Hi,
I'm wondering if anyone has any experience negotiating gutterrepairs/replacement in the purchase of a home. Here's my situation:
I am a first time homebuyer and recently I had the home inspected,where--among other things--the inspector noted that rain gutters weremissing from the front of the house (curiously there are gutters inthe back). It was visually apparent from the discoloration of theconcrete foundation due to splashing, that the lack of gutters (andpoor yard grading) was causing rain water from the roof to puddle andbecome trapped next to the house, which was causing minor waterseepage into the basement.
Based on the inspection results, I asked to the seller to perform anumber of tasks, including re-installing the gutters in front. Theseller has since responded and refuses to install the gutters, statingsimply that there weren't any front gutters when she purchased thehome 7 yrs ago. While that may be true, I feel that gutters are to beconsidered a home necessity, rather than an optional item, so I stillfeel that I am being reasonable in asking that they be installed.
Moreover, my point is this:
IF the house had come equipped with front gutters, but the inspectorfound them to be in terrible shape or nonfunctional, I would haveobviously asked for them be replaced. To address this problem, I'massuming the seller cannot simply opt to take them down and leave thehouse 'gutterless'. If this WERE to happen, I would have grounds toexercise my Inspection Contingency Clause and walk away from the dealwith my deposit back, correct (or no)?
So to me, a house with non-working gutters is the same as a house withno gutters, although legally I am wondering they are one in the same.
My concern is that if neither side were to budge, and I tried to walkaway from the deal on the basis of the missing gutters, that this maynot be sufficient grounds to reclaim my deposit. Does anyone know theanswer to this?
Should I hold firm in asking for new gutters, or is this wishfulthinking?
Any thoughts/advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,Jon


Abstract
On December 14, 2001, the Payment Cards Center of the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia held a workshop exploring retail credit risk modeling practices and evolving techniques. The workshop was led by Paul Calem, a senior economist at the Board of Governors, Division of Research and Statistics. Calem is currently involved in the Board's efforts supporting reforms to the international Basel Capital Accord intended to refine risk-based bank capital standards. Existing credit risk modeling practices in the banking industry are being evaluated by the international regulatory community in the context of developing an internal ratings-based (IRB) approach to capital requirements. While the broader effort encompasses both wholesale and retail lending, Calem's comments and the workshop discussion focused specifically on the retail sector. As credit card outstandings have become the fastest growing proportion of consumer debt, the application of risk assessment models to regulatory capital requirements is a particularly relevant issue for the Payment Cards Center. This paper provides highlights from Calem's presentation and the ensuing discussion and is complemented by additional background information on the Basel Accord and industry capital> allocation practices.


Mobile and location-based social media applications provide platforms for users to share brief opinions about products, venues, and services. These quickly typed opinions, or micro-reviews, are a valuable source of current sentiment on a wide variety of subjects. However, there is currently little research on how to mine this information to present it back… (More)


A Answers (1)
White, tan and brown fruits and vegetables contain many beneficial nutrients. For instance, onions, garlic and mushrooms may promote heart health and reduce cancer risks. Here are options for adding more of these colors to your diet:
Fruits: bananas, brown pears, dates and white peaches Vegetables: cauliflower, mushrooms, onions, parsnips, turnips, white potatoes and white corn
This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.


Sometimes in energy investing, the companies focused on services can be overlooked by investors, but they can be some of the most crucial components in the space. In the following video, Motley Fool energy analyst Joel South tells us about
Core Laboratories (NYSE:CLB), a company that focuses on testing and analyzing reservoirs for the major oil and natural gas players. As drilling methods become more advanced with the current push toward horizontal drilling, the cost of drilling is shooting up, and companies like Core Laboratories, and the analyses they provide, are essential for increasing hydrocarbon yields in the new age of drilling.
Joel South owns shares of Schlumberger. Taylor Muckerman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of ExxonMobil. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


STAFF RESOURCES
[Approved December 15, 2004]
1. J. Cassel called the meeting to order at 9:35 a.m.
2. The Agenda was adopted by consensus.
3. The Minutes of the Previous Planning and Coordinating were approved.
4. Report of the Faculty Coordinator: There was no report. J. Cassel noted that the new chair of the Personnel Policy and Affirmative Action Committee is Eileen Stec, and the new chair of the Committee of Review is Pat Piermatti.
5. Unfinished Business.
a. Guidelines for Faculty Research Salons. S. Harrington distributed a revised document. A brief discussion ensued, where a few minor changes were suggested. It was decided to add language indicating that staff could also participate in the research salons, and to distribute the document to RUL_EVERYONE and mount it on the Library Faculty web site.
b. Open Faculty Lines: M. Gaunt distributed a document showing changes in the number of faculty lines since 1977-1978. During this period, the number of lines has fallen from 103 to 86.4, primarily due to budget reductions (9.4) and conversions to staff lines (7.4). As of January 1, RUL has 12 potential faculty lines available, some of which do not have sufficient funding to recruit a tenure- track librarian. RUL has funds to hire five tenure track librarians, and a possibility of hiring two additional positions contingent on budget. Many of these positions are currently being filled by Librarian Vs or voucher employees. M. Gaunt noted that it was extremely unlikely that RUL will receive additional funding for faculty positions from the university in the near future. She also noted that historically lines have not been moved from one unit to another within RUL. On a related point, the University Senate has recently received a request to consider increasing the number of Clinical Faculty, a term currently used in the School of Pharmacy for non-tenure track faculty members, who have all the benefits of faculty without tenure. Mason Gross School of the Arts, the Graduate School of Social Work, and the School of Nursing are interested in using this designation, probably under another name. Of course this possibility has overall implications for the tenure system and the AAUP will undoubtedly be involved in the discussion.
M. Gaunt recommended that the Planning and Coordinating Committee look at the existing open positions in light of the upcoming strategic plan, evaluating them in the context of Rutgers University's priorities. Discussion arose over how the Libraries can support the university's recently identified priorities, such as transportation studies, while maintaining excellence in established areas of strength. M. Gaunt noted that transportation as a focus reflects research that is being done in many areas of the university, rather than a new specialty. Several selectors are currently purchasing transportation materials. Discussion ensued as to the challenges the increasingly inter-disciplinary nature of the academy poses for collection development, particularly in terms of funding. It was generally agreed that there was a need for the Libraries to work more closely with the University in the development of new academic programs. Areas like South Asian Studies will require language expertise not currently available in the Libraries, although there may be potential for cooperation with other institutions in the state.
J. Cassel summarized the discussion of open faculty lines. Plans for filling five open faculty lines are currently going forward. The two remaining lines will be reconsidered once the new strategic plan is in place.
c. Unedited Data Summary from Sheila Creth. J. Cassel introduced the discussion. M. Gaunt noted that the consultant had been asked to provide a process by which the Libraries could address challenges it sees for the future, rather than making specific recommendations on structure. The raw data represents comments made by participants in the process, not group consensus on recommendations. It is our role to help identify commonalities, as well as potential changes to address structural, cultural, policy and practice barriers to advancement. Discussion ensued. R. Tipton questioned whether law students were included in statistics that showed high use of the Dana Library by graduate students. Others noted that many of the comments reflected in the data were concrete, and could lead to immediate action if warranted. Discussion ensued. M. Gaunt suggested going through each person's summary and identifying issues related to policy, process, structure, and culture on which action could possibly be taken. It was also noted that some issues, particularly regarding communication, could be resolved through providing clarification rather than necessitating a change.
T. Glynn inaugurated the discussion by reporting on governance. He identified three major issues. As regards policy, staff generally expressed a desire for more of a voice in decision-making. Secondly, in regard to culture, he identified a need to address misunderstandings between campuses. As regards structure, he identified confusion between the roles of councils, campus directors, and RUL. Discussion ensued over ways to improve cultural understanding among campuses such as, for example, holding meetings on different campuses. It was noted that successful informal cooperation exists in cross-campus teams like Ask-a-Librarian. There was discussion on the possibility of volunteering at different reference desks, but it was generally felt that logistical issues would make this difficult. J. Gardner mentioned that similar issues concerning culture, policy, and structure came out of her summary, and there was general agreement that everyone had found these issues to be critical. Several people commented on redundancies among the councils, the structure of which was created many years ago. The fixed monthly schedule of council meetings sometimes causes delays. Furthermore, the size of New Brunswick Libraries creates an additional committee structure, leading to further redundancies. Possibly smaller, less highly-structured, cross-campus groups like the Instructional Services Committee, or task-oriented working groups, would be more effective. R. Tipton mentioned that the Business Selectors have worked across campuses successfully for years. J. Cassel suggested that everyone identify key cultural, structural, and policy issues from their reports and distribute them electronically before the next Planning and Coordinating Committee meeting. Recommendations can be made via bullet points, which will then lead to further discussion.
6. Continuing Business: In the interest of time, the discussion of mentoring was tabled for the next meeting.
7. New Business: None.
8. Report of the University Librarian. In the interest of time, no report was given. M. Gaunt announced that R. Becker, Head, Special Collections and University Archives, has been appointed to head the Strategic Plan Steering Committee.
9. Concluding Outcomes, Tasks, and Accomplishments: J. Cassel summarized the meeting.
10. Future Agenda Items: Further discussion of the Sheila Creth report and faculty mentoring will be on the Agenda for the next meeting.
11. J. Cassel adjourned the meeting at 12:27 pm.
Respectfully submitted,
Fernanda Perrone Faculty Secretary


