We’ve all heard the media-driven dogma that everyone needs at least 8 hours of sleep per night for optimal neurophysiological performance. Striving for 8 hours of sleep is generally a healthy rule of thumb [for most people], but shouldn’t be considered a utopian amount for everyone. Many individuals diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) sleep excessively, often exceeding 12 hours per night with intermittent naps throughout the day.
While you may think that the extra sleep would promote vigor and possibly aid in combating depression, it turns out that in many cases, the opposite is true. Too much sleep perpetuates an imbalance of the circadian rhythm, and generally promotes or exacerbates depressive states. It turns out that among individuals with major depression, sometimes deliberate [self-induced] sleep deprivation can elicit potent antidepressant effects.
Although most professionals don’t go around recommending sleep deprivation as an intervention for everyone, research since the 1970s has demonstrated the antidepressant potential of sleep deprivation. There is even some evidence to suggest that when combined with certain pharmaceutical antidepressants, sleep deprivation acts synergistically, reducing depression more than either intervention as a standalone option.
Sleep Deprivation For Depression: A Potent, Short-Term Treatment
Under normative circumstances, chronic sleep deprivation is known to detrimentally affect both physical and mental health. Those who frequently get a poor night’s sleep may suffer from excessive daytime sleepiness, anxiety, chronic fatigue, impaired cognitive performance, and a noticeable decline in motor skills. However, among the depressed populace, strategic sleep deprivation (or restriction) can rapidly improve mood – sometimes quicker than any other intervention.
Hypothesized Mechanisms of Sleep Deprivation’s Antidepressant Effect
There are numerous hypothesized mechanisms behind the antidepressant effect associated with sleep deprivation. Most recently, researchers suggest that increased glial signaling of adenosine (A1) receptors is largely responsible for the mood boost derived from sleep deprivation. Others speculate that cumulative adjustments of: adenosine receptors, arousal, circadian rhythm, reduction of time spent in bed, and altered “microsleep” – may synergistically promote mood improvement.
Glial signaling: A study published in 2013 investigated the antidepressant mechanism of sleep deprivation. It was discovered that glial signaling promotes the antidepressant effects derived from deprivation of sleep. Specifically, when astrocytes (star-shaped glial cells) signal to A1 (adenosine) receptors, depressive moods (and behaviors) are significantly reduced. A1 (Adenosine) receptors: Glial cells facilitate increased activation of synaptic A1 (adenosine) receptors. Researchers were able to confirm the involvement of A1 receptors by deliberately administering the drug CCPA, an A1 adenosine receptor agonist. Upon administration of CCPA, mood significantly improved.
Note: It was suggested that the mechanisms associated with sleep deprivation may be useful to target in the development of newer pharmaceutical antidepressants. Drug developers could develop a compound that selectively modulates glial (astrocyte) signaling.
Source: http://www.nature.com/tp/journal/v3/n1/full/tp2012136a.html Arousal alterations: A study published in 1992 suggested that total sleep deprivation produces antidepressant effects via alteration of arousal. A total of 23 individuals with major depression were deprived of a full night’s sleep twice on a weekly basis for 2 consecutive weeks. Arousal was assessed with the Thayer’s Activation Deactivation Adjective Check List (AD ACL). Relief from depressive symptoms was directly associated with arousal assessment scores. Evidence suggested that sleep deprivation enhances certain aspects of arousal, while decreases subcortical arousal. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10607054 Circadian rhythm: Many people with major depression have circadian rhythm abnormalities that perpetuate and/or exacerbate their depression. Inability to normalize the circadian rhythm can have detrimental long-term consequences for both physical and mental health. It appears as though sleep deprivation therapy may combat depression via modulation of the circadian rhythm, correcting various abnormalities and altering activation of specific genetic biomarkers. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22906517 Cortisol increases: A study published in 2004 noted that just one night of sleep deprivation can significantly reduce depressive symptoms in up to 60% of patients. In this study, researchers explored the role of the HPA (hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal) axis in the attenuation of depressive symptoms. They specifically recorded levels of cortisol (a stress hormone) prior to, during, and following one night of sleep deprivation.
Among those who experienced an antidepressant effect, cortisol levels were significantly elevated during the night of sleep deprivation as well as the following day. Those who didn’t respond to sleep deprivation didn’t experience clinically significant changes in cortisol levels. Researchers speculate that significant elevations in post-sleep deprivation cortisol (compared to baseline) may predict antidepressant responses.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15285966 Decreased sleep fragmentation: Excessive sleep is associated with increases in sleep fragmentation or lack of deep (slow-wave) sleep. It appears as though acute sleep restriction may decrease sleep fragmentation, ultimately increasing the amount of deep, restorative sleep that is attained. Perhaps normalization of the circadian rhythm with sleep deprivation is what trains the body to adapt to sleeping during a specific chunk of time. As the body comes to learn that it must sleep during a shorter allotted timeframe, it may decrease fragmentation. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15144959/ Microsleep minimization: “Microsleeps” may influence the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation. These are considered ultrashort, unintentional episodes of attention loss that last 5 to 10 seconds. It appears as though individuals undergoing partial-sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression experience greatest improvement when microsleep is minimized compared to those who experience high amounts of microsleep. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9611673/ Neurotransmission: A publication from 2014 analyzed changes in plasma metabolites among 12 sleep deprived individuals. They used liquid chromatography to determine alterations in plasma metabolites that were specifically altered as a result of sleep deprivation. They discovered that 27 metabolites increased – perhaps most notably tryptophan, serotonin, and taurine.
It has long been known that increasing serotonin can elicit an antidepressant response, and past-research suggests that among depressed individuals, taurine levels are generally altered. Therefore, it is important to consider that increases in levels of tryptophan, serotonin, and taurine could contribute to the antidepressant efficacy of sleep deprivation.
Source: http://www.pnas.org/content/111/29/10761.abstract Reduction of “time in bed”: It is well known that people with depression are unable to summon up the motivation to get out of bed and/or get things done. Despite the fact that energy may be low among those with depression, spending excess time in bed as a result of oversleeping can promote grogginess and lethargy as a result of this habit. By reducing the time spent in bed with sleep deprivation, individuals break the psychological crutch of staying in bed all day and may feel less fatigued – contributing to an antidepressant effect. REM reduction: Individuals with depression often experience REM sleep earlier in the night and an overall increase in rapid-eye movement compared to those with normative moods. Sleep deprivation has been hypothesized to alter the amount of REM (rapid-eye movement) that a person experiences during their sleep cycle, potentially contributing to a therapeutic antidepressant response. In addition, some believe that the antidepressant effect from REM reduction is a result of REM-restricted increases in BDNF levels. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/26146031 Sleep Deprivation for Depression Treatment (Research)
Researchers have known that sleep deprivation can be used as a potent intervention for depression since the 1970s. Nearly every study has suggested short-term efficacy of sleep deprivation as a short-term treatment for a majority (up to 60%) of those with major depression. In addition to improving mood, sleep deprivation may provide an added benefit of enhancing executive performance and potentiating antidepressant responses.
2014: A study published in 2014 aimed to determine the effect of sleep deprivation on EEG (electroencephalograph) and executive functions among individuals with depression. Researchers recruited 18 individuals with a diagnosis of depression and 21 healthy non-depressed individuals. They used a polysomnography to assess changes before and after sleep deprivation, and the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) to measure depression.
Executive performance was measured with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), an assessment used to determine cognitive flexibility. Results indicated that sleep deprivation significantly improved mood and cognitive function among those with depression. This was evidenced by the decrease in depression scores from “6.7” to “2.9” and reduced errors in various measures of the WCST.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/25266518 2010: A paper published in 2010 reported that sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression is effective for 40% to 60% of all patients. Despite the significant short-term efficacy of sleep deprivation as an antidepressant, it is estimated that nearly 4/5 (80%) of all individuals experience a relapse of depressive symptoms within several days. Still, authors note that sleep deprivation is highly-effective despite its mysterious, unknown mechanism of action. Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20586691 2003: A publication from 2003 notes that acute sleep deprivation for one night or partial sleep deprivation (in the second half of the night) significantly improves mood of approximately 60% of individuals with depression for the following day. Authors of this publication mention the fact that sleep deprivation yields the most rapid antidepressant response, even more rapid than ECT (electroconvulsive therapy). Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181780/ 2002: A report from 2002 suggests that “total sleep deprivation,” or deprivation of sleep for an entire night, significantly improves mood in up to 60% of those diagnosed with depression. Authors of the report suggest that responses are subject to significant individual variation, with certain individuals experiencing an increase in depression (up to 7%) and others experiencing full symptomatic remission. They also mention that antidepressant responses to total sleep deprivation are noted during the night of the deprivation and/or throughout the following day.
In less common cases, up to 15% of individuals experience reductions in depression after brief “recovery sleep” the following day. Unfortunately, up to 80% of those who experience a reduction in depressive symptoms from sleep deprivation end up experiencing symptomatic relapse (complete or partial). In many cases, a return to the pre-deprivation sleep schedule triggers symptomatic relapse.
Authors report that antidepressant properties of sleep deprivation can often be maintained with antidepressant augmentation strategies (e.g. pharmaceutical drugs, light therapy, etc.). Moreover, some sources suggest that “partial sleep deprivation” throughout the second half of the night is equal in efficacy to “total sleep deprivation” (no sleep for the entire night). Whether partial deprivation is superior as an antidepressant to total deprivation remains unknown.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12531127 2002: Researchers in 2002 stated that partial sleep deprivation can significantly ameliorate depressive symptoms. Despite fast-acting antidepressant relief from sleep deprivation, a majority of individuals engaging in partial sleep deprivation relapse in depressive symptoms within just one night. In this study, researchers used repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to determine whether it could prevent relapse in depressive symptoms.
A group of 20 individuals with depression that responded to partial sleep deprivation were assigned to receive TMS or a sham-TMS. They discovered that TMS significantly elongated the antidepressant response associated with sleep deprivation, thus it may be an effective way to inhibit relapse. That said, it is important to consider that the TMS may be acting as a standalone antidepressant among responders to sleep deprivation rather than potentiating its effect.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12002519 2001: Researchers noted that when used in conjunction with serotonergic and noradrenergic antidepressants, total sleep deprivation may enhance antidepressant response. In addition, the combination of lithium and total sleep deprivation may also provide a sustained antidepressant effect. A study published in 2001 suggested that total sleep deprivation may elicit an antidepressant effect via dopaminergic mechanisms.
This study aimed to test the hypothesis that total sleep deprivation (e.g. skipping sleep for an entire night) had dopaminergic effects contributing to its antidepressant efficacy. A total of 28 individuals diagnosed with bipolar depression were assigned to total sleep deprivation with administration of the drug Survector (Amineptine) or a placebo. Results indicated that total sleep deprivation significantly attenuated depressive symptoms, but the effect was not significantly enhanced by Survector by the end of the treatment.
It should be noted that despite no synergistic effects of total sleep deprivation and Survector (a dopamine reuptake inhibitor with a minor affinity for norepinephrine), the effect of total sleep deprivation in isolation provided significant therapeutic benefit. This suggests that among individuals with severe bipolar depression, total sleep deprivation may be an advisable intervention.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11728613 1999: A study published in 1999 discussed the therapeutic potency of sleep deprivation among individuals with bipolar depression. Their goal was to test the efficacy of the drug Pindolol when administered synergistically with intervention of total sleep deprivation. Pindolol is a beta blocker that is nonselective, with some effects as a 5-HT1A (serotonergic) receptor weak partial agonist and antagonist.
A total of 40 individuals with bipolar depression were randomly assigned to receive Pindolol (7.5 mg) or a placebo for 9 days in conjunction with 3 sessions of total sleep deprivation. Results indicated that administration of Pindolol potentiated the antidepressant effect associated with total sleep deprivation. Further, it appears as though Pindolol administration provided a sustained antidepressant effect, thus preventing relapse.
This finding is especially helpful for individuals with bipolar depression. Researchers noted that the antidepressant response from the combination of total sleep deprivation and Pindolol could be maintained for 6 consecutive months (a longer term) with administration of lithium salts in approximately 65% of cases. As was noted in newer research, authors suggest a serotonergic mechanism of total sleep deprivation, thus aiding in the reversal of depressive symptoms.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10088139 1993: A study from 1993 indicated that an estimated 70% of all adults diagnosed with depression can experience antidepressant effects of sleep deprivation. That said, it wasn’t known as to whether sleep deprivation would provide benefits among adolescents diagnosed with depression. In this study, researchers recruited a total of 17 adolescents diagnosed with psychiatric disturbances and deprived them of sleep for 36 hours.
Prior to the sleep deprivation, assessments of both depression severity and subjective arousal were recorded. These same assessments were also collected during the sleep deprivation and after a night of recovery sleep. Results were interesting in that adolescents with severe depression experienced significant therapeutic benefit from sleep deprivation.
However, among patients considered “in remission” from depression, the 36 hours of sleep deprivation worsened their depressive symptoms and notably decreased their subjective arousal. Authors noted that there are likely parallels in responses to sleep deprivation among adolescents and adults with severe depression.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/8340295 1992: In the early 1990s, a review of evidence of sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression was published. This review incorporated all research investigating sleep deprivation for clinical purposes. Researchers focused on 6 clinically relevant interventions of sleep deprivation including: enhancement of antidepressant medication efficacy, expediting an antidepressant’s therapeutic onset, as an inhibitor of mood cycling, as an alternative intervention to pharmaceutical antidepressants, usefulness as a diagnostic aid, and predicting responses to antidepressants.
The review drew evidence from a total of 36 published studies. The review literature suggested that sleep deprivation may potentiate the efficacy of antidepressants. In addition, sleep deprivation appeared to expedite antidepressant onset of action and aided in the distinguishing of dementia from pseudo-dementia stemming from depression. It was unclear as to whether sleep deprivation could be used to successfully predict antidepressant responses.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1734735 1992: A study conducted in the early 1990s noted that sleep deprivation often demonstrated rapid antidepressant efficacy among certain individuals with depression. Researchers in this study sought to distinguish differences in regional activation within the brain of those who respond to sleep deprivation from those who didn’t respond. To accomplish this, a brain imaging technique called PET (Positron Emission Tomography) was utilized.
The PET scans were conducted pre-sleep deprivation and post-sleep deprivation in a group of 15 individuals with major depression. It was noted that those who respond to sleep deprivation have significantly greater metabolism in the cingulate cortex region of the brain (following sleep-deprivation) compared to those who don’t respond. Of the 15 patients, a total of 4 experienced greater than 40% reduction in depressive symptoms based on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression (HAM-D).
While this study proved that sleep deprivation is effective in a subset of those with depression, it appears as though not everyone responds. Researchers speculated that among the responders, it appears as though the limbic system may have been overactive, and thus contributing to their depression. Among the nonresponders, depressive symptoms may be non-limbic and as a result, they derived no substantial benefit from sleep deprivation.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1554042 1982: In the early 1980s, researchers were reporting that sleep deprivation may elicit an antidepressant effect as a result of altering sleep latency, sleep fragmentation, and REM sleep. Authors noted that sleep deprivation for one night contributes to a substantial antidepressant effect. It was speculated that certain sleep-dependent processes associated with sleep regulation are impaired among the depressed populace.
Specifically, deficiencies in “Process S” are thought to contribute to abnormal sleep among those with depression. Researchers noted that the antidepressant effect associated with sleep deprivation is likely a result of an increase in “Process S” as a result of extended waking periods. Although in this report researchers were attempting to decipher the antidepressant mechanisms of sleep deprivation, they highlighted its efficacy as a short-term antidepressant intervention.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7185793 1980: A study from 1980 analyzed a sleep deprivation task as an intervention for depression. A total of 14 individuals with depression were matched with 14 healthy controls. This sleep deprivation task specifically focused on waking individuals to minimize REM (rapid-eye movement) phase sleep.
