Investigation of the Impact of Turboprop Propulsion on Fuel Efficiency and Economic Feasibility Date2014-10-02 Author
Antcliff, Kevin Richard
MetadataShow full item record Abstract
This study explored a 130-passenger advanced turboprop commercial airliner with the purposes of economic feasibility and energy efficiency. A baseline vehicle and a derivative vehicle were researched and analyzed in detail. Based on the findings of this analysis, an advanced future airliner was designed. For the advanced airliner, advanced technologies were suggested and projections of these technology benefits were implemented. Detailed performance analysis was conducted for all three aircraft. The energy efficiency of each vehicle was compared to current and future N+3 aircraft. Lastly, cost analysis was performed to observe the impact of these energy savings. The three existing and future concepts evaluated were: 1) Bombardier 80- passenger Q400 baseline, 2) An expanded 130-passenger Bombardier Q400 termed the Q400XL, and 3) an N+3 advanced 130-passenger turboprop airliner termed the N+3 Airliner. The N+3 Airliner was compared to the SUGAR High, a Boeing/NASA N+3 aircraft, in both fuel efficiency and economic feasibility. The N+3 Airliner was 22 percent more energy efficient. At current oil prices, the N+3 Airliner had nearly identical operating cost. However, at two times current oil prices, the N+3 Airliner has a slight advantage economically. Therefore, as long as the price of oil is above 2011 oil prices, $3.03 per barrel, the N+3 Airliner will be an economically viable option.
Collections Doctoral Dissertations [11451]


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A colony of bees may establish a functional hive with comb in about a month, depending on factors such as species, colony size and availability of food. However a hive is never truly finished, and bees continue to expand the hive and its food stores until winter.
An average bee colony can contain up to 50,000 individual bees at the height of the season. In a new hive's second year, or sooner if the hive is overcrowded, a colony of bees usually swarms. During swarming, over half of the worker bees, along with the existing queen, leave their hive to establish a new, separate colony in a different location.Learn more about Biology


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Used pop-up truck campers are typically available for purchase from local dealers listed on recreational vehicle websites such as Camping World, RV Trader and Hallmark Campers. These websites provide a means for used equipment dealers from around the United States to advertise available units.
Pop-up truck campers are units that are set into the bed of a pickup truck. The defining characteristic of these units is that the ceiling can be jacked up, typically with a manual cranking system. This pop-up feature provides more headroom inside the camper. Additionally, truck campers often feature post jacks that support the weight of the camper when parked and in use to stabilize the unit independently from the vehicle suspension system. These jacks are mechanically operated or power-assisted on newer and high-end models.
Used pop-up truck campers generally retail for $2,500 to $28,000 as of 2015, depending on year and model as well as condition of a particular unit. More expensive models have luxury features such as an indoor toilet and shower connected to a water tank, a built-in counter and sink system and multiple bunks. High-end models also typically feature integrated power systems that power conveniences such as a refrigerator, stereo system and propane stove system.Learn more about Vehicles


NeuroEE Project ID: 660219 Finanziato nell'ambito di: Delineation of a brain circuit regulating energy expenditure to impact body weight Dal2016-02-01 al2018-01-31, progetto in corso Dettagli del progetto Costo totale:EUR 195 454,80 Contributo UE:EUR 195 454,80 Coordinato in:United Kingdom Invito a presentare proposte:H2020-MSCA-IF-2014See other projects for this call Meccanismo di finanziamento:MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EF Obiettivo
Obesity is now a global epidemic with a significant and deleterious impact on human health. My career aim is to clarify the neural underpinnings of energy expenditure (EE) given that this makes a significant contribution to body weight. During my early career, I discovered a circuit linking the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) to brown adipose tissue (BAT) and inducing thermogenic beige (browning) white adipose tissue (WAT), regulating EE. Moreover, I found that the VMH-BAT axis is utilized by estrogen (Cell Metabolism, 2014) and nicotine (Diabetes, 2012) to increase EE and decrease body weight. My preliminary data indicate that a critical node between the VMH and BAT is the raphe pallidus (RPa), a brain region known to drive sympathetic tone to BAT. My immediate career aim is to clarify the neurochemical communicator receiving the VMH-EE related input and transmitting to BAT and browning. Given that the RPa is rich in the neurotransmitter 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) which plays a role in thermoregulation, I hypothesize that 5-HT is a crucial component of my circuit. I propose to perform a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship (MSC) under Prof Lora Heisler’s supervision, arguably the global leader in 5-HT obesity research. Her laboratory is in the Rowett Institute of Nutrition and Health, University of Aberdeen, an Institute with more than a century of focused state-of-the-art obesity and nutrition research. This will supply an optimal environment for a MSC providing me with the opportunity to broaden my research interests, and allowing me to construct an international network of obesity researchers. A MSC will also provide the opportunity for me to be trained in transferable next generation engineered genetic technology that will allow me to rigorously and definitively test my current research hypothesis and to provide state-of-the-art expertise that will form a platform for my future career.
5-HT, brown adipose tissue, browning, raphe pallidus, ventromedial hypothalamus Coordinatore Contributo UE: EUR 195 454,80
KING'S COLLEGE REGENT WALK
AB24 3FX ABERDEEN
United Kingdom
Numero di registrazione: 195912 / Ultimo aggiornamento: 2016-03-21


It is recommended to keep the daily simvastatin dose to 20 mg or less to avoid this side effect of the drug combination. Statins such as atorvastatin (Lipitor®), lovastatin (Mevacor®) and simvastatin (Zocor®)are metabolised via a cytochrome P450 3A-dependent pathway while fluvastatin (Lescol®), pravastatin (Pravachol®)and rosuvastatin (Crestor®) are metabolised via cytochrome P450 3A-independent pathways. As simvastatin and amiodarone are metabolised by the same isoenzyme, in the present case, the concomitant use of these drugs may have resulted in competition, resulting in excess of free plasma statin and thereby causing myotoxicity. However, there are limited publications on this interaction and the exact mechanism has not been established.
-Wes
h/t:
WSJ.


Comparing two trajectories from molecular simulations conducted under different conditions is not a trivial task. In this study, we apply a method called LDA-ITER to compare two molecular simulation results by finding the appropriate projection vectors. Because LDA-ITER attempts to determine a projection such that the projections of the two trajectories do not overlap, the comparison does not suffer from a strong anisotropy, which is an issue in protein dynamics. LDA-ITER is applied to two test cases: the T4 lysozyme protein simulation with or without a point mutation and the allosteric protein PDZ2 domain of hPTP1E with or without a ligand. The projection determined by the method agrees with the experimental data and previous simulations. The proposed procedure, which complements existing methods, is a versatile analytical method that is specialized to find the difference between two trajectories.


EMMPRIN (CD147) is a novel receptor for platelet GPVI and mediates platelet rolling via GPVI-EMMPRIN interaction.
The Extracellular Matrix Metalloproteinase Inducer (EMMPRIN, CD147, basigin) is an immunoglobulin-like receptor expressed in various cell types. During cellular interactions homotypic EMMPRIN-EMMPRIN interactions are known to induce the synthesis of matrix metalloproteinases. Recently, we have identified EMMPRIN as a novel receptor on platelets. To our knowledge EMMPRIN has not been shown to serve as adhesion receptor, yet. Here we characterise platelet glycoprotein VI (GPVI) as a novel adhesion receptor for EMMPRIN. Human platelets were prestimulated with ADP and perfused over immobilised recombinant EMMPRIN-Fc or Fc-fragments under arterial shear conditions. ADP-stimulated platelets showed significantly enhanced rolling (but not enhanced firm adhesion) on immobilised EMMPRIN-Fc compared to Fc. Pretreatment of platelets with blocking mAbs anti-EMMPRIN or anti-GPVI leads to a significant reduction of rolling platelets on immobilised EMMPRIN-Fc, whereas pretreatment with blocking mAbs anti-p-selectin, anti-alpha4-integrin or anti-GPIIb/IIIa complex (20 microg/ml each) had no effect. Consistently, chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells stably transfected with GPVI showed enhanced rolling (but not adhesion) on immobilised EMMPRIN-Fc in comparison to non-transfected CHO cells. Similarly, CHO cells stably transfected with EMMPRIN showed enhanced rolling on immobilised GPVI-Fc (or EMMPRIN-Fc) compared to non transfected CHO-cells. Finally, specific binding of EMMPRIN to GPVI was demonstrated by a modified ELISA and surface plasmon resonance technology with a dissociation constant of 88 nM. Platelet GPVI is a novel receptor for EMMPRIN and can mediate platelet rolling via GPVI-EMMPRIN interaction.DOI:


CENOVIS VITAMIN D 1000IU TABLETS
Due to a lack of sun exposure many Australians have less than optimal Vitamin D levels. Vitamin D is essential for calcium absorption, which is important, as a diet deficient in calcium can lead to osteoporosis in later life. Cenovis® Vitamin D3 helps to maintain normal calcium metabolism, for bone growth and to assist peak bone mass. Adequate Vitamin D nutrition is also needed to help maintain muscle strength as well as maintaining healthy nervous and immune systems. In a once daily formula, Cenovis® Vitamin D3 provides the natural form of Vitamin D in a small easy-to-swallow mini tablet.


Withthe rapid accumulation of whole genome sequencesfor a wide diversity of taxa, especially microbialtaxa, phylogenetic reconstruction based on changesin gene order and gene content is showing promise,particularly for resolving deep (i.e., ancient) branchsplits. However, reconstruction from gene-order datais even more computationally expensive than reconstructionfrom sequence data, particularly in groups with largenumbers of genes and highly-rearranged genomes. Wehave developed a software suite, GRAPPA, that extendsthe breakpoint analysis (BPAnalysis) method of Sankoffand Blanchette while running much faster: in a recentanalysis of chloroplast genome data for species ofCampanulaceae on a 512-processor Linux superclusterwith Myrinet, we achieved a one-million-fold speedupover BPAnalysis. GRAPPA can use either breakpointor inversion distance (computed exactly) for itscomputation and runs on single-processor machinesas well as parallel and high-performance computers.