Medac Pharma, Inc., a privately held pharmaceutical company focused on the development of new molecules and improving the effectiveness of existing medicines, announced that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved Rasuvo™, a subcutaneous injectable methotrexate (MTX) therapy delivered in an auto-injector for rheumatoid arthritis (RA), polyarticular-course juvenile idiopathic arthritis (pJIA) and psoriasis. Rasuvo will be available in 10 dosage strengths, ranging from 7.5 mg to 30 mg in 2.5 mg increments and will be launched in the U.S.
The company concurrently announced that the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware has denied a motion for a preliminary injunction filed by Antares Pharma, Inc.
"We're delighted to have secured approval for our lead product, Rasuvo, and look forward to introducing this much-needed therapy to the market," stated Ms. Terri Shoemaker, President and CEO of Medac Pharma, Inc. "Methotrexate has long been recognized as a mainstay in rheumatoid arthritis therapy. With its virtually painless administration, broad dose range, and significantly enhanced bioavailability, we believe Rasuvo may benefit those patients using methotrexate." Regarding the U.S. District Court for the District of Delaware's decision, Ms. Shoemaker stated, "We're pleased with the Court's decision and are moving forward with our commercialization efforts as planned."
With more than 30 years of clinical usage, MTX remains the most commonly used drug for treating RA and is recommended by both the American College of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism as a first-line therapy for RA patients. While many patients prescribed MTX take an oral form of this drug, this route of administration has been associated with highly variable absorption rates and inconsistent bioavailability among patients.
Medac Pharma, Inc. developed Rasuvo to optimize MTX therapy. The subcutaneous mode of delivery of Rasuvo, with its wide range of dosing options, has been designed to improve bioavailability.
Rheumatologist Eric Ruderman, MD, Professor of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, stated, "As a rheumatologist, I believe Rasuvo will offer patients the opportunity to maximize the benefit they get from methotrexate. Rasuvo's dosing flexibility, in particular, will be very helpful, as RA patients do not all respond equally to methotrexate, making it important to select a treatment regimen that is appropriate for the patient's condition."


Surge of New Office Space Hits Buenos Aires
The supply of new office buildings completed in Buenos Aires during the first six months of 2013 was five times higher than the amount delivered in the same period of 2012, reaching production levels not seen since the market's peak in 2010.
Approximately 56,000 square meters of new corporate space were delivered by midyear compared to about 11,000 square meters last year, according to a report from Jones Lang LaSalle. The record amount of supply includes projects which had been delayed and were completed in the first half of the year, the firm notes.
"In general terms, the market remains stable and robust compared to the last two years," JLL says in the report. "This semester has record production figures since the peak of 2010, despite the delivery dates of several buildings had been postponed."
All the completion were in the Zona Norte section of the city, which JLL characterizes as the "most dynamic, fastest growing district in Buenos Aires."
The office supply in the Argentina capital is divided into two tiers. The first represents buildings developed by the usual office property investors -- companies that focus on corporate demand. The other tier is composed of new, smaller investors arriving mostly from the residential market that often fail to meet corporate expectations, JLL reports.
"Demand has been the leading metric of Buenos Aires of the past years...in 2010, absorption hit the 10-year historical maximum, after four years of continued expansion," the report states.
Demand for office space has been on a rollercoaster. In 2011 demand reached 100,000 square meters, higher than its historical average. However, a 70 percent drop in demand followed in 2012.
The first half of 2013 has seen a reversal, with 45,000 square meters absorbed.
Despite the new supply, vacancy rates appear to have stabilized in the city, JLL concludes. The average vacancy rate of Class A and AB office space was 6.6 percent during the first six months, increasing by 1.5 percent from last year after dropping for two years.
Vacancy rates in Zona Norte are generally lower than the Central Business District, JLL reports.
Average office rents were $27 to $30 per square meter a month during the first half of the year, within the range for most other Latin American cities. An outlier for the region is Caracas
where office rents reached $130 per square meter by mid-year.
In the next six months, approximately 20,000 square meters of new supply are expected to enter the Buenos Aires market.
"On the other hand, the Central Business District (CBD) is expected to be reactivated between 2014 and 2015 thanks to the incorporation of three sizable Class A projects," the firm reports.


In this video, students see how data from the ice core record is used to help scientists predict the future of our climate. Video features ice cores extracted from the WAIS Divide, a research station on the West Antarctic Ice Sheet.
This is a basic animation/simulation with background information about the greenhouse effect by DAMOCLES. The animation has several layers to it that allow users to drill into more detail about the natural greenhouse effect and different aspects of it, including volcanic aerosols and human impacts from burning fossil fuels.
This short video clip summarizes NOAA's annual State of the Climate Report for 2009. It presents a comprehensive summary of Earth's climate in 2009 and establishes the last decade as the warmest on record. Reduced extent of Arctic sea ice, glacier volume, and snow cover reflect the effects of rising global temperature.
A video from the Extreme Ice Survey in which Dr. Tad Pfeffer and photographer Jim Balog discuss the dynamics of the Columbia glacier's retreat in recent years through this time-lapse movie. Key point: glacier size is being reduced not just by glacial melting but due to a shift in glacial dynamics brought on by climate change.
This video follows Bermuda scientists into the field as they collect data that documents a warming trend in ocean temperatures. BIOS Director Tony Knapp discusses some of the impact of warming temperatures on sea levels, storms, and marine ecosystems.
This video discusses the differences between climate and weather by defining and presenting examples of each. When presenting examples of weather, the video focuses on severe events and how meteorologists predict and study the weather using measurement, satellites, and radar. The climate focus is primarily on an overview of climate zones.


Quality of drinking water service is considered in two dimensions: tangibles (measured by sediment, taste, smell, and color) and reliability (measured by service continuity). Using a large and unique household-level dataset, we study important factors that are related to these dimensions in the Colombian drinking water sector. Based on the network design of pumping, purification, and delivery, our main findings are: (1) compared to users who do not receive a subsidy for water consumption, users who receive a subsidy report less reliable service while tangibles of water quality do not show significant difference between the reports of these two types of users; and (2) compared to water supplied by public providers, water supplied by community providers shows worse tangibles, while service reliability does not show significant difference between these two types of providers. These results suggest that Colombia water reform should not only aim to expand service and prompt water usage for the poor, but also strengthen quality control in multiple dimensions.


Abstract
In the midst of a global fisheries crisis, there has been great interest in the fostering of adaptation and resilience in fisheries, as a means to reduce vulnerability and improve the capacity of fishing society to adapt to change. However, enhanced resilience does not automatically result in improved well-being of people, and adaptation strategies are riddled with difficult choices, or trade-offs, that people must negotiate. This paper uses the context of fisheries to explore some apparent tensions between adapting to change on the one hand, and the pursuit of well-being on the other, and illustrates that trade-offs can operate at different levels of scale. It argues that policies that seek to support fisheries resilience need to be built on a better understanding of the wide range of consequences that adaptation has on fisher well-being, the agency people exert in negotiating their adaptation strategies, and how this feeds back into the resilience of fisheries as a social-ecological system. The paper draws from theories on agency and adaptive preferences to illustrate how agency might be better incorporated into the resilience debate.
Citation
Coulthard, S. Can We Be Both Resilient and Well, and What Choices Do People Have? Incorporating Agency into the Resilience Debate from a Fisheries Perspective. Ecology and Society (2012) 17 (1) [DOI: 10.5751/ES-04483-170104]


Longleaf forests once covered 92 million acres from Texas to Maryland to Florida. These grand old-growth pines were the “alpha tree” of the largest forest ecosystem in North America and have come to define the southern forest. But a complex web of factors has reduced those forests so that longleaf is now found only on 3 million acres. Fortunately, longleaf forests are once again spreading across the South. Blending a compelling narrative by writers Bill Finch, Rhett Johnson, and John C. Hall with Beth Maynor Young’s breathtaking photography,
Longleaf, Far as the Eye Can See: A New Vision of North America’s Richest Forest invites readers to experience the astounding beauty and significance of the majestic longleaf ecosystem.
In a new book trailer, the authors share their impressions of the book’s significance. Amazed by the final product, they explain what the Longleaf forest once meant to the South and what it could one day mean again. Filmed in the serenity of a longleaf forest, the book trailer not only introduces audiences to the authors, but also provides a glimpse at the book’s sublime photography.
Bill Finch is senior fellow at the Ocean Foundation and executive director of the Mobile Botanical Gardens. Beth Maynor Young is a conservation photographer and a conservation realtor. Rhett Johnson is cofounder and president of the Longleaf Alliance, Inc. John C. Hall is curator of the Black Belt Museum at the University of West Alabama. Young and Hall are coauthors ofHeadwaters: A Journey on Alabama Rivers .


This study investigated the association between vertebral fractures (VF) and bone turnover markers in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM). Multivariate regression analysis showed that parathyroid hormone (PTH) levels of T2DM patients were significantly and positively correlated with osteocalcin (OC). When participants were divided into two subgroups based on mean PTH and OC levels, the group of T2DM women with lower PTH and lower OC levels had a significantly higher risk of VF than those with higher PTH and higher OC levels after adjusting for age, body mass index, hemoglobin A(1c), creatinine, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and lumbar bone mineral density.
http://jcem.endojournals.org/content/early/2012/02/10/jc.2011-2537.long
Yamamoto M, Yamaguchi T, Nawata K, Yamauchi M, Sugimoto T.


