Prepare for grass tetany season A University of Missouri Extension beef nutrition specialist counsels farmers to prepare for grass tetany season in March.
Grass tetany can result from a magnesium deficiency in spring calving herds consuming lush forages high in potassium and low in calcium and sodium, said Justin Sexten of the MU Extension Commercial Agriculture Program.
"Cattle suffering from grass tetany will walk with stiff, uncoordinated legs and frequently urinate," Sexten said. "During advanced stages, cattle will lie down and thrash with paddling motions and convulsions."
Older cows during early lactation are most susceptible to grass tetany. Cattle grazing on nitrogen-fertilized grass pastures also are more susceptible due to greater forage potassium levels interfering with magnesium uptake.
Livestock with grass tetany need immediate veterinary attention, he said. "Avoid placing additional stress on affected animals by moving them to a new pasture."
To prevent grass tetany, Sexten suggests establishing legumes in grass pastures. "Grass pastures with 30 to 40 percent legumes will provide increased forage magnesium and calcium while reducing nitrogen fertilizer needs," he said.
Producers unable to establish pasture legumes should consider supplemental magnesium. Magnesium oxide is the most common source of supplemental magnesium.
"Unfortunately, magnesium oxide is unpalatable, causing difficulty maintaining consistent magnesium intake," Sexten said. To improve palatability, he recommends mixing magnesium oxide with salt and a carbohydrate source such as ground corn, dried molasses, cottonseed or alfalfa meal in a 1:1:1 ratio.
"Daily supplementation during early spring forage growth is critical to prevention," he said. "As the winter feeding period ends, producers must remember to consider grass tetany as a critical component to spring pasture management."
For information about services available from the MU Extension Commercial Agriculture Program, see www.agebb.missouri.edu/commag.


Is Your Enterprise Cloud-Enabled? Within this context, and before delving into enterprise architecture, let’s consider for the moment different aspects of a system.
Business and IT tend to focus more initially on the functional rather than the qualitative aspects of a technology or system. Functional is more fun, less abstract — you can see, touch, and feel it. The toys.
However, business should care most about the qualitative aspects. The most publicly embarrassing failures of cloud computing have all been caused by qualitative issues. Things


Q.: In your columns, you have often stated that you don't recommend carrying collision insurance on older cars because the cost far outweighs the value of the car. I used to believe as you do, and I stopped paying collision insurance when my cars became 6 to 8 years old.
Then we were in a serious car crash that was not our fault. My family was injured. Our insurance carrier left us with no question that we would be completely on our own when it came to collecting any claims: "You don't have collision; we can't help you."
While I recognize that this was the deal that was struck when I stopped carrying collision, we felt betrayed and like we'd been left hanging by a big-name carrier. We wound up hiring an attorney. We think it would have been easier and cheaper if we had carried collision insurance all along. – Reader in New Mexico
A.: I'm sorry you had these problems. But understand that although it might have been easier, it certainly would not have been cheaper over the years had you carried collision on an old car. It is a poor buy by any counting method you choose to use. Further, if your injuries were severe, you likely would have had to use the attorney anyway.
I still think collision insurance on a car that's worth less than $3,000 is throwing away money.


Intermodal connections, which allow freight or passengers to use a combination of modes, have been a part of federal transportation policy since passage of the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). Connectivity gives shippers and travelers additional transportation alternatives that unconnected, parallel systems do not offer. Intermodal passenger terminals not only facilitate connectivity for travelers, but also enhance the livability of communities by offering multiple transportation options to residents.


November 26 While its outcome was either modest or disappointing, depending on who you asked, the 18th Conference of the Parties of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change had a serious effect on the Arabian Gulf region.That is because, for the first time, the high-profile annual meeting was held in a Arabian Gulf country – Qatar.
From November 26 until December 8, the governments of 194 countries, including the hosts, convened in Doha to discuss ways to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid catastrophic climate change.
While a solution is still years away, the event helped raise awareness on climate issues.
Activists welcomed the debate as a first step towards a more active role for Arab governments in tackling climate change. With initiatives such as creating the clean-energy company, Masdar, the UAE is seen as a pioneer among Arabian Gulf governments on climate issues.
– Vesela Todorova


Rapid ATM-dependent phosphorylation of MDM2 precedes p53 accumulation in response to DNA damage. The p53 tumor-suppressor protein, a key regulator of cellular responses to genotoxic stress, is stabilized and activated after DNA damage. This process is associated with posttranslational modifications of p53, some of which are mediated by the ATM protein kinase. However, these modifications alone may not account in full for p53 stabilization. p53's stability and activity are negatively regulated by the oncoprotein MDM2, whose gene is activated by p53. Conceivably, p53 function may be modulated by modifications of MDM2 as well. We show here that after treatment of cells with ionizing radiation or a radiomimetic chemical, but not UV radiation, MDM2 is phosphorylated rapidly in an ATM-dependent manner. This phosphorylation is independent of p53 and the DNA-dependent protein kinase. Furthermore, MDM2 is directly phosphorylated by ATM in vitro. These findings suggest that in response to DNA strand breaks, ATM may promote p53 activity and stability by mediating simultaneous phosphorylation of both partners of the p53-MDM2 autoregulatory feedback loop.


Lightning - A Few Tips for Coaches Lightning is a serious danger. Thus lightning safety requires a large standoff distance from thunderstorms and a long standoff time after apparent thunderstorm decay. Thunder produced by a lightning strike travels one mile (1.6 km) every five seconds. Thus, counting the number of seconds between the visible "flash" and the audible "bang" and dividing by 5, provides the distance in miles.
Employ the "30-30 Rule" to know when to seek a safer location. The "30-30 Rule" states that when you see lightning, count the time until you hear thunder. If this time is 30 seconds or less, go immediately to a safer place. If you can't see the lightning, just hearing the thunder means lightning is likely within striking range. After the storm has apparently dissipated or moved on, wait 30 minutes or more after hearing the last thunder before leaving the safer location.The "30-30 Rule" is best suited for existing thunderstorms moving into the area. However, it cannot protect against the first lightning strike. Be alert to changes in sky conditions portending thunderstorm development directly overhead.
"When lightning threatens, go to a safer location. Do not hesitate. What is a safer location? The safest place commonly available during a lightning storm is a large, fully enclosed, substantially constructed building, e.g. your typical house, school, library, or other public building. Substantial construction also implies the building has wiring and plumbing, which can conduct lightning current safely to ground. However, any metal conductor exposed to the outside must not be touched precisely because it could become a lightning conduit. Once inside, stay away from corded telephones, electrical appliances, lighting fixtures, ham radio microphones, electric sockets and plumbing. Don't watch lightning from open windows or doorways. Inner rooms are generally preferable from a safety viewpoint.If you can't reach a substantial building, an enclosed vehicle with a solid metal roof and metal sides is a reasonable second choice. As with a building, avoid contact with conducting paths going outside. Close the windows, lean away from the door, put your hands in your lap and don't touch the steering wheel, ignition, gear shifter or radio. Convertibles, cars with fiberglass or plastic shells, and open-framed vehicles are not suitable lightning shelters.


Purpose – This study aims to understand buyer and supplier motives for developing direct relationships with their trade partners.
Design/methodology/approach – A total of 18 in-depth interviews were conducted across Victoria and Tasmania (Australia); eight with retail buyers and ten with fresh produce suppliers. Both parties were involved in a direct relationship with their trade partner.
Findings – The research reveals a large variety of motivations that influence buyers and suppliers when deciding whether to operate in a direct or non-direct relationship with their trade partner. Motivations for both parties are remarkably similar, with buyers and suppliers ultimately attempting to minimise the inherent risk associated with operating in a volatile environment.
Research limitations/implications – The study may be limited by the fact that buyers and suppliers of different commodities were included in the study. In addition, the varied nature of the respondents' role may have impacted their judgment. The inability to interview dyads in all cases also limits the research.
Practical implications – This research has implications for both researchers and practitioners already involved in, or considering becoming involved in, a direct trade relationship. Clarification of motivations for bypassing intermediaries shows how both trade partners can minimise external risk and strengthen competitive advantage by assuming a direct relationship.
Originality/value – Extant research within this literary field is largely quantitatively based with researchers focusing on distinct relationship constructs, the definition of relationship marketing and the process of relationship development. In response to these limitations, this research adopted a qualitative approach in examining the core motivations for developing a direct trade relationship within the fresh produce industry.
Notes
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These interesting observations by Proctor, de Waal et al. using a new experimental design that resolves conflicting data in studies by other authors suggest that our human sense of fairness has an early origin in primate behavior.
Is the sense of fairness uniquely human? Human reactions to reward division are often studied by means of the ultimatum game, in which both partners need to agree on a distribution for both to receive rewards. Humans typically offer generous portions of the reward to their partner, a tendency our close primate relatives have thus far failed to show in experiments. Here we tested chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) and human children on a modified ultimatum game. One individual chose between two tokens that, with their partner’s cooperation, could be exchanged for rewards. One token offered equal rewards to both players, whereas the other token favored the chooser. Both apes and children responded like humans typically do. If their partner’s cooperation was required, they split the rewards equally. However, with passive partners—a situation akin to the so-called dictator game—they preferred the selfish option. Thus, humans and chimpanzees show similar preferences regarding reward division, suggesting a long evolutionary history to the human sense of fairness.


