… Expand
The Epidemiology of Sleep Quality, Sleep Patterns, Consumption of Caffeinated Beverages, and Khat Use among Ethiopian College Students
- S. Lemma, S. Patel, +4 authors M. Williams
- Medicine
- Sleep disorders
- 25 November 2012
Objective. To evaluate sleep habits, sleep patterns, and sleep quality among Ethiopian college students; and to examine associations of poor sleep quality with consumption of caffeinated beverages… Expand
Prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among Ethiopian adults.
- L. D. Nshisso, A. Reese, B. Gelaye, S. Lemma, Y. Berhane, M. Williams
- Medicine
- Diabetes & metabolic syndrome
- 2012
OBJECTIVE To determine the prevalence of hypertension and diabetes among members of an Ethiopian occupational cohort; and to examine the proportion of adults who were aware of their conditions. … Expand
Analysis of polygenic risk score usage and performance in diverse human populations
- L. Duncan, H. Shen, +5 authors B. Domingue
- Biology, Medicine
- Nature Communications
- 25 July 2019
A historical tendency to use European ancestry samples hinders medical genetics research, including the use of polygenic scores, which are individual-level metrics of genetic risk. We analyze the… Expand
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The Osher Center for Integrative Medicine at Harvard Medical School and Brigham and Women’s Hospital invites the submission of abstracts characterizing Boston-area academic affiliated clinical programs and services related to Integrative Medicine (IM). Accepted abstracts will be presented at the Integrative Medicine Network Forum at Harvard Medical School on Friday, November 18th, 2016.
The IM Network Forum will convene Boston area researchers, educators and clinicians with interests in Integrative Medicine to meet, share ideas and explore future collaborations. The clinical posters are aimed at providing information on Integrative Medicine services within academic institutions in the Boston area, and to facilitate dialogue with other clinicians, researchers and educators. Poster presenters will be provided a 4’ x 4’ posterboard which can be used to either display a traditional 4’ x 4’ poster, or to pin printed materials such as brochures.
Up to 20 clinical abstracts will be chosen for poster presentation. Abstract submission deadline is Friday, September 30, 2016. Accepted abstracts will be announced on Monday, October 17th, 2016.
Read the guidelines on how to submit your clinical abstract below.
Guidelines:
Forum Theme
Integrative Medicine: Connecting researchers, educators and clinicians across Boston, to advance the field of Integrative Medicine.
Abstract Submission
The call for clinical abstracts is open from Friday, August 5th, 2016. Abstracts must be submitted using the template provided by email. Please download the document template here and send completed application form to Aterah Nusrat at [email protected]
Deadline for Submission
Abstracts must be submitted by midnight on Friday, September 30th, 2016
Presentation Format
If your clinical abstract submission is accepted for presentation, you will be required to prepare a poster.
Poster Presentations
Poster presentations will be displayed in highly visible sections of the conference area for the duration of the Forum. Individual poster sizes must be designed to a 4’x4’ specification.
Presenting Author Information
Personal details of the individual presenting the poster must be included in the application form. All authors accepted to present must register for the Forum. Authors of accepted abstracts will be acknowledged in the IM Forum program with the title of their abstract and accompanying contact details (name; position, institution; and email address.)
Additional Author Information
Details for additional authors must be entered on the submission. The order that appears on the application form will be the order in which the authors appear in the Forum program. Please enter the correct order in your abstract submission.
Title of Abstract
The title must be the name of the clinic or clinical program. (First word initial Capital, capitals only for ACRONYMS and first letter of a Proper Noun). Please do not use all capitals in the title.
Content of Abstracts
The content of abstracts should be limited to 350 words. All abstracts should include the following:
• Service(s) provided at the clinic/program.
• Main area(s) of expertise.
• Name(s) of key provider(s)/ program director(s)
Additional content may include the following:
• Mention of research projects underway at the clinic/center.
• Publications related to innovative clinical practices or outcomes.
• Networking or collaboration opportunities.
Review Process
Abstracts will be reviewed by a panel of judges chosen by the Osher Center for Integrative Medicine.
Abstract Submission Conditions
o The abstract author must be affiliated with an academic institution based in Boston, MA.
o The invitation to submit an abstract does not constitute an offer to pay travel or accommodation costs.
o No speaker fees are paid to successful participants for oral presentations.
o All authors must register for the Forum upon being accepted to present a poster. | https://oshercenter.org/2016/08/04/call-clinical-abstracts/ |
The journey, when writing a story, is a ticket with no expiration date—It takes as long as it takes.
There are many things I look at when thinking about my next story. One is the PLOT.
Are the characters compelling enough to evoke within the reader a range of emotions: from sadness to happiness, to anger, to sympathy. . . . remorse, guilt, understanding, anxiety, fear, disappointment, romance? | https://www.storieswithlegs.com/tag/writing/ |
Apply a filter below to refine your search results.
This link will take you to the Breathing Space website.They offer free, confidential advice and support over the phone, to people who are feeling anxious, depressed or low.
This link will take you to the website of the Scottish Association for Mental Health. It's for people experiencing problems with their mental health or emotional well-being, and the people who care about them.They provide information on common mental health issues and resources for self-help and well-being (including a tool to measure your well-being). There are also links to support in your local community. You can speak with someone from 9am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
Phone: 0141 530...
Welcome to the Covid-19 Critical Care Recovery site, in order to provide you with the most accurate information please select your country from the drop down list above.
By registering with the site you can create a personalised library of information based on your experiences by bookmarking [+ icon] content as you browse. | https://www.criticalcarerecovery.com/Search.aspx?tag=182 |
The following extract is taken from Nate Silver‘s excellent book ‘The Signal and the Noise’. In it he introduces the philosophical position of Pierre-Simon Laplace known as Laplace’s Demon.
“The debate about predictability began to be carried out on different terms during the Age of Enlightenment and the Industrial Revolution. Isaac Newton’s mechanics had seemed to suggest that the universe was highly orderly and predictable, abiding by relatively simple physical laws. The idea of scientific, technological, and economic progress—which by no means could be taken for granted in the centuries before then— began to emerge, along with the notion that mankind might learn to control its own fate. Predestination was subsumed by a new idea, that of scientific determinism.
The idea takes on various forms, but no one took it further than Pierre-Simon Laplace, a French astronomer and mathematician. In 1814, Laplace made the following postulate, which later came to be known as Laplace’s Demon:
“We may regard the present state of the universe as the effect of its past and the cause of its future. An intellect which at a certain moment would know all forces that set nature in motion, and all positions of all items of which nature is composed, if this intellect were also vast enough to submit these data to analysis, it would embrace in a single formula the movements of the greatest bodies of the universe and those of the tiniest atom; for such an intellect nothing would be uncertain and the future just like the past would be present before its eyes.”
To summarise: with perfect knowledge we ought to make perfect predictions.
This, however, seems to be a purely theoretical position.
Laplace and Silver concede as much. Perhaps this is why the observation is known as his demon.
Some systems are too complex, and too tightly coupled, to fully understand.
At least for humans.
Philip Tetlock’s work on the limits of expertise illustrate this point perfectly.
Even the predictions of experts, with more information than ever, rarely outperform guesses, when working in complex fields. | http://www.alexmurrell.co.uk/laplaces-demon/ |
that the tray is an imitation made at the end of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century using galvano-plastic procedure.
This would question the value of the item. Therefore, a detailed analysis of the tray was carried out at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb, in order to determine the technology of its production and thus, its origin as well. Due to the value of the item, the emphasis during analysis was on the application of non-destructive testing methods. Apart from the mentioned methods, the destructive instrumental methods were applied as well. These analyses have included a very small area of the tray so as not to damage its homogeneity and continuity. The paper describes the applied methods and the obtained results. The concluding mechanism about the interrelation of the obtained results with the possible technologies of producing the tray has been described and explained.
At the Croatian History Museum, Zagreb, Croatia, there is a sacral tray for wine and water registered under the inventory mark Sacral Collection 33242, Figure 1.
The tray is oval with two round depressions symmetrically set in the middle and decorated by a stylised bay-wreath. It is silver-gilt, and 36x30,8cm in dimensions. However, the origin of the tray has not been completely explained yet. It is assumed to be a work of an unknown master from Augsburg, end of 17th century, and made using the techniques of embossing, engraving and chasing.
However, during restoration some details were noticed that suggested a completely different conclusion. At the end of 19th century very often galvanoplastic technique was used for the mass production of items made of silver, copper, and some other metals. Among other things it is known that this technology was also used to make trays of this style and shape. Therefore, it is of great importance both for the collection, and for the museum itself, to determine the exact origin of the tray, since this will also determine its value. The main condition in analysing the tray is to use non-destructive testing methods, i.e. to avoid any possible damages during testing.
The tray was analysed at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering and Naval Architecture in Zagreb, Croatia, at the Laboratory for Precise Length Measurements and the Laboratory for Materials. Because of the lack of experience in such analyses, it was first necessary to get acquainted with the possible manufacturing technologies and their characteristics.
Embossing is a technology characteristic for 17th century. Using hammer and variously shaped tools, ornaments and other impressions are produced on a flat plate by cold forming.
Galvanoplastic is an electrical-chemical procedure first established by Alessandro Volta (1745-1827). On the cathode immersed in electrolyte there is a negative of the item which is to be produced. The anodes contain the material: silver, copper which is deposited on the negative, the cathode, by means of electric current, Figure 2.
The analysis of the mentioned procedures leads to a conclusion that the items thus manufactured differ regarding parameters such as chemical composition, microstructure and their dimensions. Therefore, the performed analyses took these into consideration.
Macro and microstructure of the tray were analysed. Macrostructure analysis of the bottom of the tray shows two areas: smooth parts on which the tray is supported which can be cleaned and parts in the depressions which are not subjected to external influences. On these parts, "droplets" can be noticed, which are characteristic of galvanoplastic technology and they are visible on the contact surface with the mould, Figures 3 (a and b).
Microstructure analysis of the tray cross-section would provide the safest insight into its manufacturing technology. However, since this item must not be cut, the microstructure was analysed at its edge. Microstructure is presented by means of replicas: the tray edge was ground rough and fine and polished, then attacked by a combination of acids for silver. The obtained microstructure is shown in Figure 4.
The analysis shows a directed microstructure near the upper (A) and bottom surface (B) of the tray, whereas the structure in the middle is non-directed.
This proves that the curvilinear shape of the tray edge was generated by some cold forming (bending, pressing, embossing), whereas the non-directed microstructure in the middle indicates that the tray was produced from a silver plate which was then further treated.
The tray thickness was measured at four measuring surfaces as presented in Figure 5. On the measuring surfaces No. 1 and 2, the thickness was measured at 40 points, and the tray thickness at measuring surfaces 3 and 4 was measured at 20 points.
Measurement results are presented in Table 1.
In case of results obtained by measuring the tray thickness at measuring surfaces 3 and 4, a difference in thickness on the left side compared to the right side of the tray may be noticed. Left side of the tray was declared to be the one whose bottom of surface 1 shows four tiny dotted damages caused by corrosion (tray sides are marked in Figure 5). The results of thickness measurements on the left and right side of surfaces 3 and 4 are presented in Table 2.
At characteristic surfaces marked in the photo (Figure 5), their roughness was tested. These tests were carried out by contact method using electronic mechanical device with Perthometer S8P probe. Roughness parameters Ra and Rz were measured at each marked surface on the upper side and the bottom of the tray. All measurements were carried out under the same conditions, using Gauss electric filter of boundary value lB = 0.8mm with evaluation length of l = 4mm. On every surface measurements were carried out at five measuring points, and these were used to calculate mean values of roughness parameters. Mean values of roughness parameters with estimated standard deviation for all the tested surfaces on the upper side and the bottom of the tray are given in Table 3.
Furthermore, for each tested surface one characteristic profile was recorded with the same vertical and horizontal magnifications. Also, on the tray surfaces on the bottom, topographic photos of the tested surfaces were recorded. Figures 6a and 6b show topographic photos with corresponding profiles for surfaces 3 and 4 (the finest and the roughest treated bottom of the tray).
Based on the tray thickness measurement results shown in Table 1, it can be concluded that the thickness of the tray is greatest in the middle (surfaces 1 and 2). From the middle of the tray towards its ends, the thickness decreases. It can also be concluded from the measurement results shown in Table 2, that the left side of the tray is thinner in relation to the right side.
Continuous decrease of tray thickness from the middle towards the ends shows that it is very likely that a manual technique was used in manufacturing, that is, that the tray was produced by embossing technique.
Uneven roughness indicates manual finish of the characteristic surfaces of the tray. This is especially emphasised on the surface No. 4 where there is a large difference between the roughness of the top and the bottom.
At the Institute Rudjer Boskovic in Zagreb Pixe analysis was used to perform quantitative analysis of the chemical composition of the tray. The results of analysis are shown in Table 4.
Due to relatively impure silver, one may conclude that the material was not obtained by galvanoplastic technology.
Based on the performed testing it may be concluded with very high probability that the tray was made by cold forming technology, most probably embossing. This indicates that the tray may date back to 17th century, but there are no solid proofs for that. It is namely possible that this technology was used also in the 19th or beginning of 20th century. Unfortunately, this cannot be determined by the available knowledge and laboratory methods.
However, if one takes into consideration that this research is the first of its kind in Croatia, the results are satisfactory to begin with. Since there is a great number of such items whose origin has not yet been determined, such work has to be continued. It is believed that further work, i.e. analyses of a greater number of museum items, contacts with experts from abroad, and objective comparisons of the obtained results, will allow significantly improved accuracy in results to be obtained, and it will be possible to date various museum exhibits, as well as to discover secret technologies used by the ancient masters of art.
We would like to thank to employees of the Croatian History Museum and the Croatian Museum of Art and Trade, who participated in realization of this project. | https://www.ndt.net/article/wcndt00/papers/idn245/idn245.htm |
Background:
α-Glucosidase Inhibition can significantly prevent glucose uptake after meal, and helps in controlling of some adverse effects in diabetics. So determination of α-Glucosidase inhibitory effect and antioxidant activity of the Haplophyllum acutifolium and Ferula haussknechtii aerial organs was the aim of this study.
Methods:
Inhibitory effect of hexane extracts from different organs was investigated in several concentrations at 405 nm wavelength using a microplate reader. Antioxidant activity of hexane extracts of various organs was also measured using DPPH and iron reduction tests.
Results;
The highest inhibitory activity of F.haussknechtii was observed at the 0.1 g/ml concentration of flower extract (100% inhibition and IC50= 0.1 μg /ml) and the most inhibitory activity of H.acutifolium, was related to the 1 g/ml concentration of flower extract (100% inhibition and IC50 = 10 μg /ml) and leaf extract (100% inhibition and IC50 = 60 μg /ml). Extract of H.acutifolium flower and leaves showed Non-competitive inhibition pattern and F.haussknechtii flower showed mixed (Competitive -Non-Competitive) inhibitory pattern at 0.001 g/ml and exhibit uncompetitive inhibitory pattern at the 0.1 g/ml. The results of antioxidant potential showed EC50 for F.haussknechtii flower and H.acutifolium leaves equalled 2.37 and 0.96 mg/ml, respectively.
Conclusions:
The hexane extract of the F.haussknechtii flower, and H.acutifolium flower and leaf organ have a significant inhibitory effect on the activity of α-Glucosidase, DPPH free radical scavenging activities and reducing power. So they are good resources for extraction of medicinal compounds to control blood level of glucose after meal, in diabetic patients. | http://www.ijabbr.com/article_37040.html |
Story told by: Lainey
I just finished my swim lessons with Dede! They were every day for two weeks, and I loved every moment!
Mommy was smart enough to work with my friends to get us all into the same class! (From left to right…Hailey (she was the only kid I didn’t know before the class), Ivy, Noah, Evan, Brock, and me!)
And the best thing is that Mommy got to sit with her friends, too! (Since swim lessons were right at nap time, Henry and Brody stayed with a babysitter each day. Mommy got lots of time to relax.)
We started with assistance from Dede as we swam across the pool.
At the end of class each day, we had 15 minutes of free time where Mommy could get in the pool.
We could also go down the slide during free time!
Hanging out with my buddies before swim class one day.
Last Friday we were leaving right after swim lessons to go camping, so Henry, Brody, and Daddy got to come to lessons. Henry waited patiently for free swim.
It was finally time for Henry and Daddy to get in. With some floaties and a pool noodle, Henry started swimming all over the pool.
As soon as Mommy asked Henry to smile for a picture, he started kicking as much as he could. Stinker.
Dede’s rule is that once you go up the slide, you have to come down. Unfortunately Henry got to experience that rule the hard way.
With a tiny bit of assistance from Dede, I swam all the way from the deep end to the shallow end!
On our last day, we had to get a picture of us with Taylor, the babysitter that’s been hanging out with the boys for the last two weeks. (Taylor was in third grade during Mommy’s first year of teaching.) Henry LOVED Taylor, and as soon as he would wake up each day, he would ask when Taylor was going to arrive.
One last picture with Ivy before we start lessons.
Freestyle swimming.
We worked on diving for the last week of lessons. Diving makes me a little nervous, but I still give it a go (and often land right on my belly).
Jumping in and swimming all the way across! Such an improvement in two weeks!
Dede always gives the best lollipops on the last day. Thank you for a great two weeks! I can’t wait until next summer (when Henry gets to be in lessons as well). | https://kylanandkristen.com/2016/07/01/swim-lessons-with-dede-2016/ |
I graduated in July 2017 with a First Class Degree. I also achieved the BEng Computer Science with Management Class Prize for achieving the highest overall score of students in the class.
My emerging interests from University are finding efficient ways to store and process large amounts of data, and finding creative ways to enhance the user's experience in viewing and interacting with said data.
Please feel free to read through the CV provided in either HTML or PDF format. I am happy to provide further references, examples of previous works or testimonials from previous clients on request.
If you have any questions or would like to request further information, please feel free to contact me using the contact form, or get in touch using the social media links at the bottom of the page. | https://keithdonaldson.co.uk/ |
Westminster Tower, a commercial building on the south side of Lambeth Bridge is to be refurbished into a mixed-use building comprising commercial office space, residential units and a residential fitness studio.
As part of the redevelopment, the lower floors of the building will be refurbished to provide high-grade office accommodation. Affordable residential units will be located on the 4th and 5th floors with market sale residential units on 6th to 14th floors. Three new floors of private sale residential accommodation will be constructed to replace the existing high level plant areas.
The client brief has particularly strong environmental and sustainability themes that run through all aspects of the project. These include improved envelope performance, passive design of the building fabric, thermal storage, high-performance systems, energy efficient lighting and the use of renewable energy systems. The brief also calls for the use of passive and low energy technologies, water reduction measures and selection of materials for low environmental impact.
The heating and cooling for both residential and commercial elements of the building will come from a closed loop Ground Source Heat Pump (GSHP) to provide highly efficient generation of space heating and cooling. The residential units will each have their own underfloor heating and FCU systems for heating and cooling. Fresh air will be drawn in from the façade via whole-house heat recovery ventilation units. During the milder months the building will open up to outside, drawing the fresh air in directly through the windows. | https://www.atelierten.com/projects/westminster-tower/ |
Open topic with navigation
The Distributed Index Handler (DIH) distributes index actions between multiple IDOL Servers or Content components.
DIH can either index all documents into multiple child servers, or it can distribute the documents evenly between them. Multiple identical copies of child servers allows load balancing and failover, while distributing the index allows you to store more content.
Basic Distribution Methods. The simplest configurations that allow you to distribute data to multiple child IDOL Servers.
Advanced Distribution Modes. More advanced configurations for distributions.
Choose a Distribution Mode. How to decide which mode to use for distribution.
Engine Management in DIH. Manage the DIH child servers.
The Index Process in a Distributed System. Details of how IDOL indexes documents in a distributed system. | https://www.microfocus.com/documentation/idol/IDOL_11_6/IDOLServer/Guides/html/English/expert/Content/IDOLExpert/Distribution/DIH.htm |
The struggle to recruit skilled workers is a recurring concern within the UK manufacturing industry, with an EEF report earlier this year revealing that three-quarters of manufacturers have struggled to recruit skilled workers in the last three years.
Industry analysis suggests that manufacturers are dealing with a lack of both quantity and quality when it comes to applicants, with not enough people applying for roles and job-seekers lacking the technical skills required to fill available vacancies.
The EEF report found an increased demand for skills across the board, with a particular focus on production-related technical skills and craft/technician skills, with demand varying, sometimes substantially, by sector. In February this year, the Automotive Council confirmed that there are up to 5,000 current vacancies in the industry, many including vehicle and component manufacturers, and the growth potential of the industry could be undermined by lack of new talent.
But what can the industry do to tackle this deficit?
Apprenticeships can provide employers with a cost effective and detailed way of training individuals in the crucial knowledge and skills required for a career in the industry. With an ageing workforce in manufacturing, apprenticeships are critical to the industry’s continued growth.
By investing in your current employees and offering training, development and clear career progression, talent will be attracted and retained.
Recent research suggests that 70% of employers will offer flexible working by 2020 and some 21% of employees asked would accept lower pay if they were able to work fewer hours. Manufacturers can use flexible working arrangements to attract skilled employees who may otherwise be reluctant to enter the traditional working world.
Offering secondments and transferring skilled employees globally, where possible, will both encourage ambitious individuals to the industry and may assist in meeting specific regional and national skills gaps.
Manufacturers should continue to try and remove the outdated image of the manufacturing industry as low-paid and routine factory work. Use social media engagement, open days and competitions, for example, to inform individuals of the cutting-edge, exciting and innovative industry.
Following on from the point above, manufacturing companies should engage with local schools, colleges and universities to excite and encourage young people to join the industry. The skills needs of the industry should be explained, so that young people can tailor their educational journey for the roles.
There are many who think that the government should do more to support our manufacturing industry. If you have a particular concern or suggestion affecting the sector, contact your local MP, write to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy and/or join a sector organisation, such as the EEF, who often lobby and consult with the government on the manufacturing industry’s behalf. | https://coffinmew.co.uk/tackling-skills-shortage-manufacturing-industry/ |
Our technique covers all aspects inherent to this condition: movement, time and distance must always be trained, repeated, tested and perfected so that these disadvantages are canceled and the use of our weapon is fully exploited.
In this article, we approach the distance in Esgrima Lusitana – Jogo do Pau – Portuguese Stickfighting in situations of 1 to 1, with wooden sticks, not taking into account other aspects such as the surrounding space, obstacles, opponents with weapons of different sizes from ours and other potential threats or opponents. We can address these aspects in later articles.
Distance is one of the aspects most developed and trained in the technique of the Escola do Santo Condestável (ESC), and its importance is transverse to all schools of the Esgrima Lusitana – Jogo do Pau and even other martial arts with weapons. At our school, this study was carried out to the utmost detail and tested in real combat situations.
The first concept to understand in terms of distance is that it is not a fixed measure, there are several distances that we have to keep in mind, combat is not a static exercise, it consists of several movements in the search for weaknesses or openings on the part of the opponent in search of safer distances, and, of course, in attacks, counterattacks and defenses.
Area that surrounds us and within which we can not allow the opponent’s weapon to enter. This distance is usually measured between our body, specifically the area of our body being attacked, and the point of our weapon (area of our weapon that intercepts the opponent’s weapon).
It is irrelevant to the case if we are to move in the opposite direction to attack (away from the striker – “sair” or “recuar”), or if we are making a defense on the move in the opposite direction to the attack (approaching the striker – “avançar” or “crescer”) the base question remains: we must ensure that we intercept the opponent’s attack with the tip of our weapon as far as possible from the area of our body being attacked.
At the limit, your opponent can get very close at a distance where the blow becomes very weak and defensible even with the hands / arms and enter close combat (hand to hand).
Distance to the opponent that allows us to quickly put ourselves at a distance to hit him (attack distance), or move us to a distance that allows a safe defense (defense distance). It is important to note that the move to the defense can not be such as to preclude the counterattack or make it too slow, the distance during our defensive move must be the minimum / sufficient to allow the defense and a fast counterattack that hits the opponent.
In short, we must always train in the way that most closely approximates real combat situations, only training with attacks on the body can mechanize our attacks and only by receiving these same attacks can we train effective defenses.
Make life easier for our opponent with short attacks (wrong distances) or easily defensible, harms our training. Leading to mechanization of wrong and ineffective technical movements, but also affect the training of our partner giving him a false sense of security and leading to the mechanization of defenses with wrong distances. | https://www.esgrimalusitanacascais.com/en/distance-in-esgrima-lusitana-jogo-do-pau/ |
Background There is a need for a brain volume measure applicable to the clinical routine scans. Nearly every multiple sclerosis (MS) protocol includes low-resolution 2D T2-FLAIR imaging. Objectives To develop and validate cross-sectional and longitudinal brain atrophy measures on clinical-quality T2-FLAIR images in MS patients. Methods A real-world dataset from 109 MS patients from 62 MRI scanners was used to develop a lateral ventricular volume (LVV) algorithm with a longitudinal Jacobian-based extension, called NeuroSTREAM. Gold-standard LVV was calculated on high-resolution T1 1 mm, while NeuroSTREAM LVV was obtained on low-resolution T2-FLAIR 3 mm thick images. Scan-rescan reliability was assessed in 5 subjects. The variability of LVV measurement at different field strengths was tested in 76 healthy controls and 125 MS patients who obtained both 1.5T and 3T scans in 72 hours. Clinical validation of algorithm was performed in 176 MS patients who obtained serial yearly MRI 1.5T scans for 10 years. Results Correlation between gold-standard high-resolution T1 LVV and low-resolution T2-FLAIR LVV was r = 0.99, p < 0.001 and the scan-rescan coefficient of variation was 0.84%. Correlation between low-resolution T2-FLAIR LVV on 1.5T and 3T was r = 0.99, p < 0.001 and the scan-rescan coefficient of variation was 2.69% cross-sectionally and 2.08% via Jacobian integration. NeuroSTREAM showed comparable effect size (d = 0.39–0.71) in separating MS patients with and without confirmed disability progression, compared to SIENA and VIENA. Conclusions Brain atrophy measurement on clinical quality T2-FLAIR scans is feasible, accurate, reliable, and relates to clinical outcomes. | https://moh-it.pure.elsevier.com/en/publications/neurological-software-tool-for-reliable-atrophy-measurement-neuro |
To measure activity during sleep, polysomnography and actigraphy are often used. The DynaPort MiniMod measures movement intensity and body position day and night. The goal was to examine the validity of the DynaPort MiniMod in assessing physical activity and body posture during sleep. In Study A, 10 healthy participants slept with the DynaPort MiniMod and the Actiwatch for one night. In Study B, 8 participants suspected of having Obstructive Sleep Apnoea Syndrome slept for one night with the DynaPort MiniMod and underwent complete polysomnography as part of the typical care protocol. In Study A, there was a significant moderate correlation (r=.70) between the movement scores of the Actiwatch and the DynaPort MiniMod. In Study B, a high intraclass correlation (r=.84) between body posture scores of the DynaPort MiniMod and the polysomnography position sensor was observed. The DynaPort MiniMod is a valid measurement device for physical activity during sleep. | https://research.rug.nl/en/publications/validation-of-the-dynaport-minimod-during-sleep-a-pilot-study |
Can I File Bankruptcy against My Divorce Debts?
By : Marc Semmes | Category : Bankruptcy, Divorce | No Comments
10th Mar 2015
We will look at the different types of divorce-related debts and see which are dischargeable, the effects of the different chapters (types) of bankruptcy on dischargability, exceptions to the basic rules, and how to protect the non-filing spouse both during the divorce and during the bankruptcy proceedings.
Basic Information About Chapter 7 and Chapter 13
An individual can file for bankruptcy relief under different chapters (types). Although an individual can file under Chapter 11 or Chapter 12 of the Bankruptcy Code, an overwhelming majority of individual debtors file either Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcies.
When an individual files a bankruptcy, the most basic reason is to eliminate debts by receiving a discharge. In a Chapter 7, the individual eliminates unsecured debts (such as medical and credit card debt) and keeps property that is exempt. In a Chapter 13, the debtor proposes a plan to pay back certain types of debt over a three to five year period, can catch up delinquent loans on secured property, and can keep non-exempt property. In either a Chapter 7 or 13, the debtor receives an order at the conclusion of a successful case that discharges (eliminates) any remaining debt. However, some debts may be non-dischargeable, and high among the non-dischargeable debts are debts related to divorce.
Domestic Support Obligations
The primary question that needs to be asked when determining whether a divorce-related debt is dischargeable is if the debt is a Domestic Support Obligation (DSO). The Bankruptcy Code defines the domestic support obligation at 11 U.S. Code § 101(14A). The simple version is any child support, alimony, or any other payment that is “in the nature of alimony, maintenance, or support” will be a DSO. The Bankruptcy Court will look to federal law to make this determination, and will look past any labels that may have been used in the divorce agreement or order. The determination is a case-specific determination of whether the intent of the parties or the divorce court was for the obligation to be the nature of support.
Section 523(a)(5) of Title 11 of the US Code states that “A discharge under section 727, 1141, 1228(a), 1228(b), or 1328(b) of this title does not discharge an individual debtor from any debt – (5) for a domestic support obligation.” If a divorce-related obligation is determined to be a DSO, the debt will not be dischargeable in either a Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 Bankruptcy.
Additionally, any outstanding domestic support arrearage will normally be required to be caught up during the Chapter 13 Plan period, and the filing debtor must be current on all DSO payments at the end of the plan period in order to receive a discharge.
Property Settlement Debts
In a Chapter 7, even if a debt is not a DSO it will probably not be dischargeable. Section 523(a)(15) states that a debt is not dischargeable if it is owed to a spouse, former spouse, or child of the debtor, and it is incurred by the debtor 1) in the course of a divorce or separation, 2) in connection with a separation agreement, divorce decree or other order of a court of record, or 3) because of a determination made in accordance with State or territorial law by a governmental unit. This effectively means that any debt that is a divorce-related debt will be non-dischargeable if you file a Chapter 7 Bankruptcy.
Chapter 13 does not have the same limitations as Chapter 7 as Section 523(a)(15) does not apply to a Chapter 13 bankruptcy filing. This means that a property settlement debt will not have priority status in a Chapter 13 Plan, and may be discharged just like any other unsecured debt. Please see below to find out how to protect the non-filing spouse’s property settlement debt in a Chapter 13.
If it is not apparent on the surface as to whether the debt is a DSO or property settlement debt, the court will look to the following factors to determine the type of debt:
1) Whether applicable state law would deem the obligation to be alimony or property settlement;
2) Whether the obligation ends upon the happening of contingencies, such as remarriage;
3) Whether the payments are periodic or a lump sum;
4) Whether the obligation was constructed to reduce the disparities in the parties’ relative earning power;
5) Whether the spouse is directly or indirectly benefitted by the payment; and
6)Whether the parties have minor children whose support is in question.
English v. English (In re English), 99-13129-WSS (Bankr. S.D. Ala. July,2001) (citations omitted)
In short, if you’re thinking about filing a bankruptcy and have divorce-related property-settlement debts, you should seriously consider filing a Chapter 13 instead of a Chapter 7 bankruptcy. Consult a qualified bankruptcy attorney to discuss your options.
Other Divorce-Related Debts
Non-filing Spouse’s Attorney Fees
If the non-filing spouse has had attorney’s fees awarded and the award was based on the non-filing spouse’s need and the debtor spouse’s ability to pay, the fees will be determined to be in the nature of support, and will be non-dischargeable. See In re Strickland, 90 F.3d 444, 447 (11th Cir. 1996).
Guardian ad Litem Fees
Guardian ad litem (GAL) fees that are ordered to be paid by the debtor spouse will be non-dischargeable. This is because the GAL is hired to protect the interest of the minor child, and the interest that they are protecting is the support and maintenance of the child. Thus, the GAL fees are in the nature of support and non-dischargeable pursuant to 11 U.S. Code § 101(14A) and 11 U.S. Code § 523(a)(5).
Hold-Harmless Debts
When an order or agreement contains language that orders Spouse A to hold harmless or indemnify the Spouse B for a debt that Spouse A is to pay, the Court is creating a potentially non-dischargeable debt – the indemnification debt from Spouse A to Spouse B. The dischargeability of this indemnification debt is dependent on the type of underlying debt. If the underlying debt is dischargeable (e.g. a property settlement debt in a Chapter 13 bankruptcy), then the indemnification debt would be dischargeable as well. If the underlying debt is non-dischargeable (any marital debt in a Chapter 7 or a DSO in a Chapter 13), then the indemnification debt would also be non-dischargeable.
Fraud Exception
Another important exception to discharge pursuant to 11 USC 523 is for a debt obtained through fraudulent means like “false pretenses, a false representation, or actual fraud.” Though, a false statement by debtor about their financial situation is expressly excluded from the exception. As the debtor in Morales v. Giddens found out, false representations to a prior spouse are not excepted and can serve as grounds for deeming a debt non-dischargeable.
The Giddens bankruptcy case arose after Marta Morales and Christopher Giddens divorced in 2008. Like many couples do, Giddens and Morales agreed to enter into a settlement agreement. The agreement was memorialized in a divorce judgment. The agreement awarded Morales a lump sum of more than $150,000 as well as significant amounts of personal property including home furniture and vehicles.
Unfortunately for Morales, Giddens’ word was not his bond and he never paid the sums or property due to her. Instead, Giddens spent years attempting to avoid his divorce obligation. He went so far in this attempt that he landed himself behind bars for contempt of court and his testimony was disregarded by the court. The bankruptcy court went so far as to characterize Giddens as the most unpersuasive witness it had ever seen who was “incapable of telling the truth.”
Eventually but not surprisingly, Giddens decided it was in his best interests to declare bankruptcy. Morales was thus reduced to the status of a creditor. However, she wisely requested that the court declare her debt under the marital settlement agreement and corresponding judgment not dischargeable. Morales advanced a few different arguments under 11 USC 523.
The court denied some of the grounds but ultimately, agreed that Giddens debt was not dischargeable because it was procured through fraud. More specifically, the court found that at the time Giddens entered into the marital settlement agreement, he had no intention of living up to his obligation to pay and transfer property to Morales.
Morales found an unlikely ally in the proceedings, her former husband’s paramour who too had been deceived into loaning money to Giddens. The paramour testified that Giddens has explicitly told her of his attempts to hide assets from his former spouse. Based in large part on this testimony, the court found that Giddens marital settlement agreement was fraudulently obtained (because he never intended to follow through with it) and not subject to discharge at the conclusion of bankruptcy proceedings.
Protecting the Non-Filing Spouse in a Chapter 13
There are several items that should be considered when drafting a divorce agreement or judgment and trying to avoid issues and protect the non-filing spouse in case of a Chapter 13 filing. If your spouse owes you money based on a divorce-related debt, you should contact an attorney that practices in personal bankruptcy to ensure that your rights are protected.
Clearly Label and Describe Debts
First and foremost is to properly label marital debts and clearly state the intention of the parties or the court. I have seen periodic alimony payments prefaced by “[i]n lieu of alimony or support, and as a property settlement” in an agreement drafted by an experienced attorney. Please don’t do this. If you intend for a debt to be for alimony, support, or maintenance, then clearly label and describe it as such. If you intend for a debt to be a property settlement, then clearly label and describe it as such. Any ambiguity will possibly lead to the Bankruptcy Court having to interpret and determine the type of debt and the intention of the parties.
Additionally, make sure that in any award of attorney’s fees it is clearly stated if the award was based on one spouse’s need and the other spouse’s ability to pay.
Hold Harmless / Indemnification Language
You should strongly consider including hold harmless / indemnification language in divorce agreements and orders. If a spouse is obligated to pay a divorce-related debt, the indemnification language would make it near irrefutable that the non-filing spouse has legal standing to challenge the treatment and classification and dischargeability of a debt included in the filing spouse’s bankruptcy.
A typical hold harmless clause would be “Spouse A is responsible for the payment in full of the debt owed to XYZ Corp. in the approximate amount of $99,000.00, and shall hold harmless and indemnify Spouse B for said debt. The parties’ intention is that the payment of this debt is for maintenance and support of Spouse B.”
Alimony Reservation
Another way to protect a client in a divorce agreement or order is to reserve the issue of alimony for failure to abide by the orders of the court, including payment of the debts.
Non-Avoidable Lien
You may be able to obtain a lien against the property of the filing spouse that is non-avoidable if the lien is placed on a property interest that is created at the same time as the award of the lien. Typically, a judgment lien may be avoided under 11 U.S.C. § 522(f) if the lien impairs the exemptions of the debtor on existing property. In Farrey v. Sanderfoot, 500 U.S. 291; 111 S.Ct. 1825; 114 L.Ed. 3d 337 (1991), the Wisconsin court extinguished the joint tenancy of the marital home and awarded a fee simple interest in the marital home to Sanderfoot. The court also awarded a lien to Farrey in the same Order. The U.S. Supreme Court found that to avoid a lien under § 522(f), a debtor must have an interest in the property at the time of the creation of the lien on that interest. Because the same decree that gave the entire property to Sanderfoot simultaneously created the lien in favor of Farrey, the lien did not attach to a preexisting interest of the husband. As such, the debtor was not able to avoid the lien via § 522(f).
Objecting to Confirmation / Motion to Dismiss / Proof of Claim
In a Chapter 13, the debtor must propose a plan and the plan must be confirmed by order of the Court. The plan must propose to pay back any DSO arrearage in full and must list the DSO as a priority unsecured debt (if it is unsecured). If the debtor spouse fails to properly list or account for the debts owed to the non-filing spouse, then the non-filing spouse should file an objection to the confirmation of the plan.
Additionally, if the sole purpose of the filing of the bankruptcy was to frustrate the collection of the amounts owed to the non-filing spouse, then a Motion to Dismiss for a bad-faith filing should be considered. See In re Ellis, 406 B.R. 736 (Bankr. E.D. Va. 2009)
Lastly, the non-filing spouse should file a proper proof of claim to ensure that they are paid and have not waived any claim to any amounts that they are owed.
Have a Question About Child Support, Alimony and Bankruptcy?
If you’re interested in learning more about discharging your divorce-related debt or have other questions about bankruptcy options, contact the bankruptcy law attorney at the Semmes Law Firm and let us guide the way. | http://semmeslaw.com/can-i-file-bankruptcy-against-my-divorce-debts/ |
More than 200 pipe bands from all over the world will travel to Glasgow next month to compete in the world championships.
The World Pipe Band Championships will be held at Glasgow Green on August 17-18, providing yet another draw to the city for tourists following the inaugural Glasgow 2018 European Championships .
Around 8,000 pipers and drummers from 13 countries will compete for the prize.
Ian Embelton, chief executive of the Royal Scottish Pipe Band Association, said: "The World Pipe Band Championships are now on a scale that would scarcely have been imagined 70 years ago when it was first held in Glasgow.
"We have bands entered from all over the world all competing to stage their best performance and test themselves against the best.
"Pipe bands also play a significant role in the development of young people, in building communities and friendships and teaching skills that will last a lifetime and be passed on to future generations."
More than a quarter of the 214 entries will come from overseas with nations represented including New Zealand, Australia, Denmark, France, Canada, Oman, Switzerland, Zimbabwe, Eire, USA, England, Northern Ireland and Scotland. | https://www.glasgowlive.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/more-200-bands-descend-glasgow-14939480 |
Another couple of months have passed since we last pushed out a release, and so, in our ongoing efforts to produce the best media software in the world, it's time to squash another few of those more irritating bugs. Usual rules apply: don't expect any new features, don't think that this will change your life, it won't make you richer or more attractive, but it will hopefully be more stable and usable for people who've been victims of any of these bugs.
So, what have we done? Well, you can find a full summary of closed pull requests here, but the summary would be...
Interface
Fix Missing text when sorting from inside addon
Clear/save focus-history when leaving window with focus on parent folder item
Picture slideshow fixes (Estuary)
Subscribe to controller install events (games)
Fix radio button text length (Estuary)
Fix season/episode formatting for video addons (video)
Don't consider display mode ids constant (Android)
Playback/Display
Fix PlayMedia builtin for playlists (.strm) and "artists" smart playlists (music)
Fix PlayMedia builtin for smart playlists and playlists (music)
FFmpeg: Bump to 4.0.4-Leia-18.4
Load program from stream property without using streaminfo (video)
Fix initialization of AVD3D11VAContext structure (video, Windows)
Fix TS resume point, related to PR16314 (video)
Fixed memory leak, fixed segfault (video, Linux)
Fix PAPlayer to handle passthrough for TrueHD (audio)
PVR
Fix component dependencies
PVRRecordings: Prevent concurrent calls to video database
Other/General fixes
Use first protocol from add-on in add network dialog
Use exact matching for protocol in file+dir factories
Use of absolute paths in combination with hosts in URLs
Fix file times for vfs addons
Fix + sign HTTP folder
Corrections to filesystem CircularCache initialization and termination
Controller fixes
Delete stream details when video info is refreshed
Do not attempt to further resolve plugin paths for failing entries
Revert "fixed: We should always update stream details from player..."
Many - indeed, most - of these fixes are hidden deep inside Kodi and really shouldn't be obvious to most people; unless you're doing something that regularly hits one of them, you'll really never notice. That said, they're all real bugs, and real fixes, so thanks as always to all who found a bug, took the time to report it and, in some cases, provided a fix.
The full v18.4 changelog can be found in our GitHub milestone. If you want to read back on what was actually changed in v18 itself, you can find the corresponding articles in the blog posts - Kodi 18, Kodi 18.1, Kodi 18.2, and Kodi 18.3.
As usual, Kodi roll out on different platforms (notably, Google Play and the Microsoft Store) varies due to circumstances outside of our control. It may thus take a few more days, so just stay tuned.
| |
Don’t let anyone in, and don’t let anyone out.
In post-apocalyptic America, The Librarian stays safe by sheltering in a vast but crumbling library. With endless knowledge at her disposal, she has the ability to keep at arm’s length a lawless world that betrayed and hurt her, leaving her disfigured.
The mysterious cult that lives beneath the library is scarier than anything she’d encounter on the road, and its sinister Founders issue harsh punishments for even the smallest transgressions. But together they live in a delicate balance. They provide her with security, knowledge, and the freedom to dwell in her solitude and anonymity, in elaborate masks that hide her disfigurement. In exchange, she protects the Order from outsiders and prevents the cultists from leaving.
