Researchers described a new strategy of designing metamolecules that incorporates two independently controllable subwavelength meta-atoms. This two-parametric control of the metamolecule secures the complete control of both amplitude and the phase of light.
A KAIST research team in collaboration with the University of Wisconsin-Madison theoretically suggested a graphene-based active metasurface capable of independent amplitude and phase control of mid-infrared light. This research gives a new insight into modulating the mid-infrared wavefront with high resolution by solving the problem of the independent control of light amplitude and phase, which has remained a long-standing challenge. Light modulation technology is essential for developing future optical devices such as holography, high-resolution imaging, and optical communication systems. Liquid crystals and a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) have previously been utilized to modulate light. However, both methods suffer from significantly limited driving speeds and unit pixel sizes larger than the diffraction limit, which consequently prevent their integration into photonic systems. The metasurface platform is considered a strong candidate for the next generation of light modulation technology. Metasurfaces have optical properties that natural materials cannot have, and can overcome the limitations of conventional optical systems, such as forming a high-resolution image beyond the diffraction limit. In particular, the active metasurface is regarded as a technology with a wide range of applications due to its tunable optical characteristics with an electrical signal. However, the previous active metasurfaces suffered from the inevitable correlation between light amplitude control and phase control. This problem is caused by the modulation mechanism of conventional metasurfaces. Conventional metasurfaces have been designed such that a metaatom only has one resonance condition, but a single resonant design inherently lacks the degrees of freedom to independently control the amplitude and phase of light. The research team made a metaunit by combining two independently controllable metaatoms, dramatically improving the modulation range of active metasurfaces. The proposed metasurface can control the amplitude and phase of the mid-infrared light independently with a resolution beyond the diffraction limit, thus allowing complete control of the optical wavefront. The research team theoretically confirmed the performance of the proposed active metasurface and the possibility of wavefront shaping using this design method. Furthermore, they developed an analytical method that can approximate the optical properties of metasurfaces without complex electromagnetic simulations. This analytical platform proposes a more intuitive and comprehensively applicable metasurface design guideline. The proposed technology is expected to enable accurate wavefront shaping with a much higher spatial resolution than existing wavefront shaping technologies, which will be applied to active optical systems such as mid-infrared holography, high-speed beam steering devices that can be applied for LiDAR, and variable focus infrared lenses. Professor Min Seok Jang commented, "This study showed the independent control amplitude and phase of light, which has been a long-standing quest in light modulator technology. The development of optical devices using complex wavefront control is expected to become more active in the future." MS candidate Sangjun Han and Dr. Seyoon Kim of the University of Wisconsin-Madison are the co-first authors of the research, which was published and selected as the front cover of the January 28 edition of ACS Nano titled “Complete complex amplitude modulation with electronically tunable graphene plasmonic metamolecules.”
This research was funded by the Samsung Research Funding & Incubation Center for Future Technology.


Abstract
We undertook a direct mail campaign to urge persons identified as being at risk for hypertension to seek medical advice. Those who received a single mailing displayed a 28% increase in the proportion who subsequently discussed their blood pressure with a physician and a 12% increase in the proportion who had their blood pressure rechecked, while those persons who received six mailings reported an equivalent increase in physician discussions but a smaller increase in rechecking their blood pressure. These results support the use of inexpensive social marketing strategies as follow-up methods for blood pressure screening programs.


E’ uscito nella rivista Economia e Politica Industriale, l’articolo:
(con G. Giovannetti e M. Velucchi) Heterogeneity in managerial strategies and internationalization of firms: the case of Italy
Abstract:
The recent empirical literature on firm performance has highlighted the multidimensional concept of managerial strategies. The paper analyzes the nexus between these strategies and performance based on specific entrepreneurs’ characteristics, corporate strategies, organizational capabilities and firms’ approaches to internationalization. Using a dataset obtained by matching and merging Capitalia, ICE-Reprint and AIDA surveys we investigate the possible non-linear impact of managerial strategies on firm performance in Italy. While the specific entrepreneurs’ characteristics do not seem to have a significant impact on firm performance, the mode of internationalization plays an important role. Important non-linearities arise when we singled out the role of skilled workers and managers in determining a firm’s success in highly competitive markets.


Real Estate and Property
Qatar’s construction and real estate industry has witnessed intense growth in recent years. The skyline of Doha’s business district is often described as having been transformed overnight into what is now a panorama of strikingly unique skyscrapers.
The construction industry is expected to continue to grow in the coming years, as the country opens up to foreign property investment. Under current legislation, non-Qataris may invest in selected real estate projects, such as the West Bay Lagoon and The Pearl – Qatar. As part of the incentive to attract foreign investment, real estate visas can now be granted to buyers, allowing them to live in the country without sponsorship.
For most residents, though, renting remains the living arrangement of choice. Those who wish to rent an apartment, villa or room have a wide selection to choose from in every area of the city. After years of escalation, rental prices have stabilized as new projects mature and vacancy rates increase. The rights and obligations of tenants and landlords are outlined in the rental laws.
The Ministry of Municipality and Environment oversees the preparation of all records related to the selling, leasing, waiver and bequeathing of real estate. Some selected records and documents must bear the approval of the Real Estate and Residences Registration Office to be considered valid. Land owners should visit the office before completing their real estate registrations at the Ministry of Justice.


Abstract
Autoimmune optic neuritis is a common early manifestation of multiple sclerosis (MS), yet early therapeutic interventions for MS often have high ocular toxicity associated with increased risks for glaucoma, cataract, or retinopathy. This need to discover better early treatment options prompted our development of a sensitive and reliable means to quantify the broad range of pathologies that potentially develop very early in autoimmune optic neuritis. Tissue microfluorimetry was used to measure seven established markers for human MS pathology in normal and autoimmune optic nerves 13 days after antigen exposure, in a Brown Norway rat model of myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) peptide (35-55)-induced autoimmune optic neuritis. Optic neuritis rats demonstrated early and significant pathologic changes in five established indices for neuroinflammation, immune infiltration, and demyelination that accurately modeled pathologies characteristic of MS. Two indices of MS-like axon damage advanced significantly within 13 days of antigen exposure. Fluorimetrically measured immunoreactivity (-ir) was significantly decreased for paranodin (PN, the requisite axonal paranodal junction protein) and significantly increased for amyloid precursor protein (APP), indicating loss of paranodal junctions and impaired fast axonal transport, respectively. Measurements showing decreased PN-ir with increased APP-ir quantitatively defined a pattern of early axonal damage in autoimmune optic neuritis.
Keywords Autoimmune optic neuritis Axon pathology Experimental methods Multiple sclerosis ASJC Scopus subject areas Neuroscience(all)


As U.S. companies continue the transition to remote work, possibly for the long term, ERP project teams continue to face significant challenges in management, coordination, communication and collaboration. And organizations that planned to start a much-needed ERP project are wondering whether to proceed or wait until the day – Sometime next year? – when their people can return to the office.
Fortunately, Ultra has 26 years of experience managing remote teams for manufacturing and distribution organizations. In this non-normal, unsettled business environment, companies need this unique expertise to support their ongoing transformation projects and to help their new ERP efforts start strong.
Is it possible to keep ERP projects moving forward with remote teams? Yes! We do it every day. Watch this short video to know more. Learn how we leverage technology, collaboration and common sense to successfully manage remote teams – and see how we apply these strategies to our client projects. Watch this excerpt from a recent webinar.


Dr Leigh Hoath
'The conundrum we face is ensuring children are taught the science they need to form a literate society, while the science is running away from the
Dr Leigh Hoath
Dr Leigh Hoath
Holly Bestley from the Zoological Society of London outlines how technology can help make the most of exploring the natural world.
Holly Bestley
Jen and Steve Smyth highlight how you can support your science teaching trains your next stop announcing the next stop in your classroom!
Jen Smyth
Kate reflects on her school's journey in engaging children in engineering and technology.
Kate Sutton
Liz highlights the importance of meeting all the demands of teaching design and technology when it is often taught alongside science.
Liz Lawrence
What does effective ‘Environmental’ or ‘Sustainability Education’ look like? How does this link to best practice STEM education?
Margaret Fleming
Sustainability and sustainability education, written by a range of experts in the field, education practitioners and environmental organisations.
Margaret Fleming et al
Paul considers ways of teaching about ecosystems that challenge doing things 'the way we have always done them'.
Paul Tyler
Open-ended investigations, supported by class discussion, can lead to a deep exploration of a topic.
Robert M. Ritchie
Rory describes how everyday technology is used in his role as an agronomist.
Rory Galloway


Rod wipers scrape dirt, dust, and moisture from the rod, preventing contamination inside your cylinder.
Rod seals maintain the pressure inside cylinders and prevent fluid from leaking out.
Wear rings guide the rod and piston to prevent uneven wear and optimize seal performance.
Head seals are a more reliable alternative to the standard O-ring/backup ring combination—they resist twisting and remain stable even in applications with fluctuating pressure.
Buffering seals protect hydraulic cylinders from pressure spikes and shock in high-pressure hydraulic applications.
Cushioning seals minimize wear and noise in air-powered cylinders by preventing the piston from slamming against the cylinder body.
Piston seals make a seal between their outside edge and the cylinder bore to prevent internal leaks.


"Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty" (Psalm 91:1, NIV). Gales whirl in a violent uproar outside my office window. Hail batters the roof like a viral-shaped threat to any who would dare brave the outside world. The tears of…
From pandemic health and loss struggles to violence and division, the 2020 year has pummeled us. We face an aftermath of financial struggles, family strain, and despair. Even those who once felt confident may now wonder if we can ever restore our lives. Is there hope for recovery after so…
Diets garner immense popularity at the start of the new year and make a resurgence in the months prior to swimsuit season. Some fads encourage us to eliminate food groups or restrict calories. Other experts insist we can indulge in a specific type of food while avoiding everything else. The stricter…
Some face relationship issues while others suffer from loneliness. From disappointments to frustration or even anger, this week's circumstances could rattle your heart. In fact, any given time of year can present us with a torrent of emotions. We can rise on a wave of happiness with high expectations and…
Welcome to the month of hopeless romanticism and hapless heartbreak. The retail world blushes all shades of pink, red, and lavender in an urge to sell us passion in packages. Singles resent the reminders of their isolation. Couples stress over how to avoid disappointing their beloved ones. Moms sigh over…
January has three weeks bulging under her belt. Many of this month's early-date fans now resent her as much as their own waistlines. Unlike the fickle masses, statistics maintain a consistent view of January. She reflects human nature's tendency to launch with the boldest of aspirations only to crash into…
Our last discussion offered the overview of our whole-person makeover series to launch your new year with habits you can sustain forever. We noted the importance of taking small, maintainable steps toward the lifestyle which blesses the rest of your days. The significance of addressing all areas of our well being…
Christmas arrives in less than a week. In homes where we've been intense pain, our childlike hearts look forward to shared joys and enchanting moments we will remember in coming years. We also prepare to exchange gifts with those we love. For some, the sorrows of loss and suffering darken…
"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light" (1 Peter 2:9). Who doesn't love the scents of this season? From balsam fir to peppermint, I…
Ever contemplate the gifts of Christ when you admire a creche? Nativity scenes often imply three wise men visited the newborn Savior on the first Christmas. Scholars believe the visit might have occurred a bit later than the night of Jesus' birth and no specific number of magi are mentioned in…


Key Elements of the CARES Act
Congress recently passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act to support businesses and individuals during the current crisis. Several of its provisions might benefit you or someone you know.
Recovery Rebate
The feature attracting the most headlines is the “Recovery Rebate” program under which individuals are entitled to receive up to a $1,200 refundable tax credit and married couples receive up to $2,400. Those with children under age 17 can receive an additional $500 for each child. The credit phases out depending on your aggregate gross income (AGI) on your 2019 taxes (or 2018 if you have not yet filed your 2019 return). The Tax Foundation has an excellent guide to the rebate program and a calculator that can help determine how much you will receive.
No RMDs for 2020
Under the CARES Act, individuals with Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for their own retirement accounts or those they have inherited are no longer required for 2020. This will provide a tax savings for those who will usually have to take RMDs and do not need the distributions for ongoing spending. Those who have already taken RMDs from their own retirement accounts in 2020 have the option of returning them to their account.
Enhanced Unemployment Benefits
The CARES Act extended unemployment benefits for an additional 13 weeks after standard state benefits end. The legislation also increased regular unemployment compensation by $600 per week through July 31. Self-employed workers and independent contractors are now eligible for unemployment and the one-week waiting period for benefits has been waived for all applicants.
Deferred Student Loan Payments
The CARES Act suspended required payments on federal student loans through September 30, 2020 and interest will not accrue on the loan during this time. Borrowers will need to stop any automatic payments for their federal student loans to take advantage of this provision. This time period also will continue to count for loan forgiveness programs, such as the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program.
Extended Federal Tax Filing and IRA Contribution Deadlines
Outside of the CARES Act, the IRS extended the deadline to file 2019 federal tax returns to July 15. This also means that contributions to IRAs for 2019 can also be made until July 15.
These are only some of the features of the government’s Coronavirus response, which also includes wide-ranging benefits for businesses. Here is the Tax Foundation’s detailed breakdown of the full CARES Act.


One of the recurring themes throughout the year has been growth. As I mentioned, I lived the typical, busy college student schedule before entering the service term. Once I started serving at my host site, I realized that this was no longer needed to feel “accomplished” or “busy”. Sometimes a complicated fifteen-minute encounter trying to help a patient who is uninsured, speaks a different language than me, and has just heard a life altering diagnosis of diabetes is enough to exhaust someone. There was not a textbook or syllabus to guide in these interactions, so I quickly had to grow and be confident I could do my part efficiently and correctly.


Your business’ technology is extremely important to your business’ success and ensuring that it is functioning as designed has to be an ongoing priority. This can be harder than you may think. Today, we’ll go over how you can actively confront this challenge and keep your IT running as it should.


What Healthcare Organizations should know about the GDPR Data protection regulations define how an individual's personal information can be used by organizations, businesses and government. These regulations also contain safeguards that seek to ensure healthcare data is not susceptible to attack, misuse or misappropriation. As most know, misusing an individual's healthcare data or not properly following regulation guidelines can hold especially serious long-term consequences. This spring, the GDPR was adopted with the aim of having one set of rules applicable throughout the European Union (EU). This has significant implications not only for EU-based organizations, but also for non-EU based organizations that conduct business or business communications in EU countries. The GDPR further aims to ensure privacy by design or default, meaning that data protection measures must be implemented across all data processing activities and endpoints. These changes are not revolutionary; the key principles, concepts and themes of the current data protection system remain. The new rules build on what is already in place with the addition of several new requirements. The Healthcare industry is facing multiple challenges when it comes to protecting sensitive data. This paper provides an overview of how the recent EU General Data Protection Regulations will affect healthcare organizations.


Four hui have been held with iwi chief executives to help them access the Tai Tokerau regional decision-support tools being developed by the Mauri Whenua Ora research team, led by Dr Merata Kawharu with hui held by Garth Harmsworth (Te Arawa, Ngati Tuwharetoa, Ngati Raukawa).
Chief Executive input to the design of these tools and a gap analysis of Tai Tokerau economic development reports are important for ensuring that these tools effectively support hapū and iwi in achieving their land innovation goals.
The hui and gap analysis identified that:
There is interest in tools and models that can support iwi/Māori landowner decision-making, though these tools need to be tailored to iwi issues/aspirations Tools must support the complexity of iwi decision-making across social, environmental, economic-development, political and cultural goals While access to data relevant to answering iwi issues/aspirations is important to support decision-making, these data must be presented in a way that makes them meaningful, useful, and accessible to iwi and Māori landowners
GIS is of interest, but the value of GIS to iwi is dependent on their capacity to use GIS tools, the costs to set up the software, access it, and train iwi members in its use.
This work was funded by Our Land and Water to develop methods for co-designing iwi-relevant decision-support tools and the decision-support tools themselves, which will then be available to other groups developing such tools for iwi and hapū.
These decision support tools will ultimately help enable iwi and hapū to explore innovative land uses to realise their social, environmental, economic-development, political and cultural aspirations.
Māori play a significant role in New Zealand’s primary sector economy, including the pastoral, horticultural, cropping and forest industries. The asset base of Māori enterprises in 2010 was at least $36.9 billion. Māori enterprises in agriculture alone carry 10-15% of national sheep and beef stock units, provide 8-10% of the national milk solids, and contributed about $0.7 billion to the NZ economy in 2010.
Identifying and addressing barriers to innovative land uses by Māori will increase the impact in these sectors for both Māori and non-Māori, ultimately making a significant contribution to New Zealand economic, environmental, social and cultural outcomes.
Early uptake is evidenced by Tony Dowling (CEO Te Runanga o Ngapuhi) working with the Mauri Whenua Ora programme to bring together a small team to contribute to further gap analysis, with respect to information central to Ngapuhi development. Extension of the work to the Bay of Plenty icurrently underway will provide learnings for its national application.
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For more on this research project, see Mauri Whenua Ora


We aim to determine the efficacy and safety of gene and cell angiogenic therapies in the treatment of peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and evaluate them for the first time by a meta-analysis. We include in the formal meta-analysis only the randomized placebo-controlled phase 2 studies with any angiogenic gene or cell therapy modality to treat patients with PAD (intermittent claudication, ulcer or critical ischemia) identified by electronic search in MEDLINE and EMBASE databases (1980 to date). Altogether, 543 patients are analyzed from six randomized, controlled trials that are comparable with regard to patient selection, study design, and endpoints. We perform the meta-analysis regarding clinical improvement (improvement of peak walk time, relief in rest pain, ulcer healing or limb salvage) and rate of adverse events. At the end of treatment, therapeutic angiogenesis shows a significantly clinical improvement as compared to placebo in patients with PAD (odds ratio [OR] = 1.437; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.03-2.00; P = 0.033). The response rate (improvement of peak walk time) of the pooled groups according to clinical severity does not significantly differ for gene therapy as compared with placebo in the treatment of claudicating patients (OR = 1.304; 95% CI = 0.90-1.89; P = 0.16). Otherwise, we find significant efficacy of the treatment in critical ischemia (OR = 2.20; 95% CI = 1.01-4.79; P = 0.046). The adverse events rates show a slightly significantly higher risk of potential nonserious adverse events (edema, hypotension, proteinuria) in the treated group (OR = 1.81; 95% CI = 1.01-3.38; P = 0.045). We find no differences in mortality from any cause, malignancy, or retinopathy. The patients with PAD, and particularly those with critical ischemia, improve their symptoms when treated with angiogenic gene and cell therapy with acceptable tolerability.


