Non-word reading is related to visual temporal attention What is it about?
The 'attentional blink' is an estimate of the time for a rapidly presented piece of item to reach conscious awareness in a context of interference. On average this takes about 500 milliseconds. A lot of research has suggested a relationship between the attentional blink and reading, especially in dyslexia. In our research we measured non-word reading (e.g., bormil) in a group of typically reading adults and found that it was related to the attentional blink, such that poorer readers took longer to recover from the attentional blink. Rather than being critical for the reading process, we suggest the relationship might be related to a common mechanism of attentional control.
Why is it important?
This paper supports a relationship between reading and the attentional blink in typically reading adults. It is particularly interesting because this relationship does not appear to hold in children or in groups of individuals with reading difficulties (or dyslexia). As part of our interpretation of the literature, we make a number of suggestions for followup research to better understand how the relationship between the attentional blink and reading changes with development.
Perspectives
The following have contributed to this page: Dr Nicholas A Badcock


Host shift events play an important role in epizootics as adaptation to new hosts can profoundly affect the spread of the disease and the measures needed to control it. During the late 1990s, an epizootic in Turkey resulted in a sustained maintenance of rabies virus (RABV) within the fox population. We used Bayesian inferences to investigate whole genome sequences from fox and dog brain tissues from Turkey to demonstrate that the epizootic occurred in 1997 (±1 year). Furthermore, these data indicated that the epizootic was most likely due to a host shift from locally infected domestic dogs, rather than an incursion of a novel fox or dog RABV. No evidence was observed for genetic adaptation to foxes at consensus sequence level and dN/dS analysis suggested purifying selection. Therefore, the deep sequence data were analysed to investigate the sub-viral population during a host shift event. Viral heterogeneity was measured in all RABV samples; viruses from the early period after the host shift exhibited greater sequence variation in comparison to those from the later stage, and to those not involved in the host shift event, possibly indicating a role in establishing transmission within a new host. The transient increase in variation observed in the new host species may represent virus replication within a new environment, perhaps due to increased replication within the CNS, resulting in a larger population of viruses, or due to the lack of host constraints present in the new host reservoir.
Keywords: cross-species transmission; lyssavirus; next generation sequencing; rabies virus; viral heterogeneity; whole genome sequencing.


The study accesses the availability of lecture halls on academic activities of Osun State Polytechnic Iree students. Survey research method was used and questionnaire was administered to 100 respondents which were picked across the faculties using accidental sampling method. The data collected were analysed using frequency and percentage method. Findings show that OSPOLY is boasted of several lecture halls, although, not at the most conducive status due to poor ventilation, inadequate fans, poor address system, overcrowding and lots more. It is noted that good learning environment enhances learning, promote love for academic, reduce boredom and enhance concentration while poor learning environment create the opposite. Therefore, to a large extent; learning environment do have significant impact on students performance. It is recommended that management of Osun State Polytechnic Iree should make teaching and learning more conducive by providing the needed facilities such as light, good seats and tables, loudspeaker, projector and so on while more lecture halls should be built.
Extraction is an abstract


This Note defines impact evaluations, explains when they should be commissioned according to USAID policy and describes different designs for quasi-experimental and experimental impact evaluations. USAID is updating the 2013 Technical Note on Impact Evaluations. Stay tuned for the updated content in 2020.
This resource provides guidance and a template for developing a Performance Management Plan (PMP) task schedule.
CLA and Developmental Evaluations
Qualitative Methods and Approaches
Comparing Sampling Strategies
Stacey Young, from USAID's Office of Learning, Evaluation and Research, provides detailed information about collaborating, learning and adapting within the Program Cycle.
This webinar featured PPL, regional, and technical bureau representatives who have participated and led evaluation statement of work (SOW) peer reviews. They discussed good practices in conducting peer reviews and how to get the most out of the process, resulting in a strong SOW with buy-in from key stakeholders.
This guidance provides information on conducting an After Action Review (AAR), including goals, assumptions/requirements, how tos, lessons learned/best practice, and resources.
The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) are a symbol of our common humanity.
Written for non-profits, implementing partners can use this to support their monitoring, while USAID can use it for learning about their programs through monitoring CDCS/ CLA.


This article introduces three small, European stateless nations that – invigorated by pervasive metropolitanisation phenomena – are increasingly shaping calls for devolution: Catalonia, the Basque Country and Scotland. These three nations are re-scaling their respective nation-states (Spain and the UK) in different ways: (i) being bolstered by their metropolitan hubs (Barcelona, Bilbao, and Glasgow) and (ii) generating a stateless ‘civic nationalism’ rooted in the metropolitan ‘right to decide’. Oppositional response to this ‘civic nationalism’ has re-emerged as state-centric ‘ethnic nationalism’. This article concludes that gaining or lacking metropolitan support for the ‘right to decide’ will establish the future directions of devolution debates.
Calzada, I. (2018), Metropolitanising Small European Stateless City-Regionalised Nations.
Space and Polity (3): 342-361 22 First Published 14 Dec 2018


The Environment Agency has reported potential algal bloom in the River Stort between Lower Sheering and Roydon Park.
A natural phenomenon
Algae blooms are a natural phenomenon. Under certain weather conditions it can bloom in large volumes, cutting off the oxygen supply in rivers and lakes.
If the outbreak is serious, it can lead to the death of fish and other organisms. Algal blooms can also be toxic to wild animals, people and pets.
Environment Agency Officers will continue to monitor the situation and deploy additional resources if necessary. Members of the public are advised to stay away from any water courses showing signs of a bloom – typically cloudy or less clear green water and dead fish.
It can also look blue-green or greenish-brown. Scums can form during calm weather when several bloom forming species rise to the surface. This can look like paint, mousse or small clumps.
Environment Agency guidance
Anyone seeing signs of the algae on the River Stort should report occurrences to the
Environment Agency Incident Communications Service: Call 0800 80 70 60 quoting reference 01801279 Keep up to date
Keep in touch with our latest news, service updates and reports.


March.24.2010
On March 22, 2010, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit issued a decision in the bankruptcy case for Philadelphia Newspapers, LLC and its affiliates (collectively, the “Debtors”). The Third Circuit affirmed the district court’s opinion approving proposed bidding procedures for an auction sale under the Debtors’ plan of reorganization which prohibited secured lenders from “credit bidding” their debt in lieu of cash. This decision has significant implications for issuers of secured credit.
The Debtors filed voluntary petitions for chapter 11 relief in 2009. On August 20, 2009, the Debtors filed a joint plan of reorganization. The plan provided for the sale of substantially all of the Debtors’ assets at a public auction. The assets were to be sold free of secured lenders’ liens and the proceeds of the sale were to be distributed to the Debtors’ secured lenders on account of their secured claims.
On August 28, 2009, the Debtors filed a motion for approval of the bidding procedures for the proposed auction. The bidding procedures required all qualified bidders to fund their offers with cash. The practical effect of this restriction was to deny secured lenders the opportunity to “credit bid” their debt and offset the amount they are owed against the purchase price of the assets. The Debtors’ secured lenders objected.
The dispute between the Debtors and their secured lenders centered on section 1129(b) of the Bankruptcy Code. Section 1129(b)(1) provides that a bankruptcy court can confirm a plan of reorganization over the objections of secured creditors who vote to reject the plan, but only if the plan is “fair and equitable” to the creditors. Under section 1129(b)(2), a plan must satisfy certain minimum requirements to be considered “fair and equitable.” One way to meet those requirements is to organize a sale of the secured creditors’ collateral free of liens and grant the secured creditors an opportunity to credit bid (the “First Option”). A second, alternative way to fulfill the requirements is to provide the secured creditors with the “indubitable equivalent” of their secured claims (the “Second Option”).
The secured lenders argued that because the Debtors’ plan provided for a sale of their collateral free of liens—ostensibly pursuing the First Option—the plan could not be considered “fair and equitable” unless the secured lenders received an opportunity to credit bid at the auction. The Third Circuit disagreed. Focusing on the “plain meaning” of section 1129(b)(2), the Third Circuit held that the Debtors’ plan could still qualify as “fair and equitable” under the Second Option if the proposed auction generated the “indubitable equivalent” of the secured lenders’ claims. Given that the auction had not yet taken place, the Third Circuit concluded that it was not in a position to say, as a matter of law, that the Debtors’ plan would not be “fair and equitable.”
For secured creditors, the right to credit bid at a sale of their collateral constitutes an important protection against the risk that the collateral will be undervalued. Although arguably narrow in scope, the Third Circuit’s decision calls this protection into question. Indeed, in a related decision in the bankruptcy case for Pacific Lumber Company and its affiliates, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently held that a plan which provided for the sale of the debtors’ assets without allowing secured creditors to credit bid ultimately was “fair and equitable.”


