Question: Describe how big data and data science are influencing drug development and health decision-making in the pharmaceuticals industry. Respond in 35 sentences.

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 Describe how big data and data science are influencing drug development and health decision-making in the pharmaceuticals industry. Respond in 35 sentences.

The emergence of big data, as well as advancements in data science approaches and technology, is providing pharmaceutical companies with an opportunity to gain novel insights that can enhance and accelerate drug development. It will increasingly help government health agencies, payers, and providers to make decisions about such issues as drug discovery, patient access, and marketing. From our unique vantage points at Genentech, a leading biotechnology company with a major data science practice, and The Data Incubator, a data-science education company that places and trains data scientists, we have seen how the pharmaceuticals industry has leveraged big data for some potentially revolutionary advances and the challenges it has faced along the way.
For the industry, the biggest challenge by far has been talent: upgrading skill sets from those sufficient to analyze relatively small amounts of clinical trial data to those required to gain insights from the vast amount of real-world data, including unstructured data such as physicians’ notes, scans and images, and pathology reports. The pharmaceuticals industry has seen an explosion in the amount of available data beyond that collected from traditional, tightly controlled clinical trial environments. To be sure, anonymized insurance-claims data and electronic health record (EHR) data has been accessed and analyzed for many years. But in the past, EHR data was often limited to a single research institution or provider network, and obtaining the data needed to help answer a specific research question usually involved a tedious and inefficient process. While much still needs to be done to create standardized methods for sharing and making sense of anonymized EHR and genomic data across providers, it is now possible to link different data sources, which allows complex research questions to be addressed.
Exploring cutting edge ways to lower costs and improve quality.
For example, the analysis of comprehensive EHR patient data collected in real time during doctor or hospital visits provides an opportunity to better understand diseases, treatment patterns, and clinical outcomes in an uncontrolled, real-world setting. These valuable insights complement those gained from clinical trials and can provide an opportunity to assess a wider spectrum of patients that are traditionally excluded from clinical trials (e.g., elderly, frail, or immobile patients, as well as people with rare indications and diseases not yet studied in clinical trials). It also allows companies to assess real-world challenges that cannot be observed in a clinical trial, such as drug compliance and the utilization of health care resources.
While these advances are generating great opportunities, they also pose resourcing and capability development challenges. One of the biggest is how to make the transition from legacy technology and analytical competence to more-powerful and sophisticated analytical tools and analysis methodologies.
Historically, the pharmaceutical industry has recruited SAS programmers who have executed well-defined analyses of clinical trials in a standardized, efficient manner. This worked well, given that clinical trials have been designed to answer questions about efficacy and safety with clean data sets in an industry-standard structure with few missing values.
But real-world data comes in a variety of different formats, is often highly unstructured (containing textual and other nonnumeric data), and is rife with missing values. It is messy data, filled with inconsistencies, potential biases, and noise. These attributes force data scientists to find creative ways to answer critical research questions to support drug research and development and ultimately to provide patients with access to the right therapies.
Consequently, there is an emerging need for analysts and data scientists who can take full advantage of tools and techniques developed in Silicon Valley that are capable of handling noisy data and presenting results to stakeholders in a simple, easy-to-interpret way. These analysts must be able to deal with ambiguity and be collaborative, entrepreneurial, and adaptive in their approaches. They must be able to apply “options thinking” to figure out what questions to ask, what data to examine, and what methodologies and technologies to use to address the aim. They must also have a deep knowledge of the health care system, including its standard practices, in order to understand how the data was originally collected, what biases may exist, and how it can be repurposed to answer clinical research questions.
Genentech, which is owned by F. Hoffmann-La Roche, has been building such capability for two years. In addition to investing in data partnerships and analytics tools, it has built a big-data infrastructure — a platform that can analyze billions of patient records in seconds. It has been aggressively recruiting and developing people with the requisite skills, partnering with universities and firms such as The Data Incubator to recruit and train data scientists, and it now has an entrepreneurial global team of more than 80.
A recent example of the kind of work it conducts is the creation of a database on a historical cohort of real-world patients previously diagnosed with cancer. The team analyzed their data to understand the outcomes of different patient subtypes and treatment regimens. This helped Genentech learn how different biomarker alterations and different treatment patterns affect clinical outcomes in the real world. This information will ultimately support critical drug development decisions. Genentech is also utilizing real-world data in other therapeutic areas, such as neuroscience, where drug development is notoriously challenging, in order to better understand the variability of disease patterns, progression rates, and treatment responses, and to quantify cost dynamics as diseases advance.
It will not be easy to learn how to tap the full potential of real-world data. But it can be done. The potential to use that data to improve drug discovery and get the right treatments to the right patients at the right time is enormous.
Ryan Copping, a data scientist, is the global head of real world data science analytics at Genentech, which is part of Hoffmann-La Roche.


Question: What do you know about Frank Zappa's appearance on the Joe Pyne Show?

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 What do you know about Frank Zappa's appearance on the Joe Pyne Show?

Joe Pyne (December 22, 1925- March 23, 1970) was an American radio presenter and a prototypical version of what would become known as Shock Jocks. He had developed his confrontational style since his early radio shows in the late 1940s. He would often start an interview with an insult to wrong foot his guests. On October 22, 1966  Zappa, along with a bunch of LA freaks and the Cherry Sisters, appeared on the show. According to legend Pyne tried to insult Zappa by making a comment about his long hair, which went: "So I guess your long hair makes you a woman." Zappa then supposedly quipped back: "So, I guess your wooden leg makes you a table!", referring to the fact that Pyne had lost a leg while serving with the U.S Marines during World War II.
Although the opening parry is well known no recording of this particular show has surfaced until now.
Globalia article about the incident.
This page was last modified on 25 January 2017, at 13:59.
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Question: "Provide information about the band Briskeby."

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 "Provide information about the band Briskeby."

Briskeby is an electropop band from Larvik, Norway. Bjørn Bergene, Claus Heiberg Larsen and Bård Helgeland are from Larvik, while Lise Karlsnes is from Tønsberg.


Question: Do you have any information about the RHI scheme?

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 Do you have any information about the RHI scheme?