When a critically wounded man with a broken drone arrives, she can’t bear to turn a blind eye to his suffering the way others did to her in the past. Instead of watching him die on the library’s doorstep, she turns him over to the only cult member she trusts, risking banishment. As the Order probes the outsider for information about his coveted technology, he’s less than forthcoming. The abusive treatment he recieves divides the cult, tipping the situation into a revolt and forcing the Librarian to choose between fleeing, or standing her ground against the violent Founders with the few people she cares for.
One risks confronting the danger and loneliness of the wasteland. The other means facing her greatest fear—unmasking herself to the world.
Content warnings:
Language, m/m non-graphic sex and sexual elements, brief violence, amputation, brief mention of homophobia, mentions of disfigurement, discussion of pandemic, child suffering from a virus, brief animal harm
Neurodivergent (autism), asexual, gay, lesbian, nonbinary, trans, and bisexual rep
The Travelers Series is a collection of "cozy" post-apocalyptic books by author, Al Hess. Many can be read as standalone stories. | https://www.cultofsasha.com/cultsmith?lightbox=dataItem-kcwaa9cy |
The utility model relates to the technical field of gas water heaters, in particular to an efficient energy-saving gas water heater. The device comprises an air preheating part arranged on one side ofan air inlet and outlet pipe, so that when air enters the device from an air inlet hole and passes through a side preheating body, a second preheating pipe, a middle preheating body and a first preheating pipe, heat energy conduction is achieved due to the fact that high-temperature waste gas heats the first preheating pipe, the middle preheating body, the second preheating pipe and the side preheating body; therefore, the heat energy in the waste gas is conducted into the gas entering the equipment, so that the full utilization of the heat energy in the waste gas is ensured, the air enteringthe equipment is fully preheated in the process, the combustion in the subsequent combustion process is ensured to be more sufficient, and the heat energy resource waste caused by direct exhaust of the waste gas is solved; and the problem of insufficient combustion caused by relatively low air temperature is solved. | |
Medicare Levy Surcharge: People whose taxable income is greater than a specified amount (in the 2011/12 financial year $80,000 for singles and $168,000 for couples) and who do not have an adequate level of private hospital cover must pay a 1% surcharge on top of the standard 1.5% Medicare Levy. The rationale is that if the people in this income group are forced to pay more money one way or another, most would choose to purchase hospital insurance with it, with the possibility of a benefit in the event that they need private hospital treatment – rather than pay it in the form of extra tax as well as having to meet their own private hospital costs.
In 2010, President Barack Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. It prohibits insurance companies from denying coverage to patients with pre-existing conditions and allows children to remain on their parents' insurance plan until they reach the age of 26. In participating states, the act also expanded Medicaid, a government program that provides medical care for individuals with very low incomes. In addition to these changes, the ACA established the federal Healthcare Marketplace. The marketplace helps individuals and businesses shop for quality insurance plans at affordable rates. Low-income individuals who sign up for insurance through the marketplace may qualify for subsidies to help bring down costs.
Americans are required to carry medical insurance that meets federally designated minimum standards or face a tax penalty. In certain cases, taxpayers may qualify for an exemption from the penalty if they were unable to obtain insurance due to financial hardship or other situations. Two public health insurance plans, Medicare and the Children's Health Insurance Program, target older individuals and children, respectively. Medicare also serves people with certain disabilities. The program is available to anyone age 65 or older. The CHIP plan has income limits and covers babies and children up to the age of 18.
Public polling consistently showed majority support for a public option. A July 2009 survey by the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute found that 28% of Americans would like to purchase a public plan while 53% would prefer to have a private plan. It also stated that 69% would support its creation in the first place. Survey USA estimated that the majority of Americans (77%) feel that it is either "Quite Important" or "Extremely Important" to "give people a choice of both a public plan administered by the federal government and a private plan for their health insurance" in August 2009. A Rasmussen Reports poll taken on August 17–18 stated that 57% of Americans did not support the current health care bill being considered by Congress that did not include a public option, a change from their findings in July 2009. A NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll, conducted August 15–17, found that 47% of Americans opposed the idea of a public option and 43% expressed support. A Pew Research Center report published on October 8, 2009 stated that 55% of Americans favor a government health insurance plan to compete with private plans. The results were very similar to their polling from July, which found 52% support. An October 2009 Washington Post/ABC poll showed 57% support, a USA Today/Gallup survey described by a USA Today article on October 27 found that 50% of Americans supported a government plan proposal, and a poll from November 10 and 11 by Angus Reid Public Opinion found that 52% of Americans supported a public plan. On October 27, journalist Ray Suarez of The News Hour with Jim Lehrer noted that "public opinion researchers say the tide has been shifting over the last several weeks, and now is not spectacularly, but solidly in favor of a public option."
Financial Assistance Available: Most uninsured individuals will qualify for financial assistance called a Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit to help make their insurance premiums affordable. The amount of financial assistance will depend on your income and family size. Individuals with low incomes may qualify for free or very low premiums. To find out how much financial assistance you may qualify for, check out the Kaiser Family Foundation’s subsidy calculator.
The 1960 Kerr-Mills Act provided matching funds to states assisting patients with their medical bills. In the early 1960s, Congress rejected a plan to subsidize private coverage for people with Social Security as unworkable, and an amendment to the Social Security Act creating a publicly run alternative was proposed. Finally, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare and Medicaid programs into law in 1965, creating publicly run insurance for the elderly and the poor. Medicare was later expanded to cover people with disabilities, end-stage renal disease, and ALS.
Scheduled health insurance plans are an expanded form of Hospital Indemnity plans. In recent years, these plans have taken the name mini-med plans or association plans. These plans may provide benefits for hospitalization, surgical, and physician services. However, they are not meant to replace a traditional comprehensive health insurance plan. Scheduled health insurance plans are more of a basic policy providing access to day-to-day health care such as going to the doctor or getting a prescription drug, but these benefits will be limited and are not meant to be effective for catastrophic events. Payments are based upon the plan's "schedule of benefits" and are usually paid directly to the service provider. These plans cost much less than comprehensive health insurance. Annual benefit maximums for a typical scheduled health insurance plan may range from $1,000 to $25,000.
Employers and employees may have some choice in the details of plans, including health savings accounts, deductible, and coinsurance. As of 2015, a trend has emerged for employers to offer high-deductible plans, called consumer-driven healthcare plans which place more costs on employees; some employers will offer multiple plans to their employees.
The Commonwealth Fund, in its annual survey, "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall", compares the performance of the health care systems in Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada and the U.S. Its 2007 study found that, although the U.S. system is the most expensive, it consistently under-performs compared to the other countries. One difference between the U.S. and the other countries in the study is that the U.S. is the only country without universal health insurance coverage.
Create a checklist of family health insurance needs. Make a list of health insurance coverage preferences you know your family will require. For example, should prevention or major medical coverage be the priority? Will dental, vision, and prescription coverage be necessary? Once complete, the checklist is used to evaluate and compare health insurance providers, plan choices, and coverage offered.
Susan Heathfield makes every effort to offer accurate, common-sense, ethical Human Resources management, employer, and workplace advice both on this website, and linked to from this website, but she is not an attorney, and the content on the site, while authoritative, is not guaranteed for accuracy and legality, and is not to be construed as legal advice.
Private health insurance may be purchased on a group basis (e.g., by a firm to cover its employees) or purchased by individual consumers. Most Americans with private health insurance receive it through an employer-sponsored program. According to the United States Census Bureau, some 60% of Americans are covered through an employer, while about 9% purchase health insurance directly. Private insurance was billed for 12.2 million inpatient hospital stays in 2011, incurring approximately 29% ($112.5 billion) of the total aggregate inpatient hospital costs in the United States.
However, with the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, effective since 2014, federal laws have created some uniformity in partnership with the existing state-based system. Insurers are prohibited from discriminating against or charging higher rates for individuals based on pre-existing medical conditions and must offer a standard set of coverage.
Health insurance in the United States is any program that helps pay for medical expenses, whether through privately purchased insurance, social insurance, or a social welfare program funded by the government. Synonyms for this usage include "health coverage", "health care coverage", and "health benefits". In a more technical sense, the term "health insurance" is used to describe any form of insurance providing protection against the costs of medical services. This usage includes private insurance and social insurance programs such as Medicare, which pools resources and spreads the financial risk associated with major medical expenses across the entire population to protect everyone, as well as social welfare programs like Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, which both provide assistance to people who cannot afford health coverage. | https://besthealthinsurance.top/charlotte/can-i-change-health-insurance-now-charlotte-get-more-info.html |
Operation Food Search seeks a talented and results-driven Procurement Manager to join our team. Operation Food Search’s vision is to end hunger for children and their families, and the candidate’s role will directly contribute to our ability to continue to provide access to healthy and affordable food.
Position Overview
The Procurement Manager will be responsible for overseeing and implementing comprehensive food procurement and purchasing programs that support the growing needs of the community and OFS’s expansion plans. The Procurement Manager will maintain and enhance relationships with local grocery store retailers, food manufacturers, wholesalers, caterers, restaurants, and farmers. The successful candidate will work closely with OFS staff to identify the right quality and quantity of food needed to support program services.
Food Sourcing
- Oversee $30,000,000 annual budget of in-kind donations.
- Work with internal program personnel to oversee overall logistics of food procurement and inventory management, including specialized purchasing programs with local partners.
- Identify and manage food sourcing programs specifically related to: grocery retailers, branded manufacturers, 3rd party manufacturers, farming and producer communities.
- Work directly with participating grocery retail store associates to maximize available local and regional donations and to minimize food waste.
- Actively develop innovative partnerships that address food supply chain challenges (especially locally and regionally) and make donation the preferred solution for unmarketable/excess products.
- Maintain and grow OFS’ gleaning efforts with local farms. This may include the supervision of a temporary employee.
- Work with outside partners to facilitate shipping when necessary.
- Provide professional, responsive and appreciative customer service to food industry partners, donors and team members.
- Continue implementing USDA programs for food sourcing and run logistics.
- Work with policy and advocacy to identify avenues of future USDA and gleaning funding.
- Maintain a comprehensive knowledge of inventory on hand and what is needed.
Relationship Management
- Maintain a relationship building schedule that includes face-to-face visits, meetings, tours and presentations with donors. Host food industry member visits and tours.
- Serve as the staff liaison to the Food Advisory Board to obtain valuable advice and strategies from food service professionals.
- Work with Agency Relations department to work through logistical challenges between Community Food Partners and Grocery Store Partners.
- Continue execution of the recognition program with Development and Communications that commends companies/individuals based on quantity and quality of food donations.
- Identify and initiate new donor relationships with food suppliers and relevant trade/industry organizations.
- Build deep donor relationships by identifying opportunities to link in-kind food donors with the OFS mission when appropriate (such as cause marketing and workplace giving campaigns, volunteering, special events, etc.).
- Identify promotional materials needed for building relationships with potential/existing donors.
- Maintain a key contact database with all current and potential donors.
- Work collaboratively across programs to identify product distribution channels.
- Manage logistics of strategic partnerships such as April Showers and Shop Out Hunger.
- Serve on the Nutrition Policy Committee.
Food Procurement Planning & Analysis
- Develop annual and long-term business plans for food acquisition based on strategic planning; including donor recognition activities, performance metrics, and annual outcomes/goals.
- Analyze information collected from ROMA to monitor donation activity.
- Maintain accuracy of incoming donation receipts and manage approval process.
- Be the go-to internal expert on ROMA to make adjustments and plan future improvements.
- Provide reports that document donor impact information to be shared with a variety of OFS stakeholders including a weekly update to Schnuck Markets.
- Monitor trends in the food industry to identify opportunities and threats.
- Maintain accurate and up-to-date procedural manuals for operations and gleaning.
- Willingness to assist with other OFS duties as required or as assigned.
Competencies
- Customer Focus: Embraces a client/donor-centric process in developing strategies. Brings together data/information to inform strategic decisions. Acts as a role model in demonstrating client and donor care principles.
- Communications: Ability to proactively communicate clearly and with all levels of employees both verbally and in writing. Values employee diversity and concise communications.
- Problem Solving: Uses logic and methods to solve difficult problems with effective solutions in a timely manner. Anticipates problems and develops proactive solutions. Solves problems when there are no available precedents, guidelines, or policies by drawing upon experience, research on best practices, and outreach to colleagues.
- Accountability: Takes responsibility for self and team performance including celebrating successes and recognizing team members for noteworthy contributions. Addresses performance deficiencies and challenges and suggests improvements.
- Collaboration: Creates collaborative opportunities across the organization. Inspires others to work together to achieve a common purpose. Establishes an atmosphere of mutual respect by encouraging a diversity of opinions, values, and perspectives.
- Creative Thinking: Examines traditional strategies and practices, and proactively looks for new ideas and ways to improve products, services, and work processes and uses innovative thinking.
Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college, with a major in Business Management, Business Administration, or Supply Chain & Logistics Management.
- Minimum of 3 years paid experience in a procurement capacity.
- Proven ability to organize, plan, and carry out activities independently to meet specific timelines with proven record of accuracy in completing and reviewing data.
- General knowledge of sound operating practices in the area of food warehousing, transportation, and inventory practices.
- Proven ability to operate as a team player and establish and maintain good relationships with people of various ages, educational, ethnic, and socioeconomic backgrounds.
- Outstanding communication and presentation skills; ability to persuasively convey and build support for the mission of OFS to food/product donors, community partners, the public, and others.
- Commitment to racial equity, and the ability to work with and understand the needs of diverse, multi-cultural populations.
- Proven ability to plan, organize, and follow through on multiple projects, activities, and responsibilities to meet specific timelines with a proven record of acuity and agility.
- Possession of a valid Missouri driver’s license and a clean DMV record. Willingness to drive personal vehicle, as necessary. Compensation for business mileage to be reimbursed at standard IRS rates.
- Willingness to work beyond core office hours, including some evenings and weekends, when necessary.
To Apply
Email a cover letter and resume Chief Operating Officer Carlton Adams, [email protected]. No phone calls please.
Applications received without cover letter and resume may not be considered.
EMAIL: [email protected]
LOCATION: 1644 Lotsie Boulevard, Overland, MO 63132
SALARY: $35,590 – $53,384
“I’m the first person visitors see when they come to OFS, and I welcome the opportunity to lift people’s spirits in a way that captures the positive energy here. We are a hopeful place, and I want everyone to feel that.”
—Bridget Brooks, OFS Front Office Administrator
Join Our Team
For more than 40 years, Operation Food Search has been able to serve others because of the dedicated people who have shaped and supported our organization: selfless volunteers, generous donors, outstanding partners and an excellent staff committed to the mission of healing hunger. We are seeking dedicated professionals who share our vision that all children and families in our community have the nutrition, food and skills to live healthy lives.
“I was immediately drawn to OFS for how it combats the root of the problem through policy change and innovative programming. I feel very lucky to be a part of such knowledgeable and passionate team!”
—Joanne Song, Policy Fellow
What We Stand For
Operation Food Search prides itself on providing both immediate hunger relief and working on the root causes of hunger. We do this work with passion for its value and respect for those we collaborate with and those we serve.
Benefits
OFS is pleased to offer its permanent full-time employees several comprehensive insurance benefits, including health insurance, a 401(k) Retirement Plan, nine paid holidays annually, personal days and vacation days. In addition, we support the professional development of our employees throughout the year.
Diversity and Inclusion
We’re committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment in our organization and for all those we serve and collaborate with. Diversity, equity and inclusion work is a continuous process that prioritizes a positive and collaborative work environment where all employees are appreciated for who they are and what they contribute. We value different backgrounds and perspectives as we work to make a meaningful, measurable impact in the region and to ensure all children and families have the nutrition, food and skills they need to live a healthy life.
Equal Employment Opportunity
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The Hague, The Netherlands (AP) — South African scientists say that reinfection among those who have already fought COVID-19 is more likely with the new Omicron variant than with the previous coronavirus variant. I warn you.
One research group is tracking reinfection in South Africa and reports a surge due to the arrival of Omicron, which was not seen when two previous mutants, including the highly contagious delta mutant, traveled through South Africa. bottom.
The findings posted online on Thursday are preliminary and have not yet been scientifically reviewed. The researchers also do not say which part of the reinfection was identified as a case of Omicron, or whether they caused a serious illness.
However, the timing of the surge in reinfection suggests that Omicron “provides substantial population-level evidence of avoidance of immunity from previous infections,” they wrote.
At a World Health Organization briefing Thursday, one of the researchers at the University of the Witwatersrand, Ann von Gottberg, said, “Previous infections were used to protect against deltas, but now it doesn’t seem to be the case at Omicro. “.
This study also does not consider the protection provided by vaccination. Coronavirus vaccines cause different layers of the immune response. Some are to prevent infection, while others are to prevent serious illness if someone gets infected.
“But we still believe that vaccines prevent serious illness,” said von Gottberg.
Dr. Michael Ryan, who is responsible for the WHO emergency, said that reinfection appears in the nose but does not necessarily lead to serious illness, and vaccines generally help protect the rest of the body. Was shown.
“The data we really see will be about the severity of the infection and whether the vaccine will continue to protect against severe illness, hospitalization and death,” Ryan said. “And for now, there’s no reason they think they won’t. I don’t know the details yet.”
The latest variants were discovered about a week ago by South African and Botswana scientists and are now found in several countries. As some health officials suspect, there are many new variants, such as whether it is more contagious, whether it makes people more seriously ill, and whether it can block the vaccine. Remains unknown.
However, it is important to know how much protection a pre-infection provides, especially in parts of the world where many of the population is not vaccinated. | https://pennsylvanianewstoday.com/studies-show-that-past-covid-infections-may-not-be-able-to-dodge-omicron-reading-eagle/279332/ |
Some black hole systems display a relativistically broadened
iron emission line in their spectrum, presumably due to
fluorescence in the surface layers of the inner regions of
the accretion disk. Constellation-X will allow us to observe
variability in this line due to the orbital motions of
inhomogenieties in the disk as well as reverberation effects
(i.e., the light echo of short/intense flares across the
accretion disk). We will show how these phenomena can be
used as a quantitative probe of black hole mass, spin and
(possibly) the validity of General Relativity.
| |
Another reason why knowing the various law school exam abbreviation references is important is so that you can make sure that you understand how the question is being answered. If you cannot quite figure out what the question is asking you to answer, it may not be too late to figure out the answer before the test. On the other hand, if you cannot seem to figure out the question, you may find that it is too late to take the test and you will probably have to take it again.
There are several different kinds of law school exam abbreviation symbols that you will come across when taking a law school exam. These include some that are used by the U.S. Department of Education, some that are used by the ABA, and some that are used in legal circles outside of the legal profession. There are some names that you may recognize by the acronym D-O-U-L, which stands for Define, Organize, Understand, or Interpret. You may also hear the acronyms DUI and OVI.
Other law school exam abbreviation symbols that you will come across include LSAT, LSG, Law School Sponsored Exam, and LSZ. All of these symbols have meanings that you should understand before you take your test. Even if you have never taken a law school course before, if you do some research you will be able to determine which symbol will apply to the particular type of course that you wish to take.
The most commonly used law school exam abbreviation is the LSAT. This stands for Law School Admission Test. In order to be eligible for the LSAT, you must pass all three parts of the course. The first part is Analytical, which will include multiple choice questions about law and legal forms. The second part is Verbal, which will show you how well you have articulated your answers to questions.
One of the popular acronyms for a law school exam is the LVN. This stands for Law Library Number. You can generally find the LVN on the school’s website. In order to take the test, you will need to show proof of a degree from an accredited law school. If you are taking the LSAT, you will also need to provide with your license from the state in which you live.
Some people choose to shorten their names by using a hyphen, but this is not recommended. Each letter has a unique meaning and use, so shortened versions will usually not work. Using hyphens is a good idea only if you plan to take the test multiple times.
Another popular acronyms for a law school exam is the LSAT. This stands for Law School Admissions Test. This exam will test both your verbal and written communication skills, and it is important that you understand these skills before you submit your application for admission to a law school. The LSAT is available from many accredited schools.
- Share: | https://paylawexam.com/law-school-exam-abbreviation-facts/ |
Austria has two associations in the water service sector: the Austrian Association for Gas and Water (ÖVGW) and the Austrian Water and Waste Management Association (ÖWAV).
ÖVGW has a long history. Founded in 1881, this non-profit organisation represents Austrian water supply industries and their associated sectors. Its core concern is ensuring that research and development in gas and water supply remain at the cutting edge of science and technology. Currently, 250 drinking water utility operators are members of ÖVGW.
ÖVGW is the sole association for the Austrian drinking water sector, representing the interests of the water supply sector.
Among its many tasks, ÖVGW compiles rules and guidelines for the gas and water sectors. As a platform for information sharing, ÖVGW communicates the work of water utility operators and raises awareness for drinking water related issues among the public.
Furthermore, ÖVGW supports research and development projects in collaboration with research departments and universities and offers certification of persons and products as well as further education and training.
With more than 2.000 member organisations, ÖWAV represents the entire Austrian water and waste management sector. ÖWAV is a non-profit organisation and is, therefore, considered as an ‘independent counsellor’ with the goal of achieving sustainable water, waste water and waste management objectives in Austria.
The main objectives of ÖWAV are qualification and quality management in water and waste management and the balance of information and interests, both internally and externally.
A glimpse of drinking water supply in Austria
Austria is rich in high-quality drinking water resources, with 50% coming from groundwater and 50% from spring water resources. Surface water is not used as a drinking water resource.
Austria’s drinking water sector is heterogeneous, with more than 5.000 small-scale water utilities providing essentially untreated drinking water to 7 million centrally supplied inhabitants (90% of the population). The remaining 10% are off the main grid (self-supplied).
The majority of drinking water suppliers are local municipalities (69%). Ten per cent of drinking water utilities are run by water cooperations and another 11% are managed by water unions. Austrian drinking water suppliers regularly monitor drinking water quality and operations.
Administration
National and federal state levels are responsible for drinking water and waste water-related issues. At the national level, the Austrian Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management are responsible for environmental regulations, while the Ministry of Health monitors drinking water quality.
The nine federal state governments grant water permits and are responsible for the technical inspection of water utilities. There is no water regulator in Austria.
Legal situation
Austria joined the European Union in 1995, therefore adopting EU legislation. Austria transposed the EU Drinking Water Directive in 1998, which regulates drinking water quality, amending the Austrian Drinking Water Act.
In 2000, the EU Water Framework Directive was also transposed into the Austrian Water Act, regulating technical requirements, water permits and the protection of the country’s water resources.
The EU Drinking Water Directive defines standards for water for human consumption (drinking water), which must not be undermined by national legislation. However, Member States may define national standards, which supplement EU standards.
Austrian authorities took advantage of the opportunity to include a passage requiring that personnel operating drinking water utilities were to be specially educated and trained in water supplying technical matters and hygiene in order to safeguard proper management and safe drinking water quality.
Education and training programmes for personnel in the drinking water sector
Until 1970, when ÖVGW launched its first seminars for drinking water utility operators, there was no dedicated education and training programme. Thus, ÖVGW seminars for ‘water masters’ was the first programme of its kind to educate and train drinking water utility personnel.
From 1971-73, 140 people passed the water master exam, a prerequisite to calling themselves ‘water master’. Back then, the course book had 24 chapters with 300 pages.
Anticipating the need from its members, mostly very smallscale water suppliers, ÖVGW introduced another education programme for small water utilities – the ‘water guard’ – in 1973. At that time, the course book contained 110 pages. In 1979, the education programme for water masters was developed further, introducing training courses with lecturers who had practical experience: microbiologists, chemists and other water utility operators.
With more than 20 years’ experience in training water masters, ÖVGW decided to apply for accreditation at the Austrian accreditation authority, the Ministry of Economics, to certify personnel according to EN ISO 17024 in 1999. External auditors regularly confirm that ÖVGW fulfils the requirements.
In total, ÖVGW offers three types of education and training programmes. These are:
- Basic training courses that take one day, providing general knowledge about the technical background and documentation duties of water quality and addressing operators of suppliers of less than 10m³ per day.
- Water guard courses, customised for utility operators providing more than 10m³, lasting for three days.
- Five-day water master courses, with lectures on water quality, water treatment, construction, engineering and management, and tailored for water operators that provide over 100m³ per day. ÖVGW is accredited to offer water master courses and to grant certificates.
Every education programme is customised to the needs of its target group, reflecting different organisational structures and levels of complexity of water distribution systems.
Education and training of water masters at ÖVGW
ÖVGW guideline W10 describes the conditions for the examination of water masters for obtaining a water master certificate, according to EN ISO 17024. It comprises requirements for candidates, auditors, exams, training and continuous training.
ÖVGW’s education and training committee is responsible for the course book and its contents. The course book summarises all relevant up-to-date information, relevant legal requirements, rules, guidelines and standards. The course book is under permanent review and regularly updated in accordance with the relevant authorities. The trainers must have many years of professional experience in the drinking water sector.
In order to receive the water master certificate, applicants have to pass a written exam at the end of the five-day course. The exam is valid for five years. Water masters can prolong the certificate for five more years if they have continuous training within the period of validity and pass an exam for prolongation. ÖVGW’s event department organises water master courses. Its varied tasks range from registration and training schedules to billing.
ÖVGW’s certification department keeps a record of water masters, information on continuous training, results of exams and the expiration dates of certificates. The number of educated personnel in the drinking water sector has been rising ever since. In November 2016, there were 1.985 certified water masters.
In 2002, the Austrian Ministry of Health acknowledged that ÖVGW education and training programmes are in accordance with the requirements of the Austrian Drinking Water Act. However, water masters are not an individual professional category according to commercial law.
ÖVGW has all the relevant up-to-date information on standards, legal requirements, state-of-the-art technologies and direct feedback on professional experiences. This enables ÖVGW to offer high-quality education and training programmes for water utility operators and professionals in the drinking water sector.
Therefore, well-trained and highly educated personnel in water utility companies help to improve the quality of service, hence contributing to the high standards and excellent drinking water quality.
Training in waste water system management at ÖWAV
The apprenticeship as a skilled worker in sewage management is divided into two main working areas:
~ A technician working at waste water treatment plants.
~ A sewer system operator. The training for both of these takes place over a period of three years.
Waste water treatment technicians attend two weeks of practical training, three weeks in a basic course, one week in a laboratory course, one week in mechanical engineering, one week in electrical engineering, three days on a measurement technology course and one week in an advanced course in current issues before they sit an exam.
Sewer system operators attend one week of practical training, a one week basic course, three days in a sewer cleaning course, one week on a survey and restoration course, one week on an operational management and maintenance course, a one week electrical engineering course and an advanced course in current issues before they sit an exam.
The waste water treatment technicians and the sewer operator are able to manage waste water treatment plants and sewer systems by the end of their training. They are also able to maintain and service machinery, evaluate and report breakdowns, perform minor repairs, evaluate safety, health and hygiene issues on the factory premises, handle treatment, re-utilisation or removal of accumulating waste materials, and document and monitor performed measurements and operations.
Above all, the technician learns all aspects of the proper and efficient operational management of a waste water treatment plant or sewer system. In order to provide a comprehensive and practice-oriented advanced training apart from the basic training, a Neighbourhood of Waste Water Treatment Plant and Sewer System Operators Network was established. Here, participants receive substantial information, technical literature and necessary working aids.
Conclusion
ÖVGW and ÖWAV are long-established associations in the water service sector. When it comes to professional training for personnel in drinking and waste water services, fostering knowledge and expertise is the main aim, not commercial motives. Both associations are non-profit organisations working mostly in an honorary capacity.
Education and training are an essential element of the Austrian water setup. Know-how and experience are seen as a prerequisite for high-quality services in the water service sector. In general, the water supply and sanitation staff in Austria are highly qualified and staff turnover is generally low
By Anna Pomassl, Drinking Water Expert, ÖVGW and Clemens Steidl, Head of Waste Water Management, ÖWAV
Read more in Water Matters.
Author : EurEau
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, austria, drinking water, education, engineers, EurEau, OVGW, OWAV, waste water, water
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You must be logged in to post a comment. | https://eureau.blogactiv.eu/2017/09/14/liquid-assets/ |
In this paper we consider the problem of encoding data into repeat-free sequences in which sequences are imposed to contain any k -tuple at most once (for predefined k ). First, the capacity of the repeat-free constraint are calculated. Then, an efficient algorithm, which uses two bits of redundancy, is presented to encode length- n sequences for k=2+2log (n). This algorithm is then improved to support any value of k of the form k=alog (n) , for 1< a , while its redundancy is o(n). We also calculate the capacity of repeat-free sequences when combined with local constraints which are given by a constrained system, and the capacity of multi-dimensional repeat-free codes. | https://cris.bgu.ac.il/en/publications/repeat-free-codes-2 |
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In one of the few cases that has considered the legality of an employer wellness program, the Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals considered a challenge by an employee of Broward County, Florida to the county’s imposition of a $20.00 bi-weekly charge on employees enrolled in the group health insurance plan who refused to participate in the employee wellness program. The wellness program required the employee to complete an on-line health risk assessment questionnaire and a biometric screening including a finger stick blood test for glucose and cholesterol. The information was used to identify employees with certain chronic diseases who then were given the opportunity to participate in a disease management program. Employees who participated in that program were eligible for co-pay waivers for certain medications. The employee challenged the imposition of the charge and attempted to have the case certified as a class action on behalf of all county employees. The employee claimed that requiring the blood test and questionnaire violated the prohibition in the American With Disabilities Act (ADA) on nonvoluntary medical examinations and disability related inquiries.
The ADA contains an exemption for insurance plans from the prohibition on medical examinations and disability related inquiries. Under that exemption, the ADA is not to be construed as prohibiting an employer from “establishing, sponsoring, observing or administering the terms of a bona fide benefit plan that are based upon underwriting risk, classifying risk, or administering such risks that are based on or are not inconsistent with state law.” The federal district court had concluded that the employee wellness program was a term of a bona fide benefit plan and therefore permissible under the ADA exemption. The employee challenged that conclusion on the basis that the county’s plan documents did not contain the wellness program provisions.
The Eleventh Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court’s decision. The court of appeals determined that the terms of a bona fide plan are not limited to the terms in the physical document labeled group health plan. In this case, the terms of the wellness program were included in at least two employee handouts so were communicated to the participants as terms of the plan. Therefore, the court denied any recovery to the employee.
As it happens, the county had already stopped imposing the additional charge. Of course, in light of the case, the county could decide to reinstate it.
Under the court’s reasoning, there would be few limits on structuring a wellness program under the ADA so long as the program’s terms are included under the bona fide medical plan. (Of course, an employer would also have to make sure that its wellness program met other legal requirements such as those imposed by the Department of Labor under the HIPAA portability rules.) The ADA also prohibits medical examinations or disability-related inquiries unless they are voluntary or required by business necessity. Many practitioners have been concerned that if the penalties for failure to participate in a wellness program are too severe or the rewards too high, then the program will not be viewed as voluntary. If the program includes a health risk assessment or biometric screening, an employee could claim that the program components are medical tests or disability related inquiries. In many cases, it would be difficult to justify a health risk assessment or biometric screening under a business necessity standard. The EEOC has stated informally that requiring a health risk assessment as a condition to obtaining coverage violates the ADA as a disability related inquiry that is not voluntary. Under the court’s reasoning, so long as the requirement is part of a bona fide benefit plan, it would be permissible.
Although employers can take comfort from this ruling, they should understand that the EEOC may still challenge wellness programs on a voluntariness standard. While employers in the Eleventh Circuit may have some protection, employers in other circuits should still evaluate their programs to make sure that they meet all legal standards.
I am presenting a webinar on October 9, 2012, at 9:00 a.m. for Minnesota CLE, entitled “Workplace Wellness Programs – Legal Issues and Risks.” Employers interested in this topic can check at www.minncle.org for further information about the webinar. Registration and other information should be posted soon.
See more »
DISCLAIMER: Because of the generality of this update, the information provided herein may not be applicable in all situations and should not be acted upon without specific legal advice based on particular situations.
© Stinson Leonard Street - Employee Benefits & Compensation
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The Malverns Complex at Earnslaw Quarry is mostly represented by coarse grained pink granite that is tinged green in places because of the presence of the mineral chlorite. Diorite is present in the north of the quarry but is separated from the granite by a fault zone. Exposed in the quarry are the contacts between the Malverns Complex and two younger intrusive rocks. The smaller of these intrusions is a ~20cm thick microdiorite dyke that intrudes the granite at a high angle. Minor copper mineralisation has taken place at this site.
The second intrusion is a potassium-rich trachyte dyke that forms an east-west step across the quarry floor in the south part of the quarry. This is the only intrusion of its kind in the Malverns Complex. It is a fine-grained, dull grey rock with scattered spots and veins of carbonate. It is composed mostly of the mineral potassium feldspar with minor chlorite, iron-titanium oxides, a colourless fibrous mineral and quartz. Pseudomorphs of the mineral nepheline may also be present.
The intrusion exhibits a marked chilled margin, indicating its intrusion into the granite after it had cooled and solidified. Coarse-grained carbonate patches occur in the centre of the intrusion and in the highly deformed margin of the granite, which also contains common carbonate veins. Carbonate mineralisation occurred either during or after the intrusion of the trachyte, as it cross cuts both the granite and the trachyte.
The trachyte dyke crops out on an E-W step across the southern part of the quarry, and appears to be confined to the western part of the step. It is perhaps truncated by a NNE fault running parallel to the trend of the quarry. It runs NW-SE and is oriented near-vertical, and may be Caledonian in age. A fault zone immediately to the north of the body separates diorite to the north from coarse-grained, pink granite to the south.
Terminology
Trachyte – Fine grained igneous rock dominated by the mineral potassium feldspar, with smaller amounts plagioclase feldspar and either quartz or a feldspathoid mineral, such as nepheline.
Microdiorite – Fine-medium grain igneous rock containing the minerals plagioclase feldspar, iron- or magnesium-bearing minerals, such as amphibole or pyroxene, and up to 10% quartz.
Calendonian – Descriptive term for rocks/structures formed during the Caledonian orogeny, a period of mountain building in Britain, North America and Scandinavia that took place ~400 million years ago.
Photos
General view of the lake and land slip at the Earnslaw Quarry.
The quarry face behind the upper car park at Earnslaw Quarry.
The scar left by the landslip exposes Malverns Complex diorite that is cut by pale pink pegmatite. The top of the scree slope left by the land slip is visible towards the bottom of the image.
Granite pegmatite vein intruding altered ultramafic rocks between the upper and lower car park.
References
Barclay, W.J., Ambrose, K., Chadwick, R.A., and Pharaoh, T.C., (1997), ‘Geology of the country around Worcester’, Memoir of the British Geological Survey, British Geological Survey, London.
Beckinsale, R.D., Thorpe, R.S., Pankhurst, R.J. and Evans, J.A., 1981, ‘Rb-Sr whole rock isochron evidence for the age of the Malvern Hills Complex’, Journal of the Geological Society, London, vol. 138, 1, pp. 69-73.
Carney, J.N., Horak, J.M., Pharaoh, T.C., Gibbons, W., Wilson, D., Barclay, W.J., Bevins, R.E., Cope, J.C.W. & Ford, T.D., 2000, ‘Precambrian Rocks of England and Wales’, Geological Conservation Review, 20, Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough.
Thorpe, R.S., 1987, ‘Pseudotachylite from a Precambrian shear zone in the Malvern Hills’ Proceedings of the Geologists’ Association, vol. 98, 3, pp. 205-210. | https://www.earthheritagetrust.org/worcssite-earnslaw-quarry/page/81/ |
After we notified you 2 weeks ago about the record series from Verkerk with 14 pigeons in the top 19 NPO from Bourges, we have to amend our words again 2 weeks later. You've guessed it, the record has been broken yet again, and once more by G&S Verkerk. In the last NPO race for the Old pigeons this season Gerard & Bas gave their all to repeat the stunt from 2 weeks previously. And how they succeeded 13 pigeons by the first 15 against +-6.700 pigeons from 660Km, never seen before.
Initially it looked like one wouldn't be able to race at the top of the provincial results because of the predicted W/NW wind. "We lie rather central in the northern half of the province, so it is not easy to be before the eastern corner of the province. That's why we value this performance higher than the one from 2 weeks ago".
In District West:
1°,2°,3°,4°,5°,6°,7°,8°,9°,10°,11°,12°,13° against approx.. 3.500 p. Province 5 South-Holland NPO:
1°,2°,3°,4°,5°,7°,8°,9°,11°,12°,13°,14°,15° against approx. 6.700 p. In the end almost certainly 43 prizes per 5 from 56 pigeons basketted.
The 5 NPO-races old pigeons in a row, every race just gets better
24 May Vierzon: 14 - 11.608 p.
8 June Chateaurou12 - 8.191p (10 by the first 100)
21 June Blois: 3,5,10,15,17,20,etc - 8.770 p (7,8,24,35,37,46, etc. National 43.064 p)
6 July Bourges: 4,5,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14,15,16,17,19,etc. - 8.548 p.
20 July Argenton: 1,2,3,4,5,7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,etc - 6.719 p.
What is remarkable is that from the 14 pigeons from Bourges, 10 of the same pigeons can be found in the first 13 from Argenton. Three of these pigeons were also present by Blois National.
The winner: Super hen 'Solange' "
The first 5 pigeons from Argenton were clocked within 8 seconds, a group of 5 pigeons landed, without hesitating, at the trap. Then you have to have the good fortune that your first nominated is in fact the first to walk over the antenna." This yearling hen proved herself as a youngster with a couple of prizes per 100, but only manifested herself this year with an unbelievable list of prizes:
1° NPO Argenton 6.719 pigeons
1° National Ace pigeon WHZB May 2008
2° Peronne 2.543 pigeons 3° Creil 3.761 pigeons
3° Creil 2.197 pigeons And in total already 12 X per 100!
She will most likely be 1° National Ace pigeon WHZB 2008 because she has broken the point's record of the winning hen from last year, namely 'Sita', also owned by G&S Verkerk.
'Good blood doesn't lie', 'Good comes out good', all these sayings are applicable to 'Solange'.
She was bred from the Olympiad pigeon 'Olympic Survivor' coupled with a daughter of Amoré, C&G Koopman, named 'Magic Amoré'.
The latter was obtained 2 years ago from C&G Koopman and is already mother of 5 top 10 NPO notations. We also asked about the care 2 weeks ago "No-nonsense, just like in our other top years 2002, 2003 and 2004. Simply basket the pigeons every week.
This season the pigeons have flown nearly 6.000 km. Last year we kept the pigeons at home once for a week because we didn't want to take any risks for National Blois, it turned out very badly for us. Something which we find important, but which we haven't paid the normal amount of attention to over the last few years is to make sure that the pigeons gain a lot of experience as youngsters. Last year nearly all the youngsters flew 2 X 350 km and 2 X 450 km." More detailed info over the loft and the Verkerk system can be found in previous reports on Pipa and will be covered in an extensive report after the season.
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One of the most spectacular results over the most recent years in the Netherlands!
A unique performance!
Never shown before?!
G&S Verkerk, Alphen aan de Rijn
achieved 14 pigeons in the top 19 NPO from Bourges (± 8.500 p.)!
There have been many superlatives used to describe the performances of this father-son combination. They are well-known in Alphen aan den Rijn for their chain results, their national Ace pigeons and their Olympiad pigeons and this year was no different.
In a moment we will take a quick look at the first part of their super season, but first we have to sit down while when we see what the Verkerks managed to achieve this weekend in the NPO race from Bourges
Against ± 4.500 pigeons in District West: 2°,3°,4°,5°,6°,7°,8°,9°,10°,11°,12°,13°,14°,15°
Against ± 8.500 pigeons in NPO South-Holland: 4°,5°,7°,8°,9°,10°,11°,12°,13°,14°,15°,16°,17°,19°
60 pigeons were basketted, wherefrom 37 prizes per 5 were achieved!
The NPO victory in South-Holland was achieved by Mr. J. Vermeulen & Son from Nieuw-Vennep.
Moreover, only Willem De Bruijn manages to come between the series of the Verkerks with 3 pigeons. De Bruijn also had a magnificent result with 14 pigeons before the 92nd prize in province 5 against ± 8.500 pigeons (also 60 basketted).
The above is a result that belongs to the chain of 'historical' results of G&S Verkerk including:
Chateauroux 2003 NPO: 8 by the first 9 against 6.664 p. (with 1°up to and including 6° NPO, still a record in the Netherlands!)
Vierzon 2004 NPO: 5 by the first 10 against 21.984 p.
Chateauroux 2002 NPO: 4 by the first 10 against 9.010 p.
Over the last few years there have also been a great number of results where by 2 or 3 pigeons have been clocked on Teletext (top 10 NPO). 2 weeks ago they even raced 2°,3°,6°, 9°,11° and 13° National Prov. 5 Blois against 4.673 pigeons, 4 of these 6 pigeons can be found by the 'Golden 14' from Bourges (see here under).
A short summary of the best results from 2008:
18th of May Moeskroen/Menen, 1.585 p. 1,2,3,4,6,7,8,10,16,18,25,26,27, etc. --- 49/79 (per 5)
31st of May Creil, 359 km, 3.761 p. 1,2,3,4,10,12,13,18,19,28,29, etc. --- 43/65
8th of June Chateauroux, 1.264p. 1,3,5,8,9,10,11,14,15,16,18, etc. --- 30/60
12th S.Nat/NPO and 10 pigeons in the top 100 - 8.191 p.
14th of June Sezanne, 7.876 p. 25,32,37,86, etc. --- 32/44
21st of June Blois, 8.770 p. S.Nat/NPO : 3,5,10,15,17,20, etc. --- 29/52 7° and 8° National against 67.000 p.& 6 pigeons in the top 50!
Only a loft with super form and super pigeons could produce such results!
"I've never experience anything like it before" was the first reaction of Bas Verkerk when we congratulated him with his super result. "We first saw 1 pigeon, but within a matter of seconds there were suddenly 5 pigeons flying round the loft. These 5 carried on flying for half a minute, they turned in against each other. They landed at the trap and were clocked. Just after the last of these 5 pigeons went inside another 9 pigeons came out of nowhere and landed together on the trap. Neither my father nor I had seen these 9 pigeons circling. It was as if they had literally just fallen out of the sky!"
