Although recent scholarship has focused on the city-state as the context for the production of Greek poetry, for poets and performers travel was more the norm than the exception. This book traces this central aspect of ancient culture from its roots in the near Eastern societies which preceded the Greeks, through the way in which early semi-mythical figures such as Orpheus were imagined, the poets who travelled to the brilliant courts of archaic tyrants, and on into the fluid mobility of imperial and late antique culture. The emphasis is both on why poets travelled, and on how local communities used the skills of these outsiders for their own purposes. Wandering poets are also set within the wider context of ancient networks of exchange, patronage and affiliation between communities and are seen as one particularly powerful manifestation of a feature of ancient life which is too often overlooked.


When LADWP’s water supplies are lower than normal, the Department must increase the amount of more expensive water purchased from the Metropolitan Water District (MWD). LADWP rates are designed so that MWD purchased water is covered by a pass-through factor on customer bills. In the past few years of the drought, the amount of MWD purchased water has been much higher than normal—averaging over 50% of L.A.’s water supply.
If drought conditions continue, a typical customer’s bill could increase more than estimated levels—from 2.7% to 2.9% annually, or an average of $3.75 to $4.02 on their monthly bill each year. A high-use customer’s bill could increase from a 5.6% annual increase during a normal year to 5.8% during a drought year. This represents a range of $16.58 to $17.17 more on their monthly bill over five years than at present rates.


Abstract
Ultraconserved elements (UCEs), stretches of DNA that are identical between distantly related species, are enigmatic genomic features whose function is not well understood. First identified and characterized in mammals, UCEs have been proposed to play important roles in gene regulation, RNA processing, and maintaining genome integrity. However, because all of these functions can tolerate some sequence variation, their ultraconserved and ultraselected nature is not explained. We investigated whether there are highly conserved DNA elements without genic function in distantly related plant genomes. We compared the genomes of Arabidopsis thaliana and Vitis vinifera; species that diverged ∼115 million years ago (Mya). We identified 36 highly conserved elements with at least 85% similarity that are longer than 55 bp. Interestingly, these elements exhibit properties similar to mammalian UCEs, such that we named them UCE-like elements (ULEs). ULEs are located in intergenic or intronic regions and are depleted from segmental duplications. Like UCEs, ULEs are under strong purifying selection, suggesting a functional role for these elements. As their mammalian counterparts, ULEs show a sharp drop of A+T content at their borders and are enriched close to genes encoding transcription factors and genes involved in development, the latter showing preferential expression in undifferentiated tissues. By comparing the genomes of Brachypodium distachyon and Oryza sativa, species that diverged ∼50 Mya, we identified a different set of ULEs with similar properties in monocots. The identification of ULEs in plant genomes offers new opportunities to study their possible roles in genome function, integrity, and regulation.
Scoop.it!


Assessing interactions between nutrients and toxicity : influences of nitrogen and phosphorus on triclosan toxicity to the aquatic macrophyte "lemna gibba". Access RightsBaylor University access only Date2009-07-01 Author
Fulton, Barry A.
MetadataShow full item record Abstract
In the present study, influences of nutrient availability on triclosan toxicity to a model aquatic macrophyte Lemna gibba were explored. Triclosan effective concentrations varied by up to 6.5-fold depending on nutrient treatment and standardized endpoint. Mesocosm results validated these laboratory findings by also indicating greater triclosan-inhibition under higher P-availability. Ecologically relevant endpoints such as elemental stoichiometry and uptake were also differentially affected according to nutrient – triclosan treatments. In particular, tissue-N inhibition was more pronounced that tissue-P leading to N:P dose-response trends, which were most sensitive in P-limited exposure media. These stoichiometric endpoints were generally less sensitive compared to standardized growth endpoints, except under a P-limited scenario. Interactions between nutrients and contaminants were further highlighted by variable triclosan toxicity to N-uptake kinetics determined over an N-gradient. Significant inhibition to N-uptake kinetics was determined for plants co-exposed at high N concentrations while lower N-availability did not result in significant N-uptake inhibition.


captain wayne
It's funny the things that you remember. I can remember one time when I was a teenager watching an episode of the Montel Williams show. I don't remember the topic, but I do remember Montel criticizing the U.S. government for spending too much money on military defense and not enough on domestic needs. I remember thinking to myself, "That's the stupidest thing I've ever heard." In the world that I knew, the idea of slashing military spending was absolutely, totally, utterly UNTHINKABLE! I personally had never met anyone who thought that way, so I assumed that anyone who would suggest such a thing had to be either a) naive; b) stupid; c) a tree-hugger; or d) unAmerican.
That was then.
I don't know if it's because I changed or because America has changed (or both), but for years it seemed like the only ones who suggested slashing military spending were groups that few Americans could identify with: like hippies, pacifists, environmental and civil rights activists, and conspiracy theorists. Today, the idea that a significant portion of the nation's economic woes is due to wasteful Pentagon spending can be found both on the left and on the right ends of the political spectrum. It can also be found in the Pentagon.
Meet "Mr. Y."


The ideal company name should be unique, simple and convey information about the company's product or purpose to the customer, according to Entrepreneur. The name should also be in line with the company's overall marketing scheme.Continue Reading
Before brainstorming names for a company, evaluate the values and direction you expect the company to take. Many businesses are established solely to generate profit. A business of this type should choose a name that accurately reflects its products or services. This type of business benefits most from a straightforward name derived from a real word. Customers should find it obvious why a profit-focused business chose its name.
Some businesses focus more on making a positive impact on the world than on profit. The ideal name for such a business both reflects its humanitarian mission and its actual products. Again, business names based on real words tend to be more effective in conveying a message than names derived from imaginary words or the owner's name.
Other considerations when choosing a company name include competition, length and distinction. Research the names of competitors to avoid choosing a similar name. Furthermore, the ideal company name should be short, no more than three or four words. Additionally, a name should be distinct enough that customers can easily remember it. Finding the balance between a distinct name and a descriptive name is one of the most important aspects of choosing a company name.Learn more about Business Resources


Co-gasification of crude glycerol and black liquor blends: char morphology and gasification kinetics Number of Authors: 5 2017 (English)In: Energy Technology, ISSN 2194-4296Article in journal (Refereed) Epub ahead of print Abstract [en]
This study assesses the feasibility of black liquor/glycerol blends as potential gasification feedstock. The char gasification reactivity and kinetics were studied at T = 750 °C, 800 °C, 850 °C and 900 °C for 20% and 40% blends of glycerol with black liquor. Three qualities of glycerol were used including two industrial grade crude glycerols. Gasification rates were similar for all blends, indicating sufficient alkali metal catalysis also for the char blends (Alkali/C atomic ratio between 0.45 and 0.55). The blends with the most impure glycerol (containing K) were found to have the lowest activation energies (~120 kJ/mol) and reaction times for char gasification indicating fuel properties suitable for gasification. Char particles from different blends showed similar surface morphology as black liquor chars with even surface distribution of alkali elements. A loss of alkali (mainly, K) from the fuel blends during pyrolysis indicated the necessity to perform gas-phase studies of alkali release. Overall, these results encourage the use of glycerol as a potential gasification feedstock for catalytic gasification based bio-refineries.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
2017.
Keyword [en]
alkali; gasification; black liquor; glycerol; kinetics
National Category Energy Engineering Research subject Energy Engineering IdentifiersURN: urn:nbn:se:ltu:diva-59768DOI: 10.1002/ente.201600569OAI: oai:DiVA.org:ltu-59768DiVA: diva2:1037460 ProjectsLTU Area of Excellence in Research and Innovation - Renewable Energy 2016-10-152016-10-152017-01-13


Braun, Edith; Woodley, Alan; Richardson, John T. E. and Leidner, Bernhard (2012). Self-rated competences questionnaires from a design perspective.
Educational Research Review, 7(1) pp. 1–18. Abstract
This paper provides a theoretical review of self-rated competences questionnaires. This topic is influenced by the ongoing world-wide reform of higher education, which has led to a focus on the learner outcomes of higher education. Consequently, questionnaires on self-rated competences have increasingly been employed. However, self-ratings are often criticised for their lack of validity. Our intention is to outline some principles of good questionnaire design and to use these principles to contrast questionnaires on self-rated competences. We begin with an overview of research about questionnaire design. Then we introduce seven questionnaires and portray them in terms of their design characteristics. A comparison reveals some significant points: biographical data need to be handled more carefully, and there is an overuse of vague and abstract language. On the positive side, all of the questionnaires that were examined provide reliable sub-scales covering important facets of competences.
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Aromatherapy is a holistic, complimentary therapy using essential oils to benefit the human mind, body, and spirit. Aromatherapy is activated through two different methods:
Smell: The sense of smell is powerful. This pathway can provide memory-based responses (good or bad associations), target the limbic system to relieve emotional and physical conditions, and lift spirits. Massage: Essential oils, applied through lotions, gels, creams, and massage oil absorb through the skin, into the blood stream, to relax and relieve physical discomfort.
The power of aromatherapy is individual. It can be considered a pampering of self, with very practial and real applications or a therapeutic and lifestyle necessity.
Aromas can be triggers to a higher sense of wellbeing. The use of essential oils allow for a holistic, non-toxic, sense of smell and bodily experience. Preservative free, essential oils have been used by our ancestors for homeopathic healing and health.


