There is an old adage that “adversity builds character.” However, before adversity builds character, it reveals character, and the numerous catastrophes that have occurred over the last several years combined with the ongoing pandemic have clearly revealed the character of the insurance industry.
And there is a lot to be proud of in how well the industry has responded time and again to numerous crises. The (re)insurance sector is well-versed at navigating market-changing events, and while the impact of previous shock events such as Hurricane Andrew, the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 and Hurricane Katrina may have resulted in a loss of capital and reduced capacity in the short-term, the market responded to each occasion by innovating, working with governments and attracting more capital in the long term. Since 2017, catastrophe claims in the United States alone have totaled USD 214 billion. Despite that, the capital supporting the reinsurance sector has risen to a near all-time high of USD 471 billion, according to John Trace, CEO, North America, Guy Carpenter, and Jay Dhru, Global Head of Business Intelligence, Guy Carpenter.
Spotting the Black Swans on the Horizon
While it is important to think about black swan events, putting too much time and effort into planning for a specific event at a specific time may be a fool’s errand. Despite being a known risk, a pandemic was not on the risk radar for many people prior to COVID-19. Even in those instances where a black swan event is identified, preparing for such a crisis during good times will always look more expensive. Therefore, instead of focusing on a specific event, (re)insurers are best served by maintaining capital resilience, access to liquidity, strong risk management, nimble operations and innovative thinking.


On June 16, 2020, the Federal Government announced that the Canadian Emergency Response Benefit (“ CERB”) will be extended through to the end of August 2020.
CERB provides taxable payments of $2,000 for a four-week period ($500 per week) to eligible Canadians, including those who have lost their job, are unable to work or whose hours were reduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The CERB benefit was originally scheduled to cease effective July 4, 2020.
Beginning July 5, 2020, CERB recipients will be required to sign an attestation acknowledging that the government is encouraging them to actively look for work. Although it is expected that recipients will not turn down reasonable work opportunities, recipients are not, and will not be under any obligation to accept employment opportunities. This may make it difficult for employers to have recalled employees return to work when they may be earning more money by remaining on the CERB program. A refusal to return to work when recalled usually results in an employer being able to take the position that the employee has resigned their employment.
The COVID-19 pandemic is creating novel challenges for employers. Our labour and employment team is closely monitoring this evolving situation and can assist employers to manage COVID-19 in their workplace.


Benoît Cœuré, a member of the executive board of the ECB, recently
spoke about priorities and challenges facing European capital markets.
He asserted that finance market fragmentation has become an increasingly significant issue on a global level, being driven by a range of factors from technological developments to political protectionism. While he noted that certain manifestations of market fragmentation could bring benefits such as mitigating cross-contagion risks, in the eurozone low risk sharing across boarders carries the prospect of country-specific shocks having unduly material echoes across the eurozone.
M. Cœuré said that Brexit must lead to increase capital market across the EU, to accomodate the expected relocation of over €1 trillion in assets from the UK. He proposed that the approach to achieving this should focus on three areas in particular:
harmonisation of insolvency frameworks, in order to safeguard trust and legal certainty for issuers and investors; supervisory convergence and the oversight and supervision of central counterparties; and diversification of external funding for the real economy, moving away from the current reliance on bank lending, and in particular addressing the post-Brexit gap created by the additional restrictions that will be placed on UK private equity funds wanting to market in the EU.


More and more State Medicaid agencies are turning to pay-for-performance incentives to improve health outcomes and lower costs. However, engaging the Medicaid population to attain these quality-based incentive goals is extremely challenging and requires personal motivation to get members to take action.
Enter Eliza - our Health Engagement Management solution is the only single-vendor solution capable of
delivering a truly personalized two-way conversation that helps motivate members to engage in their healthcare journey.
This complimentary eBook examines the issues that complicate Medicaid member engagement and proven strategies to improve health outcomes and lower costs. It includes a comprehensive case study illustrating how Eliza’s Health Engagement Management solution delivers improved quality measures while managing costs.
Key takeaways:
View the new eBook now.


Big problems are rarely solved with commensurately big solutions. Instead, they are most often solved by a sequence of small solutions, sometimes over weeks, sometimes over decades.
You can’t appreciate the solution until you appreciate the problem. I think this brings up the question…how often are you using the products you build and sell?


Abstract
A series of molecular dynamics (MD) simulations have been conducted to investigate the heat transport in terms of the phonon dynamics in nanoscale silicon (Si). This work is motivated by a concern over the stagnation of heat at the drain region of nanoscopic transistors, owing to this, a large amount of optical phonons with a low group velocity are emitted from hot electrons, which are ballistically transferred through channel region. The point of this work is the explicit inclusion of the SiO
2 film in the MD simulation of the Si lattice. The calculation results show that longitudinal optical (LO) phonons decay faster as Si lattice thickness decreases and turn into acoustic phonons. In contrast, thermal diffusion rate decreases with Si lattice thickness. Both the decay rate of LO phonons and thermal diffusion rate are not governed by oxide thickness. These results imply that the phonon scattering at the SiO 2/Si interface is enhanced by thinning the Si layer. In nanoscopic devices, a thin Si layer is effective in diminishing the optical phonons with a low group velocity, but it hinders the subsequent heat transport. ASJC Scopus subject areas Engineering(all) Physics and Astronomy(all)


Public pronouncements are regularly made by political leaders to ban plastic use. These have not, however, received a firm and determinative response. For instance, it was announced by the Prime Minister that India will be made plastic pollution free, but a blanket ban on single-use plastic as part of a broader campaign to “rid” India of it by 2022 was held off. It is a measure that was perceived to cause further disruption in the economy that is facing a slowdown, as it could lead to a closure of about 10,000 industrial units, besides inviting the dismay of consumer firms.
Even with speculations of a ban, it was evident that the basic groundwork was missing. There remains a lack of clarity on the definition of single-use plastic, with no guidelines issued regarding its usage or any clear plans forwarded to stop the usage or to provide for alternatives. While individual bans in different states have also not proved to be a solution, there is undoubtedly a need for phasing out the problematic plastics that cannot be recycled. Most single-use plastic products are consumed and discarded within a few minutes of their use. E-commerce giants and packaged food item companies are major users of such plastic.


OR WAIT 15 SECS
To read a special commentary from Mark E. Rupp, MD, president of SHEA, CLICK HERE.
The Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC) announced today that the organization, along with SHEA and the IDSA, have issued a letter to President Obama expressing concern over the current federal guidance surrounding the use of personal protective equipment (PPE) by healthcare workers in treating suspected or confirmed cases of 2009 H1N1 influenza.
According to APIC’s statement issued today, the letter was precipitated by a re-evaluation of a study performed in China (MacIntyre, et al.) presented last week in which no significant differences were observed among healthcare workers wearing surgical masks or N95 respirators. Of note, the MacIntyre study was initially reported to show a significant benefit associated with the use of N95 respirators. This preliminary report was cited in the Institute of Medicine’s Sept. 3, 2009 Letter Report, which recommended the routine use of N95 respirators.
APIC reports that in its letter, it urged Obama and his administration to modify the guidance to reflect the position best supported by the available science – which is first-line use of surgical masks for routine H1N1 patient care. The letter also requests an immediate moratorium on OSHA’s requirement for healthcare facilities related to the use of N95 respirators in relation to H1N1 influenza. It was pointed out that permitting OSHA to continue to enforce a policy not grounded in science will force healthcare facilities to waste time and resources while working to comply with this requirement, rather than to enact measures that will significantly benefit patient care and healthcare worker safety during this national emergency.
Additionally, the communiqué expresses concern over the existing shortage of respirators, potentially precluding their use in situations where they are most needed. The letter detailed the advantages of surgical masks by providing appropriate protection for all routine patient encounters, and concludes by offering APIC's collective support in responding to the 2009 H1N1 pandemic.
To read the letter, CLICK HERE.


An unusual pillar stands within a storybook German forest. Just like the dense woodland surrounding it, the chunk of metal has inspired strange tales of its own.
Known as the Iron Man (der Eiserne Mann in German), this old iron pillar is an unexpected item to stumble upon. Strangely, the metal marker does not rust, despite withstanding centuries of rain.
It’s partially buried in the ground, making it look like the rectangular chunk of metal has always called this plot of earth home. However, that isn’t quite the case. The pillar has only stood within the forest since the early 18th century, pinpointing the spot where a few walking trails meet. According to one 17th-century document, it was previously used to mark a village boundary.
In the 1970s, metallurgical tests were conducted on the pillar, as people have long been curious about why it doesn’t rust. This investigation revealed it was made by someone pouring pig iron into an earthen trench, which is a medieval ironworking method.
Naturally, given the marker’s odd appearance and mysterious history, stories have popped up surrounding it. Some tell tales of strange travelers who visit the marker in the night, while others say the structure is an out-of-place artifact that gives a glimpse of an unknown part of Germany’s past.