For the first time I forgot all my problems and simply enjoyed life. I felt completely relieved. It was the end of constant pressure. "Carefree" is the word for this kind of thinking. That is why psychologists frequently describe happy moods as carefree, worry-free, relieved states. Still other thoughts that typically occur in the happiest of moods are quite powerful and profound: "We had perfection in a sense and we knew it." "I felt like I fit into the scheme of the universe, part of the totality, like the totality, and incomplete harmony with it." "I was part of something that was the truth, there was real meaning to life." "I was filled with a security and assurance I had never known before." "It was thrilling...(it) gave me sensation of flying, of power and control of circumstances, a confidence that nothing could go wrong." "I knew that I would always remember this day because it was so completely different. It was like a dream-come-true."


This guide describes the Building Partnerships for the Protection of Persons with Disabilities Initiative (BPI), which uses a prosecution-based multidisciplinary team approach to address abuse committed against persons with disabilities. Developed in Massachusetts, BPI links law enforcement officials, prosecutors, adult protective and human services workers, self-advocates, and others in the team approach. It has revolutionized the way to recognize, report, investigate, and prosecute crimes against victims with disabilities and is founded on a simple principle: we must ensure equal and effective access to the criminal justice system for persons with disabilities.
As part of a pilot project, three states have already replicated BPI. Other states may use this replication guide of recommended practices, modeled on the Massachusetts BPI, to develop, implement, and successfully maintain their own multidisciplinary partnerships.


How are people adapting to climate change around the world?
It is widely accepted that the world’s climate is changing, and that the full effects of environmental contamination are still yet to be felt. As many countries are focusing on reducing their emissions to prevent further contamination, others are now working at ways to adapting to the coming changes before they happen.
In France, there is a growing movement of people returning to a simpler lifestyle. These individuals have begun living in yurts, a traditional hut widely used on the Mongolian steppes. Yurts vary based on the region of construction, but are constructed as temporary residences that can be dismantled and reassembled in another location. Without running water or electricity, the yurt provides a way for residents to reduce their ecological footprint dramatically. This way of life is currently under indirect pressure from the French government, as they work to expel their Roma population.
Unlike most developed countries, Australia has announced to their citizens that the affects of climate change are now unavoidable. With recent flood activity in the northeast, and poor predictions for future food production, a 2008 study stated that current lifestyles in Australia can not be maintained. Already the driest continent, Australia’s largest spending on adaptation is a 10-year program called “Water for the Future”. This $12.9 billion dollar initiative will help to prioritize water resources to the areas of greatest need.
The “Ark”, a project designed by Alexander Remizov, is an eco-friendly floating hotel. Designed specifically as part of a program on architectural disaster relief through the International Union of Architects, the Ark is a self-sustaining energy and water producer. The Ark may be a fundamental tool in housing individuals displaced by rising ocean levels, and continental climate change. While this design is not a reality at present, a team is currently seeking investors to make the Ark a reality.
While Planet Earth is a resilient and diverse macro-ecosystem, humanity’s ability to adapt to climate change will predict the future for the human species. Humanity has reached the pinnacle it has already based on our ability to adapt to different habitats. The rate of our adaptation may be measured by our own willingness to make change, and thus coming times may truly be when the meek inherit the Earth.
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Americas Podcast Ron Largent Listen to podcastAngloGold Ashanti has the Cripple Creek & Victor mine in the United States, the Cerro Vanguardia mine in Argentina, the AngloGold Ashanti Córrego do Sítio Mineração (AGA Mineração) and Serra Grande operations, both in Brazil. The Americas represents one of the most important growth regions for AngloGold Ashanti.
Combined production from these operations increased by 3% to 842,000oz of gold in 2010. This was equivalent to 18.7% of group production. Total cash costs increased by 19% to $432/oz. In all, 6,582 people including contractors, were employed, 698 more than in 2009. Total capital expenditure for the region was $311m, an increase of 21% on the $258m spent in 2009. The bulk of this, 50%, was spent on projects, 32% stay-in-business capital, and the balance on Ore Reserve development.
The total Mineral Resource across the Americas, attributable to AngloGold Ashanti, was 44Moz at the end of 2010 and the attributable Ore Reserve was 10Moz.
AngloGold Ashanti also conducts an extensive greenfield programme across the Americas, most notably in Colombia, where it holds a significant land position and has made two greenfield discoveries – Gramalote and La Colosa – which together account for 13.5Moz of the Americas Mineral Resource. The company also has exploration activities, either conducted by its own teams or with joint venture partners, in Canada, Brazil and Argentina, among others. See Global exploration.
AngloGold Ashanti’s Americas region fully endorses the company’s objective to eliminate workplace injuries, incidents and illnesses across its operations. As in the previous year, no fatal injuries occurred in 2010. Underpinning this performance has been a significant reduction in the total number of safety-related incidents, where an all injury frequency rate of 5.66 per million hours worked was achieved during the year. This represents a 21% reduction when compared with 2009 and a 43% improvement since 2008 (2009: 7.12 and 2008: 9.92).


Significance and Use
During the operation of a UF system, conditions including pressure and temperature can vary, causing permeate flow to change (see Note 1). To effectively evaluate system performance, it is necessary to compare permeate flow data at the same conditions. Since data may not always be obtained at the same conditions, it is necessary to convert the UF data obtained at actual conditions to a set of constant conditions, thereby standardizing the data. The user of this practice determines the standard conditions. This practice gives the procedure to standardize UF data on pure water only.
Note 1—Feed concentration, crossflow velocity, and both device and total system recovery will also influence permeate rate, especially when operating on other than pure water. This practice does not address those system conditions.
This practice can be used for systems which contain spiral-wound, tubular, plate and frame, and hollow fiber devices.
This practice can be used for a single-element or a multi-element system. However, if the UF system is staged, standardize the permeate flow and salt passage for each stage separately. This requires pressure readings at the feed inlet and concentrate outlet of each stage.
This practice is applicable for UF systems with no significant leaks between the feed/concentrate and permeate streams.
This practice assumes no significant osmotic pressure differential (Δπ) exists in the UF system under the actual operating conditions. Differential osmotic pressure will reduce the permeate rate relative to operation on pure water.
The user of this practice should be aware that fouled UF devices will produce less permeate flow than nonfouled devices, and may wish to perform flushing, chemical, or mechanical cleaning, or combination thereof, prior to determining the permeate flow performance of the device.
1. Scope
1.1 This practice covers the standardization of permeate flow for ultrafiltration (UF) systems.
1.2 This practice is applicable to natural waters including brackish waters, seawaters, and ultrapure waters including those used in power generation and microelectronics and pharmaceuticals production. It is not necessarily applicable to waste waters.
This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.
ASTM Standards
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water
D6161 Terminology Used for Microfiltration, Ultrafiltration, Nanofiltration and Reverse Osmosis Membrane Processes
Keywords
nanofiltration; particulates; permeate; UF; ultrafiltration;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 11.040.20 (Transfusion, Infusion); 17.120.10 (Flow in closed conduits)
DOI: 10.1520/D5090-07 ASTM International is a member of CrossRef. Citing ASTM Standards
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Tim Harford discusses Pete's work on pirates in the Financial Times .
Leeson’s message is that pirate crews faced a serious challenge of governance. Without any possible appeal to a higher legal body, pirates were forced to create their own organisations, constitutions and checks on executive power. Traditionally, a ship’s captain had absolute authority over the crew; the resulting abuses of power in the official navies and merchant navies were so appalling that they served as recruiting tools for the pirates.
Pirate captains adopted a different approach. They retained authority over strategy, tactics and navigation, but delegated discipline, rations and punishments to the quartermaster, who was elected by the crew. Leeson, following a tradition of libertarian economic thinking, argues that this form of private-sector piratical governance was far more effective than the official state-sponsored version.


Annual European investment volumes rise 7% between 2010 and 2011 (EUR)
Monday 30 January 2012
The volume of commercial property investments traded in the main Western European markets rose by 7% between 2010 and 2011 according to a report by BNP Paribas Real Estate, the leading international real estate adviser.
Total investment volume in 2011 amounted to €38.7bn in the nine primary markets studied by BNP Paribas Real Estate, revealing a 7% increase compared to the previous year.
Following a positive start to 2011, which saw a 21% rise during the first six months, activity during the second half of the year saw a sharp slowdown compared to the same period in 2010.
The usual buoyancy during the last quarter of the year was observed in Central Paris and Munich which realized 42% and 45% of their yearly turnover during Q4. Likewise, Madrid recorded 51% of 2011 total investment volume during the last quarter but remained down on 2010 results.
With 70% of total investment, offices continued to be by far the most favoured asset. However, while offices’ turnover rose by 5% between 2010 and 2011, it increased by 33% in retail premises and remained way above the long-term average. Sustained by investors’ undiminished demand for prime assets, commercial real estate yields continue to stay at a low level.
Due to the collapse in confidence that went with the sovereign debt crisis and the widespread fiscal consolidation measures that were introduced, it is likely that the Euro area economy will be stagnant in 2012. Indeed, following the slight 0.2% GDP growth recorded in Q3 2011, the Euro area is expected to enter a short period of recession which may last through the first half of 2012.
Andrew Cruickshank, international investment director at BNP Paribas Real Estate, says: “Despite weak GDP growth, Germany is expected to remain the strongest performer, while Southern European countries are expected to fall back into recession and the unemployment rate in the Euro area is expected to rise further during 2012. We expect that demand should remain strong in 2012, with some institutional investors, including pension funds and insurance companies, expected to increase their exposure to real estate. Outcomes for 2012 are blurred depending mostly on the financing conditions that banks will request. Supply is likely to remain an issue. Discrepancies may widen amongst markets. Concerns about the economic health of the southern European countries may inhibit investment activity, while in the United Kingdom and Germany the markets remain confident about 2012 with investment volumes forecast to stabilize.”