Pattaya-
Pattaya City officials have stated that Pattaya City Public Schools, closed for roughly four months due to Covid-19, are finally set to re-open but that things will look very different under strict rules and regulations set into effect to help prevent the potential spread of Covid-19.
Among other measures, some of the rules and measures being taken are as follows:
1. Having screening measures, such as temperature checks and hand sanitizer stations before entering the school. Parents will not be allowed to enter the school area and pick-up and drop-off areas will be tightly controlled.
2. All staff and children must wear a face mask at all times when in school. Young children who find masks uncomfortable can wear a face shield instead.
3. Adequate hand washing with alcohol, gel, soap between every classroom with stations set up around the school.
4. Students will be in the same group for all classes-IE, they will go teacher to teacher with the same class and not have different students in each class.
5. High focus on sanitizing all surfaces of the school at all times, such as doorknobs and rails.
6. Reduce congestion, do not organize activities that result in the integration of children from different groups. At the start of the school season, there will be a limit/lack of sports, events that bring people together. As the situation is shown to hopefully not cause a spread of Covid-19 these rules will be relaxed.
7. 1.5 meter spacing between all desks.
8. All desks must have barriers around them.
9. Staggered lunch time schedules, students may not sit next to each other at lunch and must be separated 1.5 meters apart from each other.
10. Alternative scheduling for some students with alternating days of learning to avoid being exposed to a larger group of people.
11. Crosswalks being strictly manned and encouraging social distancing.
12. School staff devoted to ensuring students socially distance and do not gather, play and socialize in hallways or public spaces of the schools.
Critics on social media have expressed concern that the measures, which are stricter than nearly any business venue, will hurt the social development of children and are not needed based on the official recorded and confirmed number of cases of Covid-19 in Pattaya and Thailand. Pattaya has not recorded a single confirmed case of Covid-19 in 73 days.
However, the Ministry of Education has stressed that many parents remain concerned and were hesitant to send their children to school without the enhanced and strict rules and regulations. They stated that if the school re-opening did not show an emergence of the virus and new cases that rules would be gradually eased and relaxed to encourage social development of children and allow more activities.


The German Federal Network Agency has announced PV feed-in tariffs (FiTs) will suffer a monthly 1.8% degression, effective today and then on 1 June and 1 July.
The FiT is calculated depending on the number of installations from the previous quarter, which experienced a shortfall. Therefore this represents a slower degression when compared with the previous three months of 2.2%.
Jochen Homann, president of the Federal Network Agency, said that although PV systems installed in March exceeded the 2,500-3,000MW allocated for each year, the excess was not as significant as previous months, thereby negating a need for a steeper degression rate. By default, FiTs are reduced by 1% each month.
For March, the Federal Network Agency registered 290.5MW of installed capacity which qualified for the FiT.
Market research firm EuPD has forecast a significant reduction in new PV capacity in Germany in 2013 expecting only 3.9GW compared to 7.6GW installed in 2012.
The new FiT degression rate means systems up to 10kW will receive €0.1563 (US$20.433) per kWh starting 1 May.
From 1 June, the tariff will be reduced to €0.1535 per kWh, and on 1 July, the tariff will fall to €0.1507 per kWh. Larger systems up to 40kW will receive €0.1483, €0.1456 and €0.1430, respectively, while plants up to 1 MW will receive €0.1323, €0.1299 and €0.1275, respectively.
Finally, PV plants from 1 to 10MW in size will receive €0.1082, €0.1063 and €0.1044 in May, June and July, respectively.
The Federal Network Agency will announce the new tariff degression rate for the quarter starting 1 August in late July.


Dziobczenski, P.R.N., Person, O. & Meriläinein, S. (2018). Designing Career Paths in Graphic Design: A Document Analysis of Job Advertisements for Graphic Design Positions in Finland.
The Design Journal, 21 (3), 349-370. Abstract
How to practically monitor what is sought from designers in practice forms a basic concern for educators in design. In this paper, we analyse what employers require from applicants in 230 job advertisements for graphic design positions from Finland. We structure the requests stated in the advertisements in terms of what graphic designers are expected (a) to deliver, (b) to know, and (c) to have. We compare the specific requirements listed for traditional and digital graphic design positions. The results of our analysis suggest that the skill set outlined in the advertisements for traditional graphic design positions suggests a more ‘generalist’ professional, whereas the skill set outlined for digital positions suggests a more ‘specialist’ professional. We end the paper by discussing the implications of our findings for graphic design education and how our research process could inform educational programme developments.


The Digest’s 2016 8-Slide Guide to NREL’s High-Octane Mid-Level Ethanol Blend Market Assessment
by Jim Lane (Biofuels Digest) This past month, NREL published a critical assessment on the viability of High-Octane Mid-Level Ethanol Blends and the impact on US energy options. The complete assessment is here.
NREL writes:
The introduction of more stringent standards for fuel economy and GHG tailpipe emissions is driving research to increase the efficiency of spark ignition (SI) engines. Advanced strategies for increasing SI engine efficiency are enabled by higher octane number (more highly knock-resistant) fuels. Ethanol has a research octane number (RON) of 109, compared to typical U.S. regular gasoline at 91–93. Accordingly, high RON ethanol blends containing 20 vol% to 40 vol% ethanol are being extensively studied as fuels that enable design of more efficient engines. These blends are referred to as high-octane fuel. HOF could enable dramatic growth in the U.S. ethanol industry, with consequent energy security and GHG emission benefits, while also supporting introduction of more efficient vehicles. HOF could provide the additional ethanol demand necessary for more widespread deployment of cellulosic ethanol. However, the potential of HOF can be realized only if it is adopted by the motor fuel marketplace. This study assesses the feasibility, economics, and logistics of this adoption by the four required participants—drivers, vehicle manufacturers, fuel retailers, and fuel producers. It first assesses the benefits that could motivate these participants to adopt HOF. Then it focuses on the drawbacks and barriers that these participants could face when adopting HOF and proposes strategies—including incentives and policies—to curtail these barriers. These curtailment strategies are grouped into scenarios that are then modeled to investigate their feasibility and explore the dynamics involved in HOF deployment. This report does not advocate for or against incentives or policies, but presents simulations of their effects. READ MORE and MORE (Advanced Biofuels USA)
Excerpt from Advanced Biofuels USA: During a conversation after his speech, (US Department of Energy Secretary Dr. Ernest) Moniz recognized the major research on biofuels at DOE research centers at Oak Ridge, Berkeley and Great Lakes (Michgan State and University of Wisconsin). In particular, he mentioned researchers identifying E30 as a “sweet spot” for higher ethanol concentrations. READ MORE


Since the publication of her 2007 monograph Epistemic Injustice, Miranda Fricker’s conceptual framework of epistemic injustice has been widely discussed across disciplines as a useful lens through which we can explore how humans relate to one another as both knowers and seekers of knowledge. It has not, however, yet been widely discussed within the context of libraries and librarianship. Given the growing conversation in our field surrounding librarians’ role in communicating the importance of truth and the potential pitfalls of unchecked or unacknowledged bias, this is an important moment for librarians and information professionals to interrogate how we communicate about “facts” and the potential biases within our practice which may be supporting structural inequity.
In an era of intensive focus on equipping citizens, students in particular, with the intellectual tools necessary to detect fallacies masquerading as truth, it is equally important to reflect on what we as information professionals and educators are espousing when discussing who or what students can trust. What roles do testimony and lived experience have in our classrooms, research, and lives? Instruction which begins and ends with scholarly publishing neither adequately prepares students for the epistemic landscape they face, nor addresses the narrow perspectives which have been and continue to be privileged in scholarly conversations. By mapping Fricker’s notion of epistemic injustice on to ILI I hope to present a novel lens with which instruction librarians can consider how they address issues of authority both in their curriculum and pedagogy.


Therapy Areas Non-dystrophic Myotonias
Myotonic disorders are a group of rare, heterogeneous, inherited, neuromuscular disorders characterized by a shared symptom called myotonia. Myotonia can be described as an inability to relax a contraction of skeletal muscle which originates from a voluntary muscular contraction such as shaking someone’s hand and blinking, or everyday activities such as walking across a street and climbing stairs.
Non-dystrophic myotonias (NDM) are a sub-set of rare (prevalence of 1:100,000
1 ), inherited, myotonic disorders which are caused by mutations within ion channels in the sarcolemma membrane of skeletal muscles. Non-dystrophic myotonias exhibit both sodium and chloride channelopathies, resulting in altered membrane excitability. For patients with NDM, myotonia is the most prominent symptom and demonstrates different phenotypes in subgroups of NDM disorders, and can affect different parts of the body, such as legs, arms or facial muscles, more severely.
Myotonia symptoms in NDM patients has an onset in childhood, which is often perceived by patients to persist, and even increase in severity, over their lifetime, impacting daily life
2,3. Myotonia is described by patients in a variety of ways, and is often referred to as stiffness, cramps, pain, difficulty releasing a fist, or difficulty swallowing or eating. This can contribute to substantial delays in diagnosis and treatment, leading to decreased patient quality-of-life and often significant disability. Reference:1. Emery AE, et al. Neuromuscular Disorders 19912. Trivedi JR, et al. Exp Neurol 20143. Trip J, et al. J Neurol 2009


Balancer chromosomes are genetic reagents that are used in Drosophila melanogaster for stock maintenance and mutagenesis screens. Despite their utility, balancer chromosomes are rarely used in mice because they are difficult to generate using conventional methods. Here we describe the engineering of a mouse balancer chromosome with the Cre-loxP recombination system. The chromosome features a 24-centiMorgan (cM) inversion between Trp53 (also known as p53) and Wnt3 on mouse chromosome 11 that is recessive lethal and dominantly marked with a K14-Agouti transgene. When allelic to a wild-type chromosome, the inversion suppresses crossing over in the inversion interval, accompanied by elevated recombination in the flanking regions. The inversion functions as a balancer chromosome because it can be used to maintain a lethal mutation in the inversion interval as a self-sustaining trans-heterozygous stock. This strategy can be used to generate similar genetic reagents throughout the mouse genome. Engineering of visibly marked inversions and deficiencies is an important step toward functional analyses of the mouse genome and will facilitate large-scale mutagenesis programs.


