A true compass always points to the magnetic north pole – that fixed location by which travelers and explorers confidently orient for direction no matter the surrounding circumstances. For nearly 240 years, the United States has uncompromisingly placed its trust in God – a spiritual true north that has likewise anchored our moral compass. This simple act of humble confession, derived from deeply held Judeo-Christian values, has offered strength in wartime, dignity and compassion toward those less fortunate, solace in times of national grief and hope in the face of unprecedented challenges. We see these principles woven into the very fabric of our founding documents. They give substance to the liberties we all cherish and echo in the speech and prayers of godly patriots who rose up together at the birth of America.
These were the same individuals who penned the Declaration of Independence, designed the Constitution, orchestrated each significant Amendment and crafted the Bill of Rights. There was no impassioned argument calling for the removal of God from the affairs of men, no disdain in setting aside the work of government to beseech God’s wisdom and direction on bended knees, no angst over publically recognizing His influence in life and culture. To imply otherwise is a distortion of the historical narrative and would require a complete suspension of the truth.
President and signer of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams, said this about America’s liberty, “Statesman may plan and speculate for liberty, but it is religion and morality alone that can establish the principles upon which freedom can securely stand.” If he is right, then it no wonder that the majority of American’s believe our nation is going in the wrong direction.
President Ronald Reagan understood, “Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. Without God there is no virtue because there is no prompting of the conscience…without God there is a coarsening of the society; without God democracy will not and cannot long endure…If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a Nation gone under.” Today, the battle for faith and religious freedom has been elevated to the forefront of our national discourse. For years now, there have been targeted efforts to remove God from the marketplace of ideas and practice.
While religious persecution against any faith should be vigorously condemned at every turn—and we often do so when it targets the innocent adherents of Islam and Judaism—today, across many parts of the world, arrests, imprisonment, re-education camps and even extreme acts of barbarism by cowardly terrorists, such as the beheading of children, are all too common atrocities being perpetrated upon people of faith who hold Christian convictions.
Many continue to deny this could never happen within the United States. However, just a few short decades ago, most citizens also never envisioned an America where the Ten Commandments would be reviled in our court houses, where businesses had to accept mandatory healthcare provisions that violate the conscious or the sanctity of life, where activist outcries are made over a humble nativity in a public park at Christmastime, valedictorians having their speeches scrubbed of all religious terminology, a pastor being threatened with arrest for holding a Bible study in his home, military chaplains facing court martials for praying in the name of Jesus, even students being suspended for simply saying, “Bless you” after a classmate sneezed…and the list could go on.
The phrase, “In God We Trust,” first drawn from The Star Spangled Banner in 1812, has been engraved on our currency since 1864 and was adopted as the National Motto in 1956. On November 1, 2011, the U.S. House of Representatives, under the leadership of Congressmen, J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) and Mike McIntyre (D-NC), along with 64 other bipartisan cosponsors, voted overwhelmingly (396-9) to reaffirm these historic words as the official motto of the United States. Yet, the anti-faith movement—who wrongfully misapply Jefferson’s comments regarding the Separation of Church and State—relentlessly seek to induce a sense of public shame and conjure up images of radical intolerance among those who hold biblical beliefs.
Inspired by the landslide vote, the Congressional Prayer Caucus Foundation has launched the “In God We Trust. Put It Up!” initiative as part of a proactive strategy supported by government leaders, celebrities, and faith-based organizations as a way to protect God’s enduring and rightful place. To join the In God We Trust MILLION WINDOW Campaign, go to www. InGodWeTrust.com. The United States lies at the threshold of a significant crossroad: either to acknowledge and embrace the vibrant character of our spiritual heritage or to plunge headlong into the postmodern void—a value neutral and amoral vacuum that seeks to deconstruct much of what we consider sacred. Will you be an American patriot of the 21st Century?
You can join millions of Americans who are affirming their trust in God – and the freedom to proclaim it – by displaying this 3″ x 6 ” window decal in your home, office or vehicle. Actual decal has clear background.


This research investigated yeast populations and diversity during pre-fermentation cold maceration and alcoholic fermentation of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot noir grapes from a commercial vineyard (Dayton, OR). Fermentations were conducted at the Oregon State University research winery in 100 L tanks while grapes from the same vineyard lot were fermented at a commercial winery. Samples were taken daily during pre-fermentation maceration (9°C) and alcoholic fermentation (27°C) and plated on WL and lysine media to determine Saccharomyces and non-Saccharomyces populations and diversity. Total non-Saccharomyces populations increased from 1 x 10³ cfu/mL to 1 x 10⁵ cfu/mL during pre-fermentation cold maceration and reached a maximum of 1 x 10⁷ cfu/mL during alcoholic fermentation. Thirteen distinct yeast species were tentatively identified based on appearance on WL media and were initially screened for β-glucosidase activity using 4-methyllumbelliferyl-β-D-gluconopyranoside (4-MUG) plates. The identity of the isolates screening positive for β-glucosidase activity was determined by sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of the 26S rDNA gene. The five isolates identified were Metschnikowia pulcherrima, Hanseniaspora uvarum, Kluveromyces thermotolerans, and two Saccharomyces cerevisiae isolates. β-glucosidase activity was further characterized and quantified using a liquid media representing grape must conditions (pH 3.5, 20° Brix) at two temperatures (25°C and 8°C). While increasing sugar concentration suppressed the β-glucosidase activity of H. uvarum (-99%), β-glucosidase activity still remained relatively high for M. pulcherrima, S. cerevisiae isolate 1, and S. cerevisiae isolate 2. At 8°C, β-glucosidase activity was reduced for M. pulcherrima compared to activity at 25°C, but activity increased for K. thermotolerans, S. cerevisiae isolate 1, and S. cerevisiae isolate 2.The yeast isolates possessing β-glucosidase activity were used in fermentations of Vitis vinifera L. cv. Pinot Noir grapes. The grapes were treated with high hydrostatic pressure (HHP) to inactivate naturally occurring yeast and bacteria. All yeast isolates grew during pre-fermentation cold maceration (7 days at 9°C) and populations increased 3 to 4 logs. Following pre-fermentation cold maceration, all ferments were warmed to 27°C and inoculated with S. cerevisiae RC212. Alcoholic fermentations were all complete within eight days and after pressing wines were analyzed for volatile aroma compounds by SPME-GC-MS. The presence of different yeast isolates during pre-fermentation cold maceration resulted in wines with unique aroma profiles. Ethyl ester concentrations were highest in the wine that did not undergo a pre-fermentation cold maceration, while concentrations of branch-chained esters were higher in the treatments with yeast present during pre-fermentation cold maceration. Pre-fermentation cold maceration with yeast isolates demonstrating β-glucosidase did not affect the concentration of β-damascenone or β-ionone. Wines that had undergone pre-fermentation cold maceration with S. cerevisiae isolate 1, S. cerevisiae isolate 2, and a combination of all isolates resulted in over twice the concentration of β-citronellol over wines that did not undergo a pre-fermentation cold maceration.