Building Capacity of Staff
All Ulster BOCES Student Based Programs leadership teams, in collaboration with their site based wellness team and providers such as Ramapo for Children and Instructional Services, will design on-going professional development for all staff; addressing safety and wellness during the ongoing COVID-19 public health emergency.
Such school based professional development and intervention strategies shall build individual capacity in the context of the school community, develop empathy and resilience and understanding of restorative practices for students, faculty, and staff. This planning will include appropriate child-centered and developmentally appropriate responses to non-compliance of safety practices. Professional development will be offered on, but not limited to:
COVID-19 Support Social Justice - The need for professional development and discussion regarding:
a unified message, through the use of positive messaging and signage, across all school based programs, training and support for staff in educating students to be up-standers and allies in promoting equity and inclusion, explicit and implicit bias in our programs, and learning how to support students who have experienced or witnessed race, gender, or LGTBQ based discrimination in or out of schools should be outlined. Social & Emotional Learning - Focusing on 5 competencies:
Self-awareness Self-management Social awareness Relationship skills Responsible decision-making Transformative SEL elaborates on Social Emotional Learning focusing on
being culturally and linguistically responsive and equitably meeting the needs of students and adults, including the implications of culture, identity, agency, belonging, and engagement. Restorative Practices Build on existing strengths. Address behavior from a whole-child perspective, developing the above SEL competencies, guided by sensitivity toward Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) and trauma-informed practices. Implement processes and approaches designed to build and repair meaningful relationships. Wellness Supports for all staff - Additional supports for staff wellness shall include:
access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) through the BOCES agency ongoing wellness supports provided by Instructional Services. Specific Trauma-informed supports, both proactive and responsive, needed for all staff, being mindful to include itinerant service providers, and IS staff. Specifically train staff who will interfacing with students at arrival and visitors throughout the school day. Sensitivity needs to be developed in care for fragile students and visitors.


Availability: In stock (2)
Neptune Krill Oil (NKO) is known for its unique fatty acid (FA) profile, as well as for its rich antioxidant content. NKO's balanced fatty acid content includes not only EPA and DHA, the crucial Omega-3 FA's, but Omega-9 FA's and phospholipids, as well. NKO is a rich source of Astaxanthin, a powerful immune-supporting antioxidant. Clinical studies have shown that NKO can support joint comfort, healthy blood lipid levels, and may reduce symptoms of pre-menstrual syndrome.
Neptune Krill Oil is manufactured under strict quality control standards. It is tested to be free of potentially harmful levels of contaminants (i.e. mercury, heavy metals, PCB's, dioxins, and other contaminants).
Features:


Abstract
Cadherin is a cell-surface transmembrane receptor that mediates calcium-dependent cell-cell adhesion and is a major component of adhesive junctions. The formation of intercellular adhesive junctions is initiated by trans binding between cadherins on adjacent cells, which is followed by the clustering of cadherins via the formation of cis interactions between cadherins on the same cell membranes. Moreover, classical cadherins have multiple glycosylation sites along their extracellular regions. It was found that aberrant glycosylation affects the adhesive function of cadherins and correlates with metastatic phenotypes of several cancers. However, a mechanistic understanding of cadherin clustering during cell adhesion and the role of glycosylation in this process is still lacking. Here, we designed a kinetic model that includes multistep reaction pathways for cadherin clustering. We further applied a diffusion-reaction algorithm to numerically simulate the clustering process using a recently developed coarse-grained model. Using experimentally measured rates of trans binding between soluble E-cadherin extracellular domains, we conducted simulations of cadherin-mediated cell-cell binding kinetics, and the results are quantitatively comparable to experimental data from micropipette experiments. In addition, we show that incorporating cadherin clustering via cis interactions further increases intercellular binding. Interestingly, a two-phase kinetic profile was derived under the assumption that glycosylation regulates the kinetic rates of cis interactions. This two-phase profile is qualitatively consistent with experimental results from micropipette measurements. Therefore, our computational studies provide new, to our knowledge, insights into the molecular mechanism of cadherin-based cell adhesion.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Biophysics


“Collective Leadership effectiveness drives business performance.” William A. Adams
Growing Organisations works with you to identify business challenges and design leadership development programmes to build effective leadership networks and high performing teams in your company.
Today’s leaders must adapt to stay relevant in a constantly changing environment. As business cycles, contexts, people, resources, technology, and competition change, leaders cannot stick to a limited repertoire of learned skills and apply them indiscriminately expecting good results each time.
To be truly effective leaders we must always keep our purpose in mind, deeply understand our essence, and continuously learn our forms. We become versatile, grounded, and resilient.


Catalog Video Catalog Practice-based arts research in repositories: how do we better engage with researchers to capture, manage and enable discoverability of this research?
Repositories have historically focused on supporting traditional text-based outputs in STEM areas, capturing and making individual research publications openly available, and more recently the underpinning datasets. Funder policies focus on these outputs, resulting in greater awareness and usage of repositories amongst STEM researchers.
Practice-based arts research tends to be in non-text formats, and is often part of a wider, changing portfolio of work (including the original artefact and related documentation), elements of which may be captured in a publications repository, with associated documentation held in a data repository. This has often led to fractured discussions: those on open access take place in different forums to those on research data; and different teams may support these areas, including libraries, archives and research offices.
Much work has been done to customise repositories to more effectively capture this research. However, barriers to effectively engage with this community remain. Specific functionality requirements and issues include: records that enable open metadata and closed files; portfolios representing a changing body of work need updating over time; issues with file sizes and types, image quality and video streaming; restrictions imposed by repository software architecture, and interoperability with CRIS systems; and concerns with intellectual property rights and copyright.
DeepGreen – Pushing on the Green Road of Open Access12.06.2019


Podcast: Balancing Exploration and Use of Space Beyond Earth Orbit
Our “Beer with BMSIS” podcast for February features a conversation with Dr. Margaret Race of the SETI Institute about some of the challenges facing astrobiology and space exploration titled “More Bumps in the Road Ahead for Astrobiology?: Balancing Exploration and Use of Space Beyond Earth Orbit“.
Commercial space exploration has come along way since the days NASA’s moon landing, and commercial interests in the moon, Mars, asteroids, and other space resources must now be taken as seriously as national space exploration programs. Existing laws and treaties are limited in scope and provide unclear guidelines for how best to proceed with the exploration and utilization of space resources. Dr. Race discusses various considerations and options for future exploration, drawing from insights from history that include the Antarctic Treaty and the Law of the Sea, to discuss how existing treaties might be modified as the space age continues.


In 2019, tax burden increased 4.0% in nominal terms, attaining 74 billion euros, corresponding to 34.8% of GDP (the same ratio in the previous year). Excluding taxes received by the European Union Institutions, Portugal continued to register in 2019 a lower tax burden than the EU average (34.7% compared to 39.4% in the EU28).
Social contributions were the category that contributed the most to the tax burden increase, with an annual change of 7.7%. Indirect taxes revenue increased 3.8%, while direct taxes revenue increased only 0.9%. Regarding direct taxes revenue, there was an increase of 2.0% in individual income tax (IRS) while revenue from corporate income tax (IRC) fell by 2.9%. Value added tax (VAT) revenue increased by 5.4%. Regarding the remaining indirect taxes, it should be highlighted the increase observed in revenue from the stamp tax (7.6%). More moderate growths were registered in revenue from real estate transfer tax collected by Local Government (3.0%), from tax on oil and energetic products (2.6%) and from real estate tax collected by Local Government (1.1%). Revenues from excise duties on tobacco and from tax on motor vehicle sales fell 6.0% and 5.3% respectively. In 2017, the most recent year with detailed information for its compilation, the VAT gap was estimated at 481 million euro, corresponding to 2.8% of the VAT revenue of the year, diminishing 3.0 percentage points comparing with the amount estimated for the previous year (972 million euro).


Homeowners’ insurance often includes coverage for wind damage. Coverage will include damage to a home’s structure, such as the roof or windows, along with personal property damaged by wind. Some policies also will include windstorm damage caused by a hurricane or tornado. A deductible and coverage limit likely will apply and vary by policy.


One of the finest examples of powerful religious oration is Mother Teresa’s 1994 sermon at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, D.C. Through this sermon, the Nobel Peace Prize winner offered strong opinions and inspired the audience with her words of faith. You can watch the video, available on YouTube, if you need inspiration and have half an hour to spare. But if you don’t, how else might you get the essence of her sermon quickly and easily?
You could read transcripts. Sermon transcripts allow an audience to scan sermons for key points and compelling phrases. They make sermons easily accessible and enable those who are deaf or hard of hearing to enjoy the message, too.
Transcripts deliver these benefits and more. But should you be the one to transcribe the sermons you deliver? If you’re interested in efficiency or in having more time to write your sermons, probably not. Instead, rely on a transcription service to transcribe your audio to text.
Preparing a sermon takes long enough. You have to determine its purpose. You have to compile notes and relevant scriptures, craft an introduction and conclusion, integrate examples and quotations, and inspire unity with your words. After writing your sermon, you have to practice and refine your delivery. These are the tasks you should focus on. A professional transcriptionist can handle preparing sermon transcripts for you.
A reliable transcription service will save you vast amounts of time. People often underestimate (sometimes severely) the time it takes to prepare a detailed sermon transcript. A sermon you deliver in forty minutes could take a transcriptionist up to four hours to convert to text, including transcribing, formatting, and proofreading. Your time is better spent making your sermon more powerful.
A service that specializes in sermon transcripts will produce an accurate text that audiences can enjoy at their own pace whenever they want. They can save the transcript for later reference or share it with family members and friends, putting your words in front of more people.
Don’t try to take on too much. Invest wisely in services such as sermon transcription that can save you time and allow you to focus on what’s most important—writing and delivering your sermon.


With the price of resources and energy becoming increasingly volatile, can today’s linear economy work in the long term?
What if we didn’t buy the goods we use, but instead favoured access and performance over ownership? This short animation from the Ellen MacArthur Foundation introduced the idea, and suggests how it could work for businesses, users, and the wider economy.


