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Div. of Media Relations
1600 Clifton Road
MS D-14
Atlanta, GA 30333
(404) 639-3286
Fax (404) 639-7394
Synopsis for January 24, 2003
. The MMWR is embargoed until 12 Noon ET,
Thursdays
Norovirus Activity -- United States, 2002
Deaths Among Drivers of Off-Road Vehicles After
Collisions with Trail Gates -- New Hampshire, 1997-2002
Human Rabies -- Iowa, 2002
MMWR Recommendations and Reports
January 24, 2003/Vol.52/No. 1
Prevention and Control of Infections with Hepatitis Viruses in
Correctional Settings
This report consolidates previous recommendations and adds new ones for the
prevention and control of infections with hepatitis viruses in correctional
settings. These recommendations provide guidelines for juvenile and adult
correctional systems regarding 1) identification and investigation of acute
viral hepatitis; 2) preexposure and postexposure immunization for hepatitis
A and hepatitis B; 3) prevention of hepatitis C virus infection and its
consequences; 4) health education; and 5) release planning. Implementation
of these recommendations can reduce transmission of infections with
hepatitis viruses among adults at risk in both correctional facilities and
the outside community. This report can serve as a resource for correctional
health, corrections and public health professionals involved in planning and
implementing health care programs for incarcerated persons.
Contact: Office of Communication
CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639–3286
MMWR Surveillance Summaries
January 24, 2003/Vol.52/No. 1
Surveillance for Safety After Immunization: Vaccine Adverse Event
Reporting System (VAERS) -- United States, 1991–2001
VAERS was established in 1990 under the joint administration of CDC and the
Food and rug Administration (FDA) to accept reports of suspected adverse
events after administration of any vaccine licensed in the United States.
VAERS is a passive surveillance system: reports of events are voluntarily
submitted by those who experience them, their caregivers, or others. During
1991–2001, VAERS received 128,717 reports, whereas >1.9 billion net doses of
human vaccines were distributed. Overall, the most commonly reported adverse
event was fever, which appeared in 25.8% of all reports, followed by
injection-site hypersensitivity (15.8 percent), rash (unspecified) (11.0
percent ), injection-site edema (10.8 percent), and vasodilatation (10.8
percent). A total of 14.2% of all reports described serious adverse events,
which by regulatory definition include death, life- threatening illness,
hospitalization or prolongation of hospitalization, or permanent disability.
Contact: Office of Communication
CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639–3286
Telebriefing for January 23,
2003
WHO: Drs. Cindy Weinbaum, Rob Lyerla, and Hal Margolis,
hepatitis disease experts; and Drs. Marc-Alain Widdowson and Steve
Monroe, Norwalk virus experts
WHAT: To discuss prevention and control of hepatitis in
correctional settings, and Norwalk-like viruses in the United
States, 2002. Brief remarks, followed by Q/A.
WHEN:
Thursday, January 23, 2002; NOON ET
WHERE: At your desk, by toll-free conference line:
Dial
866-254-5942
Teleconference name: CDC
A full transcript will be available
today following the teleconference and this teleconference will also
be audio webcast. Access both at
http://www.cdc.gov/media/.
Synopsis for January 24, 2003
Norovirus Activity -- United States, 2002
CDC laboratory data indicate the possible emergence of a
predominant, circulating norovirus (Norwalk-like) strain.
PRESS CONTACT:
Marc-Alain Widdowson, VetMB
CDC, National Center for Infectious Diseases
(404) 639-4688
Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United
States. Although many reports have focused on foodborne transmission, recent
outbreaks on cruise ships and in institutional settings indicate the
potential for large norovirus outbreaks not associated with foods. This
report describes recent norovirus activity in two states and New York City.
The cause of the increase in norovirus activity is unclear. Methods for
preventing the spread of noroviruses include basic food and water hygiene
methods, proper disposal of waste, and disinfection of potentially
contaminated surfaces.
Deaths Among Drivers of Off-Road Vehicles After
Collisions with Trail Gates -- New Hampshire, 1997-2002
Off-highway recreational vehicle users and those who maintain
trails need to be aware of the hazards of trail gates.
PRESS CONTACT:
Leigh Ramsey, Ph.D.
CDC, Epidemiology Program Office
(603) 271–5082
During 1997-2002, the New Hampshire Department of Health five deaths
(including four children) on New Hampshire trails when drivers of
off-highway recreational vehicles (OHRV) collided with trail gates
(horizontal steel pipes on posts 3 feet high) designed to keep cars off
trails. Fatalities involving trail gates occurred most frequently in males
who were < 17 years of age or intoxicated. A high proportion of the
collisions at night occurred on OHRVs that did not have operating
headlights. One death occurred on an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), two on
motorbikes, and two on snowmobiles. The New Hampshire Fish and Game
Department and the New Hampshire Department of Revenue and Economic
Development’s Bureau of Trails are working to increase trail safety and the
visibility of trail gates. The state also offers a safety course on use of
OHRVs.
Human Rabies -- Iowa, 2002
Nonbite-associated cases of rabies -- cases with no evidence or
history of an animal bite -- constitute the largest category of human rabies
cases in the United States.
PRESS CONTACT:
Office of Communication
CDC, Division of Media Relations
(404) 639–3286
In September 2002, a 20-year-old man, residing in Iowa, died from rabies.
This is the first human case of rabies in that state since 1951. The source
of the patient’s infection remains unclear. Because the patient was a
musician who had traveled to recording studios in several cities in Iowa and
Illinois during the infectious stage of his illness, family member’s
permitted the public release of his name to the media. A total of 53 family
members or associates of the patient were given rabies post-exposure
prophylaxis (PEP). Additionally, 71 hospital staff members were also give
PEP. This case represents the third report of human rabies during 2002.
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The barrage of emails, voicemail, web pages to scan, books to read, and magazines and newsletters to digest leave people increasingly feeling overwhelmed and out of control in dealing with information overload as society spins even faster. This book offers a brief, seven-chapter practical guide to the "capture" approach. It teaches the skills of point, focus, and shoot to help the reader become more productive and overcome mental fatigue. This is not a gimmick for "neat desk" people or an expensive system requiring purchase of multiple resources or practice of rigid exercises. This practical, quick-read book shows how people of any temperament can keep from drowning in the sea of information. Features include interviews and insights from national leaders plus charts, cartoons, worksheets, and creative exercises. The book is not about how to speed up but how to gain time and focus and purpose and the mental space to be creative. You don't have to finish the book but can read it selectively at different times depending on your current needs. Feel free to skim-read, tear out pages, email small sections to a friend, or read from back to front. The goal is that you come away with ideas and help. The four sections are: 1. Finding the information you need: and getting results from it. 2. Clearing information clutter: less is more. 3. Creating space to think: finding oasis amid overload. 4. Discovering bonus stuff: it doesn't cost you anything extra. This clear, practical guide will help you to: -Sort and organize information in less time -Make space to be creative -Find just the information you need when you need it -Move from frantic to purposeful -Keep growing over a lifetime.
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Product Description
Undoubtedly, teacher occupies an important place in the development of the nation. The social well-being and growth of pupils depends to a great extent on the enthusiasm, efficiency and professional skills of the teachers. The future of education, its quality and ideals depend upon how and by whom young persons are educated. True enough, a large number of teachers of the present day have no interest in their profession. They continue in the profession only as mechanical wage earners. Lack of recognition of the teachers in our country is a very sore point. The significance of the role of the teacher is hardly recognized, though it has become a fashion to observe the Teachers Day. We always expect a lot from teachers who have little power and alarmingly meager facilities and resources to avail. The net result is a widespread dissatisfaction in the teaching profession as a whole. Many seem to repent over their wrong choice and would be, too, willing to change their job.Therefore, the job satisfaction of teachers is of much value to administrators and educationists, who frame policies, take decisions and create conditions in which teachers try to maximize their potential.
SKU : COC63207 Author Gurinder Kaur and Gursharan Singh Kainth Language English Binding Paperback Number of Pages 388 Publishing Year 2013-05-11T00:00:00.000 ISBN 9783659326837 Edition 1 st Book Type Legal profession: general Country of Manufacture India Product Brand LAP LAMBERT Academic Publishing Product Packaging Info Box In The Box 1 Piece Product First Available On ClickOnCare.com 2015-07-08 00:00:00
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SOURCE: University of Michigan Health System, news release, Sept. 9, 2015
THURSDAY, Sept. 17, 2015 (HealthDay News) -- Kids old enough to use booster seats are twice as likely to be seriously injured or killed in car accidents as babies are. But, these bigger car seats are often overlooked during safety inspections, a new study finds.
Used correctly, booster seats can reduce the risk of injuries among kids between the ages of 4 and 8 by 45 percent, the researchers said.
"Booster seats seem less technical and complicated than installing an infant seat, which may lead parents and families to worry less about using them incorrectly," said study senior author Dr. Michelle Macy, of the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital and the hospital's Child Health Evaluation and Research Unit.
"We know that older kids are at particular risk of injury from a car crash. Our study suggests it may be beneficial for certified child passenger safety technicians to focus more on providing education and guidance on prolonged use of booster seats," she said in a hospital news release.
Researchers analyzed data from more than 4,500 car seat inspections in Michigan. They found just 11 percent of these safety checks involved booster seats for kids between the ages of 4 and 7, while about half of these inspections were for rear-facing infant car seats. Meanwhile, about one-third of the booster seats examined needed an adjustment that made them safer.
The findings were published recently in the
Journal of Trauma.
Oftentimes, children aged 4 and older at these inspections were there because of a car seat check for a younger sibling -- not to have their own seat checked.
The researchers pointed out many safety initiatives focus on car seat inspections for infants and toddlers, while few address safety issues associated with older kids' booster seats.
Lead author Amber Kroeker, who conducted the study while a researcher at the University of Michigan, said, "Study after study shows that caregivers often need support and direction when choosing and installing child restraints and that they are often using them incorrectly, which puts child passengers at unnecessary risk of harm."
"This gap can be addressed in car seat inspections, which are free and offered in most communities, but our findings indicate low use of this service by parents of older children," she said in the news release.
Also, children between the ages of 4 and 12 who switch from booster seats to seat belts before they should are at risk for serious injuries to their abdomen, the researchers said. These injuries, known as "seat belt syndrome," include internal injuries in the belly and spinal cord, as well as facial injuries.
A survey of 1,000 parents revealed that seven out of 10 parents are not aware that kids must be 57 inches tall before they meet the ideal fit requirements for a seat belt, the researchers pointed out. Nine out of 10 parents switched their kids from a booster seat to a seat belt too soon.
"Injury risk in motor vehicle accidents has been dramatically reduced for infants and toddlers because of an increased focus on proper restraints," Kroeker said. "We want to see the same outcomes for older children."
More information
The American Academy of Pediatrics provides more information on car seat safety.
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Do you check your e-mail while driving or during an "intimate moment?" If so, you may be one of many e-mail addicts.
E-mail addiction is causing people to engage in risky or inappropriate behavior, according to a study conducted by Osterman Research and commissioned by Neverfail. Released on Wednesday, the second annual "Mobile Messaging Study" surveyed employees at businesses to learn about their e-mail habits.
The study found that 95 percent of those questioned check their business e-mail outside of work, 78 percent while in the bathroom and 11 percent during "intimate moments." (The study did not detail what their partners were doing during those moments.) Those may be signs of addiction but not necessarily risky behavior. However, 76 percent of those surveyed admitted to.
The need to constantly check work e-mail is a sign that many employees feel pressure to always be on the job, according to the report. And some seem to overdo it. Of those surveyed, 94 percent said they check their work e-mail at night, while 93 percent do so on the weekends. About 79 percent said they take work-related mobile devices with them on vacation, and more than 33 percent admitted that they hide from family and friends to check e-mail on vacation. Almost half said they've traveled up to 10 miles while on vacation just to check their messages.
"As e-mail has become integrated into mission-critical business processes, employees are feeling extraordinary pressure to be constantly available," Osterman Research President Michael Osterman said in a statement. "In fact, this year's study finds that employees rely so heavily on mobile e-mail availability that if service went down, even for an hour, 85 percent of respondents indicated that it would impact their business work flow."
E-mail addiction also causes people to check their messages at inappropriate times, noted the report. Of those questioned, 20 percent said they catch up on e-mail at weddings, 30 percent at graduations, and 15 percent at funerals.
More people also report receiving important information via e-mail. About 45 percent said they've received a job offer through e-mail, while 6 percent were told that they had lost their job this way. Of those surveyed, 70 percent said they found out about the birth of a family member through e-mail, while 35 percent learned of a family member's death through a message.
Finally, 10 percent of the people questioned said they've received a marriage proposal through e-mail, while 6 percent said they've gotten a request for a divorce or breakup this way. I just wonder if the people who said they check their messages during an "intimate moment" are the same ones getting divorce requests via e-mail.
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Fundamental Forecast for CAD: Neutral
Fundamental Forecast for Oil: Bearish
The Canadian Dollar put in a massive reversal move on Wednesday after the Bank of Canada took a ‘wait and see’ approach towards increases to further QE; moving the focus for future stimulus towards Fiscal Policy. After Wednesday’s Massive Reversal, Positioning is indicating that the Canadian Dollar may have hit a near-term low. If you’d like to stay up with positioning changes in real-time in the effort of cleaning trends and finding reversals, check out our real-time SSI.
The more that a rubber band is pulled back, the harder the corresponding snap forward will be. CAD traders saw that effect taking place in the currency markets this week. After gapping down to another new 13-year low against the US Dollar to start the week, it looked as though we were in for another week of sliding Canadian Dollar prices. And after weeks that had seen losses of -2.5% and -3% respectively against the US Dollar, little hope was in sight for any type of respite from the pain. This is a change of -5.7% in the Canadian Dollar against the US Dollar in two weeks. This may not sound very large when stock markets around the world are putting in 20%-like moves, but you have to keep this in scope: Currencies are leverage-able. Putting a trade on at 5:1 leverage would allow a 5.7% movement to become a 28.5% change in the trader’s position; and this can cut in both ways, both for and against the trader (leverage is a double-edged sword, and too much leverage is one of the most common reasons that traders fail when trading currencies). This is why stops and risk management is so utterly important when trading currencies – you choose how fast you want the trade to move based on the leverage you take on.
But on to more relevant matters: This was the week that the rubber band snapped the trend of the Canadian Dollar. We finally saw respite in the selling, and not just in the Canadian Dollar; but also that over-arching theme of drooping Oil prices. We’ll get into Oil here in a moment, but for now, let’s examine what actually went on in the Canadian Dollar that caused that rubber band to snap so aggressively.
The Bank of Canada held a rate decision on Wednesday, and this is one of the few rate decisions of recent in which investors weren’t fairly certain of what was going to happen. Given the persistent pressure in the Canadian economy brought upon by falling Oil prices, many had begun to expect another rate cut or perhaps even an eye or allusion towards more QE. It made sense. Canada is in a unique political situation with Justin Trudeau having recently been installed as the Prime Minster of Canada largely on a platform based around fiscal stimulus. This removes pressure from Bank of Canada Governor Stephen Poloz, and we saw that flexibility come into play at Wednesday’s BoC rate decision when the bank took on a very neutral tone towards future monetary policy, alluding to the fact that the bank may be nearing the end of its easing cycle. This ‘wait and see’ approach from the bank could easily compel further intermediate-term strength in Canadian Dollars as traders unwind bearish bets after the panic-driven moves in both CAD and Oil.
So, to set this up properly: If this is successful, we may see a new model that the rest of the world can learn from. TARP and QE in the United States were largely designed and implemented to stop the bleeding in markets during and because of the Financial Collapse. For that, it worked. But for actual growth production, QE and TARP are ill-suited because there are numerous questions as to how much of that created capital is transmitted to actual consumers in an economy. And it’s not just in the United States where QE has been unable to produce lasting growth, as we’ve seen the same thing in Japan, Europe, and even Canada (which is somewhat of why we’re at where we’re at right now). For the purpose of actual economic growth in the ‘real economy,’ fiscal stimulus, by most estimations should bring far more value. Fiscal stimulus can produce jobs and once the labor force is robust enough, employers will have to increase wages to attract workers and then, we have inflation. But this is the road less traveled for a reason: Politicians generally have a hard time getting elected or re-elected by saying ‘we need to raise taxes (or take out massive amounts of debt) so that we can build jobs,’ especially when economies are already in a dire rut. This is one of the reasons that much of Southern Europe is still roiling in economic despair.
Think, Roosevelt’s New Deal versus six years of ZIRP. That’s what we could be seeing in Canada as the Central Bank takes a step back from the QE cannons to allow the government to install fiscally-designed stimulus measures. Will it work, nobody really knows. But it’s a different approach to a similar problem that the rest of the world is facing, and if it does show promise, it may be compelling enough to serve as a model to actually revive some growth in the global economy.
This move of CAD strength was further hastened on Friday when CPI numbers came out at 1.9% for core inflation (stripping of food and energy) and 1.6% for headline. Oddly, these numbers were both shy of expectations, but that didn’t stop the rampant strength that had already begun after Wednesday’s BoC Rate decision. Since that meeting, the Canadian Dollar has gained 3.64% against the US Dollar, and a whopping 5% against the Euro. This is in three days… again, huge moves in the currency world, and given the pivot by the Bank of Canada, this could certainly continue for a while.
But there is an exogenous driver here that is out of both the Bank of Canada and Mr. Trudeau’s hands, and that is the continued pain being seen in Oil prices. The CAD/Oil Correlation has continued to show a strong relationship, and this recent bout of CAD strength has been accompanied by a brisk reversal in Oil prices as well. So the pain trade in both
There’s a reason that the Canadian Dollar went into near-meltdown mode to kick off the year, and the primary reason for that is likely the ground-shaking movements seen in Oil prices. Frankly, the moves in Oil appear to have become divorced from direct supply/demand functions and are now incorporating the exogenous risk of ‘panic selling.’ This draws back to the idea of reflexivity, which is George Soros’ response to the Efficient Market Hypothesis. Mr. Soros posits that markets are least efficient after large, outsized moves; and this makes sense. Eventually selling becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as falling prices only encourage more selling, regardless of how positive any news or data points may be. The early portion of this week felt that way in Oil as we drove further and further below the psychological level of $30.
As an example of how emotions have begun to creep into the Oil market, we’ve seen Oil prices rise by 16.2% since the low on Wednesday, and this was after a -26.6% move to open the New Year. These aren’t small amounts by any stretch of the imagination, and they’re likely far too large to be driven purely from supply and demand characteristics. This is likely a lot of short covering, leading to a large short squeeze. The reason for pointing this out is to highlight the fact that fundamentals can largely become divorced from these types of moves after the moves get aggressive enough.
Does this mean that the down-trend is over? No. But it does mean that we’re likely in for heavy volatility while Oil prices attempt to carve out a bottom. But with the data that we have from here, it doesn’t look as though that bottom has been set yet.
Due to these varied circumstances, we’re taking a neutral rating on the Canadian Dollar for next week given this shift from the Bank of Canada, but for Oil, we’re retaining our Bearish forecast as we’re likely in for more pain from Oil producers in the coming months, and that can lead to even more emotionally-driven panic selling. - JS
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Today’s episode of the
Daily Reckoning begins where yesterday’s left off: why everything may not be fine after all. From housing to Iran, there’s a lot to pick from. But it’s not all about the problems either. At the end of the day, you still have to do something with your money. For every problem, there is some solution, or at least some action to take.
There are many other things in the world that fall into the “not fine” category. Covered bonds and the people spruiking them definitely fall into the “not fine” category. Tomorrow, we’ll take up the issue of why Australia has overinvested in housing and underinvested in refining. Stay tuned.
In the meantime, let’s clear something up. From time to time we get a letter asking us to unequivocally state the
Daily Reckoning’s position on issue X. It could be a house price crash. It could be the oil price. It could be anything. It’s always the same question though, “What’s your consistent position on this matter?”
The answer is unequivocal: the
Daily Reckoning doesn’t have a consistent position on any matter. Our stock market analysts are free to disagree with one another. We encourage it. We don’t require them to tow the company line. There is no company line.
We recruit and hire stock market analysts who think for themselves and answer only to you. All we require from them is that they have original ideas, do their own research, aren’t lazy, and can string a couple of sentences together. The result, we hope, is a group of analysts with their own ideas, their own forum for explaining and advocating their ideas, and a portfolio of thought-provoking, useful ideas for you to choose from.
Of course we know that some people prefer to be told exactly what to do. Some readers don’t have time to sort out the differences in viewpoints and make up their own mind. That’s understandable. And all of our stock market analysts DO give precise recommendations on what course of action to take in their respective publications so that you can easily see what they’re recommending.
But what we don’t do here in the
Daily Reckoning is tell you which of our stock market analysts is right. That would be the equivalent of telling you what to think. And we wouldn’t dream of telling you what to think, either. The mere thought of telling someone else what to think is…almost unthinkable.
If there ARE two unequivocal positions at the
Daily Reckoning (and Port Phillip Publishing) it’s that we don’t know who’s right and you should always think for yourself. Life – financial and otherwise – is much more enjoyable when you resolve to make your own decisions based on your own thinking. It’s liberating when you decide you’re not going to be told what to do and think anymore.
Of course it takes time to do your own thinking. And when you make your own decisions, you don’t have any one to blame. You become accountable for your own actions. The alternative is to do what you’re told and be happy with what you get. Faced with those possibilities, it’s not such a tough choice.
Regards,
Dan Denning
for The Daily Reckoning Australia From the Archives…
An Ice Age For Australian House Prices
2012-02-24 – Greg Canavan
“Supranational” Investing
2012-02-23 – Addison Wiggin
Economic Recovery Without Pain
2012-02-22 – Bill Bonner
What the Greek Debt Crisis is Really About
2012-02-21 – Dan Denning
Greek Default Therapy
2012-02-20 – Eric Fry
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My operating partners in a previous company we built and sold used to call me "EBITDA Erick." We spent considerable time helping our operating partners understand what EBITDA was, its advantages and its limitations, so I suppose the name stuck. One of my main roles is to educate our operating partners about the various levers in a company that improve EBITDA and its "fraternal twin," EBIT. We often use EBITDA as a proxy for operating cash flow, but that doesn't always apply, so I like to remind the guys what the difference is between EBITDA, EBIT and free cash flow (FCF) because these differences matter in valuing a company. test
What is the Difference Between EBIT & EBITDA?The multiple of EBIT and EBITDA is often used to value companies. EBIT represents operating earnings before interest and taxes, but after depreciation. This is the difference between EBIT and EBITDA - how depreciation is treated. I always advise sellers and buyers not to use the multiple approach as the primary valuation approach, but rather use the approach (whether on EBIT or EBITDA) as a reasonability test or "gut check" to make sure the valuation, which uses a more formal method such as the capitalization of earnings, capitalization of cash flow or discounted cash flow, makes sense. When computing EBIT, with the exception of depreciation, basically the same top 10 adjustments for EBITDA need to be considered and usually include adjusting for fair market value rent, shareholder compensation, nonrecurring revenues and expenses, one time start-up costs, etc. Both calculations remove the debt structure by adding back interest, meaning that you are viewing the company as if it had an optimal capital structure, rather than the structure specific for the company under review. This is because it is assumed a corporate buyer will have a stable capital structure with significant borrowing capacity such that the capital structure of the target will look considerably different pre-transaction vs. post-transaction. EBITDA Limitations: Situations When the "DA" MattersThe multiple of EBITDA approach is the more traditional metric used and is often represented in terms of enterprise value (i.e., EV / EBITDA). However, there are some limitations to using EBITDA. The limitations are all based on the fact that EBITDA does not consider the company’s capital expenditure needed to sustain its business. Moreover, if the company has an asset that depletes until fully utilized (i.e., a gravel pit or a mine), EBITDA also may not consider this depletion in its calculation depending on how it is accounted for on the financial statements, even though this is a real cost of doing business and, ultimately, a future cash outlay if the asset is to be replaced. Using EBIT as a basis partially alleviates some of these issues, but not without some exceptions to watch for. By deducting depreciation, this takes into account the sustaining capital expenditure needs of the business, but only if annual depreciation and sustaining capex are similar. Often times, however, depreciation and capital expenditures are different, so this becomes a limiting factor. However, at least with the depreciation subtraction, there is an allowance made for capital requirements. Keep in mind that you are looking at what the future potential earnings and capex will be, so taking historical depreciation as a proxy for capex (even if they are basically the same) does not necessarily mean this is correct. You may be better off taking a hybrid calculation, being "EBITDA less future capex," which is often used by sophisticated buyers Does the Valuation Make Sense?If you are using the multiples approach as a reasonability test, you basically want it as a benchmark against some comparables. Which comparables? Basically, you can use either a public company multiple or a transaction multiple. Remember, though, that companies are like people and, therefore, no two are alike. Companies, even in the same industry, vary in terms of size, customer mix, management, product or service mix, etc. It’s worth repeating that you use a multiple of EBIT or EBITDA as a gut check to your primary valuation method, not as the primary method itself. There are specific shortcomings to using both the public and transaction comparables. With public companies, multiples would typically be higher, namely because of the stock’s liquidity. If a stock is more liquid, there should be a premium paid for the ability to sell quickly. Another shortcoming of a public company comparable is the access to information. With a public company, you only have access to information once it has been made public, but before that, access is limited and this can impact the company’s valuation and its multiple. With a private company, access to information for the parties doing the deal can and should be readily available, which would also impact its value and how the multiples ultimately benchmark. With transaction multiples, the biggest shortcoming is the deal structure itself. No deal is created equal and the company value can be affected by how much cash was paid, if any shares were issued, if there is vendor take back financing, the existence of an earnout, etc. A second shortcoming is based on who the acquirers are: strategic buyers or financial buyers. Strategic buyers usually work in cash flow improvements driven by revenue increases or cost savings, and this may impact the price paid for the business and, consequently, the multiple. The quantification and valuation of synergies can be as challenging as the actual business valuation.
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Insurance
The cost of care can be a barrier for people who need help recovering from mental illness. Linden Oaks Behavioral Health can help you work with your insurance company so treatment is appropriate, timely and financially covered.
Your treatment benefits are important to your recovery. Your costs are managed through insurance groups that identify Linden Oaks Behavioral Health as a premier treatment provider. These insurance carriers have partnered with us and trust our treatment success.
Understanding your benefits
We understand that hospital and physician bills along with insurance claims can be confusing. Linden Oaks is committed to helping you understand your insurance benefits and the financial aspects of behavioral health treatment.
Prior to starting any treatment, it is always recommended that you contact your insurance company (using the customer service number on the back of your card) for a detailed explanation of your insurance benefits. We will confirm your benefits when you start treatment at any level of care at Linden Oaks.
Learn more about understanding your treatment benefits.
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An ERP system, or an Enterprise Resource Planning system, is a type of financial management and accounting software that integrates information concerning financial, manufacturing, sales, service, customer relations management, and other business activities that impact revenue or liabilities into a single package.
Usually, these applications rely heavily upon databases in order to store and retrieve large amounts of data. Initially, this kind of software was very popular with manufacturers, who relied on manufacturing resource planning, or
MRP software.
Today, those software suites have evolved in order to encompass business activities outside of the manufacturing sector, and generally seek to address
all core financial functions of a business.
ERP systems are used by government agencies, companies, and non profit organizations in order to manage their accounting needs.
Most ERP systems focus heavily on business processes that take place in “back office” departments – those departments that are essential to managing the organization, but do not interface with the public. Today, ERP systems are increasingly accounting for outward-facing processes, however.
For the most part,
ERP systems can be split into many different functions, each of which may or may not be utilized by a particular business. These functional areas are:
ERP suites usually integrate what are known in the business world as “best practices” – any particular company’s methodology for completing processes in the “best” possible way.
As such,
ERP systems much be quite flexible, and allow for their end users to tweak the steps of the processes that the ERP software is intended to automate.
This allows for easier compliance with standards like IFRS, Sarbanes-Oxley, and more. In addition,
ERP systems can help ensure that businesses adhere to standard industry practices whenever they interact with companies and individuals outside the organization.
Some ERP suites are modular, meaning that they allow their users to pick and choose software components that will be necessary for their business processes. In some cases, this does not affect the pricing of an ERP software suite. In other instances, each module (i.e., a module that handles all concerns related to manufacturing, including inventory, capital investments, etc.)
will cost the user an additional fee.
The best selling feature of many ERPs is the ability for the ERP system to directly
integrate with a businesses’ other information systems.
Usually, gaps between an ERP system and an organization’s other systems – i.e., inventory and warehousing equipment, manufacturing and assembly line equipment, etc. – will be bridged by technology professionals known as Systems Integrators, who will often use customized software and hardware solutions to ensure that
various technology systems within the company can pass usable data into the ERP system.
Deploying an ERP system relies heavily upon the knowledge of high level professionals working within a firm. If a firm attempts to implement an ERP system without having a detailed and intricate knowledge of the processes that serve to make up the core of the business,
the implementation of an ERP system will usually be riddled with setbacks and errors, since staff will usually find that the system leaves out key steps or necessary information during a particular process.
Prior to implementing ERP systems, or upgrading ERP systems,
it is essential that a business works with a business process analyst in order to codify (and perhaps optimize) existing business practices, so that the practices can be supported adequately whenever the ERP system is taken online.
Implementing ERP systems can be particularly painful for organizations with highly distributed clusters, i.e. businesses that run on a franchise model, or where regional offices have a high degree of managerial independence.
Implementation of a company-wide ERP system can often result in forcing many of these offices to make procedural changes that will irritate and / or confuse staff or management within various branches.
In some cases, this might mean that a particular regional office is forced to adapt unnecessary procedures that do not add any value to their particular branch’s profitability, so in some ways, implementing an ERP system might harm a particular department or branch’s profitability, or impede their competitive advantage.
Though ERP systems are designed to aspire to an ideal set of ‘best practices’ within various industries,
customers will inevitably need to make customizations. Almost all ERP systems are amenable to customization. Generally, customization is good because it allows for gaining competitive advantages over companies that use only standard ERP practices, and it can also be used to create an ERP system that employees are more comfortable with.
However, customization
requires additional investment in order to facilitate and maintain, and may actually impede the smooth transfer of data between one firm and another firm whose ERP system does not support customized features.
In addition, using too much customization in an ERP system defeats the entire purpose of ERP systems:
to standardize practices.
Most ERP systems
allow for third party software to interface with the ERP system. For instance, data capture devices (barcode scanners, RFID readers, etc.) can be used to log movement of inventory, or to log transactions. Third party utilities are often used to back up data. In addition, many firms rely on third party programs to provide analytical support, and to perform analysis on data and to generate reports. Other third party software might focus on projections and scheduling issues, or facilitate improved real-time resource management.
For businesses that go beyond the scope of very small businesses,
ERP systems are quickly becoming essential parts of the office environment. Not only are younger employees trained to deal with such systems, but they are trained to expect them.
Given that ERPs are now more or less an industry standard among mid and large-sized businesses,
failing to deploy an ERP system is an unforgivable mistake.
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Edited by Angela A. Stanton, Mellani Day and Isabell M. Welpe Chapter 11: Mapping Neurological Drivers to Entrepreneurial Proclivity Extract
11. Mapping neurological drivers to entrepreneurial proclivity Robert Smith INTRODUCTION The topic of this chapter is interesting both from a theoretical and practical perspective because our understanding of the intricacies and nuances of neurobiological and endocrinal influences upon entrepreneurial proclivity, and thus behavior, are in their infancy. From a theoretical perspective many exciting possibilities for explaining entrepreneurial behavior abound. New theories, models and frameworks will undoubtedly emerge. These may well have practical applications in terms of how we seek to explain entrepreneurial behavior. This particular chapter contributes by combining many strands of neurobiological research and synthesizing them with entrepreneurship research. As such, the chapter will be of interest to entrepreneurship scholars and those in the scientific community interested in neurobiology but who may have a sketchy notion of what entrepreneurship is or is not. It may also be of interest to a broad range of social scientists because it relates to the practical application of cross-disciplinary theory. As a new(ish) academic discipline, entrepreneurship has been said to suffer from science envy. As entrepreneurship research continues to mature, it is self-evident that its frontiers will require constant remapping as we continue to learn more and more about this societally eulogized cognitive behavior. Despite the fact that trait research has been somewhat disparaged of late in the social sciences, our knowledge of behaviorism continues to expand since trait researchers first began to chart the visible manifestations of entrepreneurial behavior in the form of trait and personality theories. Trait research operates at...
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Perspectives, Measurement and Empirical Investigation New Horizons in Regional Science series Edited by Robert Stimson, Roger R. Stough and Peter Nijkamp Chapter 7: An Exploratory Approach to Model Determinants of Endogenous Regional Growth Performance Extract
7. An exploratory approach to model determinants of endogenous regional growth performance Robert Stimson and Roger Stough* INTRODUCTION Regional economic development may be viewed both as a process and a product (or outcome). It is a multi-dimensional phenomenon, involving many actors and being influenced by many factors. It seems to defy precise definition, incorporating both quantitative and qualitative dimensions. Further, the study of regional economic development incorporates a concern not only with analysis and modelling, but also a concern for policy and strategy that may facilitate the regional development process and facilitate regional change. The process of regional economic development is certainly dynamic. Over time, various theoretical approaches to theorizing about and modelling regional growth and development have evolved, and, during the last couple of decades, there has been an increasing emphasis on the role of endogenous factors. Stimson et al. (2003) have proposed the notion of the ‘virtuous circle’ as a path to achieving sustainable regional economic development (see Figure 7.1). They suggest that the ‘virtuous circle’ may be maintained through the mediating or intervening effects of factors such as effective leadership as it might be used to change and adjust institutions in order to adapt the structure, processes and infrastructure of a regional economy that is appropriate and needed to meet and anticipate changing circumstances, and to facilitate the optimal use of the region’s resource endowments and to assist industries to tap their full market potential. Stimson et al. (2003) put forward the proposition that: ● strong leadership means...
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Research Handbooks in Business and Management series Edited by Helle Neergaard and Claire Leitch Extract
In spite of their difference in approach, a number of common themes run through these three chapters, which, taken together, highlight the potential, the challenges, the limitations and quality assessment demands of metaphor methodologies for entrepreneurship research. In this short concluding section, we argue that metaphors act as a reminder of the necessity for scholarly self-reflection, as well as a means for carrying this out. We note that although coding schemes are presented throughout the section’s chapters, there is no real substitute for engaging with one’s own data directly. We argue that, complex and ambiguous though metaphors may be, their very versatility makes them uniquely ubiquitous, able to reach places other methods may not address. First, the value of metaphors in facilitating self-reflection is evident. Indeed, these chapters have illustrated that it is imperative for we entrepreneurship scholars to engage in such self-reflection. Which images and social constructions of the entrepreneur do we ourselves enact, embrace, develop and share? Such self-reflection is imperative when doing analysis and coding, since it is all too easy to fall prey to your own personal cognitive schemata, biases and learnt tendencies. Because metaphors are such slippery, ambiguous and complex tropes, constant auto-interrogation is demanded of the scholar in an attempt to avoid ‘reading into’ the data being explored.
You are not authenticated to view the full text of this chapter or article.
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Can you rate the world? Can you rate a virtual world? There are a few problems with the ESRB ratings for MMOs, and one of the biggest ones is that an MMO is bigger than a game; it's a virtual world. I can go into any big city here in the U.S. and spend the day at the Children's Museum with my kids. But it would be a completely different experience to go down the street to the Red Light District, and even though both are in the same city, one is very family friendly while the other is the polar opposite. You could say the same for MMOs as well. EverQuest II, for example, is rated T for Teen, which means it's meant for kids 13 and older. It's described as having violence, use of alcohol, and suggestive themes. Fair enough, but I recall many fun game sessions with my (then) four-year-old daughter as we worked together on her summer garden in her Qeynos home. She never once encountered any violence, use of alcohol, or suggestive themes. Interestingly enough, EQII's latest motto is "free-to-play your way," and I think it's perfect for this discussion because it sums up the square peg of ESRB with the round hole of MMOs. That's one of the flaws of the ESRB system because it really can't accurately assess an entire virtual world. If I were to completely follow the ESRB rating, I would have missed out on some fun moments of creativity with my daughter. The "people" factor Another problem with the ESRB ratings is that MMO publishers lack strict control over what happens in-game. A game like Wizard101 is rated E for everyone ages 10 and older (that means crude humor and mild fantasy violence). But even with a kid-safe rating and a lot of in-game safety features, there are always ways for other players to threaten, spam, cheat, and use inappropriate language toward other players. EVE Online is rated T for teen, ages 13 and older, and its only descriptor is violence. World of Warcraft, meanwhile, is also rated T and also has violence as a descriptor, but it's also described as having "blood and gore, crude humor, mild language, suggestive themes, and use of alcohol." If I didn't know a thing about either game, I'd draw the conclusion that my 13-year-old would be much safer playing EVE. I'm not sure many of us would draw the same conclusions, knowing what we know about both games. From store to screen
One caveat to this is that the trend away from physical product to digital download might actually reduce the presence of ESRB rated games. As ESRB President Patricia Vance described in a recent Gamasutra interview
, the system is voluntary, yet there are many storefronts that require games to have an ESRB rating, and there are penalties for game publishers that don't accurately represent their games to the ratings board (think Hot Coffee mod
).
If you're a publisher who relies on Gamespot for game sales, you're going to comply and file for a rating. But if you make a game that's available for digital download or for a mobile device, you have a better chance of avoiding the process and cost of filing for a rating. So an indie game like
Minecraft
, for example, is raking in the money and doesn't have an ESRB.
Second Life
also isn't listed in the ESRB database, although it's worked on its own set of content ratings. Not surprisingly, that's changing, and in the Gamasutra interview, Vance explained how the ESRB is working on arrangements with cellphone providers and digital distributors to encourage participation in the ratings system. But would an ESRB rating affect your decision on whether a game like
Minecraft
is suitable for your children? And how would you even rate a game like
Minecraft
, which has several types of game worlds and difficulty levels?
Mom and Dad know best
I'm probably stating the obvious, but no rating system can replace parents when it comes to judging what's appropriate for children. I'll admit that I don't pay much attention to the ESRB ratings, but that doesn't mean I don't scrutinize and preview games to make sure it's something that my kids could play. Perhaps it's helpful to adults who aren't familiar with video games, but it can't be the main tool to judge a game, just as the MPAA ratings aren't always a great barometer of what movies are suitable for kids. Parents know their children better than anyone; they know whether their kids are ready for more mature themes in games. And there are plenty of shades of grey when it comes to those descriptors as well. I think my kids will be able to handle watching a dwarf swig an ale in
EverQuest II
even though it's rated T (13+). But it's another thing entirely to allow them to see my Imp Sith slice an opponent in a
Star Wars: The Old Republic
cutscene (also rated T). Fortunately, as gamers age, we'll be carrying years of experience with MMOs and video games in general, and we'll be able to use that to screen appropriate games and weed out the ones that aren't. I'll take that over an ESRB rating any day.
The MMO Family column is devoted to common issues with families and gaming. Every other week, Karen looks at current trends and ways to balance family life and play. She also shares her impressions of MMO titles to highlight which ones are child-friendly and which ones offer great gaming experiences for young and old alike. You are welcome to send feedback or Wonka Bars to karen@massively.com.
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2 Answers | Add Yours
Ralph Waldo Emerson was perhaps the foremost of the American Transcendentalists and it is the philosophy of the Transcendentalist movement that is reflected in the passage you quote.
To the Transcendentalists, "manhood" (in today's language, we should probably see "being fully human," perhaps) is evidenced by doing your own thing, following the dictates of your own conscience.
By contrast, Emerson argues, society conspires to rob us of our "manhood" by making us conformists. In the very next paragraph after the one you quote, Emerson writes the famous line "whoso would be a man must be a nonconformist." To him, society tries to prevent us from being "men" by forcing us to conform.
For Transcendentalists such as Ralph Waldo Emerson, individualism is paramount. Railing against imitation, Emerson encourages people to become self-reliant and listen to their inner thoughts. They must avoid "the opium of custom" and behave according to their own thoughts because "society everywhere is in conspiracy against the manhood of everyone of its members." In other words, people must not be lulled into following customs and letting others think for them or make rules for them. Society, Emerson says, is a "joint-stock company" that agrees upon ideas for one goal. However, in so doing, individuals surrender their individual liberties. And, once these liberties are surrendered, it is very difficult to gain them again because people will still want to control someone over whom they have already control. And, for Emerson, the most important thing is the "integrity of one's mind."
Always, then, an individual must be one's own person, thinking one's own thoughts and possessing one's own principles. Perhaps, one will be misunderstood, but men such as Luther, Copernicus, and Galileo have been misunderstood, as well, observes Emerson. For, "to be great is to be understood," Emerson adds.
Sources:
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Problem: Channels are oftentimes subject to debilitating erosion due to the water contained by the channel walls. Depending on the velocity of the water flow and the frequency and degree of stormwater runoff, severe hydraulic stresses upon the channel walls can pose significant dangers to the system.
