It pays to support Denison. Literally. With the income-producing gift options below, you can create a secondary source of revenue or augment your retirement assets while enjoying major tax incentives.
Charitable Gift Annuity
After making your gift to Denison, you receive a fixed annual dollar amount for life, along with an income tax deduction. The principal remaining at your death then passes on to Denison.
Deferred Payment Gift Annuity
With this plan, you transfer cash, marketable securities, or even personal property/real estate into an annuity. Starting at a future date—usually the start of your retirement—Denison will pay you a set amount from this annuity.
Whether you make one gift transfer or a series of transfers, you will realize an immediate charitable deduction for the gift portion and numerous tax advantages over time.
Charitable Remainder Trust
This trust pays income to your chosen beneficiaries for their lifetime or a specified number of years. At the end of the term, the assets pass to Denison. In some cases, establishing this trust with the transfer of a growth stock may increase its payout rate over the stock’s standard annual dividends and protect you from taxes on its profits.
Charitable Lead Trust
This option helps you avoid the heavy gift and estate tax burdens incurred by directly transferring property to family members. Unlike the other trust options, a lead trust pays income to Denison from the start for a specified term of years, and the principal eventually reverts back to you or other non-charitable beneficiaries. Under certain conditions, the lead trust will generate an immediate income tax deduction.
Pooled Income Fund
With this option, donor gifts of cash and securities are pooled for investment purposes, and beneficiaries receive a proportionate share of the fund’s net income for life. Denison receives the fund’s principal value upon the death of the beneficiaries.
Remainder Interest in a Residence or Farm
You can give property to Denison and still retain the right to occupy the residence or operate the farm during your lifetime. This giving option enables you to receive a charitable income tax deduction for the present value of the remainder interest—and avoid any potential capital-gain tax on built-in appreciation.
What’s your best option? Let our experts help you find a plan that matches your goals.


The Region Forward Coalition met at
The Washington Post and toured global incubator 1776 for their quarterly meeting in July, which focused on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship in metropolitan Washington.
1776, led by Managing Director David Zipper, helps entrepreneurs enter sectors that are typically highly regulated and therefore challenging to break into, such as health care, transportation, energy, and education. Their members range from companies providing solutions for patient-doctor communication to recharging your electric vehicle anywhere in the world.
According to Zipper, advancing innovation in the D.C. region depends on the ability to transcend jurisdictional boundaries, to connect research and development from universities and labs with the private sector, and connect start-ups with the venture capital and other resources they need to grow, whether those resources come from the District of Columbia, Maryland, or Virginia. Dr. Courtney Silverthorn of the Federal Labs Consortium (FLC) described how FLC helps federal agencies accelerate tech transfer of R&D into the private sector through patents, information exchange, licensing, and more.
COG is working to forge these types of connections in the region.
In April, the COG Board of Directors approved a resolution to explore opportunities for collaboration between COG and the FLC, as a way to advance regional economic competitiveness. According to a proposed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between COG and the FLC, the organizations will work with partner agencies, federal, business, university, and other stakeholders to identify regional priority sectors that can be supported by assistance from the federal labs. This includes convening a forum of federal labs, business incubators, and local economic directors to share opportunities for tech transfer, and identifying ways to support innovation and increased tech transfer from federal labs to the private sector.
The Washington Post’s Jonathan O’Connell expressed his hope that the subsidy game which often leads companies to locate where they can get the biggest tax breaks, rather than a place where they can grow and thrive over the long term-is fading. Instead of spending major resources courting individual companies or agencies, officials could focus on placemaking and creating conditions in which businesses can thrive-strategies that can benefit the wider community long-term. Strong Activity Centers, or communities that offer housing, transportation, jobs, services, and amenities, provide access to countless opportunities for residents, workers, and businesses. They are critical to ensuring the region’s future competitiveness and success.
In support of the COG Board’s focus on economic competitiveness this year, over the next few months, the Region Forward Coalition will be developing an evaluation of the region’s performance on a variety of metrics and indicators related to competitiveness.


Meta-Analysis of Large-Scale Randomized Trials to Determine the Effectiveness of Inhibition of the Renin-Angiotensin Aldosterone System in Heart Failure. Emdin CA., Callender T., Cao J., McMurray JJ., Rahimi K.
Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) inhibition is 1 of the most effective strategies for the management of heart failure with reduced systolic function. However, trials that included patients with preserved systolic function have not shown a clear beneficial effect. Pooling evidence from several heart failure trials provides the opportunity to better assess the differential effects of RAAS inhibition across the continuum of systolic function. The authors searched MEDLINE for large-scale trials published from 1966 to March 2014 that compared RAAS inhibitors against placebos. Studies were eligible for inclusion if they were conducted in heart failure populations with either clinical signs of heart failure or reduced ejection fractions. Inverse variance-weighted fixed-effects meta-analysis was used to pool outcomes of interest, with metaregression used to test for trends. In 16 trials with 54,621 randomized heart failure participants, RAAS inhibition reduced the risks for hospitalization for heart failure by 20% (relative risk [RR] 0.80, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.77 to 0.83), cardiovascular mortality by 14% (RR 0.86, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.90), and all-cause mortality by 11% (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.85 to 0.92). However, proportional effects decreased with increasing mean left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) for all outcomes (p for trend <0.01). Although there was no significant proportional effect on cardiovascular and all-cause mortality in trials with a mean LVEF >50%, RAAS inhibition was still found to decrease the risk for heart failure hospitalization in patients with preserved LVEFs (RR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.97). In conclusion, the relative beneficial effects of RAAS inhibition in heart failure decreases with increasing left ventricular systolic function. Nonetheless, RAAS inhibition significantly reduces the risks for all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients with moderately reduced LVEFs and the incidence of hospitalization in patients with preserved left ventricular function.


In what’s being heralded as a win for consumers and libraries, and a loss for publishers, the SCOTUS overturned a previous ruling against Kirtsaeng, who had been buying textbooks printed (legally) abroad—where they cost significantly less than they do in, say, the United States—and then reselling them in the U.S. on eBay and turning a handsome profit in the process.
In a statement yesterday, Wiley’s President & CEO Stephen M. Smith wrote: “We are disappointed that the U.S. Supreme Court has decided in favor of Supap Kirtsaeng and overturned the Second Circuit’s ruling. It is a loss for the U.S. economy, and students and authors in the U.S. and around the world.”
In a separate statement, the American Library Association touted the ruling as a “total victory for libraries and their users,” as had the court overturned the “first sale” doctrine—which states that after someone has purchased a copyrighted work, they are free to lend, gift, rent and resell that work—it would have had deleterious consequences for lending institutions, as well as used-book sellers: “It is especially gratifying that Justice Breyer’s majority opinion focused on the considerable harm that the Second Circuit’s opinion would have caused libraries.”
Over at
Forbes, Gary Shaprio, president and CEO of the Consumer Electronics Association, who some 30 years ago was involved in a similar legal battle focused on the VCR, writes, in a opinion piece that imagines the far-reaching implications of this decision beyond publishing:
“Just as the survival of the first-sale doctrine in 1985 allowed the home video market to thrive, the Supreme Court’s decision Tuesday could have potentially significant applications beyond just textbooks or, more broadly, digital content. If the reasoning is extended to pharmaceuticals, for example, Americans would no longer be the chumps who pay the highest prices in the world simply because they’re not allowed to shop overseas where prices are lower. Buying the same drugs cheaper overseas could dramatically reduce our burdensome health care costs.”
What’s your take? Victory for consumers? Defeat for publishers? Or something a little more nuanced?