Your editorial (March 20, "The cost of news") revealed that newsroom jobs at newspapers are down 28 percent nationwide since 2001. This should worry every citizen, whether or not they read and pay attention to the news.
The
Freeman's parent company recently has been sold due to bankruptcy. Our region can only hope your staff and their valuable service to the community are maintained.
Citizens, imagine the dangers of not having quality newspapers and their reporters. How would we learn about our local governments, schools, businesses, events or threats to our safety? We need a regional perspective.
Without reporting, how would there be any accountability to guard against abuse and corruption? What opportunities would be missed? A community without reporters to keep it informed will not long function or survive.
It's been too easy to take newspapers for granted, too easy to let someone else support the press. If local newspaper reporters are gone, the Internet will not have local sources. We will be blinded with ignorance and deaf to dangers.
I urge citizens to support their newspaper by maintaining subscriptions, even if they are not able to read every issue thoroughly or agree with every editorial. Freedom of the press is not free; it requires the people to maintain the press. A subscription is an act of citizenship.


External or internal shocks may lead to the collapse of a system consisting of many agents. If the shock hits only one agent initially and causes it to fail, this can induce a cascade of failures among neighoring agents. Several critical constellations determine whether this cascade remains finite or reaches the size of the system, i.e. leads to systemic risk. We investigate the critical parameters for such cascades in a simple model, where agents are characterized by an individual threshold
How big is too big? Critical Shocks for Systemic Failure Cascades
Claudio J. Tessone, Antonios Garas, Beniamino Guerra, Frank Schweitzer
Via Complexity Digest


It is generally thought that most visual abilities develop in the first years of life, and if they do not get a chance to develop (usually through eye problems), they cannot be gained later.
For example, people who have had severe congenital cateracts from birth that prevent light from entering the eye, often have trouble making sense of objects if this condition is cured later in life, because the brain has not developed the necessary functions to make sense of objects.
Sacks and Siegel’s letter follows a previous report in
Nature that reported on the development of useful vision after 30 years of blindness.
Both of these reports suggest that the brain is more ‘plastic’ (able to reorganise) than was previously thought. This is contrast to ten years ago, when it was largely accepted that the brain developed few new functions after early adulthood.
Link to letter ‘Seeing is believing as brain reveals its adaptability’.


Minimize risk and maximize profits with convertible arbitrage
Convertible arbitrage involves purchasing a portfolio ofconvertible securities-generally convertible bonds-and hedging aportion of the equity risk by selling short the underlying commonstock. This increasingly popular strategy, which is especiallyuseful during times of market volatility, allows individuals toincrease their returns while decreasing their risks. ConvertibleArbitrage offers a thorough explanation of this unique investmentstrategy. Filled with in-depth insights from an expert in thefield, this comprehensive guide explores a wide range ofconvertible topics. Readers will be introduced to a variety ofmodels for convertible analysis, "the Greeks," as well as the fullrange of hedges, including titled and leveraged hedges, as well asswaps, nontraditional hedges, and option hedging. They will alsogain a firm understanding of alternative convertible structures,the use of foreign convertibles in hedging, risk management at theportfolio level, and trading and hedging risks. ConvertibleArbitrage eliminates any confusion by clearly differentiatingconvertible arbitrage strategy from other hedging techniques suchas long-short equity, merger and acquisition arbitrage, andfixed-income arbitrage. Nick Calamos (Naperville, IL) oversees research and portfoliomanagement for Calamos Asset Management, Inc. Since 1983 hisexperience has centered on convertible securities investment. Hereceived his undergraduate degree in economics from SouthernIllinois University and an MS in finance from Northern IllinoisUniversity.


Intense sympathetic stimulation releases neuropeptide Y but fails to evoke sustained coronary vasoconstriction in dogs. Abstract
We determined whether a 3-minute period of intense cardiac sympathetic stimulation, which is known to release neuropeptide Y (NPY), elicits a sustained poststimulatory coronary vasoconstriction in anesthetized dogs that had received propranolol. We also periodically measured the cardiac chronotropic responses to test vagal stimulations; these responses served as an index of the neuronal release of NPY. In a group of 11 animals, the coronary vascular resistance increased by 14 +/- 4% during the sympathetic stimulation. After cessation of stimulation, however, coronary vascular resistance returned rapidly to its control value. The cardiac responses to the test vagal stimuli were attenuated by approximately 40% after cessation of sympathetic stimulation, and this inhibitory effect persisted for approximately 60 minutes. In a second group of eight dogs, we determined whether the intense sympathetic stimulation potentiates the coronary vascular responses to exogenous norepinephrine (NE). Before sympathetic stimulation, standard intracoronary infusions of NE increased coronary vascular resistance by 14 +/- 2%. Intense antecedent sympathetic stimulation did not alter the coronary vascular responses to subsequent NE infusions. However, the chronotropic responses to test vagal stimuli were initially attenuated by approximately 30%, and this inhibitory effect persisted for approximately 1 hour. In a third group of four dogs, we found that exogenous NPY significantly potentiated the coronary vasoconstriction evoked by NE infusions. The coronary vascular responses to combined infusions of NE and NPY were consistently greater (by approximately 13%) than the sum of the responses to these substances when they were infused separately. We conclude that, even though sufficient NPY appears to be released from the sympathetic nerve endings to inhibit vagal neurotransmission, the quantity of NPY released into the coronary blood vessels under the conditions of our experiments appears to be insufficient either to elicit a sustained coronary vasoconstriction or to potentiate the vasoconstrictor effects of intracoronary NE infusions.
Copyright © 1993 by American Heart Association


Cosmic Serpent explored commonalities between western and native science, taking into account that native cultures have, over millennia, developed ways of knowing that are highly adapted, interconnected, and enduring. Each knowledge system informed the practice of science and its role in society in a fundamental way, and the commonalities provided a framework for developing mutually inclusive learning experiences in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics). The project recognized previous work that attempted to integrate both systems. Our innovative and collaborative approach explored commonalities between the two systems in the context of informal science education.


I love to travel and take exciting vacations. I love seeing new places, experiencing new things, and tasting new cuisine. The problem? I hate leaving my horses behind…especially the aging ones. But my job involves traveling to conventions across the country, so I've gotten used to leaving Dorado in capable hands while I'm away. This is good news, since I'll be taking an exciting trip next week—my honeymoon!
The first trip I had to take while leaving Dorado in the hands of his caretakers at his boarding barn was horrible…I worried about him all day, every day. And while I still hate leaving him behind, each subsequent trip has been easier because I keep coming back to a happy and healthy horse—with the exception of the trip I took when he was on stall rest last year; that was
not a fun trip. Anyway, I now have a routine down pat that I use to prepare to leave him in someone else's care. Here are some steps that I—and my parents—take when we're preparing to leave our senior horses in someone else's care, with some extra tips from The Horse regular contributor Dr. Stacey Oke (DVM, MSc).
I always ensure my horse's "guardian" has access to all of my horse's emergency contacts—such as the veterinarian, farrier, and other professionals—by leaving their information on a stall card like this one.
Photo: The Horse
First, even though Dorado resides at a boarding barn so he has numerous people checking on him throughout the day, I always leave an emergency contact in charge before I leave. For this trip, I've selected my good friend Kristen, who boards her horse across the aisle from Dorado and is well-versed in caring for older horses—in addition to her young off-the-track-Thoroughbred at the barn, she has two horses (one senior) at home whom she cares for daily.
When choosing a caretaker or emergency contact, Dr. Oke offered some solid advice: "A willing friend who won't charge for their time but who isn't very savvy when it comes to the day-to-day management of a horse, especially senior horses, might not be the best bet. Find a nice way to say thanks, but no thanks, and (consider hiring) a professional horse sitter."
Next, I always ensure my horse's "guardian" has access to all of my horse's emergency contacts, such as the veterinarian, farrier, and other professionals. My veterinarian's and farrier's phone numbers are permanently posted on Dorado's stall card whether or not I'm out of town or not. I also always ensure that my horse's caretaker has written permission to make veterinary decisions on my behalf if I can't be reached.
"Having it in writing that the caretaker is allowed to make decisions for the owner would be a good idea, and have a copy of the letter sent to the regular veterinarian so they know in advance would also expedite matters in an emergency situation," Dr. Oke suggested.
For example, my parents were driving back to Michigan from Kentucky after attending the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event in 2012 when they received a phone call from the horse sitter: a large piece of debris had struck our then 25-year-old Appaloosa mare in the head over night, and she had a large gash in her forehead. The veterinarian was on his way and would start treatment upon his arrival. Mom and Dad arrived home about six hours later to find Jessie all stitched up—and screaming for food.
For less serious wounds, it's always smart to ensure your horse's caretaker has access to your equine first-aid kit. I know Kristen is experienced in caring for wounds, but I'll still give her a quick rundown of where all my medical supplies live and will point out any concerns I might have about Dorado's health before I head out. This time, I know Dorado will be getting close to needing his shoes reset by the time we arrive home, so I'll ask her to just watch for loose shoes and to let me know if any develop so I can schedule an appointment with the farrier for as soon as we return.
Dorado's medication and supplements are easy: I prepare everything ahead of time and leave each in a small container, which is then mixed in his breakfast each morning.
Photo: Erica Larson
And my family and I always ensure our horses' caretakers are well-versed on which horses need supplements or medications on a daily basis, and that they are completely clear on how to administer them. For instance, Dorado's medication and supplements are easy: I prepare everything ahead of time and leave each in a small container, which is then mixed in his breakfast each morning.
Other supplements and medications aren't that simple: Brandy, our 24-year-old Miniature Horse, for example, needs pergolide and isoxsuprine each day, and she's not always willing to consume it all without a fight. And as Dr. Oke points out, pergolide shouldn't be exposed to sunlight or stored in very high temperatures, so we always make sure that the caretakers are clear on where to keep her pergolide between feedings (in our barn's medicine cabinet) and how to ensure she gets the full dose (basically, Brandy's a pig—if she doesn't eat all her food with the medicine mixed in on the first try, she just doesn't go outside until she does so. This doesn't happen frequently, but when it does she usually cleans her bowl within a half-hour).
Likewise, our senior Appaloosa gelding Taz required ophthalmic drops daily to help keep his uveitis in check and he needed to wear a fly mask every day during the last few years of his life. He was typically very agreeable to these drops being administered, but we were always sure our horse sitters were clear on how to administer the drops and made sure they understood the importance of him wearing his mask.
Some other good points to consider:
Dr. Oke suggests having your horse's full medical records on hand in the event of an emergency. Especially if the veterinarian treating your horse in a pinch isn't his regular vet, having a history of previous medical conditions can be hugely helpful.
Ensure your caretaker has access to your truck and trailer, or arrange for them to have access to a rig if you don't own one, in case of emergency.
Dr. Oke always suggests having a back-up caretaker in case your primary caretaker has an emergency, or needs a second opinion in the event of an emergency.
Also, if you're having someone exercise your horse while you're away, leave detailed instructions on what you'd like done, what they should and shouldn't do, and any health problems that might impact your horse's ability to exercise (such as arthritis or heaves).
It might seem daunting on paper, but in reality ensuring your senior horses are in good hands while you're away comes down to a few simple steps. I'll definitely be taking all the aforementioned steps before I leave on my honeymoon to ensure Dorado is in the best hands possible in my absence.
How do you prepare to leave your senior horses with a sitter?