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Granular sludge formation was performed in a laboratory scale Sequencing Batch Reactor (SBR) fed with supernatant of anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge. This effluent was concentrated progressively in order to enhance biomass capacity without inhibiting it. During the first part of the study, ammonium nitrogen was converted to nitrate, so conventional nitrification took place. When a nitrogen load of 0.8 g N L−1 d−1 was treated, the effluent concentration of nitrite started to increase while the nitrate concentration decreased until it disappeared. So, partial nitrification was achieved. At the end of this study, a nitrogen load of 1.1 g N L−1 d−1 was treated obtaining an effluent with 50% ammonium and 50% nitrite. The volatile suspended solids concentration in the reactor reached 10 g VSS L−1. At this point the granule morphology was quite round and no filamentous bacteria was observed. The Feret's diameter was in the range between 1 and 6 mm with an average value of 4.5 mm. Roundness value was all the time higher than 0.7. Granule density increased during the experimental period, obtaining a final value of 7.0 g L−1.
Keywords: aerobic granulation, partial nitrification, sequential batch reactor
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Friday, April 20, 2012 9:08 a.m. ET
DJIA: 12,964.10
S&P 500: 1376.82
Nasdaq Comp.: 3,007.56
Russell 2000: 798.90
So, how much weight do you give to a possible return of sovereign debt woes in Europe (Spain) - to a slowing in the U.S. and global economies - to future earnings and to the seasonal tendency of stocks to flatten out and decline between May and November ?
Get it right and you will be on the right side of the market’s next major move.
Europe’s woes will return to center stage. As the fourth largest economy among 16 other euro-area countries, Spain’s problems must be taken seriously. On the other hand, Europe should be in better shape to deal with its problems this time around.
Without a doubt, the economy is not growing at a rapid pace, but we have been here before and this is characteristic of recoveries that follow severe recessions.
Earnings year-ago quarters will get tougher to beat for corporations going forward without an acceleration in economic growth.
And with the S&P 500 up 19% since Nov. 25 (28% since Oct. 4), the “Best Six Months” * for owning stocks (Nov.1 to May 1) may have run its course in a week or two.
All four suggest investors lighten up, raise some cash.
A late day rally spared the market a much bigger loss yesterday as the market reacted negatively to disappointing economic reports for Jobless Claims, Existing Home Sales and the Philly Fed economic report. The only bright spot among yesterday’s reports was the Leading Indicators report for March but that came in at only a plus 0.3% gain after a 0.7% gain in February. Projections ranged from a gain of 0.2% to 0.5%.
What really matters is what the BIG money is seeing. Their selling will stifle rallies as they appear to be breaking out for a run. Their lack of buying on dips will allow stocks to slide when they would normally rally.
I think that is what is playing out here and now.
HEAD & SHOULDERS TOP?
It’s called that because the pattern of prices looks just like a head on top of two shoulders.
In coming weeks, technicians will be referring to the possibility the market is forming a “Head & Shoulders” top. The left shoulder developed in February and early March, the head in March and April, and a right shoulder could be forming now.
A break below DJIA 12,690 (S&P 500: 1357) raises the likelihood we are seeing a top. A break above DJIA 13,316 (S&P 500:1422) suggests it was a fake-out.
Should this be a Head & Shoulders Top, the expected decline would be to DJIA 12,150 (S&P 500: 1290).
In bull markets, these formations can be fake-outs like the one between November 2009 and September 2010. Presently, the “right shoulder” needs more work. I am skeptical !
TODAY: Rally will find resistance starting at DJIA 13,048 (S&P 500: 1387). Bulls may be able to punch through. ECONOMIC REPORTS:
With concern for health the U.S. economic expansion mounting after a disappointing April 6 Employment Situation report, the Street will be looking for reassurance that the economy is still improving. This week will shed light on that.
MONDAY: Retail Sales (8:30) rose 0.8% in March three times the economist’s 0.3% estimate following a strong 1.0% in February after a gain of 0.6% in January. Eleven of 13 categories posted increases. Empire State Manufacturing Survey (8:30) The pace of growth in the New York area’s manufacturing slowed in April to 6.6 from 20.2, following a 5- month, 19,4 point run since November. Business Inventories (10a.m.) Rose 0.7% in January, inventory-to-sales ratio remained at 1.27. Housing Market Index (10a.m.) A survey by the NAHB which rates the economy and housing market conditions, including current home sales, new home sales, projected sales and traffic of prospective buyers. :30) Rose a strong 1.1% in February after a gain of 0.6% in January Empire State Manufacturing Survey (8:30) Strength in inventories bumped the index ahead 3.5% in March. Business Inventories (10a.m.) Rose 0.6% in February following an increase of 0.8% in January, inventory-to-sales ratio remained at 1.27. Housing Market Index (10a.m.) A survey by the NAHB which rates the economy and housing market conditions, including current home sales, new home sales, projected sales and traffic of prospective buyers. April’s Housing Market Index dropped to 25 from 28 in March. A Bloomberg survey for the index of 48 economists ranged between 27 and 30. TUESDAY: Housing Starts (8:30) Dropped 1.1% in February after a 3.7% gain in January. Permits rose 5.1% after a 1.6% gain in January. Industrial Production (9:15) Was flat in February due to a drop in mining. Manufacturing rose 0.3% after a jump of 1,1% in January. THURSDAY: Jobless Claims (8:30) Rose 13,000 in the April 7 week to 380,000 Four-week moving average was up 4,250 to 368,5000. Existing Home Sales (10 a.m.) declined 2.5% to an annual rate of 3.97 million. At its peak in 2005, sales of existing homes sold at an annual rate of 7.1 million homes. The median price of an existing home firmed a bit with a gain of 2.5% to 163,000. Philly Fed Survey (10a.m.) measures general business conditions in the Philadelphia region. The index declined to 8.5 from 12.5% in March when it jumped up from 10.2 homes. Leading Indicators (10a.m.) Leading Indicators rose 0.3% in March after a gain of 0.7% in February with the help of improving jobless claims. Also contributing were the interest rate spread (Fed Fds/10 yr treasury rate), stock prices and building permits.
George Brooks
*Stock Trader’s Almanac. You should not be without this statistical gem and reservoir of investing savvy. Got my first issue in 1968 and every one since.
……………………………………………………………………………………
The writer of Investor’s
first read, George Brooks, is not registered as an investment advisor. Ideas expressed herein are the opinions of the writer, are for informational purposes, and are not to serve as the sole basis for any investment decision. Readers are expected to assume full responsibility for conducting their own research pursuant to investment decisions in keeping with their tolerance for risk. DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer
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Paycom Software Inc (PAYC) experienced unusually high volume on Feb. 10, as the stock gained 3.56% to a closing price of $23.30. The stock saw 2.65 million shares trade hands over the course of the day on 19,640 trades. Given that the stock’s average daily volume over the last month has been 895,577 shares a day, this represents a pretty substantial spike over the norm.
Paycom Software Inc has a P/B ratio of 15.03. It also has a P/E ratio of 68.2. The stock has traded between $46.35 and $22.42 over the last 52-weeks, its 50-day SMA is now $35.04, and its 200-day SMA $36.66.
Paycom Software Inc is a provider of cloud-based HCM software solution delivered as Software-as-a-Services. It provides functionality and data analytics that businesses need to manage the complete employment life cycle from recruitment to retirement.
Headquartered in Oklahoma City, OK, Paycom Software Inc has 1,021 employees and is currently under the leadership of CEO Chad Richison.
For a complete fundamental analysis analysis of Paycom Software Inc, check out Equities.com’s Stock Valuation Analysis report for PAYC. To see the latest independent stock recommendations from Equities.com’s analysts, visit our Research section.
THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RUSSELL 3000
The Russell 3000 is not well known outside the world of finance, but it’s one of the strongest indices out there for getting a broad sense of the stock market. Unlike the better-known Dow Jones Industrial Average or S&P 500, membership on the Russell 3000 isn’t selected by committee. It’s simply the 3,000 most valuable companies in the country.
With 3,000 stocks making up the index, it gives a broad look at the markets, including the small-and mid-cap companies that aren’t on the Dow or the S&P 500. And with a rules-based system for determining membership, there’s no bias that could potentially limit membership. That’s why many financial professionals will turn to the Russell 3000 long before the better-known indices when trying to take the temperature of the market.
For more news on the financial markets, go to Equities.com. Also, learn more about our independent proprietary equity research reports and our robust do-it-yourself Stock Valuation Analysis reports in our Research section. All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer
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Speech Other Formats Governor Daniel K. Tarullo At the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act Outreach Meeting, Arlington, Virginia December 2, 2015
Opening Remarks
On behalf of the Federal Reserve Board, let me join my colleagues from the other bank regulatory agencies in welcoming you to this sixth and final outreach meeting being held as part of the interagency review process under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act (EGRPRA). As you know, EGRPRA requires the federal banking agencies to conduct a decennial joint review of our regulations to identify those that are outdated, unnecessary, or unduly burdensome.
At the third outreach meeting this past spring, I suggested that we could regard the EGRPRA review as a success only if it leads to significant reduction in regulatory burden for smaller banks. Over the course of this year, there has been a wide range of comments on a wide range of regulatory practices. But many have been concentrated in what are obviously a few key areas of concern to smaller banks. These include simplifying the regulatory capital rules for smaller community banks; modifying the information collected by Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income, the so-called "Call Report"; and updating certain regulations and supervisory practices under the Community Reinvestment Act to reflect current banking practices.
First, many commenters have urged a change regarding the application of the Basel III capital requirements to community banks. They have argued that simpler capital rules are needed to reduce the compliance burden for smaller institutions because it is disproportionate to the benefits of the framework's increased risk sensitivity. The greater detail of the Basel III framework requires a degree of categorization, recordkeeping, and reporting that can be particularly costly for smaller community banks. As I have publicly stated before, I believe that it is possible to develop a simpler set of capital requirements for smaller banks that will be consistent both with the safety and soundness aims of prudential regulation and with our statutory obligations such as the Collins Amendment.
Second, commenters have called for changes to the Call Report. The Call Report is filed quarterly and used by regulators to monitor the safety and soundness, performance, and risk profile of each institution and to assess the condition of the banking system. Many of the comments have advocated modifying the types and amounts of information collected by the report for community banks to align more closely with the relatively straightforward business models of these firms.
Here, I am pleased to say, the federal banking agencies have not waited for the end of the EGRPRA comment process to respond. In September, we published proposals that would streamline and simplify regulatory reporting requirements for community banks arising from the Call Report. These proposals, published under the auspices of the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council, would eliminate or revise several Call Report data items. The proposals complement other efforts aimed at lessening burden associated with the Call Report. These efforts include accelerating the start of a statutorily required review of the appropriateness of the data items collected by the Call Report, evaluating the feasibility and merits of creating a streamlined version of the Call Report for community banks, and holding teleconferences and webinars to explain reporting requirements and any upcoming changes. As we complete the EGRPRA review process, we will certainly consider other opportunities for change.
Third, commenters have made recommendations as to how regulations and supervisory practices implementing the Community Reinvestment Act should be modernized to reflect the ways that banking services are now being provided and that banks are interacting with the communities they serve. Some commenters have requested that the regulations' asset thresholds, which are used to determine the examination method for banks of different sizes, be raised. Others have asked for cost-saving procedural changes, such as updating the requirement to maintain hard copies of a bank's public file so as to reflect changes in technology. Here again, I believe there should be ways the federal banking agencies can be responsive to this set of concerns.
As this is the last outreach meeting of this EGRPRA process, I think it useful to add that we are committed to a systematic analysis and consideration of all the comments that we receive. This will allow us to prioritize recommendations and act as quickly as possible to adopt them. It is in that spirit of creating priorities for action that I identified those three areas that have commanded attention from so many commenters.
Thank you again for your participation in today's session. I look forward to hearing your views.
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Energy System
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3 sources of Energy
Carbohydrates: glucose Protein: Amino Acids Fats: Triglycerides
ATP-CP/PCr (Phosphogen System) Anaerobic
No O2 0-10 secs High-Intensity Activity 2 ATP
3 Main Energy Systems
Phosphogen System: No O2, ATP-CP Lactic Acid System: No O2, Glucose Aerobic System: O2, Carbs, Fats, Proteins
ATP-CP/PCr Reaction
Hydrolysis of ATP using enzyme ATPase = ADP +Pi (inorganic phosphate) + Energy
ADP + CP cataylzed by Creatine Kinase = ATP + C 2 ATP Produced
Anaerobic Glycolysis/Lactic Acid System
Breakdown of carbohydrate glycogen or glucose to pyruvate to create ATP No O2 30sec -2 Min Sustained High Intensity activity Net 2 ATP
Pyruvate
Byproduct of glycolysis. Lactatic Acid in anaerobic activity Acetyl Coenzyme A (acetyl-CoA): Oxidated to form ATP.
Aerobic Oxidation
Activities lasting more than a couple minutes. Uses O2 and fuel to create energy. Carbs, Fat or Protein 36 ATP Produced
Oxygen Debt
Lag in the oxygen consumption to meet required energy demand at the beginning of exercise or increased exertion.
EPOC
Excess Postexercise Oxygen Consumption. More than normal amounts of oxygen are consumed after exercise to restore PC in muscles and oxygen in blood and tissues. More intense/duration extends EPOC
Steady State
When oxygen consumption meets required energy demands to produce ATP at a sustained rate.
Oxidative Phosphorylation
Last step in Krebs Cycle and Electron Transport Chain to produce Water and ATP.
Mitochondrial Respiration
Use of gluscose, fats and glycogen to resynthesize ATP from acetyl-CoA.
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Iceland - Electricity Generation
The country's geological characteristics (its location on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge) are favoring the large utilization of geothermal energy in the energy supply of Iceland. The share of geothermal energy in the primary energy supply of Iceland is about 68%, reaching 90% of all energy used for house heating. Geothermal electricity generation started 45 years ago and has now reached 29% of the total electricity needs. The total installed capacity is now above 650 MWe and the annual generation about 5,250 GWh, from the following fields: Námafjall 3 MWe, Hellisheidi 303 MWe, Húsavík 2 MWe, Krafla 60 MWe, Nesjavellir 120 MWe, Reykjanes 100 MWe and Svartsengi 76 MWe (Ragnarsson, 2015).
Development since WGC2010: 90 MWe of two new units at Hellisheidi IV.
Installed capacity 665 MWe
Geothermal Electricity 5,245 GWh/y Source: Ruggero Bertani, Geothermal Power Generation in the World 2010-2014 Update Report
Installed geothermal generating capacity (December 2009) in MW
Hellisheidi 215.0 Nesjavellir 120.0 Reykjanes 100.0 Svartsengi 74.0 Krafla 60.0 Namafjall 3.0 Husavik 2.0 Total 575.0
The geothermal electricity production in Iceland has increased significantly since 2005 (about 370 MW, 184%, the highest value among the countries with a relevant geothermal electricity production), with the installation of new plants in Nesjavellir (30 MW), Hellisheidi (the entire field started its production after 2005: 5 units for 213 MW), Svartsengi (30 MW) and Reykjanes (2x50 MW). The most important fields of the island are listed below
Krafla: in the northern part of the island, its operation started in 1977 from Landsvirkjun, with several initial problem in producing enough steam for feeding the plants, due to the volcanic activity in the area. Now, after 20 years, some degassing of the productive reservoir has been achieved, and two 30 MW double flash turbine are in operation with additional 40 MW planned.
Bjarnaflag (Námafjall): the oldest geothermal field in Iceland is still in operation since 1969 (Landsvirkjun), with an old 3 MW back-pressure unit.
In Husavik an experimental Kalina binary unit (using 120°C hot water, operated by Orkuveita Husavikur) of 2 MW has been installed in 2000, but only in 2008 it started a commercial operation.
Hellisheidi: on the active volcanic system of Hengill; it has 210 MW and 400 MWth of thermal output for district heating of the Reykjavik area (27 km away); the electricity is supplied mainly to local aluminum refineries. All the plants of the field have been commissioned after 2005 by Orkuveita Reykjavikur: 2x45 MW in 2006 (Unit I), 35 MW in 2007 (Unit II) and again 2x45 MW in 2008 (Unit III).
Nesjavellir (Orkuveita Reykjavikur): in the southern part of the country, four 30 MW units (total 120 MW), combining heat/electricity production with 300 MWth for district heating (about 1,800 l/s of hot water). The most recent unit has been commissioned in 2005.
Reykjanes: in south-western peninsula, operated by Hitaveita Sudurnesja, it has been commissioned in 2005 and 2006, with two 50 MW units, and additional 50 MW under construction.
Svartsengi: near the International Airport and the famous outdoor swimming/spa facilities of Blue Lagoon (visited yearly by about 400,000 people, probably the most popular Icelandic touristy attraction), feed by the discarded water (rich in surplus mineral) of two flash units (reservoir fluid at 240°C) for about 66 MW and a 8 MW binary unit (Hitaveita Sudurnesja); there is also an important additional hot water production of 150 MWth for district heating. Also here the most recent addition was a 30 MW unit in 2005.
Other Projects
The Icelandic Deep Drilling Project (IDDP) has been finally placed nearby Krafla geothermal area, in the Northern part of the country. The aim of the project is the exploitation of supercritical fluid at 4-5 km depth and 400-600°C of temperature. Unfortunately, in 2009, the well reached a magma body and the project has been placed in stand-by.
An agreement has been signed between the Century Aluminum Co and two major Icelandic geothermal producers (Hitaveita Sudurnesja and Orkuveita Reykjavikur) for supplying electricity to the production of an initial amount of 150,000 tons of aluminum per year, utilizing 250 MW of geothermal electricity. The initial stage of the project will be commissioned in 2010. The agreement is expandable up to 435 MW, for a production of 250,000 tons of aluminum. This will be a very efficient way of exporting the surplus of cheap and abundant geothermal electricity production from Iceland.
The total installed capacity of the country is 575 MW, and additional 230 MW under construction. The country with 300,000 inhabitants is 100% renewably powered, with 25% of its electricity and 90% of heating needs provided by geothermal energy. Geothermal energy contribution to the total energy consumption sums up to 62%, probably the highest in the world.
Space Heating
The main use of geothermal power is for space heating which amounted to about 25 PJ per year; an extensive district-heating systems has been realized into the country. The share of geothermal heat in space heating is almost 90%, whereas the remainder is mainly heated with electricity (which results 100% renewable), so that fossil fuels account for only a small fraction of the total.
As an example, the Reykjavik district heating system, serving 200,000 inhabitant of the capital, with a thermal capacity of 1.2 GWth and about 80 million m3 of hot water provided yearly, can be considered as one of the most important in the world, 100% heated from geothermal energy.
As final remark, the growing on geothermal electricity is presently in a clear impressive exponential phase.
Taken from Ruggero Bertani’s paper, " Geothermal Power Generation in the World 2005–2010 Update Report ", published in Proceedings of the World Geothermal Congress 2010, Bali, Indonesia, 25-29 April 2010.
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Why community solar is becoming big business
What is community solar?
At the most basic level, the term refers to a renewably powered energy system that benefits multiple members of a community — a middle ground between individual rooftop installations and utility-scale solar arrays.
But who owns the panels, who can claim the financial or environmental benefits of the project, and how big and how far away from the end user can a solar installation be to retain status as a "community" asset?
"It means a lot of different things to different people," said Amit Ronen, a professor of public policy at George Washington University and director of the GW Solar Institute. "It boils down a lot of times to this fight between utility-scale solar and distributed solar."
Solar installations at any scale hold promise to reduce reliance on fossil fuels, cut carbon emissions, lower long-term electricity costs and add resilience to power systems by diversifying generation sources. Still, how far community solar developments deviate from the centralized grid model that has dominated the U.S. market for the last century is extremely important to energy developers, utilities and ratepayers.
While the definition of "community" is far from set in stone when it comes to the solar, eye-popping indicators of the potential for growth in the market are piling up.
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory projects that households and businesses that are unable to host a solar installation could represent an $8 billion to $16 billion market by 2020. The Obama administration already has marshaled $520 million to expand access to renewable energy, including community solar installations.
Policy imperatives such as the Clean Power Plan and extension of the solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), plus extreme volatility in the price of fossil fuels, are also pushing state policymakers and energy companies to get more specific about how they plan to keep the lights on with climate change looming larger than ever.
For environmental justice advocates, community-owned renewable energy is often framed as a prime opportunity for low-income and minority residents to build resilience to climate change — with the added benefit of flipping the script on energy monopolies that long have contributed to disproportionate public health and financial burdens.
"Where are the opportunities to really strongly marry economic equity and clean energy?" said Michelle Moore, a former White House environmental adviser and chief executive officer of clean energy nonprofit Groundswell. "You can’t just wait for energy to trickle down."
If you ask an energy executive, though, community solar also might be a way for incumbent players — in particular utilities facing the decline of coal — to update their business models, offering consumers who can't put solar on their own roofs for financial or logistical reasons a chance to buy into mid-sized regional projects owned by their current power provider or an outside investment group.
"What we think is going to happen here in the coming years is, whether through utility initiatives or whether through regulatory initiatives, these solar programs will grow," Eran Mahrer
, senior director utilities for renewable energy developer First Solar, told GreenBiz. "We’re capable of bringing some great efficiency to these programs." A matter of scale
February already has ushered in two new examples of increased interest in community solar — albeit interest from very different corners of the energy world.
When it comes to efforts with an explicit social bent, Groundswell has partnered with the clean energy financiers at Sustainable Capital Advisors to reevaluate community solar financing models that often hinge on the high credit scores of individual applicants. Placing the emphasis on on other economic indicators, such as utility bill payment history, or experimenting with pooled solar purchases are two potential alternatives.
"You can really expand the universe of participants," said Sustainable Capital Advisors Managing Director Trenton Allen.
Also this month: Community solar got its first lobbying group, in the form of "a business-led trade organization" called the Coalition for Community Solar Access, or CCSA. Founding members range in size and market function, including First Solar, Canadian Solar subsidiary Recurrent Energy, retail renewable energy supplier Ethical Electric and solar developer Ecoplexus.
"As a burgeoning sector of the clean energy industry, there are more and more players getting involved," said CCSA Executive Director Jeff Cramer. "There was a need for a unique voice for the community solar industry."
Community solar also isn't new, though specific models do range in scope and target service markets.
A 2010 Department of Energy report (PDF) outlines three broad categories: a utility-sponsored model, where a utility owns or operates a project open to ratepayers; a Special Purpose Entity (SPE) model, when individual investors create a business to develop a community solar project; or a nonprofit "Buy a Brick" model, where donors contribute to a community installation.
Billing also differs depending on community solar project ownership and management structure.
States such as Vermont have tested group billing, where a utility subtracts combined solar output from participants' cumulative energy bill. Massachusetts, California and Maine, meanwhile, have gravitated toward virtual net metering, where renewable energy credits offset the load of retail electric accounts within a utility’s service territory.
"What actually is the relationship with the customer?" said Ronen of the GW Solar Institute. "Is a person actually buying five panels, or is it all about demand response? What is the goal?"
For utilities, he sees a potential opening to integrate more renewable power into the mix, helping them work toward state renewable energy portfolio standards. The issue is also timely and controversial, given the fights over solar rate hikes happening in places like Nevada.
"They see it maybe as a more comfortable space to be engaged in solar at the distribution level. They can own these assets themselves, still supply their customers and leverage the relationship that they have with them," he said. "When you start getting to models where it’s behind the meter, that’s where it gets a lot messier."
Meanwhile, as a nonprofit, Groundswell is intrigued by the potential for 1-2 megawatt projects deployed at centralized community locations, such as a church or another faith-based institution, Moore said. She also sees promise in vacant lots, underused industrial space and in rural markets dominated by power co-ops, such as the Southeastern U.S.
“We envision this being an investable model," she said. "Groundswell is working in the interest in the community to go out and create these projects, but these are market opportunities as well."
First Solar, meanwhile, through an investment and supplier deal with residential solar fixer Clean Energy Collective, so far has gravitated toward ways to work with utilities to give more customers access to bigger solar projects. Mahrer said the company is watching research on consumer sentiment closely to determine appropriate scale for community solar projects.
Although "not necessarily by going to the desert or wherever that mega-scale project might be," he said, "we can achieve a little bit better economies of scale" with projects closer to 10-20 MW.
Grid economics
As with almost all things energy, participating in community solar isn't as simple as plugging in and powering up.
In the commercial solar market, corporations such as Apple, Google, Facebook and Walmart are quickly pioneering convoluted arrangements such as Virtual Power Purchase Agreements (VPPAs), where clean power isn't consumed on-site but still added to the grid elsewhere (a concept referred to as "additionality").
As community solar models continue to evolve, the question is how direct or indirect power arrangements might be. Will consumers prefer 1 MW installations one mile away or 20 MW that are 20 miles away?
“The larger problem with distributed solar generally and community solar in particular is that we have 100 years of laws and regulations that are geared toward a very different business model — a centralized grid model where power is wheeled over long distances and people buy it as they use it," Ronen said. "Pretty much every place needs to have some enabling legislation in order for the community solar model to go forward."
In addition to broader clean energy policy fights around virtual net metering and retail power, questions specific to community solar remain to be answered around who can take advantage of tax incentives, how accelerated depreciation would count toward net metering and how such offerings might veer into the Securities and Exchange Commission's regulatory purview.
There's also the matter of how to pay for community solar. Aside from large up-front investments by utilities, energy developers or new local funding schemes, a slew of big banks and philanthropists have made 10-figure clean energy investment commitments in recent months.
"I know banks," said Allen, himself a veteran of Citi Group. "The commitments are lofty, but they need nitty-gritty details. They want to provide those on-the-ground opportunities."
While Allen works to hone new financial models, Mahrer added that the overall opening for community solar is big enough for experimentation.
"All of us are still kind of learning what works," Mahrer said. "At the end of the day, community solar nationwide is still measured in the very low triple digit megawatts."
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The Guggenheim US SMID High Dividend Portfolio, Series 22 ("Trust") seeks to provide dividend income.
Offer Price N/A Wrap Fee Price N/A Bid Price $11.158900 Liquidation Price $11.013900 Remaining Deferred Sales Charge $0.145000
Monthly-Cash 40171M308 Monthly-Reinvest 40171M316 Monthly-Fee/Cash 40171M324 Monthly-Fee/Reinvest 40171M332
Inception Date 10/17/2016 Non-Reoffered Date 1/18/2017 Mandatory Maturity Date 1/18/2018 NASDAQ Ticker Symbol CSMHVX Trust Structure GRANTOR Inception Unit Price $10.000000 Inception Bid Price $9.900000 Inception Liquidation Price $9.755000 Deferred Sales Charge Dates
Feb 2017
Mar 2017
Apr 2017
Term 15 Months Number of Holdings 50
Historical Annual Dividend Distribution $0.506200
All data is subject to change daily. Data may differ from the prospectus due to different data sources or market changes. Please refer to prospectus for additional information about the trust including the portfolio section criteria. Source: FactSet Research Systems Inc. unless otherwise noted. The total percentages may not be equal to 100% due to rounding. N/A indicates that certain securities have not been identified and/or classified by the data provider. A unit is a combination of securities or types of securities traded together.
Weighted Average Price/Earnings (P/E) Ratio 23.13 Weighted Average Price/Book (P/B) Ratio 2.49 Weighted Average Market Cap (MM) $2,353.62
Value
Growth
Total
Large-Cap -- -- --
Mid-Cap 16.53% 5.96% 22.48%
Small-Cap 47.96% 29.56% 77.52%
Total 64.48% 35.52% 100.00%
US Common Stock 91.25% REIT 8.75% Total 100.00%
Financials 20.89% Banks 6.17% Capital Markets 8.53% Insurance 4.24% Thrifts & Mortgage Finance 1.94% Consumer Discretionary 13.51% Hotels Restaurants & Leisure 2.06% Household Durables 2.00% Internet & Direct Marketing Retail 1.88% Media 5.96% Multiline Retail 1.61% Materials 12.30% Chemicals 4.51% Containers & Packaging 1.87% Metals & Mining 1.98% Paper & Forest Products 3.95% Energy 10.11% Energy Equipment & Services 1.95% Oil Gas & Consumable Fuels 8.15% Industrials 9.33% Commercial Services & Supplies 2.04% Machinery 2.05% Trading Companies & Distributors 5.25% Real Estate 8.75% Equity Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) 8.75% Telecommunication Services 7.87% Diversified Telecommunication Services 7.87% Consumer Staples 7.53% Food Products 1.57% Household Products 1.63% Tobacco 4.32% Utilities 7.49% Electric Utilities 5.79% Independent Power and Renewable Electricity Producers 1.70% Information Technology 2.23% Semiconductors & Semiconductor Equipment 2.23% Total 100.00%
United States 100.00% Total 100.00%
North America 98.30% South America 1.69% Total 100.00%
Developed 100.00% Total 100.00% Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate with changes in market conditions. Investors' units, when redeemed, may be worth more or less than their original cost.
Principal Investment Strategy
Under normal circumstances, the Trust will invest at least 80% of the value of its assets in dividend-paying common stocks of U.S. incorporated companies with small- and mid-capitalizations. The Trust seeks to provide dividend income that is greater than its benchmark, the Russell 2500TM Index. The Sponsor, with the assistance of Guggenheim Partners Investment Management, LLC (“GPIM”), an affiliate of Guggenheim Partners, LLC, has selected the securities to be included in the Trust’s portfolio. The Sponsor and GPIM believe that companies that distribute significant dividends on a consistent basis demonstrate strong financial strength and positive performance relative to their peers. The U.S.- listed common stocks held by the Trust may include the common stocks of U.S. and non-U.S. companies. The Trust will invest in securities of companies with small- and mid- market capitalization and may invest in real estate investment Trusts. The small- and mid-capitalization companies will be the 2,500 smallest companies by market capitalization in the Russell 3000® Index.
As a result of this strategy, the Trust invests significantly in the consumer products and financials sectors.
Selection Criteria
The Trust’s portfolio was constructed and the securities were selected seven business days prior to the initial date of deposit (the “Security Selection Date”) using the Security Selection Rules outlined below.
Security Selection Rules:
In constructing the Trust’s portfolio, 50 securities were selected based on the following fundamentally based quantitative criteria:
1. Initial Universe: Start with an initial universe of all securities in the Russell 3000® Index as of the Security Selection Date.
2. Rank on Fundamentals: Rank every company identified in the initial universe against other companies in the same sector, as defined by Global Industry Classification Standard (GICS), along each of the following reported financial metrics. Each ranking is determined as of the Security Selection Date using the most recently reported information and uses a scale of 1 through 10 (1 representing the highest scoring 10% in the sector and 10 representing the lowest scoring 10% in the sector):
• Return on assets as provided by S&P Compustat, and calculated as latest four quarters of reported operating income divided by the average of most recent reported total assets and year ago reported total assets.
• Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the latest four quarters divided by enterprise value, as provided by S&P Compustat. Enterprise value is determined by adding the equity market capitalization as of the most recent closing price with the total outstanding long term and short term debt as determined by the most recently available balance sheet, and then subtracting any cash and short term investments as determined by the most recently available balance sheet.
• Year-over-year growth in sales per share, as provided by S&P Compustat. Trailing year-over-year growth is the percentage change in sales per-share for the trailing 12 months versus the sales per-share from the prior 12 months. Sales per-share is the trailing 12 months of sales from the most recent trailing quarterly or semi-annual filings, whichever is most current, divided by the end of period reported count of common shares outstanding used to calculate basic earnings per share.
Each financial metric will create a separate score so that every company will have three scores. These three scores are averaged together to create one composite score for a company. This composite score is used to rank the companies in the next step in order to determine the sub-universe of securities.
3. Define Sub-Universe: Reduce the initial universe of securities to a sub-universe that meets the following requirements, with each requirement being applied independently to the initial universe from the other requirements in this step, as of the Security Selection Date:
• Exclude the lowest ranked 25% of securities from the initial universe determined by the average of the three financial rankings described in step 2.
• Exclude the 20% of the initial universe with the lowest trailing six month total return.
• Exclude securities which do not have a policy of regular periodic cash dividends (quarterly, semiannual or yearly), or have omitted the most recent regular periodic cash dividend.
• Exclude securities with a market capitalization less than $200 million. Market capitalization is determined by the closing price as of the Security Selection Date.
• Exclude securities with a liquidity of less than $0.6 million. Liquidity is determined by the median trading volume in U.S. dollars looking back 90 days from the Security Selection Date (i.e., trading volume each day in shares multiplied by the closing price for the day as provided by FactSet Research Systems, Inc.).
• Exclude business development companies as identified by Bloomberg Industry Classification System sub-industry.
• Exclude mortgage real estate investment Trusts, as identified by GICS sub-industry.
• Exclude securities that have a pending cash or stock merger and acquisition or bankruptcy which will lead to delisting the security. Such events will be determined by reviewing the announced merger and acquisition data from Bloomberg.
• Exclude securities of the largest 500 companies of the initial universe by market capitalization (per FactSet).
4. Selection: Select from the sub-universe the fifty top dividend yielding securities (with higher rank given to larger market capitalization when yields are equal) and equally weight these securities as of the Security Selection Date. Selected securities must adhere to following portfolio limits as of the Security Selection Date:
• Maximum 20% weight in any GICS sector.
• Maximum 10% weight in any GICS industry.
• Minimum 80% in U.S. incorporated companies.
Once an investment limitation has been reached, additional securities of the type that would violate the limitation will not be included in the Trust and the next highest yielding security will be used.
Please note that due to the fluctuating nature of security prices, the weighting of an individual security or sector in the Trust portfolio may change after the Security Selection Date.
INDEX DEFINITION: The
Russell 3000® Index (“Index”) measures the performance of the largest 3000 U.S. companies representing approximately 98% of the investable equity market. The Index is unmanaged and it is not possible to invest directly in the Index.
Risks and Other Considerations As with all investments, you may lose some or all of your investment in the Trust. No assurance can be given that the Trust’s investment objective will be achieved. The Trust also might not perform as well as you expect. This can happen for reasons such as these:
• Securities prices can be volatile. The value of your investment may fall over time. Market value fluctuates in response to various factors. These can include stock market movements, purchases or sales of securities by the Trust, government policies, litigation, and changes in interest rates, inflation, the financial condition of the securities’ issuer or even perceptions of the issuer. Units of the Trust are not deposits of any bank and are not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.
• Share prices or dividend rates on the securities in the Trust may decline during the life of the Trust. There is no guarantee that share prices of securities in the Trust will not decline and that the issuers of the securities will declare dividends in the future and, if declared, whether they will remain at current levels or increase over time.
• The Trust invests significantly in the financial sector. As a result, the factors that impact the financial sector will likely have a greater effect on this Trust than on a more broadly diversified Trust. Companies in the financial sector include banks, insurance companies and investment firms. The profitability of companies in the financial sector is largely dependent upon the availability and cost of capital which may fluctuate significantly in response to changes in interest rates and general economic developments. Financial sector companies are especially subject to the adverse effects of economic recession, decreases in the availability of capital, volatile interest rates, portfolio concentrations in geographic markets and in commercial and residential real estate loans, and competition from new entrants in their fields of business.
• The Trust invests significantly in the consumer products sector. As a result, the factors that impact the consumer products sector will likely have a greater effect on this Trust than on a more broadly diversified Trust. General risks of companies in the consumer products sector include cyclicality of revenues and earnings, economic recession, currency fluctuations, changing consumer tastes, extensive competition, product liability litigation and increased government regulation. A weak economy and its effect on consumer spending would adversely affect companies in the consumer products sector.
• The Trust includes real estate investment Trusts (“REITs”). REITs may concentrate their investments in specific geographic areas or in specific property types, such as, hotels, shopping malls, residential complexes and office buildings. The value of the REITs and other real estate securities and the ability of such securities to distribute income may be adversely affected by several factors, including: rising interest rates; changes in the global and local economic climate and real estate conditions; perceptions of prospective tenants of the safety, convenience and attractiveness of the properties; the ability of the owner to provide adequate management, maintenance and insurance; the cost of complying with the Americans with Disabilities Act; increased competition from new properties; the impact of present or future environmental legislation and compliance with environmental laws; changes in real estate taxes and other operating expenses; adverse changes in governmental rules and fiscal policies; adverse changes in zoning laws; declines in the value of real estate; the downturn in the subprime mortgage lending market and the real estate market in the United States; and other factors beyond the control of the issuer of the security.
• The Trust invests in securities issued by small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies. These securities customarily involve more investment risk than securities of large-capitalization companies. Small-capitalization and mid-capitalization companies may have limited product lines, markets or financial resources and may be more vulnerable to adverse general market or economic developments.
• Inflation may lead to a decrease in the value of assets or income from investments.
• The Sponsor does not actively manage the portfolio. The Trust will generally hold, and may, when creating additional units, continue to buy, the same securities even though a security’s outlook, market value or yield may have changed.
See “Investment Risks” in Part A of the prospectus and “Risk Factors” in Part B of the prospectus for additional information.
Please see the Trust prospectus for more complete risk information. Unit Investment Trusts are fixed, not actively managed and should be considered as part of a long-term strategy. Investors should consider their ability to invest in successive portfolios, if available, at the applicable sales charge. UITs are subject to annual fund operating expenses in addition to the sales charge. Investors should consult an attorney or tax advisor regarding tax consequences associated with an investment from one series to the next, if available, and with the purchase or sale of units. Guggenheim Funds Distributors, LLC does not offer tax advice.
Read a prospectus and summary prospectus (if available) carefully before
investing. It contains the investment objective, risks charges, expenses and the other information,
which should be considered carefully before investing. To obtain a prospectus and summary prospectus
(if available) click here or call 800.820.0888.
Guggenheim Investments represents the investment management business of Guggenheim Partners, LLC ("Guggenheim"), which includes Security Investors, LLC ("SI"), Guggenheim Funds Investments Advisors, LLC ("GFIA") and Guggenheim Partners Investment Management ("GPIM") the investment advisors to the referenced funds.
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This website is directed to and intended for use by citizens or residents of the United States of America only. The information provided does not constitute a solicitation of an offer to buy, or an offer to sell securities in any jurisdiction, or to any person to who, it is not lawful to make such an offer. All content has been provided for informational purposes only. It is not intended to be and should not be construed as, (i) a recommendation; (ii) legal or tax advice; and/or (iii) a legal opinion. Always consult a financial, tax and /or legal professional regarding your specific situation. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal.
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Did someone say “keto chocolate”? If you’re like me and have a weakness for chocolate, then this is your big day. Here is a bunch of keto chocolate dessert recipes that are dairy-free and low-carb. Yes, you can have your cake and eat it too! And be sure to share your keto chocolate indulgences with the rest of us in the comments below!
Chocolate-lovers rejoice! (That’s me included.) From the far reaches of the Internet, I have found your dream come true… keto chocolate desserts! This is not a trick. These are all dairy-free, sugar-free, paleo, and low-carb desserts with your favorite ingredient of chocolate. Need I say more? Not really, but I’ll elaborate a bit more anyway…
Sugar leads to cravings, which leads to more sugar, and… you get the picture. To combat these evil sugar cravings, you need to reduce your sugar intake (and increase your healthy fat intake). But that’s a tall order when you’ve got a nagging sweet tooth. Seriously, you are not alone. There are ways of beating those sugar cravings without caving into the call for something sugary.
Enter keto chocolate desserts! These desserts are chocolaty keto goodness, and they’re sugar-free! Even better, I’ve found or adjusted these recipes to fit the dairy-free, paleo, and keto low-carb high-fat diet. That way, everyone’s happy munching on deliciously and naturally sweet chocolaty scrumdiddlyumptious (and that is
definitely a word).
If you are intrigued by the awesomeness of keto, I suggest checking out my newest digital cookbook, The Keto Holiday Cookbook… for all of the holiday recipes you’ll need to stay keto through Christmas, and beyond. The book even comes with 4 complete keto dinner party menus.
Now for the chocolate! Bring it on!
KETO CHOCOLATE DESSERT RECIPES
Starting off with a bang are these delicious chocolate strawberries! To keep it keto, just use a stevia-sweetened chocolate bar instead.
No baking necessary? Count me in. Using hemp hearts instead of oatmeal works amazingly well! Now I’m wondering what other recipes I could replace oatmeal with hemp hearts…
Fluffy, rich, and most importantly chocolate. This recipe is just what you need for a little pick-me-up during those long afternoons… or just whenever. Super good with keto superfoods!
Anyone just adore chocolate? Everyone? Then you’ll want to take a look at this insanely tasty chocolate keto dessert. If this doesn’t give you your chocolate fix, I’m not sure anything will. For the dairy-free and keto options, use alcohol-free stevia (granulated and liquid) as the sweetener, coconut oil instead of butter, and coconut cream instead of heavy cream.
Get ready to chia! This keto chia pudding can be a great snack or even breakfast, so you can even start your day out with chocolate (and feel satisfied for quite a long time).
For the white chocolate fans, I’ve got you covered. These little snackable drops are great for preventing random binge eating rampages (you don’t have to admit it, but we’ve all been there). But with these keto goodies, those times will be a thing of the past.
Another white chocolate treat! These gorgeous yummies are perfect if you love the tanginess of berries and the creaminess of white chocolate combined. For keto happiness, replace the honey with alcohol-free stevia and use stevia-sweetened chocolate chips.
Can you believe that a vegetable was used to replace the sugar and syrup in this keto recipe? And that it tastes amazing? I’ll give you a hint: it starts with “z.” But don’t just take my word for it… try it out for yourself! (And I’d love to hear about it in the comment section.)