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Chapter 5. Enhancing responses to literary texts with L2 learners
This chapter reports an empirical study investigating literary reading processes conducted with young adult readers who operate in a second language-learning (L2) environment. The scope of the study is to observe and identify reading processes these learners engage in while reading a literary text. These learners are students of literature but considered to be in the process of becoming informed readers of literature, that is ‘learner-readers’. Intrinsic to the study is the introduction of a model based on a pedagogical framework, the Strike-Annotate-Speak-Write (SASW) model for L2 learner-readers. The chapter highlights the different literary reading processes adopted by the L2 learner-readers by referring to categories identified in the study. Furthermore, it describes the model that adopts verbal and non-verbal metacognitive techniques that trigger these processes.


Cleaning Up Responsibly
Environmental cleanup of a contaminated site poses many serious challenges. The Maine Department of Environmental Protection ordered a company to conduct a $350 million remediation of a former chlor-alkali facility. This meant difficult and potentially dangerous evacuation of closed and capped sludge landfills and the transport of enormous quantities of mercury-contaminated soil over hundreds of miles. Looking for a better solution, the company turned to Preti Flaherty’s Environmental Law Group.
Turning a mountain into a mole hill
Preti Flaherty appealed the widely publicized DEP decision to the state’s citizen Board of Environmental Protection.
Given the history of the site and the scope and scale of the proposed remedy, we knew there would be significant public attention focused on the proceeding. Working closely with our client and their public relations team, we integrated a full-scale community relations effort into our litigation plan to ensure that the local community understood and supported the remedial alternative being proposed by our client in the BEP proceeding. The aim was to alleviate concern by maintaining an open line of communication with the public. Our team regularly kept town officials and opinion leaders fully informed about the process and the plan being developed before the BEP.
A win for everyone
The approach succeeded. The BEP's decision, issued after nine days of hearings involving more than 25 witnesses, significantly altered the original DEP plan, reducing the cost by more than $100 million. By aligning our litigation strategy and client’s interests with the town’s interests, and leveraging local support, we transformed a major disadvantage before the BEP into one of our greatest assets.


April 26, 2010 Skeleton Key For Cancer Metastasis
Cancer cells need all three of their cytoskeletons"”actin, microtubules, and intermediate filaments"”to metastasize, according to a study published online on April 26 in the Journal of Cell Biology.
A cancer cell in an epithelial layer is trapped unless it can force through the basement membrane, which cordons off the tissue. Tumor cells start to dissolve the basement membrane with enzymes that build up within extensions called invadopodia. How the different components of the cytoskeleton collaborate to spring the cell remains unclear. To find out, Danijela Vignjevic and colleagues (Institut Curie) followed cancer cells as they started their breakout.They found that a tumor cell escapes in three stages. First, stumpy protrusions dig into the basement membrane. These structures then elongate into "mature" invadopodia. Finally, the rest of the cell follows. In culture, crawling cells produce extensions that carry either bundles of actin or an actin mesh. In the cancer cells, both forms of actin were necessary for invadopodia to form and grow. However, microtubules and intermediate filaments were only essential for invadopodia to lengthen.
The researchers suggest a model for this initial step of metastasis. Growing actin bundles push out a protrusion, which the actin mesh stabilizes as it elongates. Only if the invadopodium stretches beyond 5 microns do microtubules and intermediate filaments get involved. Microtubules most likely elongate the invadopodium by delivering materials such as enzymes to the tip. Intermediate filaments, meanwhile, may brace the growing extension.
Schoumacher, M., et al. 2010. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200909113.
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Image Caption: An actin-rich invadopodium pushes through the basement membrane (red, left), allowing the tumor cell to follow (right). Credit: Schoumacher, M., et al. 2010. J. Cell Biol. doi:10.1083/jcb.200909113.
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On the Net:


Digging of edges of shoulders into workpieces would be reduced or eliminated.
In a proposed improvement of tooling for friction stir welding, gimballed shoulders would supplant shoulders that, heretofore, have been fixedly aligned with pins. The proposal is especially relevant to self-reacting friction stir welding.
Some definitions of terms, recapitulated from related prior
NASA Tech Briefs articles, are prerequisite to a meaningful description of the proposed improvement. In friction stir welding, one uses a tool that includes (1) a rotating shoulder on top (or front) of the workpiece and (2) a pin that rotates with the shoulder and protrudes from the shoulder into the depth of the workpiece. In conventional friction stir welding, the main axial force exerted by the tool on the workpiece is reacted through a ridged backing anvil under (behind) the workpiece. When conventional friction stir welding is augmented with an autoadjustable pin-tool (APT) capability, the depth of penetration of the pin into the workpiece is varied in real time by a position- or force-control system that extends or retracts the pin as needed to obtain the desired effect.
In self-reacting (also known as selfreacted) friction stir welding as practiced heretofore, there are two shoulders: one on top (or front) and one on the bottom (or back) of the workpiece. In this case, a threaded shaft protrudes from the tip of the pin to beyond the back surface of the workpiece. The back shoulder is held axially in place against tension by a nut on the threaded shaft. Both shoulders rotate with the pin and remain aligned coaxially with the pin. The main axial force exerted on the workpiece by the tool and front shoulder is reacted through the back shoulder and the threaded shaft into the friction-stir-welding machine head, so that a backing anvil is no longer needed. A key transmits torque between the bottom shoulder and the threaded shaft, so that the bottom shoulder rotates with the shaft. This concludes the prerequisite definitions of terms.
One consequence of the fixed alignment of the shoulders with the pin is that if the thickness of the workpiece or the slope of either surface of the workpiece varies as the tool moves along the workpiece, then the leading or trailing edge(s) of one or both shoulder(s) tend to dig into the workpiece, generating excessive flashing along the weld. The proposed improvement would be a simple, relatively inexpensive means of preventing or reducing such digging. The gimballing of either or both shoulder(s) would enable the tool to better adapt to curvatures and other local variations in the slopes of workpiece surfaces, without need for a complex, expensive shoulder-angle control system.
The figure depicts a representative tool for self-reacting friction stir welding incorporating the proposed improvement. [In this case, the bottom shoulder (only) would be gimballed. Optionally, both shoulders or the top shoulder (only) could be gimballed.] The shaft would be terminated in a ball, from which indexing pins would protrude radially at angular intervals of 90° in a plane perpendicular to the pin/shaft axis. The indexing pins would define gimbal axes. The bottom shoulder would contain slots that would loosely engage the indexing pins. The configuration of the indexing pins and slots would be such that the bottom shoulder would be forced to rotate with the pin and shaft and the pins would hold the back (bottom) shoulder axially in place against tension, yet the looseness of the pin/slot engagement would allow limited rotation of the bottom shoulder about the gimbal axes to accommodate local variations in the slope of the lower surface of the workpiece.
This work was done by Robert Carter and Kirby Lawless of Marshall Space Flight Center. This invention is owned by NASA, and a patent application has been filed. For further information, contact Sammy Nabors, MSFC Commercialization Assistance Lead, at sammy. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Refer to MFS-32115-1.


Leading from the front
Don't focus all your efforts on the back garden. Alison Weir explains how to cultivate a good first impression
Front gardens proclaim their owners’ taste and style long before visitors reach the front door. However, many householders neglect the importance of first impressions, lavishing time and attention on back gardens, but treating front ones like a poor relation, adorned only with scrubby shrubs or an inherited and neglected rockery.
A front garden needs to have structure, as it is inevitably close to a building. Soft grasses and wafting perennials are enchanting in a meadow but can look insignificant against the architecture of a house. Evergreens with bold foliage such as phormiums, iris, Euphorbia characias, hellebores and a wide range of shrubs will balance the house’s visual impact.
A geometric parterre of low box hedging is an effective way of creating structure in a front garden. Its dimensions can match those of architectural elements of the house — for example, the width of a bay window — to tie the elements together


A significant anomaly in the domestic water allowances in Munster provided by the county councils to farmers and businesses has been identified. Farmers and businesses in South Tipperary receive only half the allowances of their neighbours in North Tipperary.
Prior to Irish Water, farmers and commercial business owners were already paying water rates but received an allowance for domestic usage from the local authority.
The water allowance allocated to those which fall under “mixed-use customers” is almost 50 percent higher in North Tipperary than the allowance given to those in South Tipperary.
The allowance given to North Tipp stands at €326.40 while those in the South of the county receive €176 on a yearly basis. A spokesperson for Tipperary County Council confirmed the allowances and stated that this anomaly can be traced back to when North Tipp and South Tipp were acting as independent local authorities.
The rates would normally have been harmonised following the merger of the two councils into Tipperary County Council in June 2014.
However the Regulator stipulated that any charges which existed before the creation of Irish Water would continue to apply until a new standard charge is set and as yet the Regulator has not set standard water charges for non-domestic customers.
Although no information was given as to how the rate for North Tipperary was set, the Tipperary Star understands that the domestic allowance in the South was historically based on the average domestic water use per person per year from survey data. It is not known if County Councillors were aware of the anomaly.
Historically non-domestic water services in Ireland were provided by the 34 Local Authorities. This structure resulted in 44 distinct billing authorities, with over 500 different tariff prices and structures in operation for non-domestic water and wastewater services, including charges applied to mixed-use customers such as farmers.
The Commission for Energy Regulation is currently undertaking a review of non-domestic tariffs in a bid to establish a new ‘Non-domestic Tariff Framework’ for mixed use customers such as farmers and business where the domestic dwelling is on the same meter. A spokesperson for Irish Water said they cannot make any further comment until the details of this review are known.
Research carried out by the Tipperary Star has also identified significant anomalies in the domestic allowances allocated by each county council in Munster. In Cork city the annual allowance is €133.59 while in the county the allowance is €211, Limerick City and County provide an allowance of €245 while the allowance in Waterford is €285, Clare is €282 and Kerry is €250.80.
A CER spokesperson said they anticipate a review of charges in the 44 billing authorities by the end of 2016.


