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__label__neg Posts Things You Should Know About AntifreezePosted on: 15, November, 2010 Do you remember that fairy tale where a lion insults a mouse only to get caught in a trap? The mouse returns to chew the ropes and help the lion become free again? That story taught us the important lesson that even small things can be very useful in the long run. The same is the case with maintenance of the family vehicle as well. We spend so much time focusing on the engine, transmission and other important and expensive components in the truck that we forget the role of antifreeze in the maintenance of your cars, trucks, motorcycles and vans as well. To prepare your vehicle for the winter season, make sure your antifreeze is mixed properly, or you could see serious damage to your vehicle’s radiator. Often in Summer, water is the only component used in radiators to ensure the engine remains cool. As Winter approaches, many forget to remove the water when the seasons change and add antifreeze. Temperatures reach thousands of degrees in automobiles and the proper mixture of antifreeze and water is required to keep the engine cool no matter how cold it is outside. If the mixture is not at the right levels, the water freezes inside the engine, ice will expand and the internal parts of the radiator shall crack. The water will flow out when the engine is running and you end up in a scenario where there is no water left to cool the engine. The end result is that your engine will get overheated even in the middle of a snowstorm and you will get stranded. Antifreeze ensures that this problem does not arise. The water shall be prevented from freezing up and will always remain flowing no matter how cold it is on the outside. Robert’s Auto Repair is here to serve you and make sure your radiator and engine coolants safely see you through each journey. Call us at 831-373-1534 to schedule an appointment to check your antifreeze levels anytime before or during a service check-up or an oil change. You will receive a FREE automobile safety inspection if you mention this blog before the end of November.
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__label__neg The Security Industry Association (SIA) has stepped in to help broker a deal between the electronic security industry and environmental groups concerned over the energy efficiency of security devices. October 25, 2009 ADT Security Services has put together a list of tips to help prevent carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning this winter season. With the increased use of fuel-burning space heaters and portable generators during the colder months comes an increased need for CO poisoning prevention. October 22, 2009 If a leading fire-safety association prevails, automatic sprinkler systems would be code-required across the country for new construction of single-family and two-unit dwellings. The requirement would open a new business opportunity for companies that install fire protection and life-safety systems, sources tell SSI. October 18, 2009 Fire and life safety provider SimplexGrinnell highlighted its emergency planning and preparedness capabilities at ASIS 2009 Seminar and Exhibits in Anaheim, Calif. October 05, 2009 NOTIFIER of Northford, Conn., releases its high-speed NOTI-FIRE-NET fire alarm network, which operates nearly 40 times faster than its standard network platform while supporting twice as many nodes, according to the company. SSI Staff · October 04, 2009 Mull over the safeguarding of a casino and instantaneously video surveillance comes to mind. But how about considering the fire/life-safety perspective? A Reno, Nev., facility serves as an example of what it takes to provide casinos with solutions that satisfy both codes and the unique demands of these customers. October 04, 2009 The National Burglar & Fire Alarm Association (NBFAA) has taken another step toward securing congressional approval of its life safety alarm installation language for colleges. The House Committee on Education and Labor passed H.R. 3221, the Student Aid and Fiscal Responsibility Act, in late July. July 29, 2009 For a business owner, responding to a disaster - be it natural or man made - begins with careful preparation long before the calamity ever strikes. Having a detailed disaster preparedness plan to implement when called for can mean the difference between getting a business running again quickly or rendered entirely ineffective for an extended period. Or even worse. By Rodney Bosch · June 30, 2009 PERS is a term that is gathering familiarity in the electronic security industry vernacular. Known as personal emergency response systems, these monitored devices are designed to summon help in the event of various urgent situations such as when an elderly person falls. May 31, 2009 The Oklahoma Blood Institute called on STAMPSCO Fire & Security to design and overhaul its fire/life-safety system to accommodate multisite operations in two states. The integrator provided a solution that includes voice evac, expandable networking and remote monitoring. April 30, 2009
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__label__neg A Times Editorial A question of fairness answered © St. Petersburg Times published March 7, 2003 During Thomas Joe Miller-El's murder trial, Texas prosecutors used their peremptory challenges to eliminate 10 of the 11 potential African-American jurors. Miller-El, a black man, was later convicted and sentenced to death. And for the next 17 years he tried challenging the fairness of a trial before a jury stripped of African-Americans. Last month, the U.S. Supreme Court finally gave him a friendly ear. In an 8-to-1 ruling, the court said Miller-El's claims of discrimination should get a hearing. The court did not grant him a new trial, just an opportunity to question whether his initial trial was fair. The decision in Miller-El vs. Cockrell could have widespread implications for prisoners both on and off death row. The court directed federal appellate courts to be more generous to prisoners who are challenging the constitutionality of their trials. In effect, the high court reasserted the role of federal courts in policing the fairness and legality of state court proceedings. The question before the court involved its interpretation of the 1996 Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act. Congress passed the law because it was tired of the way death row inmates were using habeas corpus in what it viewed as frivolous challenges. The law sets up roadblocks to habeas petitions, one of these being an end to the automatic right of a prisoner to appeal a denial of habeas relief in a federal district court. Inmates who seek to appeal the lower court's judgment must first obtain a "certificate of appealability." Various federal appeals courts, including the 5th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals that covers Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi, had set a high bar before granting a certificate, essentially requiring the inmate to prove the merits of his case. In a decision written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, the court reminded the lower federal courts that a certificate of appealability is not the same as an inquiry into the merits of a habeas petition. The court said a certificate should be granted whenever the constitutional claim being made by the inmate has a reasonable basis, not necessarily a winning one. Opening federal appellate courts to more claims by inmates will reintroduce a layer of review and scrutiny to state court processes that has been missing in recent years. The court's decision was a victory for fairness for Miller-El and the justice system as a whole. © 2006 • All Rights Reserved • Tampa Bay Times 490 First Avenue South St. Petersburg, FL 33701 727-893-8111 From the Times Opinion page Editorial: A question of fairness answered Editorial: Medicare disservice Editorial: Unwelcome surprise at Perkins Letters: Law school at FAMU will be racially diverse
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__label__neg People wash their hair and go swimming more often in the summer, and with more water entering the ears along with damage caused by improper cleaning, symptoms, for example, pain, itching, secretions and odors, can also occur more frequently. Otolaryngologists, or ear, nose and throat doctors, have recently seen a 30 percent increase in cases of acute otitis externa, or swimmer’s ear, which if left untreated could get worse and cause the eardrum to rupture, do damage to the middle ear, and possibly affect one’s hearing. Swimmer’s ear is very common during the summer months. Wu Sih-wei, director of Taichung Hospital’s Department of Otolaryngology, says that around 90 percent of swimmer’s ear cases are water-related. Water can easily enter the ear when washing one’s hair, rinsing off in the shower or taking a dip in the pool to cool off. When the inside of the ear is wet and moist, people will usually want to dig around in their ears, but because the skin inside the ear canal is quite thin, damage can easily be done, causing inflammation if the water inside the ear is unsanitary. Many people this summer with ear infections are exhibiting the symptoms of pain and itching, and subsequently digging moist, odorous secretions out of their ears. In severe cases, people are not going to the doctor until pus starts running out of their ears. Most of the cases that doctors are seeing are swimmer’s ear. If the condition grows worse, it could cause the eardrum to rupture or otitis media, commonly called middle ear infection. Aside from swimmer’s ear, many people are also getting chronic infections due to outer ear infections caused by mold, which also causes pain, itching and secretions. 今日單字 1. inflammation n. 發炎 (fa1 yan2) 例: Inflammation can be caused by infection. (感染可引起發炎。) 2. symptom n. 症狀 (zheng4 zhuang4) 例: A runny nose and a sore throat are typical symptoms of the common cold. (感冒常見的症狀包含流鼻涕與喉嚨痛。) 3. cotton swab n. phr. 棉花棒 (mian2 hua1 bang4) 例: Using cotton swabs is not a medically recommended method for removing earwax. (用棉花棒掏耳垢不是醫界推薦的方法。) Wu suggests wearing earplugs when swimming to keep water from entering the ears, and says people should not use cotton swabs or Q-tips to clean their ears after taking a shower or washing their hair to avoid doing damage to the ear canal and causing infection. Wu also adds that people should not use the same cotton swabs or Q-tips that have been used by other people when visiting hair or beauty salons. (Liberty Times, Translated by Kyle Jeffcoat) 夏季洗頭、游泳機會多，耳朵容易進水加上不當掏耳受傷，出現耳朵痛、癢、分泌物濕臭等不適，耳鼻喉科醫師觀察急性外耳炎患者增加三成，如果惡化，耳膜破損、傷及中耳，可能影響聽力。 夏季常見民眾罹患急性外耳炎，台中醫院耳鼻喉科主任吳思緯指出，約有九成患者與耳朵接觸水有關。洗頭、沖涼或是游泳消暑，都使得耳朵容易進水，當耳朵悶濕就會想掏耳朵，耳道皮膚薄，常因不當掏耳造成破皮，一旦水質不潔就容易感染細菌發炎。 今夏許多患者的耳朵出現疼痛、發癢症狀，又動手掏耳朵掏出又濕又臭的分泌物，有人嚴重到耳朵流出膿液才就醫，大多數是罹患急性外耳炎，再惡化可能造成耳膜破裂、中耳炎。 除了急性外耳炎，也有許多患者外耳感染黴菌造成慢性發炎，一樣又痛又癢，出現分泌物。 吳思緯建議，游泳戴耳塞，以避免耳朵進水，洗澡、洗頭後也盡量不要用棉花棒或用掏耳棒挖耳朵，以防耳道彎曲受傷造成發炎，也不要到理髮廳或理容院，與其他人共用掏耳棒清耳朵。 （自由時報記者蔡淑媛）
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__label__pos There are naked people at Harvard and they're not just posing for a figuredrawing class. "Oh, "you may scoff, "I haven't seen all that many of my classmates naked" (or "nekkid" if you're from the South). All I can say is, they may not show up in the buff to the Omelet Station at Special Dinners, but there are nudists among us and their name is Legion. Actually, one of their names is Kitt. Kitt Hirasaki '96 is most comfortable sitting around his room or running up and down the halls not completely nude, but clad only in his tighty-whities. "It's a pretty recent development," he said, speaking of his penchant for pantlessness. "I guess since I came to college. I'm from Texas, where it's not that socially acceptable to sit around in your underwear in public. Still, I used to walk around in my underwear all the time when I was at home and when I came here I didn't see any reason to change that and I figured, the whole place is my home. My roommates don't seem to mind." Mitch McClure, '96, one of the roommates in question, upholds Hirasaki's assertion. "It doesn't bother me," he says of his roommate's exhibitionistic tendencies. "But I hate to be naked. I always wear clothes, especially in the shower." It's not just a few aberrant personalities like Hirasaki who frolic around the houses half-dressed (or undressed). Some entire sub-groups embrace nudity as a bonding ritual. The First-year Outdoor Program, in particular, has a reputation for exhibitionistic excess. I once attended a party where four men and one woman, wearing bobby socks, penny loafers and a red scrunchy in her hair, danced completely naked. When I brought up the subject in a later conversation, the person next to me said "Oh. FOP people were there." Although skinny-dipping is a ritual part of the FOP experience, some FOPpies like to preserve the magic by getting naked whenever they're together. Certain sports teams also like to undress en masse, to various degrees of nudity. Gaelen B. Phyfe '96 says that the women's sailing team falls into this category of athletes with a penchant for taking their clothes off. "Sailors get topless more than they get naked--at least at Harvard," Phyfe reports. "Usually late at night at a party, one person starts it...by taking another person's top off." When asked why sailors shed their tops, Phyfe conjectured, "People are probably comfortable in their bodies. I don't know why they do it, but I don't know why they wouldn't. Everyone's pretty mellow and self-assured." After all, if you've got it, flaunt it. Many do. Still, it's not quite as simple. There are more important issues here, questions that must be answered. For example, why are some of us more likely to enjoy getting naked than others? There are those who think that in such a diverse community, cultural background may have something to do with it. Julia E. Starkey '95 supports those theorists who think that enjoyment of nudity, gymnophilia, may have cultural roots. "I'm naked a lot," she says. "I'm perfectly comfortable being naked when most people aren't because my mom's Swedish and in Sweden kids run around naked until they're 10. My mom never raised me to think it was wrong." Upon arriving at Harvard, Starkey was dismayed to discover that not everyone shared a similar nonchalance Puritanical. I walk from the shower to my dorm room in my towel. She changes in the shower a lot." As promised in the admissions brochure, Starkey and her roommate learned from each other's cultural differences. "Now she's not as traumatized if I run around half-naked. Or what she'd consider half-naked-a T-shirt and my underwear." Starkey's ideas of what is appropriate in terms of public exposure have been modified with time, she explains. "It never occurred to me until I was in middle school that you're not supposed to run around naked." "You're not. You are NOT," added a shocked Nathan Lump '96. Clearly Lump is not among the Harvard minority which believes that clothing is a harmful artificial construct that is far better avoided in favor of the purity of nudity, the ultimate in meta-fashion. Starkey, on the other hand is strongly in favor of mass nudity. "I think it's weird that people don't walk around naked. If more people were naked more, it would be a better society. At this point we've all taken bio, we've all see people naked, or at least a picture of someone naked. I refuse to believe that people make it to college without ever seeing a person naked, at least obliquely if not personally." That's tough logic to dispute, but there are those who love their clothes and believe that only the select few should exhibit their wares. Even Hirasaki, for all his love of lounging in lingerie, admits, "We thought about having a naked party, a party where everyone would have to come completely naked, but then we realized--most people, you just don't want to see them naked." FM could not disagree more. *Editors' Note: As true menschen, it is our Duty to inform you about fashion.
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__label__pos Sell in May and go away could be the oldest stock market adage but new research indicates that it is not the most fruitful strategy — if only because you will forego the interim dividends paid by many companies. A study from Bestinvest, a wealth management group, shows that investors who kept their money in the market in the summer enjoyed average annualised market returns of 10.9 per cent — including dividend payments — over the past 25 years. Those who left received an average return of 9.8 per cent. The “Sell in May” advice harks back to the era when City boys
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__label__pos What drives small and mid-sized companies (SMEs) to incorporate sustainable practices into their business? Knowing the answers to this question will aid trade associations and other trusted advisors in developing their outreach and support programs aimed at the SME market. Sustainability4SMEs identified in a previous post that trade associations and a variety of other advisory organizations (e.g. chambers of commerce, economic development agencies) are the primary go-to sources of sustainable business information. In the largest U.S.-based study to date on sustainability adoption and hurdles to implementation for SMEs, Sustainability4SMEs asked survey respondents to identify the drivers to implementing sustainability. Recognizing that there are myriad reasons influencing company decisions, the participants were allowed to check multiple responses. The results of the question, shown in the figure below, were startling; inverse to what was expected. Regulatory Compliance was the least often cited as a sustainability driving factor in spite of ever increasing regulations at all levels of government. This shows that government can impose as many onerous requirements on SMEs as it desires, but it remains unimportant in encouraging them to build sustainable practices into their ongoing operations. From a carrot-stick perspective, adding more and more regulations for businesses only contributes to a business faltering or worse, failing. Regulatory compliance is an overhead cost adding to business’ balance sheets, certainly not a motivator for the income statement. Upstream Supply Chain Imperatives and Financial Incentives also reside in the category of least frequently cited driving factors. Upstream Supply Chain Imperatives include the ability to obtain a steady source of raw materials for a company’s outputs. This data is consistent with an earlier question in the survey identifying the type of business responding to the study. Respondents weigh heavily in the professional services sector (e.g. accounting, legal) which are knowledge-based industries. Raw materials are not a concern to this demographic. Financial Incentives should have been a strong driver for implementing sustainability initiatives in small and mid-sized firms. A common market perception is that going green is expensive so one might think that the availability of a wide variety of incentives (block grants, utility rebates, federal, state and local rebates, etc.) would be a major consideration. However, based on this body of research, money is almost the least of a business’s concerns when it comes to sustainability. This may be due to a lack of knowledge of available funding sources to pursue. Here is another opportunity for trade associations, chambers of commerce and other trusted advisors to add value to their constituents. The bulk of the remaining response options all fall within 15 percent of each other. Clearly there are numerous factors driving SMEs to implement sustainability initiatives, with Customer Demand being at the higher end of the scale. Our study bifurcates between those implementing sustainability initiatives and those who are not pursuing a green strategy. This particular question was answered only by those who are pursuing sustainability. Our last post addressed the hurdles and barriers for those not implementing sustainability. No matter which side of the fence your company is on regarding sustainability, we’d like your input into this body of work. Click here to complete the 28-question survey. Thanks for reading, participating and engaging with great comments. We look forward to sharing additional data from this research project.