J Int Soc Sports Nutr 13:1-015-0112-9, 2016 describe the efficacy of branched chain amino acid (BCAA) supplementation and resistance training for maintaining lean body mass during a calorie-restricted diet, and claim that this occurs with concurrent losses in fat mass. However, the reported results appear to be at odds with the data presented on changes in fat mass. This letter discusses the issues with the paper.


Abstract
The discovery that immunotherapy is a clinically-relevant approach for the treatment of malignant tumors is brain tumor, autologous HSPPC-96 vaccination provides a significant increase in overall survival. However, all GBM patients eventually succumb to their disease, providing rationale for discovering new methods that proactively identify individuals that will respond, optimally. Of the immunosuppressive mediators that contribute to the inhibition of productive tumor immunity, indoleamine 2, 3 dioxygenase 1 (IDO1), a rate-limiting enzyme that catabolizes tryptophan (Trp) into kynurenine (Kyn), has been demonstrated to be expressed at elevated levels in patients with malignant glioma. Recently, our group determined that a correlation exists between peripheral blood Trp and Kyn levels in GBM patients and the association with overall survival after HSPPC-96 treatment. Our findings indicate that the Kyn/Trp ratio may be a useful benchmark for identifying GBM patients with a higher likelihood to survive longer after vaccination. The relevance to future clinical trials, the limitations of brain tumor models to address these findings and the role of IDO1 versus tryptophan dioxygenase (TDO) in the maintenance of peripheral Trp and Kyn levels, is discussed.
Keywords Glioma IDO Immunosuppression Immunotherapy T cell Treg ASJC Scopus subject areas Immunology and Allergy Immunology Oncology


Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring An Overview
Heart rhythm monitoring is recommended when patients are exhibiting symptoms of heart rhythm disturbances such as arrhythmia, atrial fibrillation, palpitations, and dizziness. Buckeye Heart & Vascular Institute offers a full range of diagnostic testing to help identify various arrhythmias and abnormal heart rhythm problems.
What are the most common abnormal heart rhythms?
The most common abnormal heart rhythms include: Tachycardia, Atrial fibrillation (AF), Atrial flutter, Bradycardia, and Premature contractions (PAC). Abnormal heart rhythms can be fast, slow, or irregular. The type of treatment you receive for a heart arrhythmia will depend on the kind of abnormal beat.
Can you shower with a cardiac event monitor?
We do not recommend showering with a cardiac event monitor as water can damage the device and interfere with results. A a cardiac event monitor can be removed and reattached for personal hygiene reasons.
Can you drink coffee while wearing a Holter monitor?
We ask that you limit your coffee intake as well as alcohol consumption as these can cause heart rhythms not associated with heart problems and report inaccurate results.
Cardiac Rhythm Monitoring What to Expect Electrocardiogram (EKG)
EKG, also known as an electrocardiogram, is a test that measures the electrical activity of your heart at rest.
An EKG measures your heart’s electrical activity. During an EKG, your technician will place small electrode patches on the chest, legs, and arms. These electrodes are connected to a machine that will produce a detailed report on the hearts rate and rhythm.
An EKG is a quick, non-invasive test that allows your doctor to identify any abnormalities in the heart rhythm or rate, diagnose a heart attack, measure the size of the heart and analyze blood flow to the heart. An EKG is typically performed in one visit and only takes a few minutes for the computer to analyze the electrical impulses. Once completed, your physician will interpret the reading and determine if further testing or treatment is needed.
Holter Monitor
A Holter monitor is a small device that records your heart rhythm. A Holter monitor may be worn for 24 hours up to a week. The Holter monitor is attached to the chest using EKG electrodes and wires. The portable device is then secured to the belt loop, allowing patients to resume their normal activity after the appointment. It is imperative that patients do not get their device damp or wet because it can interfere with the results.
While in use, the Holter monitor records all of the heartbeats. The recordings are converted to the similar readings an EKG may provide. You may be asked to keep a diary of your symptoms while wearing the Holter monitor. With the information gathered from the Holter monitor, your physician can determine if you have a heart rhythm disorder.
Cardiac Event Monitor
Cardiac arrhythmias may occur sporadically, occurring every few days, weeks, or months. Cardiac event monitors allow patients to record their symptoms as they experience their symptoms. Patients will activate the EKG device which will record the heart rhythm at the time of activation. Patients are encouraged to keep an activity and symptom journal throughout this process.
A cardiac event monitor is a small, portable device that records your heart’s electrical activity. A cardiac event monitor records the heart rate and rhythm while a patient is experiencing a cardiac “event.” The monitor may be worn for several days or up to a month. Patients can remove their cardiac event monitor to perform their hygiene routine but will need to reattach it afterward. Your physician will explain how to use the device during your appointment.
Your physician will receive daily reports from the cardiac event monitor. Once treatment is completed, your physician will determine if any additional testing or treatment is needed.


Can You Sue a New Jersey Nursing Home for COVID-19 Infection or Wrongful Death?
Coronavirus continues to spread in nursing homes across New Jersey at an alarming rate, and NJ is not alone. According to
USA Today, at least 2,300 long-term care facilities across 37 states have reported positive cases of coronavirus. However, the figure could be much higher because many state agencies did not provide data. At least 3,000 residents have died in those facilities.
But can nursing home residents – or their family members, for that matter – sue the facility for COVID-19 exposure?
Police Discover 17 Bodies Piled Up in a New Jersey Nursing Home
A disturbing report came from
The New York Times on April 15. The police in Andover, a small New Jersey town, received an anonymous tip about a body lying in a shed outside Andover Subacute and Rehabilitation Center, one of the state’s largest nursing homes.
When the police arrived, the body had been removed from the shed, but officers discovered 17 bodies piled inside the facility in a small morgue that was only intended to hold four bodies. Those were 17 among 68 recent deaths linked to the nursing home. Of those who died, 26 had tested positive for COVID-19. The cause of death for others remains unknown.
Meanwhile, 76 patients who remain at the nursing home, housed in two buildings, have tested positive for COVID-19. Also, 41 workers contracted coronavirus.
The news comes as the number of New Jersey’s nursing homes where residents were diagnosed with coronavirus “more than doubled” in just a week, according to
NorthJersey.com. The number skyrocketed to 285, which is more than three-quarters of the state’s total number of nursing homes.
At least 252 residents of these facilities have died. These deaths account for one in eight of New Jersey’s total death toll from coronavirus.
Can a New Jersey Nursing Home Be Sued for COVID-19?
In light of these disturbing reports, many family members of nursing homes residents in New Jersey are wondering whether they can sue the facility for exposing their relative to coronavirus or causing wrongful death.
When suing a nursing home – or filing any personal injury claim – the plaintiff is required to prove that the nursing home failed to take “reasonable steps” to prevent the COVID-19 exposure or outbreak within the facility. In response to the pandemic, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued special guidelines for nursing homes to minimize the risk of COVID-19 outbreaks among senior citizens, the most vulnerable group of people.
Unfortunately, despite the older population being at higher risk for serious illness from coronavirus, many nursing homes fail to take reasonable measures to prevent the spread of the virus. But do family members of residents or residents themselves have any legal recourse against negligent facilities?
Theoretically speaking, yes, they do. However, much depends on whether you have sufficient evidence to prove that the nursing home failed to take reasonable measures to prevent the outbreak. Speak with a Morristown personal injury attorney to determine whether you have a valid claim against the nursing home to sue for COVID-19 exposure. Our lawyers at Law Offices of Michael P. Burakoff, P.A., can help evaluate your case. Call at 973-455-1567.
Resources:
northjersey.com/story/news/coronavirus/2020/04/11/nj-nursing-home-crisis-deepens-deaths-coronavirus-increase/5134089002/
nytimes.com/2020/04/15/nyregion/coronavirus-nj-andover-nursing-home-deaths.html
usatoday.com/story/news/2020/04/13/coronavirus-nursing-homes-2-300-facilities-report-positive-cases/2978662001/


Hexa ReportsMarket Research Reports and Insightful Company Profiles
Global Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Market Data,Global Insights, Share, Size, Emerging Trends, Growth,Analysis & Forecasts To 2025
‘The Global Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Market to 2025’ is GMR Data’s latest pharma report,covering the pharmaceutical, commercial and strategic developments in the global Self-Monitoring ofBlood Glucose (SMBG) market. The report highlights key companies, geographies and products that webelieve will deliver strong growth across the next decade.SMBG is now globally recognised as an integral part of intensive therapy for diabetes; SMBG providesincreasingly accurate blood glucose readings which offers significant benefits to diabetics and ultimately,financially, their healthcare providers.Browse Detail Report With TOC @http://www.hexareports.com/report/the-global-self-monitoring-of-blood-glucose-market/detailsThe SMBG market is primarily driven by the growing global diabetic population; a lack of a cure fordiabetes; increasing health education among the diabetic population, active reimbursement policies ofinsurers; the technological advancement aimed at minimal and non-invasive blood glucose testingmethods, alongside the availability of blood glucose meters at a nominal cost.The market for SMBG products has a future simply because of the growing incidence and prevalence ofdiabetes, increasing spending on healthcare and growing awareness and its implications. However, key
Hexa ReportsMarket Research Reports and Insightful Company Profileschallenges remain such as data accuracy, affordability and reimbursement which need to be addressedby the manufacturers, insurance companies and national health authorities.‘The Global Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose Market to 2025’ report includes over 200 tables, chartsand graphs quantifying and forecasting the market in detail. In addition, the report offers 9 profiles ofthe leading companies in the...