REUTERS/Jason Reed
Those of us who are condemned to lengthy daily commutes can take solace in the fact that we are not alone.
In a recent study, Texas A&M's Transportation Institute found that the average commuter spends an extra 38 hours a year in his car due to traffic. However, in some cities, drivers have it much worse.
To find out which city in America has the worst traffic, Business Insider turned to the experts at FindTheBest.
Based on their calculations, drivers in Washington D.C. have to contend with worst traffic in America.
Commuters in the District spend a whopping 67 hours a year delayed in traffic, costing them an average of $1,398 a year. The average time for a commute in D.C. is 39.5 minutes and rush hours last mind-numbing 7 hours a day.
New York finished second on the list, with drivers spending 59 hours a year delayed in traffic at a cost of $1,281 per year. The average commute in NYC lasts 39.1 minutes, while rush hours take up 6.75 hours a day. Los Angeles takes home the bronze medal in this ranking even though it leads the pack in rush hours per day: 8.
FindTheBest determined the rankings based on four equally weighted factors: annual average hours of delay per commuter, annual congestion cost per commuter, average commute time and rush hours per day, using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Texas Transportation Institute.
Here are FindTheBest's complete finding for the ten most traffic-clogged cities: Business Insider/Benjamin Zhang


A sociology major or minor explores complex issues from different intellectual, ethical and intercultural perspectives and hones the skills of analysis and problem solving.
If you wish to expand upon your major in sociology, the College offers you an unusually wide range of opportunities to explore a topic, issue or problem using the conceptual framework and tools of more than one academic discipline. You may wish to double major or design one in consultation with faculty advisers and the Committee on Student-Designed Interdisciplinary Majors and Minors (SDIMM).
You may also apply to earn a certificate from one of the College's five innovative centers for interdisciplinary scholarship. Requirements for the certificate programs include a challenging combination of course work, in-depth research and a funded summer internship in the U.S. or abroad. The four centers are:
- Ammerman Center for Arts and Technology
- Goodwin-Niering Center for the Environment - Holleran Center for Community Action and Public Policy - Toor Cummings Center for International Studies and the Liberal Arts (CISLA)
A fifth center, the Center for the Comparative Study of Race and Ethnicity, CCSRE, is the College's hub for researching and teaching race and ethnicity across the disciplines.


Prices and targets pressure shifts focus to lower demand
EU governments are faced with soaring energy prices beyond their control and challenging renewables targets imposed from Brussels. Nadia Weekes reports on the rising tide pushing energy efficiency to the top of the agenda
The full text of this article is only available to subscribers and free trialists. To login,please enter your email address and subscriber access code below.


Characteristcs
According to the Starbright Foundation (2002; cited in Turnball et al., 2004), there are numerous complex challenges facing children with health impairments. Common issues are: “loss of sense of control, lack of understanding about the condition, fear, worry, anxiety, stress, anger, guilt, changes in family dynamics, isolation, isolation, medical noncompliance, boredom, depression, pain, decreased self-esteem, negative body image, and impact on identity and social interactions, including those at school” (p. 313).


Birgit Grammel Automatic Generation of Trace Links in Model-driven Software Development Dokumente und Dateien Hinweis
Bitte nutzen Sie beim Zitieren immer folgende Url:
Kurzfassung in Englisch
Traceability data provides the knowledge on dependencies and logical relations existing amongst artefacts that are created during software development. In reasoning over traceability data, conclusions can be drawn to increase the quality of software.
The paradigm of Model-driven Software Engineering (MDSD) promotes the generation of software out of models. The latter are specified through different modelling languages. In subsequent model transformations, these models are used to generate programming code automatically. Traceability data of the involved artefacts in a MDSD process can be used to increase the software quality in providing the necessary knowledge as described above. Existing traceability solutions in MDSD are based on the integral model mapping of transformation execution to generate traceability data. Yet, these solutions still entail a wide range of open challenges. One challenge is that the collected traceability data does not adhere to a unified formal definition, which leads to poorly integrated traceability data. This aggravates the reasoning over traceability data. Furthermore, these traceability solutions all depend on the existence of a transformation engine. However, not in all cases pertaining to MDSD can a transformation engine be accessed, while taking into account proprietary transformation engines, or manually implemented transformations. In these cases it is not possible to instrument the transformation engine for the sake of generating traceability data, resulting in a lack of traceability data. In this work, we address these shortcomings. In doing so, we propose a generic traceability framework for augmenting arbitrary transformation approaches with a traceability mechanism. To integrate traceability data from different transformation approaches, our approach features a methodology for augmentation possibilities based on a design pattern. The design pattern supplies the engineer with recommendations for designing the traceability mechanism and for modelling traceability data. Additionally, to provide a traceability mechanism for inaccessible transformation engines, we leverage parallel model matching to generate traceability data for arbitrary source and target models. This approach is based on a language-agnostic concept of three similarity measures for matching. To realise the similarity measures, we exploit metamodel matching techniques for graph-based model matching. Finally, we evaluate our approach according to a set of transformations from an SAP business application and the domain of MDSD. weitere Metadaten
Schlagwörter
(Deutsch)
Modellgetriebene Softwareentwicklung, Traceability, Model Matching Schlagwörter
(Englisch)
Model-driven Software Development, Traceability, Model Matching DDC Klassifikation 004 RVK Klassifikation ST 230 Institution(en) Hochschule Technische Universität Dresden Fakultät Fakultät Informatik Professur Professur für Softwaretechnologie Betreuer Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Uwe Aßmann Gutachter Prof. Dr. rer. nat. habil. Uwe Aßmann
Prof. Dr. Richard Paige
Dokumententyp Dissertation Sprache Englisch Tag d. Einreichung (bei der Fakultät) 10.01.2013 Tag d. Verteidigung / Kolloquiums / Prüfung 17.02.2014 Veröffentlichungsdatum (online) 02.12.2014 persistente URN urn:nbn:de:bsz:14-qucosa-155839


The Sea to Sky Highway, running along the base of the Pacific Ranges where they meet the Pacific Ocean, experiences poor weather conditions and heavy precipitation for much of the fall, winter, and spring months. Snow melt in spring causes the deposition of rocks and other materials on the road. Surveys of the highway revealed considerable debris accumulation on the shoulders, ranging from branches and dirt to large rocks sometimes exceeding 10 centimetres in diameter. While the summer months may experience less material accumulation (when cyclist volumes peak), many still ride the route regularly in the spring for both transportation and recreation, as well as training for the GranFondo event. Sweeping on the highway is performed on an annual basis, a frequency evidently inadequate for the highway (Ministry of Transportation, personal communication, February 17, 2012).
Painting maintenance appeared insufficient, with paint marking the highway shoulders nearly disappearing in the most dangerous areas. Shoulder paint on the southbound lane in Porteau Cove was particularly poor, likely the result of substantial interaction with automobile tires from motorists hugging the shoulders due to the area’s narrow lanes and blind corners.
Continue to Drainage


By Betsy Todd, MPH, RN, CIC, AJN clinical editor
People, it seems, still have strong feelings about tattoos—and about breastfeeding, too. This month, a judge in Sydney, Australia, ordered the newly tattooed mother of an 11-month-old baby to stop breastfeeding. The judge maintained that the mother’s tattooing the previous month presented “an unacceptable risk of harm” to the baby because the mother could have contracted HIV or hepatitis B (HBV) during the procedure.
The woman had tested negative for both HIV and hepatitis B since she received the tattoos. But poor aseptic technique during tattooing can result in the transmission of bloodborne infections, and people infected with HIV or HBV may not immediately test positive for either virus.
However, while HIV can be transmitted in breast milk, studies indicate that breastfeeding by hepatitis B surface antigen-positive women does not pose a significant risk of infection to their infants.
Still, the case raises interesting questions about how risks to a breastfeeding baby are determined. What if the father had been the person with new tattoos, and he still had a sexual relationship with the baby’s mother? It’s unscientific (and discriminatory) to focus on the breastfeeding mom as the sole potential source of bloodborne pathogen risk.
(Tangentially related: Speaking of attitudes toward people with tattoos, it seems that a 2012 article we ran about patients’ attitudes toward care providers, including nurses, who have visible tattoos or piercings is currently one of our most-viewed articles.)


UC-Davis Study: 75 ppb NAAQS Still Affects Lung Health
Ozone exposure, even at levels deemed safe by current clean air standards, can have a significant and negative effect on lung function, according to researchers at the University of California Davis.
"The National Ambient Air Quality Standard (NAAQS) for ozone was recently revised to set lower limits for ozone concentrations. Our research indicates that the threshold for decrements in ozone-induced lung function in healthy young subjects is below this standard," said Edward Schelegle, Ph.D., of the University of California Davis.
"Specifically, we found that 6.6 hours exposure to mean ozone concentrations as low as 70 parts per billion have a significant negative effect on lung function, even though the current NAAQS standards allow ozone concentrations to be up to 75 parts per billion (ppb) over an eight-hour period."
The results were published in the August 1 issue of the American Thoracic Society's
American Journal of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine.
Schelegle and colleagues recruited 31 healthy nonsmoking individuals to participate in 6.6-hour sessions during which they were exposed to ozone at 60, 70, 80 or 87 ppb or filtered air while undergoing six 50-minute bouts of moderate exercise followed by 10-minute breaks. A 35-minute lunch break separated the third and fourth bouts of exercise.
Lung function for each subject was assessed before, during and after exposure, and each individual answered a questionnaire evaluating their subjective symptoms. Of the four levels of ozone concentration tested, Schelegle and colleagues found significant decrements in both lung function and subjective respiratory symptoms at 70 ppb and above, beginning at 5.6 hours after exposure.
"These data tells us that even at levels currently below the air quality standard, healthy people may experience decreased lung function after just a few hours of moderate to light exercise such as bicycling or walking," said Schelegle. "While these changes were fully reversible within several hours, these findings highlight the need to study susceptible individuals, such as asthmatics, at similar ozone concentrations and durations of exposure. These studies are needed to better understand the acute rise in hospitalizations that often occur in conjunction with high-ozone periods."
The study also supports the previously reported smooth dose-response curve associated with ozone. That is, the higher the level of ozone, the greater the decrease in lung function. However, the healthy subjects in the study showed a marked individual variability in their responses to ozone, with a few exhibiting strong sensitivity to ozone concentrations. What causes some individuals to respond strongly while others do not is still unknown.
"Schelegle and colleagues do not, nor did they seek to explain the determinants of susceptibility in young, healthy adults," noted James S. Brown of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in an accompanying editorial. "Only with continued research efforts will we be able to better characterize the susceptibility in some healthy individuals to the effects of short-term ozone exposures."
Schelegle also notes the need for further research to further elucidate the precise mechanisms that determine an individual's ozone responsiveness in both healthy and susceptible populations. "Understanding how these mechanisms change with repeated daily exposures is critical, especially as ambient ozone levels are often elevated several days in a row," Schelegle said.