Trend in corn prices
Corn futures contracts for March 2016 expiry were trading near the crucial support of $3.70 per bushel on February 4, 2016. Prices fell for the second consecutive trading day. They fell below the critical support. The volume of the contracts rose by 18.6%. The open interest fell slightly by 0.39% on February 4, 2016. Prices trade above the 20-day and 50-day moving averages of $3.65 and $3.67 per bushel on February 4, 2016. The prices are expected to remain in the projected channel.
The above chart indicates that prices could be $3.75–$3.65 per bushel in the short term.
Price drivers
Despite a strong weekly export sales report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, corn prices fell on February 4, 2016. CONAB, Brazil’s National Food Supply Agency, raised the 2015–2016 corn production by 1 million tons. It pushed US soybean prices down. Statistics Canada reported that the inventory for marketing year 2015–2016 could fall by 17% and impact corn prices.
In contrast, the US dollar depreciated by 0.81% on February 4, 2016. It supported the corn export sentiment.
Stocks review
The fall in corn prices pushed the corn inventory’s value down for corn trading and producing businesses. Tyson Foods (TSN) fell by 1.8% on February 4, 2016, for the third consecutive trading day. During the period, it fell by 4.4%. Ingredion (INGR) and ConAgra Foods (CAG) fell by 1.1% and 2.7% on February 4, 2016. They continued to drag prices down from the upward channel. However, CHS (CHSCP) recovered from the fall the previous day. It rose slightly by 0.10% on February 4, 2016. The PowerShares DB Agriculture Fund (DBA) continued its downward movement. It fell by 0.50% on February 4, 2016.


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A significant saving in your motoring costs! Why Carbon Clean? Cleaning the carbon from your car’s engine every once in a while is a very good idea, giving you the benefits of increased performance, improved fuel economy and the reduced likelihood of a breakdown as well as benefits to the environment due to the reduction in harmful emissions.
Any vehicle that has covered more than 10,000 miles, or is used regularly for ’round town’ driving, benefits from having a “Carbon Clean” – particularly Diesel vehicles fitted with DPF’s.
A typical carbon clean will improve fuel economy by up to 10%, saving the average motorist approximately £200 per year in improved fuel economy.
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Beneath a towering granite pavilion, in the smallest state park in Massachusetts, is an unassuming gray boulder with outsized historic and economic importance: Plymouth Rock.
The Rock draws a million visitors a year. Tourism is a powerful economic engine for Plymouth, employing 4,000 workers and generating $30 million annually in local taxes.
Five miles down the coast is Rocky Point, and the town’s other giant economic engine: Pilgrim Nuclear Power Station. Pilgrim is the second-largest private employer in Plymouth. Its approximately 600 workers take home an average paycheck over $100,000 — double the typical wage in town. And the plant pays the highest property taxes in Plymouth.
In May, the nuclear plant is shutting down for good. And Plymouth — known as “America’s Hometown” — will have to adjust to life post-Pilgrim.


Cognitive-behavioral treatment reduces attrition in treatment-resistant obese women: results from a 6-month nested case-control study. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this nested case-control study was to compare the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral treatment (CBT) for treatment-resistant obese (body mass index [BMI] ≥ 30 kg/m²) women compared with standard dietary treatment. The main outcome measures were attrition and weight loss success. METHODS: We designed a 6-month case-control study, nested within a cohort of adult (age ≥ 18 years) treatment-resistant (history of at least two previous diet attempts) obese women. Cases were 20 women who were offered CBT sessions. Controls (n=39) were randomly selected from the source population and matched to cases in terms of baseline age, BMI, and number of previous diet attempts. RESULTS: Compared with controls, cases were significantly more likely to complete the 6-month program in both age-adjusted (odds ratio [OR]=2.94, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.05-8.97) and multivariate-adjusted (OR=2.77, 95% CI=1.02-8.34) analyses. In contrast, cases were not more likely to achieve weight loss success in age-adjusted (OR=1.32, 95% CI=0.86-1.67) and multivariate-adjusted (OR=1.21, 95% CI=0.91-1.44) analyses. CONCLUSIONS: Compared with a standard dietary treatment, CBT was significantly more effective in reducing attrition in treatment-resistant obese women, without differences in terms of weight loss success....


