It is easy for many individuals to conclude that a
receivership would effectively eliminate the fiscal distress faced by the Cities
of Detroit, Highland Park, Hamtramck, River Rouge, and Royal Oak Township.
However, when the State passed the "Local Government Fiscal Responsibility Act"
(P.A. 101 of 1988, and subsequently amended to Act 72 of 1990 - "Act 72"), it
stripped the courts of the authority to appoint a receiver. Presently, Act 72 is
the only alternative available to correct a fiscally distressed governmental
unit. However, Act 72 does not work . At least one of the two governmental
units which have entered Act 72, have made promises to correct the fiscal
problems, and failed to do so. There is no penalty for failure.
The ability of Act 72 to be an effective tool in addressing a local governmental unit is inhibited by the following issues:
The length of time required before an emergency financial manager is appointed.
Politics.
Lack of financial information.
Lack of effective loan covenants with penalties.
Inability of the emergency financial manager to obtain proper insurance.
Lack of staff in Department of Treasury, Local Audit Division to monitor fiscally distressed governmental units.
In comparing the receivership and Act 72 requirements, the receivership permits actions to be taken quickly. In addition, the Receiver's actions were taken without regard to political repercussions. Those communities that need financial and operating-direction under Act 72 often face payless paydays, litigation, labor disputes, unpaid vendors, and many more immediate issues. Many of these issues were addressed by the Receiver and his appointed team of professionals within 45 days of appointment.
Timinq The most critical problem facing fiscally distressed governmental units is the inability to make the tough decisions necessary to reduce the mounting deficits. The Ecorse Mayor and Council were unable to approve an operating budget for the 1987 fiscal year, despite over six months of effort to do so. Inside two weeks of appointment, the Receiver developed an initial course of action involving the termination of approximately 40 individuals and the elimination of services not mandated by the State. In approximately one month, these services and related staff were terminated and Ecorse began to reap the benefits of these actions.
In contrast with Act 72, an event triggers a preliminary assessment by a team of individuals who determine if there is a financial emergency. Examples of an event that would trigger the assessment would be: failure to cover payrolls for seven days, unpaid vendors and delinquent pension contributions, debt defaults and several others.
The preliminary review is required to be completed within 30 days of the event. The report is submitted to the State and a decision is made as to whether a fiscal emergency exists and whether the governmental unit can address the emergency without State intervention. If there is a fiscal problem that cannot be addressed by the local unit, an "emergency financial manager" (eq. receiver) is sought and hired.
If this process had taken place in Ecorse, it may have taken up to three months to appoint an emergency financial manager, if at all. Had this occurred, the losses in 1987 would have been increased by approximately $1.0 million before actions would have been taken by the appointed emergency financial manager. However, before a financial manager could have been appointed in Ecorse there would have been payless paydays, the Police and Fire Pension Plan (Pension Plan) would not have been funded, and the potential existed for a debt default. Additional litigation would also have been likely.
Politics Act 72 involves a substantial amount of politics. The intervention of a superior governmental authority in the day-to-day operations of a local unit is troublesome for State officials. Efforts to avoid this conflict by not imposing Act 72 continue to this day.
Throughout the 1980s, many of the communities were known to vote consistently within the same political party of the then State administration. Little desire to challenge one's own political party was exhibited time and time again. However, even political parties differed, there is a great reluctance to implement Act 72. Another significant issue contributing to the avoidance of a confrontation involves the potential for racial bias allegations.
The State has repeatedly supported the philosophy that fiscally distressed communities resolve their own financial problems. However, many cannot as they lack the revenue base and in-house financial and managerial expertise to do so. Despite the continued decline experienced by many governmental units in the recent recession, the State continues to be unwilling to address its statutory obligations to use Act 72 as a means to control the fiscal problems of local units.
The City of Detroit recently failed to make in a pension contribution ($73 million) to the Police and Fire Pension Plan that was due on June 30, 1992. One of the events that would trigger Act 72 states:
"Sec. 4. (1). The state treasurer shall conduct a preliminary review to determine the existence of a local government financial problem when 1 or more of the following occur:
(d) The state treasurer receives written notification from the trustee, actuary, or at least 10% of the beneficiaries of a local government pension fund alleging that a local government has not timely deposited its minimum obligation payment to the local government pension fund as required by law."
The pension contribution has still not been made as of early August 1992. Likely, no one has formally notified the state treasurer in accordance with the specific guidance identified in the statutes and the fiscal distress continues.
Local governmental units are equally to blame for the failure of Act 72. In the case of Ecorse, repeated legal attempts by the Mayor and Council to terminate the receivership continued for well over 18 months. The legal costs were staggering, both in terms of legal fees, but also in the time of the receivership directed at the litigation, rather than at resolution of Ecorse's problems.
Numerous requests by Ecorse's Mayor and Council to terminate the receivership were presented to the Court despite not having resolved the problems that contributed the receivership. As there is a desire by the State to remove itself from local governmental operations, simlar requests under Act 72 would provide the State a convenient excuse to eliminate Act 72. If the local government officials acted in a manner similar to Ecorse's officials in their request to have Act 72 terminated, it may be months or years before the damage can be observed and then, addressed properly.
In an article in Crains Detroit Business for the week of July 20-26 1992, Detroit's Mayor was cited as having sent a letter to Gov. John Engler (who was one of the authors of Act 72 when he was in the Senate). Detroit's Mayor "offered personal assurance that I will do all in my power to keep the city of Detroit budget in balance throughout the 1992-3 fiscal year, and I will take those difficult actions necessary to produce the same results during my future years as mayor." As the City of Detroit has had an accumulated deficit for the past several years and is continuing to exhibit fiscal distress, the State should be asking the Mayor why earlier efforts were not taken to resolve the problem, rather than waiting until the situation became critical.
Financial Information Often, fiscally distressed communities have not recognized the importance of timely, accurate financial information in assisting management's ability to make informed decisions, including ensuring compliance with adopted budgets. Ecorse was no exception. The 1986 audited financial statements required over six months to produce. Substantial errors were detected in these financial statements in connection with the 1987 audit effort. The Receiver required the 1987 financial statements to be produced within 60 days of year end. The 1987 financial statements were completed on August 13, 1987, just 44 days after year end.
In each of the years leading up to the receivership, Ecorse's Mayor and Council adopted a balanced budget. However, throughout the early to mid-1980s, actual operations were not in balance as actual expenditures consistently exceeded revenues. Yet, there was the mistaken belief by the Mayor and Council that the adoption of a balanced budget, without correcting actual operations, complied with State statutes. The ultimate failure to finally adopt a budget in 1987 was one of the primary factors leading to the receivership.
Financial information is critical in attempting to initially assess the financial condition of a governmental unit. The lack of financial information inhibits the receivership and would also inhibit the State's ability to truly identify and assess a fiscal emergency under Act 72.
Loans Shortly into the receivership, the State provided Ecorse an Emergency Loan Board (ELB) note of $1 million to Ecorse. The note proceeds of which were used to satisfy one of many creditors. Similar borrowings are possible by an emergency financial manager or even governmental units not formally under Act 72. Usually, there are debt covenants associated with this debt. However, officials and management of a fiscally distressed governmental unit are not concerned about covenants on debt not due for many years.
Ecorse's Receiver has recently suggested that provisions be included within the ELB notes that require the use of an emergency financial manager so long as the debt is outstanding. In addition, State distributions can be withheld for the payment of delinquent ELB debt. However, the State is reluctant to do so. The mandatory requirement of an emergency financial manager and statutes requiring that State distributions be withheld would ensure that the ELB debt is repaid.
Some have indicated that it is foolish to repay the ELB debt early, if at all. However, Ecorse was successful in repaying $100,000 of the ELB note principal in each of the 1991 and 1992 fiscal years. These payments were earlier than the required debt maturity schedule. In July 1992, the Ecorse Mayor and Council paid an additional $50,000 in principal, also in advance of the debt's due date.
Insurance A critical administrative matter existing at the inception of the receivership was the need in the Receiver to obtain insurance to avoid potential personal losses. The Receiver was able to obtain insurance during the receivership and beyond from Michigan Municipal Risk Management Authority (MMRMA). MMRMA was reluctant to terminate Ecorse's insurance as it is an insurance pool for governmental entities.
Before the receivership, Ecorse officials and management ignored MMRMA's request to reduce insurance risks. MMRMA, however, could not continue without a substantial reduction in risk. Ultimately, MMRMA felt that it was better to insure the Receiver than to continue on with Ecorse.
Similar insurance avenues are not present under Act 72. The emergency financial manager is required to obtain commercial insurance. However, this policy does not address many of the potential insurable conditions that may be precipated by the difficult decisions that the emergency financial manager will have to make.
Discussions with representatives of the State Attorney General's Office have provided the secondary line of defense for the emergency- financial manager functioning under Act 72, namely that the emergency financial manager's "conduct in office" will protect him from losing a lawsuit. Essentially, if none of the politically difficult decisions are made by an emergency financial manager, no one can win a lawsuit. However, if the emergency financial manager chooses to be effective and reduces staff and / or services and / or increases revenues, then the he may be sued. No one wins in a lawsuit; legal fees are costly and the potential for personal loss may result in individuals avoiding the position of emergency financial manager. Adequate insurance avenues must be addressed for emergency financial managers.
In Ecorse's case, the Receiver was constantly fighting with the Mayor and Council over the authority of the receivership the actions taken by the Receiver and other matters. Had the Receiver's assets been personally exposed, as is the case in many instances under Act 72, many of the tough decisions that ultimately lead Ecorse out of the fiscal distress would not have been made.
Staff Reductions - Department of Treasury The Local Audit Division within the State Department of Treasury is responsible for the review of all governmental unit's audited financial statements, reviewing and approving deficit elimination plans, providing technical assistance to fiscally distressed governmental units, and other tasks. Over the past several years, the Division's staff has been reduced to approximately one-third of the personnel present when Act 72 was initially passed in 1988. Presently, the ability to provide any significant levels of technical assistance to fiscally distressed governmental units is difficult, if not impossible.