A senior Sinn Fein figure privately took credit for keeping the RHI scheme open – and told a woman hoping to install a boiler that the party wanted to see as many people in her position getting approval as possible, according to evidence published last night.
Máirtín Ó Muilleoir made the comments in a private email which the RHI Inquiry has compelled his party colleague Conor Murphy – to whom it was copied – to release.
Within months of endorsing a strategy which added to the RHI bill, Mr Ó Muilleoir would be Sinn Fein finance minister, with responsibility of attempting to plug holes in Stormont’s budget created as a result of the huge RHI bill.
The revelation further undermines Sinn Fein vice president Michelle O’Neill’s claim at the height of the scandal in January 2017 that her party “shut it down straight away” when the problems became clear.
The email also backs up the evidence which former DUP Spad Tim Cairns gave to the inquiry earlier this month, when he said that Arlene Foster told him and his minister, Jonathan Bell, that it was Sinn Fein which wanted to keep the scheme open for two more weeks.
By that stage, the scheme was operating with cost controls – but keeping it open added to the bill to taxpayers.
Mr Ó Muilleoir had been emailed by Aisling Brady, community development manager at the Torrent Complex in Donnaghmore, on February 11 2016, the day that Mr Bell announced that RHI would be kept open for another two weeks until February 29.
However, she told the Sinn Fein MLA that “still isn’t enough time for us”.
Internal civil service emails show that there was high level concern about the two-week delay, because of the fact that by then Stormont knew that it - and not the Treasury, as it had initially believed - was footing the bill for the vast RHI overspend.
Dr McCormick replied to say that the delay had been agreed “through the usual channels” and said “my understanding is that legitimate authority and approval exists for the announcement”.
DUP leader Arlene Foster will today appear before the inquiry for what is likely to be a significant evidence session.


Question: Describe the impact of BC's new NDP government during its first year in office. Respond in 41 sentences.

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 Describe the impact of BC's new NDP government during its first year in office. Respond in 41 sentences.

The first anniversary of BC’s new NDP government, backed by three Green Party MLAs, is coming up in July. A year ago this month, Christy Clark’s defeated BC Liberals were still desperately clinging to office, even presenting a Throne Speech based on the NDP’s campaign platform. That bizarre gambit failed. John Horgan became premier, while Clark soon abandoned her promise to remain as Opposition leader.
Since then, the NDP government and its Green partners have brought forward a budget addressing some of the most vicious cuts imposed by the Liberals. Social assistance and disability rates have increased, and the minimum wage is on the way up, although in both cases not nearly as much as anti-poverty activists have demanded. More funding has been provided for a range of programs, from child care to health and public education, but again falling short of the growing needs of working people.
One widely condemned move by the Horgan government was its decision to finish the controversial Site C dam, which will flood valuable agricultural land and violate the treaty rights of First Nations in northeastern BC. That move was said to be in the name of “fiscal responsibility,” since cancellation would cost taxpayers several billion dollars.
All these and many other policy initiatives by the Horgan government have been adopted in the context of claims that the province lacks sufficient revenue to make more radical change possible. Some progressive movements, and the Communist Party of BC, have argued all along that the best way to boost provincial revenues was to reverse the huge tax breaks for corporations and wealthy individuals. Brought in by former Libeal premier Gordon Campbell after his first victory in 2001, these breaks add up to an estimated $2.5-3 billion annually, but the NDP has refused to consider anything more than token measures to claw back some of this vast wealth.
Instead, the NDP has looked for ways to push at the margins, such as its “thirty step” plan to address the housing crisis. Overall, the new government remains fairly high in the polls, but some of these steps have generated anger in certain areas.
For example, the 2018-19 budget includes a “school tax” increase. This special surcharge of 0.2% on the value of homes worth over $3 million, and 0.4% on homes valued at over $4 million, would bring in $250 million over the next three years. But it has sparked a revolt by some residents of areas like the west side of Vancouver, where the spectacular rise in home prices over the last two decades has turned many into “house rich” millionaires, at least on paper.
One argument is that the school tax unfairly hits people with relatively low incomes, such as seniors. Others say that their now-expensive homes are their only pension plan. The government points out that the surcharge can be deferred for seniors or families with children, and that it mainly affects those whose assets have grown wildly during the real estate boom.
It is true that the surcharge seems unfair to many working people who struggled for decades to buy a home, and then were lucky enough to see its value rise. But one must ask: what kind of society bases its pension plans on real estate bubbles? What happens when that bubble inevitably bursts? And what about working class and poor people, the renters who never had a down payment or a well-paying stable job to allow them to buy a home? Do their rent payments become the “pensions” of rich landlords and real estate developers? Shouldn’t the government’s priority be to fix the shredded social safety net for those in greatest need?
Many of these debates could be resolved quickly if the NDP reversed the Campbell tax cuts. The resulting revenues could have halted the Site C dam immediately, and put billions more into health, education, social assistance, and public transit. Similarly, if the government simply stopped giving taxpayer dollars to elite private schools, the controversial school surcharge might be unnecessary. But the NDP refuses to consider such policies, which of course would enrage the wealthiest sections of the population.
Now, another shocking revelation about budget and fiscal policy in BC has come to light. Environment and resource policy analyst Ben Parfitt, from the BC office of the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, reports that resource corporations are paying much less in royalties today than a decade ago, and that the new government has amended the Petroleum and Natural Gas Act to prevent the public from knowing the details.
In 2008, Parfitt says, the province received $1.16 billion in royalties on fossil fuel production. By 2017, natural gas production in BC had increased a whopping 72%, and other categories of fossil fuels even more quickly. Most of this higher output was piped to Alberta’s tar sands industry. But thanks to huge subsidies from the province, the companies were paid only $147 million in royalties in 2017 – a decline of almost 90 percent.
Parfitt estimates that over the last decade, British Columbians lost out on about $5 billion in falling royalty revenues. His report is available online and worth reading (http://vancouversun.com/opinion/op-ed/ben-parfitt-british-columbians-shortchanged-billions-from-fossil-fuel-industry-revenues).
The NDP government claims it can’t afford to roll out its new child care plan in less than a decade, or to raise social assistance rates more quickly, or to build enough low-income housing to end homelessness, even when the money is right there in front of our eyes. Clearly the rich still have far more clout on the west coast then the rest of us, even when Horgan’s cabinet includes a number of labour and social justice advocates. That’s the story of social democratic governments everywhere in the “advanced capitalist” world.


Question: "How can I enable the Google Camera port on my Essential Phone?"

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 "How can I enable the Google Camera port on my Essential Phone?"

Those of you following our recent articles about updates to the Google Camera app will notice that there has been a huge amount of new features ported to other devices, but sadly on the Essential Phone, there are many problems. These include the sound cutting out and breaking the stock camera on the device when used which makes the app unusable as a daily driver camera replacement. This is a problem as previously it was shown that the Google Camera port actually does a lot for the Essential Phone’s camera quality.
However, thanks to XDA Senior Member aer0zer0 those on the Essential Phone can enjoy the latest Google Camera port from the Pixel 2, which includes full support for HDR+, portrait mode, and AR stickers. It comes in the form of a Magisk module too, so all you need to do is install it and your Essential Phone can support the Google Camera app and make use of all of its features.
The module makes quite a few changes so that anybody can enjoy the Pixel 2 camera features on their Essential Phone. These changes include the device’s media profiles, SELinux changes, calibration changes, and enabling the Camera2 API. All of these changes can be reverted simply by uninstalling the Magisk module, so nothing is permanently changed and thus any problems can be rectified quickly.
If you want to give it a try, check out the link down below and flash the Magisk module. That’s all you need to do! These changes are Essential Phone specific, so be careful if you try it on another device. You can use it as a template for creating your own module, but it’s very unlikely that it will work out of the box on other devices.