Among those with depression, REM sleep is often excessive compared to NREM (non-REM) sleep. It was noted that prior to REM deprivation, those with depression had reductions in REM latency, greater REM frequency, and the temporal distribution of REM was considered abnormal – compared to the healthy controls. Results indicated that REM deprivation provided therapeutic antidepressant benefit among those with depression, possibly by temporarily restoring an imbalanced circadian rhythm.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7362414/ Benefits of Sleep Deprivation for Depression
There are many benefits of strategically engaging in sleep deprivation for the treatment of depression. Regardless of whether you’re using total sleep deprivation (skipping sleep for a full night), partial sleep deprivation (skipping sleep for part of the night), or specifically depriving yourself of REM (rapid-eye movement) – all serve as potent short-term antidepressants.
Adjunct treatment: Sleep deprivation has been documented as being highly effective when used as an adjunct treatment for depression. In other words, among those taking antidepressants (SSRIs or SNRIs), sleep deprivation may potentiate the antidepressant response and/or onset of action. Further, sleep deprivation may provide someone with temporary relief from depressive symptoms while they are waiting for their pharmaceutical antidepressant to work. Circadian rhythm modulation: Many individuals with depression are thought to have abnormalities of the circadian rhythm. In other words, their “biological clocks” are thrown out of balance, possibly due to the depression. However, in some cases the direct cause of depression is likely a circadian rhythm abnormality. Sleep deprivation is thought to modulate the circadian rhythm and correct disturbances. Established efficacy: Sleep deprivation has been documented as an effective short-term intervention for depression since the 1970s. It has been suggested as an effective antidepressant for up to 60% of individuals with depressive disorders. Moreover, it appears as though many types of sleep deprivation including: total-night, partial-night, and REM deprivation all provide substantial mood boosts among those with depression. Executive improvement: Some research has suggested that both arousal and executive performance improve among those with depression who engage in sleep deprivation. Perhaps the noticeable executive improvement among those with depression contributes to the antidepressant effect. After all, many individuals with depression complain of brain fog – which may exacerbate their depressive feelings. Fast-acting: Among the most prominent benefits of sleep deprivation is the fact that it provides rapid antidepressant effects. Studies have documented that the antidepressant (mood boosting) effect associated with sleep deprivation is often noted to occur during the deprivation and is sustained throughout the following day. This fast-acting effect may be beneficial for someone who is highly suicidal, feeling as if they want to die. Limbic system modulation: Certain reports suggest that those who are most likely to benefit from sleep deprivation may have overactive limbic systems. Engaging in sleep deprivation tones down activity within the limbic region of the brain, and ultimately contributes to feeling less depressed. Should you have depressive feelings stemming from the limbic regions (anterior cingulate), sleep deprivation may temporarily normalize the activity within these regions. Neurotransmission: It appears as though sleep deprivation affects glial signaling to adenosine A1 receptors, increases serotonin (and its precursor tryptophan), and taurine. The specifics of alterations in neurotransmission as a result of sleep deprivation aren’t fully understood, but it may be that the sleep deprivation is having an impact on mood via serotonergic mechanisms. Fully elucidating the alterations in neurotransmission associated with sleep deprivation could help spur the creation of new antidepressants. Potent antidepressant effect: Most people don’t question whether sleep deprivation is effective as a transient treatment for depression due to the fact that improvements are often significant. Reports suggest that it may be more effective as a short-term antidepressant than other approved options. Although not everyone responds to sleep deprivation, those who do often experience substantial reductions in depressive symptoms. Prevents oversleeping: Many individuals with depression have gotten into the habit of oversleeping. Though the depression may have caused fatigue, tiredness, grogginess, and brain fog – often times a person’s neurophysiology adapts to the new behavior of increased sleep. The neurophysiological adaptations may be perpetuating and/or exacerbating depressive emotions. Sleep deprivation prevents oversleeping, forcing a person to break their depressive neurophysiological patterns, which may contribute to the antidepressant effect. Sustainability with pharmaceuticals: There is some evidence suggesting that the antidepressant effect resulting from sleep deprivation can be maintained long after the night of deprivation. While the antidepressant effect from sleep deprivation is generally considered transient, some papers document sustainability of up to 6 months with the right treatment. Sustainability may be more pronounced among those with bipolar depression due to the fact that they are more sensitive to mood adjustments. Antidepressants, mood stabilizers, and even repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have been shown to sustain sleep deprivation’s effect. Synergistic effects: The antidepressant effect from sleep deprivation can often be enhanced in a synergistic manner with administration of specific pharmaceutical drugs. For example, one study cited that administration Pindolol (a beta blocker with a weak effect on the 5-HT1A receptor) potentiated the antidepressant responses from sleep deprivation. Combining sleep deprivation with an SSRI or SNRI may generate a synergistic antidepressant response. It has also been theorized that tricyclic antidepressants (TCAs) and certain MAOIs (e.g. Tranylcypromine) may act synergistically with sleep deprivation as a result of REM suppression. Temporary contrast: Perhaps the most notable benefit of sleep deprivation among those with clinical depression is that it provides temporary contrast, allowing the individual to understand that they are capable of feeling less depressed. Many people stuck in depression for an extended period of time often assume that they’ve always felt depressed. The antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation gives them some emotional contrast and may provide them with increased hope and/or optimism of improvement. Drawbacks of using sleep deprivation for depression
There are some potential disadvantages associated with using sleep deprivation as an intervention for depression. The most notable disadvantage is that not everyone is guaranteed to respond, thus it could actually worsen depressive symptoms in a subset of individuals. In addition, the biggest downfall associated with sleep deprivation is that it’s generally only effective for a short-term.
Adverse health effects: Sleep deprivation can cause a variety of adverse health effects and compromise your ability to drive or operate heavy machinery the following day. In fact, evidence has shown that those who are sleep deprived suffer from compromised driving performance to a greater extent than those who drive drunk. Sleep deprivation increases risk of heart abnormalities (e.g. irregular beats), stroke, high blood pressure, and diabetes. Daytime fatigue: Although one study suggested enhancement of executive function following sleep deprivation among those with depression, it cannot be assumed that everyone experiences this enhancement. In fact, some individuals may end up feeling more fatigued than usual, suffering from excessive daytime fatigue. Daytime fatigue could significantly impair job (or school) performance. Not universally effective: While estimates suggest that between 40% and 60% of those with major depression experience short-term benefit from sleep deprivation, it is clearly not universally effective. Some individuals derive no benefit from a night without sleep and may end up feeling fatigued and equally as depressed the following day. Should you try sleep deprivation, there’s a chance you won’t notice any change in mood. Short-term efficacy: Despite sleep deprivation’s proven efficacy as a treatment for depression, its antidepressant effect is generally considered extremely short-term and/or transient. Among the 60% of individuals who experience mood improvement, most end up experiencing a full relapse of depressive symptoms within a day or two. That said, there are some medications that can be used to maintain a longer-term effect (up to 3 months). Side effects: Even if sleep deprivation successfully reduces your depressive symptoms, there’s a chance that it may result in unwanted side effects including: anxiety, brain fog, cognitive impairment, emotional recognition difficulties, and lethargy. It is important to be cognizant of potential side effects associated with reduced sleep. Sleep deprivation can trigger hypomania (or mania) among individuals with bipolar disorder, provoke psychotic symptoms, and increase seizure susceptibility. Worsening of depression: One study estimates that of individuals with depression who try sleep deprivation as an antidepressant intervention, up to 15% experience a worsening of depressive symptoms. Any intervention that has the potential to worsen symptoms should be used with caution. Individuals agreeing to test sleep deprivation for their depression may want to remind themselves that it could exacerbate their symptoms rather than alleviate them. Who is most likely to benefit from sleep deprivation for depression? Factors to consider.
Clearly not everyone should use sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression. Research has suggested certain factors can be used to predict whether you’re likely to benefit from sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression.
Bipolar depression: Those with bipolar depression often derive significant benefit from using sleep deprivation as an antidepressant intervention. It is unknown as to why those with bipolar disorder may derive more benefit from sleep deprivation, but it is hypothesized that bipolar patients may be more sensitive to “switching” of moods. Sleep deprivation may trigger a “switching” mechanism for an antidepressant response, which can be augmented with a mood stabilizer (e.g. lithium) for long lasting results. Chronotype: Research demonstrates that those who are most likely to benefit from sleep deprivation tend to have specific circadian preferences. Those that derive the most benefit from sleep deprivation tend to prefer staying up later or have an “eveningness” preference. Individuals with a “morningness” preference were more likely to experience a worsening of depression following sleep deprivation. Depressive subtypes: The two depressive subtypes most likely to benefit from sleep deprivation include: endogenous depression (naturally occurring without external influences) and melancholic depression (characterized by anhedonia and lack of mood reactivity). It is unknown as to whether certain types of depression are more likely to worsen following sleep deprivation compared to others. High arousal: Individuals with a higher baseline level of arousal tend to respond significantly more than those who have lower arousal. This could be due to the fact that those with higher arousal have a different neurophysiological signature associated with their depression compared to those with lower levels of arousal. Greater arousal may be associated with faster-paced brain waves (e.g. beta waves) compared to slower ones (e.g. theta waves) and different neurotransmission. “Limbic” depression: One study documented that those with high baseline metabolism within the anterior cingulate region of the brain responded better to sleep deprivation for depression than those with lower baseline metabolism. This suggests that individuals with depression characterized by overactivation within the limbic region may be more likely to respond to sleep deprivation. PET scan data suggests that sleep deprivation may normalize metabolic activity within the anterior cingulate. Mood swings: Individuals with significant mood swings or subject to significant variance in mood throughout the day or between multiple days are more likely to respond to sleep deprivation for depression. It is unclear as to why depression with mood swings makes an individual more likely to derive benefit from sleep deprivation, but it is an important factor that may help predict individuals that are more likely to respond.
Note: There are factors that seem to be non-predictive of responses to sleep deprivation for depression including: age, depression severity, duration of depression (or illness), number of prior antidepressant treatments, subjective expectation, and sex.
Source: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3181780/ Strategies to Maintain the Antidepressant Effects of Sleep Deprivation
There are several proven strategies that potentiate the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation. While several involve co-administration of pharmaceutical drugs (antidepressants, beta blockers, mood stabilizers) – other interventions include: light therapy, sleep phase advance therapy, and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation.
Antidepressants: Administration of SSRIs and SNRIs may aid in sustaining the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation. Perhaps more likely to sustain the antidepressant response is administration of a tricyclic antidepressant (TCA) or specific MAOI that suppresses REM (rapid-eye movement) sleep. A decrease in REM sleep and increases in specific neurotransmitters resulting from the antidepressants may potentiate the effect of sleep deprivation. Beta blockers: The drug Pindolol, a nonselective beta-blocker has been researched and cited as an effective adjunct to sleep deprivation. It appears as though administration of this drug can extend the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation. It is unclear as to whether any other beta blockers have this same effect as Pindolol – acting on the 5-HT1A receptor. Light therapy: Administration of bright light therapy the morning after sleep deprivation can extend the antidepressant effect of the intervention. In one study, patients were divided into 2 groups: one received bright light therapy, while the other received no bright light therapy after the sleep deprivation. The group that didn’t receive the bright light therapy experienced a depressive relapse within one day, whereas the group receiving bright light therapy maintained their antidepressant response for a week. Mood stabilizers: Among those with bipolar depression, administration of lithium tends to extend the efficacy of sleep deprivation. In fact, those with bipolar disorder are significantly more likely to respond to sleep deprivation in the first place. Lithium may help prevent a person’s mood from plummeting once they’ve managed to transition out of the depressed state. Sleep phase advance: A study conducted in the 1990s documented that by “shifting” a person’s sleep schedule by one hour each day, they were able to maintain the antidepressant effect provided by sleep deprivation. Researchers scheduled individuals to sleep from 5 PM to 12 PM, then 6 PM to 1 AM, followed by 7 PM to 2 AM (and so on) – until the sleep phase had reached 11 PM to 6 AM. This shifting significantly preserved improved mood derived from sleep deprivation. Transcranial magnetic stimulation: Using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated preliminary efficacy in extending the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation. The effect was noted to be maintained several days longer than the norm. It is unclear as to how long the antidepressant effect can be maintained with consistent rTMS following sleep deprivation.
Note: It is unclear as to whether combining multiple strategies such as administration of Pindolol, using bright light therapy, sleep phase advance, and transcranial magnetic stimulation would significantly extend the antidepressant effect of sleep deprivation compared to using just one adjunct intervention. Responses to these maintenance strategies are likely subject to significant individual variation.
How often should you use sleep deprivation for depression?
There are no definitive guidelines as to how often sleep deprivation should be used for those with severe depression. Assuming an individual derives significant benefits from sleep deprivation, it may be used up to several times per week. The goal isn’t to deprive an individual of sleep every night as this would result in adverse health effects.
Most people will want to work with a professional that has some experience with using sleep deprivation as an antidepressant. By working with a professional, you can come up with a personalized frequency to maximize the benefit you derive from deprivation. For example, you may benefit from 3 nights of sleep deprivation per week, whereas another person may find that they only benefit from 1 night of sleep deprivation per week.
Further, the specific type of sleep deprivation (e.g. total deprivation, partial deprivation, REM deprivation) may make a difference. In addition to deprivation, coming up with a set sleep schedule or restricting sleep (to prevent oversleeping) may provide added benefit. I’ve recommended tweaking sleep as a way to biohack your mental health and overcome depression with logic.
My interest in sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression
I became interested in sleep deprivation as an intervention for depression as a result of contrasting times in my life when I felt happy with times that I felt depressed. When I was depressed, I ended up taking antidepressants – some of which made me feel extremely tired. On these drugs I would sleep for 10 to 14 hours per night, wake up, only to sleep even more throughout the day.
In my experience, the antidepressants caused chronic fatigue, and exacerbated depression – both of which were maintained upon withdrawal. I continued to have severe brain fog and fatigue as a result of an antidepressant-induced chemical imbalance. My neurochemistry was a shambles and nothing seemed to fix it until I developed PTSD and severe hypochondria (health anxiety).
The combination of PTSD and hypochondria resulted in significant increases in adrenaline levels, which prevented me from getting the standard 10 to 14 hours of sleep that I was getting on antidepressants. Now I was getting about 6 to 8 hours of sleep per night, possibly less than 6 a few nights of the week. Reduction in sleep hours was due primarily to anxiety-induced insomnia and a state of hyperarousal.
As I overcame my PTSD and adrenaline addiction, I realized that my sleep hours began increasing and my mood went from being highly-anxious + happier to less anxious + more depressed. I documented these subtleties and hypothesized that sleep deprivation may increase arousal and ultimately elicit an antidepressant effect. Just like the research suggested, I found that temporary sleep deprivation improved my mood, but chronic deprivation and restriction impaired my executive functioning.
I believe that individuals with higher arousal are likely to be less depressed, and thus get more sleep compared to those with lower arousal – who may have less activating neurotransmission and neuroelectrical activity (e.g. beta wave deficiencies). I think it would be interesting to analyze the neuroelectrical activity (brain waves) of individuals with depression that respond to sleep deprivation as an antidepressant intervention.
Theoretically, certain commonalities in the brain activation could be noted among those who experience an antidepressant effect, and these could be consciously trained via EEG neurofeedback and/or combined with decoded neurofeedback to target regional activation. While the effects of sleep deprivation are more complex than neuroelectrical activity, it would be worth investigating.
Have you deliberately tried sleep deprivation for depression?
If you’ve engaged in sleep deprivation as a treatment for depression, feel free to share your experience in the comments section below. To help others better understand your situation, mention whether you were assigned a specific sleep deprivation protocol by a professional (e.g. partial sleep deprivation) or whether you deliberately skipped sleep on your own as a treatment. Discuss whether the sleep deprivation ended up being an effective short-term antidepressant or whether no noticeable response was noted.
If the sleep deprivation was effective, note when you noticed your mood shifting from depression to feeling less depressed, and how long you were able to sustain the antidepressant response before your mood relapsed. Were you taking any medications and/or supplements that may have influenced (or potentiated) your response to the deprivation?