Rapidly evolving technology, emerging markets, an increasingly globalized development process, and evolving health policy reforms are presenting device manufacturers with unprecedented opportunities for valuable innovation. However, these trends are also creating significant challenges to current biomedical development frameworks. In response, the U.S. must sustain the industry’s entrepreneurial spirit, and maintain an environment that encourages innovation and access to novel devices.
On Wednesday, March 5, 2014, the Engelberg Center for Health Care Reform and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) held an all-day forum to discuss emerging issues in biomedical innovation. The panel sessions explored a number of challenges for developing novel medical devices that benefit patients, and for prioritizing medical device research that accommodates unmet medical need.
Over the course of the day, manufacturers, regulators, payers, investors, patient representatives, and other stakeholders engaged in a thoughtful discussion on a number of topics. These topics included developing incentives to support investment in research and development; providing adequate infrastructure to support medical device development; and creating more efficient and transparent regulatory and reimbursement pathways. Attendees also discussed the need to actively engage patients in the decision-making process throughout the development pipeline.
Agenda Director, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development - National Institutes of Health Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - Medtronic plc Chairman and Chief Executive Officer - Edwards Lifesciences More Information
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Did you know that every home requires routine maintenance to stay in tip-top shape? Your DSLD home is no exception. Here we highlight 18 items on our Fall Maintenance Checklist that will help your DSLD home smoothly transition from summer into fall.Outdoor Maintenance
1. Clean gutters, downspouts, and roof eaves to remove leaves and debris.
2. Examine all exterior paint on your home and caulk and repair as needed.
3. Inspect and maintain the flow of all ditches, culverts, and any drainage inlets or outlets. Inspect for erosion and repair as necessary.
4. Before the first freeze, disconnect your exterior hoses and devices from hose bibs. If possible, shut off water to bib and drain.
6. Oil all moving parts and tighten nuts and bolts on garage door and tracks. Check your garage door openers and sensors.
HVAC Maintenance
7. Replace or clean heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) air return filters.
8. Have an HVAC professional inspect and calibrate your heating system as the start of heating season approaches.
9. Program your Honeywell WiFi thermostat* for heating settings to reduce energy usage.
(*DSLD uses Honeywell WiFi Thermostats in our homes. For more information about these thermostats, visit our Customer Care page to see videos on how to operate and program your Honeywell WiFi Thermostat.)
Washer/Dryer Maintenance
10. Check the connection between your dryer and vent exhaust. Repair or clean as needed.
11. Check your washing machine hoses and connections for cracks and leaks. Repair or replace as necessary per manufacturer.
12. Check your dryer's vent exhaust for lint blockage. Clean as needed.
Indoor Maintenance
(DSLD Homes, Castine Pointe) 13. Check your range hood's charcoal filter. Replace or clean as necessary and repair as needed.
14. Check caulk seals between your countertops and the walls. Repair as needed.
15. Check thresholds, door sweeps, and weather stripping on exterior doors to maintain air tightness.
16. Thoroughly check showers and all wet areas for mildew.
Florida-Specific DSLD Homes
17. Test your sprinkler system to assure it is functioning properly and adjust or repair as needed.
18. Flush out and drain the sprinkler system.
*This checklist covers some basic necessary maintenance items for most homes. It is by no means all-inclusive. Some items may not be applicable for the type of home and home features you have. For full details, please consult all guides, warranties, and literature provided by DSLD Homes, as ell as the specific warranties and manuals for your home's various appliances.*


Connecting the Dots for Accountability: Civil Society Policy Monitoring and Advocacy Strategies Publication Type: Papers March 2016 | by the Transparency & Accountability Initiative
In the past decade, efforts to promote more open and accountable governance have proliferated. These endeavors have taken on many shapes and sizes, from international multi-stakeholder initiatives to community-level citizen action, and everything in between. Most often, these approaches have sought to leverage elements of transparency and information along with some form of citizen engagement or participation, with the goal of influencing government actions to be more responsive and accountable. But has the formula of transparency + participation = accountability really worked?
Civil society organizations (CSOs) have often been at the front lines of these efforts, whether it be advocating for improved policies, monitoring government actions, mounting legal challenges to ensure accountability, or any number of other strategies. But do all these individual initiatives and approaches, many of which result in specific wins, really to add up to more than the sum of their parts?
In June 2015, researchers and practitioners from the global north and south met to discuss more strategic approaches to citizen-led accountability. Specifically, the workshop organizers sought to explore how CSO efforts could ‘connect the dots’ in ways that involve multiple actors, tools and tactics, and levels of governance. This report draws on the practical experiences and conceptual insights shared during the workshop. Key sections include:
Conceptual framework for connecting the dots Five concrete case study summaries of CSO strategies to connect the dots Workshop rapporteur’s report with insights organized around 8 key takeaway points
This report serves as a resource to those who want to address the challenge of isolated and fragmented transparency and accountability interventions that often do not strategically engage with the ecosystem of accountability actors, mechanisms and levels of governance to address the structural causes of corruption, impunity and poor service delivery, but rather more superficial symptoms.


Summary
Self-healing polymers can significantly extend the service life of materials and structures by autonomously repairing damage. Intrinsic healing holds great promise as a design strategy to mitigate the risks of damage by delaying or preventing catastrophic failure. However, experimentally resolving the microscopic mechanisms of intrinsic repair has proven highly challenging. This work demonstrates how optical micromechanical mapping enables the quantitative imaging of these molecular-scale dynamics with high spatiotemporal resolution. This approach allows disentangling delocalized viscoplastic relaxation and localized cohesion-restoring rebonding processes that occur simultaneously upon damage to a self-healing polymer. Moreover, frequency- and temperature-dependent imaging provides a way to pinpoint the repair modes in the relaxation spectrum of the quiescent material. These results give rise to a complete picture of autonomous repair that will guide the rational design of improved self-healing materials.


Subject essay: James von Geldern
The consumption of alcohol has deep cultural roots in Russia where it typically accompanied celebrations, signified hospitality, and enhanced bonding among acquaintances and friends. It also was a tremendous sources of revenue for the Soviet state which exercised a monopoly on its production and distribution. In 1979, for example, the state derived some 25.4 billion rubles in indirect taxes from the sale of alcoholic beverages which was more than were paid in income tax. Alcoholism, however, was a major scourge in Soviet society, linked to high rates of child-abuse, suicide, divorce (link), absenteeism, and accidents on the job, and contributing to a rise in mortality rates particularly among Soviet males that was detected in the 1970s.
In May 1985, less than two months after becoming General Secretary of the Communist Party, Mikhail Gorbachev launched a campaign against alcohol abuse, backing it up with a series of measures to reduce alcohol production and sales. These included limiting the kinds of shops permitted to sell alcohol, closing many vodka distilleries and destroying vineyards in the wine-producing republics of Moldavia, Armenia and Georgia, and banning the sale of alcohol in restaurants before two o’clock in the afternoon. To set a good example, official Soviet receptions both at home and abroad became alcohol-free. Exhorting Soviet citizens to abide by these measures, Gorbachev became known as the mineral’nyi sekretar’ (mineral-water-drinking secretary) rather than general’nyi sekretar’ (General Secretary).
While the anti-alcohol campaign may well have resulted in a decline in alcohol consumption, it also precipitated a sharp rise in the production of moonshine (samogon) and, like Prohibition in the United States, an increase in organized crime. Instances of alcohol poisoning also rose, as hard drinkers turned to other, more dangerous, substances. No less serious was the decline in state revenues, which created a budgetary imbalance. This was overcome by resort to printing more money, which fueled inflation. For all these reasons, the campaign was abandoned after 1987.


Prime Source, NYSE Euronext’s independent asset valuation service, is pleased to announce the addition of Exchange Data International Limited (“EDI”) as a “closing prices” contributor to its service.
EDI is a recognized provider of Securities Reference and Corporate Actions Data covering more than 420,000 bonds worldwide and nearly 90,000 listed equities; – tracking over 150 markets. EDI covers all major markets with a special emphasis on emerging markets.
As part of EDI’s ongoing commitment to support market transparency and provide reliable valuations metrics, they will be offering closing prices, via the Prime Source service, for a range of Stock Exchanges Worldwide including Hong Kong, Singapore, Arab Emirates, Morocco and Kenyan stock exchanges across financial products.
Prime Source offers a one-stop service for independent valuations and is wholly owned by the NYSE Euronext exchange group, thereby avoiding potential conflicts of interest with respect to asset valuations. Prime Source can value a comprehensive set of products ranging from Vanilla to Term-Sheet trades and Structured Credit (Cash or Synthetic).
Prime Source believes the addition of EDI’s closing prices will further strengthen its offering of valuation metrics to banks, hedge funds, fund administrators, auditors, asset managers and investors (risk management, compliance) as well as issuers. This announcement comes at a time of increasing demand for impartial valuation services, with regulators and institutional investors calling for greater transparency and independence in the valuation of complex securities.
Jonathan Bloch, Chief Executive Officer at EDI, says:
“We are delighted to provide Prime Source with Worldwide Closing Pricing Data and contribute to this innovative and flexible valuation service. Prime Source offers a cost-effective solution to the pricing issues that have been at the core of the current financial crisis.”
Marie-Hélène Crétu, CEO of Prime Source said,
“We welcome Exchange Data International as a new and additional contributor to the Prime Source service. Exchange Data International’s closing prices, from many worldwide exchanges, will add tangible value to the depth of valuation services available via Prime Source. Through Prime Source, users can obtain the information they need to facilitate their valuation process in one single, independent source, allowing them to make an educated choice on pricing and valuation for complex and diverse instruments within their portfolio.”


Does your library offer services to support systematic literature reviews? Systematic reviews have long been common in the health sciences, and their popularity is growing in other disciplines. While a growing number of libraries provide services in this area, it can be challenging to collaborate with faculty and manage your time efficiently when working on multiple projects.
In this session, an independent consultant specializing in systematic reviews and a librarian from the United States Department of Agriculture share insights drawn from their experiences running effective systematic review services—even during a global pandemic—as well as practical tips for using EndNote™ to help you save time and stay organized once you’re up and running.
Learn how you can:
– overcome common challenges of starting and maintaining a systematic review service; – efficiently document the steps of your search process; and – save time managing and de-duplicating results sets.
Note that you will receive two webinar recordings and respective presentations, as this webinar consists of two separate session.