Persons using assistive technology might not be able to fully access information in this file. For assistance, please send e-mail to: mmwrq@cdc.gov. Type 508 Accommodation and the title of the report in the subject line of e-mail.
Trends in Childhood Cancer Mortality --- United States, 1990--2004
Cancer is the fourth most common cause of death (after unintentional injury, homicide, and suicide) amongpersons aged 1--19 years in the United States(1,2). Because recent childhood cancer mortality has not been wellcharacterized in terms of temporal, demographic, and geographic trends(2,3), CDC analyzed cancer death rates amongchildren (defined as aged 0--14 years) and adolescents (defined as aged 15--19 years) for the period 1990--2004 by sex,age group, race, ethnicity, U.S. Census region, and primary cancer site/leading diagnosis, using the most recentdata available from the National Vital Statistics System (NVSS). This reportdescribes the results of that analysis, which indicated that, overall, age-adjusted childhood cancer death rates decreased significantly during 1990--2004among both sexes, both age groups, all races (exceptAmerican Indians/Alaska Natives [AI/ANs]), Hispanics, non-Hispanics,and all U.S. Census regions. However, decreases in death rates varied among U.S. Census regions and between Hispanicsand non-Hispanics. Eliminating racial/ethnic health disparities is one of the overarching goals ofHealthy People 2010 (4). Further research is needed to understand geographic and ethnic disparities in childhood cancer death rates.Moreover, cancer prevention and intervention measures should be designed to reach populations that are underserved and athigh risk.
NVSS collects death certificate data from vital statistics offices in the 50 states and the District ofColumbia.* All reported deaths among children and adolescents during 1990--2004 were included in this analysis.Population estimates used as denominators in death rate calculations were from the U.S. Bureau of the Census and weremodified by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)program(1). Age-adjusted death rates and trendswere calculated for all primary cancer sites combined and for the two leading cancer diagnoses: leukemias and brain andother nervous system neoplasms.§ All rates were per1 million population and age adjusted to the 2000 U.S.standard population. For all primary cancer sites/leading diagnoses combined, death rates and trends were stratified furtherby sex, age, race, ethnicity, and U.S. Censusregion. Rates and overall annual percentage changes (APCs) from 1990to 2004 were calculated usingSEER-Stat.¶ Joinpoint regression was performed to determine statisticallysignificant changes in trends during 1990--2004(5). The overall statistical significance level wasa = 0.05, with a maximum of three joinpoints and four line segments allowed(5).
A total of 34,500 childhood cancer deaths were reported in the United States during 1990--2004. A total of2,223 cancer deaths occurred in 2004; among these, leukemias were the most common diagnoses (25.5%), followed bybrain and other nervous system neoplasms (25.0%) (Figure 1). From 1990 to 2004, death rates declined significantlyfor leukemias by 3.0% per year, for brain and other nervous system neoplasms by 1.0% per year, and for all othercancers combined by 1.3% per year (Table).
For all cancers combined during 1990--2004, boys (33.1 per million) had significantly higher death rates thangirls (26.1); adolescents (37.9) had significantly higher death rates than children (26.9); whites (30.1) and blacks (29.3)had significantly higher death rates than Asians/PacificIslanders (A/PIs) (26.4) and AI/ANs (20.0), respectively;and Hispanics (30.3) had significantly higher death rates than non-Hispanics (29.1) (Table). Death rates decreasedsimilarly by sex, age group, and race; decreases ranged from 1.5% to 2.0% per year during 1990--2004. However,APCs, reflecting a decline in death rates, differed by 60% between Hispanics and non-Hispanics: 1.0% per year forHispanics compared with 1.6% per year for non-Hispanics. Statistical analysis with joinpoint regression revealed that thedeath rate for whites remained stable during 1990--1992 (p = 0.77), declined significantly during 1992--1996 by 4.3%per year (p = 0.001), and then stabilized again during 1996--2004 (p = 0.07)(Figure 2). Death rates for blacks and A/PIs declined significantly, both by 1.6% per year (p<0.001 for blacks and p = 0.003 for A/PIs). Death rates forAI/ANs were stable during 1990--2004 (p = 0.18); this trend might be attributed to the small numbersavailable for analysis in this population. Regressionanalysis also revealed that the death rate for Hispanics remained stable during1990--1992 (p = 0.53), declined significantly during 1992--1998 by 4.3% per year (p = 0.01), and then stabilized during1998--2001 (p = 0.32) and during 2001--2004 (p = 0.57); the death rate for non-Hispanics declined significantlyduring 1990--1996 by 2.6% per year (p<0.001) and 1996--2004 by 0.9% per year (p = 0.009) (Figure 2).
Death rates did not decrease equally in allregions** during 1990--2004: 2.1% per year in the Midwest, 1.8%per year in the South and Northeast, and 1.4% per year in the West (Table). For all cancers combined, childrenandadolescents living in the West (31.1 per million) had significantly higher death rates than those living in theMidwest (29.1), the Northeast (28.4), and the South (29.8), respectively (Table).
Reported by:LA Pollack, MD, SL Stewart, PhD, TD Thompson, Div of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for ChronicDisease Prevention and Health Promotion; J Li, MD, EIS Officer, CDC.
Editorial Note:
The findings in this report indicate that, during 1990--2004, overall childhood cancer deathrates declined significantly among boys and girls, children and adolescents, Hispanics and non-Hispanics, most racialgroups, and all U.S. Census regions. Incidence rates for all childhood cancers increased by 0.6% per year during1975--2002 (6). The overall decreasing trend in childhood cancer mortality in the United States likely reflects advances incancer treatment in this population (3).
Acute lymphocytic leukemia accounts for approximately 73% of childhood leukemia cases(1). Likely because of advances in treatment, such as chemotherapy and bone marrow transplantation, substantial improvement hasoccurred in survival rates for children and adolescents with acute lymphocytic leukemia(7). In this analysis, death rates declinedsubstantially for childhood leukemias during 1990--2004, which is consistent with findings fromprevious trend analyses for the period 1975--1995(3). For brain and other nervous system neoplasms, death ratesdeclined significantly during 1990--2004. Five-year relative survival rates for brain and other nervous system neoplasms alsohave improved (1,7).
The results of this analysis indicate geographic disparities in childhood cancer death rates. During1990--2004, childhood cancer death rates in the West were the highest among all U.S. Census regions and were the slowestto decline. The causes of these disparities cannot be determined based on the data available and need to be exploredby further studies, including cancer survival studies. Moreover, variations by ethnicity were observed. Hispanics andnon-Hispanics had similar childhood cancer death rates in 1990, but these rates declined more rapidly fornon-Hispanics than for Hispanics during 1990--2004. Studies have documented that Hispanics lack sufficient access tohealth-care services because of inadequate heath-insurancecoverage, lack of health insurance, poor geographic access tohealth-care providers, lack of transportation to and from providers, and cultural and linguistic barriers(8), which might contribute to this disparity. However, differences in tumor aggressiveness, cancer stage at diagnosis, and response to treatmentalso should be considered.
The findings in this report are subject to at least five limitations. First, the reporting of race/ethnicity to theU.S. Bureau of the Census and on death certificates usually is reliable for blacks and whites; however, death rates forAmerican Indians, A/PIs, and Hispanics are underestimated by 21%, 11%, and 2%, respectively(9). Second, the ability to stratify death rates for each primary cancer site/leading diagnosis bydemographic and geographic variables and to assessthe geographic variation at the state or county level was limited because of low death counts. Third, causes of deathmight be misclassified on death certificates. Fourth, using the 2000 U.S. standard population for all study years mightnot reflect actual annual population. Finally, cancer deaths among boys and girls who had cancer diagnosed as childrenbut who died as adolescents are reflected in adolescent mortality rates. Thus, the mortality rates of adolescents mightreflect the improved survival of children withcancer.
The overall trend of declining childhood cancer mortality during 1990--2004 likely reflects better treatmentof childhood cancer. Surveillance of childhood cancer mortality should be well maintained to monitor the persistence ofthese declines. Possible causes for disparities in childhood cancer death rates (e.g., lack of health insurance, difficultyin accessing health care, late diagnosis, poor treatment quality, and unhealthy behaviors and lifestyles) need to bestudied further. By addressing these factors, geographic and ethnic disparities in childhood cancer death might be reduced,and children with cancer might live longer.
CDC maintains the National Program of Cancer Registries, which monitors cancer rates and trends. CDC alsois working in partnership with organizations (e.g., the Lance Armstrong Foundation) to educate childhoodcancer survivors, their families, and their health-care providers to recognize long-term effects associated with cancertreatment. These measures aim to enhance quality of life and increase survival.
References
Ries LA, Smith A, Gurney JG, et al. Cancer incidence and survival among children and adolescents: United States SEER Program1975--1995. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, SEER Program; 1999. NIH publication no. 99-4649.
Jemal A, Siegel R, Ward E, et al. Cancer statistics, 2006. CA CancerJ Clin 2006;56:106--30.
Linet MS, Ries LA, Smith MA, Tarone RE, Devesa SS. Cancer surveillance series: recent trends in childhood cancer incidence and mortality inthe United States. J Natl Cancer Inst 1999;91:1051--8.
US Department of Health and Human Services. Healthy people 2010 (conference ed, in 2 vols). Washington, DC: US Department of Healthand Human Services; 2000. Available athttp://www.health.gov/healthypeople.
Kim HJ, Fay MP, Feuer EJ, Midthune DN. Permutation tests for joinpoint regression with applications to cancer rates. Stat Med 2000;19:335--51.
Ward EM, Thun MJ, Hannan LM, Jemal A. Interpreting cancer trends. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2006;1076:29--53.
§ Based on International Classification of Diseases, TenthRevision codes for leukemias (C91.0--C91.4, C91.7, C91.9, C92.0--C92.5, C92.7, C92.9,C93.0--C93.2, C93.7, C93.9, C94.0, C94.2, C94.4, C94.5, and C95.0) and brain and other nervous system neoplasms (C70--C72).
**Northeast: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and Vermont.Midwest: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin.South: Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware,District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, andWest Virginia. West: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.
Use of trade names and commercial sources is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department ofHealth and Human Services.References to non-CDC sites on the Internet areprovided as a service to MMWR readers and do not constitute or implyendorsement of these organizations or their programs by CDC or the U.S.Department of Health and Human Services. CDC is not responsible for the contentof pages found at these sites. URL addresses listed in MMWR were current as ofthe date of publication.
DisclaimerAll MMWR HTML versions of articles are electronic conversions from ASCII textinto HTML. This conversion may have resulted in character translation or format errors in the HTML version.Users should not rely on this HTML document, but are referred to the electronic PDF version and/orthe original MMWR paper copy for the official text, figures, and tables.An original paper copy of this issue can be obtained from the Superintendent of Documents,U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO), Washington, DC 20402-9371; telephone: (202) 512-1800.Contact GPO for current prices.
**Questions or messages regarding errors in formatting should be addressed tommwrq@cdc.gov.