Question: Can good sense of humor protect you from stress?

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 Can good sense of humor protect you from stress?

Ask a psychologist the answer to this question – posed in this case by Morrissey in The Smiths song, How soon is now? – and she might reply “within the next three seconds”.
The idea that “now”, also known as the “subjective present”, is constrained within this time limit has proved popular. But a new evaluation in Psychological Bulletin of dozens of research papers on everything from embraces and reading poetry to tapping along to a beat concludes that there’s no good evidence for it. Our experience of the present cannot, it seems, be so strictly defined.
Plenty of events that we perceive as happening at the same time actually don’t quite co-occur, of course. An intriguing illustration of this comes, for example, from the neurological patient known in the literature as PH. This man hears people’s voices before he registers the movement of their lips. At first, he thought the TV wasn’t correctly dubbed, but then he realised the same thing was happening with people he was talking to. Evaluation of his case led the researchers involved to conclude that there are various clocks in the brain, and PH has developed problems with the coordination of those linked to vision and hearing.
Still, there’s only about a 200-millisecond time difference between our brain’s processing of the sight of someone’s lips moving and the sound of their voice. So how big can a discrepancy get for a healthy brain not only to cease perceiving events as simultaneous, but to stop binding perceptions together into “the present”?
In his new critique of the three-second theory, Peter White at Cardiff University first considers evidence put forward from experiments into duration perception: if someone sounds a tone for two seconds, say, or eight seconds, how good is somebody else at holding down a button for the same length of time?
Ernst Pöppel at the Ludwig-Maximillian University of Munich, Germany, has claimed that at about three seconds or under, we’re accurate, but beyond that, we under-estimate durations – which, he’s argued, supports the idea of two different brain processing modes: one for events that last less than three seconds, and one for events that take longer. This supports the idea that “now” lasts up to three seconds, he argues. In fact, a clear-cut boundary between performance below or over three-second durations does not exist, argues White. Rather, it seems that as the duration of a tone gradually gets longer, our performance tends to gradually worsen, too, and there’s no clear evidence of a shift in accuracy at the three-second mark.
How about work investigating how well we can tap along to a beat? While some studies support the idea that we’re relatively accurate when the beat intervals are less than three seconds (which, again, Pöppel argues, suggests that we automatically process and integrate events that take three seconds or less as chunks of “now”), others just don’t, White points out.
But there’s a significant methodological problem with at least some of the research, agues White: “How is a behavioural unit identified?” White cites research finding that when lay volunteers are shown videos or animations of human behaviour – such as an actor using a keyboard or chasing someone – and are asked to break these behaviours down into the smallest units that seem natural, their segments generally last a lot longer than three seconds.
Can a good sense of humour protect you from stress?


Question: What is the plot of the film Sombrero?

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 What is the plot of the film Sombrero?

Sombrero is a 1953 American film directed by Norman Foster and starring Ricardo Montalbán, Pier Angeli, Vittorio Gassman and Cyd Charisse.


Question: Describe the provisions of the 2018 United States appropriations act for NASA. Respond in 44 sentences.

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 Describe the provisions of the 2018 United States appropriations act for NASA. Respond in 44 sentences.

The House Appropriations Committee released its version of the final FY2018 “omnibus” appropriations bill this evening. It provides $20.7 billion for NASA, an increase of almost $1.1 billion over FY2017. Almost all of NASA’s programs would benefit from the increase, but science, education, and a second mobile platform for the Space Launch System are big winners. NASA is currently operating under a Continuing Resolution (CR) that expires at midnight on Friday. Congressional leaders are hoping the omnibus bill will be passed by then.
The omnibus, or consolidated, appropriations bill combines funding for most government agencies. NASA is part of Division B, Commerce-Justice-Science.
The $20.736 billion recommended for NASA is $1.083 billion more than what NASA received for FY2017 ($19.653 billion) and an increase of $1.644 billion over the Trump Administration’s FY2018 request ($19.092 billion).
The following are a few highlights from the bill and accompanying report language. All comparisons are to FY2017 appropriations unless otherwise specified.
Science would get $6,221.5 million, an increase of $456.6 million. Report language explicitly states the bill “reiterates the importance of the decadal survey process and rejects the cancellation of scientific priorities” they recommend.
That may be a reference to a proposal by the Trump Administration in the FY2019 budget request to terminate the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Telescope (WFIRST), the top priority for a large flagship mission recommended by the most recent decadal survey for astrophysics. Congress has been very supportive of WFIRST in the past and this bill would increase funding from the FY2018 request of $127 million to $150 million. Overall, astrophysics would get $850 million, compared to $750 million in FY2017. The bill fully funds the James Webb Space Telescope, which has its own budget line item separate from the rest of astrophysics, but also continues to include the $8 billion cap on development costs. NASA is expected to release the results of an independent review next week that may indicate that the project will exceed that cap.
Planetary Science also would get a significant increase: $2.228 billion compared to $1.846 billion in FY2017. The bill continues to direct NASA to build two spacecraft to explore Jupiter’s moon Europa — an orbiter/flyby and a lander. It provides $595 million to build both and continues to direct that they be launched on NASA’s Space Launch System (SLS) by 2022 and 2024 respectively. At the direction of Congress, NASA is currently building the orbiter/flyby spacecraft, called Europa Clipper, but asserts it cannot be launched until 2025 and on a commercial rocket, not SLS. It is not building the lander despite past congressional direction to do. The bill also provides $660 million for robotic Mars exploration, including funds to support a Mars sample return mission. Mars sample return and Europa were the two highest priorities for flagship missions in the most recent decadal survey for planetary science.
Earth science fares quite well compared to the FY2018 request. In total, it would be funded at $1.921 billion, the same amount as in FY2017. The Trump Administration had proposed cancelling five earth science missions: PACE, CLARREO-Pathfinder, OCO-3, the Earth-facing instruments on DSCOVR, and the Radiation Budget Instrument (RBI) that was to be placed on NOAA’s JPSS-2 spacecraft. Instead, the bill funds the first four. (NASA has again proposed cancelling them in the FY2019 budget request). NASA terminated RBI on its own in January. Report language directs NASA to “preserve the significant investment made to date when closing out the program” and report to Congress on how it plans to obtain the data that RBI would have collected.
Space Technology gets an increase from $686.5 million in FY2017 to $760 million in FY2018. It includes $130 million for the RESTORE-L satellite servicing technology development and demonstration mission, rejecting the Trump Administration’s proposal to restructure it as a technology development program only (without a demonstration). It also specifies $75 million for nuclear thermal propulsion.
The biggest change in the Exploration account is the addition of $350 million to build a second mobile launch platform for the Space Launch System (SLS) at Kennedy Space Center. There is only one now and it would have to be modified to accommodate the larger upper stage that will be used after the first SLS launch. It will take 33 months to make those modifications so advocates want to build a second platform to accelerate when the second launch can take place. SLS and Orion are funded at the same level as in FY2017 ($2.15 billion and $1.35 billion respectively), and Exploration Ground Systems (separate from the second mobile launch platform) gets an increase from $429 million to $545 million. In total, Exploration would be funded at $4.790 billion, compared to $4.324 billion in FY2017.
The bill restores $100 million for Education, the same amount that was provided in FY2017. The Trump Administration wanted to eliminate NASA’s Office of Education and the four programs it funds, requesting only enough money for close-out costs. Instead, this bill provides $18 million for EPSCoR, $40 million for Space Grant, $32 million for MUREP, and $10 million for SEAP. (The Trump Administration has also proposed eliminating this office and those programs in the FY2019 request).
The bill continues to include the so-called “Wolf amendment,” originally written by former Congressman Frank Wolf, prohibiting NASA from engaging in bilateral space cooperation with China unless certain conditions are met and Congress is notified.