Details Published on Feb 11, 2009 Contact Bernie DeGroat "Research suggests that consumers are unlikely to indulge themselves when they don't see good reasons to justify it, yet our findings consistently indicate that consumers' actual enjoyment of indulgences is independent of justification, in contrast to what consumers believe," said Norbert Schwarz, a marketing professor at Michigan's Ross School of Business who is also affiliated with U-M's Department of Psychology and Institute for Social Research.
In an article in the current issue of the Journal of Marketing Research, Schwarz and colleague Jing Xu, who now teaches at Peking University's Guanghua School of Management, reveal their findings from a series of studies that examine whether we really do need a reason to indulge.
The answer? Live it up, go for it, knock yourself out—just don't overthink it or you may start to feel guilty.
Consistent with prior research, Schwarz and Xu found that consumers expect less enjoyment and more guilt when they indulge themselves without a reason or simply to console themselves for a poor performance.
But their new research suggests that in the actual situation, the reason or lack thereof, has no impact on our enjoyment nor does it matter if we indulged to console or reward ourselves. While indulging, the pleasures capture our attention and the justifications are not on our minds.
However, feelings are fleeting and a few days later we need to rely on reconstructive memory when we think about how we felt during our indulgence, the researchers say. The memories we reconstruct are more in line with our expectations than with our actual experience. In other words, if we believe that we'll feel guilty for indulging in one of life's simple pleasures—even if we actually don't—we may "remember" that we did.
In their studies, Schwarz and Xu surveyed hundreds of college students on various scenarios of indulgence—with vs. without a reason, as a reward for previous effort vs. as a consolation for poor performance, expectations vs. actual experience vs. recall of experience.
They found that consumers enjoy indulgences just as much when they had a reason for them than when they did not, and regardless of whether they were rewarding themselves for good performance or consoling themselves for a poor performance.
"In combination, our findings suggest that consumers' beliefs are erroneous," Schwarz said. "Actual enjoyment is driven by features of the consumption act itself, rather than by consumers' a priori beliefs. Indulgence is enjoyable independent of the presence or absence of a good justification."


Sat. March 7 - A city is experiencing an upswing in crimes committed by young male African Americans. Should a journalist be worried that telling these crime stories day after day may lead citizens to falsely stereotype all young African Americans as criminals? Right before an election, one candidate accuses the other of having an illegitimate child. Should a journalist report the allegation if there isn't time to evaluate whether it's true before people vote?
A journalist discovers that the CIA has committed illegal activities. Should the story be reported if it might reveal how the CIA is operating to lower the risk of terrorist attacks in the U.S.?
Journalists wrestle with judgments like these hypothetical situations all of the time, but they too seldom engage anyone outside the newsroom in their deliberations. They almost never do before a decision is made, and rarely after the fact, unless the decision causes so much anger in the community that some explanation is unavoidable. join the discussion
A free public forum at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11, at the Missouri History Museum will give citizens and journalists a chance to talk to each other about ethical questions like these. You're invited to join the conversation, which I will moderate.
I hope the discussion will illuminate a dynamic tension among the ethical values at the heart of professional journalism. I also hope it will explore how citizens would have journalists wrestle with that tension.


Betaspring is a mentorship-driven startup accelerator program for technology and design entrepreneurs who are ready to launch a company and change the world. Apply by 6/12 for our fall session, which begins on 8/26.Accelereach Accelereach is an online platform that makes it easy for health and wellness coaches to manage and engage their clients.
Unhealthy behavior is the single most addressable contributor to avoidable healthcare costs in the United States. Changing behaviors like smoking, alcohol abuse, and inactivity could save an estimated $552 billion dollars a year. Now more than ever, individuals and companies recognize the need for behavior change supported by professionals such as health and wellness coaches. These coaches depend on a high degree of continual, personal contact with clients; however, they are limited in both scale and effectiveness by tools available to them today. Coaches unanimously acknowledge that the most critical period for behavior change efforts is in between meetings with the coach, when the coach and client have the least contact. However, they currently do not have any tools for engaging with their clients in between sessions, and monitoring their progress. Due to this lack of communication, clients fail to reach their goals and coaches struggle to retain unmotivated and unsatisfied clients.


Abstract We conducted a literature review to identify elements of duodenogastroesophageal reflux (DGER)—namely pancreatic fluids, hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and bile—as to the effects each has when refluxed to the extraesophageal structures. Further, we wished to acquaint clinicians with the possibilities that, in addition to hydrochloric acid, the other components of DGER are likewise contributing to disease in the extraesophageal areas. Our review included studies that have indicated reflux of the above mentioned components of DGER to the pharynx, larynx, tracheobronchial tree, oral cavity, nasopharynx, nose and sinuses, eustachian tube, and middle ear. Findings demonstrate that injury to the upper aerodigestive tract can occur from a variety of substances secreted from the stomach and duodenum. Treatment for DGER is nonspecific. We conclude that patients with an incomplete response to acid suppression may have significant involvement of pepsin, bile, or both. Future studies are needed to clarify the importance of these elements and to suggest more precise treatments.


Limited data are available on the source of usual nutrient intakes in the United States. This analysis aimed to assess contributions of micronutrients to usual intakes derived from all sources (naturally occurring, fortified and enriched, and dietary supplements) and to compare usual intakes to the Dietary Reference Intake for U.S. residents aged ≥2 y according to NHANES 2003-2006 (n = 16,110). We used the National Cancer Institute method to assess usual intakes of 19 micronutrients by source. Only a small percentage of the population had total usual intakes (from dietary intakes and supplements) below the estimated average requirement (EAR) for the following: vitamin B-6 (8%), folate (8%), zinc (8%), thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, vitamin B-12, phosphorus, iron, copper, and selenium (<6% for all). However, more of the population had total usual intakes below the EAR for vitamins A, C, D, and E (34, 25, 70, and 60%, respectively), calcium (38%), and magnesium (45%). Only 3 and 35% had total usual intakes of potassium and vitamin K, respectively, greater than the adequate intake. Enrichment and/or fortification largely contributed to intakes of vitamins A, C, and D, thiamin, iron, and folate. Dietary supplements further reduced the percentage of the population consuming less than the EAR for all nutrients. The percentage of the population with total intakes greater than the tolerable upper intake level (UL) was very low for most nutrients, whereas 10.3 and 8.4% of the population had intakes greater than the UL for niacin and zinc, respectively. Without enrichment and/or fortification and supplementation, many Americans did not achieve the recommended micronutrient intake levels set forth in the Dietary Reference Intake.


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Department of Neurology, State University of New York at Buffalo School of Medicine, 14203, USA.
Previous functional neuroimaging studies of attention have emphasized the visual modality. We developed an auditory version of the continuous performance test (CPT) that included simple, focused and divided attention conditions. Positron emission tomographic (PET) scans were acquired during CPT performance in normal young adults and then submitted to statistical parametric mapping. Simple attention brought about a large region of activation involving the anterior cingulate gyrus and the right anterior/mesial frontal lobe. Focused and divided attention CPT conditions were compared but there were few significant differences. The findings are consistent with activation of an anterior attention network during auditory attention, without involvement of posterior attention structures which are more likely to vary in accordance with sensory modality.
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National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda MD, 20894 USA


Dr. Lai Shin-yuan at the National Committee The National Committee welcomed Dr. Lai Shin-yuan, minister of Taiwan’s Mainland Affairs Council, for a roundtable discussion on July 13. Dr. Lai previously served as a National Security Council advisor in Chen Shui-bian’s administration and a legislator representing the Taiwan Solidarity Union party from 2005 to 2008. President Ma Ying-jeou crossed party lines to ask Dr. Lai to serve as head of the Mainland Affairs Council, the government office responsible for managing cross-Strait relations. She has overseen rapid progress: high-level talks between Taiwan and the mainland, increased passenger flights, and Taiwan’s participation in international institutions such as the World Health Assembly.
In her opening comments, Dr. Lai referred to the current moment as an historic window in which all parties involved should work to build peace and stability in the Strait and emphasized that improvement of cross-Strait relations is a gradual process during which both Taiwan and Mainland China must take steady steps to build mutual trust. Dr. Lai discussed the ways her office intends to increase Taiwan’s involvement in international institutions, focusing on high-level government talks with the Mainland conducted through proxy institutions. In this way, she said, Taiwan will be able to gain a larger stake in international affairs without challenging the balance it has struck with the leadership in Beijing.
National Committee president Stephen Orlins moderated the discussion, which included how developments across the Strait might affect Taiwan’s economic competitiveness abroad; the importance of removing trade and investment barriers to boost Taiwan’s competitiveness, and both the positive and negative aspects of the proposed free-trade agreement between Taiwan and China; and the need to balance economic independence and cooperative ties to the Mainland, while maintaining a clear set of goals for Taiwan’s involvement in the international community.