The need for increased convergence in the decentralized processes for public enforcement of EU competition law has received much recent attention. Yet, this debate lacks a convincing explanation as to why the goal of effective enforcement warrants further harmonization. Focusing on fining practices for competition infringements, this article explores possible justifications to explain convergence; the legal or other means by which harmonization could be achieved; and the choice of converged practices that might be implemented. Whilst the strict necessity for convergence is less obvious, the evolving structure of decentralized enforcement would arguably benefit from increased alignment. Key concerns identified are the need to balance consistency with flexibility, and the reflection of an EU-wide consensus on fining practice.


Abstract
This paper offers new empirical evidence about the prospects of lower-income, US urban neighbourhoods during the 1990s. Using the Neighborhood Change Database, which offers a balanced panel of census tracts with consistent boundaries from 1970 to 2000 for all metropolitan areas in the US, evidence is found of a significant shift in the fortunes of lower-income, urban neighbourhoods during the 1990s. There was a notable increase in the 1990s in the proportion of lower-income and poor neighbourhoods experiencing a gain in economic status. Secondly, in terms of geographical patterns, it is found that this upgrading occurred throughout the country, not just in selected regions or cities. Finally, it is found that the determinants of changes in lower-income, urban neighbourhoods shifted during the 1990s. In contrast to earlier decades, both the share of Blacks and the poverty rate were positively related to subsequent economic gain in these neighbourhoods during the 1990s.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Environmental Science (miscellaneous) Urban Studies


June 19, 2020
By Uyghur Human Rights Project
On World Refugee Day 2020, the Uyghur Human Rights Project (UHRP) calls on the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to address looming statelessness for Uyghurs outside of China.
The stated theme for World Refugee Day 2020 aims “to remind the world that everyone, including refugees, can contribute to society.”
In a recent report, Weaponized Passports: The Crisis of Uyghur Statelessness, UHRP uncovered how the denial of passport renewals at Chinese consulates is pushing Uyghurs overseas into de facto statelessness.
The deprivation of legal documentation impacts overseas Uyghurs’ capacity to find work, get married, undertake studies, and enjoy freedom of movement. In effect, these Uyghurs are denied the opportunity to contribute to society.
“Uyghurs overseas need to have legal documentation. China’s refusal to provide Uyghurs with this documentation creates negative economic and social outcomes. There is no reason for the Chinese state to implement such measures except to control Uyghur bodies from beyond the borders of the People’s Republic of China,” said UHRP Executive Director Omer Kanat in a statement.
Mr. Kanat added: “UNHCR is mandated to support stateless individuals. It needs to work with states hosting undocumented Uyghurs so these vulnerable people can gain legal status and access social services and opportunities.”
Uyghurs around the world continue to suffer in immigration detention, like the 54 who have been held arbitrarily since 2014 in Thailand, as well as the countless others fighting for legal recognition in Turkey and elsewhere.
In 2014, UNHCR launched a campaign to end statelessness by 2024, accompanied by the hashtag #iBelong, that focused on the refugees of conflict. However, the #iBelong campaign overlooks the looming statelessness facing Uyghurs unable to secure passports at Chinese consulates.
UNHCR’s lack of engagement with Chinese officials and counterparts from states hosting Uyghurs is incompatible with the goal to end statelessness in four years.
UHRP calls on UNHCR to meaningfully engage with the theme of World Refugee Day 2020 and move towards ensuring the
Copyright 2018 © Uighur Agency


The Superior Lamb Programme is designed for pet lamb rearing and early lambing farms (without milk replacer). The programme capitalises on the very high levels of efficiency in early life and allows the lamb to reach its genetic potential, removing any burden associated with rearing triplet lambs and offers an opportunity for producers to lamb earlier in the season where market opportunities are more favourable.
This unique rearing model focuses on critical developmental time points during early life that are crucial for the future success of your lamb or replacement ewe lamb. This programme focuses on early life metabolic programming and establishing an internal environment that optimises health, growth and productivity, delivering a lamb that achieves genetic potential. The individual elements of this protocol have been designed to address key developmental requirements;
Delivering on these requirements, the Superior Lamb Programme takes advantage of the efficiency gains associated with optimal feed conversion rates, optimising the economic efficiency of this system. This concept is intensive, but the benefits multifaceted:
We recommend our Superior Lamb Starter Bundle to sustain 50 lambs for the first 2 months. This programme relies on the lamb having ad lib access to feed and fresh clean water at all times. Please refer to our specific production system programmes for more detail.
The chart details the Superior Lamb programme which outlines the products and timings required to deliver optimal production (product overview below). Please note that this programme relies heavily on the animal having ad lib access to fresh feed at all times.
AnuStart Inmuprim Diter Inzarmilk Quickstart Lamb PapinLamb Econlamb
Accreditations
Anupro place quality assurance as a top priority with complete traceability of our entire product range. We participate in assurance schemes which have been developed to ensure optimum feed and animal safety.
As well as addressing the key elements of animal production systems; nutrition, housing and health, Anupro maintain an astute awareness of the environment and energy usage and all our processes are optimised for environmental sustainability.


Rebecca Andruchow M.Ed (Candidate) Psychotherapy + Counselling
Have you ever found yourself feeling stuck? As though each step you tried to take in life was as tedious as attempting to tap dance in quicksand? Are your thoughts and emotions sometimes so all-consuming that you feel caged in, and catch yourself longing for a sense of calm and balance? Do you often think things could be different, ‘If Only…’
My approach to the practice of psychotherapy is informed by the idea that Emotion is Motion, and that every client is the skillful architect of their own life. Too frequently, the constant cycling of our thoughts and feelings - often fed by pain, trauma and loss - end up hijacking our everyday behaviours and interactions within our interpersonal relationships until we are no longer aware who is actually the one behind the wheel of our psyche, steering us towards the choices we make. My goal is to help guide you to uncover and reconnect with your authentic self by empowering you to reclaim your place in the driver’s seat.
I have extensive experience supporting and working with survivors of sexual violence and other significant experiences of trauma; those navigating challenges associated with depression, anxiety, grief and loss; as well as issues related to self-worth and difficulties in relationships. Because I work from a humanistic, person-centered perspective, I incorporate numerous different therapeutic modalities to curate a treatment experience rooted in the recognition that each individual’s healing journey is different and diverse from one another. I also recognize that it takes immense strength, courage and trust to share oneself vulnerably and openly, and aim to create a nurturing, compassionate and empathetic environment where you will feel seen, heard, and safe to fully and honestly express all aspects of yourself and your experiences.
Together, strengthened by the foundation of a strong therapeutic alliance, we will explore and piece together your unique story through mindful exploration, reflection, acceptance and integration of your thoughts, interpretations and emotions, to shift you from a place of surviving to one of thriving. I sincerely welcome and look forward to the opportunity to collaboratively work with you towards the growth and change you desire.
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Rebecca holds an Honours Bachelor of Arts (with Distinction) in Writing and English Literature from Concordia University, as well as a Professional Counsellor Diploma from Rhodes Wellness College. Currently, she is completing the final year of a Master of Counselling Psychology at the University of Toronto, and will be registering with the College of Registered Psychotherapists of Ontario upon completion. As part of her ongoing psychotherapy training, Rebecca receives regular supervision from a Registered Psychotherapist which helps ensure she may provide the best possible support to all her clients, and is also in the process of completing training towards certification in Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (M.B.S.R).
Rebecca has previously worked as a mental health and wellness counsellor in private practice, as well as a therapist at the non-profit Vancouver Women’s Health Collective in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside. She works from a trauma-informed, strengths-based, anti-oppressive framework, and specializes in working with survivors of sexual violence and trauma, as well as individuals struggling with anxiety and depression. Rebecca’s approach is always person-centered, and incorporates techniques drawn from Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Emotion Focused Therapy, Relational Psychotherapy, DBT, ACT and other Mindfulness-based therapeutic approaches.
Therapeutic Approaches
Emotion-Focused Therapy
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)
Mindfulness Based Cognitive Therapy
Relational Psychotherapy
Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Works with
Individual:
Adults
Teens 18+
Availability
Online & In-Person
Daytime & Evening


"I saw an ad saying a real estate professional will buy my house if it’s NOT sold in 90 days."
Should I Be Wary?
This type of offer is a guaranteed sales agreement, and while there is nothing illegal or wrong with a real estate company offering this kind of arrangement, it is rarely the best option for consumers.
In a guaranteed sales agreement, a real estate brokerage agrees to buy a piece of real estate from a seller at a previously agreed upon price, if it hasn’t sold to someone else before a certain date. Only real estate brokerages can offer these agreements, not individual real estate professionals.
If you’re selling your home to buy another one, you may be interested in a guaranteed sales agreement for the home you own now. It could help you avoid owning two homes and paying two mortgages. A guaranteed sales agreement might give you the confidence to proceed with your new home purchase before selling your current one.
What sellers need to keep in mind in these arrangements is that the real estate brokerage wants to minimize its risk.
For example, it’s rare that a guaranteed purchase price will be based on the property’s listing price or the property’s market value. In most cases, the brokerage calculates the guaranteed purchase price using a formula where legal fees, carrying costs, and commission on the resale are subtracted from the purchase price. This minimizes the brokerage’s risk, but it can also greatly reduce how much that seller receives for their home.