Question: Describe the economic reforms that have taken place in Cuba since 2008.

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 Describe the economic reforms that have taken place in Cuba since 2008.

HAVANA (Reuters) - President Raul Castro’s efforts to modernize Cuba’s Soviet-style centrally planned economy have borne mixed results, with some initiatives moving forward, others stalled and still others either scuttled or yet to begin.
The effort can best be viewed as building on policy changes Cuba initiated after the fall of the Soviet Union, for example allowing foreign investment and some mom-and-pop businesses.
Late former President Fidel Castro termed these changes “concessions to the enemy” while Raul Castro has cast them in a more positive light and said they are an indispensable part of Cuba’s future.
The ruling Communist Party says the process has been harder than expected and most of the reforms, which were first adopted at a Party congress in 2011 and then ratified in 2016, are still a work in progress.
Some of the changes that are under way, for example the development of a private sector, have been subject to constant tinkering and increasing complaints about both growing social inequality and tighter regulation.
The government began leasing fallow state-owned land to prospective farmers in 2008. Since then the length, size and terms of leases have improved, although farmers must agree to cultivate certain crops or raise livestock for sale to the state.
Currently 151,000 people hold leases covering 1.2 million hectares (3 million acres) of land, similar to five years ago.
A sweeping agriculture reform began in 2010 and included loosening regulations on farmers to favor market forces and prices. The market reforms were reversed and the state dominated system restored in 2015 on the grounds that speculation was inflating prices.
Regulations around small businesses were liberalized in 2010 as part of an effort to cut bloated state payrolls. Entrepreneurs were still categorized as self-employed rather than as business owners, however they were authorized for the first time since 1968 to hire non-family labor.
Simultaneously the state began shedding small service outlets such as barber shops and snack shops in favor of arrangements where employees would lease the premises. A pilot program authorizing non-agricultural cooperatives began in 2013.
There are 580,000 self-employed license holders, including cab drivers, tradesmen and the employees of thousands of private eateries, bed and breakfasts, and construction contractors. The private sector includes 429 cooperatives, many of them former state establishments.
The government began reorganizing and merging thousands of companies in 2011, even as it moved them out of the direct control of government ministries. The government aimed to make the companies more autonomous and competitive and said it would regulate and tax businesses, not manage them.
There have been numerous adjustments to regulations aimed at giving the companies, which account for some 70 percent of Cuba’s economic activity, more authority over day-to-day operations, as well as how they handle excess production after meeting their production quotas and after-tax profit.
However, the government still exercises strict control through levers such as centralized planning and a monopoly on foreign trade.
The government authorized the buying and selling of homes and cars in 2011 after a ban dating from soon after the 1959 revolution. Owners were also authorized to rent their premises. However, citizens remain restricted to ownership of one home and a vacation home and the sale of new cars, which are all imported, remains in state hands at a mark-up of on average 800 percent of the factory price.
In 2012 Cuba adopted its first comprehensive tax code since all personal taxes were abolished after the revolution. Levies on income, property, inheritance, and fallow farmland were among those included, in addition to various contributions and fees, for example to social security.
The taxes are being gradually implemented. The majority of state workers still do not pay income tax. The self-employed, farmers and workers making more than 2,500 pesos per month, the equivalent of just over $100 and three times the average wage, do.
A new foreign investment law in 2014 opened up most of the economy, cut taxes by around 50 percent and provided greater flexibility in terms of majority ownership by foreign investors in ventures partnering with the state, compared with a previous law adopted in the 1990s.
In 2017 the country signed new ventures valued at more than $2 billion, around twice the amount signed during any previous year.
A China-style special development zone also opened at Mariel, just west of Havana, with further tax and customs breaks and where most projects are fully owned by investors.


Question: Describe Fairland University. Respond in 123 words.

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 Describe Fairland University. Respond in 123 words.

The campus of Fairland University is located at 30/34 Eden Road, Walukuba Masese Zone, within the city of Jinja, Uganda's second largest commercial center, approximately , by road, east of Kampala, the capital of Uganda. The coordinates of the university campus are:0° 26' 24.00"N, 33° 14' 15.00"E (Latitude:0.440000; Longitude:33.237500)...
The university is privately owned by a corporation known as "Fairland University Limited". At first housed in a congested residential neighborhood, the university has since shifted to more spacious premises. It has received accreditation from the Uganda National Council for Higher Education, and is ranked among the leading educational institutions in the state of Uganda. The university is non-residential, with students finding accommodation in independent students' hostels, located close to the university campus authority.


Question: What is the impact of reduced funding on environmental research at WSU?

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 What is the impact of reduced funding on environmental research at WSU?