When 5 million barrels of oil spill into the ocean, something bad was obviously going to happen. However, no one really knew how deep the oil would penetrate and how much damage it could cause.
The scientists do need further tests to prove that these dead coral reefs are directly related to the BP Oil Spill but given the evidence—proximity to the BP Oil Spill (7 miles southwest), the previous presence of oil plumes and the matter of which the coral reefs died—the scientists believe there's a pretty strong link. According to Charles Fisher, chief scientist on the gulf expedition:
Oil seeps naturally from the seafloor throughout the Gulf of Mexico, but that was unlikely to have caused such a severe coral die-off, he added. "We have never seen anything like this at any of the deep coral sites that we've been to," Dr. Fisher said. "And we've been to quite a lot of them."
Looks like the after-aftereffects of the Oil Spill are trickling in. [NY Times]


Abstract
Purpose/Objective: To investigate the feasibility of brain- computer interface (BCI) with patients on an inpatient spinal cord injury (SCI) unit. Research Method/Design: This study included 25 participants aged 18-64 who sustained traumatic or nontraumatic SCI and did not have severe cognitive or psychiatric impairment. Participants completed a variety of screening measures related to cognition, psychological disposition, pain, and technology experience/interest. The Emotiv electroencephalography system was used in conjunction with a cube rotation and manipulation game presented on a laptop computer. Results: The majority of participants successfully completed the BCI game and reported enjoyment of the experience. Outside of a mild trend of lower performance among participants with a past or present head injury, there were no demographic variables, injury variables or screening measures significantly associated with BCI performance. Conclusions/Implications: The BCI paradigm demonstrated feasibility and safety across participant age range, educational and vocational background, and level of injury. Despite the rapid integration of technology into rehabilitation health care settings, there are few evidence-based studies regarding the feasibility of technology with specific inpatient populations. Clinical implications and challenges of using this technology in a rehabilitation setting are discussed.
Keywords Disability Inpatient rehabilitation Technology Virtual reality


NAC
Sold Out
Essential for making the powerful antioxidant Glutathione Potent Detoxification nutrient Relief of Respiratory symptoms (phlegm, cough, sinus congestion) Boosts Brain Health by Regulating Glutamate and Replenishing Glutathione Improves fertilityin both Men and Women Decreases risk for Oxidative damage Leaky Gut Support SIBO Support: Gut permeability MTHFR Gene Support (Methyl Tetra Hydro Folate Reductase) N-Acetyl-Cysteine (NAC) is a source of the conditionally essential amino acid L-cysteine and a precursor to the tripeptide glutathione.
NAC and glutathione support antioxidant and detoxification activity in the body.
NAC is recognized for its support of normal mucous production and may positively support respiratory function and eye health, especially when consumed over a prolonged period.
Research suggests that NAC may protect cell and tissue health by supporting normal heavy-metal status in the body.
******
Recommended Dosage: Take one to two capsules twice daily between meals, or as directed by your healthcare practitioner. Quantity: 120 capsules Ingredients: Does Not Contain: Wheat, gluten, corn, yeast, soy, animal or dairy products, fish, shellfish, peanuts, tree nuts, egg, artificial colors, artificial sweeteners, or preservatives. Caution:Children and pregnant or lactating women should consult their healthcare practitioner prior to use. Do not use if tamper seal is damaged. Storage: Keep closed in a cool, dry place out of reach of children.


Northeastern University President Joseph E. Aoun is leading a coalition of higher education leaders throughout the country to urge the Obama administration to preserve the Perkins student loan program, which benefits more than 500,000 low-income college students each year.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, President Aoun and 32 presidents and chancellors from other institutions, along with the American Association of University Professors, call for a commitment to continuing and strengthening the program, which faces an uncertain future. According to a recent statement by the Department of Education, the Perkins loans would continue only through 2014.
The group emphasized the importance of maintaining the program in the long term, and expressed a willingness to collaborate with the department to ensure that the neediest of students reach their dreams of attending college.
“While we greatly appreciate the department’s recent announcement that the Perkins Loan program will now be authorized through 2014, we remain concerned about the long-term viability of the program,” the letter reads. “Ending this program would be directly at odds with President Obama’s ambitious goal for the U.S. to have the highest proportion of college graduates in the world by 2020. To achieve this goal, it is essential that students have maximum access to low-cost college financing options, including Perkins loans. We are deeply concerned that if the program is eliminated in 2014, fewer students will attend college, more will drop out, and the level of high-interest debt will increase for many more students.”
The letter lauds the success of the Perkins program, which provides more than $1 billion a year in need-based aid to students enrolled in nearly 1,800 participating colleges and universities. It also notes the higher education community’s strong commitment to the Perkins program, even in the absence of new federal capital contributions since 2004.
In their letter, President Aoun and the group acknowledged the efforts of Congress and the Obama administration last year to reinvigorate the program as part of a larger student loan reform bill. But it was ultimately dropped from the legislation.
“[We] look forward to working with you to preserve the benefits of the Perkins loan program and help America emerge, once again, as the nation with the highest proportion of college graduates in the world,” the letter reads.
This campaign continues President Aoun’s leadership in addressing critical higher education issues on the national stage. Last April, he led a group of college presidents in urging caution amid the U.S. Department of Labor’s plan to regulate unpaid internships. In his letter to U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis — signed by 13 college presidents — he argued for protecting the value of experiential learning. As the president of Northeastern — a world leader in experiential learning and co-op — he lauded the demand for this powerful way of learning as a growing number of colleges and universities are expanding and integrating internships into their curriculum.
Click here to read The Boston Globe’s coverageof President Aoun’s efforts to protect low-interest loans


The Bigger Picture
Personal finance, retirement, and other resources
NHRS provides a lifetime benefit to eligible members, however, the pension is only one component of a secure retirement. While the retirement system cannot provide individual financial planning advice, we encourage all of our members to take a proactive role in understanding their personal financial needs and preparing for their retirement.
This page lists resources on retirement planning and overall financial literacy from governmental, non-profit, media, and public service entities. While the emphasis is on preparing for retirement, many of these links are relevant regardless of age.
Click on the subject headings to view specific content.
Financial literacy | Social Security
Supplemental retirement savings | Financial & investment advice Health insurance/Medicare | Protecting against scams | Retiree resources
Disclaimer: This page is intended as an informational tool only. Links to third-party sites are provided as a service for our members and retirees. The links provided are not maintained by NHRS or affiliated with any services provided by the retirement system. We make no endorsement, express or implied, of the content or activities of any linked sites. Questions should be directed to the administrator(s) of each specific site.


Covering Stucco With Vinyl
I have a 30-year-old house with stucco exterior walls. I want to cover the walls with vinyl siding, but I have no idea what is between the stucco exterior walls and the interior drywalls. Is it necessary to insulate before installing the vinyl siding?
This is a great opportunity to insulate your house effectively. Insulating walls can be a laborious and expensive project, but if you need to change the siding anyway, insulation is an easy add-on. If you do not know what is in between the walls, simply drill a hole and find out. In the end the hole will not matter because you will be covering it with the siding. If the house is about 30 years old, when you punch a hole through the wall you will likely find the space between the walls filled with fiberglass. If it is not, then this is the first thing that you should do. After you have sealed the hole, apply 2.5 cm (1 in.) thick sheets of rigid foam insulation over the stucco exterior walls. Over that install the vinyl siding. You will then have a double layer of insulation that can definitely end up reducing your heating costs.


Radiographs and CBCT are valuable diagnostic tools to help you determine the presence of a root fracture. Unfortunately, unless the fracture is wider than about .15 mm (the tip of a #15 endodontic file), it cannot be visualized on the CBCT scan. However, there are some strong associations between radiographic findings and the presence of a root fracture. Specifically, when the bone loss presents in “J” shaped pattern, it is highly suggestive that a root fracture is present. Often, this can be seen on a two-dimensional periapical radiograph with the bony lesion typically extending from the apex to the crestal bone, sometimes resulting in a deep and narrow isolated periodontal pocket. Sometimes this pocket cannot be probed because it occurs in the interproximal area.


As the common saying goes, if individuals enjoy their job, they never work a day in their life. While it is good for Marylanders to find careers they enjoy, employees should ensure that they do not get carried away and engage in risky horseplay.
Many workplace policies directly state that they do not allow horseplay in the workplace. But violating company policy is not the only risk involved in horseplay. Pranks or roughhousing on the job can significantly increase the chance of suffering an injury at work. And injuries resulting from these actions are not covered under workers’ compensation.
An injury at work does not make it work-related
Many people might think that any work-related injury could entitle them to collect workers’ compensation. However, injuries are only work-related if they arise out of the course of employment. This essentially means that injuries are only covered if it happened while:
The individual was at work The individual was performing their work duties
Horseplay might happen at work. But it rarely happens while employees are actually working.
What is considered horseplay?
Horseplay usually involves unsafe and reckless playing or pranks. This rough play often means physical contact and exertion that increases the risk of injuries.
And employers, insurers and the Workers’ Compensation Commission consider a few factors to separate other work injuries from horseplay injuries. These variables include:
Determining what the company policy states Proving the employee knew the policy, but still engaged in horseplay Providing proof that the employee understood the risk of injury Verifying that this individual’s injury resulted from their disregard of the rule What if you did not participate in horseplay?
If workers suffer injuries while engaging in reckless horseplay at work, they often are not entitled to compensation. But what about other employees who were not involved?
Unfortunately, the recklessness of others often puts bystanders at risk of an injury as well. But injured individuals who did not engage in horseplay might be able to apply for workers’ compensation. Maryland workers’ compensation law includes “willful or negligent acts” by others in the definition of covered work injuries (Maryland Code, Labor & Employment §9-101).
The law may cover these injured employees. However, work injuries resulting from another’s horseplay can be difficult to prove. It is beneficial for employees in these situations to retain an experienced workers’ compensation attorney to recover their benefits.