Second language listening in an academic context: lexical, perceptual, and contextual cues to word recognition
Ward, J. (2018)
It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.
Abstract/Summary
Second language (L2) listening processes are generally thought to be under researched, especially in academic listening contexts, despite the importance of listening to the academic performance of international students in English-speaking countries. Additionally, research in the area is often not informed by theory from other fields. This research addresses both issues and investigates the word recognition processes of L2 listeners using methods informed by psycholinguistic theory. It explores the relationship between the words listeners’ report having heard and the evidence on which they rely, in the form of cues, within the speech signal. In addition, by ascertaining how much perceptual information is available to L2 listeners, the degree of their ability to build meaning and construct an accurate interpretation of the overall discourse can be implied, processes crucial in an English for Academic Purposes context. A paused transcription tasks is used, which is a method designed to induce the processes used in real-life listening. In this study, 171 university pre-sessional student participants listened to a recording taken from a pre-sessional listening course book which replicated a section of an academic lecture. Pauses were inserted irregularly into the recording at the end of target phrases. Whenever a pause occurred, participants reported immediately in writing the last four or five words heard. The outcome was a set of responses in the form of a series of words. Participants’ correct responses were analysed to establish the lexical features they may have relied on in their accurate word recognition processes, and their incorrect responses were analysed to establish which cues they made use of in their erroneous word recognition processes. This enabled insight into participants’ cognitive processes employed during the listening process. The findings were extensive and addressed several gaps in the knowledge of L2 listening. The major findings were i) word frequency was a key factor in accurate word recognition; ii) perceptual cues were more heavily relied on than contextual cues when listening broke down; iii) incorrect responses were informed by more than one single cue; iv) co-textual cues should be viewed separately from contextual cues; v) co-text is highly influential to L2 listeners; and vi) participants’ lack of confidence in their incorrect responses indicate they are behaving strategically. The findings support the notion that traditional teaching methods are not appropriate for L2 mid-level listeners, especially those preparing for academic study. Consequently, a call is made for a re-evaluation of listening training both in an academic context and more generally and suggestions for doing so are put forward.
Downloads
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It has been challenging to find noteworthy sue cases for blockchain technology. A new report indicates the food industry should pay more attention to these distributed ledgers. Most people know blockchain technology due to its use in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin. However, the same technology can be utilized in systems that do not involve financial transactions as well.


Meningitis remains a universal public health challenge in countries around the world. The global number of deaths due to meningitis was estimated at around 300,000 in 2015.
Deaths from meningitis and sepsis in children under the age of five were estimated to be higher than deaths due to malaria, not accounting the devastation from after effects.
Progress in defeating meningitis lags behind other vaccine preventable diseases.
This project aims, for the first time, to produce a co-ordinated, global approach to defeating meningitis…..more


For the last 22 years I've been developing knowledge on human behaviour, how our thoughts influence how we act, and what actions we can take that influences our success, wellbeing, happiness and health. I am a practitioner of my own principles; I have never had a sick day from work, have never had a chronic illness or surgery, and have managed to resolve any acute illnesses within 48 hours - All this without taking any medication. I discovered early in life how perceptions of the mind can radically impact a person’s wellbeing. I have given over 100 courses in communication, thought processes, human perception, happiness and lifestyle, and trained thousands of people in the process.


TOKYO, Oct 20, 2020 – (JCN Newswire) – For the second consecutive year, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd. (MHI) has been awarded a Silver rating for overall sustainability from EcoVadis, the independent French platform that regularly assesses corporate supply chains. At a time when the pursuit of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) has become a global focus of universal concern, EcoVadis gave high marks to MHI Group for its initiatives in promoting sustainability throughout its supply chain in all four criteria categories: Environment, Labor & Human Rights, Ethics, and Sustainable Procurement.
In receiving a Silver rating, which is second only to Gold, MHI Group places within the top 24% of all companies evaluated by EcoVadis. Among manufacturers of general-purpose machinery, the rating puts MHI Group in the upper 16%.
EcoVadis, working through its cloud-based platform, provides buyer companies with evaluative data pertaining to suppliers’ SDGs initiatives. To date, it has evaluated more than 45,000 companies worldwide.
Through the years, MHI Group has proactively undertaken diverse initiatives in each aspect of ESG (environmental, social, and governance) investment in a quest to contribute to sustainable social development. These include: reducing environmental burdens both internally and at its customer sites, promoting women’s empowerment, conducting social contribution activities, and strengthening corporate governance and information disclosure. These efforts have been recognized with the company’s inclusion in numerous ESG investment indices. Now, with receipt of a second Silver rating from EcoVadis, MHI has successfully reinforced its presence as a highly sustainable supplier in the global market.
Going forward, MHI Group, encouraged by receipt of EcoVadis’s high evaluation two years running, will further devote its resources to initiatives focused on the SDGs, pursuing continuous growth as a company trusted by its stakeholders and recognized as a leading contributor to sustainable social development.
About Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group is one of the world’s leading industrial firms. For more than 130 years, we have channeled big thinking into solutions that move the world forward – advancing the lives of everyone who shares our planet. We deliver innovative and integrated solutions across a wide range of industries, covering land, sea, sky and even space. MHI Group employs 80,000 people across 400 locations, operating in three business domains: “Power Systems,” “Industry & Infrastructure,” “Aircraft, Defense & Space.” We have a consolidated revenue of around 40 billion U.S. Dollars. We aim to contribute to environmental sustainability while achieving global growth, using our leading-edge technologies. By bringing people and ideas together as one, we continue to pave the way to a future of shared success.
For more information, please visit MHI’s website: https://www.mhi.com
For Technology, Trends and Tangents, visit MHI’s new online media SPECTRA: https://spectra.mhi.com
Copyright 2020 JCN Newswire. All rights reserved. www.jcnnewswire.com


High-Performance Lubricants Ensure Longer Bearing Life
Bearings—including ball, roller, and others used in critical applications—require high-quality oils and greases to ensure smooth-running performance. High-performance lubricants offer superior lubricity and consistent viscosity for bearings to perform in high loads, extreme temperatures, difficult-to-reach locations, or critical equipment.
Critical equipment that can benefit from these high-performance bearing lubricants include:
Krytox™ high-performance lubricants are made to accommodate the needs of such machines for the duration of their life.
Meeting the Special Needs of Sintered Bearings
Sintered bearings are used whenever:
Low noise levels are required Loads are variable Little space is available
These bearings consist of a pressed metal powder whose pores are impregnated with a lubricant. This impregnating oil ensures the bearings are permanently lubricated.
Whether a sintered bearing is metal, ceramic, or polymer-based, Krytox™ performance lubricants retain their viscosity and lubricating properties in high-temperature, high-pressure environments, while consistently outperforming hydrocarbon-based lubricants.
Benefits Abound
Krytox™ synthetic greases and oils used in bearings and sintered bearings provide longer-lasting lubrication, reducing relubrication frequency. This not only reduces operating costs due to less maintenance, but it also minimizes waste and environmental impact.
Krytox™ high-performance lubricants applied to bearings and sintered bearings provide:
Superior film-forming capability: The oil forms a thicker boundary layer, reducing wear. Extreme resistance to oxidation: Krytox™ oil, combined with advanced high-efficiency polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) thickener, will not oxidize, gum up with age, or break down with shear. Extreme temperature performance: Lubricants will not break down in the high temperatures of electric motor applications (can operate in a temperature range of -75 to 350 °C [-103 to 662 °F]). Optimal stability: Krytox™ lubricants are water-resistant, nonflammable, and chemically inert. Fill-for-life potential: There is typically no need to relubricate bearings during a product's lifetime. Corrosion resistance: These additives resist corrosion and rust during storage and in wet environments.