Question
If a FAR such as 52.291-9 Small business Plan is specified in the Government's Request for Proposals (RFPs) but the DoD suplement is not specified in the RFP, does the supplement apply?
Answer
This question deals with FAR Subpart 15.2 – Solicitation and Receipt of Proposals and Information. FAR 15.201(a) lays the foundation principle that contracting officers are encouraged to promote early and open communication amongst all interested parties. With this principle in mind, FAR 15.201(b) through (e) provides detailed suggestions further supporting the intent to foster maximum understanding through communication. FAR 15.201(f) emphasizes the contracting officer as the focal point of any exchange with potential offerors after release of the solicitation. According to the scenario presented in this question, the solicitation is a request for proposals (RFP). Thus, potential offerors should contact the contracting officer or, their designated representative as indicated in the RFP, with any and all questions seeking clarification of the government’s requirement in this instance.
Open full Question Details


Why Sit when you have the option of Moving???? My Personal Fitness Program I was ignorant of the importance and how 84% of my behavior dictated my current illnesses that I suffer with as a 63 year young female. I never realized the damage of a sedentary lifestyle until I was diagnosed with sciatica a few years ago. Sitting for long periods while doing homework and before that, I had jobs in the past that I sat for hours on the phone. Somewhat ironic that I worked for a hospital, and their mission statement stated "preventative care" as part of their selling point. Unfortunately, there were no programs in place to ensure that the staff was trained in preventive care to prevent lower back issues. Not to mention the additional illnesses that plague a person from sitting too long. The majority of people that I worked with are probably suffering from similar problems to this day. In the United States, physical inactivity is the second most significant threat to public health and is often referred to in new concerns about "Sitting Disease" and "Sedentary Death Syndrome" or SeDs, (Hoeger, Hoeger, Hoeger, & Fawson, 2017, p. 3). In the past, I danced as a form of exercise. However, I stopped and never joined a gym or fitness center. The factors that have kept me from exercising in the past, "I'm too busy," "I don't enjoy working out," and "I'm in shape already." To the contrary, it is not about being shapely. However, it is about being in shape. I met with my medical doctor , and I am scheduled to start a weight management program through my doctor's office to gain a jump start. Furthermore, I realize a critical component is that God created our bodies to be mobile as we serve Him in the kingdom.
You must start an exercise regiment as soon as possible. It's too late on your death bed to start the conversation, what I should have done, it's too late at that time. You can do this!!!


While lifting in general will lead to hypertrophy, recent studies have shown that lifting higher reps 10+ can lead to hypertrophy without necessarily strength because the endurance required more water to be retained in the muscles resulting in a larger appearance. Lifting within 3-6 reps drastically increases strength without necessarily muscle size.While the muscle fibers will grow, its the increase in water retention that really expands the muscles.
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Whether your organization’s Executive Director was promoted from within or hired from outside the organization, Basic Training can prepare him/her for successful leadership.
This key role is responsible for a wide range of accountabilities. Being effective at all of them requires preparation and commitment to excellence.
Important areas of preparation include leading the staff, partnering with the board of directors, working with staff and board to develop and execute a fundraising plan, being an ambassador for your mission, ensuring your nonprofit is fiscally sound, identifying potential risks, engaging in strategic planning, building relationships with donors and other supporters, managing volunteers, and marketing to your community.
Contact Nonprofit Kinect today for a free consultation on how your organization can ensure top-notch training for your Executive Director.


School transport is a significant operation managed by Bus Éireann on behalf of the Department.
The purpose of my Department's School Transport Scheme is, having regard to available resources, to support the transport to and from school of children who reside remote from their nearest school.
In the 2018/2019 school year over 117,500 children, including over 13,000 children with special educational needs, were transported in over 5,000 vehicles on a daily basis to primary and post-primary schools throughout the country covering over 100 million kilometres at a cost of over €200m in 2018.
Under the terms of the Primary School Transport Scheme, children are eligible for transport where they reside not less than 3.2 kms from and are attending their nearest national school as determined by the Department/Bus Éireann, having regard to ethos and language.
A minimum number of 10 eligible children residing in a distinct locality, as determined by Bus Éireann, are required before consideration may be given to the establishment or retention of school transport services, provided this can be done within reasonable cost limits.
Families who wish to avail of school transport and have their eligibility status assessed should apply on-line in a timely manner to Bus Éireann
on Bus Éireann’s website at www.buseireann.ie.


What is Colourful Semantics? Colourful Semantics is an intervention approach created by Alison Bryan. It is aimed at helping children develop grammar (syntax) by linking it to the meaning of words (semantics). It's an excellent way of supporting vocabulary development, spoken and written language and narratives.
Who is Colourful Semantics suitable for?
This intervention can be used to help children with a variety of needs from those who are just starting to develop language and have limited vocabulary, to confident talkers who struggle to organise the grammatical content of their sentences. It is a very visual approach incorporating Makaton, colour and symbols and is therefore ideal for children with the following needs:
Specific Language Impairment
Developmental Language Delay
Autistic Spectrum Conditions
Down Syndrome
Literacy difficulties
EAL children
How does it work?
Colourful Semantics reassembles sentences after first breaking them down into thematic roles and colour coding them accordingly. The approach has four key colour-coded stages. Once these first four stages are mastered, additional levels are gradually introduced to include adverbs, adjectives, prepositions, conjunctions and negatives.
Who can deliver this within our school?
Once it has been established that a child's language can be a supported in school and does not require a full SaLT diagnosis, we can work with you to set appropriate targets for individual learners. The intervention can be delivered 1:1 or in a small group. As with all of our interventions, for greatest impact in the classroom, we aim to work closely with staff to ensure we incorporate current topic vocabulary and narrative.
Whole school approach
The Colourful Semantics method can also be embedded as part of a whole school approach to boost literacy attainment and phonics teaching.
For an informal chat about Speakwrite delivering this intervention within your school, drop us a line, give us a call.


Your sense of sight is a complex process that relies on the flawless function of numerous components in your visual system. Any infirmities to these eye structures may interfere with the way light rays are bent when they enter your eyes, leading to refractive errors. Here, your local eye doctor from Shady Grove Eye and Vision Care discusses four types of refractive errors:
Astigmatism
A cornea that is asymmetrically curved or a lens with an uneven surface may cause astigmatism. This can lead to blurry, wavy, or even distorted near- and far-range vision. It’s usually corrected with toric lenses, which have a sliced donut shape to compensate for your eyes’ structural irregularities, allowing you to see clearly at different refractive levels.
Presbyopia
This refractive error is general age-related. Over time, the natural lenses of your eyes start to become more rigid, limiting their flexibility. This results in a decline in their focusing ability, making it difficult for you to see nearby objects clearly. We may recommend wearing bifocal lenses, which contain prescriptions for both your distant and near viewing ease. We also suggest undergoing a comprehensive eye exam so we can check for any other signs of age-related eye problems.
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Having an overly curved cornea or an elongated eyeball causes light to incorrectly focus in front of the retina rather than directly upon it. People with myopia can see nearby objects clearly, but distant objects appear blurry. We may advise wearing prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses to help you see better.
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
An eyeball that’s unusually short or a cornea that’s too rigid may cause light to incorrectly settle at the back of your retina. People with hyperopia struggle to see nearby objects, while their far-range vision remains sharp. Wearing prescription eyewear is the standard treatment for this refractive error.
We may also suggest using ortho k lenses or undergoing laser eye surgery once we determine the best method for your situation. We’ll explain your condition and available options in detail during your visit. Call us today at (301) 859-4060 or fill out our contact form to schedule an appointment.


Published in: Psychonomic Bulletin & Review, Volume 24, Issue 6, December 2017, 1906-1914 Abstract “Knowing the place-value of digits in multi-digit numbers allows us to identify, understand and distinguish between numbers with the same digits (e.g., 1492 vs. 1942). Research using the size congruency task has shown that the place-value in a string of three zeros and a non-zero digit (e.g., 0090) is processed automatically. In the present study, we explored whether place-value is also automatically activated when more complex numbers (e.g., 2795) are presented. Twenty-five participants were exposed to pairs of four-digit numbers that differed regarding the position of some digits and their physical size. Participants had to decide which of the two numbers was presented in a larger font size. In the congruent condition, the number shown in a bigger font size was numerically larger. In the incongruent condition, the number shown in a smaller font size was numerically larger. Two types of numbers were employed: numbers composed of three zeros and one non-zero digit (e.g., 0040–0400) and numbers composed of four non-zero digits (e.g., 2795–2759). Results showed larger congruency effects in more distant pairs in both type of numbers. Interestingly, this effect was considerably stronger in the strings composed of zeros. These results indicate that place-value coding is partially automatic, as it depends on the perceptual and numerical properties of the numbers to be processed.” Written by: Javier Garcia-Orza, Alejandro J. Estudillo, Marina Calleja, José Miguel RodriguezFor full text: https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-017-1231-x