Optimal Solutions Time Released Calcium 600 mg Time Released Calcium & Vitamin D3 with Genistein is a comprehensive formula specifically designed to help strengthen and nourish your bones.* Calcium, Vitamin D, Magnesium and Genistein work synergistically to help maintain overall bone health.*
May reduce the risk of osteoporosis**
Calcium plays a vital role in bone mass*
Vitamin D and Magnesium are necessary for bone mineralization*
Isoflavone Genistein helps balance bone turnover*
Specially formulated to provide a gradual release of nutrients over time
**Adequate Calcium and Vitamin D, as part of a well-balanced diet, along with physical activity, may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.


On May 17, 2012, Reps. Sherman (D-CA) and Campbell (R-CA) sent a bipartisan letter signed by 58 other lawmakers to the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) and International Accounting Standards Board (IASB), urging the accounting standard setters to conduct a comprehensive economic analysis of its recent lease accounting proposal before making a final rule.
Under the proposal, U.S. companies that lease commercial space would be required to capitalize the costs of that lease — similar to as if they purchased the property — instead of recognizing the true costs of the lease transaction. It is estimated that under current terms, businesses would be required to capitalize over $1.1 trillion in leased real estate assets onto their balance sheets. For businesses leasing space, especially small businesses, this will change these leases into a major liability.
FASB and IASB will likely be ready to vote on a method to account for real estate leases in June 2012, along with expectations of finalizing their lease accounting overhaul by the end of this year.


AU
Mathis S, Magy L, Diallo L, Boukhris S, Vallat JM
INTRODUCTION: Amyloid neuropathy is a rare peripheral neuropathy that classically presents as a progressive sensory neuropathy with prominent autonomic involvement.
METHODS: We describe 5 patients with amyloid neuropathy (familial amyloid polyneuropathy or acquired amyloidosis) who were initially mistaken to have chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) based on history, clinical examination, electrodiagnostic studies, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis.
RESULTS: The diagnosis of CIDP had been retained on clinical and electrophysiological grounds for all patients, but we observed no improvement after immunomodulatory treatment. Nerve biopsy confirmed amyloid deposits in nerves, and molecular genetic analysis showed a mutation of the transthyretin (V30M) gene for 3 patients; the 2 other patients had acquired amyloidosis.
CONCLUSIONS: This report emphasizes the need to look for an alternative diagnosis in CIDP patients who do not respond to treatment and to look carefully for symptoms or signs of autonomic involvement in such patients.
AD
Department of Neurology, CHU Poitiers, University of Poitiers, Poitiers, France.


Practice Based Learning in Nursing, Health and Social Care: Mentorship,Facilitation and Supervision
Book description
Work based learning facilitation, mentoring and coaching are all integral to the health care professions. Practice Based Learning in Nursing, Health and Social Care promotes effective professional learning in the workplace and helps health care professionals to develop, enhance, reflect on and change their practice and perceptions of mentoring, facilitating, and supervision.
Aimed at the health and social care practitioner who is involved in facilitating learning, teaching and assessing learners in practice, this essential, comprehensive text explores several key themes, including:
- The nature of facilitating (coaching, supervision, mentoring) within professional contexts
- Learning in communities of practice
- Becoming an effective facilitator/mentor
- Understand and supporting work-based learning
- Managing the unusual, such as failing learners or those with special needs
- Giving and documenting feedback
- Managing workloads in busy environments
- Professional development issues
Special features:
A clear, accessible guide for new and experienced practice educators/facilitators alike A comprehensive, applied text for practitioners of all levels of experience in facilitation and supervision
Written by authors with extensive experience in the field
Uniquely focuses on the professional development of the mentor/facilitator themselves
Provides case studies throughout showing illustrating common issues and how to engage in formal theories of professional practice
Multiprofessional focus- aimed at all health and social care practitioners


2004 Acura RSX -- Safety OVERVIEW
The RSX is equipped with an array of standard occupant-protection systems. The RSX was designed with the goal of achieving a 5-star NCAP rating for front impacts-the highest rating possible. While the RSX has yet to be tested by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), it is expected to meet these targets:
5-star NCAP for frontal impact 4-star SINCAP for side impact "Good" Insurance Institute for Highway Safety rating for front offset impact To achieve these objectives, the RSX includes: front and rear crumple zones, a highly rigid passenger compartment, dual seatbelt pretensioners on both front seats, and driver's and passenger's dual-stage front air bags and a driver's and passenger's side air bag system.
To help the driver avoid being involved in an accident, the RSX employs other safety features including a quick-ratio power steering system for precise handling, all-season high-performance tires and a four-wheel Anti-lock Braking System (ABS).
ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM (ABS)
The ABS system in the RSX is a three-channel, four-sensor design that modulates braking power to the front wheels independently and to the rear wheels in tandem-enhancing steering control during maximum-effort stops.
SAFETY STRUCTURE
In the event of a frontal impact, the energy is divided between the parallel side frame and the sub-frame. The impact is then absorbed, dissipating into the side sill, the floor frame, and the front pillars.
SIDE IMPACT PROTECTION
For additional protection in the event of a collision from the side, the RSX features strong steel side-impact beams in each door. Further strength is derived from a strong roof gusset. To help cushion the forces of a side impact, the RSX is equipped with crushable, energy-absorbing pads below each quarter panel and in the door linings. In addition, a middle-floor crossbeam is fitted between the B-pillars to help lessen body deformation in the event of a collision.
DUAL FRONT SEATBELT PRETENSIONERS
As an additional measure of occupant protection, the RSX is equipped with advanced, dual seatbelt pretensioners on each front seat. Previously, pretensioners have been used to pull the shoulder belt tightly in the event of a collision. In the RSX, in addition to the shoulder-belt pretensioners, the engineers added a lap belt buckle pretensioner to each front seat. In a collision, both the shoulder portion and the lap portion of the belt are pulled tight, firmly securing the occupant in the seat.
DUAL AIR BAG SUPPLEMENTAL RESTRAINT SYSTEM (SRS)
The RSX is equipped with a standard driver's and front passenger's air bag Supplemental Restraint System (SRS). The system employs three sensors-including a front sensor, buckle switches to determine if the front seat occupants have the seatbelts buckled, and a dual-stage inflator to match the air bag deployment rate with the severity of the crash. As in all Acura models, the front passenger's air bag is designed to deploy upward along the windshield and then back toward the occupant. This provides a large cushion to help protect the front passenger.
DUAL STAGE FRONT AIR BAGS
To enhance the protection of the driver and front seat passenger during a variety of frontal impact collisions, the RSX utilizes varying air bag deployment power. The system, which uses a dual-stage inflator, automatically adjusts the deployment of the driver and front passenger's SRS air bags based on the severity of the crash. During a slower speed collision, the dual-stage inflator system is triggered in sequence, resulting in slower overall air bag deployment with less initial force. During a high-speed collision, both inflators operate simultaneously for full immediate inflation, to correspond with the greater impact force.
SIDE AIR BAG SYSTEM
The standard side-impact air bags on the RSX are triggered in response to signals sent by three sensors. The front passenger's seat is equipped with an innovative side air bag cutoff system designed to disable side air bag deployment.
and prevent injury to a child (or small-statured adult) if they lean into the side air bag deployment path. A series of seven sensors in the passenger seatback monitors the size and position of the occupant to determine if it is safe to deploy the air bag
If the occupant leans into the deployment path of the side air bag, the sensors will prevent the side air bag from inflating. When the occupant returns to an upright seating position, the side air bag will reactivate. An indicator light on the dash alerts the driver if the front passenger is out of position.
CHILD SEAT TETHER ANCHORS / LATCH SYSTEM
The RSX features the LATCH (Lower Anchors and Tethers for Children) system in both of the rear seats, so parents can use LATCH-compatible child seats. These child seats are secured at the top by a tether anchor on the rear liftgate sill, and are secured at the bottom to anchor points located between the seat back and the seat bottom cushion.
Parents who use non-LATCH child seats can still use a seat belt to secure the seats in either of the rear seats. The liftgate sill has two covered tether anchors for securing a child seat tether strap.


In This Issue In 2011, 25% of the over 28,000 releasees on parole were identified as having a history of domestic violence. (NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision [formerly NYS Division of Parole])
This statistic is taken from the 2011 New York State Domestic Violence Dashboard, available on our website.
Please send any comments or content ideas to: opdvbulletin@opdv.ny.gov
If you would like to subscribe to the OPDV Bulletin, visit our website.
Articles by outside authors are invited, but publication does not indicate endorsement of the opinions contained therein.
Permission to copy, use, and distribute content from The OPDV Bulletin is granted for personal, private, and educational purposes, except that reproducing materials for profit or any commercial use is strictly forbidden without specific permission from OPDV. Any reproduction or distribution of this material must expressly credit OPDV in a prominent manner, such as, “From the NYS Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence, OPDV Bulletin, Winter 2013”. This statement does not pertain to material from other sources.