It eventually took 34 seconds to clock all these 14 pigeons, from a race of 585 Km one would be inclined to have the euphoria to call this a 'world record'. Whoever has achieved anything better than this, must inform us The inevitable question on everybody's lips is how you manage to achieve such results. In other words: was there something different about this weekend? "Not at all, after the strange race last week from Epernay it was the intention to train the pigeons ourselves on the Wednesday, but it was raining yet again and we were busy here shooting a film. So there was no question of extra motivation or such like. The pigeons are given Forte Vita every week, and three weeks ago they were checked out by the veterinary surgeon Dr. de Weerd, who told us they couldn't have looked better." "By the way, there are no 'chancers' included in the 14 pigeons, nearly all of them have proved themselves more than once at the absolute top of the results. The 1°, 2° and 4° nominated were also there"
Let's take a closer look at these 'Golden 14' :
4° NPO Bourges:
06-2162368: 'Stradivarius': 1° Peronne 4.876 p.; 3° Duffel 2.114 p.; 8° Chateauroux 1.264 p.; 9° Chantilly 3.185 p.; 14° Moeskroen 4.132 p.; 16° Peronne 6.637 p.; 18° Ablis 20.007 p.; 20° Blois 8.770 p.;
Has now won in total 10 X per 100!
5° NPO Bourges: 07-1817850: 12° Ablis 785 p.; 13° Peronne 4.876 p.; 27° Chantilly 2.058 p.; 55° Moeskroen 4.132 p.;... Comes out 'Figo' X 'Magic Amoré'
7° NPO Bourges: 06-2162275: 'Nadala': 3° Nat. Prov. 5 Blois 4.673 p. (8° entire Netherlands), 23° Peronne 2.543 p.; 35° Duffel 3.152 p.; 42° Chantilly 3.185 p.; Sister 'Bulldozer'
8° NPO Bourges: 07-1817869: 9° Strombeek 2.081 p.; 28° Epernay 9.073 p.; 30° NPO Bouillon 13.710 p.; Grandchild 'Olympic Ronaldo'
9° NPO Bourges: 07-1818004: Has already won 5 X per 10, son 'Olympic Unbelievable'
10° NPO Bourges: 07-1817923 'Solange': Best pigeon this year by Verkerk, was already 1° national Ace pigeon May WHZB and has now won, including Bourges, 11 times per 100! Including 2° Peronne 2.543 p., 3° Creil 3.761 p., 3° Creil 2.197 p.! Bred out 'Olympic Survivor' X 'Magic Amoré'
11° NPO Bourges: 07-1817969: 5° Moeskroen 4.132 p.; 7° Strombeek 786 p.; 11° Peronne 2.543 p. Bred out 'Mission Impossible' X 'Oprah'
12° NPO Bourges: 07-1817907: 4° Creil 3.761 p.; 17° Peronne 4.876 p.; 19° Chantilly 5.645 p.; Also bred out 'Mission Impossible' X 'Oprah'
13° NPO Bourges: 07-1817922: 'Houdini': 3° Chateauroux 4.069 p. (12° NPO - 8191 p.); 3° Pommeroeul 2.194 p.; 26° Peronne 4.876 p.; Nest brother 'Solange', out 'Olympic Survivor' X 'Magic Amoré'
14° NPO Bourges: 07-1817855: 8° NPO Bouillon 13.710 p.; 9° Meer 436 p.; 13° Creil 3.761 p.; 46° Chateauroux 4.069 p.; Full brother 'Taylor', 2° Best hen WHZB 2006
15° NPO Bourges: 07-1817985: 'Kournikova': 10° Blois 8.770 p.; 26° Ablis 7.209 p.; 31° Sezanne 2.538 p.; 77° Peronne 4.876 p., Half-sister 'Olympic Spongebob'
16° NPO Bourges: 07-1817846 'Sven': Also won 4° Pommeroeul 2.194 p. and 27° Peronne 4.876 p. Son 'Olympic Survivor' X 'Oprah'
17° NPO Bourges: 07-1817981: 5° Chateauroux 1.264 p.; 29° Creil 2.197 p.; Out 'Bulldozer' X 'Amorina'
19° NPO Bourges: 07-1817891 'Icarus': Has already won 8 X per 100 including: 1° Pommeroeul 323 p.; 4° Moeskroen 4.132 p.; 7° Moeskroen 3.337 p.; 17° Blois 8.770 p.; 23° Laon 10.137 p.; 35° NPO Bouillon 13.710 p.; Out 'Bulldozer' X 'Olympic Unbelievable'
'Solange', 10° NPO Bourges en al 11 X per 100-tal
A line of top pigeons that makes the mouth fall open! What more could you wish for when you can achieve such results with such top pigeons? One thing is still not right
"This season we have missed the 1° NPO a couple of times by a hair's-breadth, and last year we were often 2° or 3° NPO. A 1° NPO would be the icing on the cake" This remark illustrates the unbelievable perfectionism that the Verkerk family employs. Even the best isn't good enough, they always strive for better. This is without doubt one of the 'secrets' that contributes to their success. | https://www.pipa.be/pl/newsandarticles/reports/verkerk-gerard-sebastiaan-stunt-season-gs-verkerk-knows-no-boundaries |
As the clock winds down to Dec. 21, experts on the Mayan calendar have been racing to convince people that the Mayas didn’t predict an apocalypse for the end of this year.
Some experts are now saying the Mayas may indeed have made prophecies, just not about the end of the world.
Archaeologists, anthropologists and other experts met Friday in the southern Mexico city of Merida to discuss the implications of the Mayan Long Count calendar, which is made up of 394-year periods called baktuns.
Experts estimate the system starts counting at 3114 B.C., and will have run through 13 baktuns, or 5,125 years, around Dec. 21. Experts say 13 was a significant number for the Mayans, and the end of that cycle would be a milestone — but not an end.
Didn't really think it would be the end, maybe a change but things are changing all the time.
Something exciting might happen... like zombies!
One of those prophecies better not include running out of chocolate, is all I can say. Are there will be an apocalypse!
The Mayans prophecised that the end of a calender would be the start of a new age. One of their gods, Quetzacoatl was also known as the feathered serpent, and he was said to have promised his return upon the Mayan's entering a new age. 2012 is the Chinese Year of the Dragon in the cyclic animal horoscope, so could the Chinese also know about Quetzacoatl's return this year, as feathered serpent also means dragon (feathers/dragonscales look alike, or feathers represents the capacity of flight, and feathered serpent means flying serpent which is dragon)? Could Mayan prophecy coincidentally coincide with the Chinese cyclic animal horoscope or could there be a deeper understanding and mystery behind it all?
"In a perfect world, every dog would have a home and every home would have a dog." Anon.
"Art is what you can get away with." Andy Warhol.
90% of human die, 10% continue to live and make a better world.
depending which side you're standing . the end of the world or the change of the world.
'Their made up gods got nothin' on my made up god'.
If life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade... And try to find somebody whose life has given them vodka, and have a party.
Or maybe I won't buy presents and then act all surprised it didn't happen...and save myself few bucks..?
Did you forget to mention that the "feathered serpent" is a FALLEN ANGEL?
some new agers even call themselves "alien hybrids" aka reptilians and dragons.
is there a reason for all this?
maybe this is a final sign or boarding call for us to take this light and darkness thing seriously.
wow, where did you get that information from?
how is that for LOVE AND PEACE - mass murder? | https://www.unexplained-mysteries.com/forum/topic/235062-mayas-may-have-made-some-prophecies/ |
Talismans of Primitive Races—The Axe—Arrow-head—The Swastika—The Serpent—The Interlaced Triangles.
Amongst primitive races the Axe was the symbol for Chief, God, or Divine Being, and had its origin in the Neolithic or later Stone Age, which ended in Europe about 2000 B.C.
It was doubtless the earliest weapon of prehistoric man, and in addition to its uses as a weapon would have been in constant service in clearing the way when moving from place to place, and in cutting and shaping the wood used in forming his shelters. This being so, it is easy to conceive of its association with strength, power, and utility; and its symbolic use to express these virtues is a logical conclusion, whilst from remains found in various parts of the world it is evident that its use for this purpose was universal, and amongst primitive races the Axe became the recognised hieroglyphic for God, Chief, or Ruler; moreover, as a symbol of power, its place is taken by the State Sword
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which is carried before the King at important ceremonies even to the present day.
Amongst the remains of the Stone Age, Talismans formed in the shape of Axe-heads have been found pierced with holes for suspension, and Illustration No. 13 (Plate I) is an example in Slate of the Neolithic period found in Portugal, and its ornament is the Divine in its feminine aspect as represented by prehistoric man, who placed the feminine first in his beliefs, tracing his own descent and his position in the tribe through the Mother.
Illustration No. 16 (Plate I) is of a blue flint Talisman from Egypt; and No. 15 (Plate I) is in Hæmatite, and comes from the Upper Congo, where the natives of the present day regard it as an effective Talisman against disease.
The Arrow-head in its symbolism had a similar significance to that of the Axe, and in Japan flint Arrow-heads were thought to have been rained from Heaven, or dropped by flying spirits. They were very popular in the early days of the present civilisation as Amulets to protect the wearer from disease and to avert the Evil Eye; whilst throughout Europe they were regarded as the product of Elves (Elf-shots, or fairy weapons), water in which they had been dropped or dipped, being considered very efficacious in.
Click to enlarge
PLATE I. PRIMEVAL, CHINESE, INDIAN AND THIBETAN TALISMANS.
p. 15
curing feminine ailments (see Illustration No. 17, Plate I).
The Swastika, one of the oldest and certainly the most universal Talisman known, can be traced back to the Neolithic Age, and it has been found engraved on stone implements of this period. It is to be met with in all parts of the Old and New Worlds and on the most ancient ruins and remains, it thus living through the Ages in active use down to the present time. In spite of its antiquity and the fact that some writers quote it as being in use among the Egyptians, we have not been able to find it, as a symbol used by them, amongst their remains in the British Museum, and authorities whom we have consulted are also unaware of its existence in Egyptian records.
It was used long before its present name was given it, and extensive discussion has been carried on as to whether its correct form is with its arms turned to the left, or to the right, without, as far as we have been able to ascertain, any definite conclusion being arrived at. Both forms seem equally popular, and are so found in all countries; whilst on the rock walls of the Buddhist caves of India they are used in great numbers, with their arms turned both ways often in the course of the same inscription.
p. 16
In Sanskrit its name means Happiness, Pleasure, Good Luck, Su—good, or well; Asti—being, making it = "Good Being"; and it is still used in India, China, and Japan as an Amulet for long life, good fortune, and good luck.
The illustration shown on Plate I, No. 14 is from a shield of the Bronze Age, the background being of dull red enamel, and the arms turned to the left; whilst No. 18, which turns to the right, is taken from between the feet of a statue of Buddha from Ceylon, and is also commonly found in the footprints of this Deity, sometimes both forms being used in the same impression. In China the Swastika sign is pronounced Wan, meaning a great number, a multitude, great happiness, longevity; both forms are used, but most commonly that which is turned to the left. The Jains of India regard it as a symbol of human progress, the right arm A (Illustration No. 18) representing the lowest stage of life, as protoplasm; the lower arm B indicating the soul's evolution, and through plant and animal life C representing human evolution, and D the spiritual life, the plane on which the soul is entirely freed from matter by the practice of the three jewels, right belief, right knowledge, and right conduct. In their temples at their service of baptism or its equivalent rite, this symbol is traced on the fore,
p. 17
head of the candidate as a benediction for protection from evil influences. It is used as an emblem of the highest of all, the Almighty maker of the heavens and earth, indicating the Divine Force radiating through the Universe; it is also regarded as a sign of Benediction and good augury amongst Buddhists and all Eastern nations, and as a symbol of the Sun, when represented turned to the left, the Autumnal period, and when turned to the right the Vernal.
It has been identified as the Hammer of Thor, the Lord of Thunder and Lightning, the God of the Air; and amongst the Scandinavians was believed to have dominion over the Demons of the Air, and the coat-of-arms of the Isle of Man—a Swastika formed of three human legs, is a legacy from the early settlers of their race. It may occasionally be met with, having five or six limbs, and is then probably intended to represent the Wheel of the law, or Buddha's Wheel; whilst a three-limbed figure is much used in the Punjaub and other parts of India by the Mohajin Log (the banking, or moneyed class) as a charm which was not only worn, but used as an ornament in their houses, generally over the door.
It is also the symbol indicated by the silent ascetic sitting with arms folded over the breast, the legs crossed, and each foot placed on the
p. 18
opposite thigh, which accounts for this pose, so familiar amongst the images of the Indian gods.
Dr. Eitel says this symbol was frequently cast on bells during the Middle Ages, and he instances as being still in existence those of Appleby, Scotheim, Waldingham, Bishop's Norton, and Barkwith in Lincolnshire, Hathersage in Derbyshire, Maxborough in Yorkshire and many others.
The fact that this symbol is found universally throughout India, Africa, North and South America, Asia and Europe forms a very strong argument for a common origin lost in the far distant past, and is considered by some writers as evidence of a connection between these continents and the lost continent of Atlantis.
The Serpent throughout all ages has appealed to the imagination of man, to whom its various characteristics afforded opportunities for symbolic expression; from its length of life it has been used as the symbol of Eternity, and as a Talisman for Longevity, Health, and Vitality, and when depicted with its tail in its mouth (this form being particularly noticeable in ancient rings) it indicates perpetual union, whilst to the Aztecs, who used it in this way as a symbol of the Sun, it signified unending Time, ever beginning, ever creating, and ever destroying, and was considered to have great protective and enduring virtues.
p. 19
When shown coiled, its folds signify succession of ages, and if the tail is hidden, unfathomable antiquity (see Illustration No. 22, Plate I, which is taken from an ancient Japanese example in the British Museum).
In primeval days, serpents of the Python family attained huge dimensions, and would naturally be held in dread and awe by early man; and in all primitive religions we find the belief held that the soul of man passed at death into a serpent to undergo regeneration and renewal, so symbolised because the serpent casts its skin once a year and becomes a new serpent.
To the Eastern mind the Sun in its passage through the heavens formed a curve similar to that of the Snake, and by its progression spirally, with great quickness at will, though without feet and hands or organs by which other animals perform their movements, it was supposed to symbolise lightning or fire, the vitalising principle of life in its good aspect, and, when antagonistic, it became typical of evil and misfortune.
In Egypt the Serpent in the form of the Uræus was worn round the head as a mark of Royalty, and to symbolise Divine Power, Wisdom, and Energy, every tomb of the Kings yet opened has the Serpent sculptured erect on each side of the doorway to guard and protect the body within.
p. 20
[paragraph continues] It first became a type of the Evil One when this form was assumed by Sut (after killing Osiris) in his endeavour to escape from the vengeance of Horus.
In Indian religions the Serpent is known as Ananta, or endless, a symbol of infinite duration and Eternity; Vishnu, the Creator, is represented sleeping on this serpent whose numerous heads form a canopy over the God, each giving constant attention to his expected awakening, when new creations and a new order of things will be established, and was valued as a talisman for Knowledge, Wisdom, and Understanding.
Serpents were sacred to the Great God of Medicine because of the idea that they have the power of renewing their youth by casting their skins, hence the wand of Æsculapius is represented as entwined by two serpents, the emblem of Medical Science, and in the temple of Epidaurus, the most important sanatorium of the Metropolis, a large serpent was kept, typical of Health and Vitality. As a symbol, it was used in connection with Ceres, Mercury, and Diana in their most beneficent qualities; whilst Python in monstrous form represented all that was evil.
Solomon's Seal, also known as the Interlaced Triangle, is another ancient Talisman that has been universally used in every religion; but though
p. 21
it is said to have been the symbol by which the wise King ruled the Genii, it could not have originated with him as its use dates back much further than the Jewish Dispensation.
As a Talisman it was considered all-powerful, being the perfect sign of the Absolute, and was worn for protection against all casualties, dangers, and mischief, and to preserve its wearer from all evil.
In its composition the Triangle with its apex upwards symbolises Good, and with the inverted Triangle, Evil: the Triangle with its apex up being typical of the Trinity that exists in all religions; in India, China, and Japan its three angles represent Brahma, Vishnu, and Siva, the Creator, Preserver, and Destroyer or Regenerator; in Egypt it represented Osiris, Isis, and Horus, and in the Christian Church the Holy Trinity. As a whole it stood for the elements of fire and spirit, composed of the three virtues, Love, Truth, and Wisdom. The Triangle with its apex downward represented the element of water, and typified the material world, or the three enemies of the soul, the World, the Flesh, and the Devil, and the cardinal sins, Envy, Hatred, and Malice.
Therefore, the meaning of the two Triangles interlaced, is the triumph of spirit over matter,
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and at the commencement of our present civilisation was considered an all-powerful Talisman, particularly when used with either a Tau Cross, the Hebrew Yod, or the Crux Ansata in the centre.
The Illustration No. 23, Plate I, is from an Indian form of the Talisman, and has the Sun's symbol in the centre. | https://www.sacred-texts.com/sym/bot/bot05.htm |
Recipient of the Purple Heart medal
According to Wikipedia,
David Haskell Hackworth , also known as Hack, was a prominent military journalist and a famous former United States Army colonel who was decorated in both the Korean War and Vietnam War. Hackworth is known for his role in the creation and command of Tiger Force, a military unit which was formed in South Vietnam to apply guerrilla warfare tactics against Viet Cong guerrilla fighters.
David Hackworth is affiliated with the following schools: | https://academicinfluence.com/people/david-hackworth |
Over time, many of the products we use wear off and worn out. Especially blankets can wear out quickly in this sense. They may lose their texture quality a little more after each wash, or you may accidentally make holes in your blankets or tear them off. The technique you can do to deal with situations like this is very simple; blanket repair.
Blanket repair is the name of the technique used for re-use of old and worn-out blankets. Blanket repair is an excellent alternative if you are thinking about giving a new style to your blanket, or if you would like to repair the blanket instead of putting it to the trash. One of the best things about blanket repair is that there is no single and right way of doing it. There are varieties of alternatives for blanket repair. In this text, you will find many different techniques that you can use for your worn-out blankets. Depending on the tools that you have, you can repair your blanket instead of buying a new one.
What Are the Ways of Doing Blanket Repair?
There are numerous ways of saving your blanket for re-use; the techniques that I would like to recommend are; doing patchwork, dismantling the blanket, stitching technique, applying applique to the blanket, and reproducing it. Before using a method, it is essential to know which characteristic your blanket has and the tools you have for the repair. Other than these, if you are preferably looking for a style option, instead of doing stitching or dismantling, I would suggest you do applique adding or patchwork designs. Now, for further information, you can scroll for the detailed applications of these methods.
Patchwork Method
Patchwork is the name of the method you can use for fabric materials while doing a repair. It is the name of a technique of covering the holes on the fabric or blanket-like products. This method can be used for repair needs as well as style concerns. For example, if you would like to add some decorative figures to a solid design blanket, or match your blanket with other objects in your room just by adding some more colorful figures on it, you can do patchwork. By doing patchwork, you can save from both time and money. It is a very easy method for fabrics, and all you need is a piece of cloth, thread, and a needle. The application of patchwork is very practical and convenient.
The first thing you need to think about when you’re doing patchwork is what you’re doing it for. If your priority is to enrich the decoration of the place, our suggestion is that you choose the rope and piece of fabric that you will use well. If your home does not have such a piece of fabric, you can go to the haberdashery for this need. It is possible to find many kinds of fabric pieces according to the color and pattern content you want in haberdasheries. On the other hand, if what you want is just a repair and you don’t care much about its design, we can get to work quickly. First, measure the size of the area you will be repairing properly, you can do this with the help of a tape measure.
Firstly, measure the part of the blanket on which you are going to apply your patch, and after doing this, grab the piece of cloth and apply the dimensions that you got from the blanket on it. If your cloth is big enough, you can mark its dimensions with the help of a pencil. You should avoid using a pen because ink leaves stains on the fabrics, that’s why you can use a bar of soap or a pencil. After applying the dimensions, make sure that you are cutting the cloth with an extra 2-3 cm larger dimensions because, in order to have a better-looking patch, we will use a turning in technique.
If you try to sew the cloth you cut directly onto the blanket, you may encounter an unwanted image because the ropes hanging from the edges of the cloth you will probably cut will damage your seam and cause the measure to flow away. At this point, turning in technique can help you immensely. After cutting wider than the actual measurements, neatly determine the lines with the sizes and fold the remaining parts inside. The name of this process is the turning-in method.
By doing turning in to the piece of cloth, you will have a thicker surface to sew and a better-looking part. It will be easier for you to control the fabric because otherwise, it might flow away. If you would like to, you can fasten up the piece with the help of marking needles or a thin thread. When your piece of cloth and thread is ready, you can start attaching two parts to each other. If you want, in order to enrich the decoration, you can do the same thing to the other parts of the blanket as well. It worths repeating, this is not just a way of repairing, but also a great decoration alternative.
After completing these steps, the part of sewing comes. Sewing is an important process, and it would be really helpful for you in daily life. This is the name of a technique mainly used for fabrics by using a thread and a needle while attaching two objects to each other. This technique is especially preferred in the products of hand-made tailoring. This is really valuable specifically on leather products. In our case, instead of changing the clothes you have, or socks, you can just sew them and do not waste money on new ones.
This simple technique can be used in the making of dresses, hats, blanket making, and so on. It can give you the ability to express your creative ideas on the clothes. You can write your name on your own blanket, or if you knit a blanket for a newborn, you can write down his or her name to the blanket by using various sewing techniques, so that you can specialize it for that person. There are so many ways of doing sewing, and I would like to give you some information that you can use for your clothes.
As a type of preparation for sewing, I would like to recommend you an easy way of fixing your piece of the patch to the blanket. You can use the method of basting stitching, and you can temporarily attach the patch to the fabric. Tailors use this method very often before doing the permanent stitching. I recommend this because, after the permanent sewing, you can easily unstitch this temporary thread so that you do not need extra needles to make a fixation or prevent flow ups.
The first type of doing sewing is attaching the clothes with running stitching. This kind of sewing is one of the most basic techniques of sewing. If you want to achieve this kind of sewing, it is to complete your sewing by attaching both fabrics to each other, leaving regular and equal gaps in the needle through which you pass the rope. In doing so, you should pay attention to ensuring that the needle enters both fabrics properly and completes them flat. If you want to use this sewing technique, you can complete this simple model with a very stylish look by choosing a beautiful color rope.
If the process you need to perform is simple or complex, the second type of sewing method that I can recommend is the backstitch. What you need to do for the backstitch process is a sewing technique in which you are supposed to sew two steps forward and one step back. If you can do it properly, you can get a neat appearance, just like a machine sewing, when you finish sewing. It is one of the ideal methods for hand-made stitches that are expected to be performed effectively.
Another suggestion of mine while doing patchwork is the method of catch stitch or cross stitch. Catch and cross types of stitchings are quite similar to each other. They look like little x on the fabric, but on catch stitch, this x rather looks like the two angles of a triangle. They are based on the idea of doing x with a needle. This is a very easy way of doing sewing, and by using contrast colors, you can have a lovely design. Also, only by doing cross-stitching, you can have amazing patterns on your blanket. Cross stitch is very widely used by those people who are making hand-made products. For example, you can make a flower on your blanket. If you would like to do that, there are patterns of doing cross-stitching online. All you need for a cross stitch pattern is different colors of threads.
Slip stitching is a different way of doing patchwork designs. You can use this for combining different parts together. What you need this time to perform this process is a hook. You can apply this process only on wool and knitted fabrics. For example, if you have a knitted blanket and want to attach a piece of knitting onto it, you can use the slip stitch technique. Instead of throwing a loop while doing this, you just need to pass the rope that you fill in the next loop at once. Inserted in the loop, the loop is done and passed directly.
In addition to these, you can use blanket stitching for your sewing process. This type is also known as buttonhole stitching. Blanket stitching is mostly used for the fabrics that are not very thick. This stitching makes them better and it avoids unravels. This type of stitching is visible on the both sides of blanket, and you can use this for thick surfaces as well. It provides also a decorative design.
A straightforward way of doing patchwork style is using a sewing machine, for sure. Sewing machines are very useful products for many kinds of fabrics. This is one of the products that you should have in your home. It would provide stitching varieties for you, and as they are machine-made, those stitches will be very long-lasting. Straight, Zig-zag, Overcast, Blind Hem, Decorative, and Buttonhole types of stitchings are the most commonly used stitching methods that are used in sewing machines. I will add some good quality sewing machines to the Amazon suggestions, so if you would like to have a look, you can buy a good quality sewing machine for your home.
Furthermore, you can use hand overcast type of stitching for your blanket sewing. This is a very easy and well-known method, perfectly suitable for beginners. This type is also called as whipstitch. What you need to do is wrapping the edges of the fabric and sewing them. You can use this technique for appliques, patchworks, or just for decorative purposes.
Also, you can use the method of pinked seam way of finishing. It would be best if you turned in the sides of two fabrics and bring them together, and by doing pinked seam, you can also avoid raveling. Then you should sew them together. People often use sewing machines for this process because they can make more permanent stitches on the fabric.
Finally, a perfect way of both attaching two surfaces to each other and also having a very stylish look on the fabric is using bias tape. Bias tape is a great way of giving decorative look to the blankets. They are 2 or 3 cm thick strpis, with many color options, also have different kinds of patterns. Once you sew these bands on the edge of your piece of fabric, you can repair your blanket’s necessary parts or make it part of the great design. If you use this technique, for example, while doing patchwork, you can create a transition between two different types of fabrics. Creating such transitions will further enrich your design.
Method of Dismantling the Blanket
This method may be preferred as a second alternative after patchwork, but what you need to pay attention to is whether your blanket is suitable for this process. This type of conversion is especially preferred for handmade blankets. If you want to perform this transformation with fabric blankets, you can cut and combine several different pieces of your blankets. You can also complete this connection with the methods I mentioned in sewing techniques.
However, my personal advice is for hand-knitted blankets. In particular, it is very difficult to throw away blankets that are gifts or commemorative objects of our lives. For this reason, you may want to consider repairing your blankets that wear out or get old like this. For example, you can turn a king-sized blanket into a toddler blanket so that you can continue to use it. Knitting is one of the most preferred methods to remove a blanket and start knitting again. You can even turn them into small corner pillows using the appropriate sizes and knitting needles if you would like to.
The Method of Stitching
This method is the most commonly used type of repair, especially for blankets with holes or worn edges. All you have to do is Stitch where the hole is and hide this stitch beautifully. To perform this process properly, you can use one or more of the sewing techniques described above for you. The good part of doing this type of attaching is that you are also going to be a part of the designer of the blanket. You can reflect your own style onto it.
The Method of Applying Applique to the Blanket
This is a great version of giving a very decorative and lovely look to the blanket. There are varieties of appliques that you can find in haberdasheries or online, and attaching them to the blankets are very easy. This is a great alternative while mending the blankets. This option can also be used for clothes or jackets. Even you can cover your whole jacket or jean with numerous appliques you choose. Furthermore, you can make your own applique with the techniques of embroidery or cross-stitch, or just buy them because they are quite affordable. All you should do is attaching the applique to the place of the blanket where you would like to cover, or maybe you can add some more onto it in order to have a total look.
Reproduction of a Blanket
This is the hardest way of doing a repair, but it is important to mention. This one is for those who cannot give up on their blankets, and the style of it. If you can find the right sizes and the types of fabrics that are suitable for this reproduction, I suggest you make your own blanket again. The products that we produce on our own have a special place in our lives, in that sense it might be a great way of adding something to your life that has a great contribution of yours.
If you would like to, you can use the good parts of your old blanket, by doing patchwork. There are many alternatives to produce your own blanket. You can do crocheting, knitting, patchworking, sewing, even you can only use a sewing machine. In order to enrich your design, you can buy bias tapes, or attach appliques.
Suggested Amazon Products That You Can Use For Blanket Repair
Janome HD3000 Heavy-Duty Sewing Machine with 18 Built-in Stitches + Hard Case
My first recommendation is a sewing machine. Sewing machines are great products that we all should have in our homes. We can use them for any purposes relating to fabrics, jeans, or leathers. Now let’s have a look at the detailed information about this product.
- This sewing machine is the product of a manufacturer called Janome.
- This is an Amazon’s Choice product, so you do not worry about the quality of it. It has a 4.4/5 stars rating with 443 votes.
- It’s only color option is white, and it is made of a material of metal.
- This sewing machine weighs 18.7 pounds.
- If you are interested in the dimensions, the sizes are 10 x 19 x 15 (L x W x H) inches.
- It has a built-in needle threader inside and also a reverse stitch lever.
- There are snap-on presser feet and a foot pressure adjustment.
- There are 18 stitches alternatives that you can use on your fabrics and 1 step buttonhole function.
- Its components are a power cord and foot control.
- If you are interested in the price, this product costs $429.00, and there is a discount currently, so hurry up if you are thinking about buying one.
If you are interested in the product, you can have a look by using the following link; https://www.amazon.com/Janome-HD3000-Heavy-Duty-Machine-Stitches/dp/B00916Y4YM/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3ALD2MNZ6XCLN&dchild=1&keywords=blanket+repair+kit&qid=1600264997&sprefix=blanket+repair+k%2Caps%2C331&sr=8-3
SINGER | Heavy Duty 4452 Sewing Machine with 110 Stitch Applications, Metal Frame, Built-In Needle Threader, & Heavy Duty Accessory Kit – Sewing Made Easy
In order to provide another high-quality sewing machine alternative, I wanted to add one more option to the list. This is a perfect sewing machine if you are thinking about buying one. Now let’s have a look at the detailed information about this product.
- This sewing machine is the product of a manufacturer called Singer. Suppose you are familiar with such sewing issues. In that case, you must have known that Singer is a very well known product in this area, and there are varieties of accessories that this manufacturer provides for tailors.
- Out of 2255 global ratings, this sewing machine got a 4.5/5 stars rate, and this is a perfect rate for such a product.
- The color of the sewing machine is grey. This machine can also be an alternative for white color.
- The material that this machine is made of is stainless steel and metal.
- This sewing machine weighs 7.14 kilograms / 15.7 pounds.
- If you are interested in the dimensions, the sizes are 15.5 x 6.25 x 12 (L x W x H) inches.
- You can produce your own elegant and exclusive garments for yourself or as a gift for others.
- There are features of 32 built-in stitches that include 6 Basic, 7 Stretch, 18 Decorative Stitches, and 1 Fully Automatic 1-step Buttonholes. A great composition of stitches for numerous types of sewing and perfect for crafts, home decor, clothing construction, and so on.
- This machine has the quality of high-speed sewing. Per-minute, you can have a maximum of 1,100 stitches so that you can finish up your projects very quickly. Its motor is 60% stronger than the ones that are in comparison. You can even easily sew the fabrics that are heavyweight and thick.
- This package also provides various sewing alternatives such as even feed / Walking Foot for layers of fabric, Non-Stick Foot for leather and vinyl, a 5-pack of Size 16 needles, and a Clearance Plate for thick seams.
- Volts (120V) / Hertz (60)
- Amps (0.7) / Watts (84)
- Other accessories that are included in the package are seam ripper/lint brush, zipper foot, buttonhole foot, quilting guide, needles, bobbins, screwdriver, auxiliary spool pin, all-purpose foot, button sewing foot; spool pin felt are all conveniently located and stored in the accessory tray.
- If you are interested in the price of this product, this item costs $301.04.
If you are interested in the product, you can have a look by using the following link; https://www.amazon.com/4452-Accessories-Stainless-Stitching-Automatic/dp/B00OZWX100/ref=pd_di_sccai_2/138-3717097-5704566?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B00OZWX100&pd_rd_r=2d8d27d7-ea16-4fbc-b6f5-7927d66acc36&pd_rd_w=Hv8Cy&pd_rd_wg=M6x96&pf_rd_p=5415687b-2c9d-46da-88a4-bbcfe8e07f3c&pf_rd_r=JJ09NVSNAQV038DF9TK4&psc=1&refRID=JJ09NVSNAQV038DF9TK4
Sulky Rayon Embroiderer’s Dream Collection #2 Original Slimline Thread Storage Box – 40 Wt
In the previous sections, I mentioned the importance of having varieties of colors while doing sewing. I suggest you have many different colors of threads because, in our homes, we use many products with diverse colors, so that it is crucial to have as many threads as we can have. This kit might be very helpful at this point. Instead of buying them separately with different quality, you can have such kind of a full-set thread kit. Now let’s have a look at the detailed information about this product.
- This kit set is produced by the manufacturer called “Sulky.”
- Each kind of spool has 250 yards.
- In the delivery, you do not need to worry about it. It comes with a package in the slimline storage box.
- In this package, you will be able to find one storage box and 104 spools of threads.
- When we have a look at the customer reviews, you will see that this product got 4.9 out of 5 stars, and this shows how good quality this product is.
- If you are interested in the box dimensions, it has the sizes of 4.5 x 16.25 x 16 inches.
- This box weighs 3.99 pounds.
- If you are interested in the price, this product costs $247.37.
If you are interested in the product, you can have a look by using the following link; https://www.amazon.com/Sulky-Embroidery-Slimline-Dream-2-Assorted/dp/B0054SFPAS/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=thread+set&qid=1600265109&sr=8-3
Prism by Pieceful Quilter Thread Kit 12wt 12 Large (356 Yard) Spools Aurifil
In addition to the previous one, I wanted to add one more thread kit to set an alternative for you to this list. This kit is composed of the threads with a much different style option. Now, let’s have a look at the details of the product.
- This kit set is the product of the manufacturer called Aurifil.
- The color selection of the set is rather with a mixed design. There is no solid type.
- There is 12 prism collection from Aurifil, and all of them are at a very good quality.
- This kit set is a special collection by Pieceful Quilter, Michele Scott.
- This exclusive thread kit includes 12 large weight spools, 356 yards (225 meters) of each.
- The material of the threads is 100% cotton. This is a premium quilt shop quality thread.
- The package is provided as a convenient case by the manufacturer.
- The rating of the product is 4.4 out of 5 stars.
- This item weighs 1.34 pounds.
- If you are interested in the dimensions, the sizes of the box are 12.3 x 9 x 2.3 inches.
- If you are interested in the price, this kit costs $130.00.
If you are interested in the product, you can have a look by using the following link; https://www.amazon.com/Pieceful-Quilter-Thread-Spools-Aurifil/dp/B010EZ0QWC/ref=sr_1_19?dchild=1&keywords=thread+set&qid=1600265109&sr=8-19
Sewing Kit, 226 Premium Sewing Supplies, 43 XL Thread Spools, Suitable for Traveller, Adults, Kids, Beginner, Emergency, DIY, and Home by Inscraft
Another very crucial thing to add to this list should have been a sewing kit. This looks like a perfect kit for you. In this set, you can find everything you need, not only for blankets, but the things you can use, such as for sewing DIY, sewing a button, or doing mending. Now, let’s have a look at the further details of this product.
- This kit consists of every accessory that you need. There are multicolored threads, nine clips, two-dimension knitting needles, colored buttons with 15 different sizes, and two needle threaders.
- There are 43 good quality spools that are in the size of XL. 5 of those spools are multicolored. For daily purposes, you can use all of them. Also, the manufacturer argues that those threads are very sturdy, it is almost impossible to break them, and they are very reliable on that.
- The fact that you can find all of them in one package makes it quite easy to carry wherever and whenever you want. At this point, if you are interested in the dimensions of the bag, its dimensions are 10.8 * 8 * 1.6 inches. This is a very big size compared to the other products on Amazon. You can have all of the sewings requires in one pack at an ideal size. This size can slip into a briefcase, suitcase, office desk, or even a car. You will always be ready for any kind of emergent sewing situations.
- You can gift this set as a great alternative. This kind of set would be useful for everyone in the family. Especially for frequent travelers, such sets are quite crucial.
- The manufacturer company guarantees your satisfaction. In addition to that, they argue if you do not like the product, you can easily get your money back, or you can have a replacement as you wish.
- This ultimate sewing pack weighs 1.21 pounds.
- If you are interested in the price, this thread kit costs $25.99.
If you are interested in the product, you can have a look by using the following link; https://www.amazon.com/dp/B085WPBNRR/ref=sspa_dk_detail_2?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B085WPBNRR&pd_rd_w=bvl5X&pf_rd_p=f0355a48-7e73-489a-9590-564e12837b93&pd_rd_wg=jJvKL&pf_rd_r=A58E2RCQQA54NARN9P13&pd_rd_r=7dc3b053-4de0-4b06-8c0d-a3394a0bec83&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEzQ1lGRUtaOVE5WjNGJmVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwMjUxNjU3RjJQQU5DS0NHSTlZJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTAwNDUwMzMyUTVSNEtOVVAwU0NGJndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfZGV0YWlsX3RoZW1hdGljJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==
Rui Xia Sewing KIT Repair Set Needles Portable Mini Mending Button Travel Sew Kits
In addition to the previous set, I wanted to provide a good alternative for you. That one was a really good one for the professionals, but if you are a beginner in sewing, you can think about buying a smaller option like this. Now, let’s have a look at the further details of this product.
- The manufacturer is called RuiXia.
- This is a very lightweight and portable sewing kit. You can use this for any kind of emergency situation.
- Here is the list of the products that you will find in this kit; needles, thimble, threader tools, threads, scissors, buttons, seam rippers, and everything else in one place with this ultra-packed kit.
- If you are a beginner, this is the perfect set for you. This kit is a must for all kinds of users, such as kids, adults, elderlies, and pro-users. You can do button replacements, mending of the fabrics, ripping hemline.
- Anybody who needs to do sewing at some point in their lives needs this set. Instead of looking for a tailor just to attach a small piece of cloth, to repair your blanket, or replacing a button, you can be your own tailor and do that thing any time.
- This is a very compact kit that you can take to travels, put into your car for an emergent situation, and an indispensable product of your home.
- This is very handy for all kinds of users.
- If you are interested in the price, this multipurpose and ultimate thread set costs $87.08. | https://goodblanketguide.com/blanket-repair/ |
Encrypt devices and data
In general, the University advises against storing sensitive University information on your computer. However, if you must store sensitive University information, you must encrypt it to ensure its confidentiality. Anyone who gains access to your computer or storage device—even an unauthorized user—is able to view, copy, or modify unencrypted sensitive information. Encrypting sensitive files will help you control who can view or use the files.
Encryption scrambles the file itself, rendering it meaningless on its own. The file only becomes meaningful when it is decrypted, which requires the correct password or key. Unauthorized users will still be able to copy encrypted files, but they will not be able to open or view them without the password or key.
Requirements
Faculty and staff should discuss encryption with their unit head or local support provider to find out what their unit's encryption requirements and plans are.
- Encrypt University information according to your unit's encryption plan and using a strong password or key.
- Encrypt any sensitive University information at rest on electronic storage media.
- Encrypt portable IT devices (laptops, smartphones, tablets, and removable storage media such as external hard drives or USB flash drives) with whole disk encryption.
- Provide copies of your encryption passwords or keys to the unit for escrow to ensure that the encrypted information is able to be decrypted in the event that you are unable to decrypt it yourself.
- Use VPN to create encrypted connections to IT resources.
- Ensure that sensitive University information is encrypted prior to transmitting it electronically. Use encrypted transmission protocols if it is not possible to encrypt sensitive University information prior to transmitting or receiving it.
- Do not store or share encryption passwords or keys in a way that identifies the files they protect. If you need to share an encryption key with someone else, use a separate channel from the one you used to send the file (e.g., share the file as an attachment and the password over the phone).
General guidelines
- Do not store sensitive information on your computer or electronic devices unless it is necessary to do so.
- Encrypt all sensitive information that you must store.
- Use a password that is complex and difficult to guess. Encryption only works so long as the password is kept secure.
- If your device offers whole disk encryption, enable it to protect all of your information.
- Some encryption software leaves unencrypted versions of files on your device. Be sure to securely erase these files to ensure that the unencrypted information is not recoverable.
External resources
Encrypting Personally Identifiable Information (UD IT help file)
Explains the tools approved for encrypting University information. Be aware that your unit may have different encryption requirements or practices.
Encryption Explained (Indiana University)
Introduces the basics of encryption and provides a look at what other universities are requiring.
Reasons to Encrypt Your Data (Kaspersky Lab)
Explains why encryption is important, even if you don't think you have anything information encrypting. | https://www1.udel.edu/security/bestpractices/encryption.html |
Abstract:
The availability of water is becoming an urgent factor in crop productivity in both developing and developed countries, particularly in drought-prone areas. One-third of the world’s rice cultivated in rainfed lowlands and 13% in upland rainfed fields where the lack of rainfall makes cropping impossible without irrigation.
In India, more than 60% of the arable land is in arid and semi-arid regions marked by a long dry season and inadequate and unpredictable rainfall. Drought can have a devastating effect on India’s rice production because most farmers practice paddy culture. Therefore, identifying traits of rice that enable it to survive droughts, along with cropping management practices, that mitigate the impact of water scarcity are important research areas, particularly under the projected climate change scenarios. | https://ipipotash.org/en/abstracts/detail.php?d=586 |
The research is based on a Swedish national database of health records that includes all hospitals in Sweden. Researchers analyzed the records of men age 80 years or younger who were hospitalized for a first heart attack between 2007 and 2013. Tracking the men for an average of 3.3 years following this first heart attack, they compared outcomes among those who subsequently filled a prescription for a PDE5 inhibitor or alprostadil to those who did not. Overall just over 7 percent of men were prescribed an erectile dysfunction drug, 92 percent of whom were prescribed a PDE5 inhibitor and 8 percent of whom were prescribed alprostadil.