The Volkswagen (VW) Cabriolet is a convertible car manufactured from 1979 to 2002. VW Cabriolets can develop various operational problems that can often be detected and resolved via some basic troubleshooting checks.
Other People Are Reading Reduced Engine Power
The VW Cabriolet engine can bog down, or lose power, due to a malfunctioning fuel pump, which, under normal circumstances, draws fuel from the gas tank and pumps it to the engine. A defective fuel pump may cause reduced fuel to reach the engine, resulting in less power. Replacing the fuel pump typically restores proper engine function.
Engine Won't Start
If the VW Cabriolet fails to start but emits a buzzing noise when the key is turned in the ignition, lack of spark may be to blame. Check the spark plugs for dirt, sludge, corrosion or other damage, and clean and replace them as needed to restore proper VW Cabriolet engine function.
Electric Windows Malfunction
The electric windows on a VW Cabriolet can malfunction due to a bad window-switch control panel, which connects to contacts located at a switch for each window. A burnt out or defective control panel may not send power to the individual window switches, resulting in electric window failure. Replacing the control panel typically restores VW Cabriolet electric window function.
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Halo Electronics, Inc. v. Pulse Electronics, Inc., No. 14-1513; Stryker Corp. v. Zimmer Inc., No. 141520 (June 13, 2016).
In a pair of closely watched patent cases, the Supreme Court yesterday lowered the requirements for proving enhanced damages under Section 284 of the Patent Act, which authorizes the courts to "increase the damages up to three times the amount found or assessed."
In a 2007 case,
In re Seagate, the Federal Circuit had held that enhanced damages required a clear and convincing showing that the alleged infringer acted in a manner that was both objectively and subjectively reckless or unreasonable. The Federal Circuit later interpreted Seagate to mean that enhanced damages were unavailable, even where a jury found a high probability of willful infringement, if the alleged infringer's defense "was not objectively baseless, or a `sham.'" Further, the Federal Circuit had adopted a tripartite standard under which it reviewed the objective recklessness prong of enhanced damages de novo, the subjective prong for substantial evidence, and the overall decision for an abuse of discretion. Yesterday's decisions reformulated the underlying test for enhanced damages, simplified the standard of review, and rejected the clear-and-convincing evidence requirement.
Chief Justice Roberts' opinion for the unanimous Court began by reviewing the history of Section 284 and its predecessors. Under pre-
Seagate decisions, enhanced damages served principally to punish bad conduct by the infringer. Although there is "`no precise rule or formula' for awarding damages under 284," the Court noted, prior decisions emphasized the need for "vindictive" or "aggravated" conduct, and early federal appellate decisions likewise imposed enhanced damages "where the infringer acted deliberately or willfully." Although some courts had provided for enhanced damages so the patentee could recover the costs of litigation, the Court noted "[t]hat concern dissipated with the enactment in 1952 of 35 U.S.C. 285, which authorized district courts to award reasonable attorneys' fees to prevailing parties in `exceptional cases.'"
Citing its 2014 decision in
Octane Fitness, LLC v. ICON Health & Fitness, Inc.--which broadened district courts' discretion to award attorneys' fees under 285--the Court rejected the two-part Seagate standard as "unduly rigid" and "impermissibly encumber[ing]" the district courts' statutory discretion. The Court explained that the "principal problem" with the Seagate standard was its objective recklessness component. The Court noted that there could be "deliberate wrongdoing" such as the "`wanton and malicious pirate' who intentionally infringes another's patent--with no doubts about its validity or any notion of a defense--for no purpose other than to steal the patentee's business." In such circumstances, the Court continued, it was "not clear why an independent showing of objective recklessness--by clear and convincing evidence, no less-- should be a prerequisite to enhanced damages."
The Court explained that "culpability is generally measured against the knowledge of the actor at the time of the challenged conduct." The Court has held that "a person is reckless if he acts `knowing or having reason to know of facts which would lead a reasonable man to realize' his actions are unreasonably risky." Nothing in this holding suggests "look[ing] to facts that the defendant neither knew nor had reason to know at the time he acted." A contrary rule would allow an infringer to escape liability based on a defense that the infringer "did not act on . . . or was not even aware of" at the time of infringement--
i.e., based "solely on the strength of his attorney's ingenuity" in developing such a defense.
Noting that Section 284 provided no specific evidentiary burden, and that nothing in the historical practice warranted a heightened burden of proof, the Court also rejected
Seagate's requirement that the need for enhanced damages be shown by clear and convincing evidence. Finally, the Court rejected the Federal Circuit's tripartite standard for appellate review, directing that the Federal Circuit "review [the district courts'] exercises of discretion in light of the longstanding considerations we have identified as having guided both Congress and the courts" over the last "two centuries of enhanced damages awards."
Justice Breyer filed a concurring opinion, joined by Justices Kennedy and Alito, emphasizing the importance of uniformity in applying Section 285 and the "limited" role that enhanced damages play in achieving the Patent Act's broader objectives of encouraging the development of, dissemination of knowledge about, and permitting others to benefit from useful inventions. In particular, the concurring justices specifically noted that mere pre-infringement knowledge of a patent without more was not the sort of conduct that the new standard was intended to address.


‘
Vasana Mayam Jagat Sarvam’ is a Sanskrit aphorism declaring that all that exists in the world is unfolding from the seed of inherent karmic propensities (vasanas). Everything in nature, ranging from the atom to the absolute, has its own embedded quality. In human beings, these qualities manifest as ‘vasanas’, which are the karmic residue in one’s soul of past life actions and propensities. These propensities keep surfacing in birth after birth and dictate one’s actions or ‘karma’. For instance, a person who has a ‘vasana’ for stealing will develop the habit in successive births. Or another, who has a ‘vasana’ for sharing, will do so even if he/she has little. Understanding how these ‘vasanas’ develop and how these can be transcended is the practical aspect of spirituality. This becomes all the more important when these inherent propensities block our spiritual progress. However, going beyond these ‘vasanas’ which are entwined in the very fibre of our beings is not easy. A Guru-Sishya bonding is the very natural track to evolve out of these propensities. In this way, a human soul, experiencing the ‘ashta ragas’ (eightfold emotions), evolves to the state of a ‘deva’/‘devi’ (celestial being). At the celestial stage, the soul enjoys the ‘ashta aishwaryas’ (eightfold benedictions) and progresses to the state of a ‘rishi’ to perfect the ‘ashta siddhis’ (eightfold attainment). From this level the soul evolves to the state of ‘bhakti’ (devotion). Navajyothisree Karunakara Guru has said that ‘bhakti’ is a state beyond pleasure (sukham) and pain (dukham). It is this state of neutrality which forms the stepping stone to liberation into the Absolute (mukti). The grace and guidance of the Guru who has experientially transcended all these stages and attained the Absolute are essential in this journey. ‘Guru Gita’, an ancient Indian text which is a part of the Skanda Purana, aptly declares that the Supreme Guru, with the fire of knowledge, burns down the karmic bonds of the disciples accrued through countless incarnations.


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Although the connection of law, passion and emotion has become an established focus in legal scholarship, the extent to which emotion has always been, and continues to be, a significant influence in informing legal reasoning, decision-making, decision-avoidance and legal judgment - rather than an adjunct - is still a matter for critical analysis. Engaging with the underlying social context in which emotional states are a motivational force - and have produced key legal principles and controversial judgments, as evidenced in a range of illustrative legal cases -
Law and the Passions: A Discrete History provides a uniquely inclusive commentary on the significance and influence of emotions in the history and continuing development of legal institutions and legal dogma. Law, it is argued, is a passion; and, as such, it is a primarily emotional endeavour.


English français Parameter Learning in General Equilibrium: The Asset Pricing Implications
Parameter learning strongly amplifies the impact of macro shocks on marginal utility when the representative agent has a preference for early resolution of uncertainty. This occurs as rational belief updating generates subjective long-run consumption risks. We consider general equilibrium models with unknown parameters governing either long-run economic growth, the variance of shocks, rare events, or model selection. Overall, parameter learning generates long-lasting, quantitatively significant additional macro risks that help explain standard asset pricing puzzles.
EPFL-WORKING-188033 Reference
Record created on 2013-08-08, modified on 2016-08-09