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Review these resources to understand how economically stable and prosperous communities influence the health of residents; the economic benefits of pursing mixed-use and equitable development; and tools to leverage investment in your community.
These case stories show examples of establishing healthy neighborhoods by way of economic development and revitalization. Each story includes lessons learned, links to additional resources and can serve as examples other agencies may consider and adapt to meet their communities’ unique circumstances.


An unusual heat burst occurred shortly after 3 am on the morning April 25, 2012, across the Springfield area. The temperature jumped some 15 to 20 degrees in a matter of 15 to 30 minutes, rising from the middle 50s and low 60s to the middle and upper 70s. The sudden rise in the thermometer was accompanied by a downburst of winds that gusted to near 40 and 50 mph in some locations. What is a Heat Burst? Heat bursts are interesting, relatively rare, atmospheric nighttime events characterized by gusty winds, a rapid increase in surface temperature, and a decrease in surface dewpoint associated with a dissipating thunderstorm. There are two main atmospheric ingredients that are necessary for a heat burst to occur. The first is a dissipating thunderstorm or shower. Second, the midlevel atmospheric environment must be hot and dry, combined with a shallow surface inversion. Thunderstorms develop when moist, unstable air is given a nudge upward. Moisture in the cloud condenses and later falls as precipitation. Once the thunderstorm loses its updraft, the thunderstorm is said to be downdraft dominated. When this occurs with a hot and dry atmospheric midlevel in place, the moisture associated with the downdraft evaporates and initially cools this layer, increasing its rate of descent toward the surface. However, the descending air will stop cooling once all the moisture has evaporated, therefore causing adiabatic (compressional) warming and mixing of the warm (inversion) layer. The heat burst will occur once the warm and dry air descends to the surface.
This is the Doppler radar image at 3:04 am showing rapidly decaying thunderstorms just west of the Springfield metro area.
This is the Doppler radar image showing the velocity or winds in the atmosphere at 3:04 am. The labeled areas in light blue show where winds are around 40 to 50 mph near the ground from these decaying thunderstorms.
A MESONET weather station located near Rogersville reported a temperature rise from 54 degrees to 75 degrees with a peak wind gust of 30 mph shortly after 3 am. The ASOS weather reporting station located at the Springfield-Branson National Airport reported a temperature rise from 63 degrees to 75 degrees with a peak wind gustof 39 mph shortly after 3 am.
A MESONET weather station located in Battlefield reported a temperatures rise from 65 degrees to 74 degrees with a peak wind gust of 46 mph around 3 am.
A MODOT weather station located at the interchange of I-44 and Highway 65 on the northeast side of Springfield reported a rise in temperature from 66 degrees to 78 degrees with a peak wind gust of 38 mph between 3 am and 4 am.
This is a look at the upper air sounding or weather ballon data from the previous evening. It shows a warm and dry airmass up to 600 mb with an unstable atmosphere above the 600 mb level. This explains why there were high based thunderstorms last night which collasped into warm, dry air and causing a heat burst.