It is an information stealer that uses a stealthy trick to evade detection from security software and steal personal data of victims including their usernames, passwords, bank details, and contents of cryptocurrency wallets – using a keyblogger that would monitor browser and desktop activities.
Recently, the U.S. government's cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) observed a significant increase in malicious infections via LokiBot malware starting from July 2020. During this period, CISA's EINSTEIN Detection System, responsible for protecting federal, civilian executive branch networks, noticed continuous malicious activity by LokiBot. Credited for being simple yet effective, the malware is often sent out as an infected attachment via email, malicious websites, texts, or personal messages to target Windows and Android operating systems.
Although LokiBot has been in cyberspace for a while now, attackers still often use it to illicitly access sensitive information. In a recent attack that was carried out in July, 14 different campaigns distributing payloads of LokiBot were launched by a group of threat actors popularly known as 'RATicate'. In another malspam campaign, attackers were found to be distributing payload of LokiBot in a spear-phishing attack on a U.S based manufacturing organization.
“LokiBot has stolen credentials from multiple applications and data sources, including Windows operating system credentials, email clients, File Transfer Protocol, and Secure File Transfer Protocol clients,” as per the alert issued on Tuesday.
Giving insights on the matter, Saryu Nayyar, CEO at Gurucul told via email, "The fact that LokiBot has been around for over four years and has gained in capability over time is a reflection of how much malicious actors have advanced the state of their art, leveraging the same development models we use in the commercial space."


In Virginia, any violation of controlled substance laws is prosecuted aggressively. Being charged with distributing drugs to a minor is a serious felony offense, and the punishment can include a lengthy prison sentence and a large fine. If you have been arrested for this crime, you need to retain an experienced criminal defense attorney as soon as possible to help you get the charges dismissed or reduced to a less serious offense.
What Is the Penalty for Distributing Drugs to a Minor?
Under Virginia Code § 18.2-555, it is a felony crime to distribute controlled substances to a minor. Here are ways that an individual who is 18 years old or older can violate this law:
By intentionally or knowingly distributing any drug classified as a Schedule I-IV drug or marijuana to a person under 18 years old who is at least three years younger than him. By intentionally or knowingly causing a person under 18 years old to assist in the distribution of a Schedule I-IV controlled substance.
If convicted, an individual faces harsh penalties that include a mandatory minimum prison sentence. Here are the potential sentences for violations of Virginia Code § 18.2-555:
The sentence for distributing drugs to a minor or causing a minor to assist in distributing them is a prison sentence of not less than 10 years and not more than 50 years and a fine not to exceed $100,000. If the conviction is for a Schedule I or II controlled substance or one or more ounces of marijuana, there is a mandatory minimum sentence of five years in prison. Examples of Schedule I and II drugs include heroin, PCP, ecstasy, cocaine, and opium. If the conviction involves less than one ounce of marijuana, there is a two-year mandatory minimum sentence.
It is also a crime to distribute to or cause a minor to assist in distributing an imitation controlled substance. This is a Class 6 felony with a sentence range of one to five years in prison and a $2,500 fine.
Are you being charged with a drug offense in Fairfax or Northern Virginia? Call our office to schedule a free consultation with our experienced criminal defense attorneys to learn about your options and how we can help you put on a strong defense to the charges you face.


Seeks to assess the relationship between resources allocated to frontline police working in stations throughout metropolitan and regional SA, their ability to do their job (i.e. workload) and their well-being (morale, job satisfaction, level of distress). The study also sought to gain insights into the psychological risks to worker wellbeing associated with current resourcing, organisational and operational demands within SA Police - this understanding was seen as crucial to ensuring adequate resourcing for officers. Further, it was viewed as a crucial underpinning to the development of policies which enhance the occupational health and safety of the frontline police officers who bear the burden of protecting the South Australian community from crime and criminal behaviour.
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Abstract
This study extends literature on e-commerce trust and repurchase intentions by exploring the role of swift guanxi and the perceived effectiveness of institutional mechanisms (PEEIM) in the context of a Chinese e-marketplace − Taobao. We explore how Taobao’s social media technologies (online reviews and instant messenger) can improve swift guanxi and PEEIM by increasing online interactivity and presence. We find that buyers' PEEIM negatively moderates trust in online sellers and repurchase intentions. We show that swift guanxi, created by social media's interactivity and presence, enhances trust, which further increases repurchase intentions. Theoretical and managerial implications and future research directions are discussed.
Keywords online marketplace trust institutional mechanisms swift guanxi interactivity social presence


An investigational topical treatment for peanut allergy in children has shown promising long-term efficacy.
In the study, the initial protocol escalated the oral challenge of peanut protein until hypersensitivity symptoms were elicited. After 3 years of treatment, 75.9% of children aged 4 to 11 had increased the “eliciting dose” (ED) of peanut protein.
The primary efficacy outcome was the difference in responder rate with active treatment versus placebo, with a caveat that the lower boundary to the 95% confidence interval had to be no lower than ≥15 percentage points. Responders were those who maximally tolerated peanut protein at a dose of 300 mg at 12 months if baseline tolerance was ≤10 mg, or 1,000 mg if baseline tolerance was >10-300 mg.
Although there was a significant difference in responder rate, the risk difference missed the prespecified statistical component.
All participants who reached an eliciting dose ≥1000mg at month 36 were eligible to continue the study for an additional two months without treatment while maintaining a peanut-free diet. A double-blind, placebo-controlled food challenge to determine the 'eliciting dose' (ED) was then given at month 38. The analysis revealed that 77.8 per cent maintained desensitisation with an ED ≥1,000mg.


Over the past year our factory in Malawi, which we operate with our partners Exagris Africa, has produced 3 million sachets of Ready to Use Therapeutic Food (RUTF), sufficient to treat around 25,000 children with
Severe Acute Malnutrition (SAM).
Despite these figures it has been a difficult year due to a poor groundnut harvest. Peanut paste is a key raw material for RUTF and the quality need to be extremely high. We have struggled to maintain a consistent supply of paste and in response to this we have made several changes with our suppliers. While it will take some time to see the benefits materialise, we remain optimistic on the longer term outlook. Demand for RUTF remains high and if we can produce, the volume opportunities are there.
With the help of a grant from USAID’s South African Trade Hub (SATH), we plan to start pilot production of a Ready-to-use Complementary food (RUCF) in Malawi very soon.
What is RUCF? RUCFs are designed to prevent chronic malnutrition which affects 43% of all children in Malawi and on average over 40% of all children in sub Saharan Africa. We intend to undertake a test market project using RUCF in Malawi, which will focus on addressing the process used to reach children affected by Chronic Malnutrition using a customer and market driven approach. This is the first step in a very ambitious programme we have lined up for 2015 to start the process of unlocking this potentially massive market.


Imaging cirrhotic patients for early detection of hepatocellular carcinoma remains a challenging issue despite many technological advances. In fact, nonmalignant hepatocellular lesions, such as regenerative or dysplastic nodules, may mimic a small tumor. Imaging protocols are aimed at showing the different vascular supply to the lesion. It is accepted that dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging techniques, including contrast ultrasound, multidetector computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging, can establish the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma in nodular lesions larger than 1 cm showing arterial hypervascularization with venous washout. Magnetic resonance imaging in combination with liver-specific contrast agents, including hepatocyte-targeted and reticuloendothelial system-targeted agents, may be useful to clarify questionable cases, due to its ability to show changes in hepatobiliary function or Kuppfer cell content associated with malignancy. However, even optimized imaging techniques remain relatively insensitive for the detection of tiny satellite nodules associated with the main tumor
Autori interni: Autori: Lencioni R; Crocetti L; Della Pina MC; Cioni D Titolo: Guidelines for imaging focal lesions in liver cirrhosis Anno del prodotto: 2008 Appare nelle tipologie: 1.1 Articolo in rivista


Even though most people agree that testing software UI is important, many believe that automated tests are slow and unstable. Consequently, many technology companies prefer manual testing. I'll convince you otherwise in this post: even though automating UI tests and ensuring that they are fast and reliable is tough to accomplish, it’s definitely doable.
I once asked a friend why his company didn't automate UI testing. He replied, “Because the tests break easily. For example, if an engineer changes something in the DOM, it causes errors in the tests.”
However, that issue is solvable. For example, a popular question among automation engineers is which selectors are the best. The common answer is
id or
class, rather than
XPath, which could fail. Let me bust this myth and explain how to render automation frameworks reliable.
Choosing
id for selectors has a caveat: the value must be unique for the document, which means that it doesn’t work in the case of multiple identical UI components, such as the
<input> element. As a resolution, our automation group at Cloudinary opted to identify locators with an attribute called
data-test by leveraging standard data-* attributes. Instead of just picking the least risky attribute that exists, we added
data-test to the application code. Not only do searches for the web element then become stable, developers are also free to change IDs and class names.
Additionally, as a rule, front-end developers add logic or styling with IDs or classes. Leveraging a unique attribute creates a convention that distinctly separates development and QA, leading to transparency and clarity.
Here’s another example:
Class names don’t work here because the styling libraries, which handle scoping, automatically generate the classes. Hence, classes are not a reliable source, and the component is not unique in the DOM.
However, adding the automation attribute
data-test to the component leaves the UI intact, enabling QA engineers to build a stable and consistent selector.
Some of you wondered about the performance of having data attributes act as selectors. Assuringly, the lookup time between class and data attributes is usually the same.
To recap, if planned and executed correctly, E2E UI tests can be sound, efficient, and flexible. Front-end developers will be at liberty to tweak the DOM with no need for the QA automation team to make corresponding adjustments, saving time for everyone. Bottom line: this process makes it easier to look for the right selector.
Part 2 of this series will bust another myth: “Automating E2E is time-consuming.” Stay tuned.


