I met many heroes
Spring break is typically fun, or relaxing, or just not long enough. Spring break isn’t typically inspiring, but mine was. I spent my break shadowing various arms of Great Circle, a collection of local social-work organizations devoted to educating and assisting children and families. After the first day, I was overwhelmed. By what? Partly by the new faces and names, partly by the extensive terminology of social work.
But what affected me most were the stories I heard—stories of children cycling through foster homes and of parents who simply abandoned their unwanted kids. During the week, I saw a boy, less than 1 year old, whose mother allegedly punched him in the head. To be honest, I came home a couple of times frustrated and angry. Who treats a child like that? What kind of parents would ever run away from their own flesh and blood? I felt like God had flipped a coin; heads for me meant I was blessed, while tails for these kids meant they were screwed.
Yet I soon realized that countering everything bad was someone good. Someone like Angela, who sacrifices time with her family to visit and counsel foster children at their homes. Someone like Pam, who puts what is best for a child in need above all else. Someone like Jen, who assists devoted parents in reuniting with their kids.
My spring break was inspiring because of the people I met—people I wouldn’t hesitate to call heroes. I met John, a teacher who has dedicated 21 years—longer than most of us can remember—to helping children with severe behavioral and emotional challenges. I met Maria, a principal whom her students love as much for her encouragement and kindness as for her little basket of chocolates. I met Ed, an administrator who insists on helping all troubled children and promises to be the first adult not to abandon them.
I don’t intend to take away anything from soldiers, firefighters and others society ordinarily considers as heroes. These men and women demonstrate the greatest caliber of heroism, putting their lives at risk to ensure the safety and well-being of complete strangers. Nor do I intend to dilute the significance of the term “hero.”
Rather, I want to expand the schema of a hero to include those who take on the toughest problems, those who are truly committed to making the world a better place. Heroes include scientists and entrepreneurs, advocates and mentors; these men and women are the catalysts of improvement in this world. The educators and social workers I met last week are the ones impacting the lives of individuals who need their strength and love the most, and for that these heroes have earned my admiration and respect. Spring break isn’t typically inspiring, but mine was.
Cyrus is a sophomore in Arts & Sciences. He can be reached via e-mail at cfbahras@wustl.edu.


Title: Detection of Saline Seeps in North Dakota by Remote Sensing Author: Brun, L. J.; Dalsted, K. J.; Worcester, B. K. Description: The article focuses upon saline seepage into water sources. Much of this research was aimed at agricultural sources. This seepage often has accompanying and resultant vegetation. Hand held seismographs were used to characterize seepage as incipient, intermediate or as mature. The accumulation of salts and water may develop in combination as seep grows or in a single stage. At this time, more information concerning the identification and locating seeps in landscapes, including those large tracts of land. The use of vegetative indicators and wetness of soil were helpful in locating seeps. Seismic methods was useful in delineating and characterizing seeps properties. However, this method was expensive. A method was needed to only only locate existing seeps but those about to appear. A project to evaluate remote sensing as a tool to fulfill these needs was conducted in Stark County, North Dakota. The entire process is outlined. Low altitude aerial color infrared photography and thermography was cited as being a viable for both the detection and monitoring of mature or intermediate saline seeps. Date: 1979 Subject: Remote sensing
Saline water
Soil
Permalink: http://hdl.handle.net/10365/5220


The development of accurate molecular mechanics force fields is a significant challenge that must be addressed for the continued success of molecular simulation. We developed the ForceBalance method to automatically derive accurate force field parameters using flexible combinations of experimental and theoretical reference data. The method is demonstrated in the parameterization of two rigid water models, yielding new parameter sets that accurately describe many physical properties of water.


Giving Ice Skating a Twirl By:Dawn Juntilla Skating Expert
I know I am not the only Midwest mom who looks for winter activities to help make enduring the colder months more fun. When my daughter was four, I enrolled her in ice skating lessons. I was more than a little concerned that falling on the ice would, at a minimum, decrease her motivation and potentially cause a severe head injury. I ignored these fears, strapped on her little, pink helmet and forged ahead.
To my amazement, I learned that brave children can do amazing things on the ice. On the flip side, I observed that children with fear have trouble simply standing upright. Only two lessons into the session, my little Kristi Yamaguchi was learning small jumps and how to turn around on skates. Amazing!
My one major complaint about the class was its large size. There were so many students that much of each lesson involved standing around while others were taking turns or the teacher was trying to encourage the fearful children to participate. As a result, my little skater girl lost interest. I attempted to rally her enthusiasm by taking her to an outdoor rink to practice. Doing so definitely improved her confidence and skating skills, but failed to resurrect her interest in skating lessons.
Despite this, we returned to the class and she tolerated them. It did make me sad to see my daughter watch enviously as students in higher level classes skated gracefully by with smiles on their faces. However, it was a lesson in patience and a good introduction to the sport. Having a skilled instructor was definitely beneficial. Having one or two more instructors would have made it all the better!


Torrey Creed, PhD
While the basic principles of Cognitive Therapy remain constant across age groups, certain variations in explanations help children and adolescents grasp key concepts. Helping clients of all ages learn to identify and evaluate unhelpful and inaccurate thinking is a crucial component in Cognitive Therapy.
The mnemonic of “The Three C’s” (Catching, Checking, and Changing) can be particularly helpful to children in learning this process.
To engage children in treatment, therapists often frame the therapy experience as “becoming a detective” to investigate their thinking.
The first step involves teaching them to “Catch” the thoughts that are associated with a specific experience of negative emotion. By building on skills that have been taught in earlier sessions, children reflect on a previous situation in which they became upset. Once they identify their automatic thoughts, the therapist asks them to rate how strongly they believe the thoughts, implying that thoughts may be completely true or completely false or some place in between. They begin to see their experience in light of the cognitive model-that their negative emotions are associated with specific thoughts. The next step in the detective work for children is “Checking” the thought.They learn to gather evidence for or against a thought and consider alternative explanations for the situation. They may be asked to consider the impact of their thought, the worst case scenario if the thought were true, and what they might say to a friend if something similar happened to him or her. If a thought is both accurate and distressing, the therapist helps guide the child to “Check” whether the thought is helpful.
Once children have mastered catching and checking,
they learn how to “Change” their thoughts. Their therapist guides them to develop more accurate and helpful responses to distressing situations. These responses must be believable, in the children’s own words, and short enough to be said quickly. Children then practice using these more helpful responses in session and then out of session. As they encounter similar situations that formerly led to distress, they begin to perceive these new experiences differently.
Reference:
Creed, T. A., Reisweber, J., & Beck, A. T. (2011).
Cognitive therapy for adolescents in school settings. New York: Guilford Press
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The public service obligation levy that every Irish household pays on its electricity bills is expected to rise by 50 per cent, according to Irish website Bonkers.ie.
The Commission for Energy Regulation (CER) reported last week that the current annual level of €42.87 per customer will increase to €64.37 per customer on October 1st 2014.
The website calculates that as an increase of €21.50 per customer, or 50 per cent.
The PSO generated more than €210 million in 2014, which is expected to rise to €335 million in 2015.
ESRI: income inequality reduced by recession
In a twist on the well-known old saying, the rich got poorer during the recession while the poor remained as poor as ever.
A report this week from the Economic and Social Research Institute suggests that the inequality in income distribution in Ireland has reduced. The report attributes the squeezing to the collapse in the property market. "The bursting of the property market bubble affected those at the top of the income distribution, especially those who earned most of their income from property related activities, resulting in a big fall in numbers of high earners, reducing income inequality," it said. Meanwhile, the report stated, the poor remained as poor as ever "The maintenance of the welfare floor relatively unchanged, in spite of the crisis, provided significant support for this group of people," it said. According to the report, the average personal disposable income per head is estimated to have fallen from around €22,800 in2008 to €20,900 in 2014, a decline of 8 per cent.


MMWR. 2004;53:923-924
On October 5, this report was posted as an MMWR
Dispatch on the MMWR website (http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr).
On October 5, 2004, CDC was notified by Chiron Corporation that none
of its influenza vaccine (Fluvirin®) would be available for distribution
in the United States for the 2004-05 influenza season. The company indicated
that the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in the
United Kingdom, where Chiron’s Fluvirin vaccine is produced, has suspended
the company’s license to manufacture Fluvirin vaccine in its Liverpool
facility for 3 months, preventing any release of the vaccine for this influenza
season. This action will reduce by approximately one half the expected supply
of trivalent inactivated vaccine (flu shot) available in the United States
for the 2004-05 influenza season.
The remaining supply of influenza vaccine expected to be available in
the United States this season is approximately 54 million doses of Fluzone®
(inactivated flu shot) manufactured by Aventis Pasteur, Inc. Of these doses,
approximately 30 million doses already have been distributed by the manufacturer.
In addition, approximately 1.1 million doses of live attenuated influenza
vaccine (LAIV/FluMist®) manufactured by MedImmune will be available this
season.
Because of this urgent situation, CDC, in coordination with its Advisory
Committee for Immunization Practices (ACIP), is issuing interim recommendations
for influenza vaccination during the 2004-05 season. These interim recommendations
were formally recommended by ACIP on October 5 and take precedence over earlier
recommendations.
The following priority groups for vaccination with inactivated influenza
vaccine this season are considered to be of equal importance and are:
all children aged 6-23 months;
adults aged ≥65 years;
persons aged 2-64 years with underlying chronic
medical conditions;
all women who will be pregnant during the influenza
season;
residents of nursing homes and long-term care facilities;
children aged 6 months—18 years on chronic
aspirin therapy;
health-care workers involved in direct patient
care; and
out-of-home caregivers and household contacts of
children aged <6 months.
Persons in priority groups identified above should
be encouraged to search locally for vaccine if their regular health-care provider
does not have vaccine available.
Intranasally administered, live, attenuated influenza
vaccine, if available, should be encouraged for healthy persons who are aged
5-49 years and are not pregnant, including health-care workers (except those
who care for severely immunocompromised patients in special care units) and
persons caring for children aged <6 months.
Certain children aged <9 years require 2 doses
of vaccine if they have not previously been vaccinated. All children at high
risk for complications from influenza, including those aged 6-23 months, who
are brought for vaccination, should be vaccinated with a first or second dose,
depending on vaccination status. However, doses should not be held in reserve
to ensure that 2 doses will be available. Instead, available vaccine should
be used to vaccinate persons in priority groups on a first-come, first-serve
basis.
Persons who are not included in one of the priority groups described
above should be informed about the urgent vaccine supply situation and asked
to forego or defer vaccination.
Persons in the following groups should not receive influenza vaccine
before talking with their doctor:
persons with a severe allergy (i.e., anaphylactic
allergic reaction) to hens’ eggs and
persons who previously had onset of Guillain-Barré
syndrome during the 6 weeks after receiving influenza vaccine.
Additional information is available at http://www.cdc.gov/flu or
through the CDC public response hotline, telephone 888-246-2675 (English),
888-246-2857 (Español), or 866-874-2646 (TTY).
Interim Influenza Vaccination Recommendations, 2004-05 Influenza Season. JAMA. 2004;292(18):2206. doi:10.1001/jama.292.18.2206-a
© 2017