While additional investigation is usually necessary, the medical and sexual history is essential and frequently the most revealing aspect of the ED assessment process. Questionnaires are an integral part of the history. The International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF), a 15-item, self-evaluation questionnaire is a validated instrument for assessing erectile function, orgasmic function, desire and satisfaction after sexual relations.8 An abridged version of the IIEF is a 5-item questionnaire the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM) or IIEF-5 (Table 2). Responses to the five questions range from 1 (worst) to 5 (best). Questions 2 to 4 may be graded 0 (if there is no sexual activity, or no sexual intercourse attempt) and the final score ranges from 1 to 25 points; a descending score indicates worsening of erectile function, with values ≤21 being diagnostic of ED.8 Importantly, validated questionnaires correlate with the extend of CAD9 and improve the predictive value of ED for total cardiovascular events compared with a single-question ED diagnosis.5 It cannot be overemphasized that the SHIM can be effectively used not only by andrologists and urologists but by a wide array of medical specialists, such as cardiologists, diabetologists, primary care physicians, etc.
PubMed | Google ScholarSee all References A dose-related phenomenon with propranolol use was suggested by another study, which showed that patients receiving propranolol dosages exceeding 120 mg/d developed ED at a higher rate than patients who received lower dosages of the same medication.43x43Warren, SC and Warren, SG. Propranolol and sexual impotence [letter]. Ann Intern Med. 1977; 86: 112
Several drugs can produce erectile difficulties, but blood pressure drugs are near the top. ED is an occasional side effect of BP drugs like thiazide diuretics, loop diuretics, and beta-blockers, all of which can decrease blood flow to the penis and make it difficult to get an erection. However, other BP drugs, such as alpha-blockers, ACE inhibitors, and angioten-sin-receptor blockers, rarely cause ED.
A man needs to try the medicine at least four times before he concludes that it doesn’t work for him. It is unlikely that a man with diabetes who has other medical problems such as high blood pressure, is taking multiple medicines, and has not had sexual intercourse for several years will be able to have an erection adequate for intercourse the first time he takes a pill. Most men need to try the medicine several times before they have the desired results.
Artery size also explains the onset of ED before occurrence of CAD. Coronary arteries are 3–4 mm in diameter, while the penile artery is 1–2 mm in diameter.17 Endothelial dysfunction and plaque burden in the small arteries may cause symptoms of ED before they affect blood flow in large arteries. Also, an asymptomatic lipid-rich plaque in the coronary arteries carries the risk of rupture that leads to acute coronary syndrome or death, so ED may be predictive of these serious events without warning cardiac symptoms.17
Yes, and there’s the rub. High blood pressure, especially if untreated, can lead to erectile dysfunction (ED). So can medications your doctor prescribes to bring down your high blood pressure. Fortunately, not all meds cause ED. Thiazides, diuretics or “water pills,” are common ED culprits. So are beta blockers. These effective heart meds slow your system down, and also affect blood flow where you need it -- in your penis -- at the right time. Alpha blockers, another class of medications that lower high blood pressure, are less likely to cause ED. So talk with your good doc about medication choices and side effects, so you can choose the right med for you.
Usually patients will try less invasive alternatives to treat impotence before opting for surgery. These alternatives may include supplements, herbs, lifestyle changes and even medications. In cases where other treatments do not work to resolve ED, surgery might be a last-resort option. Surgery involves implanting a penile prosthesis. This is a saline-filled silicone device or a malleable device. Although the likelihood of serious side effects is considered to be low, certain risks are associated with surgery to correct erectile dysfunction. These side effects may include: anesthetic risk, device infection, and device malfunction or mechanical failure. Some studies have found that five years following surgery around 10–20 percent of men experience device malfunction and failure. Infection rates are low. Around one percent of men who opt for this type of surgery get an infection.
Despite the existing controversies, available data so far imply the old generation b-blockers (e.g., propranolol) as the major culprits for sexual dysfunction with the newer ones (carvedilol, celiprolol) to exert a less pronounced negative effect[21-24]. A luminous exception to the rule, nebivolol, is a newer agent of its class which significantly ameliorates erectile dysfunction through increased nitric oxide generation, an effect consistently demonstrated in recent studies[25,26]. Diuretics, even on adjunct therapy, constitute another antihypertensive agent negatively associated with sexual function[27-29]. On the other hand, calcium antagonists and angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors seem to demonstrate a neutral effect[30-32]. Interestingly, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) by blocking the vasoconstrictive action of angiotensin II seem to positively affect erectile function and are thus regarded as a first-line treatment in hypertensive patients with erectile dysfunction[22,25,33-35].
A disruption anywhere along the complex chain of events will impair the capacity to have an erection. Any man who has experienced the frustration of male impotence knows that the consequences extend beyond physical dissatisfaction to anxiety, tension, and embarrassment. A common reason for failure of the erectile apparatus is disruption of the path leading to nitric oxide production and blood flow control.
Penile prosthesis is a viable option for men who cannot use sildenafil and who find the injections or vacuum erection therapy distasteful. A non-adjustable semi-rigid prosthesis is easy to insert and has no postoperative mechanical problems. The inflatable prosthesis has a pump that is put in the testicular sac for on-demand inflation and deflation. Future versions will have a remote control device similar to a garage-door opener.
“The presence of erectile dysfunction portends a higher risk of future cardiovascular events, particularly in intermediate-risk men, and may serve as an opportunity for intensification of cardiovascular risk prevention strategies,” wrote Boston University heart specialists Naomi Hamburg, MD and Matt Kluge, MD, in an accompanying editorial. “The findings add to the growing evidence supporting additional trials to determine the clinical impact of erectile dysfunction screening and the appropriate cardiovascular directed evaluation and treatment of men with erectile dysfunction.”
Erectile dysfunction (ED) is common in cardiac patients and shares the same risk factors--smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia and diabetes mellitus. Sexual activity is not unduly stressful to the heart and, providing patients are properly assessed using established guidelines, sexual intercourse can be enjoyed without increased risk. The treatment of ED in patients with cardiovascular disease has been transformed by the introduction of the oral phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitors, the first of which was sildenafil. Success in restoring erectile function is possible in up to 80% of patients (depending on the aetiology) with minimal adverse effects. A synergistic hypotensive effect with nitrates, and almost certainly nicorandil, is the only major contraindication. ED in asymptomatic patients may be a marker of silent vascular disease or increased vascular risk factors and should alert the physician to the need for cardiac risk screening. ED is common in patients with cardiovascular disease and should be routinely enquired about. ED is a distressing condition for the man and his partner, and severely impairs quality of life. Patients with cardiovascular disease and patients with diabetes represent the largest group of patients with ED, the majority of whom benefit from the drug therapies currently available. Addressing ED in patients with cardiovascular disease can lead to a substantial improvement in quality of life and success is not difficult to achieve.
ED is easily and successfully treated! If your sex drive is unaffected, but you experience problems achieving or sustaining erection for a period of four to five weeks, you may have ED. Talk to your doctor immediately. Don’t delay—erectile dysfunction doesn’t “just go away!” Additionally, ED could be a sign of a serious, even life-threatening complication, such as congestive heart failure or kidney disease. Ignoring your ED because it’s embarrassing could jeopardize your health.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (25) | Google ScholarSee all References Hemodynamic stress also may cause rupture of a vulnerable atherosclerotic plaque resulting in angina, myocardial infarction, or sudden cardiac death.80x80Muller, JE. Triggering of cardiac events by sexual activity: findings from a case-crossover analysis. Am J Cardiol. 2000; 86: 14F–18F
Alprostadil self-injection. With this method, you use a fine needle to inject alprostadil (Caverject Impulse, Edex) into the base or side of your penis. In some cases, medications generally used for other conditions are used for penile injections on their own or in combination. Examples include papaverine, alprostadil and phentolamine. Often these combination medications are known as bimix (if two medications are included) or trimix (if three are included).
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (395) | Google ScholarSee all References Phosphodiesterase type 5 is primarily responsible for the breakdown of cGMP in cavernosal tissues. The inhibition of PDE-5 by sildenafil therefore causes continued activation of the NO-cGMP pathway in the cavernosal tissue, thereby improving erectile function.10x10Kloner, RA and Zusman, RM. Cardiovascular effects of sildenafil citrate and recommendations for its use. Am J Cardiol. 1999; 84: 11N–17N
A variety of personal habits and lifestyle choices have been linked to ED. In some ways, this is a good thing, since habits can be broken and choices reconsidered. What's more, many of the lifestyle factors that contribute to sexual problems are ones that affect overall health and well-being, both physical and mental. Addressing these factors, therefore, can have benefits beyond improving erectile dysfunction.
Abstract | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (29) | Google ScholarSee all References After controlling for diabetes mellitus, tobacco use, and hyperlipidemia, hypertension was not found to be an independent predictor of vasculogenic ED in 440 impotent men as measured by the PBI.7x7Virag, R, Bouilly, P, and Frydman, D. Is impotence an arterial disorder? a study of arterial risk factors in 440 impotent men. Lancet. 1985; 1: 181–184
Erections are extremely complicated and surprisingly fragile. Erections involve chemical signals, nerve impulses, complicated blood pressure changes, and overall fitness in systems ranging from your heart and hormones to your mood. When medication changes how one of these factors works—like blood pressure drops or depression medication—ED is a common side effect. The problem with these completely predictable medically induced side effects is how people react.
Diaclina (also known as Panzer’s Darkling Beetle), Korean bug are used as aphrodisiacs in China, Korea and Southeast Asia. These are consumed either whole or as compounds within capsules. It is felt that the aphrodisiac properties come by stimulating the urogenital structures. Flies have been studied for their aphrodisiac effects, including Spanish fly, Chinese cantharide, and Eastern-Indian cantharide (32). The active compound found in the dried and mashed up bodies of these flies is cantharidin, which is a pheromone produced in the accessory glands of the male flies’ genitals. Cantharidin, stimulates the urogenital tract, causing pelvic hyperemia and possibly erections. As cantharidin is toxic and its safety dose not well determined, its use cannot be recommended. Cantharidin is lethal at high doses and exposure can lead to gastrointestinal and urogenital hemorrhage as well as acute renal failure.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (95) | Google ScholarSee all References Sildenafil is absorbed rapidly, and peak plasma levels of 127 to 560 ng/mL are seen in a fasting state approximately 1 hour (range, 0.5-2 hours) after ingestion.3x3Zusman, RM, Morales, A, Glasser, DB, and Osterloh, IH. Overall cardiovascular profile of sildenafil citrate. Am J Cardiol. 1999; 83: 35C–44C
There are so many potential reasons a man might develop erectile dysfunction (ED), it's nearly impossible to generalize the best ways to treat it. What works for one man may not work for another simply because they are having problems for different reasons. That said, it may encouraging to hear that there are a variety of options that may be considered, from psychological counseling to lifestyle changes, medications to treatments and devices.
While all three forms of male sexual dysfunction can be found among diabetic men, this review will focus on the most common form, ED, because the literature is most mature in this area. Defined as the inability to achieve or maintain an erection sufficient for satisfactory sexual performance, ED is highly prevalent in diabetic men1 and is almost always organic in its etiology. Given that many patients feel that their ED is “in their heads” and that “their provider will dismiss any sexual problems they might bring up,”2 it may be a relief for patients to learn that their ED is physical, related to their diabetes, and treatable. To this end, the goal of this article is to review the epidemiology, pathophysiology, quality of life effect, and treatment of ED in men with type 2 diabetes.
A study published in May 2014 in The Journal of Sexual Medicine found that some men can reverse erectile dysfunction with healthy lifestyle changes, such as exercise, weight loss, a varied diet, and good sleep. The Australian researchers also showed that even if erectile dysfunction medication is required, it's likely to be more effective if you implement these healthy lifestyle changes.
The EDDM patient has a variety of firstline options. The risk factors for vascular disease are the risk factors for ED. First-line therapy begins with attempts to minimize or eliminate these factors. These include smoking cessation, regular exercise, tighter glycemic control by attention to dietary restrictions, addition of statin drugs to correct dyslipidemia, and moderation of alcohol ingestion. Although there is very limited evidence that these modifications will dramatically reverse ED, they certainly will sponsor improved general health.4
With great interest we have read the recently published review by Vlachopoulos et al, a very detailed and extensive overview of erectile dysfunction in the cardiovascular patients. Guidelines for the management of erectile dysfunction with heart failure were noted, as well as advice about dealing with erectile dysfunction (ED) in patients with cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, many others have written similar reviews and guideline concerning the care for ED as well as (female) sexual dysfunction in CAD in the past years (1-4), cardiologists should be familiar with this matter by now. The problem is the actual translation of this knowledge into actions in cardiologists' daily clinical practice. Our research group performed a survey among Dutch cardiologists, aiming to evaluate their inquiry about erectile function in day-to-day practice, to detect their attitude towards this discussion and their perceived barriers for addressing sexual activity. Results from this survey indicated that cardiologists (n=414) did not routinely discuss erectile dysfunction: 48.7% indicated to discuss sexual function 'sometimes' and only 16.9% said to discuss the subject regularly. Of respondents, 41.5% marked that care for patients' sexual quality of life is not their responsibility. Nevertheless, 42% indicated that they would benefit from training to obtain knowledge about treatment of erectile and sexual dysfunction in cardiologic patients. Barriers not to inquire about sexual activity included 'the patient does not ask about it' (53.7%), 'I do not have an angle or motive to start about it'(45.9%), as well as time constraints (42.9%) and lack of training in dealing with sexual dysfunction (35.2%). The more experienced the cardiologist was the less he/she stated the need for training or for a referral directory(5). Since all cardiologists should, meanwhile, know that ED is part of their responsibility, as it is a sentinel marker of CVD(6). It is now case to pay attention to the implementation of the care for erectile and other sexual dysfunction in the cardiology practice. Our study suggests that physicians' experience in the field plays an important role in discussing sexual activity and that sexual healthcare can be improved with more education about the subject. Furthermore a directory of the available healthcare professionals for the referral of patients with sexual dysfunction was indicated as mandatory. We suggest that attention of cardiologists should not only be focused on writing about ED and CVD, attention should be diverted to the actual implementation of care for patients with ED as well, in order to improve patient-centered healthcare in cardiology.
Abstract | Full Text | Full Text PDF | PubMed | Scopus (37) | Google ScholarSee all References It has been postulated that regular exercise can decrease or possibly eliminate the small risk of myocardial infarction associated with sexual intercourse in most patients.8x8Muller, JE, Mittleman, A, Maclure, M, Sherwood, JB, Tofler, GH, and Determinants of Myocardial Infarction Onset Study Investigators. Triggering myocardial infarction by sexual activity: low absolute risk and prevention by regular physical exertion. JAMA. 1996; 275: 1405–1409
If you take a diuretic, you should stay on it until high blood pressure is under control. If erection problems persist, or blood pressure goes back up, then your doctor might switch to a drug that's less likely to cause erectile dysfunction. Or, a combination of medications might work better to control high blood pressure and lower the risk of erectile dysfunction. | https://www.menshealthnet.org/erectile-dysfunction-treatment/erectile-dysfunction-treatment-south-florida-4-ways-in-treating-erectile-dysfunction-naturally.html |
World Leaders in General Assembly Stress Importance of Conflict Prevention, Mediation during High-Level Debate on Building, Sustaining Peace
World Leaders in General Assembly Stress Importance of Conflict Prevention, Mediation during High-Level Debate on Building, Sustaining Peace
Assembly President Calls for Coherence, Partnerships across United Nations Pillars
Member States must go beyond resolutions and statements and recommit to a new approach to peace, the General Assembly heard today during a high-level debate that explored opportunities for strengthening the United Nations work on sustaining peace.
The two-day meeting was convened by the Assembly President in line with General Assembly resolution 70/262 and Security Council resolution 2282 (2016), renewing the United Nations’ commitment to conflict prevention, as embodied in its Charter. (For background, please see Press Release GA/12010).
In opening remarks, Assembly President Miroslav Lajčák (Slovakia) said that, while there had not been another world war since the founding of the United Nations, the Organization had not been there when people needed it. “We could have done more to respond to conflicts and more to prevent them from happening at all,” he said. With people facing unending conflict in parts of the world, a new approach was needed. The signs were already there: rising intolerance, hate speech and disregard for the systems that we had spent 70 years building.
Secretary-General António Guterres said that, two years after the General Assembly and the Security Council had adopted twin resolutions on sustaining peace, it was time to look at progress and forge a common path ahead. Remarking that more countries were experiencing violent conflict than at any time in nearly three decades, he highlighted the record numbers of civilians being killed or displaced by violence, war and persecution.
Emphasizing the central message of his report on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, he said the coherence of international efforts to support Governments and their people must be enhanced. But, without progress on financing, efforts could be futile. Noting that $233 billion had been spent on humanitarian interventions, peacekeeping and hosting refugees, he said more must be invested in prevention — above all because it saved lives.
The need for prevention featured prominently throughout the discussion, with several speakers stressing that it must be at the core of multilateral efforts.
On that note, Ireland’s President said outbreaks and recurrence of conflict would only be prevented by addressing their root causes. That demanded political imagination and financial commitment, which must be met with answerable determination by Member States. Calling for investment in prevention as a matter of moral duty and financial prudence, he said conflict prevention would not only save lives, but also open possibilities for development and human flourishing.
Meanwhile, Albania’s Foreign Minister noted that human rights monitoring and analysis could provide crucial early warning signs of grievances that, if unaddressed, could lead to violent conflict. Further, the Peacebuilding Commission was an important instrument for preventative action, he said.
Echoing that sentiment, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Croatia, said a solid prevention system — an approach supported by the peacebuilding review — could save Government resources that, in turn, could be invested in improving living conditions in line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
In that connection, several speakers underscored that sustainable and inclusive development, with respect for human rights, was the best tool to prevent violent conflict and instability, pointing to the 2030 Agenda as a blueprint for more stable and resilient societies.
The King of Belgium said time was needed to heal the wounds caused by humiliation and violence, to bring perpetrators of serious abuses to trial, and to remember. The United Nations’ failure in recent years to prevent wars or to swiftly end them should not overshadow its successes. The scale, complexity and duration of many of today’s conflicts must encourage Member States to find other ways to create lasting peace.
In that vein, several speakers highlighted experiences in their own countries that provided hope about the prospects for ending even the most protracted conflicts.
While acknowledging that making peace was more difficult than making war, Colombia’s President said the most complex challenge was finding the proper balance between peace and justice. Towards that end, his Government had placed victims at the core of conflict resolution in a process that involved truth, reparations and sanctions. The success of such efforts was crucial to achieving a sustainable peace, he said.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina shared insights from more than 25 years of peacebuilding in his country, stressing that efforts must be carefully coordinated and introduced at an early stage, with a focus on rebuilding national institutions, including the rule of law and the security sector.
The Gambia’s President said partners were essential for providing material and financial support, as well as capacity‑building, technical cooperation and an exchange of ideas. The Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund must be provided with financial resources so that timely interventions could be launched.
Similarly, Afghanistan’s Foreign Minister said his country’s strong partnership with the United Nations had helped it overcome security, social and economic challenges on its road to a sustained peace.
Michelle Yeoh, Actress, Producer and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador; Ishmael Beah, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Advocate for Children Affected by War; Joy Onyesoh, President of Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Nigeria; and Jayathma Wickramanayake, the Secretary-General’s Envoy on Youth also delivered remarks.
The General Assembly will reconvene at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, 25 April, to continue its high-level meeting and take action on a related draft resolution.
Opening Remarks
MIROSLAV LAJČÁK (Slovakia), President of the General Assembly, said peace was at the core of the founding of the United Nations, with its Charter endeavouring to save generations from the scourge of another war. And while there had not been another world war, the United Nations had not been there when people needed it. More could have been done. That was why, in 2016, the Organization took another approach, adopting the sustaining peace resolution, which committed it to act earlier, faster and better to prevent the suffering that conflict brought.
However, the challenge was to make that approach a reality, he said. The international community must assess its progress how it could do better going forward. With people facing unending conflict in parts of the world, a new approach was needed now more than ever. The signs were already there: rising intolerance, hate speech, escalating rhetoric and disregard for the systems that we had spent 70 years building. At the same time, prevention needed to be prioritized, with more mediation and diplomacy at the local, regional and international levels.
“We need a drive for diplomacy and the United Nations must be the engine room,” he said, adding that the world must not allow the incentives for violence to outweigh those for peace. He called for more coherence across the United Nations three pillars, as well as partnerships to sustain peace, stressing that the United Nations must listen to national, regional and subregional actors. Civil society was another key ingredient to sustaining peace, while innovative partnerships were also needed with the private sector and financial institutions.
More broadly, the international community was not investing enough in prevention, he said, noting that the Peacebuilding Fund was struggling to meet its $500 million target. Highlighting the need for inclusion, he noted that the power to make and build peace was currently held in the hands of very few people — mainly men. When it came to peace, more actors at the table were needed — not simply for the optics, but for adding value to discussions.
In 2016, he said the international community had made a strong commitment with the sustaining peace resolution and another resolution would be introduced this week to keep up the momentum. But, that was not enough, as the stakes were too high and the effects of war too inhuman. He urged Member States to go beyond resolutions, statements and words and to recommit to a new approach to peace.
ANTÓNIO GUTERRES, Secretary-General of the United Nations, said that, two years after the General Assembly and the Security Council had adopted twin resolutions on sustaining peace, it was time to look at progress and forge a common path ahead. While no one could doubt the many benefits of globalization, in some fundamental ways, the world had moved backwards, with more countries experiencing violent conflict that at any time in nearly three decades. Record numbers of civilians were being killed or displaced by violence, war and persecution. There were also horrific violations of human rights, rising nationalism, racism and xenophobia, while inequalities were increasing.
Those events all indicated the need for greater unity and courage to ease people’s fears, set the world on track for a better future and lay the foundations for sustainable peace and development, he said. Emphasizing the central message of his report on peacebuilding and sustaining peace, he said the coherence of international efforts to support Governments and their people must be enhanced. That required strengthening partnerships throughout the peace continuum. Highlighting the work of his High-Level Advisory Board on Mediation and the Action for Peacekeeping, he said the United Nations sought to give more support to the Peacebuilding Commission and to revitalize the Peacebuilding Support Office, increasing its capacity to facilitate transition in post-conflict situations.
Citing by way of example the transition under way in Liberia from a peacekeeping operation to a United Nations country team, he said much remained to be done. “Sustaining peace will only be realized through committed, inclusive national ownership that considers the needs of the most marginalized, including women, young people, minorities and people with disabilities,” he said, underscoring his strong commitment to women’s participation in peacebuilding. Welcoming the newly released Progress Study on Youth, Peace and Security, he said it was beyond time to recognize the major contribution that young people could make to peace and security, and asked Member States to support his reforms in that area.
Above all, sustainable and inclusive development, deeply rooted in respect for human rights, was the best tool to prevent violent conflict and instability, he said. The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development was a common blueprint for more peaceful, stable and resilient societies. He said he was determined to prepare the United Nations for the world of tomorrow, but without progress on financing, efforts would run the risk of being futile. Noting that $233 billion had been spent on humanitarian interventions, peacekeeping and hosting refugees, he said more must be invested in prevention — above all because it saved lives. He asked that Member States to provide $500 million per year to the Peacebuilding Fund, stressing that he had proposed increasing by 50 per cent the number of posts in the Peacebuilding Support Office. Appealing for strong support from the Security Council and the Assembly, he said he hoped for continued discussion on strengthening the peacebuilding architecture.
MICHELLE YEOH, Actress, Producer and United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Goodwill Ambassador, recalled how in the latter role she had met many people who had been forced from their homes, struggling to make ends meet and who had been left behind. Many times, their hardship had been the result of conflict, which had become deadlier over the years. Indeed, millions of people around the world were being displaced from their homes, primarily due to violence. More than half of the world’s refugees were children, often separated from their parents.
By 2030, the target year of the Sustainable Development Agenda, more than half of the world’s poor would be living in countries plagued by violent conflict, she said. Meanwhile, women and girls were falling prey to gender-based violence, with devastating long-term effects. The human cost of war was too high, and the financial costs wide-reaching. To date, most international efforts had focused on crises that had already broken out, rather than on preventing conflicts in the first place, which could save countless lives and billions of dollars.
However, the United Nations had begun shifting its efforts towards prevention, she said, noting that the resolution had emphasized prevention, inclusion and women’s essential role in the peacebuilding process. Indeed, inclusive and sustained peacebuilding required the full participation of women, who should be agents of that that work and not merely its beneficiaries. Gender equality contributed to durable peace and sustainable development.
Looking forward, funds were needed to advance gender equality, especially in peacebuilding contexts, she said. Building and sustaining peace was at the core of the United Nations: to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war, sustainable development was needed. In fact, sustainable development and sustainable peace must be achieved in concert. In that light, the United Nations needed the time, space and resources to pursue long-term strategies that yielded long-term results, she said.
ISHMAEL BEAH, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) Advocate for Children Affected by War, said that embarking on peacebuilding without children would mean failure for all efforts to create a future the world could be proud of. It was worrying and disturbing to think of the current state of the world, in which children were under attack on a shocking scale as parties to conflict ignored international law and other instruments meant to protect them. From Syria to South Sudan and Myanmar to Yemen, children were being targeted and exposed to attack in their homes, schools and playgrounds. “We cannot become numb” to their plight, he said, adding that such levels of brutality must not become the new norm.
Amid the horrors, there were moments of hope, such as the recent release or 200 armed children from armed groups in South Sudan, he said, adding, however, that much remained to be done. Emphasizing UNICEF’s call for an end to violations against all children, he said the international community had come a long way since the Graça Machel report in 1996 on the impact of armed conflict on children. There was no shortage of policies and ideas, but there was a lack of commitment among nations to put them into effect. He recommended that delegations read a recent study by the United Nations University on radicalization and de‑radicalization in several conflict areas, including Syria, Iraq, Mali and Nigeria. It described how the criminalization of association with terrorist groups and violent extremism had led to the detention and prosecution of juveniles who should instead be rehabilitated and reintegrated into society. The best way forward was to address underlying issues, not to hold children accountable. Everyone realized the need for security, but in building peace, the principles of human dignity must not be violated, he added.
JOY ONYESOH, President, Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom, Nigeria, recalled one her visits to Borno State in which she met Amina, a woman at a camp for internally displaced persons who had been separated from her children as they fled violence in that region. That was one of the human costs of conflict, she said, calling for a shift from crisis response to active conflict prevention. That shift, she said, required women’s meaningful participation and the examination of the root causes of conflict. Women like Amina were one of many that faced the reality of armed conflict. If the international community wanted to support the participation of marginalized communities, a commitment to gender analysis was needed. What was required went beyond token numbers, she said, calling for targeted interventions that were contextually appropriate. Creating an enabling environment for the work women were doing on the ground was key.
She commended the growing number of civil society speakers at the Security Council, and the efforts of the Special Representative of the Secretary-General on Sexual Violence in Conflict. Nonetheless, structures in place continuously excluded women. She highlighted the limited funds that had been allocated to support the promotion of gender equality, adding that national budget cuts were further contributing to that trend. Overall, prioritizing women’s participation and rights was at the centre of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. She called for gender analysis across the United Nations system based on women’s perspectives, and financing that scaled up funding for gender-focused programmes. At the same time, political will was needed to challenge gender narratives and power. “The United Nations is a beacon of hope to men and women and we should keep that flame of hope burning,” she concluded.
JAYATHMA WICKRAMANAYAKE, the Secretary‑General’s Envoy on Youth, said that, if any generation knew the value of peace, it was hers, and it was determined not to repeat the mistakes of the past. Emphasizing the importance of tapping into the potential and creativity of youth, she noted that 408 million young people were today living amid violence and armed conflicts. Greater support must be given to those working on peace and stability in their communities, often with little funding or support, and sometimes under personal threat. She also encouraged delegations to read the Progress Report on Youth, Peace and Security.
She said two key issues must be immediately addressed: a growing mistrust among youth in political institutions and their exclusion from political and economic life. Meaningful youth participation contributed to conflict prevention. For too long, young people had been calling on the United Nations to go beyond the immediate needs of war-torn countries by giving more attention to sustaining peace. The Organization must build on the youth, peace and security agenda set out in Security Council resolution 2250 (2015), which was intended to ensure that young people were listened to and taken seriously, not called upon to wave flags or cast ballots when their votes were needed. Financing for sustainable peace should be substantially increased, including the youth instrument of the Peacebuilding Fund. Concluding, she said young people must be seen as partners in peacebuilding, not as a problem to be dealt with, and reminded delegates that a generation was counting on them to make the right decisions.
Statements
King PHILIPPE of Belgium, recalling that his country for centuries had been “a land of battlefields”, noted that Europe was built on profound reconciliation and gradual rapprochement. Lasting peace was more than the absence of war, but also the fashioning of a framework that was respectful of human dignity. Lasting peace was also the ultimate purpose of the United Nations Charter, he said, describing the 2030 Agenda as a key instrument for conflict prevention, as well as development. He went on to say that, while peace was forged through action, it needed time to take hold. “Human relationships are not decreed; they are built, or rebuilt, patiently, through trust,” he said. Time was needed to heal wounds caused by humiliation and violence; to demobilize, disarm and reintegrate; to bring perpetrators of serious abuses to trial; and to remember. he failure of the United Nations in recent years to prevent wars or to swiftly end them should not overshadow its successes. Rather, the scale, complexity and duration of many of today’s conflicts must encourage Member States to find other ways that would bring lasting peace closer.
JUAN MANUEL SANTOS CALDERÓN, President of Colombia, said making peace was more difficult than making war. In Colombia, it was not enough to end its conflict. The most complex challenge was finding the proper balance between peace and justice. Towards that end, his Government had placed victims and their rights at the core of conflict resolution, resorting to transitional justice. Both parties to the conflict had agreed on a system of justice and adhered to it in line with the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court. That process involved full truth, reparations and sanctions. Above punishing those responsible, victims yearned for the truth about what had happened to their loved ones. The success of such efforts was crucial to achieving a sustainable peace. His Government was working to return land to those who had lost it in the violence, and was prioritizing the disarmament, demobilization and reintegration of combatants. However, without training and long‑term projects for combatants, reintegration could fail and lead to violence. Further, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) was now a legal political party trying to win over citizens with words instead of arms. More broadly, his Government was clearing its countryside of anti-personnel mines, with the goal of complete elimination before 2022, and addressing coca leaf production through a crop substitution and forced eradication programme. However, the war on drugs had not been won: a strategy of prohibition and suppression had only produced more criminals, making drug trafficking the biggest threat to peace. He called for a change in the global strategy to combat drugs. While 2017 had been Colombia’s most peaceful year to date, with the lowest homicide rate in 40 years, the challenge was to sustain peace. Colombia had shown that finding paths to understanding was possible. He reiterated that ending even the most protracted conflicts was possible. With international support, Colombia had made the impossible possible.
MICHAEL D. HIGGINS, President of Ireland, said: “It is an affront to humanity that, at a time when we have the capacity to abolish all forms of human poverty, we share a planet with hundreds of millions who are, even as we speak here today, deprived of their most fundamental rights.” The objectives of sustaining peace, in their scale and ambition, confirmed the enormity of the task; however, that task must be achieved. Ireland knew from its own history that peace would not come without engaging with the other. The Northern Ireland Peace Agreement, signed 25 years ago, had included such crucial elements as direct engagement by the parties, strong support from the European Union and the generous and patient backing of Member States around the world. Noting that Ireland was reminded daily of the challenges of sustaining peace, he said outbreaks and recurrences of conflict would only be prevented by addressing their root causes. That demanded political imagination and financial commitment, which must be met with answerable determination by Member States. Calling for investment in prevention as a matter of moral duty and financial prudence, he said conflict prevention would not only save lives, but also open possibilities for development and human flourishing. Member States must discard narrow and cynical thinking, he concluded, emphasizing that the world’s youth were appalled that the “strut of the powerful” should remain the prevailing norm in the main organs of the United Nations.
FAUSTIN ARCHANGE TOUADERA, President of the Central African Republic, detailed steps taken in his country to re-establish peace since he took office in March 2016. Those included constitutional measures, legislation to establish gender parity and a frank and sincere dialogue with armed groups aimed at bringing them into society. Out of 14 identified groups, 12 were participating in that process. Young people were, meanwhile, making a significant contribution. At the same time, the Government was making headway in restoring State authority and security, implementing the rule of law, and establishing a truth, justice and reparations commission. But, many challenges remained, he said, thanking the United Nations and the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) for providing security and protecting civilians. Appealing for that Mission’s staffing to be bolstered, he said he hoped his country would be a model for international efforts to build and sustain peace.
ADAMA BARROW, President of the Gambia, underscored national achievements in security sector reform, economic growth and the rule of law. “Our overarching goal is to build and sustain the peace that we have won,” he stressed, commending regional and international partners for their continued support to peacebuilding efforts. The Gambia would remain focused on investing in economic growth and creating an enabling environment that encouraged constructive criticism. Still, challenges persisted, including a revival of the economy, and reforms to laws and administrative institutions. Partners remained essential in providing material and financial support, as well as capacity‑building, technical cooperation and exchange of ideas, he said, stressing that the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund must be provided with financial resources so that timely interventions could be launched.
JÜRI RATAS, Prime Minister of Estonia, said the current multilateral system must remain strong, with the United Nations working in a more integrated, flexible and coordinated manner while placing prevention at the core of its efforts. But, the world could not rely only on the United Nations, as sustaining peace was the primary responsibility of Member States, which must also have the will to operationalize adequate policies to implement the Sustainable Development Goals. In addition, Member States must invest more in prevention, peacebuilding and peacekeeping, he said, noting Estonia’s involvement with the Peacebuilding Commission and United Nations missions. Estonia had also contributed to the Peacebuilding Fund, which was an effective instrument for providing fast and flexible assistance, and was fully committed to implementing the new agenda for sustaining peace.
MIKHEIL JANELIDZE, Vice-Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Georgia, recalled that his country — which had struggled with foreign occupation, conflict-driven violence and forced displacement for more than 25 years — had required international engagement to address ethnic cleansing, violations of sovereignty and territorial integrity, mass expulsions and grave human rights violations in the occupied regions of Abkhazia and Tskhinvali. The United Nations Observer Mission in Georgia (UNOMIG) had played a key role in achieving security since 1993. However, the cessation of the Mission’s mandate by a veto in the Security Council — following military aggression by the Russian Federation in 2008 — had created a vacuum of international presence in the occupied regions, where arbitrary detentions, abductions and killings were the norm. No progress had been made since, and in March, a Georgian internally displaced person who crossed the occupation line was detained and killed by the occupying Power. Emphasizing the link between ensuring justice and sustaining peace, he expressed hope that Member States would continue to call on the Russian Federation to abide by its international obligations, adding that Georgia — despite those provocations — continued its efforts to build confidence, enhance economic ties and foster people-to-people contacts across the dividing lines.
MARIJA PEJČINOVIĆ BURIĆ, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Affairs of Croatia, aligning herself with the European Union, said peacebuilding was among the most important and complex challenges in contemporary international relations. To address those challenges, a parallel focus was needed on all political, security, developmental, environmental and human rights issues. As a victim of aggression during the last decade of the twentieth century, Croatia had gained first-hand knowledge of peacebuilding and post-conflict recovery, and stood ready to share that valuable knowledge with others. Stressing that flexible, tailor-made approaches were the productive way forward, she expressed support for improved data-gathering and analysis within the United Nations Secretariat. In addition, she welcomed the approach supported by the peacebuilding review, which emphasised prevention. Indeed, a solid prevention system could save Member States’ resources that could be invested in improving living conditions in line with the 2030 Agenda. She went on to highlight the need for a deep understanding of the causes of crises, noting that reading early warning signs and a readiness to act without hesitation were essential.
JORGE ARREAZA MONTSERRAT (Venezuela), speaking on behalf of the Non-Aligned Movement, said complex global security challenges must be addressed multilaterally within the framework of international law. Preserving, promoting, achieving and maintaining peace and security must remain a priority on the United Nations agenda. Likewise, preventing the outbreak of crises was primarily a national responsibility that could benefit from United Nations support. He stressed the importance of non-interference in the internal State affairs before emphasizing that all segments of society should be included in the peace process. He highlighted the role of women and young people in the resolution of conflicts and building resilient societies. For its part, the Movement was committed to promoting the peaceful dispute settlement in accordance with Chapter VI of the United Nations Charter, and looked forward to engaging in in-depth discussions on all proposals in preparation of the 2020 Peacebuilding Architecture Review. In that connection, he called for redoubled international efforts and improved synergies between peacekeeping and peacebuilding activities.
MEVLÜT ÇAVUŞOĞLU, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, said Member States had agreed on the parameters needed to address the high number of conflicts around the world. Those included addressing root causes; achieving the sustainable development; ensuring regional and national ownership of settlements; the wider use of mediation; and building and sustaining peace. However, while those basic principles had been identified, nations had not yet succeeded in achieving a more peaceful world, largely because they were selective in their responses. “We all react” when the regime of Syria’s President used chemical weapons to kill women and children, but States were silent when it used conventional weapons to the same ends. Indeed, when the five permanent Security Council members agreed, international law could be enforced; when they failed to do so, the system remained locked. Citing several examples of inconsistent approaches — such as major media coverage of terror attacks on Western capitals, but none for those carried out in the Middle East or Africa — he asked: “Is human life more valuable in certain regions?” A better world could not be built against the backdrop of such hypocrisy and double standards, he stressed, calling for a paradigm shift acknowledging that the world was bigger than the Council’s five permanent members.
Mr. ÇAVUŞOĞLU, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Turkey, delivered a statement on behalf of the “MIKTA” Group — namely, Mexico, Indonesia, Republic of Korea, Turkey and Australia. Noting that the Group strongly supported the concept of sustaining peace, which represented a paradigm shift in the United Nations system, he echoed the Secretary-General’s assertion that it must be assumed collectively, comprehensively and inclusively by all stakeholders. Meanwhile, national Governments and authorities bore the primary responsibility for all relevant priorities, strategies and activities. Spotlighting the key role of women in the prevention and resolution of conflicts and in peacebuilding, and reaffirming their role in decision-making, he also welcomed that the new procedural resolution on sustaining peace demonstrated Member States’ clear expectations of the United Nations Secretariat, funds, programmes and agencies, which should energetically and promptly advance the resolution’s elements that could already be implemented.
NEVEN MIMICA, Commissioner for International Cooperation and Development of the European Union, said sustaining peace was a joint responsibility of Governments and societies that also demanded the full use of the United Nations political tools, including preventive diplomacy and mediation. For its part, the European Union was keen to exchange best practices with multilateral partners regarding inclusive economic development and strengthening resilience. It also wished that the United Nations development system would enhance its capacity to address the root causes of instability and that efforts were made to strengthen the links among humanitarian, development and peacebuilding activities. Outlining some of the bloc’s activities, he said members had adopted a strategic approach to resilience and conclusions on a framework for a more holistic engagement to external conflicts and crises when promoting human security. Welcoming the emphasis on empowering women and youth, he also highlighted the need to work closely with key international and regional partners. As the United Nations was meant to be a centre for harmonizing the actions of nations in the attainment of peace, the European Union welcomed the Organization’s ambitious plan to lead in achieving that common goal.
M. JAVAD ZARIF, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iran, said conflict prevention meant focusing on root causes, including occupation, foreign intervention and extremism. It also meant addressing hegemonic attempts to achieve security at the expense of others through exclusions and blocs which led to destructive arms races. It was crucial to shift to a new paradigm, one based on joining forces and creating strong regions through security networking. It was imperative to move away from the zero-sum paradigm of seeking regional hegemony and exclusion in Iran’s immediate neighbourhood, he said, proposing a regional dialogue forum for the Persian Gulf that would address the challenge of building and sustaining peace. He invited Iran’s neighbours to join that endeavour, adding that Iran expected the United Nations to lend its assistance through arrangements set out — but never implemented — in Security Council resolution 598 (1987).
HEIKO MAAS, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Germany, urged the international community to rethink its approach for the future. Member States must seek dialogue instead of confrontation, invest in disarmament instead of rearmament and focus on prevention instead of intervention. “We cannot only address conflicts once they are on the front pages of the newspapers,” he added. Noting the example of the Sahel region, where there were several peace and training missions, he said such measures would only succeed if peace and reconciliation processes were brought to a conclusion accepted by all. He expressed support to the Secretary‑General’s focus and emphasized that modern peace policy must be funded in the right way. It was not efficient if peacekeeping missions costing billions were followed by peacebuilding plans that lacked funds. For its part, Germany had more than tripled its budget for crisis prevention and humanitarian aid in 2017.
NÉSTOR FRANCISCO POPOLIZIO BARDALES, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Peru, welcomed efforts under way to bring about the holistic and multidimensional vision that peacebuilding and sustaining peace required. Peru had tackled terrorism and built peace and stability through a broad national consensus on the need to strengthen institutions, promote the rule of law and fight poverty and inequality. Peruvians were approaching their bicentenary with optimism. However, the country remained vulnerable to climate change, natural disasters and corruption. Noting that Peru was President of the Security Council for April, he said urgent responses were needed to conflicts in the Middle East and Africa, as well as the threat of weapons of mass destruction.
INE ERIKSEN SØREIDE, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Norway, expressed concern that, in less than a decade, the number of major violent conflicts had tripled, their nature becoming ever more complex and protracted. Peace could never be imposed from the outside, she stressed, emphasizing that national ownership was critical to achieve sustaining peace. “Peace and development are two sides of the same coin,” she added, welcoming the agreement on the procedural resolution on sustaining peace. She used Colombia as an example, underscoring that implementing the peace agreement in that country would not just create peace but also more inclusive development. Schools were now open in areas previously torn apart by conflict. While that may look like small progress, it was a clear example of how peace and development were explicitly interlinked.
SRDAN DARMANOVIĆ, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Montenegro, aligning himself with the European Union, said the effects of conflicts around the world would be felt for years to come. Member States had a shared responsibility to address those challenges more decisively, he said, noting that peace as a policy was underrecognized, underprioritized and underresourced. That was especially true for conflict prevention, she said, underlining the importance of early detection and early warning mechanisms. In that regard, shifting from a perception of a “failure to act” to a culture of prevention was essential, and required political will and leadership from all actors. At the same time, investing in conflict prevention was considerably less expensive than reacting to crises. Mediation must also receive greater attention and resources, he said, adding that it was among the most cost-effective tools. Montenegro was an example of how a country’s independence could be achieved in a peaceful manner.