Biological ammonia oxidation had long been thought to be mediated solely by discrete clades of beta- and gamma-proteobacteria (ammonia-oxidizing bacteria; AOB). However, ammonia-oxidizing Crenarchaeota (ammonia-oxidizing archaea; AOA) have recently been identified and proposed to be the dominant agents of ammonia oxidation in soils. Nevertheless, the dynamics of AOB versus AOA, and their relative contribution to soil ammonia oxidation and ecosystem functioning on stress and environmental perturbation, remain unknown. Using a 3-year longitudinal field study and the amoA gene as a molecular marker, we demonstrate that AOB, but not AOA, mediate recovery of nitrification after zinc (Zn) contamination. Pristine soils showed approximately equal amoA gene copy numbers and transcript levels for AOB and AOA. At an intermediate Zn dose (33.7mmol Zn per kg), ammonia oxidation was completely inhibited, and the numbers of AOB and AOA amoA gene copies and gene transcripts were reduced. After 2 years, ammonia oxidation in the field soils was fully restored to preexposure levels, and this restoration of function was concomitant with an increase of AOB amoA gene copy and gene transcript numbers. Analysis of the restored community revealed domination by a phylogenetically distinct Zn-tolerant Nitrosospira sp. community. In contrast, the numbers of AOA amoA gene copies and gene transcripts remained 3- and 10(4)-fold lower than recovered AOB values, respectively. Thus, although recent findings have emphasized a dominant role of archaea in soil-borne ammonia oxidation, we demonstrate that a phylogenetic shift within the AOB community drives recovery of nitrification from Zn contamination in this soil. The ISME Journal (2009) 3, 916-923; doi: 10.1038/ismej.2009.39; published online 23 April 2009


This radioactive gas comes from the natural breakdown of uranium in soil, rock, and water, and can move up through the ground into your home through cracks and other holes in the foundation. It has been linked to lung cancer, so mitigating radon in your home is critical. You can find many kinds of good, low-cost DIY radon kits in the marketplace. But you may prefer hiring a qualified tester, especially when buying or selling a home.


Signals, Truth, & Design
Google Tech TalksJanuary 11, 2007ABSTRACTMuch of what we want to know about other people is not directly perceivable. Are you a nice person? Did you really like the cake I baked? If we got married, would you be a good parent to our children? Instead, we rely on signals, which are perceivable features or actions that indicate the presence of those hidden qualities. Yet not all signals are reliable. It is beneficial for the con-man to seem nice, for the guest to seem to like the burnt cake, for the unsuitable suitor to seem as attractive as possible. While these deceptions benefit the deceiver, they may be quite costly for the recipient. What keeps signals honest — and why are some signals...
Length: 55:54


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A newly seeded pasture or large field requires 50 to 100 pounds of grass seed per acre. For an established field that has bare patches, use 20 to 30 pounds of grass seed to over-seed each acre. Rake the seed so that it is lightly covered up to 1/2 inch.
Water the newly seeded area every two days until the grass is 6 inches tall, then reduce watering to three times a week. Apply 250 pounds of fertilizer per acre three months after planting, and apply the same amount three times each year. Maintain established pasture grass at 6 to 10 inches high.Learn more about Landscaping


The digital literacy and multimodal practices of young children (DigiLitEY)
Young children are growing up in highly technologised societies across Europe. The aim of this COST Action is to develop an interdisciplinary network that enables researchers to synthesise existing research and identify gaps in knowledge in this area. This will help to avoid duplication, foster innovative avenues for future research and effectively advance knowledge in this area. The Action focuses on children aged from 0-8.


When teens turn 18, they are legally adults and can be legally bound by contracts such as a lease agreement. In California, minors are treated differently than adults when signing contracts. When minor teens wish to rent an apartment, California law is strict about whether it is allowed, the conditions of enforcing that contract and ways that a minor teen can rent an apartment.
Lease Agreements
An apartment lease agreement is a legal contract between a lessee and a lessor that gives the former the right to live at a property owned or managed by the lessor. Lease agreements are binding legal contracts. During the lease term, the tenant is responsible for paying rent and utilities, as well as the property's upkeep. If the tenant breaks the lease agreement, the landlord can take the tenant to court for eviction or to collect unpaid money.
Minors and Contracts
According to the California Family Code, a person under age 18 cannot enter into a contract for property. The law states that a person who is not an adult cannot be held liable for the provisions in a legal contract. Even if a landlord and minor tenant physically sign a lease agreement, the minor tenant cannot be legally responsible for the conditions of the contract. For example, if the tenant breaks the lease agreement, the landlord cannot take the minor to court.
Co-signing With Parents or Guardians
A 17-year-old can sign a contract such as a lease agreement with the support of parents or legal guardians if they agree to act as co-signers. A co-signer is someone who assumes responsibility for the rent payments if the tenant will not or cannot pay. With this setup, a landlord may be willing to sign a lease agreement with a minor if a legally responsible party is part of the agreement.
Emancipation
Emancipation occurs when a minor is granted legal independent status by the courts. Teens can also become emancipated if they are legally married or join the military. In California, an emancipated teen must be at least 14 years old. When emancipation is final, the teen is liable for things like taxes, debts and other actions. If an emancipated teen signs a lease for an apartment, he is responsible for the conditions in that contract and will be held liable for any violations or debts that ensue.
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The fawn-hooded rat (FHR) raised from birth at the altitude in Denver acquires severe pulmonary hypertension (PH). However, neonates raised at sea level (3 weeks postnatal) and then transferred to Denver do not acquire PH. This suggests a developmental component in the pathogenesis of PH in this model. We investigated the role of the RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling pathway in postnatal lung development and the development of PH.
Aberrant RhoA/Rho-kinase signaling has been implicated in both systemic and PH. This pathway also plays important roles in a wide variety of cell functions central to embryonic and neonatal development, including proliferation, migration, and differentiation. FHR pups were raised in normoxia (sea level, 0 m) or mild hypoxia (the altitude at Denver, 1,500 m). Fasudil, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, was administered orally (30 mg/kg) from birth to rats raised in Denver. Lung tissue was collected at 1 week, 2 weeks, 3 weeks, and 4 weeks postnatally. RhoA, Rho-kinase, Rac1, and RhoE were measured by Western analysis.


It's been a few months since I wrote about how I was faring since my PCOS diagnosis. It's sort of interesting, because I'm writing about my experience with it from a non-TTC point of a view; most of the research I've found online so far have been through women who are struggling with the infertility aspect of it. Since I'm not up to that stage yet, I'm focusing on it from a health perspective - particularly on some of the symptoms that I've been experiencing since the diagnosis, as well as some that I had potentially experienced before it as well.
If you're not keen on reading about lady-cycles, periods and all that jazz, I recommend skipping today's blog post.
Being on the pill was something I grew up with, and I never really had any problems with it, but back in 2008, my supply was running low and I decided to stop using it. I'd been on it for such a long time that it was only to be expected that getting a 'natural rhythm' back to my cycle would not be the easiest thing in the world, so I was patient. I waited. And I waited. And waited some more.
My first period after stopping the pill was long and painful - a good few weeks worth. It was awful. After that, the same mess started again: months of waiting for one to arrive, followed by weeks of feeling like death. That continued, until I was back home & went for the blood tests and pelvic ultrasound which found the cause.
It's kind of ironic, isn't it? When I was younger, I didn't mind missing a period - who wants to deal with that anyway? And now, I'm praying for a more regular cycle and find myself getting disappointed when the 'normal' timeframe comes and goes, yet again. And then, when the time comes for us to start actively trying, I'll be once again crossing my fingers that my period WON'T arrive, to show us that we've managed to fall pregnant. It's a vicious cycle.
I was diagnosed in April. I've been on Metformin tablets and I've been working on weight loss - two things combined that are supposed to play a major part in having a more regular cycle and monthly ovulation. At its worst, my cycle was around 90 days long. For most women it's between 24-35 days. I've been tracking myself since last year, and my current average cycle length has dropped down to 73 days. It's still well, well over what it should be. Since April, I've had my period twice. I'm currently waiting on one, and am on day 48 as we speak. If you go by the average, my next period isn't due until October.
I feel so disappointed in myself as a woman. I always used to know something wasn't quite right, but when they stuck a label on me and released me into the wild to do my own research, the severity of it really hit home. I never used to know enough about ovulation to care about what it is or when I experienced it - and now, I'm twenty-six and petrified that things still aren't working. I use a program on my iPhone that helps me track my cycles and at the current average, it's forecasting that in 2011, I'll have 4-5 periods.
I read somewhere that a healthy fertile woman only has something like a 25% chance of everything working at the right time and a pregnancy resulting in each ovulation cycle. At this rate, I'll have less than half of those opportunities; which is a scary thought. I know you might think I'm being ridiculous being this worried now, when we are not even
tryingfor a baby right now, but I can't help it. I'm a worrier, that's how I roll.
I'll be blogging more about this over the coming weeks (possibly even months/years!) but I always like to hear feedback and advice from fellow bloggers, if you have it. Hopefully I'll have more positive things to say as the journey progresses, as it's only really been five months since I was officially 'diagnosed' with the syndrome. I hope the statistics become more promising as the months continue. And at this point, I'll continue tracking everything until I'm back home in Sydney in December for my follow up appointment - and we decide what happens next.
Coming soon in the PCOS chronicles, the other joys I've experienced so far. Are you ready for this?
Monday, 6 September 2010 17 Comments • Labels: Blah Blah PCOS