Humanitarian Corridors vs. Humanitarian Truce: The Debate Continues
The debate over the best way to provide humanitarian assistance to civilians in Syria continues. On Tuesday, after Syrian forces bombed a bridge that civilians were using to flee to Lebanon, Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, stated that “[h]umanitarian corridors must immediately be opened.” In response, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reiterated its opposition to this option. ICRC spokesman, Saleh Dabbakeh, stated, “The ICRC does not believe that humanitarian corridors are the ideal solution to what is happening in Syria,” so “[w]hat we have called for is the humanitarian pause where there is fighting that will last for two hours and it will take place every day.” News reports indicate that the ICRC has been negotiating the humanitarian truce option with both government and opposition leaders for at least two weeks.
As noted in previous HPCR posts, some from the humanitarian sector worry that emergency relief initiatives will inexorably lead to political and military intervention while others, who support political and military intervention, argue that humanitarian aid is not enough in view of the systematic abuses to the civilian populations. (For a comprehensive examination of the Syrian security crackdown in Homs, see this Human Rights Watch report from last fall.) This debate continues amidst various initiatives geared toward addressing the crisis. On Wednesday, Valerie Amos, the United Nations Under Secretary General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, will begin a three-day visit to Syria. And Kofi Annan, the joint United Nations Arab League envoy to Syria, will visit Damascus starting Saturday. (Though, as the International Crisis Group notes, Annan’s mission represents “a chance to rescue fading prospects for a negotiated transition” but faces a “slim chance” of success.) Additionally, China’s former ambassador to Syria, Li Huaxin, now China’s special envoy to Syria, will visit Syria this week, and Russia will meet with various Arab League countries in Cairo to discuss the crisis on Saturday.


The flux density
S as a function of frequency and the angularsize of a radio source are the observables directly relevant to most cosmologicalproblems. They are related to the intrinsic source luminosity L and projected linearsize d as described below.
Consider an isotropic source at redshift
z with spectral luminosity L at frequency (measured in the sourceframe). Its spectral flux density S measured at the same frequency (in the observer's frame) will be
(15.1)
where
A is the area of the sphere centered on the source andcontaining the observer and - ln( S / S 0) / ln(/ 0) is the two-pointspectral index between the frequencies and 0 = / (1 + z) in theobserver's frame. (Note that the negative sign convention for is used throughoutthis chapter.) The (1 + z) 1+term expresses the special relativistic Doppler correction; the geometry and expansion dynamics of the universe appear only in A. An "effective distance" D(Longair 1978)can be defined by A 4 D 2. Sincethe area of the sphere centered on the observer and containing a source at redshift z is always A / (1 + z) 2, the relation between(projected) linear size d and measured angular size is
(15.2)
The "angular size" distance is defined by
D d / = D /(1 + z). The "bolometric luminosity distance" D bol defined by S bol = L bol /(4 D bol 2) is given by D bol = D(1 + z).
In Friedmann models (cosmological constant = 0) with zeropressure, density parameter =2
q 0, and current Hubble parameter H 0the effective distance is traditionally given(Mattig 1958) as
(15.3)
However, this formula is numerically unstable for small
z, thetransformation (based onTerrell 1977)
(15.4)
is better for numerical calculations. For particular values of,
D reducesto the simpler forms:
(15.5a)
To describe the distributions of sources in space and time, we also needthe comoving volume
dV of the spherical shell extending from z to z + dz. It is dV = 4 D 2 dr, where the comoving radial coordinateelement is dr = - (1 + z) c dt. In a Friedmannuniverse the expansion rate is
(15.6)
so
(15.7)


Abstract
The article explores whether people experiences a lower level of work–household conflict in a context that is characterized by extensive family policies (Sweden and to some extent Hungary and Czech Republic) aimed at facilitating participation in the labour market. This is done by studying perceived work–household conflict among women and men living in Sweden, the UK, the Netherlands, Hungary, and the Czech Republic. The analyses are based on the answers to a questionnaire distributed to nearly 6,000 randomly selected individuals within the framework of the European Union financed ‘Household, Work, and Flexibility’ (HWF) study. The results show that women in Sweden experience conflicts between work and household demands to a higher degree than any other category in all five countries. The differences between Swedish women and women living in the Netherlands and the UK are explained by variables indicating qualifications and workload in the main job, but the lower degree of work–household conflict among Czech and Hungarian women is still significant when controlling for household composition and working conditions. Data indicate that a possible explanation for this can be found in the interplay between men's and women's attitudes toward gender roles and the actual situation in terms of division of labour.


Citation
O’Driscoll, M.P. & Cooper, C.L. (2002). Job-related stress and burnout. In P. Warr (Ed.), Psychology at Work (pp. 203-228). London, England: Penguin Group.
Permanent Research Commons link: http://hdl.handle.net/10289/4431
Abstract
Occupational stress is a topic of substantial interest to organizational researchers and managers, as well as society at large. Stress arising from work conditions can be pervasive and significant in its impact on individuals, their families and organizations. There is also a widespread belief that management of job stress is a key factor for enhancing individual performance on the job, hence increasing organizational effectiveness. Sethi and Schuler 1984 outlined four major reasons why job stress and coping have become prominent issues: a concern for individual employee health and well-being; b the financial impact on organizations including days lost due to stress-related illness; c organizational effectiveness; and d legal obligations on employers to provide safe and healthy working environments.
Date2002 Type Publisher
Penguin Group
Rights
This chapter has been published in the book: Psychology at Work. ©Peter B. Warr and contributors, 1996, 2002. Used with permission.


Signers from 28 organizations advocating for global HIV responses called on United States Senators Robert Menendez and Robert Corker to schedule a confirmation hearing in the next week for Dr. Deborah Birx, nominated by the White House last month to serve as the next U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator and lead the President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief. The position to lead the U.S. flagship humanitarian program, and the largest effort internationally dedicated to combating a single disease, has stood vacant since early November, when Ambassador Eric Goosby stepped down from the post he had held for the previous five and half years. Before Dr. Goosby assumed the position in June 2009, the leadership spot had remained open for nine months, four of them following President Obama’s nomination of him.
Sen. Menendez, the Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and Sen. Corker, the committee’s ranking Republican introduced the 2013 PEPFAR Stewardship and Oversight Act last September. The Act, which renewed authorizaton for PEPFAR funding for the next five years, was voted unanimously into law by the House and the Senate in November. In their letter, sent today, signers express concern that efforts to implement the PEPFAR Act’s provisions, to accelerate HIV treatment access efforts, and coordinate the program’s work for greater efficiency will stall without a leader. Organizations signing the letter include American Jewish World Services, AVAC, Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, Housing Works, amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research, and the IDSA Center for Global Health Policy, which produces this blog.


Less than six months from now, “metro-mayors” will take office in some of England’s biggest cities, armed with the largest personal mandates in politics after Sadiq Khan’s. And with these mayors being given powers over housing, transport and infrastructure in their city region, it’s no surprise that candidates from Westminster and the business community have been drawn to the roles, including Andy Burnham, former shadow health secretary, and Andy Street, former John Lewis managing director.
However, it’s also clear that these metro-mayors will face challenges when they take office in May. These include negotiating economic uncertainty as Brexit negotiations begin in earnest, and winning over the local politicians and residents who are sceptical about the role. These new mayors will not only need to deliver on their electoral promises, but also have to establish their offices as efficient, effective and credible in Britain’s centralised system of governance.
Read the rest of the article on Times Red Box


When it comes to Social Security, there are few questions as important as when you're eligible to apply and how much you're likely to get every month.
In the video below, Motley Fool contributor John Maxfield answers the following question from a reader:
I'm confused by some Social Security information, especially the amount I'll be receiving once I apply. I'm retiring at age 63 in Dec. 2015. Some sites are stating that I'll get $800 a month. Yet, people I've actually spoken to say I'll be getting almost three times that amount. Who should I be listening to? Also, clarify for me when I'm supposed to apply for Social Security. I was born in May. Do I apply three or six months before my birthday?
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.