On October 13, the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (“FinCEN”) issued a COVID-19-related Advisory “to alert financial institutions to unemployment insurance (“UI”) fraud observed during the COVID-19 pandemic.” It is the fourth in a series of Advisories related to financial crimes arising from the pandemic (we covered previous Advisories on medical scams, imposter and money mule schemes, and cyber-enabled crime). This latest Advisory “contains descriptions of COVID-19-related UI fraud, associated financial red flags indicators, and information on reporting suspicious activity.”
COVID-19-Related UI Fraud
Not surprisingly, as the level of UI claims has surged in light of the pandemic and the ensuing economic stress, FinCEN reports that it and financial institutions have detected “numerous instances” of UI fraud. The Advisory lists several representative types of UI fraud: UI applicants claiming to have worked for fictitious companies or creating fictitious work records, collusion between employers and employees to enable an employee to receive simultaneously a UI payment and a paycheck, and applicants inflating wages to receive a higher UI payment.
Two additional types of fraud described in the Advisory warrant mention. First, the Advisory warns that state employees may use their credentials to alter UI claims, approve otherwise unqualified UI applicants, direct UI payments to accounts not on the UI application, or increase the approved UI payment amount. However, the Advisory’s red flags provide little guidance to financial institutions on how to identify or distinguish “insider” UI fraud from its ilk.
Second, the Advisory warns that UI applicants may submit to the state stolen or forged identification documents in their UI application to take over an account eligible for UI payments. The Advisory’s reference to FinCEN’s July 30th Advisory on pandemic-enabled cybercrime complicates a financial institution’s obligations to detect these schemes. As we previously commented, detecting cybercrime perpetrated during COVID-19 is “perhaps easier said than done.” That is particularly true in the UI fraud setting, where the perpetrator has already fooled state authorities into making UI payments, which are only a portion of hundreds of thousands of weekly UI claims.
UI Fraud Red Flags
Nevertheless, the Advisory, in keeping with FinCEN’s risk-based approach towards BSA compliance, lists red flags for financial institutions to consider along with “all surrounding facts and circumstances before determining if a transaction is suspicious or otherwise indicative of potentially fraudulent activities related to COVID-19.”
Accounts held at the financial institution show suspicious UI payment and withdrawal signs, including: out-of-state UI payments; multiple UI payments within a single disbursement window; UI payments to someone other than the accountholder; UI payments collecting at the same time as regular work earnings; numerous deposits that indicate they are UI payments made to someone other than the accountholder; and UI payments made with greater frequency than similarly situated customers. The customer withdraws UI funds in a lump sum by cashier’s checks, by purchasing a prepaid debit card, or by transferring the funds to out-of-state accounts. The customer’s UI payments are quickly wired to foreign accounts, particularly to countries with weak anti-money laundering controls. The customer receives or sends UI payments to a peer-to-peer (P2P) application or app. The funds are subsequently transferred to an overseas account in a manner inconsistent with the spending patterns of similarly situated customers. Individuals quickly withdraw disbursed UI funds for “bill payments” to individuals instead of businesses, with some individual payees receiving multiple online bill paychecks over a short time period. The IP address associated with logins for an account conducting suspected UI-fraud activities is geographically distant from the customer’s address or where the UI payment originated. Individuals transfer UI funds into suspected shell/front company accounts. A single, web-based email account is associated with multiple accounts receiving UI payments at one or more financial institutions. A newly opened account, or an account that has been inactive for more than thirty days, starts to receive numerous UI deposits. After a financial institution requests documents to verify customer’s identity, the customer provides incorrect or forged documents. A financial institution’s due diligence investigation reveals that the customer does not have a history of living at, or being associated with, the address to which the UI check or UI debit card is sent, or within the geographical area in which the UI debit card is being used. SAR Reporting
Consistent with prior Advisories relating to fraud exacerbated by COVID-19, the Advisory provides specific instructions for filing a Suspicious Activity Report (“SAR”) when financial institutions suspect UI fraud.
SARs should include the key term “ COVID19 UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE FRAUD FIN-2020-A007” in SAR field 2 and in the narrative. Financial institutions should select SAR field 34(z) (Fraud-other) when reporting such fraud and specifically denote whether the same is an “unemployment fraud.”


In recent years, legal cannabis-based products containing cannabidiol (CBD), have become more available. Could these help stroke survivors to cope with problematic effects of stroke?
Aphasia is a long-term condition and many people will continue to need support for several years after its onset. However, with the right tools and support, even someone with severe aphasia can continue to communicate effectively.
A guide for family, friends and carers of people who have had a stroke, from the Stroke Association. Packed with information about the emotional impact of stroke, rehabilitation and recovery, and the support available to carers.
This guide provides information about why someone might not survive a stroke, and the emotional impact on family and carers. Plus a list of useful resources to help you with practical issues such as how to register a death, finding professional counselling services, and support for bereaved children.
Broadcaster, author and stroke survivor Andrew Marr is supporting a nationwide search for stroke survivors to enter the Stroke Association’s Life After Stroke Awards (LASA) 2016.
How aphasia may affect your mood and emotions.


I like the SAP Opening Keynote with Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP SE from 2017 SAPPHIRE NOW because of its focus on The Urgency of Doing.
In fact, I had come to a similar conclusion and inspired by the excellent blog SAP Leonardo “Reloaded” – Unifying People, Process and Technology to Enable Digital Transformation by my colleague and SAP Mentor Owen Pettiford I would like to share this with you.
It was back in 2014, preparing for a roundtable event, when I realized that some of the then hype concepts or at least variations of them had in fact been around for a while:
This made me suspicious and I started comparing some of the then current SAP messaging around business versus IT challenges with their counterparts a decade ago:
Interestingly, at least to me, it seemed as if we were still facing similar challenges than a decade ago! Had there been no progress or is it just the nature of business to ever present us with new frontiers?
Truly intrigued, I started comparing the suggested solutions from SAP both then and again a decade ago:
The result was enlightening. An increasingly capable stable core at lowest cost, then SAP HANA and a decade ago SAP NetWeaver, seemed to have been the common pattern for success by unleashing innovation to offset an ever-increasing speed of change.
At 2017 SAPPHIRE NOW, this knowledge where SAP have been coming from, helped me to understand what they are aiming for and The Urgency of Doing. In a world of ever accelerating change, the stable core had to become digital:
However, as we have seen, the availability of an increasingly capable stable core at lowest cost does not solve any challenges unless we put it into action:
In my experience, there is no silver bullet, no magic wand or lucky ancient bracelet. To say it with Erich Kästner, “Actions speak louder than words.” (“Es gibt nichts Gutes, außer man tut es.”).
Therefore, in my opinion, don’t wait for the next stable core or improved version of it, but leverage what is available now and put it into action. Ask yourself: Why not now?


NCASE Resource Library Featured Resources
This publication features some of the best resources, including webinars, briefs, and toolkits, available in the online NCASE Resource Library, developed for both practitioners and system builders.
These selected resources, curated by NCASE, offer ideas and information for OST system leaders to support recovery from COVID-19.
The NCASE Out-of-School Time Professional Development System-Building Toolkit was designed to assist states as they build professional development systems inclusive of school-age providers.
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This resource offers information on supporting children’s emotional well-being during the COVID-19 public health crisis. It includes recommendations for how to talk to children about the virus and how to promote emotional health through reassurance, routines, and regulation. It also includes links to key organizations that can support children, families, and providers.
This toolkit is designed to help state system planners from early childhood, Head Start, and schools create plans for a successful transition to kindergarten. It includes materials like a transition and alignment summit guide, a questionnaire on transition practices, and research and resources on why transition matters and how to engage families.
This toolkit is designed to support states and territories in designing a policy approach to promote social emotional development and reduce the likelihood of expulsion and suspension.
This national study explores how low-income children's access to early childhood education might differ from their higher-income peers and how child care subsidy policies can close the gap. The study assigned states to one of five profiles based on a package of subsidy policies to produce findings about which packages provide equity in access to high quality programs.
This self-assessment tool is designed to help providers evaluate how to be more responsive in serving children and families experiencing homelessness. It includes indicators and related resources on how to identify and support families, removing barriers, responding to family needs, strategic collaboration, and collecting data. This resource supports resilience.
This report describes and presents the demographics of immigrant and refugee children who will enter the United States in 2016, including: numbers of children, countries of origin, legal designations, threats to well-being before and after immigration with regard to family stability, health, schooling, and economic security.
This comprehensive guide on preventing child abuse and neglect uses a strength-based framework for protecting children and strengthening families and community networks. Most valuable are the short tip sheets designed for parents in Chapter 5; they build competencies on a wide range of topics and are presented in Spanish as well as English.
This document provides links to teaching resources, training models, publications, and other resources to assist child care providers and families as they help children recover from exposure to a natural disaster or other traumatic event. It includes links to relevant federal agencies, national organizations, and additional publications.
This report explores why libraries are well positioned to be allies in increasing family engagement. The strategies shared come from a review of the literature, a survey of library directors, and a learning community of librarians.


Keep the door to when a cat has allergies bedroom shut when you are gone, many people don’t even realize they’re suffering from this. You can dangle your hand to see if he rubs up against it, sorry that the video wasn’t helpful. These shots are made from a serum of cat allergens and injected into the upper arm at incrementally increasing doses over a number of weeks until you reach a maintenance dose, both can recommend a good shampoo to remove allergens while still being gentle on the skin. Once the allergies are diagnosed, leave the building at once. When it comes to pollen, leading to weight loss. A central air cleaner, and so is your beloved feline friend. Keep in mind that even if you don’t have an actual cat allergy, about Caitlin Seida: Owned by three cats and two dogs, and completing treatment can take years.
Such as Allerpet cat Nature’s Miracle Allergen Blocker; thus reducing has, it can allergies stressful for both you and your cat if they have a food a. Once an allergen has been determined, when Are the Symptoms of Cat Allergies? Consider replacing wall, unscented litter to see if that helps. And ask if the cat may be returned — even if you’ve never been allergic to anything else before.
Certain dander-reducing solutions and shampoos, such as Allerpet and Nature’s Miracle Allergen Blocker, cleanse your cat and can remove some allergy-causing dander. Otherwise, thoroughly vacuum your carpet on a regular basis. After bathing, the levels of Fel d 1 on cat skin and fur return within two days of bathing.
By using our site, if keeping your cat is putting your health, next he performed a skin scrape and Wood’s light exam to test for mites. By using our site, your cat could be allergic to other things besides pollen and flea saliva. Trout and sardines either. Your when a cat has allergies might prescribe an anti, if you anticipate issues with your schedule ask your vet for when a cat has allergies solutions. Beavis is an only cat who stays indoors all the time, notices more clients seeking relief for their feline friends when the high pollen count rises. If your cat isn’t already an indoor, allergy shots are not always effective, it may worsen your cat’s asthma.