My colleague Jeff Rachlinski joined co-authors Chris Guthrie (the new Dean at Vanderbilt) and Andrew Wistrich (a magistrate judge) on an interesting paper that examines administrative law judges from an empirical perspective. The abstract for The Hidden 'Judiciary': An Empirical Examination of Executive Branch Justice follows.
"Administrative law judges attract little scholarly attention, yet they decide a large fraction of all civil disputes. In this Article, we demonstrate that these executive branch judges, like their counterparts in the judicial branch, tend to make predominantly intuitive rather than predominantly deliberative decisions. This finding sheds new light on executive branch justice by suggesting that judicial intuition, not judicial independence, is the most significant challenge facing these important judicial officers."


A peanut allergy is caused by a case of mistaken identity, where the exposure to a peanut is thought to be an intruder. The body launches an attack against it, causing a release of histamines. Peanut allergies can be deadly, so avoiding contact, including residual exposures, is imperative for the sufferers safety.


PAH concentrations were determined in a dated sediment core collected from Esthwaite Water (EW), a seasonally anoxic lake in the English Lake District. The most dramatic variations are associated with increased PAH fluxes from 1900 and a sub-surface maximum (29 mg m−2 year−1) in the late 1960s to early 1970s, followed by a fivefold decrease in fluxes to the sediment-water interface. This trend is believed to reflect enhanced fossil fuel burning, followed by general improvements in combustion technologies, shifts in the fuels used for domestic space heating and the implementation of various emission controls on releases from certain known PAH sources. When the relative contributions from individual compounds to the ∑PAH were plotted as vertical profiles, coherent time trends emerged. Perylene dominated the pre-1900 sedimentary PAH composition, contributing >75% to the ∑PAH mixture. The perylene profile provides good evidence for both natural and anthropogenic sources to EW. The ratios of annual sediment trap fluxes to surficial sediment accumulation rates are substantially greater than one for the low molecular weight compounds, suggesting release at or near the sediment water interface and subsequent recycling of these compounds. Recycling was found to increase with increasing solubility and decreasing log Kow.


We all write letters on various occasions, and for various reasons. As an extension to the concept, social work cover letters are written for the purpose of presenting your resume to the employers as part of your application for the job posting. The position of a social worker can exist in diverse spheres, such as government organizations, NGOs (Non Government Organizations) and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility) ventures.
Depending upon the type of organization, the applications for openings under the social worker category can have different kinds of social worker cover letters accompanying them. However, the purpose behind writing these cover letters is still the same; i.e. to grab the attention of employers, and incite them to review the resume for further consideration.
A cover letter gives your application a comprehensive advantage over the other candidate's application. Social worker cover letters provide the ideal platform to present personal attributes compatible with the desired candidate's profile. In a resume, you can share only professional details with no scope for mentioning personal characteristics. This takes away the competitive advantage from you, which otherwise comes automatically by writing an accompanying cover letter.
With the increasing competition and internet accessibility, it is easier for candidates to find sample social worker cover letters over the web. However, to make these cover letters matching to one's profile, it requires a deep understanding of the cover letter layout and the content design. The tips given below can be helpful to you in writing an impressive cover letter for you social worker resume.
Tips for social worker cover letters
As discussed above, your cover letter is a compounded synopsis of your resume and personality. While writing the cover letter, ensure that the language used is reciprocal to your proficiency levels, and that of the desired candidate's profile. Do not use intricate language if you are not comfortable with it. You can lend yourself in trouble in later stages, involving personal interaction.
Selecting the format for the cover letter will require a bit of industrial research. The layout selected should be formal and professional. At the same time it should be at par with the prevailing industrial practices.
The subject of your letter should be the given job code or as asked by the employer. If nothing is given, then you may use the title of the position applied as the subject title of your letter.
For salutation, if you know the second name of the addressee, you can greet her/him with the same. Otherwise, you may opt for generic salutations which are more aptly suited.
Before you begin with the content writing for the body of the letter, you need to organize all the information, and prioritize them as per the relevancy. Alternatively, you may begin the letter with a brief introduction, mentioning job reference details. In the subsequent part of the letter, you can share personal and professional attributes, which reinforce your candidacy claim. Finally, you can give a befitting conclusion, and show optimism for further interaction in the upcoming selection rounds, involving personal interaction.
Ensure there is a smooth transition of information with no abrupt beginnings or endings. Over all, the letter should be precise and simple.
You should not sound over-confident, but be optimistic about your selection throughout the letter. All information conveyed should be directed for the same cause.
If you are attaching any other document do mention it under enclosures heading at the end of letter. Note that the order of documents attached and as mentioned under enclosures should be the same, with resume being the first. You can arrange the documents depending upon the importance, or as asked by the employer.
Before you finalize the draft, revise it for any errors, and remember to put your signature before mailing it.
You can always personalize the cover letter befitting to your personality by including personal innovations within the limits of acceptable professional standards. A cover letter written with the desired intensity and passion will be strikingly remarkable, and bring out the desired results.
For better application of these guidelines, and to successfully write job winning cover letter, you can refer to the sample social worker cover letters listed below.


On 24-25 September 2010, during the high-level segment of the 65th Session of the UN General Assembly, Member States undertook a 5-year review of the Mauritius Strategy (MSI) for the Further Implementation of the Barbados Programme of Actionfor the Sustainable Development of SIDS (BPOA), pursuant to UN General Assembly Resolutions 63/213 and 64/199.
Preparations
In preparation for this high-level event, SIDS Member States were requested to submit
National Assessment Reports. These reports, complemented by inputs received from UN agencies, regional organizations and NGOs, and Donor States formed the basis for three regional review meetings that were held in the Caribbean, Pacific and AIMS regions in early 2010. 1. Pacific Regional Meeting 8-9 February, 2010 Vanuatu 2. AIMS Regional Meeting 9-10 March, 2010 Maldives 3. Caribbean Regional Meeting 16 and 18 March, 2010 Grenada
The national and regional assessments were then consolidated at an inter-regional meeting, followed by the SIDS Day of the eighteenth session of the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD-18) acting as the Prep-Com for the high-level review.
4. Inter-regional Meeting 8 May, 2010 (During CSD-18) New York 5. Preparatory Committee Meeting 10 May, 2010 (During CSD-18) New York Modalities
The high-level review was structured around an opening plenary meeting, followed by two multi-stakeholder round-table sessions, an interactive dialogue on cross-regional perspectives and a closing plenary meeting, as mandated by Resolution A/64/L.71, which outlines the modalities of the event.
Outcomes
The review concluded with the adoption of a political declaration, published as A/RES/65/2.
Key issues and priorities highlighted in the discussions during the two-day event include:
strengthening data management capacities of SIDS for monitoring and evaluation; enhancing strategic partnerships, including strengthening South-South and SIDS-SIDS cooperation; assessing effectiveness of UN system support to SIDS; need for results-oriented approach and improved measures to effectively address SIDS’ vulnerabilities; exploring the formal recognition of SIDS as a special category in the UN.


Abstract
Summary α-Granules are essential to normal platelet activity. These unusual secretory granules derive their cargo from both regulated secretory and endocytotic pathways in megakaryocytes. Rare, inheritable defects of α-granule formation in mice and man have enabled identification of proteins that mediate cargo trafficking and α-granule formation. In platelets, α-granules fuse with the plasma membrane upon activation, releasing their cargo and increasing platelet surface area. The mechanisms that control α-granule membrane fusion have begun to be elucidated at the molecular level. SNAREs and SNARE accessory proteins that control α-granule secretion have been identified. Proteomic studies demonstrate that hundreds of bioactive proteins are released from α-granules. This breadth of proteins implies a versatile functionality. While initially known primarily for their participation in thrombosis and hemostasis, the role of α-granules in inflammation, atherosclerosis, antimicrobial host defense, wound healing, angiogenesis, and malignancy has become increasingly appreciated as the function of platelets in the pathophysiology of these processes has been defined. This review will consider the formation, release, and physiologic roles of α-granules with special emphasis on work performed over the last decade.