With reduced funding, research on natural resources, such as in the Columbia River Basin, may be scaled back. The Snake River, as seen on Oct. 26, feeds into the Columbia River.
Three WSU colleges will cease to provide funding to two of the university’s environmental centers, both hubs of interdisciplinary efforts to study water issues, climate change and sustainability.
The Water Research Center and the Center for Environmental Research, Education and Outreach have both received slightly under $100,000 annually for the past three years from colleges that are now ending their financial support as they work to meet President Kirk Schulz’s order to pare down spending by 2.5 percent across the university.
CEREO Director Stephanie Hampton said the loss of funding comes at a time of momentum for the center. She said they received a “glowing review” on an external evaluation last year.
The College of Arts and Sciences, the Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture, and the College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences have funded the centers under an agreement that went into effect in 2014 and is set to expire at the end of the year. Hampton noted there was no expectation the colleges would continue funding the centers.
The centers both also receive funding from the Office of Research, and CEREO receives funding from the Provost’s Office and the Graduate School as well.
Hampton said the shortfall won’t cripple the center, but she added that it isn’t a trivial amount either. WRC Director Jonathan Yoder said the WRC is in the same situation.
“It was enough that we have to do things differently,” he said.
With nearly $100,000 less in the coming year, Yoder said the WRC will have to cut an associate director position and divert money from research, education and outreach to pay for administrative salaries.
He said they will also have to eliminate funding for one of their seed grants, which fund preliminary research on water resource issues, typically for early-career professionals and graduate students.
Hampton said CEREO, which will have about $90,000 less, won’t be able to give out any seed grants this year, and will have to be frugal in the workshops and speakers it brings to campus.
CEREO and the WRC share a clinical assistant professor who was previously funded by the colleges, and both will now have to use grant money to fund the position. Hampton said CEREO has about $8.4 million in active grants.
Both CEREO and the WRC draw on faculty from a wide range of fields, such as biological sciences, communication and civil engineering, to collaborate on projects related to environmental issues.
Hampton said faculty members founded CEREO 10 years ago as a way to focus on research that blended many academic areas of expertise.
“Sometimes it’s hard to do if you’re just based in a single college,” Hampton said.
CEREO’s current projects include research into the management of natural resources like food, energy and water in the Columbia River Basin, and the social, economic and political dynamics of fire management.
The WRC is one of 54 National Institutes for Water Research, and because of this it receives about $90,000 per year from the U.S. Geological Survey.
Both Hampton and Yoder said they will continue to pursue extramural funding. Hampton said they regularly seek large grants from organizations like the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, which help to boost the center’s activity. She added that the WSU Foundation keeps an eye out for donors interested in environmental programs.
Mittelhammer listed CEREO, the WRC and the Kamiak High Performance Computing facility as three examples. Aurora Clark, director of the Center for Institutional Research Computing, said via email that they anticipated this loss of funding for Kamiak and were not relying on it.
The College of Arts and Sciences memo from Dean Daryll Dewald also mentions reduced funding to WSU centers and programs, but does not name any.
The directors of communication for both CAHNRS and the College of Arts and Sciences declined to specify which other centers and programs the colleges would withdraw funding from.


Question: What is the background of George Forrest VC, recipient of the Victoria Cross? Respond in 1 sentences.

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 What is the background of George Forrest VC, recipient of the Victoria Cross? Respond in 1 sentences.

George Forrest VC (1800 – 3 November 1859) was born St Michael's, Dublin and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.


Question: Have you heard about the possible impact of Hurricane Irma on President Trump’s properties?

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 Have you heard about the possible impact of Hurricane Irma on President Trump’s properties?

Ire and fury are expected to rain down on several properties owned by President Donald Trump that lie in the projected path of Hurricane Irma.
Three of the 12 Trump-named U.S. golf courses are in south Florida and due for impact, as well as Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate, dubbed his "Winter White House." The private club and resort with an estimated value of $175 million lies in the mandatory evacuation zone announced for Palm Beach County last night.
“Our teams at our four properties in Florida are taking all of the proper precautions and are following local and Florida State Advisories very closely to help ensure that everyone is kept safe and secure," a Trump Organization spokesperson said in an emailed statement to NBC News.
The three privately owned properties in Florida have been closed. Guests at Trump's National Doral Hotel have been encouraged to find somewhere else to stay, the spokesperson said, and no new reservations are being accepted. The hotel is not currently in a mandatory evacuation zone and all cancellation penalties and change fees have been waived.
"We continue to send our thoughts and prayers to victims of Hurricane Harvey and are praying for those that are in the path of Hurricane Irma,” the Trump Organization spokesperson said.
On Wednesday morning Hurricane Irma slammed through the Caribbean island of St. Martin, where Trump owns a waterfront estate. The damage to the property that was on the market at a reduced rate of $16.9 million is unknown, but initial reports indicate the tropical playground for the globally rich and famous suffered widespread devastation.
"It’s an enormous catastrophe. Ninety-five percent of the island is destroyed," Daniel Gibbs, president of St. Martin, said in a radio interview.
Several other Trump Organization properties could also be tested by a diminished Irma if it turns north once it reaches Florida, as several computer models predict. Then it might lash the Trump National Golf Club in Charlotte, North Carolina; and the 1,300 acre Trump Winery in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Charlottesville, Virginia.


Question: Describe the Serb-Montenegrin community in Albania.

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 Describe the Serb-Montenegrin community in Albania.

The Serb-Montenegrin community in Albania (Montenegrin and ; ) is estimated to number ca. 2,000 to 30,000 people. In the latest census (2011), citizens had the option to declare as "Montenegrins" (366 did so). The population is concentrated in the region of Vraka. The community is bilingual and by majority adhere to Eastern Orthodoxy, while a minority professes Islam. The majority of the Serbo-Montenegrin community came to Albania from Montenegro during the interwar Zogist period following 1926 and later from 1938 until 1948.
The community is commonly known as Serbs-Montenegrins ("Srbi-crnogorci"), "Serbs" ("Srbi") or "Montenegrins" ("Crnogorci").


Question: Could you provide some details about the Shisengumi's Okita Souji, Kashu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada scale figures from Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru?

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 Could you provide some details about the Shisengumi's Okita Souji, Kashu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada scale figures from Touken Ranbu: Hanamaru?

The swords used by the Shisengumi’s Okita Souji, Kashu Kiyomitsu and Yamatonokami Yasusada both wearing their Uchiban outfits!
From the anime series “Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru-” come a scale figure of the sword used by the Shisengumi’s Okita Souji, Kashu Kiyomitsu dressed in his uchiban outfit! The design captures Kashu’s cool and composed strength while also bringing out the everyday life feeling from the Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru- series!
His charming facial expression, silky black hair and flexible fingers have all been sculpted with careful detail creating a figure filled with highlights for fans to enjoy by their side. Be sure to add the charming Kashu to your collection!
Kashu’s confident look has been sculpted all the way to his intricate little fingertips, and the figure also captures his charming looks. The details of his outfit and hair are also not to be missed!
The sculpt of his body is one thing, but the details put into the “weight” of the clothes and the various creases caused by the ties and angle of his body have also been captured beautifully.
From the anime series “Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru-” come a scale figure of the sword used by the Shisengumi’s Okita Souji, Yamatonokami Yasusada dressed in his uchiban outfit! The design captures Yamatonokami’s design as faithfully as possible while also bringing out the everyday life feeling from the Touken Ranbu -Hanamaru- series!His refreshing facial expression with his sash held in his mouth, his supple looking arms and other details have all been sculpted with careful detail creating a figure filled with highlights for fans to enjoy by their side. Be sure to add the gentle Yamatonokami to your collection.
The loose feel of the sash as it hangs from his mouth, the overall trustworthy look of his character and those masculine looking hands have all been included in such lovely detail!
His ponytail has also been captured perfectly!
▲ I love the bushy look of his ponytail!
Orders from the GOODSMILE ONLINE SHOP are open until the 14th June 2018 at 21:00JST! Don’t miss out!!