BACKGROUND:
States and national organizations spend millions annually on antismoking campaigns aimed at youth. Much of the evidence for their effectiveness is based on cross-sectional studies. This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a prominent national youth smoking-prevention campaign in the U.S. known as truth that was launched in February 2000.
METHODS:
A nationally representative cohort of 8904 adolescents aged 12-17 years who were interviewed annually from 1997 to 2004 was analyzed in 2008. A quasi-experimental design was used to relate changes in smoking initiation to variable levels of exposure to antismoking messages over time and across 210 media markets in the U.S. A discrete-time hazard model was used to quantify the influence of media market delivery of TV commercials on smoking initiation, controlling for confounding influences. Based on the results of the hazard model, the number of youth nationally who were prevented from smoking from 2000 through 2004 was estimated.
RESULTS:
Exposure to the truth campaign is associated with a decreased risk of smoking initiation (relative risk=0.80, p=0.001). Through 2004, approximately 450,000 adolescents were prevented from trying smoking nationwide. Factors negatively associated with initiation include African-American race (relative risk=0.44, p<0.001), Hispanic ethnicity (relative risk=0.74, p<0.001), completing high school (relative risk=0.69, p<0.001), and living with both parents at baseline (OR=0.79, p<0.001).
CONCLUSIONS:
The current study strengthens the available evidence for antismoking campaigns as a viable strategy for preventing youth smoking.


According to The Hand Center of Western Massachusetts, an arm or wrist cast may be worn while playing football at the discretion of an individual, his parents, his coach, and most importantly, his doctor. However, playing football, a high contact and forceful sport, runs a high risk of re-injury.Continue Reading
If a player chooses to participate in a contact sport with a cast, protection for his cast and for other players exists. For example, a product called The Cast Protector is a pad that surrounds the cast and is held with Velcro strips. Though it does not wholly prevent injury, it is approved for use in high school football, according to the product website.Learn more about Breaks & Sprains


Testing methods with flat jacks are used to evaluate the quality of masonry structures and to define their mechanical properties.
The substantial difficulties involved in taking representative and intact samples from masonry has led to the development of innovative and increasingly reliable methods and instruments. This pressurizing unit is built with the finest components.
The flat jacks, designed and manufactured by NOVATEST – NDT laboratories, offer excellent reliability as a result of an innovative production process.
Available in a wide range of shapes and sizes, these flat jacks can be also personalized according to customer’s specific requirements for special test conditions.
Flat jack’ standard components can be applied in any pressurization unit, making them both unique and universal.


Food What is the calorie count for an average filet mignon?
When grilled or baked with only light seasonings and no oil, a filet mignon retains its uncooked calorie count. Salt, pepper, garlic and onion powder impact the calorie count only marginally. Savory herbs can be used without a large increase in calories. However, using oil or butter adds calories. Creating a reduction or other sauce also increases the number of calories in the finished steak. Source: calorieking.com


In the last few years, the real estate industry has faced significant challenges and changes, which have impacted the way that many real estate professionals conduct business. But whether the industry is experiencing a bull or bear market, the Realtor® organization provides constant support for its members and always strives to improve programs and services.
New Jersey Realtors® adopts a strategic plan every three years, which is intended to be a roadmap, a living document, that will be continuously reviewed and updated as the industry changes. The goals and objectives within the strategic plan serve as a guide for the association and the path it takes. It provides a vision, which staff, leadership, governing bodies, and local boards/associations will achieve in partnership. Above all, the guiding principles expressed in this plan are the foundation for NJ Realtors®’ future success as the voice for real estate in New Jersey.


This book presents the latest information, concepts and technology for ensuring sustainable agricultural production and environmental management by adopting land drainage measures. It focuses on a subject, central to the sustainability of irrigated agriculture. This book provides an explicit description of the subject for students as well as the practicing engineers in this area.


By Bernadine Chapman-Cruz
The white carnation is synonymous with the virtues of motherhood. A mother’s unconditional love for her child is recognized around the world on Mother’s Day. More than a century has passed since Anna Jarvis organized the first mother’s day acknowledgement, a religious remembrance in honor her deceased mother.
Today, this heartwarming tradition has evolved into Mother’s Day, celebrated on the second Sunday in May. The first mother’s day festivities were held in a West Virginia church. Sunday services included liturgy highlighting all mothers’ esteemed role in raising their families. As part of the services, every woman in the congregation received a white carnation, Mrs. Jarvis’ favorite flower, to commemorate this heartwarming sentiment.
Cherished around the globe, the carnation is one of the oldest cultivated flowers. In addition to its heartiness and beauty, the carnation is a floral artist’s favorite. When creating a corsage, boutonniere, bouquet or other floral décor, even after cutting, the carnation retains its freshness longer than other flowers commonly used in floral design.
The carnation is easily adaptable to a variety of floral arrangements from welcoming newborns to expressing condolences in a sympathy remembrance. These ruffled flowers are easy to work with, inexpensive and delightful as a ‘single stem’ or when incorporated with other flowers in any floral arrangement.
Through history, the carnation has come to represent a variety of feelings, emotions and sentiments specific to carnation color. The most common carnation color associations include:
White – innocence, pure love, sweetness, luck
Dark Red – love, passion, affection, respect
Light Red – admiration
Pink – gratitude, remembrance, thoughtfulness, thankfulness
Yellow – distain, rejection, disappointment
On Mother’s Day, remember your mother with a bouquet of white carnations. This thoughtful gift will be cherished and carnations just might become a family tradition.
Copyright ©2011 Bernadine Chapman-Cruz


What Does the DOR Do?
The Department of Rehabilitation (DOR) assists Californians with disabilities to obtain and retain employment and maximize their equality and ability to live independently in their communities.
We do this by tailoring our services to each individual to ensure a greater chance of success.
A vocational rehabilitation team works closely with each job seeker to establish the best combination of services and resources necessary to prepare for, find and retain employment.
What Services Does the DOR Offer?
DOR services may include:
Career assessment and counseling
Job search and interview skills
Independent living skills
Career education and training
Assistive technology
What DOR Programs Can Individuals Participate in?
The DOR offers the following programs:
Can I Start Receiving Services Right Away?
The answer depends on your priority category and available resources.
When the DOR does not have enough money to serve all eligible applicants, the law requires the DOR to use a process called Order of Selection.
Once you have been determined eligible, you will be given a disability priority score, called a Priority for Services Determination. This score places applicants into priority categories, which are used to ensure that persons with the most significant disabilities are served first.
There are three priority categories:
most significantly disabled (priority category 1)
significantly disabled (priority category 2)
all other eligible individuals determined to be disabled (priority category 3)
Eligible individuals not currently being served are placed on a waiting list.
What Happens If I'm Placed on a Waiting List?
While you are on the waiting list, the DOR will provide you with information and referrals to other services that may help you reach your employment goal until you receive DOR services.
The DOR will also:
notify you every 90 days as to which category is being served
notify you as soon as funds are available, and when you will be served based on your application date.
What If I Don't Want to Wait?
Included in your periodic notification of priority categories will be form DR 68D - Wait List Notice.
To remain on or be removed from the waiting list, you must fill out the form, print, sign and mail it to your assigned counselor at your local DOR office.
I'm Dissatisfied with Some Decisions Related to My Services. How Do I Solve This Problem?
To the extent possible, you should try to resolve your disagreements at a local level with your counselor or the Rehabilitation Supervisor.
If your concerns are still not resolved to your satisfaction, you can request an Administrative Review of the situation by the District Administrator.
An advocate from the Client Assistance Program (CAP) can help you request and prepare for an Administrative Review. They can also represent you at the review.
What Do I Do If I Disagree with the Administrative Review Decision?
If you do not want to have an Administrative Review, or having had one, if you are dissatisfied with the action or decision of the Administrative Review, you may request a Fair Hearing.
Requests for a Fair Hearing must be made in writing and:
submitted within one year after a DOR decision or action that you disagree with.
OR
filed with the DOR within 30 days of your receiving the Administrative Review decision.
Once your request for a fair hearing is received, you will get a response within two weeks indicating if your appeal has been accepted. If it has, a hearing will be scheduled within 60 days, unless you agree to a delay.
When you receive notification that your case has been accepted, you will get a hearing confirmation form that provides detailed instructions.
You will need to prepare a detailed, written summary of the decision / action taken by DOR that you are appealing. Explain why you believe the decision / action was incorrect and what corrective action you are seeking. Copies of any evidence that supports your position need to be included with the confirmation form.
At the hearing, you may:
appear in person
present only written information
be accompanied by a representative or other advocate of your choice
bring witnesses
A decision will be made within 15 days after the hearing. If you are not satisfied with the Fair Hearing decision, you have the right to file a petition, within six months, with the California Superior Court to review the matter.
How Would Mediation Help Me Solve Disagreements?
Mediation is another option for resolving disputes between you and the DOR.
The goals of mediation are:
to fully describe both sides of the dispute
to explore options for resolving the problem, and
to reach mutually satisfying solutions.
If both you and the Department agree to mediation, a qualified, impartial mediator is available, at no cost to you, to help you and the Department find solutions.
An advocate from the Client Assistance Program (CAP) can help you request and prepare for mediation. They can also represent you at the mediation meeting.