GUDLAUGUR THÓR THÓRDARSON, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, said it was difficult to discuss peace and security without mentioning disappointment with the work of the Security Council regarding Syria. “The world body responsible for ensuring peace is hampered by its inability to agree and move forward on the most urgent issues,” he stressed. Still, he pointed to progress, particularly under the leadership of the Secretary-General. The last five years had seen important growth at the policy level, which had shaped the concepts on sustaining peace and peacebuilding. “Prevention is better, cheaper and saves more lives,” he emphasized, underscoring that the 2030 Agenda was the most powerful framework for peacebuilding. Action was critical also “not only when conflict has broken out, but long beforehand”. That included addressing the root causes, including human rights and governance rights.
DITMIR BUSHATI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Albania, said there had been many times when the international community had responded to crises insufficiently, as evidenced by the war in Syria. Thus, he highlighted the importance of prevention and the need for the United Nations to establish mechanisms to identify potential signs of conflict. Implementation of the 2030 Agenda was the best way to address the common causes of conflict, while human rights monitoring and analysis could provide crucial early warning signs of grievances that, if unaddressed, could lead to violent conflict. Further, the Peacebuilding Commission was an important instrument for preventative action, while partnerships were also essential, he said, stressing the need to draw on the expertise and experience of reginal and global actors, as well as financial institutions, civil society and the private sector. Meanwhile, women and young people were real asset for peace. He recalled that the Western Balkans had been a theatre of major conflict but that, through genuine political will, dialogue between Kosovo and Serbia had helped narrow divisions and mistrust.
SALAHUDDIN RABBANI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Afghanistan, expressing support for the Secretary-General’s reform agenda, said his country’s strong partnership with the United Nations had helped it overcome security, social and economic challenges on its road to a sustained peace. “We can say from experience that international engagement in conflict or post-conflict settings should endure until the fundamental factors of instability are resolved and the situation is fully stabilized,” he said. The peace offer made by the President of Afghanistan in February offered new incentives for a political settlement, while incorporating the principles of national ownership and leadership, and the proactive role of women. He urged all stakeholders, including countries in the region, to contribute to that Afghan-led peace process and help generate an enabling environment for direct and results-oriented talks.
IGOR CRNADAK, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Bosnia and Herzegovina, sharing insights from more than 25 years of peacebuilding in his country, said efforts must be carefully coordinated and introduced at an early stage, with a primary focus on rebuilding national institutions, including the rule of law and the security sector. It took years, even decades, to build legitimate and effective institutions, with the European Union and the United Nations acting as major partners. The process of European Union integration, meanwhile, contributed to strengthening institutions and better regional cooperation and dialogue. However, international intervention and assistance must eventually transition to support and partnership. At that point, citizens who were open to dialogue and respectful and supportive of each other would be the backbone of peacebuilding. In essence, he added, only citizens themselves could be the keepers of their country’s peace and prosperity.
MARGOT WALLSTRÖM, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, said the real test now was to transform the sustaining peace resolutions into change on the ground in fragile contexts, which required strong political commitments at the highest level from all countries. Highlighting ways to operationalize the agenda, he said efforts must focus on economic development, sovereignty and conflict prevention. Investing in economic development had vast returns, with the 2030 Agenda offering an integrated framework to address the economic and social drivers of conflict while building stable societies and the Peacebuilding Fund providing catalytic functions. To create such societies, equality must remain at the forefront of efforts that should also strengthen sovereignty and inclusion. Beyond that, political will must guide progress, he said, emphasizing that the United Nations could not do the job alone and Member States must shoulder their immense responsibilities in pursuit of peace.
ASADUZZAMAN KHAN, Minister for Home Affairs of Bangladesh, said that his country’s history of war explained why it had opened its doors to more than 1 million people displaced from Myanmar’s Rakhine State. That massive influx of people had a huge socioeconomic and environmental impact on Bangladesh. Unless resolved, the Rohingya crisis could have a far-reaching effect on peace and security in that region and beyond. He called for increased and predictable financing for United Nations peace operations, without any diversion of resources. “There could be no peace without development, and no development without peace,” he continued, underscoring the importance of combating poverty, scaling up human development and promoting inclusive and sustainable growth. For its part, Bangladesh had mainstreamed the Sustainable Development Goals into its national development strategies. Recognizing those efforts, the United Nations had declared that country eligible for graduation from the least developed country category. Overall, the Secretary‑General’s vision for reform on peacebuilding and sustaining peace was a step in the right direction and Bangladesh would continue to promote that agenda.
SHIRLEY AYORKOR BOTCHWEY, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Regional Integration of Ghana, said: “‘Sustaining peace’ reinforces the fact that peace, security, development and human rights are closely interlinked and mutually reinforcing.” Calling for well-targeted actions and efforts to address the roots of conflicts, she said prevention — including strengthening the rule of law, building accountable institutions, ensuring access to justice and respect for and protection of human rights — should be at their core. The 2017 United Nations‑African Union Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security was a good example of the United Nations critical cooperation with regional and subregional organizations, she said, also citing the Organization’s strategic partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which had resulted in several successful preventative and peacebuilding interventions. Noting that Ghana contributed troops to various United Nations peace operations, she called for the adequate resourcing of the peacebuilding components of relevant operations, as well as special political and drawdown missions and emphasized the importance of women in their peacebuilding work.
JESUS DUREZA, Presidential Adviser on the Peace Process of the Philippines, said President Duterte was working to address several important national challenges including those posed by drugs, criminality and conflict. Recalling that he had recently delayed his scheduled negotiations with the New People’s Army, he said those talks were under way “as we speak”. The Government had also signed a new agreement with the Bangsamoro people in the south. Underlining the important nexus of peace and development, he said one could not come before the other. Peace could not be achieved only by addressing those who fought against the State, he said, emphasizing that law-abiding citizens also deserved the attention of Governments. The Philippines, as a highly diverse country, respected all the individual identities of its minority groups. “We must accept that we are different”, but remain united in the effort to bring about a sustainable peace. Spotlighting the important role played by United Nations mediators, he said rebel groups were less likely to walk away from the negotiating table when foreign mediators were present. Citing a recent incident of violent extremism in the southern city of Marawi, he said the Government was still learning from that tragedy. While buildings could be reconstructed, he said “it is harder to put back together the social structure”, and welcomed the United Nations redoubled emphasis on conflict prevention. Now was the time to be proactive in weaving peace into all interventions, he said, adding that “our foresight alone is important in making sure that conflicts such as Marawi no longer happen. Peace by piece, we will succeed.”
JACEK CZAPUTOWICZ, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Poland, associating himself with the European Union, said that preventing conflicts and building sustainable peace was a difficult task for all. “We need a wide spectrum of activities and committed actors,” he added. Peacebuilding and sustaining peace activities must encompass the following three pillars: peace and security, development and human rights. Current conflicts posed a threat to the universal commitment grounded in the United Nations Charter to save future generations from war. International and internal security were linked, he continued, emphasizing that improvement at the local or national level improved the overall health of international security. In the same vein, the responsibility for preventive action fell on States, he said, underlining the importance of strengthening transparent and accountable State institutions, promoting good governance and fighting corruption. “We should strive to use all instruments in an effective way,” he said, pointing to Liberia and Côte d’Ivoire as positive examples of ensuring peace.
MARGARET KOBIA, Minister for Public Service, Youth and Gender Affairs of Kenya, associating herself with the Non-Aligned Movement and the Group of Friends of Sustaining Peace, underscored the need to prioritize responses towards prevention. Sustaining peace required adequate and predictable financing. It was therefore important to use all avenues, including resource mobilization platforms of the Peacebuilding Commission, to further consider the proposed financial options and their implications on service delivery at the ground level. For its part, Kenya had set out to transform the economic and social conditions of its youth. Kenya had also recognized the crucial role of women in preventing conflict and achieving the 2030 Agenda. On peace operations, she noted Kenya’s contribution both regionally and internationally, particularly underscoring her country’s contribution to the reconstruction process of Somalia.
ZAKI ANWAR NUSSEIBEH, Minister for State of the United Arab Emirates, stressed that peacebuilding was not one-time action. His country had become an active contributor to regional security and was the only Arab country to have participated in six international coalitions, including in Afghanistan, Libya, Somalia, Bosnia-Kosovo, and the 1990-1991 Persian Gulf War. He also highlighted the United Arab Emirates’ financial and humanitarian contributions to Yemen, Syrian refugees and to rebuilding Iraq. His country remained deeply committed to political resolutions and United Nations-led processes in Libya, Syria and Yemen. He underscored the need to empower women and young people in decision-making. The United Arab Emirates, as a progressive and modern Arab country that empowered women and young people, would continue to serve as a unique model for developing peaceful societies.
TUDOR ULIANOVSCHI, Minister for Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, associating himself with the European Union, said the United Nations had expanded into one of the world’s most intricate networks even as conflicts continued to escalate. Far too often, countries found that the Organization had grown inefficient, trapped in rigid formalities that drew it further way from achieving its original goals. “It is time to reverse that trend,” he said, adding that “we cannot afford to stay idle at a time when countries and regions are consumed by hostilities” and protracted conflicts continued unabated. One such conflict existed in the eastern part of the Republic of Moldova in the form of an illegal military presence. Emphasizing that such issues required more direct attention by the United Nations, he said sustaining peace was not the sole prerogative of one body or institution but the shared responsibility — and shared interest — of all parties. Welcoming the Secretary‑General’s ambitious reform proposals as an attempt to break the strings of institutional restraints preventing the Organization from taking a more proactive approach, he said States should build on the draft resolution to be adopted and explore all relevant recommendations.
PASCALE BAERISWYL, State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of Switzerland, speaking on behalf of the Human Rights and Conflict Prevention Caucus, said human rights must lie at the heart of conflict prevention and sustaining peace. All human rights were universal, indivisible, interrelated, interdependent and mutually reinforcing, and should be treated in a fair and equal manner on the same footing and with the same emphasis. Human rights violations and abuses could be both causes and consequences of violent conflicts, as well as indicators of potential instability or the escalation of a conflict. The United Nations’ human rights tools — such as monitoring, reporting and analysis — could provide key early warning signals and help identify and address root causes of conflict. Emphasizing that the Human Rights Council could play a more important role in conflict prevention and sustaining peace, she called on Member States to foster and enhance communication and exchanges between that body and the rest of the United Nations, including the Security Council and the Peacebuilding Commission.
Speaking in her national capacity, she said that sustained peace required the development of a common vision of society. Quoting Albert Einstein, she said peace could only be achieved through understanding. The best way to prevent conflict was respect for universally agreed norms, including the United Nations Charter, Universal Declaration of Human Rights and international humanitarian law, she said. At the multilateral level, there must be greater coherence within the United Nations system, with a strengthening of the role of resident coordinators and better financing of their work. On partnerships, she held up the Gambia as an example of joint efforts at the national, regional and multilateral levels to achieve a peaceful political solution.
TARIQ MAHMOOD AHMAD, Minister of State for the Commonwealth and United Nations at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of the United Kingdom, welcoming the Secretary-General’s vision, said sustaining peace should be a shared priority across the United Nations system. Diversification, development, diplomacy and delivery were the key elements required to sustain peace. Priorities should include a stronger partnership for peace between the United Nations and the World Bank, encouraging more preventative diplomacy within the Organization, and ensuring smoother transitions to and from peacekeeping missions. He underscored the importance of United Nations efforts to tackle sexual exploitation and abuse and sexual violence in conflict, as well as of the Organization’s wide reform agenda. Looking to the future, he said, more creative ways must be found to broaden the donor base for peacebuilding and to deliver more thorough partnerships between the United Nations and other organizations.
MOHAMED ASIM, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Maldives, said that conflicts did not begin with killings, but rather with hate speech and the demonization of one side by the other. Preventing conflict required building bridges across religious and cultural divides. It was also essential to address extreme poverty, ignorance, disillusion and hopelessness. Peacebuilding and sustaining peace was a collective responsibility, which must be shouldered by States, civil society and international organizations. He noted that small States received a very narrow space to participate in making the key decisions of the United Nations. Maldives would change that pattern if it was elected to the Security Council for the term 2019‑2020. If elected, Maldives would prioritize preventive diplomacy, he said, emphasizing the need for small States, small island developing States and the entire United Nations membership to work together.
ILDEFONSO CASTRO LOPEZ, Vice‑Minister for Foreign Affairs of Spain, said that to live in peace was to live in freedom of exclusion and the promise that dignities of the individual would not be violated. Peace would only be possible if it was inclusive. “To be inclusive is neither easy nor clean cut,” he added. Spain had given priority to women and youth, which were now both considered key factors in resolution and post-conflict rebuilding. He said his Government was taking specific measures to ensure that young people had the necessary tools to contribute to peace and security. Rule of law in Spain ensured the separation of powers and the protection of human rights, both key to sustaining peace. He noted several initiatives designed to deal with the prevention of conflict and protection of medical facilities and schools from military attack.
ANDREJ LOGAR (Slovenia) commended the Secretary-General’s tireless efforts to strengthen the Organization in a more efficient, effective and impactful way. When the United Nations worked together across all three of its pillars, a meaningful difference could be made in people’s lives. Concerning prevention, he said that, if Member States thought the cost of it was too high, they needed to remember that no cost was greater than that of human lives. In that respect, Member States could play an indispensable role in preventative diplomacy by addressing the role of water, especially in cross-border cooperation. Indeed, the global water challenge was not only about development and human rights, but also about peace and security. Building resilience was another way to approach sustainable peace, he said, adding that only societies resilient to internal and external pressures could provide a stable and peaceful environment for development. Highlighting Slovenia’s post-conflict peacekeeping experience in the Western Balkans, he said that stability, reconciliation and sustainable development were impossible to achieve without a positive agenda for young people.
JEAN-BAPTISTE LEMOYNE, Minister of State attached to the Minister for Europe and Foreign Affairs of France, said “we are far from the time when the United Nations was only interested in crises through its peacekeeping operations”. While those missions continued to be important tools, as well as core symbols of the Organization, the world now understood that many conflicts evolved from issues related to development and governance. Addressing their root causes was critical, he said, citing the successful example of the United Nations Operation in Côte d’Ivoire (UNOCI), which had completed its mandate in 2017. In Liberia, a Peacebuilding Plan developed with the help of the Peacebuilding Commission had supported the democratic transition of power, as well as the drawdown of the United Nations Mission in Liberia (UNMIL). Vulnerable countries must be assisted to develop the capacity needed to “nip fragilities in the bud”, he said, adding that the situation in Syria demonstrated that no peace could be reached without an inclusive political process. Outlining France’s support to its development partners — including countries in the Lake Chad, Sahel and Middle East regions — he said such efforts as technical cooperation and bolstering the contract between the State and society could help them build peace. “We are at a watershed,” he concluded, calling on Member States to put their words into action.
SULTAN BIN SAAD AL-MURAIKHI, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar, said his country had a global vision and a number of priorities, particularly focused on “organized, systemized” prevention. “We try to support all organizations which can foster peace,” he added, emphasizing the important role of education. Qatar had provided educational services to tens of millions of children worldwide. Education must be strengthened to stand up to extremism, he stressed. Current global crises and conflicts stemmed from a lack of the rule of law, violations of State sovereignty and corruption. He also underscored the role of United Nations entities, and regional non-State organizations in combating sources of conflict.
TERENS NIKOLAOS QUICK, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Greece, said that the conflicts in Syria, Iraq, Yemen and the Democratic Republic of the Congo had continued to threaten a rules-based global system. He stressed that prevention and an integrated approach to conflict and crisis management must surface as the main tools to ensure peace. Associating himself with the European Union, he emphasized the need for peacekeepers to stay on the ground to ensure that peace takes root. Prevention required that Member States assumed leadership and ensured the United Nations system was given the trust, as well as the operational, political and financial support it needed. “World peace is everyone’s business,” he stressed. Emphasizing that human rights and fundamental freedoms must be fully respected and protected, he also underscored the potential of women and young people in the peacebuilding process.
ANDREJS PILDEGOVIĆS, State Secretary for Foreign Affairs of Latvia, associating himself with the European Union, said conflict prevention was an effective tool to protect those who needed it most. Calling on the international community to ensure that all peacebuilding, sustaining peace and development fully respected human rights and international law, he voiced support for good governance, strong democratic institutions, the rule of law and inclusive economic development as key priorities. Also expressing support for efforts to modernize the public sector of the European Neighbourhood Policy countries, Central Asia and the Western Balkans, strengthen the United Nations cooperation with regional mechanisms and enhance the latter’s role in delivering on sustainable development and preventing conflict, he said Latvia — as a member of the Global Coalition to Defeat ISIL [Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant/Da’esh] — supported the Government of Iraq in its fight against international terrorism. It also participated in various peacekeeping operations. Underlining the special responsibility borne by permanent members of the Security Council — including the veto — he said those countries had not always lived up to that responsibility, thereby hampering peacebuilding efforts.
SERGIY KYSLYTSYA, Vice‑Minister for Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, associating himself with the European Union, said the speed and determination of United Nations actions were critical to preventing conflicts and gross human rights violations, recalling that, in 1994, the Organization had failed to react promptly to prevent genocide. In 2014, the Security Council had been unable to stop the Russian Federation’s military aggression against, and occupation of, Crimea and Donbas. Citing positive interventions in Colombia and Liberia, he said the conflict in Syria continued to unfold while one Council member — the Russian Federation — protected that country’s regime and ISIL/Da’esh from accountability. “Impunity breeds only impunity,” he said, emphasizing that the Russian Federation’s aggression there and elsewhere was unprecedented since the Second World War. “The long‑overdue reform of our Organization must be accomplished in order to maintain its once unquestioned credit of trust” and restore its ability to take prompt preventative measures, he said, calling for action to end the Russian Federation’s military aggression and its violations of the rule of law.
TERESA RIBEIRO, Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs and Cooperation of Portugal, cited several complex emerging challenges — including climate change, food insecurity, pandemics, terrorism, cyberattacks and illicit trafficking in people, weapons, narcotics and others — currently faced by the international community. Multilateralism was needed today more than ever, as history had shown that transnational threats could not be countered alone. Noting that peace agreements and elections did not necessarily mean that a sustainable peace had been achieved, she said the international community’s continuous and unwavering attention was critical, and post-conflict transitions were fragile moments when spoilers could mobilize into action. Peacebuilding was a long-term endeavour requiring efforts to address the root causes of conflict, including underdevelopment and inequalities. Expressing support for the principles of conflict prevention, early warning, the primacy of politics, the resurgence of diplomacy and gender balance, she said peacekeeping operations should have realistic and feasible exit strategies which should be implemented in parallel with the work of the Peacebuilding Commission, the Peacebuilding Support Office and the Peacebuilding Fund.
YURI STERK (Bulgaria), aligning himself with the European Union, said sustainable peace required an integrated approach using linkages in United Nations peace, development, human rights and humanitarian action. For its part, Bulgaria was contributing to the United Nations Mediation Trust Fund and towards operationalizing the humanitarian-development and peace-development nexuses. He expressed hope that the General Assembly would maintain a comprehensive approach to financing the sustaining peace resolution and the follow-up process it would establish and that the world body would discuss all aspects of sustaining peace rather than one particular set of proposals.
FERNANDO SIMAS MAGALHAES, Under-Secretary for Multilateral Political Affairs, Europe and North America of Brazil, said that it was essential to avoid a false correlation between poverty and conflict. Conflict prevention was not a task only for the developing world, as current tensions in different parts of the world had demonstrated. “We should not forget that, 72 years ago, this Organization was created in the aftermath of a destructive conflict between the most developed countries at the time,” he said. The concept of sustaining peace was a new one, he added, emphasizing that its implementation would require bringing a variety of strategic partners together. Cooperation among regional and subregional organizations, financial institutions, the private sector and non-governmental organizations was essential.
KATEŘINA SEQUENSOVÁ, Junior Deputy Foreign Minister of Czechia, associating herself with the European Union, said that sustaining peace must be at the very center of all United Nations activities. “Where there is no development and no human rights, there is also no peace,” she stressed. United Nations assistance to Member States must contain three aspects: reinforcing national ownership of the process, developing countries’ contextual responses and ensuring the effective delivery of results on the ground. Fostering cooperation with international, regional, subregional and national partners was crucial. Innovative partnerships with international and regional financial institutions could provide additional support, including new sources of financing. She also underscored the relationship between gender equality and conflict prevention.
HALEBONOE JAMES SETSABI (Lesotho), associating himself with the Non-Aligned Movement, called for closer cooperation between the United Nations and regional and subregional organizations at strategic and operational levels. Such an approach had led to improvements in the political and security situation in Lesotho, which had recently approved a road map for national reform. Underlining States’ responsibility for peacebuilding and sustaining peace, he called for increased participation of women and youth in related processes and for the involvement of other partners, such as civil society organizations and international financial institutions, to share their insight and expertise. As more funds were spent trying to end rather than prevent conflict, he called for financial investments to help Member States build systems that fostered peace. However, until the Security Council underwent reform, the peace and security architecture would be constrained, he said, calling for action in that regard.
GITESH SARMA, Additional Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs of India, said that, while peacekeeping had been largely successful in containing inter‑State conflict, it faced limitations in tackling intra-State conflicts. Peacebuilding, however, still struggled from a lack of adequate funding that betrayed a lack of genuine political will. Sustaining peace required a comprehensive understanding of both challenges and opportunities, as well as serious international efforts to ensure greater peace and prosperity. Concrete action would also require a much greater commitment and longer-term political engagement and investment, including financial contributions to activities that helped build and sustain peace. The funds available for the United Nations peacebuilding work did not represent even 1 per cent of the Organization’s peacekeeping budget, he said, calling for a serious examination of the specific financing options presented by the Secretary-General. Outlining India’s various contributions to United Nations peace operations, he said it had deployed the world’s first all-women formed police unit to UNMIL in 2007. India also continued to expand its development partnerships to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and climate action targets.
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The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development launched an action plan to expand employment opportunities for refugees to help them integrate into their host communities from the very start and contribute to the local economy. | |
Jadamec, M.A., 2009, Three-dimensional lithosphere and mantle dynamics: Models of the subduction-transform plate boundary system in southern Alaska: University of California, Davis, Ph.D. dissertation, 165 p.
The theory of plate tectonics states that the outermost part of the Earth, the lithosphere, is composed of plates that are in motion with respect to one another and that the majority of the deformation associated with this motion is concentrated along the plate boundaries. Numerous studies have examined the dynamics that govern plate boundary deformation in two dimensions (2D). To add to this understanding, 2D analytic models are constructed that quantify the relative role between erosion and gravitational collapse in the decay of topography associated with mountain building. A non-dimensional collapse number is calculated that reduces the problem to two parameters, the erosion coefficient and the viscosity. Very few studies have modeled a regional plate boundary in three dimensions (3D). To better understand the 3D dynamics of plate boundaries, 3D numerical models of the subduction-transform plate boundary in southern Alaska are constructed, and are the first 3D models of their kind to incorporate a subducting plate and overriding plate, use a non-linear rheology and allow the slab to drive the flow without applying a kinematic boundary condition. These are also the first regional models that provide a self-consistent mantle flow-field and seismic anisotropy comparison, as these both require the dislocation creep to be the dominant mechanism. The models suggest the strain-rate-dependent rheology provides a mechanism to partially decouple the mantle flow field from the overriding lithosphere. In the weakened region around the slab, mantle velocities may be a factor or ten times faster than observed plate motions. Model results suggest that, in Alaska, the Wrangell slab likely does not extend below 150 km, and that the Cook Inlet basin is generated in part from the downward pull from the subducting Pacific plate. We develop methodology to incorporates an arbitrarily shaped 3D thin viscous layer, referred to as a plate boundary shear zone, into the existing open source mantle convection code, CitcomCU. Solver parameters are optimized to obtain up to a 30% to speed up in run time for models that use a strain-rate-dependent rheology. 3D immersive visualization is used in model construction and analysis. | http://dggs.alaska.gov/pubs/id/28145 |
According to a new study by UCLA Professor Jerome Siegel, who said his study suggests that REM sleep acts as a “thermostatically controlled brain warmer”.
The study in Lancet Neurology suggests a previously unobserved relationship between body temperature and REM sleep, a period of sleep when the brain is highly active, said Siegel, who directs the Center for Sleep Research at the Jane and Terry Semel Institute. for Neuroscience and Human Behavior at UCLA.
Birds have the highest body temperature of any warm-blooded or homeothermic animal group at 41 degrees while getting the least REM sleep at 0.7 hours per day. Next come humans and other placental mammals (37 degrees, 2 hours REM sleep), marsupials (35 degrees, 4.4 hours REM sleep), and monotremes (31 degrees, 7.5 hours REM sleep).
Brain temperature drops during non-REM sleep and then rises during the REM sleep that usually follows. This model “allows warm-blooded mammals to conserve energy during non-REM sleep without the brain becoming so cold that it fails to respond to threat,” Siegel said.
The amount of REM sleep in humans is neither high nor low compared to other warm-blooded animals, “undermining some popular views suggesting a role for REM sleep in learning or emotional regulation,” he said. .
Funding: Siegel’s research is supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HLB148574 and DA034748) and the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Research Service. He declared no competing interests.
About this sleep research news
Author: Jason Millman
Source: UCLA
Contact: Jason Millman – UCLA
Image: Image is in public domain
Original research: Free access.
“Sleep Function: An Evolutionary Perspective” by Jerome Siegel et al. Lancet Neurology
Summary
Sleep function: an evolutionary perspective
See also
Prospective epidemiological studies in industrial societies indicate that 7 h of sleep per night in people aged 18 or over is optimal, with greater or lesser amounts of sleep predicting a shorter lifespan. Humans living a hunter-gatherer lifestyle (e.g. tribal groups) sleep 6-8 hours per night, with the longest sleep durations in winter.
The prevalence of insomnia in hunter-gatherer populations is low (about 2%) compared to the prevalence of insomnia in industrial societies (about 10-30%). Sleep deprivation studies, which are done to better understand sleep function, are often confounded by the effects of stress.
Considering spontaneous daily sleep duration in mammalian species, which ranges from 2 h to 20 h, can provide important insights into sleep function without the stress of deprivation.
Sleep duration is not related to brain size or cognitive ability. Rather, the sleep duration of species is associated with their ecological niche and food requirements, indicating a role of sleep-wake balance in food acquisition and energy conservation. Brain temperature drops from waking levels during non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep and rises during REM sleep.
The average daily REM sleep time of homeothermal orders is negatively correlated with average body and brain temperature, with the greatest amount of REM sleep in egg-laying mammals (monotremes), moderate amounts in pouched mammals (marsupials) , lower amounts in placental mammals and the lowest amounts in birds.
REM sleep may therefore have a key role in regulating brain temperature and metabolism during sleep and in facilitating alert waking. | https://articleindiadirectory.com/2022/09/15/cbmiomh0dhbzoi8vbmv1cm9zy2llbmnlbmv3cy5jb20vc2xlzxatym9kes10zw1wzxjhdhvyzs0ymtqxns_saqaoc5/ |
The Accountant supports the financial statement close cycle and operational accounting functions to ensure timely reporting and compliance with GAAP and company policies and procedures. Key job responsibilities may include assisting with monthly close activities, working with customer invoices, contracts, credit memos, account reconciliations, daily bill entry and vendor management, and compiling information as necessary for auditors.
What You’ll Do
- Assesses accounting reports for accuracy, completeness, and conformance to department, organizational, and compliance policies and standards
- Reviews transactions for appropriate coding while understanding and interpreting company policies to ensure compliance
- Performs activities within a public company internal control environment related to the Sarbanes-Oxley Act to ensure organizational compliance
- Uses accounting knowledge to prepare month and quarter-end journal entries, balance sheet reconciliations, and supporting schedules
- Handles outside auditor questions and provides support to outside auditors and other project personnel as requested.
- Ensures proper recognition of revenue and expenses are captured on organization’s financial statements
- Handles queue of customer, sales team, and/or vendor inquiries and forwards to appropriate team member for response; researches and responds to more complex questions; escalates to higher levels as needed
- Reviews and interprets sales contracts and/or vendor agreements to confirm agreement details
- Demonstrates and applies strong accounting knowledge, acumen, and technical expertise
What You’ll Need
Skills
- Analytical ability to interpret contracts and policies
- Proficient accounting software knowledge, along with generic computer skills required
- Spreadsheet skills preferred
- Strong communication (written, verbal and listening) and collaborative skills to work with many personalities inside and outside of the company
Experience
- 1-2 years experience or equivalent
Education
- Bachelor’s degree in accounting required
- Associates degree in accounting with 3-6 years of significant progressive experience in accounting would be considered in lieu of Bachelor’s degree
- CPA preferred
Travel Requirement
- Minimal travel
Where You’ll Work
Our values drive how we work and who we hire. You will see these values ingrained in how we support our customers, work with team members, build our products and in the work environment we’ve created.
Customer Success: Always delight our customers.
Trust: We rely on each other.
Integrity: Do the right thing, every time.
Collaboration: Share resources and work together.
Innovation: Keep creating solutions and finding better ways.
Inclusion: Support a diverse community where we all belong.
Accountability: Be responsible for your success and failure.
We believe our people are our greatest asset, and our unique culture gives employees the opportunity to make an impact everyday. We give our employees the freedom and resources they need—backed by our culture of collaboration and diverse thought—to continue innovating and breaking new ground. We hire talented people with a wide range of skills and experiences who are eager to tackle some of today’s most challenging problems. At Workiva, you’ll enjoy:
Fantastic Benefits: With coverage starting day one, choose from competitive health, dental, and vision plans on the largest physician networks available.
Casual Dress: Workiva has a casual work environment, most people wear jeans to the office.
Involvement: Ability to participate in Employee Resource Groups, (Women in Tech, Women in Sales, Ethnic Diversity, Veterans, Rainbow (LGBTQ), Remote Employees, Caregiving) Volunteering, Company wide celebrations, and more
Work-life Balance: We have competitive PTO, VTO and Parental Leave. We encourage employees to spend time enjoying life outside of work.
Learn more: https://www.linkedin.com/company/workiva/life/
Individuals seeking employment are considered without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, status as a protected veteran, or disability. | https://www.isupark.org/project/accountant-payroll/ |
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): The Universidad Mayor de San Andr¿s (UMSA) School of Medicine, Bolivian Ministry of Health and Sports, and other Bolivian partners propose a dynamic research education program to improve knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to conducting ethical health research. A Comprehensive Bolivia Specific Multi- level Research Ethics Education Program is central to providing a sustainable approach to strengthening research ethics committees and improving participation in the ethical conduct of research. The long-term goal is to transform the Bolivian research culture to integrate ethical public health research into the education and research practice of health care practitioners and investigators. The objective of the Planning Grant is to support activities to prepare for the implementation of the comprehensive Bolivian research ethics program. The education model is a comprehensive multi-level program required to develop an effective and sustainable approach to significantly improve the conduct of ethical public health research among Bolivian academics, researchers and health professionals. The study aims of the program are to determine the components of 1) targeted educational campaigns emphasizing the importance of ethical conduct of research 2) a masters level education program for researchers, academicians, and health professionals3) developing models for regional Research Councils and Research Ethics Committees (RECs) that will provide policy and educational support to local institutions and groups and 4) a community based certificate training program to increase the participation of community members on RECs and raise awareness about ethical public health research involving human subjects. Information will be gathered to provide additional knowledge for the planning, implementation, and evaluation of the program components. Key informant interviews, surveys, and focus groups will be conducted in 2 Bolivian states to answer more specific questions related to research ethics at the university, ministerial, and community levels. Understanding research ethics knowledge levels, successful programs and challenges, available resources, learning styles/methods, community concerns and the current status of research ethics in Bolivia will be instrumental for the program planning activities as well as serve as a baseline for future program evaluations. The rationale for our proposed program is that, once the components are implemented, Bolivian academics, researchers and health professionals will have the interest, knowledge, skills, and supportive infrastructure to conduct ethically responsible public health research. With the implementation of a comprehensive multi-level (university, Ministry of Health and Sports infrastructure and community) research ethics program, a significant advancement in the conduct of ethical public health research will be realized in Bolivia. This multifaceted program is designed to provide needed theories, structure, skills and sustainability for conducting public health research with ethical integrity and participation for Bolivian researchers, academics, health care workers and citizens.
|Status||Finished|
|Effective start/end date||7/06/13 → 31/12/15|
Funding
- Fogarty International Center
Fingerprint
Explore the research topics touched on by this project. These labels are generated based on the underlying awards/grants. Together they form a unique fingerprint. | https://pure.umsa.bo/en/projects/a-comprehensive-bolivia-specific-multi-level-research-ethics-educ |
The Aspen Institute Energy & Environment Program’s Ocean Community Report: Building an Aligned and Supportive Ocean Conservation Community is focused on the success and efficacy of ocean conservation and marine protection planning, based on a year-long study of strategies for building a more coordinated and aligned marine conservation movement.
The Ocean Community Report targets several key areas of opportunity in which the ocean conservation community can improve its efficacy. These opportunities include strengthening collaboration between conservation groups (and creating funder incentives to do so) and developing an information clearinghouse for the community through which efforts can be aligned. The report also highlights the importance of improving communications by reframing conservation within other nationally prioritized issues such as economic development or food security, including the voices of unorthodox stakeholders, and training political and business leaders to become informed spokespeople for conservation.
This report is a product of the Energy & Environment Program’s Ocean Community Study & Dialogue, a year-long study of opportunities for improving the design and implementation of spatial management strategies and policies that can reduce the impact of overfishing on ecosystems and fisheries biomass. In this study, the Aspen Institute partnered with Duke University’s Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions and the Institute’s own Advocacy Planning and Evaluation Program to survey recent funding, policy and advocacy related to establishing marine protected areas.
Adding to the findings in these studies, the Institute also convened an in-person, multiday dialogue at Fort Baker, California, in December 2012 among some thirty members of the ocean conservation community, including major funders, marine scientists, policymakers and conservation leaders.
This initiative built on the Institute’s previous work on conservation and marine protection, including the Aspen Dialogue and Commission on Arctic Climate Change, and Dialogue Series on Conservation in the 21st Century. The Energy & Environment Program is now developing initiatives on scaling marine spatial planning, the role of sustainable fisheries in food security, and the impact of climate change on our oceans. | https://www.aspeninstitute.org/publications/ocean-community-report/ |
Supply is defined as the quantity of a good or service that producers are willing and able to supply at a given price in each time period.
The law of supply is that as the price of a product rises, so businesses expand supply. Higher prices provide a profit incentive for firms to expand production
A supply curve shows a relationship between market price and how much a firm is willing and able to sell.
In this revision video we cover the key factors affecting market supply of goods and services, look at the concept of joint supply and then work through a small selection of past multiple-choice questions
In this revision video we explore some of the reasons why it is usually assumed that a supply curve normally slopes upwards.
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© 2021 Tutor2u Limited. Company Reg no: 04489574. VAT reg no 816865400. | https://www.tutor2u.net/economics/reference/theory-of-supply |
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Poll: Should open source projects adopt community codes of conduct?
Is a code of conduct vital to the success of an open source community?
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Should open source communities adopt codes of conduct?
Late last month, the Debian project voted to adopt a community code of conduct, a set of guidelines for acceptable participation in its official communication channels. Members agreed to abide by the following principles:
- Be respectful
- Assume good faith
- Be collaborative
- Try to be concise
- Be open
The project also cemented a formal process for altering the code: only a vote from the Debian general assembly can amend the community's code of conduct.
In ratifying this general resolution, Debian joins a host of high-profile open source projects—like Fedora, Ubuntu, GNOME, and OpenStack—that have adopted community codes of conduct.
Open source communities' codes of conduct differ, but all tend to embody a core collection of values: respect, consideration, collaboration, concision, transparency, patience, deference to electoral processes, and the importance of seeking assistance when in need.
Certainly these values express something central to the open source way, but do they go without saying? Should all open source projects formalize community codes of conduct? | https://opensource.com/life/14/5/codes-of-conduct-open-source-communities |
Coral reefs, as most of us think of them, occur primarily in relatively shallow, warm, crystal clear waters. The clarity of the water is a good sign that there are few nutrients in the water column. Yet, the richness of life in these ecosystems is unparalleled. How is that possible?
In terrestrial ecosystem, energy is captured through photosynthesis by plants, and incorporated in sugars by combining the carbon available in carbon dioxide with the hydrogen in water, producing oxygen in the process. But on a healthy coral reef, there are no plants, and generally only a few macro-algae that can do the same thing. There are, however, small single-celled organisms that take the place of plants. These have variously been placed among the plants, because they can photosynthesize, but are now treated as protozoans (≈first animals). They do not live in the water column, but in the tissues of the corals. In fact, they are the organisms that give corals their colour – generally green or brown. They are special mutualistic dinoflagellates (Phylum Dinozoa) called zooxanthellae. These tiny organisms capture light, and provide the anemone or coral with carbohydrates (sugars) that can be used for growth and reproduction. In fact, most corals kept in a reef tank do not require feeding, but can survive solely on the photosynthetic products provided by their tiny helpers. Some corals do require feeding, but for the most part they survive on photosynthesis alone.
Which corals are “solar powered”, and which ones are not? In general, corals that are green or brown tend to be dependent on their symbiotic zooxanthellae, whereas yellow and red corals may depend more heavily on capturing organic food. In reality, most corals can subsidize their nutrient requirements by capturing food particles and plankton. But without a strong light source, it is very difficult to maintain healthy corals in a reef tank. Depending on the type of coral kept, sufficient light may be provided by fluorescent lights, but a stronger light source is required for most of the reef-building species. Until recently, the main option to fluorescent lighting was metal halide lights, which provide excellent light, but are expensive and produce a lot of heat. Recently, LED technology has emerged which provides good lighting, produce little heat, are long lasting, and can be programmed to provide more natural transitions between night and day (http://www.pacificeastaquaculture.com/lighting.asp).
One of the main threats to coral reefs is increasing water temperature. When water temperatures increase by even a few degrees, the result may be “coral bleaching”. Thermal coral bleaching is the result of the corals expelling their symbionts, thereby losing their colour and appearing white. A recent study indicated that this may be due to changes in the interactions of the coral and the zooxanthellae (http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1472-6793-9-14.pdf). In fact, a coral bleaching event occurred in the UNBC reef tank a few years ago, when the installation of a new and more powerful sump return pump caused a sudden increase in water temperature. In addition, bacterial infections and other external factors may cause coral bleaching.
In summary, even at the most basic level of coral reef functioning, the symbiosis between two different types of organisms. Many more obvious symbiotic interactions occur as well, and some of those will be the subject of future blog posts. | http://blogs.unbc.ca/reeftank/2013/05/21/the-coral-reef-a-solar-powered-ecosystem/ |
Course Description: This course will introduce you to a wide variety of organisms that live in the oceans, the habitats they occupy, and how species interact with each other and their environment. Included will be examinations of adaptations, behavior, ecology, and a discussion of local and global resource management and conservation issues. Lectures and assigned readings will be supported by discussion sections to review course information and/or participate in activities outside the classroom.
Course Structure: Three lectures per week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 2:00- 2:50; weekly discussion sessions are hosted on Friday between 3:00 and 4:00.
SIO 134: Introduction to Biological Oceanography (Winter 2016)
Instructor: Professor Michael Landry (SIO, UCSD), Teaching Assistants: Catherine Nickels, B. Jack Pan, and Kathryn Furby
Course Description: The course presents the basics for understanding the ecology of marine communities in a dynamic and changing ocean environment. In the first part of the course, we take a process approach, focusing on major functional groups of marine organisms, how they interact in ocean food webs, and how the resulting communities respond to their environment. In the second half, we use this foundation as a basis for considering contemporary issues in ocean ecology, including human and climate influences.
Course Structure: Two lectures per week on Tuesday and Thursday at 8:00-9:20; weekly discussion sessions are hosted.
University Study 7: Environmental Crisis Studies
Instructor: B. Jack Pan
Course Description: Our environmental crisis involves complicated issues that no one academic discipline can resolve alone. Utilizing multidisciplinary research to address environmental challenges has become increasingly common in academia. This course will help students to gain a better understanding of the different disciplines involved in environmental issues and how these disciplines interact with one another. We will discuss current environmental topics from the perspective of these different disciplines. Eventually students will utilize what they have learned to investigate various environmental issues.
Some students might have an undeclared major but would like to study in an environmental field. This seminar will help those students to find their fields of interest and help them to choose their majors. I hope it will be a useful learning experience for you.
Some topics we cover in class: regional/local environmental issues with a focus on developing countries, global warming, climate change, understanding climate science, the relationship between anthropogenic forcing and environmental degradation, energy and power generation, renewable energy resources, and geoengineering.
Class website: https://eee.uci.edu/13s/87642 (UCINet ID is required)
UCI COSMOS Program, Cluster 4: Life on the Edge -- Biodiversity and Ecosystems of Coastal California Instructors: Dr. Peter J. Bryant (UCI Developmental & Cell Biology) and Dr. Peter Fuhrer (UCI Chemistry/Pharmaceutical Sciences); Teaching Assistant: B. Jack Pan
Due to its varied topography, long coastline and mild climate, California is home to an astonishing variety of plants, animals and ecosystems. It has been identified as one of the earth’s biodiversity hotspots, and provides outstanding opportunities for the study of terrestrial, aquatic and marine ecology. During a visit to Crystal Cove State Park, students will explore the fascinating biodiversity of rocky intertidal communities, and study how animals and plants adapt to the continually changing conditions at the frontier between land and sea. Observations in Upper Newport Bay will illustrate another environment subjected to changing conditions with tides and storms as well as enormous impacts from human activities upstream in the watershed. Field trips to freshwater marsh, wetlands and riparian areas as well as hikes in coastal sage scrub, chaparral, oak woodland and pine forest will be included in a comprehensive study of the rich ecology of coastal Southern California. Lectures will be focused on how animals and plants adapt to their environments, and on the successes and failures in our efforts to protect species and ecosystems in a heavily urbanized environment. Students will conduct original research projects at the Back Bay Science Center and acquire hands-on experience in experimental design, data collection and analysis, and the presentation of scientific findings.