The current epidemic of obesity has resulted in a renewed interest in the developmental origins of adipose tissue. Adipose tissue is formed from mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in a process known as adipogenesis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that inhibit translation by binding to the 3¿UTR of their target genes. The aim of this study was to determine whether miRNAs play a role in the adipogenesis of bone marrow derived MSCs. Microarray analysis identified 20 miRNAs which were significantly regulated in adipogenically differentiating MSCs compared to undifferentiating MSCs, of which 11 were significantly downregulated and 9 were significantly upregulated. MiR-221 and miR-222 were significantly downregulated during hMSC differentiation to adipocytes. MiR-221 and miR-222 were overexpressed using lentiviral vectors to determine whether their reduction is necessary for adipogenic differentiation. MSCs overexpressing miR-221 and miR-222 displayed a significantly reduced ability to differentiate to adipocytes compared to control MSCs, as measured by lipid accumulation and expression of adipogenesis-related transcripts. MiRZip short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs) against miR-221 and miR-222 were lentivirally delivered to determine the effects of reduced miR-221 and miR-222 activity on hMSC adipogenesis. The reduction in activity of either miRNA caused a significant reduction in cell number. P27 is an experimentally confirmed target of miR-221 and miR-222 in cancer models. The overexpression of miR-221 and miR-222 reduced the levels of p27 protein but not mRNA 72 hours after the induction of adipogenesis. Direct interactions between the miRNAs and the 3¿UTR of p27 were verified using luciferase reporters in HEK293T cells. To investigate whether preventing the reduction in p27 protein rescues the reduction in lipid accumulation, p27 was overexpressed in MSCs with reduced miR-221 and miR-222. This did not lead to a significant change in lipid accumulation in MSCs, suggesting that miR-221 and miR-222 do not act solely through an effect on this protein.


Too chummy with your co-workers? First, a general comment: as I mentioned in my introduction, I've been extensively involved with the internet for years now, but I've always been better at the observer role. I rarely comment on blogs I read; I rarely write on Facebook walls and my own blog - though this hasn't always been the case - is updated every month or so. (Twitter is the exception - something about the snappy entries and the single-person nature of it makes updating easier for me.) What I've always liked best about the web is that a passive role is OK, and generally accepted. I can respond if, and when, I feel like it. It's strange to have what I've considered a leisure activity bumping against school and work. While I generally like the internet's role in business and other formal communication, I'll be interested to see how I shift gears.
A thought about the texts: In Connect! , the authors mention that web communication allows "team members to get to know each other on a human level" (Zelenka 56). This is advantageous - especially for those members working cross-country or transcontinental - but I see downfalls. With Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, LinkedIn, etc., the internet rapidly exposes more detailed information than one might hear around the water-cooler. In five minutes, I could discover my colleague's birth date, marital status, weekend plans, kids' names and even religion and sexual preference. I'll have a pre-determined idea of them before we even begin a project. Instead of meeting a blank-slate co-worker, I've already painted them. Another disadvantage is that the line between co-worker and pal becomes a little blurry - while, often, co-workers become friends, there often needs to be a level of professionalism present to get the work done. I think the internet makes this professionalism more difficult. What do you think?
I've really enjoyed reading everyone's thoughtful entries. I look forward to next week - it's fun to see how everything's coming together.
--Zelenka, Ann Truitt. Connect!: Web Worker Daily’s Guide to a New Way of Working. Wiley, 2008. Pg. 141-171.


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Accurate accounting for all allowances issued under the EU emissions trading system (EU ETS) is ensured by the Union registry. The registry keeps track of the ownership of allowances held in electronic accounts in the same way as a bank has a record of all its customers and their money.
Following a revision of the ETS Directive in 2009, EU ETS operations were centralised in a single EU registry operated by the European Commission. The Union registry has replaced Member States' national registries. The single registry covers all 31 countries participating in the EU ETS.
The Union registry is an online database that holds accounts for stationary installations which have been transferred from national registries, as well as accounts for aircraft operators, which have been included in the EU ETS since January 2012.
The registry records:
To participate in the EU ETS a company or a physical person has to open an account in the Union registry.
To open an account, a request must be sent to the relevant national administrator, who is in charge of collecting and verifying all supporting documentation.
The European Union Transaction Log (EUTL) automatically checks, records, and authorises all transactions that take place between accounts in the Union registry. This verification ensures that any transfer of allowances from one account to another is consistent with EU ETS rules.
The EUTL is the successor of the Community Independent Transaction Log (CITL), which had a similar role before the activation of the Union registry.


As distinct from the Western medical concept of Urinary bladder, this concept from Traditional Chinese Medicine is more a way of describing a set of interrelated functions than an anatomical organ. (See Zang Fu theory)
The Bladder is a Yang (Fu) organ; its paired Yin (Zang) organ is the Kidney. Both are associated with the element of water and the emotion of fear.
As opposed to western medicine, where the bladders function is the storage and excretion of urine, the bladder in Traditional Chinese Medicine has extended functions, including how fluids are transformed during urine production. Fluids are still sent from the small intestine to the bladder for storage, but the bladders capabilities are dependant on the kidney yang. If the kidney is yang deficient, the bladder may not have the sufficient qi and heat to transform fluids properly into urine. This could result in overly clear urine that must be excreted more frequently.
External links [edit]


CATFISH PRODUCERS PRAISE SEN. SESSIONS FOR EFFORTS
MONTGOMERY, Ala., May 9 - Alabama Catfish Producers, a division of the Alabama Farmers Federation, today praised Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., for his work to increase inspections of fish and seafood by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).Under an amendment passed by the Senate today, the FDA would have increased legal authority to enhance inspections of fish, shrimp, seafood and other aquaculture products, Sessions announced.
"We appreciate Sen. Sessions' enthusiastic response to the situation facing catfish producers and the general public," said Dallas County farmer Butch Wilson, who serves as chairman of Alabama Catfish Producers. "Several Southeastern states have tested imported fish and found banned antibiotics. U.S. farm-raised catfish producers already operate under the strictest guidelines in the world. This amendment will help ensure foreign products are held to the same high standards."
The measure authorizes the secretary of Health and Human Services to enhance the inspection of aquaculture and seafood, including catfish and shrimp, for antibiotics and other FDA-banned contaminants. Under the provisions of the amendment, the Secretary must report back to Congress on what steps are being taken to ensure that proper inspections are occurring.
Sessions' bipartisan amendment was co-sponsored by Sens. Richard Shelby, R-Ala.; Thad Cochran, R-Miss; Trent Lott, R-Miss; Mary Landrieu, D-La.; David Vitter, R-La.; Mark Pryor, D-Ark.; and Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark.
Sessions offered the amendment to S. 1082, the Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 2007. Sessions' bill was part of a package of amendments adopted by unanimous consent last night. The Senate passed the underlying legislation today, 93-1.
"It is unacceptable to allow substandard catfish and shrimp, mostly produced in China, to enter the U.S. market when those imported products do not meet the established safety standards that govern our food supply," Sessions said. "The amendment represents a significant step toward protecting American consumers from substandard catfish, shrimp and seafood products."
Additionally, the amendment would require the secretary to report to Congress within 90 days on the feasibility of developing a traceability system for catfish and seafood products.
A traceability system would potentially allow federal inspectors to better identify the source of tainted food products, once such products are discovered.
"The feasibility report required by the amendment will be an extremely valuable tool as we consider the establishment of a functioning traceability system," Sessions said. "This report will provide critical information to Congress, and will be especially important as the Senate plans to consider food safety legislation later this year."
The amended Prescription Drug User Fee Act of 2007 has broad-based support and is expected to be considered by the House of Representatives this summer.


On pp. 59–68 of this issue, Alexander Meissner and Giovanni Amabile review the exciting progress in the direct reprogramming field and compare the characteristics of embryonic stem (ES) and induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cells. Recent studies have demonstrated that lineage-restricted cells can be reprogrammed to a pluripotent state through overexpression of defined transcription factors and suggest that mouse and human iPS cells often exhibit a normal karyotype, are transcriptionally and epigenetically similar to ES cells and maintain the potential to differentiate into derivatives of all germ layers. This provides optimism that safe, virus-free human iPS cells could be routinely derived in the near future. The authors discuss the remaining challenges and the potential therapeutic applications. Cover design by Philip Patenall.