Big news – big changes! In July, I helped at the Learning ZoneXpress exhibitor booth at the national FCCLA conference in Nashville. While there I realized how much I missed classroom teaching. So when I returned home I researched part time FACS job openings in my area (which were aplenty by the way). I found a good prospect but before applying for the position I contacted the building FACS teacher and the principal to learn more about their school. I asked them questions about the school climate, classroom size, the school schedule, the teacher schedule and challenges they face as a building. I KNOW that every school has its challenges, I had to determine if these were the challenges I wanted to face day in and day out.
Both the teacher and the principal were candid about the challenges, had positive attitudes and loved working in their building. The principal described the FACS program as hands-on, relevant and engaging; she mentioned that the FACS teachers worked hard to meet the needs of their students. Woo hoo! I could embrace this school and its challenges. When I interviewed for the position, I found the people I met to be truly friendly, caring and warm. This included the secretary in the front office, which I believe is HUGE tell-tale sign a school’s climate. I was impressed and pleased with the position. I was offered the job and here I am as a seasoned teacher, attending NEW teacher workshops in my new district. Lots of changes are happening and in the works.
How about you? As you anticipate and reflect on the start of a new school year, what changes and challenges are you facing? How will you be a positive change agent for your students? What changes can you make (and actually carry out) that will make your teaching experience more satisfying and less draining? Be emancipatory! What are your common state of affairs, what are your desired outcomes, and what are you going to do to get there? YOU can do this, YOU are the expert in change.
Whatever twists and turns you face this year, I wish you a wonderful and life changing (positive) school year for both you and your students!


Increased competition in the NJ business environment places significant pressure on employers to control costs. Premiums are based, in part, on the extent and severity of a policyholder's workers' compensation claims. However, many costs associated with workers' compensation insurance are considered manageable expenses.
NJM offers the following resources to help policyholders prevent accidents and control their workers' compensation insurance expenses:


While it varies, the ideal range for blood glucose in most adults is between 70 and 130 milligrams per deciliter before meals. This increases to less than 180 milligrams per deciliter within two hours of eating, as Healthline explains.Continue Reading
Blood glucose transports needed energy to cells, explains WebMD. Blood glucose levels are tested by either a fasting plasma test or an oral glucose test. Both tests require fasting for at least eight hours. For the fasting test, blood is drawn and tested immediately, while the oral glucose test is taken by consuming a sugary beverage, waiting two hours, then testing glucose levels.Learn more about Medical Ranges & Levels


By Karen Johnson
While Canada’s central bank is forecasting stronger economic growth next year, it can’t be entirely pleased about the two engines it sees driving that growth.
The first, Canadian consumption, has been worryingly in overdrive. The second, business investment, has been stubbornly unreliable.
A failure in either engine could imperil the modest, 2.3% economic growth the Bank of Canada sees in 2013, according to its October forecasts.


Systematic Inquiry Into Barriers to Researcher Access: Evidence From a Homeless Shelter Systematic Inquiry Into Barriers to Researcher Access: Evidence From a Homeless Shelter
Although the Homeless Hub works tirelessly to bring current and up to date content to our site, access to many journal articles is constrained by the subscription restrictions imposed by publishing companies. While the Homeless Hub cannot afford to buy access to the innumerable proprietary journals we link to, we do strive, at least, to bring the knowledge of this content to our users.
Furthermore, the Homeless Hub is committed to the principles of open access and we provide free access to all original Homeless Hub content, thus offering our users the ability to re-use and re-distribute scholarly works as long as there is proper attribution to the author. We feel strongly that this serves the broader community by greatly improving the dissemination, visibility, and impact of research findings.
We will endeavour to improve upon our open access principles in order to continue to provide our users with access to the best and most current research available.
Geographers using qualitative methods face numerous challenges, including barriers to access to the research setting that emerge through the interactions among the researcher's identity, participants, and the research setting itself. However, few researchers have systematically traced, within a single research setting, 1) how barriers originate, 2) how they subsequently complicate the research enterprise, and 3) how they may potentially be overcome. Upon defining various generic barriers to access, I focus on the origins of, encounters with, and potential strategies to overcome two barriers (factions and spatiotemporal limits) during my research experiences at the Palms Mission, an emergency shelter in Central Los Angeles. Ultimately, understanding the negotiaton of these barriers informs the broader research process. (exerpt from abstract Blackwell Synergy).
JOURNAL:The Professional Geographer VOLUME:56 ISSUE:3 PAGES:372-380 PUBLICATION DATE:2004 LOCATION:Los Angeles County, USA


To help ensure that every library instructor engaged in teaching has the context they need to develop their skills, and to ensure that they can do so in a supportive, collaborative environment, the OSUL Teaching and Engagement Department (TED) has articulated a set of standards for OSUL library instructors. These standards, adapted from the Association of College and Research Libraries Standards for Proficiencies for Instruction Librarians and Coordinators 1 provide a framework for goal setting and professional development activities that move all OSUL library instructors toward individual and collective teaching excellence. The document focuses on those standards and proficiencies particularly valued by OSUL library instructors; these include Communication & Outreach, Instructional Design & Assessment, Teaching, Presentation and Leadership.


Employees can now take the promise of flexibility at work into their own hands. This Toolkit offers workers a blueprint for making workflex a reality in their careers, and it provides a realistic perspective on what workflex options are possible for the companies that employ them. It features real-world advice and guidance from workplace experts including self-assessment tools, directions on how to ask for workflex and how-to’s on making it work once implemented. It’s a valuable workflex resource for every worker and manager striving for flexibility at work.
For more workplace effectiveness and flexibility resources, please visit the When Work Works website.


William Shakespeare expertly inserted a play into his play in
Hamlet, permitting layers of drama to unfold onstage in unison.
While a coal company can hardly be expected to rival Shakespeare's eloquence,
Peabody Energy Joy Global POSCO The play Wall Street, too, has an undeniable flair for drama. Peabody's earnings and additional production cuts displeased the analysts, so the market promptly removed 9% of the company's value upon the market opening Wednesday. A 200% increase in earnings provided no appeasement, nor did the doubling of cash flow to $220 million atop a 15% rise in revenue.
The additional production cuts are both modest in scale and entirely prudent. For context, consider that Peabody shares are now languishing more than 70% below their peak 2008 levels, while benchmark prices for both thermal and metallurgical coal are poised for settlement at levels above the historical mean. Following earnings growth rates in recent quarters between 700% and 1,000%, I can understand why analysts aimed high with projections for Peabody's earnings, but I believe that Fools and analysts alike need to sit through the play once more to decide whether the sell-off was warranted.
The play within the play The dichotomy of coal demand shaping up between Asia and the U.S. continues to gather steam, and corroborating evidence for this predicted trend is Peabody's play within the play. Among steelmakers, we find scrappy stalwarts like Nucor U.S. Steel Massey
With a foot in China's door, and spare domestic capacity awaiting the long-term impacts of underinvestment in future supply, Peabody Energy is far more stable than Hamlet ever was.
Further Foolishness:


How long has this been going on? How often does it happen?
Are you there?
Twice this year enough to make me stop driving only lasts for less than one minute or so
does it involve the eye at all...pain, watering, blurred vision?
This could represent one of the trigeminal autonomic cephalgias. The trigeminal nerve is the 5th cranial nerve (there is one on each side of the head). It supplies sensation to the temple region as well as the face. It can be easily irritated and can cause severe boring or lancinating pain.
Short lasting unilateral neuralgiform (SUNCT) headache attacks are very brief, lasting between 5–250 seconds (mean duration 49 seconds). The paroxysms begin abruptly, reaching the maximum intensity within 2–3 seconds; the pain is maintained at the maximum intensity before abating rapidly. Most patients are completely pain-free between attacks.
If these attacks increase in frequency, you can try treating them with indomethacin. This is an anti-inflammatory that often helps.
If ineffective, you could try carbamazepine or lamotrigine. These are typically effective at preventing the attacks.
Please let me know if you have any follow up questions about this.