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__label__neg 2011 Barrytown College Phone Survey Results Submitted to the President and the Board of Directors Unification Theological Seminary by Josephine Hauer, Ed.D. March 24, 2011 Introduction After reviewing the findings of the Barrytown College Project Survey (July, 2010) that explored the interest of the Unificationist community in America in an undergraduate program on Barrytown campus, the Board of Directors of the Unification Theological Seminary asked for a follow-up survey to target a subset of families and to further explore interest in college majors. The target population consisted of Unification families living in the United States with children who would be college age within the years 2013-2017. This population was estimated to include approximately 650 families based on demographic data from the Blessed Family Association database. 300 families from this population were randomly selected to request their participation in a telephone survey. Telephone surveys were conducted by volunteers over a three month period (December, 2010 – February, 2011) and results were recorded in an online database using Zoomerang. Over 200 families were successfully contacted by phone and asked to participate in the survey resulting in 121 completed surveys. Description of the Sample 68 males and 55 females completed the telephone survey. 8% of respondents indicated their age as 24 years or younger. 9% were between 25-44 years and 83% were 45 years or older. 94% indicated that they had at least one child between the ages of 12 – 18 years old or at least one child over 18 that had not yet completed an undergraduate college program. 24% of respondents came from New York; 22% from New Jersey; 11% from New England; 23% from West Coast states; and 20% from states in the Midwest or Southwest. 92% rated their child’s ability to speak and write in the English language as excellent. 32% indicated yearly income as $49,000 or below; 35% reported income between $50,000 – $75,000; 18% reported income between $75,000-99,000; and 8% reported income above $100,000. Chart 1 Total Household Income Chart 2 shows 56% of survey respondents indicated they were “definitely interested” or “interested” in Barrytown College. 31% reported to be “somewhat interested”. Chart 2 Interest in Barrytown College Results showed interest within the Unification community for an undergraduate college emphasizing academic rigor and moral values within a supportive environment for Unificationist marriage and family traditions. Over 70% of respondents indicated marriage and family life preparation and affordability as very important. Other “very important” features were academic rigor and personal relationships with professors. Chart 3 Important Features for Barrytown College Participants were asked to rank their preference (from 1-most interested to 6-least interested) in the following proposed majors: Media Arts, Business, Philosophy and World Religions, Psychology and Family Studies, Nonprofit Leadership and Economics. 30% indicated Media Arts as the major of most interest; 23% indicated Business and 20% indicated Philosophy and World Religions. Media Arts and Business were preferred as the first or second choice of major compared to other options (see chart below). Chart 4 Preferred Academic Majors Participants also identified from one to three other majors of interest. The most frequently occurring majors within the 101 responses were the following in descending order: Arts, Science, Engineering, Education, Business, Media and Music. After listing these majors, participants rated their interest in attending the college if none of the majors listed previously was available. 13% indicated strong interest, 67% indicated some interest and 20% indicated no interest. Affordability and Attendance Respondents rated the likelihood of attending Barrytown College under various cost scenarios. The decreasing blue and gold bars in Chart 5 (from left to right) show that attendance would be greatly influenced by affordability or the expected parental contribution in a financial aid package. Chart 5 Affordability and Likeliness to Attend Participants were asked to provide comments at the end of the survey on the development of Barrytown College at UTS campus. Selected quotes are provided below under common themes that were found within the 85 responses to this section. a) Support for the Barrytown College Project I think it sounds like a great idea. My answers aren’t meant to sound unenthusiastic but I am already a junior in college and am not looking to transfer. I like the idea that the college would be something that could replace STF – that you could be at school but you would also be with other BCs. When I was looking for school I was looking for something that was interesting to me and was really affordable. In Brigham Young University, almost all of the Mormon tithing money goes to support the school so a lot of kids can afford to go there. Great idea! An important way to influence the culture and leave a legacy. I like the idea that the college would be something that could replace STF – that you could be at school but you would also be with other BCs. b) Suggestions for majors and importance of career development Be able to prepare for a professional career. Education must be useful! Degree must qualify student for a job in society. c) Suggestions for other features, programs Professors having good relationship with students. Administration is also very important, financial aid, etc. Student’s ability to attend must be flow from start to finish – No STRESS to attend. Team work and good communication with college admin essential. Internships are an important aspect to create hands-on experiences for students – students learn a lot more that way. Academic rigor is very important. Extracurricular activities are important. I would be MOST interested in a 2-year program from which a student could transfer. The first year of college is the most sensitive and I would like to see a 2-year college. At least initially, consider a 2-year possibility so someone could get associates degree after two years. That would be a real plus, whether someone went on directly to a four-year degree, or worked before continuing, an associates program would be a good initial option. The option of a 2 year program enabling students to grow in practical life experience (overcoming obstacles) is attractive. Also the exposure to world religions is interesting for student. d) Comments about the proposed location or management. Student life is pillar of education and should well managed. Atmosphere, facility, extracurricular activities. Barrytown is terribly run down and not attractive. Barrytown offers an excellent locale for study and spiritual development. Limitations of the Study The study aspired to identify a sample of 200 Unificationist families representing a “target market” for the initial years of Barrytown College. A small percentage of families contacted were not eligible to participate in the study because they did not have children in the proper age range. Other individuals contacted who chose not to participate did so because of a language barrier. Many Unificationist families in America have one parent from Korea or Japan who are not fluent in English. The findings of this study may not be representative of those types of Unificationist families or individuals. Recruiting volunteers who speak Japanese or Korean will be important in future studies. It is important to note that the sample represents a population of “core” or strongly self-identified Unificationist families who have submitted contact information to the Blessed Family Association database. This group does not include couples who have attended a Unification Church Blessing Ceremony where at least one of the partners did not consider themselves to be Unificationist. Some ‘Blessed Couples’ with children who identify themselves individually or as a family as another religion (or no religion) may represent another target market for recruitment. It is important to identify this more religiously diverse group of families loosely associated with the Unification Church in America to gauge their interest in the college. Implications of the Study The findings from this survey are, in the overall sense consistent with many of the findings from the previous studies regarding highly valued features of the college and level of interest expressed by participants. Key demographic patterns such as income distribution were also consistent with those in the previous studies. Affordability continues to be a key for college decisions. Highly relevant implications of the findings from this study are as follows: 1) Media Arts is somewhat more preferred than Business as a possible major to consider including in the initial degree program offerings besides Religious Studies (or Religion and Philosophy) and Psychology and Family Studies. Creating partnerships for internships at the Manhattan Center or other organizations/businesses will be an important feature to attract more career-minded students. 2) 80% of survey participants indicated at least some interest in the college even if none of the other majors of interest were offered. This shows that the primary interest in this college is based on factors other than academic major offerings, such as a learning environment that supports Unificationist marriage and family traditions and affordability. 3) Providing opportunities for students to develop a range of professional skills such as communications and public speaking, financial literacy, management competencies, etc. in contexts outside the classroom could be a highly attractive feature for the college. 4) Overall the study suggests that at least 65% of the total 650 Unificationist families in the target market would consider Barrytown College as an option for college attendance for one or more of their children. Another source of demographic information on Unificationist 2nd Generation children born in the United states identifies 1,767 who will turn 18 from 2012 – 2016 or 350 per year. If 28% of this group are similarly “definitely interested” and another 28% are “interested,” it is projected that 42% (all of the “definitely interested” and half of the “interested”) would likely be interested in applying to Barrytown College. It is reasonable to expect approximately 150 applicants per year with a projected 70% accepted, resulting in 100 students accepted for admission per year. Of those admitted, it is expected that 50 would attend in Barrytown College each year. This estimate is supported by the findings from all three studies. If an initial high quality program was priced competitively, Barrytown College would likely be able to admit a class of 50-60 students from Unificationist families living in America per year for the first five years.[1] [1] Board member Dr. Anthony Guerra, founder and chairman of My College Advisor, a college admissions consulting business, estimates enrollment to be 40-50 American students per year. He explains that he arrived at that by multiplying the 350 students turning 18 each year by 56% (“definitely interested” and “interested”) thus equaling 196 students. Assuming that only 40% of them complete applications we arrive at 78 applicants. With 100% acceptance and at a 60% yield that would lead to 47 enrolled students. A slightly lower acceptance leads to 40 enrolled students per year. He suggests looking for 10 or more additional students from other sources, either international or from families that may not be counted where only one parent is a member, etc.
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__label__pos The earth provides all the necessary resources for human beings to survive and prosper. But as the global population grows and develops, the demand for energy and consumer goods increases. This has led to increased pollution and misuse of natural resources, causing great damage to the environment. In turn, people’s health, food supplies and livelihoods are increasingly threatened. Be it the release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that contribute to climate change, the overuse of agricultural soil that deteriorates the ground and often leads to deforestation, the contamination of water through bacteria and chemicals or the loss of biodiversity - environmental challenges are plentiful. Today, many people speak about “sustainability” when highlighting an alternative model of how human beings can develop economically and socially without putting too much strain on the environment. Sustainable development is defined as “development that meets the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.” This clearly shows that youth are at the heart of the sustainability debate. As politicians sometimes lack the necessary long-term thinking that is needed to effectively address pressing environmental issues, it’s key that global youth have a say in environmental policies, which have a direct impact on the current and future environment they live in. Researching issues connected to the environment, you might want to check out these resources: United Nations Environment Programme - Tunza United Nations - Sustainable Development YOUNGO - Youth and Climate Connect 4 Climate - Connecting to Tackle Climate Change Web Ecoist - 25 Environmental Organizations This is a speech I made for my Architectural Essays class as an introduction to our class. Hel... In 2017, we renew our commitment towards Zimbabwean children and its young people. For us it is a... Do you want to be a leader? Do you have a passion? Do you want to make a difference in this world? If you answered yes to this questions, you and I already have few things in common. My name is Ximena Coronado, I'm 15 years old, and I'm an environmental activist. It all truly began when... The biggest challenge impacting the youth of today's generation is the battle they fight from with... The Commonwealth Youth Council is currently working on a two-year project, ‘I am Able’, to raise awareness of the lives of young people with disabilities across Commonwealth member states. The Commonwealth believes this is an important issue, as too often the voices, desires, needs and s... After hearing about the Global Goals in 2015 by Hank Green, I was determined to help them become accomplished anyway possible. I decided that the best way to help accomplish those goals was to have a town hall meeting. It is very important to me that people become aware of these goals becaus... Returning to fundamentals, far from perceiving compatibility on the basis of social ratings and mutual series fanatics, let’s imagine relationships as a matter of compatibility in PCs, where you get yourself a brand new clean computer, and you start personalizing this device, through inser...
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__label__pos Feb. 24, 2014 – The Wisconsin Judicial Code would specifically authorize judges to give litigants, including self-represented litigants, information or use techniques to simplify legal proceedings, under a petition that received a public hearing today at the state supreme court. The supreme court also heard testimony on a petition that would authorize the Office of Lawyer Regulation (OLR) to post public notice on its website when a lawyer is being formally investigated for alleged ethical misconduct (see more on this petition from a recent article in WisBar InsideTrack). The court did not discuss either petition as public hearings consumed the entire day and left no time for an administrative conference. Thus, the court will hold both petitions for consideration at a later date. Judges Turn Out to Support Pro Se Petition Numerous Wisconsin judges and attorneys appeared in support of petition 13-14, which would amend and create Wisconsin Judicial Code rules to make clear that judges can take “reasonable efforts” to facilitate the ability of all litigants, including self-represented litigants, to be fairly heard. The petition, submitted by the Wisconsin Access to Justice (ATJ) Commission in 2013, recognizes the significant number of Wisconsin citizens who enter court proceedings each year without a lawyer, especially in family law cases. It largely codifies the sorts of discretionary acts that many judges are already using, explained former Appeals Court Judge Margaret Vergeront, who testified for the ATJ Commission. Specifically, judges could use their discretion in “using techniques that enhance the process of reaching a fair determination in the case.” Judges who don’t want to take such measures would not be required as the proposed language simply allows judges to use their discretion. It also aplies to "all litigants," not just pro se litigants. For instance, judges could take reasonable steps to explain legal concepts in everyday language, provide information about the proceedings, or permit narrative testimony, among other actions included within the petition’s non-exhaustive list. Judges, attorneys, and associations support the petition as a way to improve access to justice for the increasing number of self-represented litigants and create efficiencies for judges and commissioners who hear their cases. The State Bar of Wisconsin supports the petition, as does the Wisconsin Trial Judges Association, the Wisconsin Committee of Chief Judges, the Court of Appeals, and the Wisconsin Association of Judicial Court Commissioners, among others. Appeals, circuit, and municipal court judges testified in support of the petition at today’s public hearing, including Jeffrey Kremers, chief judge of the Milwaukee County Circuit Court. State Bar President Patrick J. Fiedler also testified in support of the petition, noting that the State Bar’s Board of Governors voted 37-3 to support it. Kremers and other judges said the rule simply authorizes what many judges across the state are already doing to address the high volume of pro se litigants, and judges who are hesitant to use such techniques would have assurance that the rules allow it. Justice Patience Roggensack raised concern that the proposal undermines the adversarial system, questioning how far judges could go in helping pro se litigants. “I see a lot of problems,” Justice Roggensack said. “It may be that we need to change our system, but what you are portraying is not an adversarial system. I have concern that our courts could be turned into social service agencies.” Chief Justice Shirley Abrahamson seemed to support the proposal. She suggested the best solution is allowing court appointed counsel in civil cases, but that solution is not currently achievable given the costs involved. “If we can’t do the best thing, we should not be stopped from doing something,” the chief justice said. Milwaukee County Circuit Court Judge Mary Kuhnmuench said the proposal addresses a "changed landscape.” Historically, litigants had lawyers, and judges are now dealing with a massive number who do not. “That’s the bench now,” Kuhnmuench said. “We better recognize it and figure it out.” Michael Gonring, a partner at Quarles & Brady LLP in Milwaukee and long-time advocate for access to justice initiatives and pro bono programs, said a represented side, in his experience, is grateful when a judge makes efforts to inform a pro se litigant. “I do not see this as an assault on the adversarial system at all,” Gonring said. “Cases involving pro se litigants can get messy, and we hope the judge takes control and makes things easier because that makes things easier for us and our clients.”
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__label__pos "It is not easily followed." What can I say, a single guy, never a dad, about the importance of traditional marriage? How? Why? Why am I so concerned about something like traditional marriage? One important reason I can think of is because I come from a family wherein marriage was anything but 'high and noble'. My parents were completely irresponsible, negligent, abusive alcoholics. Yes, they did the best they could, but they had huge unresolved, unaddressed issues which affected how they parented. The were indiscreet in their sins, acting them out in full view of the kids, not simply through drunkenness, open sexuality, physical and mental abuse of one another, but their extramarital exploits were not well disguised or unknown. Immorality is a horrible example to set for kids. It is an abuse. In our day, single parents, unmarried parents, and kids of divorce are so common - in every economic strata - yet this fact can offer no justification to reorder, or redefine marriage between a man and a woman. Likewise, same sex couples, pretending to be married, cannot present a moral alternative to the failure of marriage in our culture. It is precisely because there is, and has been, such a crisis of marriage that same sex marriage is even considered as a viable and acceptable proposition. It is not. Anyway. The Archbishops of Westminster & Southwark have issued a Pastoral letter on the redefinition of marriage to be read this weekend at all the Masses. I wanted to share a part of that text: The reasons given by our government for wanting to change the definition of marriage are those of equality and discrimination. But our present law does not discriminate unjustly when it requires both a man and a woman for marriage. It simply recognises and protects the distinctive nature of marriage. Changing the legal definition of marriage would be a profoundly radical step. Its consequences should be taken seriously now. The law helps to shape and form social and cultural values. A change in the law would gradually and inevitably transform society’s understanding of the purpose of marriage. It would reduce it just to the commitment of the two people involved. There would be no recognition of the complementarity of male and female or that marriage is intended for the procreation and education of children. We have a duty to married people today, and to those who come after us, to do all we can to ensure that the true meaning of marriage is not lost for future generations. Most Reverend V. Nichols Most Reverend P. Smith They might have added: "Changing the legal definition of marriage will screw kids up." That said, I'm pretty sure nothing will stop it - it is on a trajectory of its own. H/T St. Mary Magdalen Blog, Fr. Blake
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__label__neg MALAYBALAY CITY – The volume of corn losses due to post-harvest facility wastage is higher than the volume of corn actually consumed in Bukidnon, one of the country’s top corn-producing provinces. The Provincial Agriculture Office, in its 2011 to 2016 Corn Roadmap of Bukidnon, a copy of which was obtained by Bukidnon News recently, showed that Bukidnon loses 87,766 metric tons or 26 percent of its corn production intended for local markets. The PAO projected to cut down the losses from 26 percent in 2011 to 17 percent in 2016. The road map also showed that corn for local food use will increase from 21 percent in 2011 to 24 percent in 2016. Of the 338,684 left for the local market, 21.4 percent or 72,670 metric tons goes for “food use.” Most of Bukidnon’s local corn consumption at 177,710 metric tons or 52.4 percent goes to its local livestock industry as “feeds.” About 51 percent of Bukidnon’s corn production of 554, 297 metric tons in 2010 went to “outside” market. Bukidnon needs to avail of additional units of post harvest facilities (PHFs) from the Department of Agriculture, local government units, and private investors, the five-year plan prepared by the Provincial Agriculture Office, said. More PHFs have been identified as among the six interventions needed in the province to obtain its conservative targets for 2016. Bukidnon has produced 554,297 metric tons in 2010. The road map showed that Bukidnon intends to produce 773,995 metric tons in 2016, or 32.4 percent higher from its 2010 production. According to the projections cited in the PAO road map, with a population of 1.27 million, Bukidnon has total corn usage of 338, 684 metric tons out of its 691,073 metric tons projected production until December 2011. With the figure, the province enjoys a 104-percent sufficiency rate, Estellita Madjos, deputy provincial agriculture officer, said Saturday. The road map also showed that while PAO also intends to increase sufficiency ration to 115 percent in 2016, the share of corn for local consumption will go down from 49 percent in 2011 to 46 percent in 2016. The Provincial Agriculture Office has also recommended that Bukidnon strengthen its research, development , and agricultural extension programs; and promote innovative farming technologies for sustainable development; encourage strong partnerships and linkages with government and non-government organizations. The road also recommended “strong market linkages with processors.” The PAO cited in the “infrastructure development” section of the road map that Bukidnon has a total of 1,610 metric tons of post harvest facilities’ capacity. The biggest three are ran by the Mindanao Grains company in Aglayan, Malaybalay City with a 480-metric ton capacity; Castech in Cabanglasan town with 400 MT and Cagayan Corn Products in Maramag town with 400 MT capacity. Limketkai Grains firm also runs a 200-MT post harvest facility in Malaybalay City. Farmers’ associations, multi-purpose cooperatives, and local government units also operate post harvest facilities. But their combined capacity, the PAO cited in the road map, is only 50 metric tons. For feed millers and processors, San Miguel Corporation operates the bulk, 30 tons of Bukidnon’s 42-ton exiting feed millers and processors, the road map showed. For dryers, Bukidnon has a total of 2,238 multi-purpose drying pavements, including basketball courts, spread around the province. The PAO also accounted about, three mobile flash dryers, 36 flat bed dryers and 205 columnar dryers in the province. According to the Bureau of Post Research and Extension (BPRE), in 2004, Bukidnon is home to a total of 180 stationary corn mills, 141 mobile corn mill rollers, and about 320 warehouses or storage facilities. The Provincial Agriculture Office pushed as the top recommendation for more post harvest facilities in Bukidnon even if they cited Bukidnon existing post-harvest facilities. The PAO have set three goals in the road, including the “increase in farmers’ productivity and income,” “production of quality corn for food and feeds,” and to “minimize post harvest facility losses.”(Walter I. Balane) Truck loads of corn in sacks wait for weigh in at the Mindanao Grains Processing Co. Inc. plant in Aglayan, Malaybalay City File photo by Arthur Fabrigas/Courtesy of Central Mindanao Newswatch Workers load sacks of yellow corn to a jeepney along the highway in Aglayan, Malaybalay City File photo by Arthur Fabrigas/Courtesy of Central Mindanao Newswatch Also visit www.mindanews.com for more stories on Bukidnon Filed under: Development in Bukidnon | Tagged: Agriculture, Bukidnon, Department of Education (Philippines), Malaybalay, Maramag Bukidnon, Mindanao, Non-governmental organization, San Miguel Corporation | 1 Comment »
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__label__neg New Zealand is sitting rosy when it comes to education, according to the latest OECD report, Education at a Glance 2016. Tertiary Education, Skills and Employment Minister Steven Joyce and Education Minister Hekia Parata says shows the performance of New Zealand’s education sector, at all levels, compares well with those of other developed countries. The OECD report measures 35 countries on the output of educational institutions, the impact of learning, financial and human resources invested in education, and participation. “New Zealand is seeing more of our adults with higher qualifications relative to the rest of the world,” Joyce says. “The proportion of adults aged 25-64 with a level 4 or higher qualification is in the OECD’s top six. Our completion rates for tertiary study are also comparatively high,” he says. Joyce says the results are great news for our economy and society. “We need people with world class skills and knowledge that will boost the productivity of the New Zealand economy. A better educated and skilled workforce is essential,” he explains. “It’s great to see 68% of adults aged 25-64 participated in either formal or non-formal education. Participation in non-formal education is particularly high with 64% of adults taking part, compared with the OECD average of 46%. The high participation rates extend to vocational programmes and part-time study,” says Joyce. “Our workforce continues to become more qualified and New Zealanders are becoming better educated than ever before.” According to Joyce, the Government spends over $4 billion, or 1.7% of gross domestic product, on tertiary education. “This report shows our careful management of the tertiary system is helping a higher proportion of young people to achieve qualifications at higher levels and gain the skills they need to succeed in the job market,” he adds. Education Minister Hekia Parata says other areas of education are also performing strongly. “No other OECD country spends a higher percentage of its public funding on education as New Zealand,” she says. “Public expenditure in early childhood education (ECE) is in the top third and the teacher-child ratios in ECE are amongst the lowest in the OECD. “Our Government has a strong record of increasing investment in education which now stands at a record $11 billion. Funding for our youngest learners has more than doubled since 2008 to $1.797 billion,” says Parata. Parata says New Zealand’s funding in ECE is paying off with the participation of children three years and under in the top third of OECD countries. “Over the past decade, this growth has been ahead of the OECD average, demonstrating that the work we’ve been doing to encourage students to stay in school longer is having an impact,” she adds. The figures for participation in this year’s report are from the Ministry of Education’s Early Learning Information database. This means that children are no longer being double counted when they attend more than one ECE provider. In secondary schooling more 15-19 year olds have been staying in education past NCEA Level 1.
