[show abstract] [hide abstract]ABSTRACT: We describe a touchscreen method that satisfies a proposed 'wish-list' of desirables for a cognitive testing method for assessing rodent models of schizophrenia. A number of tests relevant to schizophrenia research are described which are currently being developed and validated using this method. These tests can be used to study reward learning, memory, perceptual discrimination, object-place associative learning, attention, impulsivity, compulsivity, extinction, simple Pavlovian conditioning, and other constructs. The tests can be deployed using a 'flexible battery' approach to establish a cognitive profile for a particular mouse or rat model. We have found these tests to be capable of detecting not just impairments in function, but enhancements as well, which is essential for testing putative cognitive therapies. New tests are being continuously developed, many of which may prove particularly valuable for schizophrenia research. Neuropharmacology 04/2011; 62(3):1191-203. · 4.81 Impact Factor


OBJECTIVE: This study retrospectively examined the occurrence of bipolar disorder in patients with prelingual deafness who were hospitalized for a psychiatric disorder. METHOD: The hospital charts since 1983 of all psychiatrically admitted deaf patients were retrospectively evaluated for diagnoses by using DSM-IV criteria. Those with a best-estimate diagnosis of bipolar disorder were compared to those with other diagnoses. RESULTS: There were 28 patients with prelingual deafness who had at least one psychiatric diagnosis from 1983 to 1998. Upon chart review, 11 (39.3%) were diagnosed with bipolar disorder. Patients with bipolar disorder and deafness had rates of inaccurate discharge diagnoses that were similar to those of other deaf patients (70.8% versus 56.7%). CONCLUSIONS: Bipolar disorder may be more common in inpatients with prelingual deafness than has been previously described in the literature. Further research regarding the sources contributing to misdiagnosis of psychiatric disorders in this population is warranted.


Central AFRITAC (AFC) Launches the Senior Budget Officers' Forum Posted by Abdoulahi Mfombouot, Resident Adviser on Public Expenditure Management, Central AFRITAC
As the first initiative of this type in the subregion, the Forum of Senior Budget Officers of Central AFRITAC member States held its first meeting in Brazzaville, Republic of Congo, on September 27-30, 2010.
The event brought together two delegates from the top-level budgetary authorities in each AFC member country, to exchange theories and practices. The representative of the Minister of Finance of the Republic of Congo set the tone in his opening address, by inviting participants to use the meeting to lay the foundations for ongoing, dynamic, and mutually beneficial budgetary cooperation. He also highlighted the need for a frank exchange on the successes achieved and difficulties encountered.
Several international experts gave presentations on a variety of subjects, such as the “budgetary task”, multiyear budgeting, deconcentration, and budgetary nomenclature—all of which are key concerns of the States in the subregion which have embarked on a major drive to modernize their public finances, with Central AFRITAC support. The excellent quality of these presentations stimulated animated and fruitful exchanges on national experiences, which underlined the urgent need to strengthen dialogue and cooperation in these areas.
Although the original initiative came from Central AFRITAC, it was the country delegates themselves who defined the agenda and the shape of this forum, which has now been made permanent and will meet once a year, with the AFC serving as technical secretariat. Before closing their discussions, delegates unanimously chose the host country to hold the interim presidency.
In a final workshop, held without the presence of experts and AFC leaders, delegates adopted the “Brazzaville Declaration,” formalizing their decision to implement a network of Senior Budget Officers. The declaration was solemnly read out at the closing ceremony in the presence of officials from the Republic of Congo, the Resident Representative of the IMF, the Central AFRITAC Coordinator, and national media.
The forum’s founding texts could be officially adopted at the end of the CEMAC workshop to be held in Douala, Cameroon, in the second half of February 2011. After that, the second meeting of the forum can be convened within 12 months, in a country and on a topic to be chosen by members.
This initiative, which was widely covered by local media and very well hosted by the Republic of Congo, will undoubtedly be a milestone in strengthening regional integration among Central African States.
Note: The posts on the IMF PFM Blog should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy.


Money managers are rewarded for increasing the value of assets under management,and predominantly so in the mutual fund industry. This gives the manager an implicitincentive to exploit the well-documented positive fund-flows to relative-performancerelationship by manipulating her risk exposure. In a dynamic asset allocationframework, we show that as the year-end approaches, the ensuing convexities in themanager's objective induce her to closely mimic the index, relative to which herperformance is evaluated, when the fund's year-to-date return is sufficiently high. Asher relative performance falls behind, she chooses to deviate from the index by eitherincreasing or decreasing the volatility of her portfolio. The maximum deviation isachieved at a critical level of underperformance. It may be optimal for the manager toreach such deviation via selling the risky asset despite its positive risk premium. Undermultiple sources of risk, with both systematic and idiosyncratic risks present, we showthat optimal managerial risk shifting may not necessarily involve taking on anyidiosyncratic risk. The manager's policy results in economically significant departuresfrom investors' desired risk exposure. We then demonstrate how constraining themanager's investment opportunity set, via a simple benchmarking restriction, canameliorate the adverse effects of managerial incentive


Richard Wagner Payment Breakdown Subsidy Program Total Payments 1995-2012 Total USDA - Subsidies$777,571 Subtotal, Farming Subsidies $622,195 Subtotal, Conservation Programs $44,960 Subtotal, Disaster Payments $110,416
Commodity subsidy breakdown Subsidy Program Total Payments 1995-2012 Subtotal, Farming Subsidies$622,195 Total Direct Payments $214,816 Direct Program Payments - 2008 Farm Bill $77,195 Direct Payment - Barley $18,926 Direct Payment - Canola $4,277 Direct Payment - Corn $2,245 Direct Payment - Soybeans $2,674 Direct Payment - Wheat $109,499 Total Counter Cyclical Payments $4,600 Counter Cyclical Payment - Barley $3,755 Counter Cyclical Payment - Corn $845 Production Flexibility Contracts $178,072 Production Flexibility - Barley $27,538 Production Flexibility - Corn $3,089 Production Flexibility - Wheat $147,445 Mkt. Loss Asst. - Commodity Crops $89,874 Market Loss Assistance - Barley $13,523 Market Loss Assistance - Corn $1,610 Market Loss Assistance - Wheat $74,741 Oilseed Program $8,307 Oilseed Program - Canola $3,419 Oilseed Program - Flax $1,446 Oilseed Program - Sunflower $3,442 Deficiency Payments $3,031 Advance Deficiency - Barley $4,158 Deficiency - Barley $-1,174 Advance Deficiency - Wheat $8,307 Deficiency - Wheat $-8,260 Loan Deficiency Payments $119,787 Loan Deficiency - Barley $24,102 Loan Def. Refund - Barley $-230 Loan Deficiency - Canola Oil $28,482 Loan Deficiency - Corn $2,705 Loan Deficiency - Flax $21,596 Loan Deficiency - Soybeans $8,017 Loan Deficiency - Sunflower $11,739 Loan Deficiency - Wheat $23,375 Marketing Loan Gains $3,708 Market Gains Farm - Wheat $3,708
Conservation subsidy breakdown Subsidy Program Total Payments 1995-2012 Subtotal, Conservation Programs$44,960 Conservation Reserve Program $44,960 CRP - Annual Land Rental $44,960
Disaster subsidy breakdown Subsidy Program Total Payments 1995-2012 Subtotal, Disaster Payments$110,416 Misc. Disaster Payments $110,416 Crop Disaster - Program $90,068 Quality Losses Program $13,970 Disaster Reserve - Flood Compensation $5,283 Pasture Flood Compensation Program $1,095
Note: The information on conservation spending for 2011and 2012 are incomplete due to missing data from USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service. In addition some payments made in 2010 were not assigned to recipients in the data received from NRCS. Those payments are also not included.The information provided for the Wetland Reserve Program (WRP) provides an inaccurate picture of how WRP payments are distributed. USDA's Natural Resource Conservation Service uses title companies as intermediaries to finalize wetlands easements under the Wetlands Reserve Program. As a result, the data provided to us shows large sums of money going to these title companies. In reality, the payments are ultimately distributed to landowners participating in the WRP.
Unfortunately, NRCS has not provided the data to show where these farms and wetlands are located or which farmers or landowners are enrolling in the program, so EWG is unable to allocate these large sums of money to individuals beyond the title companies. Therefore, these companies skew the conservation rankings and payment concentration, which EWG cannot avoid unless and until NRCS makes available the additional farm attribution data. Therefore, we have not included WRP payments in the 2011 or 2012 data update.
We have separated data on farm commodity, disaster and conservation payments in order to provide a more accurate picture of top recipients and concentration of payments among the three main categories of USDA programs.
Finally, EWG works hard to ensure the accuracy of the information it provides through its products and services, but obtains data for the Farm Subsidy Database from the U.S. Department of Agriculture pursuant to the Freedom of Information Act. Therefore, EWG cannot guarantee the accuracy of the information USDA provides or any analysis based thereon. If you find an error or discrepancy on the site, please contact your local USDA Farm Service Agency office to check its records before contacting EWG.