Earth System Science 138: Remote Sensing (Spring Quarter, 2013)
Professor: Dr. Eric Rignot (UCI Earth System Science & Jet Propulsion Laboratory); Laboratory Session Co-Managed by Dr. Bernd Scheuchl (UCI Earth System Science), and B. Jack Pan
Remote sensing is a powerful tool to obtain planetary observational data with global coverage on a long time scale. ESS 138 aims to help students to better understand various remote sensing techniques and their implications. During the laboratory session, students utilize ENVI software and databases that were available to them to develop research projects focusing on ocean and terrestrial processes, while demonstrating their abilities to critically use remote sensing tools. | https://www.byjpan.com/teaching |
Looking beyond the microevolutionary force of Darwinian natural selection, Kemp enters the realm of macroevolution, or evolution above the species level. From the origin of mammals to the radiation of flowering plants, these large-scale patterns—such as the rise of novel organismal design, adaptive radiations, and lineage extinctions—encompass the most significant trends and transformations in evolution. As macroevolution cannot be studied by direct observation and experiment, scientists have to rely on the outcome of evolution as evidence for the processes at work, in the form of patterns of species appearances and extinctions in a spotty fossil record, and through the nature of species extant today. Marshalling a wealth of new fossil and molecular evidence and increasingly sophisticated techniques for their study, Kemp here offers a timely and original reinterpretation of how higher taxa such as arthropods, mollusks, mammals, birds, and whales evolved—a bold new take on the history of life.
Royal Society of Biology: Royal Society Postgraduate Textbook Prize
Short Listed
Biological Sciences: Ecology | Evolutionary Biology | Paleobiology, Geology, and Paleontology
You may purchase this title at these fine bookstores. Outside the USA, see our international sales information. | https://www.press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/O/bo22541249.html |
The Department of BioSciences at Rice University (https://biosciences.rice.edu/) invites applications for two tenure-track, assistant professor positions to begin July 1, 2020. We aim to fill positions in two areas of research.
-Evolutionary Biology : We seek to hire an evolutionary biologist studying mechanisms governing evolutionary processes and dynamics. We welcome applicants whose research spans diverse systems and approaches including field, lab, computational, theoretical work or a combination thereof. Research areas can include but are not limited to animal behavior, coevolution, evolutionary ecology, evolutionary genetics/genomics, evolutionary modelling, evolutionary paleobiology, experimental evolution, microbial evolution, sexual selection, evolutionary developmental biology, life-history evolution, population genetics, molecular evolution, evolution and plasticity, or phylogenetics and systematics.
-Global Change Biology : We also seek to hire a global change biologist whose research in behavior, ecology or evolution is relevant to our conceptual understanding of the causes and consequences of large-scale environmental changes (past, present or projected). Research focal areas can include but are not limited to ecosystem changes, evolutionary adaptation in the Anthropocene, behavioral responses to changing environments, mechanisms of species and ecosystems resilience, invasive species, wildfire, impacts of climate change on natural systems or species interactions, land-use change, loss of biodiversity, and biological feedbacks on climate change.
For both positions, we welcome applicants who employ theory, empirical work, or some combination thereof. Preference will be given to candidates whose work complements strengths of current faculty and contributes to the excellence of our academic community. Rice University is committed to a culturally diverse intellectual community. In this spirit, we particularly welcome applications from all genders and members of historically underrepresented groups who exemplify diverse cultural experiences and who are especially qualified to mentor and advise all members of our diverse student population.
To apply, please submit the following materials on line at http://jobs.rice.edu/postings/20741: (1) cover letter; (2) curriculum vitae; (3) research statement (3 pages or less); (4) statement of teaching philosophy (2 pages or less); (5) contributions to diversity statement (1 page); and (6) names and contact information for three references. Application review will commence September 20th, 2019 and will continue until the positions are filled.
The contributions to diversity statement should discuss any past experience, activities and future plans to advance diversity, equity and inclusion, in alignment with our University’s mission to meet the educational needs and interests of its diverse student population. Once the search committee has determined the initial short list of candidates, the search committee chair will request letters of recommendation at that time. For additional information, please contact the search chair, Dr. Amy Dunham at aed4(at)rice.edu. Applicants will be notified when the final candidates have been selected.
Rice University is an Equal Opportunity employer with commitment to diversity at all levels, and considers for employment qualified applicants without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national or ethnic origin, genetic information, disability, or protected veteran status. | https://www.animalbehaviorsociety.org/web/news.php?view=456&sort= |
The American Academy of Pediatrics, the nation’s leading advocacy organization for children’s healthcare, is seeking a relationship builder and social-media expert to work 30 hours per week to serve as the primary engagement specialist for Neonatal Resusciation Program (NRP) community. This position will manage the NRP Instructor Toolkit platform, develop content and deploy strategies to enhance NRP value, build brand awareness, and cultivate relationships with NRP instructors and Subject Matter Experts (SMEs). In addition, this position will provide technical support for the toolkit web-based platform and identify process improvements to enhance customer experience and course delivery.
1. Collaborate with vendors and SMEs to develop and manage content/content import and design templates for the NRP Instructor Toolkit. Routinely monitor efficacy and accuracy of content. Build and cultivate relationships with SMEs and facilitate online discussion board. Research new ways to engage NRP Instructor Toolkit subscribers, including badge-based gamification.
2. Develop instructor, instructor candidate, and provider communications, including coordinating distribution lists, posting to social media, responding to followers, and managing brand reputation. Keep abreast of emerging social media trends and identify ways to deploy messaging in compliance with AAP social media guidelines.
3. Coordinate NRP instructor and provider engagement webinars. Identify panelists, develop promotional and educational campaigns, facilitate the monthly online technical webinars, and conduct post-webinar participant follow up.
7. Work with NRP staff to facilitate program enhancements, communicate updates, update standard operating procedures, and provide guidance and training to Life Support Initiatives staff.
8. Participate in Team NRP and other identified teams to refine courses, offerings, services and systems. Cross-train in the business processes for all Life Support Initiatives programs and provide support for all aspects of the programs as necessary. Analyze and appropriately respond to various instructor/provider/member queries.
9. Assist instructors and providers with troubleshooting within the toolkit and work to resolve identified concerns. Continuously analyze queries to identify and implement process and content improvements to positively impact the customer experience and improve service/course delivery. Uphold and maintain privacy considerations.
2. Three to four years related project coordination experience required, including social media account management, data and metrics analysis, and establishing brand recognition. Experience coordinating virtual meetings, specifically WebEx Meetings and WebEx Events, highly desirable. Experience working within a healthcare association preferred.
3. Excellent writing, organizational, diplomacy, and interpersonal skills required. Proficiency in Microsoft Office and databases required, as well as strong technical acumen with the ability to learn and apply new technologies; knowledge of design software and technologies highly desirable. | https://hireveterans.com/job/4311464/nrp-community-specialist-pt/ |
Keeping it relevant is key to growing your company valuation
Ask yourself this question – when is the last time me and my team discussed whether our value proposition and unique selling proposition are still relevant? A key part of our job as company leaders is to ensure that these are staying relevant and that nothing has or is changing in our market or with our customers that might require us to make a strategic shift.
- Value Proposition is the value that your customer derives from working with your company.
- Unique Selling Proposition (USP) is how you provide your value proposition in a unique way versus your competition.
The beginning of a year is a great time to think about whether your team sees changes occurring in your market or perhaps changes with your customer purchasing decision making. You’ll want to determine if any strategic shifts are needed in your business and/or whether it’s just a matter of fine tuning your customer messaging to keep it relevant.
For those wanting to sell their business one day and be euphoric from the outcome, assessing value proposition and USP is a periodic key step needed. Your future acquirer will certainly assess whether they think these are staying relevant, so you too need to monitor and manage this aspect of your business effectively. | https://yosemiteassociates.com/reflections/item/263-your-usp-and-selling-your-company.html |
hundreds of thousands of times brighter than the sun. 29 people found this useful, answer. The gravity of the cluster split it into four separate images, making it the first multiply lensed supernova ever seen. The furthest ones will be on the edge of the universe some 14 billion light years away. About 5 billion light-years from Earth is a cluster of galaxies called macs J11492223. They are constantly moving so they have no set distance. (You can see why it's easier to use light-years than miles.) From there, there are billions and billions of stars, grouped in billions and billions of galaxies. (more) In Virgo, and in all other constellations, astronomers can seeobjects all the way to the edge of the observable universe. Planet Earth, the Moon, in, The furthest galaxy is about 14 billion light years away.
Voyager 1, launched in 1977, is currently the most distant man-made object. Scientists have captured an image of the most distant individual star ever spotted one that is nine billion light years away or 100 times farther away than the previous record-breaker.
Interestingly, in observations from May 2016, LS1 peaked in brightness twice, which may indicate its not a single star, but a binary, two blue supergiants in orbit around one another. But the gewerbefläche berlin friedrichshain supernova was not in any of the galaxies in the cluster; it was from a much more distant galaxy, well over 9 billion light-years away. In a study published today in, nature Astronomy, an international team of researchers announced the discovery of the most distant star ever observed. We just happen to be on the outer edge of our galaxy where there aren't many stars. The red diamonds are the colors measured in the Hubble images. However, in this case, we caught a break from the Universe: The light from the star has been hugely magnified by the gravity from a cluster of galaxies between us and. It takes light (at a speed of 300,000 km/second) a little over a second to come from the Moon to Earth. Remember light years is the meausre of how far light travels in one year. | http://victoriasuzanne.biz/18281-the-furthest-star.html |
In this session, taking a bird’s eye view on how Government, Businesses & Citizens can be safe and secure from recently increased ransomware attack & other possible attacks in Indian and Global cyber space. The Digital India Initiative is one of the initiatives which is driving our country or economy towards digitized life where an Individual’s life would be dependent on cloud computing, 5G in telecom, ecommerce, & etc. What are the steps Govt. of India has been taken to build capacities and deployed to mitigate the cyber security issues. How can we keep a tab on loose ends.
Sh. Harkamal Singh Sidhu, National Security Council Secretariat
|10.20 – 10.40||Keynote Address: Creating Roadmap for Data security awareness Cyber, Cloud, Enterprise
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Keynote Speaker: –
Dr. N Subramanian, Sr. Director (Corporate R&D), Center for Development for Advance Computing (C-DAC)
|10.45 – 11.20||Inaugural Leaders Panel: Top 3 Driving and Restraining Factors of Data Protection and Awareness
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Data is the most vital, critical, and fragile part of every organization. There are multiple adjectives used to express the importance of data, but with its importance comes the need to protect it. In this session, we will deep dive into understanding the driving and restraining factors of Data Protection.
Speakers: –
Ambarish Singh, CISO, Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co.
|11.25 – 11.40||Redefining ERP Security in the Cloud age
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Speaker: –
Abhijit Katkar, Partner – Risk Advisory, Deloitte India
|11.45 – 12.00||Networking Coffee Break|
|12.05 – 12.20||Architecting a Zero Loss Data strategy for comprehensive protection from cyber threats
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Speaker: –
Anshuman Rai, Area Vice President Sales, Commvault India and South Asia
|12.25 – 13.00||Tech Leaders Panel: Technology and Innovation in Cloud & Enterprise Security – Stay Updated to Stay Relevant
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Cloud security is one of the most important challenges when it comes to Security tech. In this session we will discuss the upcoming technologies and innovations along with understanding:
Speakers: –
Shreerang Vaidya, Chief Information Security Officer, MasterCard Transaction Services
|13.05 – 13.20||Securing the Evolving Business Paradigm
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Speaker: –
Rajarshi Bhattacharyya, Managing Director, Process IT Global
|13.25 – 13.40||How to Mitigate Risks of Improper Data sanitization?
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Digital data which drives businesses today can also be a liability for organisations. Data becomes a liability when it needs to be protected so that it does not cause harm by being in the wrong hands.
Data remanence in case of outdated hardware, infrastructure transitions, and Cloud migrations can pose a serious risk of data leakage. In such situations the fundamental way for data to be protected is by destroying it securely. Your secure erasure process should also have a certified audit trail as an output for compliance management.
Speaker: –
Anurag Nalawade, Director – India, Blancco Technology Group
|13.45 – 14.35||Networking Lunch|
|14.35 – 14.55||Building a Foundation for Zero Trust Network Security
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Speakers: –
Manish Gupta, Head Enterprise – Indian & SAARC, Keysight
|15.00 – 15.35||CISO Panel Discussion: The cyber-security threat landscape: Learning how data can be more private, available and secure?
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Data provides the critical foundation for every operation of your organization. Protecting, ensure availability of your data and using it securely is critical to a zero-trust strategy. Various threats ranging from natural calamities to cybercriminals seeking to exploit security vulnerabilities can put information at risk, and if left unchecked, can result in loss, unavailability or theft of data impacting the organization’s ability to continue its business operations and fulfil their commitments & objectives. Secure data solutions, whether on-premises or in hybrid multi-cloud environments, help you gain greater visibility and insights to investigate and remediate threats, ensure availability of your data and enforce real-time controls and compliance. This session will look at how organizations can adopt solutions to safeguard data against new cyber threats and strive towards building data resilience.
Speakers: –
Pawan Chawla, CISO & Data Protection Officer, Future Generali India Life Insurance
|15.40 – 15.55||Humble Packets has powerful content
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Speaker: –
Vinay Sharma, Regional Director India & SAARC, Netscout
|16.00 – 16.15||Simplifying API Security – Case Study BFSI
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Speaker: –
Mohit Rampal, Founder & CEO, RamoGnee Technologies
|16.20 – 16.40||Fireside Chat: Let’s Talk Enterprise Security and its Modern challenges and their Innovative solutions?
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With the increasing vulnerabilities of security, organizations need to look at emerging technologies and solutions to deal with them. In this session, we have leaders having a one-on-one chat on enterprise security. | https://et-edge.com/conferences/securitytech/agenda/ |
Effective Project Management requires planning and control and when implemented effectively, project success rates can increase dramatically. Conversely if poorly planned and implemented this can lead to project scope, schedule and costs to quickly get out of control. Until now, there has been very little guidance for practicing and aspiring planning and control professionals to gain understanding of best practice, and how to apply it.
This event introduces delegates to effective project planning and control. Project Planning & Control guidance, training & certification are aimed at a variety of key project management roles including planning managers & engineers and project control managers & engineers. It will also benefit other roles including cost engineers, project managers and project support team members.
By the end of this course you will be able to, understand the key techniques, principles and terminology within Project Planning
Specifically, the candidate should be able to use, interpret or assess
- The approaches and products used to gain a clear definition of a project
- The approaches and techniques used to plan and close a project
- The selection and use of appropriate scheduling techniques
- The practices used for rigorous monitoring to enable proactive control of the project
- The basis for good record keeping, which also facilitates the virtuous feedback and learning cycle
Delegates will be provided with a copy of the APM Planning, Scheduling, Monitoring and Control Manual. Delegates need to bring this book with them to the course, please read this book and be familiar with the contents in advance.
The Foundation-level qualification aims to measure whether the candidate has sufficient knowledge and understanding of the Project Planning & Control guidance to be able to act as an informed member of a Project Support Office or Project Planning and Control team. The Foundation qualification is also a pre-requisite for the Practitioner qualification.
The course will cover the following syllabus areas:
Definition
Delegates are introduced to the world of projects and capital expenditure
- Key definitions and concepts associated with Planning and Control
- Hierarchical Breakdown Structures - WBS, OBS, CBS, RBS
- Purpose of the Business Case
- Purpose of Scope Management, Requirements Management and Stakeholder Management
- Purpose and composition of the Works Information and Statement of Work
Planning
- Facts, terms and concepts for: Planning, handover and closeout
- Purpose and benefits of successful planning
- Differences between Planning and Scheduling; Funding and Budgets
- Planning approaches and influencing factors for: top-down, bottom-up and rolling wave planning
- Purpose, characteristics and relationship and use of Breakdown Structures
- Approaches and principles of designing Breakdown Structures
- Purpose of the Work Package, WBS Dictionary and RACI Matrix
- Purpose of Dependency Management, cost estimating, budgeting and budget transfers
Scheduling
- The definition and elements of scheduling
- Definition of key network analysis terms
- The three identified methods of presenting the results of scheduling
- Typical features associated with schedule density
- Purpose of different types of time phased schedules, including
- Purpose and use of key elements of schedule design
- Key features of the Precedence Diagram Method (PDM) for determining a critical path and the inputs into a Critical Path Analysis (CPA)
- Use and features of different methods of estimating durations
- Types of resources and the purpose of resourcing the schedule
- Typical composition of a Schedule Narrative
- Purpose and scope of Schedule Reviews
- Steps in the scheduling process and steps to prepare for monitoring and control
- The five steps necessary to construct a network, together with the activities of each
Monitor and Control
- Definition of Earned Value Analysis (EVA) and its basic terminology
- Definitions of key monitoring terms
- Definitions of key risk management terms
- Definitions of key change management terms
- Purpose and use of a project baseline
- Purpose and use of Baseline maintenance and Change management together with the principles of change management and why change control is needed
- Purpose and use of performance reporting and features of a good control system
- Characteristics of Variance Analysis Methods of Progress Monitoring
- Characteristics of Performance Analysis Methods of Progress
- Monitoring, specifically the use of Network Analysis and measurement of float usage
- The purpose of Short-term Planning, its four key elements, and how it should be linked to project schedules
No prerequisites are necessary for attendance, although delegates would benefit from some experience and understanding of basic planning principles and terminology.
Additional evening work will be required in the form of consolidation reading and mock examination questions. The evening work is an integral part of the course and delegates should expect to spend approximately two hours on these activities each evening. The evening work is aimed at helping effective preparation for the examination. | https://www.hemsleyfraser.co.uk/course/apmg-international-project-planning-and-control%E2%84%A2-foundation |
Reading for School Success
The first three to five years of life are critical in the growth and development of your child’s brain. Sharing language with him or her is never more important for later success in school and life. One way to do this is by regularly reading aloud to your child. It’s not only enjoyable and a bonding experience, it encourages speech and language skills, and can enhance memory, analytical thinking, vocabulary, and general knowledge. As humans, we’re hard-wired for connection with others, but those connections must be developed through regular interaction.
When caregivers read aloud, babies hear the sounds of language and the rhythm of speech, which helps them develop adult-like speech sounds, pitch and melody, first in babbling and then when using words in phrases. Book reading exposes older children to new vocabulary, reinforces social skills, and helps them learn about new experiences.
Pictures in books help children understand the connection between spoken words and their meanings. The story in the book is consistent, no matter how many times it is read, which helps children understand grammar and more complex sentences. Through books, children are also exposed to text and begin to recognize that written words are important, even if they are not able to read them yet.
HOW you read is important. Read with emotion, “do the voices” of the characters, change the speed, volume, and pitch of your voice, and pause to allow your child to respond.
Tips for reading aloud:
- Reading longer stories helps build your child’s attention, especially texts with rhyming or rhythmic verses, such as The Pout-Pout Fish by Deborah Diesen or Giraffes Can’t Dance by Giles Andreae.
- Books with repetitive phrases can increase the child’s participation. Examples include Dear Zoo by Rod Campbell, The Very Busy Spider by Eric Carle, Good Night Moon by Margaret Wise Brown, and 5 Little Monkeys Jumping on the Bed by Eileen Christelow.
- Point to pictures on the page. If your child cannot label the pictures, provide labels for her. Provide more language exposure by talking about what the characters are doing or how they feel.
- For older children, ask open-ended questions related to the story, such as “What is he/she doing?”, “What do you think will happen next?”, or “What might happen if he/she does that?” If this is challenging for your child, demonstrate how you would answer these questions.
- Limit e-books. Enhancements in e-books can distract from the story and children typically remember fewer details. Use “real” books whenever possible.
Reading to your child for 20 minutes each day is an effective and enjoyable way to set the stage for academic achievement.
Call us for details: In Sioux Falls, 605-444-9700. In Sioux City, 712-226-ABLE (2253). In Rapid City, 605-791-7400.
Learn more about LifeScape’s therapy services.
-Beth Wienhold, MA, CCC-SLP is a speech-language pathologist at LifeScape Rehabilitation Center. | https://www.lifescapesd.org/resources/education/reading-aloud-for-school-success |
Cable Stayed Bridge
A typical cable stayed bridge is a continuous girder with one or more towers erected above piers in the middle of the span. From these towers, cables stretch down diagonally (usually to both sides) and support the girder.
Steel cables are extremely strong but very flexible. Cables are very economical as they allow a slender and lighter structure which is still able to span great distances. Though only a few cables are strong enough to support the entire bridge, their flexibility makes them weak to a force we rarely consider: the wind.
Pylons
The pylon may be fabricated from steel plate, or precast concrete elements or occasionally in in situ concrete. The various configurations shown, in figure below illustrate the flexibility of design options available to produce good aesthetic effect.
Deck
- Like the pylon, the superstructure may be assembled in precast concrete elements, steel plate or girders, or made in in situ concrete
- The most common form being the box section, which offers good torsion restraint.
- Trusses are also an option but the high fabrication costs, expensive maintenance to counteract corrosion and poor aerodynamic characteristics now render this method relatively uneconomic.
- Plate girders are sometimes used where erection procedures require assembly in small light elements.
Fixing Of Cables
- Parallel Arrangement Design
- Radial Attatchment Design
The Cable And Connections
- The cable material is similar to that used for normal prestressing work and either comprises multi-strand cable made up of cold drawn wires or alternatively as single strand cable (mono-strand cable) consisting of parallel wires
- Diameters in the range 40-125 mm are typical
- Protection against corrosion can be provided by galvanizing each wire, but a more thorough practice has been to cover the cable in steel or plastic ducting and subsequently inject cement grout after positioning in place. This latter operation is carried out after all dead loads have been applied to avoid too much-cracking of the mortar
- The cable is normally connected to the pylon with pin-type joints as illustrated in the examples shown in the figure above or alternatively placed in the groove or guide tube of a saddle, depending upon the design requirements.
- The cable ends for the pin-type connection have either swaged or filled sockets. Swaging consists of squeezing a socket onto the wire in a hydraulic press and is generally used with strand having a diameter in the range 10-40 mm
- Filled sockets are more suited to the larger diameter parallel wire type cable with the socket containing the whole bundle of wires. Several alternative types are manufactured differing slightly in the form of dead ending of each wire and the type of filling material
- In the most simple form the wires are led through a plate at the base of the socket and finished with a button head. The inside of the socket, conical in shape, is subsequently filled with an alloy of zinc, copper, aluminum or lead, or sometimes with a cold casting compound such as epoxy resin. Thu! when the cable is subject to a tension load, wedging action develops thereby increasing the grip on the wires.
- The deck-to-cable connection is usually of the ‘free’ type to accommodate adjustment.. Initial tensioning of the cable to remove slack is generally carried out with a hydraulic jack, the socket is therefore often manufactured with at internal thread for the jack connection and external thread and nut to take up the extension and other adjustments
Difference Between Cable Stayed And Suspension Beidges
- Cable-stayed bridges may look similar to suspensions bridges—both have roadways that hang from cables and both have towers. But the two bridges support the load of the roadway in very different ways. The difference lies in how the cables are connected to the towers. In suspension bridges, the cables ride freely across the towers, transmitting the load to the anchorages at either end. In cable-stayed bridges, the cables are attached to the towers, which alone bear the load
- The principle aim of the structural configuration of a cable-stayed arrangement, is to prevent sideways and vertical movements of the tower/pylon and deck under asymmetrical live loading. By careful selection of the foundation types and connection of cable and girder it is possible to maintain stability of the whole structure by resisting only the horizontal and vertical components of the forces generated. | https://www.archinomy.com/case-studies/cable-stayed-bridge/ |
1. The Great Wall
1.1. Goals & Objectives: Goal: Students will be able to argue evidence for, and against, the building of the Great Wall of China by citing textual evidence. Objective: Students will understand the political, economic, and social costs/benefits of the Great Wall of China.
1.1.1. (Formative) Assessments: Formative assessments will be done in two parts of the lesson. The first one will occur during the discussion portion of the six hats strategy, when I will be walking around and listening to student conversations in order to understand how well students can use what they have learned from previous lessons in order to hold conversations about the Great Wall’s historical significance and practical use. Additionally, I would formatively asses during the lesson closure when I had students share what they learned from the discussion by their group’s final decision as to whether they think “the Great Wall of China was an architectural masterpiece that defended China, or, an ineffective and inhumane defensive border?” By writing down summations of what each group is using to tell their position, I can gain an understanding and insight into what the students have learned about the history of the Great Wall and what they have learned that they can use to converse about a historical topic. Additionally, by having students focus on conversing about the Great Wall, students will be expected to cite specific examples about the Great Wall (such as when it succeeded and failed) in conversation, thereby giving me a good understanding that my students have learned about different Chinese dynasties and how they came into power.
1.1.1.1. Teacher Will: The teacher will introduce students to the Great Wall discussion by playing two History Channel videos, and reminding students about China being conquered by foreign invaders regardless of the wall. During the "six hats" activity, the teacher will be more of an "advisor role", and not really focusing on trying to interject into every discussion, but instead, focusing on what the students are saying and if they are stating perspectives of their "hat". After the discussion, when every group presents their conclusion, the teacher summarizes each groups position and writes it on the board for everyone to see.
1.1.1.2. Students Will: The students will work watch the videos and address the questions that are asked of them regarding the Great Wall. After the video, students will then work in groups in order to complete the "six hats" activity by successfully splitting into their groups and answering the discussion question using their hats "perspectives". At the end of the period, students should be able to come up with the best answer to the discussion question, due to the students exploring from the question from multiple angles.
2. Chinese Religions
2.1. Goals & Objectives: Students will be able to identify the different religions native to Imperial China with 100% religious title accuracy Students will recognize, and cite, the influences that each religion had on Chinese society, government, and economics.
2.1.1. (Formative) Assessment: This lessons formative assessment will occur during the student engagement and closing activity. By listening to students discussing their close reading questions, the teacher can tell if they have achieved the objective for the day by understanding student perspectives on the social, political, and philosophical values used during Imperial China. Another formative assessment will also be done during the closing activity of the exit card strategy, where the teacher will understand the explicit connections made between the student and one of the religions (Confucianism/Daoism) effect on China politically, socially, and economically.
2.1.1.1. Teacher Activity: The teacher will give an overview of how religions affect communities and civilizations. After this introduction, the teacher explains the Jigsaw activity and then oversees student groups as they work on the activity, answering any questions and providing guidance when asked to do so.
2.1.1.2. Student Activity: The students will answer the proposed questions by the teacher, then read through their individual sections and discuss what they learn with their "expert" and "home" groups. Students will do an "exit slip" to leave the classroom which focuses on any Chinese religion of their choice and the effects that it had.
3. Inventions
3.1. (Formative) Assessment: Students will cite 3 inventions from Medieval China that they have learned from the lecture along with 2 questions about them.
3.1.1. Teacher gives digital presentation on 5 inventions from Medieval China, along with their modern day use.
3.1.2. Students fill out guided-notes as they follow along with the digital presentation on Medieval China's inventions
3.2. Instructional Objective & Goals: Students will be able to cite 3 technological innovations made during the time of Ancient China with a class accuracy of 80%. Students will understand the roots of modern day technology using advancements/innovations created during the time of Ancient China
4. Daoism & Confucianism -Primary Source Lesson
4.1. Instructional Objective: Students will be able to distinguish between the philosophical influences of Daoism and Confucianism in Medieval China, while also recognizing the contribution each doctrine had on Chinese government.
4.1.1. Assessment: Formative Assessments done throughout this lesson by using student-student interactions on day 1 and day 2. Day 1: Understanding Confucianism & Daoism Day 2: Understanding Confucianism & Daoism in rule of law + complete Graphic Organizer
4.1.1.1. Teacher Activity: Day 1: Teacher will explain and model how to close read introduction to Primary Sources; Overview students and help when needed; Facilitate student readings of excerpts Day 2: Work with students as they close read introduction to Emperor Taizong; Facilitate student conversation about Daoism & Confucianism influence in the rule of law
4.1.1.2. Student Activity: Day 1: Students will work in their pairs on the Confucian or Daoist excerpt they received, while also filling out their graphic organizer comparing & contrasting the two religions. Day 2: Students will work on their Emperor Taizong worksheet in their pairs, while also finishing to fill out their graphic organizer. | https://www.mindmeister.com/1051176264/medieval-china |
© OpenStreetMap contributors
The carpet sea squirt (Didemnum vexillum) is an invasive non-native species of colonial sea squirt that has recently been found in England, Ireland, Wales and at one location in the Clyde, on the west coast of Scotland. The potential ecological and economic impacts of this species are significant. A rapid response eradication programme in Holyhead Harbour is currently underway, showing signs of some success so far. However, it is not known how far this species has spread within the UK, and surveys are underway in England and Wales to determine its distribution. It is crucial to know as soon as possible how far it has spread, as this information will determine what the appropriate response will be - if it is confined to only a few sites, it may be possible to attempt eradication. If it is already more widespread, then containment or control measures will be more appropriate. No specific surveys targeting this species had previously been carried out in Scotland, so it was not known whether it was present just in the one marina in the Clyde or whether it was more widespread. This project involved a series of rapid assessment surveys of those marinas and harbours thought to be most likely at risk from establishment (e.g. those in the Clyde and on the west coast of Scotland) and will inform SNHâ??s policy for dealing with this species, as well as the wider UK policy for response.
Data Archive for Seabed Species and Habitats (DASSH)
NatureScot (HQ Inverness)
No restrictions on public access. This survey recorded no species or biotope occurrences that SNH consider as sensitive. All records may therefore be released in response to requests covered by Environmental Information Regulations or Freedom of Information Regulations. Additionally its re use and dissemination is permissible under Open Government Licence terms. Any re use of this data will acknowledge the copyright owner. | https://portal.medin.org.uk/portal/start.php?tpc=010_9c646054b134f38044d4f656a3989772 |
Gout is a form of arthritis that involves the accumulation of urate crystals within a joint. Uric acid is a normal byproduct of the body’s metabolism which is typically removed by the kidneys. Some people either produce too much uric acid or cannot get rid of it fast enough. When this happens, the uric acid can migrate to any joint in the body, most commonly the big toe, where it crystallizes and the body reacts by creating an inflammatory response often leading to sudden, unexplained pain.
Symptoms
- Intense joint pain without a history of injury
- A red, warm, swollen joint, most commonly the great toe
- Limited range of motion of a joint
- Ongoing joint pain
Causes
Uric acid is a normal byproduct of the body that is formed when purines are broken down. Purines are a type of protein found in certain foods such as meat and seafood, alcohlic beverages, and drinks sweetened with fruit sugar (fructose). Normally, the kidneys will excrete uric acid. However, if the body produces too much uric acid or the kidneys cannot get rid of uric acid fast enough, the uric acid can accumulate in joints which then cause pain and inflammation (swelling) of the joint.
Risk Factors
- Age
- Gout tends to present for the first time between the ages of 30 and 50
- Diet
- A high purine diet (meat, seafood, alcohol) can predispose you to gout
- Family History
- If a family member has a history of gout, you’re more likely to develop gout
- Gender
- Men are more likely to suffer from gout
- Medical Conditions
- Certain medical conditions such as heart and kidney disease, diabetes, and high blood pressure can increase your chances of developing gout
- Medications
- Anti-rejection drugs for transplant patients, thiazide diuretics used to treat high blood pressure, and low dose aspirin can elevate uric acid levels thus increasing the chance of a gout attack
- Surgery or Trauma
- Undergoing surgery or suffering an acute injury places increased stress on the body which can predispose a patient to a gout attack
Complications
Gouty Arthritis
- If not treated properly, urate crystals can lead to irreversible joint damage leaving the patient with limited mobility and severe joint pain.
Recurrent Gout
- Patients with ongoing high uric acid levels, or those who do not adhere to the “gout diet” can have recurrent gout attacks. Sometimes, these attack are so painful, they require immediate medical attention. Recurrent gout attacks eventually lead to irreversible destruction of a joint.
Kidney Stones
- Urate crystals may accumulate in the urinary tract forming painful kidney stones which may require surgical intervention
Preventions
- Stay hydrated
- The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine recommend approximately 15 cups (3.7 liters) and 11 cups (2.7 liters) of water for men and women respectively each day. We obtain 20% of our water through the food we eat and 80% from the liquids we drink. So, that really means 12 cups of water for men and about 9 cups for women
- Limit or avoid alcohol intake
- Limit meat, fish, and poultry if you have a known history of gout
- Maintain a healthy weight for your height
Diagnosis
Several different tests are typically performed in order to diagnose gout
- Before any tests are even done, the doctor asks the patient a very thorough series of questions in order to make the diagnosis and rule out other conditions that may look similar to gout.
- Joint fluid test
- This is the gold standard for diagnosing gout. The physician cleans and numbs the skin over the affected joint with a local anesthetic. Once, the area is numb, a needle is placed within the joint and fluid is drawn and sent to the lab where a pathologist checks the fluid for gout crystals. The results usually come back in 24 hours.
- Blood test
- The doctor may draw blood to check the patient’s uric acid level. This test can be misleading as not all patients with high uric acid levels have gout, and not everyone experiencing a gout attack has an abnormally high uric acid level at the time of the blood draw.
- X-Ray
- An X-ray of the affected joint may be useful to assess for any destructive changes to the joint caused by gout over time verses other possible conditions causing joint pain such as infection (septic arthritis) or fracture (broken bone).
- Ultrasound
- If uric acid crystals become large enough, they may be sign with an ultrasound machine
- MRI and Dual Energy CT
- These imaging modalities are highly sensitive for subtle changes of gout that cannot be appreciated on x-ray. However, these tests are not routinely ordered due to their high cost
Treatment
Preventive Medications
- There are two classes of medications that help patients with a history of gout:
- Medications that inhibit uric acid from forming
- Medications that help the body remove uric acid more effectively
- These medications are typically prescribed and managed by the patient’s primary care physician
Medications to Treat Gout Attacks
- Nonsteroidal Anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDS)
- Aleve (Naproxen), Advil (Ibuprofen, Mortin), Mefanamic Acid, Indomethacin
- These medications help alleviate pain and inflammation during a gout attack and are available over the counter as well as in prescription strength.
- These medications may be prescribed by the foot and ankle specialist in conjunction with other medications to treat gout.
- Consult your doctor before taking NSAIDS as they can have harmful side effects and may interact with other medications.
- Colchicine
- This is a prescription medication commonly prescribed by the foot and ankle specialist that helps to decrease the pain and inflammation during a gout attack by preventing the continued deposition of urate crystals within a joint.
- Common side effects include nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea
- Corticosteroids
- This is a potent class of anti-inflammatory medications that is often prescribed by the foot and ankle specialist during an acute attack.
- Common side effects include weight gain, mood changes, elevated blood sugar level, difficulty sleeping.
Shoe Gear for Gout Patients
- There are several recommended types of shoes for patients who suffer with foot and ankle pain caused by gout. These shoes provide stability, support, and cushion which can decrease pain and help promote a more normal gait.
- Recommended Types of Shoes for those with Gout
- Athletic or running shoes
- Walking shoes
- Orthopedic shoes
- Shoes to avoid
- Flip flops/Sandals
- High Heeled shoes
- Mocassins
- Slippers
- Recommended Types of Shoes for those with Gout
Orthotics/Shoe Inserts for Gout Patients
- Orthotics, or insoles can be either custom made to the patient’s foot or can be a prefabricated one size fits all medical grade insert.
- These devices can help redistribute pressure and restore alignment to the foot and ankle to help decrease pain.
- Over the counter insoles from pharmacies, shoe stores, or online vendors are typically not recommended as they often do not provide appropriate support and can be excessively expensive.
- Consulting a foot and ankle specialist regarding the proper type of orthotic for your pain or issue is recommended and typically ends up saving the patient money and frustration in the long run by avoiding improper selection of an insert by the patient or a recommendation from nonmedical persons.
Surgical Treatment Options for Gout Patients
Several surgical treatment options are available for patients suffering from pain due to gout.
- Joint Injection
- Although considered a procedure and not surgery, your physician may recommend the painful joint be injected with a mixture of a steroid, such as cortisone, and a local anesthetic such as lidocaine.
- Steroid injections can be administered for patients having an acute gout attack or those suffering from chronic pain.
- These injections can be administered several times a year to help control pain in patients who do not wish to undergo surgery or those who are not surgical candidates
- Arthrotomy, Synovectomy, or Cheilectomy
- When a patient suffers from chronic joint pain due to gout but the cartilage within the joint is spared, the surgeon may recommend an arthrotomy and synovectomy, or a “joint clean out”. When uric acid crystals accumulate within the joint, these crystals can be removed and the joint lining can be “cleaned up”. This procedure can decrease pain and improve range of motion of the joint.
- Joint Fusion
- Long term degenerative changes in joints due to gout can destroy cartilage leading to “bone on bone” arthritis. Patients who experience chronic joint pain may wish to pursue fusion, or welding, of the painful joint. Fusion removes the painful arthritic joint by joining two bones together. Many joints, including the ankle, the toes, and many of the small joints in the middle part of the foot can be fused in order to decrease pain and improve patient function. | https://birchtreefootandankle.com/gout/ |
Baltimore, Md.
This speech was delivered by Kartik Athreya, executive vice president and director of research.
It is a pleasure to be with you again for the second year in a row. This is once again an interesting time to be looking forward and discussing what might be in store for the U.S. economy in the years ahead. Forecasters often are tempted by the sin of claiming that uncertainty is greater than usual at the present time. But I think we can all picture reasons why such a claim might not be unreasonable right now.
Before looking ahead and assessing various risks, however, I’d like to start by reviewing the recent performance of the economy. As always, the views I express are my own, and are not necessarily shared by my colleagues on the Federal Open Market Committee.1
The first fact worth noting is that we are in the eighth year of an economic expansion. For comparison, since World War II the average expansion has lasted 4 ¾ years, measured from the bottom of the recession to the beginning of the next recessionary contraction. Most forecasters foresee continued growth in 2017. One might think this expansion is getting long in the tooth, and that as a result we are “due,” so to speak, for a correction. The statistical evidence is pretty clear, however, that business cycle expansions do not die of “old age.” What I mean by that is that the probability of a recession in any given time period does not vary with the age of the expansion.2
This expansion, however, has been weaker than past expansions. Real GDP — our broadest measure of production and incomes — grew at a 2.2 percent average annual rate from the end of the recession through the fourth quarter of 2015. Before the Great Recession, real GDP during the postwar era had increased at about a 3 ½ percent average annual rate, and there were periods in which growth was even higher. During the 1960s, for example, real GDP grew at a 4 ½ percent average annual rate.3
There are good reasons why matching those golden age growth rates on a sustained basis might be a stretch. For one thing, the labor force is expanding much more slowly. During the ’60s, the labor force grew at a 1.7 percent annual rate, driven by a growing population and rising participation of women in the workforce. But the labor force participation rate of women peaked in 1999 and has been declining since then. Moreover, the aging of the baby-boom generation is tilting the mix of the working-age population toward age cohorts with lower participation rates. At present, some economists estimate it could only take annual employment growth of around six-tenths of 1 percent (or 60,000 jobs per month) to keep up with the growth in the working-age population.4
Another reason GDP growth has been lower of late is that productivity has been rising less rapidly. Over the last five years, GDP per worker has grown at an annual rate of only ½ of 1 percent. Before the Great Recession, that measure of productivity increased at a 1 ¾ percent rate; during the macroeconomic golden age of the 1960s, that measure gained about 2 ½ percent per year. Because real (inflation-adjusted) incomes per worker closely track productivity growth over time, the current productivity slowdown is likely to be having a significant effect on American households’ attitudes toward the economy and related public policy issues.5
Productivity and employment trends are key to the outlook for overall economic growth. Last year at this gathering, I said I expected recent trends to continue. I anticipated productivity growth to continue at a disappointing pace, around ¾ of a percent. Employment had been growing more rapidly than the labor force, implying a decline in the unemployment rate. So I expected employment growth to remain above trend but to slow gradually as the difficulty in finding qualified workers in a tight labor market increasingly restrained new hiring. As a result, I projected real GDP to grow 2.2 percent at an annual rate but to slow gradually to around a 1 ¾ percent pace, consistent with sustainable trends.
Looking back at 2016, real GDP slowed sooner than I thought and is on track to come in a touch below 2 percent. Employment growth slowed as well, from over 220,000 per month in 2015 to around 180,000 a month. But that rate of growth is still unsustainably high — we need less than half that rate to keep pace with population trends. The unemployment rate fell to 4.6 percent as of November, a relatively low rate by historical standards. Because the unemployment rate cannot continue to fall forever, employment growth is likely to continue to slow and converge to population growth.
Strong (albeit slowing) employment growth has been supporting solid consumer spending. Inflation-adjusted household expenditures grew at a 2.7 percent annual rate through November. Similarly, real disposable income grew at a 2.5 percent annual rate over that period. I expect continued strength in consumer spending this year, despite slowing job growth, because wage rates have been rising at an increasing pace. Average hourly earnings rose at a 2.7 percent annual rate last year, well above the overall rate of inflation. And tightening labor markets are likely to add to wage pressures this coming year. So even if consumer spending growth slows, it’s likely to remain above 2 percent.
While consumer spending boosted overall growth in 2016, surprisingly weak investment was a drag on growth. After a strong start, residential investment hit an unanticipated soft spot in mid-year, actually falling in the second and third quarters. The largest portion of this investment category is single-family home construction, and here the outlook is positive. New single-family housing starts are up more than 8 percent for the first 11 months of 2016, household formation is rising and household finances are strong. I expect residential investment to make a solid contribution to real GDP growth in 2017.
Business investment also has been unexpectedly sluggish, falling in the last quarter of 2015 and the first quarter of 2016, and then growing slowly in the next 2 quarters. A portion of the weakness was due to sharply lower oil and natural gas drilling, a natural response to low oil and gas prices. But other business equipment spending has disappointed as well, in part due to the strengthening of the dollar on foreign exchange markets last year, which intensified competition for many domestic producers and resulted in lower output and lower investment plans. The fundamentals for business investment have remained reasonably sound, however, so I was forecasting an imminent upturn as last year progressed.
Taking on board the data we’ve seen on spending and labor markets, it looks as if economic activity has evolved largely as I anticipated at the beginning of 2016. Both real GDP and employment appear to be converging to paths governed by productivity and demographic trends, and these trends are currently low by historical standards.