When crises occur, empowerment of the individual is rarely thought of as the solution.
Yet, fulfilment of society depends on the individual.
The individual is concrete, while society is not.
Society cannot flourish if individuals do not prosper.
People face today significant barriers in most ambits of their life: occupation, health, education, etc.
EMPOWERMENT is the answer.
On this subject, and more specially on the housing crisis, you can read:


13 July 2020
As the world’s economy becomes increasingly transnational, and debtors, their assets, and creditors are scattered across multiple jurisdictions, the need for consistency and efficiency in the cross-border administration of insolvency proceedings has become more pressing. Variations among legal systems have resulted in inconsistent, duplicative, time-consuming and costly efforts to recognise and enforce insolvency-related judgments in different jurisdictions, creating legal uncertainty and other complications in the administration of cross-border insolvency proceedings.
The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) attempted to foster international cooperation in the administration of cross-border insolvencies through its Model Law on Cross-Border Insolvency (MLCBI), but there remained an ambiguity in the recognition and enforcement of judgments related to insolvency proceedings, especially where enforcement of the foreign judgment was inconsistent with local law.
The Model Law
As a result, in 2014, UNCITRAL gave a mandate to its Working Group V on Insolvency Law to develop a model law that specifically provides for the recognition and enforcement of insolvency-related judgments. The Working Group collaborated with UNCITRAL’s 60 member states and the representatives of 31 observer states and 34 inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations to develop the Model Law on Recognition and Enforcement of Insolvency-Related Judgments .
On 2 July 2018, UNCITRAL adopted the Model Law, which is designed to address both the gap in international law regarding the cross-border recognition and enforcement of judgments that arise as a consequence of, or are materially associated with, insolvency proceedings; and the uncertainty in interpreting certain provisions of the MLCBI “in terms of providing the necessary authority for such recognition and enforcement as a form of relief available on recognition of a foreign insolvency proceeding.”
How the Model Law works
The Model Law seeks to address these issues through its primary characteristics: harmonisation and flexibility. It offers enacting states a “simple, straightforward and harmonised procedure for recognition and enforcement of insolvency-related judgments” while remaining flexible in its integration into each enacting state’s legal system. Importantly, the Model Law is intended to supplement the MLCBI, and in fact mirrors its provisions and definitions in many respects, as well as the existing legal frameworks of the enacting states.
For example, as international insolvency practitioners, we know the terminology used in insolvency proceedings can vary by jurisdiction. Where a term or expression is likely to vary among enacting states, the Model Law offers more inclusive defined terms, such as “insolvency proceeding” (as opposed to liquidation, reorganisation or bankruptcy) and “insolvency representative” (rather than trustee, foreign representative, liquidator, judicial administrator etc). It also describes terms or expressions in brackets as placeholders for jurisdiction-specific information – like the name of the court, body, or authority designated to perform the specified function – allowing the enacting state’s legislators to use the term specific to that jurisdiction.
Additionally, the Model Law offers optional provisions, such as one allowing the enacting state to refuse the recognition of an insolvency-related judgment when it originates from a state whose “insolvency proceeding” would not be subject to recognition under the MLCBI.
The Model Law also contains two noteworthy exceptions to recognising and enforcing insolvency-related judgments. Enacting states may refrain from taking any action that would be “manifestly contrary” to their public policy. Further, the Model Law enumerates the following specific grounds for the refusal of recognition and enforcement:
improper notice to the defendant in the proceeding that gave rise to the insolvency-related judgment; the judgment was obtained by fraud; the judgment is inconsistent with a judgment entered in the enacting state involving the same parties; the judgment is consistent with an earlier judgment entered in another state involving the same parties and subject matter; recognition and enforcement would interfere with the administration of the debtor’s insolvency proceeding; the judgment materially affects the rights of creditors generally and their interests were not adequately protected in the proceeding that led to the judgment; and the court issuing the judgment did not have jurisdiction. Defining an “insolvency-related judgment”
As its name suggests, the Model Law’s distinguishing feature is that it applies to “insolvency-related judgments”, which previously had not been fully addressed by other UNCITRAL insolvency texts. The Model Law provides a broad definition of “judgment” to include any decision, such as a decree, order, or determination of costs and expenses, “issued by a court or administrative authority”. To fall within the Model Law’s scope, an insolvency-related judgment must “arise… as a consequence of or [be] materially associated with an insolvency proceeding”, and be “issued on or after the commencement of that insolvency proceeding”. Importantly, the judgment must have been rendered in a proceeding in a state other than the enacting state in which recognition and enforcement are sought; the location of the insolvency proceedings to which the judgment relates is immaterial.
The Model Law’s Guide to Enactment provides a non-exhaustive list of judgments that fall within the definition of “insolvency-related judgment”, including judgments dealing with the constitution and disposal of assets in the insolvency estate; judgments determining whether a transaction involving the debtors or assets of its insolvency estate should be avoided because it was a preferential transaction or a transaction at an undervalue; judgments involving a director or representative liability for the debtor’s actions while insolvent or in the period approaching insolvency; judgments determining that sums are owed to or by the debtor or the insolvency estate; judgments confirming or varying a plan of reorganization or liquidation or approving a voluntary or out-of-court restructuring agreement; and judgments for the examination of a director of the debtor, where that director is located in a third jurisdiction.
Decisions or orders commencing insolvency proceedings and interim measures of protection are explicitly excluded from the Model Law’s scope. Further, it is unclear whether insolvency-related arbitral decisions are considered “insolvency-related judgments” under the Model Law, as they may not come from an “administrative authority.”
The Model Law’s impact and success
While it is still too early to evaluate the Model Law’s impact and success, its design as a supplement to the MLCBI and the enacting state’s existing legal structure, rather than an overhaul of existing insolvency frameworks, suggests that it will succeed (at least partially) in making the recognition and enforcement of insolvency-related judgments more consistent and efficient. Moreover, though the Model Law intends to respect the insolvency schemes of the respective enacting states, UNCITRAL cautions against excessively modifying the Model Law and frequently invoking its exceptions. That said, enacting states are still free to make the necessary modifications to protect their own legal processes and domestic creditors, which could result in the very complications the Model Law was intended to eliminate.
The Model Law’s success also depends on the number of states that enact it. By way of comparison, over 45 jurisdictions have adopted the MLCBI, including Australia, Canada, Colombia, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, New Zealand, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, South Africa, the UK, BVI, Gibraltar, and the US; however, several European nations have not adopted it and are governed by the separate EU regulation (EC No. 1346/2000) on insolvency proceedings. This same EU regulation provides for the recognition and enforcement of judgments that “derive directly from and are closely linked to… insolvency proceedings”. Because this EU regulation seems to address the recognition and enforcement of insolvency-related judgments, and several European nations have opted to implement its framework and rejected the MLCBI, it is unlikely that these same nations will adopt the Model Law.
Finally, as mentioned above, it is unclear whether insolvency-related arbitral decisions fall within the scope of the Model Law. As the law develops and the Working Group continues to issue guidance on its enactment, practitioners should expect to see developments on this issue.