Event
Bhutan’s Ministry of Health confirmed the first case of coronavirus (COVID-19) in the country on Thursday, March 5. The case was identified in a tourist who arrived at Paro International Airport (PBH) from India on Monday, March 2, and later visited a medical facility after suffering from symptoms related to COVID-19. Upon confirming the virus, the individual was placed in isolation and health officials have begun contact tracing. At least eight other passengers from the flight have been quarantined and 90 people from contact tracing are being tested for the virus.
In response to the confirmed coronavirus case, the country has implemented quarantine measures to prevent further spread. Schools in Thimphu, Paro, and Punakha will close for two weeks from Friday, March 6, and all international conferences and seminar are also postponed. Temporary restrictions on tourists are also in effect for 14 days to allow for monitoring and the assessment on the infection. Additional restrictions are possible as the government assesses the situation over the next two weeks.
Further international spread of COVID-19 is to be expected over the coming days and weeks.
Context
The first case of COVID-19 was reported on December 31 and the source of the outbreak has been linked to a wet market in Wuhan (Hubei province, China). Human-to-human and patient-to-medical staff transmission of the virus have been confirmed. Many of the associated fatalities have been due to pneumonia caused by the virus.
Cases of the virus have been confirmed in numerous countries and territories worldwide. Virus-screening and quarantining measures are being implemented at airports worldwide, as well as extensive travel restrictions. On February 28, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared that the risk of spread and the risk of impact of the virus is "very high" at the global level.
Pneumonia symptoms include dry cough, chest pain, fever, and labored breathing. Pneumonia can be contagious and can be transmitted from human to human. The influenza virus, or the flu, is a common cause of viral pneumonia.
Advice
Potentially impacted travelers are advised to monitor the situation, confirm travel itineraries, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities and their home governments.
To reduce the risk of transmission, travelers are advised to abide by the following measures:
Frequently clean hands by applying an alcohol-based hand rub or washing with soap and water. When coughing and sneezing, cover mouth and nose with a flexed elbow or tissue; if used, throw the tissue away immediately and wash hands. If experiencing a fever, cough, and difficulty breathing, seek medical care urgently and share your previous travel history with your health care provider.
In the case that symptoms suggestive of respiratory illness emerge either during or after travel, travelers are encouraged to seek medical attention and share their travel history with their health care provider. Travelers returning from China, South Korea, Italy, and Iran who develop symptoms of pneumonia are advised to call emergency services before going to the doctor or hospital to prevent the potential spread of the disease.


Abstract
Objective: The aims were to 1) establish which of the four algorithms for estimating residual noise level and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) in auditory brainstem responses (ABRs) perform better in terms of post-average wave-V peak latency and amplitude errors and 2) determine whether SNR or noise floor is a better stop criterion where the outcome measure is peak latency or amplitude. Design: The performance of the algorithms was evaluated by numerical simulations using an ABR template combined with electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings obtained without sound stimulus. The suitability of a fixed SNR versus a fixed noise floor stop criterion was assessed when variations in the wave-V waveform shape reflecting inter-subject variation was introduced. Study sample: Over 100 hours of raw EEG noise was recorded from 17 adult subjects, under different conditions (e.g. sleep or movement). Results: ABR feature accuracy was similar for the four algorithms. However, it was shown that a fixed noise floor leads to higher ABR wave-V amplitude accuracy; conversely, a fixed SNR yields higher wave-V latency accuracy. Conclusion: Similar performance suggests the use of the less computationally complex algorithms. Different stop criteria are recommended if the ABR peak latency or the amplitude is the outcome measure of interest.
Bibliographical noteFunding Information:
This work was supported by the Carlsbergfondet and Oticon Foundation.
Keywords ABR latency and amplitude errors Auditory brainstem response, signal quality estimators post-averaged noise estimators


The global
residential lighting fixtures market size is expected to reach USD 21.17 billion by 2025, according to a new report by Grand View Research, Inc. It is projected to expand at a CAGR of 5.9% during the forecast period. The rapid replacement of traditional lights with more energy-efficient and economical lighting fixtures is expected to remain a prominent trend. Furthermore, rising middle-class population in developing countries including China, India, Bangladesh, and Philippines as a result of urban development and increasing number of employment opportunities is projected to have a positive impact on the market.
The Light-emitting Diodes and Organic Light-emitting Diode (LED & OLED) led the market in 2018, contributing to over 50% of revenue share. High energy-efficiency and durability is anticipated to drive the growth. This segment is expected to witness steady growth in the upcoming years owing to the implementation of government initiatives aimed at encouraging the adoption of energy-efficient LED lighting instead of incandescent lighting.
Ceiling and wall mounted together held the largest share of the global residential lighting fixture market with over 60% of the total revenue share in 2018. These products illuminate the whole room and make it appear brighter and larger. In addition, availability of a wide range of ceiling and wall mounted fixtures appropriate for different types of homes and décor is anticipated to bode well for the product demand.
Asia Pacific held the leading market share of more than 45% in 2018. Rising number of residential buildings in emerging economies including China, India, and Philippines on account of easy loan assistance by banks for home construction is expected to expand the use of lighting equipment. Additionally, the increasing number of smartphone users in these countries is expected to encourage manufacturers to launch products in their online stores.
Key manufacturers include Koninklijke Philips N.V.; Cree Inc.; General Electric; Hubbell Lighting, Inc.; Acuity Brands, Inc.; Eaton Corporation; Panasonic Corporation; OSRAM Licht AG; Nichia Corporation; and Everlight Electronics Co., Ltd. New product launches is expected to remain a key competitive strategy in the forthcoming years.
Click the link below: https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/residential-lighting-fixtures-market Further key findings from the report suggest: Ceiling segment generated a revenue of more than USD 4 billion in 2018 LED and OLED product segment is expected to account for a market share of 59.3% in terms of revenue by the end of 2025, owing to excellent energy efficieny of the products. Middle East and Africa is expected witness the fastest CAGR of 6.2% from 2019 to 2025. The scope for electrification along with government initiatives in African countries including Nigeria, Kenya, and Ethiopia is projected to open new avenues Asia Pacific led the residential lighting fixture market with more than 45% of revenue share Online distribution channel is expected to expand at a CAGR of 8.7% from 2019 to 2025


Deals and volumes of investment-grade corporate bonds
Investment-grade corporate bonds worth ~$12.2 billion were issued in the primary market in the week ending February 5, 2016. This was lower than the $23.1 billion we saw issued the previous week, and the number of issuers fell to 12 from 14 the previous week.
However, last week, the yield on investment-grade corporate bonds nudged up. As a result, the weekly returns of the T. Rowe Price New Income Fund (PRCIX) and the Janus Flexible Bond Fund Class A (JDFAX) were flat.
Major Issuers Issuance by quality and maturity
Fixed-rate issues formed 94.3% of the total issuance while floating-rate issues worth $0.7 billion were raised in the week ending February 5. As for the credit ratings of issues, AAA-rated issuers were the most prolific, making up 46.6%, or $5.7 billion, of the total issuance. These were followed by A-rated issuers, which formed 40.7% of the week’s issuance. BBB-rated papers formed 9.4% of the total issuance.
In terms of maturity, the largest chunk of issuance, making up 38.9% of all issues, was in the five-year maturity category. This was followed by the three-year maturity category, which commanded 35.6% of the total issuance, and the ten-year maturity category, which made up 12.9% of the total issuance that week.
Meanwhile, long-term maturity categories, such as the 30-year, made up 2.9% of the total issuance, while >30-year category did not see any issuance for the fourth consecutive week. Perpetuals made up 1.2% of total issuance last week.
In the next part of this series, we’ll highlight the major deals from the week ending February 5, including pricing, credit rating, and yields.


In a recent post, I argued that labels can create a sense of community — and are therefore beneficial in some ways. Stereotypes, on the other hand, are problematic, because they restrict how we behave (girls have to be feminine, boys must like sports, etc.).
I’m a firm believer in questioning my opinions on a regular basis — and re-thinking them, if need be. The following is a quote from writer and philosopher Jiddu Krishnamurti, who most definitely disagrees with me on labels:


Abrupt high-latitude climate events and decoupled seasonal trends during the Eemian Journal article, Peer reviewed Published version Permanent lenkehttp://hdl.handle.net/11250/2585412 Utgivelsesdato2018 MetadataVis full innførsel OriginalversjonNature Communications. 2018, 9:2851. 10.1038/s41467-018-05314-1 Sammendrag
The Eemian (the Last Interglacial; ca. 129–116 thousand years ago) presents a testbed for assessing environmental responses and climate feedbacks under warmer-than-present boundary conditions. However, climate syntheses for the Eemian remain hampered by lack of data from the high-latitude land areas, masking the climate response and feedbacks in the Arctic. Here we present a high-resolution (sub-centennial) record of Eemian palaeoclimate from northern Finland, with multi-model reconstructions for July and January air temperature. In contrast with the mid-latitudes of Europe, our data show decoupled seasonal trends with falling July and rising January temperatures over the Eemian, due to orbital and oceanic forcings. This leads to an oceanic Late-Eemian climate, consistent with an earlier hypothesis of glacial inception in Europe. The interglacial is further intersected by two strong cooling and drying events. These abrupt events parallel shifts in marine proxy data, linked to disturbances in the North Atlantic oceanic circulation regime.Abrupt high-latitude climate events and decoupled seasonal trends during the Eemian
Beskrivelse
Open Access This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons license, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article’s Creative Commons license, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material.