The negative predictive value of a gated single photon emission computer tomography (SPECT) scan is very high, with an event rate of < 1% in the first year. However, the presence of nonobstructive coronary artery plaque should yield normal SPECT scan findings. On the other hand, most plaque ruptures, which are a major cause of acute myocardial infarction, occur in nonobstructive coronary artery plaque. Therefore, the findings of a gated SPECT scan should be normal if a ruptured plaque has not created significant obstruction despite the imminent threat of coronary artery occlusion. We present the first case report of a documented gated SPECT scan in a patient who had experienced an acute anterior Q-wave myocardial infarction showing no significant ischemia in the anterior wall in the last minute of data acquisition.


A new government proposal in Ukraine would permit the production and sale of genetically modified soybeans and corn in the country if it becomes law. The proposal marks a shift in Ukraine’s stance toward GM crops, which has been negative until now.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Agrarian Policy and Food has submitted the proposal to the Cabinet for consideration, it was recently reported. Six Ukrainian agricultural associations supported the proposal, along with several Ukrainian agricultural experts. The proposal is anticipated to become law before the end of the year.
The country has had its “On Biosafety” law, which has prohibited the use of GM products or GM seed. However, the possible economic benefits are swaying those in government and research that the adoption of GM crops would be financially beneficial for the country and its farmers.
“We could mull over this issue for a long time, but we, jointly with the associations, have signed two letters to change the law on biosecurity, in which we propose the legalization of the use of GM seeds, which had been tested in the United Stated for a long time, for our producers,” said President of the Ukrainian Grain Association (UGA) Volodymyr Klymenko at a press conference at Interfax-Ukraine.
The Ukrainian market is expected to attract leading global agricultural companies to the region as other European countries have restricted the growth of the GM crop industry in Europe. It is speculated that the Ukraine could become a key producer of GM products in Europe over the next five to seven years, which could spur growth in corn production and thereby increase exports.


Question
I was at a friend's place the other day and discovered while on his computer that he has been looking at pornography. He recently started dating, and I know he's struggled with lust in the past, and I think it's only started to come back up since he started dating.
I graduated from college and don't live with him anymore, so I'm not sure how to approach him with this issue. Your thoughts?
Answer
Don't underestimate God's sovereign guidance in the fact that you've come across this knowledge. Some might consider that a coincidence, but I believe God led you to this truth. You are chosen for "such a time as this" in your friend's life. God brought you to this place for a purpose, and I'm glad you're taking it seriously.
With that in mind, be encouraged that you are partnering with God in bringing truth to light, repentance where there is sin and a fresh start through redemption. He didn't bring you this far merely to drop you off and let you take it from here. You are not alone.
The place to start is on your knees. This is not a time to rely on your own natural wisdom and abilities. You don't want to run to battle without a weapon, and prayer is the most important one. You need supernatural wisdom and guidance, and God will gladly give it to you.
As for how to talk to him about it, just think about how you'd like for someone to approach you in the same situation. What if the roles were reversed? How would you want him to talk to you about it? You'd want the words to flow from a heart of compassion as one who also travels the path of redemption, but firm as one who sees the urgent danger.
I've grabbed my children a few times from walking blindly across a parking lot with such a strong jerk it made them cry. The suddenness of it, combined with my urgent tone made them think I was angry. I wasn't angry at all. I feared for their life. When the car came speeding by a few seconds later, my child understood what I was doing.
If I were in your place, here's what I would do. Within the next week or so, I'd find a time to hang out with him for a while. This is a conversation for only the two of you, so don't bring it up with others around. I'd say something like this:
"Here's a question for you, Mike. If you were swimming in the ocean and had no idea that a shark was closing in on you for attack, but I saw it, you'd obviously want me to scream at you, right? (Insert goofy reply here. Random laughter ...) Well, I would obviously scream at you because I know that you would upset the stomach of that shark (more goofiness ...). Well, I see a shark coming after you, and I wanted you to know that as your friend, I'm letting you know ..."
Then simply tell him about how you came across the porn and that it has weighed heavy on your heart ever since. Tell him you've prayed about whether to say anything, and you felt led to talk to him about it because that's what friends do. Tell him you would have wanted him to do the same if the roles were reversed.
Then just see where the conversation goes from there.
He might respond positively right away. If so, great. Accountability is critical at this point. It does no good for him to say, "You're right; I'll stop," and then go right back to it. You might offer to hold each other accountable by using a service that emails to the other person the list of websites each of you view.
He might get defensive. Just respond as thoughtfully as you can. Remember, the Holy Spirit is the one who convicts us of sin. It's up to each of us to receive it and respond to Him. You don't have to settle everything in one discussion. Keep the channels of communication open, and keep praying. All you can do is be obedient to how God leads you. The rest is up to God and your friend.
I'm praying with you.
Blessings,
JOHN THOMAS
Copyright 2009 John Thomas. All rights reserved.


Unemployment fuels unrest and anger.
Political instability tends to escalate in regions with lots of economic volatility and limited employment opportunities, particularly for young people.
In a new presentation to clients, Deutsche Bank's Raj Hindocha and Marcos Arana include this chart of countries with "youth bulges." These are the countries where young males make up a significant share of the population.
"A weaker US role in [the Middle East and North Africa] exacerbates geopolitical risk in the region, which could lead to higher oil prices and curb global growth," write Hindocha and Arana.
"Geopolitical risk is ever-present but unpredictable by nature," they said. "While a large scale geopolitical risk event is not our base case, investors should be mindful of alternative scenarios relative to the benign outcome currently expected by markets."
Deutsche Bank


To keep pace with today’s connected customers, your company must become a connected company. That means deeply engaging with workers, partners, and customers, changing how work is done, how you measure success, and how performance is rewarded. It requires a new way of thinking about your company: less like a machine to be controlled, and more like a complex, dynamic system.
<ASIN:144931905X>


WPI (Wholesale price index) deflation eased to -4.5% year-on-year (y-o-y) in September 2015 from -4.9% in August 2015, marginally lower than expectations (Please see Figure 1). WPI food price inflation rose to 0.2% y-o-y from -1.5% in August 2015, with faster inflation momentum in the pulses (38.6% y-o-y) and spices (11.8% y-o-y) categories. These observations have been made in a Nomura research note.
Fuel price deflation deepened to a record low of -17.7% y-o-y owing to a broad-based decline across all fuel categories (excluding electricity). Meanwhile, the core WPI (WPI manufactured ex-food) contracted -1.9% y-o-y, unchanged from August 2015.
Much of the WPI deflation continues to reflect lower y-o-y global commodity prices, rather than weaker domestic pricing power, points out Nomura. A breakdown of the WPI into commodity and ex-commodity prices shows that while WPI commodity prices contracted -16.1% y-o-y, WPI-ex commodity prices actually rose 0.7% y-o-y in September (Please see Figure 2).
Even though input costs are lower, firms have broadly held their output prices stable, suggesting ongoing margin expansion, observe Nomura analysts in the research note (Please see Figure 3).
In their inflation analysis, Nomura analysts observe that underlying trends suggest that WPI deflation is bottoming out. Indeed, even though y-o-y WPI readings remain negative, food and manufactured product prices (metals, cement) rose sequentially in September 2015. Nomura expects WPI inflation to remain negative until end-2015, but as base effects wane, it should turn positive from Q1 2016 onwards. Nomura expects WPI deflation to cease, but price pressures are expected to stay subdued.