Schools School leaders establish a seamless link between accreditation and school improvement using accreditation as a dynamic catalyst for the continuous improvement process. School Accreditation can be used by individual institutions, both public and private, and educational service agencies.
School leaders engaged in AdvancED Accreditation will:
Take stock of themselves in relation to a set of research based quality standards Establish a vision, assess their current reality, implement and improvement plan, monitor progress and evaluate results Enhance the school’s best thinking with the insights and perspectives of an external review team. AdvancED provides an effective engine for systematizing and maximizing school improvement efforts. Schools testify to the significant impact and benefit that stem from integrating school improvement and accreditation, including increased student performance.
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Herbal Remedies for Addiction
An addiction is a physical or mental need for a substance, commonly alcohol, nicotine, or other drugs.
Herbalists often recommend blood-cleansing herbs to remove the addictive substances from the body quickly. Anti-addictive herbs include wild oats, skullcap, and sarsaparilla. Adding relaxing herbs, anti-anxiety herbs, digestive tonics, and adrenal support herbs to counteract stress can also make for a more effective herbal program for addiction.
Herbs Used To Treat Addiction
Herb
Treatment Support
Application
Jamaican Dogwood
sedatives
tincture, capsules
Skullcap
anti-addictive, nervine
tincture, capsules
Wild Oats
anti-addictive, nerve tonifier
fresh plant tincture, capsules


Volume 6, Issue 9 (October 2009)
This paper discusses the use of x-ray absorption as a technique for measuring fluid transport in cementitious systems. First, the paper describes how a material’s x-ray attenuation spectrum can be combined with composite modeling concepts to determine the extent of moisture movement (wetting or drying) that can be measured in cementitious systems. Second, the paper discusses the influence of beam power (voltage and current) and camera integration time on the variation in the measured x-ray intensity. Third, the paper discusses two devices for measuring the transmitted x-ray intensity (camera and detector) to describe differences in their measurements and resolution. Finally, a demonstration is provided to show how x-ray absorption can be used to detect moisture ingress and determine the transport properties of the material under evaluation.


CrossView’s Cross-Channel Playbook takes a critical look at a retailer’s touchpoints along the customer’s path to purchase. Disconnects are revealed across the overall experience, including messaging, nomenclature, pricing, offers, and business rules. In a two- to three-month engagement conducted onsite with the client and offsite, we benchmark these experiences against customer expectations, competitors’ offerings, and retail best practitioners. Lastly, we deliver a set of user scenarios that describe the ideal customer experiences across all touchpoints.
Our methodology provides a comprehensive road map and a set of best practices. While each engagement is unique and every strategy is different, the process for identifying the best path to take on a cross-channel journey is based on discovery, analysis and recommendations. These steps serve as the framework for our methodology:
The strategy we develop is designed around multiple variables in each client’s business, including:


Monetary Science, Fiscal Alchemy
Prepared for the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City's Jackson Hole Symposium, "Macroeconomic Policy: Post-Crisis and Risks Ahead,'' August 26--28, 2010. I thank my discussant, Francesco Giavazzi, and Ralph Bryant, Troy Davig, Jon Faust, Dale Henderson, Maya MacGuineas, Susan Monaco, Chris Sims, Mathias Trabandt, Anders Vredin, Todd Walker, and symposium participants for valuable conversations and comments. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.


This article seeks to develop a manifesto for a sociology concerned with the diverse mobilities of peoples, objects, images, information, and wastes; and of the complex interdependencies between, and social consequences of, such diverse mobilities. A number of key concepts relevant for such a sociology are elaborated: 'gamekeeping', networks, fluids, scapes, flows, complexity and iteration. The article concludes by suggesting that a 'global civil society' might constitute the social base of a sociology of mobilities as we move into the twenty-first century.


The recent agreement on the U.S. debt ceiling has removed the near-term risk to the United States’ AAA sovereign debt rating, according to Fitch Ratings. The agency said, “Without the distraction of a near-term funding crisis for the federal government, Congress and the Administration have the space to focus on the substantive fiscal policy choices … .”
Fitch also noted that agreement on a “credible” plan for medium-term deficit reduction is likely to preserve the country’s AAA rating and lead to a revision of the agency’s outlook, from “negative” to “stable.” However, if no plan is agreed, then the negative outlook “would likely be resolved with a downgrade later in 2013.”
The federal government still faces the automatic spending cut deadline of March 1 (the sequester) and a March 27 deadline to enact a continuing resolution on the 2013 budget to avoid a government shutdown. Should a deal not be reached by either deadline, Fitch does not anticipate an immediate review but believes that such a failure would “undermine confidence” in the government’s ability ever to reach an agreement.
Paul Ausick


On 22 August 2012 the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) published the final rule for Section 1502 of the Dodd-Frank Act. The provision aims to prevent the trade in tin, tantalum, tungsten and gold from fueling conflict and human rights abuses in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). It requires companies listed with the SEC to establish if the minerals in their products are sourced from the DRC or adjoining countries and, if so, to carry out supply chain due diligence to determine whether their mineral purchases are funding armed groups in eastern DRC. Companies are also required to report publicly on their due diligence and to have the reports independently audited.
In October 2012 the Chamber of Commerce, the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) and the Business Roundtable filed a lawsuit against the SEC over the final rule for Section 1502. In their petition, the industry associations request that the rule "be modified or set aside in whole or in part." The groups have not yet provided legal arguments for the lawsuit.
The decision by the Chamber, NAM and the Roundtable to file the suit is deeply regrettable. The humanitarian situation in the Congolese provinces of North and South Kivu, which the statute seeks to address is urgent and necessitates immediate and comprehensive implementation by companies. The SEC's sixteen month delay in issuing the final rule led to disruption in the minerals trade in eastern DRC and the lawsuit risks further undermining efforts to establish conflict-free supply chains from the region.
Some companies, such as Electronics Industry Citizenship Coalition (EICC) and Global e-Sustainability Initiative (GeSI) members Dell, Hewlett-Packard, Motorola Solutions, Microsoft, Xerox, Intel and AT&T have been engaged in developing promising industry-wide schemes to implement Section 1502. These firms, along with companies like General Electric, Ford Motors, Honda and Boeing, are also participants in the due diligence implementation programme hosted by the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD).
The companies listed above are all members of the Chamber of Commerce, NAM or the Business Roundtable. Their participation in progressive initiatives to address conflict minerals is at odds with the legal position taken by the industry associations on Section 1502. Members of the Chamber, NAM and the Roundtable would do well to clarify their stance with regard to the lawsuit in order to avoid sending conflicting messages, or at worst, appearing duplicitous.
Other companies that are engaged in industry-wide due diligence efforts and who are not associated with the Chamber, NAM or the Roundtable should also clarify their stance on the legal action. This includes firms such as Acer, Advanced Micro Devices, Research in Motion, Kemet and Panasonic.
Global Witness believes that the companies listed above should issue a public statement outlining their position on the lawsuit filed by the Chamber of Commerce, NAM and the Business Roundtable over the final rule for Section 1502. In their statements, the companies should make clear whether they are formally backing the lawsuit. It is Global Witness's view that a failure by companies to publish a clear position on this matter will indicate support for the lawsuit.


A biomechanical study of upper extremity kinetics during walker-assisted gait Abstract While walkers are commonly prescribed to improve patient stability and ambulatory ability, quantitative study of the biomechanical and functional requirements for effective walker use is limited. To date no one has quantitated the changes in upper extremity kinetics that occur with the use of a standard walker, which was the objective of this study. The following specific aims were accomplished. A strain gage-based walker instrumentation system was developed for the six degree-of-freedom measurement of resultant subject hand loads. An upper extremity kinetic model was developed for determination of internal forces and moments at the wrist, elbow and shoulder in the three clinical planes using the inverse dynamics method. Preliminary system data were collected for ten healthy, right-handed young adults following informed consent. Bilateral upper extremity kinematic data were acquired with a six camera Vicon motion analysis system using a Micro-VAX workstation. Subjects were taught a 3 count, delayed 5-point walker-assisted gait pattern. Weight bearing on the right lower limb was prescribed (0%, 10%, and 50% $\pm$ 5% body weight). A battery-powered, audio feedback system was employed to ensure adherence to specified weight bearing levels. Subjects were then asked to walk using the instrumented walker on a 10 m walkway at a randomly assigned weight bearing level. Three trials were conducted for all subjects for each of the testing conditions. Results of the study showed that the ranges of upper extremity joint motion were significantly (p $\le$ 0.05) greater in the sagittal plane, similar to the lower extremities. Adduction moments at the shoulder $({-}0.36\pm 0.15$ Nm/kgm) were significantly greater than at either the elbow $({-}0.19\pm 0.10)$ or wrist $(0.06\pm 0.03).$ However, elbow extensor and rotator moments $({-}0.47\pm 0.15,\ {-}0.18\pm 0.09)$ were significantly greater than shoulder $(0.29\pm 0.15,\ {-}0.08\pm 0.04)$ or wrist $(0.09\pm 0.05,\ {-}0.06\pm 0.02)$ extensor and rotator moments for all loading levels. Internal joint moments at the wrist, elbow, and shoulder significantly increased as lower limb loading was decreased from 50%, to 10%, and to 0% body weight. This preliminary work suggests that with a pick-up walker the arms partially take on the role of legs, supporting the body against ground reaction loads and experiencing intersegmental demands similar in magnitude to level walking.
Recommended Citation Rebecca Ann Bachschmidt, "A biomechanical study of upper extremity kinetics during walker-assisted gait" (January 1, 1997). Dissertations (1962 - 2010) Access via Proquest Digital Dissertations. Paper AAI9823976. http://epublications.marquette.edu/dissertations/AAI9823976


Thought Leadership With over twenty years of experience conducting searches in a single profession, Heyman Associates has developed a comprehensive and nuanced understanding of the entire communications profession. Over time, we have been able to pinpoint trends regarding the most desired skill sets for the PR professional and the evolving needs of the various communications disciplines.
We have cultivated some of our insights through years of practice, but we also have done a significant amount of in-depth research, both with individual leaders in the field and in association with the Plank Center for Leadership in Public Relations at the University of Alabama and the Institute for Public Relations. We offer a selection of our findings in the following articles and presentations and through our corporate newsletter, Positioning . We have selected articles covering a wide range of topics, with a particular focus on trends, skills, and communications practices – universally applicable and industry-specific.
Please use the links to the right to navigate to these sections.