Government Transfers and Political Support
We estimate the impact of a large anti-poverty cash transfer program, the Uruguayan PANES, on political support for the government that implemented it. Using the discontinuity in program assignment based on a pre-treatment eligibility score, we find that beneficiary households are 11 to 14 percentage points more likely to favor the current government relative to the previous government. Political support effects persist after the program ends. A calibration exercise indicates that these persistent impacts are consistent with a model of rational but poorly informed voters learning about politicians' redistributive preferences.
This paper was revised on December 5, 2011
Document Object Identifier (DOI): 10.3386/w14702
Published: Marco Manacorda & Edward Miguel & Andrea Vigorito, 2011. "Government Transfers and Political Support," American Economic Journal: Applied Economics, American Economic Association, vol. 3(3), pages 1-28, July. citation courtesy of
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Some Evidence on the Importance of Sticky Wages
We thank Mark Bils, Matteo Iacoviello, Peter Klenow, Peter Ireland, Emi Nakamura, Fabio Schiantarelli, Jon Steinsson and seminar participants at Boston College, CREI, the European Economic Association Annual Meetings, the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston, the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, and the NBER Summer Institute for useful suggestions and comments. The usual disclaimer applies. The views expressed herein are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.


Micronutrients Market: Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2014 - 2020
(PRWEB) August 26, 2014
Transparency Market Research has published a new report titled “Micronutrients Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast, 2014 - 2020”. According to the report, global market for micronutrients was valued at USD 4.37 billion in 2013 and is anticipated to reach USD 7.59 billion in 2020, expanding at a CAGR of 8.2% between 2014 and 2020.
The market for micronutrients is driven by high demand for quality and uniform yield owing to increasing population and depleting arable land. Furthermore, the global micronutrients market is driven by deficiency of micronutrients in soil across various regions. This affects the yield and growth of plants. One of the major challenges in the agricultural industry is to meet demand for food globally. Micronutrients offer the highest potential for improvement in quality and uniformity in the yield of crops. Depleting arable land is likely to provide opportunities for hydroponically produced food and seed treatment applications. However, higher prices of micronutrients and lack of awareness regarding applications, technological know-how and dosage of micronutrients is expected to hamper growth of the micronutrients market. Some government and development organizations are taking initiatives to create awareness among growers and farmers.
Browse the Full Micronutrients Market Report: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/micronutrients-market.html
Zinc was the most widely used micronutrient across various regions. It accounted for over one third of the total volume demand in 2013. However, molybdenum, which is required in a small quantity in crops and plants, is estimated to be the fastest growing product segment in the micronutrients market in the next few years. Soil is the most applied technique for micronutrients. Foliar applications constituted the second-largest share of 23.4% in the micronutrients market in 2013. However, other applications such as seed treatment and hydroponics are projected to provide better opportunities for the global micronutrients market in the near future.
Cereals accounted for the highest demand among crop types for micronutrients in 2013. Cereals such as wheat, rice, maize, barley and oats constitute majority of food sources in various regions. Fruits and vegetables are anticipated to be the fastest growing crop types for micronutrients during the forecast period. Other types of crops such as flowers are also likely to provide opportunity for the micronutrients market in the next few years. Pulses and oilseeds accounted for the second-largest demand of 29.6% for micronutrients in 2013.
Browse the full Micronutrients Market Press Release: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/pressrelease/micronutrients-market.htm
Asia Pacific dominated the micronutrients market in 2013 and accounted for over 50% of the market share in 2013. The region is estimated to exhibit potential growth for the micronutrients market during the forecast period. Asia Pacific was followed by North America, which is projected to be the fastest growing region in the micronutrients market during the forecast period. Demand for micronutrients is increasing in North America due to depleting arable land and higher demand for quality and uniform yield. Europe held the third-largest demand for micronutrients in 2013. Rest of the World is anticipated to witness stable demand for micronutrients between 2014 and 2020.
The report provides a comprehensive view of the micronutrients market in terms of volume and revenue. Additionally, the report includes current demand analysis and forecast for product segments, applications, crop types and form types in North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World.
The report comprises the following segments:
Micronutrients Market - Product Segment Analysis
Boron Copper Iron Manganese Molybdenum Zinc Others (Including chlorine, nickel, etc.)
Get report sample PDF copy from here: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=S&rep_id=1410.
Micronutrients Market - Application Analysis
Fertigation Foliar Soil Seed treatment Others (Including hydroponics, etc.)
Micronutrients Market - Crop Type Analysis
Cereals Pulses and oilseeds Fruits and vegetables Others (Including floriculture, etc.)
Micronutrients Market - Form Type Analysis
Non-chelated Chelated
Micronutrients Market - Regional Analysis
North America Europe Asia Pacific Rest of the World
Contact:
Sheela AK 90 Sate Street, Suite 700 Albany, NY 12207 Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA/Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales(at)transparencymarketresearch(dot)com


Because of the challenges that have contributed to homelessness, the lives of these individuals and families are in chaos.Their lack of a steady income and security of a home intensify whatever social, physical, and psychological challenges they face.
Stabilization Services
Stabilization Services provides intensive case management for persons with extra challenges. The problems these individuals face and the public services they utilize cost the community a significant amount of funds in healthcare, judicial processing and more.
Currently, the targeted individuals include:
the chronically homeless, individuals with a chronic disability who have been homeless for more than one year, or experienced homelessness four times within the past three years; those with mental illness who are homeless; and persons with chronic conditions are assigned disability specialists that can help obtain social security income. On-Site Medical and Dental Clinics
Poor health and lack of affordable healthcare are among the top risk factors related to homelessness.
Major barriers to care include:
lack of insurance or a Harris County Hospital District Gold Card cost of care lack of transportation long waits for care or appointments SEARCH collaborates with Healthcare for the Homeless – Houston (HHH) to provide on-site medical and dental care. HHH originated from a partnership between SEARCH and Baylor College of Medicine and currently provides homeless individuals with medical care, mental health counseling, dentistry, vision care, podiatry and health education.


In simple terms, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is an approach to psychotherapy which serves to identify and explore patterns of thinking and behaving which are contributing to a problematic emotional state, exploring these thoughts and behaviours for the presence of inaccuracy, troublesome bias or distortion, and reconstructing more helpful and more accurate ones.
It is not about wishful thinking, or a denial of reality – conversely is about trying to discern actual evidence and fact, from inappropriate ‘meanings’ or ‘inaccurate conclusions’, correcting the distortions or faulty thinking, supporting the individual to accept the reality as it actually is, and where possible engaging in some appropriate problem solving strategies.
What is Cognitive Behaviour Therapy used for?
A Cognitive – Behavioural therapeautic orientation encompasses a range of specific counselling and clinical techniques and approaches and has been found to be extremely useful in a range of contexts and emotional disturbances – particularly depression and anxiety.
Freecall 1800 877 924 to enquire about making an appointment with Ainsley or any of our psychologists specialising in the use of Cognitive Behaviour Therapy.


If you haven't buckled a child in a car seat since the days when the Cabbage Patch Kids ruled the toy aisle, the car seat you just bought for your grandchild looks different from what you remember. And, according to a study by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), there's a 44% chance you're not using one of its most important features – the top tether.
Today, all front-facing car seats have a top tether, typically located just behind the upper back of the child seat. The strap hooks to a vehicle's rear shelf, seatback, floor, cargo area, or ceiling. In a crash, it's designed to keep the seat from tipping forward, preventing facial and head injuries. Since 1999, the top tether has been a key component of the car seat LATCH system along with lower straps that also anchor to the vehicle.
You might wonder why everyone isn't using tethers if they've been around for 17 years. Vehicle design is partly to blame. Cars manufactured before 2001 weren't required to have corresponding anchors for top tethers. And not until 2003 were lower anchors mandated.
But awareness seems to be the main problem. In the survey, IIHS asked non-users why they skipped the tether, and 30% responded they didn't realize it was there or didn't think their car had a corresponding anchor. Another 25% said they didn't know how to use it or where to attach it, and 13% admitted they were in too much of a hurry.
The big tether takeaway: Carefully read your car's owner's manual and the child seat manual (inadequately tightened, twisted, and improperly routed tethers are an issue, too). If you're still feeling unsure, take advantage of hands-on assistance at a Safe Kids Coalition inspection station: Washington inspection stations or Oregon inspection stations.


Jenny practices primarily in Spengler Nathanson's litigation department, with a focus on public entity and public employee liability, civil rights, law enforcement liability, employment-related litigation, probate litigation, estate planning, and ...
Practice areas & skills: Education, Litigation, Personal Injury, Insurance
Education laws relate to how our schools operate. They cover matters like educational standards, school district and school board authority, student attendance, discipline, and dress code requirements. An education lawyer advises school districts and school boards and represents them in disputes with students, teachers, and parents. Education lawyers also represent parents who have issues with their children's education. For example, if you think your child has been improperly suspended from school, an education lawyer will help you determine if challenging the suspension is within your legal rights.