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__label__pos January 2013 diagnosed with hypothyroidism and, at the same time, other conditions that I am sure are a result of the hypothyroidism – more on this below. During the last six months day-dreams have been a bit of saving grace and I feel compelled to share this one. The other day, on my way to work, I found myself imagining how brilliant it would be if they had a Strictly Come Dancing for ordinary members of the public (comme moi!). My partner would be Artem Chigvinstev and we would dance a hot salsa to Earth, Wind and Fire. I imagine our first meeting - I walk into a dance studio with floor to ceiling mirrors, and, by way of preparing him for our future routines I, after a few pleasantries, utter “I’ve got rhythm and osteoporosis.” In this day-dream scenario, rhythm would be a definite strength. (I teach music.) However, I feel it important to establish my limitations in case of any difficult lifts…throws (…on reflection ….they don’t “throw” as such do they)….shall we say “manoeuvres” that he may be planning. At this point I found myself musing on whether any of the celebrities have osteoporosis, hypothyroidism (where DO they get all that energy…?) or the like. To matters more serious. I have read that: “thyroid hormones help with normal bone growth”. (Thank you Mary Shomon: Living Well With Hypothyroidism.) I started breaking bones back in 2007 and it was, thankfully, a bone density scan, which I asked for in Autumn last year, then the follow-up blood tests that finally revealed the extent to which “things were out of kilter”. Over the last few years as my health has deteriorated, so my diet (already good) has improved. I have noticed how, in comparison to everyone around me, I have to really (I mean REALLY….) look after myself. Sleep (or lack of it) has also been an issue since 2007 (a vintage year). In fact, as I have stumbled around in an exhausted fug (as opposed to day-dreaming!), I wonder about the extent to which the sleep problems have resulted in my intimate acquaintance with the local fracture clinic. Whilst determined to look ahead, I now, with the benefit of hindsight, think that I can start to see how these seemingly random health “events” fit into the bigger picture.
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__label__pos Weddings are entrenched in age old traditions and rituals that some of us in the modern world choose to partake in and others that we leave behind. Today we’re going to talk about some things that have been bothering me since I got engaged over 6 months ago and that, my friends, are wedding diets and bridal expectations. I’ve had poor body image since sixth grade. My eating disorder began gradually in seventh grade and became uncontrollable my freshmen year of college. 3 months of inpatient rehab later, hours of therapy, an unbreakable support network of the best friends a girl could ask for, and I would consider myself in recovery for the last 6 years. I’m not perfect and my past with my eating disorder does not define me, but I still find it influencing my body image and relationship with food as years go by. The reason I bring up this issue now is that in my last post I blogged about the joys of finding the perfect wedding dress. I absolutely LOVE my dress, I cannot wait to wear it for an entire day because it is beautiful and I feel beautiful in it. But that doesn’t mean I wasn’t having an internal battle with myself and my dormant eating disorder. Wedding dresses are beautiful, but you aren’t always going to fit into the sample size dress. You are also sometimes going to get measured in front of a mirror in your bra and underwear, something I like to think of as my own personal hell. All I could think was, thank god this is happening now, when I am strong and stable in my recovery. First thing’s first, a wedding diet is an option, NOT an obligation. Going on a wedding diet is not like hiring an officiant or getting a marriage license, it’s a choice, not a necessity and you can still tie the knot without one. After you get engaged there are a slough of questions, where are you getting married? What color will your bridesmaids wear? Asking about a wedding diet or “new” exercise routine, should not be among questions that a bride gets during wedding planning. Asking about a diet or “new/special” exercise routine implies you need to go on a diet whether that is your intention or not. While externally I might respond with confidence and poise saying something to the effect of “absolutely not, Eric is marrying the me today not the me minus 20 pounds”. But internally, you have set off an alarm that sounds a little more like “oh gosh is she asking because my arms look flabby or she can see that my stomach does not resemble a six pack? Should I be going to bridal boot camp or joining hundreds of other brides in giving up carbs and sweets before their big day?” Let’s get the record straight here, skinnier does not equal better or more beautiful. Shouldn’t it be more important that you look and feel like yourself? For hundreds of years society has been telling men and women that skinnier and more fit people are happier and more beautiful. Why do we continue to buy into this myth? Lastly, your wedding day does not also have to be the day you will look the absolute best you will ever look, EVER. What kind of bar is that? Welcome to marriage, you can only go downhill from here. In fact, I want to go uphill, I want to get hotter with age like Jennifer Aniston or Julia Roberts. I don’t want to say that on September 24th, 2016 I peaked. To make a long story short, if shedding a few pounds or toning your biceps are what makes you feel more confident and beautiful for your wedding then by all means, proceed. But getting married and going on a diet do not need to coexist. I could write a whole other blog post about the pressures women are feeling versus men in this whole wedding business, but alas I will end with this. Your partner is marrying you for who you are and how you make them feel and they are attracted to you as is because you are utterly beautiful and perfect in every way shape and form. And if your partner is anything like mine, he (or she) would prefer you to continue enjoying pizza and ice cream with them for the next year of wedding planning because what fun would wedding planning be without the cake tasting or a celebratory beer!
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__label__neg What is Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate)? Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is a protein obtained from Whey Protein Isolate after having been subjected to a hydrolysis process. It offers a high content of proteins with a very low amount of carbohydrates, fat and sodium. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is a Whey Isolate Hydrolysate whose main functions will be: Promoting muscle growth Supplying a fast absorbing protein Accelerate post-training recovery Indeed, Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) belongs to the protein segment classified as Hydrolysates (WPH). Its molecular structure has been modified in order to improve absorption speed. This type of hydrolysed protein, which can be found among the HSN Sports products, is the fastest absorbing protein source. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) dissolution is important, as the final texture is fantastic. It has been manufactured in EU certified laboratories and meets the most demanding quality controls, which you can see here. The relevance of Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) Evohydro (Hidrolizado de Aislado de Suero) is especially recommended for those people with digestive problems. This is thanks to the raw ingredients used in Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate), as it has been excipient reduced (fat and lactose). Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) can be used by people with lactose intolerance. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and its Absorption Rate The most interesting aspect of Evohydro (Hidrolizado de Aislado de Suero) is its fast absorbing ability due to this special manufacturing process: hydrolysis. Here, protein fractions are broken down in smaller units. These units are the amino acid chains that make up proteins. Thus, these chains have different types of amino acid bonds, which is known as peptides. There are di-peptides, tri-peptides, tetra-peptides, oligopeptides, etc. Human body absorbs protein through peptides. And here is when Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) stands out: Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is composed by a great amount of di-peptides and tri-peptides. The higher the hydrolysis degree, the greater the absorption rate of protein. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) Benefits Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is a high performance protein that will prove its results as long as it is optimally combined with a good nutritional and training plan. This product stands out: Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and Muscle Growth This muscle mass growth needs 3 factors to occur: Training: in order to generate the necessary stimulus to create new adaptations. Nutrition: to supply the necessary nutrients for our physical goal and condition. 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Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and Allergies There are many people intolerant to lactose who cannot consume dairy products, but they shouldnt suppress this whey supplement as Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) has been specially designed to solve this problem. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and Satiation Protein is the macronutrient with the highest satiation rate regarding fat and carbohydrates. Consuming a milk protein like whey Hydrolysate can affect cholecystokinin digestive hormone that is in the small bowel due to the opioid activity of peptides: they act on the gastrointestinal tract, slowing down intestinal transit and increasing satiation, as it reduces fluid secretion. A whey fraction called glycomacropeptide stimulates cholecystokinin, which modulates that satiating sensation. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and Insulin Sensitivity Insulin sensitivity is how our cells catch glucose and prevent it from accumulating in the fat adipocyte. A direct consequence is precisely an increase of insulin sensitivity due to an increase in GLUT4. Taking milk protein hydrolysates like Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) enhances GLUT4 concentration, optimizing muscle mass glucose gathering. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and a Stronger Immune System The amino acid content of a protein is an indicator of its quality. In this regard, certain elements of this type are not only used by the body as 'building tools' but also involved in other complex physiological processes. This is the case of the contribution of the amino acid L-Cysteine by Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate); together with Glutamic acid and Glycine they will form a type of antioxidant called Glutathione, which will be the most powerful of our body. Its function is to reduce oxidative damage at a cellular level caused by the activity of free radicals. The ability of glutathione synthesis decreases over the years so that the contribution of such antioxidant precursor is very recommended, and in this sense, Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) will be an excellent way to raise glutathione levels. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) has some features that make it different from Whey Protein Concentrate or Isolate, which is a molecular breakdown in small units to accelerate the absorption process. In fact, Optipep 90® Carbery is what makes this possible: Each serving of Evohydro (Hidrolizado de Aislado de Suero) delivers: Up to 85% of hydrolysed protein from Whey Isolate More than 5000 mg of BCAAs More than 4000 mg of Glutamine Enzyme Complex Aminogen® Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and Optipep 90® Optipep 90® of Carbery is a protein formula with a high degree of hydrolysis from Whey Isolate, providing dipeptides, tripeptides and free amino acids. Thanks to this, the absorption capacity and effective delivery of nutrients to facilitate muscle growth and recovery gets maximized. Optipep 90® Features Excellent predigested protein with a unique composition rich in peptides High Biological Value: extraordinary source of essential amino acids (EAAs) and naturally high in Branched Chain Amino Acids (BCAAs): leucine, valine, and isoleucine Extremely low in lactose Extremely low in fat Suitable for vegetarians Optipep 90® Benefits Digestion and absorption rate Perfect digestibility High availability of amino acids to stimulate protein synthesis more efficiently and optimize muscle growth Filling muscle glycogen deposits for more intense workouts Mitigate muscle damage and reduce soreness of delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS) to reduce recovery time Support for building adaptations induced by high-intensity exercise to increase performance Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysed) and Aminogen® Aminogen® is a Digestive Enzyme Complex patented from protease enzymes Aspergillus niger and Aspergillus oryzae. Its main function is to improve the digestion of proteins, and thus optimize the process of absorption and delivery of nutrients to provide essential elements related to muscle regeneration. Also, another important benefit will improve symptoms that may be caused by a high protein diet, such as bloating or swelling. How to take Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) As previously mentioned, Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is a fast absorbing protein that we can use in the right moments of the day to obtain the right results. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is recommended: Just out of bed, fasting After training This way it will guarantee its essential nutrients in two situations very similar nutritionally, after nocturnal rest and after a muscle impact along with an energy depletion after training. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) in this case will fulfill its function to get a positive nitrogen balance. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate), Who Benefits? Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is an excellent protein source whose characteristics make it a whole 'protein yield'. Among those who may benefit from taking this hydrolyzed protein: People, athletes or sportsmen with some lactose intolerance and seeking a safe product that causes no discomfort. Persons seeking to provide an excellent protein source to improve your health and promote benefits regarding body recomposition. Athletes or sportsmen looking for a tool to optimize the recovery phase, stimulate protein synthesis and muscle growth. Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) and Other Supplements As a part of a nutritional plan including supplementation, Evohydro (Whey Protein Hydrolysate) is totally compatible with the rest of products, such as: Other proteins Amino acids Carbs Multivitamins Supplements to help reduce fat Hormone enhancers
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__label__pos Samba: the sense of community in participatory music View Date2016 Author Monteiro, Dana MetadataShow full item record Permanent Linkhttp://hdl.handle.net/2144/19554 Abstract This ethnographic study examined the relationship between the sense of community and music education within the community of Santa Marta in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and a public high school in New York City. Guided by Turino’s (2008) framework for participatory music making and McMillan and Chavis’s (1986) framework for the sense of community, the pedagogical and musical practices of Santa Marta were observed and analyzed to form a definition of a participatory music community. This definition was used to examine the impact of participatory practices on a samba ensemble within a New York City high school. The findings describe how participatory music education both influences and is influenced by the participants’ senses of community in both settings and explores applications of participatory music methods to school-based music, particularly within urban settings. Participatory characteristics were found to be imbedded in samba’s musical structure, including the repetition of rhythms, the simultaneous use of advanced and simplified patterns, and the flexibility of the size of the ensemble. Music events in Santa Marta often lacked artist-audience distinctions with situations of performance and learning occurring simultaneously. Decentralized group learning was found to be a pedagogical tool with information stored in the community’s memory. Inclusive pedagogies, which allowed players of various skill levels to perform together in the same ensembles, maximized participation in both sites. These characteristics created a pedagogical structure that addressed many of the identified challenges of urban school music and provided opportunities for active student engagement. This study presents a possible way forward for music education in urban settings, a path based on creating an inclusive educational environment. In schools where sequenced music programs, funding, and stabile student populations don’t exist, participatory music has the potential to create ways for students of varying skill levels to find a place in school music communities.