Genetic specificity and potential for local adaptation between dengue viruses and mosquito vectors
1 Department of Entomology, University of California, One Shields Avenue, Davis, CA 95616, USA
2 Génétique et Evolution des Maladies Infectieuses, UMR CNRS-IRD 2724, Centre de Recherche IRD, 911 Avenue Agropolis, B.P. 64501, 34394 Montpellier Cedex 5, France
3 Department of Virology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
4 Department of Entomology, Armed Forces Research Institute of Medical Sciences, 315/6 Rajvithi Road, Bangkok, 10400, Thailand
BMC Evolutionary Biology 2009, 9 :160 doi:10.1186/1471-2148-9-160Abstract Background Several observations support the hypothesis that vector-driven selection plays an important role in shaping dengue virus (DENV) genetic diversity. Clustering of DENV genetic diversity at a particular location may reflect underlying genetic structure of vector populations, which combined with specific vector genotype × virus genotype (G × G) interactions may promote adaptation of viral lineages to local mosquito vector genotypes. Although spatial structure of vector polymorphism at neutral genetic loci is well-documented, existence of G × G interactions between mosquito and virus genotypes has not been formally demonstrated in natural populations. Here we measure G × G interactions in a system representative of a natural situation in Thailand by challenging three isofemale families from field-derived Aedes aegypti with three contemporaneous low-passage isolates of DENV-1.
Results Among indices of vector competence examined, the proportion of mosquitoes with a midgut infection, viral RNA concentration in the body, and quantity of virus disseminated to the head/legs (but not the proportion of infected mosquitoes with a disseminated infection) strongly depended on the specific combinations of isofemale families and viral isolates, demonstrating significant G × G interactions.
Conclusion Evidence for genetic specificity of interactions in our simple experimental design indicates that vector competence of Ae. aegypti for DENV is likely governed to a large extent by G × G interactions in genetically diverse, natural populations. This result challenges the general relevance of conclusions from laboratory systems that consist of a single combination of mosquito and DENV genotypes. Combined with earlier evidence for fine-scale genetic structure of natural Ae. aegypti populations, our finding indicates that the necessary conditions for local DENV adaptation to mosquito vectors are met.


The big federal laws are fairly well known: Title VII covering race, color, religion, sex, or national origin; Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA); and the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA). Generally, the ADA and Title VII apply to employers with 15 or more employees. The ADEA, however, applies to employers with 20 or more employees.
I once ran into a business owner who, upon hearing that I was an employment attorney, said, "You mean like discrimination laws? I only have eight employees so they don't apply to me." I hated to break it to him but he needed to check his state and local laws (he operated in Georgia). I practice in Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania Human Relations Act covers any person employing
four or more persons!There are also numerous local ordinances addressing discrimination. Such ordinances may further decrease the number of employees necessary for coverage (whether a municipality has such authority depends on a variety of factors ranging from state law to state constitutions to municipal charters) .
Still not covered by any federal, state, or local law? Think you're safe? Not so fast! I'll post more on this in a separate entry but numerous states have recognized a cause of action for wrongful discharge based on discrimination in violation of public policy - even where the employer is not covered by discrimination statutes!
I wish there were a magic number I could tell you but the truth is coverage varies across states and municipalities. As Title VII and the ADEA demonstrate, the number may vary based on the protected characteristic. Maybe it's not a statute at all but your state's common law. Know thine coverage.


By Kate Barker, Communications Coordinator On Thursday, September 23, 2010, the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) convened the NCCN Patient Advocacy Summit in Washington, D.C. at the National Press Club. This invite-only Policy Summit was attended by patient advocates, providers, employers, clinicians, and industry representatives within the oncology community. These key stakeholders gathered for a day-long session to discuss the current issues that most profoundly affect patient care.
NCCN commenced the Patient Advocacy Summit with a press conference announcing the launch of the NCCN Guidelines for Patients™, patient-friendly translations of the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology (NCCN Guidelines™), for Breast and Lung Cancers. The NCCN Guidelines for Patients™ are representative of NCCN’s dedication to the betterment of patient education and care. NCCN hopes to have a total of six NCCN Guidelines for Patients™ completed by the end of 2010.
Following the press conference, the Summit featured a series of panel discussions featuring representatives from each sector in attendance. Each roundtable was moderated by William T. McGivney, PhD, Chief Executive Officer of NCCN. The first panel debated the potential impacts health care reform bears for patient care. Provider coverage, Medicare reform, and patient utilization of the health care system were among subjects of debate addressed by the panel, moderator, and participating audience members.
Next, a roundtable of clinical experts and patient advocates focused on major advances in oncology and the correlating opportunities this progress presents for patients. Panelists discussed the growing role of biomarkers and stressed the importance of personalized treatment for patients with cancer. They also emphasized the need for more concrete science to support the formation of policy and coverage decisions. The role of compendia and the use of drugs and biologics for indications beyond the FDA-approved label, the topic of an upcoming NCCN Oncology Policy Summit, were also explored.
A panel of experts from patient advocacy groups, industry, and NCCN next addressed the information needs of patients. The emphasis was not only on patient education, but also on the best means of delivering this crucial information. The value of patient-relatable language and resources, indispensible tools in empowering patients to take an active role in their treatment, emerged as additional areas of consideration.
Finally, participants discussed improving patient access to cancer care. Conversation centered on the need to deliver the best possible care in the current economic and scientific environment. The clinical trial system was identified as a necessary area for advancement in the cancer care-delivery system. Speakers challenged the perception of clinical trials and examined their current structure, highlighting opportunities for reform and improvement. Panelists also addressed methods for equipping employers with better decision-making tools to support individuals with cancer.
Amid insightful debate and diverse conversation, the underlying consensus of the Summit was plain. It is essential that the oncology community collaboratively works toward the common goal of improving the lives of patients with cancer. Through patient-driven initiatives such as the Patient Advocacy Summit and the NCCN Guidelines for Patients™, NCCN continually strives to do just that.


NTSB Identification: ERA11IA316 Nonscheduled 14 CFR Part 91 Subpart K: Fractional Incident occurred Friday, May 27, 2011 in Newburgh, NY Probable Cause Approval Date: 03/08/2012 Aircraft: ISRAEL AIRCRAFT INDUSTRIES GULFSTREAM 200, registration: N749QS Injuries: 3 Uninjured.
NTSB investigators used data provided by various sources and may not have traveled in support of this investigation to prepare this aircraft incident report.Prior to the incident flight, the flight crew performed an uneventful repositioning flight and did not experience any problems with the airplane's landing gear system. During the incident flight, the flight crew was performing a visual approach to the destination airport. The second-in-command (SIC) initiated a landing gear extension, and the landing gear extended but did not lock. The flight crew entered a holding pattern to perform the Landing Gear Down Lock Indication Failure checklist. Before the SIC reached the steps to cycle the landing gear, the flight crew was distracted by a hydraulic overheat condition and diverted to the Hydraulic System Overheat checklist to address that condition. When the SIC returned to the Landing Gear Down Lock Indication Failure checklist, he could not cycle the landing gear per the checklist instructions, because the hydraulic pressure was low. He then began the Emergency Landing Gear Extension checklist. The emergency extension resulted in all three landing gear remaining extended, but only the nosegear locked, and no further pertinent information remained in the checklist. The flight crew then performed an emergency landing at an airport with a longer runway. During the landing, the right main landing gear collapsed, and the airplane came to rest on the runway. During postaccident examination of the airplane, the landing gear selector handle was found 1/8- to 1/4-inch from the full down position. Subsequent ground testing revealed that when the landing gear selector handle was positioned full up, followed by full down, the landing gear cycled successfully, indicating that, if the flight crew had placed the handle in the full down position, the landing gear would likely have operated normally. When the landing gear selector handle was positioned where it was found, the landing gear extended, but did not lock. A hydraulic bypass also occurred, with a resulting increase in hydraulic fluid temperature and decrease in hydraulic fluid pressure. The hydraulic bypass was most likely the reason that the landing gear did not lock when the emergency gear extension procedure (blow down) was followed during the incident flight. Although, the rigging of the landing gear selector valve arm was found to be 2 degrees beyond specifications, the fact that the landing gear was successfully cycled numerous times with this discrepancy indicates that it was not a contributing factor to this incident. After the incident, the airplane manufacturer revised several checklists by replacing the terms "normal" and "low" with actual numerical values. Additionally, the Landing Gear Down Lock Indication Failure and Emergency Landing Gear Extension checklists were revised to include more guidance on ensuring that the landing gear handle was positioned full down. Lastly, the Emergency Landing Gear Extension checklist was expanded to include a situation where the blow-down procedure failed to extend and lock all three landing gear.
The National Transportation Safety Board determines the probable cause(s) of this incident to be:
The flight crew did not ensure that the landing gear selector handle was in the full down (extend) position. Contributing to the incident was inadequate checklist information. Full narrative availableIndex for May2011 | Index of months


It has been a long and perilous journey, but otters have finally managed to swim back from the brink of extinction and into every county in England.
Two otters have been spotted building their holts on the banks of the rivers Medway and Eden in Kent, delighting conservationists who had previously predicted they would not return to the county for another 10 years.
"The fact that otters are now returning to Kent is the final piece in the jigsaw for otter recovery in England and is a symbol of great success for everybody involved in otter conservation," said Alastair Driver, the national conservation manager for the Environment Agency.
Otters have reappeared in places where they have not been seen since the industrial revolution, including Bristol, Birmingham and Manchester, and even on the Thames and the Lea in north London. A recent survey on the river Ribble, in Lancashire, showed a 44% increase in otter numbers since 2008.
The Kentish otters herald a remarkable – if slow – renaissance for the sleek, fish-devouring member of the mustelid family, which declined by 95% of its range in western Europe during the 20th century.
In England the otter disappeared dramatically between the 1950s and 1970s because of persecution and pesticides washing into waterways.
After otter hunting was belatedly banned in Britain in 1978, numbers began to increase – particularly following the withdrawal of organochlorine chemicals and a more general improvement in water quality, leading to more fish in rivers and lakes.