Prostaglandin E₂ (PGE₂) has been described to exert beneficial and detrimental effects in various neurologic disorders. These conflicting roles of PGE₂ could be attributed to its diverse receptor subtypes, EP1-EP4. At present, the precise role of EP1 in intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unknown. Therefore, to elucidate its possible role in ICH, intrastriatal injection of collagenase was given in randomized groups of adult male wildtype (WT) and EP1 receptor knockout (EP1⁻/⁻)C57BL/6 mice. Functional outcomes including neurologic deficits, rotarod performance, open field activity, and adhesive removal performance were evaluated at 24, 48, and 72 h post-ICH. Lesion volume, cell survival and death, were assessed using Cresyl Violet, and Fluoro-Jade staining, respectively. Microglial activation and phagocytosis were estimated using Iba1 immunoreactivity and fluorescently-labeled microspheres. Following 72 h post-ICH, EP1⁻/⁻ mice showed deteriorated outcomes compared to the WT control mice. These outcomes were demonstrated by elevated neurological deficits, exacerbated lesion volume, and significantly worsened sensorimotor functions. Fluoro-Jade staining showed significantly increased numbers of degenerating neurons and reduced neuronal survival in EP1⁻/⁻ compared to WT mice. To assess in vivo phagocytosis, the number of microspheres phagocytosed by Iba1-positive cells was 145.4 ± 15.4 % greater in WT compared to EP1⁻/⁻ mice. These data demonstrate that EP1 deletion exacerbates neuro-behavioral impairments following ICH, potentially by slowing down/impairing microglial phagocytosis. A better understanding of this EP1 mechanism could lead to improved intervention strategies for hemorrhagic stroke.


Enriched iron(III)-reducing bacterial communities are shaped by carbon substrate and iron oxide mineralogy Date2012-12-03 Author
Lentini, Christopher J.
Concept link
Wankel, Scott D.
Concept link
Hansel, Colleen M.
Concept link MetadataShow full item record Citable URIhttp://hdl.handle.net/1912/6985 As publishedhttps://doi.org/10.3389/fmicb.2012.00404 DOI10.3389/fmicb.2012.00404 Abstract
Iron (Fe) oxides exist in a spectrum of structures in the environment, with ferrihydrite widely considered the most bioavailable phase. Yet, ferrihydrite is unstable and rapidly transforms to more crystalline Fe(III) oxides (e.g., goethite, hematite), which are poorly reduced by model dissimilatory Fe(III)-reducing microorganisms. This begs the question, what processes and microbial groups are responsible for reduction of crystalline Fe(III) oxides within sedimentary environments? Further, how do changes in Fe mineralogy shape oxide-hosted microbial populations? To address these questions, we conducted a large-scale cultivation effort using various Fe(III) oxides (ferrihydrite, goethite, hematite) and carbon substrates (glucose, lactate, acetate) along a dilution gradient to enrich for microbial populations capable of reducing Fe oxides spanning a wide range of crystallinities and reduction potentials. While carbon source was the most important variable shaping community composition within Fe(III)-reducing enrichments, both Fe oxide type and sediment dilution also had a substantial influence. For instance, with acetate as the carbon source, only ferrihydrite enrichments displayed a significant amount of Fe(III) reduction and the well-known dissimilatory metal reducer Geobacter sp. was the dominant organism enriched. In contrast, when glucose and lactate were provided, all three Fe oxides were reduced and reduction coincided with the presence of fermentative (e.g., Enterobacter spp.) and sulfate-reducing bacteria (e.g., Desulfovibrio spp.). Thus, changes in Fe oxide structure and resource availability may shift Fe(III)-reducing communities between dominantly metal-respiring to fermenting and/or sulfate-reducing organisms which are capable of reducing more recalcitrant Fe phases. These findings highlight the need for further targeted investigations into the composition and activity of speciation-directed metal-reducing populations within natural environments.
Description
© The Author(s), 2012. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. The definitive version was published in Frontiers in Microbiology 3 (2012): 404, doi:10.3389/fmicb.2012.00404.
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The term “sexual assault” elicits strong reactions from students. They want it off their campuses, now. Legislative and media spotlights remain fixed on campus sexual assaults, and many are wondering what they can do to help. As a growing number of universities update their policies and link sexual assault to alcohol – stating that students…


Hunting for a Healthcare Partner Fox Chase Cancer Center Situation: A Cancer Center Takes a Turn for the Worse Based in Philadelphia, Pa., the Fox Chase Cancer Center (FCCC) enjoys an excellentreputation for both research and care. FCCC is a National Cancer Institutedesignated Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of only 41 such institutions inthe United States recognized as “leaders in the development of more effectiveapproaches to prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.”
Thanks greatly to its reputation, the 100-bed FCCC had a 100 percent patient self-referral rate, significant philanthropic support and fiscal year 2007 revenues of approximately $300 million, with more than $75 million coming from government grants and outside philanthropy. However, when the recession hit in 2008, FCCC faced considerable financial challenges. Charitable contributions fell, and the National Cancer Institute warned it might need to reduce its grant funding. The prospect of that loss of support led many key surgeons to leave FCCC, while cash on hand dropped so low the organization defaulted on its credit agreements. Without a waiver of those defaults, FCCC could not obtain going concern audits, which would have hampered its ability to attract the charitable support upon which it depended.
With so uncertain a financial picture, FCCC’s creditors demanded a financial and operational restructuring. FTI Consulting was engaged to improve performance in all areas of FCCC’s operations.
FTI Consulting’s Role: Improving Margins, Exceeding Expectations
Beginning in May 2009 and working alongside FCCC CEO and President Dr. Michael Seiden and his executive team, FTI assessed, designed, and implemented a Management Action Plan and began to execute an operational improvement turnaround. FTI Consulting filled in key management roles, including chief strategic implementation officer (CSIO), to ensure that the improvements were installed according to plan.
Although FCCC’s Board expressed a strong desire for the healthcare provider to remain independent, it agreed to have the FTI Consulting CSIO assist with restructuring the organization and help FCCC’s Board assess its strategic options for long-term viability — including affiliating with other healthcare organizations.
“The professionals at FTI Consulting brought a fresh perspective, rigor and discipline to improving our operations and financial health. They were focused and professional and brought a wealth of talent in both operational improvement and strategic positioning with key external stakeholders.”
Michael Seiden, M.D., PH.D., CEO and President, Fox Chase Cancer Center
In its CSIO role, FTI Consulting improved FCCC’s cash position and negotiated with its lenders to give FCCC time to propose a comprehensive solution. FTI Consulting led negotiations with a variety of possible partners, affiliates and acquirers while advising the Board on the potential benefits and risks of proposed strategic alternatives, including remaining independent.
Outcome: Teaming Up with Temple for Joint Success
The engagement surpassed expectations. Initially, FTI Consulting had projected $20 million in EBITDA improvements over 18 months. In fact, FTI Consulting’s implementation teams enabled FCCC to achieve $30 million in sustainable EBITDA improvements within just 14 months.
Despite this impressive turnaround, FCCC’s creditors still doubted the organization’s ability to repay its financial obligations. Ultimately, the Board decided to merge with Temple University Health System (TUHS). FTI Consulting, managing the due diligence process and working with FCCC counsel, finalized the merger and negotiated a settlement with FCCC’s creditors. The TUHS merger was completed in mid-2012, with TUHS agreeing to buy FCCC for $83.8 million, invest $30.9 million into expanding the cancer center and pay off $126.5 million of FCCC’s long-term debt.
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Think regarding bullying and young children. Do you think that bullying is more apt to occur in a public school setting or a private school setting? Do you think the setting has any effect on bullying, or is it primarily the child's age? Reflect on a bullying incident which you are aware of. The incident can comprise you as the victim, the bully, or a bystander. This might even be an incident which was reported in the news of which you are aware. Alternatively, you might share an incident which occurred with your own child or a child who is close to you. How could the condition have been changed or ignored?


[July 29, 2013]
Nexant iEnergy Continues to Raise the Bar for Utility DSM Business Process Management
SAN FRANCISCO --(Business Wire)--
Nexant
today announced a significant expansion of its
Nexant iEnergy™
platform and applications suite that provide utilities with a
comprehensive solution for managing all DSM (News - Alert) business processes as well
as launching and managing an entire portfolio of energy efficiency,
renewable energy, and demand side management (DSM) programs.
Utility executives and managers responsible for DSM portfolios are
increasingly challenged by the need to meet compliance requirements,
manage complex operations cost-effectively, and ensure customer
satisfaction. They struggle to meet these challenges, continuing to
manage programs using outdated tools such as spreadsheets and customized
or CRM-based systems that do not fully automate the entire DSM business
process.
To address this situation, Nexant has been actively deploying Nexant
iEnergy to utilities across North America, providing them with a
powerful platform that includes:
iEnergy™ DSM Central (formerly TrakSmart) provides an end-t
end DSM business process management platform for improved visibility,
management, and control in a single, secure, system of record.
iEnergy™ Trade Ally streamlines collaboration between utility
customers, trade allies and utility program managers, enabling the
entire energy efficiency and DSM community to work together
effectively through an intuitive online portal.
iEnergy™ Home engages consumers to take action on energy
conservation and participate in utility DSM programs through demand
management, equipment replacement and behavior modification.
iEnergy™ Demand Response enables utility program and operations
teams to reliably and securely manage a full range of DR initiatives,
including program design, enrollment and operations; event management
and forecasting; performance and resource management.
"Using Nexant iEnergy for the Nicor Gas Energy Efficiency Program will
enable us to achieve improved program visibility, streamline our
reporting tasks, and better disseminate critical information to
stakeholders and regulatory agencies," said Jim Jerozal, Managing
Director, Energy Efficiency, Nicor Gas. "Most importantly, its
comprehensive capabilities and configurability will help to ensure that
our programs are administered efficiently and cost-effectively."
"Nexant iEnergy is an innovative, cloud-based software platform that
fundamentally changes how utilities manage all underlying operations and
market engagement for energy efficiency and DSM to drive energy savings,
reduce operating costs, and meet compliance requirements," said Nexant
SVP and CTO Martin Milani. "By orchestrating this end-to-end business
process management, the platform brings together the entire DSM
ecosystem that includes utilities, customers, trade allies, regulators,
and third-party implementers."
ABOUT NEXANT
Nexant offers a comprehensive suite of best-in-class services and
software designed to transform utility business processes and implement
smart grid and demand management initiatives. Over the last decade, it
has been developing and commercializing technology solutions - such as
Nexant iEnergy™, Nexant Grid360™, Nexant iHedge®, and Nexant
RevenueManager® - enabling utilities, power producers, and retailers to
improve operational and financial efficiency, reduce risk, and enhance
customer engagement across the energy value chain.
[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]