Definition: An agreement presumably intended among those involved, but not explicitly in writing. A supervisor's promise, a statement in an employee handbook, and an employer's historical action (e.g., always issuing
severance pay) are each examples of what might constitute an implied contract. Implied contracts might even override signed contracts. However, whether or not a binding, implied contract existed and was
breached is typically up to the interpretation of the courts or
arbitrators.
Also Known As: Implied-in-Fact Contract


Today marks the twenty-first anniversary of the Montreal Massacre, the day that Marc Lepine killed fourteen women at Montreal’s Ecole Polytechnique, leaving the country stunned at the violence perpetrated against these women, just for being women. As the years have passed, many have tried to make sense of the killings with writing, with art, with activism, with vigil. December 6 is now a national day of remembrance in Canada for Anne St-Arneault, 23; Geneviève Bergeron, 21; Hélène Colgan, 23; Nathalie Croteau, 23; Barbara Daigneault, 22; Anne-Marie Edward, 21; Maud Haviernick, 29; Barbara Klueznick, 31; Maryse Laganière, 25; Maryse Leclair, 23; Anne-Marie Lemay, 22; Sonia Pelletier, 23; Michèle Richard, 21; and Annie Turcotte, 21.
To further understanding of this event, WLU Press has published two books that explore from sociological and theological perspectives, respectively, the shootings and people’s response to them. Both books have been praised for their sensitivity to the subject without compromising the scholarly approach.
The Montreal Massacre: A Story of Membership Categorization Analysis (2003) Peter Eglin and Stephen Hester
“This is an extraordinary book. The meticulous analysis of the categories used in stories and of reflections on the Montreal Massacre is both highly original and a model of what ethnomethodology can contribute to the analysis of the media. At the same time, the scope of the study and the range of materials it draws on recover for the reader an event that reverberated widely in Canada and bring alive again a singularly painful passage in the struggle against violence against women.”
— Dorothy Smith, OISE, University of Toronto, author of Writing the Social: Critique, Theory, and Investigations
Rage and Resistance: A Theological Reflection on the Montreal Massacre (2006) Theresa O’Donovan
“O’Donovan offers valuable food for thought, particularly regarding the media’s interpretation of the Massacre. Tightly written gems reflect on how television makes events real in our culture and describe what O’Donovan refers to as ‘the myth of a coherent society…. For any Canadian feminist, particularly those for whom the Montreal Massacre was formative, chapters 2 to 4 are must-reads.”
— Shawna Dempsey, Herizons
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MCMC practitioners may be familiar with the Wang-Landau algorithm, which is widely used in Physics. This algorithm divides the sample space into “boxes”. Given a target distribution, the algorithm then samples proportionally to the target in each box, while aiming at spending a pre-defined proportion of the sample in each box. (Usually these predefined proportions are uniform.)
This strategy can help move faster between modes of a distribution, by forcing the sample to visit often the space between modes.
The most sophisticated versions of this algorithm combine a decreasing stochastic schedule and the so-called flat histogram criterion: whenever the proportions of the sample in each box are close enough to the desired frequencies, the stochastic schedule decreases. A decreasing schedule is necessary for diminishing adaptation to hold.
Until now, it was unknown whether the flat histogram is necessarily reached in finite time, and hence whether the schedule ever starts decreasing.


FE Report Development officials at a dialogue Tuesday underlined the need for private sector engagement to halve the number of extreme poor by 2015, a key Millennium Development Goal of the United Nations. “Co-profiting for development means engaging with private sector companies’ core businesses to help the poor,” said Asif Uddin Ahmed, Programme Director for Private Sector Development, CARE Bangladesh. “This creates a win-win situation. Rather than asking companies for charity, we can promote inclusive supply chain. For example, CARE facilitated a link through which 320 extremely poor women in the North are producing baskets and rugs for IKEA, making Tk 3000-4000 a month,” he said. The suggestion came at a ‘Private Sector Engagement for Poverty Alleviation’ strategy discussion organised by Shiree, a donor-funded programme, in a city hotel. Shazia Omar, Shiree, Head of Advocacy, underscored the need for promoting business enabling policy reforms that create jobs which are environmentally friendly and pro-poor. She also spoke about promoting CSR engagements through better linkages. She noted that Shiree hopes to host a CSR Fair for interested private sector companies soon. Dr. Munir, a Director of Save the Children, said, “We need to develop a map of potential companies which may engage with the extreme poor. Which markets are actually feasible and viable? This could help us tap into opportunities.” An estimated 25.1 million people are categorised as extreme poor who constitute nearly 17.5 per cent of the population, according to official statistics. Colin Risner, CEO of Shiree, said, “According to latest data, the private sector is expanding fast and feeding overall economic growth, but we need to ensure that this growth is inclusive, leading to sustained benefit for all sections of society, especially the extreme poor.” “There are many possible options for achieving this objective. A level of creativity and innovation is needed. Ideas include shared ownership schemes, tax incentives, improving market access and training to remove barriers to entry into the labour force.”Source: www.thefinancialexpress-bd.com


Yesterday, a federal judge ordered the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to proceed with a 1977 plan to outlaw the use of certain antibiotics as growth promotion drugs for livestock. American farmers are unsure about how this could impact their industry, but there's a real-world example that provides some answers: Europe, and specifically Denmark.


Lars H. Fuller (DEN) co-authored “Juggling Hammers—Bankruptcy Issues and the Mechanic’s Lien Trust Fund Statute” in the December issue of The Colorado Lawyer. In the article, he clarified the obligation of construction contractors under the state’s Mechanic’s Lien Trust Fund Statute and noted instances in which contractors may be considered liable.
The authors explained that the “Trust Fund Statute requires contractors to hold funds received on a project in trust for the payment of subcontractors and material suppliers.” They noted that the statute was intended to ensure compensation for laborers and suppliers, and to protect all parties in construction projects from dishonest contractors.
The article examined recent decisions that address “(1) who can bring Trust Fund Statute claims, including cases with no subcontractors with lien rights; (2) that a pre-violation waiver of a trust fund claim is enforceable in some circumstances; (3) when treble damages are available; (4) the intent required for treble damages; and (5) when a violation will result in a nondischargeable debt.”
As they explained, “Serious consequences flow from violating the Trust Fund Statute. Recent cases have clarified the scope of the Trust Fund Statute and what is required to access the remedies.”
And given the likelihood of an increased number of claims in this time of economic distress, contractors should ensure their attorneys are “prepared to consider the implications of a bankruptcy in resolving those issues,” they concluded.


Additional product details This single most-adopted Inclusion text worldwide continues to provide the best source of practical strategies for teaching students with special needs in inclusive settings. Filled with examples and vignettes, the emphasis is always on teaching methods that promote student independence at all education levels. Its non-categorical approach helps teachers ensure all students’ success regardless of their specific categories of exceptionality.
The Sixth edition integrates today’s expectations for students with the authors’ strong commitment to inclusive practices, tempered by the realities of day-today teaching. This text provides teachers with a firm grounding in special education practices, an understanding of the professionals who support these students and the procedures followed to ensure their rights are upheld, and a wealth of research-based strategies and interventions that can foster their success.


Dutch payroll tax explained In recent years, economic change has prompted a focus on flexibility in the Dutch labor market. This has created a demand for payrolling, which in turn provides excellent opportunities for domestic and foreign payroll service providers. However, operating in the Dutch market requires a thorough understanding of Dutch payroll tax. Legal liability is defined differently in each country, and the Netherlands are no exception to this rule. Dutch payroll tax can be a complex affair for international service providers – understanding the details may use up valuable time. That’s why Payroll Works’ Dutch Umbrella Company offers specialized services to help you deal with Dutch payroll tax. Our dedicated professionals are capable of handling even the most complex accounts with ease.
What do you need to know about Dutch payroll tax? Under Dutch payroll tax law, each foreign company that assigns workers to the Netherlands automatically becomes a ‘virtual resident’ of the Netherlands. This means employees are liable for Dutch payroll tax for the duration of their contract. As such, the legal employer is legally obligated to create a complex payroll administration and ensure proper payment of Dutch payroll tax. Consequences can be severe if these issues are not addressed properly – your clients in the Netherlands may be subject to fines and legal repercussions if you fail to comply with Dutch payroll tax law. Fortunately, Payroll Works’ Dutch Umbrella Company has the expertise needed to minimize these risks and make sure your activities in the Netherlands run smoothly.
Properly addressing Dutch payroll tax with Payroll Works Payroll Works’ Dutch Umbrella Company has ample experience dealing with Dutch payroll tax and can help you with any and all resulting administrative tasks. If you are active on the Dutch market, Dutch payroll tax law specifies that your entire payroll must meet Dutch standards. This means your employees must be registered with the Dutch payroll tax office, monthly costs must be administrated in the correct fashion and wage tax and social premiums must be withheld and paid to the Tax Authority. Also, there are certain loopholes in Dutch payroll tax legislation which can prove beneficial to your financial position. By working with Payroll Works’ Dutch Umbrella Company, you’ll enjoy all the benefits a professional payroll service provider can offer while simultaneously ensuring perfect compliance with Dutch payroll tax law. Interested? Let us know!