In many regions of the world, water is scarce. This causes a problem in plant production, as plants rely on water stored in the soil to meet their needs; thus it is the principal factor limiting crop production.
Water Dynamics in Plant Production describes the basic scientific principles of water transport in the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum, explains the linkage between transpirational water use and dry matter production and presents various agronomic strategies to adapt to climate water shortage.
"I recommend the book very highly as a major contribution to the vital task of achieving an integrated, multi-disciplinary understanding of water dynamics in plant production [...] Both the science and practice of water use in the field are treated in a comprehensive ad comprehensible manner."
- Daniel Hillel, The Quarterly Review of Biology, 80, 2005 "The book will be a very valuable text for all agronomy students and an excellent introduction for postgraduate students. It will also be a very useful addition to my library." - W R Whalley, Agricultural Science, 142, 2004 "Each chapter is carefully prepared and provides clear conclusions which make it easier to look for specific subjects of interest for readers [...] This book may be recommended to university students of biology and/or agronomy as well as specialists working in the field of crop and plant physiology and ecology." - M T Grzesiak and T Hura, Acta Physiologiae, 2005
- The role of water in plant life
- Functions of water in the plant - Adaptation strategies of plants to overcome water shortage - Water and net primary production - Water and type of vegetation - The role of water in soil - Soil genesis and soil functions - Soil fauna and vegetation cover - The interdependency of soil and vegetation - The significance of the soil for water storage - Transpiration and seepage of water with different types of vegetation - Properties and energy state of water - Physical-chemical properties - The concept of water potential and the Darcy equation - Water storage and movement in soil - Fundamentals and principles - Evaporation - Infiltration and water transport - The root - The plant's organ for water uptake - The role of the root in the plant - Structure of the root tip - Root systems - The water balance of the plant - Water potentials in plant cells - Water uptake by roots - Transpiration by leaves - The action of stomatal guard cells - Water transport within the plant - Water potentials in plants - The plant as a link between soil and atmosphere: an overview - The soil - plant - atmosphere continuum (SPAC) - Potential evapotranspiration - Relations between potential evapotranspiration, soil water and transpiration - Water use by crops - Growth of roots and leaves - Leaf area index and transpiration - Root system development and water uptake - How much of the soil water is extractable by plant roots? - Stomatal control of water vapour loss - Water use throughout the growing season - How to determine the components of the field water balance - Numerical simulation - Radiation and dry matter production - Radiation and net photosynthesis of single leaves - Radiation interception and dry matter accumulation in crop stands - Water use and dry matter production - Relations and their optimization - The transpiration ratio and a related standard - Water use and an estimate of dry matter production - Influence of nutrient supply on water use and establishment of yield - Yield dependency on water and nutrient supply - Influence of nutrient supply on the relation between water use and yield - Transpiration efficiency and fertilizer application - Yield formation under inadequate water supply - Physiological reactions and assimilate partitioning - Economic yield - Water shortage at different phenological stages - Water stress in plants - Measuring water stress in plants - How plants perceive water stress - Climatic factors influencing yield - Growth limiting climatic factors - Climate change - Plants, soils and cropping pattern in a changing environment - Breeding for yield and water use - Comparing old and new cultivars - Future strategies in plant breeding - Controlling the soil's water balance by soil management - Which of the balance components can be changed? - Controlling infiltration - Controlling evaporation - Increasing the quantity of extractable soil water - Conservation tillage - Controlling water use by crop management - Crop rotation - Choice of species and cultivars - Seeding and stand density - Fertilizer application - Irrigation - Need, concerns, problems - Tapping water - The basis of early civilizations - Water requirement of crops - Timing and adjusting the application of water - Efficient water use - Irrigation methods - Epilogue - References - Subject index
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FAQ - Practice Safety/Patient Safety - Archived Through 2012
What specific infection control recommendations apply to oral surgery procedures?
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) addressed this issue in Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings, 2003.(1) They state the following:
"Perform surgical hand antisepsis by using an antimicrobial product (e.g., antimicrobial soap and water, or soap and water followed by alcohol-based hand scrub with persistent activity) before donning sterile surgeon's gloves (IB). b. Use sterile surgeon's gloves (IB).c. Use sterile saline or sterile water as a coolant/irrigant (sic) when performing oral surgical procedures. Use devices specifically designed for delivering sterile irrigating fluids (e.g., bulb syringe, single-use disposable products, and sterilizable tubing) (IB)."
1) CDC. Guidelines for Infection Control in Dental Health-Care Settings --- 2003. December 19, 2003 MMWR 52(RR17);1-61
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In accordance with Federal regulations, St. Lawrence University requires that a principal investigator or other responsible person disclose any potential conflict of interest due to a significant financial interest in a sponsored activity to the Corporate and Foundation Relations Office before a proposal for that activity may be submitted to a sponsoring agency. A potential conflict of interest exists when the personal or private interests of an individual, their spouse or child might lead an independent observer to reasonably question whether the individual’s professional actions or decisions are influenced by considerations of significant personal interest, financial, or otherwise. Significant financial interest means anything of monetary value such as salary or other payments, equity interests, and intellectual property rights.
In order to provide assurance that any potential conflict is disclosed and reviewed by the Corporate and Foundation Relations Office, principal investigators must complete and submit St. Lawrence University’s Disclosure Statement for Principal Investigators of Sponsored Activities to the Corporate and Foundations Relations Office before their proposal is submitted to the sponsoring agency.
If the Director of Corporate and Foundation Relations determines that significant financial interests could affect the design, conduct, or reporting of research activities, the Director shall refer the matter to the university’s Corporate and Foundation Grants Review Committee to review. The committee will recommend one of the following actions:
1) Accept the proposed sponsored project;
2) Do not accept the proposed sponsored project;
3) Accept the proposed sponsored project provided certain conditions or restrictions are imposed so the conflict will be managed, reduced or eliminated. Examples of possible conditions or restrictions are:
- Monitoring of research by independent review;
- Public disclosure of significant financial interests;
- Modification of research plan;
- Divestiture of significant financial interests; or
- Severance of relationships that create actual or potential conflicts.
Collaborators/subrecipients/subcontractors from other organizations must either comply with this policy or provide a certification that their organizations are in compliance with federal policies in effect regarding the disclosure of investigators’ significant financial interest and that their portion of the project is in compliance with their institutional policies.
Financial disclosures for sponsored activities funded by the federal government must be updated annually if the grant period extends beyond a year or when reportable significant financial interests occur. These will be reviewed by the Associate Vice President for Finance to determine if any further review or action is required.
Records of financial disclosures and actions taken to manage actual or potential conflicts of interest, shall be retained by the Associate Vice President for Finance for at least three years beyond the date of submission of the financial expenditures report for the project.


Air PBRs of Subchapter T Topics Under this Category
Blast cleaning equipment using a suspension of abrasives in water is permitted by rule under 30 TAC Section 106.451. This permit by rule (PBR) does not require you to register, keep records, or pay a fee. No registration or record keeping is required.
Dry abrasive cleaning facilities that meet the conditions of 30 TAC Sections 106.452 and 106.4 are permitted by rule. Links to relevant rule, guidance, and forms.
Equipment used for washing or drying products fabricated from metal or glass is permitted by rule under 30 TAC Section 106.453, provided no volatile organic materials are used in the process and no oil or solid fuel is burned. No registration or fee is required. Record-keeping requirements are discussed.
Facilities used for degreasing units that meet the conditions stated in 30 TAC Sections 106.4 and 106.454 are permitted by rule. In some cases, a claim of this PBR must be submitted before construction begins. Links to the rule, relevant forms, and guidance.


Smolowitz R.J.,Coonamessett Farm Foundation Inc. | Patel S.H.,Coonamessett Farm Foundation Inc. | Haas H.L.,Northeast Fisheries Science Center Woods Hole | Miller S.A.,Coonamessett Farm Foundation Inc.
Journal of Experimental Marine Biology and Ecology | Year: 2015
This study represents the first documented use of a remotely operated vehicle (ROV) to actively track sea turtles in situ. From 2008 to 2014, an ROV was deployed to track the at-sea behavior of loggerhead turtles in the Northwest Atlantic Ocean. Seventy turtles were tracked, totaling 44.7. h of direct turtle footage. For all attempts, usable video with a turtle retained in view for a minimum of 30. s, was produced at a rate of 43.5% of effort. Turtles were first spotted from the boat, and then when the turtle was within ~. 50. m of the boat, the ROV was deployed to track the turtle for as long as possible. Tracking durations reached up to 426.1. min. Tracked turtles often remained within ~. 10. m of the surface; however loggerheads were tracked to the seafloor on 12 occasions. Turtles were filmed foraging both pelagically and benthically, even though bottom temperatures reached as low as 7.1. °C. A range of inter- and intra-species interactions were also captured. Several varieties of fish remained associated with individual turtles for extended periods of time, even during benthic foraging dives. Additionally, a variety of social interactions between loggerheads were documented. Generally these interactions were filmed occurring near the ocean surface. Overall, using the ROV provided great insight into loggerhead at-sea behavior, otherwise unattainable using previously established techniques. © 2015. Source


According to Darwinian theory, complexity evolves by a stepwise process of elaboration and optimization under natural selection. Biological systems composed of tightly integrated parts seem to challenge this view, because it is not obvious how any element's function can be selected for unless the partners with which it interacts are already present. Here we demonstrate how an integrated molecular system-the specific functional interaction between the steroid hormone aldosterone and its partner the mineralocorticoid receptor-evolved by a stepwise Darwinian process. Using ancestral gene resurrection, we show that, long before the hormone evolved, the receptor's affinity for aldosterone was present as a structural by-product of its partnership with chemically similar, more ancient ligands. Introducing two amino acid changes into the ancestral sequence recapitulates the evolution of present-day receptor specificity. Our results indicate that tight interactions can evolve by molecular exploitation-recruitment of an older molecule, previously constrained for a different role, into a new functional complex.