Temporary bridge enables full vehicular and pedestrian access throughout construction
(Toronto, Ontario) – 16 July 2020 – Acrow Bridge, a leading international bridge engineering and supply company, has announced that its Canadian company, Acrow Limited, recently designed and supplied a 112.6-meter-long three-span structure to minimize work zone traffic disruptions during a bridge replacement project in Bayfield, Ontario.
The Bayfield River Bridge, a 70-meter-long two-span deck truss bridge on Highway 21 was constructed in 1949. By 2017, it had reached the end of its service life and preliminary planning for a full replacement was initiated. As the route provides critical access not only for local residents but also for the region’s significant tourism industry, the approved project necessitated the installation of a temporary bridge to provide an on-site detour for vehicles and pedestrians while the replacement bridge was being rebuilt.
The modular steel detour bridge designed and supplied for the project consists of three spans of 18.3m, 76m and 18.3m for a total length of 112.6m, with a roadway width of 9.1m and a live load of two lanes of CL-625-ONT. The bridge has a TL-4 guardrail system, a 1.5m cantilevered sidewalk, and features an anti-skid epoxy aggregate deck surface.
The long length and heavy weight of the main span created numerous challenges to the launching and erection of the bridge. Due to the minimal footprint available to assemble components on-site, the components were delivered in stages to accommodate installation. The bridge was erected on rollers, with additional rollers on top of the piers required for ease of erection and a safe launch. The bridge was then moved to its final position, lowered and set on both abutment and pier bearings to complete construction.
Delivered to contractor Looby Construction in mid-February, the rental bridge was constructed in about four weeks and opened to traffic on April 13. It will remain in service for a minimum of 10 months while a replacement bridge is being built.
“In addition to the obvious safety benefits, detour bridges allow traffic to be maintained at full capacity and speed during construction, decreasing the impact on the traveling public and local businesses”, said Gordon Scott, Director of Operations and Sales, Acrow Limited. “They also offer significant cost-savings by helping ensure a project stays on schedule – a key benefit for both contractors and government agencies alike.”
Bill Killeen, Acrow CEO added, “The rental market has gained a strong foothold in the highway construction industry for its many benefits, and I will add to Mr. Scott’s words by writing that this Acrow bridge will also provide significant regional trade benefits through the flow of commerce not being restricted. Acrow modular bridges are also an ideal solution for use as permanent structures as they are manufactured with high strength, high quality U.S. steel from ISO-certified mills and galvanized to protect against corrosion.”


Abstract
PURPOSE Burkitt lymphoma is an aggressive B-cell lymphoma curable with dose-intensive chemotherapy derived from pediatric leukemia regimens. Treatment is acutely toxic with late sequelae. We hypothesized that dose-adjusted etoposide, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone, and rituximab (DA-EPOCH-R) may obviate the need for highly dose-intensive chemotherapy in adults with Burkitt lymphoma. METHODS We conducted a multicenter risk-adapted study of DA-EPOCH-R in untreated adult Burkitt lymphoma. Low-risk patients received three cycles without CNS prophylaxis, and high-risk patients received six cycles with intrathecal CNS prophylaxis or extended intrathecal treatment if leptomeninges were involved. The primary endpoint was event-free survival (EFS), and secondary endpoints were toxicity and predictors of EFS and overall survival (OS). RESULTS Between 2010 and 2017, 113 patients were enrolled across 22 centers, and 98 (87%) were high risk. The median age was 49 (range, 18-86) years, and 62% were $ 40 years. Bone marrow and/or CSF was involved in 29 (26%) of patients, and 28 (25%) were HIV positive. At a median follow-up of 58.7 months, EFS and OS were 84.5% and 87.0%, respectively, and EFS was 100% and 82.1% in low- and high-risk patients. Therapy was equally effective across age groups, HIV status, and International Prognostic Index risk groups. Involvement of the CSF identified the group at greatest risk for early toxicity-related death or treatment failure. Five treatment-related deaths (4%) occurred during therapy. Febrile neutropenia occurred in 16% of cycles, and tumor lysis syndrome was rare. CONCLUSION Risk-adapted DA-EPOCH-R therapy is effective in adult Burkitt lymphoma regardless of age or HIV status and was well tolerated. Improved therapeutic strategies for adults with CSF involvement are needed (funded by the National Cancer Institute; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT01092182).
ASJC Scopus subject areas Oncology Cancer Research