Katherine Robinson tells, in her own words, why she undertook a project to help preemies in the Crouse Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and how being a micro-preemie has affected her. Her account appeared on the Crouse Hospital website. By Katherine Robinson One pound, 15-and-a-half ounces; 893 grams; exactly one box of General Mills Fiber One Honey Clusters Cereal; 7½ cups of flour; or 19 golf balls. An experience that has both challenged me and resulted in personal growth I had encountered very early on in my life; it happens to be the day I was born.
For unknown reasons, I was born 3½ months early, weighing a mere 1 pound, 15½ ounces. The impact that this has had on my growing up is nearly unimaginable. I was faced with challenges that the majority of children my age did not have to overcome. At birth, I was 14 inches long, weighed 1½ pounds and spent the first five months of my life in the hospital fighting for my life. Once home, I was on oxygen, a heart monitor, round-the-clock medical treatments and had nurses to help care for me, giving my parents an opportunity to rest.
Growing up, I experienced differences and countless challenges that the greater majority of my peers did not encounter. One of the differences that had a profound effect on me occurred during my years in elementary school.
For seven years, I was taken out of my classroom two to three times a week for physical, speech and occupational therapy. I was often embarrassed and didn’t understand why I had differences and had to go to these sessions. In my eyes, I was just like every other child in my classroom, granted I was significantly shorter and underweight, but I strongly disliked going to these sessions where I felt anything but normal.
I was treated differently in many ways due to my size. My capabilities in many areas were often underestimated because I was prejudged (about) my physical appearance. I looked two to three years younger than I really was. Furthermore, I was limited to activities that I could participate in due to premature birth.
At 10 years old, weighing a mere 55 pounds, and about 4 feet, 7 inches, I told my parents I wanted to play basketball. My parents supported my decision, and I played for many years as a point guard and was very quick on defense.
Despite my significant decreased lung function due to my premature birth, I pursued running in middle school, where I participated in both cross country and track. There, size was not an obstacle. Despite my size, I overcame daily obstacles and achieved goals that were once thought to be unachievable.
However, there was one activity that I started at 5 years old and have continued to engage in throughout high school: Girl Scouting. Any girl can be a Girl Scout, where no girl faces obstacles and everyone is always welcome.
Continuing Girl Scouting throughout middle school and high school, as most girls do not, I have learned many life skills. Not only have I developed immense skills in leadership, teamwork, communication and organization, I fully realize that making a difference can be a very simple act, which has a very large impact on the world.
Over my 12 years of volunteering and Girl Scout adventures, one experience in Girl Scouting has significantly changed my life: working toward and achieving my Girl Scout Gold Award. To make a lasting impact on my community, I chose a project that was close to my heart. I coordinated a community-wide knitting and crocheting project and gathered over 300 hats, blankets and booties to send to “micro-preemie” infants and their families within the greater Oswego community and Central New York.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is achieved by only two percent of Girl Scouts nationwide and requires hundreds of hours of work, community service and dedication to complete. Completing this project is not the end of a process, but only the beginning, to make a difference in the lives of infants and their families, as it has made a difference in my life, as well.


Clinical decision support is used in a wide range of instances to guide care decisions. Clinical decision support tools include drug-drug interaction checking, automated alerts, templates, and order sets. How can these tools be optimized to improve patient care? How should you determine whether the tools are appropriate in your specific practice setting?


U.S. Postal Service Mail Transport Equipment (MTE) consists of specialized containers such as sacks, pouches, trays, hampers, over-the-road containers and pallets. Although the Postal Service does not maintain a perpetual inventory of its MTE, a 2010 audit indicated approximately 359 million pieces in the system of 400 processing facilities, over 30,000 post offices and thousands of mailers nationwide. Proper MTE management and availability ensure the safe, secure, and timely movement of mail between Postal Service facilities and its customers or contractors MTE may be used only to transport mail, and borrowers of MTE (such as private mailers) are responsible for its proper use and return. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Over the past few years Postal Service has experienced a significant loss of plastic and wooden pallets. Since fiscal year 2005 the Postal Service has spent over $240 million on close to 19 million plastic and wooden pallets, many of which can no longer be accounted for internally or externally. Realizing the significant cost of leakage of MTE from its inventory, the Postal Service has studied both the movement of MTE as well as ways to reduce leakage. As a result of its precarious financial condition and a freeze on all information technology initiatives, two technological initiatives to better track MTE have been shelved.
The Postal Inspection Service has been proactive in both reaching out to the public on this issue, and investigating MTE theft and misuse. The Inspection Service has an ongoing national MTE recovery initiative to locate misappropriated and misused MTE, especially pallets.
What do you think about the MTE situation? Is there a cost-efficient way to track MTE? What else should the Postal Service do to reduce leakage? What are your experiences using plastic or wooden pallets? Give your comments below.
And if you know of any pallets or other MTE being misused or taken from the system, contact the OIG Hotline, which accepts confidential and anonymous complaints.
This topic is hosted by the OIG’s Transportation Directorate.


Technology-mediated Communication and Collaborative Relationships
I am interested in how pairs or groups of individuals use communication technologies to collaborate, and how the features of a given technology may impact social outcomes. This line of research focuses on the role of linguistic and paralinguistic cues in technology-mediated communication. Linguistic Similarity and Interpersonal Trust in Text-based CMC
This project examined how language, particularly linguistic similarity, is related
to trust development in text-based CMC environments. Participants played, via Instant Messenger, a
social dilemma game that required the establishment of trust for both players to do well.
Linguistic similarity was measured at the content, structure, and stylistic levels. Additional work
examined chronemic cues in the IM conversations, and the relationship between chronemics and the
establishment of trust. Culture and Collaborative Work in Distributed Teams
This study, which I conducted during an internship at IBM Research, focused on the role of culture in
distributed work team's real-time collaborative work. I conducted a qualitative user study of
distributed work teams in Japan and the United States that used LiveDeck, a real-time collaborative
editing and whiteboarding tool. This work focused on how individuals used a selection of features,
including slide navigation options, anonymity features, and 'emotes' representing various nonverbal
behaviors, and how use of and preference for different features was related to national culture. Technology-mediated Communication and Romantic Relationships I am interested in the role of communication technologies in the initiation and
maintenance of romantic relationships. This line of research primarily examines face-to-face
phenomena, demonstrated in the interpersonal communication and social psychology literature, in
mediated settings. Romantic Relationship Initiation and CMC
This study explored how individuals ask each other out for a romantic date via email, focusing on how men and women
employ different strategies and which strategies are successful in securing a romantic date. Unlike
previous work examining romantic relationships that are formed between strangers online, this work
examines how individual who first met face-to-face (during a speed-dating event) use CMC to initiate
a romantic relationship. Linguistic Style Matching and Romantic Relationships
This study examined the link between linguistic style matching, or the extent to
which individuals subtly match each other's speaking or writing style, and romantic relationship
outcomes. The role of linguistic style matching was explored in relation to the likelihood of
mutual romantic interest after initial romantic encounters and to the likelihood of relationship
stability for established couples. Romantic Couple Conflict and Technology-mediated Communication
This line of work examines the role of
various communication technologies during romantic couple conflict. While much is known about
romantic couple conflict in face-to-face settings, little is known about how technology might affect
the communication processes or relational outcomes of the conflict. One study recently found that couples channel switch, or switch between face-to-face and different types of mediated communication, during one conflict episode. Individuals revealed a variety of interpersonal motivations for channel switching and noted both pros and cons for using mediated communication (e.g., text messaging, IM, email) during a conflict.


The School of Architecture, a member of the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture, offers professional degree programs at both the undergraduate and the graduate levels. Preparation for the profession of architecture requires both formal education and practical experience followed by a professional examination and registration.
In the United States, most state registration boards require a degree program as a prerequisite for licensure. The National Architectural Accrediting Board (NAAB), which is the sole agency authorized to accredit US professional degree programs in architecture, recognizes two types of degrees: the Bachelor of Architecure and the Master of Architecture. A program may be granted a six-year, three-year, or two-year term of accredidation, depending on its degree of conformance with established educational standards.
Master’s degree programs may consist of a preprofessional undergraduate degree and a professional graduate degree, which when earned sequentially, compromise an accredited professional education. However, the preprofessional degree is not, by itself, recognized as an accredited degree.


act of God
n. a natural catastrophe which no one can prevent such as an earthquake, a tidal wave, a volcanic eruption, a hurricane or a tornado. Acts of God are significant for two reasons 1) for the havoc and damage they wreak, and 2) because often contracts state that "acts of God" are an excuse for delay or failure to fulfill a commitment or to complete a construction project. Many insurance policies exempt coverage for damage caused by acts of God, which is one time an insurance company gets religion. At times disputes arise as to whether a violent storm or other disaster was an act of God (and therefore exempt from a claim) or a foreseeable natural event. God knows the answer!