Figuring out what makes employees tick has always been a challenge for office leaders. No two employees will equally respond to the same incentives, encouragement or direction. In a recent survey conducted by consulting firm Rainmaker Thinking of 37,419 managers across hundreds of industries, “managing different personalities” was the third most often mentioned challenge, after time management and giving negative feedback (see sidebar below).
Dr. Alden Cass, a cl


-- Charges That State Has No Plan; Patients May Suffer--
New York City Comptroller William C. Thompson, Jr. today called on the New York State Department of Health (SDOH) to reconsider or delay the closures of Mary Immaculate and St. John’s Queens hospitals planned for the end of the month.
In a letter to Commissioner Richard Daines, which can be viewed at www.comptroller.nyc.gov, Thompson wrote: “SDOH has not publicly disclosed its plans to address the consequences of these closures. SDOH has also failed to address concerns including how nearby emergency rooms such as the one at Jamaica Hospital will be able to absorb an expected 50 percent increase in demand.”
Thompson charged that the SDOH made little effort to engage the community and stakeholders in its closure plans, despite knowing that the hospitals were in financial trouble.
“With the City’s economy in decline, these closures are poorly timed from both a health care and economic perspective,” Thompson continued. “As increasing numbers of City residents lose their jobs and health insurance, there will be significant demands on emergency rooms as City residents’ access to primary care decreases. With capacity already strained, crowded emergency rooms mean longer wait times for patients, delayed ambulance response times, and possibly, diminished health outcomes.”
Thompson also expressed concerns regarding patient notifications and coordination with providers to ensure the continuity of care for out-patients. He also questioned how remaining hospitals will absorb the financial impact of increased patient loads.
Thompson called on the SDOH to reconsider or delay the closures of the facilities until the concerns he raised are addressed.
Over the last month, Thompson has been advocating to prevent the closures of the hospitals and previously called on the State to find a solution that would be equitable for the residents and hospital employees.
In 2006, Thompson issued a report “
Emergency Room Care: Will It Be There?,” analyzing the impact of the proposed closure of five hospitals, including Parkway Hospital in Queens. The report detailed how such closures could overwhelm emergency rooms at neighboring hospitals, reduce ambulance availability, and require New Yorkers to travel farther to reach an emergency room. Since then, Parkway Hospital, which was located near Mary Immaculate Hospital in Forest Hills has closed, placing added pressure on the remaining hospitals. If Mary Immaculate and St. John’s close as well, Western and Southwestern Queens will have lost 3 hospitals within two years.
In 2004, Jamaica Hospital, the closest hospital to Mary Immaculate, had roughly 100,000 emergency room visits compared to approximately 45,000 at Mary Immaculate. If all of the patients from Mary Immaculate switched to Jamaica Hospital, this would represent an almost 50% increase in activity.


Purchasing a home has been synonymous with the major goals of a growing family. A variety of home styles, such as a condominium, townhouse or a detached home, might accommodate your family's needs. Whether you've purchased a home before or you're purchasing a house for the first time, you will need to complete and supply a variety of documents.
Loan Forms
A mortgage loan application is the primary financing document that a home buyer completes. Income documents are required to purchase a house. Borrowers must supply a lender with tax records and pay stubs to validate recent earnings history. Federal and state laws require mortgage lenders to provide applicants with various documents, such as a good-faith estimate, truth in lending form, and other disclosures. Applicants will receive documents that display the projected costs for certain loan programs, as well as disclosures that inform borrowers of their rights when buying a home. For example, a borrower has the right to know why he was denied for a mortgage loan.
Loan Approval Letter
The loan approval letter is a lender-issued document that reflects a borrower's maximum financing amount, as well as the loan type and the approximate rate of interest. A prospective home buyer who obtains a loan approval letter can begin her home search within an affordable price range. A mortgage approval letter may give a borrower confidence when speaking with home sellers or with a real estate agent about purchasing a house.
Sales Contract
Real estate sales contracts are used to document the agreed-upon terms between a buyer and a home seller. Important details and time frames are listed in the sales contract. Documentation is used to provide transparency for both parties. For example, the sales price, acceptance date, settlement date and the earnest money deposit are reflected in a real estate sales contract. Property repairs that a seller agrees to handle before settlement, as well as a seller's contributions toward a buyer's closing costs are reflected in a sales contract. Certain seller-included items that will remain within the property, such as kitchen appliances, are documented in a sales contract, too.
Closing Forms
The closing of escrow is the final phase a buyer completes toward purchasing a house. A variety of documents are signed during the closing process. A settlement statement documents certain costs, such as a home's purchase price, the amount financed, real estate taxes, legal fees and lending fees. A home buyer also receives documents that verify her property ownership and mortgage terms, such as a deed and a mortgage note.
Considerations
Home buyers generally amass several significant documents during a purchase transaction. A property survey, homeowners insurance policy and other settlement documents should be kept in a fireproof box or a file cabinet. Safeguarding important real estate documents could position you to easily gather your records, if you need to file an insurance claim or to sell your home.
Photo Credits Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images