Question: What’s happening in Winnipeg this summer?

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 What’s happening in Winnipeg this summer?

Ultimate. WFDF 2018 World Masters Ultimate Club Championships (WMUCC), Winnipeg, Canada. 72 Teams from 13 countries: 21 in the Mixed Division, 15 in the Women’s Division, 21in the Men’s Division and 15 in the Grand Master's Men's Division ~ Australia, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, New Zealand, Singapore, United Kingdom and the United States of America are all sending representation to Winnipeg! For more info, please visit: http://wmucc2018.com. #wmucc2018 #EuroUltiFan #Ultimate #Frisbee #Fanseat PLEASE NOTE: The Fanseat User Support may not be available at all times during this tournament. The best time to reach us is during office hours CET. The response time outside the office hours may be longer than usual. Thanks for your patience in advance.


Question: What is the government doing about racism in Canada?

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 What is the government doing about racism in Canada?

Ottawa is set to launch pan-Canadian consultations on racism, a topic that has stirred controversy and divisions across the country in recent months.
The exact form and nature of the consultations is still being developed in the Department of Canadian Heritage and has yet to be unveiled to the public. Still, the government said it wants to create a new strategy to counter “systemic racism” and religious discrimination.
As the format for the new round of consultations is being debated, some federal officials are worried the forum could lead to acrimonious debates similar to last year’s controversy over a motion (M-103) to condemn Islamophobia across Canada. The motion, which did not affect existing legislation, was nonetheless roundly criticized in right-wing circles and conservative media as preventing any legitimate criticism of Islam.
According to last month’s federal budget, the coming “cross-country consultations on a new national anti-racism approach” will be funded out of a new $23-million envelope that is geared toward new multiculturalism programs.
“Diversity is one of our greatest strengths and has contributed significantly to our country. We recognize the need to counter all forms of systemic racism and religious discrimination and we are taking action to address the ongoing challenges and discrimination that still exist in our society,” said Simon Ross, a spokesman for Heritage Minister Mélanie Joly.
“We will also be consulting with Canadians to develop a national strategy to combat racism in Canada, and we look forward to speaking with experts, community organizations, citizens and interfaith leaders to find new ways to collaborate and combat discrimination as we develop this strategy,” he said.
The new round of consultations will enact a key recommendation made earlier this year by the Heritage committee of the House, which called on the government to engage in consultations as part of efforts to create Canada’s Action Plan Against Racism.
According to the Heritage committee’s report, an action plan against racism would ensure that the government would consider the impact of all policies on visible minorities, similar to existing gender-based analysis.
“Systemic racism occurs when government actions fail to address the needs of certain racialized groups within the population, resulting in unfair, discriminatory practices and outcomes. To expose and prevent systemic racism, a number of witnesses suggested the development of a race equity lens as a key element of a national action plan,” the report said.
Jasmin Zine, a professor of sociology and Muslim studies at Wilfrid Laurier University, said the government should learn lessons from the debate over M-103 that was “hijacked” by concerns over the definition of Islamophobia.
She added the government cannot ignore Islamophobia as part of its study of racism and must not be afraid of confronting the root causes of racism.
“We can’t just wrap things up in nice, liberal, Kumbaya sentiments. We have to look at the issues that are critical for marginalized communities, such as questions of social inequality, power, privilege and the way racism is embedded in all institutions and levels of society,” Ms. Zine said.
Tensions are running high among federal politicians over the issue of racism, with Conservative MP Maxime Bernier accusing the government of exploiting the debate to win support in various communities.
“I thought the ultimate goal of fighting discrimination was to create a colour-blind society where everyone is treated the same,” Mr. Bernier said on Twitter earlier this month.
“Please check your privilege and be quiet,” she responded to Mr. Bernier on Twitter, before apologizing for her language.
The Conservative Party said in a statement that the coming consultations on racism need to be established in a way that unites Canadians.
“We hope that consultations on a subject as sensitive as this one will be conducted in an orderly fashion. It is now up to the government to ensure that they are well structured and constructive,” Conservative spokeswoman Virginie Bonneau said.


Question: Explain the FTC settlement with ADT LLC and the recent investigations involving endorsements from the FTC Endorsement Guides.

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 Explain the FTC settlement with ADT LLC and the recent investigations involving endorsements from the FTC Endorsement Guides.

We recently reported on the FTC's settlement with home security company, ADT LLC ("ADT") for their use of paid endorsers presented to look like impartial experts. As five recent investigations show, the ADT investigation extended to other parties. In addition, the FTC's interest in monitoring endorsements has expanded to include social media promotions. Below are summaries of the most recent actions involving the FTC's Endorsement Guides.
It is now clear that the ADT investigation extended to Pitch Public Relations, LLC (the public relations firm), Village Green Network (the advertising network that published the blog posts), News Broadcast Network (the booking agency), and even one of the experts herself, Alison Rhodes-Jacobsen. The FTC had not previously publicly addressed the obligations of an intermediary - i.e., a party facilitating payments from a marketer to an endorser - for the failure of endorsers to disclose material connections with marketers. Yet in its closing letters to these parties, the FTC made clear that any party that actively participates in the marketing of products through paid endorsers "has a responsibility" to "make sure" that material connections (e.g., compensation) between advertisers and endorsers are clearly and conspicuously disclosed in the communication that contains the endorsement when that relationship is not otherwise apparent from the context.
A recent Pinterest promotion sponsored by fashion brand Cole Haan also caught the FTC's attention, leading to the first public FTC action involving a social media contest. Cole Haan's "Wandering Sole Pinterest Contest" instructed entrants to create Pinterest boards with images of Cole Haan shoes and pictures of their "favorite places to wander." The brand also asked entrants to include a specific hashtag in their entries, in this case "#WanderingSole." The winner of the contest would receive a $1,000 shopping spree.
In its closing letter concluding the investigation, the FTC stated that "pins" of Cole Haan products constituted endorsements of the brand. Moreover, said the FTC, the opportunity to win a significant prize was an incentive for entrants, and one that would not reasonably be expected by consumers who saw the pins, thus requiring additional disclosure. Consequently, the FTC concluded that Cole Haan's failure to instruct contestants to label their pins and Pinterest boards to make clear they were pinning Cole Haan products in exchange for a contest entry could constitute a violation of Section 5 of the FTC Act. The FTC did not believe that the hashtag "#WanderingSoul" adequately communicated the financial incentive - i.e., the material connection - between the contestants and Cole Haan.
As highlighted in the closing letter, the FTC ultimately decided not to initiate an enforcement action against Cole Haan, given that the Commission has not yet publically addressed whether entry into a promotion is a form of material connection or whether a pin on Pinterest could constitute an endorsement. The FTC also noted that the Cole Haan contest ran for a short period of time and did not garner a large number of contestants. Also, the brand instituted a social media policy in the interim to address the FTC's concerns. So while the FTC closing letter does not constitute a finding of a Section 5 violation, it does serve as an important notice to advertisers of the Commission's point of view.
It remains to be seen what other social media activities will be considered "endorsements" by the FTC in future actions. In the meantime, advertisers and their agencies should be mindful of the FTC's expansive perspective of endorsements and should ensure that appropriate disclosures are used in their promotions. In sum, brands must adequately disclose when consumers are incentivized to endorse their products, whatever form that endorsement takes. While every situation is unique, hashtags like "#Contest" or "#Sweeps", or well crafted plain language disclosures, may suffice.
For more information about these actions, the FTC Endorsement Guides, or any other advertising or marketing law issues, please contact Terri Seligman at (212) 826 5580 or tseligman@fkks.com, Claudine Wilson at (212) 705 4842 or cwilson@fkks.com, Hannah Taylor at (212) 705 4849 or htaylor@fkks.com, or any other member of the Frankfurt Kurnit Advertising, Marketing & Public Relations Group.