United States District Court, N.D. Alabama, Jasper Division
MEMORANDUM OF OPINION
L. SCOTT COOGLER, District Judge.
Before the Court are partial motions to dismiss filed by Defendant Walker County, Alabama (Doc. 11) and Defendants Trent McCluskey ("McCluskey"), John Mark Tirey ("Tirey"), and Jim Underwood ("Underwood"). (Doc. 13.) Also before the Court is a motion to strike filed by the Plaintiff. (Doc. 19.) For the reasons stated below, the motions to dismiss are due to be granted in part and denied in part, while the motion to strike is due to be granted.
I. Background
[1]
Plaintiff Pernell Johnson ("Johnson") brings this suit based on events that occurred while he was a prisoner in the Walker County Jail ("the Jail"). Tirey and Underwood each served as sheriff of Walker County during times relevant to this suit, while McCluskey was the jail administrator for the Jail.
Johnson entered the Jail in or about August 2014, having previously been diagnosed with congestive heart failure and having been prescribed medication for that condition. A bond hearing was held prior to his incarceration, where a nurse from the Jail testified that the Jail could adequately continue Johnson's treatment. Based on this testimony, the judge denied Johnson's request for a lower bond, and Johnson remained in the Jail.
Johnson was not provided with any medical care for his congestive heart failure during his incarceration, nor was he provided prescription medication to treat his other medical conditions. As a result, he suffered a stroke and had to be transported to UAB Hospital for treatment. Johnson remained in the ICU unit at UAB Hospital at the time of his complaint.
Johnson filed his complaint on November 21, 2014, alleging claims under 42 U.S.C. §§ 1983, 1988, the U.S. Constitution, and state law. The only claims brought before the Court by the instant motions are Counts II, III, and IV of his complaint. Count II asserts that the Defendants failed to properly train and supervise correctional officers to administer adequate medical treatment. Count III alleges that a civil conspiracy existed among Defendants to keep costs low, and that this conspiracy resulted in Johnson's inadequate medical treatment. Count IV complains of negligent and wanton retention of incompetent staff. On January 5, 2015, Defendants filed motions to dismiss these counts for failure to state a claim upon which relief can be granted, and to dismiss Johnson's requested equitable relief for lack of subject-matter jurisdiction.
II. Standard of Review
A. Rule 12(b)(6)
Rule 8(a) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure requires a pleading to contain "a short and plain statement of the claim showing that the pleader is entitled to relief." Fed.R.Civ.P. 8(a)(2). "Rule 8 marks a notable and generous departure from the hyper-technical, code-pleading regime of a prior era, but it does not unlock the doors of discovery for a plaintiff armed with nothing more than conclusions."
Ashcroft v. Iqbal, 556 U.S. 662, 678-679 (2009). Instead, "[t]o survive a motion to dismiss, a complaint must contain sufficient factual matter, accepted as true, to state a claim for relief that is plausible on its face." Id. at 678 (internal quotations omitted). This is a notable departure from the "no set of facts" standard; the Supreme Court has stated that standard is "best forgotten as an incomplete, negative gloss on an accepted pleading standard: once a claim has been stated adequately, it may be supported by showing any set of facts consistent with the allegations in the complaint." Bell Atl. Corp v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 563 (2007).
Iqbal establishes a two-step process for evaluating a complaint. First, the Court must "begin by identifying pleadings that, because they are no more than conclusions, are not entitled to the assumption of truth." Id. at 679. A complaint is not sufficient "if it tenders naked assertion[s]' devoid of further factual enhancement.'" Id. at 678 (quoting Twombly, 550 U.S. at 555 (2007)). Second, "[w]hen there are well-pleaded factual allegations, a court should assume their veracity and then determine whether they plausibly give rise to an entitlement to relief." Id. Factual allegations in a complaint need not be detailed, but they "must be enough to raise a right to relief above the speculative level." Bell Atl. Corp. v. Twombly, 550 U.S. 544, 555 (2007).
B. Rule 12(b)(1)
A motion to dismiss under Fed.R.Civ.P. 12(b)(1) challenges the Court's subject-matter jurisdiction. When the attack is a facial-as opposed to factual-challenge on the Court's jurisdiction, the Court treats the Complaint's allegations as true, as it does under a 12(b)(6) motion.
Carmichael v. Kellogg, Brown & Root Svcs., Inc., 572 F.3d 1271, 1279 (11th Cir. 2009).
With regard to Defendants' challenge to Johnson's standing to request equitable relief, standing is an Article III doctrine limiting the jurisdiction of the federal courts to actual "cases" and "controversies."
Socialist Workers Party v. Leahy, 145 F.3d 1240, 1244 (11th Cir. 1998). In order to establish standing, a plaintiff "must demonstrate injury in fact, causation, and redressability." I.L. v. Alabama, 739 F.3d 1273, 1278 (11th Cir. 2014). As Johnson is the party invoking this Court's jurisdiction, ...


When I was growing up, I was always told that we have so much to learn from Japan. I grew up during the rise of the Japanese auto industry, I was taught “Japanese” business tactics, and I watched movies like Gung Ho that portrayed discipline, perseverance, and efficiency.
On my first trip to Japan, though, I wanted to explore the weird and wacky high-tech world the media has portrayed so often. What I found was a place that isn’t as “high tech” as many westerners assume but rather a relatively “low tech” cornucopia of conveniences that could make many westerners jealous.
The first thing I noticed was the lack of “open” Wi-Fi before leaving for Japan. My research found that in most places, free Wi-Fi had to be registered for before entering Japan; it's not ubiquitous. Despite the airports or an occasional restaurant or tourist site offering free Wi-Fi, I found this to be true. Luckily, my Airbnb provided me with a free mobile access point, and my $13 sim for my unlocked Blu Android phone filled in the gaps.
Though I was visiting Hiroshima, not Tokyo, I still expected to pay by credit card everywhere. This was not possible, as taxis, public transit, and most small restaurants and shops do not take credit cards at all, so I found myself visiting the ATM more than once.
Despite those low-tech facts, the conveniences I sought did not disappoint: from delightful taxi auto-open doors to parking lot tech, disabled and safety technology, conservation and cleanliness, and advanced toilet tech—I was awed. Not only did these relatively small conveniences impress me, but they were all in working order (not what I’m used to in NYC).
We may not need restroom noise makers, and filthy NYC subway tracks have proven we do need public garbage cans, but there is so much simple and creative “tech” that we can definitely continue to learn from Japanese culture.


Pamelor Drug Interactions Pamelor interactions with other medications, such as anticholinergic medications, arrhythmia medications, or MAOIs, can cause the body to metabolize the medications differently than intended. Some of these drug interactions with Pamelor can increase the amounts of certain medications in the blood, increasing your risk of side effects or increasing your risk of a dangerous arrhythmia called QT prolongation. Your healthcare provider may need to adjust your dosage of these medications. Pamelor Drug Interactions: An IntroductionPamelor ®(nortriptyline hydrochloride) can potentially interact with many medicines. Some of the medicines that may lead to Pamelor interactions include: Alcohol Anticholinergic medications, including: Atropine Belladonna (Donnatal ®, B&O Supprettes ®) Benztropine (Cogentin ®) Clidinium (Librax ®) Clozapine (Clozaril ®) Darifenacin (Enablex ®) Dicyclomine (Bentyl ®) Diphenhydramine (Benadryl ®, Tylenol PM ®) Glycopyrrolate (Robinul ®) Haloperidol (Haldol ®) Homatropine (Hycodan ®) Hyoscyamine (Levsin ®) Ipratropium (Atrovent ®) Scopolamine (Transderm Scop ®) Tiotropium (Spiriva ®) Tolterodine (Detrol ®) Trospium (Sanctura ®) Arrhythmia medications, including: Barbiturates, including: Amobarbital (Amytal ®) Butalbital (Fioricet ®, Fiorinal ®) Pentobarbital (Nembutal ®) Phenobarbital (Luminal ®) Secobarbital (Seconal ®) Amobarbital (Amytal Buspirone (BuSpar ®) Chlorpropamide (Diabinese ®) Cimetidine (Tagamet ®) Fentanyl (Abstral ®, Actiq ®, Duragesic ®, Fentora ®, Lazanda ®, Onsolis ®, Subsys ®) Intravenous methylene blue Linezolid (Zyvox ®) Lithium (Eskalith ®, Lithobid ®) Monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs), including: Phenothiazine medications, including: Pressors, including: Dopamine (Intropin ®) Dobutamine (Dobutrex ®) Epinephrine (Adrenalin ®, EpiPen ®) Norepinephrine (Levophed ®) Dopamine (Intropin SSRI or SNRI medications, including: Citalopram (Celexa ®) Desvenlafaxine (Pristiq™) Duloxetine (Cymbalta ®) Escitalopram (Lexapro ®) Fluoxetine (Prozac ®, Sarafem ®, Selfemra™) Fluvoxamine (Luvox ®, Luvox ®CR) Levomilnacipran (Fetzima™) Milnacipran (Savella™) Paroxetine (Paxil ®, Paxil CR ®, Pexeva ®, Brisdelle™) Sertraline (Zoloft ®) Venlafaxine (Effexor ®, Effexor XR ®) Citalopram (Celexa St. John's wort Thyroid medications, including: Tramadol (Rybix™ ODT, Ryzolt ®, Ultram ®, Ultram ®ER) or tramadol/acetaminophen (Ultracet ®) Other tricyclic antidepressants, including: Triptans, including:


Help all students progress through reading levels with confidence
The three components of text complexity include quantitative, qualitative, and reader and task measures. On the quantitative end, the Lexile Range for each grade-level collection meets or exceeds CCSS recommendations. Additionally, each library has been carefully leveled using a qualitative measure system factoring in reader variables such as vocabulary, language complexity, length of text, and theme.
Teachers prompt and support students' reading by balancing the difficulty of the text with support for students reading the text. Engaging texts motivate students to read and improve comprehension skills. As teachers work with students in small groups, students are challenged to engage with texts at higher reading levels and greater text complexity. A wide range of texts in the Scholastic Guided Reading programs exposes students to a variety of text types across content areas. As students work with these texts, they build a core foundation of literacy skills essential for growing into stronger readers.


A new survey by Accountemps found that almost 40 percent of responding managers felt employees dressed too casually within the office on the days they could dress down.
The survey was conducted among 1,000 large companies in the United States, with a response rate of 150 or 15 percent. While 55 percent of respondents felt employees dressed appropriately, Max Messmer, head of Accountemps, feels the lopsided numbers clearly send a signal to employees.
He suggests, among other things, to observe managers' attire and emulate when possible--and appropriate. Second, consider your industry and third, understand the company culture.
What rules does your company follow regarding casual attire? Has it been your experience that allowing casual attire has proven beneficial to the attitude of employees or the level of production in your company?