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__label__pos My Big Fat Greek Shotgun Wedding by Peter Tchir Posted May 11, 2011 . It seems clear that the citizens of Greece are sick and tired of dealing with the austerity being placed on them. I cannot imagine that they like the idea of selling assets to pay foreigners. Whether or not they fully understand the consequences of a default (or restructuring) it seems like they have made their choice. Only yesterday, I tried to compare the latest round of Greek bailout discussions to an arranged marriage. It is difficult to watch the protests on TV and read about the impact of the strikes and not think that the wedding has moved to the shotgun stage So we have evolved from the image of a country going with hat in hand to its neighbors for a hand out, to a reluctant bride doing what they are told because it is expected of them, to someone who is being bullied and dragged to the altar to take part of something they not only don’t want, but now know is the wrong choice. Greece has to do what is best for Greece Recently, almost all the arguments against a near term Greek default (restructuring) are based on the fact that Germany, France, and the ECB would be hurt. It is not Greece’s responsibility to worry about what impact a default would have on outside creditors. The situation has gone beyond that. Greece has to act responsibly throughout the restructuring process so that it can access capital markets again over time, but honestly, that is a low hurdle. Wall Street and Investors have a very short memory, and if restructured Greek debt performs well, there will be plenty of money available for future new issues. The bottom line is that the situation has deteriorated to the point it is clear to everyone that this is a solvency issue, and regardless of the pressure brought to bear by other countries, Greece must do what is right for Greece. A Default is not the end of the world for Greece The ‘doomers’ (and yes it is strange for me to refer to someone else as a doomer) would have you believe that a default would send Greece back to the dark ages. Argentina defaulted in 2001. It is doing better than ever. Were there some disruptions in Argentina at the time? Yes, but they fixed their problems and now have an economy growing at a rate much of the world is envious of. Default does not have to be a big negative on the people of that country. As I’ve argued before, defaulting now allows Greece to move forward with real long term solutions. It should be easier for people to accept reforms when they are part of a new sustainable Greece, rather than to meet the demands of foreign borrowers. Since courts cannot really enforce injunctions against Greece, they can attempt to implement some policies that benefit internal debt holders, especially individuals. Greece can also attempt to use programs similar to Brady bonds to help banks avoid having to take immediate write downs. Given the focus on mark to market, I am not sure that would help as much as in the past (and personally I don’t think it should) but it is worth a try. Greece doesn’t need to know what the future holds to restructure now More people have jumped onto the bandwagon that Greece should keep taking IMF money and maybe even so new bailout money until they figure out what their long term capacity to pay debt is. I just don’t understand that at all. First off, this argument is coming for a lot of analysts who thought the problem was solved a year ago. Will there ever be a time when everyone will ‘KNOW’ the right debt level? Probably not, and even if they did, the borrower will want the maximum haircut while the lenders will want the minimum haircut. So negotiate now and deal with the future as it comes up. The future will always be unclear so waiting is unlikely to provide much help, and in the meantime, real progress is delayed as the country is faced with work disruptions and growing bitterness towards the foreign bankers. Whatever you do, do NOT pledge collateral or sell assets Greek debt issued under International Law will help prevent Greece from hurting itself. I just do not see why Greece would agree to pledge collateral or sell assets to pay debt. I can understand (somewhat) why last year when the Greek government actually believed their problem was one of liquidity created by soon to be shirtless hedge funds, that they agreed to some collateral provisions with the IMF. But a year later, with the hedge funds wearing fancy new monogrammed shirts, the Greek government is aware that this isn’t merely a liquidity problem. There is a growing certainty that they cannot meet their future obligations, so any pledge of collateral is likely to be executed on. They should avoid this at all costs. The nature of a sovereign default puts them in the driver’s seat for any negotiation. Most investors will have trouble winning relief against the government in Greek courts, and then even more trouble enforcing those judgments. Providing specific collateral against further lending makes no sense at this time. Save it for the future. If Germany, France, and the ECB are really so desperate to avoid a default, they will cave on this demand. Written by aurick 12/05/2011 at 12:10 pm Tagged with AIG, American International Group, Capital Markets, Creditors, European Central Bank, financial crisis, France, Germany, Greece, Greek debt crisis, Greek sovereign collapse, Insurance Companies, International Monetary Fund, Mark to Market, sovereign debt, sovereign default
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__label__neg New South Wales is set to splurge more than $60 billion on infrastructure over the next four years as the state seeks to attack traffic congestion and provide for growth in key corridors such as Sydney’s West. Unveiling the 2014/15 State Budget on Tuesday, the government said it would spend around $61.499 billion on infrastructure over the four year forward estimates period, including $15.038 billion in 2014/15 - up from the latest estimate of $14.135 billion in the current financial year. And whilst investment in utilities is set to average just $4.3 billion per annum over the next four years (down from $4.6 billion per year in the three years to June 2014 and $5.9 billion per annum in the four years prior to that), the state’s own contribution general infrastructure will average $8.8 billion per year from 2014/15 to 2017/18 - well up, for instance, against the $5.9 billion annual average in the four years to June 2011. A further amount of almost $9 billion over the forward estimates period will come from Commonwealth investment. In 2014/15, around $863 million will be spent on the North West Rail Link whilst $398 million, $265 million and $103 million will go to WestConnex, the CBD to South East Light Rail and the South West Rail Link respectively. The government will also fund a feasibility study into a Northern Beaches motorway tunnel, an extension of the F6 and route corridor for the M9 – North, South and West. Meanwhile, in the housing sector, the upper threshold in order to qualify for the First Home Owners Grant will rise from $650,000 to $750,000. The latest announcements come as the government forecasts a deficit of $283 million in 2014/15, along with an expected return to surplus the following year. The 2014/15 result was negatively skewed by a decision on the part of Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey to bring forward a $703 million payment to the state relating to Pacific Highway upgrades which was originally slated for 2014/15 into 2013/14. Without that, and recently announced federal cuts to school and hospital funding, the state government says the result would have been a surplus of nearly $2 billion. Treasurer Mike Baird said the state’s infrastructure program was necessary to address congestion, especially in Sydney’s fast growing western suburbs. “Each year a Sydney commuter, who goes to and from home, is subject to an extra 185 hours of travel time per year due to congestion. Stranded on a train platform, or sandwiched on a bus, sitting in a car on the M4, M5, M1, or on roads like Victoria, Parramatta, The Spit or the Princes Highway,” Baird said. “An extra 185 hours equates to losing a full week, every year stuck in traffic. Every year, it’s costing the people of New South Wales $5 billion. “We could, as Labor did, put up the 'no vacancy' sign, declare it all too hard, and not build for our future. Alternatively, we can take action to deliver generations of benefits.” The budget follows last week’s announcement that the state government had approved a plan to sell off around 49 percent of the state’s electricity distribution network.
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__label__neg Lawsuit Expanded To Include U.S. Department Of Education FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: (212) 549-2666; [email protected] LOUISVILLE, KY - On behalf of five families, the American Civil Liberties Union and the ACLU of Kentucky filed an amended complaint in federal court today charging that segregating classes by sex in Breckinridge County Middle School is illegal and discriminatory. The ACLU's lawsuit expands a previous lawsuit filed by a private attorney against the Breckinridge County School District and other county entities to include the U.S. Department of Education. "The Breckinridge County sex-segregated classrooms are not only unlawful because they deny boys and girls equal opportunities in education these kinds of experimental programs are also misguided in that they distract from efforts that we know can improve all students' education like improved funding, smaller classes, more parental involvement and better trained teachers," said Emily Martin, Deputy Director of the ACLU Women's Rights Project. The ACLU lawsuit argues that Breckinridge County Middle School's sex-segregated classes are fundamentally unequal and unlawful and violate the Fourteenth Amendment's equal protection clause, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, the Equal Educational Opportunities Act, and the state sex equity law. It also argues that by issuing federal regulations that encourage school districts to segregate students by sex, the U.S. Department of Education has violated the law. The Breckinridge County School District instituted sex-segregated classrooms in its middle school in 2003, shortly after the U.S. Department of Education announced its intention to loosen federal restrictions on sex-segregated education. According to the Department of Education's own review in 2005, there was no strong evidence that sex-segregated instruction was beneficial to students or improved their education. Nevertheless, the Department of Education issued regulations in October 2006 that, for the first time in 30 years, allowed public coeducational schools to segregate students by sex. In doing so, it broke with over 20 other federal agencies that continue to have regulations on the books forbidding such segregation, which apply to many public schools including Breckinridge County Middle School. Nevertheless, in the wake of the Department of Education's actions, public school districts across the country have created single-sex programs. At Breckinridge County Middle School, the classes for boys, the classes for girls, and the coeducational classes differ from each other significantly, apparently using different textbooks and covering academic material at different rates. Although in previous years parents were given the option of whether to participate in sex-segregated classes, in the 2007-2008 school year, students were assigned to all-male, all-female, or co-educational classes with no input from the students or parents. Only after parents complained did the school notify parents - several weeks later - that they could opt out of the segregated classes. However, because in at least some instances the available coeducational classes were not equal to the sex-segregated classes, parents who would otherwise have preferred their children benefit from the diversity of a coeducational setting could not remove their children from the same-sex classes without sacrificing the best instruction available for their children. In addition, when the best class in a particular subject was a single-sex class, students of the opposite sex were unable to participate in the best education the school had to offer. "More and more public school districts around the country are experimenting with sex-segregated schools and classrooms, often presenting these programs as quick-fix solutions to an array of problems facing their local public schools," said Michael Aldridge, Executive Director of the ACLU of Kentucky. "Sex-segregated education diminishes real diversity in education. One of the strengths of public schools is the opportunity they provide for students of different sexes, races, and religions to learn from each other." Frankie Anthony, whom the ACLU is representing, has two daughters who attend Breckinridge County Middle School. He is concerned about the school's sex-segregated program and wants the best education possible for his daughters. His older daughter, Nikki, is a talented math student assigned to an all-girl math class. "I think my daughters will be less prepared to succeed in the world if they can't socialize, compete and work together with boys in school, but I can't take my daughter out of her math class without compromising her education, because it's the best math class in the school. At the same time, boys don't even have the option to be in her math class," said Anthony. "Real life doesn't put boys in one room and girls in another," added Nikki Anthony. "I don't think it's fair that the smartest boys in my grade can't take math with me or that I can't take English with them." Compounding the problem, the Breckinridge County School District has recently hired as a consultant David Chadwell, Director of Single-Sex Initiatives in the South Carolina Department of Education and board member of the National Association for Single Sex Public Education - an organization that advocates questionable "brain science" theories that sex segregation is necessary because boys' and girls' brains are so different. In his writing and on his website, Chadwell urges teachers to treat boys and girls very differently - for example, allowing boys to talk loudly in class and insisting that girls remain quiet; encouraging boys - but not girls - to toss balls while answering questions; and giving boys - but not girls - time limits for academic tasks. Organizations that have previously opposed the single-sex regulations promulgated by the U.S. Department of Education include the National Education Association and the American Association of University Women. The case is A.N.A. et al. v. United States Department of Education et al. Attorneys on the case include Martin, Lenora Lapidus and Araceli Martinez-Olguin of the ACLU Women's Rights Project and David Friedman and William E. Sharp of the ACLU of Kentucky. The ACLU complaint can be found online at: www.aclu.org/womensrights/edu/35388lgl20080519.html Sample lesson plans for sex-segregated classes in South Carolina, where Chadwell is Director of Single-Sex Initiatives, are posted on the South Carolina Department of Education website at: http://ed.sc.gov/agency/Educational-Services/Public-School-Choice/ SingleGender/LessonPlansforBoys.html Podcasts of the Anthony family and Martin discussing the sex segregation in the Breckinridge County School District and more information on the ACLU Women's Rights Project's work on sex segregation is available at: www.aclu.org/womensrights/edu/30129res20070614.html More information on the ACLU Women's Rights Project's work on sex segregation is available at: www.aclu.org/sexsegregation
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__label__neg This site uses cookies. By continuing to browse the site you are agreeing to our use of cookies. Health Insurance Report™ helps you track and analyze legal, legislative, and regulatory developments affecting the health-insurance industry throughout implementation of the Affordable Care Act... Jan. 22 — The denial of tax credits to individuals who buy health insurance through federally facilitated exchanges would have “disastrous consequences” for individuals and insurance markets in states that have elected not to create their own exchanges, the Obama administration told the U.S. Supreme Court Jan. 21. Government attorneys told the high court that challengers to an Internal Revenue Service rule that makes tax credits, or subsidies, available to all purchasers, regardless of whether they buy insurance through an exchange run by a state or the federal government, have construed the Affordable Care Act incorrectly. If their argument that the ACA makes credits available only to those who buy insurance on state-run exchanges is accepted by the court, then they have doomed insurance markets in the remaining states to death spirals, the government’s response brief said. Additionally, in the brief responding to arguments posed by petitioner David King and others, the government said that more than 5 million of the people who obtained coverage through exchanges in 2014 lived in one of the 34 states with an exchange run by the federal government. The “overwhelming majority of those people relied on tax credits to pay their premiums every month,” the brief said. Through this lawsuit, the petitioners “seek to upend the Act and extinguish the coverage of millions of Americans,” the government said. The challengers' position, set out in a Dec. 22 opening brief on the merits, is that the Internal Revenue Service overstepped its bounds when it published a rule, 26 C.F.R. § 1.36B-1, that would allow individuals access to tax credits for buying insurance on either a state-run or federally facilitated exchange. The challengers argued that the ACA, in a section codified in the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. § 36B, limited the availability of subsidies to individuals who buy insurance on exchanges established by the states. This would mean that subsidies aren't available to individuals who live in states that have elected to allow the federal government to operate exchanges within their borders. The government disputed this argument, saying the ACA section on which it was premised doesn't, in fact, so limit the subsidies' availability. Section 36B provides that a tax credit shall be allowed for any eligible taxpayer and that the amount of the credit shall be determined based on the premium paid for an insurance plan “offered in the individual market within a State” that was “enrolled in through an Exchange established by the State under” 42 U.S.C. § 18031. The act provides for the creation of exchanges by the states in Section 18031, but it gives the states “flexibility” in meeting the requirement. A state may elect to set up its own exchange, but if it doesn't, the federal government “shall establish and operate such Exchange within the State,” 42 U.S.C. § 18041(c)(1). Each federally facilitated exchange, though run by the Health and Human Services Department, “is the same state-specific Exchange the State otherwise would have established,” the government said in its brief. Insurers offering policies on the exchanges are regulated by the states, and the premiums are based on factors unique to each state. Contrary to the challengers' argument, the phrase “an Exchange established by the State” under Section 18031 “is a term of art that includes both an Exchange a State establishes for itself and an Exchange HHS establishes for the State,” the government said. Section 18041(c)(1) says the HHS shall “establish and operate such Exchange within the State,” if the state elects not to do so. “The term ‘such Exchange,'” as used in this section “conveys that an Exchange HHS establishes as a statutory surrogate for a State fulfills Section 18031(b)(1)'s requirement that ‘[e]ach State' establish an Exchange,” the government's brief said. For the ACA's purposes, therefore, a federally facilitated exchange is “an Exchange established by the State” under Section 18031. Competitive Enterprise Institute General Counsel Sam Kazman criticized the government's argument in a Jan. 22 press release. “The government takes an incredibly carefree approach to the English language by arguing the text of the Obamacare law plays second fiddle to the law’s alleged overriding purpose,” Kazman said. “By claiming the phrase ‘established by the state’ reflects ‘style and grammar,’ the government argues ‘establish’ is no longer a verb; it's an ornament.” Kazman referred to a section of the brief that claimed the phrase “established by the state” only identified the exchange in a particular state and “reflects style and grammar,” not a substantive limitation on the type of exchange. CEI, in Washington, is coordinating and funding the case. Robert Weiner, of Arnold & Porter in Washington, disagreed. The government's brief is “devastating,” he told Bloomberg BNA Jan. 22. “It provides example after example of how the Petitioners’ interpretation is not only inconsistent with other provisions of the Act, but renders them inoperative.” The government's argument also “shows how the Petitioners make their ‘plain meaning' argument only by disregarding the inconvenient fact that Congress defined the terms that are in dispute,” Weiner said. “When Congress provides a definition, that is what the word means in the statute, not what we might understand them to mean if we were talking on the street.” The government also asserted that the availability of tax credits to purchasers on all exchanges is “essential to the Act's nationwide insurance market reforms.” The act “relies on three interdependent reforms,” it said. The act prohibits insurers from denying coverage or raising premiums based on a person's medical history; it imposes a tax penalty on people who fail to obtain and maintain coverage; and it subsidizes the purchase of insurance by people who otherwise couldn't afford it. The third and second prongs are essential to the success of the first prong, the government said. It noted that some states, in the past, adopted anti-discrimination provisions that prohibited insurers from refusing to insure or raising rates for people with certain medical conditions. These provisions, however, often led insurers to pull out of the states because they couldn't afford to do business under those terms. An inability to raise rates, married with a dearth of healthy subscribers, led the insurance markets in those states to fall into a “death spiral,” the government said. By requiring everyone to have health insurance, and by providing subsidies for people who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it, the ACA ensures that insurers will get paid, even if they may not exclude certain individuals or charge them more for their coverage. Without the subsidies encouraging people to buy insurance, the markets would face the same “death spiral” that they previously faced in the states, the government said. The government also argued that the ACA's “structure and design” confirmed that tax credits are available on exchanges in every state, and that the law's legislative history didn't support the challengers' claim that the subsidies were meant to act as “carrots” to induce states to establish exchanges. It was “well understood when the act was passed” that not every state would establish its own exchange, the brief said. Still, the tax credits weren't “structured as a conditional-spending program designed to induce the States to take action.” The credits are federal in nature, and are provided to federal taxpayers as “an integral part of national reforms” intended to apply regardless of state action, the government said. Moreover, the brief said, “no Member of Congress ever suggested that tax credits would be available only in States that established their own Exchanges.” The case is at the court for review of a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit that upheld the IRS rule. In an unusual move, the court granted review in November 2014, even though there was no existing circuit court split on the issue. There are at least three other pending cases that raised the same issue. Oral arguments are scheduled for March 4. Donald B. Verrilli Jr., Joyce R. Branda, Ian Health Gershengorn, Edwin S. Kneedler, Beth S. Brinkmann, Brian H. Fletcher, Mark B. Stern, and Alisa B. Klein of the U.S. Department of Justice, Washington; Christopher J. Meade, of the Department of Treasury, Washington; M. Patricia Smith, of the Department of Labor, Washington; and William B. Schultz, of the Department of Health and Human Services, Washington, represented the government. To contact the reporter on this story: Mary Anne Pazanowski in Washington at [email protected] To contact the editor responsible for this story: Fabia Mahoney at [email protected] All Bloomberg BNA treatises are available on standing order, which ensures you will always receive the most current edition of the book or supplement of the title you have ordered from Bloomberg BNA’s book division. As soon as a new supplement or edition is published (usually annually) for a title you’ve previously purchased and requested to be placed on standing order, we’ll ship it to you to review for 30 days without any obligation. 