Single-Donor Pancreas Islet Transplantation Procedure Shows Promise
Article ID: 509781
Released: 10-Feb-2005 4:40 PM EST
Source Newsroom: JAMA - Journal of the American Medical Association
Newswise — Patients with type 1 diabetes who received islet transplantation from a single donor pancreas were insulin independent one year later, according to a study in the February 16 issue of
JAMA, a theme issue on medical applications of biotechnology.
Type 1 diabetes remains a therapeutic challenge, according to background information in the article. The success rate of islet (cells that produce insulin to control blood sugar levels) transplants has recently been increased markedly by transplanting a higher number of islets prepared from 2 to 4 donor pancreases. However, for islet transplants to become a widespread clinical reality, additional advances are still needed. In particular, restoration of insulin independence must be achieved with a single donor, as is also the case with pancreas transplants, to reduce the risks and costs and increase the availability of islet transplantation.
Bernhard J. Hering, M.D., of the University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, and colleagues conducted a study to assess the effectiveness and safety of islet transplantation from a single pancreas. The trial was conducted from July 2001 to August 2003 and enrolled eight women with type 1 diabetes.
During the trial there were no serious, unexpected, or procedure- or immunosuppression-related adverse events. All eight recipients achieved insulin independence and freedom from hypoglycemia. Five remained insulin-independent for longer than 1 year.
"Our results mark a distinct advance in islet transplant efficacy. We not only achieved insulin independence using islets from only 1 donor pancreas [as compared with 2 to 4 in another trial], we also achieved superior glycemic control (as evidenced by normal results of oral glucose tolerance testing in 4 of 5 recipients with sustained insulin independence) using significantly fewer islets," the authors write. "These findings may have implications for the ongoing transition of islet transplantation from clinical investigation to routine clinical care."
"While these findings may suggest a distinct advance in islet transplantation, further study in a larger population with longer follow-up will be critical to assess the risk-benefit ratio of this emerging therapeutic option," the researchers conclude.
(JAMA. 2005;293:830-835. Available post-embargo at http://JAMA.com)
Editor's Note: This study was supported by grants from Roche Laboratories Inc., the National Center for Research Resources, National Institutes of Health, and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. SangStat provided rabbit anti-thymocyte globulin. Wyeth-Ayerst supplied sirolimus.