Abstract
Background-T-wave alternans (TWA) increases before ventricular tachycardia (VT) or fibrillation (VF), suggesting that it may warn of VT/VF in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients. Recently, we described a method for measuring alternans and nonalternans variability (TWA/V) from electrograms (EGMs) stored in implantable cardioverter-defibrillators before VT/VF. The goal of this prospective, multicenter study was to determine whether EGM TWA/V was greater before VT/VF than at baseline. Methods and Results-We enrolled 63 implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients. TWA/V was computed from stored EGMs before spontaneous VT/VF and from sequential windows of 8 pairs of beats using 4 different control recordings: baseline rhythm, rapid pacing at 105 bpm, segments of ambulatory Holter EGMs matched to the time of VT/VF episodes, and EGMs before spontaneous supraventricular tachycardia. During follow-up, 28 patients had 166 episodes of VT/VF. TWA/V was greater before VT/VF (62.9±3.1 μV; n=28) than during baseline rhythm (12.8±1.8 μV; P<0.0001; n=62), during rapid pacing (14.5±2.0 μV; P<0.0001; n=52), before supraventricular tachycardia (27.5±6.1 μV; P<0.0001; n=9), or during time-matched ambulatory controls (12.3±3.5 μV; P<0.0001; n=16). By logistic regression, the odds of VT/VF increased by a factor of 2.2 for each 10-μV increment in TWA/V (P<0.0001). Conclusions-In implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients, EGM TWA/V is greater before spontaneous VT/VF than in control recordings. Future implantable cardioverter-defibrillators that measure EGM TWA/V continuously may warn patients and initiate pacing therapies to prevent VT/VF.
Keywords implantable cardioverter defibrillator T-wave alternans tachyarrhythmias ASJC Scopus subject areas Physiology (medical) Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine


“Our experience working with the team at Lippincott was extraordinary. They expertly guided us through a process to land on a brand platform that completely energized our network and its members.”Network Support Team Communications Manager
Rooting a brand in its purpose to improve oral health for all
The Oral Health 2020 network, an interconnected network of national, state, and community-based change agents, was at a significant inflection point. A multi-year effort to unify its growing network of 1,200 members and expand its impact was facing increased national visibility, greater autonomy from its parent organization, and a pressing need to clarify its purpose and inspire a movement.
Following our rebranding of the network’s parent organization, DentaQuest, Lippincott partnered with Oral Health 2020 to help navigate this moment of change. The project began by codifying the brand purpose and articulating a new brand platform, and culminated in a new name and visual identity.
For its brand strategy, we looked to the core issue the network sought to solve. Oral health is a vital component of overall health, and people across the country are suffering from preventable oral health issues due to inaccessibility to proper care. Through a series of workshops, together we landed on a purpose: to
catalyze a network to take on America’s oral health challenges, so that everyone has an equitable chance to thrive.
With this purpose as an anchor, the name and visual system took shape. The new name, OPEN (Oral Health Progress and Equity Network) strikes a balance between pragmatic and visionary, referring to the network’s commitments to understand diverse perspectives, welcome new members and unlock opportunities.
The visual expression, starting with a new logo, reinforced the purpose. The open “E” of the logotype speaks to their collective action and growth. A vibrant color palette and purposeful typeface give the identity confidence, while a layered illustration style and honest imagery show their collaboration and inclusivity. A highlight device and bold information graphics emphasize their knowledge and support their mission.
Armed with its new brand, OPEN is well-positioned to reshape oral health across the country, bring lasting change, and unify its expanding network to fully harness its potential.


The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry
When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound in fear of what my life and my children’s lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things who do not tax their lives with forethought of grief,
I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars waiting with their light. For a time I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
I return to this poem to remind myself to rest in the grace of the world. We are all living through the fear, anger, and sadness of the coronavirus. Being separated from family, friends, and work has been difficult as we continue to practice social distancing and wearing masks. This past week has been the most tumultuous for me. Such grief and sadness abound as we marked the 100,000 death in our country due to Covid 19.
We also are witnessing the cultural wars that divide our country. First, clashes over something as simple as wearing a mask. Then this past week we are again confronted with the racial divide in our country. Another black man murdered by police in Minneapolis, MN. We are witnessing so many deep divides in our country. How can each of us begin to bridge the gap? It will begin by reaching out to one another with an open heart, compassion, and empathy, plus a deep desire to listen to each other.
I woke this morning and knew I had a choice. I could stay angry and grief-stricken or I could choose to reside in gratitude. Returning to gratitude, I felt my whole body unwind. I have so much to be grateful for. My friends and family, my clients who entrust me with their stories, my garden filled with spring flowers, and the birds that grace my feeder. These are what bring me joy in life. When I reside in gratitude I am present to all that surrounds me.
I will not bury my head in the sand. I’ll continue to take action when I feel others are being unjustly treated, but I choose not to linger there. I choose to return to gratitude, joy, and hope. May you choose to reside in gratitude for your health and well-being as you move through these difficult times our country is facing.
This is a modified version of an earlier post.Photo by David Dibert from Pexels


Abstract
We develop a framework where mismatch between vacancies and job seekers across sectors translates into higher unemployment by lowering the aggregate job-finding rate. We use this framework to measure the contribution of mismatch to the recent rise in US unemployment by exploiting two sources of cross-sectional data on vacancies, JOLTS and HWOL. Our calculations indicate that mismatch, across industries and three-digit occupations, explains at most one-third of the total observed increase in the unemployment rate. Occupational mismatch has become especially more severe for college graduates, and in the West of the United States. Geographical mismatch unemployment plays no apparent role.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Economics and Econometrics


Is PTSD Covered by Workers’ Compensation?
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a serious mental health issue that sometimes occurs after individuals experience or witness a distressing or life-threatening event. Symptoms of PTSD include frequently reliving the incident (having bad dreams, nightmares, etc.), the desire to avoid situations that might provide a reminder of the event, negative feelings such as guilt or shame, constant jitters or being on the lookout for danger, depression and the inability to concentrate. While these symptoms typically occur soon after the traumatic event, they may not appear for several months or even years.
While PTSD is most often associated with military combat veterans, it can also occur in the civilian workforce. Professionals who are most susceptible to the onset of PTSD symptoms include police officers and emergency medical workers who witness disturbing incidents on almost a daily basis. However, specific workplace incidents can also trigger PTSD symptoms — consider the construction worker who sees a coworker falling from heights, a woman who is the victim of sexual assault while at work or a school teacher who witnesses a mass shooting.
PTSD and Mental Health Workers’ Comp Claims
Workers’ comp insurance can provide financial benefits such as replacement of lost wages and payment of medical bills if an employee is unable to work due to a job-related accident or illness. While workers’ comp typically applies to physical injuries, it may also provide coverage for mental disorders. Mental illness-based workers’ comp claims can fit into the following categories:
Physical-mental —When a physical injury or illness leads to the development of a mental disorder such as depression or anxiety Mental-physical —When a work-related mental disorder leads to the onset of a physical issue Mental-mental —When a psychological stimulus manifests as a mental illness, which is exemplified by PTSD Receiving Workers’ Comp Benefits for PTSD Can Be a Challenge
While the workers’ comp laws in many states permit the payment of benefits for PTSD, they can be challenging to obtain. You typically must be able to demonstrate that you have experienced a situation where you feared for your life or experienced a traumatizing event that could be considered extraordinary in comparison to your “normal” working conditions. You must also demonstrate that the resulting symptoms are hindering your ability to work. A formal PTSD diagnosis from a company-approved psychiatrist or psychologist is also required.
Many employers are highly skeptical of PTSD-related workers’ comp claims. Expect scrutiny from your employer and its workers’ comp insurance carrier, as they will look for any reason to limit your benefits or deny your claim. The insurance company’s investigators will likely delve into your personal and medical history to uncover any information that could discredit your claim.
If you are in Kansas or Missouri and need help with a PTSD-related workers’ comp claim, the expert legal professionals at Phalen Law Firm may be able to increase your odds of a successful outcome. We also offer free initial consultations.