Question: What happened at the hospital?

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 What happened at the hospital?

The letter says the hospital is “heartbroken” to inform patients it is “unlikely” any of the eggs and embryos are viable.
“My clients’ lives and future aspirations were crushed and destroyed. Finding out how simple of a matter it would have been to prevent this tragedy shakes my faith in the medical profession to the core,” said Brian Taubman, an attorney representing patients affected by the malfunction, in a statement to 5 On Your Side Investigators.


Question: Explain why Tom Steyer believes President Trump should be impeached. Respond in detail.

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 Explain why Tom Steyer believes President Trump should be impeached. Respond in detail.

The Democratic megadonor said that 30% of the 200,000 people polled by his group believe the president should be impeached for corruption.
Tom Steyer, the influential Democratic donor and founder of the Need to Impeach campaign, said that the party already has grounds for impeachment against President Trump — and it's all about corruption.
“If you step back for one second and think about this president, the most corrupt president in American history — [he's] somebody who is breaking the law on a daily basis, somebody who is reckless and dangerous and lawless,” Steyer told Audie Cornish in an interview Sunday on BuzzFeed News’ Facebook Watch show Profile.
"In the Constitution, it says that the president cannot take any payment whatsoever from a foreign government — for obvious reasons. I mean, you can't have the president taking money from a foreign government, which would mean that he might ... do what's right for them instead of what's right for the American people. He does that on a daily basis.
"We don't need Mr. Mueller to tell us that," Steyer said.
In a conversation with BuzzFeed News reporters after the show, Steyer said “corruption” — rather than the Russia investigation or any policy move — provided the strongest rationale for impeachment, according to a previously undisclosed survey of 200,000 people on his expansive Need to Impeach database. The survey found that 30% of respondents said the president should be impeached for corruption, he said.
Steyer has faced criticism from leaders in the Democratic Party, including House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who have said his multimillion-dollar impeachment campaign is divisive and playing into the Republican Party’s hands.
In an interview last month with Rolling Stone, Pelosi said that impeachment would be a “gift” to Republicans and that the prospect is “off the table” until they have more concrete evidence from the Mueller investigation.
Steyer said that Pelosi and the party’s establishment are wrong to think that a push from Congress to impeach President Trump would motivate the Republican base ahead of the midterm elections.


Question: Respond in 46 words. What is the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour?

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 Respond in 46 words. What is the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour?

The Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award for Humour is an award given every year by the Kerala Sahitya Akademi (Kerala Literary Academy) to Malayalam writers for writing a book of humour of literary merit. It is one of the twelve categories of the Kerala Sahitya Akademi Award.


Question: Compare and contrast the subscription plans offered by MoviePass and AMC Stubs A-List.

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 Compare and contrast the subscription plans offered by MoviePass and AMC Stubs A-List.

Don’t look now, but the summer of 2018 might be a movie lovers’ paradise.
Not only has Hollywood set up an outstanding lineup, but this is the first summer with two monthly movie subscription plans to choose from.
Film fanatics can choose between MoviePass’ $9.95 a-movie-a-day plan, which has 3 million subscribers, and the recently rolled out AMC Stubs A-List, the $19.95 three-movies-a-week plan from AMC Theatres, the country’s largest movie chain.
With two subscription plans and the summer movie season already off to a fast start, it’s possible this summer’s box office could surpass the record of $4.85 billion set in 2013.
The Post gave each subscription plan a test drive — and the AMC plan, even though it is twice the price and allows for less than half the movies, appears to be the better plan. Let me explain.
I have had a MoviePass membership for more than two years and seen 115 films with my MoviePass card — and have often struggled with its clunky app.
Like, you can’t buy tickets a day or more in advance.
For two years, I’ve had to arrive at a theater extra early to make sure there were available tickets to buy with my MoviePass debit card.
When I’ve wanted to buy a ticket in advance for a super popular film’s opening, I’ve had to resort to the laborious process of purchasing a ticket and reserving a seat online, say on Fandango. Then I’d go to the theater an hour or so before showtime and return said ticket for a refund — and then purchase the same seat with my MoviePass card.
On sold-out shows, it became almost comical as I’d ask the ticket seller to quickly cancel my ticket and purchase the same one before some other fan snagged it.
And if you forget your MoviePass card at home? You’re out of luck.
The first thing you notice about the AMC plan is the quality of its app. Unlike MoviePass’, which offers a bare-bones film description, AMC provides a synopsis, as well as a cast list, Rotten Tomatoes score and access to the trailer.
Once I decided on what to see, I was able to select a showtime, choose my reserved seats and complete my transaction, all without ever leaving the app.
This alone may make Stubs A-List worth switching to for many MoviePass subscribers — including me.
AMC also allows you to reserve any ticket for any movie — even days in advance. There’s no need to rush to the theater hours before showtime on the day of the movie.
That is going to free up a lot of time — and worry.
At the theater, all I had to do was show the barcode on my smartphone screen to get in.
MoviePass diehards will argue that AMC’s isn’t worth the price because it limits subscribers to three films a week instead of one a day. But over two years, I never saw more than three a week.
Plus, AMC offers something that MoviePass does not: the ability to see more than one film in a day and the ability to see a film more than once.
All of this is not to say that MoviePass is bad. A lot of each service’s value will be determined by your moviegoing habits and preferences. But if you’re like me and go to the movies frequently enough that small inconveniences begin to add up, AMC may just be worth the premium.
Will Trump spill the beans about employment numbers again?