National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Working Session 2011
Representatives from Boston, Chicago, Detroit, Memphis, Salinas, and San Jose gathered in Washington, DC on October 31 and November 1, 2011 for the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Working Session. The Forum is a collaboration between the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, Labor, and the Office of National Drug Control Policy. The Working Session brought together a diverse group of participants involved in the local youth violence prevention efforts in each city along with federal staff, researchers, and experts. Dequan O’Neal, a Youth Leader from the Neighborhood Service Organization’s Youth Initiatives Project in Detroit, MI, also participated in the meeting.
Over the course of the two days, Working Session attendees participated in panel discussions, presentations, and facilitated discussions where they discussed the implementation of the cities’ comprehensive plans to prevent and reduce youth violence. The conference began with opening remarks by Assistant Attorney General Laurie Robinson and Attorney General Eric Holder, who emphasized the importance of interagency coordination in the Forum’s efforts. The Forum cities’ comprehensive plans blend prevention, intervention, enforcement, and reentry and focus on multi-disciplinary partnerships, balanced approaches, and data-driven strategies to ensure that cities address the wide range of factors associated with youth violence.
Michael Strautmanis, Deputy Assistant to the President and Counselor for Strategic Engagement at the White House, who is charged with leading the Forum Steering Committee, expressed his and the President’s deep appreciation for the commitment and the hard work that everyone at the local and federal level has given to this effort of preventing youth violence. He also mentioned the President’s plan to pass the American Jobs Act as a way to get more youth and families back to work and reduce the strain on local economies that are overwhelmed with high unemployment numbers.
Jeff Slowikowski, Acting Administrator for the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention at the U.S. Department of Justice stressed the important role of youth and family engagement during his remarks. A panel on youth, family, and faith based partnerships further explored this issue and allowed participants to hear concrete examples of successful partnerships.
Each of the six cities involved in the Forum presented an update on the implementation of their plans and challenges they’ve encountered. Information sharing was a common challenge across the cities, as was securing funding and deepening diverse partnerships throughout the community. Panel presentation throughout the two day Working Session highlighted tools for successful multi-disciplinary partnerships, data-driven strategies, a status report on the assessment of the Forum, and resources available to all cities working to reduce and prevent youth violence: CrimeSolutions.gov, youth.gov, and the National Reentry Resource Center.
Bryan Samuels, Commissioner of the Administration on Children, Youth and Families at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Administration on Children and Families, discussed the similar challenges faced by youth involved in the child welfare system and youth affected by violence, as well as the importance of considering trauma histories when working with vulnerable youth. A panel of federal agency partners from the U.S. Departments of Labor, Education, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, and Justice further highlighted the importance of considering the needs of youth across the developmental spectrum.
The Working Session allowed the city teams to explore various intervention and enforcement approaches. The participants viewed the film
The Interrupters and engaged in a discussion with Gary Slutkin, Executive Director of CeaseFire. A panel on various intervention and enforcement approaches currently in use in Baltimore, Cincinnati, and Los Angeles expanded the conversation on real-world implementation, replication, and adaptation of nationally recognized models.
Bernard Melekian, the Director of the Office of Community Oriented Policing Services at the U.S. Department of Justice closed the meeting with remarks focused on the importance of appropriate law enforcement responses in the cities involved in the Forum, as well as the need for the cities to share their lessons learned with others communities interested in working to prevent and reduce youth violence in their communities.
The Attorney General blogged about the Forum on the U.S. Department of Justice website after the meeting. To learn more about the Working Session, view the agenda and visit the photo gallery. Learn more about youth violence prevention by visiting the Forum’s website.
Power Points for the Youth Violence Forum Page Presentations from the National Forum on Youth Violence Prevention Working Session
Time Presentation Monday, 10/31/2011
10:30 AM
Panelists from the federal agencies comprising the Forum’s Federal Coordination Team (FCT) provided status updates for their agencies, including feedback from the Forum city site visits and overview of each agency’s Action Plan
11:15 AM
Representatives from Memphis, TN and San Jose, CA detailed some of the successes and challenges they have had as they implement their respective cities’ initiatives to reduce and prevent youth violence
1:45 PM
Representatives from Cincinnati, OH, Baltimore, MD, Los Angeles, CA, and Chicago, IL provided an overview of their violence reduction and prevention programs, including the principles, successes, challenges, outcomes, and evaluation of each program
Tuesday, 11/01/11
8:45 AM
Representatives from Boston, MA, Salinas, CA, and Detroit, MI provided an overview of their cross-agency/cross organizational violence reduction and prevention programs, including the strategies behind the programs, successes and challenges, and next steps that will be taken to continue the efforts
10:30 AM
Representatives from multiple governmental agencies, universities, and research organizations presented on the importance of incorporating data and research into the development of prevention programs. A presentation was also conducted on HIPAA guidelines in research.
2:30 PM
This presentation provided an overview of the objectives, approach, and technical Assistance provided by the National Reentry Resource Center. The presentation also covered The Department of Justice’s Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention’s (OJJDP)programs focused on re-entry, federal funding opportunities for re-entry, working groups focused on the issue, and federal resources on the topic.


The Roman paganism of Jesus’ day taught that the actions of gods in the heavens above affected the earth below. If Zeus got angry, thunderbolts shot out. “As above, so below,” went the ancient formula.
Jesus, though, sometimes inverted that. He taught: As below, so above. A believer prays, and heaven responds. A sinner repents, and the angels rejoice. A mission succeeds, and God is glorified. A believer rebels, and the Holy Spirit is grieved.
I believe these things, yet somehow I keep forgetting them. I forget that my prayers matter to God. I forget that the choices I make today bring delight or grief to the Lord of the universe. I forget that I am helping my neighbors to their eternal destinations.
The good-news message of God’s love that Jesus brought to this earth we can now bring to others. That was the challenge He gave His disciples before ascending to His Father (see Matt. 28:18-20). We who follow Jesus serve as an extension of His incarnation and ministry. It is why He came to earth. Before He left, He told His disciples that He would send His Spirit from above to them below (Luke 24:48). He did not leave us alone. He fills us with His power that we might touch lives here below to affect eternity.


Context-Dependent Fine-Grained Entity Type Tagging
Entity type tagging is the task of assigning category labels to each mention of an entity in a document. While standard systems focus on a small set of types, recent work (Ling and Weld, 2012) suggests that using a large fine-grained label set can lead to dramatic improvements in downstream tasks. In the absence of labeled training data, existing fine-grained tagging systems obtain examples automatically, using resolved entities and their types extracted from a knowledge base. However, since the appropriate type often depends on context (e.g. Washington could be tagged either as city or government), this procedure can result in spurious labels, leading to poorer generalization. We propose the task of context-dependent fine type tagging, where the set of acceptable labels for a mention is restricted to only those deducible from the local context (e.g. sentence or document). We introduce new resources for this task: 11,304 mentions annotated with their context-dependent fine types, and we provide baseline experimental results on this data.


Keywords: productivity, productivity management, producer achievement, end user satisfaction, integrating approaches
Productivity management: linking producers and end users
Productivity is often too limited in its interpretation. Beyond the traditional belief that productivity is about obtaining higher output from the same physical inputs in the manufacturing system, there is a growing appreciation of the relationship between the producer and the end user. This paper explores a broader definition of productivity that focuses on customer satisfaction, and productivity management approaches that help to align and integrate the strategies and operations of the producer with the expectations and satisfaction of the end user.


Researchers and decision makers who study natural resources and, in particular, water resource management, have acknowledged the significant role of hydroinformatics. The Handbook of Research on Hydroinformatics: Technologies, Theories and Applications describes how hydroinformatics applications, tools and decision aids are manifested and can be integrated and enhanced in organizations, while presenting hydroinformatics as a function of both human and technological interactions. This book provides the latest research on the use of hydroinformatics to establish sustained linkages between the water system and other related systems.


Going after adaptation co-benefits: a REDD+ programme in Fiji
This ‘Inside story on climate compatible development’ by the Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN) finds that Fiji has an advanced REDD+ policy and planning process, which has also inspired other Pacific countries to engage with REDD+. By using REDD+ financing to conserve forests, Fiji is not only contributing to climate change mitigation, but also climate change adaptation, disaster risk reduction, sustainable land management and biodiversity conservation. The brief notes that climate change adaptation is the highest policy priority for Pacific Island Countries (PICs). Therefore, it is difficult for smaller PICs to justify the costs of developing readiness to participate in international mitigation mechanisms. However, REDD+ can help build countries’ resilience to the effects of climate change, and with funding and technical support from the international community, even small countries can make significant progress in creating policies and strategies for REDD+.


Present Joy
Gemini Horoscope
December 5, 2012
You may feel unsettled in your personal affairs today or insecure about the course of your life. If your reality does not conform to your desires or expectations, you may find yourself worrying and harboring a great deal of stress. You can avoid the inner turmoil associated with this type of anxiety by grounding yourself firmly in the present. Engaging in repetitive physical exercise can help you achieve a more grounded state. You may also want to explore your need to hold on to expectations and consider instances in your life when waiting patiently for an unknown outcome has proven beneficial. Today can be a wonderful time to escape your thoughts by becoming absorbed in enjoyable activities like swimming or jogging.
Releasing your expectations and staying anchored in the moment can help you prevent past strife and future uncertainties from sapping your sense of confidence. It is often memories that plague us and a fear of the unknown that causes anxiety and tension. Staying grounded in the here and now allows you to focus on the tasks and goals you have chosen to devote your time to without becoming distracted by errant thoughts. Keeping your mind situated in the present helps you take pleasure in small accomplishments, while eschewing expectations helps you avoid worrying about events that may never come to pass. When you anchor yourself in the present today, you will enjoy what is rather than worry about what may lie ahead.
This article is printed from DailyOM - Inspirational thoughts for a happy, healthy and fulfilling day.
Register for free at dailyom.com