MMWR. 2007;56:673-678
1 figure, 2 tables omitted
On October 17, 2006, the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (WVDHHR) was notified of an outbreak of acute gastroenteritis, characterized by vomiting and diarrhea, among attendees at a family reunion. The outbreak initially was reported by a group of attendees to their local health department in Garrett County, Maryland. The same day, the information was relayed to the Grant County Health Department in West Virginia and subsequently to WVDHHR. The reunion was held on October 14 at a private residence in Grant County, West Virginia, and the 53 identified attendees included residents from Florida, Maryland, New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia. This report describes a collaborative, multijurisdictional epidemiologic investigation using a cohort study and laboratory analyses to determine the source of infection and appropriate control measures. The results indicated that a combination of person-to-person and foodborne transmission of two strains of norovirus, likely introduced by persons from two different states and subsequently at least two food items, was the probable cause of these illnesses, highlighting the challenge of investigating and controlling norovirus outbreaks. During periods of peak norovirus activity, public health officials should emphasize the importance of appropriate handwashing and the exclusion of ill persons from social gatherings.
In collaboration with state and local health departments, interviews were conducted with 11 reunion attendees to help generate hypotheses and develop a list of attendees and foods served. A questionnaire was then developed to conduct a cohort study involving all reunion attendees. Questions addressed illness onset, symptoms, attendance at prereunion gatherings, consumption of specific food items, contact with ill persons, and onset of symptoms among nonattendees. Questionnaires were administered by telephone and in person by state and local health department staff members from West Virginia and Maryland in coordination with health departments from the other attendee jurisdictions in Florida, New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia.
An attendee case was defined as two or more episodes of nonbloody diarrhea (i.e., two or more loose stools in a 24-hour period) or vomiting within a single 24-hour period on or after October 7, 2006, in a person who attended the reunion. A nonattendee case was defined as acute illness characterized by vomiting or diarrhea with onset after 12 a.m. on October 18 in persons who did not attend the reunion but who had direct contact (i.e., within 3 feet) with attendees after the reunion.
The list of reunion attendees included 53 persons, of whom 48 (91%) were interviewed. Of those interviewed, 28 (58%) had illness that met the attendee case definition. In addition, four cases were identified among nonattendees, all of whom were household contacts of attendees. Symptoms reported by the 28 ill attendees included diarrhea (96%), vomiting (75%), abdominal cramps (71%), nausea (61%), headache (54%), chills (36%), body aches (32%), fever (not specified) (21%), and fatigue or malaise (18%). Nineteen (68%) of the 28 ill attendees were female, and six (21%) were aged ≤10 years. Six (21%) of the patients sought medical care. For the 25 patients who reported both date of illness onset and date of recovery, the median duration of illness was 54 hours (range: 6-135 hours). Twenty-one of the 28 attendee cases occurred during October 14-16.
The 1-day reunion began at 11 a.m. on October 14. Persons with illness onset after 8 p.m. on October 14 through 12 a.m. on October 18 were included in the cohort study, as were persons who attended but did not become ill. Persons with illness onset either before the reunion or after 12 a.m. on October 18 were excluded. Incubation periods were calculated by subtracting the date and time of the first possible exposure from the date and time of illness onset. The first possible exposure was defined as either the time the person arrived at the reunion or the time the person arrived at a prereunion gathering where previously ill persons were present. Nine of the 48 interviewed attendees were excluded from the cohort study because they did not meet the defined illness-onset criteria. Three had illness onset >72 hours after the reunion. Six attendees had illness onset either before the reunion or within 6 hours after the reunion began and might have introduced the illness into the reunion; four of these six were immediate family members from New York who had traveled to the reunion together, including a child who was ill with vomiting and diarrhea during the reunion, and the other two were West Virginia residents who had no contact with each other or the family from New York immediately before the reunion.
Of the 39 attendees included in the cohort study, 19 met the case definition and illness-onset criteria, and 20 did not become ill. The median incubation period for the 19 cases was 36 hours (range: 20-61 hours). Of 31 food items served at the reunion, two items were identified as significant risk factors for developing illness (p<0.05, by two-tailed Mantel-Haenszel chi-square test) and were eaten by the majority of ill persons: scalloped potatoes (relative risk [RR] = 2.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.1-6.9) and chicken (RR = 2.2, CI = 1.0-4.8). Both food items were eaten at the reunion by persons who were ill before the reunion, which might have provided an opportunity for these persons to contaminate the food at the event. The chicken was purchased at a store by the family from New York, whose four members had been ill before the reunion, which provided another opportunity for the food to be contaminated. The scalloped potatoes were brought by persons from West Virginia who were not ill before the reunion. Consumption of the chocolate cheese ball also was statistically associated with illness (p = 0.04), but the item was only eaten by seven persons. In addition, six of the seven attendees who ate the chocolate cheese ball also ate both the chicken and scalloped potatoes; all seven ate the chicken. Self-reported direct contact with ill persons at the reunion, including with the symptomatic child, also was a significant risk factor for developing illness (RR = 2.3, CI = 1.0-5.1). Attendance at prereunion gatherings at either home A or home B was not associated with illness. Reunion attendees were provided information on appropriate hand hygiene and the potential for viral shedding and secondary transmission up to 2 weeks after symptoms resolved.
In coordination with state and local health departments, reunion attendees were encouraged to submit stool or vomitus samples to their respective local health departments. Stool specimens were submitted by 13 ill reunion attendees from Pennsylvania, Maryland, New York, and West Virginia, and the specimens were then submitted to the respective state laboratories for analysis.* No vomitus samples were analyzed. Norovirus reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), genotype sequencing analyses, and enteric bacterial cultures were performed by the Maryland, New York, and Pennsylvania state laboratories. Initial genogroup assignment was made by differential probe binding. Results were compiled and compared to identify specific etiologic agents involved in the outbreak. No environmental samples were collected.
Of the 13 stool specimens submitted (six from Pennsylvania residents, three from Maryland, three from New York, one from West Virginia, and none from Florida or Virginia), 12 (92.3%) tested positive for norovirus genogroup II by RT–PCR. Using genetic sequencing of the RT–PCR products from norovirus region B† and comparison with GenBank,‡ the closest match for the strain detected was identified by each state laboratory. The same strain (Hu/GII-4/Chester/2006/UK) was identified in the two sequenced norovirus-positive specimens from Maryland, the two positive specimens from New York, and the one positive specimen from West Virginia. A second strain (Hu/NLV/Oxford/B6S6/2003/UK) was identified in all six positive specimens from Pennsylvania. No differences in exposures between persons infected with the two different strains could be identified. No other etiologies (e.g., bacterial) were identified.
S Glasscock, Grant County Health Dept; J Welch, Preston County Health Dept; J Dailer, W Elmer, Randolph County Health Dept; K Kline, Pendleton County Health Dept; D Bixler, MD, M del Rosario, MD, M Myers, West Virginia Dept of Health and Human Resources. T Buckel, E Cvetnick, Garrett County Health Dept; R Myers, PhD, Maryland Dept of Health and Mental Hygiene. A Johnson, Chautauqua County Health Dept; B Rosen, PhD, New York State Dept of Health. B Perry, Pennsylvania Dept of Health. A Hall, DVM, EIS Officer, CDC.
Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the United States, with an estimated 23 million cases occurring annually.1- 3 The average incubation period for norovirus is 24-48 hours, and clinical disease is characterized by acute onset of vomiting, nonbloody diarrhea, or both, lasting 12-60 hours.4 In clinical studies, approximately two thirds of persons infected with norovirus experienced symptoms of disease.5 The primary route of transmission for noroviruses is fecal-oral, including consumption of fecally contaminated food or water, direct person-to-person contact, and contaminated objects or environments.4,5 Airborne transmission via vomitus droplets also can occur.4,5 During outbreaks, primary cases often result from exposure to a fecally contaminated food item, object, or environment, whereas secondary cases result from person-to-person transmission.6 Noroviruses and norovirus infections have numerous characteristics that facilitate their spread during outbreaks, including the low dose required for infection; prolonged, asymptomatic shedding that can occur in infected persons; environmental stability of the virus; and lack of lasting immunity in persons who have been infected previously.4 Molecular epidemiologic techniques have identified substantial strain diversity, and epidemic strains of norovirus might be more virulent or more environmentally persistent than nonepidemic strains.7
This outbreak highlights the challenges of investigating and controlling norovirus outbreaks, including multiple modes of transmission. The findings of this investigation, including the detection of two different norovirus strains in patients, suggest that illness was independently introduced into the reunion by several sources (i.e., persons from New York and from West Virginia). Food items might have been contaminated by persons who were ill when they attended the reunion. Infection likely was propagated through a combination of person-to person contact and foodborne transmission; transmission through contaminated fomites cannot be ruled out. Laboratory evidence confirmed that at least two different norovirus strains were circulating among attendees. The convergence of two virus strains in a single outbreak coincided with a period of high norovirus activity in the region. During October-December 2006, a total of 20 other outbreaks of acute gastroenteritis in West Virginia were reported to WVDHHR, representing a sevenfold increase in the number reported during the same period in 2005.
Prevention and control of norovirus outbreaks, especially during periods of increased norovirus circulation, should emphasize standard infection-control practices, including the exclusion of ill caregivers and food handlers from work settings and exercising adequate hand hygiene.8 Persons who have had gastroenteritis recently should pay attention to washing their hands after toileting and should not prepare food. Food items that might have been contaminated by persons with gastroenteritis should be discarded. As demonstrated by this outbreak, collaboration among multiple state and local health departments often is required for prompt public health investigations of norovirus outbreaks, which can be complicated by multiple sources, viral strains, and routes of this highly transmissible infection.
The findings in this report are based, in part, on contributions by Tucker County Health Dept; C Clark, S Arrington, MA, L Clay, S Comstock, S Hill, T Shwe, MPH, S Stowers, S Wilson, MPH, West Virginia Dept of Health and Human Resources; A Weltman, MD, Pennsylvania Dept of Health; K St George and DNA Sequencing Core, New York State Dept of Health; Washington County Health Dept, Maryland; Virginia Dept of Health; Florida Dept of Health; D Bensyl, PhD, Office of Workforce and Career Development, T Chen, MD, G Mirchandani, PhD, and J Schaffzin, MD, EIS officers, CDC.
*Three of the four New York family members who were ill before the reunion submitted stool samples; neither of the two persons from West Virginia who were ill submitted a stool sample. The specimen from one West Virginia resident was analyzed at the Maryland state laboratory because of assay availability.
†RT–PCR primers targeted region B of the viral genome, which includes the polymerase gene commonly used for genetic classification.
‡Genetic sequence database maintained by the National Institutes of Health (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/index.html).
Multistate Outbreak of Norovirus Gastroenteritis Among Attendees at a Family Reunion—Grant County, West Virginia, October 2006. JAMA. 2007;298(8):854-856. doi:10.1001/jama.298.8.854
© 2017


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paranormal psychologyApproaching the paranormal from a research perspective is often difficult because of the lack of acceptable physical evidence from most of the purported phenomena. By definition, the paranormal does not conform to conventional expectations of nature. Therefore, a phenomenon cannot be confirmed as paranormal using the scientific method because, if it could be, it would no longer fit the definition. (However, confirmation would result in the phenomenon being reclassified as part of science.) Despite this problem, studies on the paranormal are periodically conducted by researchers from various disciplines. Some researchers simply study the beliefs in the paranormal regardless of whether the phenomena are considered to objectively exist. This section deals with various approaches to the paranormal: anecdotal, experimental, and participant-observer approaches and the skeptical investigation approach.
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Managers Not MBAs: A Hard Look at the Soft Practice of Managing and Management Development
Thirty years ago, Mintzberg's bestseller ""The Nature of Managerial Work sought to dispel the myths of the disconnected, overly analytical manager by observing a week in the lives of five chief executives. In a sense, ""Managers Not MBAs is the sequel, delving as it does into current practice and the need for developing much better managers. The book examines what is wrong with both management education and management itself, and how both could be changed. Mintzberg explores the concept of management as a practice blending craft (experience) with art (insight) and some science (analysis). Conventional education in this realm, he says, encourages a ""calculating"" approach by overemphasizing the science, and a ""heroic"" approach by overstressing the art. Mintzberg argues instead for training balanced, dedicated managers who practice an ""engaging"" style, believing that their purpose is to leave behind stronger organizations, not just higher share prices.


Each individual possesses a distinct physical attribute that lends insight into their character. Society offers the hackneyed explanation of looking into the eyes for understanding into one’s identity’; for me this proves to be untrue. My eyes contribute information merely in a superficial manner, whereas the impressions imprinted on my hands illustrate the story of my being.
The callous swelling that has developed on the middle finger of my right hand serves as a constant reminder of the perseverance and determination necessary to reach my academic prosperity. Academics served as the driving force in all my endeavors. Upon graduation from Fairleigh Dickinson I continued my study of dentistry through Fairleigh Dickinson’s Pre-Professional Degree Program. After years of intense work that required steadfast persistence to complete I successfully obtained my DMD from the New York University School of Dental Medicine. The hardened bump on my weathered hands that has developed from years of steady writing conveys my unwavering desire to attain success. Looking at the diploma that now hangs on the wall of my office, I arrive at the realization that even though the marks on my hands may eventually fade away, the experiences infused in me will endure forever.
The distinguishing feature present on my left fourth finger will always remain
symbolic in my life. This distinct marking, my wedding ring, symbolizes the pinnacle of my success. Besides being a successful orthodontist, I am also a devout husband and a loving father. It was once said “You leave home to seek your fortune and, when you get it, you go home and share it with your family.” My existence would be futile if I could not share it with my wife and three children.
The markings present upon my hands portray a determined individual whose desire for success enabled him to live an advantageous life. My education at Fairleigh Dickinson fostered me to believe in the impossible and now I have obtained a...