Find The Perfect Clinic For You You fill out the form Your perfect clinic will be found You will be contacted by them You can book a FREE no obligation consultation with the clinic that is right for you. A guide to Oral Thrush Let’s start with the obvious question: what is oral thrush? Everybody has a certain amount of thrush in their mouths, including babies. It is caused by a fungus called candida which, under certain conditions, turns into the thrush infection in the mouth.
While oral thrush is correctly described as an infection, it cannot be transmitted from person to person as it is not contagious. Oral thrush occurs because a person may have a weakened immune system, an underlying illness or if the oral environment changes (for example, if not enough saliva is being produced). These sorts of alterations can cause the candida fungus to turn into thrush.
For the main part, oral thrush is not harmful. It is primarily manifested as white or yellowish spots in the mouth and in the throat. These spots can be scraped away and they may cause some pain and discomfort in the mouth. The infected areas of the mouth can appear inflamed or irritated and a sensation similar to a slight burning has been described.
One of the biggest factors is causing oral thrust in adults is dentures, particularly if the dentures are ill-fitting or not being looked after properly. To help minimise oral thrush, denture wearers should keep their dentures clean and follow their dentist’s advice on looking after their dentures and maintaining their oral hygiene. If your dentures are ill-fitting, you may need to visit your dentist to have a new pair made which fit the shape of your mouth better. This will help to reduce the level of oral thrush.
Of course, it is not simply denture wearers who suffer from oral thrush. Newborn babies are particularly susceptible, as are adults with diabetes, drug problems, poor diets and immune deficiencies.
In severe cases of oral thrush, you should make an appointment to see your doctor. Your doctor will usually be able to prescribe anti-fungal medicines, such as fluconazole, to ease the condition. These medicines are available in the form of tablets, lozenges and gels. It is also important to remember that oral thrush, in rare cases, can also be a symptom of an underlying illness. In particular, it can be a sign that AIDS or cancer are present. Anti-fungal treatments will also help in these cases, both to treat oral thrush and to prevent it from occurring.
In most cases, however, the treatment of thrush will focus more on finding and removing the cause. For example, oral thrush can be caused by a poor diet, in which case your doctor will probably recommend improvements in that area. Once the cause has been removed, the thrush can be treated effectively with anti-fungal medicines and it should not return. Smoking can also be a cause of oral thrush.
There are certain groups of people for whom oral thrush can create increased complications, above and beyond the soreness that comes with the infection. For example, diabetes sufferers can have increased glucose in their saliva which can cause very high levels of thrush to occurr. For diabetes sufferers, oral thrush can escalate into a serious condition which infects the skin, the blood and the internal organs. If the symptoms of thrush are present, they should have them treated as a matter of urgency.
Newly born babies are also susceptible to thrush – research shows that around one in every seven babies suffers from oral thrush. These are not usually serious bouts of thrush and often they are painless, so the baby is not even aware of the condition. Other cases can cause some slight pain and discomfort, but it is very rarely a serious condition. Usually, your doctor will treat the thrush with an anti-fungal gel which can be applied directly to the affected area.
Nobody is entirely sure why newly born babies suffer from oral thrush. Doctors recommend ensuring that your baby maintains a healthy diet. You must also make sure that bottles, dummies and other teething toys, are sterilised. On occasions, babies that have oral thrush can find it difficult to feed. The infection can also boomerang backwards and forwards between mother and baby during breast-feeding. This can cause the mother to have pain, itchiness and flaky skin around the breasts.
Find a Dentist Cosmetic Dentistry A guide to Wisdom Teeth A guide to Toothpaste A guide to Air Abrasion A guide to Scale and Polish A guide to Valplast Dentures A guide to Tooth sensitivity A guide to HealoZone A guide to Tooth Recontouring A guide to TMJ/TMD A guide to Toothache A guide to Teething and Baby Teeth A guide to Teeth Whitening A guide to Tooth Straightening A guide to Smile Makeovers A guide to Sedation Dentistry A guide to Root Canal Treatment A guide to Pulpitis A guide to Plaque A guide to Orthognathic Surgery A guide to Dry Sockets A guide to Oral Thrush A guide to Oral Herpes A guide to Onlays and Inlays A guide to Mouthwash A guide to Mouth Ulcers A guide to Mouth Guards A guide to Mouth Cancer A guide to Mini Dental Implants A guide to Lumineers A guide to Gummy Smile A guide to Gum Recession A guide to Gum Disease A guide to Gum Contouring A guide to Flourosis A guide to Enlighten Teeth Whitening A guide to Emergency Dentistry A guide to Electric Toothbrushes A guide to Dry Mouth A guide to Dentures A guide to Dental Veneers A guide to Sinus Lifts A guide to Dental Sealants A guide to Dental Phobia A guide to Dental Occlusion A guide to Dental Insurance A guide to Dental Hygiene A guide to Dental Crowns A guide to Dental Bridges A guide to Abscesses A guide to Cerec A guide to Cavities A guide to Canker Sores A guide to Bruxism A guide to Brushing Teeth A guide to Halitosis A guide to Apicoectomy A guide to Dental Fillings A guide to Cracked Teeth A guide to Cost of Cosmetic Dentistry A guide to Dental Bonding A guide to Chipped Teeth A guide to InVu braces A guide to Damon Braces A Guide to the Inman Aligner A guide to Lingual Braces A guide to 6-Month Smiles A guide to Orthodontics A Guide to Dental Implants A guide to Invisalign


Human Papillomavirus (HPV) E6 induced p53 degradation is thought to be an essential activity by which high-risk human Alphapapillomaviruses (alpha-HPVs) contribute to cervical cancer development. However, most of the data has been derived from the comparison of HPV16 and HPV11, relatively distinct viruses, making the extrapolation of these results difficult. In the present study, AECC investigator Burk and collaborators expanded the tested strains (types) to include members of all known HPV species groups within the Alphapapillomavirus genus. They evaluated the biochemical activity of E6 proteins from 27 HPV types representing all alpha-HPV species groups to degrade p53 in human cells. Expression of E6 from all HPV types epidemiologically classified as group 1 carcinogens significantly reduced p53 levels. However, several types not associated with cancer (e.g., HPV53, HPV70 and HPV71) were equally active in degrading p53. HPV types within species groups alpha 5, 6, 7, 9 and 11 share a most recent common ancestor (MRCA) and all contain E6 ORFs that degrade p53. A unique exception, HPV71 E6 ORF that degraded p53 was outside this clade and is one of the most prevalent HPV types infecting the cervix in a population-based study of 10,000 women. Alignment of E6 ORFs identified an amino acid site that was highly correlated with the biochemical ability to degrade p53. Alteration of this amino acid in HPV71 E6 abrogated its ability to degrade p53, while alteration of this site in HPV71-related HPV90 and HPV106 E6s enhanced their capacity to degrade p53. These data suggest that the alpha-HPV E6 proteins' ability to degrade p53 is an evolved phenotype inherited from a most recent common ancestor of the high-risk species that does not always segregate with carcinogenicity. In addition, an amino-acid residue was identified that is strongly correlated with viral p53 degrading potential.


Policies Legal Goverance of District Procurement and Contracting
Portland Public Schools is governed by numerous laws, rules, and District policies and administrative directives.
“Statutes” are laws passed by a city, state, or federal legislative body. In Oregon, the Oregon Revised Statutes is that “code” of laws passed by the Oregon Legislature. The Public Contracting Code collects the Oregon statutes that govern public procurement and contracting at the District. These laws can be found at ORS 279A, ORS 279B, ORS 279C.
Additionally, Oregon Administrative Rules are statements issued by a state agency that interpret, implement, or prescribe law or policy. These rules derive from statutes, are adopted at the direction of the legislature, and carry the force of law in District procurements and contracting.
Policies and administrative directives are statements adopted by the Board of Education, the District’s governing body. More specifically, a “policy” states a principal or goal the Board wants to achieve, while an "administrative directive" provides details on how to carry the policy out: what to do, how to do it, and who does it.
In August 2010, the Board of Education adopted revised PPS Public Contracting Rules. These rules have their base in Oregon statutes and administrative rules and are guided by the Attorney General’s model rules. Within the District, the PPS Public Contracting Rules have the force of policy.
The goal is to provide the legal framework for District procurement and contracting in a manner that is transparent, equitable, and accountable to taxpayers and auditors.


JEFFERSON CITY, Mo.-- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources has identified 21 drinking water systems in Missouri that have chronically failed to complete drinking water testing required by the department to ensure a safe water supply.
The department classifies a drinking water system as a chronic violator when a system has three major monitoring violations in a 12-month period. Routine testing by a drinking water system is crucial to maintaining a safe water supply.
The department requires all public water systems to test for bacteria at least once a month to verify these systems are providing safe drinking water to the public. The vast majority of community and non-community public water systems in Missouri comply with all monitoring requirements and meet all drinking water standards. This current list of 21 systems represents less than one percent of the approximately 2,800 public drinking water systems in Missouri.
Bacteriological testing can be the first step in identifying and correcting a problem. The next step is to investigate the cause of any bad samples and perform corrective action, such as disinfecting and flushing the system. When a public water system has a record of both failing to monitor and a history of exceeding contaminant levels, this may raise concerns about the quality of the drinking water.


A recent study in the journal Fisheries Management and Ecology links declines in riverine fish communities in Finland with intensive agriculture and its impacts on water quality.
Researchers Tappio Sutela and Teppo Vehanen surveyed fish from 27 medium-sized rivers in the northern part of the country. They also calculated a fish-based index developed for the evaluation of the ecological integrity of rivers.
The researchers then correlated their data with a measurement of agricultural intensity in the surrounding countryside and several indicators of water quality including total phosphorus, pH, total solids, and oxygen saturation.
The study found that at greater levels of agricultural intensification, water quality was significantly worse (particularly for total phosphorus, suspended solids and chemical oxygen demand), the composition of the fish community changed, and the fish-based index of ecological intergrity scored significantly lower.
Agriculturally intensive areas saw increases in species generally considered tolerant of human disturbance (pike, roach, ruffe and perch). Meanwhile these same areas saw a decrease in fish typically considered intolerant of anthropogenic activities (bullhead, alpine bullhead, minnow, and grayling).
The researchers explain that negative impacts to fish can occur when increased sedimentation from agriculture impairs the condition of spawning gravels and reduces survival of fish eggs and embryos. Sedimentation can also reduce availability of benthic food sources for fish.
While past research in the United States has found a similar relationship between agricultural intensity, water quality, and fish communities, fewer studies have focused on the linkages in Europe. Despite the findings, the authors caution that the study only found correlation, which does not necessarily mean causation.
For example, they noted that a latitudinal bias exists in the intensity of agriculture in the area. Also, the results were counterintuitive for a couple of species. For example, the stone loach increased under intensive agriculture even though it is generally considered intolerant of human disturbance.
Nevertheless, the findings are a cause of concern. The authors advise that maintaining woody riparian areas along streams may help prevents some of the negative effects of intensive agricultural on fish assemblages.
--Reviewed by Rob Goldstein SUTELA, T., & VEHANEN, T. (2009). Responses of fluvial fish assemblages to agriculture within the boreal zone Fisheries Management and Ecology DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2400.2009.00711.x