The Department of Endoscopy has officially operated since July 2000. the Department provides diagnosis and treatment services for both in-patients, out-patients and patients from other hospitals. There are 10,000 cases of endoscopy done in our Department every year.
The Department of Endoscopy has doctors specializing in Endoscopy and Nursing. The Department of Endoscopy is supported by endoscopic surgeons from other departments of General Surgery, Surgical Urology, Obstetrics and Otorhinolaryngology
The Department consists of 2 procedure rooms. The procedures are included:
- Esophagogastroduodenoscopy
- Colonoscopy - Rectoscopy - Cystoscopy - ERCP
The Department of Endoscopy is equipped with modern equipment which helps surgeons to use video – camera equipment flexibly and advantageously to observe directly lesions on intervention procedures.
Endoscopic surgery
The Endoscopic surgery is a surgical therapy by removing or repairing damaged organs in the body.
The Endoscopic surgery uses a scope connected with a mini- camera and source of light, together with small tools which are inserted into a body through 5-10mm skin incisions.
Video monitor shall display the magnified but sharp pictures of underlying organs in order for surgeons to carry out the operation.
Advantages of the endoscopic surgery:
- Less body damages
- Less blood loss - Less application of pain-killers - Leaving scars smaller.
Therefore, endoscopic surgical patients shall be discharged earlier and back to normal daily activities faster than open operated.
Kinds of endoscopic surgeries are carried out at Van Hanh Hospital:
1. Surgical Gastroenterology – General Surgery
- Cholelithiasis and choledocholithiasis
- Acute appendicitis and complications - Perforation of stomach - Colorectal cancers - Cancer staging - Inguinal hernia - Hepatocele - Lower esophageal sphincter
2. Urology
- Ureteral stones
- Bladder stones - Cystic diseases of the kidney - Renal tumours - Prostatic hypertrophy - Tumours of bladder - Stenosis of ureter
3. Obstetrics
- Benign ovarian tumours
- Pelvic examination - Ectopic pregnancy - Leiomyoma of uterus
4. Otorhinolaryngology
- Sinusitis
- Deviated nasal septum - Polyp of nose and sinuses - Acute otitis media
Necessary information for preparation prior to endoscopy or endoscopic surgery
- Endoscopic surgery is also prepared as an open surgery. A doctor will examine and consult all matters relating to the operation.
- Surgical patients must inform the doctor of their past history. - You need to abstain from food and water 6 hours in advance, and use purge to enema for your bowel cleaning, if necessary. - Stopping using anti-blood clot and anti inflammatory medications 1 week before the operation (or as indicated by doctor).
Necessary information after endoscopic surgery
- When recovery after operation, patients shall be prescribed with medications for pain and vomit.
- Pain from operation wound shall be reduced day by day and increased in movement. It’s a normal thing. Pain shall disappear after 7-10 days. - Patients should get up early and try to walk as soon as possible (within first 24 hrs), go to toilet and around the bed. It helps to avoid postoperative complications. - Patients can drink water or eat porridge, unless no special recommendation is made.
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If you withdraw money from your retirement account but later decide you don't need the distribution, you might be able to put it back in your retirement account if you act fast enough through a rollover. The Internal Revenue Service calls the process of taking money out of a retirement account and putting it back in a rollover, even if it goes back into the same retirement account. However, you're limited to how often you can take advantage of this grace period.
Rollover Rules
You generally have 60 days from the date you receive the distribution from the plan to redeposit it as a rollover. As long as you redeposit the money into the same retirement account or another qualified retirement account within the grace period, you won't owe the taxes or penalties. However, if you don't roll over the money in time and don't get receive a special waiver from the IRS, you'll owe income taxes on the distribution and, unless you're 59 1/2 years old, an additional 10 percent tax penalty. When you redeposit the money, you have to return the same amount withdrawn, including any taxes withheld, not just the amount you received. For example, if you requested a $20,000 distribution but received a check for $18,000 because $2,000 was withheld for income taxes, you would have to redeposit $20,000 to complete the rollover. If you only redeposited $18,000, you'd have to treat the remaining $2,000 as a permanent distribution.
Waivers
The 60-day grace period can be extended under certain circumstances. It is automatically extended if the financial institution receives the money within 60 days, you followed the financial institution's rules for depositing the money, the money was not deposited solely because the financial institution made an error, the money does get deposited within one year of the end of the 60-day grace period and if the financial institution had not made the error it would have been a valid rollover. You must meet all of the conditions to receive the automatic waiver. If you don't qualify for an automatic waiver, you can apply for a hardship waiver. The IRS considers whether the financial institution made errors, whether you didn't complete the rollover within the 60-day grace period because of death, disability, being in prison or overseas or an error by the post office, whether you used the money, such as cashing the check, and how much time has passed. For example, if you didn't complete the rollover in time because you had a heart attack two days after you took the distribution and were incapacitated for three months, you'd probably qualify. However, if you just forgot to redeposit, you won't get a waiver.
Once Per Year
You're limited to using the 60-day grace period to roll over one distribution per account during a 12-month period. For example, if you replaced a distribution from your traditional IRA in May and then took another distribution from that same account in October, you wouldn't be able to roll over that distribution back into the IRA. However, if you took the distribution from your 401(k) plan and you hadn't rolled over a distribution from that account in the past 12 months, you could redeposit that distribution into your 401(k) plan.
Ineligible Distributions
For certain distributions from your retirement accounts, you can't use the 60-day grace period because you cannot roll them over into another retirement plan, no matter how fast you redeposit the money. For example, you can't put back required minimum distributions from the plan or distributions that are part of a series of substantially equal payments. You also can't put back hardship distributions or distributions of dividends from employer securities taken from employer-sponsored plans. Finally, you can't put back corrective distributions, which are distributions taken to fix excess contributions.
Tax Reporting
Even though you won't owe any taxes if you complete the rollover within the 60-day grace period, you still have to report it on your income taxes. Using either Form 1040 or Form 1040A, report the amount of the distribution as a nontaxable IRA distribution or nontaxable pension distribution. Then, assuming you returned the entire amount within 60 days, report $0 for the taxable IRA distribution or pension distribution and write "rollover" next to it to let the IRS know what you did. Finally, if your financial institution withheld any money, include that amount as part of your taxes withheld for the year.
Photo Credits tax forms image by Chad McDermott from Fotolia.com


Worm-like robots for applications including maintenance of small pipes and medical procedures in biological vessels such as the intestines, urethra, and blood vessels, have been the focus of many studies in the last few decades. The robots must be small, reliable, energy efficient, and capable of carrying cargos such as cameras, biosensors, and drugs. In this study, worm locomotion along rigid and compliant terrain is analyzed, and a novel design of worm-like multicell robots actuated by a single motor is presented. The robots employ a screw-like axis for sequencing and coordination of the cells and clamps. This design allows for significant miniaturization and reduces complexity and cost. The design of the robots and analysis of their dynamics and power efficiency are described. Two earthworm and two inchworm prototypes were built to demonstrate their performance. The robots are capable of moving forward, backward, and vertically and consume low power, which allow them to climb for hundreds of meters using onboard batteries.


Merely witnessing the pain of another person can trigger the same pain in an observer. Dr Melita Giummarra presented her findings to the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists’ annual scientific meeting this week in Melbourne.
About one in three people suffer from “somatic contagion” where a person feels pain when they see someone experience it. There are two groups: those who are born with it, known as the congenital variant, and those who acquire it after a trauma, such as amputation.
The former blurs between the self and others, with heightened empathy to those in pain, while those who acquire somatic contagion have reduced empathy and an increased perception of personal pain. A new tool, the Empathy for Pain Scale, charts the reactions of people to pain in others, including those with somatic contagion.Read more at Monash University


© 1999 James A. Fowler You are free to download this outline provided it remains intact without alteration. You are also free to transmit this outline electronically provided that you do so in its entirety with proper citation of authorship included. WORRY
I. Representative Biblical references to "worry"
A. Old Testament
Ps. 37:1-7 - "Fret not yourself...trust in the Lord...trust in Him" Ps. 38:18 - "I am full of anxiety because of my sin" Ps. 94:19 - "my anxious thoughts multiply within me..." Prov. 12:25 - "anxiety in the heart of man weighs it down" Isa. 35:4 - "Say to those with anxious heart, 'Take courage, fear not.'" B. New Testament Matt. 6:25-34 - "do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, or what you shall drink; nor for your body, what you shall put on. ...men of little faith. Do not be anxious...for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things..." Matt. 10:19,20 - "do not be anxious about how or what you will speak...it is not you who speaks, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you" Mk. 4:18,19 - "the seed among thorns...are the ones who have heard the word, and the worries of the world, and the deceitfulness of riches...enter in and choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful" Mk. 13:11 - "do not be anxious about what you will say...it is the Holy Spirit who speaks" Lk. 8:14 - "seed among thorns...choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life" Lk. 10:41 - "Martha, Martha, you are worried and bothered about so many things" Lk. 12:11 - "do not be anxious about what you should speak in your defense" Lk. 12:22-30 - "do not be anxious for your life, what you shall eat, what you shall eat...O men of little faith...your Father knows what you need" Lk. 21:34 - "do not let your hearts be weighted down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of life...keep on the alert, praying" I Cor. 7:21 - "were you called while a slave? Do not worry about it..." I Cor. 7:32-34 - "I want you to be free from concern. ...One who is married is concerned about the things of the world, how he may please his wife...his interests are divided" II Cor. 11:28 - "the daily pressure upon me of concern for all the churches" Phil. 2:20 - "Timothy...will be genuinely concerned for your welfare" Phil. 2:28 - "I have sent him that...I may be less concerned about you" Phil. 4:6,7 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God...shall guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus"
II. Attempting a definition of "worry"
A. English word "worry" from Old English
wyrgan and Old High German wurgen, both meaning "to strangle, to choke" B. Greek word merimnao used in most NT references above 1. Etymologically derived from merizo = "to divide;" and nous = "mind." Thus means "divided mind" - cf. I Cor. 7:34 2. Linguistically at time NT written, did not necessarily have negative connotation ("to be anxious, worried"), but often had a neutral orientation ("to be concerned, to care"). C. Difficult to distinguish sometimes between modern usage of English words "concern, worry, anxiety" 1. "concern" means to "have an interest in, give attention to, be engaged by a situation, as a matter of consideration or responsibility" 2. "worry" is a disquieted uneasiness of mind, an anxious apprehension concerning an impending or anticipated situation; fretting about a foreboding misfortune or failure. ("Worried" and "anxious" are used as synonyms.) 3. "anxiety" has become a psychological designation of abnormal, overwhelming apprehension; anguished uncertainty and self-doubt about one's ability to cope with the situation, to the point of becoming distressed, distraught, panicky or tormented. D. A working definition from a Christian perspective: 1. "Concern" becomes "worry" when we fail to relate the situation that confronts us to the source of sufficiency in God. 2. To worry is to assume a responsibility that is not necessarily ours to assume; failing to recognize that God is bigger than any problem we might have, and loves us enough to seek our highest good in the midst of every situation. 3. Worry is a form of humanistic self-orientation that thinks, "It's up to me to take care of this situation," and is thus a form of practical atheism, acting as if there is no God to deal with the situation, or that God doesn't know or care about the situation.
III. "Worry" and the age we live in
A. Ours has been called "The Age of Anxiety"
1. People's faces: taut, constricted, intense 2. Attitudes: disquieted, apprehensive, vexed 3. Relationships: distrust, alienation 4. Physical signs: ulcers, nervous breakdowns, heart diseases B. What are people worried about? 1. daily provision - cf. Matt. 6:35+ 2. employment 3. future - cf. Matt. 6:34 4. life and death 5. health 6. personal relationships 7. personal relationships - children, family, friends 8. pleasing people - cf. Lk. 10:41 9. finances, interest rates, stock-markets 10. witnessing - cf. Lk. 12:11 C. The advice of the world concerning "worry" 1. Don't worry; it's a waste of time; think positive! 2. Don't worry; don't believe the situation is real; it's an illusion 3. Don't worry; it may never happen 4. Don't worry; get control of yourself; you're in charge 5. Don't worry; buy enough insurance for every eventuality 6. Don't worry; be happy; laugh your troubles away 7. Don't worry; bite the bullet; you'll feel no pain 8. Don't worry; it might get better, but it'll probably get worse 9. Don't worry; get busy doing active things; it'll take your mind off 10. Don't worry; have another drink, hit, pill 11. Don't worry; go see your therapist 12. Don't worry; it's all going to be over soon 13. Don't worry; these circumstances are just the "cross" you have to bear 14. Don't worry; it's a sin; Stop it!
IV. Developing a Christian attitude toward "worry"
A. As defined above, "worry" is contrary to the attitudes and activity that God would have Christians to be involved with.
1. Fails to take God into account in the situation 2. Self-oriented assumption of responsibility 3. "Whatever is not from faith is sin" - Rom. 14:23 B. Rather than having a "divided mind" concerning the situation, we are to look to God in the midst of the situation. Ps. 37:1-7 - "Fret not...trust in the Lord..." Ps. 42:11 - "Why are you in despair...hope in God" Ps. 55:22 - "Cast your burden upon the Lord, and He will sustain you" Matt. 6:32,33 - "your heavenly Father knows that you need these things; seek first His kingdom and His righteousness; and all these things shall be added to you." I Peter 5:7 - "cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you" C. Looking to God in prayer should be our response Lk. 21:36 - "keep on the alert at all times, praying in order that you may have strength" Phil. 4:6 - "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." D. Such prayer is done in faith - "our receptivity of His activity" Ps. 62;8 - "Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your heart before Him" James 5:15 - "prayer offered in faith" E. The result will be "peace" in place of bothersome, disquieting "worry" Numb. 6:26 - "The Lord lift up His countenance, and give you peace" Ps. 94:19 - "When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Thy consolations delight my soul" Jn. 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you... Let not your heart be troubled, nor let it be fearful" Phil. 4:7 - "the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus" Col. 3:15 - "let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts" F. Christian's perspectives and responses to situations are different 1. Not seeking to escape, withdraw or remove all problems 2. Not indifferent, apathetic, unconcerned in situations 3. "God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose" - Rom. 8:28