Diversity in the Reproductive Modes of European Daphnia pulicaria Deviates from the Geographical Parthenogenesis
by France Dufresne, Silvia Marková, Roland Vergilino, Marc Ventura, Petr Kotlík
Background
Multiple transitions to obligate parthenogenesis have occurred in the Daphnia pulex complex in North America. These newly formed asexual lineages are differentially distributed being found predominantly at high latitudes. This conforms to the rule of geographical parthenogenesis postulating prevalence of asexuals at high latitudes and altitudes. While the reproductive mode of high-latitude populations is relatively well studied, little is known about the reproduction mode in high altitudes. This study aimed to assess the reproductive mode of Daphnia pulicaria , a species of the D. pulex complex, from high altitude lakes in Europe.
Methodology/Principal Findings
Variation at eight microsatellite loci revealed that D. pulicaria from the High Tatra Mountains (HTM) had low genotype richness and showed excess of heterozygotes and significant deviations from Hardy-Weinberg expectations, and was thus congruent with reproduction by obligate parthenogenesis. By contrast, populations from the Pyrenees (Pyr) were generally in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and had higher genotypic richness, suggesting that they are cyclic parthenogens. Four lakes from lowland areas (LLaP) had populations with an uncertain or mixed breeding mode. All D. pulicaria had mtDNA ND5 haplotypes of the European D. pulicaria lineage. Pyr were distinct from LLaP and HTM at the ND5 gene. By contrast, HTM shared two haplotypes with LLaP and one with Pyr. Principal Coordinate Analysis of the microsatellite data revealed clear genetic differentiation into three groups. HTM isolates were intermediate to Pyr and LLaP, congruent with a hybrid origin.
Conclusion/Significance
Inferred transitions to obligate parthenogenesis have occurred only in HTM, most likely as a result of hybridizations. In contrast to North American populations, these transitions do not appear to involve meiosis suppressor genes and have not been accompanied by polyploidy. The absence of obligate parthenogenesis in Pyr, an environment highly similar to the HTM, may be due to the lack of opportunities for hybridization.
For the full article visit: Diversity in the Reproductive Modes of European Daphnia pulicaria Deviates from the Geographical Parthenogenesis Syndicated from:PLoS ONE Article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License.


By Patricia Hines, R.N., and Bonnie Barndt-Maglio, R.N. on H&HN Daily The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services have been focusing on reducing acute care readmissions within 30 days of discharge through its Hospital Readmissions Reduction Program. Hospitals with higher than expected 30-day readmission rates will incur penalties against their total Medicare payments beginning in federal fiscal 2013.
Commercial payers likely will follow suit, as organizations such as the Joint Commission, Partnership for Patients and the National Quality Forum support this program.
To meet the challenge, hospitals need to take a structured approach to reducing readmissions — an assessment of the organization’s risk and a comprehensive strategy that transitions the patient from the hospital to post-hospital care. Continue


Social stressors and strengths as predictors of infant birth weight in low-income African American women. Perinatal racial disparities remain an elusive problem in the United States. African American women experience the highest rate of low-birth-weight deliveries. Understanding the factors contributing to infant birth weight is crucial to unraveling existing perinatal racial disparities.
DOI: 10.1097/NNR.0b013e3181ac1599
Version: za2963e q8za1 q8zb1 q8zca q8zd6 q8ze8 q8zf5 q8zg8


Warning: This information may not apply to the current year. Check the content carefully to ensure it is applicable to your circumstances.
Businesses in this industry install, maintain and repair glass windows, doors, partitions and structures in household and commercial premises.
Performance benchmarks
These performance benchmarks are developed using information reported on income tax returns and activity statements for the 2008-09 year. Performance benchmarks are updated annually.
To review a comparison of previous years benchmarks, refer to previous year .
These benchmarks show a number of different financial ratios of business income to business expenses, to help businesses compare their performance against similar businesses in an industry.
The key benchmark ratio for this industry is cost of sales to turnover. This ratio is likely to be the most accurate predictor of business turnover. For businesses that do not report cost of sales or only report a small amount, total expenses to turnover can be used to predict turnover.
Businesses operating outside the key benchmark may be contacted by us.
During an audit, if a business does not have records to support their reported income and expenses, we may use benchmarks and other information available to assess the profits of the business.
Annual turnover range
Key benchmark ratio
$50,000 - $200,000
$200,000 - $600,000
More than $600,000
Cost of sales/turnover
26% - 40%
34% - 46%
40% - 49%
Average cost of sales
33%
40%
45%
Total expenses/turnover
45% - 68%
68% - 82%
82% - 91%
Average total expenses
56%
75%
86%
Benchmarks are published as a range representing the ratios reported by businesses grouped either side of the average. Publishing benchmarks as a range allows for variations across financial years, regions and business models.
The following benchmarks are made available as a guide for businesses to review their performance and business practices against other similar businesses.
The following expenses are not reported by every business, so one or more of these benchmarks may not apply to an individual business.
Annual turnover range
Benchmark ratio
$50,000 - $200,000
$200,000 - $600,000
More than $600,000
Labour/turnover
8% - 22%
13% - 23%
19% - 27%
Rent/turnover
4% - 7%
3% - 6%
2% - 4%
Motor vehicle expenses/turnover
7% - 10%
4% - 5%
2% - 3%
Last Modified: Wednesday, 22 February 2012


As corporate budgets shrink, spending on high-tech equipment decreases, challenging manufacturers and service providers with greater demands on repair and maintenance. A reliable supply chain is essential to have the right service part, in the right place, at the right time to meet aggressive SLAs, especially for mission-critical systems.
Download this complimentary whitepaper to learn best practices that can help gain market share in tough economic times utilizing a comprehensive mission-critical service parts logistics strategy, encompassing a global IT platform, real-time visibility and flexible scalability.
Complete this form to request your personal copy of this whitepaper.


Research Project Profiles On-Screen Deconvolution to Facilitate Computer Access for Users With Visual Impairments This project explores the possibility of having the computer itself bridge the gap that exists between computer technology (all the benefits that it can provide) and a significant number of individuals suffering from severe eye conditions, such as Keratoconus (with a US prevalence of 1/2000), Pellucid Marginal Degeneration, Terrien's Marginal Degeneration, and related refraction disorders that distort the images perceived by the eye in asymmetrical and irregular ways. The irregularity of the distortion introduced by these conditions is captured by the need to include "higher-order" (i.e., >2) terms in the Zernike polynomial approximation of the eye's "Wavefront Aberration Function" (WA), which represents the distortion of images through the optical components of the eye (cornea, lens). Furthermore, these "higher-order aberrations" are not addressed by traditional mechanisms of vision correction, such as glasses or contact lenses (they usually compensate only for second order Zernike terms, accounting for only defocus i.e., myopia or hyperopia, and the simplest forms of astigmatism, as encoded in the "sphere", "cylinder", and "axis" parameters specified in ophthalmic spectacle prescriptions). This project proposes the use of Point-Spread-Function (PSF), obtained from a person's WA, to pre-compensate (by deconvolution) the images shown on a computer screen, so they are perceived undistorted by the individual whose PSF is considered.
This research introduces a new approach to visual compensation that is, in principle, more general than current optical methods of visual correction, since it naturally accommodates the higher-order components of the visual limitations, not addressed by current solutions. These higher-order effects have an impact on 7,000,000 Americans who have excessively irregular refractive errors, and may partially account for the 14,000,000 Americans who have severe visual conditions not correctable by glasses.
Sponsor : National Science Foundation


A suction system for collecting surgical waste apparently killed one patient and seriously injured another, prompting its maker to recall it and several related devices, the FDA said.
The recall covers Stryker Instruments' Neptune 1 Silver and two models of its Neptune 2 Ultra Waste Management Systems. These are high-powered, mobile vacuum devices for disposing of surgical fluid waste in operating rooms and other surgical facilities, and they can also clean the room air of smoke generated from electrocautery and laser surgery.
According to Stryker, the fatality occurred when a customer connected the Neptune 2 system to a patient's chest drainage tube after surgery. Details of the other, nonfatal injury were not disclosed.
"The patient death and injury reports indicate that the high-flow, high-suction vacuum had been incorrectly applied, and that the instructions for use on the device did not specifically warn against this action," the FDA said.
"When used incorrectly, the Neptune 1 Silver and the Neptune 2 Ultra can cause hemorrhaging and soft tissue, muscle and vital organ damage that can lead to serious injury and/or death."
Previously, Stryker had issued revised labeling for these and four other models in the Neptune 1 and Neptune 2 lines. But the FDA determined that the Neptune 1 Silver and Neptune 2 Ultra models also contained modifications that should have been submitted for premarket 510(k) notification, which Stryker had not done.
Despite the violation, the agency said, "the FDA is not currently asking Stryker to remove the Neptune 2 Ultra Waste Management System and the Neptune 1 Silver Waste Management System from the U.S. market due to concerns that removal would likely create immediate market shortages."
Instead, the regulator is instructing customers with these devices not to use them unless they have no alternative systems for collecting and disposing of surgical fluid wastes.
For customers who find it necessary to continue using the recalled systems, the FDA and Stryker issued a series of detailed instructions and warnings.
For example, they said, customers should verify that they "are using the intended units of measure when setting suction levels," because the digital readouts can be in inches of mercury, millimeters of mercury, or kilopascals.
Customers were also told to ensure that suction is not set to higher levels than necessary for a given application, and under no circumstances should either device be used for respiratory tract suction.
Under Stryker's earlier recall, customers who had bought the firm's Neptune 1 Gold Rover (regular and international), Neptune 1 Bronze, and Neptune 2 Rover Ultra were issued warning labels with many of these revisions.
The FDA emphasized that the new warning does not apply to those products.
Stryker stopped manufacturing the Neptune 1 Silver device in 2009 but still provides support.