Imagine your life without hot water. Tough, right? But it's easy to overlook the machinery heating that water until you discover that it's no longer working. If you're in search of a brand-new water heater for your home or business, choose the veteran heating specialists at Custom Aire Inc in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
Serving clients throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania, including Philadelphia, Newtown, Doylestown, Blue Bell and several other surrounding communities, Custom Aire sells a wide range of water heaters from some of the most notable brands in the industry. Our extensive selection includes various water heater styles, and thanks to the rapid evolution of heating tech over the past several years, you'll discover an array of products that deliver energy-efficient performance. Reach out to our heating specialists, and we'll help you choose a water heater that perfectly suits your unique needs.
Here's a brief rundown of the various types of water heaters available to Pennsylvania residents through Custom Aire: Storage tank water heaters:This common option employs an insulated storage tank, where hot water is stored until it's needed. Certain models are powered by electricity, while others require fuel, such as propane or natural gas. Tankless water heaters:Often selected as an energy-efficient alternative to storage tank systems, tankless water heaters provide heat on demand by passing water through their heated inner coils. Hybrid water heaters:Hybrid water heaters, also known as heat pump water heaters (HPWHs), feature both an electric storage tank and a heat pump. Many of them are designed with integrated efficiency options, marking them as a popular choice among home and business owners seeking to minimize energy usage.
From tankless water heater installation to 24/7 emergency repairs and beyond, Custom Aire offers a wide range of professional heating services to residents of the Bensalem, PA area. To learn more about our available water heaters, contact us online or by phone at 215-638-1800.


Article content
Let’s face it; our brains have it in for us. We produce up to 50,000 thoughts a day and 70% to 80% of those are negative. This translates into 40,000 negative thoughts a day that need managing and filtering — no small task for any person or entrepreneur. Based on these numbers, I have had at least 14.5 million negative thoughts since I launched Countlan but thankfully, I have a few coping mechanisms to prevent me from giving up or breaking down.
In addition to building a valuable product, an inventive marketing strategy, a strategic pricing plan and a sound distribution network, there is a psychological component to launching a startup. Even the most confident individuals fall prey to negative, judgmental, irrational, fear-based thoughts that challenge their actions and poke holes in their plans.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Take heed young bootstrappers! Negative thinking need not be your demise; rather, garnering a few tactics can help you plow through the lowest days.


Boosting lifetime of power components in multilevel inverters is a major aim to enhance the total system reliability and performance. This paper presents a space vector pulse width modulation (SVPWM) strategy for lifetime prolongation of thermally-overloaded power devices in multilevel inverters. When a thermal overloading is detected in one of the power devices, the proposed algorithm is applied to relieve the overloaded device and therefore preventing dangerous circumstances such as open-or short-circuit faults. The proposed methodology relies on using the redundancy property between the switching states in multilevel inverters to continuously evaluate the junction temperature of the thermally-overloaded power devices for all the possible switching sequences, then it identifies the optimal relieving switching sequence. The proposed methodology is valid for both/either of the power switching devices and/or DC-link capacitors. The proposed strategy is simple, and does not require any additional hardware. Furthermore, it does not deteriorate the output power. Accordingly, lifetime and reliability of multilevel inverters have been enhanced considerably. The proposed methodology has been designed and validated by simulation and experimental prototyping of a three-level T-type inverter system to investigate its feasibility and effectiveness.


Abstract
A functional promoter variant of the gene encoding the MET receptor tyrosine kinase alters SP1 and SUB1 transcription factor binding, and is associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recent analyses of postmortem cerebral cortex from ASD patients revealed altered expression of MET protein and three transcripts encoding proteins that regulate MET signaling, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), urokinase plasminogen activator receptor (PLAUR) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (SERPINE1). To address potential risk conferred by multiple genes in the MET signaling pathway, we screened all exons and 50 promoter regions for variants in the five genes encoding proteins that regulate MET expression and activity. Identified variants were genotyped in 664 families (2,712 individuals including 1,228 with ASD) and 312 unrelated controls. Replicating our initial findings, family-based association test (FBAT) analyses demonstrated that the MET promoter variant rs1858830 C allele was associated with ASD in 101 new families (P50.033). Two other genes in the MET signaling pathway also may confer risk. A haplotype of the SERPINE1 gene exhibited significant association. In addition, the PLAUR promoter variant rs344781 T allele was associated with ASD by both FBAT (P50.006) and case-control analyses (P50.007). The PLAUR promoter rs344781 relative risk was 1.93 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.12-3.31) for genotype TT and 2.42 (95% CI: 1.38-4.25) for genotype CT compared to genotype CC. Gene-gene interaction analyses suggested a significant interaction between MET and PLAUR. These data further support our hypothesis that genetic susceptibility impacting multiple components of the MET signaling pathway contributes to ASD risk.
Keywords Association Brain Cerebral cortex Genetic Plasminogen Plaur Serpine1 Upar ASJC Scopus subject areas Neuroscience(all) Clinical Neurology Genetics(clinical) Medicine(all)


At Judge Amy Coney Barret’s recent confirmation hearing for a seat on the U.S. Supreme Court, she stated that the 2nd Amendment grants individuals the right to bear arms for self-defense. But her statement is false. Anyone familiar with the actual text of this amendment and its purpose, as defined by both its prefatory clause and the framers’ intent articulated in the Federalist papers, knows (or should know) that it does not grant individuals a constitutional right to bear or own arms for self-defense. For well over two centuries the Supreme Court never decided that the 2nd Amendment granted individuals such a right, and there is no indication that the Constitution’s framers ever intended to enshrine the common-law right of self-defense in that amendment or elsewhere in our Constitution. The commonly held, but false belief by Judge Barrett that individuals have a constitutional right to bear arms for self-defense is an example of what Plato referred as a “noble lie,” a belief that, though untrue, is propagated and perpetuated to sustain public accord by inducing citizens to accept as true and legitimate. This “noble lie” has been sustained by both pro-gun politicians using fear mongering to uphold this country’s gun culture and by propaganda from the NRA for its own self-interests and for corporate profits of gun manufacturers. Former Supreme Court Chief Justice Warren Burger said, the 2nd Amendment “…has been the subject of one of the biggest pieces of fraud, I repeat the word, fraud, on the American […]


Interviews were previously conducted with 72 heroin-addicted female street prostitutes who spread HIV by sharing injection paraphernalia and engaging in unprotected sex with multiple male customers. Most were willing to enroll in free methadone maintenance if made available. Forty-one female addict-prostitutes subsequently entered free methadone maintenance. Twenty-five remained in treatment after one year. Their personal income from prostitution and other crime was reduced 58%; income from legal sources increased 86%. Total urinalyses positive for non-prescribed drugs decreased from 80% on admission to 51%. This pilot study validates the attraction of free methadone maintenance and concomitant reduction of illegal drug use and prostitution, two predictors of HIV infection. However, close supervision and effective counseling and rehabilitative services provided by better trained staff are required for successful outcomes among addict-prostitutes in methadone maintenance.


Ah, summer. Do you love it as much as I do? Hot dogs, roller coasters, ice cream, backyard pools and sprinklers...these are what come to mind when I think of summer. I wonder what my children will recall of their childhood summers. Will they think fondly of the long drives in the van to visit far-flung family and friends? Will they think of the awe-inspiring sunset behind the mountains? Will it be the evenings spent chasing fireflies in the backyard with the neighbors?
As a financial planner, I talk with people far too often who are "too busy" to enjoy the fruits of their labors. My goal is to help people reach their goals, which are rarely about having a certain amount of money in the bank. The goals I hear are to spend time doing the things they love with the people they love.
What do you think of? What does "summer" mean to you? Have you done any of those things yet this year? As adults without small children in the house, it can be easy to overlook these pleasures, and be "too busy" for them now. However, you're never too old for an ice cream cone, or for a spin on the carousel.
I hope you'll accept a summer challenge: pick your favorite memory, pick up the nearest grandchild or close friend, and go "do" summer. Don't let it go by without enjoying it!