Walmart Foundation grants help build a food secure community and provide needed equipment to assist in the effort.
City of Santa Maria Mayor Alice Patino, County of Santa Barbara elected officials, the Foodbank’s board of directors and Walmart executives will attend the event.
The Foodbank has been awarded grants totaling more than $150,000 to help fund their “Building a Food Secure Community” project, enroll low income families in the SNAP program and increase their infrastructure with the purchase of a refrigerated van.
Additional support through food donations and volunteer support will also be recognized.
Walmart and the Walmart Foundation provide donations of both food and funds to Feeding America and its nationwide member network of 200 food banks, including the Foodbank of Santa Barbara County.
These grants align with Walmart’s commitment to create a more sustainable food system, including a goal of providing four billion meals to those in need in the US over the next five years.
With food insecurity remaining high throughout the country, the ability to distribute more food is critical for food banks.
According to the USDA, about 49 million people, including 16 million children, in the United States are food insecure, which means at some point during the year, they won’t know where their next meal will come from.
In Santa Barbara County, one out of four people receive some level of services from the Foodbank.
“These funds are significant in the effort to build a food secure community, reaching youth, families and the community at large,” said Erik Talkin, CEO of Foodbank of Santa Barbara County. “The Foodbank acknowledges the Walmart Foundation for their recognition and support of these critical programs.”
The money awarded to Foodbank will go a long way in helping to fund 2016 programs, including expanding the organization’s food literacy programs, distributing produce to local families in need and ensuring that the community has access to a reliable source of produce year-round.
The event will be held at the Foodbank’s Santa Maria Warehouse, and it will also highlight the newly purchased Grocery Rescue van.
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Foodbank of Santa Barbara County aims to transform health by eliminating hunger and food insecurity through good nutrition and food literacy.


Policy Rationale
We are consolidating several existing exploitation policies that were previously housed in different sections of the Community Standards into one dedicated section that focuses on human exploitation and captures a broad range of harmful activities that may manifest on our platform. Experts think and talk about these issues under one umbrella — human exploitation.
In an effort to disrupt and prevent harm, we remove content that facilitates or coordinates the exploitation of humans, including human trafficking. We define human trafficking as the business of depriving someone of liberty for profit. It is the exploitation of humans in order to force them to engagein commercial sex, labor, or other activities against their will. It relies on deception, force and coercion, and degrades humans by depriving them of their freedom while economically or materially benefiting others.
Human trafficking is multi-faceted and global; it can affect anyone regardless of age, socioeconomic background, ethnicity, gender, or location. It takes many forms, and any given trafficking situation can involve various stages of development. By the coercive nature of this abuse, victims cannot consent.
While we need to be careful not to conflate human trafficking and smuggling, the two can be related and exhibit overlap. The United Nations defines human smuggling as the procurement or facilitation of illegal entry into a state across international borders. Without necessity for coercion or force, it may still result in the exploitation of vulnerable individuals who are trying to leave their country of origin, often in pursuit of a better life. Human smuggling is a crime against a state, relying on movement, and human trafficking is a crime against a person, relying on exploitation.
Do not post: Content or exhibit behavior that may lead to human exploitation, which includes any of the following: Sex Trafficking, covering minors and adults; The sale of children for illegal adoption; Orphanage Trafficking and Orphanage Volun-tourism; Forced Marriages; Labor Exploitation (incl. bonded labor); Domestic Servitude; Non-regenerative Organ Trafficking; Forced Criminal Activity (e.g. forced begging, forced drug trafficking); Recruitment of Child Soldiers. Content geared towards the: Recruitment of potential victims through force, fraud, coercion, enticement, deception, blackmail or other non-consensual acts. Facilitation of human exploitation by coordinating, transporting, transferring, harboring or brokering of victims prior or during the exploitation. Exploitation of humans by promoting, depicting, or advocating for it. Content that offers or assists in smuggling of humans.