Spice it up a bit with this keto Mexican-style pudding! It’s got the creamy chocolate flavor with a hint of cinnamon and spicy cayenne pepper. I would use xylitol for the sweetener option to keep it keto.
Sometimes you just need quick and simple keto recipes. This is the keto recipe for those times. No baking and very few ingredients needed. A great staple keto dessert to keep stashed away in the freezer for those lazy days.
Berries and brownies… yum! You can have this ready in only 25 minutes, so you can get to munchin’ on this chocolaty keto dessert. Replace the butter with coconut oil or cacao butter to keep it dairy-free.
Now for the cookies! (*enter keto cookie monster*) Don’t mind me while I chow down on these keto cookies with some of my favorite ingredients, including these chocolate chips.
Are these keto cookies the best? That’s for you to decide! You can comment below with your opinion OR you can share it with your friends to see what they think. To stay dairy-free, replace the butter with coconut oil.
It’s getting crazy up in here! Amazingly, this keto cake has a great texture and flavor despite not having eggs or dairy. No allergens or sugar is a winning keto combo in my book! Just replace the sunflower oil with avocado oil to cut down on the omega-6.
How about a delicious yet guilt-free keto dark chocolate cake? Yes, please! You’ve got all the dark chocolate keto goodness right here in a personalized cake just for you (no sharing required). Of course, you could make enough for others too… if you were a very nice person.
I love cake pops. Not sure why putting it on a stick makes the cake even better, but these are definitely worth trying out! To keep this keto, just replace the honey with alcohol-free stevia, use stevia sweetened chocolate chips and omit the maple sugar.
This is the ultimate keto conqueror of chocolate cravings… complete with healthy fats and magnesium. Plus, it’s of course dairy-free, paleo, and sugar-free. Yay for going keto! As a side note, if you don’t have poudre douce for this recipe, you can always use ground cinnamon.
So, I’m curious… what are some more awesome keto and dairy-free chocolate cookie recipes? What do you like to munch on to satisfy that sweet tooth? The keto world will thank you. Just post it down in the comments below!
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It is easy to fall into the extremes of either believing that targeted cyber attacks rarely happen, or that it happens to you or your company all the time. The truth is that targeted cyber attacks are used to gain leverage in competitive areas, such as software development, or simply personal relationships. The more competitive advantage you have, the more frequent such attacks are going to be.
Preventing these attacks is more of a matter of good risk management rather than simply buying a few products to prevent specific well known attacks. Budgets certainly have their importance in helping prevent targeted attacks against your company. However, it is more important to have good planning from the administration’s part to effectively prevent targeted cyber attacks.
Download the paper in PDF format
here
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Presidential Debate of October 16, 2012: AHA Roundtable
"I Know What It Takes": The Uncertain Political Outcomes of Political Certitude Edward J. Blum, October 2012
After four years of terrible war, northern Americans in March of 1865 looked to President Abraham Lincoln to set an agenda not only for his next four years in the White House, but also for the postwar nation. They expected a political speech; they got a pastoral sermon. And not just any kind of sermon, but a sermon of uncertainty. Of the origins of the war, Lincoln used the passive voice. “All knew” that the slavery issue “was somehow the cause of the war.” Why was the struggle so long and terrible? Lincoln did not know and acknowledged the incomprehensibility of God: “The Almighty has his own purposes “Although historians and theologians have expressed admiration for Lincoln’s Second Inaugural, especially with the rise of Reinhold Niebuhr’s ethical theology of Christian realism, many of Lincoln’s age found the lack of clarity troubling. The
New York World, for instance, indicted Lincoln for taking “refuge in piety,” rather than in offering concrete direction.
Although Governor Mitt Romney invoked God in his second presidential debate with President Barack Obama (as Romney did in the first debate as well), the governor’s overall approach could not have been further from Lincoln’s. Within the first five minutes and then repeatedly throughout the debate, Governor Romney used the phrase “I know what it takes.” Whether it was the budget, the deficit, education, or health care, Romney assured the audience, “I know.” At my count, he used the phrase seven times.
Unlike Mitt Romney, President Obama often positions himself in line with ambiguity. When speaking of religious faith, for example, Obama has written that he is a “Christian and skeptic.” Even when his daughters asked him what happens to people when they die, he wondered if he should have answered truthfully, which meant admitting what he did not feel he know. “I wasn’t sure what happens when we die, any more than I was sure of where the soul resides or what existed before the Big Bang.”
The politics of certitude have their advantages and disadvantages. They can sound strong and assertive. James Monroe gave his name to an international directive the United States could not enforce, but the “Monroe Doctrine” inspired countless Americans, including Theodore Roosevelt, to believe in the nation’s hemispheric might. Ronald Reagan called the Soviet Union an “evil empire” and demanded that Mr. Gorbachev “tear down this wall” and in so doing made himself a hero of the Cold War, especially since both the Berlin Wall and the USSR fell.
But if promises are broken or assertive claims fail to materialize, they can backfire badly. Herbert Hoover declared in 1928 that the nation was nearing “a final triumph over poverty.” He was wrong, depressingly so. Sixty years later, George H. W. Bush told Republicans and Americans to “read my lips: no new taxes.” Then in 1990, to compromise with Congressional Democrats, Bush agreed to some tax increases. For it, he became the butt of
Saturday Night Live spoofs and Bill Clinton (with the help of Ross Perot) defeated Bush with a new political certitude: “It’s the economy, stupid.”
Mitt Romney’s repeated claims to “know” can be evaluated historically from numerous directions. One can hear within them the struggles between Modernists and Fundamentalists of the early twentieth century who battled over what they knew when it came to God, the Bible, and evolution. Romney’s “know” statements can also be placed within the contours of modernism’s and postmodernism’s questions of what is known or even, once again to quote Bill Clinton, “what the meaning of the word ‘is’ is.” The claim “to know” is a powerful one, and Romney was certainly playing it as part of his plan.
Edward J. Blum is an associate professor of history at San Diego State University and the author of several books on race and religion. His most recent is co-authored with Paul Harvey of the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and titled The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race (Chapel Hill, 2012).
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3.3 UT Phased Array
Phased Array ultrasonic technique has been used last years in industrial area mainly at energy sector (nuclear and electric power stations), recent developments give chance to apply this technique as a quality control tool in pipeline construction.
Industry has applied massive investment to extent equipments life. Life extension or any equipment integrity studies need multi-discipline information about service condition history, fracture mechanic concepts and a perfect knowing about discontinuities that exists. Actual tolerable discontinuities dimensions are higher than that written in codes, because of safety incertitude multipliers and NDT associated errors. An approach different from fabrication quality assurance must be considered in equipment life extension and integrity calculation with respect to NDT. Later subject needs an NDT that is precise and reliable with respect to dimensioning significant structural discontinuities.
UT Phased Array application on FPSOs turret weld discontinuities has had the objective to give a precise and reliable characteristic to the weld in service inspection.
Phased array ultrasonic technology moved from the medical field to industrial sector at the beginning of the 1980s. By the mid-1980s, piezocomposite materials were developed and made available to manufacture complex-sharped phased array probes.
Advances in piezocomposite technology, micro-machining, microelectronics, and computing power (including simulation packages for probe design and beam-component interaction), contributed to the revolutionary development of phased array technology. Most conventional ultrasonic inspection use monocrystal probes with divergent beams. The ultrasonic field propagates along an acoustic axis with a single refracted angle. The divergence of this beam is the only “additional” angle, which might contribute to detection and sizing of misoriented small discontinuities.
Assume the monoblock is cut in many identical elements, each with a width much smaller than its length. Each small crystal may be considered a line source of cylindrical waves. The wave front of the new acoustic block will interfere, generating an overall wave front. The small wave fronts can be time-delayed and synchronized for phase and amplitude, in such a way as to create an ultrasonic focused beam with steering capability.
The main feature of phased array ultrasonic technology is the computer-controlled excitation (amplitude and delay) of individual elements in a multi-element probe. The excitation of piezocomposite elements can generate an ultrasonic focused beam with the possibility of modifying the beam parameters such as angle, focal distance, and focal spot size through software. The sweeping beam is focused and can detect in specular mode the misoriented discontinuities.
To generate a beam in phase and with a constructive interference, the .various active probe elements are pulsed at slightly different times. The echo from the desired focal point hits the various transducer elements with a computable time shift. The echo signals received at each transducer element are time-shifted before being summed together. The resulting sum is an A-scan that emphasizes the response from the desired focal point and attenuates various other echoes from other points in the material.
There are three major computer-controlled beam scanning patterns: Electronic scanning: the same focal law and de-lay is multiplexed across a group of active elements (see Figure 12); scanning is performed at a constant angle and along the phased array probe length (aperture). This is equivalent to a conventional ultra-sonic transducer performing a raster scan for corrosion mapping or shear wave inspection. If an angled wedge is used, the focal laws compensate for different time delays inside the wedge. Generally this scanning pattern is used at “in line“ fabrication inspection of plates, strips, bars and tubes. It could be used also in welding inspection.
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groups. If a cooperative works on national forest land, they must work directly with COHDEFOR in developing plans and developing forest-related activities. The
cooperative pays COHDEFOR stumpage and other fees for products taken from the
forest. In the case of communal and private land, COHDEFOR does not collect
substantial fees, but they must approve all plans and activities.
Cooperatives must also collaborate with municipal governments. In Honduras,
municipalities include the rural communities surrounding the municipal seat in addition
to the urban area of the municipality. The size of Honduran municipalities varies, but the
alcalde, or mayor, of each municipality has extensive powers over communities and land
within the municipality. The municipality’s authority depends on the tenure of the land
in question. In cases where a cooperative works on national forest land, the municipality
has little involvement and may only charge a small tax on resin or other products
harvested. They have no control over forest management or extractive activities. If the
forest is ejidal (communal), the municipality has the primary role in the management and
monitoring of forest activities. Some municipalities with large communal forest holdings
hire foresters to manage their forests. The municipality, instead of COHDEFOR, charges
stumpage fees and resin taxes to the cooperatives on communal land.
FEHCAFOR (Honduran Federation of Agroforestry Cooperatives) is a federation
of groups which work under the Social Forestry System. FEHCAFOR’s membership
includes over 70 groups, the majority of which are cooperatives. FEHCAFOR was
founded in 1974, and its primary role is promoting and defending the position of the
community forestry groups to the government, COHDEFOR, and other national agencies
and federations. Other areas of support provided by FEHCAFOR are training, marketing
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So why do so many of us enjoy owning indoor plants? Is it because of our love of the outdoors? Is it because the demand of apartment living has swelled and we no longer have a backyard yet, we still crave nature? Or, is it because plants purify the air around us and the more oxygen indoors, the more relaxed and stress-reduced the environment becomes? Whatever the reason, the question is how do you successfully care for plants in the indoor environment?
We hope the following will answer some of your questions and have you well on your way to choosing the right plants for your indoor space and, learning how to care for them.
1. How to be a good plant owner
First up, we probably need to talk about the giant pink elephant in the room. We know you didn’t mean to do it, we know the shame has been haunting you for years, hasn’t it? You need to come clean with that little secret you’ve been hiding, the one that has scarred you from the joy of owning other plants. Whether it was from neglect or excessive attentiveness that brought on the early demise of your plant, you don’t need to be ashamed, most people have committed phytocide too.
If you’re keen to move forward from your previous plant assassinations, let House of Home help. First, you will need to be honest with yourself about what type of plant owner you wish to be; not everyone can be the Don Burke equivalent of indoor plant care. You need to be realistic with yourself and come clean about what type of indoor gardener you really are, because it will help you and your plants relationship in the future.
There are three types of indoor gardeners:
The Plant & Forget AKA 'The Dreamer'
You don’t have a great record for keeping plants alive. You purchase plants on a whim for mostly decorative purposes. You regularly forget to water, repot, fertilise, provide adequate sun exposure or you will usually abandon any plant to fend for itself. You like the idea of plants in your home and usually get carried away at markets or nurseries, and yet, the pot plants you’ve had previously, always tend to have died well before their due. Don’t worry we can help you.
The Amateur Green Thumb
You’ve got a small green thumb and are your journey to mastering the art of indoor plant care. You understand that different plants have different needs, which means you might own some advanced plants already or your herb garden is going strong. You’re also overly keen to learn as much as you can and your dream is to one day have a beautiful outdoor garden.
The Pro AKA My Friends Call Me Jamie
Your whole hand is green, in fact both your arms are green too. You nurture your plants as if they were your children, each one having its own needs, to which you tend to dutifully. You’ve probably got names for all your plants, or you’ve turned your second bedroom into a hydroponic garden or orchid greenhouse shrine.
2. Buy your pots first
Heading straight to the nursery to spend big might be a tempting idea, but it’s not the way to go. Let’s be frank, if you don’t already own a pot for your new plant to go in, you’re probably going to forget that you bought it. It will be shoved into the laundry sink or on a windowsill somewhere, where you’ll forget to water it. It’s the ‘The horse before the cart’ philosophy, so do your plants a massive favour and save them from starvation and neglect by buying your pots first.
3. Buy the right pots for you
This is a very important part, especially for renters, as buying the wrong pot can be detrimental to your property and your hip pocket. Before you buy a pot, you need to consider a few elements.
Product Life
How long do you want your pot for? If you want something to last a while, lean towards terracotta, ceramic, concrete and stone pots, if you need something disposable go for plastic pots instead.
Weight
If you want to be able to rearrange you plants from time to time, choose pots of light weight material such as canvas, woven baskets, paper vessels or fiberglass as this will make it easier for you to change up your indoor garden.
Self-watering
If you tend to neglect watering your plants, or desire plants that are low maintenance, then self-water pots and containers are your best option. Self-watering containers, such as the ones produced by Glowpear, have built in reservoirs to provide your plants continuous access to water.
Drainage
A popular way to kill off you plants is to drown them. Most plants need sufficient drainage, if you have a pot that you love, but it doesn’t have self-draining, you can always add stones to the bottom of your existing pot and sit it on a drip tray. The drip try will catch any excess water from the plant and will prevent mould and water ruining your carpet or flooring, while the stones, present the water from building up in the soil.
Old or New
If you’re after something different from a traditional pot or planter, consider repurposed containers. Items such as tin cans, teapots, light bulbs, and jars can easily be transformed into a succulent home. These are just a few of the endless list of potential repurposed vessels, just look around your home.
Centre of Gravity
If you have a pot with a wide base and a lower centre of gravity, it will be less likely to be knocked over by pets or children. If you already have a small pot you can increase its centre of gravity by placing it on a small stool, plant stand or on a shelf out of harm’s way.
Type
The type of pot or vessel you choose will dictate which type of plant you will buy to fill it. If you have a hanging basket, you won’t be able to fit a large Palm in it, so just keep this in mind when picking pots. Once you have your container, simply measure the circumference of the opening and that will indicate what size plant you will need.
Below is a basic list of plant container types:
Planter boxes and window boxes Hanging Baskets and hanging pots Terrariums Plastic pots Terracotta, ceramic or concrete pots Self-watering pots Repurposed containers. Wall gardens 4. Choosing the right plant
One piece of vital information people generally forget about indoor gardening is that all plants are considered ‘outdoor plants’. There is no such thing as an actual ‘indoor plant’, there does however, exists plants that can withstand growing in enclosed sheltered environments. These plants are strong enough to able to withstand low lighting, fluctuations in temperature, humidity and frequent neglect better than others. Once you’ve identified whether you are a
Dreamer, Amateur or Pro Indoor Gardener, the fun begins!
We’ve compiled a list of suggested plants that will suit each gardening architype.
Indoor Plant Suggestions: Easy To Care For Plants: These plants are hardy, drought tolerant and can withstand low level lighting and neglect. Air plants : Just give a good mist of water once a week Aloe: Water when soil is dry Bromeliad: Water only once a week Cacti varieties: Water once every 3 weeks Mint: Water once every 2 weeks Mother in laws tongue or snake plant: Water every 2 weeks Mushrooms: Grow in darkest cupboard, harvest after 4 weeks Philodendrons: Water once a week and keep roots dry between waters Pothos or Devils Ivy: Water once a week and keep away from pets Succulents varieties: Can survive in just water. Yuccas: Water once every two weeks and remember to strip dead leaves Zanzibar Gem: Hard to kill! Water once a month! Moderate To Care For Plants: These plants need a little more care, check the labels to make sure they have the correct light, humidity and water levels. Azalea: Never let plant dry out, fertilise every 2 weeks after blooming to re-bloom Bird of Paradise: Keep soil moist during spring and summer Ivy: Keep soil moist by watering regularly Peace Lily and Kaffir Lily: This plant will tell you when it needs something, when the leave wilt it will need water, when the leave dry up it will need sunlight. Potatoes: Grow in buckets or plastic sacks and water frequently Rubber Trees: Water every week String of pearls: Water once every 3 weeks and keep away from drafts, pets and children Hard To Care For Plants: These plants have very specific needs, so it’s best to do some research on how to best care for them before you bring one home with you. Catnip: Water constantly, good drainage required Ferns: Stag-horn, Maidenhair: Keep away from drafts, keep the soils moist but do not over water (self-watering pots are best) Ficus: Fiddle Leaf, Weeping ficus: Keep soil dry between watering, keep away from drafts, grow better in warmer temperatures. Try not to re-pot and keep leaves dust free Monstera Deliciosa: Water and wait until soil is slightly dry before watering again, and keep leaves clean of dust Orchids: Water every 5 to 12 days Palms: Areca, Bamboo palm, Lady palm: Soak soil and keep moist, but try not to over water Umbrella Trees: Keep soil moist by watering weekly 5. Location!
If your apartment or townhouse doesn’t have access to the outdoors, choose a spot that will give your plants the best chance of survival. Window boxes that hang on the outside of windows are great option but for those who can’t do that, then planter stands placeed near any source of natural light is best.
For a basic indoor gardening kit, you will need:
Watering can Soil/Potting Mix Pots Indoor plants Drip tray
What are the top four things your plants will need to survive?
Sunlight Water Dirt or Soil Nutrients
Remember plants are living organisms that need a little TLC to survive! Just like your children and pets, plants require a constant supply of food, sunlight, water and air to grow successfully. If you’re unsure about whether a plant could survive in an area of your house, ask yourself if you would sit there all day by yourself. If the answer is no, then your plant probably wouldn’t like it either. Now you can prepare yourself for a brighter, healthier home. So get planting!
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WASHINGTON – Just a few hours after the U.S. Department of Education released the full text of its proposed regulations to define “gainful employment” last Friday, two groups that rarely weigh in on education issues circulated news releases expressing concern that the rule would limit minority students’ access to postsecondary education.
In its statement, MANA: A National Latina Organization said that the proposed regulations would “adversely affect Hispanic students’ ability to borrow money and will limit Hispanic students’ access to higher education.” The National Black Chamber of Commerce said the rules would “disproportionately harm low-income and minority populations by discriminating against students who must borrow the needed tuition to attend college.”
On Monday, the day when the regulations were published in the
Federal Register in a notice of proposed rule-making, two more groups that represent minority groups but usually don’t wade into higher education policy debates -- the National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators -- made similar statements.
To proponents of the gainful employment regulations, minority advocacy groups and the for-profit colleges seem unlikely bedfellows. Advocates of the rules argue that they would not deny students access to higher education or to federal financial aid, but would instead redirect students to better programs, whether at nonprofit or for-profit institutions.
Maintaining the regulatory status quo on for-profit colleges, they say, would continue to leave students -- many of them minority and low-income students -- buried in debt and with meaningless credentials. While there are many aspects of the regulations that are debatable, they would not bar any student from receiving federal aid to pursue postsecondary education. Rather, they would restrict programs that purport to prepare students for jobs and that fail to lead students to jobs that pay well enough for them to repay their loans -- based on repayment rates and two debt service-to-income ratios -- from accepting federal financial aid dollars.
“In some instances individuals may very much benefit from these schools,” said Arnold Mitchem, president of the Council for Opportunity in Education, which works to help low-income and first-generation college students gain access to higher education. “Even so, there are a lot of sharks in the water and that’s what these regulations are addressing.” He doubts that the groups independently became concerned about these issues -- and he’s right.
Though the statements may not have all been written by the same person, the views expressed in them can in large part be traced to one prominent Washington lobbying firm, the Podesta Group. A Podesta staffer confirmed that the firm has performed “outreach” to black and Hispanic groups concerned about civil rights issues, including those that became interested in for-profit higher education in recent weeks.
“It’s not a policy discussion for them, it’s something they can really see the impact of -- the millions of students in thousands of programs that could lose their financial aid,” the aide said. (Some of the same groups wrote letters to the Education Department this spring while the rules were being drafted.)
According to lobbying disclosure forms, the Career College Association, the trade organization that represents most of for-profit higher education, paid Podesta Group $50,000 in the first quarter of 2010 and $80,000 in the second quarter to lobby Congress and the Obama administration. In the first half of the year, Podesta Group reported $210,000 in lobbying fees from Career Education Corporation, the company that runs American InterContinental University, Sanford-Brown Institutes and Le Cordon Bleu North America, among other institutions.
Harris N. Miller, CCA’s president, confirmed that the groups that have spoken out on gainful employment “were approached by our schools and by other people who deal with minority organizations,” informed of the issues at play, and asked to speak out against the proposals.
"These organizations realize on balance that the net contribution to the country and in particular to low-income and minority students is positive," Miller said. "The regulations the department has proposed would disproportionately affect lower-income working adults -- many of whom are minorities -- who are not served by traditional higher education."
To Barmak Nassirian, associate executive director of the American Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers, the involvement of CCA, for-profit colleges and lobbyists in getting groups with minority affiliations “is not at all surprising.”
The notice of proposed rule-making, he said, “is a fairly complicated thing and takes some time to weed through.” That groups that haven’t closely monitored the negotiated rule-making process that contributed to the drafting of the regulations could comment on it within a few hours of release suggested to him that someone else was pulling strings behind the scenes. "It's pure astroturf," he said, using a term that's come to symbolize lobbyist-stimulated "grassroots" campaigns
Alma Morales Rioja, president and CEO of MANA, said she tries “to be very, very careful and very introspective” before taking official policy positions, and that she has been “paying a lot of attention” to the growing scrutiny of for-profit colleges. “I am really suspect of any school that is not accredited, that is not certified,” she said. “I see all these fly-by-night operations and would have nothing to do with them. We’re trying to allow the additional opportunity that comes with career education.”
Nonetheless, her group’s July 23 press release appears to be the first instance in which MANA has expressed an opinion. When asked if she had discussed gainful employment with anyone advocating for CCA, Rioja avoided answering the question.
Pauline Abernathy, vice president of the Institute for College Access and Success, said that holding vocational programs accountable for preparing students for gainful employment "is one of the best ways to increase access to quality, affordable education and training." Further, she noted that three prominent civil rights groups that do weigh in with regularity on higher education issues -- the NAACP, Rainbow Push Coalition and National Council of La Raza -- "have all called for a strong definition of gainful employment to prevent unscrupulous career education programs from exploiting students of color."
She added: "Publicly traded for-profit colleges are legally obligated to make profitability for shareholders their overriding objective and their claims should be evaluated with that in mind."
As the federal government’s investment in student aid has grown, said Mitchem, of the Council for Opportunity in Education, “there’s been a lot of business buzz that this is a new frontier, and people are thinking, ‘How can I put something together so I can take advantage of this for my own financial interests?’ ” But those financial gains, he said, come on the backs of “a population who are vulnerable and uninformed who are looking for opportunities, who are looking for success.”
The National Black Chamber of Commerce and the National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators were both unresponsive to multiple phone calls and e-mail messages. The headquarters of National Organization of Black Elected Legislative Women directed inquiries to its president, Sharon Weston Broome, a Louisiana state senator, who did not respond to an interview request.
The National Hispanic Caucus of State Legislators’ ties to the for-profit sector are most obvious. Catherine A. Caponi, vice president of government relations at Education Management Corporation, is listed as an “associate business member” on the group’s Business Board of Advisors. So far this year, Education Management has spent at least $160,000 on Washington lobbying by Gray Loeffler, Jolly/Rissler and Heather Podesta and Associates, which is run by the wife of Podesta Group’s chairman.
Lobbying efforts are a "battle for the minds and souls of certain people in Washington," Miller said, "to show them that we offer students that path to the American dream."
Mitchem is more cynical. “The more oars you can put in the water, the easier it is to get to your goal," he said. "But it doesn't mean it's going to happen."
Read more by Topics Today’s News from Inside Higher Ed Inside Higher Ed’s Quick Takes What Others Are Reading Viewed Past: Day Week Month Year
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We know Jesus and we know the Father but fewer know—really know—the Holy Spirit or have a relationship with Him in their daily lives. The truth is the Spirit of Truth—the Holy Spirit—will revolutionize our lives if we'll let Him.
The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. He is co-equal with the Father and the Son. He is not a mist, a cloud, or a strange feeling. He has feelings just like you and me. He can be grieved. He is sensitive and compassionate. He is powerful and mighty. He is the change agent on the earth—God in action in the world.
We need the Holy Spirit more than we know. Here are five reasons why we should cry out for more of Him, which is what we do every morning on my devotional prayer call based on my book, Mornings With the Holy Spirit: Listening Daily to the Still Small Voice of God.
1. The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural power. Jesus said in Acts 1:8, "But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you. And you shall be My witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth." Right about now is when you should cry out, "Holy Spirit, come upon me. Fill me again!" JOIN JENNIFER ON FACEBOOK FOR SPIRITUAL COMMENTARY AND ENCOURAGEMENT. CLICK HERE. 2. The Holy Spirit gives us supernatural gifts. 1 Cor. 12:4-11 tells us, "There are various gifts, but the same Spirit. There are differences of administrations, but the same Lord. There are various operations, but it is the same God who operates all of them in all people. But the manifestation of the Spirit is given to everyone for the common good. To one is given by the Spirit the word of wisdom, to another the word of knowledge by the same Spirit, to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healings by the same Spirit, to another the working of miracles, to another prophecy, to another discerning of spirits, to another various kinds of tongues, and to another the interpretation of tongues. But that one and very same Spirit works all these, dividing to each one individually as He will."
When the Holy Spirit came to live on the inside of you, He brought His gifts with Him. Inspired by the Holy Spirit, Paul tells us we should earnestly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy (1 Cor. 14:1).
3. The Holy Spirit helps us build our faith. Jude 20 says, "But you, beloved, build yourselves up in your most holy faith. Pray in the Holy Spirit." I pray in the Spirit for at least the first 30 minutes of my day and pray in spirit in spurts throughout the day. I am praying in the Spirit as I write this article. I am edifying my spirit man when I do this. 4. The Holy Spirit gives life and strength to our bodies. Romans 8:11 says, "But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead lives in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit that lives in you." Think about that! Resurrection life is on the inside of you. We need to learn how to tap into that power to continue running our race and fighting the good fight of faith. 5. The Holy Spirit helps us resist temptation. Romans 8:13 says, "For if you live according to the flesh, you will die, but if through the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live." And Galatians 5:16 says, "I say then, walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh." If you are struggling with temptation of any kind, ask the Holy Spirit to help you. He is your helper. He's right there waiting on you to ask.
I'll stop there for now and give you time to mediate on these realities. They really will revolutionize your life if you let them. If you've never been filled with Spirit and you want to be, pray this prayer:
"Father, I surrender full control of my life to You. I ask you even now to fill me to overflowing with Your Spirit, just as You have promised to do if I ask according to Your will. I ask this in the name of Jesus and believe that you are pouring out your Spirit upon me right now."
Jennifer LeClaire is senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening;Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer onFacebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.
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The Tooting rentals market has seen a huge shift in desirability over the past year and our branch is currently realising record rental values achieved on properties in the area. Rental values in SW17 have risen by 9% in the past two years to now average £1,533 per month.
The busy sales market in the early half of 2014 saw many of our Landlords cash in, especially on family houses which had seen a phenomenal rise in value. As a result, stock across all property sizes was greatly reduced and in the rental market competition for the limited stock available started to hot up. Towards the end of the year, anything coming on to the market was achieving over and above asking price and best and final bids were commonplace. Properties were letting as quickly as our branch could take them on. As a result, my branch has seen a 10% increase in the number of properties being let in the past 2 years.
Interestingly, we've begun to see tenants coming to Tooting from previously more desirable areas such as Battersea and Clapham which would have been unheard of before. Many have come to see how the area has changed though and a variety of trendy bars and restaurants (Soho’s Chicken Shop, Honest Burger etc), quality properties and the fact that they can get a seat on the Northern Line in the morning are key drivers. New developments are also helping the area’s desirability and schemes such as The Broadway and Fusion are providing the modern new build properties near to good transport links that offer many young professional tenants the low maintenance lifestyle they are looking for.
In the last few weeks, we’ve begun to see more stock coming available which is good news for tenants but competition is still high. We recently let a 2 bedroom flat on Garratt Lane for a record price for the area after just one day of marketing. In another example, a landlord who recently let his 3 bedroom investment property achieved £200 above asking price.
For further information about Tooting or to speak to the branch, please visit our branch page:
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The Herald reports:
A charities lawyer says charities can now speak out on political issues without fear after a landmark High Court judgment overturning the deregistration of the lobby group Family First.
Sue Barker of Wellington law firm Sue Barker Charities Law said “hundreds” of charities would be affected by the judgment, which follows on from an earlier Supreme Court judgment last August ordering the Charities Board to reconsider its deregistration of Greenpeace.
Both organisations were deregistered on the grounds that their purposes were primarily “political” rather than “charitable”.
Deregistration means that they cannot claim tax exemptions for their donations, and usually means that the Inland Revenue Department will no longer allow donors to claim tax rebates for donating money to them.
A majority of the Supreme Court in the Greenpeace case ruled that an organisation with charitable purposes could also have political purposes, depending on the objectives being advocated and the means used to promote those objectives.
It held that the objectives did not have to be generally accepted and could be “controversial”, and ordered the Charities Board to reconsider Greenpeace’s application for registration.
A Greenpeace spokesman said today that Greenpeace was about to resubmit its application “in the next few days”. High Court Justice David Collins has now ordered the board to reconsider Family First’s case too. He said Family First would still need to show that its role was “of benefit to the public” by analogy to other cases, but he warned against applying that test too narrowly by comparing Family First only with existing charities.
I’m pleased for Family First that they have been treated the same way as Greenpeace. If Greenpeace are eligible, then Family First should be also.
However my view is that the definition of charity and charitable purpose under the law needs to be reviewed. I certainly think charities should be able to do advocacy that is related to their charitable work. But if an organisation primarily exists to lobby for law and policy changes, then they should no more be eligible to be a charity, than a political party would be.
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“Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it” - George Santayana, U.S. philosopher (1863-1952)
In recent weeks, I’ve seen and heard a lot more chatter surrounding home equity loans. Apparently, positive movement in many real estate markets (I know, I know, definitely not all parts of the country) has fueled renewed interest in this financial tool. As a financial planner with what remains a fairly sharp memory, I’m interested in making sure you don’t wander down the wrong path when it comes to using this helpful – but potentially dangerous type of debt. The bottom line is in doing so, you potentially put the roof over your head in peril.
First, let me say that using your own money is a better alternative than borrowing – whatever the source or type of loan. That’s why I’m a big proponent of building an emergency fund (not an emergency line of credit) and a savings and investment program designed to help you meet your goals – from vacations, to cars and college, and ultimately retirement. However, I’m not so naïve to think this always happens or can happen, so let’s look at the basics of borrowing based on the equity you have in your home.
Although this is probably not a shocker, you need to have “equity” in order to tap this type of loan. In other words, you need to owe less than the fair market value of your house. In the not too distant past (please see quote above) you could get an equity loan with little or no real equity. Thankfully, as a result of all the negative happenings in the real estate world, the equity requirements and the appraisal process have tightened up considerably.
You can tap your equity by way of a loan or a line of credit. With a loan you receive a lump sum payment, a fixed interest rate and repayment schedule over some period of time, say five, 10 or 15 years. A line of credit is typically an open ended line of credit with a variable interest rate and payment. So, if you know how much you need, would prefer to lock in a low interest rate, or like a fixed beginning and end, a loan makes sense. However, if you’re working a home improvement project and making payments to contractors over time, a line of credit may be ideal.
There are several reasons why this type of debt can be attractive to you, the borrower. First, interest rates are typically relatively low. Second, the interest is normally tax deductible if you use it for home improvement – and generally even up to $100,000 that is not used to improve your home. This makes your effective interest rate even lower. Finally, it gives you a means to tap into what may be one of your largest assets. But, do so with caution. Before you make a decision, consult with a tax advisor to seek advice based upon your particular circumstances.
Whether a loan or a line of credit, I think there are actually very few situations that actually justify tapping the equity in your home. Clearly, actually acquiring or improving the property would be a reasonable justification for using a home equity loan. Sometimes you can use a home equity loan to borrow a bit more than 80 percent when you’re purchasing your home and still avoid Private Mortgage Insurance, also known as PMI. You can also mark down that room edition, the new deck, or a kitchen upgrade as feasible. You could look at it as a tool (after comparing with other options) for funding higher education – although I’d still be more inclined to let junior get a job or loan.
Okay, I’m done with the situations for which I think using your home equity makes sense. Notice there was no discussion of cars, cruises or gasp, clothes. And having been through the “I’m going to consolidate all my credit card debt, fail to change my spending habits and finish with a home equity loan AND massive credit card debt” scenario with a few of my own clients, I purposefully did not include debt consolidation on my list of sensible solutions. Although, with fundamental changes in financial habits or extenuating circumstances that created the debt, I might be persuaded.
We started by quoting Santayana, so keep in mind he also said, “Advertising is the modern substitute for argument; its function is to make the worse appear the better.” So, don’t succumb to the home equity hype. Proceed down the path of tapping your home’s equity cautiously.
This material is for informational purposes. Consider your own financial circumstances carefully before making a decision and consult with your tax, legal or estate planning professional.
USAA means United Services Automobile Association and its insurance, banking, investment and other companies. Banks Member FDIC. Investments provided by USAA Investment Management Company and USAA Financial Advisors Inc., both registered broker dealers.
USAA Financial Planning Services® refers to financial planning services and financial advice provided by USAA Financial Planning Services Insurance Agency, Inc. (known as USAA Financial Insurance Agency in California), a registered investment adviser and insurance agency and its wholly owned subsidiary, USAA Financial Advisors, Inc., a registered broker dealer.
Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc. owns the certification marks CFP® and Certified Financial Planner TM in the United States, which it awards to individuals who successfully complete CFP Board’s initial and ongoing certification requirements
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Loux N.T.,U.S. Environmental Protection Agency | Su Y.S.,825 Mark Center Drive | Hassan S.M.,University of Georgia
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health | Year: 2011
Manufactured nanomaterials (MNs) are commonly considered to be commercial products possessing at least one dimension in the size range of 10 -9 m to 10 -7 m. As particles in this size range represent the smaller fraction of colloidal particles characterized by dimensions of 10 -9 m to 10 -6 m, they differ from both molecular species and bulk particulate matter in the sense that they are unlikely to exhibit significant settling under normal gravitational conditions and they are also likely to exhibit significantly diminished diffusivities (when compared to truly dissolved species) in environmental media. As air/water, air/soil, and water/soil inter medium transport is governed by diffusive processes in the absence of significant gravitational and inertial impaction processes in environmental systems, models of MN environmental inter medium transport behavior will likely require an emphasis on kinetic approaches. This review focuses on the likely environmental fate and transport of MNs in atmospheric and aquatic systems. Should significant atmospheric MNs emission occur, previous observations suggest that MNs may likely exhibit an atmospheric residence time of ten to twenty days. Moreover, while atmospheric MN aggregates in a size range of 10 -7 m to 10 -6 m will likely be most mobile, they are least likely to deposit in the human respiratory system. An examination of various procedures including the Derjaguin-Landau-Verwey-Overbeek (DLVO) theory of colloidal particle suspension stability in water indicates that more sophisticated approaches maybe necessary in order to develop aquatic exposure models of acceptable uncertainty. In addition, concepts such as Critical Coagulation Concentrations and Critical Zeta Potentials may prove to be quite useful in environmental aquatic exposure assessments. © 2011 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. Source
Tao B.T.,Center for Health Research and Policy | Taylor D.G.,825 Mark Center Drive
Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinics of North America | Year: 2010
This article reviews economic methodologies developed for estimating cost of illness, examines the current literature on diabetes costs, and presents the latest estimates of the economic impact of type 1 diabetes in terms of direct medical costs (ie, treatment costs) and indirect costs (eg, lost wages). © 2010 Elsevier Inc. Source
Pschierer C.,Corporate Technical Standards | Gilbert B.,Boeing Company | DeBisschop C.,825 Mark Center Drive | Van Der Stricht S.,EUROCONTROL
IEEE Aerospace and Electronic Systems Magazine | Year: 2013
The joint RTCA SC-217/EUROCAE WG-44 committee completed the latest revisions of the AMDB user requirements and interchange specifications DO-272C and DO-291B in 2011. One of the major novelties is the introduction of the ASRN. The ASRN supports manual editing of taxi routes, data link transmissions of taxi routes, and highly detailed display of taxi routes in the cockpit. © 2013 IEEE. Source
Rosenau W.,825 Mark Center Drive
Studies in Conflict and Terrorism | Year: 2013
This article addresses the gap in the literature on U.S. domestic terrorism and counterterrorism in the 1970s by examining a once-notorious but now largely forgotten terrorist group, the Black Liberation Army (BLA). An outgrowth of the Black Panther Party, the BLA was directly responsible for at least 20 fatalities, making it amongst the most lethal "homegrown" U.S. groups of the period. This article seeks to shed new light on the BLA by exploring its relatively short but violent trajectory. By focusing on the group's origins, operations, ideology, and structure, the BLA can be understood as part of a wider landscape of homegrown political violence. The BLA emerged during the waning phase of a protest cycle that included the civil rights, Black Power, and anti-war movements. Like other terrorist groups before and after, the BLA claimed to be acting in self-defense and on behalf of the people, presenting itself as an army resisting police occupation of minority communities. With the collapse of the extreme Left in the mid- 1970s, the BLA's prospects for creating a broader revolutionary base became remote. The article also examines law-enforcement responses to the BLA and the competing ways in which the Federal Bureau of Investigation and local police (and in particular, the New York Police Department) framed and countered the BLA threat. © Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. Source
Holguin-Veras J.,Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | Ozbay K.,Rutgers University | Kornhauser A.,Princeton University | Brom M.A.,Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute | And 5 more authors.
Transportation Research Record | Year: 2011
This paper examines the chief findings of research conducted on policies to foster off-hour deliveries (OHDs) in the New York City metropolitan area. The goal was to estimate the overall impacts of eventual full implementation of an OHD program. As part of the research, a system of incentives was designed for the receivers of deliveries the system combined Global Positioning System (GPS) remote sensing monitoring with GPS-enabled smart phones to induce a shift of deliveries to the off-hours from 7:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. The concept was pilot tested in Manhattan by 33 companies that switched delivery operations to the off-hours for a period of 1 month. At the in-depth interviews conducted after the test, the participants reported being very satisfied with the experience. As an alternative to road pricing schemes that target freight carriers, this was the first real-life trial of the use of financial incentives to delivery receivers. The analyses indicate that the economic benefits of a full implementation of the OHD program are in the range of $147 to $193 million per year, corresponding to savings on travel time and environmental pollution for regular-hour traffic as well as productivity increases for the freight industry. The pilot test also highlighted the great potential of unassisted OHD-that is, OHD made without personnel from the receiving establishment present-because almost all participants who used this modality decided to continue receiving OHD even after the financial incentive ended. Source
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Six Workflow Essentials of a Healthy Practice
As payers cut reimbursements and patients gain more options for where they receive care, your practice needs to evolve to these changes. Synchronizing workflow in better ways across your practice will be the key to a great experience for your patient — and is essential to achieve the compliance and revenue you need to thrive.
Synchronizing workflow is the driving concept behind MediLinks. Here are some of those guiding principles that you should also consider as you manage your practice.
Manage Referrals.You may already convert those sheets of paper from your physicians into digital files. But are you converting those images into actionable information? It’s still important to know where that original piece of paper is…when it was received…and confirm that the therapist understands the specific disciplines and programs ordered under the referral. In short: if you are asked for evidence that you complied of the referral, can you quickly and easily demonstrate every aspect of that compliance? Track authorizations.Verifying benefits is a great start, Schedule the patient.Does your practice schedule appointments before you receive an approved plan of care? If so, what safeguards do you have in place? And once care begins, what are you doing (beyond automated phone reminders) to ensure patient compliance with appointments and home exercise? Certify plan of care and update the referring physician.Do you have the necessary alerts in place to ensure 100% compliance with updates and recertification? If so, how long does the process take your therapists to complete for each patient? Capture and report outcomes.You’ve probably found workarounds to meet the CMS requirements for G-Codes, but do you know how much they are costing you in terms of productivity and lost patient care?. Can you benchmark your providers? Compare your practice to competitors? Sell your services to referrers based on compelling outcomes data? Discharge patients.What best practices do you have in place to manage the end of a patient’s treatment? Do you track patients who self-discharge when they have benefits remaining and would benefit from an extra session? How does your workflow synchronize end of benefits with end of care?