A year ago, inflation was expected to rise gradually toward 2 percent, and it has done so, perhaps even a bit more rapidly than some had anticipated. Recent data have given us no reason to expect that this trend will not continue. If anything, the pickup of inflation could quicken temporarily, given recent increases in oil prices. So I expect inflation to be close to 2 percent this year.
The outlook I’ve just described is conditioned on only the flow of hard economic data we’ve seen, which basically runs through last October, together with some preliminary figures for November and December. Of course, we have also had an election here in the United States. The results of that election took many observers by surprise and appear to have left a sizable imprint on financial asset prices. While there is considerable uncertainty about how a new administration’s policies might affect the near- and longer-term economic outlook, the nature of financial markets’ response suggests that investors may be anticipating some combination of tax reductions and increased military and infrastructure spending. Some commentators have also suggested that regulatory changes could contribute to an increase in underlying growth trends. On the other side of the ledger, some have expressed concerns about the potential effects of policies that are less friendly to international trade and which thus might impede growth.
To the extent that the equity market movements since the election are either the cause of or the effect of a more optimistic outlook on the part of business enterprises, or both, a more positive outlook for business investment would be warranted. If so, the unanticipated softness in capital spending last year may have been attributable to a desire to delay irreversible investment commitments until after the election, and a release of pent-up spending plans may be in the offing. Still, the investment outlook could well fluctuate as uncertainty about the anticipated contours of the policy environment is resolved.
A prudent course for a forecaster to take right now, I believe, is to build in at least some modest fiscal stimulus and at least some measure of stronger business investment. Such an approach would split the difference between complete faith in market ebullience and an assumption of no change in the fiscal and investment outlook. For me, this suggests a forecast for real GDP growth of 2.0 percent for 2017, falling to a long-run trend of around 1 ¾ percent in 2018 and beyond.
The rise in longer-term U.S. interest rates in the month following the election was roughly evenly split between real rates and compensation for inflation. Even more striking is the movement in the implied probabilities of very high and very low inflation derived from options markets. These have flipped from a tilt toward lower inflation being much more likely than high inflation to the opposite; inflation above 3 percent is now seen as about twice as likely as inflation below 1 percent. In addition, the estimated term premium on 10-year Treasury securities has moved from negative territory to closer to zero, suggesting that investors see less value in Treasuries as a hedge against deflation and are becoming more concerned about the exposure of the nominal Treasuries to the risk of inflation. These developments could reflect the dissipation of downside inflation risks and a return to a more symmetric inflation outlook.
Do post-election economic developments have implications for monetary policy? Any significant shift in the fundamental factors underlying the economic outlook is likely to have monetary policy consequences. While there is currently tremendous uncertainty around the shape and size of any federal policy initiatives, the direction of the effect on monetary policy seems pretty clear. Pursuing our congressionally mandated objectives for price stability and employment means that, all other things equal, greater fiscal stimulus implies higher interest rates than would otherwise be warranted. Otherwise, inflation pressures are likely to become elevated, as we saw in response to expanded fiscal deficits in the late 1960s.
Some would argue that changes in regulatory policy could improve economic efficiency and expand the potential supply of goods and services over time, thereby easing resource pressures and reducing the need for higher policy rates. It’s worth pointing out, however, that such effects are likely to unfold gradually over time. Moreover, to the extent they raise our economy’s underlying real growth rate, they will also increase the trend real interest rate to which rates must converge over time (in the absence of shocks).6 More rapid productivity growth generally implies higher real interest rates, all else held constant.
The economic projections that FOMC participants submitted prior to the December meeting show a slight uptick in the median projected path for the target range for the federal funds rate, relative to submissions prior to the September meeting. (Participants are called upon to submit projections for every other meeting, under the assumption of “appropriate monetary policy.”) While a more stimulative fiscal policy outlook may have contributed to the uptick, the first since target rate projections began being released in 2012, several other factors could well have been relevant. For one, improvement in measures of inflation compensation were underway well before the election, and realized inflation has come in a bit firmer than many analysts had projected earlier in the year. In addition, while real GDP growth was depressed early in 2016 by temporary factors that were expected to fade, confirmation did not emerge until the arrival of third-quarter data. And finally, employment growth has not decelerated in 2016 as much as some forecasters had projected.
More broadly, I have been arguing for some time that the Fed’s interest rate target is exceptionally low and that upward adjustment is needed.7 I have based that in part on the behavior of benchmarks that capture the historical behavior of interest rates — that is, how policy rates respond to inflation and employment — during times when monetary policy has been relatively effective. These benchmarks, often referred to as “policy rules,” come in slightly different formulations and are useful for assessing the stance of monetary policy. At this point, with unemployment at or below levels corresponding to maximum sustainable employment and with inflation very close to our announced target of 2 percent, almost all benchmarks recommend higher interest rates, in most cases substantially higher rates.
Historical experience strongly suggests that significant deviation from these benchmarks can increase the risk of adverse outcomes. In particular, delaying interest rate increases when unemployment falls below levels corresponding to full or maximum employment can result in an unanticipated rise in inflation pressures that necessitates relatively sharp upward adjustments in rates. Such rapid adjustments can be hard to calibrate, and they heighten the risk of overdoing it and sending the economy into an unnecessary recession. In contrast, sustaining unemployment at or below full employment is associated with pre-emptive rate increases, before inflation pressures are clearly visible.
To sum things up before I close, my outlook for 2017 is for GDP to grow by about 2.0 percent, reflecting some probability of a boost from fiscal policy, and then to fall back to a long-run trend of about 1 ¾ percent in 2018 and beyond. That said, the real outlook is somewhat more uncertain than is typically the case, due to the possibility of substantial changes in fiscal, regulatory and other economic policies. Inflation should continue to converge on 2 percent over the next year. Monetary policy rates are likely to increase, and my view is that they may need to increase more briskly than markets appear to expect, depending on developments as the year unfolds.
Thank you for your kind attention.
I would like to thank John Weinberg, Roy Webb and Jessie Romero for assistance in preparing these remarks.
Glenn D. Rudebusch, “Will the Economic Recovery Die of Old Age?” Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Letter no. 2016-03, February 4, 2016
Growth from fourth quarter 1959 to fourth quarter 1969. The peak 10-year average real growth rate, 5.0 percent, was reached in the second quarter of 1968.
Rhys Bidder, Tim Mahedy, and Rob Valletta, “Trend Job Growth: Where’s Normal?” Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Letter no. 2016-32, October 24, 2016.
For a discussion of various theories of why productivity growth may have slowed in recent years, see Aaron Steelman and John Weinberg, “A ‘New Normal’? The Prospects for Long-Term Growth in the United States,” Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond 2015 Annual Report.
In other words, increased growth in potential output should raise r*, the so-called natural rate of interest. See Thomas Lubik and Christian Matthes, “Calculating the Natural Rate of Interest: A Comparison of Two Approaches,” Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Economic Brief no. 15-10, October 2015; Thomas Laubach and John C. Williams, “Measuring the Natural Rate of Interest,” Review of Economics and Statistics, November 2003, vol. 85, no. 4, pp. 1063-1070; and Kevin J. Lansing, “Projecting the Long-Run Natural Rate of Interest,” Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco Economic Letter no. 2016-25, August 29, 2016.
Jeffrey M. Lacker, “Interest Rate Benchmarks,” Speech to the Virginia Association of Economists and the Richmond Association for Business Economics, Richmond, Va., September 2, 2016; and “Economic Outlook, October 2016,” Speech at the West Virginia Economic Outlook Conference, Charleston, W.Va., October 4, 2016. | https://www.richmondfed.org/press_room/speeches/jeffrey_m_lacker/2017/lacker_speech_20170106 |
We live in a culture where greed and the abundance of material things are promoted. However, as of late, the minimalism movement is of interest to many. Why is that? Could it be that people are finding out that material things don’t bring lasting satisfaction? I was watching a video on minimalism by a Christian youtuber and she made a powerful statement. In reference to minimalism she said that it was the “giving away of stuff to find that more!” That statement hit me to my core because it is so easy to misdiagnose what we need more of. Therefore, some continue to grasp for joy in material things, but it is all in vein. The only “more” that can truly satisfy is Jesus! In the moment, material things are great to have but they quickly lose their luster. However, a relationship with Jesus fills us to satisfaction, again and again.
Take inventory of your actions and your priorities. What is the “more” you have been seeking after? Is it more of Jesus? Or is it more of this world and its possessions?
John 6:35 NIV
Then Jesus declared, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never go hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.
1 Timothy 6:6 NLT
Yet true godliness with contentment is itself great wealth. | http://livingforlater.com/tag/satisfied-with-jesus/ |
Lectionary #143, Gospel: Mark 10: 17-30
“The word of God is living and effective, sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating even between soul and spirit, joints and marrow, and able to discern reflections and thoughts of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12). The pointed message of these words from today’s New Testament epistle is proven true in the gospel that follows.
What makes the gospel reading so hard is its blunt warning to all of us who place value on things of this passing life over and above things of the Kingdom of God. To be sure, we are all probably doing pretty well through the first part of the gospel, as our Lord recounts the commandments “do not kill, do not commit adultery, do not steal…” and we think to ourselves, “well…so far so good”. We are getting ready to repeat with the man in the gospel “Teacher, all of these I have observed from my youth”, but then Jesus continues with the startling words “You are lacking in one thing. Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me” (Mark 10:20, 21). Now for most of us that last command is definitely sharper than a two-edged sword!
Jesus is not teaching us that money or possessions are evil, or that we all need to dispose of everything we own and give away the proceeds. He is telling us rather that in order to be his faithful disciples we must set our hearts fully on Christ and his Kingdom, which is not possible if we are attached to material goods. These things—money and property and so forth—are all good and necessary, and we need to make use of them regularly, yet far too often they become our masters, presenting us with temporary and passing illusions of happiness while at the same time edging us farther from our true joy.
Our response to the challenge which Jesus makes to the man in the gospel is to seek things of abiding value that lead us to God’s Kingdom. Two such precious things which direct us to the Kingdom are described in the earlier readings of the mass: wisdom (Wisdom 7 and Psalm 90) and kindness (Psalm 90). Wisdom helps us to discern between what is worth pursuing and what leads us away from God and his joy, and kindness is the manifestation of wisdom which draws us forth from ourselves and strengthens us to truly love our neighbors as brothers and sisters in the Lord, whether they are rich or poor.
When we seek after gifts like these, we find that following the commandments mentioned by Jesus becomes more natural since we are approaching life from a renewed perspective, seeing our ultimate treasure as living in imitation of Christ’s self-giving rather than in accumulation of wealth that corrodes or fades away. Once a person has taken on this new outlook, we can deal with money and possessions without being owned by them.
While our modern culture may find it impossible to find meaning in the wisdom, kindness, and detachment that should characterize Christians, our Lord notes that “All things are possible for God” (Mark 10:27). By the same token all things are possible for disciples of Christ who hear the gospel with ears attuned to the cry of the poor and the poor in heart, and who see the needs of their sisters and brothers with eyes enlightened by wisdom. Keeping a sense of circumspection regarding earthly wealth then, let us seek first Christ and his Kingdom so as to inherit the true the hundredfold promised by our Lord to his faithful.
Father Edward Mazich, O.S.B. | https://saintvincentarchabbey.org/sunday_homilies/twenty-eighth-sunday-of-the-year-modern/ |
Chronic Venous Insufficiency: Causes, Symptoms & Treatment
What is Chronic Venous Insufficiency?
The arteries are responsible for transporting blood from the heart to the rest of the body. Veins transport blood back to the heart, while valves in the veins prevent blood from flowing backward. If an individual suffers from chronic venous insufficiency (CVI), these valves do not function properly, causing blood to pool in the legs and exerting pressure on the veins (X). Blood fights gravity to flow through veins, but it must fight even harder in the legs and feet. This pressure causes the veins to stretch, weakening the internal valves in the veins. They allow blood to flow through and then close to prevent it from flowing back. Chronic venous insufficiency affects 40 percent of people in the United States, according to the Society of Vascular Surgery (X). The condition most commonly affects individuals over 50 and it is more common in women than men (X).
Causes and risk factors of chronic venous insufficiency include pregnancy, family history and obesity. It can also result from high blood pressure in the leg veins. Sitting or standing over long periods of time can increase pressure in the legs. Chronic venous insufficiency can cause leg pain, swelling in the lower leg or ankle and skin changes in the legs. It can also cause varicose veins, which develop from excess pressure on the legs (X).
Some remedies for chronic venous insufficiency include regular exercise, maintaining a healthy weight, maintaining skin health and wearing compression garments. All of these behaviors can help enhance blood flow. Supplements like horse chestnut and bilberry may also help with blood circulation.
Symptoms of Chronic Venous Insufficiency
The symptoms of chronic venous insufficiency become more severe as the condition progresses. They may be similar to other conditions. Patients should seek medical attention as soon as they notice any signs of CVI. Early diagnosis and prompt treatment helps reduce the risk of any serious complications.
Patients with this condition often experience a combination of symptoms including leg pain and swelling in the legs or feet. Damaged capillary membranes also cause leg edema (X). CVI also causes varicose veins, which develop from swelling on the back of the legs and increased venous pressure (X). Patients may also notice an open sore on the inside of the leg called an ulcer. Usually they appear on the skin just above the ankle (X). The calves usually feel stiff and the legs cramp (X, X). Patients also often complain of discomfort in the legs, with limbs feeling very heavy (X).
Lipodermatosclerosis
In addition, the skin itself also changes in color and texture. The skin may darken on the affected limb. As the blood pools, pigment builds up under the skin, permanently darkening it. The skin may also thicken and turn leathery (X, X). This condition is called lipodermatosclerosis. It is a type of panniculitis, inflammation of the skin’s fat layer that results in skin ulceration (X).
Researchers have not identified the specific cause of lipodermatosclerosis, but it is common in patients with chronic venous insufficiency or certain vein disorders. Most cases occur in obese individuals. Physicians use compression therapy to treat it and eliminate chronic venous insufficiency. Medications that prevent blood clotting, inflammation and pain can help some patients. If the condition fails to respond to initial treatments, the patient may need surgery (X).
Risk Factors for Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Age
The risk of developing chronic venous insufficiency increases over the years as people age. Aging causes wear and tear on the valves in the veins that regulate blood flow. As a result, the valves are not able to stop blood from back flowing. This causes blood to flow backwards and collect in the veins instead of flowing up to the heart (X).
Obesity
Obesity is a risk factor for chronic venous insufficiency. The condition manifests at a higher rate in patients with higher body mass index. Being overweight exerts pressure on the veins (X).
Blood Clots
Deep vein thrombosis is a condition in which blood clots in the veins. Valves in these veins get damaged when the body tries to heal from these clots, causing impaired blood flow (X).
Pregnancy
Pregnancy can play a key role in the development of chronic venous insufficiency in women. The volume of blood in the body increases during pregnancy in order to sustain the developing fetus. The maternal vascular system also experiences extensive changes during pregnancy. However, this can lead to unfortunate side effects. For example, veins in the legs may widen and enlarged veins can also result from hormonal changes (X).
Family History
There may be a genetic absence of valves in a family lineage. If family members have chronic venous insufficiency, there is a greater possibility that other relatives will experience it too (X).
Physical Activity
A lot of patients may find that physical activity aggravates their symptoms, especially people at jobs that require heavy lifting (X). On the contrary, remaining in the same position for long periods of time may interfere with normal blood flow (X).
Gender
Women are at a greater risk of developing chronic venous insufficiency because of hormonal changes in the body. Other factors include pre-menstruation and menopause. Hormones from these factors help relax the walls of the veins. Hormone treatments like birth control pills may also present a risk (X).
Diagnosing Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Chronic venous insufficiency is diagnosed with a physical examination. A physician performs a physical exam and reviews the patient’s medical history to establish the severity of the condition. Diagnostic procedures include:
Duplex Ultrasound
This method uses high-frequency sound waves to monitor the speed at which blood flows through the veins. The physician places gel on the legs and presses a transducer against the area, which transmits sound waves that produce an image on a computer. The ultrasound helps the physician outline an effective treatment plan. It also helps them study the structure of veins in the legs and also detect any blood clots or reflux (X).
Venogram
A venogram is a method of diagnosing chronic venous insufficiency that utilizes contrast dye to visualize the blood vessels in an X-ray. The contrast dye causes the veins to appear opaque on the X-ray image. This gives physicians a good view of the blood vessels and allows them to assess the size and condition of the veins. A venogram test is also very accurate at diagnosing deep vein thrombosis (X). Additional examinations to diagnose venous insufficiency may include CT scans, MRI scans and blood tests.
Treatment for Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Surgical Treatments
If a patient’s condition does not respond to other medications or therapies, they may require surgery. It is usually a last resort because the surgical options are invasive. The surgeon may remove the damaged vein or surgically repair it. Some other applicable surgical procedures include a deep vein bypass or endovenous laser treatment. Doctors will use a vein bypass in severe cases, to transplant a healthy vein to replace a damaged one (X). In laser treatment, the surgeon inserts a catheter into the leg to reach the damaged vein and then inserts a laser fiber. The laser heats the vein, shrinking and collapsing it. Then the body is able to redirect the blood into other veins after it absorbs the damaged shrunken vein (X).
Nonsurgical Treatments
Sclerotherapy
This treatment introduces a solution directly into the damaged vein using a needle, making it collapse so the body can absorb it. This procedure requires multiple sessions, but it helps eliminate pain and prevent possible complications (X).
Endovenous Thermal Ablation
This is the most common treatment, using a laser or high-frequency radio waves to generate extreme heat in the affected vein. This closes off the damaged vein, but it still remains in place so there is less bruising and bleeding. Endovenous thermal ablation is less painful compared to other forms of treatment (X).
Lifestyle Changes
After treatment—surgical or nonsurgical—a doctor may recommend several lifestyle factors that may stop the symptoms from returning. For example, patients should exercise to stimulate the leg muscles and enhance blood circulation. Stretching, walking, riding a stationary bike or jogging are all good ways to tone the leg muscles and stimulate blood flow to the heart. Similarly, patients may want to avoid sitting or standing in one position for too long. Move around as often as possible to stimulate blood circulation (X).
Since obesity is a risk factor for chronic venous insufficiency, it’s also important to maintain a healthy body weight. Healthy eating and activity habits can help with weight loss that may take excess pressure off of the veins (X).
A doctor may also prescribe compression garments to help treat chronic venous insufficiency and prevent recurring symptoms. Compression socks or stockings have flexible fabric that put pressure on different parts of the leg to help blood flow properly (X).
It is also a good idea to keep the skin moisturized and healthy. Moisturize the legs to make sure the skin doesn’t become dry or flaky. Use topical ointments and exfoliate to get rid of dead skin (X).
Supplements for Chronic Venous Insufficiency
Horse Chestnut
Native to the Balkan Peninsula in southeast Europe, horse chestnut may be useful in treating chronic venous insufficiency (X). According to studies, it helps contract major veins in the legs to promote healthy circulation and improve blood pressure flow. Research suggests that it may be an effective short-term treatment (X). As a dietary supplement, take 300 mg of horse chestnut powder extract twice a day. Consult a doctor before using this supplement.
Hesperidin
Hesperidin is a bioflavonoid extracted from citrus fruits, mostly lemons and oranges. It helps blood vessels function properly by supporting their thin walls. According to studies, bioflavonoids may effectively help treat disorders that cause blood clots (X). Studies suggest that hesperidin may also improve chronic venous insufficiency specifically (X). As a dietary supplement, take 500 mg (about ¼ tsp) of hesperidin powder one to two times daily with food and water after consulting a physician.
Bilberry
Related to the blueberry and cranberry, bilberries are a natural remedy dating back to the Middle Ages (X). Bilberry contains chemical called anthocyanins. Studies suggest that it may help reduce CVI symptoms and improve pain, swelling and bruising (X). As a dietary supplement, take 400 mg (about ¼ tsp) of bilberry extract powder once or twice a day with food, or following a physician’s directions.
The Bottom Line
Chronic venous insufficiency is a condition in which the blood does not flow properly through the veins in the legs and feet back to the heart. It occurs in defective valves, causing blood to flow back into the vein. Its symptoms include swelling, varicose veins and pain in the legs. It can also cause a condition called lipodermatosclerosis, in which the skin changes texture or color. The blood pooling under the skin can cause it to darken and the skin may become dry. There are surgical and nonsurgical treatment options. A patient usually usually only requires surgery if other forms of treatment fail. Lifestyle changes like exercise and weight loss can also prevent symptoms from returning after treatment. Supplements are also another option to help promote healthy blood circulation in the body. However, they are not designed to be a medical treatment. Instead, supplements are intended to promote general health. | https://community.bulksupplements.com/chronic-venous-insufficiency/ |
Global vertical farming market is expected to register a healthy CAGR of 23.5% in the forecast period of 2019 to 2026. The new market report contains data for the historic year 2017, the base year of calculation is 2018 and the forecast period is 2019 to 2026.
By Growth Mechanism (Aeroponics, Hydroponics, Aquaponics), Structure (Building-Based, Shipping Container), Type (Biopesticides, Biostimulants, Biofertilizers), Application (Indoor, Outdoor), Crop Type (Leafy Green, Pollinated Plants, Nutraceutical Plants), Component (Lighting, Hydroponic Component, Climate Control, Sensors), Geography (Asia-Pacific, North America, Europe, South America, Middle East and Africa).
Some of the major factors contributing to the growth of the global vertical farming market are:
The key market players of global vertical farming market are: | https://www.gii.co.jp/report/dbmr904441-global-vertical-farming-market-industry-trends.html |
Treatment Therapies for Dual Diagnosis Patients
According to the National Institute on Drug Abuse, more than half of individuals who suffer from drug addiction also have a diagnosable mental illness other than the addiction issue itself. Researchers, thus far, have been unable to determine the exact reasons behind this interesting fact, but there are several theories. In order to understand the treatments available to individuals who suffer from these types of Dual Diagnosis conditions, it is important to understand how they are similar.
One theory suggests that abuse of certain drugs can actually cause mental illnesses to develop. Marijuana, for instance, has been shown to induce psychosis. When it comes to cocaine, at least one study has shown that the effect of cocaine in the human brain creates a detrimental change in the ability of the brain to naturally produce feelings of pleasure, which can lead to depression in some individuals.
Another theory regarding the correlation between mental illness and drug abuse is that individuals who already suffer from a mental disorder are more prone to abuse drugs. The concept of self-medication espouses that individuals take drugs to feel better. On the surface, one might pose the question of whether there is anything wrong with this practice. If an individual feels better and functions better due to their drug use, whether the drugs are prescribed by a doctor or obtained through some other means, why shouldn’t they continue to do so? Unfortunately, the practice of prescribing medication for specific ailments, including mental illness, is a very specialized activity.
- Some medications are prescribed by weight and height, leaving an individual who is self-medicating likely to ingest excessive amounts of the drugs in question.
- An incorrect self-diagnosis — even when symptoms appear that are very similar to those of a family member — can result in a serious mental health disorder going untreated or mismanaged.
- Drug interactions can be dangerous and without a professional’s input and diagnosis, severe health risks can be present.
- Illegal and illicit drugs can hide symptoms or create symptoms that would not otherwise exist, causing an individual to increase the amount of drugs he or she is taking.
- Dependence on and addiction to the drugs can develop without proper monitoring of dosages.
One final theory that the experts have developed concerning why drug abuse and addiction occur so frequently with other mental health disorders is the fact that many of the same risk factors are present for both conditions. For example, individuals who are exposed to certain physical or sexual abuse early in their lives run the risk of developing a mental illness as well as substance abuse. Stress is also a primary factor in both conditions. It may be that some individuals will develop a mental illness, such as anxiety or depression, around the same time that they begin to abuse drugs or alcohol, merely by coincidence based upon their own, unique family and personal histories.
Treatment Therapies for Dual Diagnosis Patients Include Behavioral Modification
One study published by the U.S. National Library of Medicine found that the treatments used for mental illness as a singular diagnosis are also effective for those who suffer from a Dual Diagnosis. On that same note, the treatments used to help those individuals who suffer from substance abuse are also effective for the treatment of substance abuse when there is another illness present.
So, what types of treatments work for an individual with a Dual Diagnosis? The answer to this incredibly important question depends upon the needs of the individual. Treating an individual as a person, and not a collection of symptoms or disorders, is one of the guiding principles of drug addiction and Dual Diagnosis treatment. The National Institute on Drug Abuse has established that the most effective treatment programs will have the ability to tailor a treatment plan to each person’s individual needs. What kind of drugs does the individual abuse? Stimulants can have a very different impact on withdrawal than opiates, for instance. The other issue to consider when designing a treatment plan is the type of co-occurring disorder that is present. Major depression has different impacts on a person’s psyche than bipolar disorder or a personality disorder. Anxiety issues may be addressed differently in one individual than another who suffers from panic disorder.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Is Helpful for Dual Diagnosis Patients
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a program of psychotherapy that has many benefits for both mental illness and the treatment of drug abuse and addiction. The program consists of a defined number of visits, averaging about 16, according to the National Association of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapists, during which the patient will unlearn preconceived notions about their life and the way they have chosen to make decisions. The structure behind CBT is based on the theory that we base our behaviors and our decisions to act in certain ways on our perception of the world around us. If we believe that we are not good enough, for instance, we may behave in a way that is unhealthy because we don’t believe we matter.
- The patient takes an active role in goal-setting and accomplishments during the course of treatment; it is not simply “talk” therapy, but rather a proactive course of action.
- Trained therapists work with the patients with a specific game plan during each session to keep the process moving forward each week.
- CBT places profound importance on education and learning how to achieve one’s goals, which leads to long-term results that last beyond the end of the treatment program.
- Total immersion in the healing process, rather than focusing on recovering only during the sessions, is accomplished through the assignment of homework to be completed between visits.
- Patients learn to ask themselves important questions about their lives; for instance, an individual with OCD might learn to ask himself whether performing a ritual is truly likely to keep someone from harming his family rather than simply acting on an impulse to perform the ritual without rational thought.
Alternative Therapies Can Help Reduce Stress
According to the experts at the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, the use of certain relaxation techniques has been proven effective for the treatment of anxiety, depression and pain. When used as part of an overall treatment plan, the simple process of relaxing can change the way your body physically responds to the stresses of your life. For instance, breathing exercises, guided imagery, self-hypnosis and progressive relaxation as well as yoga and meditation exercises can help individuals control the “fight-or-flight” responses in their body and brain. As stress causes the body to react with a raised heart rate, increased breathing and higher blood pressure, relaxation techniques – which can be learned in Dual Diagnosis treatment – can lower blood pressure, reduce altered breathing and decrease the heart rate.
Relaxation techniques are safe for most individuals; however, the experts suggest that individuals learn these techniques from trained instructors because there is a chance that some symptoms can worsen when the techniques are used incorrectly.
Tailored Treatment Is Crucial for Continued Success
Regardless of the type of mental disorder that may coexist with drug or alcohol addiction, it is imperative that both issues are treated simultaneously. Suppose an individual who is using the prescription drug Xanax to self-medicate an anxiety disorder develops addiction. They seek treatment for the addiction and while they are in a treatment facility, they refrain from using the drug. They may feel safe while they are being cared for and eventually they are released. When they return to their everyday life, however, the anxiety they experienced before their drug use could return, causing them to engage in the same self-medicating behaviors they used prior to getting help. If they receive treatment for their anxiety issues while they are undergoing drug addiction treatment, they may be in a better position to avoid dangerous relapses.
Of course, in order to obtain treatment, a proper diagnosis is important. If you or someone you love is struggling with addiction, be sure to find a treatment program that specializes in identifying and treating Dual Diagnosis conditions through the use of a thorough assessment process as quickly as possible. If you have any concerns, please contact us today so we can help you get the care you need.
Contact Us
Further Reading About Treatment Therapies for Dual Diagnosis Patients
- A Vouchers Approach to Addiction Treatment
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Adventure Therapy
- Art Therapy
- Behavioral Modification
- Cognitive Analytic Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Concentrative Movement Therapy
- Dance Therapy
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy
- Does Telephone Addiction Counseling Work? | https://dualdiagnosis.org/treatment-therapies-for-dual-diagnosis-patients/ |
The goal of the multidisciplinary work presented by this study is to understand the geological and geophysical parameters that will affect the safe and efficient storage of CO2 at the proposed SW-Hub site in the Southern Perth Basin.
In particular, the areas of interest covered by this work are related to the characterisation of the geological units intersected by Harvey-1 in terms of storage capacity; injectivity and containment potential; elastic and mechanical properties and heterogeneity of the formations encountered.
The present work feeds into and supports a wider program aimed at the integrated evaluation of the SW-Hub encompassing a detailed analysis of the seismic data available in the region; an assessment of the potential for fault reactivation around the proposed injection area; a study of the possible fluid-rock interactions at reservoir conditions and the forward stratigraphic modelling of the area.
The outcomes of the work indicate significant differences between the Upper and Lower Members of the Lesueur Sandstone in terms of sedimentology, petrophysical, geomechanical and elastic properties. The deep saline aquifer equivalent to the Wonnerup Member of the Triassic Lesueur Sandstone represents the targeted reservoir, whereas the Yalgorup Member and the Basal Eneabba Shale may act as possible stratigraphic seals.
Good reservoir properties are recorded in the lower Member (Wonnerup 1380-2895m depth) of the Triassic Lesueur Sandstone with encouraging values of porosity (7 to 19%) and permeability (0.01 to 580 mD) and lithofacies homogeneity with depth. Permeability anisotropy measured in the laboratory can be very significant at the tentatively predicted injection levels: across bedding permeability ranges between 0.01 and 3mD while along bedding permeability ranges between 38-580mD, resulting in anisotropy of up to 3 orders of magnitude.
Core flooding tests also give positive indications for residual trapping (25 to 45%) as a principal containment mechanism. However, a marked decrease of permeability (up to 50%) was observed after sample flooding was also inferred from the tests. This phenomenon has been identified for future studies.
By contrast, the overlying Yalgorup (704-1380m) is far more heterogeneous and, due to poor core conditions of the shaly layers, the characterisation work only focused on the sandy intervals, and the results cannot be regarded as representative of the whole stratigraphic unit.
Uncertainties remain regarding the geomechanical properties and containment potential of the different lithofacies within the Yalgorup. Nevertheless, the presence of interbedded sands and shale layers could be beneficial in terms of storage. | https://anlecrd.com.au/projects/facies-based-rock-properties-distribution-along-the-harvey-1-stratigraphic-well/ |
Reading Tip: MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS
A useful strategy is to use the key words in the question stem – or synonyms of them – to help you identify the correct part of the text. Read the sentence or sentences carefully. Think of your own answer to the question and see which of the options matches it the closest.
Remember that all the options will be mentioned in the text in some way but only one will completely answer the question.
Reading Tip: TRUE, FALSE, NOT GIVEN
Skim read the text quickly before looking at the questions. This will give you a general idea of the structure of the text which will help you locate information quickly and avoid wasting time looking in the wrong part of the text.
Not Given statements are often based on the information you might expect to be in the text but isn’t, and often use words that do appear in the text itself. Read each statement and the relevant part of the text very carefully before deciding whether the ideas are given or not. Make sure you are clear about who is being referred to in the text. | https://ielts.cloud/reading/ielts-general-reading/sample-5/ |
Employment discrimination occurs when an employer uses bias to make decisions regarding its personnel or applicants. Employment discrimination law stems from the U.S. Constitution and is codified in a patchwork of state, federal, and case law.
If you think your employer acted with discrimination based on age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex, or pregnancy, you should immediately consult with employment discrimination attorney. The attorney can assess your situation, apply the applicable law, advise you if you have a valid case, and take action to achieve the compensation you deserve.
No matter what your legal issue may be, it is always best to seek legal help early in the process. An attorney can help secure what is likely to be the best possible outcome for your situation and avoid both unnecessary complications or errors.
Pro se – This Latin term refers to representing yourself in court instead of hiring professional legal counsel. Pro se representation can occur in either criminal or civil cases.
Statute – Refers to a law created by a legislative body. For example, the laws enacted by Congress are statutes.
Subject matter jurisdiction – Requirement that a particular court have authority to hear the claim based on the specific type of issue brought to the court. For example, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court only has subject matter jurisdiction over bankruptcy filings, therefore it does not have the authority to render binding judgment over other types of cases, such as divorce. | https://www.lawinfo.com/employment-discrimination/new-mexico/aztec/ |
# List of Hot Adult Contemporary number ones of 1985
Adult Contemporary is a chart published by Billboard ranking the top-performing songs in the United States in the adult contemporary music (AC) market. In 1985, 19 songs topped the chart, then published under the title Hot Adult Contemporary, based on playlists submitted by radio stations.
In the year's first issue of Billboard the number one song was "Do What You Do" by Jermaine Jackson, which was in its third week at number one. It held the top spot for a single week in 1985 before being replaced by "All I Need" by actor Jack Wagner, best known for his role as Frisco Jones on the soap opera General Hospital. While continuing his acting career, Wagner released several albums in the 1980s. Two acts tied for the highest number of weeks at number one in 1985, each spending six weeks atop the chart. Kool & The Gang spent six consecutive weeks at number one with "Cherish", the longest unbroken run at number one during the year. British singer Phil Collins spent three weeks in the top spot with "One More Night" and the same length of time at number one with "Separate Lives", a duet with American vocalist Marilyn Martin. The only act other than Collins with more than one number one in its own right was the family group DeBarge, who topped the chart with both "Rhythm of the Night" and "Who's Holding Donna Now", although Lionel Richie and Stevie Wonder each achieved one solo chart-topper and also reached number one as part of the charity supergroup USA for Africa.
Collins was one of a number of British acts to top the chart during 1985, as the American music market continued to feel the effects of the so-called Second British Invasion. Another was Wham!, whose song "Careless Whisper" spent five weeks in the top spot. In the duo's native United Kingdom, the song was released as a solo single by frontman George Michael, but the group's American label took the decision to release it under the name Wham! featuring George Michael. It was one of several of the year's AC chart-toppers which also reached number one on Billboard's all-genres listing, the Hot 100. Whitney Houston's "Saving All My Love for You" was a triple chart-topper, reaching the top spot on the Hot 100, the AC chart and the Hot Black Singles listing. Stevie Wonder's "Part-Time Lover" went one better, topping the same three charts and also the Hot Dance/Disco Club Play listing. USA for Africa's "We Are the World", a charity single intended to relieve starving people in Africa, particularly those feeling the effects of a lengthy famine in Ethiopia, became the fastest-selling American pop single in history and dominated radio airplay. As a result, it topped the Hot 100, Hot Adult Contemporary and Hot Black Singles, as well as the Hot Dance/Disco 12 Inch Singles Sales chart. The final number one of 1985 was "Say You, Say Me" by Lionel Richie, which occupied the top spot for the final four weeks of the year. | https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_number-one_adult_contemporary_singles_of_1985_(U.S.) |
Data Privacy Principles
Simpson Strong-Tie®
Winchester Road
Cardinal Point
Tamworth
Staffordshire
B78 1HP
Telephone: 01827 255600
Fax: 01827 255616
1. BACKGROUND
We at Simpson Manufacturing Company, Inc. and its affiliated entities (together, "Simpson") value the trust of our customers and employees. In handling their Personal Information, we strive to maintain our core values of fairness, high ethical standards, and honesty. The following Privacy Principles set forth our approach to the processing of Personal Information, and they shape the policies and procedures that form our global privacy compliance program.
2. SCOPE
These Principles apply to all domestic and international branches, employees, and subsidiaries of Simpson Manufacturing Co., Inc.
3. DEFINITIONS
For the purposes of these Privacy Principles, “Personal Information” refers to any information that identifies an individual or relates to an identifiable individual, such as name, email address, or other information associated with a particular individual. Personal Information may relate to any individual, including Simpson customers, employees, and vendors. “Processing” refers to collection, use, copying, modification, transfer, disclosure, or any other activity performed on Personal Information.
4. PRINCIPLES
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Collection and Use
We seek to collect only Personal Information that is reasonably necessary to accomplish legitimate business purposes, and to use that Personal Information in a manner consistent with those purposes.
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Transparancy and Notice
We share information about our privacy practices with individuals whose Personal Information we process, consistent with applicable law. For example, we post privacy policies on our websites to inform users about our privacy practices, and we may provide employee data protection notices to employees in certain countries to address local legal requirements. We seek to provide this information in a clear and easy to understand manner.
This information may include, for example:
- the types of Personal Information collected,
- how the Personal Information may be used,
- the types of third parties to which the Personal Information may be disclosed,
- the transfer of Personal Information to other countries, including the United States,
- any rights and choices that the individual may have with respect to his or her Personal Information; and
- how to submit any privacy-related inquiries or concerns to us.
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Choice
Where appropriate, we offer individuals choices regarding the processing of their Personal Information. In particular, we offer choices regarding the use or sharing of Personal Information for marketing purposes. Depending on applicable law, the sensitivity of the Personal Information, and reasonable expectations, choice may be in the form of explicit consent (opt-in) or implied consent (opt-out). We seek to provide individuals with clear and simple methods to exercise their choices, and to modify their choices and withdraw their consent where applicable.
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Access and Correction
We provide reasonable opportunities for individuals to review and correct the Personal Information that we maintain about them, consistent with applicable law.
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Sharing
We may share Personal Information with other Simpson companies, with service providers that perform services for us, or with other third parties as required or permitted by applicable law. We take steps to ensure that Personal Information is only disclosed to third parties for legitimate business reasons, and we require third-party service providers to safeguard the Personal Information that Simpson entrusts to them. We also take measures to comply with applicable laws regarding the cross-border transfer of Personal Information.
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Security
We maintain administrative, technical, and physical security measures that are designed to protect Personal Information against loss, misuse, or unauthorized access, disclosure, alteration, or destruction. We require our employees to comply with Simpson’s security policies and procedures. Simpson may be required to notify individuals or regulators if the security of certain Personal Information has been compromised. Any employee who becomes aware of a possible security incident should immediately report the concern to:
Simpson's Data Security Lead: [email protected]
or
Primary Security Manager: [email protected]
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Integrity, Retention and Disposal
We take reasonable steps to make sure the Personal Information we use is accurate, relevant, complete, and up to date for the purposes for which it is to be used. We retain and dispose of Personal Information consistent with applicable laws and company policies. When disposing of Personal Information, we require employees to use secure methods designed to make the Personal Information unreadable and unusable (such as shredding or degaussing)
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Accountability and Compliance
We maintain a global privacy program to support compliance with these Privacy Principles. For additional information about our global privacy program, or to address any questions or concerns, please consult: | https://www.strongtie.co.uk/politique-de-confidentialite |
The role of technology in the 2014 Afghan elections
Impassion Afghanistan plays a role in the elections by contributing to the development of technology in the country, and producing trained citizen journalists using social media to report from the field.
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Suggested Reading
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Conflict Background
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GCCT
By Eugenia Lee
On April 5, 2014, Afghanistan experienced its first democratic transfer of power. In a country where, until recently, the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology didn’t even have e-mail addresses set up (government officials were known to use their personal Hotmail and Gmail accounts rather than official e-mails), what role could technology play on the eve of such an important event?
Impassion Afghanistan, which bills itself as Afghanistan’s first digital media agency, had an idea. The presidential election could be an opportunity to develop technology tools that facilitated citizen engagement and empowered citizen voices.
The result was Paiwandgāh, a social media and mobile-based platform for citizen journalism. The idea was to support social media use in Afghanistan, while also empowering increasingly connected Afghans to speak up and have their voices heard, engage in political dialogue, and become included in the political process. Built for open dialogue among citizens, Paiwandgāh emphasized community management, building, and engagement in the period leading up to and during the elections.
The path to Paiwandgah
Paiwandgāh was the final part of a three phase project. The first phase was Paiwand, a national social media summit held in September 2013. 260 social media influencers from 26 provinces attended to discuss the social media sector, community building, and practical advice for encouraging social media use in Afghanistan. As a follow up, social media trainings were conducted in five provinces, along with a radio-based training program on citizen journalism in three languages. Upon the conclusion of the first two phases, the Impassion team faced a question – now that participants had attended Paiwand and been trained, how could they be unleashed into the world as citizen journalists?
Paiwandgah’s community focus
Impassion’s understanding of Afghanistan was key to the success of Paiwandgāh. From the beginning, Paiwandgāh was developed based off insights the team had into the context of the local culture. For example, given its low internet penetration rate, understanding Afghanistan as a content consuming rather than a content producing country was a key factor in designing the project. Eileen Guo, who co-founded Impassion alongside Ahmad Shuja, told me, “I knew that when we created Paiwandgāh, we couldn’t just depend on people to come forth and give us content.
Instead of the “If you build it, he will come,” mentality, there was an emphasis on consistent engagement. Three community managers were dedicated to creating content in Dari and Pashto, and served as points of contact for the citizen journalists. Every week, these community managers sent out news assignments in the form of a question via SMS and e-mail to its pool of citizen journalists. The goal was to get the journalists into the practice of producing content. This was important for gathering information, insights, and opinions from local communities ahead of the elections.
On the day of the elections, Impassion’s staff was joined by interns and volunteer translators that managed reports coming in by phone, social media, and radio. Citizen journalists were so deeply invested that some called every hour to keep the Impassion team updated on what was going on at polling centers. One journalist from a province on the Pakistan border visited several polling stations and covered voter fraud and irregularities. On the day of the election, there were 525 reports from 27 provinces. There have been more than 1500 reports since the site launched on February 16th, 2014.
In a few cases, Paiwandgāh was actually the first among all media outlets to receive reports. Guo says, “One of my community managers called me around 11 AM– right after he had returned from voting himself – to let us know that a citizen journalist had reported a bomb had been placed at a polling center. We immediately put out the information on the platform, with the caveat that it hadn’t been confirmed. Thirty seconds later, a journalist confirmed it on Twitter.” To the team, it showed the potential of the system for obtaining real-time information on what was happening on the ground.
What’s next?
Impassion has plans to continue developing the capacity of its citizen journalists. The company has a special strength, which is that it understands community management and local engagement. Guo told me, “One of the biggest reasons that we’ve become successful is that we are starting to know Afghanistan really well… Especially in a country where the technology is so new, we don’t just create technology; we make sure to always pair that with the human aspect.” Further trainings will be held with citizen journalists to enable them to write more in-depth pieces. These trainings will be both in-person and online.