QGen is a qualifiable and tunable code generation and model verification tool for a safe subset of Simulink® and Stateflow® models. It reduces the development and verification costs for safety-critical applications through qualifiable code generation, model verification, and tight integration with AdaCore’s qualifiable simulation and structural coverage analysis tools.
QGen answers one core question: how can I decrease the verification costs when applying model-based design and automatic code generation with the Simulink® and Stateflow® environments? This is achieved by
Selecting a safe subset of Simulink® blocks Ensuring high-performance and tunable code generation Relying on static analysis for upfront detection of potential errors, and Providing top-class DO-178B/C, EN 50128 and ISO 26262 qualification material for both the code generator and the model verification tools.
QGen also decreases tool integration costs by integrating smoothly with AdaCore’s qualifiable compilation, simulation and structural coverage analysis products.
Support for Simulink® and Stateflow® models
QGen supports a wide range of features from the Simulink® and Stateflow® environments, including more than 100 blocks, Simulink® signals and parameters objects and several Matlab operations. The supported feature set from the Simulink® and Stateflow® environments has been carefully selected to ensure code generation that is amenable to safety-critical systems. MISRA Simulink® constraints can be optionally checked with QGen. Features that would imply unpredictable behavior, or that would lead to the generation of unsafe code, have been removed. The modeling standard enforced by QGen is then suitable for DO-178, EN 50128 and ISO 26262 development out-of-the-box.
Qualification material
Complete qualification material for QGen is scheduled for later availability. This qualification material complies with the DO-178C standard at Tool Qualification Level 1 (TQL1, equivalent to a Development Tool in DO-178B). This will make QGen the only code generator for Simulink® and Stateflow® models for which a TQL1 qualification kit is available. The QGen qualification kit complies with DO-330 (the DO-178C technology supplement on Model-Based Development) and includes a Tool Qualification Plan, a Tool Development Plan, a Tool Verification Plan, a Tool Quality Assurance Plan and a Tool Configuration Management Plan; it also includes detailed Tool Operational Requirements, Test Cases and Test Execution Results.
Support for model static analysis
QGen supports the static verification that three kinds of issues are prevented: run-time errors, logical errors, and safety violations. Run-time errors, such as division by zero or integer overflow, may lead to exceptions being raised during system execution. Logical errors, for example a Simulink® “If” block condition that is always true, imply a defect in the designed model. And safety properties, which can be modeled using Simulink® Model Verification blocks, represent safety requirements that are embedded in the design model. QGen is able to statically verify all these properties and generate run-time checks as well if configured to do so.
Support for Processor-in-the-Loop testing
QGen can be integrated with AdaCore’s GNATemulator and GNATcoverage tools to support streamlined Processor-In-the-Loop (PIL) testing. The simulation of Simulink® models can be tested back-to-back against the generated code, which is cross-compiled and deployed on a GNATemulator installation on the user workstation. While conducting PIL testing, GNATcoverage can also perform structural coverage analysis up to MC/DC without any code instrumentation. Both GNATcoverage and GNATemulator have been already qualified in an operational context.


The ability to analyze signal integrity in a wireless environment has long been realized by cellular carriers, satellite companies and other network providers as a crucial element in deploying and maintaining a secure system. As utilities deploy the Smart Grid with various wireless technologies, the need to access signal coverage and sources of interference will grow exponentially. Additionally, cable and antenna analyzers are needed to install, provision, maintain and troubleshoot wireless base station cable and antenna systems.
Utilities need to be able to analyze communication problems quickly and insure that their wireless network continues to run under a variety of conditions. Special options and equipment to serve this market include:
Cable and Antenna Analyzer Interference Analysis Option (Opt 0025) Coverage Mapping Option (Opt 0431)


A new report from market research firm IDC indicates that worldwide sales of smart connected devices--a category that includes PCs, smartphones and tablets--is on the rise. Vendors shipped 267.3 million of these devices in the second quarter, a 27.4 percent year-over-year increase.
The Economic Times observed, "On a revenue basis, the total was $131.5 billion worldwide, up 16 per cent from a year ago but down 2.7 per cent from the past quarter."
However, the picture in the U.S. isn't quite as rosy as the global outlook. "In the United States, not just PCs but the entire smart connected device market is slowing down. During the second quarter, revenues for the combined categories fell 8.6 percent annually. IDC pointed to both macroeconomic conditions and a 'degree of saturation' beginning to impact the market," eWeek reported.
The research firm expects global smartphone and tablet sales to continue to rise over the next four years. "Smartphones in particular, now accounting for 59% of connected device shipments, will grow 15.8% annually, to reach nearly 63% of shipments by 2016. Tablets will grow the fastest, though, rising from a 10% share in 2012 to 13% by 2016, eating into PC share, which will drop from 31% to 24% during the same time," wrote TechCrunch's Sara Perez.
"The recent shipment data clearly demonstrates that we have fully entered into the multi-device era, where individuals are buying and using multiple devices per person, most often with different combinations of operating systems. The implications of this development on application developers, device makers, Web service providers, businesses, and even individuals is profound," IDC's Bob O'Donnell stated in a press release.


Amgen's (NASDAQ:AMGN) cancer drug Nexavar is going to reach a broader market. Today, the Food and Drug Administration widened its approval for the drug to include its use in the treatment of several forms of late-stage differentiated thyroid cancer. The decision follows a priority review by the regulator, a process reserved for treatments that "may offer a significant improvement in treatment over existing options," in Amgen's words.
The thyroid is a gland located in the neck. Nexavar functions by inhibiting multiple proteins in cancer cells. This limits the growth and division of such cells.
There is a patient base for the drug. According to the FDA, for 2013 around 60,220 Americans will be diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Of that number, roughly 1,850 will die from it.
Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in Amgen. Nor does The Motley Fool. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.


Care Coordination in a New Health Care Model: Improving Outcomes for Patients with Diabetes
APRIL 12, 2013
Sarah Kokosa, PharmD
Avoiding unnecessary utilization of hospitals, improving quality of care, and establishing continuous chronic disease management.
It has been widely accepted in that serious medical errors and miscommunications often occur as our patients shift from one health care setting to another. Resources, time, and money are spent caring for patients, and can increase exponentially when a breakdown in the flow of information takes place in an unorganized health care environment, especially when in the form of readmissions.
For example, imagine we have a patient with uncontrolled diabetes and low health literacy. We’ll call him AB. Over the years, AB has passed inconsistently through urgent care facilities, primary care offices, emergency departments (EDs), and pharmacies. He and his providers have dabbled with the gamut of therapies, yet his A1C remains above 10 and complications with his kidneys, eyes, and nerves have set in. He is often lost to follow-up, and reappears in the system, usually the ED, only when symptoms become unbearable. AB is typically noncompliant with medications and unable to provide an accurate home medication list. He is admitted, treated, released, and the cycle repeats.
Many have questioned how we, as a system, can intervene to promote better health outcomes for this patient. How can we avoid unnecessary utilization of hospitals, improve quality of care, and establish continuous chronic disease management?
One area of focus, as advocated by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO), is coordination of care surrounding hospital admissions and discharges. Several models have been developed, which are currently undergoing research to assess impact, and they incorporate distinct elements. Simply stated, coordination and communication compose much of the foundation.
Now, imagine we have a new health care model where patients are encased within a team. This team may include a nurse care manager, primary care provider, specialists, pharmacist, social worker, hospital, and any other entities involved in the patient's care In this model, the team encircles the patient continuously as he makes his journey through the health system, and are in constant communication along the way. Let’s apply this to our patient, and map out his new course.
AB presents to the ED due to uncontrolled blood sugar. He is unable to provide the hospital with a complete list of his medications. He is subsequently admitted, and while beginning his treatment, is visited by his nurse care manager, who engages AB and initiates the care coordination process. She facilitates the gathering of his medication list from his various providers and pharmacy claims, while simultaneously assessing potential education and social needs and communicating with the hospital staff.
The medication lists are passed on to the team pharmacist, who reviews and reconciles them to ensure that a complete and accurate list is communicated back to the hospital. The pharmacist is also surveying for potential hurdles, such as high-risk medications, potential cost-saving opportunities, and evidence of noncompliance or educational needs. When discharge is planned, the hospital provides instructions to AB, both verbally and written, including an updated medication list.
Once he arrives home, AB is again visited by his nurse care manager. She has a lengthy discussion with him about his condition, and provides education on self-management. She then assists AB with scheduling a follow-up appointment with a primary care provider (PCP), who will become his “medical home.” Importantly, the nurse also evaluates his home medication use while reviewing the discharge instructions and discharge medication list with AB. These additional lists are compiled along with pharmacy claims and provider lists, and again sent to the team pharmacist, who troubleshoots discrepancies, performs a complete medication review, and ensures all relevant information and recommendations are communicated to the PCP.
AB’s nurse continues to follow up with him periodically via telephone, ensuring he made it to his PCP appointment, and providing additional education throughout the transition period.
During his PCP appointment, diabetes and pharmacist recommendations are addressed, labs are drawn, his chart is updated, and a follow-up appointment is made. The initial steps to reestablishing chronic care have begun. Prescriptions are e-prescribed to the pharmacy and a complete medication list is provided to AB at the conclusion of his visit.
AB's nurse care manager continues to follow up with him, ensuring he makes it to appointments, follows any new PCP instructions, and provides reinforcement, encouragement, and empowerment. She may even follow him long term if there is a perceived need. Then, if AB is not readmitted to the hospital within a set period of time, he has successfully traversed the transitional care process and is on his way to improved health outcomes.
Is this model of transitional care possible? Absolutely! In fact, a model quite similar to this--in which a clinical pharmacist plays a crucial role among the coordinated care team--is already established and under investigation in states such as North Carolina. Are we detecting many medication-related problems? Yes, many, and they are being resolved while focusing on additional methods of prevention.
We are headed down a path of change in several aspects of health care today. While it may seem a daunting new venture, at times, it's also exciting! We are infinitely optimistic and confident that we are uncovering the answers to improving quality of care and promoting better outcomes in a more efficient manner to create a brighter and healthier future for our patients.
Sarah Kokosa, PharmD, received her doctor of pharmacy degree in 2007 from Albany College of Pharmacy, in Albany, New York. Ms. Kokosa has been working with AccessCare since 2010, and currently serves as an ambulatory care clinical pharmacist for Sampson and Wayne Counties in North Carolina. In Sampson County, she is embedded within Clinton Medical Clinic, a 16-provider primary practice, where she has developed clinical pharmacy services with a focus on diabetes, hypertension, and lipid management, along with general medication therapy management (MTM) services. She has also worked with the AccessCare team in Sampson County to develop and implement a medication reconciliation and transitional care program with the local hospital, Sampson Regional Medical Center. In Wayne County, Sarah aids the nursing team with MTM for both transitional and chronic care patients, and is also involved with recent efforts to enhance the care team’s role within the local hospital.
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We are excited to announce a new tool,
Building Your Way to Wellness, available for those who want to develop a recovery plan that can help them to achieve their recovery goals. This was collaboration between Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA) and Optum to fill a need for those who do not have access to smart phones or internet. The document is self-explanatory and offers many examples for the person completing the tool.
It has been clearly demonstrated that individuals that are actively involved in their own recovery plan have much better outcomes. The unique aspect of the
Building Your Way to Wellness tool is that the member can complete this document and keep a copy for himself as well as share it with their supporters and clinicians if so desired.
Download "Building Your Way to Wellness"