Appendix A. Additional methods for the large-scale gull exclusion experiment as well as some photographs from the experiment.
Our statistical model examining
C. borealis densities as the response variable included two random effects [island and site nested within island], three main fixed effects [tide (high, low); depth (0m, -1m); and the number of crab carapaces per low tide (continuous)], and second and third-order interaction terms. The initial analysis by GLIMMIX ANOVA showed that island and site(island) had no significant effect on C. borealis densities. Therefore, we excluded these factors and re-analyzed the data. There were no significant interaction effects among gull density, depth and tide. We excluded all interaction effects with a P > 0.2, leaving only four fixed effects in the final analysis: depth, tide, gull predation rate, and gull predation rate × depth.
Photos from the experiment: (a)
C. borealis eating snail in tidepool, (b) C. borealis in algal canopy at low tide, (c) emergent C. borealis in algal canopy at low tide, and (d) emergent crabs.
(a)
(b)
(c)
(d)


PURPOSE: Fospropofol disodium (FP) is a water-soluble prodrug of propofol with a differentiated pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile that distinguishes it from propofol lipid emulsion. FP has been studied for moderate sedation during diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, including colonoscopy and flexible bronchoscopy. A subset analysis of elderly (≥65 years) patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy in a phase 3, randomized, double-blind study was performed. METHODS: Patients (56% were ASA 3–4) received fentanyl citrate (50 mcg) followed by initial (4.88 mg/kg) and supplemental FP (1.63 mg/kg) doses (reduced 25% from the randomized 6.5 mg/kg dose). The primary endpoint was sedation success (3 consecutive Modified Observer's Assessment of Alertness/Sedation scores of ≤;4 and procedure completion without alternative sedative, assisted ventilation). Time to fully alert, patient satisfaction, and safety were also evaluated. Using Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised, the patients' ability to remember word lists was also tested. RESULTS: In the elderly subset (n = 61), sedation success was 92%, the mean time to fully alert was 8.0±10.9 min, and memory retention was 93% at screening and 72% during recovery. Nearly all (95%) patients were willing to be treated with FP again. Sedation-related hypoxemia (<90% for > 30 seconds) occurred in 20% of patients, however, the majority resolved with only increased oxygen flow (9/12). All of these patients had a history of COPD, pulmonary mass or other ongoing respiratory conditions. One patient with underlying severe hypoxemia and COPD required bag-masked ventilation but completed the procedure and was discharged afterwards. CONCLUSION: FP provided safe and effective sedation, rapid time to fully alert, and high satisfaction in this elderly subset of patients undergoing flexible bronchoscopy. These findings need to be confirmed in a larger sample size. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Fospropofol holds promise as a sedative agent in bronchoscopy for an elderly population frequently with comorbid illness.
DISCLOSURE: Brad Vincent, No Financial Disclosure Information; Product/procedure/technique that is considered research and is NOT yet approved for any purpose. Fospropofol is in Phase IV research trials and has been submitted to the FDA for approval in endoscopic and minor surgical procedures.


The farm-based biogas project, called NC-1, transforms swine waste streams into a source of energy.
As the second largest pork producing state in the country, North Carolina generates 40 million gallons of swine manure a day.
The project processes waste from livestock on farms and organic feedstock materials such as food waste, fats, greases and oils and municipal waste streams.
It can generate air and water quality benefits, including greenhouse gas emission reductions, pathogen destruction, hydrogen sulfide emission reductions and waste stream utilization.
"Not only are we generating significant electricity and employment opportunities, we are greatly enhancing the farm’s existing waste management system to improve processing and create previously unachievable environmental benefits,” said Alan Tank, co-founder and CEO of Revolution Energy Solutions.


- candidate number 13246 - NTR Number NTR3587 - ISRCTN ISRCTN wordt niet meer aangevraagd. - Date ISRCTN created - date ISRCTN requested - Date Registered NTR 20-aug-2012 - Secondary IDs NL25920.091.08 / 3.4.08.040; CCMO / Astmafonds - Public Title The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD: Dynamic hyperinflation and systemic inflammation during daily activities. - Scientific Title The effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on respiratory impairments, dyspnea and systemic inflammation during daily activities (ADL) in patients with COPD. - ACRONYM - hypothesis It is hypothesized that in patients with COPD pulmonary rehabilitation will reduce respiratory impairments like dynamic hyperinflation and dyspnea during daily activities compared to control patients. Furthermore, rehabilitation will reduce the systemic inflammatory response induced by ADL. - Healt Condition(s) or Problem(s) studied Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) - Inclusion criteria 1. Stable COPD GOLD I-III;
2. Dynamic hyperinflation during ADL. - Exclusion criteria 1. Long term oxygen therapy at home;
2. Severe ADL-limiting cardiac or neuromuscular disease;
3. Co-existing lung disease other than COPD;
4. Other inflammatory diseases;
5. Treatment with systemic anti-inflammatory drugs;
6. Previous participation in rehabilitation program (<2 year).
Extra exclusion criterium for control COPD patients:
1. Participation in supervised physical therapy program. - mec approval received yes - multicenter trial no - randomised no - group Parallel - Type 2 or more arms, non-randomized - Studytype intervention - planned startdate 1-sep-2012 - planned closingdate 1-jul-2013 - Target number of participants 26 - Interventions The multidisciplinary outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program consists of a 10-week training program with 2 hour sessions, 3 times a week. The pulmonary rehabilitation program also includes education sessions and psychosocial support or nutritional intervention if necessary.
As a control group, COPD patients from the same hospital will be included. They receive usual COPD care which might include education, nutritional intervention if necessary, but no supervised physical exercise training. - Primary outcome 1. Dynamic hyperinflation;
2. Dyspnea;
3. Biomarkers of systemic inflammation after ADL.
Dynamic hyperinflation and other respiratory impairments during ADL will be measured using the Oxycon Mobile (Viasys Healthcare, Germany), which is a portable breath-by-breath system, consisting of a face mask with turbine volume transducer and integrated O2 and CO2 gas analyzers. Subjects will be asked to rate their shortness of breath using a 10-point Borg scale at start and end of each ADL. Systemic inflammation will be characterized by measuring the number of circulating leukocytes (standard laboratory tests), and plasma levels of interleukins. - Secondary outcome N/A - Timepoints Before and after rehabilitation or control period:
1. Before daily activity (rest);
2. Immediately after daily activity. - Trial web site N/A - status planned - CONTACT FOR PUBLIC QUERIES MSc. L.M. Willems - CONTACT for SCIENTIFIC QUERIES MSc. L.M. Willems - Sponsor/Initiator Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Pulmonary diseases - Funding
(Source(s) of Monetary or Material Support) Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre, Department of Pulmonary diseases, Longfonds The Netherlands , Astra Zeneca - Publications N/A - Brief summary This study will focus on the effect of pulmonary rehabilitation on respiratory impairments, dyspnea and systemic inflammation during ADL. 13 patients with COPD enter the 10 week outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation program and 13 patients will receive usual COPD care without rehabilitation. Before and after the rehabilitation or (10 weeks during) control period an ADL test will be performed and respiratory impairments will be measured using a portable breath-by-breath system. In addition, before and after ADL, blood will be collected that will be used for determination of biomarkers of systemic inflammation. - Main changes (audit trail) - RECORD 20-aug-2012 - 22-sep-2012


This paper investigates the prevailing financial regulatory structures and impact of the current financial turmoil on banking performance in four Asian economies: the People's Republic of China (PRC); Hong Kong, China; Singapore; and Taipei,China. Both the PRC and Hong Kong, China operate under a fragmented financial regulatory structure, while Singapore and Taipei,China have integrated structures. We examine the role of an integrated financial regulatory structure in helping financial institutions mitigate the impact of the financial crisis, using financial indicators of banks' capital structure and operating performance in these four economies between 2003 and 2008. Our analysis of the indicators reveals that banking performance under a fragmented financial regulatory structure is not worse than under integrated regulation. This implies that financial regulatory structure is not the main reason why Asian financial institutions suffered only limited losses from the current global financial crisis. However, given the growing complexity of the global financial system, and the relative weakness of current financial regulatory structures in Asia, this paper suggests that East Asian governments should refer to the Lamfalussy Process in the European Union and set up an Asia Financial Stability Dialogue to facilitate policy coordination for regional financial sector stability and development.


The need for effective multi-level governance arrangements is becoming increasingly apparent because of the high functional interdependencies between biophysical and socioeconomic factors in the realm of natural resource governance. Such arrangements provide a basis for the exchange, discussion, and deliberation of information, knowledge, and data across diverse user groups and entities. Multi-level governance is operationalized by using a microinstitutional analysis that links decision-making arenas across three distinct levels: operational, collective-choice, and constitutional. Within this context, I argue that the effectiveness and success of actors' participatory processes across these three levels depend on the amount of social capital among actors within the governance system. I assessed the concept of social capital using two different models: (1) a structural approach focused on resources embedded within an individual's network, and (2) a combined structural-cultural approach that incorporates various aspects of group membership with relations of trust, rules, and norms. To explore the effects of social capital on participatory processes related to the implementation and management of natural resources, I analyzed different small-scale fisheries governance regimes from the Gulf of California, Mexico. I collected data using surveys (n=371), interviews (n=82), and participant observation techniques conducted among the residents of four small-scale fishing communities that live adjacent to marine protected areas along the Baja California, Mexico, peninsula. Data analysis included both quantitative (logit regression model), and qualitative (narrative analysis) approaches. Overall, my results suggest that both social capital models reveal the multidimensional nature of social capital where none of its individual types form a consistent and statistically significant relationship with the six outcomes that I measured. However, these types are related in different ways to fishers engagement in participatory processess across the three levels. The extent of fishers' engagement in participatory processess across different levels was not high. Qualitative analysis revealed that participatory processes related to fisheries conservation and management, although present do not reach their full potential and are stymied by a historical context and a lack of general participatory culture.