As the elections in Afghanistan continue, understanding what’s happening on the ground will be even more important for ensuring fair and peaceful elections. Impassion’s approach and Paiwandgāh may be crucial to making sure this happens.
Eugenia Lee is an ethnographer and qualitative researcher. She previously worked in international development in Kenya and is currently an associate scholar at the Foreign Policy Research Institute.
This article was originally published on Insight on Conflict and is available by clicking here.
What are the principles of conflict transformation? | http://www.transconflict.com/2014/05/the-role-of-technology-in-the-2014-afghan-elections-195/ |
What are Algae? Fondriest.com
Algae are aquatic, plant-like organisms. They encompass a variety of simple structures, from single-celled phytoplankton floating in the water, to large seaweeds (macroalgae) attached to the ocean floor. Algae can be found residing in oceans, lakes, rivers, ponds and even in snow, anywhere on Earth.
So what makes algae only plant-like, instead of plants? While algae are often called primitive plants, other terms, like protists, can be used. Protist may be a more accurate term, particularly for the single-celled phytoplankton. However, larger, more complex algae, including kelp and chara, are often mistaken for submerged plants.
The difference between these seaweeds and submerged plants is in their structure. Macroalgae are simpler, and attach themselves to the seabed with a holdfast instead of true roots. Aquatic plants, whether floating, submerged, or emergent (starting in the water and growing out) have specialized parts such as roots, stems and leaves. Most plants also have vascular structures (xylem and phloem), which carry nutrients throughout the plant. While algae contain chlorophyll (like plants), they do not have these specialized structures.
As algae can be single-celled, filamentous (string-like) or plant-like, they are often difficult to classify. Most organizations group algae by their primary color (green, red, or brown), though this creates more problems than it solves. The various species of algae are vastly different from each other, not only in pigmentation, but in cellular structure, complexity, and chosen environment. As such, algal taxonomy is still under debate, with some organizations classifying algae under different kingdoms, including Plantae, Protozoa and Chromista. While the overarching kingdom classiffication is not always agreed upon, the species, genus, family, class and phylum of each alga generally are.
To further complicate this nomenclature, single-celled algae often fall under the broad category of phytoplankton.
Phytoplankton are microorganisms that drift about in water. They are single-celled, but at times they can grow in colonies large enough to be seen by the human eye. Phytoplankton are photosynthetic, meaning they have the ability to use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into energy. While they are plant- like in this ability, phytoplankton are not plants. The term “single-celled plants” is a misnomer, and should not be used. Instead, phytoplankton can be divided into two classes, algae and cyanobacteria. These two classes have the common ability of photosynthesis, but have different physical structures. Regardless of their taxonomy, all phytoplankton contain at least one form of chlorophyll (chlorophyll A) and thus can conduct photosynthesis for energy.
Phytoplankton, both algae and cyanobacteria, can be found in fresh or saltwater. As they need light to photosynthesize, phytoplankton in any environment will oat near the top of the water, where sunlight reaches. Most freshwater phytoplankton are made up of green algae and cyanobacteria, also known as blue-green algae. Marine phytoplankton are mainly comprised of microalgae known as dinoflagellates and diatoms, though other algae and cyanobacteria can be present. Dinoflagellates have some autonomous movement due to their “tail” (flagella), but diatoms are at the mercy of the ocean currents.
Despite their ability to conduct photosynthesis for energy, blue-green algae are a type of bacteria. This means that they are single-celled, prokaryotic (simple) organisms. Prokaryotic means that the cyanobacteria do not have a nucleus or other membrane-bound organelles within their cell wall.
Cyanobacteria are the only bacteria that contain chlorophyll A, a chemical required for oxygenic photosynthesis (the same process used by plants and algae). This process uses carbon dioxide, water and sunlight to produce oxygen and glucose (sugars) for energy. Chlorophyll A is used to capture the energy from sunlight to help this process. Other bacteria can be considered photosynthesizing organisms, but they follow a different process known as bacterial photosynthesis, or anoxygenic photosynthesis. This process uses bacteriochlorophyll instead of chlorophyll A. These bacteria cells use carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide (instead of water) to manufacture sugars. Bacteria cannot use oxygen in photosynthesis, and therefore produce energy anaerobically (without oxygen). Cyanobacteria and other phytoplankton photosynthesize as plants do, and produce the same sugar and oxygen for use in cellular respiration.
In 2011, Lake Erie experienced the worst blue-green algae bloom in decades (Photo Credit: MERIS/NASA; processed by NOAA/NOS/NCCOS )
In addition to chlorophyll A, blue-green algae also contain the pigments phycoerythrin and phycocyanin, which give the bacteria their bluish tint (hence the name, blue-green algae). Despite not having a nucleus, these microorganisms do contain an internal sac called a gas vacuole that helps them to oat near the surface of the water.
What is chlorophyll?
Chlorophyll is a color pigment found in plants, algae and phytoplankton. This molecule is used in photosynthesis, as a photoreceptor. Photoreceptors absorb light energy, and chlorophyll specifically absorbs energy from sunlight. Chlorophyll makes plants and algae appear green because it reflects the green wavelengths found in sunlight, while absorbing all other colors.
However, chlorophyll is not actually a single molecule. There are 6 different chlorophylls that have been identified. The different forms (A, B, C, D, E and F) each reflect slightly different ranges of green wavelengths. Chlorophyll A is the primary molecule responsible for photosynthesis. That means that chlorophyll A is found in every single photosynthesizing organism, from land plants to algae and cyanobacteria. The additional chlorophyll forms are accessory pigments, and are associated with different groups of plants and algae and play a role in their taxonomic confusion. These other chlorophylls still absorb sunlight, and thus assist in photosynthesis. As accessory pigments, they transfer any energy that they absorb to the primary chlorophyll A instead of directly participating in the process.
Chlorophyll B is mainly found in land plants, aquatic plants and green algae. In most of these organisms, the ratio of chlorophyll A to chlorophyll B is 3:1. Due to the presence of this molecule, some organizations will group the green algae into the Plant Kingdom. Chlorophyll C is found in red algae, brown algae, and ↑ dinoagellates. This has lead to their classification under the Kingdom Chromista. Chlorophyll D is a minor pigment found in some red algae, while the rare Chlorophyll E has been found in yellow-green algae. Chlorophyll F was recently discovered in some cyanobacteria near Australia. Each of these accessory pigments will strongly absorb different wavelengths, so their presence makes photosynthesis more efficient.
Chlorophyll is not the only photosynthetic pigment found in algae and phytoplankton. There are also carotenoids, and phycobilins (biliproteins). These accessory pigments are responsible for other organism colors, such as yellow, red, blue and brown. Like chlorophylls B, C, D, E and F, these molecules improve light energy absorption, but they are not a primary part of photosynthesis. Carotenoids can be found in nearly every phytoplankton species, and reflect yellow, orange and/or red light. There are two phycobilins found in phytoplankton: phycoerythrin and phycocyanin. Phycocyanin reflects blue light and is responsible for cyanobacteria’s common name – blue-green algae. Phycoerythrin reflects red light, and can be found in red algae and cyanobacteria.
Some algae will appear green despite the presence of these accessory pigments. Just as in plants, the chlorophyll in algae has a stronger relative absorption than the other molecules. Like a dominant trait, the more intense, reflected green wavelengths can mask the other, less-reflected colors. In green algae, chlorophyll is also found at a higher concentration relative to the accessory pigments. When the accessory pigments are more concentrated (such as in red algae, brown algae and cyanobacteria), the other colors can be seen.
The different forms of chlorophyll absorb slightly different wavelengths for more efficient photosynthesis.
What is Photosynthesis?
Each pigment absorbs and reflects different wavelengths, but they all act as accessory pigments to chlorophyll A in photosynthesis.
Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms use sunlight to produce sugars for energy. Plants, algae and cyanobacteria all conduct oxygenic photosynthesis. That means they require carbon dioxide, water, and sunlight (solar energy is collected by chlorophyll A). Plants and phytoplankton use these three ingredients to produce glucose (sugar) and oxygen. This sugar is used in the metabolic processes of the organism, and the oxygen, produced as a byproduct, is essential to nearly all other life, underwater and on land.
Photosynthesis uses water, carbon dioxide and sunlight to produce energy and oxygen.
Underwater Photosynthesis… Phytoplankton drifting about below the surface of the water still carry out photosynthesis. This process can occur as long as enough light is available for the chlorophyll and other pigments to absorb. In the ocean, light can reach as far as 200m below the surface. This region where sunlight can reach is known as the euphotic zone. Phytoplankton and other algae can be found throughout this zone.
What Affects Photosynthesis? As light is required for photosynthesis to occur, the amount of light available will affect this process. Photosynthetic production peaks during the day and declines after dark. However, not all light can be used for photosynthesis. Only the visible light range (blue to red) is considered photosynthetically active radiation. Ultraviolet light has too much energy for photosynthesis, and infrared light does not have enough. If phytoplankton are exposed to too much UV light, the excessive solar energy can break molecular bonds and destroy the organisms’ DNA.
Within the visible light spectrum, chlorophyll strongly absorbs red and blue light while reflecting green light. This is why phytoplankton, particularly cyanobacteria, can thrive at the bottom of the euphotic (sunlit) zone, where only blue light can reach. As blue light is both high in energy and strongly absorbed by chlorophyll, it can be used effectively in photosynthesis.
Turbidity, or the presence of suspended particles in the water, affects the amount of light that reaches into the water. The more sediment and other particles in the water, the less light will be able to penetrate. With less Blue and red light are used more efficiently in photosynthesis. on the lakebed, as more light is available. . light available, photosynthetic production will decrease. In turbid water, photosynthesis is more likely to occur at the water’s surface than…
Water temperature will also affect photosynthesis
rates. As a chemical reaction, photosynthesis is
initiated and sped up by heat. As
photosynthesis production increases, so will
phytoplankton reproduction rates. This factors
into the large, seasonal swings of phytoplankton
populations. However, the extent to which
temperature affects photosynthesis in algae and
cyanobacteria is dependent on the species. For all
phytoplankton, photosynthetic production will
increase with the temperature, though each
organism has a slightly different optimum
temperature range. When this optimum
temperature is exceeded, photosynthetic activity
will in turn be reduced. Too much heat will
denature (break down) the enzymes used during
the process, slowing down photosynthesis instead of speeding it up.
To survive, every living thing needs organic carbon. Organic carbon can be found in many different things including sugars (glucose = C6H12O6), plants and animals. Phytoplankton produce their required sugar through photosynthesis. As they are able to produce their own energy with the help of light, they are considered autotrophic (self-feeding). Phytoplankton and other autotrophs are called primary producers, and make up the bottom of the food web. These organisms are called “primary” because all other organisms rely on them (directly or indirectly) as a food source.
Phytoplankton are generally consumed by zooplankton and small marine organisms like krill. These creatures are then consumed by larger marine organisms, such as fish. This chain continues up to apex predators, including sharks, polar bears and humans.
During the photosynthetic process, phytoplankton produce oxygen as a byproduct. Due to their vast and widespread populations, algae and cyanobacteria are responsible for approximately half of all the oxygen found in the ocean and in our atmosphere. Thus oceanic lifeforms not only feed o the phytoplankton, but also require the dissolved oxygen they produce to live.
Before plants, algae and phytoplankton used
water for photosynthesis, bacteria used H2S
and other organic compounds to x CO2.
Early cyanobacteria were the first organism to
use water to x carbon. The use of H2O
introduced free oxygen (O2) into the
environment as a byproduct. The start of
oxygenic photosynthesis was a turning point
for Earth’s history. This process slowly changed
the inert Precambrian atmosphere into the
oxygen-rich environment known today. Though microscopic, early cyanobacteria have made a permanent impact on the Earth’s environment.
In addition to providing food and oxygen for nearly all life on Earth, phytoplankton help to regulate inorganic carbon (carbon dioxide) in the atmosphere. During photosynthesis, carbon dioxide and water molecules are used to make sugar for energy. The process of incorporating inorganic carbon into organic carbon (glucose and other biologically useful compounds) is called carbon fixation, and is part of the biological carbon pump.
As carbon fixation and oxygen production are part of the same process, the extent of phytoplankton’s participation is on the same scale. Phytoplankton consume a similar amount of carbon dioxide as all land plants combined. While phytoplankton can pull carbon dioxide from the atmosphere or the ocean, it will have a similar effect. CO2 that is taken from the water is replaced by CO2 from the atmosphere, thanks to Henry’s law (the dissolved gas content of water is proportional to the percentage of gas in the air above it. This consumption helps keep carbon dioxide levels in check, reducing its presence as a greenhouse gas.
Algae and cyanobacteria help to regulate the climate by fixing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. This carbon is then consumed or decomposed by other organisms, making its way through the cycle until it is released as dissolved carbon dioxide in water or deposited in sediment.
When carbon dioxide is consumed, the carbon molecules become incorporated into the phytoplankton’s structure, allowing the organism to function and grow. If the phytoplankton is not eaten by another organism (passing on the carbon up the food chain), then it will sink into the ocean when it dies. As with other detritus (non-living organic material), the phytoplankton will be decomposed by bacteria, and the carbon is either released back into the ocean as dissolved carbon dioxide or eventually deposited into the seafloor sediment. Thanks to phytoplankton, this biological carbon pump removes approximately 10 trillion kilograms (10 gigatonnes) of carbon from the atmosphere every year, transferring it to the ocean depths.
In climate terms, this process helps to maintain global surface temperatures. Without this cycle, atmospheric CO2 would rise approximately 200 ppm (current levels are around 400 ppm). Even small changes in phytoplankton populations could have an effect on the atmosphere and world climate. | https://drenqi.com/product/bleu-magick-seamoss-sunbleached-yellow-5-bricks-10-pounds/ |
Students
understand the concept of plate tectonics including the evidence that
supports it (structural, geophysical and paleontological evidence).
E/S
Why is the Earth so restless? What causes the ground to shake violently,
volcanoes to erupt with explosive force, and great mountain ranges
to rise to impressive heights? The answers to these questions were
discovered as one of sciences’ most revolutionary and recent
theories took shape. It began with Alfred Wegener…
Continental Drift
Alfred Wegener (German Astronomer and Meteorologist) proposed in 1914
that all landmasses were at one time connected as a supercontinent
approximately 200 million years ago which he called Pangaea. In Wegener’s
theory of continental drift, Pangaea progressively split up as the
continents detached themselves and “drifted” away. Wegener
provided physical, fossil, geological, and climate evidence to support
this theory;
• Fit of the continents
Wegener noted that the shape of the continent’s coastlines
appeared to match like pieces in a jigsaw puzzle.
• Fossil evidence (Mesosaurus, Lystrosaurus, Glossopteris)
Noted the occurrence of plant and animal fossils found on the match
coastlines of South America and Africa. (Figure 1)
• Rock type and structural correlations
• Similar age, structure, and rock types on continents on opposite
sides of the Atlantic Ocean. i.e. Appalachian Mountains (North America)
and mountains in Scotland and Scandinavia
• Paleoclimatic evidence
• Found dramatic climate changes on some continents. Most notable
was the discovery of coal deposits (made of tropical plants) in Antarctica
which led Wegener to conclude that this frozen continent in an earlier
time in Earth’s history must have been positioned closer to
the equator – where the milder climate allowed lush, swampy
vegetation to grow. (Figure 2)
The main reason Wegener’s hypothesis was not accepted was because
he suggested no mechanism for moving the continents. His belief that
the force of Earth’s spin (rotation) was enough to cause the
continents to move was not shared by the geologists of the time who
knew that rocks were too strong for this to be true.
Sea Floor Spreading
Harry Hess (geologist and Navy submarine commander during WWII) studied
newly published maps of the seafloor topography indicating the existence
of a world-wide mid-ocean ridge system. He proposed, in the 1960’s,
that ridges are where new seafloor is created from upwelling in the
mantle. It was possible, he stated, that molten magma from beneath
the earth’s crust could ooze up between plates and as this hot
magma cooled, it would expand and push on either side of it. He also
proposed subduction as a mechanism for recycling of the seafloor.
His theory provided a mechanism for continental movement that Wegener’s
model was lacking.
• Samples of the deep ocean floor show that basaltic oceanic
crust become progressively older as one moves away from the mid-ocean
ridge. (Figure 3)
• The rock making up the ocean floor is considerably younger
than the continents – no rock samples older than 200 million
years are found in the ocean crust while ages in excess of 3 billion
years can be found in continental rocks.
• Paleomagnetism studies of the ocean floor demonstrate that
the orientation of the Earth’s magnetic field has changed over
time. (Figure 4)
Figure 4:
A theoretical model of the formation of magnetic striping. New
oceanic crust forming continuously at the crest of the mid-ocean
ridge, cools and becomes increasingly older as it moves away
from the ridge crest with the spreading of the seafloor: a.
the spreading ridge about 5 million years ago; b. about 2 to
3 million years ago; and c. present-day (from http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/developing.html).
Plate Tectonics
Since the early 1960s, the emergence of the theory of plate tectonics
started a revolution in the Earth Sciences. The theory has revolutionized
our understanding of the dynamic planet upon which we live. Unifying
the study of Earth, the theory has drawn together the many branches
of earth science, from paleontology (the study of fossils) to seismology
(the study of earthquakes) to volcanism and mountain building. It
provides explanations as to why earthquakes and volcanic eruptions
occur in very specific areas around the world, and how and why great
mountain ranges like the Alps and Himalayas formed.
The theory of plate tectonics states that the Earth’s rigid
outermost layer (lithosphere) is fragmented into seven major plates
and over a dozen smaller plates that are moving relative to one another
as they ride atop the hotter, more mobile material of the asthenosphere
(Figure 5 and 6). The primary force responsible for the movement of
the plates is heat transfer which sets up convection currents within
the upper mantle.
The boundary between these lithospheric plates is where most of the
action (earthquakes) takes place. Three primary plate boundaries exist
(Figure 6);
• Divergent boundaries – where new crust is created as
the plates pull away from each other (mid-ocean ridge)
• Convergent boundaries – where crust is recycled back
into the mantle
• Transform boundary – where plates slide horizontally
past one another
Figure
6: Artist's cross section illustrating the main types of plate
boundaries (see text); East African Rift Zone is a good example
of a continental rift zone. (Cross section by José F.
Vigil from This Dynamic Planet -- a wall map produced jointly
by the U.S. Geological Survey, the Smithsonian Institution,
and the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.) (from http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/Vigil.html)
Earthquakes
Hold a wooden pencil at its ends and push up with your thumbs in the
middle. The pencil will bend with little stress placed upon it. However,
apply too much stress and the pencil snaps – rapidly releasing
its stored energy. The rocks of the lithosphere act in a similar manner
to the pencil. Due to relative plate motion, rocks of the lithosphere
are under considerable stress. An earthquake is a phenomenon that
results from the sudden release of stored energy in the Earth’s
crust that generates seismic waves. The boundaries between Earth’s
plates are where earthquake (and volcano) occurrences are concentrated
(Figure 7).
Each and every earthquake generates Primary (P-wave) and Secondary
(S-wave) seismic waves. P-waves are compression or longitudinal waves
that travel the fastest of all seismic waves. P-waves travel through
solids, liquids, and gases. S-waves are shear or transverse waves
which travel slower and pass through solids only.
Students understand the concept of plate tectonics including the
evidence that supports it (structural, geophysical and paleontological
evidence). E/S
Common misconceptions associated with this benchmark:
1. Students incorrectly believe that the continents
randomly drift about the Earth or that the continents are no longer
moving.
Continental Drift, the supercontinent Pangaea, and plate tectonics
are likely terms with which students are familiar, however the idea
that continents are still on the move today offers a challenge to
students and adults. Considering the two timescales involved - human
timescale (say 10,000 years of civilization) of observation is far
too limited compared to the processes of plate tectonic occurring
on a geologic timescale (tens and hundreds of millions of years).
2. Students incorrectly believe that California will
split apart from the rest of the United States and become an island
(or fall into the Pacific Ocean), leaving parts of Southern Nevada
with oceanfront property.
The San Andreas Fault is a transform plate boundary that exists between
the North American Plate and the Pacific Plate. This means that the
land west of the San Andreas Fault is sliding northwest past the rest
of the United States, towards San Francisco. This sliding does not
create any space between the two plates for water to fill in, in fact
the two plates are actually being pushed together by the two plate’s
relative motions as they slide horizontally by each other (VERY slowly).
3. Students incorrectly believe that Earth’s
crust is several 100’s of kilometers thick.
Earth’s crust consists of two types; continental and oceanic.
The less dense continental crust is the thickest, having an average
thickness of approximately 30 km while the much thinner and more dense
oceanic crust has an average thickness of approximately 5 km. In fact,
Earth’s crust occupies less than 1% of Earth’s total volume
and represents the extent to which the deepest wells drilled have
not exceeded.
Which part of Earth’s interior is inferred to have convection currents that cause tectonic plates to move?
Rigid mantle
Asthenosphere
Outer core
Inner core
The movement of tectonic plates is inferred by many scientists to be driven by
tidal motions in the hydrosphere.
density differences in the troposphere.
convection currents in the asthenosphere.
olidification in the lithosphere.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
The cross section below shows the direction of movement of an oceanic plate over a mantle hot spot, resulting in the formation of a chain of volcanoes labeled A, B, C, and D. The geologic age of volcano C is shown.
The cross section below shows the direction of movement of an oceanic plate over a mantle hot spot, resulting in the formation of a chain of volcanoes labeled A, B, C, and D. The geologic age of volcano C is shown.
Which information indicates that new seafloor rock is forming along the mid-ocean ridge and then moving horizontally away from the ridge?
Most volcanoes are located under ocean water and found near the continental shelves.
Paleomagnetic studies of the ocean floor demonstrate that the orientation of Earth’s magnetic field has remained constant.
Fossils of marine organisms can be found at high elevations on continents.
The age of the seafloor rock increases as the distance from the mid-ocean ridge increases.
Base your answer to the question on the cross section below, which shows an underwater mountain range in the Atlantic Ocean. The oceanic bedrock is composed mainly of basalt. Points X and Y are locations in the bedrock that have been diverging at the same rate. The movement of the North American Plate and Eurasian Plate is shown by the two arrows.
Which statements best describe the age and magnetic orientation of the basalts found at locations X and Y?
The basalt at location X is younger than the basalt at location Y. Both locations have the same magnetic orientation.
The basalts at location X and Y are the same age. Both locations have the same magnetic orientation.
The basalt at location X and Y are the same age. Location X has normal magnetic orientation and location Y has reversed magnetic orientation.
The basalt at location X is older than the basalt at location Y. Location X has reversed magnetic orientation and location Y has normal magnetic orientation.
Depth of Knowledge Level 2
Base your answers to question on the map below. The map shows the continents of Africa and South America, the ocean between them, and the ocean ridge and transform faults. Locations A and D are on the continents. Locations B and C are on the ocean floor.
Which graph best shows the relative age of the ocean-floor bedrock from location B to location C
Graph 1
Graph 2
Graph 3
Graph 4
The diagram below represents the pattern of normal and reversed magnetic polarity and the relative age of the igneous bedrock composing the ocean floor on the east side of the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The magnetic polarity of the bedrock on the west side of the ridge has been deliberately left blank.
Base your answers to the question on the map below, which shows the location of mid-ocean ridges and the age of some oceanic bedrock near these ridges. Letters A through D are locations on the surface of the ocean floor.
Oceanic bedrock on either side of a mid-ocean ridge is supporting evidence that at the ridges, tectonic plates are
diverging.
converging
locked into place
being subducted
Base your answers to the question on the diagram below, which shows details of a section of a rift valley in the center of a mid-ocean ridge. The vertical lines in the diagram represent faults and fractures within the ocean floor bedrock.
Students understand the concept of plate tectonics
including the evidence that supports it (structural, geophysical and
paleontological evidence). E/S
Intervention Strategies and Resources
The following is a list of intervention strategies and resources
that will facilitate student understanding of this benchmark.
1. This Dynamic Earth: The Story of Plate
Tectonics
by W. Jacquelyn Kious and Robert I. Tilling. An outstanding resource
covering the historical perspective, development the theory, understanding
plate motion, and plate tectonics and people. It is available as an
online edition and as a downloadable PDF edition (77 pages, 3.7MB)
at http://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/dynamic/dynamic.html
2. Plot that Quake!
The goal of this exercise is to motivate students to question why
earthquakes occur where they do. Students plot earthquake data over
time in order to discover that a pattern develops in the occurrence
of earthquakes worldwide.http://seismo.berkeley.edu/istat/ex_quake_plot/
3. Berkeley Seismological Laboratory
This site is a great starting place which contains a worldwide earthquake
catalog, along with links to United States seismic data, and a map
of California and Nevada earthquakes. http://seismo.berkeley.edu/faq/catalog_0.html
5. IRIS (Incorporated Research Institutions
for Seismology
The IRIS website contains a host of lesson plans and resources for
educators along with earthquake maps, lists, and interactive software.
To access IRIS
Education and Outreach, go to http://www.iris.washington.edu/about/ENO/index.htm
7. Earthquakes/tectonics
This site is a great educational resource, which provides students
with numerous links for studying continental drift, plate tectonics,
the structure of the Earth, earthquakes, and seismic waves. The following
is a link to animations, simulations and additional teaching resources
within the science of geology. http://www.scienceman.com/pgs/00_links_geology.html
| |
Definitions for "Paleomagnetism"
the study of the Earth's past based on the orientation of magnetic crystals frozen into igneous rocks.
The study of ancient magnetic fields, which are preserved in the magnetic properties of rocks. ie. studying the changes in position of the magnetic poles, as well as reversals of poles in the geological past.
The remanent magnetization recorded in ancient rocks; allows the reconstruction of Earth's ancient magnetic field and the positions of the continents. | http://www.metaglossary.com/define/paleomagnetism |
Software Development Life Cycle, or SDLC, is an important concept in software engineering. It is a process model in which the phases of software development are described. The SDLC comprises a series of steps that are completed in order to create a new piece of software, with each step having different goals and objectives.
The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) is a systematic approach used to create and maintain software applications. It’s a process that helps companies ensure that their product meets customer expectations and can help them develop quality software with fewer problems. In order to understand the SDLC, it is indispensable to understand each of its phases: planning, design, development, testing, and deployment.
Planning Phase
The Planning Phase is an important part of the SDLC and is typically when the project requirements are defined and a plan for development is created.
When beginning a new project, it’s essential to define what needs to be done and create a timeline for completing tasks. This can include determining stakeholders, business objectives, user stories, budgeting, team structure, and more. A project manager should also review existing processes related to development in order to identify areas that need improvement or changes.
Once these elements have been determined, they can be incorporated into product design specifications that will guide the entire development process.
Design Phase
The design phase requires developers to define all requirements for functionality, usability, performance, and scalability. It also includes tasks like creating a data model or database structure; designing components such as user interfaces, services, or modules; determining system performance parameters; and setting up coding standards. As part of this process, developers will often perform tests on their designs before moving onto implementation in order to ensure quality assurance and stability.
Development Phase
This phase involves creating a detailed plan for the development of the software product in order to ensure it meets all requirements. During this phase, developers will also create models and diagrams that explain how they intend to build their application or program. This includes developing user stories and setting up coding frameworks, as well as setting up test plans for quality assurance purposes. Developers will also define tasks associated with each stage of development in order to effectively allocate resources and track progress against timelines set by project managers or stakeholders.
Testing Phase
System testers test the overall functionality of the product to make sure it meets objectives and performs its intended function. Integration tests determine if different modules or components within the system work together harmoniously and accurately. User acceptance tests ensure that user requirements have been met and that they are satisfied with their application experience.
In addition, these tests also consider non-functional requirements such as performance criteria or security measures in order to provide a successful end-user product experience.
Deployment Phase
In this phase, all components that make up the application are tested and integrated into one package that can be deployed in a live environment. Once it is ready for deployment, this package is then distributed to customer sites or web servers so that everyone who needs access can use it. The team behind the development project will also provide support during this stage if needed. This includes helping customers install and configure their copy of the application correctly, as well as troubleshooting any errors or issues they may encounter while using it.
As it can be stated, all the process when developing software involves different phases that must be carried out effectively in order to get a specific product. The aim of these phases is that the product fulfills the intentions and requirements of the customers.short url: | https://businessingmag.com/19111/strategy/sdlc/ |
Many of us experience symptoms of depression and often have no idea what to do at that time to stay momentarily calm. In such situations, practising some grounding exercises is a good idea.
The purpose of grounding techniques is to allow a person to step away from negative thoughts or flashbacks. Techniques such as these can decrease the intensity of a person’s feelings or thoughts by distracting them using all the five senses. These techniques help a person shift their attention from disturbing events and thoughts to the present moment.
Here are some of the most common grounding techniques used for depression-
#1 5-4-3-2-1 Technique
Before starting this exercise, pay attention to your breathing. Slow, deep, long breaths can help you maintain a sense of calm or help you return to a calmer state. Once you find your breath, go through the following steps to help ground yourself:
5: Acknowledge FIVE things you see around you. It could be a pencil, a spot on your wall, anything in your surroundings.
4: Acknowledge FOUR things you can touch around you. It could be your cheek, a bedsheet, or the ground under your feet.
3: Acknowledge THREE things you hear. This could be any external sound. If you can hear your belly rumbling that counts! Focus on things you can hear outside of your body – Like birds, traffic etc.
2: Acknowledge TWO things you can smell. If you need to take a brief walk to find a scent you could smell soap in your bathroom, or nature outside.
1: Acknowledge ONE thing you can taste. What does the inside of your mouth taste like?
#2 Breathing Exercises
Focusing on your breath by consciously inhaling and exhaling is another effective grounding strategy.
A person can enhance the focus of these breathing exercises by placing their hands on their abdomen and watching them move up and down while inhaling through the nose and exhaling through the mouth.
Doing these a few times, a day can help one calm themselves down, and return to the present moment.
#3 Step by Step Technique
To follow this grounding technique, a person should:
– Place the feet firmly on the ground.
– Take slow, deep breaths.
– State what they can observe in their present environment.
– Remind themselves that they are in a safe place right now.
– Observe their immediate surroundings and describe items in the room or environment.
#4 Practice Mindfulness
Mindfulness is a mental state in which you focus your attention on the present moment and everything that is happening in the here and now.
Mindfulness has different aspects to it such as mindful eating (noticing what you’re eating, how it tastes, etc), mindful walking (taking a deep breath in as you put one foot out and vice versa) or mindful breathing (noticing your breath going in and noticing when it comes out).
This can also involve being mindful of how the muscles in your body are feeling and performing an exercise of tightening and loosening each group of muscles if they are feeling tense.
This simple exercise can help you put a pause to what you’re thinking and feeling and regulate your emotions.
#5 Mental Exercises
Practising some simple mental exercises such as counting back from 100 by 3s, describing the steps of an activity you know how to do well or spelling the names of a few people you know backwards can also be an efficient way of decreasing symptoms of anxiety and depression.
These activities will help you shift your focus and attention from negative thoughts and feelings to the present moment and elicit more positive emotions as well helping you think more clearly.
Though grounding techniques are simple and instant, they cannot be considered an alternative to regular therapy. You should definitely consider therapy as a treatment option in addition to these techniques if you feel your symptoms are alarming. | https://mindvoyage.in/grounding-techniques-for-depression/ |
When discussing communication ethics, it is important to understand exactly what is meant by
‘ethics’. Sometimes, people confuse ethics with behaving in accordance with social conventions,
religious beliefs and the law. And, sometimes the terms ethics and morals are used
interchangeably, because they clearly are both related to “right” and “wrong” conduct. However,
they are not the same thing at all!
Ethics refer to rules provided by an external source. They are governed by professional and legal
guidelines within a particular time and place. Ethics are all about how we deal with ‘grey areas’.
Ethics therefore refer to the value judgments we make on bigger and smaller matters, in
communication as well as in other fields.
A concrete example of ethics are codes of conduct in workplaces. Lawyers, policemen, and
doctors all have to follow an ethical code laid down by their profession, regardless of their own
feelings or preferences. In a specific communication setting, we can say that The Society of
Professional Journalists Code of Ethics is a good example. In this code, several principles of
ethical journalism are included, with instructions on how to behave as an objective, transparent
and reliable journalist. In this code of ethics, we find principles such as ‘seek truth and report it’
and ‘minimize harm for sources, subjects, colleagues and members of the public’.
Morals refer to an individual’s own principles regarding right and wrong. For example, a
journalist may exaggerate a little to create a more sensational story. These principles are not
written in legal guidelines, but are subject to one’s own gut feeling about what is good or bad. Of
course, most decisions are not captured in a code of conduct, but ask for people’s personal
cultural norms for dealing with issues. Then you really must trust your own moral compass!
When we study people’s principles about what is good or bad, we find two forms of ethics:
Descriptive and prescriptive ethics. The crucial difference between these principles is describing
or explaining behavior, versus guiding or prescribing.
Descriptive ethics are concerned with ‘what is’. They are also known as comparative ethics. This
is the scientific study of moral beliefs and practices of different peoples and cultures in various
places and times, in order to describe how people behave and think when dealing with moral
issues and arguments. The essential question in this form of ethics is ‘What do people think is
right in a certain place, time or situation?’.
Prescriptive ethics are all about ‘what ought to be’. Therefore, this form is also known as
normative ethics. This is the study of principles, rules, or theories that guide our actions and
judgements, in order to determine what actually is morally right or wrong. The essential
question in this form of ethics is ‘How should people act?’.
And of course we need to apply this distinction between two forms of ethics in the field of
communication! For example, we could state that descriptive ethics would be used when
determining what proportion of tabloid journalists believe that it is no problem to invade the
personal privacy of celebrities in order to boost sales. On the other hand, normative ethics would
be used to determine whether it is correct to hold such a belief.
So, now you know more about morals and the different forms of ethics. In the next clip, we will
explain the difference between sophistry and relativism. | https://www.masscommunicationtalk.com/ethics-morals-in-media-ethics-governance.html |
More Americans say they are "cutting the cord"
More and more Americans seem to be "cutting the cord" and switching away from cable and satellite subscription services in favor of streaming services, reflecting changes in the way they consume television.
Five years ago, 63% of Americans mostly watched television through cable and satellite. Today, that percentage has dropped to fewer than half of all Americans, while the percentage of those primarily watching television via a streaming service on the internet has jumped 17 percentage points, from 20% in 2016 to 37% today. About one in 10 Americans watch their TV through a digital antenna, which replaced old-fashioned broadcast television several years ago.
Most Americans 45 and older continue to utilize cable or satellite for watching TV, but streaming is now more popular than cable or satellite among adults under 45, and it's how most adults under 35 now consume television. Just 22% of adults under 35 now primarily watch television through cable or satellite.
Though it's especially popular among younger Americans, the use of streaming services to watch television has jumped among all age groups, compared to five years ago. The percentage of Americans turning to streaming has risen 22 percentage points among adults between 18 and 34, and 27 percentage points among those between 35 and 44. And while older adults still mostly watch cable or satellite, the percentage who now watch streaming has doubled among those between 45 and 54, and more than tripled among adults 55 and over.
This poll was conducted by telephone March 9-14, 2021 among a random sample of 1,004 adults nationwide. Data collection was conducted on behalf of CBS News by SSRS of Glen Mills, PA. Phone numbers were dialed from samples of both standard landline and cell phones.
The poll employed a random digit dial methodology. For the landline sample, a respondent was randomly selected from all adults in the household. For the cell sample, interviews were conducted with the person who answered the phone.
Interviews were conducted in English and Spanish using live interviewers. The data have been weighted to reflect U.S. Census figures on demographic variables. The error due to sampling for results based on the entire sample could be plus or minus 3.7 percentage points. The error for subgroups may be higher and is available by request. The margin of error includes the effects of standard weighting procedures which enlarge sampling error slightly. This poll release conforms to the Standards of Disclosure of the National Council on Public Polls. | |
At Hunterdon Medical Center, we consider health care a partnership – between physicians, nurses, staff … and you. That’s why we encourage you to take an active role in your care.
Patient safety sets Hunterdon Medical Center apart from other hospitals. All members of the medical staff, nursing staff, and all departments demonstrate a passion for safety by employing state-of-the-art practices including:
- Strict adherence to the World Health Organization Surgical Safety Checklist for every surgery to ensure attention to complete team communication and patient-specific detail.
- Diligent observance of all practices listed in The Joint Commission’s National Patient Safety Goals, such as programs designed to improve communication between patients and health care providers. Click here for the complete set of goals.
- Strong Safety Culture designed to keep patients safe with every person dedicated to the very best practices in patient safety.
- Rapid Response Teams to intervene quickly stabilizing the patient’s condition to prevent a more serious outcome.
Surgical Safety Checklist:
Communication is Critical to your Safe Care
All Hunterdon Medical Center providers are encouraged to listen to their patients, speak in simple terms, and empower and develop an equal growing partnership. For patients, medical information is often difficult to understand. Patients who ask questions until they understand what they need to do can become partners with their doctor to manage their health. This understanding will build relationships and improve patient safety.
Here are some ways you can be an active partner in promoting patient safety:
- Ask questions when you are unsure why a test or procedure is being done.
- Ask for more information on your medical condition.
- Ask your healthcare providers if they washed their hands.
- Ask how you can help prevent falling while in the hospital.
SPEAK UP to prevent errors
To help prevent medical errors, Hunterdon Medical Center and the Joint Commission ask you to SPEAK UP.
Speak up if you have questions or concerns. If you still don’t understand, ask again. It’s your body and you have a right to know.
Pay attention to the care you get. Always make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medicines from the right health care professionals. Don’t assume anything.
Educate yourself about your illness. Learn about the medical tests you receive and your treatment plan.
Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.
Know what medicines you take and why you take them. Medication errors are the most common health care mistakes.
Use a hospital that meets the rigorous health and safety standards of an accrediting organization, such as the Joint Commission.
Participate in all decisions about your treatment. You are the center of the health care team.
Report safety or quality concerns
We encourage you and your family to report any safety or quality concerns about your care to your nurse and nurse director.
Direct your concerns to:
Patient Advocate: 908-788-2580
Director of Patient Care Services: 908-788-6154
Patient Safety Officer: 908-788-6169
Vice President of Medical Affairs: 908-788-6155
Need a rapid response?
You should alert your nurse to significant changes in your (or your family member’s) medical condition. Tell your nurse, “My condition requires immediate attention” to trigger a rapid response.
Wear your hospital ID band
Your hospital ID band should be worn at all times. If the band falls off for any reason, please request a new one immediately. When you receive your ID band, check to see that all information is correct. ID band errors are a patient safety hazard. Staff members are required to check your ID band before any test or procedure. They may also ask you to verify your name or other information on the band.
Prevent germs from spreading
Health care providers must clean their hands before touching a patient. This helps to reduce the spread of germs. At Hunterdon Medical Center, there are two ways to wash your hands: using traditional soap and water, or washing with antibacterial foam (located in all patient rooms and most other areas of the hospital). Please kindly remind your doctor, nurse, laboratory personnel or others to clean their hands if you do not see them do so.
Tell Someone …
… if you have allergies to medicines, food or latex.
… if you take any over-the-counter or prescription drugs, or any type of vitamin or herbal supplement.
… if you don’t understand part of your upcoming test or procedure.
… if you need help or are in physical or emotional distress.
… if you have concerns of any kind.
If you don’t know … ask!
Understanding your treatment is key to ensuring the safety and success of your hospital visit. While you are here, you will often be asked to “teach back” what you have learned about tests, procedures, and medications. Hearing things in your words lets us know what we have explained clearly and what requires further discussion. We welcome questions about any and all aspects of your care. Remember: when it comes to your health, every question is important!
Leapfrog Hospital Survey
Hunterdon Healthcare has many excellent patient safety programs in place to ensure safe care for all patients. Just a few examples are: Measuring our safety culture annually which assures employees of Hunterdon Healthcare deliver care in a safe environment for patients, using a Surgical Safety Checklist, as recommended by the World Health Organization, to ensure “right patient, right side, right surgery” 100% of the time, following all the National Patient Safety Goals, preventing infections, team skills training to improve communication among caregivers, which includes briefings and debriefings before and after procedures and safe medication technology to prevent medication errors.
Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield Hospital Recognition Program
Hunterdon Medical Center has been commended by Horizon Blue Cross/Blue Shield’s Hospital Recognition Program for its outstanding efforts in improving patient safety, clinical outcomes and patient satisfaction.
State Hospital Performance Report
Each year, the New Jersey Department of Health and Senior Services released its annual Hospital Performance Report. The public report provides hospital-specific data from 2009 on a number of performance indicators such as a heart attack, pneumonia treatment, congestive heart failure, and surgical infection prevention. This year’s report contains the first-time release of data on hospital-associated infections, specifically central line-associated bloodstream infections. The report also contains patient safety indicators, which include information reported by an individual hospital. Hunterdon Medical Center was among the top 50% of New Jersey hospitals for effectively treating patients with a heart attack, pneumonia, congestive heart failure, and surgical infection prevention.
Proficient surgical and operating room procedures can prevent many post-operative infections and post-operative complications. The most critical factors in the prevention of post-operative infections are the sound judgment and proper technique of the surgeon and surgical team as well as the general health and disease state of the patient. Hunterdon Medical Center had zero instances of patients with foreign bodies left in during a procedure, post-operative hip fractures, postoperative sepsis or infection, post-operative wound dehiscence (opening) and transfusion reactions.
Healthcare-associated infections (HAI’s) are among the top causes of unnecessary illnesses and deaths in the United States. HAI’s are infections that patients get while staying in a hospital, these are infections that the patient did not have before being admitted. Central line bloodstream infections occur when bacteria travel down a “central line”, or a catheter placed near the heart, and enter the blood. Hunterdon Medical Center is part of the New Jersey Hospital Association’s Intensive Care Unit Collaborative to reduce central line infections. Hunterdon Medical Center reported two HAI infections, which was similar to the national baseline. For the prior two years, Hunterdon Medical Center had reported zero central line infections. Hunterdon Medical Center had previously instituted “checklists” for the insertion of central lines, which have been shown to reduce such infections. | https://www.hunterdonhealthcare.org/about-us/quality-safety/patient-safety/ |
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