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__label__neg Nymox Announces New Positive Results at 54 Months in Long Term Study of NX-1207 for Benign Prostatic HyperplasiaHASBROUCK HEIGHTS, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Apr 30, 2008 - Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation (NASDAQ: NYMX) today announced new positive results from a long term outcome study of NX-1207 for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). The study evaluated symptomatic progress of U.S. patients involved in the Company's two Phase 1-2 studies initiated in 2003. Patients treated with NX-1207 were followed-up on an unselected and as available basis and assessed for symptomatic improvement, treatment outcomes, and durability of efficacy 54 months after NX-1207 treatment. These subjects were last assessed at 42 months after treatment. Overall, 75% of the patients in the new outcome study treated with NX-1207 reported no current drug treatment for their BPH and had a mean improvement of 11.1 points in AUA Symptom Score. In addition, 38% of the patients reported no other approved treatments at any time for their BPH since their original treatment with NX-1207, with a mean improvement of 9.8 points. This sustained improvement in BPH symptom score after NX-1207 treatment compares favorably to the 3.5 to 5 points reported in published studies of currently approved BPH drugs, which, unlike NX-1207 treatment, require uninterrupted, daily administration to be effective. Paul Averback, CEO of Nymox, said, "This new data on NX-1207 showing sustained symptomatic improvement after 54 months provides further evidence of enduring benefits from NX-1207 treatment for BPH. NX-1207 thus far has had none of the well known sexual and other bothersome side effects of other BPH treatments." In the NX-1207 studies, subjects received a one-time single dose of NX-1207 administered by intraprostatic injection by a urologist in an office setting. The entire procedure lasted on average 5-10 minutes, with the injection taking 1-2 minutes, and did not require anesthesia or catheterization. There have been no significant side effects from NX-1207 in the trials to date. Overall, subjects in the most recent study's Intent-to-Treat group who received 2.5 mg of NX-1207 reported a mean improvement in total AUA BPH Symptom Score of 9.71 points after 90 days as compared to the mean improvement of 4.13 points for subjects randomized to finasteride, an approved drug treatment for BPH. This difference was statistically significant (p=0.001). The AUA BPH Symptom Score measures self-assessed severity of BPH symptoms in 7 areas: 1) sensation of incomplete emptying of the bladder; 2) need to urinate frequently; 3) stopping and starting during urination; 4) urgent need to urinate; 5) weakness of urinary stream; 6) need to push or strain during urination; and 7) urination during sleep (nocturia). Published studies of currently approved drugs for BPH show AUA BPH Symptom Score improvement typically in the 3.5 to 5 point range. The results of the blinded clinical trials to date have shown that men treated with NX-1207 reported statistically significant improvement in BPH symptoms 3 months after a single NX-1207 treatment. In two multi-center Phase 2 U.S. prospective randomized blinded clinical trials, the aggregated mean improvement in the Primary Endpoint of BPH Symptom Score for 2.5 mg NX-1207 was 10.3 points or a 44% improvement in Symptom Score. To date, subjects treated with NX-1207 have reported no serious side effects from the treatment, including no (0%) significant sexual side effects. BPH treatment represents a growing market with more than 100 million men worldwide being estimated to suffer from BPH symptoms. The disorder is a common affliction of older men, affecting approximately half of men over age 50 and close to 90% of men by age 80, and is associated with growth in prostate size as men age. BPH causes difficulties with urination associated with aging, such as urination at night, urge to void frequently, hesitancy, weak stream, and other problems, and can cause acute urinary retention requiring immediate medical attention. More information about Nymox is available at www.nymox.com, email: [email protected], or 800-936-9669. This press release contains certain "forward-looking statements" as defined in the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 that involve a number of risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and the actual results and future events could differ materially from management's current expectations. The conduct of clinical trials and the development of drug products involve substantial risks and uncertainties and actual results may differ materially from expectations. Promising early results do not ensure that later stage or larger scale clinical trials will be successful or will proceed as expected. Such factors are detailed from time to time in Nymox's filings with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission and other regulatory authorities. Contact Nymox Pharmaceutical Corporation Roy Wolvin, 1-800-93NYMOX www.nymox.com Posted: April 2008
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__label__pos The new realm for IT sourcing managers is that they must update their Unified Communications and Collaboration (UC&C) solutions to support the changing workplace or be left behind. Legacy products not originally designed to support mobile workers need to be removed, as they do not easily accommodate the multitude of measures in which people need to work together today. This means sourcing managers must focus on solutions that connect across platforms, increase user participation, improve the quality of meetings, support mobility, ensure security and drive enhancements in total cost of ownership (TCO) – and the answer to all this is Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS). The success or failure of an organization completely relies on its ability to communicate and collaborate effectively. Every organization has different groups of employees, both internal and external, which it needs to keep on one platform for effective and continuous business communication. Whether the organization is looking to accelerate innovation, increase efficiency or improve customer experiences, building and streamlining quality communication connections between employees has always been essential. In the IT industry, solutions that assist to build and maintain these real-time quality connections are known as unified communication and collaboration (UC&C). UC&C was introduced more than a decade ago but, until recently, the adoption rate of UC&C was low and it failed to deliver on its potential of transforming how organizations communicate, collaborate, work, and share information. However, challenges associated with UC&C such as adoption and usage challenges still remain, including identifying and deploying the technologies, features, and applications that are most suitable for each organization. More specifically, challenges related to operation include the inherent complexity of UC&C and lack of end-user training. However, the shift to less capital mode, easier-to-deploy, and more IT-friendly UCaaS solutions will address some of these challenges. UCaaS is a combination of communication and collaboration technologies delivered over the cloud, which offers organizations a flexible, hosted service substitute that delivers cost-effective, easy-to-manage UC&C functionality, with pre-determined monthly costs and SLAs. Sharing knowledge and impeccably working together anytime, virtually through any device or any location is fueling much of the current market momentum. UCaaS offers organizations a pay-as-you-go model, so they can better predict costs and pay for only what they use without needing any additional investment or expense to get started. Mobility and BYOD (Bring Your Own Device), the growing popularity of videoconferencing and exploding demand for collaborative applications and cloud delivery models are key to the adoption and success of UCaaS. In today's fast-paced and increasingly mobile, global, and virtual environment, clear communications and collaboration are crucial in maintaining operational efficiency, superiority of employees and constant developments. Successful organizations are driving business innovation through unified access to new methods of communicating and collaborating, and by investing in UCaaS solutions. Moving communications systems to UCaaS helps organizations transform the process of operations at every juncture of the business cycle, from strategy formulation to execution and implementation. At the same time, UCaaS allows IT teams to focus on core, strategic projects that drive the company’s objectives and business. Some of the benefits of UCaaS includes: opex and capex cost savings, reliable and secure communication, business continuity, increased agility, simplified operations and greater flexibility. The evolution and maturity of the cloud and UCaaS market has also enabled service providers to broaden their scope of offerings. System Integrators have realized the value of UC&C implementations on the cloud, and have taken an active role in deployment and support of UCaaS. Broader suites of offerings in terms of consulting, managed services, and integration capabilities to the communications market has shifted the focus of CIOs from UC&C to UCaaS. For enterprise buyers, UCaaS has enabled them to switch their sourcing strategy from a multi-vendor best-in-class sourcing to a single vendor managed service provider. This change enables buyers to draw cost savings of approximately 50%-60% on UC&C expenses. In regard to direct benefits associated with UCaaS – it assists organizations to realize savings worth $400 - $600 annually, per employee, including a 14%-15% reduction in capital costs. Further, implementation of UCaaS involves indirect benefits, which include 3%-4% increased worker productivity through enhanced collaboration tools, improved first-reach metrics and a 4%-5% reduction in travel expenses through universal global connectivity platform between employees.
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__label__pos Top10Doctor insights on:Can Stool Softeners Give Me Diarrhea 2,085doctors shared insights Loose stools is a symptom in which a person's stool (poop) does not hold its shape after it goes into the toilet. Instead of remaining a shaped piece of poop, the poop spreads out in the toilet bowl water. Very loose stool is called diarrhea. Loose stool can be caused by infections, certain foods or drinks, ...Read more 226 yr old. Had constip. Went semi normal after fiber and stool softener. Now diahrea. Could diet change and softeners be the cause? Scared. 3Have cdiff but constipated. What can I do. I am on vancomycin and forastor. I never have diahrrea like a lot do. Should I take stool softener or what? 4My daughter, 14 months is constipated despite giving her fluids. Used stool softener for a month. If I stop medication, she is constipated again. Constipation:3 important facts: 1 did she pass meconium or the dark sticky stool in the 1st day of life? 2 did this start when you transitioned her from formula to whole milk? 3 are you attempting potty training if the answer to all 3 is yes then this is likely transient and will pass with time. I would continue the stool softener and hold off on potty training for now. Wean the stool softener. ...Read more 5My 5yr oh hold her poop till she throws up. Then she still hold it. She has accidents constantly says it hurts. Can i give her stool softener everyday? Please see doctor:I think the simple answer is a yes, 'but answer. This sounds like a significant situation that must be fully studied. I am sure your pediatrician can help and even recommend a specialist for pediatric gastroenterology. Please do not just give your daughter stool softeners without a full evaluation and diagnosis of the underlying problem....Read more 3doctors agreed: 6I think my 1 year old son could benefit from stool softener. Is there a natural remedy or OTC product I can give him? Will prune juice do the trick? 3doctors agreed: Prune juice / karo:You can try some prune juice or karo syrup. You can give a tablespoon for every 4 oz of milk. Less or more depending on stool frequency....Read more 1doctor agreed: 7Why did they give stool softener pill plus milk magnesia. And how do I have bm if pelvis fracture? 1doctor agreed: Avoid constipation:Pelvic fractures can lead to slowing of peristaltic movement of colon, which controls bowel movements. Bed rest and pain medications are often the only initial treatment for pelvic fractures; these two markedly slow down normal colon movements. Do whatever necessary to get those bowels moving: drinks lots fluids, including prune juice, stool softener, fiber combined with fluid, senna, mom......Read more 1doctor agreed: 8My mother is 82 year old recently she been constipated been give lots of water, fiber, fruits, prunes juice, and stool softener she has very bad hemor? 1doctor agreed: 3,228doctors shared insights Talk to a doctor live online for free Stool softeners diarrhea Probiotics give me diarrhea Yogurt gives me diarrhea Ask a doctor a question free online Coffee gives me diarrhea Gatorade gives me diarrhea Beer gives me diarrhea Alcohol gives me diarrhea Talk to a urgent care specialist online for free
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__label__neg I want to let out my property; do I need to tell the mortgage lender?Yes, you must obtain permission from your mortgage lender and inform us of any special conditions that they impose. We may require written evidence of this. I don't have the time to manage my property can you provide any assistance?We offer four service packages to our landlords, so no matter how much or little involvement a landlord may want in the process of letting their property, one of our flexible solutions will provide the required level of support. Do I need an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)?It is a legal requirement for all rental properties in England and Wales to have an EPC. Once obtained the certificate it is valid for 10 years. An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property using a scale of A-G. How do I know how much rent to charge?We will assess the potential rental value in current market conditions and recommend the type of tenant that would be most suitable for the property. We will also agree with you the terms on which the property will be marketed, including any restrictions. If I let out a property do I have to provide the tenant with any furniture?No, you can let out your property; fully furnished, partly furnished or unfurnished. However when deciding whether to provide furniture with a property or not consider the type of tenant you are targeting and what their needs are likely to be. It is also important to note the condition of the furniture provided in the inventory. How do I know I am getting a good tenant?We conduct identity and residency checks on all applicants. We also obtain a credit reference and take up employer and current landlord references. For applicants who have a clean credit history but who are financially weak for the rental commitment we either ask for a guarantor or obtain full settlement of rent in advance for the tenancy term. For non-UK applicants we have access to international referencing facilities, which cover many countries. What do I do about a deposit?We collect a security deposit from the tenant as cleared funds before the Tenancy Agreement is signed and register the deposit with an approved Tenancy Deposit Scheme. Who has to pay the council tax on the property?A tenant is responsible for the payment of council tax during the period of the tenancy (as long as this is stated in the Tenancy Agreement). However when the property is vacant the landlord or homeowner is responsible for paying the council tax. Who is responsible for the TV licence, the tenant or the landlord?It is both the landlord and tenant's responsibility to ensure that the address has a valid TV licence. However the responsibility on who has to pay for the licence is usually stated in the Tenancy Agreement. However if the landlord provides a television with the property then they would be expected to pay for the TV licence, particularly in any communal areas. What is an inventory?A list detailing every item contained within a rental property and the condition each listed item is in, usually checked by all parties on the day the tenant moves in and signed by all parties. Martin & Co can provide a comprehensive inventory service for landlords. What happens about insurance when I let out a property?It is a good idea for the landlord to have insurance on the property and for any contents, such as furniture and white goods they have provided in the property. Tenants are responsible for insuring their own contents left in the property (however it is a good idea to state this in the tenancy agreement). How do I receive my rental income?We arrange for the tenant to sign a standing order or direct debit mandate for rent and account to you for all rent received, less outgoings, fees and commission accompanied by a statement, normally within 7 days of rent being cleared into our account. What should I do if a tenant has left furniture in the property after they have moved out?Property left behind is still classed as the tenants and if removed, or sold a claim can be made against the landlord for the value of the goods. The landlord becomes a bailee when the goods are left behind and can only legally sell or remove them under the Torts (interference with goods) Act 1977. Landlords are not permitted to sell the goods for compensation on any damage caused by the tenant or for any unpaid rent. However in practice a landlord cannot get a court order for each tenant that leaves property behind, and a landlord has to make a judgement, and with items of value keep clear evidence that they have done all they can to contact the former tenant in question. Who can help me if I have problems with my local Martin & Co office?If you have a complaint about the service that you have received from a Martin & Co local office you should put your concerns in writing to the Martin & Co office concerned. The correspondence will be acknowledged within 3 working days. The matter will then be investigated and a full response sent to you within 15 working days. If you feel the matter remains unresolved you need to address your complaint to the proprietor at the relevant Martin & Co office, marked for the attention of the proprietor, who will conduct an investigation and will give a final viewpoint. In the unlikely event that you remain dissatisfied then you may refer the matter to the Property Ombudsman at the following address: The Property Ombudsman Milford House 43-55 Milford Street Salisbury Wiltshire SP1 2BP If you still have any questions, please contact your local Martin & Co office.
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__label__neg Examine whether contaminants in your water supply met two standards: the legal limits established by the Safe Drinking Water Act, and the typically stricter health guidelines. The data was collected by an advocacy organization, the Environmental Working Group, who shared it with The Times. Speculator V Chart Key 1 or more tests taken in the month 1 or more positive detections 1 or more tests above health limit 1 or more tests above legal limit Speculator (v), New York. Serves 408 people. 1 contaminant below legal limits, but above health guidelines In some states a small percentage of tests were performed before water was treated, and some contaminants were subsequently removed or diluted. As a result, some reported levels of contamination may be higher than were present at the tap. Number of Tests Contaminant Average result Maximum result Health limit Legal limit Total # Positive result Above health Above legal Monthly Testing History Chart key at top of page E.P.A. regulated Alpha particle activity 1.20 pCi/L 1.20 - 15 1 1 1 0 Yes 8 contaminants found within health guidelines and legal limits Number of Tests Contaminant Average result Maximum result Health limit Legal limit Total # Positive result Above health Above legal Monthly Testing History Chart key at top of page E.P.A. regulated Barium (total) 2.50 ppb 5 2000 2000 2 1 0 0 Yes Bromodichloromethane 0.57 ppb 1 100 80 3 2 0 0 Yes Bromoform 0.53 ppb 1.60 800 80 3 1 0 0 Yes Chloroform 0.40 ppb 0.70 70 80 3 2 0 0 Yes Dibromochloromethane 0.83 ppb 1.60 60 80 3 2 0 0 Yes MTBE 3.50 ppb 3.70 - - 2 2 0 0 No Nitrate 0.77 ppm 0.82 10 10 5 5 0 0 Yes Total trihalomethanes (TTHMs) 2.33 ppb 4.90 - 80 3 2 0 0 Yes Units: ppb: parts per billion, pCi/L: picocuries per liter, ppm: parts per million, mrem/yr: millirems per year, MFL: million fibers per litre 121 contaminants tested for but not found 1,1,1,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,1-Trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-Tetrachloroethane, 1,1,2-Trichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethane, 1,1-Dichloroethylene, 1,1-Dichloropropene, 1,2,3-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,3-Trichloropropane, 1,2,4-Trichlorobenzene, 1,2,4-Trimethylbenzene, 1,2-Dichloroethane, 1,2-Dichloropropane, 1,3,5-Trimethylbenzene, 1,3-Dichloropropane, 2,2-Dichloropropane, 2,4,5-TP (Silvex), 2,4-D, 3-Hydroxycarbofuran, Acetone, Alachlor (Lasso), Aldicarb, Aldicarb sulfone, Aldicarb sulfoxide, Aldrin, Antimony (total), Aroclor 1016, Aroclor 1221, Aroclor 1232, Aroclor 1242, Aroclor 1248, Aroclor 1254, Aroclor 1260, Arsenic (total), Asbestos, Atrazine, Benzene, Benzo[a]pyrene, Beryllium (total), Bromobenzene, Bromochloromethane, Bromomethane, Butachlor, Cadmium (total), Carbaryl, Carbofuran, Carbon tetrachloride, Chlordane, Chloroethane, Chloromethane, Chromium (total), cis-1,2-Dichloroethylene, cis-1,3-Dichloropropene, Copper, Cyanide, Dalapon, Di(2-Ethylhexyl) adipate, Di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, Dibromoacetic acid, Dibromomethane, Dicamba, Dichloroacetic acid, Dichlorodifluoromethane, Dichloromethane (methylene chloride), Dieldrin, Dinoseb, Endrin, Ethylbenzene, Ethylene dibromide (EDB), Gross beta particle activity (pCi/L), Heptachlor, Heptachlor epoxide, Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), Hexachlorobutadiene, Hexachlorocyclopentadiene, Isopropylbenzene, Lindane, m-Dichlorobenzene, m-Xylene, Manganese, Mercury (total inorganic), Methomyl, Methoxychlor, Methyl ethyl ketone, Methyl isobutyl ketone, Metolachlor, Metribuzin, Monobromoacetic acid, Monochloroacetic acid, Monochlorobenzene (Chlorobenzene), n-Butylbenzene, n-Propylbenzene, o-Chlorotoluene, o-Dichlorobenzene, o-Xylene, Oxamyl (Vydate), p-Chlorotoluene, p-Dichlorobenzene, p-Isopropyltoluene, p-Xylene, Pentachlorophenol, Picloram, Propachlor, Radium-228, sec-Butylbenzene, Selenium (total), Simazine, Styrene, tert-Butylbenzene, Tetrachloroethylene, Thallium (total), Toluene, Total haloacetic acids (HAAs), Total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), Toxaphene, trans-1,2-Dichloroethylene, trans-1,3-Dichloropropene, Trichloroacetic acid, Trichloroethylene, Trichlorofluoromethane, Vinyl chloride
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__label__pos Rep. Dwight Kiefert is the sponsor of HB1215 which, if passed, would allow local school districts to decide if they want to allow concealed carry of weapons on school property. The bill would also allow those schools to keep that decision a secret if they choose. I was curious about Rep. Kiefert why schools should be able to decide this matter in secret. I wondered if the bill might not get some push-back from parents wanting to know if concealed carry was happening at the schools where they send their children. Kiefert explained that his concern is that school districts which debate the issue and decide to ultimately not allow concealed carry might be making targets of themselves, notifying would-be shooters that their schools will continue to be vulnerable. Kiefert acknowledged, however, that the bill would allow schools to make their decisions public if they wish. Kiefert’s bill is separate from HB1283 which doesn’t have the provision allowing the decision to be made in secret and which also removes the state prohibition on concealed carry in churches. I’m sympathetic to Kiefert’s justification for the secrecy, but I’m not sure I’m convinced. Our schools are already “gun free zones” by default, which I’m afraid makes them targets by default. I’d like to see schools end the “gun free zone” nonsense for the sake of making all our children safer, but that debate should be had out in the open.