No two practices run exactly the same way; but every successful practice has mastered these six essentials of workflow. If you’d like to find ways to better equip your team, download our Practice Owner’s Guide at right to see how MediLinks can streamline your process.
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About
$1,000,000 in Community Development Block Grant dollars have been awarded for the Buchanan County Degree Attainment Initiative – an Innovation Campus program.
Using high-impact apprenticeships and mentoring programs regional “high demand business and industries”
1 will train employees and potential employees, with the goal of enhancing their ability to contribute to the businesses and the economy. The goals of the Innovation Campus program are to: increase the number of jobs in high-demand businesses and industries enable students/trainees to earn bachelors’ degrees aligned with these jobs in three years or less reduce the costs of this education/training through a combination of early college credits and private business underwriting increase the use of high-impact apprenticeships with prospective employers as an integral part of training/educational curricula improve the preparation of students/trainees for employment in high-growth business and industries Geographic Area of Project:
Apprenticeship training and mentoring will generally take place in Buchanan County, on-site, within targeted industries. College coursework will primarily be provided by Missouri Western State University. Additional coursework may occur at the Hillyard Technical Center run by the St Joseph School District, and on the campuses of Metropolitan Community College.
Regional Need:
The St. Joseph metro region is home to a number of companies focused on human and animal health, and additional “high demand business and industries.” Consistently, these businesses have job openings that remain unfilled due to gaps between educational profiles of job applicants and the educational profile required for the open positions. The St. Joseph region trails the nation in the percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree or more (18.9% vs 28.2%). However, the region marginally exceeds national percentages of those with at least a high school degree and those with some college. Buchanan County would be particularly well served by a program to develop high school graduates and citizens with some college into recipients of bachelor’s degrees with coursework focused in areas of need by the region’s high demand industries.
Addressing the Need:
Partnering companies will select project applicants based on their potential to complete a bachelor’s degree in a discipline relevant to the business, and their potential to be long-term employees who will help develop the companies. Participants will be selected from the applicants by a board that represents all BCDAI partners. In addition to required on-site training and mentoring, participants will enroll in college courses such that they can complete a bachelor’s degree in a field relevant to the sponsoring industry.
Curricula and Applied Learning Experiences:
All business partners have agreed to have on-site training experiences that will lead to credit-bearing internships, and/or mentorship programs that will prepare employees for more responsible and productive roles within their businesses. Participants will take college courses, with the majority of the courses being upper level coursework within business (accounting, finance, management, marketing), the sciences (chemistry and biology), and engineering (electronics and computer engineering, manufacturing engineering) – areas of greatest importance to the growth of high-demand businesses.
The St. Joseph Metro Chamber of Commerce is the fiscal agent for this initiative, and Missouri Western State University is the lead partner. 1 For this Initiative, high demand businesses include advanced manufacturing, energy solutions, bioscience, health sciences and services, information technology, financial and professional services, transportation and logistics.
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Abstract
Background: There is growing evidence that genetic variants have an impact on the pathogenesis of intracranial aneurysm (IA). Recently, the genetic locus around the elastin gene (7q11) has been identified as linked to IA in a Japanese population. Our aim was to confirm these results in Caucasian populations. Methods: We conducted a case-control study in 120 Caucasian patients with IA and 172 controls to investigate 8 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) and various haplotypes within the elastin gene, which were frequently found and associated with the phenotype in the Japanese populations. Real-time PCR and melting curve analysis were used for the detection of genotypes. Results: Allele frequencies and genotypes were equally distributed between Caucasian cases and controls. We failed to identify haplotypes that are associated with the phenotype in our population, which is in contrast to the Japanese study. However, allele frequencies in control populations differ between Caucasians and Japanese. Conclusions: We found no association between SNPs and haplotypes of the elastin gene and the occurrence of IA in our Caucasian populations. However, our data provide strong evidence for racial/ethnic differences in the association of SNP and specific haplotypes of the elastin gene with the phenotype. There might be other genetic variants of the elastin gene associated with IA in Caucasians.
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Abstract
Abstract Continuing renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system antagonist therapy on the day of surgery is controversial, and appears to contribute to intraoperative hypotension. A patient presenting for cerebral aneurysm clipping continued her angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor on the morning of surgery, and subsequently experienced significant postinduction hypotension that culminated in cardiac arrest. Following successful resuscitation, she returned 6 weeks later to have her aneurysm clipped using identical anesthetic management; her blood pressure medications were held on the day of surgery.
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Kate Stonor and Rachel MorrisonTechnical Bulletin Volume 33, 2012 Abstract
Monticelli has long fallen from favour in art historical circles but was, in his time, admired by the young Cézanne, and later provided great inspiration for Van Gogh. Though we may no longer appreciate Monticelli’s aesthetic, his materials and techniques are of interest today because of their influence on these important figures. Study of the works in the National Gallery Collection, which span the 1870s and 80s, has shown an extraordinary consistency in the artist’s choice of pigments, so much so that two ‘fakes’ are thought to have been identified. The artist can be seen to favour a very specific palette which includes old fashioned pigments, such as verdigris in preference to viridian, possibly due to his interest in emulating Old Master painting.
Monticelli is said to have been a loyal user of Lefranc paints and systematic sampling of his relatively simple pigment mixtures allows inferences to be made regarding the possible content of the tube paints he was using and the influence commercial paint formulations had on artists’ working in the second half of the nineteenth century.
By contrast to his use of ready prepared tube paints, Monticelli, who suffered poverty throughout this period, does not appear to have used commercially produced supports. His works at the National Gallery are all on unprimed, re-used panels probably made from old furniture. Limited organic analysis has also been undertaken on his paintings and this suggests that the artist may have sealed the panels prior to painting and mixed additional medium into his tube paints. Several of his works have marked drying defects and this also has consequences for their conservation.
Keywords
Adolphe Monticelli, Vincent van Gogh, supports, panel preparation, painting technique, medium, varnish, Lefranc et Cie, commercial tube paints, pigments: lead white, zinc white, Prussian blue, French ultramarine, cobalt blue, cerulean blue, Naples yellow, chrome yellow, yellow ochre, verdigris, green earth, cobalt green, red lake, yellow lake, Indian yellow, extenders, fakes
Download article
To cite this article we suggest using
Stonor, K., Morrison, R. 'Adolphe Monticelli: The Materials and Techniques of an Unfashionable Artist'. National Gallery Technical Bulletin Vol 33, pp 50–72.
http://research.ng-london.org.uk/projects/technical-bulletin/vol-33/stonor_morrison2012
Problems opening files? Get Adobe Reader [External link]
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There are many arguments for why it is imperative we transition toward a sustainable future: energy efficiency, a relocalization of the economy and renewables. Often overlooked in the discussion are the deleterious impacts of pollution -- climate change, habitat destruction and resource depletion -- and the impacts here and now on the health and quality of life upon people of color and upon the poor.
The field of environmental justice questions the status quo. It makes explicit those impacts and seeks remedies on behalf of communities who may not have the resources to have their voice heard. Environmental justice is a pervasive theme of the church's social teaching. When I entered the keyword "environmental justice" on the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops website, I found 1,430 references [1].
Environmental justice is at the core of Catholic social teaching because every major environmental challenge we face, from climate change to where to put oil pipelines, impacts folk of color and the poor much more profoundly than more affluent communities. The upshot is that environmental justice addresses the pathway from environmental and the accompanying social/economic distress toward healthy environments where one can experience full economic and social participation.
New book links race, class, pollution and health
A prophetic voice in the cause of justice has been Professor Bunyan Bryant of the University of Michigan. Bunyan Bryant has been one of the national pioneers in addressing the issue of environmental racism from both an academic and public policy perspective.
Bryant has, with Professor Elaine Hockman, published a new book,
Michigan: A State of Environmental Justice? (Morgan James, publisher). In a series of essays that incorporate the power of multivariate statistical analysis, the book challenges some of the prevailing stereotype of folk who are in distressed communities: It isn't only African-Americans who are victimized. Latinos are more heavily exposed to pollution from industrial discharge and hazardous waste sites than their white neighbors regardless of whether they live in big cities or in small towns. Public health effects [i.e. low birth weight, middle-age cancers and childhood asthma] of exposure to pollution are discounted or treated as externalities in distressed communities. However, the cost to the communities is enormous. Children in these communities face so many challenges, including poorer quality schools and fewer educational resources, broken family structure, drugs and violence. But perhaps the greatest challenges they face are the health and mental development impacts of heavy exposure to environmental toxins. In the Detroit Area Study survey cited in the book, blacks are just as interested in and committed to healthy environments and connection to nature as their more affluent suburban neighbors, and are more concerned about the health of their local community. When one factors in health care costs, it is less expensive for our nation to remediate pollution sources, whether through clean-up or controls on stacks, than to do nothing. There is no real conflict between economic development and environmental protection. In fact, where there is clean water and clean air, real economic growth, controlling for race and class, will be much more rapid. My involvement in the project
I was a student of Bryant's and a collaborator with Hockman. I co-author a couple of chapters of their book.
In the chapter "The Multifaceted Nature of Pollution, Environmental Cleanup and Issues of Disparate Impact and Health," Hockman and I use a statistical modeling system known as path analysis to examine the effects of race and class as well as different sources of pollution on the rates of middle-age cancers, asthma and low birth weight across the state of Michigan. [For purposes of confidentiality, we could only get public health data at the zip code level.] We used data of point source pollution from the state of Michigan data files and federal government. We found that race and income had both direct and indirect impacts on the likelihood of poor health impacts.
In particular:
Some forms of pollution have a stronger relation to race and income than others. People of color and the poor are much more likely to live near incinerators than landfills. Of all the major pollution sources -- from toxic release to hazardous waste sites -- airborne contaminants from incinerators are associated with the highest rates of health stressors. There is both a direct relationship between most minority groups -- African-American, Latino and Native American -- and areas of higher density of pollution sources [particularly strong with blacks]. All three predictive factors -- minority status, residing in polluted areas and low income -- are associated in one way or another with low birth weight, childhood asthma or middle-age cancers. When one breaks the minority groups into sub-groups of black, Hispanic, Asian or Native American, a direct relationship remains with at least one of the public health stressors, with the exception of Native Americans. Even with the Native American population, there is a strong indirect effect with Native Americans, showing the strongest correlation between area of residence and concentration of pollution sources.
Currently, Bryant and Hockman are looking at the correlation between the location of sources of lead in Detroit and its concentration in Head Start children who live nearby, and the health impacts on children with higher lead in their blood.
Moral implications
Beneath the myriad statistics in this and some of the other articles in
Michigan: A State of Environmental Justice?, one reality stands out. If each child, regardless of race or class, is made in the image and likeness of God, then to turn a blind eye and accept the status quo represents a robbery from these children who, through no fault of their own, suffer the most, both now and as they go forward toward the future.
To enter life with high concentrations of lead and mercury in your system means that your life chances -- from health and life expectancy to your capacity for learning -- is greatly impaired. Poor children and children of color who can least afford further roadblocks in their life's journey toward the promise of abundant life continue to have their future stolen. The great moral challenge for the church is that this story is repeated in state after state. It is, I believe, the call of the church to advocate on behalf of those who have yet to have their voices heard at the table.
After reading
Michigan: A State of Environmental Justice?, one no longer can drive by an incinerator or hazardous waste treatment facility without asking the question: Who is living in that neighborhood and what are the costs to that community does that facility carry? "Amen, I say to you, whatever you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me" -- Matthew 25:45
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Apple fan and a lover of tattoos? That could present a problem according to numerous reports emerging from Reddit and other social media outlets earlier this week.
Apple confirmed the issue late yesterday on its heart rate information/support page.
Permanent or temporary changes to your skin, such as some tattoos, can also impact heart rate sensor performance. The ink, pattern, and saturation of some tattoos can block light from the sensor, making it difficult to get reliable readings.
Early adopters are reporting the Apple Watch seems to have issues with pushing notifications to the user. The issue extends to the heart rate monitoring, one of the prominent features of the smartwatch.
Hey, nothing says smart like a wearable thinking you’re dead.
Where do tattoos fit into the picture? The green light used by Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor is having difficulty penetrating through the darker inks.
Apple decided to use photoplethysmography over other methods of heart rate detection:
“Blood is red because it reflects red light and absorbs green light. Apple Watch uses green LED lights paired with light‑sensitive photodiodes to detect the amount of blood flowing through your wrist at any given moment. When your heart beats, the blood flow in your wrist — and the green light absorption — is greater. Between beats, it’s less. By flashing its LED lights hundreds of times per second, Apple Watch can calculate the number of times the heart beats each minute — your heart rate.”
Darker inks on tattoos could interfere with how the sensor reads your heart rate, giving you unusual readouts or not detecting skin contact at all.
The issue has already made the leap into ‘does it affect people with dark skin?’ Having a black tattoo is not the same as having dark skin. While Apple may have missed every variance of wrist tattoos, the company didn’t miss testing ethnicities.
Apologies to the click bait sites. You can put the pitchforks down. The watch isn’t racist. It’s just hipster.
Can Apple Fix This?
Apple has already confirmed the issue in its support area, so no. You can’t push an update to make green light penetrate various tattoos. Other options have been tossed around:
Ultraviolet light. This won’t penetrate the skin, so it’s a no go. Red light can penetrate, but can go all the way to the bone. Another no.
The most likely fix? If Apple is sold on photoplethysmography, it could be mixing green and yellow light. The issue is that no system is going to work perfectly.
Apple has billed its watch as a fitness companion and all around ‘special.’ If there’s a hang-up with the technology, the company may have to switch it out.
For now, Apple recommends using a Bluetooth chest strap for accurate heart rate readings. Yeah… More devices?
Just make me bionic.
Follow News Ledge This post may contain affiliate links, which means we receive a commission if you make a purchase using one of the affiliated links.
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Posted by Jeremy Bachmann 09/21/2012 appraisal
It's a good news, bad news scenario. More tools and technology provide more options for home buyers and sellers to determine home value. BUT, with so many options available, figuring out which tools are actually useful can be confusing.
As we discussed in our earlier post on the basics of appraisals, appraisals are an expert's opinion of a home's value. That expert is a state-licensed and certified professional. How much you can borrow and at what rate is often affected by the official appraised value of your home. Borrowers are often tempted to compare the appraised value with what they find on an online home valuation tool.
Not so fast!
The majority of online tools that provide borrowers guidance on home values are NOT an alternative to an appraisal. The real estate industry, however, often uses online tools that ARE an acceptable substitute to an in-person appraisal. However, not all lenders or loan programs permit the use of these home value tools.
Whew! Let's try to simplify all of this:
Online Home Estimates Tools
Most people begin the purchase or refinance process by jumping on the web and looking at home values using one of the popular online tools available on sites such as Zillow.com or Trulia.com. These online tools are great for getting a rough estimate of your home value, but cannot used as a substitute for an appraisal during the loan process.
Why is that? It's because these home value tools provide estimates, not appraisals. These tools are reliant on available data – which can often be incomplete – as well as formulas specific to these companies. As a result, prices may vary widely.
For example, Zillow estimates home values according to:
Location Date last sold Number of beds and baths Square footage of the home
In contrast, CoreLogic, a third-party vendor of online home valuation tools to many mortgage lenders, prices homes according to:
Lot size Year home was built House type/style Number of beds and baths Square footage of the home
To demonstrate the differences, we found an older house selling for $279,900 on our PennyMac REO site. But, when we plugged in this same home's address on Zillow, Zillow told us the home was worth more - $295,062, to be exact. And, when we plugged in this same home's address on a large bank's CoreLogic-based home valuation tool, the bank site told us the home was worth $304,000 – that's $24,100 higher value than the list price on the property!
The takeaway is that these tools are a good starting point for your home's value. They can provide a ballpark estimate useful when considering a home purchase or refinance. Your loan officer will often ask you to estimate your home value when taking your mortgage application, so it's not a bad idea to visit a few of these sites before calling. But, of course, it's a good idea to use multiple tools and compare prices to capture a range. Again, these are not appraisals.
Automated Home Valuation Models
Professionals have access to more comprehensive tools -- which they have to pay for – called Automated Valuation Models or AVMs that in some situations can be used as a substitute for a traditional appraisal.
An AVM can be a fast, affordable way to get an approximate market value of a home. Where an in-person appraisal can take up to two weeks to complete and can cost several hundred dollars, AVMs can take a matter of seconds and cost significantly less.
An AVM will often calculate a home's estimated value by comparing a variety of data points, such as public county property records, ownership deeds, recent home sales reports and mortgage records. Some online home valuation tools will also collect additional home details, like unique property characteristics, local geography and county sales activity, to incorporate into a home's estimated worth.
Will All AVMs Appraise My Home Similarly?
A computer can only make an educated guess based on the information it is given. If any given AVM is collecting data from incomplete public records, missing ownership deeds, insufficient home sales reports and outdated mortgage records, your estimated home value could vary from site to site.
In addition, not all AVMs calculate a home's worth based on the same criteria.
Do AVMs Take Home Condition Into Consideration?
AVMs often do NOT factor a home's condition in valuation. Public housing records don't mention crumbling foundations, leaky roofs, or flooded basements. As a result, AVMs may price a property higher than warranted. In addition, characteristics such as spectacular views and kitchen and bath upgrades are absent from public housing records. As a result, AVMs may price a property well below the price a buyer might pay for it.
So, When Do Lenders Use AVMs?
Certain programs, such as the Home Affordable Refinance Program, permit lenders to use AVMs, or automated valuation models. And even with programs that permit the use of AVMs, sometimes there isn't enough data for certain markets for an AVM to work. Your lender can let you know if an AVM is used for the home loan program you're applying for.
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Yohimbe-Plus Overview Yohimbe-Plus is a liquid soft-gel supplement designed to enhance sexual performance. It is produced by a company called Irwin Naturals based in California. Yohimbe-Plus Product Details Yohimbe-Plus claims to improve libido, sexual function, endurance, stamina, and performance. In a serving of three soft-gels, Yohimbe-Plus contains 1516mg of Fish Oil with 30% concentration of Omega 3 Fatty Acids, 450mg of Yohimbe Bark Extract with 2% concentration of alkaloids, 300mg of Ashwagandha Extract, 150mg of Damiana Powder, 150mg of Eleuthero Extract, 150mg of Horny Goat Weed, 150mg of Muira Puama Powder, 150mg of Tribulus Extract, 30mg of Ginkgo Extract, 6mg of Bioprene Complex, Gelatin, Purified Water, Soy Lecithin, Glycerin, Beeswax, Caramel Color, Silicon Dioxide, and Titanium Dioxide. Bioprene Complex, and possibly the Fish Oil, help in absorption of the product. Horny Goat Weed, Tribulus, Muira Puama, and Ginkgo are found in many natural male enhancement supplements. Yohimbe is an evergreen tree found in several African countries. The bark of this tree contains a chemical called Yohimbine, which is the active ingredient in many natural male enhancement supplements and has been used in its pure form in Drug erectile dysfunction medication. Some research has shown promising results for Yohimbine in treating various sexual issues such as low libido, erection issues, and impotence. However, completely conclusive evidence from clinical studies has not yet been found.
There are also many problems associated with Yohimbine. First, the Yohimbe tree may be endangered due to high international demand and the fact that it dies after its bark is harvested and new trees must be planted to compensate. Second, the chemical itself is present in the bark only in small amounts and so it is important to extract it to sufficient potencies. Thus, it can become confusing when different supplements contain varying milligrams of Yohimbe Bark Extract that contains varying levels of Yohimbine, making it tricky to compare products and determine the accurate dosage and intake. Yohimbine also has many possible side effects. Some of these potential influences are positive, such as support fat loss and support for certain depression treatments. However, there are far more negative factors to consider before using products containing Yohimbine. It is banned in some countries because it can be dangerous if used in large amounts, with the line between an effective dose and an excessive dose being very thin. Additionally, it may cause anxiety, panic attacks, dizziness, insomnia, headaches, and could raise blood pressure and heart rate. Possible serious side effects include seizures, support suicidal tendencies in those with depression, and kidney failure.
Irwin Naturals is a well-established company that has been around for about 15 years and sells products across the US and in 50 different countries worldwide. Yohimbe Plus is not available directly from their website, but is available online from various trusted retailers for prices ranging from $11 to $17 for a bottle of 100 capsules.
Good About Yohimbe-Plus Contains a high amount of Yohimbe Bark Extract Contains other sexual enhancement extracts found in many other products, popular for their positive effects All natural Relatively affordable All ingredients are listed Bad About Yohimbe-Plus Uncertainty as to exactly how much Yohimbine each dose contains Not for long term usage Yohimbine can have many negative side effects Potentially dangerous interactions with certain illnesses and medications Many ingredients are not explained and thus, it is not clear as to their role in this product Yohimbe-Plus, The Bottom Line Yohimbe-Plus contains a high level of Yohimbe Bark Extract in conjunction several other potent aphrodisiacs that are commonly used individually in other sexual enhancement products. It would be helpful if some of these ingredients were further explained. While the formula looks promising, the presence of Yohimbe Bark Extract must be taken with a grain of salt. With all the conflicting evidence and reports on Yohimbe Bark and Yohimbine, it can be difficult to come to a clear conclusion on its efficacy. While Yohimbe-Plus has the possibility to be dangerous to some individuals, it is manufactured by a trusted company and should be safe if used according to the instructions on the label. It may be up for each man to decide if the potential or actual side effects outweigh the potential or actual benefits.
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Owning a kitten will be one of the most enjoyable and rewarding things you will ever do.
To enjoy all the benefits of owning a kitten, it is vital you take the steps to ensure he or she stays healthy and happy.
Kitten check list Vaccinations Microchip Flea & tick control Worming Premium kitten food Bedding Litter & tray Food & water bowl Training treats Toys Desexing Collar & lead ID tag Grooming brush Council Registration
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How a QA Team Helps Build Better Websites
by Kyra Dorsey | March 3rd, 2016
Solving web challenges and innovating website solutions can be stressful. Production teams often face scope changes and unexpected technology updates. But, there are some unifying factors that can keep the team focused, working together, moving forward. Enter: the quality assurance team (QA team).
The QA team at PINT understands the challenging facets of web development. To help address these challenges, we are adopting a team-oriented approach to our part in each project’s development. This means we are all on the web development ride together. But the hope is that it will result in a more complete and sound product.
The QA Team
The QA team’s responsibility is to conduct product testing based on a deep understanding of the site. This covers everything from the presentation layer to the inner workings of backend systems.
QA’s responsibilities also include facilitating communication within the team. This means asking questions throughout the entire development process. This benefits QA when it comes to formulating tests. However, itt also serves as a mechanism for highlighting potential issues along the way. Ideally, any issues can be dealt with early on in the development of a website or piece of software.
QA feedback should be clear when it comes to error reporting, including demos and use case presentations. QA is not an independent contributor: the team plays an integrated support role. The QA team helps along the way to fine tune the masterpiece. If you think about it, every member of a production team should share:
A commitment to quality Pride in the project’s craftsmanship A collaborative interest in the technologies used The satisfaction that comes from the synergy of working towards the same goal as part of a solid group effort
So, in a way, every developer in production is part of QA. But there are some specific QA roles, as well.
QA Team Roles
When it comes to the QA team’s role specifically, it’s key to keep that team perspective in mind. The team perspective means QA can’t approach the project blind. Having the QA team involved in the project’s development from beginning to end is key to keeping everyone on track.
Input from the team as a whole is necessary in formulating tests and systems for:
Presentation layer checks Functional tests End-to-end tests Monitoring systems
The QA team is also uniquely positioned to incorporate the different talents and perspectives of other production team members in the test process. Including the right people will not only help keep everyone on track, but it will also yield a more sound test plan, too.
Quality Assurance Challenges
Common challenges that can pose hurdles for QA teams during the development process include:
Tools Okay, we’re not using hammers and axes. But often there are differences between the technologies and tools used by the QA and development teams. For example, developers may build an application using one language while the QA team is writing their integration tests in another. Locations Sometimes the members of the team may be working across time zones. This can make scheduled functional tests tricky to organize and execute between rounds of development. Platforms The emergence and evolution of new devices is tough. New platforms can both increase testing time and cause the QA team to continuously re-evaluate testing routines. Sometimes this has to happen in the middle of a project. Reporting Communication in error reporting and bug tracking can devolve and become disjointed. This is most liable to happen as the project nears its release deadline.
All in all, it can be a lot to manage.
QA Solutions Communication
QA teams can lead an effort to standardize internal communication. For example, the QA manager can set parameters for how issues should be relayed to the developers. This may include agreeing upon a singular bug tracking system or homogenizing how issues are to be illustrated. Such agreement can help to relieve some of the stress associated with general discovery and logging of errors.
Dialogue
It is vital to maintain a consistent dialogue with the rest of the team throughout the entire process. This can mean participating in regular scrums or status update meetings. It could also involve incorporating technology that allows for continuous conversation, such as Slack or Hipchat.
Either way, a dialogue with the team as the project is being developed keeps QA up-to-date on both project expectation and performance details.
User stories
The QA team can leverage their bird’s eye view of both the project and PINT as an organization. They can engage the entire team in the creation of user stories. These function as a roadmap for future actual tests. We need input and perspectives from all team members for a complete set of user stories. A single individual could never think of all the possible scenarios for a product’s use. Therefore, a team approach highlights the value of each team member’s unique talents and project contributions. We’ve been trying to fill out our user stories more ever since PINT’s CEO encouraged us to read 50 Quick Ideas to Improve Your User Stories.
Total Team Value to User Stories
The QA team is not the only ones who can contribute to user stories. Everyone involved in the web development process can enhance this aspect of quality assurance. And they contribute different types of user stories.
Epics
PINT Project Managers are an incredibly valuable for creating user stories. They manage a direct line of communication with project stakeholders and provide a more comprehensive perspective. This helps us understand the expected performance. Product Owners and Project Managers are highly instrumental in the creation of
epics. These are the larger, more complex user stories. And PM’s can create them because of their unabridged understanding of the project. Routines
Visual Designers and UX Specialists have a keen sensibility for user behaviors and impulses. As such, they have a special vantage point for developing hypothetical routines of user action. They have already been tasked with providing the vision for clear paths of user navigation while using the product, so they can compose many user stories during the project’s design phase.
Technical Feedback
As the physical architects of the product, Developers can offer specialized guidance to QA teams. This guidance is based on their firsthand experience composing and testing the code during the project’s development. They should be able to alert QA to any environmental limitations or other technical parts of the product to which QA should pay special attention. Their familiarity with technical limitations means developers are also the best people to provide feedback on risk.
Themes
The entire team contributes to the
theme, or complete body of user stories. They are the combined effort of the team’s collaboration, and can then be translated by the QA team into a suite of actual tests. Better QA = Better End-Products
Team ownership and involvement in a website’s or web application’s life cycle fosters its own momentum. Team contributions to the testing process reinforce each member’s understanding of the end-product’s performance expectations. It also allows each team member to analyze their own contribution within the context of how it will serve the project.
In a way, QA reflects PINT’s team-oriented workplace. When everyone helps to create user stories, we are not only helping our QA team. We are also sharpening our own skill sets by developing new perspectives towards our coworkers’ individual contributions.
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ROME – Back in the late 1980’s, I attended a conference on “revenue management,” or the art of pricing airline seats to get maximize yield. Too high, and you lost business; too low, and you got less than people were willing to pay. Most of the speakers were from the airline industry, which already knew the tricks. Many of the listeners were from the hotel business; they were just learning. As a customer, I felt as if I had penetrated the enemy’s strategy session.
Over the years, I watched as more and more markets picked up two related concepts: time-based pricing and more efficient use of so-called “vanishing assets” – or capital goods that generate revenue only as they are used. In the old days, before computers, it was hard to manage complex pricing – or, for that matter, to reach the right customers with specific time-based or location-based offers. Hotels and airlines were a special case: their business is dependent on shared use of capital assets.
Of course, some businesses do use blunt versions of time-of-day or seasonal pricing. We take it for granted that health clubs charge more for memberships that include peak hours. But, in general, an asset is an asset, and you still hear complaints from people who don’t understand why the guy next to them in an airplane paid a lower price.
As real-time information about customers’ needs and vendors’ offers combines with a new concern for efficiency and optimization, there is a widespread shift to make use of the opportunities to personalize offers around location and time. The cost of complexity and targeting has dropped, even as the demand for return on assets has increased.
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All of us lead two parallel lives: the life we actually live and the one that we wish for and fantasise about. And this life unlived (the one that never actually happens, the one we might be living but for some reason are not) can occupy an extraordinary part of our mental life. We share our lives, in a sense, with the people we have failed to be - and this can become itself the story of our lives: an elegy to needs unmet, desires sacrificed and roads untaken.In this elegant, compassionate and absorbing book, acclaimed psychoanalyst Adam Phillips demonstrates that there might in fact be much to be said for the unlived life. Drawing deeply on the works of Shakespeare and of Freud, amongst other writers and thinkers, he suggests that in missing out on one experience we always open ourselves to the potential of another, and that in depriving ourselves of the frustration of not getting what we think we want, we would be depriving ourselves of the possibilities of satisfaction.
ISBN: 9780241145449 Publication Date: 07 / 06 / 2012
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Relationships and Marriage - Self Esteem
Get more out of the single life on Valentine s Day and every day.
If you're open to love, your next relationship could be right around the corner.
Friends matter. They inspire, advise, and comfort us in a way no one else can. Here are examples of some friendships worth cultivating, and others worth cutting.
A self-absorbed attitude can cause health hazards, reveals a new study.
Are your feelings of discomfort just shyness, or a sign of a more serious health condition? Here's how to tell the difference.
Learn how to find the middle ground between being accommodating and being stepped on.
Contrary to popular belief, it's not weak for men to show emotions. As a matter of fact, research found that the more "macho" a man is, the less likely he is to be healthy. Diet and exercise aren't the only parts of overall health. Here's how to sharpen your mental and emotional skills.
A satisfying relationship with a special someone doesn't happen overnight. If you're looking for love, you may wonder why it's just not happening. You may find the process much easier if you learn to love yourself first.
New lovers attribute their passionate feelings to matters of the heart. However, scientists are unraveling the science of falling in love and linking it directly to the brain.
Since we can't really sleep the day away, here are a few tips for coping with Valentine's Day.
If you're feeling a definite lack of sparkle and sizzle in your love life, it may just be all in your head. You can look glowing, desirable, self-confident and utterly sexy again, but it has to start with you.
When you re going through menopause, sex may take a backseat to coping with hot flashes, mood swings, and other menopause symptoms. Learn how to cope and keep your sex life alive.
Don't worry, be happy. And you can be—if you follow these helpful tips.
Don't let these toxic types bring you down.
Ending a relationship can be a painful. Follow these tips to bounce back from a broken heart.
A sense of humor and perspective can help you maintain your dignity—even in the most humiliating circumstances.
Can elective procedures boost your confidence and enhance your self-esteem?
Do people walk all over you? Follow these tips to start becoming more assertive.
An ever-growing topic among psychologists, emotional intelligence can play a significant role in your job, your relationships, and your own self-worth.
An estimated 10 million Americans, or about 6 percent of the U.S. population, experience these feelings in their most extreme form--a condition known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD).
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I have had Botox for the first time and had initially no bruising or swelling. After day 3, I acquired some bruising and some swelling. Is this normal?
Delayed Bruising After Botox? Doctor Answers 16 Delaying bruising after Botox Delayed bruising Delayed Bruising After Botox
If it does occur, it can occur immediately or a few days after the injection.
It should disappear in a few days. The next time try taking some Arnica Tablets before your Botox Injections. Avoid taking health supplements such as fish oil, krill oil or flax seed oil a week prior to your injections. And stop all prescription and OTC drugs that increase your risk of bleeding.
You might also like... Bruising after Botox
Bruising after Botox may occur and it can appear a dya or two or even three after the procedure. It will get better with time.
Bruising after Botox
Bruising can occur after cosmetic Botox injections around the eyes. The onset can be immediate or delayed. I usually prescribe an over the counter Arnica based medicine such as Bruise Stick, Bruise Pak, or a Boiron Arnica supplement.
Delayed bruising after Botox
Hi Waschke,
Unfortunately you can have delayed bruising with Botox. The bulk of the trauma in a Botox injection occurs at the point where the needle enters the muscle. Because the muscle lies under the skin, it can sometimes take a few days for the bruising from the injection to become apparent.
The good news is that this bruising should resolve soon. If it is problematic for you or if you would like faster resolution, consider finding a local practitioner that uses pulsed dye lasers as these can be used to cut down the bruising duration to as little as 48 hours with a quick treatment on this laser. Good luck.
Delay in Botox bruising absolutely possible
I do a considerable amount of Botox injections. The cause of the delayed bruising is due to the needle hitting and cutting a deep capillary (most likely). A small drop of blood spills, and about 3 days later, it migrates to the surface. It should start to fade by the time you read this.
The Bruising Was There
When Botox is injected it is injected somewhat deeply into the muscle. Any time muscle is violated it tends to bleed because they are very vascular. This bleeding is very minor and bruising is prevented by holding pressure on the injected site for several seconds. However, if the minor bleeding is not stopped a bruise will develop. Because this bruise is deep to the skin it may take several days until it is visible at the surface. This is a common finding in liposuction
So no worries. The bruise will resolve in time.
Delayed appearance
Waschke,
The bruising actually occured at the time of injection of your Botox. It merely took 3 days for it to surface. This is not uncommon, even though most bruising appears in 1-2 days. At any rate, it will resolve over the next few days. Before the next treatment ask your plastic surgeon what you can do to minimize your risk for bruising (stop aspirin, advil, motrin, vitamin E, etc.). Good luck!
Delayed bruising can occur with any injection
Dear Waschke,
Whenever an injections is administered, bruising can occur. The bruise results from the needle causing a small opening in a blood vessel and some blood leaks out staining the tissues. The bruise usually lasts about a week to 10 days.
During treatment, some bleeding may be noticed after an injection. Pressure can be applied immediately to decrease the amount of blood that leaks from the blood vessel. This can reduce the amount of bruising.
Generally, the risk of bruising is increased if you are taking a blood thinner such as aspirin, Plavix, etc.
Furthermore, strenuous physical activity immediately after the treatment can lead to more bruising.
We incorporate several measures to decrease the risk of bruising. We use Arnica Montana, which is a natural plant extract that helps reduce bruising. We also use magnification to visualize the tiny blood vessels better and avoid them during the treatment. We also encourage our patients to avoid strenuous physical activity following treatment.
Once the bruising has occurred, a green based make-up can help to camouflage the bruise. Arnica may also help it resolve more quickly.
Good luck with your surgery.
These answers are for educational purposes and should not be relied upon as a substitute for medical advice you may receive from your physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911. These answers do not constitute or initiate a patient/doctor relationship.
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Although many golfers focus most intently on improving their drives, other parts of the game are typically more important when it comes to turning in better scores. Most golfers probably derive the greatest benefit from time spent on the practice putting green, in fact, as that crucial part of the game is where many scores inflate in the most egregious and preventable of ways.
Nearly as important, though, are the approach shots that often determine where a golfer's ball will end up on the green or whether it ends up there at all. The approach is one of the most critical parts of the game, but few golfers give it its proper due when it comes to practice, and many of them have good excuses. Part of the reason for this is that many practice facilities are not equipped to make such practice rewarding. Many golfers find that the most convenient driving ranges in their areas force them to hit off artificial golf mats, since these are so much easier and cheaper to maintain than real grass. hese mats, though, are unforgiving and unrealistic compared to the grass that golfers actually play rounds of the game on. While they can be acceptable for hitting drives from a tee or swinging with long irons where a relatively flat, shallow swing arc is to be expected, they are almost useless for practicing with wedges, nine irons, and other shorter clubs that would normally be swung in such a way as to produce a divot. Recognizing this, one golf industry company with a website at www.realfeelgolfmats.com has attacked the problem. The company's Country Club Elite Golf Mats are designed from the ground up to be much more realistic than the mats that are common to most driving ranges, and the difference matters quite a bit when it comes to practicing approach shots. Golfers who practice on such mats, it turns out, can swing their short irons and wedges in the kinds of relatively steep arcs that are most conducive to producing backspin and causing the ball to climb high and land softly. Instead of developing the bad habits that would build up from trying to pick a ball cleanly from conventional artificial golf mats, then, these golfers can work on the divot-producing swings that will serve them best when they line up approach shots on the course, thereby being most likely to lower their scores over time.
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The VINE network, an automated victim notification service, publicizes the release dates of most paroled inmates. Some states, such as Georgia and Wisconsin, provide a tentative parole month lookup and a notification system to track offenders under the custody of the Department of Corrections or the Department of Health Services.Continue Reading
The VINE network allows the victim, the family of the victim, or a witness who testified against an incarcerated inmate to monitor the status of the offender currently serving inside a state prison. The network connects to the Department of Corrections of most states, allowing an online, centralized tool to check the inmate's location and tentative release date.
Aside from VINE, the state of Wisconsin also uses the VOICE for Victims service, which provides free online and telephone service to enrolled clients. Both services send automated notifications to enrolled members whenever there is a change in a tracked offender's status.
Similarly, most state prison websites publicly post the list of the inmates currently serving their sentences inside the prison facility. The list of and information about inmates incarcerated in county jails are usually available on county sheriffs' websites, while lists of prisoners in federal prisons are available on the Bureau of Federal Prisons' site.Learn more about Public Records
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Continue Reading
The executor of an estate is responsible for paying all debts and taxes of the deceased and ensuring that all beneficiaries receive their allotted shares of the estate, according to Nolo. An executor does not have to be a legal or financial expert, but he needs to be honest and faithful.
Attorney Bernard A. Krooks explains that an executor offers the will for probate with the appropriate court. The executor searches for any assets the deceased may have owned, pays funeral expenses and obtains copies of the death certificate. He protects the assets of the estate and distributes the assets to the named beneficiaries in the will. The executor must also pay taxes and any debts owed by the deceased. If the executor mismanages the assets and funds of the estate, the beneficiaries lose part of their inheritances, and the executor could be found liable for that loss.
Anyone accepting the role of executor needs to understand the responsibility that comes with the role, according to Krooks. Because of the high level of responsibility taken on by an executor, a person has the right to refuse the position. The court will then appoint another person to carry out the duties of executor.Learn more about Law
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Boyle's law, the principle that the pressure on a gas is inversely proportional to its volume at constant temperatures, is demonstrable with everything from balloons to soda cans to SCUBA gear. Aerosol cans and syringes both rely on Boyle's law in order to perform their functions as well.Continue Reading
In an aerosol can, the contents are mixed with a gas under pressure high enough to render the gas into a liquid. When the nozzle is opened, however, this reduces the pressure suddenly, allowing the gas to expand. As it does so, it forces its way out of the nozzle, carrying the contents with it. The same effect occurs when a pressurized soda can is opened, allowing pressurized carbon dioxide to form bubbles in the beverage.
Drawing blood with a syringe uses Boyle's law in a different way. When the plunger of the syringe is pulled back, it increases the volume of the chamber inside the syringe. This reduces the pressure, creating a vacuum effect. This draws blood into the chamber through the needle.
Divers must keep Boyle's law in mind at all times. When a diver descends, the pressure around him increases. This forces nitrogen into solution inside his bloodstream. If he ascends too rapidly, the dissolved nitrogen expands suddenly, forming bubbles. This causes the painful and potentially life-threatening condition known as the bends, and only returning to a pressurized environment can reverse it.Learn more about States of Matter
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T H E I N S T I T U T E O F I N T E R N A L A U D I T O R S
Professional
Development
Research
Foundation
Certified
Internal Auditor®
William G. Bishop III, CIA
President
September 5, 2000
Mr. Jonathan G. Katz, Secretary
Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549-0609 Re: File No. S7-13-00
Revision of the Commission's Auditor Independence Requirements
Dear Mr. Katz:
The Institute of Internal Auditors (IIA) would like to offer comments on the Securities and Exchange Commission's proposed rule amendments regarding auditor independence.
Established in 1941, The IIA is an international professional association with world headquarters in Altamonte Springs, Florida. The IIA has over 70,000 members in internal auditing, governance, internal control, IT audit, education and security. With representation from more than 100 countries, the Institute is the acknowledged leader in standards, certification, education, research and technological guidance for the internal auditing profession.
The IIA has long been a proponent of improved corporate governance and commends the SEC's efforts to address important independence issues. We offer the following comments after extensive and careful consideration. We believe this is a balanced response that is representative of the opinions of our diverse membership.
The IIA has focused its response on the issue most directly related to the internal auditing profession: provision of non-audit services by the external auditor. We believe we are uniquely qualified to offer comments about certain independence issues related to extended services, in particular those related to the outsourcing of the internal audit function by an organization's external auditor. Accordingly, we have focused the majority of our response on this area.
Change does not always come easily and is not always welcomed. However, if investors' confidence in the financial reporting process can be improved, investors and all of the parties in the governance process will benefit. We applaud the SEC's noteworthy actions to improve the quality of the financial reporting process.
Sincerely,
249 Maitland Avenue
Altamonte Springs
Florida 32701-4201
U. S. A.
Tel 407-830-7600
Fax 407-831-5171
Email wbishop@theiia.org
William G. Bishop III
Enclosure
The Institute of Internal Auditors
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) proposal to revise its auditor independence requirements raises the question of whether the SEC rules should limit or completely bar non-audit services to audit clients.