The Coca-Cola Company, Facebook and Dell are among 16 companies that have just joined the Department of Energy’s Workplace Charging Challenge, which aims to expand the availability of workplace vehicle charging for American workers. Three new corporate partners have also joined the Department’s National Clean Fleets Partnership.
By joining the Workplace Charging Challenge, partners commit to assess workforce plug-in electric vehicle (PEV) charging demands, and then develop and implement a plan to install workplace charging infrastructure for at least one major worksite location.
The challenge aims to achieve a tenfold increase in the number of US employers offering workplace charging, over five years. The initiative also supports the broader efforts of the EV Everywhere Grand Challenge, announced last year by President Obama, which aims to make electric vehicles as affordable and convenient for the American family as gasoline-powered vehicles within the next decade.
In addition to the above companies, AVL, Bentley Systems, Biogen Idec, Bloomberg LP, the City of Sacramento, The Hartford, The Hertz Corporation, National Grid, New York Power Authority, NRG Energy, OSRAM SYLVANIA, Raytheon Company and Southern California Edison have also signed up to the initiative. Earlier this year, 13 companies, including Google, Ford and GE announced their commitment to the program.
The news comes as three new corporate partners – AMP Americas, Kwik Trip and Waste Management – announce their membership in the Energy Department’s National Clean Fleets Partnership.
The public-private partnership aims to assist the nation’s largest fleet operators in reducing the amount of gasoline and diesel they use nationwide.
Announced by President Obama in 2011, the partnership aims to speed the deployment of clean, energy efficient vehicles and the infrastructure to support their widespread use. Through the partnership, Energy Department experts provide each company with specialized resources, technical expertise, and support to develop a strategy to reduce the fleet’s oil consumption. The Department also helps connect partners with clean fuel providers and equipment manufacturers where their fleets operate.
The new partners announced this week join with 18 other major national companies, including AT&T, UPS, FedEx, PepsiCo and Verizon, that are part of the project.


Many times, these individuals are arrested in neighboring cities on misdemeanor charges, while neighboring jurisdictions have issued felony arrest warrants in their names. These criminals can potentially go undetected for years. http://www.motorola.com
To address this problem in the Washington, DC, metropolitan area, nine local law enforcement jurisdictions have banded together to form a network of biometric databases to enable cross-jurisdictional law enforcement. Known as the National Capital Region, agencies from Fairfax County, VA; Montgomery and Prince George’s County, MD; Washington, DC; and the United States Secret Service have each established Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems (AFIS) that enable the cross search of other agencies’ criminal databases based on biometric information.
Motorola provided an interoperable network of AFIS systems based on each of the counties’ specific operational and legislative requirements. Each agency built AFIS systems that would enable an officer to seamlessly search a database across jurisdictional boundaries. With a subsequent upgrade of this network, this seamless connectivity of data has expanded to mobile units out in the field.
For example, this interoperable network enables an officer in Fairfax County who has stopped a suspect to capture the detained individual’s fingerprints and submit those prints to the Fairfax County AFIS. Should those prints provide a match, the officer is then informed of any previous arrest record and any possible outstanding warrants. If the Fairfax system does not find a match, the network then simultaneously transfers the data to the Washington, DC, Metro and Montgomery and Prince George’s County AFIS systems. Searching those databases, a positive match would provide the officer on the side of the road with the criminal history of the individual’s unlawful activities in neighboring jurisdictions and alert the officer of any possible outstanding arrest warrant issued for this person.
Law enforcement agencies in Fairfax County, VA; Montgomery and Prince George’s County, MD; and Washington, DC all use Motorola’s advanced Biometric Identification Systems (BIS). Each system was specifically designed to meet the operational, logistical and legislative requirements of the respective counties and states. The solutions included multi-modal biometric systems for fingerprint, palmprints, and facial images. Advanced workstations were installed for latent processing and new bookings.
Beyond the cooperative of these neighboring counties, interoperability extends to the Sheriff’s Information Management System (SIMS), Virginia State Police, and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Additionally, the new system was designed to be compatible with the legacy technologies still active within the region. Benefits
By providing faster matching speeds, greater accuracy, and access to more databases, the technology used by the National Capital Region has increased positive identifications and crimes solved. Officials have also seen a dramatic reduction in hardware procurement cost and a long-term reduction in maintenance and support expenditures. Furthermore, the joint procurement enabled the agencies to secure Homeland Security grants as they could demonstrate a positive return on investment (ROI). Even system training was easier to provide due to cooperative training for the large numbers of potential attendees from the different agencies.


The Survival of Ultrashort Locking-Taper Implants
Rainier A. Urdaneta, DMD/Shadi Daher, DMD/Joseph Leary, DMD/Kimberly M. Emanuel, RDH/Sung-Kiang Chuang, DMD, MD
PMID: 22616059
Purpose: To evaluate the performance of 5-mm-long implants. Materials and Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted between January 2008 and December 2009. The sample was composed of patients who had received at least one 5-mm-wide, hydroxyapatite-coated Bicon implant. The outcome variable was implant failure. Descriptive statistics and univariate and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models, adjusted for multiple implants in the same patient, were utilized to identify predictors of dental implant failure. Results: Two hundred ninety-one subjects who received 410 locking-taper implants were followed for an average of 20 months. Of these, 211 were ultrashort implants (57 were 5 × 5.0 mm and 154 were 5 × 6.0 mm) and 199 were short implants (5 × 8.0 mm). Three hundred twenty-two implants (93.4%) were restored with single crowns. There was a higher proportion of ultrashort single-tooth implants (94.6%) as compared to short single-tooth implants (92.2%). Nine implants failed, for a cumulative survival rate of 97.5%. Of the failed implants, five were ultrashort (all 5 × 6.0 mm) and four were short. No failures were documented for 5- × 5.0-mm ultrashort implants. There was no statistically significant difference (P = .68) in the Kaplan-Meier survival rates of ultrashort implants (97.6%) and short implants (95.2%). After adjusting for other covariates in a multivariate model, implant length was not associated with implant failure (P = .49). Conclusions: The survival of ultrashort (5- and 6-mm) implants was comparable to that of short (8-mm) implants. INT J ORAL MAXILLOFAC IMPLANTS 2012;27:644–654.
Key words: dental implants, implant length, retrospective cohort study, short implants, single-tooth implants


In the spring of 2008, a 260MWe coal-fired power plant (CFPP) located in Rochester, New York was closed over a 4 month period. Using a 2-years data record, the impacts of the shutdown of the CFPP on nearby ambient concentrations of three Hg species were quantified. The arithmetic average ambient concentrations of gaseous elemental mercury (GEM), gaseous oxidized mercury (GOM), and particulate mercury (PBM) during December 2007-November 2009 were 1.6ng/m
3, 5.1pg/m 3, and 8.9pg/m 3, respectively. The median concentrations of GEM, GOM, and PBM significantly decreased by 12%, 73%, and 50% after the CFPP closed (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.001). Positive Matrix Factorization (EPA PMF v4.1) identified six factors including O 3-rich, traffic, gas phase oxidation, wood combustion, nucleation, and CFPP. When the CFPP was closed, median concentrations of GEM, GOM, and PBM apportioned to the CFPP factor significantly decreased by 25%, 74%, and 67%, respectively, compared to those measured when the CFPP was still in operation (Mann-Whitney test, p<0.001). Conditional probability function (CPF) analysis showed the greatest reduction in all three Hg species was associated with northwesterly winds pointing toward the CFPP. These changes were clearly attributable to the closure of the CFPP.


Authors: Rolanda Lange and Dustin J Marshall Published in: Ecology, volume 97, issue 3 (March 2016) Abstract
Bio-invasions depend on the number and frequency of invaders arriving in new habitats. Yet, as is often the case, it is not only quantity that counts, but also quality.
The process of dispersal can change disperser quality and establishment success. Invasions are a form of extra-range dispersal, so that invaders often experience changes in quality through dispersal.
To study effects of dispersal on invader quality, and its interactions with quantity on invasion success, we manipulated both in a field experiment using an invasive marine invertebrate.
Establishment success increased with the number of individuals arriving in a new habitat. Prolonged larval durations – our manipulation of prolonged dispersal – decreased individual quality and establishment success. Groups of invaders with prolonged larval durations contributed only a third of the offspring relative to invaders that settled immediately.
We also found an interaction between the quality and quantity of invaders on individual growth: only within high-quality cohorts did individuals experience density-dependent effects on growth.
Our findings highlight that dispersal not only affects the quantity of invaders arriving in a new habitat but also their quality, and both mediate establishment success.
Citation
Lange R , Marshall DJ (2016) Propagule size and dispersal costs mediate establishment success of an invasive species.
Ecology, 97(3), 2016, pp. 569–575 DOI: 10.1890/15-1573 PDF 238 KB


Cytoplasmic serine hydroxymethyltransferase regulates the metabolic partitioning of methylenetetrahydrofolate but is not essential in mice.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18644786
The hydroxymethyl group of serine is a primary source of tetrahydrofolate (THF)-activated one-carbon units that are required for the synthesis of purines and thymidylate and for S-adenosylmethionine (AdoMet)-dependent methylation reactions. Serine hydroxymethyltransferase (SHMT) catalyzes the reversible and THF-dependent conversion of serine to glycine and 5,10-methylene-THF. SHMT is present in eukaryotic cells as mitochondrial SHMT and cytoplasmic (cSHMT) isozymes that are encoded by distinct genes. In this study, the essentiality of cSHMT-derived THF-activated one-carbons was investigated by gene disruption in the mouse germ line. Mice lacking cSHMT are viable and fertile, demonstrating that cSHMT is not an essential source of THF-activated one-carbon units. cSHMT-deficient mice exhibit altered hepatic AdoMet levels and uracil content in DNA, validating previous in vitro studies that indicated this enzyme regulates the partitioning of methylenetetrahydrofolate between the thymidylate and homocysteine remethylation pathways. This study suggests that mitochondrial SHMT-derived one-carbon units are essential for folate-mediated one-carbon metabolism in the cytoplasm.
Pubmed ID: 18644786 RIS Download
Mesh terms: Animals | Cell Nucleus | Cytoplasm | Female | Fibroblasts | Gene Expression Regulation, Enzymologic | Glycine Hydroxymethyltransferase | Male | Mice | Mice, Transgenic | Mitochondria | Models, Biological | Models, Genetic | Tetrahydrofolates