If you care for someone who is frail and aged, has a disability or a medical condition, you often find yourself providing care and support 24 hours a day.
Respite provides carers with a short break from their caring role while our skilled staff deliver care and support, ensuring that the respite is a positive and stimulating experience.
Our two Community Respite Houses – Joy’s Retreat, located in Woodville; and Styles House, located in Elizabeth South – offer carers with shorter and more flexible overnight respite breaks than are normally available in residential accommodation, without the need for an ACAT assessment.
Other respite options include one-on-one respite in your home, or respite day group programs.


Nitrogen partitioning and transport through a subalpine lake measured with an isotope tracer
Limnol. Oceanogr., 57(5), 2012, 1503-1516 | DOI: 10.4319/lo.2012.57.5.1503
ABSTRACT: We used a stable isotope tracer to measure nitrogen (N) assimilation and transfer through Bull Trout Lake, a 0.3-km
2 mountain lake in Idaho, specifically to explore the relative importance of pelagic and benthic producers. was added into the inflow stream above the lake during spring runoff and the resulting mass of tracer was measured within the various ecosystem compartments, including the outflow stream. Although a portion of the moved through the lake quickly due to a low hydraulic residence time during the addition, the tracer was also assimilated rapidly by seston in the water column and at a slower rate by benthic primary producers. By the end of the 10-d injection, 10% of the tracer had left via outflow, 21% was within seston, and 17% was in epiphytes and macrophytes. However, 70 d after the termination of the injection, only ∼ 1% of the tracer remained within seston, whereas 10% was within the benthic primary production compartment as N was recycled within the benthic zone. Quantitative transfer of 15N to invertebrate and fish consumers was low, but turnover in these compartments was slow. A conservative water mass tracer (bromide) indicated that the turnover rate for lake water was 1.8% d −1, whereas 15N turnover for the whole lake was only 0.7% d −1, demonstrating how lakes exert drag on nutrients as they move through the watershed. Due to uptake and storage of nutrients, Bull Trout Lake strongly influenced the timing and magnitude of nutrient export from its watershed.


The success of public sector investment in eGovernment initiatives strongly depends on effectively exploiting all aspects of ICT systems and infrastructures. The related objectives are hardly reachable without methodological frameworks that provide a holistic perspective and knowledge on the contexts of eGovernment initiatives. Yet public administrators usually have a mix of legal and administrative knowledge, while lacking an information systems background.With this book, Viscusi, Batini and Mecella provide a comprehensive methodology for service-oriented information systems planning, with special emphasis on eGovernment initiatives. They present the eG4M methodology which structurally supports the development of optimal eGovernment plans, considering technological, organizational, legal, economic and social aspects alike. The approach is focused on two pillars: the quality of the provided services and related processes, and the quality of the data managed in the administrative processes and services.The book is written for public administrators, decision-makers, practitioners, ICT professionals and graduate students, providing a comprehensive perspective of the challenges, opportunities and decisions related to strategic and operational planning of service-oriented information systems in eGovernment.


Written for students encountering the topic for the first time, this introduction explains in non-technical language how a second language is acquired; what the second language learner needs to know; and why some learners are more successful than others. The textbook logically introduces a range of fundamental concepts - such as SLA in adults and children, formal and informal learning contexts, and diverse socio-cultural settings. It takes an interdisciplinary approach, encouraging students to consider SLA from linguistic, psychological and social perspectives.


Experts believe that the Atlanta metro area will experience notable improvements in employment and other fundamentals that may contribute to business for rental managers and owners, among other stakeholders.
Construction of apartments is expected to remain slow while foreclosures are relatively high, real estate data firm Marcus & Millichap reports. The metro area will see projected employment growth of 1.6 percent during 2012, although the current unemployment rate of 9.2 percent means that the picture may remain troubled relative to the national average. Despite that, the recent growth of employment may be among the nation’s best, based on an Arizona State University study.
As these fundamentals strengthen, the firm notes that purchasing a home is difficult in the area at the moment. Combined, these factors are contributing to increases in both asking and effective rents and the vacancy rate of rentals is expected to drop.
Current and prospective residents who would have bought a home, or who find apartments too small for their purposes, may be more interested in single-family rentals and other types of property.


Digital Technology Holds Promise for Capital Markets and Investment Banking (CMIB)
McKinsey’s viewpoint on Capital Markets and Investment Banking (CMIB) finds that the industry’s restructuring from a decade ago has failed to deliver positive results. The CMIB industry remains under pressure and faces weak profits, high costs, and strategic uncertainty. McKinsey concludes that more fundamental change is required to produce favorable business impact, since the traditional model is no longer viable, with high costs, picky clients and rising customer expectations continuing to undermine performance. Additional headwinds include relentless waves of regulation, entrenched product complexity, and increased uncertainty following Brexit. The average Return On Equity (ROE) for the industry remains stagnant at 10 percent, with the top ten global CMIB banks posting declining revenues for the third straight year. Worse, the element of trust is sorely missing within the ecosystem.
Technology remains underutilized in CMIB
McKinsey confirms that despite adequate empirical evidence, new technologies remain underutilized, with many banks yet struggling to make fundamental changes in their operating models and embrace potential benefits of digitization. No surprise then, that clients are challenging the value added by banks, with many indicating that they feel over-served in an electronic/flow-products world, and that banks are struggling to provide products deemed desirable.
Transformative change is possible
McKinsey promises a better future to those banks that are ready to undergo transformative change to successful operating models and embrace new technology. Hard decisions must be made, particularly with regard to costs and commitment to resources. Banks must differentiate themselves based on value propositions that meet segmented client needs. McKinsey envisions a new market structure emerging for CMIB over the next three to five years. Four business models are likely to succeed as economic, regulatory, and technological trends play out.
Regardless of the business model, McKinsey identifies eight key initiatives bank leaders will need to implement. Top priority initiatives are: defining long term business portfolio articulating client value proposition, and fully leveraging digital technology across the entire organization
Additional opportunities offering potential include participating in industry utilities, including distributed ledgers (i.e. blockchains) and leveraging advanced analytics.
An innovative approach to digitization
Appian’s low-code digital platform can help leverage technology benefits across the business, with a customer-centric view across channels, products, and staff. As you consider the McKinsey recommendations for operating models, let’s talk about developing a roadmap with key milestones specifically for your institution. You can drop me an email at michael.heffner@appian.com.
Michael Heffner
Appian Corporation Global Capital Markets and Banking Industry Lead


Over-the-counter estrogen creams typically contain bio-identical, or plant-based estrogen called phytoestrogen. As with prescription creams, they are supposed to relieve common symptoms of menopause, such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness and mood swings. The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists cautions that there has been insufficient research on the effectiveness and safety of over-the-counter estrogen creams, and they are not regulated by the FDA. Discuss using over-the-counter hormone products with your medical provider.
Bio-Identical Hormone Creams
Bio-identical hormone creams are often marketed as bio-identical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT). Bio-identical hormone creams are often compounded with estrogen, estriol or phytoestrogen, progesterone and androgen. Estriol had not yet been FDA-approved in 2010, although it is not illegal to dispense it over the counter. The FDA cautions that BHRT is not a recognized medical term, but a marketing phrase. It advises that consumers should be cautious about claims that these creams are safer than prescription estrogen creams, and that they may carry the same health risks and side effects as creams your doctor prescribes. In 2008, the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists issued a press release stating that women should be given the choice to purchase over-the-counter bio-identical hormone creams, and that estriol was legal, safe and effective.
Estriol Cream
Although estriol isn't FDA-approved for prescription use, you can still buy estriol creams legally over the counter. Estriol is a relatively weak form of estrogen, and according to an article on the Women's Health website, it has fewer side effects than other estrogen treatments. When applied vaginally, estriol cream can reduce vaginal dryness. Women's Health reports that a study also indicated that estriol cream may significantly improve the appearance of facial skin, reducing the size of pores and fine wrinkles. It's also been used in Europe to treat menopausal symptoms.
Soy Cream
Soybeans contain phytoestrogens, a weak form of plant-based estrogen. While dietary soy in the form of food or supplements may be helpful in reducing menopausal symptoms, there is not enough evidence yet to prove that they are effective when applied as a cream or gel. However, soy estrogen cream is widely available over the counter. It is often combined with wild yam, which contains natural progesterone and is thought to complement the estrogen.