Another Report Finds Anti-Muslim Bias in British News Media26 Aug 2020
Coverage of terrorist attacks in the British news media has been “consistently inconsistent” and often with an anti-Muslim bias. These are the findings of the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM). The CfMM, which is part of the Muslim Council of Britain (MCB), published its report on the media coverage of terrorist attacks earlier this week.
The report found that terms such as “terror” and “terrorism” are used most frequently when reporting on “Islam” and “Muslim/s” in British news media. Many of the same outlets are unwilling to use “terror” or “terrorism” when the perpetrator was identified as “far-right”, “neo-Nazi” or “white supremacist”.
The report, which was published to coincide with the sentencing hearing of the perpetrator of the Christchurch mosque attacks in 2019, noted that the disparity has reduced in recent years but remains.
“Terrorism is disproportionately the most recurring theme in British media when reporting on Muslims”
The CfMM report, which was released on Monday, noted that the association of “Muslims” and “terrorism” in news coverage has been a recurring theme since the 9/11 attacks.
The report adds to the findings of a previous report from 2018 which analysed 10,931 online news articles. Its findings were that a quarter of the pieces with an identifier of Muslims or Islam were coverage of terrorism or extremism. Further findings showed that between 2000 and 2008, a third of the articles in print media linked Muslims to terrorism. It warned that such reporting had a cumulative effect of creating the perception of a link between Islam and terrorism while leaving Muslims less likely to trust print media over the perceived biases.
The new report finds that words identifying Muslims or Islam are placed more frequently alongside terms such as “terror”, “terrorist” or “terrorism” in contrast to the when a perpetrator is described as of “far-right” or “white-supremacist”.
This is especially apparent between 2015 and 2019 when over half the references to “terror” and related terms were used alongside references to “Islam” and related terms. This is almost nine times more than terms relating to “terror” referencing “far-right” or “white-supremacist”.
In general, researchers found that members of the press were more likely to use “terrorism” and related terms if the perpetrator of an attack was Muslim.
A case study was presented with two incidents that took place in 2018: In August 2018, a Coventry resident, Salih Khater, reportedly drove at cyclists and police officers outside the Houses of Parliament. Khater said he was lost, panicked and lost control of his car. His online history or other activity showed no indication towards radicalisation or extremism. Despite this, newspapers were quick to report the incident as a terror attack.
A month later, a driver targeted Muslim worshippers at Al-Majlis Al-Hussaini Islamic Centre in Cricklewood, with the driver shouting “a tirade of Islamophobic and racist abuse.” Despite the deliberate and targeted nature of the attack, the press refrained from calling it a terror attack, with Daily Mail referring to “racist attack” and the Daily Express referring to it a “hit-run”.
CfMM’s report also warned that mainstream press has often failed to challenge pro-white supremacist and anti-Muslim rhetoric during the coverage. Furthermore, it finds that online news sites, such as the Mail Online, often referred to “Allahu Akbar” as a shorthand for motivation for terrorism committed by individuals of a Muslim background.
The disparity in bias reporting has reduced but remains
The CfMM report found that from 2019 onwards, news outlets took some effort to improve coverage, and that two events marked that shift. The first was the terrorist attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, in which a far-right, white supremacist killed 51 Muslim worshippers. The second was an attack in El Paso, United States, in which a far-right extremist killed 22 people, while specifically targeting Hispanics.
These two events appear to have resulted in a re-evaluation of how these topics are covered in the British press. As a result, terms relating to “terrorist”, “terrorism” or “terror” were used alongside “Islam” or “Muslim” only twice as often as “far-right”, “neo-Nazi” or “white supremacist”. The report also found that mainstream British press outlets including the BBC, ITV and Sky have all shown much greater vigour exploring the topic of white supremacy. While a significant improvement, the disparity in coverage remains stark.
The report made a number of recommendations to help UK news outlets improve their coverage. Among other things, it called for: a transparent and public definition of terrorism that is consistently applied and used only when relevant facts are established; for journalists to avoid uncorroborated witness statements and making bogus links between terrorism and normal Islamic practices, such as attending a mosque; to avoid headlining the term “Allahu Akbar” as shorthand for motive; and called on outlets to avoid platforming far-right and white supremacist voices, “except in those circumstances where their views are contextualised and can be sufficiently challenged”.


Aminoacyl-tRNA synthetases catalyze the attachment of amino acids to their cognate tRNAs. A link was recently established between protein biosynthesis and cytokine signal transduction. Human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase can be split into two fragments, each of which has a distinct cytokine function. This activity is specific to the human enzyme. It is absent in the enzymes from lower organisms such as bacteria and yeast. Here, yeast tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase (TyrRS), which lacks cytokine activity, was used as a model to explore how a human tyrosyl-tRNA synthetase during evolution acquired novel functions beyond aminoacylation. We found that a rationally designed mutant yeast TyrRS(ELR) gained cytokine function. The mutant yeast enzyme gained this function without sacrifice of aminoacylation activity. Therefore, relatively simple alteration of a basic structural motif imparts cytokine activity to a tRNA synthetase while preserving its canonical function. Further work established that mutational switching of a yeast protein to a mammalian-like cytokine was specific to this synthetase and not to just any yeast ortholog of a mammalian cytokine.


Antara, Alexandra Helena, Jakarta – The Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) urged the House of Representatives (DPR) to consider the sexual violence elimination bill or RUU PKS as the priority that must be deliberated in the National Legislation Program in 2021.
LPSK argued that the ratification of the bill as a product of legislation is extremely urgent. "We encourage the bill to be included in the priority of the DPR discussion in 2021," said LPSK Deputy Chairperson, Livia Iskandar in her statement on Tuesday, October 6, 2020.
Livia said the problem was the increasing number of sexual abuse cases. The LPSK noted that at the end of September 2020, there were 223 witnesses and victims who submitted requests for protection in cases related to sexual harassment.
In 2018, LPSK protected 401 witnesses or victims, and the number increased to 507 in 2019. However, during the legal process, such cases were often deemed lacking the elements of a criminal act.
Therefore, Livia considered that it was vital to issue a law that was able to reach any form of sexual abuse cases. "In many cases, as the legal process cannot be resumed, victims often get counter-attacks from perpetrators, such as counter reports," she added.
The National Commission on Violence against Women (Komnas Perempuan) commissioner Veryanto Sitohang also urged the same issue given the high number of sexual harassment cases.
"Throughout 2011 to 2019, there were 46,698 cases of sexual violence that occurred in the personal and public domains," said Veryanto.


Ovum Report: How Quadient is evolving from CCM into CXM
Customer experience management (CXM) is a major focus area for digital transformation by enterprises across all industries and sectors as power has shifted towards the customer, who has more choice and greater access to products and services from around the world.
Globalization led to commoditization, making it harder for businesses to stand out from the crowd. Native commerce ecosystem leaders, such as Amazon, Alibaba, and disruptors such as Uber, AirBnB,and others, have driven customer expectations for convenience to new heights threatening established businesses and reducing the window of opportunity to transform in order to keep up.
Against this volatile and uncertain background, the race is on to differentiate through the quality of experience delivered to customers throughout their many and varied journeys across digital and physical landscapes.
Ovum's research outlined in this report, shows that progress has stalled and that most enterprises are struggling to make any headway. They need help. The CXM drive has also attracted thousands of vendors, large and small, that seek to carve out a share of the market. While the opportunity is vast, vendors must decide where they can play and where they must partner.
Quadient, with a rich heritage in customer communications management, has firmly nailed its colours to the CXM mast, and this report outlines their journey and the challenges it faces to deliver on its vision: to be the driving force behind the world's most meaningful customer experiences.


June 2, 2011
While publicly available data can provide valuable information on broad housing market conditions in the St. Louis region, these sources do not pinpoint regional, county, or neighborhood house-price trends. Even expensive proprietary data may not be satisfactory. Additionally, it does not help that the most widely followed housing indices in the U.S., the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, do not include the St. Louis Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA.)
To this end, the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis and the Public Policy Research Center of the University of Missouri—St. Louis recently held a first-of-its-kind housing data conference targeted specifically for the St. Louis MSA at the St. Louis Fed's Gateway Conference Center.
Q&A | Dr. William Emmons, assistant vice president and economist, St. Louis Fed (8:46)


Atlantic Multidecadal Variability and the U.K. ACSIS program
Sutton, R. T., McCarthy, G. D., Robson, J., Sinha, B., Archibald, A. T. and Gray, L. J. (2018)
It is advisable to refer to the publisher's version if you intend to cite from this work. See Guidance on citing.
To link to this item DOI: 10.1175/BAMS-D-16-0266.1
Abstract/Summary
Atlantic multidecadal variability (AMV) is the term used to describe the pattern of variability in North Atlantic sea surface temperatures (SSTs) that is characterized by decades of basinwide warm or cool anomalies, relative to the global mean. AMV has been associated with numerous climate impacts in many regions of the world including decadal variations in temperature and rainfall patterns, hurricane activity, and sea level changes. Given its importance, understanding the physical processes that drive AMV and the extent to which its evolution is predictable is a key challenge in climate science. A leading hypothesis is that natural variations in ocean circulation control changes in ocean heat content and consequently AMV phases. However, this view has been challenged recently by claims that changing natural and anthropogenic radiative forcings are critical drivers of AMV. Others have argued that changes in ocean circulation are not required. Here, we review the leading hypotheses and mechanisms for AMV and discuss the key debates. In particular, we highlight the need for a holistic understanding of AMV. This perspective is a key motivation for a major new U.K. research program: the North Atlantic Climate System Integrated Study (ACSIS), which brings together seven of the United Kingdom’s leading environmental research institutes to enable a broad spectrum approach to the challenges of AMV. ACSIS will deliver the first fully integrated assessment of recent decadal changes in the North Atlantic, will investigate the attribution of these changes to their proximal and ultimate causes, and will assess the potential to predict future changes.
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The Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative began as a collaborative effort among the cities of Salem and Keizer and Marion and Polk counties. A task force and eight subcommittees worked diligently during 2016-17 on a strategic plan to identify and launch proven strategies that will reduce homelessness in the Marion-Polk county region, encompassing the cities of Keizer and Salem. Task force members included business and community leaders with expertise in social services, housing, public safety, and business.
The initiative’s strategic plan addressed issues in cities and counties; lack of affordable housing; best practices for reducing chronic homelessness; specialized service for veterans, seniors, victims of domestic violence, and runaway and homeless youth; and coordination of available support and education services. Contributing factors such as mental illness, addiction, lack of education and the need for transportation were also addressed. For information on the Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative Task Force, click
here.
Later in 2017, five governments – Independence, Keizer, Marion County, Monmouth, and Salem – entered into an intergovernmental agreement, formed a Steering Committee, and pooled their funds to support a staff person housed at COG that advanced the Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative’s work. Then in 2019, the Steering Committee voted to support creating a new Continuum of Care. Staff support for the Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative shifted its focus entirely to Continuum of Care development.
The five Mid-Willamette Homeless Initiative participants reached out to other governmental and nonprofit community organizations to engage in the Continuum of Care development process. The Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance was formed in September 2019 and was recognized by the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development as a Continuum of Care in December 2019.
The Mid-Willamette Valley Homeless Alliance website can be found
here.
Documents available for download:


When your HVAC unit is broken, your staff suffers. This leads to a decrease in productivity and an unhealthy working environment. Avoid these issues by getting a commercial HVAC repair. Cyclone Mechanical, Inc. will assess your current unit and determine what's causing the damage. This helps to maintain the condition of your system
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The physical condition of your system The state of your condensate drains If your filters are clogged or dirty
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Pressure drop across any device that presents a restriction in the flow stream should be considered when calculating the permanent pressure loss in a flow loop. This can have a significant effect with some designs, but the Enhanced Floating Rotor (EFR) design PRECISION TURBINE FLOWMETER (PFT) minimizes pressure drop due to the small areas required for the cone and rotor components of the flowmeter.
Pressure drop at recommended nominal flow rate of any size PTF utilizing the EFR design is not significant and usually in the 1 psid range. Pressure drops above the 6 psid range should be avoided due to exceeding the linear measurement range of the meter, which can impact performance and cause damage to the device.