1 Non-audit services have been a focus of independence concerns for years, as demonstrated by the Cohen Commission report in 1978 2, the Treadway report in 1987 3, the Advisory Panel on Auditor Independence's report to the Public Oversight Board in 1994 4, the GAO report on the public accounting profession in 1996 5, and other studies. The establishment of the Independence Standards Board also demonstrates public and professional concern regarding the independence of auditors.
The fact that the issue of non-audit services has been debated at such length leads The IIA to conclude that the issue has not been addressed adequately. The IIA agrees with the SEC that now is the time to address independence issues in a way that responds to public concerns. However, The IIA also believes that while action is necessary with regard to non-audit services, a total ban of all extended services is not required to offer significant relief.
We believe that, in general, extended services can be divided into two categories:
Services in the second category should be permitted so long as the total amount of their associated fees are not sufficient to bring into question the independence of the external auditor and so long as there are no other managerial or operating considerations that hinder independence. While many non-audit services raise potential independence issues, there are others for which the independent accountant may be well positioned to provide valuable non-audit services. The first step in achieving a solution is to obtain an understanding of what types of non-audit services are to be prohibited and what services are appropriate as long as the aggregate fees are not excessive.
Developing a set of guidelines for assessing non-audit services would provide auditors and directors with a basis for evaluating the degree or risk of impairment of independence. Criteria such as the relativity of fees for non-audit services to the audit fee, the materiality of the transaction to the financial statements, the extent of review and approval required to contract the non-audit service, and the oversight of the service are some of the factors to consider in the assessment. These guidelines should begin by specifying those non-audit services that simply are not appropriate for the external auditor to provide under any circumstances.
The IIA believes that the Independence Standards Board should be able to define and develop the list and keep it current as marketplace conditions change over time. The Independence Standards Board is the appropriate place for this definition, but it is not unreasonable for the SEC to enter this dialog should conditions warrant and should the investing public be deemed to be at risk.
The concept of "acting as management or an employee of an audit client" seems straightforward, but unambiguous guidance is needed in this area. While it is almost universally agreed that the auditor should not take on management functions, criteria are needed for determining when management functions have been assumed.
We suggest that the SEC should hold the Independence Standards Board accountable for devising clear criteria specifying the types of extended services that are allowable and not allowable for a firm's external auditor. In our opinion, this is within the Independence Standards Board's mission, but it has not yet been accomplished. Because of the continuing interest in this subject, the SEC should motivate the Independence Standards Board to expedite action on this issue.
We suggest that the issue of enforceability also needs to be addressed. For example, the AICPA's Code of Professional Conduct (Code) states that external auditors should not assume complete responsibility for the internal audit function
6. Yet in many instances where the internal auditing function is outsourced, the expanded role of contemporary internal auditing presents challenges for auditors attempting to comply with the Code as they are called upon to participate in special management task forces, set the scope of auditing, or perform other managerial duties.
The AICPA and its member firms need a strong enforcement mechanism to ensure that external auditor extended services meet the interpretation of the Code. As discussed in the proposed rule amendments
7 and in FRR No. 50 8, we believe that the SEC should charge the Independence Standards Board with evaluating the adequacy of enforcement mechanisms. As with other independence issues, it is not unreasonable for the SEC to take additional action if needed enforcement mechanisms are not forthcoming.
As noted above, we believe that the Independence Standards Board should have the primary responsibility for establishing criteria for permissible and non-permissible extended services. We believe, however, that the current composition of the Independence Standards Board is not optimal for performance of these responsibilities because of the lack of representative constituents on the board.
Three of the Independence Standards Board's eight members represent public accounting firms, and a fourth member is the president of the AICPA. Thus, the board does not have a majority of members from outside the profession and, therefore, is not by its very nature independent of the public accounting profession. It is difficult, therefore, for the board to view independence issues from an unbiased perspective. Although public accountants are viewed as lacking independence if they audit their own work, the board is put in the unenviable position of having to set criteria for their own independence and that of their firms. We agree with the Panel on Audit Effectiveness' opinion that the Independence Standards Board should reconstitute its membership.
9
The presence of public accountants on the Independence Standards Board is vital to ensure that all viewpoints are considered and all constituencies are represented. But we believe that a clear majority of board members and board staff should be independent of the public accounting profession. Board composition should be balanced to include representatives of the public accounting firms, the clientele of the public accounting firms, the investing public, and regulators. We believe that this recommendation will enhance the board's ability to address independence issues proactively and in a way that addresses public concerns.
As pointed out in the SEC proposal, "Prohibiting only some non-audit services does not address the increasing vulnerability of auditors to their audit clients and the corresponding link between the financial health of auditors and their clients. These concerns do not turn on the nature of the non-audit service involved, but arise simply because of the growing interdependence of auditor and client."
10
The IIA believes that it would be very difficult for any single central authority to establish individual organizational limits for non-audit services. There are simply far too many special circumstances that arise and create interpretive dilemmas that only serve to complicate business processes.
To overcome this difficulty, The IIA believes that the
Blue Ribbon Committee on Improving the Effectiveness of Corporate Audit Committees 11 offers potential assistance on the question of how much non-audit service challenges independence. On page 31 of its report, the Committee recommended that audit committees assume the responsibility for: "...actively engaging in a dialogue with the auditor with respect to any disclosed relationships or services which may impact the objectivity and independence of the auditor and for taking, or recommending that the full board take, appropriate action to ensure the independence of the outside auditor."
In the spirit of this recommendation, audit committees could be required by charter to evaluate extended services contracted to the organization's external auditor and the fees associated with them. In this way, the organization and its board, the outside auditor, and the SEC could have some assurance that the issue is being addressed in each publicly held organization. Further, within guidelines, the control would be tailored to the circumstances of the organizations, and factors such as the relative sizes of the audit firm and the client corporation could enter the consideration of how much non-audit service could be acquired without the impairment of independence.
The SEC document points out that from 1978 to 1982, companies were required by the SEC to disclose in their proxy statements all non-audit services provided by their auditors. During this period, the SEC also required a statement of the percentage of the fees for
all non-audit services compared to total audit fees, the percentage of the fee for each non-audit service compared to total audit fees. Finally, the Commission required a statement specifying whether each non-audit service was considered and approved by the audit committee of the board of directors or by the board itself. The SEC points out that its interpretive release was rescinded and the related disclosure requirements were discontinued in 1982 because, among other reasons, SEC review of proxy disclosures indicated that accounting firms were not providing extensive non-audit services to their audit clients. 12
We agree with the SEC that reinstatement of the disclosure requirement would prove useful to investors. We also agree with the SEC that audit committees, as well as management, should engage in active discussions of independence issues with the outside auditors. We suggest that in addition to past services performed, required disclosures should include services under contract that will be performed in future periods.
Our view is that non-audit services can make valuable contributions, but that they can also diminish the perceived role of the independent auditor. By eliminating some questionable services and requiring entity-specific oversight of potential non-audit services, the answer can be a win-win situation.
The IIA is in general agreement with the four principles proposed by the SEC for governing a determination of whether an accountant is independent of its audit client, and we believe that these principles will prove valuable in determining what non-audit services can be provided without raising independence concerns. Specifically, these principles provide that an accountant is not independent whenever, during the audit and professional engagement period, the accountant: (1) has a mutual or conflicting interest with the audit client, (2) audits the accountant's own work, (3) functions as management or an employee of the audit client, or (4) acts as an advocate for the audit client.
13
The SEC states that it believes performing an internal audit function results in the auditor assuming a management function and, during the financial audit, relying on a system that the auditor has helped to establish or maintain. Further, the SEC solicits comment on whether internal audit outsourcing would impair, or would appear to reasonable investors to impair, an auditor's independence.
14 Using these principles, we conclude that total outsourcing of internal auditing violates the SEC's independence criteria.
The IIA believes that the total outsourcing of the internal auditing function by the organization's external auditing firm impairs that firm's independence.
Compounding the issue of outsourcing internal auditing is the fact that the continually changing business environment has created an expanded role for internal auditors and resulted in additional demands for extended internal auditing services. In 1999, following global public exposure and due process, The IIA's Board of Directors approved a new definition of internal auditing:
Internal auditing is an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve an organization's operations. It helps an organization accomplish its objectives by bringing a systematic, disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the effectiveness of risk management, control, and governance processes.
This definition was based in part on two major research studies that indicated that internal auditing is playing an increasing role in the risk management, control, and governance activities of major corporations.
15 As internal auditing becomes more and more involved in risk management and governance processes, internal auditing becomes less and less compatible with the role of the independent external auditor.
It is important that the external auditor remains independent of the client organization, and SAS 65
16 correctly points out that internal auditing departments are not independent of the organization. Total outsourcing of the internal auditing function is inconsistent with independence because internal auditing, when performed according to the Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing, is integral to the operations of the organization. Internal auditing is an integral part of an organization's system of internal control, risk management, and governance processes. Thus, an external auditor performing a total, comprehensive program of internal audit as well as the attest function would be in the position of relying upon or auditing its own work.
We believe that when the internal auditing function is totally outsourced to the external auditor, there is a conflict with two of the SEC's criteria for evaluating independence. There is a conflict with: (a) provisions regarding acting as management or an employee of the audit client; and (b) provisions regarding auditing the accountant's own work.
In summary, The IIA recognizes that external auditors have been providing valuable augmentation of internal auditing capabilities. At the same time, The IIA is keenly aware that internal auditing, in its most advanced and useful practice, is moving ever closer to integration with the organization's risk management control processes. As a result, it is truer today than ever before that the total assumption of internal auditing is an improper role for an external, independent auditor.
The SEC document states, "Proposed rule 2-01(c)(4)(i)(E) provides that an auditor is not independent when the auditor performs certain internal audit services for an audit client or an affiliate. This does not include nonrecurring evaluations of discrete items or programs that are not in substance the outsourcing of the internal audit function. It also does not include operational internal audits unrelated to the internal accounting controls, financial systems, or financial statements." Additionally, the SEC proposal questions whether performing only operational audits that are unrelated to the internal controls, financial systems, or financial statements would impair independence.
17
The IIA's principal interest is to promote internal auditing activities that provide the maximum overall effectiveness in achieving the organization's strategic objectives. The IIA believes internal auditing best addresses management's strategic objectives when internal audits are performed by competent professionals in accordance with the
Standards for the Professional Practice of Internal Auditing.
The IIA believes that a fully resourced and professionally competent staff that is an integral part of the organization best performs the internal auditing function. The IIA also recognizes that many "partnering" arrangements with outside providers have been effective in helping internal auditing departments contribute to management's strategic objectives. Internal auditing practitioners have often used third-party providers, including their external auditors, to satisfy the need for special knowledge or to compensate for language or distance difficulties. Such engagements are usually conducted under the direction of the chief audit executive who approves the scope of work, reviews the quality of the work, and determines the nature, extent, and method for reporting the results of the work.
While we believe that total outsourcing of the internal auditing function to an organization's external auditors impairs independence, outsourcing individual audit projects or a well-defined portion of the internal auditing function, under the management and direction of the chief audit executive, does not necessarily impair independence.
Outsourcing a part of the internal auditing function should be viewed in the same way as performance of other permitted extended services. It should be included in audit committees' considerations regarding total extended services that can be provided by the external auditor.
We were somewhat surprised by the SEC's question whether independence would be impaired by performing only operational audits that are unrelated to the internal controls, financial systems, or financial statements.
18 Modern internal control models such as COSO 19 view financial and operational controls as a part of the same system of controls. Operational auditing is the comprehensive review of the varied functions within an enterprise to appraise the efficiency and economy of operations and the effectiveness with which those functions achieve their objectives. 20
A major study by The Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation points out:
To us, the graver concern with having the external auditor provide outsourcing work comes with the potential "mutuality of concerns" arising from performing operational auditing, making recommendations, and then independently reporting on management's performance. 21
The Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) stressed the importance of a concept of internal controls broader than internal accounting controls.
Internal Control - Integrated Framework states:
"Internal control is broadly defined as a process, effected by an entity's board of directors, management and other personnel, designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the achievement of objectives in the following categories:
The COSO definition of internal control clarifies that operational issues are included within the scope of internal controls.
The IIA believes that the SEC's question "Would it impair the auditor's independence if the auditor performs only operational audits unrelated to internal controls, financial systems, or financial statements?" is inconsistent with the COSO definition of internal control. We believe that operational auditing should be subject to evaluation for independence conflicts using the same criteria employed to evaluate all other internal auditing services.
1 Section II.C.2 (c, d, and e). 2 The Commission on Auditors' Responsibilities (Cohen Commission): Report, Conclusions, and Recommendations, 1977. 3 National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting, Report of the National Commission on Fraudulent Financial Reporting, 1987. 4 Advisory Panel on Auditor Independence, Strengthening the Professionalism of the Independent Auditor, 1994. 5 GAO, The Accounting Profession, Major Issues: Progress and Concerns, U.S. General Accounting Office, Report GAO/AIMD-96-98, Washington, D.C., p. 37. 6 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Code of Professional Conduct, ET Section 101-13. 7 Section II.D. 8 Securities and Exchange Commission, Financial Reporting Release No. 50, 1998. 9 Panel on Audit Effectiveness, Report and Recommendations Exposure Draft, Paragraph 6.39, May 31, 2000. 10 Section II.C.2(e). 11 Report of the Blue Ribbon Committee on Improving the Effectiveness of Corporate Audit Committees, New York Stock Exchange, 1999. 12 Section II.C.4. 13 Section I (Executive Summary) and Section III.B. 14 Section III.D.1(b)(v). 15 The Institute of Internal Auditors, C ompetency Framework for Internal Auditing, 1999; and The Institute of Internal Auditors, A Vision for the Future: Professional Practices Framework for Internal Auditing, 1999 . 16 American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, Statements on Auditing Standards, 2000. 17 Section III.D.1(b)(v). 18 Section III.D.1(b)(v). 19 Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Internal Control - Integrated Framework, 1992. 20 Lawrence Sawyer, JD, CIA, PA, and Mortimer Dittenhofer, PhD, Sawyer's Internal Auditing, The Institute of Internal Auditors 1996. 21 Larry E. Rittenberg, PhD, CIA, CPA, and Mark A. Covaleski, PhD, CPA, The Outsourcing Dilemma: What's Best for Internal Auditing, page 63, The Institute of Internal Auditors Research Foundation, 1997. 22 Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO), Internal Control - Integrated Framework, 1992.
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From: Anonymous
I am a licensed insurance professional and variable product salesperson. I am writing to you concerning the suitability standard and principal review requirements pertaining to the sale of variable annuities contained in NASD proposed Rule 2821. Although the latest NASD proposal includes several amendments made to earlier versions of the proposal, the proposed rule's requirements are redundant, unnecessary, will provide no meaningful additional protection to consumers and will adversely impact my business. I urge the SEC to disapprove the proposal. The real question is whether this step will eliminate unsuitable sales by unscrupulous representatives. I believe the answer is "NO". If someone wishes to injure, they will figure out a way to get around rules. To legislate and regulate to the lowest common denominator is costly to our industry and can actually injure opportunities for our clients, the public. Isn't this all about THEM?
I firmly believe people who engage in misleading sales practices should be aggressively prosecuted and subject to appropriate sanctions. The NASD, however, has failed to adequately justify the need for the proposed rule. To the contrary, the available data does not support the NASD's claims that the level of sales problems in the variable annuity marketplace calls for the adoption of the proposed rule. Unsuitable variable annuity sales made up less than .50 percent of the NASD's disciplinary actions over the last five years, and complaints about mutual funds and individual securities far outnumber those concerning variable annuities. Furthermore, the vast majority of the comments received by the NASD and SEC regarding the proposal opposed the new rule, and the NASD has not adequately responded to the concerns raised by the vast majority of commentators.
Furthermore, proposed Rule 2821 duplicates current supervision and suitability requirements that are already in place. NASD rules (including Rule 2310) already contain suitability requirements that apply to all sales of securities, including variable annuities. If regulators really want to protect consumers, appropriate enforcement of the existing suitability rule rather than adopting a new rule is the answer.
In addition, the requirement for review by a principal found in the proposed rule deviates in several significant ways from the general supervision requirements found in Rule 3010. This requirement appears to present a bias against these products, and will lead to constant second guessing of my advice and recommendations (based upon less first hand information than was available to me).
The NASD proposal is a solution in search of a problem that could ultimately harm consumers by making these products less available to people who could benefit from them. For these reasons, I urge the SEC to disapprove NASD proposed Rule 2821. Thank you for your consideration of my views on this matter.
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Filter Results: Publication Year
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2013
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Scope and Purpose—The location-allocation problem is a type of multifacility location problem in which both the location of new facilities and the allocation of existing facility requirements to the new facilities is determined. An example of a location-allocation problem involves the design of a distribution network where, in addition to determining the… (More)
Genetic algorithms (GAs) are very efficient at exploring the entire search space; however, they are relatively poor at finding the precise local optimal solution in the region in which the algorithm converges. Hybrid GAs are the combination of improvement procedures, which are good at finding local optima, and GAs. There are two basic strategies for using… (More)
A seven-step methodology is presented to determine a dimensionally correct optimal layout of a console panel for a single operator. This methodology integrates the steps in the layout design process and uses a mathematical optimization model from facility design to obtain the optimal panel layout. A major difference in this methodology from previous work is… (More)
To analyze the operation of an arbitrary AGV system under selected vehicle routing strategies, we present a simulation model that can handle multiple system layouts, a varying number of AGVs, and a varying number of pedestrians moving around the system. We introduce a dynamic vehicle routing strategy based on hierarchical simulation that operates as… (More)
We develop a simulation modeling framework for evaluating the effectiveness of breast cancer screening policies for US women of age 65+. We introduce a two-phase simulation approach to modeling the main components in the breast cancer screening process. The first phase is a natural-history model of the incidence and progression of untreated breast cancer in… (More)
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You’ve got your dental business plan in place, and you’ve been working hard to get all your licenses, registrations, zoning, taxes, and insurance in order. (We recommend taking a look at this checklist provided by the ADA to make sure you’ve got everything covered.) You have even started looking for a friendly staff that has experience working with dental patients.
Everything seems to be moving smoothly toward your grand opening, but do you know how to attract new patients to your dental office once all that other stuff is done? Many new practices rely on referrals of some kind to ensure that someone knows about them in these early phases of the business. If you really want to grow, though, you’re going to have to build awareness and familiarity with your practice through more than one-on-one referrals.
Marketing from the Ground Up
Building a reputation in a community and getting new dental patients can take some time, but if you get started on the right foot, you won’t have to come back and try to fix things later (which is always more difficult).
There are a lot of online and offline channels through which you can market your practice, but in these early stages it’s important to create a strong foundation from which you can get many new dental patients. This starts by creating a unique and memorable brand and connecting it to all your other marketing endeavors.
Know Your Brand
A brand ties together your messaging and your reputation in a way that’s easy for new patients to remember, and your logo is a good place to start since it will be the most recognizable and visible aspect of your brand.
We delve further into dental logos here, but in general, the things you need to remember are:
Keep it unique – don’t use the same silhouette of a tooth that everyone uses Keep it simple – too busy is too hard to remember Keep it readable – it should be just as clear on a business card as it is on your signage Getting a Domain Name
Your domain name is also a major part of your brand because it will go on your business cards, referral cards, and other marketing materials.
This should be easy enough to get, right? Simply purchase the domain name that matches your practice’s name.
Unfortunately, it’s always possible that someone may have scooped that name up first. On top of that, there are many other questions that could influence your choice.
Should you use the dentist’s name or the practice’s name for the domain? Should you include words that specify the location? Should you use generic terms if your name has already been taken?
These are good questions, but you can boil the answers down to some simple things.
First, the name should be easy to remember and easy to say. That makes it easy to share.
Second, if you use generic words along with a location for your domain (i.e. “[cityname]dentistry.com”), you may be able to appear for certain Google searches, but it will be harder to create a brand around it that patients will remember.
Keep it as simple and relevant as possible and it will be easier to use as part of your branding efforts.
Building an Effective Website
A new dental patient will immediately judge you based on the appearance of your website. If it looks like it was made 10 years ago, many people will be hesitant to do business with you.
An effective website will immediately inform your visitors where they are, what they can do here, and why they should do it with you, rather than the many other dentists that appeared for the same search. This means you need to:
Make it clear what they can do on the site Use attractive images, but don’t rely on generic pictures to sell your services Use clear content that informs and guides without overwhelming Provide an intuitive interface and make it easy to navigate to the information they need Setting up an appointment should always be a single click away
It’s a lot easier to build this kind of website from the start rather than try to redo it later or try to make an outdated site do a sufficient job in the modern marketplace.
Get on Google
From day one, you should be working to get some exposure on Google.
You want to know how to get new dental patients? Just be there when they sit down in front of their computer or pull out their phone and search for terms like “dentists near me.” And that means you need more than just a website. You need to actively promote your online presence and make sure that search engines display your listing for relevant searches.
There are several important activities you can use to make sure your online presence is effective.
Use Google My Business to help your site show up in the search results and on Google Maps. Use Schema website markup to make sure important information displays in regular search results. Ask for reviews and watch for those that pop up online. If they’re good reviews, be sure to say thanks. If they’re from patients that had some issues, show them how you’re working hard to make corrections.
Starting a dental practice can be an exhilarating challenge. It can feel like it’s taking forever to see the kind of success you want, but if you have everything in place as you dive into this competitive marketplace, you’ll start to see growth in the number new patients and the patients who will keep coming back.
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Mondi Limited (Incorporated in the Republic of South Africa) (Registration number: 1967/013038/06) JSE share code: MND ISIN: ZAE000156550 Mondi plc (Incorporated in England and Wales) (Registered number: 6209386) JSE share code: MNP ISIN: GB00B1CRLC47 LSE share code: MNDI
As part of the dual listed company structure, Mondi Limited and Mondi plc (together ‘Mondi Group’) notify both the JSE Limited and the London Stock Exchange of matters required to be disclosed under the Listings Requirements of the JSE Limited and/or the Disclosure Guidance and Transparency and Listing Rules of the United Kingdom Listing Authority.
Mondi Group: Trading update 13 October 2016
This trading update provides an overview of our financial performance and financial position since the half year ended 30 June 2016. These results have not been audited or reviewed by our external auditors.
Except as discussed in this update, there have been no significant events or transactions impacting either the financial performance or financial position of the Group since 30 June 2016 up to the date of this statement.
Group performance overview
Underlying operating profit for the third quarter of 2016 of EUR227 million was 3% above the comparable prior year period (EUR221 million). As anticipated, generally lower average selling prices and a significantly lower fair value gain on forestry assets resulted in a 12% reduction in underlying operating profit from the second quarter of 2016 (EUR259 million).
On a like-for-like basis, sales volumes of our key paper grades were in line with the comparable prior year period.
Of our key input costs, wood and chemical costs remained stable during the period. Energy costs were down on the comparable prior year period due to lower energy prices and the benefits of various energy efficiency investments. While we continue to benefit from the energy investments completed in 2015 at Swiecie, prices achieved for green energy resulting from these investments were significantly lower than both the comparable prior year period and the second quarter and remain under pressure going into the fourth quarter. The average cost per tonne of paper for recycling was up 8% on the comparable prior year period and up 10% on the second quarter. Polyethylene prices were down on the comparable prior year period and stable on the second quarter.
While generally weaker compared to the third quarter of 2015, the emerging market currencies in which we operate were relatively stable to stronger versus the Euro when compared to the second quarter of 2016.
We completed planned maintenance shuts at our Swiecie (Poland) and Ruzomberok (Slovakia) mills during the quarter. The estimated impact on operating profit was around EUR20 million (EUR35 million in Q3 2015) and we continue to estimate that the full year impact of planned maintenance shuts will be around EUR70 million (2015: EUR90 million). In the fourth quarter, maintenance shuts are planned at the Richards Bay mill (South Africa) and at our kraft paper operations, with an estimated impact on operating profit of around EUR30 million (Q4 2015: EUR20 million). In 2015, the Richards Bay shut took place in the first quarter.
Divisional overview
In
Packaging Paper, average benchmark European virgin containerboard prices were similar to the previous quarter but over 7% down on the comparable prior year period. Supported by sustained good demand and a strong order position, a price increase of EUR20/tonne was implemented in August across all European markets excluding southern Europe, partly offsetting the price erosion seen over the course of the first half of the year. Average benchmark recycled containerboard prices were down by around 3% versus the previous quarter and around 7% down on the comparable prior year period.
Average kraft paper prices were marginally down versus the previous quarter and around 8% down on the comparable prior year period. During the quarter we announced a EUR60/tonne increase in sack kraft paper for all European markets and an 8-12% increase in export markets.
In the Industrial Bags segment of
Fibre Packaging, while European markets remain robust, the business continued to be negatively impacted by challenging market conditions in the US and CIS. The fourth quarter will be impacted by the usual seasonal slowdown in demand. Corrugated Packaging achieved good organic volume growth, supplemented by the acquisition of SIMET S.A. earlier in the year. On 10 October 2016, we announced the acquisition of a corrugated packaging facility in Russia (LLC Beepack) for a consideration of RUB2,825 million (EUR41 million) on a cash and debt free basis, supporting the ongoing development of our Corrugated Packaging business in central and eastern Europe.
During the third quarter, we concluded the acquisitions of Kalenobel (Turkey) and Uralplastic (Russia), supporting the growth of our
Consumer Packaging business. While the integration of these businesses is progressing, a small net charge to operating profit in the second half of 2016 is expected from these acquisitions due to the effects of acquisition accounting and transaction costs.
Benchmark European
uncoated fine paper prices were down by around 1% versus the previous quarter and marginally down on the comparable prior year period. In Europe, prices were under pressure through the quarter from a combination of seasonally weak demand and an increase in imports, but recent indications are that pricing has stabilised as order books strengthen into the seasonally stronger winter months. Pricing in the CIS markets remains stable. The marginal strengthening of the rouble in the quarter gave rise to translation gains for our domestically focused Russian uncoated fine paper operations.
In our
South Africa Division, the notable strengthening of the rand in the quarter and the continued weakness of the USD pulp price (down 16% on the comparable prior year period and down 3% on the previous quarter) negatively impacted the profitability of the export oriented pulp and containerboard operations. Forestry gains of EUR8 million were significantly lower than those recognised in the first half of the year (EUR48 million).
Capital investment programme
We continue to make good progress on our previously announced major capital investment projects at our high-quality, low-cost operations in central Europe and South Africa.
At our Richards Bay mill (South Africa) the projects to upgrade the woodyard and provide capacity to produce unbleached kraftliner are nearing completion with planned project tie-ins to be completed during the maintenance shut in October.
As a result of lower prices for green energy in Poland and the slower than anticipated ramp-up of the paper and in-line coating machine at Steti (Czech Republic), the incremental operating profit contribution in 2016 from our capital investment programme is now estimated to be EUR50 million (previously EUR60 million).
Cash flow
Strong cash generation from operating activities largely offset the cash outflows related to our capital expenditure programme, acquisitions totalling EUR132 million and payment of the interim dividend. Net debt increased during the quarter to EUR1,560 million (30 June 2016: EUR1,491 million).
Outlook
We expect to benefit from stable to higher selling prices in a number of key product segments as we move into 2017 following the downward pressure seen over the course of 2016. Costs remain generally stable, albeit with near-term pressure in certain areas. Our ongoing capital investment programme continues to deliver strong returns. With our clear strategy, robust business model and culture of continuous improvement, we remain confident of continuing to deliver an industry leading performance.
Contact details
Mondi Group David Hathorn +27 11 994 5418 Andrew King +27 11 994 5415 Lora Rossler +27 83 627 0292 FTI Consulting Richard Mountain +44 7909 684 466
Conference call dial-in details
Please see below details of our dial-in conference call that will be held on 13 October 2016 at 8:00 (UK) and 9:00 (SA).
The conference call dial-in numbers are:
South Africa 0800 200 648 (toll-free)
UK 0808 162 4061 (toll-free)
Europe & Other +800 246 78 700 (toll-free) or +27 10 201 6800
Should you have any issues on the day with accessing the dial-in conference call, please call +27 11 535 3600.
A replay facility will be available until 31 October 2016. Dial in: +27 (0)11 305 2030,
Pin no: 53656#
Editors’ notes
We are Mondi: In touch every day
At Mondi, our products protect and preserve the things that matter.
Mondi is an international packaging and paper Group, employing around 25,000 people across more than 30 countries. Our key operations are located in central Europe, Russia, North America and South Africa. We offer over 100 packaging and paper products, customised into more than 100,000 different solutions for customers, end consumers and industrial end uses - touching the lives of millions of people every day. In 2015, Mondi had revenues of EUR6.8 billion and a return on capital employed of 20.5%.
The Mondi Group is fully integrated across the packaging and paper value chain - from managing forests and producing pulp, paper and compound plastics, to developing effective and innovative industrial and consumer packaging solutions. Our innovative technologies and products can be found in a variety of applications including hygiene components, stand-up pouches, super-strong cement bags, clever retail boxes and office paper. Our key customers are in industries such as automotive; building and construction; chemicals; food and beverage; home and personal care; medical and pharmaceutical; packaging and paper converting; pet care; and office and professional printing.
Mondi has a dual listed company structure, with a primary listing on the JSE Limited for Mondi Limited under the ticker code MND and a premium listing on the London Stock Exchange for Mondi plc, under the ticker code MNDI.
For us, acting sustainably makes good business sense and is part of the way we work every day. We have been included in the FTSE4Good Index Series since 2008 and the JSE's Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) Index since 2007.
Sponsor in South Africa: UBS South Africa (Pty) Ltd
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Channels RESOURCE GUIDE: Working with a Co-Packer
Co-packing is a common option for businesses interested in breaking into specialty foods—or expanding with new products or certifications—without high upfront investment costs. But, there are trade-offs to using a co-packer that companies must assess. In this new resource guide, manufacturers who use co- packers, as well as those offering co-packing services, share their insights on how to create a profitable, strategic relationship for both parties.
Today’s Specialty Food Consumer 2016 FULL REPORT
Gain a better understanding of how specialty foods drive retailer sales, profits, and customer loyalty.
Today’s Specialty Food Consumer 2016 – Summary Report
This year’s 16-page report examines who buys specialty foods, their purchasing preferences, shopping habits, and attitudes and opinions regarding these foods.
Summer Fancy Food Show 2016 Education Recordings Package
You couldn't make it to our education program at the Summer Fancy Food Show? Our speakers can come to you! Listen to the recorded sessions when it's convenient(...)
The Future is Now: Innovations That Will Change How We Produce, Sell, and Eat
This series of short talks is led by a group of problem solvers, disrupters, and thinkers who are taking on some of the food world’s most complex issues, closing(...)
What’s in a (Sustainable) Name? The Status of Value-Based Terms
What is the value of terms like farm-to-table, sustainable, and local on your products and in your stores? Have they lost meaning, or are the concepts behind(...)
Party of One: How Snacking and Single-Serve Trends Will Drive the Specialty Food Business
Once a stigma, eating alone is the new normal. Consumers are eating by themselves, and relying on snacks for their meal options, at a rapidly growing rate.(...)
Elevate Your Pitch: How to Sell to Buyers, Investors, and Media
Every person you present your product to is different, so you need to know how to sell yourself and products for each type of situation. In this workshop, you’ll(...)
Getting Started in Foodservice
Sales opportunities abound in the foodservice channel as chefs look for creative, high-quality ingredients that still allow them to meet their bottom lines. In this new resource, specialty food producers, importers, and distributors, as well as chefs and foodservice buyers, discuss the landscape of the channel and what a manufacturer needs to know to break into foodservice.
E-commerce Strategy Forum
Live Event: Chicago, IL April 11, 2016, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Are you getting your share of online sales? You're invited to attend a full day event hosted by the Specialty Food Association where you'll hear from experts in the industry and learn more about how to build your visibility and increase your sales online.
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There is a very important role of managers and supervisors in terms of employees' performance management. However, an important part of the employee performance management depends on their performance review and feedback. Without effective review and feedback process efficient performance management is not possible. In this regard it is essential that the managers have the required skills for managing employee performance through feedback skills. However, the main issue is that often the managers fail at providing effective feedback to the employees. It is why the management has decided to use a two day training workshop to impart training to the managers with regard to effective use of feedback skills when delivering one to one performance reviews. The training will be imparted at a physical location different from their workplace and large enough to hold 100 or more people conveniently. Modern tools and techniques will be used to impart training successfully. Specifically the learning objectives of this workshop are as follows:-
a. helping managers understand the importance of feedback.
b. Improve their feedback skills.
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An updated treatment of categorical data analysis in the biomedical sciences that now explores applications to translational research
Thoroughly updated with the latest advances in the field, Applied Categorical Data Analysis and Translational Research, Second Edition maintains the accessible style of its predecessor while also exploring the importance of translational research as it relates to basic scientific findings within clinical practice. With its easy-to-follow style, updated coverage of major methodologies, and broadened scope of coverage, this new edition provides an accessible guide to statistical methods involving categorical data and the steps to their application in problem solving in the biomedical sciences.
Delving even further into the applied direction, this update offers many real-world examples from biomedicine, epidemiology, and public health along with detailed case studies taken straight from modern research in these fields. Additional features of the Second Edition include: *
A new chapter on the relationship between translational research and categorical data, focusing on design study, bioassay, and Phase I and Phase II clinical trials *
A new chapter on categorical data and diagnostic medicine, with coverage of the diagnostic process, prevalence surveys, the ROC function and ROC curve, and important statistical considerations *
A revised chapter on logistic regression models featuring an updated treatment of simple and multiple regression analysis *
An added section on quantal bioassays
Each chapter features updated and new exercise sets along with numerous graphs that demonstrate the highly visual nature of the topic. A related Web site features the book's examples as well as additional data sets that can be worked with using SAS(R) software.
The only book of its kind to provide balanced coverage of methods for both categorical data and translational research, Applied Categorical Data Analysis and Translational Research, Second Edition is an excellent book for courses on applied statistics and biostatistics at the upper-undergraduate and graduate levels. It is also a valuable reference for researchers and practitioners in the biomedical and public health fields.
Til toppen
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March 5, 2014 at 1:27 PM
Anybody else out there marvel at someone because everything seems to come so easy to them? You know the ones who seem to have achieved career happiness. They seemingly have thought through each of life’s eventualities and have come up with the perfect answer before the question is even asked.
These folks ooze charisma while not going over the top to the level of being considered an obnoxious bore (re: think the Dos Equis guy and you’ve gone too far). They’re confident, clever and everyone wants to be around them because they have the world by the tail and they’re not letting loose any time soon.
Whenever I can glimpse into what makes these folks tick I jump at the chance because I’m a long way from being this sort of person. Rest assured I’m fairly confident that few people really have all the aspects of their lives under control, but they know how to keep up appearances.
I’ve never met Joel Gascoigne, the founder of the startup Buffer, but I’ve got to hand it to him because he’s captured a little bit of this lightning in a bottle. When his blog post “Six Simple Habits to Keep You Consistently Happy Every Day,” popped up in my LinkedIn feed the other day, I realized that Joel has the world by the tail.
Here are nine simple steps for you to achieve career happiness: Wake up Early: Scratch that one. I’m not a late riser, but you won’t find me milking the cows either. I can appreciate those people who meet the day with a 6 a.m. run or some “me” time found early in the day. Exercise Daily: Rule two I’ve got covered. Whether it’s running, biking or time spent just getting out and moving around, I crave that daily hour of exercise. Getting your heart rate up helps out in a variety of ways from fitness, strength and stress reduction to discipline, better sleep and a more positive self-image. Disengage: Run. Garden. Volunteer. Just do something that takes your mind away from the toils of work each day. All work and no play does make Jack a dull boy.
For many of us, however, this is easier said than done, especially in these times when we’re all electronically tethered to our work lives. It’s hard to tune out, turn off and drop out now that we’re all plugged in. Periodically I declare an “off-the-grid” day and make a point of not checking emails, Facebook or text messages.
Help Others: It’s important to put some good out in the world. I truly believe there is some sort of karmic payback when you help others. Learn New Skills: There’s self-satisfaction in learning how to do something for ourselves. Recently I was playing with a new remote camera, and while I was sharing it with some of my office friends when one of them said, “you really love what you do, don’t you?” “Yes,” I blurted out. Partly because of the appreciation I’ve gained from being unemployed, but mainly because taking the new things I learn and being able to use them to do my job better and more creatively results in success for my employer. Find Multiple Ways to Win: We need to cultivate victories because in our fast-paced get-it-done work existence we often take for granted the small things we do each day like meeting a deadline for a report, finishing an essential mailing or posting a social media update
Although it’s in our DNA to gain self-esteem by being defined by our work, it’s important to not let what you do define who you are. If all you do is focus on your role as a worker, you miss out on the goals you achieve as a human being.
I’d like to add three suggestions: 1) Don’t worry about what other people say about you; 2) don’t sweat the small stuff; and 3) be happy.
Don't Worry: Often times we feel like everyone, especially in our work lives, is talking about us. At the end of the day, you have very little control over what others say, so the key is to control the things you can control and let the others go. Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: As our kids were growing up, we seldom grappled with what they wore to school or how their hair was cut. As long as they were clean, got good grades and were respectful and nice we didn’t fight them on the small stuff.
We’ve all worked in and around micro-managers who not only control every minute of their own day but that of their underlings and co-workers. Makes you have to ask yourself, when was the last time they were truly happy? There are battles and wars and you have to decide the hills you choose to die on. I say live to fight another day, and you’ll live a joyful life
Be Happy: It’s taken me nearly 30 years of being employed to fully appreciate that you make you happy. When you look at those people who have the world by the tail, ask yourself “are they the smartest, brightest most well-educated people you’ve ever been around?”
My guess is your answer will be no. They do, however, exude self-confidence because they speak from a place of bliss.
Share your own tips on achieving career happiness in the comment section below.
AnnMarie Quintaglie McIlwain is a former marketing executive with Procter & Gamble and Johnson & Johnson and consultant to several Fortune 100 companies. Now, as Founder and CEO of CareerFuel.net, she is a social entrepreneur who connects people with the information and inspiration they need in order to get jobs and start businesses. CareerFuel is the only site that gives people what they need to know to find jobs or start businesses plus blogs and short films about real people who made it happen.
A recipient of numerous civic and leadership awards, AnnMarie is a Board member of CFIRA.org, was a participant in the first White House Entrepreneurial Session, the recent WeOwnIt Summit, and the first Alley to the Valley Event. She is also a member of 85Broads and Startup America.
The opinions expressed herein are the writer's alone, and do not reflect the opinions of TAPinto.net or anyone who works for TAPinto.net. TAPinto.net is not responsible for the accuracy of any of the information supplied by the writer.
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Pete Roythorne explains instant messaging
By now you've no doubt mastered email, text messaging and maybe even had a go in a chatroom or forum. So do you really need another form of electronic communication? Well, obviously yes, as I haven't yet mentioned instant messaging.
Instant messaging, or IM, is a form of online communication that combines the live nature of chatrooms and the personalisedprivate contact of email. When you send a message it appears directly on the other person's screen, like email, but with IM you only communicate with people that you know are online so you're guaranteed an immediate response.
When you use IM you have a list of contacts you wish to exchange messages with, called a buddy list. You must invite people to be on your buddy list and agree to be listed on theirs (it shouldn't be possible to add anyone to your buddy list or for you to be added to anyone else's without consent).
When one of your buddies logs on to the internet their IM service registers them as being active and you will see that person as online.
To start using IM you need to download a piece of software called an IM client, as will anyone you want to communicate with. Popular packages include Google Talk, MSN Messenger and Apple's iChat. There are some factors worth noting at this point: not all IM clients are compatible with all others; some systems allow you to adjust the privacy settings; and some allow you to send attachments. So you need to decide what factors are important.
Although one normally associates this technology with young people socialising, it is being used increasingly to foster collaboration in school time. For example, you can host online chats with schools in other countries or with remote guest speakers. On top of this, students can work together on projects and IM gives them the opportunity to discuss topics arising from homework.
Some teachers create IM conference rooms to facilitate online study sessions for students. You could even use it to communicate with other teachers discreetly during school hours.
IM is not without its problems and it's worth reading Becta's Signposts to Safety report for advice on this, at www.becta.org.ukcorporatepublicationspublications_detail.cfm?currentbrand =1pubid=194cart=
Some IM clients are starting to offer voice and picture capabilities so full videoconferencing is not far away. So there's plenty more scope for its use in class.
Links
Clients:
www.apple.comukmacosxfeaturesichat
www.google.comtalk
www.msn.co.ukmessenger
General:
www.instantmessagingplanet.com
Safety: www.besafeonline.org
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A 53-year-old female presents to a pain management clinic several weeks after having a broken arm set by means of an ORIF procedure (Open Reduction Internal Fixation). She received multiple injections into the axillary region for nerve block. The patient immediately experienced an allergic reaction and went into shock. She experienced a grand mal seizure on the way to the hospital and a cardiac workup showed stress to the cardiovascular system.