In hypoparathyroidism the parathyroid glands do not secrete enough parathyroid hormone. This results in a low blood calcium level (hypocalcaemia) where blood calcium is less than 2.25mmol/l (10 mgs/100mls). This results in a variety of symptoms.
The causes of hypoparathyroidism are:
The common cause is thyroidectomy. The reported incidence varies from 40% to 0%. The realistic figure is 3-4%.
Very rarely autoimmune processes where the glands are attacked by the body's own immune system. This can arise for example in Polyglandular Autoimmune Syndrome Type 1 (APECED), where hypoparathyroidism occurs with adrenal insufficiency, thyroid disease and diabetes mellitus type 1. This syndrome is dealt with more specifically in its own section.
It is important to realise that hypoparathyroidism is not the only cause of hypocalcaemia, as explained in the section 'What are the parathyroids? - the importance of calcium'. Other causes of hypocalcaemia include:
1. Low serum magnesium (hypomagnesaemia) - causes reduced release of parathyroid hormone from normal parathyroids. 2. Pseudohypoparathyroidism - the parathyroid hormone is normal or increased but the due to a genetic defect, tissues are insensitive to it. Calcium levels therefore remain low. 3. Low albumin - Any reason for a low serum albumin will cause low serum calcium due to the calcium particles not being carried properly in the blood, allowing them to be excreted and lost. 4. Drugs - A variety of drugs cause hypocalcaemia due to liver or kidney damage.


Your green products are often the face of your company's sustainability efforts. Customers are now looking beyond your products to better understand your corporate policies and business practices as they evaluate the environmental impact of their suppliers. We asked our audience if your sustainability efforts impact their purchasing decisions, and which sustainability activities that matter most to them.


Question: I didn’t have a chance to finish my fall raking before the snow fell. There have been leaves on parts of my lawn all winter. Is it doomed? What should I do this spring?Answer: It’s unfortunate that the leaves remained on the lawn over the winter, trapped by snow. The snow’s moisture spurs the leaves’ disintegration process, creating a wet mess of decomposing leaves atop your grass. The lawn remains smothered and saturated with water.When the snow melts, the first thing you should do is finish gathering up the leaves. Then assess the lawn. There is a chance you may find evidence of snow mold: roughly circular patches of matted dead grass. The good news is that grass will often begin to grow again in spring despite snow mold, without intervention. Rake affected areas to encourage air circulation.


Then Jesus came to them and said, ” All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
—Matthew 28:18-20, NIV I have come to believe that, for Christian leaders, the doctrine of the Trinity is the keystone of Christian faith, the guardian of orthodoxy in the Church, the essence of effective preaching, and the guarantor of proper evangelism. The ancient Church accorded so much importance to the proper understanding of the Trinity, that they dealt with the Trinity before they addressed the canon of the New Testament.
All errors come from the neglect or misunderstanding of this doctrine.
The doctrine of the Trinity teaches that God is transcendent over the universe. It teaches panentheism (God is in all things) not pantheism (all things are God). It teaches that although God is accessible to all, He is above all and beyond all. He is not a higher self or a deeper consciousness, He is not a pocket genie who performs tricks for the theologically clever, He is not an oracle or a familiar spirit. He stands above the universe, even as He pervades it, He exercises His own judgment. He has the prerogative to do as He pleases.
The doctrine of the Trinity reveals how God could possibly create the universe and be provident within it. It is obvious that for God to create the universe, He must be conscious. Certainly an unconscious god cannot undertake any deliberate act! But consciousness requires a contrast between “me” and “not me.” Before the creation of the universe, there was nothing that was not God, therefore a god who is one Person can never achieve consciousness, cannot create the universe, and cannot be provident within it. But the Trinity reveals that within the Godhead there are three Persons—three consciousnesses if you will. The Persons of the Trinity are one in substance, essence, and will, but each person in the Trinity perceives the others as both “me” and “not me.” Thus God is eternally self-conscious and thus is capable of deliberate acts.
The doctrine of the Trinity reveals the divine economy, for Jesus, one Person of the Trinity, called Himself the Son of another Person of the Trinity, whom He termed His Father, and the third Person He called the Holy Spirit. He thus revealed that the relationship among the Persons is perfect love, mutual submission, and unity of will. We understand why Jesus uses the words He did: God is His Father, because the role of mother goes to Mary. Jesus reveals that God is His Father in a unique way that we do not share. If God were our natural Father or Mother, we would be of the same substance and essence as God, we would need no redemption, we would need no salvation, we would need no elevation, just a reminder of our true natures—but the reminder would not elevate us. There would be no need for a sacrificial death upon the cross, just a weekend seminar.
The doctrine of the Trinity reveals the dignity of male and female and the humility and love of God; for while God condescended to become a man, it took a woman to potty-train God.
The doctrine of the Trinity reveals God’s motivation to save us and sustain us and to bring us into His glory. Jesus reveals that even though we are His artifacts, He has more interest in us than a potter has in his pots. God is not satisfied with displaying the good pots and discarding the defective ones; He has a paternal interest that goes beyond making us of clay; He seeks to save us from the fate of mere crockery, he seeks to perfect us, so that we may live with Him in His glory. Our destiny is not to sit on some dusty shelf as a trophy, but to live in eternal fellowship with God, sharing in the divine economy of love.
The doctrine of the Trinity reveals how God can be transcendent and eternal, yet invade time and space in the Person of Jesus Christ. It explains how God can relate to us on our own terms, without abdicating the operation of the universe.
The doctrine of the Trinity explains how God can be transcendent and eternal, yet indwell us and empower us. It explains how God can be in all things, but not of any one thing; it explains why we find God within, when He is above and beyond us as well. It explains how the church can be a human institution with a divine charter, how it can carry out God’s will even as it exemplifies our imperfection.
The doctrine of the Trinity explains how a preacher can preach the Word of the Lord without having personal authority and in spite of personal shortcomings. It preserves the preacher from fatal pride and self-importance, for the God who wells up from within also stands over and watches.
The Trinity is imperfectly expressed in human terms. For example, the formula “Creator, Redeemer, Sustainer,” does not describe the essence of the Trinity as revealed from the lips of Jesus, the incarnate God. It does not identity the Persons, the essence, the substance, the nature, or the motivation of God.
Who is the Creator? The Father who spoke the eternal Word, the Word through whom all things were made, or the Spirit who moved upon the waters? The answer is all three.
Who is the Redeemer? The Father who sent the Son, the Son who died and rose again, or the Spirit who gives us faith and repentance? The answer is all three.
Who is the Sustainer? The Father who supplies our needs, the Son who advocates our cause, or the Spirit who dwells within us? The answer is all three.
Why should the Creator take an interest in His creation? Why does the Redeemer save us? Why should the Sustainer sustain us beyond bare subsistence? This human formula reveals some divine functions, but no divine nature, no divine motivation, no eternal plan. It does not reveal God’s love, nor does it explain whether or why God transforms us into glory. It is this-worldly, and it has no inherent hope for beyond. For where is God’s grace? Where is God’s love? Where is our eternal future in this scheme?
Thus it is necessary, for all good purposes, to proclaim that God is the Father of Mary’s baby, that God is the Son of Mary, that God is the Spirit who led her into that truth; for in that we find that God is love, that He transforms us, who are the work of His hands, into His substance; He loves us, He adopts us, He makes us His agents in this world and His sons in the next, where we live with Him in glory forever.


On May 16, 2012, the PCI Security Standards Council (PCI Council) provided guidance to merchants as an initial step in identifying measures that can be taken to facilitate secure acceptance of payments using mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets at the point-of-sale. In particular, the PCI Council’s guidance is intended to provide merchants with actionable recommendations on accepting payments via mobile devices in a manner that comports with the PCI Data Security Standard (PCI DSS), which requires merchants to protect cardholder data (whether such information is printed, processed, transmitted or stored). The PCI Council reasoned that taking additional measures for securing mobile payments is important because there are limited security safeguards on current mobile devices for payment acceptance, responsibilities for security in the mobile ecosystem span multiple payers (e.g., financial institutions, payment brands, mobile network operators, handset manufacturers, etc.), protecting cardholder data is required under the PCI DSS, and securing mobile acceptance supports consumer confidence.
The PCI Council determined that securing account data at the point of capture is a meaningful way to actively control the risks associated with mobile payments. As such, the guidance provides specific recommendations on point of capture security measures for: (i) merchants that utilize an off-the-shelf payment acceptance solution, and (ii) merchants that build their own mobile acceptance solution. If a merchant utilizes an off-the-shelf solution, the PCI Council recommends that the merchant use a validated and properly implemented Point-to-Point Encryption (P2PE) solution. The PCI Council explained that using a validated P2PE solution will significantly reduce the risk that a malicious person could intercept and use cardholder data.
Alternatively, if a merchant chooses to build its own solution, the PCI Council recommends that the solution require additional encryption technology (beyond that provided in a mobile device), including an approved “point of interaction” (POI) device (i.e., a PIN entry device or secure card reader) to capture and encrypt cardholder data for a transaction. The PCI Council noted that a list of validated P2PE solutions and approved POI devices will be available on the PCI Council’s website as and when they are approved.
According to the PCI Council, a merchant’s use of a validated P2PE solution for processing mobile payments may lessen the requirements for its annual merchant compliance with the PCI DSS, which will likely reduce the costs associated with compliance. Nevertheless, the PCI Council cautioned that merchants will still be required to comply with the PCI DSS, contractual obligations with third party vendors (including the P2PE solution provider) and any other applicable law, rules, regulations or guidance.