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__label__neg Evaluation of Mini Plates Anchorage With Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device Overview This trial is active, not recruiting. Condition malocclusion, angle class ii, division 1 Treatments ffrd and mini plates group, conventional ffrd Sponsor Sherif A. Elkordy Start date January 2015 End date August 2016 Trial size 50 participants Trial identifier NCT02475785, CU001 Summary The purpose of this study is to determine if the Forsus Fatigue resistant Device appliance with direct skeletal mini plates anchorage is capable of achievement of skeletal mandibular effects while preventing the excessive proclination of the lower incisors at the end of the treatment when compared to the conventional Forsus Fatigue resistant Device appliance applied to the upper and lower dental arches in female patients with skeletal Class II malocclusion Study Design Allocation randomized Endpoint classification safety/efficacy study Intervention model parallel assignment Masking single blind (outcomes assessor) Primary purpose treatment Primary Outcomes Measure correction of the skeletal Class II profile time frame: expected average of 10 months Secondary Outcomes Measure Dento-alveolar side effects time frame: expected average of 10 months Angle of soft tissue convexity time frame: expected average of 10 months Position of lips and Chin time frame: expected average of 10 months Eligibility Criteria Female participants from 10 years up to 13 years old. Inclusion Criteria: - Skeletal Angle Class II division 1 malocclusion with a deficient mandible. (SNB ≤ 76°) - Horizontal or neutral growth pattern. (MMP ≤ 30°) - Increased overjet (min 5 mm) with Class II canine relationship. (minimum of half unit) - Mandibular arch crowding less than 3 mm. - At the time of insertion of the FFRD, the patients had to be in the "Middle Phalanx of the Middle finger" stage G or H (MP3 G or MP3 H stage) according to Rajagopal. Exclusion Criteria: - Systemic Disease. - Any signs or symptoms or previous history of temporomandibular disorders (TMD) as clicking, crepitus, pain, limitation or deviation. - Extracted or missing upper permanent tooth/teeth (except for third molars). - Facial Asymmetry. - Para-functional habits. - Severe proclination or crowding that requires extractions in the lower arch. Additional Information Official title Evaluation of Mini Plates Anchorage in Conjunction With Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device for Correction of Skeletal Class II Malocclusion in Growing Subjects: A Randomized Controlled Trial Principal investigator Sherif Elkordy, Phd Description 1. Background: Class II malocclusions are characterized by an incorrect relationship between the maxillary and mandibular arches due to skeletal or dental problems or a combination of both. The prevalence of this malocclusion was recently found to be 20.6% in the Egyptian population in the age between 11 and 14 years with mandibular retrusion as its most common characteristic. It was also mentioned that other populations showed the predominance of the mandibular retrusion (80%) as opposed to only 20% expressing excessive maxillary development. Class II profiles attractiveness was previously investigated in the literature. It was found that patients, their peers, orthodontists and oral surgeons, rated subjects with Class I profiles as more attractive than others with Class II profiles. It was also reported that the profile of normal adolescent patients were more favorably perceived by laypersons than untreated Class II division 1 malocclusion subjects. In growing patients having Class II mandibular retrusion, functional orthopedic appliances are commonly used for mandibular advancement based on the concept of growth modification. However, two main problems appeared to compromise the desired treatment outcomes of these appliances; the need for patient cooperation and the lack of the possibility of combining their use with fixed appliance therapy in order to shorten treatment duration. Many systematic reviews and meta-analyses were recently performed in the literature answering the question of whether removable functional appliances (RFAs) produced skeletal effects for correction the skeletal discrepancy through inducing actual increase in mandibular dimensions. Most recently two systematic reviews concluded that the skeletal effects of RFAs were minimal and could be considered of negligible clinical importance. They mentioned that treatment of Class II malocclusion with RFAs was associated with a minimal stimulation of mandibular growth, a minimal restriction of maxillary growth and more significant dento-alveolar and soft tissue changes. Fixed functional appliances were first introduced by Emil Herbst in 1905. Many types of fixed functional appliances were developed since then; including Jasper jumper and Twin force Bite corrector . The Forsus Fatigue Resistant Device (FFRD) was introduced by Bill Vogt in 2006. It represented a semi-rigid fixed functional alternative that was intended to overcome breakage problems of flexible fixed functional appliances. However, it was proven that dental changes were more significant than skeletal changes in the final occlusal results. These changes included mesial movement of the mandibular molars and proclination of the mandibular incisors. These unwanted tooth movements appeared to compromise the actual skeletal correction and jeopardize the stability of the results. Several attempts were proposed to counteract the unwanted dento-alveolar side effects of fixed functional appliances. Use of lingual arches, increase the dimensions of the archwires, the introduction of negative torque in the archwires and the use of lower incisor brackets with lingual crown torque are some examples. Some studies used the mini implants in an attempt to limit the unwanted dental effects of fixed functional appliances. These studies proved that mini implants anchorage reduced the lower incisors proclination but they in turn increased the upper incisors retroclination and were not able to achieve significant skeletal mandibular effects. Titanium mini plates were introduced for the use for orthodontic anchorage in 1999 as a skeletal anchorage system for open bite correction. They were proven to be well accepted by patients and providers, safe and effective adjunct for complex orthodontic cases. Other uses of mini plates in orthodontics included maxillary and mandibular molars distalization and orthodontic anchorage where it was reported that they were able to provide absolute anchorage. Bone anchored maxillary protraction using mini plates was reported to be successful in producing significant forward maxillary growth in Class III growing subjects. Recently mini plates were used for the direct loading of FFRD for correction of skeletal Class II malocclusion. They reported actual skeletal changes through the increase in the mandibular length with minimal dento-alveolar side effects. However, these results are only preliminary and have to be taken with caution because the study did not include control group. 2. Research Hypothesis: The null hypothesis (H0) of this research is that use of direct mini plate anchorage in conjunction with FFRD will not be able to induce skeletal rather than dental effects for correction of the skeletal Class II malocclusion in comparison with conventional FFRD therapy or with untreated growing Class II control subjects. 3. Objectives: The primary objective of this study is to determine if mini plates use in conjunction with FFRD will induce supplemental growth of the mandible in Class II malocclusion subjects with mandibular retrognathism. Secondary objectives include To determine if mini plates use in conjunction with FFRD will be able to: - Reduce the dento-alveolar side effects produced by fixed functional appliances in treatment of skeletal Class II subjects - Correct the soft tissue convexity in Class II subjects - Correct molar and canines relationships - Develop a patients' well-accepted treatment modality for correction of skeletal Class II malocclusion. 4. Study design According to the norms of the CONSORT STATEMENT, this study will be clinical with intervention, in which the allocation of the subjects will be randomized (block randomization). This study will be parallel with blinding for the outcome assessors. The primary purpose of this study will be treatment. 5. Participants - Settings and locations where the data are collected The treatment will be performed in the outpatient clinics of Department of Orthodontics of Cairo State University. This public university predominantly serves low-income population living in Cairo, Egypt. Data will be collected from April 2015 through August 2016. 6. Interventions Two groups will receive treatment. Group 1 will be treated with the FFRD and mini plates anchorage for 10 months or until the correction of the malocclusion . Group 2 will be treated with conventional FFRD for 10 months or until the correction of the malocclusion. A third untreated control group will be included with an observation period of 6-8 months. 7a. Sample size Our sample size calculation is based on a study which compared the use of Herbst appliance with and without mini implants anchorage and reported a significant increase in the Herbst mini screw group over their control group. The mean change in the mandibular length in the treatment and control groups were 4.6±2.43 mm and 0.9±2.09 mm respectively. Thus the mean difference was 3.7 with the within group standard deviation set at 2.26. Because three groups will be compared, Bonferroni adjustment was used as alpha level/number of comparisons = 0.05/3= 0.0167 to adjust for multiple comparisons. Power and Sample size calculation (PS) software (department of biostatistics Vanderbilt University) was used for sample size calculation. A t test was performed with the power was set as 0.9, allocation ratio of 1:1:1 and the Type I error probability (alpha) associated with this test was set as 0.0167. Results of the test showed that "The Group sample sizes of 11, 11 and 11 achieve 90% power to reject the null hypothesis of equal means with a significance level (alpha) of 0.0167" Therefore, 33 subjects will be needed, with 12 subjects in each group. To account for patient loss to follow up (attrition), a sample size of 45 patients will be selected and divided into three groups, fifteen each. 7b. Interim analysis and stopping guidelines In the group with mini plates anchorage, in case of mobility in the mini-plates in any subject, the load will be removed for about two weeks. After that, the load will be restored. If the mobility persists, surgical exposure of the mini plate will be done and either insertion of longer mini screws ion the same mini plate or a change in the position of the mini plate will be done. Any harms, adverse effects or unintended effects of the study intervention will be documented and reported. Post-surgical swelling and pain are anticipated and will be addressed by antibiotics and pain killers. Other unanticipated surgical harms have to be immediately managed and will be reported. Harms related to the orthodontic appliances will be managed by the principal investigator. 8. Randomization 8a. Sequence generation The randomization of the recruited subjects will be done with a randomized list, using random.org website. This list is made by an individual not involved in the clinical trial (S.B.) 8b. Type The type of randomization will be block randomization. The number of blocks and block sized were be blinded to the investigators. 9. Allocation and concealment mechanism - Each patient will be allocated a number from sequentially numbered opaque sealed envelopes after fulfillment of the inclusion criteria and signing the informed consent to be enrolled in the study. - According to the number, the patients will be then allocated into one of the groups using a randomization table. 10. Implementation Before the beginning of the research, the allocation sequence will be generated by a person not involved in the study (Dr S.B.). The random list will be sealed from the principal investigator who will enroll participants. After the participant takes a sealed number, S.B. will be contacted to implement the allocation. All the study contributors will have no access to the random list. The envelopes will be closed with the type of treatment selected for storage of the information. 11. Blinding Blinding will be carried out only for the data assessment because the researchers, participants and subjects can not be blinded. Therefore, a person who does not know the nature of the trial will analyze the data. Call for more information Phone Principal Investigator Trial Trial ID Institution Location
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__label__neg To the Editor: Regarding Ari Armstrong’s article “Rational Morality Requires Amnesty for Rights-Respecting Illegal Immigrants” (TOS Blog, July 2, 2014), I agree with Mr. Armstrong that illegal immigrants have the same moral rights to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness” as everyone else. But I disagree with his claim that they do not have a right to welfare. Illegal immigrants contribute to our system just as U.S. citizens and legal residents do, and they should have the same rights, including a right to welfare. Even legal residents who commit vicious crimes remain eligible for welfare. Why shouldn’t illegal immigrants who violate no one’s rights be eligible? Laina Taelor Deerfield Beach, Florida Ari Armstrong Responds: The implicit premise in Ms. Taelor’s letter is that rights are granted by government. But this premise is mistaken. Real rights, moral rights—such as the rights to life, liberty, and property—are not granted by government; they exist prior to government. The reason we need government is to protect these preexisting rights. The alleged right to welfare stands in contradiction to these rights; most obviously, it contradicts the right to property, the right to keep and use the product of one’s effort, including the money one earns. When government takes money from those who earned it and gives that money to those who did not earn it, which is what government does when it “provides” welfare, it violates the property rights of those from whom it seizes the money. When a person takes someone else’s money by force, we recognize that as a violation of property rights, and we properly call it theft. When government takes someone’s money by force and hands it to other people, this too is a violation of rights, and, although it may be legal, it is still theft and it is morally wrong. Immigrants do not have a right to welfare—and neither do U.S. citizens or legal residents. Toward the ultimate goal of eliminating welfare programs altogether, government must phase out welfare handouts, not expand them. Accordingly, government should exclude immigrants from welfare handouts and begin sharply cutting welfare handouts to existing recipients. People don’t need welfare. They need freedom to work and to keep and use what they earn. Ari Armstrong Denver, Colorado
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__label__neg <p>Despite the almost daily advances in the <a href="https://www.verywell.com/what-is-hiv-aids-48621" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="1">HIV</a> sciences, the shadow of <strong>AIDS denialism</strong> still looms large, casting doubt and distraction among those who are often in the most need of care.</p><p>While the major voices of dissent (Peter Duesberg, Celia Farber) may no longer be able to grab the media spotlight they had back in the 1980s and 90s—when far less was known about HIV and fear provided a ready platform for those on the fringes of legitimate science—their messages and methods still have impact today.</p><p>To dismiss their ideas as medical "quackery" or remnants of a less enlightened past greatly underplays the effect that denialism has on the public's perception about HIV, as well as the unspoken fears and emotions they feed into.</p><p>As recently as 2007, a survey conducted by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) showed that 51% of minority <a href="https://www.verywell.com/men-who-have-sex-with-men-msm-48993" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="2">men who have sex with men (MSM)</a> agreed with the statement "HIV does not cause AIDS."</p><p>Research suggests that conspiracy views among this group was not so much driven by dissident beliefs per se, but by <a href="https://www.verywell.com/the-real-reasons-why-people-dont-use-condoms-49669" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="3">negative attitudes toward condom use</a>, as well as a general distrust of governmental and/or healthcare authorities.</p><h3>Where Does AIDS Denialism Begin?</h3><p>According to the Oxford Dictionary, a denialist is "a person who refuses to admit the truth of a concept or proposition that is supported by the majority of scientific or historical evidence."</p><p>Chris Hoofnagle, senior staff attorney of Samuelson Law, Technology & Public Policy Clinic at the University of California, Berkeley, extends the definition by stating:</p><blockquote><em>"Since legitimate dialogue is not a valid option for those who are interested in protecting bigoted or unreasonable ideas from scientific facts, their only recourse is to use... rhetorical tactics."</em></blockquote><p>Some of the rhetorical tactics identified by Tara C. Smith, associate professor of epidemiology at the University of Iowa College of Public Health, and Dr. Steven Novella of Yale University School of Medicine include</p><ul><li>Portraying mainstream science as either intellectually compromised or interest-driven (e.g. biased by "drug money").</li><li>Selectively choosing which authorities to believe and which to dismiss in order to frame a conspiracy argument, or to suggest that a proven science is being debated.</li><li>Lowering the status of the denied science to that of deeply rooted (often persecuted) faith, while characterizing scientific consensus as dogmatic and suppressive.</li><li>"Pushing back the goalpost" by demanding more scientific evidence than is currently available, and then insisting upon new evidence when those demands are met.</li></ul><h3>Vulnerable to Denialism?</h3><p>Meanwhile, members of the public who embrace denialist beliefs are often seen to be vulnerable to misinformation or fraud, or simply lacking the education needed to make an informed judgment. Research from the University of Connecticut seems to suggest otherwise.</p><p>Of internet users in the study who endorsed a specific AIDS denialist belief, ratings for trust and believability were higher for a mainstream medical website (Tufts Medical School) than for two denialist websites they were shown (Matthias Rath, Jonathan Campbell). This seems to indicate that denialist messages don't as much instigate personal belief, but rather validate the suspicions and doubts of those unwilling (or unable) to accept medical fact against their own better judgment.</p><p>According to study conducted by the CDC, only 44% of Americans <a href="https://www.verywell.com/what-are-my-hiv-testing-options-49621" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="4">diagnosed with HIV</a> are linked to medical care. Misinformation about HIV—tied in with the fear of disclosure and lack of HIV appropriate care—is considered a key reason as to why many choose to delay treatment until the onset of <a href="https://www.verywell.com/symptoms-of-hiv-by-stage-48785" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="5">symptomatic disease</a>.</p><p>So while AIDS denialism may seem like ancient history to some, its ability to confound and disrupt remains just as potent as ever.</p><p><strong>More on AIDS Denialism - <a href="https://www.verywell.com/top-five-aids-denialists-48694" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="internalLink" data-ordinal="6">Top 5 AIDS Denialists</a> </strong></p><p><strong><sub>Sources:</sub></strong></p><p><sub>Bogart, L. and Thorburn, S. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15671808" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="externalLink" data-ordinal="7">"Are HIV/AIDS conspiracy beliefs a barrier to HIV prevention among African Americans?"</a> <em>Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome.</em> February 1, 2005; 38(2):213-8.</sub></p><p><sub>Hutchinson, A.; Begley, B.; Sullivan. P.; et al. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17704688" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="externalLink" data-ordinal="8">"Conspiracy beliefs and trust in information about HIV/AIDS among minority men who have sex with men."</a> <em>Journal of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome</em>. August 15, 2007; 45(5):603-5.</sub></p><p><sub>Smith, T., Novella, P. <a href="http://www.plosmedicine.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.pmed.0040256" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="externalLink" data-ordinal="9">"HIV Denial in the Internet Era."</a> <em>PLoS Medicine.</em> August 21, 2007; 4(8): e256.</sub></p><p><sub>Kalichman, S.; Eaton, L.; and Cherry,C. <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3015095/#R19" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="externalLink" data-ordinal="10">"There is no Proof that HIV Causes AIDS": AIDS Denialism Beliefs among People Living with HIV/AIDS."</a> <em>Journal of Behavioral Medicine.</em> December 2010, 33(6):342-440 (Table 3).</sub></p><p><sub>Skarbinski, J.; Furlow-Parmley, C.; and Frazie, E. <a href="http://www.retroconference.org/2012b/Abstracts/43173.htm" data-component="link" data-source="inlineLink" data-type="externalLink" data-ordinal="11">"Nationally Representative Estimates of the Number of HIV+ Adults who Received Medical Care, Were Prescribed ART, and Achieved Viral Suppression-Medical Monitoring Project, 2009 to 2010-US."</a> 19th Conference on Retroviruses and Opportunistic Infections (CROI); Seattle, Washington; March 8, 2013; oral abstract #138.</sub></p>
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__label__neg Something From Nothing: Fried Rice Hi, I’m Alexis from Bean and Bee. I write about sustainable living in the suburbs, whether it be growing your own food, making less toxic choices for your home, or reducing waste. Today, I’m sharing one of my favorite recipes that you can make with a few staple ingredients and whatever leftovers you have on hand – fried rice! This is a one skillet dish, so clean up is easy. Since this fried rice recipe makes use of a lot of leftovers, your refrigerator will have more room as well. I usually make it when we haven’t been to the grocery store in a week and we are down to random bit of food. “Something From Nothing Fried Rice” is a crowd-pleaser in my home. My kids will actually happily eat whatever veggies work their way into the mix and it’s heavy enough that my husband and I feel satisfied after a bowl. Cooking this meal is more art than science, but there are a few essential ingredients. Rice ( leftover is perfect) and soy or teriyaki sauce are key. You also need a protein – eggs work well, as does leftover meat. In the version shown in the pictures, I used two eggs and a leftover grilled pork chop from the night before. One of the beautiful things about this dish is you can use up food that otherwise wouldn’t be enough to make another meal out of. Less food waste saves you money and reduces the amount your household sends to the landfill. Less waste in the landfill means less creation of methane, a dangerous greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. Who knew a recipe could save the Earth? Let’s get started! 1. Gather Ingredients Essential Ingredients Cooked Rice ( estimate about a quarter cup of rice per serving) Soy or Teriyaki Sauce Protein – Egg and/or Meat Flexible Ingredients Use what is about to go south in your vegetable drawer, these are just suggestions. Onions ( I prefer white, yellow, or green) Peas Leafy Greens Carrots Celery Red or Green Bell Peppers 2. Prep Ingredients Dice your meat, if you have some, and any vegetables you’re using. If you’re using eggs, scramble them in a bowl and set aside. 3. Begin Cooking Brown your onions in a large skillet. Add vegetables and cook about halfway though. Stir in the rice. Add sauce to taste by drizzling over the vegetable / rice mixture and allow to cook for 1 minute. It’s ok if it gets a little crisp on the bottom. If using egg, make a well in the middle of the rice and poor the egg in. Allow the egg to cook halfway through before mixing into the rice and vegetables. Add the diced meat, if using. Let the mixture cook a few more minutes, stirring occasionally until all proteins are heated through. Once heated through, remove from heat and serve in bowls. If you like it a spicy, drizzle a little Sriracha on top. Enjoy! For the version pictured, I used leftover brown rice, 2 eggs and a grilled pork chop, onions, frozen peas, and leftover green salad ( arugula, red pepper carrots, cherry tomatoes). It made enough for two adults and two children with some leftover.