While Eurobodalla Council is moving ahead to build a new 1000m2 gymnasium at the Batemans Bay Mackay Park leisure centre the gym industry is taking a financial hammering across the State and the country as strict Covid rules are applied. Eurobodalla Council, from the outset, was advised that if the Batemans Bay Swimming Centre was upgraded to include a gym, indoor heated pool and allied health services, these elements would likely be supported by local sporting clubs.Initially Council looked to have a 480m2 gymnasium that was projected to return $200,000 per year if leased ($2,000 per week) however the projected costs to have the facility was in the order of $350,000 ( a net loss of $150,000 per year) Council promoted in their business plan to Grant authorities that they predicted 20,000 per year to come through the gym turnstiles. This equates to 54 people per day. Possibly swayed by "bigger is better" the councillors voted to have the gymnasium extended to 1000m2 in the hope it might attract a larger rental. With gymnasiums across the region, inclusive of the Batemans Bay area, struggling under COVID rules, it appears speculation at best by Eurobodalla Council that their decision to add another gymnasium space to the mix and enter the real estate market competing with other property owners to sway their current lessees to move to the pool area is not such a smart move. Especially in light of their gambling with ratepayers money on a complex that is already $15m over the original budget without a sod being turned. Under the present
rules Gyms must have a COVID-19 Safety Hygiene Marshal present at all times the gym is open, and be registered as a COVID Safe business.
This applies to gyms that are indoors and open to members of the public.
If a gym is not open to members of the public, such as a gym in a residential premises (e.g. a home or an apartment building), or in a hotel or workplace, these requirements do not apply.
A gym does not include a dance, yoga, pilates, gymnastics or martial arts studio.Indoor gyms must assign one staff member as a
COVID-19 Safe Hygiene Marshal who will be in distinctive clothing (such as a shirt or badge) and responsible for ensuring all aspects of the COVID-19 Safety Plan are being adhered to including overseeing social distancing, cleaning and ensuring the accuracy of record keeping. The identified Safety Marshal/s must always be present whilst the gym is operational, including gyms that operate 24 hours a day.Ensure the number of people in a facility does not exceed one person per 4 square metres of space (excluding staff).
Ensure gym or recreation classes or sport activities have no more than 20 participants, plus the instructor and any assistants, per space that complies with one participant per 4 square metres. There may be multiple classes in a room if there is sufficient space to accommodate this, and if the classes remain separate with start and end times staggered to minimise crowding. Ensure participants maintain 1.5 metres
physical distancewhere practical.
Ensure any spectators comply with 1.5 metres physical distance where practical, such as through staggered seating. Household contacts are not required to distance.
Move or block access to equipment to support 1.5 metres of physical distance between people.
Ensure communal facilities such as showers, change rooms and lockers have strategies in place to reduce crowding and promote physical distancing.
Where practical, stagger the use of communal facilities. Strongly encourage visitors to shower/change at home where possible.
Reduce crowding wherever possible and promote physical distancing with markers on the floor, including where people are asked to queue.
Have strategies in place to manage gatherings that may occur immediately outside the premises.
Use telephone or video platforms for essential staff meetings where practical.
Review regular business deliveries and request contactless delivery and invoicing where practical.


Abstract
The aim of this pilot study was to assess whether neurofeedback (NFB) can be useful in the treatment of impulsive behavior in long-term abstinent cocaine and heroin addicts. A single-blind sham-controlled NFB protocol was carried out to assess the effects of NFB on impulsivity in 20 (10 + 10) cocaine and heroin long-term abstinent addicts (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders [4th ed., text rev.; DSM-IV-TR]). Psychotic and neurologic diseases were excluded. Participants underwent 40 NFB sessions based on the very slow cortical potential range. Inhibitory deficits were specifically addressed through right and left prefrontal training. Clinical improvement was measured with Likert-type scales, the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and impulsivity was assessed using the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Continuous Performance Test. Although the results are preliminary due to the small sample size, the NFB-treated group showed a significant clinical improvement, including symptoms of anxiety and depression, with two differentiated time periods. No significant clinical improvement was found in the control group. A significant decrease in the post- versus pre-treatment measures of global impulsivity, nonplanning impulsivity, and error commission measures was found in the NFB-treated group; effect size (dKorr) in the pre-post control design was moderate. No significant change was found in the control group. Despite the limitations of this study, the results suggest that NFB is better than placebo in improving impulsivity and clinical symptoms of anxiety and depression in long-term abstinent cocaine- and heroin-dependent individuals.


In a letter to the editor in the Kennebec Journal/Morning Sentinel, a writer states:
“Equally disturbing was the total lack of regard for Maine law by the investigation’s subjects. Illegal drug use, drinking and driving, drinking and hunting, driving with a loaded gun in addition to night hunting are not only illegal but dangerous behavior.”
This writer couldn’t agree more. However, to fully demonize and cast judgement on the “subjects” for breaking the laws of the State of Maine, while allowing a different standard for any law enforcement agency is not in the best interest of anyone and carries with it the same reasoning that such behavior by law enforcement, “are not only illegal but a dangerous behavior.” If Maine law allows law enforcement to break laws, it needs to be changed. If not, then how can one claim this behavior is “dangerous” for some but not for others. That’s known as a double standard. There can not exist double standards between the people and the government. Have we not been witness to the historic results?
If for no other reason, law enforcement, if it intends for the citizen-slaves to abide by state’s laws, should set the example and follow the same laws. Why are they any different from you and I?
As a parent, I always had the discussion with my wife, that if we intended our children to grow up with proper morals and behavior, then we must set the example for them. Where there is no leadership, the people perish.
Granting blind deference to any government and/or its agents, believing this is somehow in the best interest of our future as free men, is the exemplification of brainwashing and propagandizing.
If the Maine Courts are ruling according to the written law, they have told us that the actions of undercover agents have been legal. That does not make them right. I, for one, would like to see those rules and regulations changed.


Quantifying the Influence of Beautiful Environments on Human Well-Being
Does spending time in beautiful settings boost people’s happiness? The answer to this question has long remained elusive due to a paucity of large-scale data on environmental aesthetics and individual happiness. Here, we draw on two novel datasets: first, individual happiness data from the smartphone app, Mappiness, and second, crowdsourced ratings of the “scenicness” of photographs taken across England, from the online game Scenic-Or-Not. We find that individuals are happier in more scenic locations, even when controlling for a range of factors such as the activity the individual is engaged in at the time, weather conditions and the income of local inhabitants.
However, what might these beautiful places be comprised of? Is beauty in this context synonymous with nature? We extract hundreds of image features from over 200,000 Scenic-Or-Not images using the Places Convolutional Neural Network to understand the composition of beautiful places. We also find that a neural network can be trained to automatically identify scenic places, including both natural and built locations.
Target Audience
Data scientists, software engineers and anyone interested in the use of neural networks.


The Creighton Model System, or CrMS, allows you to know and understand the phases of fertility and infertility that occur in a woman’s cycle. It treats fertility as part of health and not a disease.
What is the CrMS?
It is professional and personalized.
It is medically safe and morally acceptable.
It is easy to learn and inexpensive.
It is highly reliable and applicable to any stage of a woman’s reproductive life.
It is natural and cooperative.
It precisely identifies the true days of fertility and infertility.
It is essential to the monitoring and maintaining of a woman’s health.
If you are interested, you can contact Nora Ponder at noraponder@gmail.com for individualized appointments with personal instruction on use of the system. At each private follow-up, the FertilityCareTM practitioner tailors the system to your specific needs.


The Arts Education Partnership recently embarked on new work exploring the intersection of arts education and school choice, and what better time than National School Choice Week to provide an update on this work? Over the last several months, AEP has researched four key questions concerning the intersection of these areas:
State Policy Takeaways
1. What, if any, state policies exist that connect arts education and school choice?
Generally, states exempt charter schools from state policies that govern traditional public schools, but states vary in the exemptions they allow for charter schools. Charter school laws in 30 states specifically state that nontraditional schools are not exempt from statewide rules related to assessment, standards, teacher certification and graduation requirements. Eight of these states do not exempt charter schools from arts education requirements.
Three states have charter school laws that allow authorizers to give preference to applications for schools with specific academic approaches or themes, innovations and comprehensive (well-rounded) learning experiences. While these laws don’t explicitly include the arts, charter schools may include the arts as an academic theme, innovation, or as part of a comprehensive or well-rounded education.
Research Takeaways
2. What, if any, research exists on a link between school choice and arts education?
Few studies exist demonstrating a link between school choice and arts education. One study suggests that of all public and private school types, charter schools have the lowest availability of arts (dance, music, theatre and visual arts) education.
However, another study found that when controlling for geography, charter schools in Chicago offered significantly more music instruction than traditional schools — though both schools offered less music instruction than the national average.
While research shows that charter schools are neither embracing or excluding music education, existing research concludes that these schools may consider it more of a supplemental activity. Despite varying results, all three studies identified a relationship between the size of the school and the likelihood of offering arts/music instruction.
Accountability Takeaways
3. Which, if any, states include arts education in their accountability system for K-12?
Eleven states and the District of Columbia include the arts as a part of their current or future accountability systems. While some states specifically measure participation in the arts, others measure participation in the arts as a part of a well-rounded education or include the arts as options in the postsecondary and career readiness components of their accountability systems.
Of the states including arts education or a well-rounded education as an accountability metric, nine measure access (i.e., student enrollment) and one measures student performance (i.e., students earning passing scores).
Budget Takeaways
4. Which, if any, states have provisions and/or specific line items for arts education in their budget and/or K-12 funding formula?
States use three different funding pathways states to support arts education: discretionary funds, funding formulas and resource allocation models. There are at least 10 states with department of education appropriations for specific schools, grants or programs for arts education. One state provides an additional weight for each student participating in arts education in the public school funding formula; and two states distribute funds based on the number of positions or other resources, rather than on a per-student basis.
AEP also launched a new page on the website dedicated to school choice and the arts, where you can read the full responses and access future resources as they become available.
What’s Next?
AEP will continue to closely explore the intersection of school choice and the arts — including if and how states, schools and/or districts implement related policies — with plans to share more findings in the spring. Stay tuned for future work, and, as always, please reach out if you have specific state-level policy questions related to the arts and school choice.