Le Déjeuner sur l'herbe Law aimed at combating illegal speech on the internet, also known as Avia law after its original proponent, Laetitia Avia.
At the heart of the Law lie two notice-and-take down mechanisms: the first requires operators of online platforms to remove terrorist content and child pornography within 1 hour from receiving a notification from the competent administrative authority; the second mandates upon operators of online platforms to remove various types of hatred speech within 24 hours from receiving a notice from a user.
The Law was adopted despite
Marc Zuckerberg’s best lobbyingand an opinion from the European Commission, warning France that its provisions might be in breach of Arts. 3, 14 and 15 of the Electronic Commerce Directive.
This week, the French Constitutional Court
partly quashed the Avia law, stating that the notice-and-take down measures envisaged therein jeopardise freedom of expression and of communication in a manner, which is not adequate, necessary or proportionate to the aim pursued.
Now held unconstitutional, Art. 1 of the Avia law was set to introduce amendments to
Law No 2004-575 on confidence to the digital economy(“LNEC”), which transposed into French law the provisions of the Electronic Commerce Directive. As mentioned, according to Art. 1(1) of the Avia law amending Art. 6-1 LNEC, operators of online platforms, such as social media, marketplaces or search engines, would have had to remove terrorist content and child pornography within 1 hour from receiving a notification from the competent administrative authority. In turn, Art. 1(2) would have introduced a new Art. 6-2 in LNEC, whereby operators of online platforms should have removed various types of “manifestly illegal” hatred speech within 24 hours from receiving a relevant notice from a user. Such operators of online platforms are defined with reference to Art. L111-7(I)of the French Consumer Code and would have been targeted regardless of whether they are established in the French territory. At the same time, only the operators with a high number of unique visitors would have fallen under the scope of application of Art. 1 of the Avia law. The exact threshold was expected in an implementing degree but would have inevitably included such social media platforms as YouTube, Facebook or Google.
Failure to comply with take-down obligations entails criminal and administrative liability. Art. 6 of the Avia law, which remains in place after the Constitutional Court’s decision, increases the maximum criminal fine for individuals from EUR 75 000 to EUR 250 000, in addition to a one-year imprisonment. In turn, Art. 7 of the Avia law, which was recognised as unconstitutional, would have allowed the
High audio-visual council (CSA)to impose an administrative sanction on online platforms that failed to comply with the notice-and-take down obligations. Similarly to amounts found in the GDPR, such sanction could be in the amount of up to 4% of the annual worldwide turnover or EUR 20 million.
During the drafting stage and as mentioned, the European Commission
issued an opinion, warning the French government that the then bill and the prospective amendments to the LCEN Law, might be in breach of Arts. 3, 14 and 15 of the Electronic Commerce Directive.
The Commission brought to the attention of French legislators, first, that the proposed amendments to the required content of a notice would not be compliant with the minimum requirements, as set in the settled case law of the Court of Justice of the European Union. While under
L’Oréal, C-324/09a notification needs to be sufficiently precise and adequately substantiated, the new mechanism would have not required the notifier to identify the exact location of the relevant content. Indeed, Art. 1bis, to which the Commission referred with this comment and which was at a later stage replaced with more strict conditions, originally required the notifier only to describe the notified content, the reasons for its removal and, “where appropriate”, the URL through which such content may be acceded. Secondly, the safe harbour requirement under Art. 14 requires hosting providers to “act expeditiously” in order to avoid liability. While the exact duration of such expeditious reaction was never defined at the EU level, the European Commission remarked that a requirement to take-down the content within 24 hours, combined with the high level sanction in case of non-compliance and the reduced requirements for notices could have led to “disproportionate burdens for the online platforms and, in certain circumstances, a risk of over-removal and hence negative effects on freedom of expression”, in particular for intermediaries with limited resources. Thirdly, noted the Commission, a “stay-down” obligation, requiring to prevent the redistribution of removed or dereferenced content, would be in conflict with Art. 15(1) of the Electronic Commerce Directive, which prohibits the imposition of general monitoring obligations on the information transmitted or stored by information society service providers. The Commission also invited France to wait until the adoption of the EU Digital Services Act, promoted by the Commission and whose provisions on liability of intermediaries would overlap with the provisions of the Avia Law.
Despite the criticism from the European Commission, the contested measures were only amended in part, to remove the “stay-down” obligations. The draft law was adopted by the Senate on May 13. Before the Avia Law could be enacted, the French Constitutional Court, seized by 60 senators,
foundthat both mechanisms in Art. 1 are unconstitutional and should be removed. Given the difficulties in assessing the manifestly unlawful nature of the content reported within the time limit, the penalty incurred from the first violation and the absence of a specific cause for exemption from liability, the notice-and-take down can only encourage operators of online platforms to withdraw the content notified to them, whether or not manifestly illegal (para. 19 of the decision). Therefore, the mechanism jeopardises freedom of expression and of communication in a manner, which is not adequate, necessary or proportionate to the aim pursued, that is, the protection of human dignity.
It remains to be seen whether Emmanuel Macron will enact the remaining parts of the Avia Law that regulate the increase of fines and some minor issues, including the creation of an “Online Hate Observatory”. In all this, the Avia Law might have the fate of the HADOPI law, vividly discussed in the late 2000s: after the “three-strike mechanism”, which allowed to disconnect infringers from the Internet,
was removed from the HADOPI, the law’s scope of application became limited to (rarely) imposing low-level fines on copyright infringers. Image credit: Tetiana Nikolayeva
French Constitutional Court (partly) quashes Avia law on notice-and-take down for illegal speech Reviewed by Anastasiia Kyrylenko on Sunday, June 21, 2020 Rating:


by Diana Winters
The Resnick Center is excited to share the publication of “Setting the Table for Food-Based Pro Bono Opportunities: A Resource Guide for Pro Bono Attorneys,” authored by Tommy Tobin, a member of the Resnick Center’s Advisory Board, and MAZON: A Jewish Response to Hunger. The guide is designed to facilitate connections between attorneys seeking meaningful pro bono work and anti-hunger organizations.
The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated food insecurity in the United States, and the amount of resources needed to address the crisis is staggering. Attorneys seeking pro bono work can assist with direct client services, legislative research, and policy advocacy, among other things. This guide seeks to describe these opportunities and to assist in forming these partnerships.
We are grateful to Tommy Tobin, Mazon, and Perkins Coie LLP for their work on and support of the guide. The guide will be updated periodically.


2. Rehydrate with water. Unless you are exercising most of the day, water is all you need to adequately restore your body’s fluids. To add zing, flavor your water with a small amount of lemon or orange juice. 3. Drink a glass of water when you feel tired or hungry. Feelings of fatigue and hunger often mean your body is thirsty. A glass of water can boost your energy and eliminate hunger pains. 4. Eat regularly. If you allow yourself to get overly hungry, you’ll fall into the “see food, eat food” mode, grabbing whatever is in the refrigerator or cupboard. Small, frequent — and nutritious — meals help to manage hunger and prevent overeating. 5. Replace shortening with applesauce. When baking cakes, brownies or muffins, replace oil with equivalent amounts of applesauce. This enhances flavor, locks in moisture and reduces calories.


ABOUT THIS BOOK
Bitter cold and constant snow. Polar bears, seals, and killer whales. Victor Frankenstein chasing his monstrous creation across icy terrain in a dogsled. The arctic calls to mind a myriad different images. Consisting of the Arctic Ocean and parts of Canada, the United States, Russia, Greenland, Finland, Norway and Sweden, the arctic possesses a unique ecosystem—temperatures average negative 29 degrees Fahrenheit in winter and rarely rise above freezing in summer—and the indigenous peoples and cultures that live in the region have had to adapt to the harsh weather conditions. As global temperatures rise, the arctic is facing an environmental crisis, with melting glaciers causing grave concern around the world. But for all the renown of this frozen region, the arctic remains far from perfectly understood.
In
A History of the Arctic, award-winning polar historian John McCannon provides an engaging overview of the region that spans from the Stone Age to the present. McCannon discusses polar exploration and science, nation-building, diplomacy, environmental issues, and climate change, and the role indigenous populations have played in the arctic’s story. Chronicling the history of each arctic nation, he details the many failed searches for a Northwest Passage and the territorial claims that hamper use of these waterways. He also explores the resources found in the arctic—oil, natural gas, minerals, fresh water, and fish—and describes the importance they hold as these resources are depleted elsewhere, as well as the challenges we face in extracting them.
A timely assessment of current diplomatic and environmental realities, as well as the dire risks the region now faces,
A History of the Arctic is a thoroughly engrossing book on the past—and future—of the top of the world.