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__label__pos I love the story of Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden and its usage of great metaphors. It’s a story that can be taken away by anyone for its moral value regardless of your religious beliefs. It’s a story about a man and woman who were made for each other and loved one another. Adam and Eve had innocence. Both shared their lives together before guilt and sin became a part of their daily lives. There they were exuding purity in its highest form. They were nude metaphorically as well as literally. Then one day, they were told about the forbidden fruit from the Tree of Knowledge and were warned that that very fruit was something they needed to reject. Eve, like millions of women (and men) out there, became curious about the forbidden fruit. The metaphor of the forbidden fruit goes beyond the idea of someone eating a piece of fruit. The forbidden fruit can be anything that we indulge in sinfully, whether it’s food, sex, love, alcohol, or even shopping. Things we let take control of us…almost to the point of developing an addiction. What’s your forbidden fruit from the Tree of Life? Now Eve is standing there being tempted to take a bite of that juicy piece of fruit. The fruit she was given initially was not as appealing as the one hanging on the vine. She soon forgets what she had in her hand and reaches for that unattainable fantasy…a dream. The thing she’s curious about is something she finds out is not all that she hoped for. The symbolism of it all is quite remarkable. While she ignores the first fruit she was given, she reaches for something newer and more exciting. Comparing the fruit in the Garden of Eden to our life experiences takes some thought. Specifically, I am comparing the Garden of Eden to love and the love you are given. If you ignore love long enough, it shrivels up and becomes rotten. You end up disappointed and ruin a good thing. That forbidden piece of fruit you took a bite out of, ends up causing you a stomach ache and you become disappointed. That forbidden fruit that sneaks its way into your love life has split your significant other and you apart. You might try to salvage the original piece of fruit (love) you had and say, “damn it” and ultimately are left with nothing because it’s too late. This is what happens in relationships. We always search for the next best thing while what we have right there in front of us is what’s right for us. We keep searching and searching and neglect the love we already have. Don’t get me wrong, not all relationships are meant to last. There are situations where it’s best for a couple to go their separate ways. I find it interesting though that we live in a society where nearly 50% of all marriages end in divorce. Family therapist William Doherty reports that “…over 40% of divorced people regretted their divorce and thought it was preventable (Smart Marriages Conference, 1999).” So there you have it—there is still hope that a relationship can be saved. I woke up in the middle of the night and had this epiphany. Ok, as a marital and family therapist, I will admit I am a bit ashamed of myself because this has always been something I talk to my clients about, but I believe if a relationship is gone into with maturity, hope, trust, and selflessness; there is a chance it can last for a lifetime. I myself started dating someone who has taught me to think of “us” in “our relationship” instead of “me” and “my relationship.” Instead of searching for another love to replace the man who found me, I choose to work things out. People are not perfect. I’ve noticed myself to search for that perfect man; my knight in shining armor. I finally woke up to realize that my perfect knight does not necessarily mean he has to reflect the woman I have grown to be. How long should I search for that perfect someone? Is perfection even possible? What is perfection supposed to look like, anyways? His outer core may not be as shiny and perfect as that forbidden fruit on the tree in the Garden of Eden. That perfect piece of fruit or that perfect person…there just isn’t such a thing. Why are our expectations so high to the point it ultimately leaves us with rotten fruit in our hands? I believe there is something in our past relationships and frame of minds that make us have such high expectations. Our epistemology can be defined as: a philosophical approach to defining how we know what we know…our belief system. For example, when I was a little girl, I was once bit by a dog. My epistemology (belief system from past experiences and knowledge), told me to be cautious the next time I met a dog so that I would not be bitten again. The same theory happens in love and how we enter and stay in loving relationships. The past hurts and broken relationships we have endured are carried into the present relationships we have. Heck, the relationship I’m in has had its ups and downs, yet, we have the desire to maintain our love for each other. I can’t imagine a future without him. This means that we must learn to demonstrate trust, love, and loyalty in our relationships. It is not ALWAYS possible to do ALL the time…there are times my honey over thinks things and that bugs me at times and I know there are times he thinks I’m being bitchy or too demanding of him. Once again, this goes back to looking at our epistemologies and our knowledge on how we expect things to be in life. We seem to overlook details concerning the commitments we make and so this is where we fail in our personal relationships. It’s no longer about what makes ME happy and what I need. Once I found someone who confessed his love and adoration for me, and asked me to be in his life forever, it became what makes us happy together as a couple. Without the “we” and “us” mentality, you have a recipe for failure! This is something I learned from the man I love. I admire and respect his passion and ability to risk it all for love. A relationship is a team effort. It takes work, risks, and trusting the process and the love of your life. Love is not just a word or feeling. Love is an action that requires effort. Love is something you don’t take for granted and expect to just fall in your lap. Rate This Post: Did you like this article? Submit it to your favorite social bookmarking sites:
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__label__neg What could life have been like for such a monolith of the sea? Many theories float around about the megalodon's habitat and prey. Megalodon fossils have been discovered far and wide, from Japan to the United States, so researchers conclude that megalodon was an intercontinental species, living all over the world's ancient oceans. Due to the coastal locations where the most fossils have been discovered, experts believe the megatooth shark had similar habitats as the great white of today -- living offshore in more temperate climates and setting up nurseries in warm, shallow water closer to coastlines [source: Renz]. In 2009, a group of paleontologists from the University of Florida in Gainesville discovered the fossilized remains of a megalodon nursery in Panama that was made up almost entirely of juvenile megalodon tooth fossils. Between this new discovery and a breeding ground found in South Carolina, scientists believe that an infant megalodon could have been an average 20 feet (6 meters) long, the same size as an adult great white. Because of its sheer size, this species was the top predator of its time and would have needed to eat a lot to survive. Experts estimate that the average adult female weighed between 50 to 100 tons (45 to 90 metric tons -- about the size of half of a blue whale) and could eat up to 2,500 pounds (1,136 kilograms) of food per day. That's over 500 pounds (227 kilograms) more than the average American eats in an entire year. Life at the top of the food chain meant the megalodon could eat whatever it wanted, and with its supersized, serrated teeth and a wide mouth, it could disable whales and seals easily before gulping them down. A team of researchers in Australia determined the megalodon's bite force was so strong, it could crush the skull of a whale as easily as a human can eat a grape [source: Wroe]. So what happened to the megatooth shark that knocked it from the top of the food chain to complete extinction? Find out on the next page.
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__label__neg When you’re a new B2B writer or copywriter, one of your biggest challenges isn’t finding prospects to approach. Rather, it’s about narrowing down your field. It can feel as if everyone’s a prospect. And even when you’ve decided to focus on the corporate market, that still leaves you with millions of potential companies you could contact. So where do you start? And whom do you target? You have to prioritize. I’m about to show you an extremely powerful prioritization tool that will save you countless hours of wasted effort. And it will dramatically increase your chances of getting quick wins. It’s called the List Kickstarter Matrix (LKM). The LKM will not only help you prioritize your outreach, it will also help you build that initial list of prospects. Let me first explain what each quadrant represents by giving you examples of who belongs in each quadrant, and then I’ll show you how to use this to create your list. Golden Nugget One of your all-time best friends is the marketing director at a midsize medical equipment company. They produce a lot of written materials. That would obviously be an ideal Golden Nugget. However, at this stage in your journey, even someone who could use your services in their own business could be a Golden Nugget. For instance, let’s say that your real estate agent is pretty marketing-savvy and puts out a lot of content for his prospects. Or maybe a relative of yours owns a pretty successful IT consulting business and seems to know a bit about marketing and the importance of copy and content. As you move through your launch journey, those types of prospects may not be ideal. But for now, as long as you know them well and as long as they appear to understand the importance of marketing, they could be classified as a Golden Nugget. Connector Your next-door neighbor is VP of operations at a logistics company. He’s obviously not a marketer, but he may be able to refer you to his marketing VP. Also, he’s very well-connected in the local business community, so he can probably refer you to prospects that would be well-suited for you. Solid Prospect You have a key contact in an organization that produces a lot of written content and where your particular work background and experience could make you an ideal freelance resource. Helping Hand Your sister owns a small bakery. She wouldn’t be a prospect. In fact, she doesn’t really understand what you do for a living. But you’re confident that she’d be willing to hear more about what you’re doing and possibly refer you to some of her personal or business contacts who may be a better fit for you. Poor Connection Your friend Nate introduced you to his cousin at a party you attended last weekend. His cousin seemed like a very nice person. He even gave you his business card. But (a) you just met him, and (b) he owns a very small landscaping company. So he wouldn’t really be a good prospect or even a source of referrals. How to use the LKM Here’s how you can use the LKM to prioritize and organize your prospecting efforts. First, focus on people you already know. Here’s how to do that: 1. Grab a notepad and divide a blank page into three columns. Title the first column “Golden Nuggets,” the second column “Connectors” and the third column “Helping Hands.” 2. Open your contact management application (or your Rolodex, address book, etc.). Go through each name one by one and decide if it fits into one of these three columns. 3. Try not to judge too much at this point. Remember, you’re not just looking for Golden Nuggets. You’re also looking for potential Connectors and Helping Hands. 4. Don’t ignore or write off Helping Hands. One of the Helping Hands in my network is completely responsible for my being where I am today in my business. That gentleman introduced me to someone who referred me to yet another individual who hired me 14 years ago. And that particular job was the impetus for my going freelance in 2006. I also probably wouldn’t have had the success I’ve enjoyed had I not reached out to one specific Connector early in my freelance career. That lady introduced me to what ended up becoming my longest-running client (seven years!). Next, make an initial list of 10 Solid Prospects. Again, think of Solid Prospects as companies or organizations that produce a lot of copy or written marketing content … and where your particular work background and experience could make you an ideal freelance resource. In other words, you don’t know them and they don’t know you. But because you chose them a bit more carefully, they have a higher probability of being receptive to your message than a random prospect from the Yellow Pages or a local business directory. I found that it’s better to start with a small batch. That’s why I recommend you make a list of only 10 prospects (for now). If you try to assemble a bigger list, you’ll never take action. Instead, work with a small initial list, make the outreach, add to the list, take action, and so on. Because you’re going to be adding and removing names from this list over time, this is going to be a dynamic list. It will evolve and change. And it will be the list you’ll spend the most time on because you’ll keep adding to it. Here’s the basic criteria for assembling the first group for your Solid Prospect list: 1. They have to be a decent-size company (i.e., they have multiple departments, as opposed to a small, local company where the few employees wear multiple hats). 2. Also, look for companies that produce a lot of written materials (as evidenced by what they have posted and available on their website). 3. If you have a defined target market (or markets), focus on companies that are in those industries. 4. Target companies you think might be receptive to your outreach based on your overall work background and experience AND based on the nature of the products or services they sell. So when you look at your background, experience, past clients, etc., consider: • Which industry or industries sell products and services that are fairly expensive? (When a product or service is relatively expensive, the value needs to be explained and justified. And that creates a need for marketing content.) • Which of these industries are more prone to sell products or services that don’t just sell themselves? In other words, they’re not commodities or products that can are typically purchased off a website. Instead, they’re “considered” purchases. • And finally, which industry or industries from your background sell products and services that are complex? (Your potential client has to spend time and resources explaining those products and services … and what those products and services DO for their customers.) 5. Don’t overthink this. You’re NOT trying to come up with the optimal list of 10 prospects. That’s impossible at this point. Just come up with 10 that look promising enough based on the criteria I just gave you. If you end up with more than 10, that’s fine. But try to come up with at least 10. Need Some Help? If you’re trying to get your B2B writing or copywriting business off the ground — or if you’ve already launched but are still struggling to break past that $1,500-per-month income ceiling — I may be able to help you. My superpower is helping freelancers get their business off the ground quickly and with less risk. I will work with you to help you get results faster, land progressively better clients and gain serious momentum. I don’t make these coaching and training opportunities available very often. But I’ve just opened a window. And enrollment closes next week. You can learn more about it here: This opportunity is not for everyone. You have to be hungry. You have to be serious, focused and determined to make this business work. Sound like you? Visit this page to learn more before the enrollment window closes.
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__label__neg The Power of Sharing: Why VNA Foundation Joined the Reporting Commitment January 23, 2013 Rob DiLeonardi is Executive Director of the VNA Foundation in Chicago, where he manages its grantmaking program and daily operations. He is co-founder and former Chair of the Board of the Association of Small Foundations (ASF), a national organization of 2,900 grantmaking foundations holding over $60 billion in assets. He has a longstanding interest in foundation transparency and outcome sharing; VNA's website and annual reports have eight times received a Council on Foundations' Wilmer Shields Rich Award for Excellence in Communications. During the two decades I've worked for and with small grantmaking foundations, I've addressed problems ranging from healthcare access to domestic violence to homelessness. One of the most vexing problems I've faced over the years, however, relates not to the subject matter of my grantmaking, but rather to the results of it. Time and again, I've helped develop a grantmaking program to address a particular problem, only to find out after the fact that another foundation was funding the identical issue, often with a remarkably similar approach, in the same or a nearby area. We were addressing the same need, often via the same method, but doing so in blissful isolation. In short, we were reinventing the wheel, sometimes only a few miles apart. Similarly, our foundation's board and staff have often wondered about latest funding trends. With only a limited number of dollars in our coffers, we want to spend them in the most effective possible way. It would be helpful for us to know exactly where other philanthropic dollars were being directed, both geographically and programmatically, as this knowledge would aid us in filling a gap or funding a complimentary niche -- a favorite strategy to maximize the impact of our grantmaking. For these reasons, over the years I've tried many different approaches to ensure that the staff of the VNA Foundation is aware of other funders' work and that they are aware of ours. We subscribe to many electronic and hard copy newsletters, periodicals, and reports. We attend local, regional, and national conferences and networking groups. We convene grantmakers and grantees around common challenges, and encourage dialogues about successes -- and failures -- in addressing them. And we work hard to make our website an interactive, timely, and appealing resource. Yet, despite these various efforts, both the grantmaking data we share and that which we receive is often either stale (months or sometimes even years old by the time it reaches end users) or lacking the key details to make it useful. My interest, therefore, was quickly piqued when I learned of the Foundation Center-supported Reporting Commitment, and the opportunity for the VNA Foundation to become a participant in it. The Reporting Commitment finally allows foundations the opportunity, and the mechanism, to release grant information in a consistent, open, and frequent manner. Although the Commitment's founding participants were large foundations, as soon as I became aware of the initiative I knew there would be value in participation by foundations of VNA's size. Small to medium-sized foundations are far more common in number, size and grantmaking level than their larger brethren. In fact, small foundations account for approximately half of America's total foundation grant dollars, and often provide the kind of essential local support that impacts lives on a daily basis. In addition, most observers judge foundations by their effectiveness, efficiency, and transparency, not their asset size. Participation by smaller foundations like VNA (foundation philanthropy being one of the few settings in which a $50 million bank account is considered "small") is key, in my opinion, to making the Reporting Commitment's impact felt in more than a handful of sectors. I am delighted to say that the VNA board of directors immediately saw the value in our participation in the Reporting Commitment, and my colleagues at peer foundations are seeing the light as well. All across the country, every day, foundations large and small are working to bring about small miracles or serve as catalysts for systemic innovation. With the help of the Reporting Commitment, perhaps our field finally has a mechanism by which that work can effectively be shared with colleagues and the public alike. -- Rob DiLeonardi
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__label__neg First quarter earnings season is winding down and as of this evening, all 30 stocks in the Dow have reported earnings for the most recent quarter. Prior to today's large sell-off (largest for the S&P 500 and Nasdaq since Bernanke hinted at QEII) the major markets were all up more than 8% in the first month and half of the year. Much has been made about the strong earnings season, accelerating economic growth and positive tailwinds of fiscal and monetary policy. Based on the rampant bullishness pervasive in the market, it would seem only natural that individual stocks would have reacted positively to their strong earnings reports. Since the market has performed so well, I was curious about individual stock performance and decided to dig for some further information. As of Friday's close, 27 of the 30 Dow stocks had reported earnings for their most recent quarter. I decided to look at each stocks individual performance in the first three days after reporting. Calculating the results for one day after reporting earnings, 14 stocks were up and 13 were down. The average move was slightly negative (-0.15%), paced by a more than 7% gain in General Electric (GE) and a 14% loss for Cisco (CSCO). Cumulative returns two days after reporting showed 12 stocks higher and 15 lower, with the average return a bit more negative (-0.36%). Returns worsened again after 3 days of cumulative returns (-0.65%), as only 9 stocks had risen while 18 had dropped. Considering the supposed strength in recent earnings reports, these results were somewhat surprising. Knowing how well the entire Dow performed during earnings season, I decided to take the research a step further and calculate the cumulative returns for each stock since three days after reporting earnings. For this metric, the period of time varied significantly, however the results were interesting nonetheless. In the period from three days after reporting earnings until Friday's close, an incredible 25 out of 27 stocks moved higher. The average return was over 3.5%, including significant gains from Bank of America (BAC), Alcoa (AA), Proctor & Gamble (PG) and Boeing (BA), which had each fallen more than 4% in the few days following their earnings reports. There are numerous interpretations of this data but I'll suggest a couple. The market has been expecting good earnings, so actual reports offered a buy the rumor, sell the news opportunity. After a few days, rumors of strong future earnings lifted nearly everyone. A different view might be that individually the earnings stories aren't that great, however expectations for future earnings are substantially positive enough to outweigh recent, backward looking earnings reports. (Interesting note: The remaining three Dow stocks reported earnings today. Home Depot (HD) and Walmart (WMT) both reported during pre-market hours and finished the session lower. Hewlett Packard (HPQ) reported after the close and was down nearly 8% at last check.) As today's market showed, a couple weeks of gains can be lost in a day. An interesting look at the best yearly starts in stock market history shows nearly all gains being given back in the first quarter before almost always moving higher toward the year end. Will this year be the same? Revolutions in the Middle East are creating significant headline risk and continue to spark upward pressure on oil prices. Something to consider, rising oil prices act as both a tax on the consumer and have a deflationary effect. As the Middle East consumes the headlines, European sovereign debt has been pushed off the radar. However, Portugal's yields have been moving higher and remain above 7%, the level that forced Greece and Ireland to accept bailouts. Don't be surprised if Portugal is forced to accept a bailout before the month's end. Also, austerity is starting to take hold at state and local levels in the U.S., as witnessed by recent rallies and shutting of schools in Wisconsin. These factors will all likely provide headwinds to the economic recovery and stock market as the year moves along. In regards to individual stocks, I recently sold my position in R.R. Donnelley (RRD) after a 20%+ gain. Although it's underperformed the market in the past couple months, I'd still recommend Abbott Labs (ABT) under $47. After today's move, I'd recommend starting positions in Microsoft (MSFT), under $26.70, and Astrazeneca (AZN), below $48.50. If the sell-off continues further, I'd look to add Walmart at $53. These suggestions are meant for investors with a time horizon of at least 2-3 years. Disclosure: Author has no position in RRD but holds long positions in ABT, AZN, MSFT and WMT.