after the ballistic pendulum method. Some of these were not as accurate, but were still preferred over the ballistic pendulum method, perhaps because of nationalistic reasons. The interesting thing about these methods is that while they were more inaccurate than the ballistic pendulum method at the time they were invented, they laid the foundations for more modern and accurate methods of determining bullet velocities.In 1767, an Italian named Mattei came up with a method to measure bullet velocities. His method consisted of a vertical paper cylinder which was mounted on a wooden frame. The frame was made to rotate by using a cord and a weight. Once a uniform known speed was attained by it, the bullet was fired through it, perpendicular to the axis of the cylinder. The bullet passed through the paper cylinder and left two holes on the surface. The two holes gave the arc through which the cylinder had rotated as the bullet passed through it. By computing the length of the arc and knowing the diameter and the rotational speed of the cylinder, one could compute the bullet velocity. However, this method's precision was dependent on three factors: (a) the diameter of the cylinder, (b) knowing the rotational speed accurately and (c) the uniformity of the rotation. This machine was also not very effective against faster moving bullets, because it could not measure times less than 1/30th of a second, during which time a modern bullet, such as that fired by an M-16 rifle, could easily cover 100 feet (30 meters), which means you'd have to use a cylinder at least 100 feet in diameter to measure the speed of an M-16 bullet reasonably. It was also very hard to make sure the cylinder was rotating uniformly and so the device was not very accurate either.
In 1804, a French officer named Colonel Grobert invented another method to determine bullet velocity based on similar principles as Mattei's method. In Grobert's method, two large disks about 6.5 feet in diameter, made of cardboard, were attached to the same horizontal axle. In Grobert's original design, the two disks were placed 13 feet apart. The axle was rapidly rotated by means of an endless chain in combination with a flywheel and a windlass. When the rotation of the axle was judged to be at a constant speed, the tester then aimed at the disks and fired a shot through them. The bullet pierced through both disks, but since they were rotating rapidly, the exit hole through the second disk was not in the same line as the exit hole through the first disk. By looking at the positions of the two holes, one could determine the angle of revolution. Since the distance between the two disks was known and the speed of rotation was also known, the tester could calculate the bullet velocity. However, this method had the same weaknesses as the Mattei method described above.
The next step to correct these above problems was invented by another French officer, one Colonel Dabooz, in 1818. His method involved a gravity apparatus to measure bullet velocities.
His apparatus consisted of two screens, two pulleys, a cord and a counterweight. In his method, a fixed screen was placed precisely 50 yards from the muzzle of the firearm to be tested. Directly in front of the fixed screen was another screen, which was suspended by the cord. The cord passed through two pulleys and the other end was right in front of the muzzle of the gun and was tied to a counterweight, which held the movable screen in place. The firearm was aimed at the screens. When the firearm was discharged, the bullet would cut the cord as it left the barrel. This would release the movable screen, which would start falling. The bullet would travel 50 yards and pass through both screens. Since the movable screen was falling during this time, the hole in the movable screen would not be at the same height as the hole in the fixed screen. Knowing the acceleration due to gravity and measuring the distance between the holes in the two screens, the tester could calculate how much time the bullet took to travel 50 yards and from this, he could calculate the bullet velocity. This method had the advantage that a constant acceleration was imposed on the falling screen (since acceleration due to gravity remains constant), which made the time measurement more reliable. To measure the velocities of faster moving bullets, the distance between the two pulleys could be increased and reasonably accurate measurements could be made. The one error in this method is that it assumed that the movable screen would begin to fall as soon as the bullet passed through the cord.
The reader might note that while these three method use different ideas, they have one thing in common: they all measure the time taken for a bullet to travel through a known distance and from this, they determine the bullet velocity. This is unlike the ballistic pendulum method, which uses the principle of conservation of momentum to determine the bullet velocity. While these methods were not as accurate as the ballistic pendulum method when they were invented, they laid the foundation for the concept of cronographs. With the invention of electricity, the cronograph concept became more practical and more accurate and it eventually replaced the ballistic pendulum method. We will study practical cronographs in the next post.


It's authors, Andrea Saveri, Howard Rheingold, Alex Soojung-Kim Pang, and Kathi Vian, must have been looking over my shoulder as I worked out the Relationship Value Model. They write (and I comment): Connective and pervasive technologies are enabling new forms of human and machine interactions (networks) and relationships; they will present business institutions with a host of new possibilities for organizing people, processes, relationships and knowledge (wealth creation). These forces will accelerate a shift in business strategy from solving concrete business problems to managing complex business dilemmas, which in turn will require a broader set of strategic tools (The Relationship Value Model) and concepts than are provided by competitive models. (1)
Elizabeth summarises findings in the paper:
The authors organize their information by what they are calling "lenses", which enable them to address what the major insights on cooperation are from various disciplines. These seven lenses are:
1. Synchrony (cognitive convergence)
2. Symbiosis (tokens and values)
3. Group Selection (material tokens that explicate an organisation)
4. Catalysis (common values for a range of tokens)
5. Commons (networks)
6. Collective Action (identified among tokens held in common by social organisations)
Collective Intelligence (networks of social organisations – such as a business holding tokens and values in common)
Uncanny really!


Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are associated with many diseases such as Parkinson''s, Alzheimer''s, cancer and diabetes. Among ROS, hydroxyl radical plays a significant role due to its high reactivity with biomacromolecules. Detection of the radical selectively, provides information about the localization, extent of damage and resulting cellular response. Therefore, methods that are sensitive, accurate and reproducible for the detection of hydroxyl radical are crucial for understanding pathophysiology in a host of inherited and acquired diseases. The synthesis, characteristics, and biological applications of a series of new rhodamine nitroxide fluorescent probes that enable imaging of hydroxyl radicals in living cells are described.These probes are highly selective for hyroxyl radical in aqueous solution avoiding interference from other ROS, and they facilitate hydroxyl radical imaging in biologically active samples. The roboust nature of these probes (high specifity and selectivity, and facile synthesis) offer distinct advantages over previous methods for detection of hydroxyl radicals.[Figure 1]


Submitted to: International Journal on Subsurface Sensing Technologies & ApplicationsPublication Type: ProceedingsPublication Acceptance Date: June 2, 2004Publication Date: June 21, 2004Citation: Gish, T.J., Daughtry, C.S.T., Walthall, C.L., Kung. K. 2004. Qualifying impact of hydrology on corn grain yield using ground-penetrating radar. In: Proceedings 10th International Conference on Ground-penetrating Radar, June 21-24, 2004, Delft, The Netherlands. 2:493-496.Interpretive Summary: Understanding factors controlling within field crop production variability is essential for the development of environmentally friendly and economically viable agricultural production systems. Hydrology plays a leading role in crop production and soil ecology as soil moisture influences yield and the behavior of agricultural chemicals. Although surface topography and subsurface soil layering have an impact on the temporal and spatial nature of soil moisture, its subsequent impact on yield patterns has not been quantified. Quantifying the impact of hydrology on corn grain yield was investigated at the Optimizing Production Inputs for Economic and Environmental Enhancement (OPE3) program using primarily ground-penetrating radar (GPR). Results show that discrete subsurface water flow pathways exist under the soil surface. When these GPR-identified flow pathways come within 2 m of the soil surface they have a dramatic impact on crop growth and yield. For example, during growing seasons with below or average rainfall, these flow pathways have a beneficial impact on yield. However, when rainfall is abundant, soil moisture conditions are too wet and yields near these GPR-identified subsurface flow pathways decline. This research indicates that GPR may be an effective tool for quantifying the impact of hydrology on crop production.
Technical Abstract:Understanding hydrologic processes is fundamental for characterizing agricultural chemical behavior and crop production at the field and watershed scales. Unfortunately, crop production patterns and hydrologic processes exhibit significant spatial and temporal variability. The concept of soil moisture response zones has been proposed and found to be an effective means for identifying areas within a field that are hydrologically similar. Soil moisture response zones were determined using normalized spatial yield patterns from divergent climatic conditions on a small watershed at the USDA-ARS Agricultural Research Center, Beltsville, Maryland USA. Subsurface hydrology was determined by identifying subsurface convergent flow pathway locations using ground-penetrating radar (GPR), digital elevation maps (DEM) and a GIS. Frequent volumetric soil moisture measurements confirmed the existence of discrete preferential funnel flow processes occurring near the GPR-identified preferential flow pathways. Although the spatial variability of corn (Zea mays L.) grain yield generated coefficients of variation > 114% during a drought, yield were strongly effected by their proximity to GPR-identified subsurface flow pathways. Corn grain yields and the soil moisture response index decreased as the horizontal distance from the GPR-identified subsurface flow pathways increased during a drought. During a growing season where precipitation was abundant, this quantitative relationship was reversed. This research suggests that GPR is an effective tool for quantifying the impact hydrology on crop production.


"This brief draws on newly available data from the U.S. Census Bureau's Quarterly Workforce Indicators, which includes information on firm age and size from the Business Dynamics Statistics microdata. The brief highlights statistics on hiring, turnover and wages at young businesses, finding that despite high worker turnover at young firms, the share of hires that increase net employment is higher at young firms relative to established businesses. The report also documents a decline in the relative wages paid to workers at young businesses, a decline partly explained by changes in the industry composition of young firms. The Quarterly Workforce Indicators are generated from federal and state administrative data on employers and employees combined with core Census Bureau censuses and surveys to produce a rich, quarterly dataset that tracks employment, hires, separations, job creation and destruction, and wages for stable employees and new hires. While the importance of young firms in net job creation is well documented from establishment-level data (particularly Business Dynamics Statistics), the addition of firm age and size information to the jobs data in the Quarterly Workforce Indicators allows for the first time examination of the workforce dynamics — hiring, turnover, wages — as well as the demographic makeup of workers at young businesses."


Title: The nutrition transition: a gender perspective with reference to Brazil
Paper Type: Research Papers
Date: November 2010
Summary: The concept of the 'nutrition transition' is widely used to explain the recent, rapid rise in overweight and obesity, and the co-existence of under- and over-nutrition, in low-income populations in 'middle-income' developing countries. This article provides an overview of the changes occurring in diets, physical activity, and nutritional status among children and adults in nutrition transition settings, explores the impact of these changes by gender, and discusses the long-term individual and social repercussions of such changes. It concludes by framing important questions for development practice and policy in nutrition transition settings through a gendered lens.