In 2013, the SEC brought fewer enforcement actions involving financial fraud and issuer disclosure — 68 — than during any year in the previous decade. Even including Foreign Corrupt Practices Act cases, the number was still a record-low 73, compared to 94 cases brought the previous year and far down from the high-water mark of 219 in 2007. But recent developments suggest that the downward trend will turn, perhaps dramatically, in 2014.
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While talking with the salesperson at the kickboxing gym I recently visited, one thing that he mentioned that made sense was that many people stretch at the wrong time. I have always been under the impression that stretching before any workout is good for you. In general it is, but the key question is:
When is the best time to stretch? Stretching while your muscles are cold could lead to tearing and muscle strain. Cold muscles do not have sufficient blood supply and are not as flexible.
From what I have been hearing and reading, a better time to stretch is after a warm-up consisting of light exercises. A nice warm-up increases blood flow to your muscles making them more pliable. It is important to keep the stretching light to moderate as over-stretching can lead to injury as well.
Below is a video of of and showing examples of warm-up exercises with Sydney Harbour as his background.


The expected rebound in housing data now that winter weather has abated failed to materialize as the latest permits and housing starts data missed expectations by a wide margin. Building permits fell by -5.70% month over month compared to a -2.00% contraction forecast with housing starts climbing a meager 2.00% in contrast to the estimate of 15.90% expansion. The time for blaming the weather on poor figures has passed and highlights that the housing economy still is not on firm footing and remains on a knife edge. Meanwhile, Federal Reserve members continue to talk up higher interest rates with Vice Chair Stanley Fischer highlighting that “markets can’t depend on Fed staying on hold forever.” The big reaction in financial markets was a move to the upside in gold as commentary sent the dollar tumbling.


Lysosomes are a relatively modern discovery in cell biology; they were observed by British cytologist and biochemist Christian de Duve (1917–2013) in the early 1950s. In 1955, after six years of experiments, de Duve was convinced that he had found an organelle that had not been previously described and was involved in intracellular digestion (lysis)—he named the organelle a lysosome. This organelle was the first to be described entirely on biochemical criteria; the results were later verified using electron microscopy. In 1974, de Duve, Belgian biologist Albert Claude (1898–1983), and Romanian cell biologist George Palade (1912–2008) shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their work detailing the functions of the lysosome.


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To whitewash a fence, first create a heater mixture of crushed limestone and water. Once this mixture has cooled and cured, it is then applied to the fence to create a durable exterior coating. Whitewash mixtures are very adhesive and become both hard and dense once they have cooled. Adding corn starch, wheat flour and other substances to the mixture is a common way to achieve the desired color. Whitewash is typically used as a cost-effective alternative to paints.
Create the whitewash mixture in a durable container such as a wooden or galvanized-steel bucket. Fill the bucket halfway with water before adding lime and stirring the mixture with a wooden rod or paint stirrer. The mixture should sit overnight before removing any excess water and stirring the remaining mixture. Salt is then added at a ratio of approximately one cup per gallon of water used and the mixture is again stirred until it achieves a thicker consistency. Create only enough mixture as needed, and add powdered milk or paperhanger’s wheat paste to keep the lime from resettling to the bottom. Apply the mixture to the fence with a disposable whitewash brush.
Whitewash cures through a chemical reaction with the carbon dioxide found in the atmosphere to form calcium carbonate. Whitewash mixtures are suitable for a wide range of exterior surfaces and are especially effective on adobe-like materials.Learn more about Outdoor


"We watch over every case, roll, or box of product as if our life depended on it. We strive to provide more control over the handling and movement of your products than you could provide yourself. At Grand, we have one mission - Do it right, and do it better than our customer expects. Always!"
Dave SchulmanPresidentGrand WorldwideLogistics Corporation
Your products are the lifeline of your company. When they leave your hands, you entrust them to a supply chain that can make or break you. We've built our organization on the feedback we have heard from every major manufacturer, importer and logistics provider we've ever worked with. It's a system built on providing the comfort of knowing that your products are handled with the utmost care, remain 100% secure at all times, and are managed by people and processes that are always in control.
Your customers count on you to meet their demand. Nothing can be left to chance. Efficiently moving your product through your supply chain requires the expertise to manage air, water, rail, and over-the-road transportation. It also requires warehouse management to ensure that your products are always in proximity and ready to supply the markets you serve.
At Grand Worldwide, we've built our business on the foundation that each link in the supply chain must be aligned at every step along the way.
Grand provides you with virtual control of your products through WMS and Logistics Systems at all facilities. Grand Worldwide is your single source to manage the movement of product from your plant to your customer's door, and every step in between.
In place. In sight. Always.
If you could warehouse your products more effectively, ensure their security at all times and have on-line access to their status 24x7, would your supply chain become more efficient?
Whether by rail, container or truck, we can handle your products the way you demand. By doing so, we provide the support you need to become a more effective supplier to your customer.
If Grand Worldwide can do this for you, what are you waiting for? Give us a call today. We’re always here to help.


It has been reported that there are high-density lipoprotein (HDL) and LDL binding sites on platelets, and those binding sites are reduced in familial hyperlipidemia (7), (8).
Binding of 111In-labeled HDL to platelets from normolipidemic volunteers and patients with heterozygous familial hyperlipidemia.
It is reported that aortic atherosclerosis is often present in patients with homozygous familial hyperlipidemia
, but its incidence is rare in heterozygous patients (8).
We treat pediatric patients all the time," he said, "not only those with familial hyperlipidemias
but also those with metabolic syndrome.


Two recent enhancements provide added functionality to the Internal Revenue Service’s Online Payment Agreement application. The first permits individuals who have not yet received a bill to establish pre-assessed agreements on current tax year Form 1040 liabilities. The second allows practitioners with valid authorizations to remain in the application to request agreements for multiple clients.
With the filing deadline approaching, the Internal Revenue Service today announced enhancements to the interactive Online Payment Agreement application on IRS.gov.
The Web-based application allows eligible taxpayers or their authorized representatives to self-qualify, apply and receive immediate notification of approval for installment agreements – including paperless direct debit agreements.
The IRS estimates that over 75 percent of those eligible for an installment agreement can establish one using this application. Since launching in October, about 3,000 taxpayers have successfully used it to set up a payment agreement with the IRS.
Paying taxes on time and in full avoids unnecessary penalties and interest. However, taxpayers who cannot pay in full may request a payment agreement. To be eligible, a taxpayer must first file all required tax returns and be current with estimated tax payments if applicable.
Individuals with a balance due notice can access the application using the following information: Taxpayer identification number (generally a Social Security Number) and Personal identification number, which can be established online using the caller identification number from the balance due notice.
Individuals who have not yet received a bill must provide the following information to establish pre-assessed agreements on current year returns:
Trending The balance due shown on the return Taxpayer identification number Spouse’s taxpayer identification number (if applicable) Date of birth Adjusted Gross Income from last year’s income tax return Total tax from last year’s income tax return.
Three payment options are available when applying online:
Pay in full — Taxpayers who pay within 10 days save interest and penalties. Short-term extension — Receive a short-term extension of up to 120 days. No fee is charged, but additional penalties and interest will accrue. Monthly payment plan — A user fee will be added to the amount owed, and interest and penalty will continue to accrue on the unpaid balance.User fees are $105 for non-direct debit agreements and $52 for direct debit agreements. A reduced fee of $43 is available for individuals with income at or below certain levels.
To access the application, use the pull-down menu under “I need to...” on the front page of IRS.gov and select “Set Up a Payment Plan.”


Have you ever felt you're not getting through to the person you're talking to or not coming across the way you intend? You're not alone. That's the bad news. But there is something we can do about it. Heidi Grant Halvorson, social psychologist and best-selling author, explains why we're often misunderstood and how we can fix that.
Most of us assume that other people see us as we see ourselves and that they see us as we truly are. But neither is true. Our everyday interactions are colored by subtle biases that distort how others see us - and shape our perceptions of them. You can learn to clarify the message you're sending once you understand the lenses that shape perception:
Trust. Are you friend or foe? Power. How much influence do you have over me? Ego. Do you make me feel insecure?
Based on decades of research in psychology and social science, Halvorson explains how these lenses affect our interactions - and how to manage them. Once you understand the science of perception, you'll communicate more clearly, send the messages you intend to send, and improve your personal relationships. You'll also become a fairer and more accurate judge of others. Halvorson even offers an evidence-based action plan for repairing a damaged reputation.
This audiobook is not about making a good impression, although it will certainly help you do that. It's about coming across as you intend. It's about the authenticity we all strive for.
PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying reference material will be available in your Library section along with the audio.
©2015 Heidi Grant Halvorson (P)2015 Audible, Inc.


Why use smart materials?
Since most smart materials do not add mass, engineers can endow structures with built-in responses to a myriad of contingencies. In their various forms, these materials can adapt to their environments by changing characteristics and can provide information about structural and environmental changes.
A single source on numerous aspects of intelligent materials Smart Materials focuses on many types of novel materials, including ceramics, hybrid composites, shape memory alloys, chitosan-based gels, adhesives, oxides, polymers, flip-chip technology,magnetorheological fluids,electrorheological materials, nanotubes, and sensors. It highlights the interdisciplinary nature of these materials by showing how they can be used in scores of areas, such as drug delivery systems, health monitoring, fiber optics, nanoscale engineering, vibration control, andmolecular imprinting. Gain insight from leading experts who specialize in smart materials technology
With over fifty years of experience working and teaching in this field, the editor has compiled numerous insightful contributions from an extensive group of leading experts. In this volume, they share their expertise and explore the innovative progress that has occurred in smart material products, components, systems, and structures.
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This summer’s chemistry section at University of Illinois-Springfield began with the same challenge that I always face with my students: how to get them to engage with the material and get excited about what they are learning. Keeping students’ minds active in the classroom is so important, and interacting with students in a meaningful way encourages them to actively apply their knowledge – which is an essential step to track how well students understand class material, before they are tested and graded in the course.
Chemistry is a complex subject, and it often takes many students a significant amount of time to grasp and master the concepts presented in both introductory and advanced-level courses. As an educator, I’m always interested in ways to make the learning process for my students better and easier. I have watched the recent emergence of mobile education apps, and brainstormed ways to incorporate mobile learning into my chemistry classes. There is no question that students enjoy learning with mobile devices, such as the iPad, and these are meaningful learning tools.
(
Next page: A new chemistry app can help students)


Auto enrolment, the legal obligation on employers to automatically enrol certain workers into a pension arrangement and contribute with respect to them, has been rolled out since October 2012, with larger employers being subject to compliance first. However, it is now the turn of smaller employers, with, ultimately even those employing just one or two people being subject to the requirements. There has been an article on this in our employment publication 'Law at Work' which includes a brief reminder of what is involved.