Financial Regulation, Financial Globalization and the Synchronization of Economic Activity We analyze the impact of financial globalization on business cycle synchronization utilizing a proprietary database on banks' international exposure for industrialized countries during 1978- 2006. Theory makes ambiguous predictions and identification has been elusive due to lack of bilateral time-varying financial linkages data. In contrast to conventional wisdom and previous empirical studies, we identify a strong negative effect of banking integration on output synchronization, conditional on global shocks and country-pair heterogeneity. Similarly, we show divergent economic activity as a result of higher integration using an exogenous de-jure measure of integration based on financial regulations that harmonized segmented EU markets.
This paper was revised on December 5, 2011


At OETIO, we are never satisfied with the status quo. We believe in continual improvement, and that’s what makes our curriculum so effective. We apply the same philosophy to everything we do, so our team specializes in remaining current, and integrating innovative and cost-effective methodologies and technologies to enhance our training programs.
Our goal is graduating the most knowledgeable and skilled operators in the industry. To this end, we research, develop and pilot prototypes for training delivery methods and training aids. Only after these innovative training solutions have been thoroughly tested do we then introduce them to enhance our formal training programs.
OETIO uses state of the art simulations of its equipment to enhance the training experience, and ultimately produce more competant operators.
To learn more about how OETIO uses simulation, choose a simulator from the navigation menu on the right.


Publications (2)4.67 Total impact Article: Atypical hemispheric asymmetries for the processing of phonological features in children with rolandic epilepsy. [show abstract] [hide abstract]ABSTRACT: We assessed language lateralization in 177 healthy 4- to 11-year-old children and adults and atypical asymmetries associated with unilateral epileptic foci in 18 children with benign epilepsy with centrotemporal spikes (BECTS). Dichotic listening results revealed two indices of immature functional asymmetry when the focus was left-sided (BECTS-L). First, children with BECTS-L did not show left hemisphere dominance for the processing of place of articulation, which was recorded in children with BECTS-R and control children. On the contrary, healthy children exhibited a gradual increase in left hemisphere dominance for place processing during childhood, which is consistent with the shift from global to finer-grained acoustic analysis predicted by the Developmental Weighting Shift model. Second, children with BECTS-L showed atypical left hemisphere involvement in the processing of the voiced value (+V), associated with a long acoustic event in French stop consonants, whereas right hemisphere dominance increased with age for +V processing in healthy children. BECTS-L, therefore, interferes with the development of left hemisphere dominance for specific phonological mechanisms.Epilepsy & Behavior 04/2011; 21(1):42-51. · 2.34 Impact Factor [show abstract] [hide abstract]ABSTRACT: We assessed the impact of unilateral epileptic foci in benign idiopathic partial epilepsy of childhood with rolandic discharges (BECT) on performance and hemispheric specialization in lateralized cognitive functions. Six children with BECT with a left-sided focus (BECT-L), 6 children with BECT with a right-sided focus (BECT-R), and 12 control children were tested in verbal, visual-spatial, and visual-attention tasks, with visual hemifield presentation. Children with BECT-R were impaired in the visual-spatial task relative to those with BECT-L, and the typical left-hemisphere (LH) advantage was not reported in the verbal task in children with BECT-L. Additionally, the classic global superiority effect was lacking in children with BECT-R, which may be due to impaired performance of the right hemisphere specialized in global (vs local)-level processing. These data argue for the deleterious effect of epileptic discharges per se on cognitive functions in the developing brain, and the decisive role of epileptic focus lateralization in specific cognitive impairments and hemispheric specialization.Epilepsy & Behavior 10/2006; 9(2):268-74. · 2.34 Impact Factor


[show abstract] [hide abstract]ABSTRACT: To determine the relative ability of various marketed toothpastes formulated with either stabilized stannous fluoride (SnF2), sodium fluoride (NaF), or sodium monofluorophosphate (SMFP) to protect human enamel against the initiation and progression of damage due to dietary acid attack, using a laboratory erosion cycling model.Cores of ground and polished enamel from extracted human teeth were soaked in pooled, human saliva (pellicle formation) and then subjected to erosion cycling conditions that included exposure of tooth specimens to: (1) treatments in a 1:3 slurry (w/w) of toothpastes and saliva; and (2) acid challenges using either citric acid (Study 1) or both citric and phosphoric acids (Study 2). These acids represent potentially damaging acids found in common food and drinks. Upon completion of treatments, specimens were analyzed with regard to the depth of tooth mineral removed from exposed areas of the treated specimens over the course of the study. Two studies were conducted: Study 1 included a marketed, stabilized SnF2 toothpaste vs. marketed NaF toothpastes; Study 2 tested the same stabilized SnF2 product compared to a marketed SMFP toothpaste and a NaF control.The stabilized SnF2 toothpaste included in these studies demonstrated a highly significant reduction in enamel surface loss, relative to the control, in each study: Study 1 = 65% reduction; Study 2 = 58% reduction when using citric acid and 84% reduction when using phosphoric acid. Products formulated with NaF resulted in a net loss of between +1% and -21%, with none of the NaF toothpastes performing significantly different from the control (P<0.05, ANOVA). For the SMFP product included in Study 2, results were also not significantly different from the NaF control. In both studies, the stabilized SnF2 paste demonstrated a highly significant level of protection compared to all other test groups included in the study, regardless of the type of dietary acid challenge considered. American journal of dentistry 08/2011; 24(4):205-10. · 0.76 Impact Factor


Certain species of toxic algae—in this case, Alexandrium—have a cyst stage in their life cycle that promotes wide dispersal and long-term survival through difficult environmental circumstances. These “seeds” form in the late stages of blooms and fall to the ocean floor where they remain dormant until the next year when they germinate to initiate a new bloom. View this figure in an interactive format (Jack Cook, Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution)


One of the main expenses in owning a horse is feed. This four-page fact sheet explains how horses naturally use forages as a primary component of their diets and how these requirements can be supplied by pasture and hay. It also covers pasture and hay production and management, as well as forage concerns related to horses.


All new researchers face the daunting task of familiarizing themselves with the existing body of research literature in their respective fields. Recommender algorithms could aid in preparing these lists, but most current algorithms do not understand how to rate the importance of a paper within the literature, which might limit their effectiveness in this domain. We explore several methods for augmenting existing collaborative and content-based filtering algorithms with measures of the influence of a paper within the web of citations. We measure influence using well-known algorithms, such as HITS and PageRank, for measuring a node's importance in a graph. Among these augmentation methods is a novel method for using importance scores to influence collaborative filtering. We present a task-centered evaluation, including both an online analysis and a user study, of the performance of the algorithms. Results from these studies indicate that collaborative filtering outperforms content- based approaches for generating introductory reading lists.


LOS ANGELES (CBS) — A massive budget shortfall combined with a larger economic slowdown may be all that stands between California and the next catastrophic earthquake. KNX 1070′s Margaret Carrero reports a statewide early-warning system is being held up largely over financing issues.
A Bay Area-based foundation has donated $6 million dollars to help researchers develop a system that would give residents anywhere from a few seconds to a minute’s notice before the ground starts to shake.
Scientists at the U.S. Geological Survey, UC Berkeley and elsewhere crafted the system, but dismal state and federal funding has left the project in limbo.
Geologists estimate it would cost between $80 and $150 million for a monitoring system to reach the entire West Coast.
Similar warning systems have proven successful in countries prone to temblors, including Mexico and Japan, where the government invested $1 billion for its own version.
While some experts remain optimistic that funds could be made available in a few years, others are concerned it may take another catastrophe before funding rolls in.


Many observers believe that the level at which the program should be funded is around $100 million, especially as the Bush Administration also proposes to slash Naval shipbuilding levels to even below the build rate of the Clinton years.
However, the shipbuilding industry looks to have set its sights on what's realistic, rather than on what's most desirable.
The SCA's Title XI Coalition, working in conjunction with the American Shipbuilding Association, is already working to build support for Title XI funding at the $50 million level next year.
Congressman David Vitter (R-LA), a member of the House Appropriations Committee's Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, State and Judiciary sent a letter to Subcommittee Chairman Frank Wolf (R-LA) on February 12 requesting that the Subcommittee include $50 million for Title XI when it marks up CJS legislation later this year.
Additionally, the Maritime Trades Department, AFL-CIO adopted a resolution in support of the U.S. Shipbuilding Industry at its 2002 Executive Board Meeting in New Orleans, February 20- 22.


Murphy, Joseph and Levidow, Les (2006). Governing the Transatlantic conflict over agricultural biotechnology: contending coalitions, trade liberalisation and standard-setting. Genetics and Society. London, UK: Routledge.
Abstract Delays in approving genetically modified crops and foods in the European Union have led to a high profile trade conflict with the United States. This book analyses the EU-US conflict and uses it as a case study to explore the governance of new technologies.
The transatlantic conflict over GM crops and food has been widely attributed to regulatory differences that divide the EU and the US. Going beyond common stereotypes of these differences and their origins, this book analyses the conflict through contending coalitions of policy actors operating across the Atlantic. Governing the Transatlantic Conflict over Agricultural Biotechnology focuses on interactions between the EU and the US, rather than on EU-US comparisons. Drawing on original research and interviews with key policy actors, the book shows how EU-US efforts to harmonise regulations for agricultural biotechnology created the context in which activists could generate a backlash against the technology. In this new context regulations were shaped along different lines. Joseph Murphy and Les Levidow provide new insights by elaborating critical perspectives on global governance, issue-framing, standard-setting and regulatory science.
This accessible book will appeal to undergraduate and post-graduate students, academics and policy-makers working on a wide range of issues covered by political science, policy studies, international relations, economics, geography, business management, environmental and development studies, science and technology studies.
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December 2009: Volume 35, Number 12
Report: Stroke Care Needs Improvement
A new report on stroke registry data from four states indicates that although stroke care has improved, further advances need to be made at both the healthcare system and institution levels (MMWR 2009;58:1–23). The information comes from the Paul Coverdell National Acute Stroke Registry (PCNASR), a U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-sponsored initiative to track and improve hospital-based acute stroke care.
From 2005 to 2007, PCNASR tracked 10 care performance measures involving 195 hospitals and nearly 57,000 patients in Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, and North Carolina through registries maintained by state health departments. A separate prototype phase took place between 2001 and 2004, with the registries led by CDC-sponsored investigators in academic and medical institutions.
Patients included in PCNASR were at least 18 years old and had a clinical diagnosis of acute ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage, subarachnoid hemorrhage, transient ischemic attack (TIA) or an ICD-9-CM code indicative of stroke or TIA. Ischemic stroke was the most common diagnosis accounting for 53.3% of cases.
Lab testing was among the performance measures with the most improvement. During the prototype phase, only one-third of patients had lipid levels measured either after hospitalization for stroke or within 30 days before the stroke with the results available in the medical record. However, in the 2005–2007 timeframe, this indicator was recorded for nearly 70% of patients. Other measures with significant improvements included dysphagia screening, smoking cessation counseling, and antithrombotic therapy prescribed at discharge.
At the healthcare system level, the report emphasizes the need for greater public awareness about the symptoms of stroke and the importance of seeking care immediately. About half of patients with ischemic stroke lacked documented information on time of symptom onset, and an additional 25% arrived too late to receive tissue plasminogen activator therapy, a level that was unchanged between the prototype and 2005–2007 timeframes.