Research and Analysis by Javier Meseguer This paper evaluates the out-of-sample performance of two stochastic models used to forecast age-specific mortality rates: (1) the model proposed by Lee and Carter (1992); and (2) a set of univariate autoregressions linked together by a common residual covariance matrix (Denton, Feavor, and Spencer 2005).
Outcome Variation in the Social Security Disability Insurance Program: The Role of Primary Diagnoses This article investigates the role that primary impairments play in explaining heterogeneity in disability decisions. Using claimant-level data within a hierarchical framework, the author explores variation in outcomes along three dimensions: state of origin, adjudicative stage, and primary diagnosis. The findings indicate that the impairments account for a substantial portion of claimant-level variation in initial allowances. Furthermore, the author finds that the predictions of an initial and a final allowance are highly correlated when applicants are grouped by impairment. In other words, diagnoses that are more likely to result in an initial allowance also tend to be more likely to receive a final allowance.


A web-based marketplace for intellectual property (IP), the GreenXchange (GX) platform was founded on the belief that open innovation can play a key role in promoting sustainability in business practices. This policy brief represents the first effort to analyze the main features of the GX and to explore lessons that can be drawn from its experience thus far in terms of the broader thinking on innovation, intellectual property, and sustainability. The brief focuses particularly on how the GX exemplifies both the usefulness and limitations of open innovation for sustainability. It also suggests a number of ways to improve similar efforts through: a) further education and awareness raising about IP exchanges; b) an increase in resources dedicated to these exchanges; and c) a move away from simply focusing on the legal exchange of patents and towards increased collaboration between innovators.


Insurance companies will probably pay between $3 billion and $6 billion to cover damage related to Hurricane Irene, according to an estimate by AIR Worldwide.
The catastrophe-modeling agency released its estimate late Monday and it includes damage from wind and storm surge to onshore residential, commercial and industrial properties and as well as automobiles and personal property.
"After battering the East Coast over the weekend, Irene weakened considerably on its way toward the Canadian border," said Tim Doggett, principal scientist at AIR Worldwide. "The storm has transitioned to an extratropical storm system, having become absorbed in a large frontal system."
Irene swirled up the East Coast, making landfall Saturday morning as a category 1 hurricane in North Carolina, then Sunday morning at Little Egg Inlet, N.J., and finally on Coney Island, N.Y., before it ravaged New England.
"It should be noted that while the NHC was reporting sustained winds of 85 miles an hour in North Carolina on Saturday, onshore instruments (anemometers) were reporting sustained winds only in the 50- to 60-mile-an-hour range," continued Dr. Doggett. "A similar disparity was observed along the length of the East Coast. Thus it appears that the winds aloft were not being transferred efficiently to the surface. The final range of loss estimates issued by AIR for Hurricane Irene reflects the still-present uncertainty in surface-level wind speeds."


CEMSE offers mathematics and science professional development services that are specific to the needs and contexts of early childhood teachers. Our overarching goal is to help teachers of young children feel knowledgeable, comfortable, confident, and excited about incorporating age-appropriate mathematics and science into their classrooms and practices.
We will conduct classroom visits and planning and debriefing sessions with individual teachers or with teams. We also facilitate “collaborative coaching” – an approach in which teams of teachers co-plan an activity together and observe children as they engage with the mathematics or science concepts and skills during the activity. Our classroom coaching focuses on areas of established needs and priorities.
We offer a wide range of workshops, including one-time sessions and ongoing series, to support mathematics and science in early childhood classrooms. Common workshop topics include mathematics and science content for young children and appropriate pedagogies for this age group. We work with programs, schools, and districts to plan and customize sessions to match their specific needs and available time.


A while ago, a friend sent me an article that highlighted ten factors, recently identified by scientists, which lead to feeling happier and more satisfied with life.
These 10 printable bookmarks serve as a convenient and regular reminder of these simple behaviors.
For best results print on card stock or thicker paper. These download and print bookmarks also work as a thoughtful or last-minute gift.


Breuer begins, "I am pleased to be able to share with you today how the Criminal Division seeks to promote the Rule of Law in our increasingly global society." Breuer notes that "perhaps in no area has the Criminal Division's" approach "had more dramatic results for the international Rule of Law than in that of corruption."
Breuer then sketches a brief history of the FCPA and notes that "when the U.S. enacted the [FCPA] in 1977, and as recently as the 1990's, some developed countries continued to argue that a certain amount of corruption might be desirable in developing nations; and it has been only in the last decade that some developed countries have eliminated tax deductions for foreign corrupt practices."
On this point, I fully agree that the DOJ is the undeniable leader in prosecuting bribery and corruption, and for this, it deserves credit.
Breuer then "spreads the FCPA gospel" (as Christopher Matthews at Main Justice recently termed it - see here).
Verses included: the "increased emphasis on charging individuals is part of a deliberate enforcement strategy to deter and prevent corrupt practices in the future;" "gone are the days when we relied solely on tips from whistle-blowers to build cases - instead we are now bringing the tools of organized crime investigations to white collar investigations."
The speech ends - "I would welcome any questions you might have."
I've got some questions.
During Breuer's tenure, two signature enforcement actions were the BAE and Daimler bribery, yet no bribery enforcement actions (see here and here for prior posts).
In both actions, the DOJ alleged facts sufficient to charge the companies with FCPA anti-bribery violations. Yet in both cases, no anti-bribery violations were charged.
Included in the Rule of Law is the notion that the law is to be applied equally to all subject to the law. Under the Rule of Law, certain companies in certain industries who may sell certain products to certain customers are not immune from the law.
Yet, in the eyes of many, the BAE and Daimler enforcement actions stand for the proposition that certain companies are indeed "above" the FCPA and essentially immune from FCPA anti-bribery charges.
So, my questions are:
How was the Rule of Law advanced in the BAE and Daimler enforcement actions?
How was the Rule of Law advanced when a company (BAE) that “provided support services to [a Saudi official] while in the territory of the U.S.” including “ the purchase of travel and accommodations, security services, real estate, automobiles and personal items” (these are the DOJ's words) is
not charged with FCPA anti-violations? [Particularly when the DOJ alleges that over $5 million in invoices for benefits provided to the Saudi official were submitted by justone BAE employee during aone year period.]How was the Rule of Law advanced when a company (Daimler) that "engaged in a long-standing practice of paying bribes to 'foreign officials'" (these are the DOJ's words) is
not required to plead guilty to anything?As noted above, the DOJ is the undeniable leader in prosecuting bribery and corruption, and for this, it deserves credit. However, with leadership comes responsibility and accountability.
When preaching, the preacher is subject to criticism, particularly when urging his parishioners to do as he says, not necessarily as he does.
The DOJ did some FCPA / Rule of Law preaching yesterday.
For extolling the virtues of the Rule of Law in the face of several recent high-profile examples where Rule of Law principles were seemingly ignored, the DOJ has set itself up for criticism.


Troskot, Rosana and Šimurina, Tatjana and Žižak, Mirza and Majstorović, Karolina and Marinac, Ivana and Mrakovčić-Šutić, Ines (2010) Prognostic value of venoarterial carbon dioxide gradient in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. Croatian Medical Journal, 51 (6). pp. 501-8. ISSN 0353-9504
English abstract AIM: To investigate the changes in the venoarterial carbon-dioxide gradient (V-a Pco(2)) and its prognostic value for survival of patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. ----- METHODS: The study was conducted in General Hospital Holy Spirit from January 2004 to December 2007 and included 71 conveniently sampled adult patients (25 women and 46 men), who fulfilled the severe sepsis and septic shock criteria and were followed for a median of 8 days (interquartile range, 12 days). The patients were divided in two groups depending on whether or not they had been mechanically ventilated. Both groups of patients underwent interventions with an aim to achieve hemodynamic stability. Mechanical ventilation was applied in respiratory failure. Venoarterial carbon dioxide gradient was calculated from the difference between the partial pressure of arterial CO(2) and the partial pressure of mixed venous CO(2), which was measured with a pulmonary arterial Swan-Ganz catheter. The data were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier survival analysis, along with a calculation of the hazard ratios. ----- RESULTS: There was a significant difference between non-ventilated and ventilated patients, with almost 4-fold greater hazard ratio for lethal outcome in ventilated patients (3.85; 95% confidence interval, 1.64-9.03). Furthermore, the pattern of changes of many other variables was also different in these two groups (carbon dioxide-related variables, variables related to acid-base status, mean arterial pressure, systemic vascular resistance, lactate, body mass index, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II, Simplified Acute Physiology II Score, and Sepsis-related Organ Failure Assessment score). Pco(2) values (with a cut-off of 0.8 kPa) were a significant predictor of lethal outcome in non-ventilated patients (P=0.015) but not in ventilated ones (P=0.270). ----- CONCLUSION: V-a Pco(2) was a significant predictor of fatal outcome only in the non-ventilated group of patients. Ventilated patients are more likely to be admitted with a less favorable clinical status, and other variables seem to have a more important role in their outcome.
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The Comparative Approach in Evolutionary Anthropology and Biology Journal of Human Evolution E. Delson, CUNY Herbert H. Lehman College | Choice Alexander H. Harcourt, University of California, Davis William L. Jungers, Stony Brook University Preface 1. The Importance of Comparison 2. Basic Phylogenetic Concepts and “Tree Thinking” 3. Reconstructing Ancestral States for Discrete Traits 4. Reconstructing Ancestral States for Quantitative Traits 5. Modeling Evolutionary Change 6. Correlated Evolution and Testing Adaptive Hypotheses 7. Comparative Methods to Detect Correlated Evolutionary Change 8. Using Trees to Study Biological and Cultural Diversification 9. Size, Allometry, and Phylogeny 10. Human Cultural Traits and Linguistic Evolution 11. Behavior, Ecology, and Conservation of Biological and Cultural Diversity 12. Investigating Evolutionary Singularities 13. Developing a Comparative Database and Targeting Future Data Collection 14. Conclusions and Future Directions
ReferencesIndex