Already threatened by climate change and shrinking sea ice, the polar bear also contends with plastic pollution and pesticides in its environment that are harming the endocrine systems and reproductive systems of these mammals. This is a day we can focus on the challenges polar bears face in a warming Arctic, and how we can help.
For example, heating and cooling account for roughly half the energy consumption in an average home. The Thermostat Challenge is part of Polar Bear International's Save Our Sea Ice (SOS) campaign, a series of celebrations centered around action on climate change. It begins each year on International Polar Bear Day, February 27th, and continues through Polar Bear Week in the fall—although you can take the challenges at any time.


When it comes to controlling absenteeism among workers in adverse working conditions, don’t underestimate the power of the mind. For a research paper published in the Journal of Applied Psychology, Michal Biron of the University of Haifa and Tilburg University and Peter Bamberger of Tel Aviv University and Cornell University analyzed transit workers to determine which factors influence absenteeism in environments in which there is an elevated risk of physical injury (e.g., in the construction industry) or conditions are perceived as noxious or threatening, such as slippery floors, noise, toxic agents or the prospect of physical confrontation, as is commonly encountered by retail, transit and health-care workers.
However, those dangers were not the only determinants of absenteeism. The researchers found that employees were even more likely to skip work if their coworkers took a lax view of showing up, and if they believed their supervisors were apathetic and unwilling to offer help, such as safety training, that might mitigate the risks posed by the workplace.


Evaluation of devices to enhance miner self-escape in smoke-filled entries.
Authors
Harteis-SP; Alexander-DW; Chasko-LL; Slaughter-CJ
Source
2011 SME Annual Meeting, February 27 - March 2, Denver, Colorado, Preprint 11-001. Englewood, CO: Society for Mining, Metallurgy, and Exploration, Inc., Preprint 11-001, 2011 Feb; :1-9
Abstract
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Office of Mine Safety and Health Research (OMSHR), with the assistance of cooperating underground mining operations and state agencies, has conducted research exploring devices and technologies that could be used to assist miners navigating through smoke and dust resulting from a fire or explosion. Recent events in mines confirm that smoke and dust can enter and contaminate mine escapeways creating an atmosphere with severely reduced visibility. This reduced visibility results in substantially increased escape times, possible disorientation or confusion, and increased stress levels, and may prevent evacuation altogether. Tools or devices that assist miners in navigating through smoke-filled areas void of lifelines could make the difference in successful escape from the mine. This paper presents the results of OMSHR research to identify and evaluate tools and devices that could provide meaningful information to evacuating miners in areas with limited visibility and without the benefit of a lifeline.
Keywords
Mining-industry; Underground-mining; Fire-fighting; Explosions; Smoke-control; Dust-control; Emergency-equipment; Emergency-responders; Emergency-response; Rescue-measures; Rescue-workers; Engineering-controls; Control-technology; Mine-escapes; Mine-rescue; Miners; Visual-aids; Eyesight; Escape-systems
Document Type
Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Source Name
2011 SME Annual Meeting, February 27 - March 2, Denver, Colorado, Preprint 11-001


Canonical Theism is a post-Protestant vision for the renewal of both theology and church. The editors call for the retrieval and redeployment of the full range of materials, persons, and practices that make up the canonical heritage of the church, including scripture, doctrine, sacred image, saints, sacraments, and more.
The central thesis of the work is that the good and life-giving Holy Spirit has equipped the church with not only a canon of scripture but also with a rich canonical heritage of materials, persons, and practices. However, much of the latter has been ignored or cast aside. This unplumbed resource of canonical heritage waits for the church to rediscover its wealth. With a bold set of thirty theses, the authors chart and defend that mine of opportunity. They then invite the entire church to explore the benefits of their discoveries.
This ambitious book offers insights to be integrated into the church body, renewing the faith that nourished converts, created saints, and upheld martyrs across the years.
From the Circuit Rider review: "'Canonical theism is both a vision of church renewal for the twenty-first century and a long-haul, intergenerational theological project' (xii).
"With these opening words, William J. Abraham of Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology introduces a new set of theses and essays on how the church at the dawn of the millennium can constructively engage in theology and ministry. What must take primacy is the canonical heritage of the church—that “great gift of medicinal salvation” mediated through the treasures, persons, bishops, saints, icons, and councils of the church’s life, created, guided, and sustained by the work of the Holy Spirit (xvi, p. 2 – Thesis IX)." (Click here to read the entire review.)


A common assumption in political economy is that voters are self-regarding maximizers of material goods, choosing their preferred level of social spending accordingly. In contrast, students of American social policy have emphasized the key role of an other-regarding motive that makes support for social transfers conditional on the perceived deservingness of recipients. The two motives often conflict as large portions of the poor (rich) find recipients undeserving (deserving). Under what conditions might one motive trump the other? I argue that material self-interest overruns perceptions of deservingness when the share of income affected by social transfers is high. Using European data, I show that low (high) income individuals are less (more) likely to be driven by considerations of deservingness. This framework has important macro-level implications: the more working-age benefits are evenly spread across income groups, the less likely considerations of deservingness will permeate public debates on welfare state reform.
Subjects:
Social policy preferences Deservingness Self-interest Heuristic Welfare state reform


In Reply.
—We appreciate the thoughtful comments of Machemer and Heriot regarding our article.1 The experimental work they report2 demonstrates in rabbit eyes that after removal of the sensory retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), cells (which appear to be pigment epithelial derived) will migrate and proliferate over the defect. We do not know from their experimental studies if the cells within the defect are needed for preservation of visual acuity within the defect (since their animal model involves removal of the sensory retina).Machemer and Heriot also suggest that their model lends support to the hypothesis that "usually no leakage occurs and only a window defect remains visible" following a tear of the RPE. However, if only a window defect were noted following a tear of the RPE, one would not expect to see the intense hyperfluorescence that is seen in the late angiographic frames showing the
Bressler NM, Finkelstein DP, Sunness JS, Maguire AM, Yarian D. Retinal Pigment Epithelial Tears Through the Fovea With Preservation of Good Visual Acuity-Reply. Arch Ophthalmol. 1991;109(11):1493. doi:10.1001/archopht.1991.01080110026010
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The RMA Credit Risk Council presents its 2016 Industry Insights. Started in March 2014, these perspectives from the front line are an annual review of the critical credit topics currently affecting the industry. While the issues and challenges change from year to year, RMA’s commitment to thought leadership and providing value to our membership remains at the forefront of our mission.
The Credit Risk Council supports professionals who are responsible for establishing, maintaining, or carrying out credit risk management policies. The council focuses on funded and off-balance-sheet risk management, including capital markets activity, and other forms of credit intermediation and risk mitigation.
The RMA Credit Risk Council 2016 report covers the following topics:
Credit risk is a critical area in today's banking environment. Download this article for insights in the credit/lending area.


Objectives: Expectancy-Value Model (EVM) is the most structured model in psychology to predict attitudes by measuring attitudinal attributes (AAs) and relevant external variables. Because health value could be categorized as attitude, we aimed to apply EVM to explore its usefulness in explaining variances in health values and investigate underlying factors. Methods: Focus group discussion was carried out to identify the most common and significant AAs toward 5 different health states (coded as 11111, 11121, 21221, 32323, and 33333 in EuroQol Five-Dimension (EQ-5D) descriptive system). AAs were measured in a sum of multiplications of subjective probability (expectancy) and perceived value of attributes with 7-point Likert scales. Health values were measured using visual analog scales (VAS, range 0–1). External variables (age, sex, ethnicity, education, housing, marital status, and concurrent chronic diseases) were also incorporated into survey questionnaire distributed by convenience sampling among eligible respondents. Univariate analyses were used to identify external variables causing significant differences in VAS. Multiple linear regression model (MLR) and hierarchical regression model were used to investigate the explanatory power of AAs and possible significant external variable(s) separately or in combination, for each individual health state and a mixed scenario of five states, respectively. Results: Four AAs were identified, namely, "worsening your quality of life in terms of health" (WQoL), "adding a burden to your family" (BTF), "making you less independent" (MLI) and "unable to work or study" (UWS). Data were analyzed based on 232 respondents (mean [SD] age: 27.7 [15.07] years, 49.1% female). Health values varied significantly across 5 health states, ranging from 0.12 (33333) to 0.97 (11111). With no significant external variables identified, EVM explained up to 62% of the variances in health values across 5 health states. The explanatory power of 4 AAs were found to be between 13% and 28% in separate MLR models (P < 0.05). When data were analyzed for each health state, variances in health values became small and explanatory power of EVM was reduced to a range between 8% and 23%. Conclusion: EVM was useful in explaining variances of health values and predicting important factors. Its power to explain small variances might be restricted due to limitations of 7-point Likert scale to measure AAs accurately. With further improvement and validation of a compatible continuous scale for more accurate measurement, EVM is expected to explain health values to a larger extent.