Change at hand: Web 2.0 for development
Authors
International Institute for Environment and DevelopmentTechnical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation
Date2010 Languageen TypeReport AccessibilityOpen Access MetadataShow full item record Permanent link to this item:http://hdl.handle.net/10568/76888 Abstract/Description
There are dozens of emerging interactive web applications and services (often referred to as the participatory web, or Web 2.0). These can enhance the ways we create, share, and publish information. But these technical opportunities also bring challenges that we need to understand and grasp. Some of the key questions that this special issue will seek to address include: How can Web 2.0 applications be integrated with participatory development approaches? How can they facilitate and contribute to people's participation and decision-making? What are the challenges and barriers to people's participation? How do we address factors such as access, equity, control, and oversight? Can Web 2.0 applications challenge fundamental social inequalities? This special issue aims to publish a collection of articles, which provide working examples from practice.


The world is filled with postures of certainty, like a well-honed consumer behavior study or the latest microeconomic manifesto. And that, my friends, is why I keep bees.
I keep bees for the pure moments of surprise, doubt, and confusion that inevitably arise when I least expect them…
When the burgeoning hive that towers like a honey-filled monster in my backyard disappears without a trace while I’m in Sweden. When the walkaway split that I created like a reckless cowgirl manages to A) raise a queen; B) mate the queen; C) return the queen before her sisters revolt; and D) grow a new generation in time for winter. When the perfect hive succumbs like a midnight victim to varroa. When the underdog colony I presumed dead in March turns out to be jammed full of bees and blasting into summer.
I keep bees for the magic of utterly unexpected moments filled with challenge and hope; disappointment and glittering joy. I keep bees for all that I could never hope to control.


Investing a portion of your savings for retirement is one of the most important things you can to secure your financial future. The problem is that there are literally hundreds, if not thousands, of opportunities in which an individual can ‘invest’ for their future. Our personal favorite is the Roth IRA.
What is a Roth IRA?
Individual retirement accounts (IRAs) are common investment vehicles that are used for retirement savings. IRAs can be broken down into two basic forms; Traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs. While both of these accounts fall under the same general label, there are a few significant differences that an investor should understand before finalizing their investment decision.
Roth IRAs were created approximately 15 years ago by Congress via the passage of the Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997. They were, for all intents and purposes, treated similar to traditional IRAs except where specifically indicated by the IRS tax code.
For example, individuals are not generally permitted to contribute more than $5,000 to their Roth IRA in any given tax year. Additionally, any income earned on the funds held in a Roth IRA are not taxable (which a few notable exceptions to be discussed in subsequent posts).


The flashing around vents, skylights, and chimneys seals the seams of the roof from rain and weather. Examine these points make sure there are no cracks or breaks, which could lead to leaks. In older homes, flashing is often made of roof cement or tar, but it's a good idea to upgrade to a metal flashing system for added durability.


Causes of edema in the legs include being overweight, taking steroids and having medical conditions, such as lymphedema, preeclampsia and pericarditis, according to Healthline. Other causes include standing or sitting for long periods and changes during the menstrual cycle. Edema in the legs is usually not painful.Continue Reading
Lymphedema occurs when there is a blockage in the lymphatic system, notes Healthline. Causes of lymphedema include having a mastectomy, other cancer treatments and genetic conditions, such as Milroy’s disease and Meige’s disease. Edema is the primary symptom of the condition, and patients may experience a dull ache in the affected limbs. Other symptoms of lymphedema include skin infections, red rashes and fever.
Preeclampsia is a condition that occurs during pregnancy, if a woman develops protein in the urine and high blood pressure in the third trimester, explains MedlinePlus. Doctors do not know what causes preeclampsia, but believe that autoimmune disorders, genetic factors and diet can contribute to its development. Symptoms of mild preeclampsia include edema and sudden weight gain, whereas severe preeclampsia can cause headache, vomiting and abdominal pain.
Pericarditis occurs when the sac that covers the heart, called the pericardium, is inflamed, according to Cleveland Clinic. The condition has many causes, but is often due to a viral infection, such as a gastrointestinal virus. Other causes of pericarditis include fungal infections, autoimmune diseases and Dressler’s syndrome. Patients with pericarditis experience sharp chest pain, dry cough, anxiety and difficulty breathing when lying down.Learn more about Conditions & Diseases


Electroporation is commonly used to deliver molecules such as drugs, proteins, and/or DNA into cells, but the mechanism remains poorly understood. In this work a rapid microfluidic assay was developed to determine the critical electric field threshold required for inducing bacterial electroporation. The microfluidic device was designed to have a bilaterally… (More)


The title, "The Windy City," is given to Chicago for the strong winds blowing from the Lake of Michigan. During spring, the intense mix of cold and warm air can generate irregular and heavy thunderstorms; the phenomenon has been identified to manufacture surprise snowstorms occasionally too. Obviously, "The Windy City" has climate as random as the winds themselves. This kind of wild weather poses a trouble for the diverse stores found around Chicago. Unlike residential lots, with their dense construction, industrial buildings often have huge and expansive roofing that's a simple target for climatic elements; and with a larger surface area, that indicates more damage can be accumulated by the roof structures of commercial buildings. To resist this hazard, owners of industrial establishments must call roofers chicagofor periodic roofing inspection and upkeep.
Unlike residential lots, industrial buildings typically present flat or low-pitch roof covering, which possesses a minor incline or pitch to enable water to move into the gutter system. Helipads, roof gardens, or even living areas can be constructed over durable and well-designed flat roofing systems. Nonetheless, resilient pathways should be installed to protect the flat roofing from human traffic, which can ruin the delicate exteriors.
Flat roofing systems are made from various materials, and are coated with various substances to waterproof it. Sheets of heavy-duty polymer, like thermoplastic polyolefin, can be affixed to the surface of flat roof coverings like standard tiles. Bitumen, on the other hand, can be combined with fillers such as sand or limestone, and polymers like SBS (styrene butadiene styrene) or APP (stactic polypropylene) to enhance it.
Flat roofs will necessitate various upkeep and repair procedures as opposed to sloped roofing because flat roofs can break easily if they're stepped on. Flat roofs must be examined after massive snowfall has thawed or after particularly extreme thunderstorms have gone by to guarantee that no ice, snow, or debris stops the drainage system, which will bring about water buildup. Luckily, specialists who supply competent roofing repair in Chicagocan do the servicing work without jeopardy.
Chicago's erratic weather may not be your flat roof structure's buddy, but with appropriate maintenance, businessmen can operate their companies without having to worry about the consequences of thunderstorms or heavy snowfall. To find out more, see: doityourself.com/stry/flat-roof-repair-and-maintenance-tips#.URN2OHd5c8Q.
How Chicago Roofers Fix Breakage in Flat Roofs
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Title
Adapting services to engage young adults in ICCD clubhouses
UMMS Affiliation
Department of Psychiatry
Date
1-13-2012
Document Type
Article
Medical Subject Headings
Adolescent; Adult; Community Mental Health Services; Employment, Supported; Female; Health Services Needs and Demand; Humans; Male; *Mental Disorders; Mentally Disabled Persons; *Program Development; Self-Help Groups; Social Support; Vocational Guidance; Young Adult
Disciplines
Health Services Research | Mental and Social Health | Psychiatric and Mental Health | Psychiatry | Psychiatry and Psychology
Abstract
TOPIC: This article describes efforts to develop and offer supports for young adults within two clubhouse programs affiliated with the International Center for Clubhouse Development (ICCD).
PURPOSE: In response to a need to address service gaps and create supports to engage young adults transitioning to the adult mental health system, the authors describe the background, development, and adaptations of services and supports for young adults within their respective clubhouse programs. The authors highlight details and challenges associated with program adaptation and success stories of transition aged youth actively engaged in their clubhouses. Sources Used: Published literature, personal observation, and member feedback.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS FOR PRACTICE: These clubhouse programs share successful strategies used to engage young adults including outreach efforts led by young adults, developing supports and linkages with local educational institutions, addressing housing issues specific to young adults, and using current technologies that young adults find appealing. These strategies may prove useful to other service models that serve this population. Clubhouses affiliated with the ICCD show promise in expanding their approach and services to engage and support young adults.
Related Resources Repository Citation
McKay, Colleen E.; Osterman, Ruth; Shaffer, Joseph; Sawyer, Emily; Gerrard, Evan; and Olivera, Nelson, "Adapting services to engage young adults in ICCD clubhouses" (2012).
Systems and Psychosocial Advances Research Center Publications and Presentations. 526. http://escholarship.umassmed.edu/psych_cmhsr/526