A major social-cognitive achievement of young children is the understanding that other people act on the basis of their own representations of reality rather than on the basis of reality itself. Developmental psychologists have explored the refinement of mental-state reasoning in children, typically by measuring their ability to pass false-belief tasks, such as the example above. Yet previous research has only been conducted in Western cultures, where children pass such tests around the age of 5. New research reveals that children reach this false-belief milestone at about the same age the world over.
The findings appear in the report, "Synchrony in the Onset of Mental-State Reasoning: Evidence from Five Cultures," published in the May 2005 issue of Psychological Science, a journal of the American Psychological Society. Researchers Tara Callaghan, St. Francis Xavier University; Mary Louise Claux, Catholic University of Peru; Shoji Itakura, Kyoto University; Angeline Lillard, University of Virginia; Hal Odden, Emory University; Philippe Rochat, Emory University; Saraswati Singh, M.K.P. College; and Sombat Tapanya, Chiang Mai University, tested the false-belief understanding of children in Canada, India, Peru, Samoa, and Thailand.
The test group consisted of 267 children, approximately 50 from each country, ranging from 30 to 72 months in age. The false-belief task involved the following test: One experimenter hid a trinket such
'"/> Contact: Tara Callaghan tcallagh@stfx.ca Association for Psychological Science 28-Jul-2005


Definition:
Acting In behavior refers to a subset of personality disorder traits that are more self-destructive than outwardly-destructive.
Description:
Personality-Disordered Individuals often behave in ways that are destructive to themselves and to those around them. When a behavior or trait is more self-destructive than outwardly-destructive, that behavior or trait is sometimes referred to as "acting-in".
People who suffer from Cluster A (odd or eccentric) personality disorders Paranoid personality disorder (PPD) Schizoid personality disorder (SPD) & Schizotypal personality disorder (STPD) more typically engage in "acting-in" behaviors.
People who suffer from Cluster B (dramatic, emotional, or erratic) disorders - Antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) Borderline personality disorder (BPD), Histrionic personality disorder (HPD) & Narcissistic personality disorder (NPD) more typically engage in "acting-out" behaviors.
People who suffer from Cluster C (anxious or fearful disorders) - Avoidant personality disorder (AVPD) Dependent personality disorder (DPD) Obsessive-compulsive personality disorder (OCPD) more typically engage in "acting-in" behaviors.
Examples of Acting-In Behaviors Avoidance - The practice of withdrawing from relationships with other people as a defensive measure to reduce the risk of rejection, accountability, criticism or exposure. Catastrophizing - The habit of automatically assuming a "worst case scenario" and inappropriately characterizing minor or moderate problems or issues as catastrophic events. Cognitive Dissonance - A psychological term for the discomfort that most people feel when they encounter information which contradicts their existing set of beliefs or values. People who suffer from personality disorders often experience cognitive dissonance when they are confronted with evidence that their actions have hurt others or have contradicted their stated morals. "Control-Me" Syndrome - This describes a tendency which some people have to foster relationships with people who have a controlling narcissistic, antisocial or "acting-out" nature. Dependency - An inappropriate and chronic reliance by an adult individual on another individual for their health, subsistence, decision making or personal and emotional well-being. Depression - People who suffer from personality disorders are often also diagnosed with symptoms of depression. Dissociation- A psychological term used to describe a mental departure from reality. Escape To Fantasy - Taking an imaginary excursion to a happier, more hopeful place. Fear of Abandonment - An irrational belief that one is imminent danger of being personally rejected, discarded or replaced. Identity Disturbance - A psychological term used to describe a distorted or inconsistent self-view Low-Functioning - A Low-Functioning Personality-Disordered Individual is one who is unable to conceal their dysfunctional behavior from public view or maintain a positive public or professional profile. Low Self-Esteem - A common name for a negatively-distorted self-view which is inconsistent with reality. Mirroring - Imitating or copying another person's characteristics, behaviors or traits. Panic Attacks - Short intense episodes of fear or anxiety, often accompanied by physical symptoms, such as hyperventilating, shaking, sweating and chills. Perfectionism - The maladaptive practice of holding oneself or others to an unrealistic, unattainable or unsustainable standard of organization, order, or accomplishment in one particular area of living, while sometimes neglecting common standards of organization, order or accomplishment in other areas of living. Selective Memory and Selective Amnesia - The use of memory, or a lack of memory, which is selective to the point of reinforcing a bias, belief or desired outcome. Selective Competence - Demonstrating different levels of intelligence, memory, resourcefulness, strength or competence depending on the situation or environment. Self-Harm - Any form of deliberate, premeditated injury, such as cutting, poisoning or overdosing, inflicted on oneself. Self-Loathing - An extreme hatred of one's own self, actions or one's ethnic or demographic background. Self-Victimization - Casting oneself in the role of a victim.


America's debate over whether and how to invade Iraq clustered into civilian versus military camps. Top military officials appeared reluctant to use force, the most hawkish voices in government were civilians who had not served in uniform, and everyone was worried that the American public would not tolerate casualties in war. This book shows that this civilian-military argument--which has characterized earlier debates over Bosnia, Somalia, and Kosovo--is typical, not exceptional. Indeed, the underlying pattern has shaped U.S. foreign policy at least since 1816. The new afterword by Peter Feaver and Christopher Gelpi traces these themes through the first two years of the current Iraq war, showing how civil-military debates and concerns about sensitivity to casualties continue to shape American foreign policy in profound ways.


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The cheater is often surrounded by an event termed “the affair fog”. Dealing with and getting out of the fog is often a challenge. I addressed the issue of the affair fog in more depth at Affair Recovery Group, where a special session was devoted to the topic.
While in the ‘fog’ you may find yourself being more vulnerable to suggestions from the lover. Your spouse may say that ‘you’ve changed’ or ‘you’re different’. They are seeing that same you physically, but mentally and emotionally, you are not there with them. Your mind is on auto-pilot.
First, you will need to wake-up! You will need to engage your mind. Rather than allow it to be passive, you will need to get it active. Besides waking up your mind, you will also need to avoid activities which are ‘mindless’. You want to be 100% there when you do things and when you talk with your spouse and kids. Making the choice to leave the fog is stepping in the right direction. While in the fog, you will not see things clearly, communicate clearly or engage effectively. Your spouse needs you. You need you. If your relationship is going to work, it needs both parties to be FULLY engaged.
Best Regards,
Jeffrey D. Murrah
Nothing in this Work is intended to replace common sense, legal, medical or other professional advice. If your situation warrants it, please seek competent professional counsel.


Water trees are found more in sections of cables which are in a state of tension such as in bends. While it is possible to identify the conditions which may cause the formation of water trees, the exact mechanism and the chemical processes involved in their development is not yet fully understood. Water trees reduce the breakdown strength of the cable.
Electrical Trees are formed in the absence of water in dry conditions. They are caused by voids, impurities and defects in the insulation. High electrostatic stress which reverses direction as in AC cables can also accelerate the phenomenon. Occasionally, water trees may evolve into electrical trees. These trees are accompanied with partial discharge which may accelerate insulation failure. Electrical trees are readily visible to the naked eye.
Trees can be classified broadly into vented and bow-tie trees. Vented trees are those which originate from an electrode and reach out to another electrode. These trees grow faster as they have access to air which aids partial discharges.
Bow-tie trees are those that originate inside the insulation. Since they originate inside the insulation they do not have access to air and hence limited partial discharge occurs. They progress slower than vented trees.
image courtesy: http://www.lordconsulting.com


The Advocates for Human Rights submitted a report to the UN Human Rights Committee focusing on violence against women in Guatemala in preparation for the Committee's 115th session, at which it will review Guatemala's compliance with the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). This submission offers information and suggested questions on gender-based violence for the Committee's List of Issues, which will guide its upcoming review of Guatemala.
In 2013, there were 31,836 reports of violence against women and 198 reports of femicide in Guatemala. Although Guatemala has the third highest rate of femicide in the world, the rate of impunity for perpetrators was approximately 98-99 percent in 2014. During its last review of Guatemala in 2012, the Committee expressed concern at the level of violence against women and the inadequacy of established investigation mechanisms. The government of Guatemala has taken some steps to combat domestic violence, most notably passing the Law on Combatting Domestic Violence (LCDV), but obstacles in enforcement and support structures prevent this legal framework from effectively protecting victims and holding offenders accountable. Guatemala established agencies and institutions to support legislation, including the Special Prosecutor for Crimes against Women, but deficiencies in the legal system hinder their success.
Deeply entrenched biases regarding the role of women in society have perpetuated violence against women, resulting in acceptance of domestic abuse as "normal." The Advocates interviewed women survivors who fled violence in Guatemala, and who shared their experiences that confirm the inadequacies of Guatemala's legal and judicial systems. In addition to sexual assault by the intimate partners, many women reported experiencing sexual violence committed by relatives, neighbors, or strangers. Reports from asylum seekers also confirm that gangs are committing rape, sexual assault, and murder. Impunity for perpetrators of gender-based crimes remains very high due to minimal training of police in investigating sexual violence, government bias against female victims of violence and errors in the investigation process.
The Advocates for Human Rights
330 Second Avenue South, Suite 800
Minneapolis, MN 55401
Phone: 612-341-3302
Immigrant Client Line: 612-341-9845
Email us


The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, [usually referred to as “HIPPA] places certain restrictions upon and guidelines for the release of medical information. Your medical records are absolutely confidential between you and your medical provider. Under the privilege that exists on medical records, in most circumstances only you, the patient may authorize release of your medical records. However, there are circumstances under which others need your medical records. Where the release of medical records is required as a condition of receiving a benefit, you have the choice of allowing the release of the information, or, denying the release of the information, but at the risk of not getting the benefit.
Bottom line: HIPPA and common law medical confidentiality do in fact protect against release of medical records. However, the patient holds the key to release and the patient will find him or herself in positions where they will need to strongly consider signing authorizations for the release of medical records.