Plastics Conserve Few realize how important plastics are to our environmental future. Plastics help conserve our resources – water, land, fuel, oil – and through their intelligent application in agriculture, help maximize food production to feed a hungry world.
And plastics are critical in the fight against climate change. As we transition to a low-carbon economy, intelligent plastics will play a pivotal role enabling significant energy conservation and greenhouse gas reductions through greener buildings, lighter-weight cars and new green solar and wind energy. Being 85% lighter than most other materials, plastics' use in packaging already contributes to significant energy and emission reductions in transportation. In the auto sector, the weight reduction achieved through the substitution of plastics for other materials saves 3.3 billion litres of fuel a year.


Allen, Lawrence R. / Barcelona, Robert J. (Hrsg.)Recreation as a Developmental Experience Theory Practice Research: New Directions for Youth Development, Number 130 J-B MHS Single Issue Mental Health Services (Band 130) August 2011 25,90 Euro 2011. 144 Seiten, Softcover ISBN 978-1-118-11527-5 - John Wiley & Sons Preis inkl. Mehrwertsteuer zzgl. Versandkosten.
Probekapitel Jetzt kaufen E-Books sind auch über alle bekannten E-Book Shops erhältlich. Langtext It's not all "fun and games." A growing body of research suggests that recreation activities can be powerful development contexts when they are properly framed and intentionally designed. This volume highlights much of that research, and the articles that follow provide ample evidence that well-framed recreation activities and contexts can provide a range of positive developmental outcomes. Editors Lawrence R. Allen and Robert J. Barcelona draw on their own work in human and youth development and have assembled contributing authors who explore the important of meaningful recreation and leisure experiences in the lives of youth and the value of recreation from a developmental perspective. Chapters focus on the developmental potential of specific recreation contexts and settings and provide research and evidence-based strategies outlining the activities that best promote positive youth development. Finally, the volume demonstrates how recreation is being used to strengthen individual and community assets and its role as a contributor in addressing pressing social issues. This is the 130th volume of New Directions for Youth Development, the Jossey-Bass quarterly report series dedicated to bringing together everyone concerned with helping young people, including scholars, practitioners, and people from different disciplines and professions. The result is a unique resource presenting thoughtful, multi-faceted approaches to helping our youth develop into responsible, stable, well-rounded citizens.Aus dem Inhalt Issue Editors' Notes 1 Lawrence R. Allen, Robert J. Barcelona Executive Summary 5 1. Leisure, recreation, and play from a developmental context 13 Linda L. Caldwell, Peter A. Witt This article provides a platform for this special issue on recreation and youth development by examining how and under what conditions play, recreation, and leisure contribute to adolescent development. 2. Positive youth development within a family leisure context: Youth perspectives of family outcomes 29 Peter J. Ward, Ramon B. Zabriskie This article presents an extensive review of the literature on family leisure and its impact on youth development, and addresses implications for families and youth programs. 3. Back to the future: The potential relationship between leisure and education 43 David S. Fleming, Lawrence R. Allen, Robert J. Barcelona The authors propose a series of four developmental stages for a more purposeful integration of leisure and educational outcomes. 4. Recreation as a component of the community youth development system 59 Corliss Outley, Jason N. Bocarro, Chris T. Boleman This article provides an overview of how recreation fits in a community youth development framework and focuses on three case examples. 5. Youth development and the camp experience 73 Barry A. Garst, Laurie P. Browne, M. Deborah Bialeschki A comprehensive overview of the evidence linking camp participation and a range of positive youth development outcomes is presented, including a discussion of ongoing American Camp Association research efforts across a range of camp settings and contexts. 6. Outdoor-based play and reconnection to nature: A neglected pathway to positive youth development 89 Fran P. Mainella, Joel R. Agate, Brianna S. Clark This article outlines the arguments for a new outdoor-based play movement and discusses some programs and initiatives engaged in the effort. 7. Adventure-based programming: Exemplary youth development practice 105 Jim Sibthorp, Cass Morgan This article outlines the evidence for adventure-based programs as prototypes of ideal positive youth development settings, and discusses the features of adventure programs that make them developmental. 8. A competency-based approach to preparing staff as recreation and youth development leaders 121 Robert J. Barcelona, Amy R. Hurd, Jennifer A. Bruggeman This article outlines the competencies of recreation and youth development professionals, and discusses methods and examples for integrating competency models through academic preparation, continuing education, and staff training. 9. Reframing recreation as a public policy priority 141 Phillip Lovell The author, an advocate for education policy, discusses the potential role of recreation in addressing a wide range of academic and social issues, and provides suggestions for reframing the recreation field to gain traction with key funders and policymakers. Index 151


It’s been over a year since I talked with my wife about a dream I have for enriching the lives of an exclusive group of highly dedicated college students. Recently, the opportunity arose to discuss it with key players who could make it happen.
Responses are nearly immediate and universally enthusiastic. Next week I’ll host a vision meeting to clarify mission and identify key issues.
Gathering a team: Share your vision with committed individuals who already share your values. I have many friends who don’t value students the way I do. I’m not sharing this dream with them. They’re great people, but approaching them would be like pushing rocks up hill.
Leadership Lesson #1 : If you have to convince others your vision has value, you may be talking to the wrong people.Leadership Lesson #2 : If you share your vision with those who share your values and they aren’t enthusiastic, re-evaluate your vision. For example, ask:Is it relevant? Is it timely? Does it address real needs? Do outcomes justify investments? Is it a communication issue? In this case, enthusiasm emerged quickly. I’m pressing forward.
Warning : Avoid surrounding yourself with yes-men. Executing a radical vision requires hard thinking and harder work. Head-nodders won’t take you there.Power of great ideas:
Great ideas inspire others to think their own ideas. They take your vision and run with it. On one hand, you want them to run. On the other, it may feel like they are changing or stealing your vision.
Great dreams require great teams. Leadership Lesson #3: Cling to core outcomes and invite others to mold and make your vision. Letting go gives space for others to own.
Participation in formation inspires profound ownership. I’m not suggesting you forget your dream. I’m saying; invite others dream along with you.
How can leaders facilitate the birth of a dream? What pitfalls should be avoided?


The 5 dimensions map is an expanding view of consciousness. It moves between the micro and the macro, and between individual and collective consciousness. Someone who is awake across all 5 dimensions has a fluidity and ease of movement between awareness of ‘self’ and awareness of what’s going on outside. Each dimension has its challenges and its rewards. Each of us has aspects which are naturally stronger and weaker. Developing across all these dimensions creates the possibility of being a fully resourced and potent human being.


In addition to challenging macroeconomic conditions, the pace of consumer and technological change is like nothing ever seen before in the life insurance industry. The dawn of the digital era is set to radically transform the life insurance industry, extending the impact across the entire value chain and offering both opportunities and risks.


Lewis Evans, who's lived in Anson County with his wife Reba for 11 years and has worked with the Farm Bureau for 30 years, shared what he learned during his bout with esophageal cancer.
Evans proudly reported that he's been a cancer survivor for seven years. He told the audience of fellow survivors and their families and caregivers that he'd been asked in October to speak at the cancer survivors dinner but kept putting off making notes about the topic he'd speak on.
"As I thought more about it," he said, ripping up the notes he'd taken, "I realized I didn't need notes."
Evans went on to share that he was diagnosed with esophageal cancer in August of 2003— the day that changed his life. "Two days later," he added, "the Lord revealed to me, you're gonna be OK."
It was "an inconvenience," Evans said, but after that, he was sure he was going to survive.
Evans said through his experience with cancer, he'd learned that one needs five things to survive.
The first, he revealed, is "a strong belief in the love of the Lord." After many in the audience shouted "Amen!", Evans said, "I knew I'd get a resounding 'Amen!' on that one."
He admitted that many doctors don't believe that, but he remembered when his doctor told him he had a one in five chance of living longer than five years, he'd said, "I don't know who those other four people diagnosed with esophageal cancer are but I feel sorry for them. ... They're not gonna make it."
That's because Evans believed he would be the one in the five who would survive. And in the end, he did live. He has now reached seven years as a survivor.
The second thing a cancer patient needs for survival, he said, is strong support from friends and family. He talked about his wife, Reba, and how she'd had to give him shots in his stomach every day. "I think after a while, she began to enjoy it," he joked.
In addition, she drove him to Charlotte for his surgery at 4:30 in the morning. There, his oldest son, father (also a cancer survivor), and brothers and sisters were waiting for him. They stayed through the entire 12-hour surgery and were there in the days following for his recovery. Most of his family had driven in from northeastern North Carolina, driving all night just to be there for him.
His younger son, he revealed, was serving in Iraq and sending prayers for him.
The third tool for survival, Evans said, is a good team of doctors and nurses. "If I was smart enough to handpick my doctors and nurses, I couldn't have picked a better team," he said.
The fourth key to survival is early detection. "If you are a person at high risk, early detection is very important," he said.
HIs grandfather, father and eight of his grandfather's 13 children all had cancer, Evans said.
"You know your own body," he cautioned. "If something don't feel right, you think it'll be better tomorrow. Then if it isn't better, you ignore it. Then you kind of get used to it. But if you've got something that's not normal, see someone. Have a mammogram, ladies. Men— and women— have a colonoscopy. There are a lot of things you can do to create early detection."
The fifth and final key to cancer survival, Evans said, is what he refers to as PMA— positive mental attitude. "My daddy always told me, 'if you can't say anything positive, don't say anything at all.'"
He pointed to cancer survivor and world-renowned bicyclist Lance Armstrong as a source of inspiration. "A positive attitude will get you where you've got to go," he said.
He told the story of when he told his doctor that he would be the one in five to survive esophageal cancer. His doctor told him, "That attitude won't save you and it won't heal you, but it'll carry you a long way."
Evans ended his talk by recalling a sermon he once heard, about using the talents God gave us all. He said he didn't realize it at first but his talent is for counseling others. After that sermon served as an epiphany, Evans said he didn't have to go looking for people to help through tough times, like a cancer diagnosis— they would come to him.
"I didn't go searching for people," he said. "They may have been diagnosed the day before and our paths cross. It's been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done."
The survivors dinner is held in conjunction with the Relay for Life, which is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. Friday, May 21, at Anson High School's athletic field. The Relay will start out with the Survivors Lap, followed by the caregivers joining in with survivors, and then the teams.