Knowledge is power, and knowing one's strengths and deficits, and making corresponding refinements to one's leadership style, can powerfully affect the performance of individuals, teams and entire business units. Anderson Partners Executive Performance utilizes state-of-the-art assessment systems to help individuals and teams better understand and leverage their strengths, manage and diminish weaknesses, and more successfully seize opportunities for growth.
This 360-degree diagnostic tool identifies opportunities for leaders to maximize skills and abilities, minimize personal and professional deficits, enhance collaboration, and, finally, measure specific improvement over time. This tool measures Creative Competencies—how one can effectively achieve results, lead, interact and inspire others—and Reactive Tendencies—how one reacts to adverse conditions, inhibiting leaders and their teams from achieving positive results. These two key leadership commponents are demonstrated to have the greatest contribution to success or failure in today's workplace.
Anderson Partners' Leadership Culture Survey assesses the effectiveness of the current leadership style and corporate culture versus stated objectives. This survey quantifies the gap between actual and stated goals and highlights opportunities for change, development and growth.


Barked: Tue Mar 15, '11 1:23pm PST A dog with an enlarged heart condition is the most common cause of heart failure in large dogs. In a dog enlarged heart condition, a dog’s heart enlarges causing it to have trouble pumping blood and the way it moves calcium ions. With a decline in the ability to move calcium, the heart becomes thinner and flabby. Over a few months, the thinning causes the heart to become enlarged (dilated) and the timing of the heart changes for the worse, causing the dog to start showing symptoms. When the condition worsens, it results in heart failure and sadly after 1 to 2 years, the death of your dog.
The cause of the disease is not known but is associated with parvovirus, taurine deficiencies and adriamycin. The disease tends to affect male, middle age, large breeds of dogs and is most often seen in Doberman Pinschers, Saint Bernards, Cocker Spaniels, Great Danes, German Shepherds and Labrador Retrievers. It is not common in small dogs.
This is what I could find on Google. It seems like it's not too common on small dogs. You should definetly go to the vet and have your baby checked up. I hope it's nothing serious.
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Review of the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 and Associations Incorporated Regulation 1999
Submissions for the review of the Assiociations Incorporation Act 1982 and Associations Incorporated Regulation 1999 have now closed to the public.
Many not-for-profit organisations in Queensland are incorporated as associations. The relevant legislation is over 30 years old, and due for review. Accordingly, in late-2010 consultation began on reforms to the Associations Incorporation Act 1981 following earlier changes in 2005-2007. Valuable feedback was received from the consultation paper released by Government.
Since then, the Commonwealth Government announced significant changes to the national framework for charity and not-for-profit regulation.
These national reforms provided an opportunity to revisit the legal framework for associations, to reduce red tape and modernise requirements. Consequently, the Government commissioned the Queensland University of Technology Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Non-profit Studies (ACPNS) to produce a paper on the issues facing modern incorporated associations. In the consultation, community opinion was sought on the possibility of wide ranging changes to the Act and Regulation.
Key areas seeking feedback on include:
dispute resolution; voluntary administration; corporate governance principles, particularly the extent to which these should be applicable given changing expectations about the accountability of associations to government and the public; reporting requirements, including whether the current public register and tiered system of annual reporting are effective; the existing model rules, and if these could be expanded to assist associations access tax concessions and other government benefits; and the role of the Office of Fair Trading in assisting associations to comply with their legal obligations. The Queensland Government invited associations, their members and the broader community to comment on the issues raised in the Paper.
Discussion paper (PDF, 345 KB) Submissions closed on Friday 25 May 2012.
Last reviewed 24/04/2013


Sue Longley, IUF, speech to WDACL 2010 Chairman, ladies and gentleman, my organisation, IUF, is the global trade union representing workers throughout the food chain. We are actively supporting the on-going work to develop a Convention and supporting Recommendation on domestic workers but on this occasion I want to speak about the situation in agriculture.
In 2010, as in 2006, the report of the Director General states clearly that agriculture remains the sector with the most child labour. Since 2006 there has been a slight decrease in the percentage but the absolute numbers remain the same. The ILO estimates that 129 million girls and boys aged 5–17, equivalent to 60 % off all child labourers, are still working in agriculture, many of them under hazardous conditions


Organization Leadership Reports The American Legion testified at a June 21 House hearing in Washington, D.C., showing its support for several bills, including one measure that would require states to adjust their licensing/certification standards to accommodate military standards. Certifications for nursing assistant, certified nursing assistant, registered nurse and commercial drivers’ licenses would be affected.
H.R. 4155, the Helping Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans Return to Employment at Home Act, would remove some obstacles faced by job-seeking veterans whose military training and experience is not widely recognized by civilian agencies.
Steve Gonzalez, assistant director of the Legion’s Economic Division, presented the Legion’s testimony to the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity.
In many cases, civilian licenses and certificates require schooling that veterans have already completed through their military service. Unfortunately, most agencies that issue these documents do not recognize such training or experience. For example, a Navy medic who treated Marines with severe wounds cannot be certified as a private-sector emergency medical technician without additional — and redundant — course work.
"When civilian credentialing boards, states and employers fail to fully recognize military education, training and experience," the Legion testified, "both the servicemember and the nation are impaired. The veteran faces reduced chances of obtaining a job on part with his/her skills, and the civilian workforce cannot take full advantage of the extensive skills training in which our nation has invested."
Another Legion-supported bill discussed at the hearing, the Help Veterans Return to Work Act, would clarify the responsibilities of small businesses with respect to the employment and re-employment rights of veterans. The measure would remove "undue hardship" as a justification for large businesses to refuse to give returning veterans their jobs back. Such protections would only apply to small businesses.
The Legion testified that current law "is too lenient in allowing employers, regardless of size, to dismiss deployed servicemembers. It is estimated that nearly half of unemployed veterans are National Guard and reserve members."
The Legion testified on two other bills at the hearing that would further safeguard military homeowners and their families. They were:


On the 9th November, a federal court in Brasilia ruled that construction on the Belo Monte dam could continue without the need for free, prior and informed consent from indigenous groups that will be adversely affected by the project. The court determined that consent was not required because the dam’s infrastructure would not be situated on local tribes’ land. In a two-to-one decision, deciding Judge Maria do Carmo Cardoso stated that consultations did not have to occur before the commencement of the project, and that it would not become legally binding. The judge decided that the project’s environmental impact studies would sufficiently address indigenous peoples’ concerns.
The dam, if constructed, would become the third largest in the world, flooding approximately 40,000 hectares of rainforest. With an estimated cost of $11 billion, the dam is designed to produce 11,000 megawatts of electricity, representing more than 10% of Brazil’s current capacity. Legal challenges to the dam have been ongoing for decades, and opponents intend to bring the current issue before the national Supreme Court.
By Matt Little


This article examines ethnic stereotypes in biological race classification of Europeans between the 1830s and 1940s as part of political discourse on national identity. Anthropologists linked physical-psychological types to nations and national character stereotypes through 'national races', achieving an often quite enduring international consensus on each race's mentality. The article argues that race mentality narratives were therefore partly dictated by their place within a dynamic interlocking European system. I focus on two key interacting elements that structured this system: the central role of the Germanic-Nordic blond and the geographically uneven process of modernisation. I consider the spatiality of socio-cultural and political factors 'external' to the stereotype system, such as geopolitics and modernisation, but also emphasise that discursive relationships between national stereotypes helped structure the international stereotype system. My conclusion argues for greater consideration of the influence of both scientific and international systemic factors in research on national identity.


This case again shows that regulating firearms is constitutional.
In NRA v. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, 11-10959 (5th Cir. Apr. 29, 2013), the court upheld 18 USC 922(b)(1) and (c)(1). These laws prohibit federally licensed firearms dealers from selling handguns under the age of 21.
The NRA claimed that this federal statute was unconstitutional under the Second Amendment. The court disagreed.
The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals explained:
In a critical passafe, moreover, the Court emphasized that the ‘right secured by the Second Amendment is not unlimited.’ [Dist. of Columbia v. Heller, 554 US 570, at 626]. As the [Supreme] Court explained:
From Blackstone through the 19th-century cases, commentators and courts routinely explained that the right was not a right to keep and carry any weapon whatsoever in any manner whatsoever and for whatever purpose… [N]othing in our opinion should be taken to cast doubt on
longstanding prohibitions on the possession of firearms by felons and the mentally ills,or laws forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings, orlaws imposing conditions and qualifications on the commercial sale of arms.
Id.at 626-27 (emphasis added) (citations omitted). Thus, the Circuit Court stated that “Congress designed its scheme to solve a particular problem: violent crimes associated with the trafficking of handguns from federal firearms to licensees to young adults.” The court, further stated that Congress could have sought to prohibit all persons under 21 from possessing handguns or all guns. Additionally, the court pointed that under the Census, 18-to-20-year-olds accounted for a disproportionately high percentage of arrests for violent crimes” in 2010.