As the parent of a newborn baby, you may rely on the knowledge and experience of your medical professionals to do what it takes to get your baby here safely. To protect newborns, childbirth typically must move at the right pace and attending physicians generally need to avoid or mitigate complications. When doctors act recklessly or in a wanton manner, life-altering birth injuries could occur. These situations should be evaluated by a seasoned Troy birth injury lawyer to determine if a lawsuit is warranted. If your baby is suffering from a birth injury, your family may be entitled to compensation.
Contact a skilled medical malpractice lawyer to learn about potential legal options that could be applicable to your case. A birth injury could present many challenges in the future and may incur unexpected medical costs. Financial compensation from a negligence claim could substantially help a family address those concerns.
Common Causes of Birth Injuries
Birth injuries can be caused by many different factors, some of which may be unavoidable and others of which are preventable with proper care. The majority of avoidable birth injuries typically can be linked to a few common causes which may include:
Delay in delivering the baby Medical professionals not recognizing labor complications Failing to perform a C-section when warranted Failing to use other emergency procedures when necessary Inappropriate use of forceps, vacuum extraction, or other birthing devices Physician Negligence
The aforementioned causes may all be traced back to negligence by the physician or other medical care providers. The legal concept of negligence often involves four main factors and is generally used by birth injury lawyers in Troy seeking to help plaintiffs recover compensation in civil court. Typically, to demonstrate medical malpractice in a birth injury a claimant may need to show that a doctor owed them a duty of care breached the duty of care and that their reckless actions exactly and proximately caused their child’s injuries. These injuries may also need to result in damages.
After a patient-doctor relationship is established, physicians typically have a duty to act in a manner that other reasonable physicians with the same level of training and experience would have acted. When the physician or other healthcare provider does not act in such a manner, they could be accused of breaching their duty of care.
Simply breaching a duty does not always warrant a lawsuit. The breach typically must have caused an injury to the patient. In other words, there generally must be a direct and provable link between the actions of the physician and the injury that occurred.
There typically must also be damages incurred from the injury. These could be financial damages, physical damages, or even emotional damages. However, the plaintiff often bears the burden of proving their damages exist, as well as demonstrating how they stemmed from the defendant’s actions.
Comparative Fault and Birth Injuries
As found in New York Civil Practice Law & Rules §4011a, New York State generally follows a pure comparative fault law. This typically means that, when applicable, a civil court could assign a percentage of fault to the plaintiff in a birth injury case. For instance, if the mother did not follow the instructions of her doctor to remain on bed rest or take a certain medication, the mother may be found partially at fault for any ensuing damages.
The percentage of fault assigned to the plaintiff may reduce their compensation by the same amount. If the case does not make it to trial, this law could also be considered during settlement negotiations between the plaintiff’s Troy birth injury attorney and the defendant’s legal team.
Talk to a Troy Birth Injury Attorney
Birth injury cases are often complex and frequently require a lot of research and preparation prior to filing. At the same time, the circumstances surrounding a birth injury can be heartbreaking to families who want to move forward with their lives. If you and your family have suffered the devastating effects of a birth injury, consider contacting a Troy birth injury lawyer. They could examine the facts in your case and potentially help identify how a medical professional may have acted negligently.


Abstract
This qualitative multicase study explored the process through which three student caregivers engaged in relationships with key infants in the context of an infant practicum course as a foundation for learning about infant development and practice. Focusing on caregiver–infant dyads, data sources included videotaped observations of caregiver–child interactions across three time points in a semester, and student caregivers’ weekly reflective notebooks and assignments. Findings from this study revealed the power and value of relationships as an essential context for learning about infant development, infant care and education, and preparation of infant professionals. Ample time and supported opportunities to develop authentic relationships with infants and their families, and a framework for reflection on relationships and practice were provided through a well-constructed and supervised infant practicum, which is recommended for both early childhood preservice students and those preparing for related disciplines. Our findings suggest that infant caregiving provides valuable professional knowledge which can be applied across the early childhood continuum.


Chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is a condition where a pool of blood slowly collects between the surface of the brain and the brain’s outer covering called the dura. This is caused by blood seeping from small, bridging veins at the surface of the brain, often as a result of a very mild trauma. This condition is often seen in elderly patients and, if the hematoma grows large enough, can cause headaches, gait imbalance, and stroke-like symptoms due to the blood pushing on the brain. The incidence of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) is believed to be increasing due to the aging patient population and increased use of anticoagulants and antiplatelet agents.
Symptoms of chronic subdural hematoma (cSDH) include :
If a patient requires treatment for their chronic subdural hematomac (cSDH), the typical treatment involves open surgical approaches and drainage of the hematoma. However, significant research is underway to assess the role of endovascular treatments for this disease state.


It's appealing to ignore a sluggish drain and continue on with your regular routine in Shreveport. It's just a nuisance, right?
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Cerebral palsy (CP) is a complex brain disorder that can involve both physical and cognitive disabilities. It most often develops at or near birth. It is often preventable if a physician recognizes the obvious risks that can lead to brain injuries at birth and takes...
Personal Injury Law Is All We Do


The human body is stereotypically defined by having one heart, one brain and multiple sets of appendages: arms, legs, eyes, ears… Even if all mammals, including humans, start out with the same female body construct in-utero— men’s nipples are a vestige of the original female body plan—the interplay of genetics […]
Throughout history, society has been influenced by a series of factors such as governmental and non-governmental bodies, their laws and rules, media, education, economic factors (GDP, poverty, unemployment) science, technology, globalization and many others. If the influence spread more or less globally, very often the consequences had to be dealt […]


Atanasova, Dimitrinka (2019)
Moving society to a sustainable future:The framing of sustainability in a constructive media outlet. Environmental Communication, 13 (5). pp. 700-711. ISSN 1752-4032
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Abstract
News reporting on sustainability has been criticized for (1) having a limited coverage of solutions, (2) reporting on solutions with a negative bias, (3) being dominated by sources from government and mainstream business, and (4) promoting frames that prioritize the role of the market and techno-scientific solutions, which leave unchallenged the unsustainable behavior of consumer societies and the focus on economic growth. This study was the first to examine how sustainability is reported in a constructive media outlet and found that articles (1) consistently elaborated solutions, (2) described them in optimistic ways, (3) quoted various sources, and (4) developed a frame that challenged consumerism and critiqued society’s preoccupation with growth while helping to imagine a desirable sustainable future. It is thus argued that this novel, constructive approach to journalism can help move society to a sustainable future by expanding the repertoire of culturally-resonant stories to live by.


Cheung, Jacqueline Tak-York
Jacqueline Cheung is a recent M. Ed. graduate from the University of British Columbia, and has a position in the Ministry of Social Services in Canada.
1997 0-7734-8544-9
This volume examines the learning models of workplace training. The dominant model in North America is the behavioral approach, with strong emphasis on classroom-based and formal group activities. Three emerging alternatives to this model are examined: action regulation theory, critical reflectivity model, and "working-class adult education" approach. This analysis provides an overview of these models, examines the retraining scheme adopted in Hong Kong in 1992, its origin and evolution, model of training, an appraisal of its results, and provides recommendations and criticisms. It includes a bibliography of recent reports, press releases, studies and speeches on the subject.


Abstract
Zika virus (ZIKV) is an arbovirus that caused widespread panic beginning in 2015 in northeastern Brazil due to the threatening link between infection and fetal abnormalities such as microcephaly, spontaneous abortions, and stillbirths. Since the epidemic began, the virus has been further investigated, unveiling that the long-term dangers of ZIKV infection go beyond fetal neurological impairment. Characterization of the active infection has proven difficult as only 20% of infected individuals are symptomatic. Additionally, ZIKV is often misdiagnosed due to serological cross-reactivity with similar flaviviruses such as dengue, yellow fever, and West Nile. To date, there is no approved vaccine or therapy against ZIKV, highlighting the urgent need to accurately identify active infection to help minimize the spread of the virus. Herein, we describe a highly specific and sensitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to detect early active ZIKV using neutralizing human monoclonal antibodies isolated from infected patients in Brazil that do not cross-react with dengue viruses 1-4 and bind directly to a ZIKV immunodominant epitope. The calculated limits of detection of active ZIKV fall within the physiological ranges of the virus in human bodily fluids. This selective immunoassay creates the platform required for future translation toward a point-of-care assay for ZIKV, a necessity to diagnose active ZIKV in the remote regions of which it thrives.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Chemistry(all) Chemical Engineering(all)


Introduction: The objective of our study was to estimate the incidence of prescribing medication errors specifically made by a trainee and identify factors associated with these errors during the simulated resuscitation of a critically ill child. Methods: The results of the simulated resuscitation are described. We analyzed data from the simulated resuscitation for the occurrence of a prescribing medication error. We compared univariate analysis of each variable to medication error rate and performed a separate multiple logistic regression analysis on the significant univariate variables to assess the association between the selected variables. Results: We reviewed 49 simulated resuscitations. The final medication error rate for the simulation was 26.5% (95% CI 13.7% - 39.3%). On univariate analysis, statistically significant findings for decreased prescribing medication error rates included senior residents in charge, presence of a pharmacist, sleeping greater than 8 hours prior to the simulation, and a visual analog scale score showing more confidence in caring for critically ill children. Multiple logistic regression analysis using the above significant variables showed only the presence of a pharmacist to remain significantly associated with decreased medication error, odds ratio of 0.09 (95% CI 0.01 - 0.64). Conclusion: Our results indicate that the presence of a clinical pharmacist during the resuscitation of a critically ill child reduces the medication errors made by resident physician trainees.


Severe flooding occurred near the Austin metropolitan area in central Texas September 7–14, 2010, because of heavy rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Hermine. The U.S. Geological Survey, in cooperation with the Upper Brushy Creek Water Control and Improvement District, determined rainfall amounts and annual exceedance probabilities for rainfall resulting in flooding in Bell, Williamson, and Travis counties in central Texas during September 2010. We documented peak streamflows and the annual exceedance probabilities for peak streamflows recorded at several streamflow-gaging stations in the study area. The 24-hour rainfall total exceeded 12 inches at some locations, with one report of 14.57 inches at Lake Georgetown. Rainfall probabilities were estimated using previously published depth-duration frequency maps for Texas. At 4 sites in Williamson County, the 24-hour rainfall had an annual exceedance probability of 0.002. Streamflow measurement data and flood-peak data from U.S. Geological Survey surface-water monitoring stations (streamflow and reservoir gaging stations) are presented, along with a comparison of September 2010 flood peaks to previous known maximums in the periods of record. Annual exceedance probabilities for peak streamflow were computed for 20 streamflow-gaging stations based on an analysis of streamflow-gaging station records. The annual exceedance probability was 0.03 for the September 2010 peak streamflow at the Geological Survey's streamflow-gaging stations 08104700 North Fork San Gabriel River near Georgetown, Texas, and 08154700 Bull Creek at Loop 360 near Austin, Texas. The annual exceedance probability was 0.02 for the peak streamflow for Geological Survey's streamflow-gaging station 08104500 Little River near Little River, Texas. The lack of similarity in the annual exceedance probabilities computed for precipitation and streamflow might be attributed to the small areal extent of the heaviest rainfall over these and the other gaged watersheds.