MAY 12, 2020
While the U.S. continues to practice social distancing, the 2020 presidential election is still underway as we head towards November. This remains a critical time for middle school and high school students to keep learning about the election process, understand the power of their vote and how to vote, and feel compelled to be active participants in our constitutional democracy — even if they must do so from home.
To continue to support your teaching of the election, we have released new lessons and tools that can be used with remote learning.
To adapt to the current circumstances, many states are exploring safer voting options for their primaries, such as vote-by-mail. Are your students aware of these new practices and what to expect in their state?
Even if your students won’t be voting in 2020, the presidential election offers a unique moment to pause, discuss, and build important knowledge. To support your conversations, we just released a new lesson plan with a fillable PDF option. It will help students consider the importance of voting, connect with current issues, and decide for themselves if voting is something they will do.
A candidate has to pass a lot of tests before anyone can actually vote for them for president. Introduce your students to the big events and mile markers of the electoral process with this lesson plan and help them learn what a candidate must do before reaching the final test: the general election.
Lace up your shoes and learn how candidates run the race to become President of the U.S. In this new printable infographic, your students will see who can qualify to run, how they must prepare, and the different hurdles they have to overcome to make it to the finish line: Inauguration Day.
Explore all of our free election curriculum and teaching resources at our Election Headquarters.


We Take Desk Appearance Tickets (DATs) Seriously
When arrested, people are routinely given what is called “desk appearance tickets” or “DATs” for short. A desk appearance ticket is legally the same thing as a formal arrest. Because the police, the district attorney’s office and judges all treat desk appearance tickets seriously, you should too. It is critical that you contact a New York City criminal defense lawyer immediately at any time you are arrested, even if it’s “only” for a DAT.
Our attorneys at Konta, Georges & Buza, P.C., have handled virtually every type of criminal case both as defenders and prosecutors. Arrange a free consultation by calling 212-710-5166. What Is A DAT?
After arresting and processing a suspect, police do not always feel the need to keep them in central booking. Instead, they will issue a DAT, which gives a date and time for when the arrestee is due in court for their arraignment.
There are a few factors that determine whether a defendant will be placed in central booking or given a DAT:
If a person is charged with a felony, a domestic violence crime or has a significant criminal record, then they will be kept in central booking until their arraignment. In these cases, the arraignment must happen within 24 hours. Police may give a person a DAT if the crime is a misdemeanor and they believe the person will not miss their court date or run away. In this situation, you can await your arraignment at home.
Don’t let the use of the word “ticket” fool you. If you were given a DAT, you were placed under arrest, and you could be facing serious penalties, including jail time. You need to start building your defense.
Take Advantage Of The Time You Have Before Your Arraignment
If you or a loved one has been issued a DAT, and if you don’t go to court on the date you were instructed to go, the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest, meaning the police will arrest you on sight. It is extremely important you arrive at court at the specified date.
The upside of receiving a DAT is that you have time to find an attorney and start planning for your arraignment. This is a crucial period, as the police will be using this time to gather evidence against you.
At Konta, Georges & Buza, P.C., our lawyers have worked on both sides of the aisle. As a result, they are familiar with the strategies that prosecutors use throughout the criminal process. They will use their insight to secure the most favorable results possible for your case.


The COVID-19 pandemic remains the number one health concern around the globe as we await approval of multiple vaccines. There are still many unanswered questions and challenges that lie ahead for the biopharma industry, health stakeholders, and government, particularly around development, prioritization, and distribution of the vaccines. Podcast host Bob Coughlin and his guests, Clement Lewin, Head of BARDA Office & New Vaccines at Sanofi Pasteur, and Dr. Kelly Moore, Associate Director of the Immunization Action Coalition & Adjunct Associate Professor at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, discuss these timely issues.


Is debate pointless?
I've posted this question in other place online but never really got a response.
Over the past few years I've noticed that facts and reality are increasingly meaning less to people. (Well, some people). I felt like no matter how many times I show them the facts it doesn't matter. They hold onto their beliefs political/religious/ whatever, no matter what the evidence may say. Well the other day I had my suspicions confirmed when I heard NPR's Talk of the Nation. They did a story on research being done at the University of Michigan on something called the "Backfire effect". Brendan Nyhan and Jason Reifler have found that when someone holds a belief and is then presented with facts that contradict that belief, they are likely to hold onto that belief all the more strongly. In effect, presenting a misinformed person with the correct information only strengthens their belief in the misinformation. The Washington Post did a story on this a while back too.
So my question is this: Is there just no point in having a discussion with these people? If reality only makes them hold onto their false beliefs all the more strongly, what's the point? It's a conversation ender. "Hi, do you know that evolution is a lie?" "It's not." "Yes it is!" "Wait a second, before I take the time to talk to you about this, would you, if presented with facts that contradict your views, change your mind?" "Nope, not in the slightest. It would just confirm my faith." "Uh...have a nice day." (And keep in mind, this is not just fundies, the research was done on average people on political issues) If we can't even have a discussion about things where the facts and reality matter, how can we build a stable society? Doesn't everything just come down to either who can get the most people to the polls or who has the most guns?


x, x<2) thin films doped with erbium have been deposited on silicon substrates by electron cyclotron resonance plasma enhanced chemical vapour deposition (ECR-PECVD). The formation of silicon nanoclusters along with optically active erbium ion complexes during high temperature annealing results in strong erbium photoluminescence near a wavelength of 1.54 μm. A portion of the deposition parameter space for the ECR-PECVD system has been mapped in an attempt to optimize the films for this luminescence. The resulting films ranged in composition from 0% to 22% excess silicon and 0.45% to 3.7% erbium, as determined by Rutherford Backscattering Spectroscopy. The effects of annealing were investigated between 600 oC and 1000 oC under flowing nitrogen gas. The 1.54μm emission was found to be enhanced by the presence of excess silicon, reaching a maximum at ~5-8 atomic % excess and an 800 oC anneal. This result strongly suggests the sensitization of infrared, erbium luminescence by silicon nanoclusters. The films exhibited an additional blueviolet light emission which has also been attributed to the erbium dopant. The visible and infrared luminescence signals were found to occur in inverse proportion to each other with the visible signal decreasing as the amount of silicon excess increases.