Learn to File a PTSD Disability Claim This article explains two ways to file for PTSD disability benefits from the Social SecurityAdministraiton. It gives the reader specific information about documents required and how SSA determines an applicant’s eligibility for disability. The article covers F’TSD from military service and other traumatic events.
Criteria used to assess F’TSD disability claims consider symptoms and duration of physical and psychological impairment. The event that triggered the anxiety disorder also plays a part in diagnosis, treatment and eligibility for benefits Ail these factors must be examined before a person suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) can receive disability payments. A person who does not qualify for typically disability benefits might be eligible for medical-vocational allowances if the ability to function in the workplace is diminished. PTSD was first identified in war veterans who faced life-threatening experiences. During WWI, lingering stress reactions were referred to as “shell shock.” Later, the term “combat fatigue” became popular to describe veterans plagued by re-occurring trauma from their military service. PTSD symptoms might arise from the threat of personal iniury or death, or experiencing threats to others Overtime, psychologists determined PTSD might occur from other traumatic events outside of war. Surviving a natural disaster, violent assault, or accident might provoke severe reactions that interfere A4th a person’s ability to cope. The victim might relive the event through images, thoughts, or dreams Flashbacks of the experience commonly occur, which could send the victim into a state of panic or anxiety. For example, a person who lives through a major earthquake might be easily startled by the rumbling of a large truck passing by. Recognizing the signs and symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorðer defines the first step before filing a claim for disability benefits. People exposed to traumatic events react differently to the ordeal, but some signs, such as trouble sleeping and depression occur commonly. Once a medical health professional diagnoses PTSD, a claim for dibility benefits can be filed. These victims typically avoid activities they previously enjoyed. Rape victims might become reclusive and avoid going out after dark. Accident victims could stop driving or riding in automobiles. People suffering from PTSD commonly shun any activity that triggers unpleasant memories of traumatic events in an effort protect themselves from the physiological changes sparked by fear.


Sheehan syndrome , also known as postpartum hypopituitarism or postpartum pituitary necrosis , is hypopituitarism (decreased functioning of the pituitary gland), caused by necrosis due to blood loss and hypovolemic shock during and after childbirth.
It is a rare complication of pregnancy, usually occurring after excessive blood loss; the presence of disseminated intravascular coagulation (i.e., in amniotic fluid embolism or HELLP syndrome) also appears to be a factor in its development.
PathophysiologyEdit Hypertrophy and hyperplasia of lactotrophs during pregnancy results in the enlargement of the anterior pituitary, without a corresponding increase in blood supply.
Secondly, the anterior pituitary is supplied by a low pressure portal venous system.[1]
These vulnerabilities, when affected by major hemorrhage or hypotension during the peripartum period, can result in ischaemia of the affected pituitary regions leading to necrosis.
The posterior pituitary is usually not affected due to its direct arterial supply.
It is named for Harold Sheehan.[2] [3]
ReferencesEdit ↑ http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/bookshelf/br.fcgi?book=endocrin&part=A1257 under heading Sheehan's syndrome ↑ Who Named It synd/2009 ↑ H. L. Sheehan. Post-partum necrosis of anterior pituitary. The Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology, Chichester, 1937, 45: 189-214. External linksEdit
Endocrine pathology of psychological interest (E00-35) thyroid Hypothyroidism (Iodine deficiency, Cretinism, Congenital hypothyroidism, Goitre) - Hyperthyroidism (Graves-Basedow disease, Toxic multinodular goitre) - Thyroiditis (De Quervain's thyroiditis, Hashimoto's thyroiditis) pancreas Diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2, coma, angiopathy, neuropathy, retinopathy) - Zollinger-Ellison syndrome parathyroid Hypoparathyroidism - Hyperparathyroidism pituitary hyperfunction (Acromegaly, Hyperprolactinaemia, ) - Hypopituitarism Kallmann syndrome, Growth hormone deficiency) - Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction adrenal Cushing's syndrome) - Congenital adrenal hyperplasia (due to 21-hydroxylase deficiency) - Bartter syndrome) - Adrenal insufficiency (Addison's disease) gonads - 5-alpha-reductase deficiency - Hypogonadism - Delayed puberty - Precocious puberty other - - Psychogenic dwarfism - Androgen insensitivity syndrome -


Your technical expertise has brought you to
your current level of success. Now you are discovering that ongoing
success is no longer just about technical ability. Now, you are more
likely to succeed or fail on how you interact with others.
You find yourself needing to persuade and influence. You need to
negotiate. You need to chair and facilitate meetings, to develop
relationships and networks, to manage conflict. These challenges
require a range of Interpersonal and Communication Skills you may not
have needed to such a high level in previous roles.
Our programmes give you an understanding of your default or preferred
style. We then work with you to develop a range of practical and
effective approaches.


Beckley, WV -- To date, disaster recovery officials have approved $20.8 million in grants and loans for those affected in May by severe storms, flooding and landslides in West Virginia. They expect these figures to climb as the recovery operation continues. The deadline to apply for state and federal assistance is July 5.
As of Monday, June 17, a total of 5,619 individuals had registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the state for disaster assistance. Of these, FEMA has received 5,045 applicants for the temporary Disaster Housing Assistance program. This program provides grants to disaster victims to make their home habitable or to rent alternate accommodations until a more permanent solution is found.
To date, FEMA has approved 4,847 Disaster Housing Assistance grants totaling $8,529,602; the state has approved 794 IFG grants totaling $2,375,376; and the U.S. Small Business Administration has approved $5.2 million in low-interest disaster-assistance loans to 240 individuals and business owners; in addition FEMA has obligated $4.7 million in assistance to restore public infrastructure damaged by the disaster.
"We have received 3,420 applicants for the Individual and Family Grant Program (IFG)," said Steve Kappa, director of the West Virginia Office of Emergency Services. "The IFG program provides grants to individuals or families for serious disaster related needs not covered by other disaster assistance programs."
"When a person registers for disaster assistance, the agency determines what assistance we may be able to provide," said FEMA's Justo Hernandez, Kappa's federal counterpart appointed by President Bush to coordinate the federal recovery efforts. "FEMA then sends out a contract inspector who makes an appointment with the applicant to verify damages. When appropriate, we follow with grants to allow eligible applicants to make needed repairs or rent someplace else. Sometimes we're able to provide a trailer or a mobile home."
Six counties - Kanawha, McDowell, Mercer, Mingo, Raleigh and Wyoming - are eligible for assistance to individuals and families following President Bush's major disaster declaration for West Virginia on May 5.
Those needing assistance should call FEMA, 1-800-621-FEMA (3362); Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Persons with difficulty hearing or speaking can call TTY at 1-800-462-7585.


Water related hazards affect millions the world over. Population growth in flood-prone areas, coupled with climate change, continues to heighten the risks of water-related disasters. These are compounded by the growing occurrence of extreme weather conditions that further exacerbate these risks, both in terms of their frequency and severity.
In Africa and Asia, RIMES assists national meteorological and hydrological services to enhance capacity to generate and apply end-to-end early warning systems for flood, drought and tidal surges.


Sometimes I am overcome with gratitude.
These moments sneak up on me unexpectedly and can leave me teary-eyed if I let myself fall into them — which I often do. Because gratitude is, I think, a very good thing to cultivate.
When these grateful feelings overwhelm me, I find myself awestruck by how fortunate I have been in some area of my life. I run through a list of people I have to thank for helping me get to the place I’ve reached. It might be someone who has taught me something, encouraged or supported me, helped a dream of mine to grow, or shown me how to open a door I hadn’t even seen. Often, there are many such someones to thank.
If you maintain a gratitude practice, you probably have your own list. It might include mentors, friends, colleagues, some higher power, or a combination thereof. You may write out your thoughts or keep them in your head. Doesn’t matter.
Regardless of if or how you actively practice gratitude, my question to you is the same:
How often do you remember to thank yourself? My answer, until recently, was never.
A few days ago, I found myself overcome with the familiar feeling of gratitude. I began a mental list of the people to whom I owed thanks for helping me reach the place where I was metaphorically standing at that moment. There were the usual players, plus a few new faces, and I spent a little time with each.
But as I mulled over my list, I couldn’t find that central figure, the one to whom I owed the largest chunk of gratitude for this particular moment, the one who had been most instrumental in this specific journey. There remained a hollow space, a slot still waiting to be filled.
And then I realized: That person was me. As my actions begin to bear fruit, as the steps I’ve been taking start to pay off, I have to remember myself. I have to say, “Thank you, self, for acting instead of drifting, for taking the reigns and not giving up.” Others have been instrumental in my journey, but without deciding to take that first step myself, and without choosing to keep taking steps, I couldn’t have budged an inch.
The feeling was uncomfortable at first. Thank myself? What kind of super-ego did I have? Surely someone else had brought this good fortune to me. I couldn’t possibly claim a hand in it.
But that’s not true at all. Including gratitude toward yourself is giving credit where credit is due. It’s putting yourself on equal standing with the others who contribute to your progress. It’s becoming confident in your own self worth.
None of that is easy for me to swallow. It goes against the self-deprecating modesty I’ve often felt the need to cultivate. But I keep telling myself: If you are willing to acknowledge the role others have played in your accomplishments, big and small, then you must acknowledge your own as well. Without your participation, nothing can even begin.
And so I vow, from here forward, to include myself in my moments of gratitude alongside the others who have helped me grow. I hope you will, too. Because when it comes to achieving your dreams, it can’t even begin to happen without you.
What’s Your Take? Do you practice gratitude? Do you remember to thank yourself?