20 atomic reactors in 9 East Coast states poised to shut down as safety precaution in the face of Hurricane Irene Business Insider reports that 20 atomic reactors in 9 states on the East Coast of the U.S. are poised to shut down as a safety precaution if Hurricane Irene's winds and waves prove too intense. The article links to a National Geographic report warning that downed trees could cause widespread power outages -- which would be exacerbated by atomic reactor shutdowns prompted as safety precautions. In fact, the second biggest electricity outage in world history, the August 14th, 2003 "Northeast Blackout," which plunged 50 million Americans and Canadians into darkness, was initiated by a single sagging tree limb in northwest Ohio touching a power line. This was the fault of FirstEnergy Nuclear, which had neglected its tree-trimming responsibilities, as it was distracted at the time by a costly and serious scandal at its Davis-Besse atomic reactor near Toledo. The 2003 "Northeast Blackout" led to the safety-related shutdown of about two dozen atomic reactors as a safety precaution due to the unstable electrical grid, which dramatically widened the scope of the incident. As Beyond Nuclear has warned, nuclear power is too risky to operate as climate chaos worsens; this is due to the vulnerable locations of atomic reactors, such as on coastlines, subject to not only severe weather events such as storm surges, but also earthquake-spawned tsunamis and sea level rise due to global warming.


As a Butte College faculty member, I must clarify that "academic freedom" is about the intelligent and challenging exchange of ideas. In Butte's policies, it is defined as "the continual search for truth, including protection for the teacher to teach and the student to learn without coercion, censorship, or other ... interference." Holding scheduled classes, on the other hand, is a contractual responsibility. Teaching meaningful content during all scheduled class hours is a commitment Butte's faculty take very seriously.
The editorial went on to say that administration needs to "convince professors that they need to be part of the solution." Every professor I know cares deeply about the alcohol/drug issues of our community. Each of us has either lost a student, or worked with other students as they processed a tragic loss. It breaks our hearts.
Not only do we want to be "part of the solution," we often actively seek opportunities to speak directly to the issue in our classes.
Adjusting the class schedule is one idea among many, and clearly not the entire solution. As a community,
— Jo Anne Cripe, Chico


Well, I'm not a pro when it comes to Spike, but I think the purpose of spiking every week is to rev up your metabolism. While I understand that you're frustrated about not losing as much as you'd like, you might lose even less if you do it only every two weeks because your body might go into "starvation mode". Remember, during the week you're already eating LESS than your RDI, so - in my opinion (and I might be wrong) - doing this for two weeks may actually have a reverse effect as your body may be holding on to everything you eat. I haven't looked at the kinds of food you're eating, but whenever my weightloss slows down, I limit my sugar and starch intake during the week and it helps a lot! Good luck...
SoLosingIt


U.S. house prices declined 0.6% in July following June's downwardly revised -0.3%, the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO) reported Tuesday.
The consensus had been looking for a decline of 0.2% in the month.
Prior to revision, June's index had come in flat on the month.
For the 12 months ending in July, U.S. prices fell 5.3 percent, and the cumulative decline since the April 2007 peak is 5.8 percent.
Leading the decline was a 1.1% fall in the Middle Atlantic region, followed by a 1.0% decline in both the Pacific and New England regions.
Prices in the West South Central region fell 0.6%, while those in the West North Central fell 0.1%. Prices in the Mountain region fell 0.2%. They fell 0.7% in both the East North Central and East South Central.
The OFHEO monthly index is calculated using purchase prices of house backing mortgages that have been sold to or guaranteed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac.
By Stephen Huebl and edited by Sarah Sussman ©CEP News Ltd. 2008


Volatility, Labor Market Flexibility, and the Pattern of Comparative Advantage We are grateful to Pol Antràs, Gordon Hanson, Peter Neary, Barbara Petrongolo, Steve Redding, Tony Venables, Jaume Ventura, and seminar participants in Alicante, Banco de España, Bocconi, Cambridge, ERWIT 2006, Harvard, LSE, NBER, Oxford, Pompeu Fabra, Princeton, Valencia, the AEA 2006 Meeting, and the EEA 2006 Meeting for helpful discussions and suggestions. Kalina Manova, Martin Stewart, and Rob Varady provided superb research assistance. All errors remain ours. Cuñat gratefully acknowledges financial support from CICYT (SEC 2002-0026). Melitz thanks the International Economics Section at Princeton University for its hospitality while this paper was written. The views expressed herein are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.


You're on a job interview, and the interviewer offers you the job! However, he wants you to start immediately. You don't think that's possible because you haven't quit your job yet. You say:
I feel obligated to give at least three weeks' notice at my current job.
When you "feel obligated" to do something, it means that you feel like you must do it, or like you're supposed to do it. For instance, if someone gives you a gift, you might "feel obligated" to give them a gift back in return.
People usually use "I feel obligated to ~" to talk about things that they don't want to do. For example:
However, don't use "feel obligated" to talk about something that you already have to do, like going to work, doing your homework, paying your rent, etc. It must be used to talk about things that you have a choice of whether to do or not.
When you quit a job, it's bad to quit and stop going to work that day or the next day. Instead, you should "give notice" to your employer. That means telling your boss that you're going to quit.
In my experience in white-collar jobs in the U.S., three weeks' notice is standard and two weeks is the bare minimum.
(someone's) current job "Current" means "now". But you can't use "now" as an adjective. You can't say "my now job". Use "current" instead.
Here are some other things that people often describe using the word "current":
the current situation the current president the current market my current boyfriend (Print this lesson)


Momentous Events, Vivid Memories
(Paperback)
gender, culture, and personality. "Momentous Events, Vivid Memories" is itself a compelling and memorable book.
From the Publisher:The bombing of Pearl Harbor, the assassination of President Kennedy, the explosion of the space shuttle Challenger: every generation has unforgettable events, the shared memory of which can create fleeting intimacy among strangers. These public memories, combined with poignant personal moments--the first day of college, a baseball game with one's father, praise from a mentor--are the critical shaping events of individual lives.
Although experimental memory studies have long been part of empirical psychology, and psychotherapy has focused on repressed or traumatizing memories, relatively little attention has been paid to the inspiring, touching, amusing, or revealing moments that highlight most lives. What makes something unforgettable? How do we learn to share the significance of memories?
David Pillemer's research, brought together in this gracefully written book, extends the current study of narrative and specific memory. Drawing on a variety of evidence and methods--cognitive and developmental psychology, cross-cultural study, psychotherapy case studies, autobiographies and diaries--Pillemer elaborates on five themes: the function of memory; how children learn to construct and share personal memories; memory as a complex interactive system of image, emotion, and narrative; individual and group differences in memory function and performance; and how unique events linger in memory and influence lives. A provocative last chapter, full of striking examples, considers potential variations in memory across gender, culture, and personality.


The research methods presented are the best currently available and the surgeon who employs them will discover that his or her results are more likely to be accepted as valid, be adopted in the care of patients, and endure the test of time. James D. Heckman, MD, Consulting Editor, The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery (from the Foreword) Advanced Concepts in Surgical Research is a practical, reader-friendly guide to planning, conducting, and evaluating solid, evidence-based surgical research that leads to high-quality results. Geared to the investigator who has already mastered basic principles, this book focuses on more advanced topics such as randomized controlled trials, survey design, observational studies, meta analyses, statistical concepts, reporting of data, and much more.Special Features: * Includes tips and insights from experienced surgical researchers on how to conduct an effective clinical study and avoid pitfalls * Supplies hard-to-find information on current topics such as randomization systems and technology and publication bias * Provides standardized, easy-to-reference text boxes with highlighted key concepts, on-the-spot definitions of terminology in Jargon Simplified sections, and real-world case examples from the literature * Presents nearly 60 illustrations and tables to help in visualizing key concepts Filled with proven research methodologies, clinical data, examples, and strategies that can be applied across a wide range of disciplines, Advanced Concepts in Surgical Research illuminates the challenges and solutions of modern day surgical research. It is essential for any clinician undertaking a well-defined, systematic, clinically relevant, and ultimately successful surgical research study.


Who am I Really? Discovering your true identity From the time I was seven years old, I hung out with the same group of friends. As we grew up, I carved out an identity for myself that fit in among the group. I was “the crazy one.”
When I went off to college and left these familiar friends behind, this reputation I had built for myself disappeared. I realized that I didn’t know who I was because my friends weren’t there to define me. I was plagued by the question: “who am I really?” Left without an answer, I felt lost and out of place.
But once I became a follower of Jesus, that question took on a new and exciting dynamic. Who am I? The answer fills my heart with joy, confidence and a sense of eternity. When we accept Jesus Christ, our identity no longer relies on anything or anyone in this world.
Many of us let things such as our jobs, our talents or the people around us define our perception of who we are. But these things are fallible and temporary. Romans 8:16-17 calls us “God’s children” and “co-heirs with Christ.” God has claimed us as his own and promised us eternal life! This is our true identity; one that will never fall away. Isn’t that something worth sharing with those around us?