The Innovation Lab Network (ILN) is a group of schools, districts, and states taking action to identify, test, and implement student-centered approaches to learning that will transform our public education system. The goal of the ILN is to spur system-level change by scaling locally-led innovation to widespread implementation, both within and across states, with a constant focus on student outcomes. Current states in the ILN include California, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Ohio, Oregon, West Virginia and Wisconsin. Schools and districts within these states have been given the opportunity to act as pressure-testers of new and innovative ways to address the needs of their students, with backing and support from their state departments of education.
These innovations are grounded in shared principles, known as the six critical attributes, including:
Fostering world-class knowledge, skills
Student agency
Personalized learning
Performance-based learning
Anytime/anywhere opportunities
Providing comprehensive systems of learner support
The ILN works to encourage states and their member school districts how to operationalize these principles through collaboration, transparency, and mutual support. States are encouraged to work closely with key players at the local, district and state levels, as well as with outside stakeholder groups, including the business and higher education communities.
QUESTIONS THAT INSPIRE OUR WORK
Given the opportunity to start from scratch and design a new public education system that addresses the needs of today's students, what would that system look like?
What does college and career readiness mean in practice?
How can we use technology to personalize and enhance the teaching and learning experience?
How can we meaningfully measure students' progress toward attaining key knowledge, skills, and dispositions essential to lifelong learning?
What are the structures and policies that best support and high-quality local innovation and encourage scaling across education systems?
- See more at: http://www.ccsso.org/What_We_Do/Innovation_Lab_Network.html#sthash.oZEsjwsu.dpuf


Learning how to apply liquid foundation makeup is an essential step in a daily skincare and beauty routine. Select the right color and application tips to conceal flaws rather than enhance them. Follow these guidelines to expertly apply liquid foundation.
Things You'll Need
Prepare your skin with a thin layer of moisturizer geared toward your skin type. Use moisturizer with sunscreen added if you plan to spend time outdoors.
Choose the correct color of liquid foundation makeup for your skin tone. For example, people have a yellow undertone and benefit from a yellow cast in their foundation. Test the color on your jaw line rather than your finger or wrist.
Place a small dollop of liquid foundation on your finger. Applying foundation with fingers yields maximum coverage. Use your middle or ring finger, as your index finger doesn’t provide the deft touch of your nondominant fingers.
Work across your face in small areas. You must blend the foundation in each area before it dries. You can use a makeup sponge to spread the foundation, but the sponge can absorb a large amount of the foundation, wasting the product.
Use a makeup sponge to blend the liquid foundation makeup around your jaw line and hairline. You can use a synthetic sponge or a natural sponge, but you must start with a clean sponge every time.
Set the liquid foundation for all day wear. If you have oily skin, set the foundation with loose or pressed powder. If you have dry skin, set it with blotting tissues.


Researchers at the University of Michigan looked at 192 couples over 17 years. They compared couples that expressed their anger, and resolved the conflict, and other couples where either one or both spouses suppressed their frustration.
Researchers found those who contained their anger were more likely to die at a younger age than the couples who expressed their thoughts and worked out their problems.


Affiliation: (Jia Sun) at the Synergetic Innovation Center of Food Safety and Nutrition, State Key Laboratory of Food Science and Technology, and School of Food Science and Technology, Jiangnan University, Wuxi 214122, P.R. China.
Abstract
Substance P, a neuropeptide belonging to the tachykinin family is a pleiotropic peptide with specific neural activities and involved in immunomodulation and antimicrobial host defense. It has been found to modulate a variety of inflammatory processes, including acute pancreatitis, sepsis, systemic inflammatory response syndrome and asthma. Also notably, substance P shares common bio-physical and -chemical properties such as low molecular mass, cathionicity and amphipathicity with antimicrobial peptides. It is therefore suggested to take part in host defense at specialized locations.
The review aims to highlight undated understanding on substance P in inflammation, allergy and its antimicrobial activities with potential implications in infection and host defense.
Therapeutic implications of the peptide, modulators of peptide expression and receptor signalling will be highlighted in each topic. Taken together, these topics will be of significant values for future pharmaceutical investigation and application of the field.


People associate bright colors with energy and activity, two words that do not describe the typical bedroom. Yet there is no reason to avoid these colors altogether. Instead, blend bright colors with more soothing tones to create a bedroom that pops with color while promoting rest and relaxation. A color wheel can help you choose colors that work well together.
Color Wheel
Sir Isaac Newton created the first color wheel in 1666. The precise design was refined over the centuries, but the basic concept remains the same. A color wheel lays out the primary, secondary and tertiary colors in a logical circular design. The primary colors are red, yellow and blue. The secondary colors are equal blends of the primary colors, while the tertiary colors are created by blending a primary color with a secondary color. Analogous colors are next to each other on the color wheel, while complementary colors are directly opposite each other. Both pairings create harmony between differing shades.
Cool Colors
Cool colors are on the blue side of the color wheel. Cool colors tend to soothe the emotions, enhance focus and promote serenity. Focus on bright colors from the cool side of the spectrum for a bold, dynamic bedroom that does not keep you awake at night. Greens and purples, which blend cool and warm colors, could be warm or cool depending on the color balance. Choose tones with more blue to continue the cool theme, or spice up the room with a more yellow or red hue.
Warm Colors
Warm colors, including yellow and red tones, stimulate the emotions. They promote activity, socialization and wakefulness, so use them sparingly as accents in the bedroom. A splash of bright red or yellow can make the room seem inviting and exotic, but too many warm colors could prevent restful sleep. If you use a warm color, pair it with a complementary cool color.
Black, White and Neutrals
In pigments, including wall paint, black is the presence of all colors, while white is the absence of any color. Yet white is generally considered a cool color, while black is considered a warm color. Neutrals, such as beige and taupe, create a soothing backdrop for brighter colors. Neutrals are also classified as warm or cool but do not appear on most color wheels. To decide how to classify a neutral, consider the tones that created it. Neutrals with a yellow or red hue are warm, while those with a blue tint are cool.
Photo Credits Polka Dot Images/Polka Dot/Getty Images


Cattle prices rose sharply this week as meat packers bought beef in preparation for Labor Day grilling demand. October live cattle futures reached $1.00 per pound on Thursday morning, a record price for that contract. Cattle prices have leapt nearly 15% over the last two months, following corn and soybean prices higher. Both corn and beans are primarily used as animal feed in the United States, with 43% of corn and 98% of soybeans being fed to animals. Over the last two months, corn prices have risen 25% while beans climbed 13%, reducing profit margins for livestock producers.
There are thoughts throughout the cattle industry that cattle and beef prices could fall sharply once Labor Day demand has been satiated. As of midday Friday, October live cattle futures were trading at 99.25 cents per pound.
Coffee Stays Energized
Coffee prices rose to a new 12-year high, reaching $1.82 per pound on Friday morning. The market has been driven primarily by supply concerns from the world's top producers, Columbia and Brazil. Those two nations produce nearly half of the world's coffee and have recently been suffering from heavy rains, which can damage the sensitive coffee "cherries" that hold the immature coffee beans.
For now, American consumers may have to accept paying higher prices for their daily caffeine fix as coffee prices have perked 38% over the last three months.
US Dollar Up, Euro Down
With global equities lower this week, investors sought the perceived refuge of the US dollar over the Eurocurrency, sending the Euro to a 1-month low at on Friday morning. The Eurocurrency was further damaged by a European Central Bank statement that indicated that growth prospects remained grim across Europe. As of midday Friday, the Euro was trading at $1.27, down 0.5%


Tim Ferriss has dedicated much of his career to the study of learning.
"The purpose of investing is to improve your quality of life," he explained to Torabi. "The intermediate step is achieving a reasonable or aggressive rate of return, but the ultimate objective of investing is allocating resources to improve your quality of life."
For this reason, Ferriss chooses not to invest in stocks, because the process causes him so much anxiety that it ultimately decreases his quality of life.
"I've learned from myself that even if I achieve a high rate of return in a publicly traded stock, it's a bad investment," he explained to Torabi. "Even though I'm making money, I'm miserable doing so. I'm worse off than when I started."
Rather than giving up on investing all together, he's found an alternative: angel investing, which allows him to give his own capital to companies (primarily startups) and advise them, in exchange for an ownership stake.
He likes the sense of control that angel investing allows. "It's a binary decision for me, where I do my homework. I do a ton of due diligence," he told Torabi. "I make an investment or I don't, and then I live with that decision until there's an exit or a failure. And, because I can't, there's no use second guessing myself."
These "all or nothing binary bets" are much less stressful for him than putting money into a stock and anxiously watching it jump around.
This strategy works for Ferriss, but that doesn't mean it has to work for you. "Not all forms of investing are suitable for all people," he emphasized to Torabi.


A recent New York Times article looks at a growing number of experts, including Dr. Carolyn L. Westhoff, a gynecologist at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital/Columbia University Medical Center, who now question the value of conducting routine pelvic exams on asymptomatic women.
The performance of this exam is often a key part of an annual ob-gyn visit even though for women who are well there is insufficient medical evidence to recommend its use. The exam may not only lead to unnecessary additional tests and costs but may also in some cases discourage women from seeking necessary care.