We’ve already seen Gild Source determine coders’ abilities by analyzing their work and providing a score to make it easier for recruiters to find the right person for their team. Broadening this concept to include all workers, Mozilla’s Open Badges project aims to create a library of symbols that indicate skills and learning achieved by potential employees outside of mainstream education.
While official school and college qualifications are recognized by all employers, knowledge and experience gained in after-school programs, on-the-job training and online courses can be more difficult to prove. Organizations that offer these opportunities can apply to become an Issuer under the scheme, and if successful can create their own awards to be offered through the service. Earners each have an online Mozilla Backpack where they store the badges they’ve acquired and can choose to broadcast them on participating social networks or their personal sites. The authentication system means that both Issuers and Earners must agree for the badge to be awarded before it appears in the Backpack, and secure metadata ensures that the images can’t be simply copied and pasted.
The Open Badge project aims to bring legitimacy to the multitude of new opportunities for learning, as well as providing a visual system to make it easier to quickly see the attributes held by job candidates. Could this idea hold a place in online recruitment in the future?


PlantingAdvertisement Stabilize soil structure with reliably cold-hardy plants that will remain in place for years. Select disease- and insect-resistant varieties to reduce reliance on pesticides. Avoid deeply tilling the soil, which displaces beneficial organisms. Add a five- to eight-centimetre layer of shredded bark over tree and shrub roots to conserve moisture and insulate them from excessive heat. FeedingFeed plants with trace minerals by making compost from disease-free garden leaves and vegetable kitchen waste. Fertilize with nutrients from natural sources such as blood, bone and kelp meals, alfalfa pellets and fish emulsion. Add organic material (leaves, peat moss, pine needles) to the soil to improve texture and help retain oxygen and moisture. Enhance nutrient take-up with Epsom salts: 1 cup (250 mL) per nine square metres raked into soil in spring. Use commercial organic fertilizers with low formulations, below 15 (e.g., 5-10-5), to prevent root burn and excessive soil salts. Watering Irrigate in early morning (especially roses and other plants prone to fungal diseases) or water at night to keep evaporation to a minimum. Replace water-wasting fine mist and overhead sprinklers with soaker hoses. Cover exposed soil with five centimetres of organic mulch (leaves or shredded bark) to conserve moisture. Water lawns thoroughly once or twice weekly instead of a brief, daily irrigation, so moisture absorbs deeply into soil, promoting healthy root growth. Choose drought-resistant plants that can withstand summer heat.


Owosso has a general population of 15,713 and an overall student population of 3,637. Approximately 3,637 of Owosso's students are enrolled in schools that offer healthcare administration programs.
The largest healthcare administration school in Owosso, by student population, is Baker College of Owosso. In 2010, approximately 4 students graduated from the Healthcare Administration program at Baker College of Owosso.
A reported 4 students graduated with credentials in healthcare administration in Owosso in 2010. If you decide to attend a healthcare administration school in Owosso, you can expect to pay an average yearly tuition of $7,020.
In addition to tuition costs, you should plan on spending an average of $1,800 for books and supplies each year, while enrolled in a healthcare administration program in Owosso. And if you live on campus at one of the Owosso-based healthcare administration schools, you will have an added expense of $2,550 per year, on average, for room and board. Students who live at home can cut this cost down to approximately $13,620.
Many healthcare administration graduates choose to work as healthcare administrators after graduation. If you choose to follow that path and remain in Owosso, your job prospects are good. In 2010, there were 9,560 healthcare administrators in Michigan. Of these healthcare administrators, 900 were working in the greater Owosso area. The number of healthcare administrators in Owosso is expected to increase by 13% by the year 2018. This projected change is slower than the projected nationwide trend for healthcare administrators.
The average salary you can expect to earn as a healthcare administrator in Owosso is $76,480 per year, which is lower than the average for healthcare administrators state-wide.


Thimerosal is a preservative that has been used in manufacturing vaccines since the 1930s. Reports have indicated that infants can receive ethylmercury (in the form of thimerosal) at or above the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines for methylmercury exposure, depending on the exact vaccinations, schedule, and size of the infant. In this study we compared the systemic disposition and brain distribution of total and inorganic mercury in infant monkeys after thimerosal exposure with those exposed to MeHg. Monkeys were exposed to MeHg (via oral gavage) or vaccines containing thimerosal (via intramuscular injection) at birth and 1, 2, and 3 weeks of age. Total blood Hg levels were determined 2, 4, and 7 days after each exposure. Total and inorganic brain Hg levels were assessed 2, 4, 7, or 28 days after the last exposure. The initial and terminal half-life of Hg in blood after thimerosal exposure was 2.1 and 8.6 days, respectively, which are significantly shorter than the elimination half-life of Hg after MeHg exposure at 21.5 days. Brain concentrations of total Hg were significantly lower by approximately 3-fold for the thimerosal-exposed monkeys when compared with the MeHg infants, whereas the average brain-to-blood concentration ratio was slightly higher for the thimerosal-exposed monkeys (3.5 +/- 0.5 vs. 2.5 +/- 0.3). A higher percentage of the total Hg in the brain was in the form of inorganic Hg for the thimerosal-exposed monkeys (34% vs. 7%). The results indicate that MeHg is not a suitable reference for risk assessment from exposure to thimerosal-derived Hg. Knowledge of the toxicokinetics and developmental toxicity of thimerosal is needed to afford a meaningful assessment of the developmental effects of thimerosal-containing vaccines.


Y our child didn't gain weight in isolation, and he can't be expected to lose it as a solo act either. Putting together a realistic meal and exercise plan for the entire family to follow is a crucial step in ensuring your child's success. In some cases, this may involve only a few minor lifestyle adjustments. For other families, however, it may mean a complete food and fitness makeover.


Purpose: This study assessed the duration of different phases of the chewing cycle and the height of the masticatory cycle in relation to the type of lateral guidance. Materials and Methods: Fifty-three subjects with the same type of lateral guidance on both sides were categorized into 3 groups: anterior protected articulation, canine protection, and group function. Overbite was measured clinically. Border jaw movements were recorded using a Sirognathograph, and the lateral guidance angle in the frontal plane was measured. Jaw movements during unilateral chewing of peanuts were recorded on the frontal plane using the Sirognathograph connected to an electrocardiograph used for transcription. A single masticatory cycle was divided into opening, closing, and occlusal-level phases. Masticatory parameters were analyzed by one-way analysis of variance, correlations, the paired Student t test, and multiple linear regression. Results: Women showed significantly longer total cycle duration than men. Subjects with canine protection showed the highest lateral guidance angle and the highest chewing cycle duration. Subjects with anterior protected articulation exhibited significantly longer occlusal-level phases. Fifty-nine percent of the variation in duration of the occlusal-level phase can be explained by the type of lateral dental guidance, gender, and lateral guidance angle. Only overbite was a predictor of height of mastication. Conclusion: The type of lateral guidance, gender, and frontal guidance angle are correlated with the duration of the occlusal-level phase during unilateral chewing of peanuts. The height of mastication cannot be explained by the type of lateral guidance. Int J Prosthodont 2005;18:339–346.


Energy of Matter
Energy
While we have described the pieces of a reaction, we haven't discussed why a reaction occurs.
Energy is needed to drive a chemical reaction. There are two types of energy, potential and kinetic .
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Potential energy is stored energy. In a physics sense, stored energy is related to the height of an object. In a chemical sense, stored energy is the energy holding atoms together in bonds. Kinetic energy is the energy of motion. In a physics sense, energy of motion involves movement of objects. In a chemical sense, particles release heat as a form of kinetic energy as chemical reactions occur.
Use the following simulation to help understand the difference between potential and kinetic energy. Make sure you click to show the bar graph and watch how as the skate boarder moves, the total energy stays constant, while the amount of kinetic and potential energy changes. This follows the law of conservation of energy.


Making a Decision
The process of successful decision-making involves several planning steps. The Career Planning Model is intended to increase student’s awareness of the key phases in the decision-making process. This model can assist students with choosing a major, planning their career, and enhancing their college experience, while preparing them for graduation and beyond. The Career Planning Model focuses on: gathering information internally and externally, evaluating your options and making a decision, preparing your course of action, and doing an evaluation.
The following graphic demonstrates this process:
~If you have any questions about the Career Planning Model contact the Career Development Center at 561-297-3533


Crossposted at SupernaturalMom.com Hundreds of toxic chemicals, including PCBs, DDT, endocrine disruptors, and dioxins — to name just a few — are showing up in mothers’ and their newborn babies’ bodies. These chemicals, found in everyday household products, can get absorbed during a typical morning routine. Consider this scenario: the pregnant mom awakens after a [...]