In a study appearing in the April 26 issue of
JAMA, Elizabeth A. Rafferty, M.D., formerly of Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, and colleagues evaluated the screening performance of digital mammography combined with tomosynthesis (a type of imaging) compared with digital mammography alone for women with varying levels of breast density. Breast density is associated with reduced mammographic sensitivity and specificity, and increased tumor size and worsened prognosis are associated with increased breast density. Currently, 24 states have laws mandating that women be notified of the implications of breast density, thereby encouraging discussions between patients and physicians regarding the need for supplemental screening. However, which, if any, additional testing should be recommended for women with dense breasts is not known.
This study included data from screening performance metrics from 13 U.S. institutions, which were reported for 12 months using digital mammography alone and from the date of introduction of tomosynthesis. Subgroups included the 4 breast density categories used for clinical reporting. Overall and invasive cancer detection rates and recall rate with and without tomosynthesis were analyzed in patients with both nondense and dense breasts.
Of 452,320 examinations, 278,906 were digital mammography alone and 173,414 digital mammography plus tomosynthesis; 2,157 cancers were diagnosed. The researchers found that the addition of tomosynthesis to digital mammography for screening was associated with an increase in cancer detection rate and a reduction in recall rate for women with both dense and nondense breast tissue. “These combined gains were largest for women with heterogeneously dense breasts, potentially addressing limitations in cancer detection seen with digital mammography alone in this group, but were not significant in women with extremely dense breasts.”
The authors note that for women classified as having dense breast tissue, most have heterogeneously dense breasts, mandating caution in drawing conclusions regarding the performance of tomosynthesis for the small proportion of women with extremely dense breasts.


This paper presents the first interhemispheric radar observations interpreted as the ionospheric response to tail reconnection during IMF-northward non-substorm intervals. SuperDARN measurements of plasma convection in the nightside ionospheres of both hemispheres, taken on 21–22 February and 26–27 April 2000, show bursts of flow in the midnight sector which are understood to be characteristic of such phenomena. Upstream interplanetary magnetic field data confirm that the field orientation at the dayside magnetopause was northwards, but with a significant IMF By component (negative during the first interval, positive during the second), for many hours prior to the bursts being observed. During the By-negative interval the bursts were directed westwards in the Northern Hemisphere and eastwards in the Southern Hemisphere; during the By-positive interval their directions were reversed. These two asymmetries between the different orientations of IMF By and between the two hemispheres are key to our understanding of the magnetospheric phenomenon responsible for generating the bursts. They provide further evidence in support of the idea that the bursts are a result of reconnection in an asymmetric tail under the prolonged influence of IMF By. Concurrent data from ground magnetometers and geosynchronous satellites confirm that the bursts have no associated substorm characteristics, consistent with previous studies.


Officials at the Department of Conservation ask that hunters be aware of firearms safety. Always positively identify your target. Don’t shoot at color, shape, sound and movement.
Treat every firearms as if it was loaded and point firearms in a safe direction. Avoid alcohol or drugs when handling firearms. When hunting with a companion, if visual contact with that person is lost do not resume hunting until visual contact has been made and confirmed. Wearing hunter orange is the law.
DNR officials have responded to several tree stand accidents this season. Falls from tree stands can be caused by a variety of factors, including a weakness in the stand’s structure and incorrect installation. Officials recommend that hunters wear a climbing belt. Study manufacturer’s recommendations before using any equipment. Never use a rope to replace a safety belt.
Check permanent tree stands every year before hunting from them, and replace any worn or weak lumber.
Carry a whistle to call for help and carry a first aid kit, flashlight and cellular telephone in a fanny pack.


"Soft contained play equipment" is a play structure made of one or more components, on which an individual enters a fully enclosed play environment that uses pliable materials such as plastic, soft padding, and fabric.
Soft contained play structures must provide at least one entry point on an accessible route when three or fewer entry points are provided. If four or more entry points are provided, at least two entry points must be located on an accessible route.
Soft contained play environments typically have limited entrance and exit locations, with play components integrated into the system design. Transfer systems (left) or platform lifts can serve as a part of an accessible route connecting entry points on soft-contained play structures.


Abstract
The Maternal and Newborn Health Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF) is a five year national programme which aims to support research and advocacy initiatives to influence pro-poor policy and practice reform related to MNH in Pakistan. This document highlights the current MNH policy context in Pakistan to help RAF’s grantees and potential grantees in understanding the background and plan effectively to influence change. It has sections on:
An overview of maternal and newborn health in Pakistan National programmes and programmes relevant to MNH National policies and acts relevant to MNH Implications of the 18th constitutional amendment Citation
Golding, S.; Hall, S.; Shah, F. Maternal and Newborn Health. The Policy Context in Pakistan. Maternal and Newborn Health Programme Research and Advocacy Fund (RAF), Pakistan (2011) 11 pp.


This video was produced by the USDA Forest Service in May 2001. The video explains how to:
1. DETECT the signs of ALB attack on trees
2. IDENTIFY the adult ALB by its key characteristics
3. REPORT the suspect finds
The target audience for this video includes people who spend time in the crowns of urban trees ... especially workers in the tree-care industry, utility line workers, arborists, urban foresters, landscapers, nursery workers, and master gardeners.
We need your assistance in finding ALB infestations. This non-native invasive species has entered the United States in the wood of crates and pallets. Infested trees have been detected in the metropolitan areas of New York and Chicago. Infestations may have started in other locations that received infested wood packing materials from China. Our goal is to eradicate all ALB infestations. Early detection of an infestation is crucial to successfully eradicate this beetle.


Annuities are financial instruments sold by life insurance companies that are typically used for long-term investment goals like retirement. With annuities, you make regular payments to the insurance company, which then invests it so it accrues interest. If you're the gambling type, you can put your money in a variable annuity, which is somewhat akin to investing in the stock or bond markets.
Identification
Annuities can either be fixed or variable. With a fixed annuity, your money earns a guaranteed interest rate for the life of the annuity. In contrast, the amount of interest you earn with a variable annuity can fluctuate. Your money is invested in financial instruments like stocks and bonds. This means that the value of your account can rise or fall rather quickly, so variable annuities may not be a good idea if you're not fond of roller coaster rides.
Process
During the accumulation phase, which is the time when you begin to make contributions until you begin to withdraw the money (like when you turn 65) you have the ability to allocate how your funds are distributed. Typically, you can move your money between mutual funds consisting of stocks and bonds or a fixed-rate account. Your money will grow on a tax-deferred basis, meaning you won't pay any taxes on interest earned until you begin to make withdrawals.
Getting Your Money
At the end of the accumulation period, your account "annuitizes," meaning you begin to receive payments. You can choose to receive your money in a lump sum or in payments at regular intervals. If you choose the latter option, you can also determine the time frame for receiving them, keeping in mind that the shorter the payment period you choose, the larger your payments will be. If you die before the end of your payment period, a designated beneficiary can continue to receive payments.
The Downside
Variable annuities are not all blue skies and candy canes. In addition to having to live with the fluctuating rates, variable funds also come with a litany of fees. The investment professional who sold you the fund will likely receive a nice commission. If you decide you can't wait until the minimum withdrawal age of 59 1/2, you'll also be hit with substantial surrender fees as well as a big tax hit. A portion of your investment amounts will also go to things like fund expenses and insurance fees.
References Photo Credits stock market analysis screenshot image by .shock from Fotolia.com


Le 19 mai 2016, 04:57 dans Humeurs • 0
Your footwear is critical because worn or unsupportive footwear will result in increased wear and tear on your joints. Replace your running shoes at least every six months,
more often if you are a distance runner or run daily, and look for shoes specifically designed for running. nike running trainers
Acute Injuries
Because running requires a significant physical effort, acute injuries are common both with using a treadmill and with running outdoors. Using the automatic turn-off clip can help reduce your risk and allow you stop the treadmill quickly in the event of an injury. And the treadmill offers a safer alternative to running in less than optimal conditions,
such as when there is ice or snow on the ground. cheap nike roshe run
Chronic Use Injuries
Chronic use or misuse injuries are common for those who run. Because the treadmill only moves in one plane, front to back, it restricts your joints to similarly move in a limited plane, which can lead to strain on your knees. You may benefit from using an elliptical instead if you have knee pain. However, running outdoors can cause other injuries because of the slight slant of the road. Misuse injuries, acquired by running or walking with improper form, can occur with any form of running or walking, and focusing on your posture is vital. Consult with a physical therapist or sports training specialist to identify any misuse posture and form issues you may have to reduce your risk of injury.
Effect of Weight Loss and Improved Health
If you have joint pain or muscle fatigue, running or walking on any surface can have benefits because you may lose weight over time by exercising aerobically. This weight loss can alleviate pressure on your joints, and your increased muscle strength and endurance can also help protect your joints. If your climate is not conducive to regular outdoor running, having a treadmill to use on these days will aid you in sticking to a regular exercise routine,
which will have the optimal long-term effects. However, because you may find it more pleasant to exercise outdoors and feel an increased sense of accomplishment as you finish an outdoor lap, you may be more inclined to continue exercising if you choose to exercise outdoors. nike cortez uk


MortgageA mortgage is the most common home loan arrangement and the one that most people are familiar with. With a mortgage two parties are involved, the homeowner and the bank, and a loan is made directly from the bank to the individual with the home as collateral for the loan.
If payments aren't made the bank can then initiate a foreclosure process, whereby they use the legal system to gain title over the home themselves. The bank would then typically re-sell the home to recover the value of the loan they initially made to the individual. Foreclosure homes are often sold via auction, as the bank want to recover their funds as soon as possible, and this can result in the home being sold at a significant discount.
The key issue with foreclosures is that they can be very time consuming processes, often taking months or even a year to clear the legal system and finally see a resolution. Many states also have mechanisms where the homeowner can get the home back well into the foreclosure process (and even after it's finished) by catching up on their payments. With the time and costs involved banks have been moving towards deed of trust arrangements to address this.
Deed of TrustIn a deed of trust loan arrangement a third party becomes involved, the trustee, who actually holds ownership of the home until the loan is fully repaid. The homeowner is still responsible for making payments to the bank and once they have fully repaid the loan the trustee holding the home in escrow will give it to the individual.
If payments aren't made the bank can then reclaim the home directly from the trustee and avoid the lengthy process of a judicial foreclosure against the individual, as the individual never actually held title to the home. Banks prefer deed of trust arrangements as they can get title to the property and re-sell it far more quickly than if a mortgage was in place, ultimately reducing the administrative and time burden of getting the home sold and cash in their hands.