Abstract : Pulses present nutritional advantages for human health, and also contribute to food security and environmental sustainability. Despite these beneficial properties, the consumption of pulses in France has decreased over the past century. This study explores the representation of pulses among French non-vegetarian consumers, using both an indirect approach, with scenarios evoking real-life situations, and a direct approach, with an online questionnaire.
For the indirect approach, based on six different scenarios, the 120 participants composed dishes by selecting three food images out of the twenty provided. One week later, for the direct approach, the same participants completed a questionnaire, with ten questions about food products, using the same images.
Results showed that spontaneous selection of pulses was low for all dish-composition situations, coherent with the low consumption of pulses declared in the questionnaire. Among possible barriers to pulse consumption were dislike of pulses, preparation difficulty, and perception of pulses as a food for vegetarians. Participants possessed theoretical knowledge about the benefits of pulses, but this knowledge seemed not to be applied to dish-composition situations. Results also highlighted the complementarity of these two methods, providing deeper understanding of consumer food habits in relation to pulses. Based on these findings, several levers are proposed to increase pulse consumption: improving familiarity with pulses, using the context of consumption, formulating trendy and innovative products, and promoting pulses as a “food for all”.


Title
Students' interpretation and application of feedback in a first-year English composition course
Date of Completion
January 2007
Keywords
Education, Adult and Continuing|Education, Teacher Training|Education, Curriculum and Instruction
Degree
Ph.D.
Abstract
College graduates who communicate their thoughts and reasoning through concise, clear, and organized writing are on a fast track to succeed in today's knowledge-based society. Despite the crucial role that writing plays in the development of an individual's literacy and thinking skills in the US, the skill has largely been undervalued in high school and college. Feedback is one of the activities that students use to refine their written messages. However, instructors do not always have an understanding of how students make sense of the feedback they receive and the decisions they make to interpret and apply it in their work. This study focused on how students perceived, interpreted, and applied feedback in a First-Year Writing Composition Course at college level.^ The theoretical rationale for this study synthesized empirical and theoretical research from a spectrum of fields. Specifically, Complex Systems Theory provided a framework to understand the nature of feedback within the environment it takes place. Experiential Learning Theory provided an account of the individual experience with feedback.^ The design of this study followed a generic qualitative research methodology. Data was collected from nine students and their instructor in a face-to-face writing composition course at a large public university in the Northeastern United States. Primary data collection strategies included interview and questionnaire. Data was analyzed following the constant comparative method. Trustworthiness was established using member checking, peer debriefing, journaling, and audit trail.^ Seven themes were identified and classified into two main categories: feedback attributes and individual use of feedback. Findings suggested that students who were strategic users of feedback displayed an array of self-regulation strategies and formulated analogies to frame their interpretation of feedback messages, compared to less strategic users. The outcome of this process influenced how students applied feedback.^ Effective feedback users were characterized by their active and strategic approach. Recommendations include strategies that promote students' active use of feedback and its impact on the development of their writing skills. ^
Recommended Citation
Orgnero Schiaffino, Maria Carolina, "Students' interpretation and application of feedback in a first-year English composition course" (2007).
Doctoral Dissertations. AAI3270954. https://opencommons.uconn.edu/dissertations/AAI3270954


Stress is a state of physiological or psychological strain caused by adverse stimuli; responses to stress include activation of the sympathetic nervous system, glucocorticoid secretion and emotional behaviors. Prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)), acting through its four receptor subtypes (EP1, EP2, EP3 and EP4), is involved in these stress responses. Studies of EP-selective drugs and mice lacking specific EPs have identified the neuronal pathways regulated by PGE(2). In animals with febrile illnesses, PGE(2) acts on neurons expressing EP3 in the preoptic hypothalamus. In illness-induced activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, EP1 and EP3 regulate distinct neuronal pathways that converge at the paraventricular hypothalamus. During psychological stress, EP1 suppresses impulsive behaviors via the midbrain dopaminergic systems. PGE(2) promotes illness-induced memory impairment, yet also supports hippocampus-dependent memory formation and synaptic plasticity via EP2 in physiological conditions. In response to illness, PGE(2) is synthesized by enzymes induced in various cell types inside and outside the brain, whereas constitutively expressed enzymes in neurons and/or microglia synthesize PGE(2) in response to psychological stress. Dependent on the type of stress stimuli, PGE(2) released from different cell types activates distinct EP receptors, which mobilize multiple neuronal pathways, resulting in stress responses.


In early 2020 Aberdeen surveyed 405 customer experience (CX) leaders around the world, across different industries, and within companies of all sizes. The survey revealed that 78% of companies are not satisfied with their ability to use customer data to achieve their objectives. When asked why they struggle using CX data, firms cited insufficient data. Ironically, the same survey revealed that one out of two businesses use at least 10 channels (e.g., web, email, social media, phone) in their CX activities. While companies have a wealth of insights at their disposal, outdated technologies and lagging processes hinder use of data in CX programs. In fact, the second top challenge cited by respondents was poor data quality or, in other words, the data available not being relevant or timely for employees to use in their activities.
This thought-provoking knowledge brief from Aberdeen demonstrates how building a unified view of customer and CX data across all sources can transform your results.


Hydrogen sulfide — a gas that smells like rotten eggs — can be insidious in its lethality. Its odor will be unmistakeable to its victim. But the gas can quickly numb the sense of smell, leading to the belief that the threat has passed. Unconsciousness and death can follow. “Unfortunately, if you come in contact […]


Blood formation, or haematopoiesis, originates from haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), whose functions and maintenance are regulated in both cell- and cell non-autonomous ways. The surroundings of HSCs in the bone marrow create a specific niche or microenvironment where HSCs nest that allows them to retain their unique characteristics and respond rapidly to external stimuli. Ageing is accompanied by reduced regenerative capacity of the organism affecting all systems, due to the progressive decline of stem cell functions. This includes blood and HSCs, which contributes to age-related haematological disorders, anaemia, and immunosenescence, among others. Furthermore, chronological ageing is characterised by myeloid and platelet HSC skewing, inflammageing, and expanded clonal haematopoiesis, which may be the result of the accumulation of preleukaemic lesions in HSCs. Intriguingly, haematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukaemia have a high incidence among elderly patients, yet not all individuals with clonal haematopoiesis develop leukaemias. Here, we discuss recent work on these aspects, their potential underlying molecular mechanisms, and the first cues linking age-related changes in the HSC niche to poor HSC maintenance. Future work is needed for a better understanding of haematopoiesis during ageing. This field may open new avenues for HSC rejuvenation and therapeutic strategies in the elderly.
This item's license is: Attribution 4.0 International


Over the last eight years mobility has been an increasing problem for Dawn as she has both multiple sclerosis and ankylosing spondylitis; she is now largely reliant on a wheelchair.
She spent her career as an Anaesthetic Theatre Sister and thrived on patient interaction. Early retirement resulted in a loss of purpose, low self-esteem and a feeling that she was not contributing to society anymore. She appeared outwardly confident and positive but in private she experienced less positive emotions such as loneliness, isolation and self-doubt.
She had always found flying scary; an anxiety which spoilt many overseas holidays. A chance meeting with an FSDP scholar planted the seed that a scholarship could help her overcome her fear.
“I cannot begin to describe the gratitude and honour I feel for having had this opportunity. It is more than just learning to fly. It is about realising the potential in humans that are reeling from an injury, an illness or struggling through life.”


The System is Broken
Before the Great Depression, communities took pride in supporting those who faced poverty, suffered mental illness, and were hurting. Today, we have plenty of resources available, but the current system has placed roadblocks that present challenges to providing genuine care to those who seek help.
We see a trend with homelessness. According to Prosperity Now, 40% of Pennsylvanians are
ONE PAYCHECK AWAY from facing homelessness. 59% of Americans are ONE PAYCHECK AWAY from becoming homeless. Of the 40% in Pennsylvania, 350 Individuals and families are deemed homeless in the Wyoming Valley region. The 350 who live in poverty face challenges every day to survive. This fight-or-flight mentality causes poor decisions that persuade the publics’ perception of these individuals. Those who face homelessness are labeled as “drug users”, “animals”, and “dirty”, along with other derogatory characteristics. Those labels may hold in some cases, but the facts that led to these poor decisions are not considered.
Homelessness is not the result of one individual choice, but rather the failure of a system driving our modern society. Individuals who face homelessness have a difficult time navigating the social service system. When we see an issue, we are good as a society to throw money at the problem with no real solution. The proper resources are not provided to the agencies whose job is to serve and support the vulnerable population. Some systematic issues are as follows:
Continuing struggles in housing with limited affordable units and rising rents. Those related to housing factors, including eviction and vulnerability, due to living in crowded or unaffordable housing. Income-related issues including low income, unemployment, precarious employment, and limited income opportunities, due to lack of education and skills Lack of supports and services, including those geared towards addressing such problems as ill-health, mental illness, substance abuse, and social isolation from family and friends. Finally, we expect to pull the homeless into a shelter and then place them right into an apartment. This is considered a ‘win’ in the eyes of the pubic but is genuinely a loss to the individual. The system lacks the follow-up, the support, and the teaching of life skills to maintain stability.
Keystone Mission is committed to working on addressing the current system that is broken. Providing outreach, like our Agape Team, which sends out our Life Coaches to help navigate that system of social services is one way we address this. Life Coaches can connect the homeless to the right resources to help them with their specific needs. The next step for Keystone Mission is to provide emergency shelter that offers a place to sleep, food in their belly, and a shower to keep clean. Rest and restoration stop the ‘fight or flight’ system they were living and helps them make rational decisions. Finally, move them into transitional housing center that transforms their lives, by learning those skills they need to survive. Through job training, budgeting, learning personal hygiene skills, and connection to resources in the community, the individual is transformed at the pace they set. Finally, we do this with the secret ingredient, LOVE. With love, for a person who has never had that experience, a transformation sparks in their life which was not seen before.
→ GET INVOLVED Become a financial partner with Keystone Mission! Visit KeystoneMission.org/go/Donate and contribute ONE TIME or on a MONTHLY basis. Join our mailing list! E-mail Communications@KeystoneMission.org or call (570) 871–4795 ext. 400 and speak with Ryan. If you send an e-mail, place JOIN MAILING in your subject line. Include your Address, Phone, and E-mail in the body of the e-mail. Volunteer at Keystone Mission! E-mail Volunteer@KeystoneMission.org or call (570) 871–4795 ext. 408 and speak with Matthew.