Question(s) For Expert Witness 1. Is this reaction to anesthetic common and what may have been done to prevent such an event? Expert Witness Response E-000116
A severe reaction to anesthesia is not a common occurrence but it is reported in the medical literature. There is no fool proof method of predicting the response of patients to drugs but an extensive discussion with the patient about their medical history is crucial to avoiding such issue.
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My boyfriend has had sex with far fewer people than I have. We've been together for two months now, and I have underplayed how many men I've slept with (it's 16 and he's mentioned only six women) because I don't expect him to be thrilled. If he asks me outright, I'll say something like eight, but he may find out later that there were more. What should I do?
You could argue that your boyfriend should be told exactly who you've slept with, because to love you he should also love your past. However, I wouldn't agree. I'm more of the persuasion that says, 'Why rub his nose in it?' That is because to know your partner's entire sexual history, unless it is relevant (as in you have never had sex before or you've been the victim of abuse), will not enhance your relationship.
You should still be honest about the sex you've had - just don't be an accountant about it. If arithmetic discrepancies come up later, you can either show surprise that he's forgotten what you told him or that it's all in the past, so nothing to worry about and none of his business.
If you opt to provide him with an underestimate, you won't be alone - statisticians say that the average number of sexual partners men and women have (in a population) should be similar. Yet men frequently say they have had two to four times as many sexual partners as women do.
An Observer poll of 1,027 adults in 2002 produced an average of seven partners for women and 13 for men, while a 2005 University of Alberta survey of 2,065 heterosexual women and men came up with 8.6 for women and 31.9 for men. The Alberta researchers suggested that men roughly estimate the number of people they've slept with (which overestimates), while women count carefully (and in some cases also forget some).
Women may also still feel the chill of a double standard. A University of Maine study of 200 college students hooked some women to a (fake) lie detector and then asked how many sexual partners they'd had. The women who thought they were attached to the detector gave an average of 4.4 sexual partners, while those who weren't hooked up said they'd had an average of 2.6 partners.
Your sexual past is indeed part of who you are - but most of us do some editing of our past. Research reported in Psychology Today says that while men are happy to tell researchers how many people they've had sex with, when it comes to their girlfriends they, too, forget some notches on their bedposts.
· Email your problems to love@theguardian.com
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New gene variations linked to cholesterol levels Share
It's becoming increasingly clear that our genes play a big role in our health. In some cases, people carry major gene faults that can significantly increase their risk of certain diseases, such as cancer. But now we're starting to focus on subtle genetic variations that can increase or decrease risk of various illnesses.
Now an international research team has found 11 new regions of genetic variation that are linked to levels of cholesterol and triglycerides - both of which are important in heart and cardiovascular disease. Added to previous research, this means that we now know about 30 such gene variations. And although major faults in some of the genes can lead to serious metabolic problems, and diseases such as type 2 diabetes, it's likely that less serious faults could act to subtly increase a person's risk of heart disease.
To start with, the researchers looked at the results of 7 studies that had screened across the whole genome for genes linked to cholesterol and triglyceride levels. Then the researchers looked at DNA samples from over 20,000 people, and found 30 gene sites. This included 19 that had been spotted before, but 11 new ones too. Although some of these new genes have previously been linked to cholesterol problems, or diabetes, many of them are enigmatic, and it's not clear how they're working. So lots more work to do.
This will also be important when finding new drugs. The more we understand about the genetic faults and variations that underpin diseases, the more likely we are to be able to design more targeted, effective treatments. For example, statin drugs work by blocking the actions of a gene called HMGCR - one of the 30 gene variations I mentioned earlier. We've all heard about the effectiveness of statins for treating cardiovascular problems, and the researchers are hopeful that some of these new genes will also be good targets.
The researchers think that these 30 genes account for about a fifth of the genetic contribution to cholesterol and triglyceride levels, so there's many more genes out there that we don't yet know about. These could be tracked down by doing large studies in a broader range of ethnic backgrounds. And it's also going to be important to sequence these 30 genes in great detail, to pinpoint the exact differences that are responsible. This could lead to screening tests to find people at high risk - for example those who have a lot of heart disease in the family - who could be offered preventative treatment.
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A proposed additional assessment of research quality between research excellence frameworks based on metrics such as citations rather than peer review would not be seen as credible, according to one of the authors of a major government-commissioned report on the subject.
Despite
The Metric Tide report concluding in July that it was “not currently feasible to assess the quality of research outputs using quantitative indicators alone”, the idea of a “mini REF” that uses metrics has nonetheless made it into the government’s Green Paper on higher education.
The paper suggests “making greater use of metrics and other measures to ‘refresh’ the REF results and capture emerging pockets of research excellence in between full peer review”.
Stephen Curry, a professor of structural biology at Imperial College London and one of the authors of the metrics report, said that he did not think an intermediate assessment based on metrics “would have the credibility and support of the community”.
The “real problem” with metrics was that “on their own they can’t be reliable because we can’t have enough data across all the disciplines”, he said, citing arts and humanities as an area where “the information just isn’t there” in terms of citation coverage.
The Green Paper, released on 6 November, is only a consultation document, and a spokesman for the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills said that it would await responses on the future shape of the REF. The Green Paper says that it will “consider” the findings of
The Metric Tide.
Debate will now move towards how exactly metrics will be used in a new REF system. The 2014 REF did use metrics, but only in a small way. Fewer than a third of the subject panels requested citation statistics, and these data were generally used only where there was disagreement among the reviewers over quality.
In the natural sciences, citations metrics are more abundant, Professor Curry said, but running an intermediate assessment involving only some subjects would lead excluded disciplines to be seen as “second best”. And the more metrics were used, he said, the more universities would attempt to game them.
He added: “I would question whether you would need a mini REF. Does the research landscape really change in two to three years?”
James Wilsdon, professor of science and democracy at the University of Sussex and chair of the group that wrote
The Metric Tide, shared Professor Curry’s caution.
“Having looked at the question of metrics in exhaustive detail…I for one, and my committee, are not persuaded that there’s an easy solution here in moving overall from a peer-review process to a metrics process,” he said.
But publishers, which sell a variety of metrics tools, have pushed for their inclusion in the assessment process.
Earlier this year, Nick Fowler, managing director of Elsevier’s research management division, argued in a presentation to the Higher Education Policy Institute that greater use of metrics could drive down costs, and that multiple metrics made gaming the system “very hard”.
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You might think they’re just simple words, but great organizational values help businesses accomplish their goals and build cultures that fulfill their visions.
If your business hasn’t crafted its own set of company values just yet — or if it’s time to give your existing ones a face-lift — you should mimic these five organizational values, crafted by five successful enterprises:
1. Do good What Google does
If you’ve ever wondered why you don’t see pop-up ads on Google searches, the answer can be found in the company’s philosophy. While most companies go into business to “do good,” a passing glance at Google’s company values shows how the search engine giant takes that mentality to the next level by clearly defining what it does to ensure it doesn’t “do evil.”
How you can do it too
Your company can similarly choose to do only good deeds. For example, a marketing agency shouldn’t try to sell a small business a content package designed for a Fortune 500 company. Instead, such agencies should work to provide their clients with products that will help them meet their objectives.
2. Focus on quality What Coke does
According to Forbes, Coca-Cola is the world’s fourth most valuable brand. In today’s age of the health-conscious consumer, that number might surprise you. But to those familiar with Coke’s values, it probably doesn’t: “What we do, we do well,” the company says. Today, Coke sells 3,500 different beverages in more than 200 countries.
How you can do it too
By never losing sight of your company’s commitment to quality, you’re less likely to lose any loyal customers — and more likely to gain new ones. As you develop new products and target new customers, never relax your standards. And don’t forget the old adage: It’s better to do one thing very well instead of doing lots of things poorly.
3. Support your staff What Whole Foods does
You can’t really expect your business to thrive if your employees feel as though they’re taken for granted. Many companies, like Whole Foods, are especially vocal about how prospective candidates are treated once they join the team. For example, Whole Foods says all employees’ ideas are valued, as everyone has something to contribute. The chain also allows its employees to work as part of self-directed teams, increasing their autonomy.
How you can do it too
By adopting a similar employee-focused philosophy, your business stands to become noticeably healthier. To do that, encourage your employees to share their ideas and routinely solicit their feedback. Offer opportunities for professional development so they’ll grow with you.
4. Give back to the community What TINYpulse does
Business isn’t just about seeing how much money you can make. It’s also about doing what you can to improve the world around you, something that extends beyond simply the products and services you sell.
To this end, supporting nonprofit initiatives and giving back to local communities are core tenets of many businesses. For example, we at TINYpulse donate 1% of our product and 1% of our time to nonprofit organizations and communities. We believe that in addition to simply being the right thing to do, giving back makes our employees happier, which in turn helps them better serve our clients.
How you can do it too
If your organization isn’t involved in your community, it might be time to take a look at volunteer opportunities that double as team-building exercises. In doing so, your workers will grow closer to one another and feel better about themselves. You organization will look great too.
5. Love your customers What Amazon does
While there’s nothing you can do to make sure all of your customers are completely satisfied 100% of the time, you can create a culture that encourages positive experiences. For example, Amazon is a company that describes itself as “customer obsessed” — and if you’ve ever had a problem with an order and reached out to the e-commerce giant, you know exactly what that means. Simply put, whenever something goes wrong, Amazon remedies it.
How you can do it too
You may be surprised what happens when you similarly put your customers at the center of your operations: they’ll become loyal. And remember, loyal customers may make up only 15% of your clientele, but they can account for as much as 70% of your revenue, according to CRMTrends.
Crafting and adhering to sensible company values can do wonders for your business. Who knows? Maybe one of the values your organization develops and abides by will serve to guide the businesses of tomorrow.
RELATED POSTS: The Complete Guide to Creating and Living Organizational Values 2 Organizational Values That Are Crucial to Employee Happiness
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Home insurance is a package policy that provides financial protection for your home and your personal property inside it. The policy also protects the homeowner and their family from being liable or responsible for injuries or damages to others and their property. A number of different things fall into those categories, but we’ve detailed the coverages below so you know what’s covered and what isn’t.
Perils that Home Insurance Protects Against What Home Insurance Covers What Home Insurance Doesn't Cover
There are 16 common perils or disasters that can affect homes. These can range from the natural disasters to crimes committed by others. Most policies will cover any damage as a result of any one of the 16 common perils which are: fire or lightning; windstorm or hail; an explosion; riot or civil commotion; damaged caused by aircraft; damage caused by vehicles; smoke; vandalism or malicious mischief; theft; volcanic eruption; falling objects; weight of ice, snow or sleet; accidental overflow of water from within a plumbing, heating air conditioning or automatic fire protection system; sudden and accidental tearing apart, cracking, burning or bulging of a steam system, heating system, air conditioning or automatic fire protection system; freezing of plumbing and other systems; and damages from artificially generated electrical currents.
Here are the main coverage types that a standard home insurance policy can have. In most policies, what is covered is explicitly listed out, and can be grouped into the categories below. There are a number of perils or additional protections that aren't usually included in policies by home insurance companies (we'll go into that below). Your home insurance company will pay out for any claims covered net of your deductible.
The Structure of the Home
Sometimes called the “dwelling,” this part of the policy covers physical damage to the home itself. Damage to any walls, the roof, floor or doors are examples of things covered under the structure of the home. The foundation of your home and other parts that might not necessarily be visible are also covered. In addition to the home, most policies also will include detached structures such as a garage, shed or gazebo.
Personal Belongings
Homeowners insurance covers the personal belongings of the insured no matter where in the world the belongings are located - not just inside their home. It also covers the belongings of others under two circumstances: the personal belongings of those who live on the policyholder’s property, as long as the belongings are on the property, and the belongings of guests while the policyholder is present.
Personal belongings include things such as furniture, electronics, clothing, sporting equipment, watercraft, silverware, firearms, furs and jewelry. Trees, plants and shrubs also are covered in the event of all perils, except wind damage and disease.
Documenting the belongings you own is critical to making the most out of your homeowners insurance protection. Most people are unable to recall all of their possessions in the event of a partial or total loss. For that reason, policyholders need to inventory their belongings they would claim if damaged or lost due to a peril. The inventory of belongings should include photos or video of the items as well as any receipts and proof of purchase to attach, which is much easier in this current age of smartphones. It is also a good idea to let your insurance company know about any items that are individually exceptionally valuable, such as jewelry, special collections or artwork. Once the inventory is complete, store it digitally online or a hard copy at a location other than your home.
Liability
This coverage protects the policyholder and their family members (including pets) from lawsuits for bodily injury or property damage that they are to blame for. It will pay for court costs as well as any awards you’re ordered to pay in court, up to the limit of the policy. The liability portion of your homeowners insurance also travels with you and your family members to your neighbors' house or anywhere else in the world.
For example, if you spill a glass of wine and ruin a neighbor's rug, homeowners insurance would cover the cost. It will not cover your own rug you if you spill wine and ruin it. If you're hosting a party and you spill wine on your neighbor's authentic fur coat, that'd be another liability situation created that home insurance could cover. Another example would be if your dog bites someone - home insurance would cover that incident. If you are bit by your own dog, homeowners insurance will not cover that incident.
Homeowners insurance also provides no-fault medical coverage, meaning if a friend or neighbor is injured in your home, they can submit medical bills to your insurance company. This allows their expenses to be paid without filing a liability claim against you. This portion of the policy will not cover medical bills of the policyholder, their family or pets - for that you'd have to turn to your health insurance or pet insurance if you have any.
Additional Living Expenses (ALE)
Sometimes shortened to ALE, this portion of home insurance policies covers the cost of staying elsewhere if your home is damaged beyond a point it is livable. ALE covers things like hotel bills, restaurant meals and other expenses.
For example, if an insured peril destroys the roof of your home you probably will need to find somewhere else to stay until it is repaired. ALE would cover the costs the policyholder incurred if they needed a hotel room and restaurant meals. An example of an additional expense might be the cost to wash clothing if you don’t have access to your washer or dryer.
Though it is a common coverage under a homeowners insurance policy, additional living expense coverage can vary greatly from company to company. Some companies provide expenses up to a certain total limit. Others do not have an expense limit but only offer the coverage for a limited amount of time.
ALE also will reimburse policyholders for rent payable to them. For example, say you rent part of your home but that portion of it became unlivable sure to a peril covered by your policy. In that circumstance, ALE would pay you the lost income from the tenant who had to relocate until the space was repaired, subject to the terms of your policy.
Other Protections Home Insurance Can Provide
Every insurance policy is different but there are other coverages homeowners insurance frequently provides. These are coverages one doesn’t typically think of when purchasing homeowners insurance, but it’s important not to forget about them, in the event you can ever use the coverage.
Debris removal: Companies usually pay reasonable expenses to remove debris on property from a covered peril that caused a loss. Ash, dust and particles from a volcanic eruption that caused a direct loss or damage also fall under this category. Trees downed by a peril that are owned by either you or your neighbor are covered too. Grave markers: Homeowners insurance policies sometimes cover grave markers and mausoleums damaged or lost by a covered peril. The grave markers or mausoleums can be on or off the property of the policyholder's residence. Green home coverage: Also called “green improvement” or “green reimbursement”; This is an endorsement that allows a home to be rebuilt with green materials or items to be replaced with more energy-efficient versions in the event of a covered loss. Identity fraud: Coverage that protects a homeowner and pays to help them restore their identity in the event it is used fraudulently. Loss assessment: If a peril impacts your home or property covered by your homeowners insurance, you’ll have to have a professional damage assessment made. Depending on what is damaged and the extent of the damage, assessments might be costly. Thankfully, homeowners insurance policies frequently cover loss assessments up to a certain limit. Unauthorized use of credit cards: Most homeowners insurance policies cover unauthorized charges to of the credit cards of the policyholder. However, the limit on this is usually low ($500) and most credit card companies will remove unauthorized charges from your card once you report them.
There are a number of things homeowners insurance will not cover. Some are obvious and some aren’t so obvious. The two most important to take note of are earthquakes and floods. Both are common perils in some areas and have insurance products designed specifically for each one. Homeowners insurance exclusions also differ between companies and from state to state.
Some other things homeowners insurance will not cover include neglect or failure to make repairs, wear and tear, corrosion and rust, contamination, animals and pests, fungi, nuclear hazards, power failure, government actions and war.
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Description The book analyses present Latin American issues in their historical course since independence (beginning 1810) and its aftermath, up to the contemporary period. The authors focus on political, economic, social, environmental and cultural developments.It examines the legacies of the past and the multiple changes that have taken place in the last two centuries. Today's situation suggests that modernization is well under way and will continue. Offering broad insight into present and future concerns, the book enables readers to evaluate potential areas of economic and social growth, as well as assess risks stemming from past events.
Contents Latin America in World Geopolitics and International Relations: Latin America in 2010: Geopolitical Shift and Strategic Ambitions (Alain Rouquie); Decolonisation in Latin America: Its Trail-Blazing Role for Decolonisation in Other Parts of the World (Marcelo G Kohen & Katherine Del Mar); Latin America in the League of Nations: Bolivar's Dream Come True? (Yannick Wehrli); Shifting Position to the Global South: Latin America's Initiatives in the Early Years at the United Nations (Corinne A Pernet); New Transcontinental Configurations: The U.S. Latinos (Yvette Sanchez); The Nation-State, Politics, Citizenship, and Governance: Patterns of Protest and Revolution in Latin America: 1810 - 1910 - 2010 (Alan Knight); Education, Citizenship, and Decentralization in the Latin American Bicentenary: The Chilean Case (Oscar Corvalan); Peru: Nation-State and Multicultural Society (Jose Marin); Interpretation of Self-Determination Right of Indigenous Peoples in Colombia after Ratification of 169 ILO Convention (Leonardo Rodriguez); A Political Ecology of Latin American Forests through Time (Marc Hufty); Rurality, Economy, and Models of Development: Rural Areas vs. Cities in Latin American History (Claude Auroi); Is Growth Driven by External Demand a Solution to Economic Crises? (Pierre Salama); Foreign Investment in Latin America: Between Love and Hatred (Jorge E Vinuales & Magnus Jesko Langer); Latin American Regionalism and the Role of UN-ECLAC, 1948 - 2010 (Edgard Moncayo, Philippe De Lombaerde & Oscar Guinea Ibanez); NAFTA: Springboard or Trap? (Christian Deblock); Religion, Cultures, and Ethnic Identities: The Religious Field in Latin America: Autonomy and Fragmentation (David Lehmann); Indigenous Peoples of Latin America: Between Assimilation, Disappearance, Mestizage and Re-emergence: The Argentine Case (Sabine Kradolfer); Afro-Latin Americans and the Limits of Equal Rights, 1810 - 1910 - 2010 (Aline Helg); What Shall Become of Us Without any Barbarians? Central American Gangs and the Utopia of Civilization in Latin America (Dennis Rodgers). Product Details publication date: 29/12/2011 ISBN13: 9781848168466 Format: Hardback Number Of Pages: 568 ID: 9781848168466 weight: 907 ISBN10: 1848168462 Delivery Information Saver Delivery: Yes 1st Class Delivery: Yes Courier Delivery: Yes Store Delivery: Yes
Prices are for internet purchases only. Prices and availability in WHSmith Stores may vary significantly
© Copyright 2013 - 2017 WHSmith and its suppliers. WHSmith High Street Limited Greenbridge Road, Swindon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom, SN3 3LD, VAT GB238 5548 36
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Our Flowers and Farms
We've branched out!
Wild Hibiscus Flower Company now work with more than just hibiscus flowers. Applying our expertise we now also specialize in Bulgarian roses and butterfly pea flowers - all edible flowers of course.
Each of the flower varieties we have selected has its own unique color, flavor and uses in food and beverage.
We love our farmers. We grow together!
We have built important and genuine relationships with our farmers across the Australasian tropical belt and have a strong network of growers for year-round supply of premium seasonal flowers.
Together with our farmers we have developed quality standards and unique farming techniques. We visit our farmers regularly and are constantly improving together with a view for long-terms environmental, business and community sustainability.
Hibiscus Flowers
There are many types of hibiscus flowers. Most people are familiar with the non-edible, ornate garden varieties. We use the edible variety - Latin name
Edible hibiscus - also commonly known as Rosella flowers - grows on the fringes of rainforest and tall forest and is often found behind sand dunes in the tropical north of Australia. There are several native Hibiscus closely related to the rosella which are nearly as tasty.
Originally it is thought to come from Sri Lanka but can now be found growing on every continent. Proof of its wonderful flavor and appeal to people worldwide.
Health Benefits of Hibiscus Sabdariffa
Hibiscus is very high in anthocyanin antioxidants and has been linked to lowing blood pressure and cholesterol in several international health studies:
Hibiscus Flower Farms
Wild Hibiscus Flower Company Founder, Lee Etherington heads up our farming network, flower processing facility and logistics.
Pictured below is the process of our hibiscus flowers being farmed. Seedlings are planted at the perfect seasonal times to yield the best quality flowers.
Once the flower opens, the center fruity part (calyx) is hand-picked, de-seeded, quality checked and cleaned. (Sam Etherington, our Production Manager pictured below, checks the harvest). Depending on our production needs, flowers are either used whole in our Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup products, juiced fresh for our Hibiscus Extract or laid out and sun-dried for Heart-Tea, Hibiscus Salt and other dried hibiscus products.
Using our system and techniques our farmers see the value in growing hibiscus as it becomes a cyclical “cash crop” which generates income within 3 months versus oil palm or fruit trees which can take up to 5 years to see a return.
Our hibiscus plantations are also done cleverly without pesticides or chemicals which is a big plus for the farmers and our consumers.
With our farmers, we have also developed ways for them to inter-crop hibiscus plantations with longer-term yielding crops. This helps sustain farmers steady income and therefore community stability.
Starting out with flowers from Queensland, Australia we have now expanded our growers network across the Australasian belt. With growing demand we now chase the sun for year round supply of premium flowers.
We have researched and developed how to grow the hibiscus sustainability, who could grow it, where to grow it, how to harvest it, how to prevent pests without chemicals or pesticides, how to manage it after harvest so the hibiscus remained in peak condition, and most importantly, how to consistently process the fresh flowers into the Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Syrup.
Under our supervision, our growers produce and hand pick the crops of flowers. The fresh flowers are individually picked, de-seeded, cleaned, graded and then packed into jars entirely by hand at our factory. Hibiscus flowers grow in several different shapes, so we place them in predetermined positions in the jar according to shape, to ensure that none are squashed.
With such a labor-intensive process (a labor of love, really), it's difficult to produce vast volumes of our product at speed, but the output of our careful but efficient production process meets the export demands of our international market.
Butterfly Pea Flowers
The butterfly pea flower is a native from Thailand where it is called Dok Anchan (Latin name is
The dried flowers are used in Thailand as a herbal ingredient to many foods (such as rice and desserts) and in drinks.
Butterfly peas have a neutral taste and very mild aroma kind of like peas. In some preparations there is no evidence of taste or aroma just the pure blue or purple color.
Health Benefits of Butterfly Pea Flowers
Apart from the alluring blue and purples colors and high antioxidant levels of the butterfly pea flowers, they are highly valued for the herbal benefits when consumed or used in cosmetics. Whilst no scientific research has been concluded, it is believed in Thai traditional herbal medicine that butterfly pea has many health attributes such as being an anti-depressant, a hair growth stimulant and assists in memory enhancement!
Bulgarian Roses
We source our essential rose oil only from the best rose region in the world, Bulgaria. The most premium roses are hand picked and of the world from Bulgaria. Prized for their eternal beauty, exquisite scent and flavor for food and beverage.
We use the essential oils extracted only from the petals - not from the rose hips.Whilst we have no scientific studies to verify health benefits, rose has long been used for its therapeutic benefits. For example, rose is used to uplift a feeling of well being, as an antiseptic / antiviral treatment, and an aphrodisiac to name a few.
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Lin Padgham, RMIT University; Patrick Lambrix, Linköpings Universitet
This paper presents a formalisation of capabilities within the framework of beliefs, goals and intentions (BDI) and indicates how capabilities can affect agent reasoning about its intentions. We define a style of agent commitment which we refer to as a self-aware agent which allows an agent to modify its goals and intentions as its capabilities change. We also indicate which aspects of the specification of a BDI interpreter are affected by the introduction of capabilities and give some indications of additional reasoning which could be incorporated into an agent system on the basis of both the theoretical analysis and the existing implementation. The introduction of capabilities in the BDI framework has a number of advantages such as a better mapping of theory to intuition, the elimination of a mismatch between theory and actual systems, and an indication of issues and areas for further development of implemented reasoning in agent systems.
This page is copyrighted by AAAI. All rights reserved. Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of all of AAAI's terms and conditions and privacy policy.
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WEB DESK: As pollution levels continue to rise, we are bound to see its effects on our health, pour lifestyle, the food we eat and so on. The pollutants add to your food resulting in various diseases.
Cancer causing bread is the latest inductee, which has raised concerns in India after a study released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), has found 84 percent of bread and bakery samples collected from across Indian capital Delhi containing cancer causing substances.
According to The Indian Express, the bread contains traces of potassium bromate, potassium iodate or both. While potassium bromate is said to be a Class 2B carcinogenic, which means it may cause cancer, potassium iodate can lead to “thyroid disorders, increase the incidence of autoimmune thyroiditis and increase the risk of thyroid cancer,” the report said.
But how did these dangerous chemicals enter into bread, at the first place, surprisingly the report informed that these chemicals are used in the process of bread making, potassium bromate helps bread achieve high rising and a uniform finish, while potassium iodate is used by bread-makers as flour agent.
According to
BBC, the All India Bread Manufacturers’ Association said the chemicals were “considered safe”.
Health Minister JP Nadda said that his ministry is preparing report on the issue, urging public not to panic.”I have told my officials to report to me on an urgent basis. There is no need to panic. Very soon we will come out with the [inquiry] report,” he said.
Source: Business Recorder
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Zach Asked: “Married/Together with my wife for 10 years. We have two young children. She’s declared that she loves me, but is not “in love” with me. We have a great partnership, get along wonderfully (with the exception of this dilemma), have two beautiful children, parent well together. What she claims to be lacking is the passion, the desire, the chemistry. We have been processing through this for six months. I fell deeply into the quicksand of inadequacy and introspection to really see where I was out of integrity. I have demonstrated my commitment to the marriage in many ways, from my presence with my family, to creating special time for us to connect. Nothing has shifted for her. Recently, she took up salsa dancing and found a new source of expression for herself. She “turned on” and it felt good. She also attracted another man, who she was beginning to have an affair with and lied and hid it from me until I discovered an email she wrote to him saying that she couldn’t wait to be in his arms again.” The affair is over, no infidelity, but it was going there. Recently, we’ve been discussing the option of a legal separation, but then she gets cold feet. There is a tremendous amount of back and forth, her coming close to me and wanting me to comfort her, but then her position of not desiring me or thinking that I cannot give her what she needs comes back and we’re right back where we started. My question is…with my family and my marriage at stake, where do I stand. I don’t want to be with someone who doesn’t desire me. I want love to flow into our lives. But I do love her, desire her, and want to continue building the beautiful life we have. But it seems for her, this question of desire is a deal breaker and outweighs everything else. Part of me wants to move on, but I’m pulled back for my love and for the sake of our long term marriage and especially for our children. Where do I stand powerfully in this situation?” – Zach(U.S.A.) Our Experts Responded:
Dear Zach,
This is a tough one. It’s difficult to know what will work and what won’t…in terms of strategy. Because my dear, you are now in a tug of war. And in my view all is fair in love and war. You must strategize and fight for what you want.
Since every other area of your lives seem to be working out great, you must now focus your attention on stirring up those flames. You must woo her. Chase her, but don’t appear too eager or desperate. And somehow, through all this, you must make yourself desirable as well. I know, this is a lot.
But take a look at what really happened so that you don’t make this mistake again. Have you let yourself go? Do you work out? Do you make sure your feet don’t smell? I know this sounds strange, but it’s very difficult for a woman to want a man that stinks and sits on the couch night after night. Nothing turns us off more. If you’ve not kept yourself up, it’s time you do. Go get a new smart and sexy haircut (ask the hairstylist what would be sexy and cute on you) and buy a new cologne you think she might like. Shower often and wear the sexy cologne you bought all the time. Women love a man that smells sexy right out of the shower. Dress better and work out!!! Make a dinner and movie date with her and let her pick the movie. It’s about her. And try to be interested in what she picks out, even if it’s a chick flick.
Make her breakfast in bed. Send her red roses to work. Take a weekend off alone somewhere. Wash her car. Wash her hair. Give her a massage. Buy her chocolate. Buy her jewelry!
You know what she likes. Take those dance classes with her. Yes. You must do that. She’s looking for something hot and seductive. She needs to find YOU there.
But through all this, don’t forget to take care of yourself and the kids. Work out together playing basketball. Get a hobby you can all do together. Do things with her alone, but also do things as a family.
She has a lot to lose as well. She knows that.
I hope this works for you. Good luck and stay positive!
– Blanca Marquez
————————————————————
Dear Zach,
1. Schedule an appointment with a counselor or therapist ASAP. A pastoral counselor may be a good choice if you’re religious; otherwise, there are many excellent marriage and family therapists.
2. Read the articles in the “Cheating” section — there’s a great deal of sound advice and experience there. 3. Take a “relationship inventory”. What’s good, what needs to change or improve, what needs to be removed entirely? Write it down and share it, first with someone you trust (preferably not biased towards or against either of you), then with your wife. Suggest that she does the same. 4. After doing the inventory and sharing it, write an amends letter to your wife, admitting where you may have been wrong (and I’m *not* saying that you were) and forgiving her for what she did and failed to do. Even if you choose to separate or divorce, this can be very healing.
Finally, whatever is going on with you and your wife, stay close to your kids. Children are very sensitive, and they need your reassurance that you still love them, regardless of what happens between you and Mom.
All the best,
————————————————————
Zach,
Thanks for sharing of your painful situation with us. You have written a very thoughtful note, which clearly demonstrates that are no easy, “sound byte” solutions to such human dilemmas. What is a loving (and self-loving) husband to do? Here are a few thoughts.
*First, regarding the surface solutions of conventional versus open relationships and all the attendant boundaries/agreements: I will not comment on these, as so much has been said about these matters already. ( If you are so inclined, see the work of sex columnist Dan Savage for more.) Rather, I am going to operate with the assumption that either your wife makes an adjustment to where she can fully bond with you, or the two of you will separate. I am not foreclosing against other configurations; I am simply choosing not to go there in this limited space.
*We could go on and on about the “love you but not ‘in love’ with you” thing. Being “in love” with a relative stranger is easy enough, even for teens; being able to retain some degree of that passion in a committed, long-term relationship – this is harder and requires a greater commitment to human growth. If one partner doesn’t desire the other, it seems we can generally make one of two interpretations: Either she is with the wrong person – she chose badly when she got married – or she is experiencing some sort of emotional block. In the latter case, the problem is not with the choice of partner, but an “inner knot” which she has to unravel for her life to work.
The latter interpretation seems more operative, given that your wife claims love for you (not to mention that you have children) and that she cycles back to emotionally clinging to you. Unless you choose to endure this painful state of affairs for decades, she has the choice of either finding within herself desire for you or leaving you. So far she has been unable to do either.
*If this is correct, then your wife will need to do some work on herself, probably with the assistance of a competent therapist. You can help by telling her that as much as you love her, you are not okay with this situation remaining unresolved; if she fails to find within herself a more complete love for you, then you are going to end the relationship (or at least separate). Your firmness, which will require you not to lapse into self-inadequacy – will be necessary to support her in the possibility of her human movement.
In other words, you have done the “supportive and understanding” thing for some time now, and it has not worked. Some times what a partner needs from us is firmness and assertiveness, though it may initially trigger further pain and challenge for them.
*Further to the above point, sometimes separation is exactly what is needed. Sometimes human movement is not possible within the supportive (if strained) “comforts” of the existing relationship. Your wife has already demonstrated vulnerability in this regard, so at some point, if movement is not forthcoming, separating from her despite her “cold feet” may be what is needed. She may have to fall into the pain that she will experience when she separates from you for her heart to open sufficiently to remedy the central problem
*Regarding the kids, this of course complicates an already difficult situation. You will have to sort out what is right for you regarding this, but I would offer this point of view: Don’t stay in the relationship “for the kids’ sake”, as that is a dubious proposition. Yes, separation/divorce will be an acute trauma for them, but I don’t think you can spare them that by staying in a relationship that isn’t working – a chronic trauma which can be at least as damaging over time. Steps toward health and self-love, even when they may result in divorce, are likely in the kid’s best interest as well.
*Finally, regarding your felt sense of inadequacy: Certainly the circumstances of not being desired by your partner would be provocative for anyone. Initially we look toward ourselves for the answer; we inventory all our flaws which might explain our partner’s limitations. But with time we emerge with a greater self-acceptance, realizing that her failure to fully connect with you is likely more about her than about you. Certainly your note speaks well for you in that it is mature, thoughtful, and well-intended. In a short space you have demonstrated human qualities that surely will be attractive to other women, in the event that this relationship runs its course.
Just as your wife will need to own her failure to bond fully with you as her husband, you need to own the inadequacy that you feel in response to her rejection, not as an indicator of inadequacy, but as a lack of self-acceptance that warrants further attention. Therapeutic support through this process, whether your wife chooses to go that route or not, will no doubt help you to unpack as much value from this painful situation as quickly as possible.
In any case, good luck, and thanks for sharing so genuinely of your challenging circumstances!
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Dear Zach,
Understanding your wife’s feelings requires looking at the issue from several directions. First of all, people are motivated to marry for a variety of reasons and many women in particular select mates who provide them with a sense of security. All our actions and motivations are based in core beliefs that were ingrained in us from childhood. It is through the beliefs our parents taught us and those relationship dynamics that lead us to adult decisions and choices, especially in love.
Reading between the lines of your email, it is quite possible the initial attraction that led your wife to marry you was the financial security and stability you brought to the table. That need surpassed her desire for emotional validation and connection at that time. This does not mean she does not love you or that your relationship is not real, but she is hiding something from you and that is the barrier that prevents the two of you from emotionally connecting. So what is she hiding? She may have presented a certain façade in the beginning of your relationship to try and become the woman you perceive is the “perfect” wife and mother. People can go through the motions of a relationship for years – raising a family and creating a home life. That does not mean that inside they feel they are living a lie. From your perspective it may appear that after ten years she has changed overnight and all of sudden she sees your marriage in a different light, but I assure you this was not a recent feeling.
You use an interesting phrase in your email and say that you really wanted to see where you were out of integrity. Words are very powerful and feeling that your integrity was not where it should have been indicates that perhaps you slipped into an emotional affair as well. I am mindful that I only have a glimpse of what is going on in your relationship, but do understand that this issue is not “her” problem, but one that involves you too.
From my viewpoint, something happened recently that set the chain of events in motion whereas the façade was too difficult to maintain. There is a reason why she goes back and forth and believes you cannot meet her emotional needs. Your relationship provides a sense of security she must have in her life based on her core beliefs, but the need for real emotional connection cannot be suppressed any longer. So she does not really want a separation but neither does she want to feel emotionally empty.
The passion that your wife is seeking is an emotional connection she is not receiving from you in the manner that makes her feel important, special and desired. Each one of us wants to feel this way in our committed relationships and what we need from our mate is unique. What many people do is give their love in accordance to the way they want to receive love. While these gestures and expressions of love are more than likely appreciated, it is highly possible those are not the things that make your wife feel loved and desired. And it is my belief that is the reason why she was so vulnerable to an emotional affair.
It is the responsibility of both people in the relationship to clearly communicate what they want and for the other person to follow through. You stated that you have demonstrated your commitment to the marriage in many ways but from what you have written, it is not resonating with her. A marriage does not get to this place overnight, nor does it rebound with a few quick fixes. I understand that six months seems like forever, but I encourage you to look at the state of your relationship not in a self-critical mode (which is unconstructive) but in a manner that allows you to see the marriage from her perspective.
It will take mutual effort, determination and resolve to fight for your marriage and family – together. I strongly encourage you to take bold steps and make up your mind that your wife is the number one priority in your life (next to your relationship with God) –and then act on that declaration. An impartial third part such as a counselor is highly recommended to keep your progress on track. Nothing in this world is more important than your wife and children and I encourage you not to sit on the fence. Be forthright and strongly committed to not only saying that you want your marriage to work out but following those words up with actions.
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Dear Zach,
The question is not where you stand, but where your heart stands. What do you want? How do you want this to end?
You say you get along well, parent well, and have already been married 10 years…if those are your best reasons for staying married, then I can see how she thinks she’s missing out on that so called passion and desire.
Your wife says she’s not “in” love with you….that’s code for SOMETHING’S WRONG….
Of course she gets cold feet when you bring up the legal separation….that’s because she’s not blind —she sees you’re committed to the relationship, I don’t think she doubts your compatibility and commitment….but some small part of her..(maybe the salsa dancing part of her) … wonders what life would be like if she was adored, revered, and placed on a pedestal….that’s why people are vulnerable to affairs, because of the attention…because some other person stokes their egos in a way their spouse used to but hasn’t in a while.
So, the question is — WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?
Are you going to let someone else sweep your wife off her feet and away from you….or are you going to put your dancing shoes on and salsa your way into her heart…..she needs needs to be reminded that you think she’s hot, smart, pretty, and the best thing since sliced bread….if you don’t think you can give her that…then she will find it elsewhere.
– Rebecca Allen
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Zach,
Woman naturally think more abstractly while we think objectionably and as far as “where you stand powerfully”, who cares. She is toying with your emotions. Give her more attention and ask more questions about her when you’re out. Part of her wanting to cheat is the mystery and the other part is letting go and letting someone else take over. Be as assertive as sexiness will let you. If you want to test her, go right ahead. All you have to do is strategically plan an outing and when her friends happen to be there try to create a friendly relationship with one of her friends. If she suggests that you build on it in any later conversations, you know you’re headed for trouble.
– Bill Wilburn
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Dear Zach,
The fact that your wife gets cold feet when discussing a legal separation means two things:
#1: She’s not SURE she wants to COMPLETELY GIVE UP on you two yet (there’s a lot of love and history there, and MAYBE it can be worked OUT)
#2: It is POSSIBLE (and some women are LIKE this) that she doesn’t want to end THIS relationship, until she totally has a NEW man in the picture (to be with).
And, unfortunately, no amount of effort on your part, can make up for her not DESIRING you anymore. It might make her APPRECIATE you, and she might WISH she felt more for you than she does, but you can’t “force” desire, or lust. That has to happen on its own. It has to be there because SHE FEELS it. And if this continues, she WILL want out. Or, she’ll just cheat again. And you don’t want that.
Now, MY question is, did she EVER desire you? If so, what CHANGED? What went wrong? Have you gained weight? Got too involved with your work? What?
If talking about this situation doesn’t work, try some other things. Try & turn her on. Be spontaneous. Do things you don’t normally do. Surprise her. Turn her on. If you CAN’T, then take DRASTIC measures. Go see a SEX therapist. Ask a female FRIEND of yours what to do. There are a number of different actions you can take if you really want to make this WORK. I’d suggest trying ALL of them, before completely giving up.
Good luck.
– Jason Love Rate This Post: Did you like this article? Submit it to your favorite social bookmarking sites:
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At UNGASS+5, a meeting which will be held from May 31 to June 2 in New York, heads of member states will adopt a Political Declaration to strengthen future HIV/AIDS response. In early May, the first draft of the Political Declaration was presented by the President of the General Assembly. Each government began deliberations on the Political Declaration. On May 12, a document which brought together each government’s recommended amendments was submitted, and on May 19, a second draft was published.
The document with brought together each country’s recommended amendments included the following five recommendations made by the Japanese government.
(1) In regards to the clause about prevention, reference to harm reduction and condom use should be eliminated.
(2) The forecasted funds required for the HIV/AIDS response, i.e. 1.8-2 billion US dollars by 2008, should be removed. Furthermore, the allocation of resources to the HIV/AIDS response should be downplayed, rewriting the clause so that donor countries’ responsibility, including Japan’s, remains ambiguous.
(3) The clause regarding WHO/TRIPS agreement that states to promote flexibility in ensuring universal access to treatment should be watered down.
All these points undermine the content of the Political Declaration, leading to a negative and weak HIV/AIDS response, which is unacceptable to civil society.
Japanese civil society has been exerting efforts in the following way regarding the Political Declaration.
First of all, on May 12, at the policy dialogue forum between Government of Japan and Japanese civil society for UNGASS+5, Japanese civil society submitted a recommendation which called for the need to include specific numerical targets in the Political Declaration and a proactive clause to address the needs of vulnerable groups, and an exchange of opinion took place.
Secondly, at the regular consultative meeting between Japanese NGOs involved in health issues and Ministry of Foreign Affairs held on May 16, Japanese civil society questioned the relevant government staff regarding their reasons to omit reference to condom use and harm reduction, as well as ambiguous reference to resource mobilization, and requested a more positive inclusion of these points.
Furthermore, on May 22, Japanese civil society submitted another recommendation to the Government of Japan in response to the second draft of the Political Declaration released on May 19. Japanese civil society requested the following to be included: detailed reference to a comprehensive prevention response such as condom use and harm reduction; reference to the improvement in the quality of counseling provided, enriching HIV testing services; reference to the elimination of discrimination and stigma and protection of human rights of vulnerable groups, specifying these vulnerable groups such as men who have sex with men (MSM) and sex workers. Moreover, Japanese civil society also requested that the government incorporate the perspective of human security, which is a pillar of Japan’s international assistance policy, into the Political Declaration in relation to the AIDS response in countries at the stage of generalized epidemic, allowing for a more comprehensive implementation of the HIV/AIDS response.