With over 1.4 million professionals employed across all engineering sectors (a number expected to rise in line with the average job creation rate over the next 10 years) engineering is undergoing a renaissance and is currently one of the most vibrant employment categories in the United States.
Within the world of engineering, the chemical engineering sector is enjoying a particularly buoyant job market with growth opportunities expected over the next several years. In particular, opportunities in the service industry markets, such as scientific research and development, are expected to increase — primarily in the energy and biotechnology fields.
The current chemical engineering expansion is due in large part to increased demands for alternative energy sources, evolving regulatory obligations and rapid growth in both the biomedical and environmental industries.
Learn where the best jobs are at and how you can build a successful career in this vibrant sector. Access our exclusive white paper report now!


Other Symptoms that Can Accompany Foot Pain Foot pain can occur in the
toes, the ball of the foot, the heel, the arch, the instep, the sole (bottom of the foot), the top of the foot, or the ankle. The onset of pain may be sudden, or may develop slowly over time. Foot pain can vary from a mild ache, to a severe stabbing, throbbing, and burning pain.
Depending on the cause, symptoms that may accompany foot pain include the following:
Bruising Numbness Redness Swelling Tingling Complications that can occur include infection (e.g., fever, redness, severe pain, warmth, swelling), an inability to bear weight, and deformities (e.g., hammertoes/claw toes, bunions). Patients who have diabetes are at increased risk for foot complications, such as sores (ulcers), Charcot foot, and diabetic neuropathy.


The latest study regarding the amount of sleep needed for adults confirms earlier research. The study, reported in Sleep (February 2004), found that individuals who sleep an average of 7 hours a night live the longest. For this particular study, Japanese researchers followed 104,010 adults for a decade. At the beginning of the study, the participants were asked to complete questionnaires about their sleep patterns and about their health, mental health, and lifestyle habits, which also can affect survival.
Yet, the ideal amount of sleep for each individual varies due to factors that are not completely understood, noted Daniel Kripke, MD, a sleep researcher at the University of California-San Diego School of Medicine. There is no evidence that shortening sleep from 8 to 7 hours will lengthen any specific individual's life. Genetics and other factors that also influence life span may play a role in an individual's sleep, he said.


‘Color blind’ policies could make diversity harder to achieve Whether it be growing concerns about bias or recognition of the value of diversity, many organizations and institutions have elected to deemphasize race or remove it entirely from their decision-making processes. Yet new evidence from psychological science research suggests that this color-blind approach may not be as effective as people believe it is.
Color blindness offers a seemingly simple way to deal with race: If individuals and institutions do not even notice race, then they cannot act in a biased manner on that basis.
But according to a new article published by Evan Apfelbaum of the MIT Sloan School of Management and colleagues, efforts to ignore race can backfire.
“Shutting our eyes to the complexities of race does not make them disappear,” they write in the June issue of Current Directions in Psychological Science, a journal of the Association for Psychological Science.
Apfelbaum and his co-authors, Michael Norton of Harvard Business School and Samuel Sommers of Tufts University, delve into the existing research on the unintended consequences of racial color blindness. For example, in one study, White individuals who avoided mentioning race in conversation were perceived as more biased by Black observers than White individuals who openly talked about race. And another study suggests that people who read arguments promoting color blindness are more likely to display racial bias than people who read arguments promoting multiculturalism.
Because color blindness is difficult to maintain even between two people, it’s not surprising that the approach has had mixed results for larger groups. Psychological scientists have found that whether color blindness succeeds at an organization largely depends on how diverse the organization is. Minority applicants perceive diverse organizations that endorse color blindness more favorably than they do predominantly White organizations. Policies that promote color blindness can even lead to racial tension when they are used to support claims of reverse racism by White individuals who believe they are victims of discrimination.
A proposed alternative to colorblindness, according to Apfelbaum and colleagues, is multiculturalism,in which racial differences are openly discussed rather than ignored. Research indicates that when people are encouraged to use a multicultural approach, they are better at understanding the perspectives of other people and better at spotting discrimination when it occurs. The authors acknowledge that multiculturalism isn’t perfect either (White individuals can feel alienated by multiculturalism), but they suggest that racial inequities are harder to hide — and more likely to be corrected — with a multicultural approach compared to a color-blind one.


Use-Triggered Fees As noted above, free-rider tendencies can be more easily overcome in intermediate- and small-sized groups, where the actions of group members are subject to coordination. Identifying libraries and other organizations that have demonstrated use of a given publication makes it easier to overcome free ridership by introducing the social dynamics of a smaller group.
A use-triggered fee model supports open-access publication by imposing usage fees on a voluntary basis. Under the model, individual users, and users from less-developed countries, would have access to an online publication without charge. Additionally, occasional users at an educational institution would be able to use the service, on a limited basis, without charge. However, once use from an institution reaches a specified threshold, the publisher would request the institution to pay an access fee for the service.
As Open Access, by definition, would prevent a publisher from blocking access to institutions that cross the use threshold yet fail to pay, a mechanism is required to encourage compliance. Further, this mechanism needs to apply to institutions that operate under purchasing policies that prevent them from paying voluntary fees.
As described above, two of the principal approaches to overcoming the freerider obstacle are the provision of selective benefits and an appeal to a social network. We describe two such approaches below in the context of a use-triggered fee.
3.3.1 Selective Benefit As one technique to increase compliance with a voluntary license, a publisher could present users from institutions that decline to pay with a pop-up message asking them to urge their institution to comply with the license terms. The absence of such a nuisance notice would represent a selective benefit to a contributing library, thus encouraging participation.
The principal shortcoming of this approach is that the nuisance message would be delivered to the end user, not to the librarian responsible for licensing online resources. As a result, it would not provide a particularly effective mechanism for encouraging compliance.
3.3.2 Social Network A publisher could secure provisional consent from an educational institution indicating its willingness to comply with the publisher’s license in the event that the institution crosses a specified use threshold. This authorization would only obligate the institution to pay in the event that its usage triggered an invoice. Although the use threshold would be reset annually, the publisher could provide pro forma invoices that would allow institutions to pay the access fee as part of their routine acquisition process. To leverage the small group dynamic described above, the pre-approval process could be centrally coordinated and target institutions for which prior use of the resource indicates that they would cross or approach the use threshold.
A program to coordinate the pre-authorization process could be sponsored by an organization with an interest in promoting alternative income models to support Open Access, such as a library consortium. The sponsoring organization could seek participation from its membership and from other libraries identified as significant users of a publication. The program could be constructed to make it easy to monitor the participation of others in the group in order to increase the effectiveness of social incentives. For efficiency, the pre-approval program could accommodate multiple publications. If pilot programs proved successful, the solution would be scalable. (For a description of how such a program could be implemented, see Appendix F.)
3.3.3 Use-Triggered Fee Example The use-triggered, open-access license was pioneered by the Royal Anthropological Institute for the Anthropological Index Online. (http://aio.anthropology.org.uk/aio/conditions.html)


We come to the table with great regularity in obedience to Jesus’ command, “Do this in remembrance of me.” But there is a temptation every time we celebrate the Lord’s Supper that we focus on what Jesus did on the cross as if it was the end of the story. While the story of the cross plays a central role in our faith narrative, if the story ended there our faith would be built on a martyr’s story rather than the Savior’s story. We are an Easter people. While grace is finds its foundation at the feet of the cross, it is made complete in the moment of resurrection. But, our story does not end there. It is not just about what Jesus
DID for us, but also of what JesusDOES for us as a people of faith.Earlier in our service you heard Betsy Stewart read our focal passage from the New International Version. I would like to share it again, but this time from the more contemporary New Living Translation. I think it puts in terms we can best understand. It reads,
14 So then, since we have a great High Priest who has entered heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to what we believe. 15 This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. 16 So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most. You may remember that when I began this sermon series on Hebrews a few weeks ago, I told you that the audience for this book was believers who had come out of Judaism. The writer unapologetically uses images and language that would have been familiar to them. In this passage the writer seized the image of the High Priest, the one who was to be the people’s advocate God. This image would have grabbed their attention. It would have immediate meaning for them. But, in a quick twist they hear that Jesus is that ultimate High Priest. It is Jesus that leads us to the throne of God. The writer wanted them to understand that Jesus understood them. He had dealt with the same temptations and testings that they, and we, face. Jesus understood their and our weakness because he had walked beside them, and walks besides us still. This scripture tells us that Jesus, who is Son of God, the very face of God, is at the same moment our High Priest and Divine advocate. It tells us that the Jesus who acted on our behalf on the cross, still acts on our behalf so that we can come boldly God’s throne and find mercy when we need it most. God is a God of second chances. You can start your life with God again. You can find the grace and mercy you need to be renewed and restored. You have an advocate – a High Priest. Your heart cry matters to God! This Scripture reminds me that my testimony sings out both what God did for me and what God continues to do in my life.
Where can you specifically identify where God is active in your life? Claim it and celebrate it! What is going on in your life where you need to move boldly to God’s feet to find God’s mercy and grace? Jesus understands what you are going through. God stands ready to act.
Today, I invite you to celebrate what God has done that we might find forgiveness, grace, and a personal relationship with God. Today, I invite you to run with boldness to God throne knowing that mercy awaits you. Today, with equal passion, I invite you to sing out what God is doing in your life. In Jesus we have a Savior and a Priest, our Lord and our advocate.
(Homily followed by Lord's Supper by intinction at five stations located throughout the sanctuary.)