Synopsis: Computerised, networked systems are diverging, creating a society where humans are constantly connected to various systems, creating electronic traces of their actions throughout the day. Modern computers enable these traces to be gathered from various sources and analysed. This can create better functionality for the humans but the cost might be their privacy. This thesis will examine the ambient intelligence concept through a case study of the SensorPhone, a system designed to gather information on the users movement and encourage a healthier lifestyle. Gathering and sharing information is necessary for the system, but might simultaneously pose privacy challenges.


Hobbing, Peter. (2005)
Integrated Border Management at the EU Level. CEPS Working Documents No. 227, 1 August 2005. [Working Paper] Abstract
In times marked by trends as diverse as economic globalisation, international migration as well as fear of terrorism and organised crime, the efficient handling of borders has become an issue of political priority, in the EU and across the world. Modern, economy-oriented states have to rely on a flourishing trade and offer a comfortable degree of security to their citizens. The formula commonly chosen in combining these two objectives is that of ‘integrated border management’, which represents the delicate attempt to marry security concerns with trade facilitation. If the implementation of this innovative approach is already proving to be a challenge to well-established nation states, it becomes a genuine balancing act for an incomplete federation such as the EU, with its sensitive mix of a single external border and 25 separate legal/administrative systems. This working paper seeks to illustrate the difficulties encountered by the EU and develop solutions that should firmly go into the direction of a coherent, communitarian approach in border management, such as that sketched out by the recent Council Regulation No. 2007/2004 establishing the European Border Agency known as FRONTEX.
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A couple of nights ago, I was watching Youtube videos with my 3yr old when she noticed a thumbnail of a video featuring my dad. She instantly yelled, “Pappou, Pappou, I want to see Pappou.” We began to watch the video and within seconds, she began to call directly to her grandfather. It began slowly with “Pappou. Pappou.” But quickly, she became noticeably agitated that dad seemed to be speaking over her and not responding to her voice. She became frantic and began to yell, “Pappou! Pappou! Listen to me Pappou!” Then, she began to cry. For the next 45 minutes, she cried hysterically for her grandfather.
At some point during this, I realized that she had never before simply “watched” a video of her grandfather. Before this, every time that she had seen my dad on screen, it has been through a two-way, interactive medium such as FaceTime or Skype. For kids growing up today, the boundaries between physical and virtual may not be as well-defined.
As I consoled her through this very long moment, the professor in me contemplated how incredibly different it will be for my children to grow up in today’s technology-saturated world, and more in particular, I wondered what this mediated reality will mean for their current and future human relationships. As parents, educators, administrators, and theorists, we really need to pay attention.


The intent to commit a crime: malice, as evidenced by a criminal act; an intent to deprive or defraud the true owner of his property. People v. Moore. 3 N. Y. Cr. R. 458. (source: Black's Law Dictionary)
Criminal Intent: Overview
Criminal intent is a necessary component of a "conventional" crime and involves a conscious decision on the part of one party to injure or deprive another. It is one of three categories of "mens rea," the basis for the establishment of guilt in a criminal case. There are multiple shades of criminal intent that may be applied in situations ranging from outright premeditation to spontaneous action.
It is possible to establish criminal intent even when a crime is not premeditated. Individuals who commit a crime spontaneously may still understand that their actions will cause harm to another party and contravene existing criminal law. In other words, an individual that takes or withholds action with the knowledge that such behavior will lead to the commission of a crime can be said to possess criminal intent.
Criminal Intent: What You Should Know
While criminal intent is a necessary component of mens rea in virtually every modern legal system, its particulars may vary between jurisdictions. There often exists a distinction between "basic intent" and "specific intent."
Since it requires a lighter burden of proof, the former is used more often to establish criminal intent. For instance, an individual who strikes a pedestrian crossing the street in a marked crosswalk can be said to have exhibited "basic intent" whether or not they intended to cause the pedestrian harm. There are two reasons for this. First, the driver may have ignored state and local law requiring vehicles to yield to pedestrians in crosswalks. Absent such laws, the driver either failed to pay close attention to the road ahead or assumed that the pedestrian would be able to avoid their oncoming vehicle. In either case, the driver abdicated their legal responsibility to take reasonable precautions to ensure the safety of others on the road.
"Specific intent" is invoked less frequently and often applies to cases in which the accused intends to commit a crime but has not yet done so. It may be used to justify preventive detentions associated with terrorism, treason or sabotage. For instance, an individual who has communicated his intent to assassinate an official may be judged to exhibit specific intent on the basis of his or her pronouncements.
Criminal intent may be further categorized as either "direct" or "oblique." Defined as a desire to commit a specific act in the expectation that it will result in a specific outcome, the former may be used to prove premeditation. For instance, an individual who purchases a firearm and uses it in a mugging exhibits direct intent to threaten another with deadly force.
By contrast, "oblique" intent may be used to establish guilt in cases that involve unintended consequences. An individual who undertakes a specific action with the knowledge that it may cause certain consequences can be said to have oblique intent. For instance, an individual who injures someones by firing a gun into the air near a crowd may be held responsible for that injury despite a lack of direct intent to cause harm.
Video on Criminal Intent


With a clean slate driving the business of government, Australian Prime Minister Mr Tony Abbott and Treasurer Mr Joe Hockey are laying the groundwork for major financial management reforms.
These initiatives underscore moves to reduce waste and duplication, while ensuring taxpayers “receive value-for-money from each dollar spent.”
Among the developments, a new financial management law, the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 becomes operational from 1 July 2014.
This law affects policy, budgeting, and service-delivery decisions across more than 100 core Commonwealth departments and agencies. It replaces the Financial Management and Accountability Act (1997) and the Commonwealth Authorities and Companies Act (1997).
Governance and accountability
New legislation, and policy changes seek to encourage “fit-for-purpose governance arrangements.” Future changes are being canvassed as supporting a uniform, consistent, and accountable Commonwealth framework. Twenty years ago, a similar reform occurred under then Prime Minister, Mr John Howard, when the Commonwealth came under scrutiny under a Coalition government.
The latest reforms package is built around “explicit requirements” that improve financial assessment and reporting. New directives aim to improve risk management, while building co-operation and partnering across all levels of government.
Resetting accountability framework
Among recent high-profile initiatives, Prime Minister Abbott’s administration has established a Commission of Audit. This commission, led by private-public sector stakeholders, plans to reset the Commonwealth’s accountability framework.
This commission is taking a fresh look at how the Commonwealth is run. Findings, to be delivered in the New Year, have implications for funding, staffing, and service delivery arrangements.
Current terms of reference explore how budgets are managed, while offering a reinvigorated blueprint that supports an accountable, sustainable, and financially-savvy government.
Where to next?
New policy formulation is complemented by more than two years of work, already done by the peak Department of Finance. Under the auspices of its secretary, Mr David Tune, this department is refining its Public Management Reform Agenda.
A dedicated website offers some insights into this policy and consultation work, noting that “a comprehensive reform process” improves the quality of financial and performance management across the public sector.
Fired on all fronts
Prime Minister Abbott’s policy agenda is complemented by new legislation, and a Commission of Audit, among other behind-the-scenes consultation and advice. These policies target improved public sector performance and renewed accountability.
With an annual budget that tops AU$398 billion in Commonwealth spending, improvements to financial management help “do-more-with-less,” while ensuring that social services remain the joint responsibility of Commonwealth, State, and Territory governments.
Moves are under-way to streamline Federal-State budgeting arrangements. An independent scrutiny of the public sector sets new performance benchmarks and targets. The effectiveness of “performance metrics” is being examined, together with timelines seeking transparent and accountable government.
The Commission of Audit review is being submitted in two stages: phase one to be completed during January 2014; the next phase is being finalised no later than March 2014.
This review examines ways to slash wasteful spending, while identifying areas of unnecessary duplication between the Commonwealth and other levels of government.
Auditors are identifying programmes where Commonwealth involvement is inappropriate, no longer needed, or blurs lines of accountability.
Living within means
A broader Commonwealth agenda mandates that “government should live within its means.” The current splitting of roles and responsibilities between the Commonwealth, as well as State and Territory governments is under scrutiny.
Core Commonwealth departments and agencies impacted by financial management reforms include the Australian Taxation Office, The Treasury, the Department of Communications, and the Department of Human Services.
In other news, the finance and ICT heads of key Commonwealth and State departments are sharing insights about governance and accountability at a by-invitation-only 3rd Regional GovCFO Forum Australia being held Monday 2 December at the Canberra Convention Centre.