Question: Explain how the report by the coalition of green investment firms evaluates fracking companies.

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 Explain how the report by the coalition of green investment firms evaluates fracking companies.

BOSTON, Massachusetts, December 11, 2014 (ENS) – ExxonMobil, Chevron, and WPX Energy are ranked among the worst fracking companies in a new report by a coalition of green investment firms that scores major oil and gas firms on their efforts to reduce the negative impacts of their operations.
Fracking, short for hydraulic fracturing, is the process of taking millions of gallons of water, mixing it with tens of thousands of gallons of chemicals, including known carcinogens, and pumping it all underground at high pressure to break up shale rock formations and release oil or natural gas.
This is the third report on fracking issued by this coalition of investment advisory firms and advocacy organizations concerned about the environmental and public health risks. The coalition includes: Green Century Capital Management, the Investor Environmental Health Network, As You Sow, and Boston Common Asset Management.
The investment firms’ ranking is based on 30 companies’ public reporting on 35 key performance indicators related to management of toxic chemicals, water and waste, air emissions, including methane leakage, community impacts, and governance.
Exxon, Chevron and WPX all scored less than eight out of 35 points.
Only six companies – BHP Billiton Ltd., Hess Corp., EQT Corp., Encana Corp., Apache Corp., and Noble Energy Inc. – received points for reporting on more than 10 of the 35 key performance indicators requested, with the highest scoring company, BHP Billiton, receiving points for just 18 out of the 35 indicators.
While a few companies minimally improved their scores over last year following pressure from investors, the industry as a whole is failing to report measurable progress in reducing the risks and impacts of fracking, the report finds.
“Despite growing scientific evidence and public concern about the risks of fracking, the industry is failing to clean up its act,” said Leslie Samuelrich, president of Green Century Capital Management, an investment firm founded by non-profit environmental advocacy groups that co-authored the report.
“We are extremely concerned about the health effects that fracking can have on entire communities,” said Deborah Burger, R.N., co-president of National Nurses United, a member of Americans Against Fracking.
Green Century’s Samuelrich says the investors’ fracking report puts up red flags regarding natural gas investments. “The findings further demonstrate that gas companies are potentially risky investments, which was a principal driver in Green Century’s decision to divest from them in Green Century’s mutual funds,” he said.
Overall, the investors’ report finds that companies across the fracking industry are relying on broad policies and anecdotal case studies to communicate assurances about their efforts to manage the risks and impacts of fracking, while failing to provide quantifiable data detailing these efforts.
The industry most commonly reported on three key performance indicators: use of pipelines to transport water in lieu of diesel trucks to lower air emissions (66 percent); company policies on use of non-potable water for hydraulic fracturing (60 percent); and linkage of executive compensation to health, environment, and safety performance (60 percent).
The report notes that companies are least transparent on their process for systematically identifying and addressing operational impacts on local communities, even though unaddressed community concerns are among the leading drivers of bans and moratoria.
This year’s report included new questions about how companies are managing methane leakage, a controversial issue since methane is much more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of “global warming potential” over a 20-year time frame.
The report finds that only three companies report on their rate of methane leakage.
“Public controversy about fracking will continue unless companies can prove that they are actively working to reduce toxic chemicals, water contamination, methane leakage, and the other negative impacts of fracking that damage our environment and local communities,” said Lucia von Reusner, shareholder advocate at Green Century.
While this year’s report again finds that the industry as a whole did not report measurable reductions of its impacts, a few companies improved their scores following engagements with concerned investors.
* – BHP Billiton moved from near the bottom of last year’s rankings to receive the highest score this year.
* – EQT is the third ranked company this year, doubling its score over last year’s rankings following engagement with Green Century.
* – Noble Energy also nearly doubled its score following engagements with concerned investors.


Question: What can you tell me about William Jay Smith? Respond in 33 words.

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 What can you tell me about William Jay Smith? Respond in 33 words.

William Jay Smith (April 22, 1918 – August 18, 2015) was an American poet. He was appointed the nineteenth Poet Laureate Consultant in Poetry to the Library of Congress from 1968 to 1970.


Question: Explain the conflict between cattle producers and wolf populations in Washington state.

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 Explain the conflict between cattle producers and wolf populations in Washington state.

Members of the Togo wolf pack have preyed on cattle three times in the past 30 days.
SPOKANE — A judge in Washington has issued an emergency order blocking the state from killing members of a wolf pack that have been preying on cattle.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife had announced Monday morning that it would immediately begin efforts to kill members of the wolf pack who had been preying on cattle in Washington’s northeastern Ferry County, near the Canadian border.
Members of the Togo wolf pack have preyed on cattle three times in the past 30 days and six times in the past 10 months, which exceeds the state’s threshold to take action, the agency said.
But two environmental groups filed a lawsuit challenging that decision, and a Thurston County Superior Court judge on Monday afternoon issued an order to temporarily block the hunt. A hearing on the matter was set for Aug. 31.
In a news release, agency director Kelly Susewind said the department planned to shoot the wolves from helicopters or on the ground. “The evidence shows that non-lethal measures have not been successful, and the pack will continue preying on livestock unless we take action to change its behavior,” Susewind said.
The agency uses a policy of incremental removal, killing one or a few wolves at a time.
The Center for Biological Diversity and Cascadia Wildlands immediately sued, contending the order to kill wolves failed to undergo an environmental analysis.
“It’s outrageous that Washington wildlife officials want to kill more wolves from the state’s small and recovering wolf population,” said Amaroq Weiss of the Center for Biological Diversity.
Since 2012, the state has killed 18 wolves, eradicating three entire wolf packs, the environmental groups said.
In the case of the Togo pack, the attacks on cattle started last November, with an injured calf. The rancher took numerous steps to deter wolves, including using lights and range riders, the agency said.
But three dead cows and two more injured calves were discovered in the next 10 months, including an injured calf found Saturday on a U.S. Forest Service grazing allotment in Ferry County.
“The injured calf had bite lacerations and bite puncture wounds to the outside lower left hindquarter, the left hamstring, the inside of the left hock and the groin area,” the agency said. The wounds were consistent with a wolf attack, officials said.
The last estimate of Togo pack size was two adult wolves and an unknown number of pups, the agency said. The existence of the Togo pack, found near the U.S.-Canada border, was only confirmed in late 2017.
Wolves were wiped out in Washington early in the last century. They started to return from Canada and Idaho in the past 20 years. Washington confirmed its first breeding pack in 2008.
The wolves are federally protected in the western two-thirds of the state and protected by law statewide.
The latest count of wolves, conducted last winter, found a minimum of 122 wolves in 22 packs, with 14 successful breeding pairs. Most packs are in northeastern Washington, where there have been numerous conflicts with cattle producers.