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__label__neg Many people have given up on God. They feel that because things have not worked out the way they planned, serving God is not worth the time or the effort. This feeling and attitude comes from not understanding God. There are some things that man must understand in order to grasp God’s love and greatness of God. It must be understood that God is not man. God is omnipotent, omniscient and omnipresent. Man makes a mistake when he tries to bring God down to his level. That cannot be done. Man’s ways and God’s ways are not the same. “For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts” (Isaiah 55:8-9). Down through the ages, men have tried to help God when they thought things should happen a certain way, the way they wanted things to go. Our world would be a different place today if Abraham and Sarah had realized that God did not need their help. When Sarah could not bear children, she gave her handmaiden, Hagar, to Abraham to have his child. From this relationship, Ishmael was born. Later, after Sarah had the promised child Isaac, the Bible states she dealt harshly with Hagar and Ishmael so that they fled from her. The descendants of the two boys have been fighting ever since. Men need to learn to study and apply God’s word to their lives. It needs to be understood that while God is not man, God is for man. When we look at the Biblical account of creation, we see that God prepared the Earth for man to inhabit before he created man. God said, “Let us make man in our image, after our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the fowl of the air and over the cattle and over all the Earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the Earth” (Genesis 1:26). Man had air to breath, land to stand on, water to drink, plants for food and work to do (Genesis 1:29, 2:15). When God saw man was alone, God made help for man. (Genesis 2:20-25). The family was formed, with Adam and Eve living in the garden God prepared for them. God provided all the things man needed. Then when Satan tempted mankind, man gave in and failed to obey God’s commands. Yet even when man rebelled against God, God still cared about them. The great love God has for man was seen in his willingness to send Christ to die for all men. This is the greatest love story ever known to man; God is for man. Finally, it must be understood that God waits for man. God gave man the ability to choose whether or not to follow God. God has given man all that is needed to make the right choice. He gave the only sacrifice that could be given for man (Christ); he has given his word to be written down so that everyone can know what is expected of them. God wants all men to be saved, but he will not make man follow him. Peter wrote, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). God’s word teaches the necessity of faith, but not faith alone (James 2:17-19). Man must be willing to change his life or to repent, to confess that Jesus is the son of God, and then to be baptized for the forgiveness of sins.
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__label__neg No one can deny that the economy right now is awful and looking like it won’t be getting better any time soon. Millions of people go to work daily knowing that it is possible that they could get laid off at any time. For many young workers, this is their first exposure to such uncertainty and the tough times look like they are here to stay. Even though our President has said he is going to concentrate on jobs, you get the feeling it won’t make much difference and Obama jobs are just not going to materialize. If you are one of the unlucky ones that is without a job, you need to do as many things as you can to give yourself the best chance of getting hired again. Sitting around all day complaining and feeling sorry for yourself isn’t one of those productive things. You can try to make money from home online but for most people, getting a real job is the best option. Use The Online Job Sites Nowdays, you must have your resume posted at the online job search sites if you want to give yourself the best opportunity to have an employer find and hire you. Many companies now do some or even all their recruiting online. If you don’t have your resume online where employers can find it, you are at a big disadvantage to everyone else who does. If you are one of those people who still resists technology and computers, now is the time to start learning. The top free job search websites are: 1) Job.com is free and is one of the biggest websites where you can search for jobs in your area and post your resume online so employers can find and view it. 2) Monster.com is free and is the biggest of all the job web sites. You can both pst a resume and search for jobs. 3) Snagajob is also free and if you are looking for part time or hourly work, this site is the first place you should go. Go To Job Fairs If you are one of the ones looking for a job, you should seek out all the job fairs in you city. Even if they are not for the exact field you are in, it might be beneficial to go to all the ones that are related in any way to what you do. You never know what ideas you might get and what connections you might make by just getting yourself out there and mingling with both job searchers and employers. Job fairs are great because they are a collection of companies that are all hiring or foresee hiring in the near future. Jobs are not going to come to you if you just sit home all day and getting out and making contacts is the smart thing to do. Tell Your Friends and Neighbors Along the same line is to tell everyone you know that you are looking for a job. This includes friends, relatives, past co-workers, neighbors and anyone else that you are friendly with. This does not mean to go out and beg your friends to help you get a job: it just means to let people know that you are looking and if you are lucky one of them might be able to give you a lead or two. In this economy, your pride is not something that you should be worried about as everyone from janitors to company presidents are finding themselves out of work these days. Use Employment Agencies and Recruiters Many middle salary jobs are found through employment agencies and recruiters. You will find that many times, if you post your resume online at one of the job web sites, your resume will be seen by recruiters. The call or email you get will not be from the company itself but from a recruiter they have hired to help find potential candidates. Not only are you looking for a job but companies are always on the lookout for good talent that might fit in with their corporate culture. Job finding and has evolved and become a big business where there are lots of middlemen (recruiters) who’s only job it is to find people that might might qualify for jobs and to send them on to the various companies they work for. Companies of all sizes use recruiters to sift through all the job candidates and find the ones that have the most attributes they are looking for. You too can use an employment agency or recruiter to help you with your job search but you will have to be prepared to pay for it.
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__label__pos This report presents analysis of a database of global geothermal drilling success. The database, compiled by IFC, covers geothermal fields that together supply power to 71 percent of the world's installed geothermal electricity generating capacity, making it the largest database of its kind. ... See More + This report analyzes that data to gain a better understanding of the probability of drilling a successful well, and the factors that influence such success, which will be of interest to geothermal developers, and to financers engaged in the risk assessment of such projects. The core objective of this project was to develop a sufficiently large database to allow statistically significant conclusions to be drawn on the success rates of geothermal wells worldwide (expressed as the number of successful wells developed as a proportion of total wells drilled in any given field). This report seeks to assess the extent of any improvements in well success rates, and how far the likelihood of success increases as a developer learns more about any specific resource. For more publications on IFC Sustainability please visit www.ifc.org/sustainabilitypublications. See Less - Other Environmental Study 78230 JUN 01, 2013 Allen, Mike; Avato,Patrick Alexander; Gehringer,Magnus; GeothermEx; Harding-Newman,Tom; Levin,Jeremy; Loksha,Victor B.; Meng,Zhengjia; Moin,Sonia; Morrow, James; Oduolowu,Akin O.; Pantelias,Alexios; Sanyal,Subir Kumar Disclosed Title Document Date Report No. Document Type Also available in Success of geothermal wells : a global study (English) See More + JUN 01, 2013 78230 Other Environmental Study
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__label__neg WASHINGTON, Dec. 6 (Xinhua) -- The number of Americans applying for unemployment aid fell for the third consecutive week last week as the superstorm Sandy effect waned, the Labor Department said Thursday. The advance figure for seasonally adjusted initial claims for jobless benefits was 370,000 in the week ending Dec. 1, down 25,000 from the previous week's revised figure. However, the four-week moving average, which helps smooth out week-to-week volatility, still increased to 408,000, remaining above 375,000, considered the threshold for sustained job growth. Applications have mostly stayed near that level since spring, a level consistent with modest job growth. The advance figure for seasonally adjusted insured unemployment during the week ending Nov. 24 was 3.205 million, a decrease of 100,000 from the prior week. Jobless claims data were elevated for the past month by superstorm Sandy which swept the East Coast from North Carolina to Maine in late October. The Labor Department said the storm had little effect on the latest data. Although the storm-ravaged region has continued to recover, the global slowdown and looming U.S. fiscal tightening weighed on private hiring. To boost the anemic economic growth and labor market, the U.S. Federal Reserve announced in September that it would expand its holdings of mortgage debt until the labor market improved significantly.
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__label__pos By Gordon Gray, Director of Fiscal Policy at the American Action Forum It has been asserted as fact that the negotiations that produced the 2011 “What happened in 2011 is that Republicans in Congress demanded – said they would let America default for the first time in its history if they did not get the items on their agenda. That was consequential and it was unprecedented, and the result was bad for everyone.” -- White House Press Secretary Jay Carney Budget Control Act, which increased the debt limit in exchange for spending reduction, were unique. This assertion has been deployed by the administration to paint Republicans as irresponsible and to advance an argument that Congress should cede its authority over the debt limit. But history has shown that debt limit debates produce a legislative rarity – bipartisan deficit reduction. A review of past debt limit increases suggests that the August 2011 debate was neither unprecedented nor irresponsible, but rather it shared key characteristics with the debt limit debate of the mid-1990s. This debate equaled, if not exceeded the rancor and stretched the technical capacity of the Treasury’s ability to avoid default. Of note, it also preceded a period of fiscal surplus that saw a $450 billion increase in borrowing authority suffice without increase for 59 months. A Legislative History of Debt Limit Increases The Debt Limit In Context There are several unique aspects of this legislative experience. The first of which is the April 6, 1993 temporary increase in the limit, which would have seen the Treasury’s borrowing authority snap back to $4,145 billion after September 30th of that year. It is unclear how such a reversion would have been resolved if it had been allowed to transpire, but such an eventuality certainly would have threatened potential default on tranches of debt coming due after September 30th. The April 6th measure is the last time the United States enacted a temporary increase in Treasury’s overall borrowing authority. Another key feature, and one also not seen since, is the pair of temporary exemptions in borrowing needed to liquidate Social Security obligations. These measures reflect the degree to which the United States had reached its technical borrowing limit. If these measures had not been put in place the United States could have missed the timely payment of Social Security benefits or risked default on other elements of Treasury’s debt portfolio. During this same period, the Secretary of the Treasury exercised extraordinary powers to operate under the debt ceiling without breach. Outside observers were also noted the great uncertainty that attached to this episode of executive-legislative tug of war. Both Fitch and Moody’s placed certain tranches of Treasury debt on review for downgrade – a significant precedent at the time. The adversarial dynamic that existed between the Republican Congress and the Clinton administration at the time equaled or perhaps exceeded the degree of hostility that currently prevails. In addition to the two well-known government shutdowns, President Clinton vetoed 10 bills sent by the Congress, including a debt limit bill. Several distinctions emerged from the resolution of the debt-limit confrontation of the mid to late 1990s that should inform any assessment of current and looming debt limit negotiations. These debates are messy, but should serve as rare catalysts for policymakers to acknowledge minority views and establish a framework for the difficult task of deficit reduction. The 2011 debate reflects these characteristics. President Obama had super-majorities in both chambers of Congress for two years of his presidency. But once that partisan advantage was gone in 2011, he could not expect to sign into law a clean debt-limit increase passed along near pure party lines (George Voinovich and Evan Bayh essentially swapped votes) as he did after the Congress increased the debt limit on Christmas Eve in 2009. Rather, the debt limit debate of 2011 required the president to acknowledge the opposition party – and the debt crisis – in a way that he had not since taking office. The result, while certainly produced through an imperfect process, was the first meaningful deficit reduction discussion of the Obama presidency. Gordon Gray currently serves as the Director of Fiscal Policy at the American Action Forum (AAF). Prior to joining AAF, Gray served as senior policy advisor to Senator Rob Portman and as policy director on the Senator's campaign. Gray has also worked for the Senate Budget Committee as professional staff and before that was deputy director of domestic and economic policy for Senator John McCain's presidential campaign. Gray also spent several years with the American Enterprise Institute. Politics & Government Debt American Action Forum Congress
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__label__pos Why You Must Encourage Family Days Out There are lots of parents who are more likely to spend their time at work and lesser time with their children due to burdensome and stressful work schedule as well as lack of finances. Previous researchers suggest that families of today spend as little as 49 minutes per day together. Family days out could provide lots of benefits for each and every member of the family whether you believe it or not. Below, I have cited some benefits that you and your family can enjoy when engaging in such activity. Create family bonds – your family is basically your first support network and you can create a sense of security by strengthening your bond with them. With this, everyone would be connected emotionally to each other and prevent arguments to take place. Improving academic performance – the beauty of having family days out is the fact that it is packed with opportunities to learn and new experiences. Getting your children to be interested in nature, science, history, reading and so on could have a huge impact on how they are going to cope up with their academics. Your children will see you as their first teacher so everything that you do from how you communicate and behave, they will do it as well. You can actually extend this by having family days out. Options: 10 Mistakes that Most People Make Less behavioral problems – if you give much importance to the communication and collaboration of your family, then your kids will have less issues with their behavior. The most effective way to battle problems and make us to express ourselves is through communication. Building social skills can help your children to know how they can deal with issues that they are facing in the future. It can open up the opportunities to talk about important conversations with family days out. Smart Ideas: Events Revisited Parental fun – what’s basically the point to have a child if he/she does not give you excuse to act one? Days out provide the chance for parents and their kids as well to unwind, focus on the stress of life and have fun. In an effort to catch up with them and make new memories too, it is essential that you use your time wisely. When they live independently, for sure you would be happy that you made lots of pictures and memories those days. Keeping active – there are many different activities done in family days out. It is vitally important to get out of your home as it promotes physical health of everyone. Having a sedentary way of living can lead to negative impact for you and for your kids. A wonderful way to stay active and have fun at the same time is by exploring new places and going for a walk. Recent Posts Recent Comments Archives Categories Sitemap
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__label__neg More than half of Americans believe that patients in the US receive better quality of care than elsewhere in the world, but only 45% say that the US has the best healthcare system in the world. In a previous post, I took a quick look at the US healthcare system and compared it to other developed countries on cost, quality and access. A recent report examines the latest scientific evidence available in comparing the US to other countries on quality of care. Quality of care, for starters, is defined as “doing the right thing at the right time in the right way for the right person and having the best results possible.” The most important indicators of quality include life expectancy, amenable mortality, screening rates, vaccination rates, disease-specific morbidity and mortality rates, cancer survival rates, and medical error rates. It is well known that US does not perform well on life expectancy at birth. However, when life expectancy at age 65 is considered, the US is above the average of most developed countries (the reason being that all Americans over 65 have good coverage under Medicare). On “amenable mortality,” a measure of deaths that could have been prevented with good healthcare, the US ranks dead last among 19 developed nations. On preventative care, the evidence is a bit mixed. One study reported that the US has higher percentages of women reporting having had a pap smear and a mammography in the last two years than five other countries. Also, the US has the highest rate of cervical cancer screening rate among 22 developed countries, and above-average flu vaccination rates for senior citizens among 30 developed countries. However, childhood vaccination rates in the US are lower than the average for all developed countries. On chronic conditions, adult hospital admission rates for asthma (an indicator of low quality care) was the second highest in the US among 17 other countries, while US-asthma mortality rates was double the average observed 25 countries. On the other hand, US diabetic patients rank high compared to other countries on receiving recommended services for their conditions. One of the brightest spots on the American quality report card comes from cancer care. Compared to 17 European countries, the US is #1 on survival rates for cancer of the colon, rectum, breast and prostate, and among the highest on survival rates for melanoma, ovarian cancer, cervical cancer and Hodgkin’s-disease and non-Hodgkin’s disease lymphoma. International comparisons on patient safety are problematic due to differences in reporting of errors between the countries, but some evidence suggests that the US may have more medical mishaps. In summary, debates on whether quality of care in the US system is the best in the world should be based on more scientific and disease-specific data. On some areas, such as cancer care, we do really well. On other areas such as mortality from conditions that could be prevented and treated, we do less well.
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