Peer Support
Peer support is where individuals in similar circumstances give each other practical and emotional support to help each other deal with and resolve challenging situations.
The Money Advice Service has undertaken a multi-stage research project to understand whether this type of support could help over-indebted people resolve their financial difficulties, and to explore how it could increase engagement with debt advice.
The documents available on this page report the findings from this research and include:


Nascate has developed a series of strict and rigorous that ensure data accuracy and reliability. Our end-to-end testing and interrogation process ensures the validity of all internal calculations and reduces rework and reprocessing, while increasing the velocity between initial access and use.
This comprehensive regime- refined over the past 20 years across multiple payers, lines of business, and geographies- serves as the standard for all claims database submission and quality assurance.
What We Do:
Comprehensive, end-to-end testing:
Pre-Processing Upon data receipt, a suite of tests and checks are run that concentrate on: Clinical Completeness, Population Rates, Referential Integrity. In-Line Nascate utilizes numerous in-line checks during and after each metric and measure calculation. This ensures the outcomes are in line with established thresholds prior to moving on. Post-Processing When processing is complete, a QA team (Data Operations, Data Quality, and data content experts) further analyzes and reviews the database. This ensures that the process (and the hundreds of checks used to get to this point) produces a dataset that meets quality expectations and is fit for purpose, prior to being released.
This layered protocol is synergistic and combines individual tests, the most appropriate order of these test series, and the validation of final outputs.
Why It’s Important:
Data increasingly drives decision-making. Before it can be transmitted for analysis, it must undergo a variety of changes and processes, leaving plenty of room for error. Nascate has integrated years of experience, across a diverse mix of data sources, into our advanced QA protocol. This process provides cross-sectional and time series integrity and assures the information at hand is reliable and accurate.


If someone accuses you of sexual misconduct on a college campus, you will quickly learn about Title IX and how these accusations could affect your future. The consequences of this type of violation can be severe and impact your education, personal life, and future career. Working with a Fairfax Title IX lawyer may be the most effective way to combat the accusations against you.
Allegations of sexual misconduct on campus can lead to both administrative and criminal proceedings. In both areas, you likely may benefit from the advocacy and guidance that a seasoned student defense attorney could provide. Avoid or minimize the risk of life-altering ramifications by contacting legal counsel right away.
All institutions of higher education that receive federal funding, whether public or private, must comply with Title IX. Since most colleges and universities receive federal financial aid for their students, most of these institutions are subject to this law. Issues covered under this law include any accusations of sexual misconduct, harassment, stalking, or rape that occurs during a university activity or on campus.
If schools fail to follow these guidelines, they risk losing their federal funding. As a result, all schools have adopted strict policies and procedures for handling these allegations. For example, every school must have an appointed Title IX coordinator to process and investigate complaints that arise on campus.
Some cases may result in simultaneous criminal court and school administrative proceedings. However, individuals should not expect the same legal rights and protections in their administrative hearings that they would have in criminal court proceedings. Although school administrative processes vary from one school to the next, they often share some essential characteristics.
For example, the constitution guarantees various rights for individuals who are accused of crimes under state or federal law. They have the right to counsel, the right to remain silent, and the right to a jury of their peers. Similarly, the prosecution has the burden of proving a criminal defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
In contrast, Title IX proceedings offer no right to counsel to individuals accused of sexual misconduct. Even if the individuals do hire independent legal counsel, they often cannot participate in the process. Unlike in criminal proceedings, accused persons likely must prove that they did not commit the actions alleged by the complainant, even though they typically cannot confront their accusers or cross-examine witnesses. An experienced lawyer in Fairfax could help an accused student by explaining their rights in a Title IX case.
In criminal sex crime cases, individuals may face incarceration, probation, community service hours, fines, and mandatory sex offender registration. In a Title IX proceeding, the penalties are much different but can be equally, if not more, severe. For example, if a panel of university officials find it more likely than not that a student committed sexual assault, they could face:
These consequences can be devastating for students as they are attempting to finish their education and pursue a career. They may become ineligible for some jobs altogether and miss out on crucial internship opportunities. Without the assistance of an experienced Title IX attorney in Fairfax, they also run the risk of losing scholarships, being passed over for jobs, and becoming ineligible for other opportunities.
Allegations of sexual misconduct or other similar accusations can be stressful, scary, and highly detrimental to your future. Since these administrative investigations and proceedings often move quickly, you should protect yourself by contacting a Fairfax Title IX lawyer as soon as you learn of the accusations against you. Otherwise, you risk the opportunity to safeguard your rights and defend yourself as effectively as possible.
Getting legal advice in this situation could be critical to a positive outcome in your case. Without legal counsel, you may find yourself facing severe sanctions that you did not anticipate.
Do not send us confidential information related to you or your company until you speak with one of our attorneys and get authorization to send that information to us.


This week marked a milestone for the Committee on World Food Security (CFS). For the first time since its reform, it recognized the role of livestock in addressing malnutrition, sustainable agriculture and climate change.
Ahead of the CFS43, SIANI spoke with Delia Grace—a veterinary epidemiologist at the International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) and a member of the HLPE livestock project team—about the so-called omnivore’s dilemma, the critical issues in livestock production around the world and a vision for policy-makers who will be implementing the HLPE’s recommendations.


dc.description.abstract This study explored teacher’s perceptions towards the implementation of the ten
outcomes of High Quality Physical Education (HQPE), whether any gender issues
occur during delivery Physical Education (PE) and identify what potential barriers
teachers face when delivering PE.
The study identified six key themes: aims and values of PE, delivery of PE, extracurricular
programme, lifelong participation, barriers of delivering PE and potential
solutions. The findings indicated a pedagogical difference between male and female
PE teacher’s perceptions of HQPE.
It indicated that the male teachers produced a high level of skill performance within
their extra-curricular programme, and used their PE lessons and fitness clubs to
enhance competitiveness. It found that female teachers value the importance of
inclusion in their lessons, and separate PE and extra-curricular as two different
programmes. This suggests that, the male teachers should adapt their teaching to
ensure inclusion of all pupils, and not just the skill and competitive element. en_US


Texas Pipe Details 36-inch (914.4-mm) gas line 1,440 PSI (99.28bar) Maximum Operating Pressure 70ºF (21.1ºC) pipe temperature 95ºF (35ºC) ambient temperature Summary 36-inch (914.4-mm) high-pressure gas line was corroded and pitted CSNRI trained technicians completed the installation in 2.5 hours No welding was required No shutdown required
An inspection on a 36-inch (914.4-mm) natural gas pipeline in Northwest Texas revealed significant corrosion and pitting around a girth weld. The line, designed for 1,440 psi (99.28 bar) maximum operating pressure, would need to remain in service while the repair was carried out. This meant that the product selected would have to be installed without introducing hot work.
Having used composite solutions in the past, the owner looked to CSNRI for a repair. After evaluating the damage to the line, experts at CSNRI suggested using the BlackDiamond® carbon-fiber wrap.
Engineered to provide strength that enables line restoration to maximum operating pressure (MOP) without shutting down, BlackDiamond® has a long and successful track record for rehabilitating and restoring damaged pipelines to their original operational strength.
The system comprises three components: a solid epoxy primer, bi-directionally woven carbon-fiber material, and polymeric epoxy resin.
The team of technicians received training immediately prior to the installation. To carry out the repair, they used filler putty in all the defected areas on the pipeline and on the entire girth weld bead to ensure a smooth transition for the fabric. Once the putty was in place, primer was mixed and poured over the entire area.
Then the carbon-fiber fabric was wetted and wrapped around a 2-inch (50.8-mm) OD tube to help keep tension on it while it was being installed on the pipe. The team applied 6 layers, centered over the weld cap. This design, using wider fabric, expedited installation and greatly reduced the number of layers needed to restore the line to MOP.
The repair was completed in approximately 2.5 hours and was fully cured in 8 hours. This approach returned the line to safety, delivering a quick, reliable repair that did not require the line to be taken out of service.