- Thrombosis (venous or arterial) present or in history (e.g. deep venous thrombosis, pulmonary embolism, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident). - Presence or history of prodromal features of a thrombosis (e.g. transient ischaemic attack, angina pectoris). - The presence of a serious single or multiple risk factors for venous or arterial thrombosis (such as e.g. hypertension, a family history of thromboembolic events, prolonged immobilization see further risk factors for thromboembolism under Warnings- Circulatory Disordersbelow). - Presence or history of hepatic disease as long as liver function values have not returned to normal. - Presence or history of liver tumours (benign or malignant). - Known or suspected malignant conditions of the genital organs or the breasts, if sex steroid-influenced. - Undiagnosed vaginal bleeding. - Known or suspected pregnancy. - Diabetes mellitus with vascular involvement. - Hypersensitivity to any of the components of Mercilon.
- Age; - Smoking (with heavier smoking and increasing age the risk further increases, especially in women over 35 years of age); - A positive family history (i.e. venous or arterial thromboembolism ever in a sibling or parent at a relatively early age). If a hereditary predisposition is suspected, the woman should be referred to a specialist for advice before deciding about any combined oral contraceptive use; - Obesity (Body mass index over 30 kg/m²); - Dyslipoproteinaemia; - Hypertension; - Valvular heart disease; - Atrial fibrillation; - Prolonged immobilisation, major surgery, any surgery to the legs, or major trauma. In these situations it is advisable to discontinue combined oral contraceptive use (in the case of elective surgery at least four weeks in advance) and not to resume until two weeks after complete remobilization.
Women with hypertriglyceridaemia, or a family history thereof, may be at an increased risk of pancreatitis when using combined oral contraceptives. Small increases in blood pressure have been reported in many women taking combined oral contraceptives, clinically relevant increases may occur. A relationship between combined oral contraceptive use and clinical hypertension has not been established. If a sustained clinically significant hypertension develops during the use of a combined oral contraceptive then it is prudent for the physician to withdraw the combined oral contraceptive and treat the hypertension. Where considered appropriate, combined oral contraceptive use may be resumed if normotensive values can be achieved with antihypertensive therapy. The following conditions have been reported to occur or deteriorate with combined oral contraceptive use: - jaundice and/or pruritus related to cholestasis; - gallstone formation; - porphyria; - systemic lupus erythematosis; - haemolytic uraemic syndrome; - Sydenhams chorea; - herpes gestationis; - otosclerosis-related hearing loss. Acute or chronic disturbances of liver function may necessitate the discontinuation of combined oral contraceptive use until markers of liver function return to normal. Recurrence of cholestatic jaundice that occurred first during pregnancy or previous use of sex steroids necessitates the discontinuation of combined oral contraceptives. Although combined oral contraceptives may have an effect on peripheral insulin resistance and glucose tolerance, there is no evidence for a need to alter the therapeutic regimen in diabetics using combined oral contraceptives. However, diabetic women should be carefully observed while taking combined oral contraceptives. Crohns disease and ulcerative colitis have been associated with combined oral contraceptive use. Chloasma may occasionally occur, especially in women with a history of chloasma gravidarum. Women with a tendency to chloasma should avoid exposure to the sun or ultraviolet radiation whilst taking combined oral contraceptives. Respiratory: Asthma may deteriorate in women using combined oral contraceptives.


This article aims to demonstrate the frequency of constructional subschemas, rather than lexical items, can affect acceptability judgment. Cognitive Grammar (cf. Langacker 1987, 2008) theoretically predicts that the frequency of constructional subschemas has a greater effect on recognition of well-formedness of linguistic expressions than the frequencies of lexical items that compose the expressions. To verify this, the experiment was conducted in which participants were asked to rate the acceptability of coined Japanese N-N compounds on a scale from 0 to 5, and its result was subsequently analyzed using a multiple regression analysis. 524, 307 patterns of the statistically significant models show the statistic significance of the frequency of constructional subschemas to predict the distribution of acceptability, whereas the frequencies of the component nouns are not significant in this respect.


• Jejunostomy feedings were used in the immediate postoperative period in patients with massive abdominal and retroperitoneal injuries. Patients were selected for early feeding if they had two or more major visceral injuries. Over a six-month period, 30 such patients were studied: ten had blunt trauma, 11 had gunshot wounds, and nine had stab injuries. The injuries included 11 pancreatic, ten small-bowel, six colon, and six major retroperitoneal vascular injuries. A 16-gauge intracatheter was placed in the proximal jejunum. The constant infusion of nutritional solution (Vivonex HN) was begun 18 hours postoperatively, and within 72 hours all patients were receiving 2,400 calories per day. Feedings were maintained for an average of eight days. Serum albumin and transferrin levels, total lymphocyte count, and delayed hypersensitivity were maintained or improved during jejunal feeding. Patients with pancreatic injuries received supplemental nutrition without evidence of pancreatic stimulation. Needle-catheter jejunostomy can provide early, safe nutritional support after major abdominal trauma. Further investigation is needed to determine who will benefit from this early feeding.
(Arch Surg 1981;116:681-684)
Moore EE, Dunn EL, Jones TN. Immediate Jejunostomy FeedingIts Use After Major Abdominal Trauma. Arch Surg. 1981;116(5):681-684. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1981.01380170153027
© 2017


The University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Department of African-American and African Studies 9201 University City Boulevard Charlotte, North Carolina 28223 USA
This paper examines how donor funding has affected the underlying principle of protection in the international refugee regime. It focuses on Tanzania, which received more than one million refugees during the 1990s. Over time, Tanzanian policy shifted markedly, most notably with the forced repatriation of 500,000 Rwandans in 1996. Although security considerations played a role in the policy changes, international funding levels were also important. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) found it increasingly difficult to raise funds for the operation, and Tanzania had long made clear its position on the necessity of burden sharing. The paper examines the extent to which recent cuts in donor funding have contributed to declining protection standards and explores the implications for ongoing refugee operations. To the extent that funding patterns have been a factor, the research suggests that a lack of funding may cause practice within an international regime to become inconsistent with its underlying principles, thus weakening the overall regime.


This policy document introduces a proactive and anticipatory approach by laying special emphasis on risk assessment, prevention, mitigation and preparedness, with the aim of creating a resilient nation.
The document is divided into four chapters: (i) chapter one assesses risk awareness and preparedness in Pakistan, finding that Pakistan's current disaster risk reduction (DRR) capacity is insufficient; (ii) chapter two outlines the National Disaster Management Authority's (NDMA) vision for capacity development in Pakistan, with a focus on vulnerable populations; (iii) chapter three explains NDMA's plan for policy interventions, particularly for development in the areas of risk knowledge, mitigation, and preparedness; (iv) chapter four explains NDMA's implementation framework to mainstream DRR in Pakistan, including plans for financing, monitoring, and educating students on disaster preparedness. Tag This Document