Japanese civil society intends to continue dialogue with the Government of Japan regarding the Political Declaration, seeking their constructive commitment. The recommendations mentioned above are available here
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Exploring a Guided Meditation Exercise with Urban Breath Yoga
We’re not necessarily a high-strung bunch, but when the ALIVE staff found out that Urban Breath Yoga would be leading us through a guided meditation exercise specifically for the workplace, our collective interest was immediately piqued. And, once we discovered that the instructor would be Madeleine Webb—a pro with 500 hours of yoga teacher training and experience studying the Sivananda tradition in India—we were sold. (Webb also served as a yoga consultant for a mindfulness-based stress reduction study at Washington University, some of which she referenced in the meditation exercise.)
Great for the workplace, Webb led us through exercises that explored the idea of separateness and mindfulness—allowing the ALIVE team to take a step away from our everyday tasks to connect with both ourselves and our coworkers in a shared space.
Here are three of our favorite activities from the guided meditation exercise to try at home, or with your coworkers.
1. Check in with yourself. The practice of identifying only two words allowed us to vocalize exactly how we were feeling in a succinct way. Close your eyes and sit for a moment. Pick two words; one that describes your current state, and one at describes what you are hoping to cultivate within yourself. Take turns going around the room and saying those two words aloud. Activity to try: 2. Understand separateness and learn to bridge the gap. According to Webb, “We suffer because we confuse the ego, or protective outer shell, our social mask, with our true self, or soul. The ego gets bruised and stressed, not the soul. The soul is constant. We all just want to be seen, on the soul level, and this realization can help us to speak and work with others with more unity and understanding.” Remembering that an annoyance to you is sometimes just the ego, or social facade of another, and not their soul can help when your patience is being tried. Bridge the gap by looking beyond the protective outer shell. Sit in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Feel the space inside your body, and then feel the space around your body, realizing or visualizing that there is no separation between the two. It’s all energy. Activity to try: 3. Discover the importance of present moment awareness and mindfulness. “Mindfulness is being non-judgmentally aware of the constant, ever-changing orchestra of thoughts, feelings and sensations that are moving through us at all times. This has huge implications for how we deal with life, how we treat ourselves and our bodies, and how we deal with others. When we practice mindfulness, we are no longer at the mercy of life’s ups and downs; instead, we are able to see the ups and downs as temporary, affecting us on the ego level but not necessarily the soul level. We can see stress, pain, irritation, fatigue, energy, negativity, etc moving through us, without identifying with it. We can allow these experiences to be temporary guests in our home. Mindfulness helps us to get to know ourselves,” says Webb. Work on active listening, not listening while thinking of the correct response, but listening without speaking, truly soaking in the words and emotions expressed by the speaker. Activity to try:
Urban Breath Yoga specializes in yoga for beginners, classic hatha yoga and flowing vinyasa practices. They offer extensive specialty programming that includes prenatal yoga, workshops, weekend immersive experiences and yoga instructor trainings. Urban Breath Yoga has two studio locations, Maplewood and The Grove. Catch Webb at her Monday and Wednesday evening practices from 7:30-8:30pm at the Maplewood Studio location.
This post was created in partnership with Urban Breath Yoga.
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Amazon is showing strong growth, but we are yet to see how they can capitalize on it to grow exponentially. eBay continues to squeeze money out of its sellers. Could that cause a lot of them to migrate elsewhere? Alibaba has suffered a period through which it has fallen short of expectations. However, with a strong thirst for acquisitions, it could bounce back strongly.
The ecommerce industry is fiercely competitive, and this is driven by the low barriers to entry. As a result, the attrition rate is high. It is therefore commendable for a company to not just just stay in the industry for a long period of time but also to be able to generate billions of dollars in yearly revenue. As it stands, the giants of the ecommerce industry on a global level are Amazon (NASDAQ:AMZN), eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY), and Alibaba (NYSE:BABA). Walmart (NYSE:WMT) has plans to be a big player in this arena; however, that is something which we will have to wait and see. It is worth noting that Walmart's economies of scale and relationship with suppliers makes them a formidable prospect if they can execute on their plans.
Amazon
Amazon has a market cap of $289.3 billion (Oct 29th close), and is now the world's largest retailer after starting from very humble beginnings.
To put it in simple terms, Amazon has had an astounding year. Investors who invested in this ecommerce giant in January 2015 have gained over 100% on their investment. Amazon's domination of the ecommerce market is based on their constant innovation, good customer service, exceptional execution, and a view towards 'trimming the fat' and increasing profitability.
The New York Times published an article earlier this year which showed the amount of pressure Jeff Bezos places on his employees. There was an uproar when the findings were published; however, this quest for perfection reflects well on their bottomline.
Amazon's latest earnings call was a welcome surprise to investors. They were expected to announce a loss; conversely, profits were reported at $79 million. This isn't huge but Amazon isn't usually profitable. Moreover, sales shot up by 23%. The market responded with a 7% increase in Amazon stock price.
Moreover, Amazon's popular AWS offering had an operating margin of 25%. As a result, this boosted investors confidence in Amazon. Additionally, it is worth noting that these impressive numbers came without the all-important festive period.
It is also worth noting that a well executed 'Prime day' added 2% to their bottom-line. This is vital to the future profitability of Amazon, because Prime subscribers are more likely to be repeat buyers.
The good fortunes of Amazon mean that Jeff Bezos is now the 5th richest man in the world- which is a nice bonus.
eBay
eBay has a market cap of $34.41 billion (October 29th close)- which is much smaller than Amazon's. However, it is worth noting that eBay doesn't own the products it sells. As a result, its performance is volatile compared to that of Amazon. As an ecommerce platform, it struggles to maintain a consistent customer service experience for its buyers. There is a sentiment among some consumers that eBay is a 'riskier' place to buy as compared to Amazon. Therefore, eBay is more affected by competition, and market forces than Amazon.
eBay's stock price more than halved in July 2015 when it was revealed that eBay was under performing in some key metrics. Moreover, the sellers on eBay are the lifeblood of the company; however, the increasing costs of doing business on eBay means that sellers are forced to operate on very tight margins. For casual sellers, the costs can be a turn-off.
It seems that eBay has the strategy of milking its sellers for as much money as possible. At the end of the day, putting a popular product for sale on eBay almost gurarantees eyeballs. Therefore, eBay is a great place for buyers to gain exposure. However, the high costs are forcing many sellers to sell their products on their own websites. It isn't unusual to receive a package from a seller which includes a discount for your next purchase so long as you buy it on their own website.
eBay's stock climbed 9% on the 21st of October 2015 due to a stronger than expected third quarter. However, eBay's longevity in the industry will be based on its ability to manage its seller and buyer relationships while improving its core product. At the moment, the unique selling point of eBay is unclear, because Amazon offers low prices, fast shipping, and an unparalleled customer service.
eBay has some weaknesses which inhibit its chances of being a strong candidate for long term growth. These are as follows:
--- There is an opportunity for eBay to provide more services to its business sellers while increasing their own bottomline. For instance, they could handle the storage of stock and charge sellers for the priviledge.
--- In Europe, Gumtree is a viable option for sellers. Fortunately, eBay owns Gumtree. It would be nice to see more of Gumtree's business model integrated into eBay's main ecommerce offering.
--- eBay doesn't own the products it sells, unlike Amazon, which continues to grow in terms of acquisitions, products, and services.
Alibaba
Alibaba arguably had the most eagerly anticipated IPO in history. To give you a measure of the level of anticipation, two months after Alibaba went public on the New York stock exchange, its market cap stood at $294 billion. The euphroia surrounding Alibaba was based on the fact that they were a giant in the Chinese market, and China had a healthier economy last year, with a growing middle class. However, Alibaba halved in value by September of 2015.
Importantly, the company continues to strive to diversify its investments, and has made investments in sport, healthcare, and entertainment. The grand plan is for Alibaba to hold investments in a variety of industries which it can then leverage to grow their core products.
One of Alibaba's core products is Aliexpress which is an eBay-esque site for delivering relatively cheap goods to the public. The issue is that Aliexpress is fairly [un]popular for being the Mecca of counterfeit goods. As a result, Alibaba has been hit with lawsuits. Unfortunately, there is little action to 'clean up' the site because of the demand for such goods.
In its quest for growth, this Chinese ecommerce giant has left many stones unturned. For instance, it is vital that it rids the site of counterfeits so that it can grow more internationally. This is due to the fact that Western consumers are less open to the notion of buying from a site on which the authenticity of goods is questionable.
Additionally, Alibaba's diversification plans scream of a drowning man clutching at straws. They need to show investors that they can be incredibly profitable. However, their core products could do with more polish. After all, one cannot build a multi storeyed building on a weak foundation.
Conclusion
In conclusion, Amazon continues to be the biggest giant of the e-commerce industry. On the other hand, eBay has a lot of untapped potential, which could make it a more formidable opponent. Alibaba needs to do more to solidify its core products before going on an acquisition spree. The rapid 'scattergun' approach rarely works, and besides, from an investor perspective it can take a while to see growth in terms of dividends.
No one really knows how big Amazon could get. Walmart is looking to get in on the action- but it could be a case of too little too late.
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Use of Active Leptospermum Honey for a Pediatric Patient with Hydradenitis SuppurativaOstomy Wound Management, June 2010, Vol. 56, Issue 6
Hydradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating disorder, sometimes described as a severe form of acne, occurring deep in the skin around sebaceous glands and hair follicles of the axilla, inguinal canal area, and perineum where the apocrine sweat glands are located.
Prevalence in the US population is an estimated 1% to 2%, the condition affects more women than men, and onset usually occurs between puberty and 40 years of age. Although the exact pathophysiologic mechanisms are unknown, contributing factors include axillary adiposity, sweat, heat, stress, tight clothing, genes, and hormones; obesity, bacterial infection, and smoking are also considerations. Other disorders associated with HS include Crohn’s Disease, Dowling-Dego’s Disease, and anthropathy...
Treatment varies depending on presentation and severity and should include preventive, medical, surgical, and psychological strategies. Some improvement may be achieved through conservative management that includes antibiotic and/or hormone therapy, oral retinoids, and immunosuppressive therapy; severe cases involving chronic sinus tracts and fistula formation may require wide excision and closure with skin grafts…
Evidence is increasing for using active Leptospermum honey (ALH) as a primary dressing for managing exudate, necrotic tissue, infection, and inflammation in stalled wounds.
Leptospermum honey’s antibacterial effect has been documented in vivo and in vitro for many organisms found in chronic wounds, even those with antibiotic resistance. ALH can be used alone or with other treatment modalities to improve the healing cascade; it displays significant antibacterial effects. The combination of properties is an important tool for addressing chronic wounds that have failed to progress.
The following case study and clinical experience in the author’s children’s hospital supports these findings.
Case Report
A 17-year-old young man with a 3-year history of HS had recurring episodes of abscess formation in both axillary areas. The lesions were painful, disfiguring, and debilitating, leading to multiple treatment episodes that included medical and surgical care. A wide excision was performed, resulting in right and left axillary wounds measuring 12.0 cm x 7.8 cm x 4.5 cm (see Figure 1) and 14.0 cm x 9.0 cm x 4.5 cm, respectively.
Pathology reports confirmed HS with chronic inflammation and fistula tract formation. Multiple surgical debridements combined with application of NPWT dressings, skin grafts (two), and a variety of topical wound care dressings were used over the course of treatment. All therapies failed to heal the wounds. Odor, pain, and heavy exudate increased and granulation tissue lacked a beefy red color.
A plan of care was developed that included the application of ALH-impregnated colloid dressing (Medihoney® Honeycolloid, Derma Sciences, Inc. Princeton, NJ) for light to moderate exudate as the primary dressing and an absorbent silicone foam dressing as the secondary dressing (see Figure 2). The patient’s mother was instructed on wound care and she changed the dressings at home every other day. With each dressing change, pain, exudate, and odor decreased.
Granulation tissue appearance improved and turned beefy red and the wound continually decreased in size (see Figure 4) and eventually progressed to closure.
Although there is no cure for HS, dressings with ALH helped reduce wound pain, exudate, and malodor and promoted healing in this patient. As a result of this and other cases, ALH is the dressing of choice for pediatric patients in this practitioner’s clinical practice. The dressings demonstrated the ability to promote healing when other modalities were ineffective.
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July 29, 2010
Based our recent post on the
Sala decision here, we have had several comments inquiring about the varied application of penalties in the “tax shelter” cases. This is the first in a planned series of responses to those comments that will try to explain, iron out, or at least flag, some of the irregularities.
When looking at the application of penalties to “shelter” cases generally, procedural posture matters. A good example of this is
Sala. Why did the 10th Circuit discussion in Sala omit penalties? Because it was a refund case in which the taxpayer appears to have filed a qualified amended return (“QAR”) prior to being “caught” by the IRS. See generally 26 C.F.R. § 1.6664-2(c)(2). There is a discussion of whether Sala’s amended return was qualified in the district court opinion and that ruling apparently was not a subject of the appeal. Sala v. United States, 552 F. Supp. 2d 1167, 1204 (D. Colo. 2008). Thus, in a refund suit posture, there may be procedural reasons why penalties are inapplicable.
The refund claim situation is contrasted for penalty purposes with either deficiency proceedings or TEFRA proceedings. In either of the latter, penalties cannot be abated by a QAR (at least as to the matter at issue) because the taxpayer must have a deficiency or adjustment (to income) in order to bring either action.
See generally sections 6212 and 6225-6. Thus, in cases such as Gouveia v. Commissioner, T.C. Memo 2004-25 (2004), the Tax Court addressed (and imposed) penalties in a deficiency context. And, in Castle Harbor, the courts addressed (but did not impose) penalties in the context of a TEFRA proceeding. TIFD III-E Inc. v. United States, 2009 U.S. Dist. LEXIS 93853 (D. Conn 2009). (We previously discussed the pending appeal in Castle Harbour here.)
While there is nothing mysterious about the foregoing, the different routes tax cases take can often cause an illusion that there is inconsistency in the application of penalties when, in fact, the cases are just procedurally different. One other area in which this confusion is particularly common (and an area in which there is a bit of a dispute as to the correct application of the law) concerns whose behavior “counts” for purposes of the sections 6662 (reasonable basis) and 6664 (reasonable cause and good faith) defenses in the context of a TEFRA proceeding. We will address that issue in our next post on penalties.
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onlylower the budget to 2006-7 levels. Without raising taxes the state could spend $19.1 billion next year, the same as in 2006-07... Claims of the necessity for "Draconian" cuts and massive tax increases were wildly exaggerated. Thoughtful prioritization of spending could have balanced the budget without the need for massive tax and fee increases.Because the Republicans have raised the issue, it's useful to consider why cuts back to the 2006-7 budget would be "draconian."
By the time that the 2010-11 budget year begins, the population of North Carolina will have increased by about 6 percent beyond its 2006-7 level. Though we can't say for sure, it's also likely that prices will have increased by at least that amount (they're already 6 percent higher than they were in 2006). So, just to keep up with population growth and price inflation, the budget would need to increase by at least 12 percent.
Unfortunately, those are not the only drivers in the budget. Higher education spending is a significant share of the budget, and the college-age population is currently growing faster than the population as a whole. Another large chunk of the state budget goes to Medicaid. Because of the recession, the number of households that qualify for Medicaid is increasing. Also, medical costs are rising faster than other costs. Although the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provides states with additional Medicaid funding, North Carolina's own costs are still going to increase.
Thus, once we adjust for changes from inflation, demographic change, and economic circumstances, the 2006-7 nominal budget falls roughly 1/6 short of state needs, assuming that the Republicans' choice of 2006-7 represents state needs.
As it is, the proposed $1 billion in additional revenues would only close about a third of this gap. Thus, even with a tax increase, spending will still need to be cut about 10 percent below what it would have been to keep pace with 2006-7 levels.
A 1/6 budget cut would be draconian, yet that's all the Republicans can offer.
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Shoppers about to spend five months` salary on a car often devote less than five minutes checking to see if it really is the vehicle they want to live with for the next five years.
A number of problems that show up after the sale could be avoided if more attention is paid before the buyer signs on the dotted line. Some shoppers will do no more than take a spin around the block and then commit to 36, 48 or perhaps 60 monthly payments based on making four left or right turns.
The test drive is important, especially now that cars are in short supply and the best guarantee of getting a car by the end of the model year is to take one off the showroom floor.
Here`s some tips when shopping for that new car. Before you turn on the key, get in and survey the surroundings. If it`s going to be the family car, put the family inside, too. The kids often spot problems dad or mom overlook. Is the interior roomy and comfortable or cramped? Can you see safely out front, side and rear? Are the controls easy to reach? Some cars, especially small ones, fit like a $29 suit unless you get optional tilt steering that allows you to get behind the wheel. Will the trunk handle a week`s groceries or the vacation luggage?
Take the car out on the road. Keep the radio off. You want to listen for squeaks, rattles or unusual sounds. You don`t want a salesman chattering in your ear, either. Drive city streets and the open highway. How good is the acceleration from a stop light and when passing or merging? Are the brakes firm or spongy? Does it stop in a straight line?
If the car is a manual does it shift smoothly and quietly or do you have to fight each gear. Don`t go for the ``it will get better the more miles you put on it`` routine. Wine, not cars, improves with age. If you`re driving an automatic, does it lumber through the gears?
Don`t baby the car. Check cornering, handling, roadability. When you approach a turn, does the car body wander in, linger and then come back slowly, or does it snap into and out of each corner or turn? How does the car respond to bumps? Are you jarred or jostled? Don`t wait for dry roads. How does the car handle when the pavement is a bit wet?
When you`ve parked, get out and check fits and finish: doors and deck lid lining up; even hood, door, deck lid openings; evenly applied paint; screws tightened and all items fastened securely. If something isn`t to your liking, you have a better chance of getting it fixed while the check is still in your hand, not the salesman`s. If the salesman says to make a list of problems and bring the car back after 2,000 miles, ask him for the list of things the dealership was supposed to check during the prep which the dealer was already paid to do.
Don`t buy what you don`t test drive or have a chance to see in person. Don`t test a car with a V-8 then order the V-6 and wonder where the power went; or drive a car with automatic then order the five-speed and find you need a court order to get the lever out of second; or test the car with base suspension then order the stiff high performance shocks and stabilizer bars that jar your teeth with every bump. The same car with different equipment will perform in totally different ways.
Find out what is standard and optional, from the power equipment to the body moldings. The AM-FM stereo with six speakers sounded like a symphony in the showroom, but the AM with two speakers that`s standard leaves you disappointed. Be aware that most showroom cars are loaded with options to showcase the car at its best.
Volvo dealers are offering the ultimate test drive. Shoppers can take a new 740 series home with them for 24 hours for a service fee. The amount depends upon the dealer. One dealer said $25 to $35 is typical, and the fee is then applied to your purchase.
CHRYSLER PLANS
Chrysler Chairman Lee Iacocca says the much-heralded P-car coming out in 1986 was to have been a low-price replacement for the Omni-Horizon but now will be a larger, more luxurious sports car. ``It`ll be fully equipped,`` he said. ``You won`t see any stripped versions. We`ve moved it out of the subcompact market and will make it a nice, new sporty compact in two- and four-door versions.`` Also, a high-mileage, 1.8-liter, four-cylinder engine was to have been standard. ``We`ve tossed out the 1.8,`` Iacocca said. ``Our 2.2-liter four will be standard, and we`ll go heavy in turbos.``
He said Chrysler would focus more on upscale cars in the future, and as long as Chrysler meets federal mileage laws, it has some leeway to play with bigger cars. ``Our cars aren`t going to get ponderous,`` Iacocca said. ``I`m not talking big Cadillacs with V-8s. We`ll have a passel of 4s and V-6s. But compared with our present lines, we`ll go up a bit.``
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Coal-fired power plants that ring the Chicago area are exposing northeastern Illinois to the highest levels of mercury emissions in any U.S. metro region, according to testimony at a federal hearing Tuesday aimed at determining whether such releases should be regulated.
Coal plants account for a third of the nation's industrial mercury emissions, most of that coming from older plants built before 1977 and exempted from the toughest standards of the Clean Air Act. Now, as regulators gather new data on emissions, those loopholes are beginning to close. In December, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to rule whether mercury will be added to new emissions limits that older plants will face.
Environmentalists say regulation is key to limiting the amount of mercury that makes its way into Lake Michigan, into fish and up through the food chain to humans, where it can cause developmental disabilities in children and other problems.
"Electric utilities have been getting a free ride on mercury pollution," said Peter Mormon, a policy analyst with the Environmental Law and Policy Center. "It's long past time for them to do their fair share in eliminating this public health and environmental threat."
Each year, coal-fired power plants in the United States release about 52 tons of mercury, a potent neurotoxin that occurs naturally, in small amounts, in coal deposits. When the coal is burned, the heavy metal makes its way up power-plant smokestacks, then falls with rain into lakes, ponds and rivers, where it is ingested by fish.
Forty states, including Illinois, have advisories warning people--particularly pregnant women--to limit their intake of sport fish because of mercury contamination.
The Chicago region is at particular risk for mercury poisoning because it is ringed by six coal-fired power plants, which together emit more than 2.5 tons of mercury each year, according to 1998 figures reported by the plants. The plants--two in Chicago, one in Waukegan and three in Will County--are all owned by Midwest Generation. The four plants outside Chicago rank among the top 20 mercury-emitters nationwide.
"No other city, large or small, has such a cluster of polluting plants," said John Thompson, director of clean-air programs for the Illinois Environmental Council.
Environmentalists hope the EPA will order a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions by the end of the year. Industry officials counter that research into what kind of reduction might be warranted is still ongoing--a key National Academy of Sciences report is due in mid-July. They also say technology to reduce mercury emissions remains largely untested, as no regulation has been issued to create commercial demand for it.
"Right now there's no proven cost-efficient technology," said Lisa Provenzano, a Midwest Generation spokeswoman. She said, however, that her company has offered to work with the EPA in testing new technology, and that it is committed to reducing emissions.
While she said it is too early to estimate the price of mercury-control technology, some industry sources say compliance might cost the utility industry $1.6 billion, which would probably be passed on to consumers.
Environmentalists counter that the sum represents only a tiny fraction of the industry's revenues, and that the cost of not cutting mercury emissions is even higher, in medical expenses and hard-to-quantify developmental damage to children.
"How do you measure diminished potential?" asked Diane Brown, executive director of the Illinois Public Interest Research Group. "The small cost of doing this is far outweighed by public health benefits."
Most environmentalists hope the problems of coal-fired power plants could eventually be solved by closing the oldest, most-polluting plants and switching the rest to cleaner natural gas.
But coal costs half the price of gas, a major reason 55 percent of the nation's electricity still comes from coal-fired plants.
Mercury, which does not degrade in the environment, accumulates in sediment, fish and animals over decades, making it nearly impossible to clean up--a good reason to prevent its release in the first place, environmentalists say.
"Mercury emissions are a little like the genie in the bottle," said Andrew Buchsbaum, water quality projects manager for the Great Lakes Natural Resource Center. "Once you burn the coal and let them out, there's no way to get them back in there."
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WASHINGTON — Two separate actions Wednesday seemed to set the stage for a major legislative battle over job discrimination and affirmative action.
A bipartisan coalition in Congress led by Sen. Edward M. Kennedy (D-Mass.) and Sen. James M. Jeffords (R-Vt.) introduced a bill to reverse a series of 1989 Supreme Court decisions involving job bias against minorities and women.
Hours after the coalition held a press conference, Atty. Gen. Dick Thornburgh announced that, under the direction of President Bush, the Justice Department is drafting legislation "aimed at strengthening laws to combat employment discrimination."
However, the department said it would confine its legislation to two high court decisions, saying it considered several others to involve "racial quotas."
"The Administration's firm commitment to eliminate employment discrimination also means that we continue to oppose racial quotas," Thornburgh said. "Discrimination is wrong no matter at whom it is directed."
That stance is "very disappointing," said Ralph G. Neas, executive director of the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, an umbrella group of 185 national organizations. The Administration's proposed bill "falls far short of correcting the serious problems created by the decisions," he said.
Advocates of the legislation introduced in Congress said it would not change the law regarding affirmative action and therefore does not mandate any form of quotas.
But the Administration's announcement challenged that interpretation.
For example, the bill introduced in Congress attempts to undo a Supreme Court decision that the plaintiff has the burden of proving that an employer had no business reasons for a practice with discriminatory effects (Wards Cove Packing Co. vs. Atonio).
The bill would also seek to change a Supreme Court decision that court-approved affirmative action plans can be challenged as reverse discrimination, even years after they have been adopted, by groups that are not party to the plans (Martin vs. Wilks). The bill would limit the time for challenging court-approved plans for remedying past racial discrimination, while guaranteeing that people adversely affected would have a reasonable opportunity to contest the order.
The Justice Department showed a sharply contrasting view of the impact of those cases, saying they "are decisions rooted in the (Supreme) court's opposition to racial quotas, which we share."
"We urged the court to reach the decisions it did in (those) cases; we agree with them and will oppose any legislation that seeks to overturn them," Thornburgh said.
The bill in Congress and the legislation to be drafted by the Justice Department seek to remedy two other Supreme Court decisions. One held that a 1866 law barring intentional race discrimination in contracts does not forbid racial harassment on the job and other forms of bias in the application of contracts.
In the other case, the Supreme Court ruled that discriminatory seniority systems had to be challenged when they were adopted even if, for example, the victims were not employees at that time.
But, although the Justice Department and the coalition that introduced the bill in Congress seem to agree on those two cases, they are diametrically opposed in the other two cases.
In the Senate, committee hearings were set for March, with passage anticipated as early as April or May. Hearings on a companion bill in the House were scheduled later this month.
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The board of the Los Angeles Unified School District is opening 50 schools over the next few years and considering a proposal to allow some or all to be privately managed. Before taking this step, the board should take a hard look at the evidence about charter schools and privately managed schools.
Because of a brilliant media campaign by charter school organizations, there is a widespread impression that any charter school is better than any public school. This is not true. Charter schools vary in quality from excellent to abysmal. On the authoritative federal tests called the National Assessment of Educational Progress, students in charter schools perform about the same as those in traditional public schools. A recent Stanford University study, which compared half the nation's charter schools with a neighboring public school, concluded that 46% were no better, 37% were significantly worse and only 17% were significantly better than the public school. Thus, if a struggling public school is replaced by a new charter school, the odds are that the charter school will be no better and possibly worse.
Philadelphia launched an effort last year to compare its district-run schools with its charter schools and privately managed schools. Researchers from Rand Corp. concluded that charter students did no better than those who attended the public schools. Performance in the privately managed schools did not, on average, exceed the performance of the public schools. A few months ago, Philadelphia officials -- looking at their own achievement data -- said that six privately managed elementary and middle schools outperformed the public schools, but 10 were worse than district-run schools.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Thursday, August 13, 2009 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 25 Editorial pages Desk 1 inches; 46 words Type of Material: Correction Education: An Op-Ed article on Tuesday about the LAUSD and charter schools said five new schools in New York City were among the 10 worst in the state. The five were among the 10 schools in New York City with the worst performance in math tests.
One of the major arguments for turning schools over to private managers is that the resulting competition will spur improvements in the public schools. This did not happen in Philadelphia, nor is there evidence that it has happened elsewhere. Many charter and privately managed schools get extra resources and smaller classes with the help of corporate sponsors, but public schools typically do not. What the public schools do get are the low-performing and disruptive students who are ejected by or eased out of the charter and privately managed schools.
The L.A. proposal for the 50 new schools has been likened to New York City's approach. But Los Angeles should be aware of two points. First, under N.Y. Mayor Michael Bloomberg, spending on education has increased from $12.5 billion annually to $21 billion, or nearly $20,000 per child. Is L.A. willing to match that?
Second, New York City's new high schools started small and were allowed to limit the admission of special-education students and students with limited English proficiency for the first two years. The remaining high schools were left with a disproportionate share of the neediest students. A study this year of the new schools found that, over time, when their enrollment became similar to traditional public schools, their attendance rates and graduation rates declined. Also, the attrition rate of teachers and principals was consistently high. New York recently listed the 10 worst schools in the entire state, and five of them were the new schools in New York City.
If we are ever going to get serious about improving education in this nation, we have to face up to basic facts. We can't solve our problems by handing them off to businesses and community groups. Some schools will claim success by excluding the students who are hardest to educate; others will claim success by drilling children endlessly on test-taking skills. And although California law requires that public schools -- charters included -- accept all students, charters tend to draw the most motivated students and families away from the traditional public schools because of the application process.
Further, charters and privately managed schools often pay unusually high executive compensation. The leader of a small charter network in New York City that has 1,000 students received $370,000 in 2007, about triple the salary of a principal. The organizer of charter schools in a Pennsylvania suburb is also the primary vendor of goods and services to his schools and earns more than $1 million annually.
What should we do? We must strengthen -- not abandon -- public education. Our schools should have a well-rounded curriculum that includes the arts, history, science, geography, literature and foreign languages, as well as basic skills. Teachers should be well-educated and treated with dignity. Principals should be head teachers, who can capably evaluate and assist their teachers. School buildings should be well-maintained. Class sizes should be reasonable, making it possible for teachers to give extra attention to students who need it. Schools should have a firm and fair disciplinary code.
Are these common-sense policies beyond the reach of the citizens of Los Angeles?
We evade our responsibility to improve public education by privatizing public schools. In doing so, we undermine the egalitarian promise of public education, thus guaranteeing that many children will continue to be left behind.
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Advertisements for "The Great Grapefruit Diet" and "Vita Skin," both of which have appeared in The Morning Call, contain questionable claims, according to an Allentown physician.
Dr. Stephen Barrett, a recognized opponent of health quackery, this week filed a complaint with the consumer protection division of the U.S. Postal Service asking for investigations.
Referring to the grapefruit diet pill, described in the ads as an "All natural appetite suppressant and fat reducer," Barrett said, "There is no evidence that anything in there will assist people to lose fat."
The pill's "4-way all natural weight loss formula" includes grapefruit extract glucomannan, kelp, lecithin, apple cider vinegar, B6 and uva ursi.
Claiming that fruit enzymes "promote fat reduction metabolism," is "complete baloney," said Barrett, a board member of the National Council Against Health Fraud, practicing psychiatrist, author and editor. "Enzymes in fruit help fruit ripen and can help food spoil if you don't cook it. But digested by the body, they produce amino acids and do nothing to reduce fat."
He said glucomannan is vegetable fiber, which has no proven value in weight reduction, even if it provides "a feeling of fullness."
The kelp, lecithin, vinegar and B6 likewise have nothing to do with "emulsifying fat and flushing it out of the system," as the advertisement suggests, Barrett added.
He said the final ingredient, uva ursi, is said to be a natural diuretic. However, diuretics do not help people lose fat.
The advertisement's claim, "No need to diet," constitutes fraud, said Barrett.
Tom Schmoyer of The Nature Den, 277 W. Main Street, Kutztown, purchased the space for the grapefruit diet advertisement.
Interviewed by phone last night, Schmoyer said the copy comes directly from the manufacturers, Future Biotics in Vermont, and is also advertised on cable television and other media across the country.
He said he would be in touch with the company Monday but has had only good reports about the product, sold at his and other health food stores.
"It's selling like crazy. Everybody who tries it says how good it is. They're coming back . . . one after another and losing weight," Schmoyer said.
Concerning the ad for "Vita Skin . . . a natural way to complete relief from the suffering of Psoriasis and Eczema," Barrett charges, "If it works it would be illegal to sell because it would be an unapproved new drug."
No ingredients are listed in the advertisement for the tablets, reportedly discovered by "Victor Tosti" after three years of experimenting with different combinations of natural ingredients.
"I don't know who Victor Tosti is, what the ingredients are or if they work, but you can't sell a combination of vitamins for treatment of any condition without FDA approval," Barrett said.
Joseph Licata of Allentown, who purchased the Morning Call space for the Vita Skin advertisement, declined comment on Barrett's charges.
Barrett said the two advertisements represent the fifth and sixth appearing in The Call in the past four years for which he has filed complaints. In at least one previous complaint - about a diet pill ad run in 1982 - the postal service stopped mail service to the advertiser, putting the company out of business.
Barrett has encouraged the newspaper to establish more stringent review standards to protect its readers.
Howard F. Renner, Morning Call advertising director, said he had not personally reviewed the advertisements but admitted the claims sounded questionable and would be investigated further.
The Morning Call does have a screening system for ads and has rejected numerous advertisements because of outlandish claims, Renner said.
"Looking at all the other newspapers around, we're conservative in our approach," he added. "And the fact we accepted it is not a criterion for continuing to run it."
Renner indicated he is not opposed to developing an independent review committee, offering that departmental decisions usually are made by a management team rather than one supervisor.
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A senior official in the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today (April 22) said that the department is playing a larger role than ever before in the development of U.S. trade policy, including on sensitive issues in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) negotiations like a draft proposal for a tobacco-specific “safe harbor” and the U.S. stance on issues related to intellectual property protections for pharmaceuticals.
In an interview with /Inside U.S. Trade/, HHS Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs Nils Daulaire said that, historically, the department’s role in formulating trade policy has been more marginal. “HHS’ seat at the table in the trade discussions has largely been occupied by the Food and Drug Administration, because the focus really has been on what does this mean for our regulatory regime when we have food and drugs imported into the U.S.,” he said.
But Daulaire, who joined HHS in 2010, said he did not believe that this type of engagement on a “technical level” was sufficient, especially because trade issues often intersect with health concerns. For that reason, he said he has put more emphasis on substantive engagement “upstream,” meaning while initial trade policies are still in the early phases of being formulated within the Obama administration.
“I came to the conclusion that unless we took a proactive role, and an upstream role, in discussions on trade issues with the USTR, we were going to be left in a position … of either signing off on things or raising technical concerns,” he said. Daulaire said that in the past, HHS had waited to be “the last on the clearance list” in the interagency process, and made clear in the interview that he wanted HHS to play a much larger role on health-related trade issues.
Daulaire heads up the department’s Office of Global Affairs, which is part of the Office of the Secretary. His office is focused on global health policy and has a broader perspective than the FDA, which is also part of HHS.
In the interview, Daulaire acknowledged that the department does not have as much influence when it comes to trade-related matters as other parts of the administration for which trade is the central focus, such as the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative or the Commerce Department.
“We are the new kids on the block,” he said. “I don’t think there is any question that we are starting from a fairly low base and having to demonstrate both our value and our thoughtfulness in the process.” At this point, “I would in no way consider us to be full equal players, but we are clearly actors in this dialogue,” and that in and of itself is an important development, Daulaire said.
He made a similar point when participating in an April 5 panel on global health issues at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). “We don’t make the final decisions as to what USTR does; that is for the White House to decide,” he said at that event. “But we want to make sure, and I think it is really for the very first time, that this [health] perspective has been strongly introduced, and our secretary is deeply committed to this.”
At that event, Daulaire also highlighted tobacco and issues related to pharmaceuticals as two issues on which HHS plays a role when helping to develop U.S. trade policy.
*On tobacco, HHS has played a role in developing the “safe harbor” from tobacco-related litigation* that the Obama administration has publicly described, but not yet tabled, in the TPP negotiations. Outside observers say HHS officials were the ones that initially suggested negotiating tobacco-specific provisions in TPP, while USTR was initially hesitant to endorse special provisions for tobacco.
“We consider this to be hugely important from the standpoint of global public health,” Daulaire said, in reference to the draft proposal.
Tobacco control “is unquestionably at the very top of our policy agenda in terms of domestic health, in terms of global health, and in terms of the interface with the trade environment,” especially in light of estimates that one billion people could die of tobacco-related diseases in the twenty-first century, he said.
When asked directly if HHS was responsible for originally proposing tobacco-specific measures in TPP, the HHS official declined to answer.
“All I can tell you is that there had not been this level of engagement and attention previously, and now there is, and we are very glad for all the engagement of many different parties,” he said, adding that the fact that the U.S. draft proposal certainly reflects the increased engagement from HHS on trade policy.
The fact that the Obama administration has still has not tabled the proposal has some anti-smoking advocates nervous, although Daulaire appeared to downplay those fears. “We understand that this is moving forward,” he said. “I can’t go beyond what we can talk about publicly in terms of international trade negotiations, but let me just say that I do not feel discouraged.”
The “safe harbor” proposal would clarify that, notwithstanding other rules contained in the final TPP deal, national health authorities may adopt regulations that impose origin-neutral, science-based restrictions on specific tobacco products or classes in order to safeguard public health. U.S. business and agricultural groups strongly oppose the proposal, saying there is no need to treat tobacco products differently from other products in trade deals.
Anti-smoking advocates, on the other hand, argue that the proposal does not go far enough, and that tobacco products should be completely “carved out” from the TPP talks. In their view, tobacco products should not even be subject to tariff cuts. However, the U.S. has thus far not adopted this complete carveout approach and is currently negotiating tariff phaseouts on tobacco products in TPP.
When asked about his views on a complete carveout, Daulaire signaled his possible support, although he stressed that he had not yet made up his mind on the issue.
“I think that is something that we are talking about at this point,” he said. “I’m not a trade specialist, and the issue of carveouts is pretty complex,” he explained. While his “knee-jerk” reaction would have been to support a complete carveout, his current response is “maybe,” especially in light of his desire to learn more about the “nuance and the consequence” of including such a carveout in a trade deal, he said.
“As we move forward on this, we’ll see where this goes, but it is certainly not something that I would unequivocally say is a bad idea,”
Daulaire explained. “The public health side is very clear and straightforward on this: tobacco is bad and anything we can do to reduce its use and its promotion is good for public health.” At the same time, the administration as a whole must consider a range of issues when formulating policy, he said.
Daulaire declined to respond directly when asked whether special provisions for tobacco should be considered for other new trade agreements, including the planned U.S.-European Union trade talks, but he again signaled his possible support for the idea. “I don’t see anything with TPP that makes it unique in terms of this,” he said.
While each trade negotiation is different, he also noted that TPP is the first time that the U.S. has negotiated an agreement since passing a landmark 2009 tobacco bill.
That bill — the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act — was signed into law in June 2009 and gave the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) the authority to regulate the manufacture, distribution, and marketing of tobacco products. The U.S. “safe harbor”
draft proposal in TPP is essentially meant to ensure that FDA implementation of its new mandate under the 2009 law would be effectively shielded from legal challenge under a TPP agreement.
“This is also the first time that we’ve gone into a treaty negotiation since the FDA was given tobacco authority, so the ground has changed from earlier negotiations,” Daulaire maintained. U.S. tobacco control advocates are already gearing up to engage with administration officials in the EU context, and are hoping that the administration will look to table special provisions on tobacco in that context as well (/Inside U.S. Trade/, April 12).
*HHS is also playing a role in developing U.S. trade policy when it comes to access to medicines in the TPP*, although here the department’s role was initially more limited, according to Daulaire.
The Obama administration originally unveiled a proposal in this area based on an “access window” concept in the fall of 2011.The basic concept is that pharmaceutical companies would be rewarded with stronger patent protections under a TPP deal if they seek to gain marketing approval swiftly in other TPP countries. The proposal has faced skepticism from U.S. stakeholders and intense resistance from TPP partners (/Inside U.S. Trade/, March 15).
“We were not involved in the early stages of the policy that was put forward as the U.S. negotiating position,” Daulaire explained, largely because “nobody thought to ask us.” While FDA was asked to sign off on an initial version of that proposal, the concern of FDA is more limited to questions like “does this create problems in terms of the application of existing law and regulation,” he explained.
The HHS official stressed that his office is focused on the broader interest of promoting global public health. “Our concern is a broader one … and frankly, it was early in the administration, we hadn’t gotten our ducks lined up yet, and it took us a while to recognize that this was an issue” and that HHS officials should substantively engage, he said.
In light of the resistance from other TPP partners to the original proposal, however, the administration is once again engaged in an interagency process to determine whether or not it should be modified, and HHS is involved in this new round of consultations, Daulaire said.
“We have been welcomed to the table in terms of internal discussions within the administration to see whether a modified U.S. position would be warranted,” he said.
While unable to speak to the precise nature of the deliberations within the administration, Daulaire said that HHS officials “are now very much engaged in this and in these conversations and are looking for ways to make sure that public health is well protected in this process.” He said there is an “open consideration of what we can do to move things forward that is going to work both in terms of the negotiations and in terms of public health.”
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Recovery and Rehab Articles
Click on the titles below to view each article related to Recovery & Rehab.
Speed Recovery Workout
What do you do the day after a power or speed training day? Since you want to give your body's CNS a rest because of the heavy stress from the day before we perform a Recovery (or Conditioning) day.
ACL Injuries in Females
Female athletes are more prone to anterior cruciate ligament injuries than males and are anywhere from 4 to 6 times more likely to tear their ACL.
Hamstring Injuries
Learn how to heal your injured hamstring with a close look at a sample rehab program and tips on how to prevent these injuries.