Developmental Changes in the Use of Supernatural Explanations for Unusual Events The focus of this research is to explore the developmental trajectory of the propensity to see meaning in unexpected or chance events, and more specifically, to explore the origin and development of nonmaterial or supernatural explanations. Sixty-seven children aged 8, 10 and 12, along with 22 adults, were presented with scenarios describing unusual or unexpected events. They were first asked to provide explanations for why they thought the events occurred and then asked to rate different supernatural explanations (moral justice, God and luck) as they pertained to each scenario. Results indicated that adults spontaneously appealed to supernatural explanations more frequently than did children, and that this tendency to appeal to supernatural concepts increased with age. Participants of all ages frequently endorsed multiple explanations for the same events and were more likely to endorse supernatural explanations for positively valenced than for negatively valenced stories. Religiosity affected both spontaneous explanations and ratings. Findings are discussed in terms of how children acquire the explanatory systems of their culture.


Two weeks ago I cheered on many of my friends as they graduated from college. While I was saying my goodbyes, I tried not to think about how long it might be before I see them again. They were campus leaders and my own personal role-models, and now that I am a rising senior, I – along with my classmates – will be expected to fill the vacuum in student leadership and responsibility that their departure has created. Now, I am in a kind of limbo, wedged between the departure of several of my friends and the arrival of my final year of undergraduate education, and my imminent entrance into the ‘real world’.
I don’t think it is a stretch to suppose that many of the disciples found themselves in similar circumstances during the time between the Ascension and Pentecost. After spending forty days with the resurrected Lord, who was their friend and spiritual leader, Jesus departed from the disciples, but not before commissioning them to carry on His work (cf. Mark 16:15). As they came together for the Jewish feast of Pentecost, they must have been asking themselves: “So, what next? Where do we go from here? How can we complete the task which we have been given?” In this moment of vulnerability, the Spirit came upon those gathered and filled them with many gifts which they were to employ in the spreading of the Gospel.
As St. Paul tells us, “To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit” (1 Cor. 12:7). Do we recognize the manifestation of the Spirit in our own lives? Do we use that which the Spirit has given us as the disciples did, to spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth? This Pentecost, may we be filled with the same hopeful joy that filled the disciples as they awaited the coming of the Spirit promised to them by Christ, and in this joy may we be prepared to receive and utilize the bounteous gifts that the Spirit gifts to each of us.


Managing Your Money in Retirement is a concise overview for new retirees, presented in three steps. “Define Your Retirement Needs” emphasizes the everyday expenses needed to maintain one’s standard of living. “Add Up What You Have” covers both regular sources of income and assets, such as savings and home equity. “Decide What to Do” walks the reader through the planning process and suggests how to handle shortfalls.Our PDF and e-book are available for use or redistribution free of charge. For hard copies, Managing Your Money in Retirement is available for $2.30 each (10-99 copies) or $1.70 each (100 or more copies), delivery included. To place an order, please contact Amy Grzybowski at amy.grzybowski@bc.edu or 617-552-1677.
© 2009, by Trustees of Boston College, Center for Retirement Research. All rights reserved.


Foreclosure rates in the greater Miami area remain astonishingly high, but they’re headed in the right direction. In March, 13....
A debate is stirring in Michigan over legislation that aims to shorten the redemption period for homeowners in foreclosure, The...
Credit ratings agency Fitch Ratings is calling out a troubling trend in the commercial mortgage- backed securities industry. Fitch said special servicers, firms brought in to resolve distressed CMBS, are charging shadow fees, in a potentially irresponsible manner.
Rob Rowan, a senior director at Fitch, emailed his thoughts on the fee structures, calling it a "trend that potentially presents risk to bondholders, borrowers and the recovering CMBS market."
"Some special servicers charge fees for borrowers seeking loan modifications," Rowan writes. "Fitch’s concern is not so much the size of any fee that a borrower pays, but the philosophy of the fee itself. Special servicers have a fiduciary duty to the trust and bondholders. Any fee charged to a borrower implicitly puts that fiduciary duty at risk."
The claim Fitch makes is that such fees are not being appropriately disclosed to investors. The fees are typically allowable under the pooling and servicing agreement on the CMBS, which gives room for ancillary fees such as modification, assumption or extension fees.
These fees may be allowed within the framework of the loan documents or the pooling and servicing agreement. PSAs include specific fee structures for special servicing, liquidation or workout fees. They do not specifically disallow special servicers from charging ancillary fees such as modification, assumption or extension fees, but typically don't suggest levy guidelines.
"We have been made aware of instances in where modification or extension fees have been charged to the borrower," Rowan said. "Some were far higher than Fitch would have expected."
"Most troubling, was that they were not readily disclosed to investors," he adds. "A fee charged to a borrower and not disclosed to bondholders, especially when the fee is a large one, has the potential to call into question the real rationale behind the modification or extension for which the fee was charged."
The solution Fitch wishes to implement will be limited by its role as a credit ratings agency. Rowan said that his firm can encourage special servicers to explicitly state the fees, so that investors know of the charges, even if they don't agree with the logic behind them.
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Plants may affect herbivore success directly or
indirectly through effects on their natural
enemies.
Insect herbivores often
specialize on a few host plant species.
The reasons for this
specialization are poorly understood.
Some authors have proposed
that natural enemies cause herbivore
specialization.
This predation hypothesis
proposes that herbivores evolve to prefer plants
on which they are protected from natural
enemies.
I tested this hypothesis
using leaf beetles feeding on willows.


Can we go beyond the social-ecological dualism?
“…what deep ecology gives us... is a deluge of Eco-la-la. Humanity surfaces in a vague and unearthly form to embrace everyone in a realm of universal guilt. We are then massaged into sedation with Buddhist and Taoist homilies about self-abnegation, biocentrism, and pop spiritualism that verges on the supernatural---this for a subject-matter, ecology, whose very essence is a return to earthy naturalism…” (Murray Bookchin, source: http://libcom.org/library/social-versus-deep-ecology-bookchin)
This comment by Bookchin, one of the chief exponents of social ecology as the alternative to deep ecology, may go too far but it is a rather amusing reflection that deep ecologists may need to consider. As we build EcoVillages in Africa, we may need to avoid the over-emphasis on the ecological at the expense of the social derived from the EcoVillage movement that has emerged in the developed world where inequality issues are less of a challenge. Ideally, we need a langauge that transcendes the ecological-social dualism. I wonder what that is? Sustainability? Maybe it is too tarnished.
Mark Swilling, 15 April 2012


The postcoital test (PCT), by assessing sperm motility following intercourse, can indicate the presence of a cervical factor, the authors point out in Fertility and Sterility online March 28. However, “data on the prognostic value of the PCT for spontaneous pregnancy in subfertile couples are inconclusive.”
Dr. Esther Leushuis, with the Academic Medical Center in Amsterdam, and colleagues examined the value of adding the PCT to a reference model for predicting spontaneous pregnancy in a cohort of 3021 subfertile couples. For the reference model, the investigators used the Hunault model, which includes five prognostic variables: female age, duration of subfertility, female subfertility being primary or secondary, percentage motile spermatozoa of the first semen analysis, and referral status.
During follow-up, 537 couples (18%) had a spontaneous ongoing pregnancy within 1 year, according to the report.
The mean probability of a spontaneous pregnancy based on the reference Hunault model without PCT was 0.32, compared with 0.29 when the PCT was included, Dr. Leushuis and colleagues found.
They add, “Addition of the PCT outcome as a prognostic variable to a validated prediction model for spontaneous pregnancy did not improve the fit of this model significantly and even led to a nonsignificant reduction in the correct classification of couples who did and did not achieve a pregnancy.”
As they point out, the predictive information from the PCT is already incorporated in other variables based on semen analysis, so the test “adds no prognostic information to existing models.”
Reference: Prognostic value of the postcoital test for spontaneous pregnancy Fertil Steril 2011


After long hours of spent in a chair (where most us tend to stick for 8-10 hours each day), the psoas appreciates stretching, stimulation, proper alignment, massage and constructive rest.
Constructive Rest: (Also known as Ardha Savasana) offers a passive release of the psoas.Lie on the floor with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Your feet should align with the front of the hip sockets. Your trunk and head need to be parallel to the floor (if your head is tilting backwards,place a rolled up towel or small cushion under your head to keep your spine in optimum alignment). Feet are parallel to one another. Arms rest several inches away from the midline of the body (with palms faced upwards) or rest your palms on top of your abdomen. Close your eyes; breathe deeply and allow the force of gravity to release the psoas. Stretching: releasing the entire psoas (especially the upper portion’s attachment near lungs) with a high lunge and sidebend.Step your right foot forward and left foot about 2,5 feet back, balancing on the ball of the foot. Align your 2 hips so they are square and are pointing straight forward. Keep both of your knees bent and stack your shoulders over your pelvis. As you inhale reach both of your arms over head, loop your left hand around your right wrist. As you exhale lean your torso over toward the right side.Allow your right hand traction the left wrist away from the left shoulder. Finally, begin to straighten the back knee. Breathe deeply and guide your breath into the deep stretch within the gut. Switch sides. Alignment: the key to balanced, well-maintained psoas is a neutral pelvis. This is a position of the pelvis, which does not involve backward movement (also known as posterior tilt) or forward movement (also referred as anterior tilt).Learn how to re-align your pelvis by clicking here.
Massage: Give your psoas deep self-induced massage by rolling your guts with a soft inflated ball.


A strong, measurable aim with a clear time frame will help keep your project on course. This lesson focuses on crafting an effective aim statement and forming a team for an improvement project. You’ll apply what you learn by continuing to work on the personal improvement project you began in Lesson 1.
Estimated Time of Completion: 11 minutes
[February 12, 2013]
Lesson Completion Score:
80%
After completing this lesson, you will be able to:
1. State why it’s important to set an aim statement at the start of an improvement project.
2. Identify the key elements of an effective aim statement.
3. Compose an effective improvement team.
4. Develop an effective aim statement for your own personal improvement project.
You must be a registered IHI.org user
to take this lesson.
You must achieve a minimum score of
75% to successfully complete this lesson.