I begin by drawing attention to the efficiencies in the pooling of longevity and investment risk that collective funded pension schemes provide over individual defined contribution (IDC) pension pots in guarding against your risk of living too long. I then turn to an analysis of those collective schemes that promise a defined benefit (DB): an inflation-proof income in retirement until death, specified as a fraction of your salary earned during your career. I consider the concepts and principles within and beyond financial economics that underlie the valuation and funding of such a pension promise. I assess the merits of the ‘actuarial approach’ to funding an open, ongoing, enduring DB scheme at a low rate of contributions invested in ‘return-seeking’ equities and property. I also consider the merits of the contrasting ‘financial economics approach’, which calls for a higher rate of contributions set as the cost of bonds that ‘match’ the liabilities. I draw on the real-world case of the UK’s multi-employer Universities Superannuation Scheme (USS) to adjudicate between these approaches. The contrasting investment strategy of London’s SAUL pension scheme, the objectives of the Pensions Regulator, the significance of the Pension Protection Fund, and the decision of Trinity College Cambridge to withdraw from USS to protect itself against being the ‘last man standing’, all figure in the discussion.


Maximizing resources for a leading university
Rice University’s New Emerging Science & Technology (NEST) Center is a renovated lab housed within the George R. Brown Bioengineering Lab, a building that took home R&D magazine’s “Lab of the Year” award in 1992. Challenged to design a space that would better foster “the business” of research, NEST represents a radical departure from existing lab design at Rice University.
Early on, the client determined that two departments would be housed in this space, but rather than claim individual territories, we co-located the departments to maximize lab space and promote interdisciplinary research. We further maximized lab space by clustering all bench and support space into one wing and all work areas in a perpendicular wing, in a completely open floor plan, thereby reducing the amount of dedicated corridor space needed. Marking collaboration zones in the laboratory areas are collaboration portals, which are defined by bright green, writable glass panels. This allows users to walk mere feet from their bench to a large writing area where multiple people can gather.
Compared to the lab that previously occupied the space, NEST delivers 20% more lab area, 30% more bench space and a 9.5% increase in student/researcher efficiency.
We are sharing resources, and students and faculty from different groups can collaborate on bold new projects. We have established, decorated faculty rubbing elbows with emerging young faculty, and they will all be better researchers because of it.
Ned Thomas, Dean, George R. Brown School of Engineering, Rice University


A professional service robot is defined as a semi- or fully autonomous robot for automation of commercial tasks, excluding manufacturing operations.
Service robots for professional use are experiencing a technological revolution. A rapid proliferation in robot capabilities – driven by innovations in machine learning, artificial intelligence, adaptive computing and vision systems – is causing the market to nearly triple in value.
~
Robot Industries Association


Is Alcohol Testing a Violation of the ADA?
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA) prohibits employer discrimination against individuals with disabilities and requires employers to offer reasonable accommodations to employees with disabilities who can otherwise perform the essential functions of their jobs. Employers may not ask prospective employees about the nature or severity of disabilities or require them to take a medical examination before making a job offer.
If an employer requires all job applicants to take a medical examination before beginning work and always makes final job offers conditional on the satisfactory result of those medical examinations, it may require disabled job applicants to complete the same examination. After a person starts work, a medical examination must be job-related and a business necessity. Alcohol testing qualifies as a medical examination under the ADA.
To avoid conflicting with the requirements of the ADA, alcohol testing must be intimately linked to business necessity and the essential functions of the job. In general, it should not concern an employer if an employee drinks after work or even has a drink or two over lunch — as long as that lunchtime drink does not adversely affect afternoon performance. It should be noted, however, that the ADA does not protect individuals who consume alcohol while at work.
Likewise, an employer who knows that an employee is a recovering alcohol may not routinely subject that employee to alcohol testing if the presence of alcohol in the employee’s system would not affect his or her ability to perform the essential functions of her job or pose a significant threat to other employees or to customers. For example, an employee whose job requires him or her to perform data entry, answer the phone, scrub bathrooms, or write memos will not pose a significant threat to other employees or to customers and may be able to perform the essential functions of the job even with alcohol in his or her system. In such a case, alcohol testing would probably violate the ADA’s anti-discrimination requirements. But someone whose job requires driving a vehicle, operating heavy machinery, or performing surgery would pose a significant threat to others. So in these and similar cases, alcohol testing would not violate the ADA.


The objective of this scheme is to encourage undertakings to invest in their business, innovate, expand, and implement compliance directives or to develop their operations. Such undertakings which may include self-employed persons and will be supported through a tax credit representing a percentage of the eligible expenditure including wages of newly recruited employees.
Due to significant distortions in the economy caused by unforeseen events, for those applications received in 2020, the Corporation may disburse part of the tax credit awarded as a cash grant.
Documentation
Applicants are required to hold all the documentation related to their application in a separate file. This file shall be made available to the Corporation or its appointed auditor on request. The beneficiary will keep the records for ten (10) years from the issuing of the IEC.
Application Annexes De Minimis Declaration (2020)


Thus, those astute leaders study and network beyond their bailiwick. Most of them consume content and make connections voraciously, both within their professional genre and beyond.
For example, those versatile leaders might explore content along the following lines:
Manufacturing - to understand better how to identify and mitigate bottlenecks in production. Faith-based - to understand better the search for meaning, for themselves and for pursuing worthy organizational goals. Psychology - to understand better how and why humans act, react, and interact the way they do. Marketing - to understand better how to reach target audiences with the goods and services they produce. Science - to understand better how the most current research informs practice. Health - to understand better how movement, peace, hydration, and nutrition (in both their literal and figurative forms) impact performance and longevity.
You get the idea. Those truly wise leaders understand that they can never understand enough, and that they most certainly cannot understand enough if their learning focus is narrow.


Increasingly, critical realist scholars have been discussing the implications of realist theories of causality for the research methods we use in the social sciences. The usual view – which I will agree with – is that realism is compatible with a wide range of different research methods. But I will suggest that for realists there is a gap between conventional methods and the explanatory task, and then speculate a little on how we might fill that gap in practice.


The Iowa Women’s Foundation (IWF) has announced the launch of their new campaign to increase the recognition of child care providers as essential, professional workers. The campaign, “CAREforce for our WORKforce”, aims to provide easily-accessible public information regarding how to support child care providers during and after the pandemic.
The announcement was announced on the same day as National Provider Appreciation Day, which recognizes child care professionals yearly on the Friday before Mother’s Day.
“Child care workers are not babysitters — they are highly-trained professionals who provide the critical early childhood support kids need for success later in life,” said Dawn Oliver Wiand, Executive Director for IWF. “They’re essential for parents. They’re essential for businesses. And essential for society as we know it.”
In celebration, IWF will distribute window clings, stickers, posters, and yard signs proudly displaying the new CAREforce for our WORKforce logo, and a web page launch is currently in the works.
Individuals looking to support their local child care professionals can visit https://iawf.org.careforce for a list of supplies and services that can be donated. Those interested in participating in the CAREforce for our WORKforce campaign as a volunteer may contact dawn@iawf.org for more information.


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Hisashi Tanigawa, Haidong Lu, Gang Chen, Anna Wang Roe; Functional subdivisions in macaque V4 revealed by optical imaging in the behaving Macaque monkey. Journal of Vision 2008;8(6):227. doi: https://doi.org/10.1167/8.6.227.
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In macaque V4, it has been proposed that there are several subdivisions based on patterns of connectivity and visual topography (Zeki, 1971; Maguire and Baizer, 1984). Zeki (1983) reported that color selective cells were more frequently found in the anterior bank of lunate sulcus (V4 proper), as compared with the cortex on the prelunate gyrus (V4A). However, this finding was based on qualitative observation and there has been no study to confirm this finding. Here, we studied the functional organization of V4 using intrinsic signal optical imaging in two alert macaque monkeys and examined whether there is any functional subdivision in V4 in relation to color, luminance, and orientation preferences. Intrinsic signals were obtained through a chronic chamber over the portion of V4 representing foveal and parafoveal visual space ([[lt]]1.5° and 3–7° eccentricity, respectively). To reveal feature representation, a patch (0.25–8°) or full-screen stimulus filled with isoluminant color-varying or achromatic luminance-varying gratings was presented while the monkey was performing a fixation task. Visual activations in V4 showed a stimulus-size dependence: small grating patches activated the cortex more strongly than the full-screen gratings, consistent with the presence of strong surround suppression. In the foveal V4, color/luminance and orientation mapped in the different cortical locations. Color and luminance-sensitive regions were located posteriorly, close to the lunate sulcus (within 2 mm), alternating with a band-like appearance (color/luminance domains). The width of these domains was approximately 0.5 mm. In a region anterior to these domains, orientation-sensitive regions were observed (orientation domains). These two types of domains were largely separated but with some overlap. Within the color/luminance domains, different colors activated separate sub-domains. This functional compartmentalization was also observed in the parafoveal V4. These results indicate that there are distinct functional subdivisions in V4, which appear to correspond to the subdivisions proposed previously (V4 proper/V4A).
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