Passover and Easter: What are You Celebrating?
Passover and Easter usually occur close together on the calendar, and presumably both commemorate the same event. Are they the same or what’s the difference? Up until a few years ago, I assumed Passover was Jewish and Easter was Christian. But what I found surprised me.
Passover celebrates an historical event. Recorded in Jewish and Egyptian history, it occurred around 1260 BCE. In the Torah (the Bible’s first five books) Exodus recounts that it eventually took ten plagues upon Egypt before Pharaoh would allow the Jewish (originally called Hebrew) slaves to leave his land to worship God. Despite warnings that the tenth plague would kill all the eldest sons and livestock, Pharaoh still refused to let them go. So God instructed the Hebrews to mark their doorposts with the blood of a lamb, so that the plague would
pass over them, hence the name.
The Hebrews were spared, and Pharaoh finally relented but pursued them as far as the Red Sea. God enabled Moses, the Hebrew leader, to miraculously part the Sea and lead the people across, the Egyptian army drowning behind them. Commonly known as “The Exodus,” this event ended 400 years of Hebrew slavery. Forty years later, the Jewish people began celebrating the event annually. Today Passover still celebrates the supernatural victory, deliverance from bondage and protection from the ten plagues that befell Egypt. A meal (a “Seder”) is prepared according to the Torah’s instructions.
The name Easter is derived from “Eostre,” an ancient Saxon fertility goddess, thus the use of bunnies and eggs even early on. Various holidays based on the vernal equinox have honored pagan deities in many cultures for several centuries. Today, Wiccans and Neopagans still celebrate this day (now typically called “Ostara” after a Germanic fertility goddess) to welcome spring and the new life it brings.
Christians’ Easter observance also celebrates an historical event occurring around 27 CE. According to the Bible, Yeshua, the long awaited Jewish Messiah, hosted a Passover Seder shortly before he was crucified by the Roman government. Three days later he was resurrected. Christians believe Yeshua’s blood saves their souls, just as the Passover lamb’s blood saved the Israelites’ lives. Yeshua’s resurrection promises believers victory over death and eternal life with God.
Easter was first referenced as a celebration of Yeshua’s resurrection by the church in the second century. In America, colonial Puritans dismissed Easter as pagan due to lingering influences from its origins. However, it became widely observed by Christians in the mid-late 1800s. Many now call it “Resurrection Day.”
I found aspects of Passover and the Christian Easter that closely connect the two. Yeshua was Jewish and celebrated Passover annually. He died on Passover, which is why Christians often call him the “Passover Lamb” or “Lamb of God,” and why the holidays occur together. Moreover, while many Jewish holy days have always included ceremonial wine and bread, the Christian ceremony of Communion is attributed to Yeshua’s specific mention of wine and bread during his last Passover meal.
I also realized points of irony which cause confusion between the two. Yeshua and his disciples after him celebrated Passover, but the Bible never mentions Easter or a resurrection celebration. Jews celebrate Passover even if they don’t believe Yeshua is the Jewish Messiah, because it’s commanded in the Torah (the Bible). However, most followers of Yeshua don’t celebrate Passover, but opt for Easter. When celebrated by Christians, Passover usually commemorates Yeshua’s “Last Supper” since He was crucified shortly afterward.
Ultimately, exploring age-old customs can unearth long-held assumptions. By questioning these traditions, I gained a more honest understanding of both celebrations. This year, I encourage you to celebrate knowledgeably, choosing practices that truly reflect your religious convictions.
In 2016, Passover takes place on April 23. It is the first of seven festivals commanded in the Bible. View dates for all seven.


A company has begun offering CPD that focuses solely on rabbits.
Despite being the third most popular pet in the UK, rabbits are still often treated as exotic or unusual pets – something CPD provider LagoLearn hopes to address with its new courses.
Raising standards
The company was formed with the aim of helping veterinary professionals raise the standard of rabbit care in line with that of pet dogs and cats. It is the only company that supplies rabbit-specific CPD to vets, nurses and students without featuring any other species.
Sponsored by Supreme Petfoods, LagoLearn provides small group training days that cover a range of rabbit-related topics, from husbandry and diet to anaesthesia, dentistry and surgery.
These events comprise a range of lectures, small group teaching, case studies and practical/problem-solving workshops presented by experts in their field.
Rabbit round-up
LagoLearn’s next event is on 13 October at Easthampstead Park in Berkshire. This will be a Rabbit round-up day course that concentrates on rabbit care in general practice.
The day will provide six hours of certified CPD, starting off with an overview of rabbit veterinary care before covering anaesthesia, dentistry and nursing.
The day has vet and nursing streams (£210 and £105 plus VAT, respectively), with tickets available to book online.


I've had two conversations this week with senior, technically- and commercially-savvy representatives of the cellular industry, both from very well-known organisations at the core of the mobile world.
Both have expressed severe reservations about the femtocell model, at both technical and commercial levels. They mentioned various issues I've discussed before, including the need to support multiple operators within a single household, and the prevalence of WiFi in almost all devices creating meaningful volumes of cellular data traffic. Yet I still see various protagonists in the femtocell industry suggesting that femtos could potentially replace WiFi as an access mechanism in homes or businesses. (I'm going to leave public hotspots for a moment, as their owners have typically made a multi-year mess of pricing and ease-of-use, which is another bugbear of mine). In my view, the positioning of femtos as WiFi-replacements diminishes the credibility of the companies involved - not just in the eyes of those who actually understand WiFi, but also in the eyes of those skeptics in the hardcore macrocellular community who believe that "outside-in always wins". Yes, there are marginal cases where the precise configuration of a connection manager client on a PC or iPhone might divert a few MB of traffic one way or the other. But the lack of awareness of how ethernet (yes, remember WiFi = WLAN = Wireless Ethernet) works and gets deployed and managed is sometimes scary. I've sat through hour-long panel debates on supposed opportunities for enterprise femtos without a single mention of terms like "firewall", "power over ethernet" or a recognition that companies like to manage *their* LAN without bits of it being managed by a third party that typically *outsources its own servers*. The same arguments apply in the home. Ethernet and WiFi are now pervasive, and I see no reason that they're likely to disappear. My view is that the femto industry needs to tackle this issue head on, and learn how to play *nicely* with WiFi, rather than pretend it's either irrelevant or a competitor. Otherwise it is going to find it hard to convince even the skeptics in the mobile industry, let alone the IT world.


Still Riding On Nitrile
Downgrade to NEUTRAL. PER valuations of glove stocks have re-rated significantly from 8-16x (end-2012) to 11-19x presently amid a positive operating environment and superior financials (high ROEs, zero/low gearing). Valuations are fairly reflective of fundamentals at this stage and thus we are downgrading the sector to NEUTRAL from Overweight. Kossan remains our top pick with a higher TP of MYR7.60 (+7%) as we attached a higher PER target of 16x (from 15x), still lower than its peer average of 15.6x. Our HOLD on Hartalega (TP MYR6.71) is maintained but we have downgraded Top Glove to HOLD (from BUY) with a slightly lower TP of MYR6.40 (-5%).
Mild nitrile price competition. Though new supply looks aggressive, near-term price competition is likely to be mild, for new capacity will just about match demand, we believe, with the latter expanding by about 20% YoY. In addition to organic demand growth, nitrile glove sales are also driven by a shift in customer preference from latex powder-free to nitrile gloves. Nitrile glove margins remain superior to those of latex gloves, by >6ppts, due to higher pricing and lower raw material cost.
Hedged against currency volatility. To hedge their USD-denominated receivables against USD:MYR volatility, most glove companies buy forward contracts (which expire in 2-3 months) to sell USD when glove deliveries take place. Hence, glove companies usually do not gain nor lose significantly on USD:MYR volatility.
Muted impact from fuel price hike. We understand that the recent fuel price hike (diesel: +11%) has led to higher transportation costs (+15%) for the glove companies. However, the impact is insignificant as transportation only accounts for 2-3% of total costs, and glove players are not adjusting their ASPs for this.
Hartalega, Top Glove: Less upside. We believe Hartalega’s near-term growth will be limited by its capacity constraint (new capacity to commence in 2015). Meanwhile, Top Glove’s sales volume could be flattish in sequential quarters as we think the higher sales of its nitrile gloves (est. 20% of total sales volume) could be offset by lower sales of latex powder-free gloves (estimated at 20% of total sales volume). We trim our FY8/13-14 EPS forecasts for Top Glove by 5% as we factor in weaker latex powder-free glove sales.
Kossan: A slightly better value proposition. Kossan, an increasingly nitrile-centric glove manufacturer, offers higher net profit growth (3-year CAGR of 16% on capacity expansion of 14% p.a.) at a lower forward PER valuation of 13.9x (vs 15.6x for its peers).
Source/Extract/Excerpts/来源/转贴/摘录: MKE-Research,
Publish date: 24/09/13


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Beyond Equilibrium: Predicting Human Behavior in Normal-Form Games
Last modified: 2010-07-04 Abstract
It is standard in multiagent settings to assume that agents will adopt Nash equilibrium strategies. However, studies in experimental economics demonstrate that Nash equilibrium is a poor description of human players' initial behavior in normal-form games. In this paper, we consider a wide range of widely-studied models from behavioral game theory. For what we believe is the first time, we evaluate each of these models in a meta-analysis, taking as our data set large-scale and publicly-available experimental data from the literature. We then propose modifications to the best-performing model that we believe make it more suitable for practical prediction of initial play by humans in normal-form games.
Full Text: PDF


From an innovation perspective, the democratization of digital fabrication tools and technologies is increasingly recognized as having disruptive potential. What intrigues me is whether this democratization might gradually “shift” economic power back to the owners of creative skills in localized production from the owners of capital used for mass production in centralized factories.


A natural citrus fruit extract has been found to dissolve calcium oxalate crystals, the most common component of human kidney stones, in a finding that could lead to significantly improving kidney stone treatment, according to researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, the University of Houston, and Litholink Corporation, among which is Giannis Mpourmpakis.
In a study published Aug. 8 in the journal
Nature, the researchers offer the first evidence that the compound hydroxycitrate (HCA) effectively inhibits calcium oxalate crystal growth and, under certain conditions, is able to dissolve the crystals. HCA shows “promise as a potential therapy to prevent kidney stones,” the researchers wrote.