Vapor Intrusion Liability and Litigation Under Evolving Standards
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
This CLE webinar will prepare counsel in real estate transactions for the legal risks of vapor intrusion by examining the key issues, recent legal developments, and approaches by federal and key state regulators. The panel will offer best practices for evaluating and addressing VI in real estate transactions.
Federal and state regulators are focusing on vapor intrusion (VI) contamination in property, but the EPA and states lack a consistent approach to assessing VI risk or management. Even contaminated, previously closed sites are not exempt from renewed scrutiny.
The EPA Inspector General's Dec. 2009 report notes that the EPA's failure to update and finalize its 2002 draft guidance has created uncertainty for property owners. The EPA has now committed to a timetable to address four key recommendations.
ASTM Int'l also determined that its 2008 screening standard for assessing VI in real estate transactions was a misstep and plans to fundamentally change its approach and replace standard E 2600-8 this year. Counsel to property owners must stay ahead of these evolving standards to manage the risks.
Listen as our authoritative panel of environmental attorneys discusses lessons learned thus far on vapor intrusion issues, examines new legal developments, trends and approaches by regulators (federal and certain key states), reviews recent developments in the areas of liability and litigation, and addresses how VI can be evaluated and addressed in transactions, including discussion of the ASTM developments.
Faculty: Christopher M. Roe, Partner, Fox Rothschild Edward L. Strohbehn Jr., Partner, Bingham McCutchen LLP Matthew Traister, Senior Managing Engineer, O'Brien & Gere


Complete Description:Abstract: The main factors underlying the rise in mortgage defaults appear to be declines in house prices and deteriorated underwriting standards, in particular an increase in loan-to-value ratios and in the share of mortgages with little or no documentation of income. Contrary to popular perception, the growth in unconventional mortgages products, such as those with prepayment penalties, interest-only periods, and teaser interest rates, does not appear to be a significant factor in defaults through mid-2008 because borrowers who had problems with these products could refinance into different mortgages. However, as markets realized the extent of the poor underwriting, underwriting standards tightened and borrowers began to face difficulties refinancing; this dynamic suggests that these unconventional products could pose problems going forward.


For the second straight year, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan gave away 18 million Facebook shares — a gift worth more than $970 million — to the Silicon Valley Community Foundation. The donation was the largest charitable gift on public record in 2013, according to the
Chronicle of Philanthropy, and marked the first time that donors under the age of 30 were credited with the year's largest donation.
I am especially proud that this gift went to a community foundation. Clearly this couple understands the impact a gift through a community foundation can make.
We at the North Carolina Community Foundation were pleased to be the stewards of many significant gifts in December, none of course anywhere near $970 million, but nevertheless significant to us and significant to the donor.
So what is the definition of a significant gift? How do you define what is a significant gift for you? Is it a percentage, an amount or some other calculation? The definition of significant says something “large enough to be noticed or have an effect; or very important; or having a special or hidden meaning.”
I understand what a significant gift for my family is: it is a gift that we can feel, that has impact on us, that involves giving up something else. It is not a gift that can be made without thinking; rather we discuss and consider carefully a significant gift.
We are grateful for the many folks who trust their significant gifts to the North Carolina Community Foundation.
I have no idea if $970 million is a significant gift for Mark and Priscilla. I would hope so for several reasons, as that amount is too large to consider it otherwise! I challenge you to think about what a significant gift means for you -- and to consider how you plan to make this gift in 2014.


Posted on 14 Dec 2012 by Neilson
Fitch Ratings has maintained its stable outlook for both the commercial and personal lines sectors of the U.S. property/casualty insurance industry. Insurers have withstood less favorable underwriting and economic conditions in the past several years, which has promoted weaker profitability. However, the market's capital position remains strong, and most insurers in Fitch's rated universe have sufficient capital to meet significant future adversity.
Industry surplus levels remain at historically high levels, and capital adequacy measures, which are based on traditional operating leverage or on a risk-adjusted basis under Fitch's Prism capital model remain very strong. Factors that contribute to capital strength include an investment emphasis on high-quality and liquid bonds, adequate loss reserve levels, and moderate reinsurance and other credit exposures.
Property/casualty insurers are benefiting from premium rate increases in nearly all major commercial and personal product lines following several years of inadequate pricing and stern market competition. This trend is likely to continue at least through late 2013. Fitch still views the market pricing environment as 'hardening' as returns on capital remain below the cost of capital and historical norms.
The industry generated significantly improved underwriting results and earnings in the first nine months of 2012 relative to the prior year. However, record fourth-quarter catastrophe losses from Superstorm Sandy will significantly dampen results.
Based on individual companies' reported loss estimates related to Sandy, a $20 billion or slightly lower insured loss total appears likely. Due to the size and nature of Sandy, a larger proportion of losses were incurred from commercial lines versus personal lines. While Sandy will represent one of the five largest insured natural catastrophe loss events in history, Fitch does not anticipate significant rating changes tied to this event.
Fitch projects a 103.4% industry combined ratio for 2012 which is still 5.0 points better than the prior year. Statutory earnings are projected at nearly 40% higher than 2011 and the statutory return on surplus is projected at 4.9%.
Underwriting results and net profits are expected to improve in 2013 despite continued challenges from declining investment yields. Fitch is projecting a very modest underwriting profit in 2013, assuming a return to historical average insured catastrophe losses. This result would represent only the fourth time in the last 35 years that the industry has reported an underwriting profit.
The industry return on surplus is forecasted to improve to 6.6% in 2013. The property/casualty business' inherent volatility and continue operating and competitive challenges may make it difficult to further boost returns in 2014 and beyond.


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COLOSSIANS 1:3-14
July 4th is the holiday that honors the founding of the United States. The occasion is celebrated in many ways: firework displays with dazzling colors, festive parades showcasing high school bands and armed forces units, and backyard barbecues with family and friends. It is a day filled with activity.
This 4th of July finds America in need of rescue. Our country's slide down the slippery slope of godless living has accelerated. It started years ago when we as a nation departed from the standard of God's Word; at that time, a belief system was established that separated our land from the Lord and His ways. As a nation, we are now reaping a bitter harvest from those decisions in every level of business and government, in our communities, and in our families as well.
However, there is still hope. While we have seen our country's values change dramatically, our God has not changed. He continues to have the power to turn the nation back to Him. Scripture makes it clear that when Christ-followers obey the command to pray (Colossians 4:2), God is willing to act in response to those prayers. Since our national future is in our leaders' hands and they, in turn, are in the Lord's hands (Romans 13:1), our prayers for them can have a powerful impact.
This July 4th, won't you add in a time of prayer for our nation? Establish a new tradition, one of appealing to God on behalf of our government's leaders. Then continue to pray until God turns our country toward trusting in Christ alone.


Gymnastics isn’t exactly the most popular sport. For most of us, it only comes around every four years, when we tune in to watch the summer Olympics. However, for professional gymnasts, it’s an all-consuming lifestyle. When they wake up, what they eat and how much time they spend practicing is all determined by their training regimen. There is little time or energy left for socializing, or even just relaxing on the couch. It’s an intense schedule, but we can’t forget – behind every successful gymnast is a great coach.
Coaches, like the gymnasts they train, also lead a hectic lifestyle. Their workday is not 9 to 5, but consists of long hours of training and traveling to events, all while keeping an upbeat and positive attitude. It takes drive and passion, two things the coach in this video has in spades. Clearly, he’s someone who truly loves their job.


The plant cell wall is a dynamic structure that changes in response to developmental and environmental cues through poorly understood signaling pathways. We identified two Leu-rich repeat receptor-like kinases in Arabidopsis thaliana that play a role in regulating cell wall function. Mutations in these FEI1 and FEI2 genes (named for the Chinese word for fat) disrupt anisotropic expansion and the synthesis of cell wall polymers and act additively with inhibitors or mutations disrupting cellulose biosynthesis. While FEI1 is an active protein kinase, a kinase-inactive version of FEI1 was able to fully complement the fei1 fei2 mutant. The expansion defect in fei1 fei2 roots was suppressed by inhibition of 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) synthase, an enzyme that converts Ado-Met to ACC in ethylene biosynthesis, but not by disruption of the ethylene response pathway. Furthermore, the FEI proteins interact directly with ACC synthase. These results suggest that the FEI proteins define a novel signaling pathway that regulates cell wall function, likely via an ACC-mediated signal.


Assesses the reasons why individuals take risks when working at height and suggests that some people have a higher sensation-seeking tendency and, hence, risk taking propensity. Based on detailed interviews with a mixture of those who had suffered injury as a result from falling from height; those who work at height but have not suffered a fall and those who supervise the work. The research identifies a range of interventions aimed at reducing risk taking behaviour and the obstacles to implementing these techniques.
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