7 CFR 1467.20 - Market-based conservation initiatives.
(a)Acceptance and use of contributions. Section 1241(e) of the Food Security Act of 1985, as amended, (16 U.S.C. 3841(e)), allows the Chief to accept and use contributions of non-Federal funds to support the purposes of the program. These funds shall be available without further appropriation and until expended, to carry out the program.
(b)Ecosystem Services Credits for Conservation Improvements.
(1) USDA recognizes that environmental benefits will be achieved by implementing conservation practices and activities funded through WRP, and that environmental credits may be gained as a result of implementing activities compatible with the purposes of a WRP easement, 30-year contract, or restoration cost-share agreement. NRCS asserts no direct or indirect interest in these credits. However, NRCS retains the authority to ensure that the requirements of the WRPO, contract, and easement deed are met. Where activities required under an environmental credit agreement may affect land covered under a WRP easement, 30-year contract, or restoration cost-share agreement, participants are highly encouraged to request a compatibility assessment from NRCS prior to entering into such agreements.
Title 7 published on 2015-08-22.
No entries appear in the Federal Register
after this date, for 7 CFR Part 1467.


Common guidelines for a board of directors include holding regular meetings to discuss the current state of the company over which it governs, working directly with members of the management team to offer guidance and developing large-scale strategies for the company as a whole. Other guidelines may focus on responsibilities to vote on financial matters and ensuring compliance with various laws and regulations.Continue Reading
The board of directors for a company or other organization must meet on a regular basis to review various matters relating to the entity, with most board guidelines including a set format for each meeting that includes sections to review notes from past meetings and set goals for the future. These board meetings may consist of planning sessions wherein the members determine the best course of action to help the organization achieve its primary objective, such as gaining financial solvency for a new company or reducing homelessness or a nonprofit.
Board meetings typically also focus on reviewing the financial reports for the organization to ensure it stays on track with predictions and expectations. If the company is not on track, it may vote to lay off employees or reduce executive salaries to correct the matter. Guidelines for a board of directors also include an emphasis on working with the executive team to help provide feedback on decisions and plans as well as make suggestions for smaller operational changes.Learn more about Corporations


Remove nail polish from your carpet while it's still wet for best results. Dried nail polish is more difficult to remove. You need a butter knife, clean dry rags, paper towels, nail polish remover and dish soap.Continue Reading
Check to see if the polish is still wet or has already dried. If it's dry, use the dull edge of the butter knife and flick away the excess polish. If it's still wet, use a dry rag to blot any excess polish away. Use gentle pressure and avoid scrubbing, which spreads the stain.
Test the nail polish remover in an inconspicuous spot on the carpet. Avoid using oily polish removers that cause a grease stain on the carpet. Apply a small amount to a clean rag and blot the stain. Continue applying the remover to clean spots on the towel and blotting until most of the polish is gone. Don't saturate the carpet to prevent the solvent from dissolving the backing.
Put a few drops of dish detergent in a bowl of water. Mix well, and apply it to the stain with a cloth dipped in the detergent solution. Blot with a paper towel to remove any remaining polish and the polish remover. Repeat until there are no more traces of the polish. Apply clear water and blot dry to remove any detergent. Use paper towels to absorb as much moisture as possible.


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Verdes calculated the amount of non-natural influence required to match the increases in temperature observed in the last 150 years. He plotted the influence over time. Then, he compared it to the evolution of greenhouse gasses, taking into account the cooling due to aerosols. With allowances for error, he found that influences attributable to greenhouse gasses mirror the graph of non-natural influence needed to explain the observed temperature increase of recent decades.
As the "debate" about the existence of global warming, and the causes of it, there are mounting evidence for human activities being a significant cause of it.
I'll edit this entry to include the exact reference once this paper has been published.
Zz.
Edit: This is the exact citation to this paper:
Pablo F. Verdes, Phys. Rev. Lett., v.99, p.048501 (2007).
There is also a review of this work on PhysicsWeb.


The all-important internal customer: Part 2 (This is the second of three parts. Read Part 1.)
Teams and employees may have “the right stuff” --- they are knowledgeable, skilled and hardworking. But this is insufficient to meeting key business goals.
If these skilled and committed employees work in isolation, or separate, from their internal customers --- those dependent on their work --- they fail to impact business results. It is that simple.
Working alone, no one can impact business results.
However, when teams and individuals work collaboratively with their internal customers toward a common goal, they can impact business results.
Work in any business is accomplished only when different teams (functions or departments) combine and unite their different expertise to achieve shared business goals.
Said differently. Business goals are accomplished only when individuals and teams with unique expertise (called “functions” or “departments”) work together as a single united team toward common goals.
To combine and unite diverse expertise on common goals every team and individual must do something exceptionally well.
The must build an effective two-way working partnership with their internal customers. A relationship that leverages and focuses both teams unique expertise.
If a business is to be successful teams MUST work effectively with their internal customers.
Key Learning:
The relationship with your internal customer exists for one purpose --- achieving business results.
Understand the unique expertise of your team --- and the reason the company needs that expertise.
Being an expert in your function is not enough. You must collaborate with individuals and teams that have different expertise and objectives (your internal customers) toward a common goal.
Think about these questions:
What obstacles prevent you from creating effective working relationships with your internal customers?
What business goals unite you and your internal customer?
What have you done to keeps this working relationship with your internal customer effective?


Explore the New machine for Domestic Mining Industry
27 June, 2013 at 8:31 am in Employment
China has shown strong growth in mining equipment demand, a direct result of investment in its local mining industry. For example, coal output nearly doubled from 2001 to 2006, reflecting the nation’s intense need for energy. China is also a major source of commodities such as iron ore and bauxite. Other major Asian markets for mining equipment include Australia and India. Like China, India has experienced a major growth in coal output. Australia is a leading producer of bauxite and iron ore. Asia is expected to post strong gains in mining equipment demand through 2011, reflecting further gains in the China and India markets. Latin America, which has extensive mineable resources, will also post above average growth, reflecting more mining investment in nations like Brazil. Eastern Europe will also continue to provide opportunities, particularly in Russia. Henan Hongxing is specialized in the producing of jaw crusher,impact crusher, cone crusher, industrial milling machine, and vibrating screen, dust collector equipment, to succeed in a lot of mining and processing to use.
Despite their maturity as markets, the largest producers of mining equipment are generally found in the United States and the industrialized nations of Western Europe, as well as Japan. Such countries have a long history and much expertise in the development of capital equipment industries of all types, which many have leveraged in mining machinery. However, China has emerged as a major producer, due in large part to the nation’s growing mining industry. With the largest deposits of mineable resources generally located in developing countries, the major multinationals that dominate world mining equipment production are increasingly moving production capacity to these areas, a trend that is expected to continue.
Prices for mineable commodities (especially metals like copper and iron ore) have shown growth in recent years. This has led to intensified efforts to mine metal ores, and thus has generated strong demand for products like mining machinery. Meanwhile, coal, facing dwindling reserves in numerous countries, remains in demand as an alternative source of energy in an era of high oil and gas prices, while demand for industrial minerals (clays, sand and gravel, stone and a myriad of others) has benefitted from the general upsurge in commodities markets.


The Martin Act, which authorizes the Attorney General to regulate securities transactions, including cooperative and condominium sales by sponsors, does not preclude private individuals from bringing common-law fraud or breach of contract claims arising from such sales.Caboara v. Babylon Cove Development, LLC, 2008 WL 2747188, 2008 N.Y. Slip Op. 6281 (App. Div. 2d Dept July 15, 2008).
This case arose when several purchasers of units in a townhouse condominium sued the Sponsor for fraud and breach of contract, based on an alleged misrepresentation in the offering plan.The Sponsor argued that plaintiffs allegations, if true, would establish a Martin Act violation within the Attorney Generals jurisdiction and therefore the claims were pre-empted.A lower court accepted this argument and dismissed the case, but the Appellate Division reversed this ruling and reinstated the claims.It reasoned that while the Martin Act was designed to deter fraudulent practices in the sale of securities and authorizes the Attorney General to redress such practices, nothing in the statute abridged private rights of action for common-law fraud or breach of contract. The rule that private plaintiffs may bring fraud and breach of contract claims arising from cooperative or condominium offerings, so long as they satisfy the traditional elements for pleading these claims, was previously recognized by the Appellate Division, First Department, whose jurisdiction includes Manhattan and the Bronx.(Please see the November 2007 issue of this Client Advisory.)This new decision by the Appellate Division, Second Department, which covers Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and several other counties, brings uniformity to this area of the law.


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'This is a remarkable book. It comprises the best scholars in the field covering all of the essential elements needed to understand and respond to the foremost conservation challenges of the 21st century. It is contemporary, insightful and challenging. In my opinion, this work is essential for any scholar, practitioner or student who works in this area.' - Alexander Gillespie, University of Waikato, New Zealand


Meu artigo sobre
“Democracia consolidada e tamanho do Estado”, aprovado para a Revista de Economia Política, será publicado na edição de jan-mar/14. Abaixo, um resumo do argumento defendido no trabalho.
Leia um pouco mais sobre os artigos que serão publicados nesta edição clicando aqui – http://www.rep.org.br/next_issue.asp
“Consolidated democracy and size of the State. Common sense suggests that the more consolidated democracies and advanced economies tend to be more efficient and produce smaller states. What is observed in practice, however, is a positive correlation between ‘democratic consolidation’ and ‘tax burden’ (as a proxy for ‘size of government’). This finding, while not expressing any causal relationship between the two variables, is an evidence that a more republican and democratic State, as defined in Bresser-Pereira, must be able to provide, effectively and efficiently, broader public services with better quality. This is, in consolidated democracies, the State should not be small.”