November 17, 2010
We took a great step forward as a nation when we passed The Wall Street Reform Act, HR 4173. As the Act passed through the regulatory process, I hope that the intent of the Act will be followed with transparency and accountability introduced to the derivatives market.
The Act created clearinghouses to act as independent monitors of the derivatives market. For the clearinghouses to act in an independent manner, they must be truly independent from outside forces. We cannot afford the financial markets to once again destabilize our economy and lead to massive layoffs. To ensure that these clearinghouses remain independent from manipulation, their ownership must be monitored and regulated as called for by the Wall Street Reform Act.
You are currently reviewing two rules to regulate the ownership of the clearinghouses, the 20/40 Rule and the 5% Rule. The 20/40 Rule follows the spirit of HR4173 by limiting the ownership of a clearinghouse by any number of big banks to 40% overall, ensuring that big banks cannot control a majority stake in any clearinghouse. The 5% Rule does not apply any such aggregate limits, allowing 11 banks to control a majority interest in any clearinghouse. If the 5% Rule is implemented, the independence of the clearinghouses will be at great risk and the ability for Big Banks to continue to manipulate the derivatives market will remain.
We have already seen how well an unregulated derivatives market functions with Big Banks able to act without any to the risk they are undertaking with each derivatives swap. If we are to avoid repeating the mistakes of the past, such a co-opting of the clearinghouses must be prevented. I urge you to uphold the 20/40 Rule to ensure that the derivatives market is monitored by independent clearinghouses that ensures both transparency in the market and accountability for each transaction.


Editor's Note: Any reference to TheStreet Ratings and its underlying recommendation does not reflect the opinion of TheStreet, Inc. or any of its contributors including Jim Cramer or Stephanie Link.TheStreet Ratings' stock model projects a stock's total return potential over a 12-month period including both price appreciation and dividends. Our Buy, Hold or Sell ratings designate how we expect these stocks to perform against a general benchmark of the equities market and interest rates.
While plenty of high-yield opportunities exist, investors must always consider the safety of their dividend and the total return potential of their investment. It is not uncommon for a struggling company to suspend high-yielding dividends which could subsequently result in precipitous share price declines.
TheStreet Ratings' stock rating model views dividends favorably, but not so much that other factors are disregarded. Our model gauges the relationship between risk and reward in several ways, including: the pricing drawdown as compared to potential profit volatility, i.e. how much one is willing to risk in order to earn profits?; the level of acceptable volatility for highly performing stocks; the current valuation as compared to projected earnings growth; and the financial strength of the underlying company as compared to its stock's valuation as compared to its stock's performance.
These and many more derived observations are then combined, ranked, weighted, and scenario-tested to create a more complete analysis. The result is a systematic and disciplined method of selecting stocks. As always, stock ratings should not be treated as gospel — rather, use them as a starting point for your own research.
The following pages contain our analysis of 3 stocks with substantial yields, that ultimately, we have rated "Sell."
Dividend Yield: 14.40%ARMOUR Residential REIT (NYSE: ARR) shares currently have a dividend yield of 14.40%. ARMOUR Residential REIT, Inc. is a real estate investment trust launched and managed by ARMOUR Residential Management LLC. It invests in the real estate markets of the United States. The average volume for ARMOUR Residential REIT has been 4,637,100 shares per day over the past 30 days. ARMOUR Residential REIT has a market cap of $1.5 billion and is part of the real estate industry. Shares are up 4% year-to-date as of the close of trading on Friday. TheStreet Ratings rates ARMOUR Residential REITas a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its deteriorating net income, disappointing return on equity, weak operating cash flow, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share. Highlights from the ratings report include: The company, on the basis of change in net income from the same quarter one year ago, has significantly underperformed when compared to that of the S&P 500 and the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry. The net income has significantly decreased by 567.2% when compared to the same quarter one year ago, falling from $115.75 million to -$540.78 million. Return on equity has greatly decreased when compared to its ROE from the same quarter one year prior. This is a signal of major weakness within the corporation. Compared to other companies in the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) industry and the overall market, ARMOUR RESIDENTIAL REIT INC's return on equity significantly trails that of both the industry average and the S&P 500. Net operating cash flow has significantly decreased to $70.22 million or 53.16% when compared to the same quarter last year. In addition, when comparing to the industry average, the firm's growth rate is much lower. Despite any intermediate fluctuations, we have only bad news to report on this stock's performance over the last year: it has tumbled by 34.60%, worse than the S&P 500's performance. Consistent with the plunge in the stock price, the company's earnings per share are down 497.29% compared to the year-earlier quarter. Naturally, the overall market trend is bound to be a significant factor. However, in one sense, the stock's sharp decline last year is a positive for future investors, making it cheaper (in proportion to its earnings over the past year) than most other stocks in its industry. But due to other concerns, we feel the stock is still not a good buy right now. ARMOUR RESIDENTIAL REIT INC has experienced a steep decline in earnings per share in the most recent quarter in comparison to its performance from the same quarter a year ago. The company has reported a trend of declining earnings per share over the past two years. However, the consensus estimate suggests that this trend should reverse in the coming year. During the past fiscal year, ARMOUR RESIDENTIAL REIT INC swung to a loss, reporting -$0.53 versus $0.97 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($0.60 versus -$0.53). You can view the full ARMOUR Residential REIT Ratings Report. STOCKS TO BUY: TheStreet Quant Ratings has identified a handful of stocks that can potentially TRIPLE in the next 12 months. Learn more.


The Growth of Pass-Through Entities
This phenomenon complicates the interpretation of tax return data. For example, when one looks at the growth of the 1 percent, or the 0.1 percent, in the Piketty-Saez data, that growth is likely exaggerated because some income is merely being shifted from corporate returns. I don't know how much. If someone has already quantified the magnitude of this effect, please email me the answer. If not, someone should write that paper.


Three HIV-positive people in West Virginia have died while waiting to receive free anti-HIV medications through the state's AIDS Drug Assistance Program. The patients were put on a waiting list for program admission due to closure of the program to new enrollees about seven months ago. West Virginia initiated an ADAP waiting list because of a growing budget deficit in the program. Several other states have also implemented waiting lists, curtailed access to medications, or tightened eligibility requirements due to budget shortfalls caused by high demand for the antiretroviral drugs, rising drug costs, and inadequate state and federal funding increases.
West Virginia's ADAP currently has 340 people enrolled, and enrollment has been increasing over the past two to three years, according to Faisal Khan, director of the state's HIV/AIDS/STD program. However, 14 people remain on a waiting list. "People are now starting to die while they're on the waiting list," Khan said. "It is a crisis that will continue."


People trying to watch what they eat may want to cover their ears. In a study at Georgia State University, participants ate nearly 18 percent more calories on average when listening to music, and fat intake was nearly 25 percent greater, Nanette Stroebele and John M. de Castro found. The effect was not just attributable to restaurant dining (a third of meals with music occurred in the car). The speed of the music had no significant impact. Like television, the study authors conclude, music can distract people, making them eat more.


Rick Nizzardini, LCSW; Clinical Counselor & Faculty, San Francisco State University; Lecturer, UC Berkeley School of Social Welfare and the CSU-East Bay Educational Psychology Program; Former Attorney
This presentation will focus on highlighting the often-overlooked issue of sexuality and older adults. With the cultural lens almost uniformly focused on sexuality and youth, where does that leave older adults in our society? Indeed, with a large portion of the baby boomer generation now over 65 years older, this issue demands that we shine the light on how older adults thrive as sexual beings in the 21st century. We will engage in group dialogue and watch video clips that present an affirmative view of sexuality in older adults and also explore the challenges older adults face as they continue to develop sexually in later life.


The Fair Work Commission has held that unsuccessful parties in unfair dismissal claims can be ordered to pay the successful party's costs where the claim has been vexatious.
The ruling was made in a case in which a truck driver was dismissed after failing a routine drugs test. The driver then claimed that immediately after testing positive for amphetamine and methamphetamine at work, he took a supplementary urine test with his own doctor, proving he did not have those drugs in his system.
He was dismissed and commenced an unfair dismissal claim. Throughout the proceeding, under cross-examination and in his witness statement, the driver claimed he’d taken a supplementary urine test that cleared him.
The employer called the driver's doctor to give evidence. The doctor's evidence established that the driver had not passed the supplementary test. The doctor produced documents that showed the test results attached to the driver's witness statement had been fabricated.
After these revelations, the driver immediately instructed his representative to discontinue his claim.
The employer sought an order for indemnity costs and the Commissioner found the driver's claim was premised on a deliberate lie, and so was unreasonable and vexatious.
As a result, the driver was ordered to pay his former employer more than $18,000 on an indemnity basis.
Allens’ Senior Associate Sikeli Ratu says, “employers should consider making an application for costs if the applicant has made false assertions in witness statements, or other documents, in an unfair dismissal proceeding. If an employer suspects that an applicant's claim is premised on a lie, they should also consider referring to the possibility of costs orders during pre-trial settlement negotiations. This may help achieve a more reasonable settlement, by highlighting to the applicant the potentially expensive costs risks of proceeding to trial.”
Employers have been urged to seek costs in unfair dismissal cases where they believe the action is founded on a lie.


March 7, 2013 Post submitted by Maureen McCarty, former HRC Deputy Director of Marketing
Today President Obama signed the bipartisan supported Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) into law, in effect ensuring explicit protections for LGBT victims of domestic violence.
VAWA prohibits any program or activity funded by the bill from discriminating against a victim based on actual or perceived sexual orientation or gender identity. It also explicitly includes LGBT victims in two key VAWA grant programs. Studies indicate that LGBT people experience domestic violence at roughly the same rate as the general population. Unfortunately, many LGBT victims have not been receiving the services they need because service providers and law enforcement are not engaged in outreach to the LGBT community, lack the cultural competency to effectively work with LGBT victims or do not have access to funding for appropriate services. Today marks the first time a federal non-discrimination law has included the LGBT community. HRC lobbied for the inclusive language in both the U.S House and the Senate.