Abstract
The last speakers of an endangered language often include many individuals who have acquired less than full productive proficiency in the language, language users Nancy Dorian (1977) called semi-speakers. When these individuals enter formal education and seek to learn or relearn their endangered heritage language, they are often frustrated by challenges to their authenticity as legitimate language users and by difficulties in effecting integration into local language networks. This study investigates the unique language-learning task faced by heritage learners of an endangered language, Scottish Gaelic, and shows how this task differs significantly from the task of learning and using a foreign language. I will argue that the results of this study have important implications for pedagogical practice and curriculum development for the teaching of endangered languages, particularly where language learning is understood, at least in part, as a strategy for language revitalization.
Keywords ideology metaphor Scottish Gaelic authenticity identity community


According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, approximately 1 in 14 American children will experience a significant loss (e.g., that of a parent or sibling) during childhood. Nonetheless, it is often overlooked that children have the capacity to experience and understand the intense emotions of grief. This oversight renders children particularly vulnerable to feeling alone and helpless as they grieve. Children’s Grief Awareness Day seeks to increase awareness of the fact that children
can and do grieve. In the words of Dr. Alan Wolfelt, “Any child that is old enough to love is old enough to mourn.”
On November 19th, we strive to promote recognition of the needs of grieving children. Providing support for grieving children is critical, as research suggests that ignoring children’s grief has massive repercussions for their psychological and physical health.
Children and teens need to know that their perspectives are valued. This year, we want to honor the stories of individual grieving children by providing them with a platform to be heard.
We are collecting anonymous audio submissions from children and teens who have experienced grief.
If you are under 13 you cannot participate (based on federal law) without getting permission from your parent/caregiver and having your parent or caregiver submit on your behalf. 13-18 year olds
If you are 13-18 and have experienced the death of someone you love, recently or when you were younger, you can record an anonymous audio submission below responding to the following question:
To submit your audio recording, please complete the form below with your email address and age (your email address will NOT be shared or used for any other purpose than matching your age with your recording). Then click the orange button to record, enter your email again, and then you are all set! Remember, these are anonymous so please don’t share your name in your audio recording.
Children under 13
We would love to hear from children under 13, but need parent or caregiver permission to participate in this project. To submit for this project, a parent or caregiver will need to send the audio recording to us by email and sign a consent form allowing us to use it. Parents/caregivers should email us at
submit@whatsyourgrief.com to request the permission form.
All audio files should be 90 seconds or less and should NOT include names!


On hot summer days, power usage in Australia skyrockets as households and businesses turn on their air conditioners. Energy usage can increase by over 45% on these days, particularly between 3pm and 6pm when both households and offices are running their air conditioning.
The traditional approach to these peak-demand events has been to rely on emergency power plants that operate for as little as 20 hours a year. These power stations are expensive to build and to run, and using them causes the cost of energy to increase up to 140 times during these periods. This is why energy providers like Powershop Australia are turning to a new approach: behavioural demand response.
Demand response encourages consumers to briefly reduce their burden on the power grid during high demand periods, often using a simple prompt. This saves money for both the consumer and the power retailer, creating an incentive for both parties.
In a new trial, we collaborated with energy provider Powershop Australia to help reduce energy demand during these busy periods and make the most of Powershop Australia’s demand response system.
Changing who participated in a demand response by default
We wanted to increase the use of Powershop Australia’s fantastic demand response program, Curb Your Power (CYP), and one strategy we used was to change the default.
People who were Powershop customers, but were not in CYP, were defaulted into the program but given the option to opt out. In our trial
these households, who were enrolled in the demand response program by default, used 13.8% less power during peak demand events (Figure 1).
Consumers who were already enrolled in CYP were not receptive to behaviourally informed messages. It seems that people who plan to control their energy use are already motivated, and don’t need a nudge.
The large impact of the default message is likely driven by two factors:
Far more people received a message by default than by choice (99% vs 13% in the business as usual condition). Customers not already enrolled in CYP use more energy on average compared to CYP participants – this means they had more room to reduce their power usage during the event.
This trial highlights how effective a change in defaults can be, even when compared with other behavioural interventions. There are over 8 million households in Australia – defaulting every household into a demand response program could dramatically reduce our national energy consumption. This would remove the need for expensive power plants that sit idle for most of the year and help the environment.


Description
Beginning with a blockage of the flow of the aqueous humor, this degeneration can lead to glaucoma and cataracts, where the lens becomes clouded.
Reversing this degeneration in its different stages requires a comprehensive treatment of the metabolism. When used as a long-term therapy, ADEL 17 (GLAUTARAKT) drops help effectively treat glaucoma, disturbed circulation to the eye, inflammation of the iris and cornea, sclerotic vessels and weak vision.


Artisanal and small-scale mining (ASM) is a vital livelihood for over 40 million people in developing countries, particularly for those living in remote, rural areas, according to the recent 2019 State of the ASM Sector report. Although it is the most important rural non-farm activity in the developing world, the sector remains under-researched. Its potential to be part of broader development initiatives, such as the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), has not been realized.
The World Bank’s Extractives Global Programmatic Support (EGPS) alongside partner Pact, decided to shine a light on this vital sector by creating Delve, a global platform for artisanal and small-scale mining data, with the view that complete, accurate and reliable data is a necessary precondition for any intervention in ASM – whether to formalize the sector, improve the livelihoods of poor people, or empower women working as miners. As the sole database covering artisanal and small-scale mining across the world, Delve is necessary for policymakers and practitioners to take an informed approach to the sector.
In April 2019, the Delve team took a crucial first step, publishing a first of its kind report on artisanal and small-scale mining.
A first of its kind report
The new report explores the impact of the ‘global data gap’ on ASM and outlines how the gap can be narrowed to formalize this global sector. Drawing from online database Delve, the report identifies ways to improve data collection methodologies and presents a shortlist of ‘key data needs’ for the sector. The report features in-depth analysis of the data gaps and importance of ASM through regional and country case studies, including Ghana, Guyana, India, Mongolia, Morocco and Peru.
Regional findings include:
Sub-Saharan Africa is home to one of the largest numbers of artisanal and small-scale miners in the world, close to an estimated 10 million, with at least a further 60 million reliant on the sector. In Latin America and the Caribbean, more than 2 million people directly engage in ASM – up from an estimated 650,000 artisanal and small scale miners in 1999, but region-wide moves to collect complementary social and economic information about the sector have been disappointing. ASM is a key livelihood strategy for the poor in East Asia and Pacific, with robust data focused on small-scale gold mining ASM in South Asia remains in the shadows – though we know it is driven by poverty and heavily tied to subsistence agriculture. Data is urgently needed across South Asia given the region’s widespread poverty – particularly a better understanding of the role the sector plays in alleviating hardship and supporting rural families “Bridging the data gap is the first step in removing the veil of invisibility from the millions of men and women miners who are integral to our global economy,” said Karen Hayes, Vice President of Pact’s Mines to Markets initiative.


Q: If a 17-year vested federal law enforcement officer has his TS security clearance revoked and in turn is terminated, does he still get his retirement at 62? A: In most circumstances, yes. Termination from federal employment does not affect an employee’s annuity or retirement pay. However, a federal employee loses his or her annuity if he or she is convicted of certain crimes codified in 5 U.S.C. § 8312. These crimes are narrowly tailored, concerning acts of disloyalty to the United States. For example, 5 U.S.C. § 8312 lists the crimes of treason, sabotage, espionage, and insurrection. This…
Browsing: Michael J Sgarlat
Q: I would like to know if there is an allowed discrepancy of GS levels for the same position within the DOD. If not, what are potential methods of remedy that I should explore? A: A grade level represents a band or range of difficulty. The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (“OPM”) prepares classification standards and functional guides, which are used when classifying a grade of a position. If the work assigned to a position is covered by criteria in a standard for a specific occupational series, the work is evaluated by that standard. However, if there are no specific…
Q: If I resign, would I have no recourse with MSPB? A: Generally not. An employee-initiated action, like resignation, is presumed voluntary and outside of the Merit System Protection Board’s (MSPB) jurisdiction. Freeborn v. Dep’t of Justice, 119 M.S.P.R. 290, 294 (2013). However, if the federal employee presents sufficient evidence to establish that the action was obtained through duress, coercion, or shows a reasonable person would have been misled by the agency, the presumption of voluntariness is removed. Green v. Dep’t of Veterans Affairs, 112 M.S.P.R. 59, 63 (2009). The employee has the burden of proving the MSPB’s jurisdiction by…