Globalizing your community content should be a part of your digital transformation in marketing and customer care. The total spending power of online consumers around the world is nearly $50 trillion, a recent Common Sense Advisory report found. Three years ago, enterprises would have had to translate content into 37 languages to reach 98 percent of Internet users. This year, it takes 48 languages to reach the same amount of users.
For companies seeking to create a seamless global community, “translate frequently and fast” is the name of the game. Today’s content is dynamic and ever-changing. With high-quality translation and localization, enterprises can tailor marketing and customer care issues to their consumers around the world.


BACKGROUND:
Conduction abnormalities serve as a substrate for ventricular fibrillation (VF) in patients with Brugada syndrome (BS). Signal-averaged electrograms can detect late potentials, but the significance of conduction abnormalities within the QRS complex is still unknown. The latter can present as multiple spikes within the QRS complex (fragmented QRS [f-QRS]). We hypothesized that f-QRS could indicate a substrate for VF and might predict a high risk of VF for patients with BS.
METHODS AND RESULTS:
In study 1, we analyzed the incidence of f-QRS in 115 patients with BS (13 resuscitated from VF, 28 with syncope, and 74 asymptomatic). f-QRS was observed in 43% of patients, more often in the VF group (incidence of f-QRS: VF 85%, syncope 50%, and asymptomatic 34%, P<0.01). SCN5A mutations occurred more often in patients with f-QRS (33%) than in patients without f-QRS (5%). In patients with syncope or VF, only 6% without f-QRS experienced VF during follow-up (43+/-25 months), but 58% of patients with f-QRS had recurrent syncope due to VF (P<0.01). In study 2, to investigate the mechanism of f-QRS, we studied in vitro models of BS in canine right ventricular tissues (n=4) and optically mapped multisite action potentials. In the experimental model of BS, ST elevation resulted from a large phase 1 notch of the action potential in the epicardium, and local epicardial activation delay reproduced f-QRS in the transmural ECG.
CONCLUSIONS:
f-QRS appears to be a marker for the substrate for spontaneous VF in BS and predicts patients at high risk of syncope.


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All non-mammals are hairless and lack mammary glands. Non-mammals with jawbones have lower jaws composed of multiple bones; mammals have a lower jaw composed of a single bone. A non-mammal with teeth loses and replaces teeth multiple times during its lifespan, while a mammal goes through this process only once.
The lack of mammary glands means that non-mammals cannot feed their young with milk. Non-mammal species that care for their young, such as birds, must utilize outside sources of food instead. The inability to produce milk and lack of hair are the only two traits shared across every single species of non-mammal animal.
Because of the wide variety of complexity among non-mammals, other traits are not applicable to every animal. Non-mammal animals range from the simplest sponges and single-celled animals to complex animals that share many traits with mammals, such as birds.
Traits shared by non-mammals are largely defined by the shared traits of mammals possessed by no non-mammal species, rather than specific qualities shared by all non-mammals. Examples of these traits are jawbone and tooth-related traits; not all non-mammals have jawbones or teeth. While these traits are shared across all non-mammals they are applicable to, they do not apply to every non-mammal.Learn more about Zoology


PURPOSE: Platypnea-orthodeoxia is a relatively uncommon but striking clinical syndrome characterized by dyspnea and deoxygenation accompanying a change to sitting or standing from a recumbent position. Hypoxemia after lung transplant can have multiple etiologies. We report a rare case of persistent hypoxia and platypnea-orthodeoxia after lung transplantation as a result of right-to-left interatrial shunt (RLIAS) through a persistent formane ovale (PFO). METHODS: A 66 year old male underwent left single-lung-transplant (SLT) for idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. Patient was extubated on post-transplant day one. On day two, he complained of dyspnea with documented hypoxemia while sitting and during physical activity. This was associated with increased oxygen requirement. Extensive evaluation including bronchoscopy with biopsy and CT angiogram were negative. V/Q scan showed no evidence of pulmonary embolism but a significant right to left shunt. Echocardiogram with agitated saline confirmed a PFO with right to left shunt with normal pulmonary pressures. The patient underwent percutaneous closure of the PFO with AMPLATZER® atrial septal occluder. Post closure, he had immediate significant improvement in oxygen saturation in the catheterization lab. Patient was eventually discharged home on room air. RESULTS: Platypnea-orthodeoxia from RLIAS with normal right heart pressures is a rare complication after lung transplant, with only 1 prior case reported in English literature. Similar presentation has also been seen after right pneumonectomy. Although the exact pathophysiology is not known, it has been postulated that an altered anatomic relationship occurs between the inferior vena cava (IVC), superior vena cava, and the atrial septum after right pneumonectomy and in our case, left SLT. This can cause preferential flow and streaming of blood into left atrium from IVC through a PFO, even in the absence of a pressure gradient. Additionally, the interatrial septum can be pulled downward due to shift in mediastinum resulting in a new opening of foramen ovale and RLIAS. Percutaneous closure is the preferred treatment. CONCLUSIONS: RLIAS is a rare complication after left SLT resulting in significant morbidity. This complication should be considered in post-transplant patient with unexplained dyspnea and hypoxemia. Percutaneous closure is the preferred treatment. CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: Pre-transplant workup should include interatrial shunt evaluation. DISCLOSURE: The following authors have nothing to disclose: Jose Melendez, Amarbir Mattewal, Harish Seethamraju
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Abstract In this paper we analyse the source and magnitude of marketing gains from selling structured debt securities at yields that reflect only their credit ratings, or specifically at yields on equivalently rated corporate bonds. We distinguish between credit ratings that are based on probabilities of default and ratings that are based on expected default losses. We show that subdividing a bond issued against given collateral into subordinated tranches can yield significant profits under the hypothesised pricing system. Increasing the systematic risk or reducing the total risk of the bond collateral increases the profits further. The marketing gain is generally increasing in the number of tranches and decreasing in the rating of the lowest rated tranche.


I routinely get
~70% response rate for evaluations of conferences I facilitate. Here are three reasons why this rate is so much higher than the typical 30-50% response rates that other conference organizers report. At the start of the first session at the event, I request that attendees fill out the online evaluations and explain why we want them to do so. I provide online surveys that are available at the start of the event, and that can be completed at any point. If the conference has a printed learning journal, I’ll include a printed version of the evaluation, so attendees can fill it out as an aide-mémoire during the event if they wish. Post-conference, via email, I gently remind attendees who have not yet completed an evaluation. I include a due date (normally 10-14 days after the end of the event), and a few sentences reiterating the reasons why we’d appreciate their response. I send up to three of these reminders before the due date.
I promise attendees that
alltheir feedback will be carefully read. I tell attendees that their evaluations are crucial for improving the conference the next time it is held. I tell attendees that we will share allthe (anonymized) evaluations with them. (I don’tshare evaluations on individual sessions with attendees, but I forward all comments and ratings to the session presenters. I doshare overall ratings and all general comments about the conference.)
When you explain to attendees why you are asking them to spend time providing evaluations, and they trust you to deliver what you’ve promised, they are much more open to providing feedback. And I suspect that when attendees know that other attendees will see their anonymized feedback, they may be more motivated to express their opinions.
I don’t find doing any of this particularly onerous, and the result is a rich treasure-trove of ideas and feedback from a majority of attendees that I can use to improve future conferences.
What’s your typical attendee response rate for conference evaluations? What do you do to encourage attendees to provide event feedback? Photo attribution: Flickr user herzogbr


Ponds, pools and fountains are all beautiful additions to an outdoor space, but they aren't necessarily original. There are many more water elements beyond these most common options that you can use in your landscaping--ideas that may fit your landscape more appropriately.
Waterfalls
Waterfalls, and water walls, whether they are large or small, create an aural and visual addition to a landscape. They can be expensive to install, but they can be worth the trouble. Waterfalls can empty into other water elements in a landscape, such as ponds or pools.
Waterwheel
If you want a larger, more dramatic water feature, add a waterwheel to your landscape. You will need a more elaborate water set up, such as a creek with enough force to push the wheel forward. Additionally, you could use the waterwheel as a part of a Rube Goldberg-like water element in your garden with the water causing other things to occur, such as bamboo tipping features.
Rain Chains
If you are looking to create a more economical water feature in your landscape, install a rain chain. Rain chains are a good replacement for downspouts and are chains that hang from the top of a building and channel the rain downward from the roof in a beautiful display. Metals that don't rust are typically used for rain chains. Copper is often used.
Reflecting Pools
Reflecting pools are a dramatic addition to any landscaped space. These pools add a sense of serenity to the outdoor environment while enhancing the beauty of other nearby landscaping features due to the mirror image that the pool creates. The keys to making a reflecting pool do its job well are a high contrast between the color of the pool's lining and features it is to reflect. A dark lining paired with a light object is the best combination.
Water Barrel
The first thing that you may think of when you think of a water barrel is something bright, big and plastic. You don't need to use a plastic barrel, though, to collect the rain. Instead, choose a more aesthetically pleasing design, such as a rustic basin or a water-proofed wooden barrel.