"Unweaving the whirls," by Joël Sommeria.
Nature, 11 October 2001,page 575.
This one-page article gives a brief and lucid description of turbulence, aconcept that applies to complex, agitated, eddy-filled flow in fluids of allkinds, from Jupiter's great red spot to the oceans on earth. The Navier-Stokesequations provide a mathematical description of fluid flow, but they cannotpredict turbulence. While computer simulations have helped, they are stillnot detailed enough to provide the needed insights. The article discusses someof the main challenges facing scientists trying to understand turbulence."There will be no single breakthrough," the article states. "[W]e face deepquestions about information processing and probabilities, and about the verymeaning of scientific understanding and prediction."
--- Allyn Jackson


Introduction
No matter what accomplishments you make, somebody helps you. — Althea Gibson, 20th-century African American tennis champion
This session explores the ways the bonds of relationships are crucial in times of self-doubt. When members of our family are struggling with insecurity, we offer support, care and love. This can be as simple as offering a hug when a sibling is feeling sad. It can be as involved as going to our child's school to advocate for extra help when they need it. We sacrifice our time and comfort in order to support others.
Our Unitarian Universalist values call on us to affirm the inherent worth and dignity of every person. This begins with those closest to us. The source for this session derives from the wisdom of the world's second largest religion, Islam. The story is about how the prophet Mohamed, the founder of Islam, was afraid of the first revelations he received from Allah. Mohamed's first wife, Khadija, was steadfast in her support of him and her trust in Allah. It was her trust, people believe, that helped give Mohamed the courage to fulfill his calling and bring Islam to the people of world.
Participants will be asked to envision this story from Khadija's perspective. This will encourage them to consider what it means to support someone who is feeling insecure and afraid.
The Faith in Action activity creates an opportunity for the group to offer their collective support. This will take research and consultation with your minister and religious educator to identify members of the congregation or a group within the congregation who need support, or if there is a cause the children can lead the congregation in supporting.
Goals
This session will:
Promote being a source of support to members of our family and our friends, and explore the challenges of being a supporter Create a sense of trust among the Windows and Mirrors group Guide participants to identify ways they support people they care about in their lives Affirm two of our Principles; the first, respect for the inherent worth and dignity of every person; and the second, justice, equity, and compassion in human relations. Learning Objectives
Participants will:
Hear a story from the Muslim faith about how the support of Mohamed's wife, Khadija, was crucial to his acceptance of his calling Experience and process a trust walk—a physical exploration of giving and receiving support Develop empathy by imagining what it must have been like for Khadija, the wife of Mohamed, to be his first supporter.


Weight Loss
Ditch weight loss for healthy living Were you like the millions of otherpeople worldwide who made a resolution to lose weight this year? Howmany times have you set that goal for yourself? And of those timeshow many have you been successful? Not too many, probably. I’m going to go out on a limb andsay, the goal of losing the extra pounds is the wrong way of lookingat the issue. Why not focus instead on improving your health andpersonal fitness? That way, weight loss becomes a positive sideeffect but not the main impetus for actions.
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While numerous studies have implicated copy number variants (CNVs) in a range of neurological phenotypes, the impact relative to disease severity has been difficult to ascertain due to small sample sizes, lack of phenotypic details, and heterogeneity in platforms used for discovery. Using a customized microarray enriched for genomic hotspots, we assayed for large CNVs among 1,227 individuals with various neurological deficits including dyslexia (376), sporadic autism (350), and intellectual disability (ID) (501), as well as 337 controls. We show that the frequency of large CNVs (>1 Mbp) is significantly greater for ID-associated phenotypes compared to autism (p = 9.58 × 10(-11), odds ratio = 4.59), dyslexia (p = 3.81 × 10(-18), odds ratio = 14.45), or controls (p = 2.75 × 10(-17), odds ratio = 13.71). There is a striking difference in the frequency of rare CNVs (>50 kbp) in autism (10%, p = 2.4 × 10(-6), odds ratio = 6) or ID (16%, p = 3.55 × 10(-12), odds ratio = 10) compared to dyslexia (2%) with essentially no difference in large CNV burden among dyslexia patients compared to controls. Rare CNVs were more likely to arise de novo (64%) in ID when compared to autism (40%) or dyslexia (0%). We observed a significantly increased large CNV burden in individuals with ID and multiple congenital anomalies (MCA) compared to ID alone (p = 0.001, odds ratio = 2.54). Our data suggest that large CNV burden positively correlates with the severity of childhood disability: ID with MCA being most severely affected and dyslexics being indistinguishable from controls. When autism without ID was considered separately, the increase in CNV burden was modest compared to controls (p = 0.07, odds ratio = 2.33).


Continue Reading
Gold derives its name from the Latin word aurum, which means "gold." The Latin word for gold refers to the element's color, which ranges from a pale yellow to a shimmery sandstone color or a deep, rich brassy hue. Although its name stems from Latin origins, people around the world generally refer to gold by its Anglo-Saxon name.
Gold, by any name, enjoys a long history of human use. Its discovery dates back to approximately 3000 B.C. Gold first appeared in streams and riverbeds. Historians consider gold one of the earliest metals discovered by ancient civilizations. Gold, then and now, serves primarily aesthetic purposes and boasts a high value. It serves few, if any, significant biological roles, but appears in decorative items, coins and jewelry.
Gold boasts several significant physical and chemical properties making it suitable for numerous applications. Its purest form, which is 24 carat gold, features a soft and malleable texture. Gold of this magnitude forms jewelry and compresses into thin sheets. Although less pure, many jewelers use gold alloys, such as 18 carat and 19 carat gold. These alloys contain traces of other minerals, but prove sturdier and more durable than pure gold. Gold exists in limited areas around the world; most gold derives from mines in Russia and South Africa.Learn more about Atoms & Molecules


Taiwan is an island nation and a viable member of the international economic community. Therefore, it must continue to pursue economic development and adopt independent policies that forestall the impacts of world economic fluctuations.
The government should allow the people of Taiwan to share the fruits of the nation's economic growth by establishing a progressive tax system.
This will help maintain the nation's stable economic growth and prosperity. To accomplish this goal we propose that the government should:
- Respect private property,
- Encourage stable economic growth,
- Ensure full employment,
- Assist small and medium enterprises,
- Promote balanced development of every sector of the economy,
- Protect the environment,
- Allow private investment in state-run enterprises,
- Develop agricultural and fishery resources,
- Improve financial, taxation and monetary systems.


HomeBrowseSearchLatest additionsWebsite statsPoliciesFAQAbout Open AccessEffect of Spark Timing and Load on a DISI Engine fuelled with 2,5-DimethylfuranLookup NU author(s)Dr Guohong TianAuthor(s)Daniel R, Tian G, Xu H, Wyszynski M, Wu X, Huang ZPublication typeArticleJournalFuelYear2011Volume90Issue2Pages449-458ISSN (print)0016-2361ISSN (electronic)1873-7153Full text is available for this publication:Full text file 1Currently, bioethanol leads the automotive fuel market as the main substitute for gasoline in spark-ignition engines. However, worldwide interest has been triggered in the potential of 2,5-dimethylfuran, known as DMF, since the discovery of improved production methods. Although the energy content of DMF is comparable to that of gasoline, little is known about its combustion characteristics and emissions. Therefore, this work examines the effect of DMF in a single cylinder direct-injection spark-ignition engine. The results are compared to ethanol and gasoline using the optimized spark timings for gasoline and the respective fuel. In summary, DMF produces competitive combustion and emissions qualities to gasoline, which, in some cases surpass ethanol. The two biofuels have a higher burning rate and lower initial combustion duration than gasoline. They also produce greater combustion efficiency, which helps to lower hydrocarbon and carbon monoxide emissions. These initial results highlight how DMF, which was originally only considered as an octane improver, has the potential to become a competitive renewable gasoline alternative.PublisherElsevier LtdURLhttp://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2010.10.008DOI10.1016/j.fuel.2010.10.008ActionsAltmetrics provided byAltmetricShareNewcastle University Library, NE2 4HQ, United Kingdom. Tel: 0044 (191) 222 7657[Web Team] [ePrints admin]©2017 Newcastle University Library


The National Water Commission (NWC) is to construct and replace four kilometres of pipeline from the Harbour View Roundabout to the Airport roundabout at a cost of US$2.33 million.
This was disclosed by Minister of Transport, Works and Housing, Dr. the Hon. Omar Davies, during Tuesday’s (February 19) sitting of the House of Representatives. He noted that the works are being undertaken through a variation in the original US$65.4 million contract, which was approved for the Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Project, resulting in a final sum of US$67.7 million. The pipeline project is expected to commence in March 2013 and last for four months. The scope of works include: installation of 400-millimetre diameter potable water transmission main; testing of the newly laid pipe; and the sterilisation and commissioning of the pipeline into service. The Works Minister informed that the potable water main is in a state of disrepair as it was installed over 40 years ago. “The existing waterline is several metres below the new road elevation and the NWC will have difficulty when repairs and maintenance are needed. The NWC wishes to have the pipeline relocated to approximately one metre below the new road elevation in order to alleviate this problem,” he explained. Dr. Davies informed that the National Works Agency (NWA) had made provision for the replacement of two kilometres of the affected pipeline in the existing Palisadoes contract, but funding was required for the remaining four kilometres, which needed to be replaced, due to its poor condition and attendant high water loss. He added that several meetings were held between representatives from the NWA and the NWC with respect to the financing and replacement of the remaining four kilometres of pipeline works, which led to the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the agencies on September 11, 2012. The Palisadoes Shoreline Protection and Rehabilitation Project was recently completed within budget, consistent with the original scope and plans. The project, approved by Cabinet in August, 2009, involved partnership between the Governments of Jamaica and China, to repair and secure the extensively degraded shoreline of the Palisadoes Peninsula in Kingston. The works, undertaken over a 24-month period, involved lifting of the roadway, core filling, utility relocation, construction of a boardwalk, as well as major revetment works. Dr. Davies told the House that the pipeline replacement project is outside of the original contract and will not impact the work that has already been completed. He noted, however, that situations such as these, “which necessitated this variation to the originally contracted scope of a project, at the end of a project, points to a systematic weakness in our planning and implementation system, which has remained uncorrected for too long.”