Utah has enacted two new laws of importance to employers concerned about trade secrets, customer relationships, and other protectable interests in its 2016 legislative session. The first statute, the Post-Employment Restrictions Act (Utah Code § 34-51-101, et seq.), sets a one-year time limit on non-competition agreements entered into on or after May 10, 2016. The second statute, the Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act (Utah Code § 63D-3-103, et seq.), establishes a state cause of action with an arguably broader reach than the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act (18 U.S.C. § 1030). Post-Employment Restrictions Act
The Post-Employment Restrictions Act is the result of a limited consensus in the Utah legislature following extensive attention from the Utah business community. The Post-Employment Restrictions Act applies only to non-competition agreements and specifically exempts non-solicitation agreements, non-disclosure agreements, and confidentiality agreements from the definition of a post-employment restrictive covenant. Additionally, the Act excepts severance agreements entered into at or after discharge or restrictions that arise out of the sale of a business. An employer that seeks to enforce an unenforceable non-competition agreement is liable for the attorneys’ fees and actual damages of the employee.
Initially, the Utah House of Representatives had enacted a version of the Post-Employment Restrictions Act that would have prohibited non-competition agreements entirely. Following passage by the Utah House, the Act received extensive attention and dozens of witnesses testified in Utah Senate hearings regarding the bill. Following the hearings, the proposed Act was significantly changed and ultimately imposed merely a one-year time limit on such agreements and a provision allowing employees to recover attorneys’ fees and damages if a court determines the non-competition agreement is unenforceable.
Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act
The Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act was passed without significant attention from the business community, but it affords potentially substantial help to employers. While the statute provides a broad range of damages in the event of generic unauthorized access to a computer, such as by a hacker or in a divorce setting, it also contains provisions of interest to employers. The Act defines permission to access a computer “only to the extent or for the specific purpose the protected computer’s owner authorizes.” Utah Code § 6D-3-103(2). This language apparently was intended to create a state cause of action consistent with the broad construction of the federal Computer Fraud and Abuse Act as interpreted by the First, Fifth, Seventh, and Eleventh Circuits, rather than the narrow construction as interpreted by the Second, Fourth, and Ninth Circuits.
SeeSecond Circuit Adopts Narrow Construction of Federal Computer Fraud Statute, Joins Circuit Split.
The Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act permits the recovery of actual damages, lost profits, economic damages, and injunctive relief. The Computer Abuse and Data Recovery Act certainly will provide an important supplement to the protection available under the Utah Uniform Trade Secrets Act (Utah Code § 13-24-1,
et seq.), seeUtah Supreme Court Adopts Presumption of Harm in Trade Secret Litigation.
***
These two statutes highlight the importance of a broader trade secret protection approach that incorporates tailored and enforceable agreements, computer usage and access policies, and access restrictions. Such agreements and policies often will deter employees from engaging in inappropriate conduct. When deterrence fails, employers will have a mix of remedies available under common law for enforcement of restrictive covenants and under statutory law for computer abuse or theft of trade secrets.


Frances Pritchett's lively, compassionate book joins literary criticism with history to explain how Urdu poetry—long the pride of Indo-Muslim culture—became devalued in the second half of the nineteenth century.
This abrupt shift, Pritchett argues, was part of the backlash following the violent Indian Mutiny of 1857. She uses the lives and writings of the distinguished poets and critics Azad and Hali to show the disastrous consequences—culturally and politically—of British rule. The British had science, urban planning—and Wordsworth. Azad and Hali had a discredited culture and a metaphysical, sexually ambiguous poetry that differed radically from English lyric forms. Pritchett's beautiful reconstruction of the classical Urdu poetic vision allows us to understand one of the world's richest literary traditions and also highlights the damaging potential of colonialism.
Frances W. Pritchett is Associate Professor of Modern Indic Languages at Columbia University.


Overview:
Absolutist and rule based. Certain actions are wrong in themselves regardless of the consequences. We should follow rules to prevent us performing bad actions- Deontological constraints. Moral laws apply universally in all situations and are binding on moral agents. Hypothetical imperative- what we ought to do to fulfill our wishes. How to acheieve an end. Categorical imperative: An end in itself. What we ought to do regardless of our wishes. Categorical imperatives are an expression of absolute and unconditional duty. These can be established a priori through human reason. Three ways: 1) principle of universalizability. 2) the formula of the end in itself. 3) the formula for kingdom of ends. The categorical test provides a set of deontological moral rules that cannot be broken. The right action must have the correct motivation - a sense of duty. Acting in this way is "The greatest perfection of a human being" Support- plausible:
1) Universally binding- captures the absolute nature of morality many believe it to have. If a moral command is not universally applicable it can be disregarded/changed/manipulated. The command is then secondary to the reason for breaking the command but what is good/right ought to be of highest significance/impotance.
2) The categorical imperative sits well with the idea that morality involves treating all individuals as equally valuable.
Against- relationship between morality and universalizability Examples- some maxims that can be universalised that are not duties- "don't hold your fork in your left hand"/ "don't walk on the cracks in the pavement". Both are consistent with the criterion but neither are moral duties. How do we deicded which universalized maxims are moral duties and which aren't/what basis? Support- motives vs consequences Consequences are beyond our control- irrelevant. Cannot know them. Only directly responsible for our own actions. Suggestion motivation is significant appears correct. Example: Praise someone who acted out of duty to do the right thing even if it led to a decrease in happiness. Focusing on the action and the motivation when making a moral judgement appears to be the most reliable way of making an informed judgement. Against- Conflicts of duty and importance of consequences The categorical nature of deontology leads to a conflict of duty. Kant insisted there…


Keywording images can take on many forms. For instance, keywords can be used to describe objects, emotions or even time. What’s more, keywording is a very subjective task and can differ greatly from person to person. So how do you ensure consistency in your keywording efforts? By utilizing a predefined set of terms, called a
Controlled Vocabulary.
WebDAM supports the use of a controlled vocabulary to facilitate keywording in a consistent manner. For many organizations, the controlled vocabulary is often custom created to include words such as product names or industry-specific terms. For others, such as stock agencies, it makes sense to purchase a standard controlled vocabulary which includes broader terms such as man, woman, office, child. Whatever the source, WebDAM fully supports it in several ways:
For the Administrator: Through the web-based administrator tools, a controlled vocabulary can be imported, managed, and enabled to provide an easy mechanism for selecting terms to keyword your assets. This time-saving feature ensures consistency and uniformity in keywording across your database. For the User: WebDAM also integrates the controlled vocabulary within the search capabilities so users have the added benefit of selecting terms rather than typing. This approach eliminates user frustration from searching terms that do not exist in the database. Users find what they need faster and easier.
Creating a controlled vocabulary for use in WebDAM takes just a matter of minutes once you have determined which terms you would like to include. A simple text file, one word per line, is all you need to get started!


Abstract
This Bureau of Mines report describes a study conducted to determine the relationship of mineral habit to particle size and shape characteristics for prismatic, acicular, fibrous, and asbestiform varieties of tremolite. Particle measurements were made with the petrographic microscope at x 1,250 and the scanning electron microscope at magnifications up to x 10,000. All of the varieties of tremolite, upon wiley milling, produced a significant percentage of particles that meet the federal regulatory criteria for counting as asbestos fibers. However, only the asbestiform variety gave milled particles that fell into a size range of >10 um in length and <0.5 Um in width; some medical scientists consider this range significant for production of adverse health effects.


Abstract
Analysis of public debt in developing countries has traditionally focused on external debt. However, in recent years several countries have looked increasingly to domestic sources when expanding their net borrowing or adopted aggressive policies aimed at retiring public external debt and substituting it with domestically issued debt. Some countries are even building up domestic fiscal liabilities with the objective of sterilizing enlarged aid inflows. This chapter asks what possible challenges and opportunities might be arising from these new developments in sovereign debt management.


Abstract
The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is one proposed animal model of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) argued to show strong face validity on the basis of behavioural characteristics. However, SHR may have fundamental alterations to the sensitivity of fluid reward due to altered renal function that has the potential to affect performance in complex reinforced behavioural tests. This could particularly confound determination of operant motivational alterations in the SHR. We assessed baseline bodyweight, home cage lab chow and water intake in the SHR and their typical control strains: Wistar and Wistar Kyoto. We also assessed sucrose preference, and appetitive and consummative positive and negative contrast for sucrose (4% versus 20%) on a motivational runway. As expected, SHR showed enhanced water intake compared to Wistar and Wistar Kyotos but comparable lab chow intake at baseline. SHR exhibited sucrose preference for 4% and 20%, as did both control strains, but the preference for 4% was enhanced in the SHR. SHR showed significant negative and positive contrast in sucrose consumption on the runway, as did Wistar Kyotos. Wistars exhibited neither. Appetitive contrast was not measurable in the SHR due to a robust locomotor velocity increase at the age of testing. The enhanced fluid intake found in the SHR argues against using fluid reinforcers in behavioural tests. We suggest the presence of both forms of contrast in the SHR is unusual for rats tested in ad lib. food conditions while the contrast pattern in Wistars indicate abnormalities in reward sensitivity in this control strain.