Need Speed? Don't Forget The Psoas!
Most coaches involved with training athletes for speed recognize the importance of training the posterior (extensor) chain. Triple extension at the ankle, knee and hip is one of the fundamental components in developing first step, straight ahead and explosive speed.
Active Release Technique (ART)
Active Release Technique (ART) is a patented soft tissue mobilization system invented by Dr. Michael Leahy. With relevance to ART, soft tissue includes fascia, connective tissue, ligaments, muscles, tendons, and nerves.
Signs of Overtraining
Signs over-training, chronic stress, results in an excess of cortisol, which will cause higher baseline cortisol levels. This excess keeps the body with high insulin levels, which blocks fat metabolism, and sends fat into storage at the waist.
Prehab is Performance Enhancement Training
In today’s competitive environment of organized athletics, parents are continually seeking ways to improve their children’s performance. Additionally, I have more and more parents asking me about injury prevention training. Currently, the buzz words in the arena of sport specific training seem to be “performance enhancement” and “prehab.”
Hamstring Injuries
Hamstring injuries are a common injury affecting athletes of varying sports requiring straight ahead speed as well as those participating in athletic events requiring rapid acceleration and deceleration. Several mechanisms have been suggested as a means of determining the cause of these injuries including muscle imbalances, dysfunctions in motor control and postural alterations.
Beating ACL Injuries
Injuries to the lower extremity are common in sports requiring rapid acceleration and deceleration of the body. Injuries to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) are one of the most common injuries to the lower extremity; many of them being of the non-contact variety.
5 Keys for Exceptional Coaching
How to be the driving force that turns an athlete into a champion. As a coach, you want to be on the cutting edge of your field. You strive to learn and integrate the newest technology in the field of speed, strength and conditioning into your program.
4 Steps to an Effective Warm-up Routine
Warm-up activities are a crucial part of any exercise regimen or sports training. The importance of a structured warm-up routine should not be underestimated when it comes to the prevention of sports injury.
The Essence of Athletic Development is Recovery
With the rapid growth and proliferation of select sports coupled with the increasing insistence from coaches to specialize at an early age, parents and athletes alike are looking to gain every edge they can.
Beating ACL Injuries Part II
ACL injuries are a common place in sports requiring rapid acceleration/deceleration movements. Several mechanisms for injury were proposed including poor neuromotor recruitment, previous ankle injuries and improper landing mechanics.
The Fantastic Four Stretches
A guideline to an important series of simple stretches that can do a great deal to aid in performance and injury reduction. There are obviously a myriad of stretches that can be executed dynamically or statically that help in the warming up or cooling down of an athletic population, some are sports specific and some are general.
Shoulder Strength and Stability for All Athletes
There is a great need for strength and stability in the shoulder joint in all sports. Shoulder injuries in athletics are far too common and are some of the most impacting injuries on performance. Some of the most common reasons for shoulder injuries are strength imbalances and overuse.
The intention of this article is to offer a practical approach to those in the Strength and Conditioning field for dealing with muscular imbalances around the Lumbo-Pelvic-Hip joint. My experience is directly with NCAA Division I athletes, however I believe this approach can have positive affects at all levels and for all ages.
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And the state Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has issued draft guidelines for adding analysis to environmental impact statements (EISs).
A dense development like Atlantic Yards, with buildings designed to meet LEED standards, may seem to foster sustainability, but critics like urban planner Tom Angotti remain skeptical, because of what's been left out.
Indeed, should this new policy avenue be followed, the environmental review for large projects like AY would require a closer look at the impact of parking, traffic, and construction on greenhouse gases (GHG).
And the announced green roof on the arena, eliminated well after the project was approved, might be seen as a more significant loss.
“While global climate change is the most significant environmental issue of our time, it has, to this point, been largely ignored in most analyses under SEQRA [State Environmental Quality Review Act] and City Environmental Quality Review,” said MAS committee head Michael Gerrard, Director of the Center for Climate Change Law at Columbia Law School. Governments in Massachusetts, California, and Washington have begun such analysis.
The MAS study, titled SEQRA and Climate Change (PDF), takes a cordial swipe at Mayor Mike Bloomberg's PlaNYC 2030, stating:
Clearly, the Mayor believes that any good land use plan should consider climate change impacts. But, so far, there has been little analysis of project specific GHG emissions, or the environmental impact on a project that climate change will bring about. When New York plans for its future, it must simultaneously assess a project’s impact upon climate change and how best to reduce that impact.
It concludes that the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) has the authority and mandate under SEQRA to require an environmental impact statement (EIS) analysis for these questions:
• How will an action’s life-cycle GHG emissions affect climate change?
– And, how can a project’s adverse impact be minimized?
• How will climate change affect the project?
– And, how can a project best anticipate and prepare for the effects of climate change?
What should be examined
The study recommends that the EIS include an analysis of the upstream and downstream GHG emissions:
• Direct Emissions resulting from the operation of the project:
– e.g., boilers, heaters, incinerators, emergency generators, etc.
• Indirect Building Emissions resulting from the operation of project:
– e.g., where a project will purchase its electricity, the emissions resulting from generation of that electricity.
• Indirect Transportation Emissions associated with the action:
– e.g., traffic generated by the project.
• Construction Emissions
– e.g., emissions from construction on-road vehicles, non-road vehicles and equipment, emissions resulting from the demolition of existing structures, the removal of debris and materials from the project site, the transport of those materials to landfills, the disposal of discarded building material, and upstream emissions from the production and transportation of key building materials, like cement, iron and steel.
The impact of construction
The study says:
[U]pstream emissions, defined as the extraction, transport, and production of materials and fuels used, have typically been ignored in EISs... cement and fuel production and transport, as well as the production of iron and steel, produce high amounts of carbon dioxide emissions
Indeed, while construction impacts are typically included in an EIS, the study recommends that the analysis "be extended to include the GHG emissions associated with the demolition and disposal of any discarded building materials." That's a recognition of the concept that "the greenest building is the one that's already built."
Transportation
Indirect transportation emissions are generated through traffic generation or traffic congestion increased by the project and associated fuel combustion.
Among the mitigations:
Reduce the available parking on site and within 1/2 mile of the study area.
Size parking capacity to meet, but not exceed, local parking requirements and, where possible, seek reductions in parking supply through special permits or waivers.
That was not accomplished with AY, as Bloomberg's sustainability plan didn't address parking--I called that aspect PlaNYC 1950.
More bureaucracy?
The MAS study suggests that adding a climate change analysis to the EIS process would be a marginal change, helping government agencies identify potential opportunities to reduce or minimize the impact that discretionary projects--those not as-of-right--have on GHG emissions and climate change.
Agencies around the state prepared an average of 159 Draft Environmental Impact Statements a year between 1984 and 2002. The MAS study points out that "a handful of projects subject to SEQRA analysis in New York City alone will result in well over 65 million square feet of new development." One of them, with a projected 8 million square feet, is Atlantic Yards. (The largest by far would be Hudson Yards.)
The state proposal
Subsequent to MAS’s circulation of the draft report, DEC circulated a proposed policy (PDF) requiring consideration of GHG issues in EISs. It states:
SEQR requires consideration of alternatives in an EIS. As with other potentially significant impacts addressed in an EIS, the GHG emissions should be discussed with respect to the alternatives presented, including a description and evaluation of the range of reasonable alternatives with respect to sites, technology, scale, design, or use, including a description of their implications on GHG emissions. In an EIS, the project proponent should present total annual GHG emissions for the proposed action (including mitigation measures) and include a qualitative comparison to the total annual GHG emissions of the alternatives. The proponent should explain which design alternatives were rejected, and the reasons for the rejection of an alternative.
In other words, there would have had to have been a much more cogent defense of all those parking spaces and new traffic.
The DEC says the analysis would be applied to large scale projects, including major stationary sources of air pollutants, like power plants and solid waste facilities, as well as large facilities or projects that would generate thousands of vehicle trips or use significant amounts of electricity. That latter category would seem to include projects like AY.
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New Ways to Dismantle a Ticking Time Bomb MicroRNA 712/205 and Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Development
Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAAs) are permanent dilations (>3 cm) of the abdominal aorta that are typically asymptomatic, and the discovery of these potentially deadly vascular lesions is almost always incidental. The most feared clinical consequence of AAA progression is acute rupture, which carries a mortality of 80%, and the number of deaths attributed to AAA rupture is ≈15 000 annually in the United States.
1 However, this number is likely an underestimate because death from AAA rupture may not be readily identified without an autopsy. Sixty percent of patients with AAAs die of other cardiovascular causes, such as myocardial infarction or stroke, suggesting a relationship between AAAs and atherosclerosis. Predictors of AAA growth include diameter of the aorta at diagnosis, advanced age (>65 years), and active smoking. 2 Currently, the only available effective treatment option is surgical repair, either via the traditional open approach or, more commonly, endovascular stenting. Furthermore, neither procedure is used in the early stages of the disease, and both carry potential operative risks. Although AAA disease is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in our aging society, it remains a somewhat understudied disease, with a paucity of information available regarding defined mechanisms of initiation and expansion. Importantly, no pharmacological treatment option has been found to prevent the formation of AAAs or effectively slow the growth of these ticking time bombs.
See accompanying article on page 1412
In this dismaying scenario, the discovery of an entirely new method of epigenetic regulation of AAA biology through microRNAs and their recent validation as potential markers and modulators of pathological conditions provides new hope for innovative AAA therapy and identification. Inhibition or overexpression of a single microRNA can regulate numerous target genes involved in the coordination of complex pathophysiological processes and disease phenotypes in a wide variety of diseases. Many studies are now beginning to examine the potential of microRNAs as therapeutic and diagnostic entities.
The pathology of AAAs is characterized by progressive aortic dilation, promoted by an imbalance of vascular smooth muscle cell apoptosis versus proliferation, as well as extracellular matrix degradation versus synthesis. This disruption of vessel wall homeostasis is related in large part to localized transmural inflammation.
3 Although previous studies on microRNA regulation in AAA disease have mostly focused on their role in smooth muscle cell apoptosis 4 and protective profibrotic mechanisms in matrix remodeling, 5,6 the article by Kim et al 8 that appears in the current issue of ATVB identifies a novel and crucial role for microRNA 712 and its human homolog microRNA 205 in the aortic wall. They demonstrate that the angiotensin II–sensitive microRNAs 712/205 target the genes tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase-3 ( Timp3) and reversion-inducing cysteine-rich protein with kazal motifs ( Reck), which they confirm as important contributors in murine AAA development by controlling aortic metalloproteinase activity and triggering a proinflammatory response through downstream extracellular matrix degradation in the vessel wall (Figure).
Of importance, they were able to correlate the findings of their experimental animal studies to alterations in microRNA expression in human AAA samples when compared with nonaneurysmal control tissue. Although the authors concentrated primarily on the upregulation of microRNA 712/205 in endothelial cells, there were also significant alterations in the medial layer. In addition, both angiotensin II and microRNA 712/205 manipulation affected circulating leukocyte adhesiveness, further highlighting the therapeutic potential of targeting this pathway and implying other mechanisms at play. Notably, the in silico predicted target
Lrp1 was not altered by microRNA 712/205 manipulation in the murine model, a common pitfall in microRNA studies. Future studies looking at microRNA 205 in human tissue will need to verify target regulation, including validated targets such as vascular endothelial growth factor A and connective tissue growth factor (which might well affect AAA biology) 7 and will need to clarify potential interactions with more comprehensive patient clinical characteristics.
Treatment-directed studies using antagomirs against microRNA 712 in the angiotensin II–induced AAA model revealed therapeutic potential for anti-microRNA 712, limiting AAA development by derepressing expression levels of
Timp3 and Reck. As with other anti-microRNA treatments for cardiovascular disease, potential off-target effects in organ systems that assimilate systemically administered microRNA modulators to a much higher degree (eg, liver, kidney) would need to be taken into account when developing future therapeutic strategies for AAAs in humans. As with most studies of this sort to date, this work focused primarily on AAA prevention, rather than looking at efficacy in existing aneurysms.
Historically, the murine angiotensin II AAA model has been used in most studies that examine the therapeutic potential of microRNAs in AAA. This model has some limitations and features somewhat unique pathophysiology, including mural disruption and hematoma formation, with aneurysms positioned primarily in the suprarenal abdominal aorta (although human AAA disease is primarily infrarenal). Therefore, translational applicability to human use needs to be viewed with caution. However, the current work of Kim et al
8 represents an important step toward the eventual goal of defusing these vascular threats. Sources of Funding
Research in the Tsao laboratory is funded by grants from the National Institutes of Health (HL101388, HL105299, and HL122939) and the Veterans Administration Office of Research and Development. The Maegdefessel laboratory is supported by the Karolinska Institute Cardiovascular Program Career Development Grant and the Swedish Heart-Lung-Foundation (20120615).
Disclosures
None.
© 2014 American Heart Association, Inc. References 1.↵ Go AS, Mozaffarian D, Roger VL, et al 2.↵ 3.↵ 4.↵ Maegdefessel L, Azuma J, Toh R, Deng A, Merk DR, Raiesdana A, Leeper NJ, Raaz U, Schoelmerich AM, McConnell MV, Dalman RL, Spin JM, Tsao PS 5.↵ Boon RA, Seeger T, Heydt S, Fischer A, Hergenreider E, Horrevoets AJ, Vinciguerra M, Rosenthal N, Sciacca S, Pilato M, van Heijningen P, Essers J, Brandes RP, Zeiher AM, Dimmeler S 6.↵ 7.↵ Hsu SD, Tseng YT, Shrestha S, et al 8.↵ Kim CW, Kumar S, Son DJ, Jang IH, Griendling KK, Jo H
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There have been some further interesting comments on Home Office minister Hazel Blears defence of data retention at the Ideal Government blog. Ms Blears used an example of the rescue of a kidnap and torture victim as a good reason for needing the regulations.
Comment 21 provides a counter example of where things can go wrong, with an innocent Duch woman getting wrongly arrested for allegedly sending threatening messages to a celebrity. "For every example of law enforcement, intelligence or others using traffic data “for good” there are examples of its use going terribly wrong. These simply haven’t been heard in the limited debate. I like to point to the example (dutch: http://www.netkwesties.nl/editie124/artikel1.html) of a Dutch woman who was arrested early in the morning by six police officers at her home. A threatening E-mail was supposedly send to a celebrity from a phone for which her name was apparently in the billing records. During the interview that follows after many hours in a police cell she keeps her cool. After a long talk the investigating officer finally confronts her with the “evidence”. A piece of paper with her name, a phone number and the address where she lived ten years ago (but wasn’t picked up early in the morning). She quickly points out that she never had a phone with that number or from that provider. She manages to figure out that here personal detail might have been used by someone who stole her car and papers a couple of years back. The investigating police officer lets her wait while he “checks her story”. Later he lets her go “based on her background, appearance and education”.. which begs the question? what would have happened if she had another skin color, was just laid of and/or went to a different school? It turned out the police had mistaken the pre-paid phone for one for which a contract was signed with a billing address. Even then the bills wouldn’t have been paid at a decade old address, which isn`t where they picked her up… But that just an unlucky example from which no conclusion can be drawn right? No one in the debate took the time to realise why this is an important example regardless of which side you are on.. What if the sender of the threat had really hurt the target of the threatening e-mail? Would the perpetrator have framed an innocent person, or would a defence attorney successfully explain the police the difference between a phone number and a social security number thus cutting the legs from underneath any future attempts to use traffic data (collected at billion Euro costs Europe wide) as evidence in a court of law? What about organisations that don’t haul people in for questioning but just start spying on a person? But you can ask whether one would want legislation passed based on a few examples that supposedly demonstrate usefulness anyway. In my opinion its a shame that legislation that initially demanded colossal changes to the huge multi-billion Euro communication infrastructure was allowed to pass without any research into the usefulness, cost or or impact of the legislation. (Asking the people that came up with this plan to try and prove who send them an offer for products that can “enhance” various body parts should adequately demonstrate that E-mail protocols aren’t designed for this.) Would the EU ever pass environmental legislation without at least considering a serious impact study?" Hard cases make bad law and there is way too much reactive legislating going on, off the back of a few high media profile shocking events. In the wake of terrible tragedies there is always an emotional clamour to 'do something' to 'ensure it never happens again' and the thing that governments can do most visibly, in order that they can be seen to be acting, is to change the law in some way. There is an intense focus on the terrible event and an almost complete lack of awareness of the real probability of its occurrence. 3000 people die on UK roads every year but there would be complete outrage if the government introduced a blanket speed limit of 10 miles per hour. By comparison the chances of getting caught up in a terrorist atrocity are negligible. The consequences of getting caught in road accidents or terrorist events are roughly equivalent - death or serious injury. Yet we focus far more fear, media and legislative attention on the hugely less likely scenario. I sincerely hope it never comes anywhere close to reality in this country but if terrorist atrocities were as common as road traffic accidents, as sadly they are in some parts of the world, I suspect we'd pay them about as much attention.
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WASHINGTON — Senators grilled federal auditors Thursday on ways to prevent waste and fraud as the government doles out the first portions of a $787 billion economic stimulus package.
The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs is charged with the task of overseeing the billions of stimulus dollars aimed at saving and creating jobs and boosting consumer spending. Committee members asked federal inspectors how they would monitor the money, at least $58 billion of which already has been allocated to specific programs, according to the Office of Management and Budget.
Lawmakers said it could be difficult balancing efficiency with the need to spend the stimulus funds quickly, which most economists say is necessary if the money is to effectively boost the economy. Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, the senior Republican on the committee, pressed auditors to hire more talent soon.
“The federal hiring process is so encumbered with regulation that it’s very difficult for you to hire people quickly, even if they’re supremely qualified,” Collins told Department of Agriculture Inspector General Phyllis Fong. Collins said she is working with Sen. Herb Kohl, D-Wis., on a bill to make it easier to temporarily hire more auditors.
Collins pointed to the federal Web site Recovery.gov, which already has received more than 1 million hits, as a sign of the stimulus program’s transparency and told the auditors she would like the site to expand to include more details on individual programs down to the state and local level.
“It’s going to take a little bit of time to reform the Web site, but it’s certainly a step in the right direction,” Collins said later in a phone interview. “The more eyes that we have on these expenditures, the better it will protect us against mismanagement, waste and outright fraud.”
The House version of the stimulus bill also contained a provision that would shield federal workers who expose corruption in stimulus grants and contracts, but Collins said Senate negotiators agreed to remove the protections from the bill, citing concerns over national security.
Instead, Collins co-sponsored a separate whistle-blower protection bill on Tuesday, but it does not guarantee employees the right to a jury trial to defend themselves against agencies that seek to suppress information on waste.
The omission could make stimulus spending less transparent as a result, Marthena Cowart, spokeswoman for Project on Government Oversight, an independent nonprofit organization that investigates corruption in the federal government.
“It’s just not enough,” Cowart said in a phone interview. “We can all count on some of this money being misused, and we need to ensure that federal workers who are on the front lines of this … have access to a jury trial.”
Cowart added, however, that Collins has consistently advocated for federal whistle-blower protection.
Collins defended the change, saying the existing forum for whistle-blowers to defend themselves, the Merit Systems Protection Board, is a better system than allowing workers to take the cases to expensive jury trials.
Gene Dodaro, the acting comptroller general of the U.S. Government Accountability Office, told the committee his agency would monitor spending in 16 states that make up two-thirds of the nation’s population over the next few years but will largely rely on other states’ own auditors to root out waste in the program. Maine is among the states that will face less federal oversight.
The state government will hire one to two new employees in addition to auditors in the state controller’s office to ensure that stimulus projects in Maine meet federal requirements for efficiency and transparency, said David Farmer, deputy chief of staff for Gov. John Baldacci.
Baldacci also launched a Web site where Mainers can look up general information on where stimulus money is being spent in the state.
“We will be up to the task of doing this,” Farmer said.
In the 1st Congressional District, there will be a “recovery czar.” Rep. Chellie Pingree announced Thursday that Jackie Potter, former chief of staff to former Rep. Tom Allen, will help Maine businesses and individuals take advantage of stimulus funding.
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COMMENTARY: One of the few encouraging developments in the otherwise dismal 2016 special session was the New Mexico Senate’s bipartisan passage (35-5) of the Industrial Hemp Research Bill (SB11). It will lay the foundation for hemp industrialization and ample jobs in our state, both in the agricultural world and manufacturing.
Who knows what the House Republicans and Governor Susana Martinez will do with it next time, but they ought to wholeheartedly support industrial hemp legislation, and help make it the law.
Put simply, growing hemp grows the economy. The hemp industry promises multifold economic benefits for our state. Our agricultural economy in rural New Mexico will see a healthy boost from a low-water crop that is perfect for the arid climate of New Mexico.
With the second-highest unemployment in the nation, New Mexicans are ready to work, and this bill creates jobs. It would open doors to an agricultural and industrial renaissance that we desperately need. There is a ready market for hemp crops, from vitamins to clothing — and even for many other products, such as car seats.
The federal government no longer classifies hemp as a drug, because its THC levels are insufficient to cause intoxication — so there is no danger of abuse. There was no opposition to this legislation in the 2016 regular session. The police and sheriff’s lobby took no position on this legislation during the recent special session.
Also, the hemp plant is easily distinguishable from marijuana, so law enforcement can be quickly trained to make the distinction between hemp and marijuana. Our state Department of Agriculture will license, monitor and certify hemp growers.
Industrial hemp is a job- and wealth-creator for which New Mexico has a unique competitive advantage. That is the kind of thing we need more of nowadays. Now is the time to pass the Industrial Hemp Research Bill.
Cisco McSorley, a Democrat, represents the Albuquerque-area District 16 in the N.M. Senate.
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Tick tock. Tick tock. Every 17 seconds someone is diagnosed with diabetes, according to the American Diabetes Association.
A recent news story reports diabetes cases have reached a record 382 million worldwide. And most of those people have Type 2 diabetes, which is often linked to obesity and lack of physical activity.
Type 2 diabetes , if not controlled, can lead to heart disease, stroke and blindness. As part of the National Diabetes Month, take the Diabetes Risk Test or review your risk factors for Type 2 diabetes:
Age.The risk increases as you get older, especially after age 45. But children are also developing Type 2 diabetes. Weight.Being overweight is a big risk factor because the more fatty tissue you have, the more your cells become resistant to insulin. Family history.Your risk increases if you have a parent or sibling with Type 2 diabetes. Race.African Americans, Hispanics or Latino Americans, American Indian, Asian Americans or Pacific Islanders are more likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes.If you were developed diabetes while pregnant, you are at risk to develop Type 2 diabetes. Giving birth to a baby that weighs more than 9 pounds also puts you at risk. High blood pressure or cholesterol.These two conditions put you at risk. Exercise less than 3 times a week. Being active helps you avoid being overweight and can help your cells handle insulin better.
More than 46,000 adults in North Dakota have diabetes. In 2005, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND)launched an experimental pilot project focused on diabetes control. During this project, more members with diabetes received recommended care, and emergency room visits and hospital admissions decreased. In 2007, we added two more chronic conditions, high blood pressure and coronary heart disease. In 2009, we launched the MediQHome quality program to help North Dakotans fight chronic diseases, including diabetes.
Three ways to fight Type 2 diabetes regardless of age are to:
Be physically active.Aim for 30 minutes of exercise a day. Take a brisk walk, swim or ride a bike. Eat right.Select food that is low in fat and calories. Go for fruits, vegetables and whole grains. Maintain a healthy weight.If you’re overweight, you can reduce your risk by losing 5 percent to 10 percent of your weight.
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Rekeying a property can be hugely important, especially if you have recently obtained home or rented one. Now you have an efficient way of maintaining your previous occupants from accessing your property considering they may have spare recommendations for your property if they left. Though it feels like a very tedious affair, locksmiths possess a field day rekeying the locks. The significance of obtaining the locksmiths rekey yourr home is that they're going to alter the tumbler configurations and also the wafers inside the locks while in the shortest time possible. They've created new keys work and prevent old one from performing on the locks.
The locksmith in houston services is often enjoyed also when leasing a property or if you have a misplacement of keys or the event of lost keys. The reason being it is not safe to envision where keys will often have landed and who they might give having access to at your residence. It happens to be necessary for provide the locks rekeyed whenever you have saw that you could have misplaced or lost them. There are instances where individuals wish to have one key for anyone doors as well as the locks can be rekeyed to serve this purpose. It gives means to fix key juggling with too many doors to begin. The professional locksmith services will offer you this solution. Other rekeying situations You might also believe that it is needed to rekey the locks when you have made a switch along with your cleaning services or maybe you have fired staff who wasn't very happy end the property. An accident out between lovers, spouses of fiances may also necessitate rekeying. It is not enough to envision the fact that individuals gave all of you the keys to your home. It is merely as effortless to own them duplicated definitely accessibility to the house should they want. The locksmiths will come in handy at some of the given situations assisting you worries of interruption of privacy and intrusion. Rekeying costs Contracting a locksmith in houston to address every one of your rekeying needs is without a doubt lower than what you may have used to eliminate the locks and installing a new. The locksmiths will reconfigure the locks inside of a short time period at rates that are reasonable. The expense may be based on the number of locks you need to be rekeyed. Taking system to the locksmith may on other hand also are often cheaper compared to getting the locksmith arrived at your home to get the services. Generally, however, folks convenience of the locksmiths come to their homes. Almost all of the in cases where there's multiple lock to get rekeyed. When seeking the services, always select a reliable and trustworthy company. It is given that even rekeying, the professional can offer extra keys too towards the home. You thus wish to decide on a company that you can deal with within your property to provide professional, honest services. Related posts: Significance about Developing a Locksmith Rekey The house Importance Of Which has a Locksmith Rekey The house
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The long road to open aid data!
The road to open data in development cooperation has been a long one! 10 years ago, transparency, let alone open data, in development cooperation wasn’t an issue. In 2001 the Millennium Development Goals to reduce global poverty had just been formulated and there was considerable optimism that more of the same in development cooperation (more commitment, more money and more expertise) would help us to make tangible progress in health, education and other social sectors around the world.
Since then this optimism has faded. More of the same will not do and some serious changes in the aid system are needed. The need for accountability in development cooperation came into focus. At the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Paris in 2005 mutual accountability was highlighted as one of five prerequisites to effective aid. In 2006 key international non-government organisations launched the Accountability Charter for NGOs.
How can organisations and decision makers be accountable without being transparent about their activities and decisions? Accountability was very soon linked to the need for more transparency. Not surprisingly in 2008 donors, government representatives of aid recipient countries and civil society representatives declared at the High Level Forum on Aid Effectiveness in Accra “We will make aid more transparent” and the International Aid Transparency Initiative (IATI) was launched. Around the same time German NGOs got together and developed a transparency standard, which comprises a list of information items to be published either online or upon request by surface mail.
Only in 2010 did the notion of open data appear in development cooperation. In March 2010 the World Bank launched its open data initiative. Other big players like the Food and Agricultural Organisation, the Multi Donor Trust Fund and the British Department for International Development followed and at the beginning of 2011 the International Aid Transparency (IATI) agreed an international information standard largely in accordance with the open data definition of the OKF.
The good news is that a few powerful pioneers have adopted the concept open data in development cooperation. The bad news is that most donor staff, development workers, politicians and journalists working on development, even researchers have never heard of open data. And should you start to talk about databases, standardised formats, machine-readable data, APIs and data mash-ups you are very likely to instil fear and terror.
That is a shame. And it is time to reach out to people who are strongly committed to improving development cooperation and to reduce global poverty, but who do not see the potential of open data for their work. The Open Knowledge Foundation Germany, OpenAid e.V., the Heinrich Böll Foundation and Transparency International Germany are planning a large open aid data event in Berlin on the 28th and 29th of September to do just that. Other open aid data events are planned in Prague on the 4th of October, in Paris and in Stockholm.
At the Open Aid Data Event in Berlin the main day will be the conference on the 29th of September. Jörg Faust from the German Development Institute, Ronald Siebes from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs and a representative of the Worldbank will make the case for open data for better aid. AKVO, Development Gateway, Transparency International and other organisations will present examples of successful open data projects to explain the concept and the added value of open data. The specific examples will also allow to discuss concerns and challenges to open data.
The conference will be preceded by a more practical open aid data event on the 28th of September. The British NGO aidinfo, which is part of the IATI secretariat and one of the main driver of aid transparency internationally, will hold a data analysis workshop for NGO policy staff. Parallel to this will be a hackday with IATI data organised by the Open Knowledge Foundation Germany. Registration for the event is now open here.
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Furnace Creek is a rare, perennial desert stream located on the east side of the White Mountains near the California/Nevada border. This delicate creek in the eastern Sierra Nevada winds its way through California’s largest unprotected wilderness and the White Mountains Wilderness Study Area.
Furnace Creek provides riparian habitat used by the endangered southwestern willow flycatcher during migration and provides breeding habitat for Costa’s hummingbird and eight other species of conservation concern, including the Mono Basin sage grouse and possibly the Panamint alligator lizard.
In 2001, as a result of a lawsuit brought by the Center, the Bureau of Land Management agreed to close Furnace Creek Canyon to ongoing off-road vehicle abuse. In reality, the agency finally closed the area in 2003, putting an end to off-roaders riding in the creek bed. The closure helped end damage to fragile riparian vegetation in the creek and illegal road proliferation onto Tres Plumas Flats in the Inyo National Forest. Since then, the riparian area has recovered significantly, and use of the canyon by many rare and imperiled species has increased.
Despite the fact that the Bureau of Land Management received more than 7,000 comments from the public in opposition to new construction, in May 2007 the agency released a plan that would allow the construction of a new road through the creek. However, in response to numerous protests from the conservation community in opposition to road construction and off-roading in the creek, the agency withdrew this bad plan in January 2008 and will now begin the planning process again. In the meantime, recovery of the creek and surrounding lands continues.
If road construction is approved, the agency will allow off-roading again in Furnace Creek Canyon — and more specifically, it will permit 14 stream crossings within a mere 4.5 miles along the creek.
The Bureau of Land Management knows that resuming off-road vehicle use in the Canyon would be devastating to the creek, the riparian woodlands, and the species that depend on this fragile habitat. In its previous environmental analysis it even identified a “preferred alternative” as one that would designate the road closed and allow nature to continue to restore this unique riparian corridor. Why the agency has decided to contradict its own analysis is unclear.
Only if this precious area remains closed will the riparian habitat continue its remarkable recovery. The Center will continue its efforts to protect this special place nestled in the Sierra Nevada.
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Business Briefs 1. Finnish renewable diesel producer Neste Oil has launched a joint algae research program with the Marine Research Centre at the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE) in an effort to further expand its feedstock portfolio by potentially incorporating algal oil as a raw material for the production of NExBTL, the company’s trademarked renewable diesel product. Launched in August, the two-year research program with SYKE will focus on testing the lipid production capacity of different types of algal strains and analyzing how the quality and quantity of the lipids could be optimized by adjusting the conditions under which algae are grown. Since 2008, the use of planktonic algae has been studied as a source of bioenergy during several national and international projects at SYKE’s Marine Research Centre. The main objective has been screening and optimizing the lipid production capacity of algae strains isolated from the Baltic Sea. According to Neste Oil, the suitability of algal oil for use in the NExBTL process has already been confirmed as it’s already working with a number of international research institutions, universities and companies in the algae research arena. The company announced this summer that it would take part in two new international algae research projects in Australia and Netherlands. Besides algae, the company intends to use jatropha and camelina oils to produce NExBTL. 2. University of Illinois researchers, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of California-Berkeley, have engineered a unique yeast strain that is capable of converting nonterrestrial biomass, red seaweed, into cellulosic ethanol rather quickly. According to the researchers, when hydrolyzed red seaweed yields glucose and galactose, but typical yeast have an appetite for glucose and won’t consume galactose until glucose is gone. To counter this, researchers engineered a Saccharomyces cerevisiae strain that expressed genes coding for a new sugar transporter, cellodextrin, and an enzyme, beta-glucosidase, that’s capable of breaking down cellobiose, a dimeric form of glucose, at the intracellular level. The result is a yeast strain that can coferment cellobiose and galactose simultaneously, which decreases the production time of ethanol by half. While ethanol was produced via this unique process, the researchers intend to shift toward producing other higher alcohols such as isobutanol with the same process. 3. The U.K.’s National Non-Food Crops Centre has been chosen to investigate the environmental impacts of algae-based bioenergy. The NNFCC was chosen by the U.K.’s Natural Environment Research Council special algae group called the Algal Bioenergy Special Interest Group, because the NNFCC works closely with the British government, industry and other research councils. The study to assess the environmental impact of algae-based energy in the form of fuel or biobased chemical use will help ensure algal biofuels avoid the controversy associated with conventional biofuels. In addition to assessing the environmental impact, the work done by NNFCC will also help the region to formulate a long-term plan for algae. The report will include reference documents for policymakers, including tips and requirements needed to help the U.K.’s algae industry succeed. 4. Vertically-integrated algae developer Aurora Algae received $22 million in funding in a round led by Oak Investment Partners and other existing investors, along with an undisclosed foreign strategic investor. The funding in its latest round will help the company execute plans for construction of its commercial facility in Maitland, Western Australia, for which the company secured 610 hectares (approximately 1,500 acres) of land earlier this year, and expand operations at its laboratory located in Hayward, Calif., including its 20-acre demonstration-scale site in Karratha, Western Australia. Earlier this year, Aurora Algae completed construction of its demonstration-scale facility in Karratha and is fully operational. The company says its ponds have been specifically designed to be energy efficient, thereby increasing the economical feasibility of algae production. The Karratha facility features six one-acre raceway ponds, four 400-square meter ponds and four 50-square meter ponds. In June, MWH and John Holland were awarded the initial engineering contract for design and construction of Aurora Algae’s facility in Maitland. This facility will be equipped to manufacture algae-based biomass for production of sustainable products in the nutraceutical, pharmaceutical, aquaculture and renewable energy markets. 5. Solazyme Inc. has signed a framework agreement to form a joint-venture with Bunge Global Innovation LLC, the agribusiness giant and sugarcane company based in Brazil. The goal is to design and build a facility to produce renewable oils in time for the 2013 sugarcane harvest. Solazyme said it will leverage its own technology with “Bunge’s sugarcane milling and natural oil processing capabilities” to produce a triglyceride-based oil for chemical applications. Both parties will contribute to financing the project, and through the agreement, Solazyme will receive additional compensation for its technology contributions. The facility will be located at an existing mill site in Brazil and will produce roughly 100,000 metric tons of renewable oil. Solazyme’s technology is based on the use of heterotrophic algae strains that can thrive in the dark. The microalgae used by the company is placed in industrial fermenters and fed sugars to increase the volume of oil present in the strains. One of the company’s products, a luxury skincare product called Algenist, recently got a boost when Solazyme signed an agreement with a United Kingdom beauty retailer, Space NK, to carry the product in 60 stores. The Algenist product contains an anti-aging acid called alguronic acid. In addition to Space NK’s use of the Solazyme product, companies in the U.S., including QVC and The Shopping Channel, and Canada offer the product. 6. Evodos BV, an algae technology developer based in Netherlands, believes the company’s spiral plate centrifuge created for the harvesting of algae will give algae harvesting a positive energy balance. Tests show that the centrifugal system can run below 1 kWh per cubic meter, costing roughly €0.08 per kilo of dry material produced. The core of the technology is based on improvements to the centrifugal system including separation efficiency that the company explains is related to the short distance a particle has to travel in the unit, the extended delay time that particle has to travel and the use of a Y-flow approach, which has no counter flows. To separate the algal biomass in the unit from the water, the biomass is spun in the unit and the collected particles settle into a spiral rack, which forms a solid cake. When the solid cake becomes too thick, the ends of the plates are removed and a sliding drum containing the spiral plates and the solid biomass is pulled up, out of the unit for the removal of the cake. Evodos believes its system performs well because any free liquid is removed before the cake is discharged. 7. Dublin, Ohio-based Independence Bio-Products has been issued a patent for its open pond algae production system. The patent covers methods and systems for growing algae in water with a heating source, drying the algae with a heat source, and as an alternative to a heat source, partially covering the body of water where the algae is grown. According to the company, heat recovery systems, algae processing systems and covers are also included under the patent. IBP’s technology features a system that heats algae ponds with heat recovered from power plants and other manufacturing facilities. Information released by the company states that the system is designed to maintain water temperatures within precise temperature ranges in order to optimize algae production. The method prevents ponds located in cold weather regions from freezing over, allowing algae to be cultivated year round. The method to dry the algae also utilizes waste heat sourced from adjacent power plants or industrial facilities. IBP operates a demonstration project adjacent to a power plant in Shadyside, Ohio, and is working to develop commercial operations in Texas. 8. Life Technologies Corp. introduces its GeneArt Algae Engineering Kits, the first commercially available genetic modification and expression systems for algal organisms Chlamydomonas reinhardtii and Synechococcus elongatus. Until now, researchers have relied on colleagues and culture collections to obtain cells, vectors, cloning tools, and protocols for working with these important model organisms. Cells from these sources often ship on agar slants that could become contaminated and have low survival rates. Additionally, vectors from uncontrolled sources could contain undocumented changes, leading to further wasted time. The GeneArt Chlamydomonas Engineering Kit and GeneArt Synechoccus Engineering Kits combine optimized cloning and expression vectors, frozen cells, and simple protocols to create the first standardized, complete system for algae research and metabolic engineering. Guaranteed purity and standardized cells and vectors ensure reliable results and fast ramp up to bioproduction scale. The kits allow researchers to create transformed algal cells in just seven to 10 days, standardize experiments with genetically consistent frozen cell stocks, save time required for strain optimization and transition to bioproduction, and rest easy with guaranteed strain viability and purity. 9. OpenAlgae, a Houston-based algae developer formed in 2008 with help from the University of Texas, released its algae processor and accompanying technology this summer. With help from UT’s Center for Electromechanics, the company came up with a lysing process that is used to separate the lipids out of the algae cells. Over the past two years, the team of UT researchers, with the help of OpenAlgae, has run tests on the processing unit that features the lysing electromechanical unit on a dual axle modular trailer, processing roughly 30,000 gallons of algae water. The difference between the OpenAlgae approach, the company said, is that this process doesn’t require a drying step for the algal biomass, a hexane extraction step or a centrifugation step. While electroporation is used as a process to open cells for genetic modifications, this process instead permanently opens the cells, essentially killing them. UT, which owns half of the technology, developed the electromechanical process for extracting additional sugar out of sugarcane and sugar beets.
Share your industry briefs: To be included in Business Briefs, send information (including photos and logos if available) to: Industry Briefs, Algae Technology & Business, 308 Second Ave. N., Suite 304, Grand Forks, ND 58203. You may also fax information to (701) 746-8385, or e-mail it to rkotrba@bbiinternational.com. Please include your name and telephone number in all correspondence.
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The Christian life is tough work. You have to constantly
choose
to follow Christ. There are so many enticing distractions trying to divert us from the narrow path. Oftentimes, when we face particularly difficult trials and temptations, we ask ourselves, “What’s the point? Is this worth it?”
Right now, I want to grab you by the shoulders, look you in the eyes, and say, “HECK YES, IT’S WORTH IT! Eternity is worth the fight! Don’t you dare think of giving up!”
The fact of the matter is, and yes, I mean
fact
:
Jesus rose from the dead
, and He promises eternal life to all who follow Him as His disciples. My friends, the offer doesn’t get any better than this!
We spend so much time trying to distract ourselves and avoid the thought that each of us is going to die. The question we should be thinking about is where do we want to spend eternity? Being in complete solitary confinement…alone forever? Or partying it up with all the cool people—a.k.a. saints—beholding God face-to-face for infinity? Really, there’s no competition between these two choices.
So, what do we have to do to receive this gift of eternal life? The answer is simple and everyone can do it: repent and believe (Mk 1:15).
First off, we have to realize that things aren’t right in our lives—we are broken sinners in need of a savior. We can’t make it on our own; we must face our dependency on others (and most importantly on God). Apart from Him, we can do nothing (Jn. 15:5). Doing things “my way” is not satisfying. It’s not making me happy.
Friends, we have to realize that in a morally relativistic culture like ours, where it is believed that everyone can have their own personal truths, there’s huge danger. Why? Well, if someone doesn’t think there is absolute Truth, this leads them to think there is no such thing as sin, and if they don’t see their brokenness as a result of sin, they won’t repent. God CANNOT save someone—give them Eternal Life—if they don’t want it. Through repentance, we ask for God’s mercy and the life He so desires to grant us. Do you now see how dangerous moral relativism is? Go to confession and give your soul a bath.
Secondly, if we want to be with God forever, we have to believe in Him. Belief is not just a matter of the head; it requires our whole person being oriented to live as Christ lives—to deny our selfish desires, pick up our cross, and follow Him. Contrary to what our frail flesh may think, doing this—making a gift of ourselves—will bring us to experience the greatest happiness, joy, freedom and fulfillment imaginable.
Christ’s life, death and resurrection changed everything. I close with a few of the lyrics from U2’s song “Window in the Skies:”
The rule has been disproved, the grave is now a groove, all debts are removed—Oh, can’t you see what love has done? / What it’s doing to me? / Love left a window in the skies.
Will you receive His love today?
>> Read more DCA Online stories
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