You may already know that workers' compensation insurance is designed to protect employees who are injured in the workplace. But workers' compensation is generally administered differently from state to state—so what about military workers or private contractors who are stationed outside the U.S., where safety codes and protocol may be different? Read on to learn more about Defense Base Act (DBA) workers' compensation insurance and how it can protect you if you're injured or made ill on the job.
What is DBA Workers' Compensation Insurance?
DBA insurance is provided to employees of military contractors or subcontractors who are U.S. citizens or legal immigrants, working for a U.S. company, but who are located outside the U.S. Federal law requires all private employers who employ individuals on military bases located outside the U.S. to carry workers' compensation insurance. This requirement also extends to any land or property the U.S. uses for military purposes, including training and housing facilities. Unless a worker has a waiver from the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL), they're required to be covered under a DBA policy, regardless of nationality, age, sex, or a wide range of other criteria.
DBA workers' compensation insurance does not apply to workers once they return to the U.S. For example, if a DBA-covered employee is performing work for a private military contractor in South Korea, his or her DBA workers' compensation policy will lapse once this employee returns to the U.S. and resumes work for this contractor in his or her home state. Under these circumstances, the contractor would need to obtain a state-sponsored or approved workers' compensation policy to kick in once the employee returned stateside.
How Can DBA Workers' Compensation Insurance Protect You?
The U.S. has quite a few federal and state government organizations that protect employees' rights and employee working conditions within the United States—from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to the DOL to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). All companies that operate within the U.S. must abide by these agencies' laws, rules, and regulations, and non-compliance can be punishable with steep fines or, in some cases, even jail time.
But employers who operate outside the U.S. can face a far bigger grey area when it comes to safeguarding employees' rights. While responsible companies will continue to maintain high standards when it comes to on-the-job health and safety, the challenges of trying to maintain safe working conditions outside the U.S. can mean that accidents will happen. By ensuring your employer has DBA workers' compensation insurance, you're guaranteed compensation if you incur medical expenses or miss work due to an on-the-job injury.


Stakeholders for scientific data, both publishers and consumers, face many challenges in their routine activities. Consumers require methods to assess whether available data is fit for their usage. Likewise, producers are often expected to justify their efforts in generating new datasets. In both cases, the availability of provenance records for data products can be of valuable aid.
The OPeNDAP framework enables web-based access to data in multiple formats and granularities. However, OPeNDAP presently provides limited support to track the steps involved in generating data products. This work aims to extend sections of the present OPeNDAP framework with functionality for logging provenance records, enabling consumers to obtain provenance for OPeNDAP datasets. Additionally, to allow data producers to track how their datasets are used, tracking for how consumers modify and use registered data will be provided.


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"This edited book focuses on the organization and meaning of craft work in contemporary society. It considers the relationship between craft and place and how this enables the construction of a meaningful relationship with objects of production and consumption. The book explores the significance of raw materials, the relationship between the body, the crafted object and the mind, and the importance of skill, knowledge and learning in the making process. Through this, it raises important questions about the role of craft in facing future challenges by challenging the logic of globalized production and consumption. The Organization of Craft Work encompasses international analyses from the United States, France, Italy, Australia, Canada, the UK and Japan involving a diverse range of sectors, including brewing, food and wine production, clothing and shoe making, and perfumery. The book will be of interest to students and academic researchers in organization studies, marketing and consumer behaviour, business ethics, entrepreneurship, sociology of work, human resource management, cultural studies, geography, and fashion and design. In addition, the book will be of interest to practitioners and organizations with an interest in the development and promotion of craft work."


Ecclesiological contributions of emerging churches for their parent communities View/ Open Date26/11/2013 Author
Stockdale, Todd
Metadata Abstract
This thesis examines the contributions that emerging churches make to their parent communities’ understanding of church. As a work in practical theology, it is focuses on the theology that is deeply embedded within the everyday language, symbols, and practices of ordinary individuals and communities. Thus, the research in this thesis centres on two concrete emerging communities and employs qualitative methods to examine and analyse the actual practices, values, and beliefs of community participants—treating the data generated through the investigation of these emerging churches as theological material. The thesis is structured in six chapters, beginning in chapter one with a preliminary sketch of the wider emerging church phenomenon, a brief account of the researcher’s own earlier experiences with emerging communities, and an initial overview of the research already conducted on emerging church. Following this introduction, the thesis outlines the research methodology in chapter two, taking an approach to practical theology that moves beyond the prevalent models of correlation and recognizes the embodied nature of theology. Identified in this thesis as ‘theology in the vernacular’ or ‘local theologies’, this approach provides a mechanism for bringing two emerging churches into an impactful encounter with their parent communities’ understanding of church. This encounter unfolds through the remaining four chapters of the thesis. Chapter three provides the ecclesial context for this research by outlining the history and development of emerging church, and locating the two emerging communities within that narrative. Chapters four and five offer an in-depth portrayal and analysis of these two communities by depicting their ecclesial contexts and historical development, their weekly patterns, their physical and online spaces, their worship gatherings, the profiles and personal narratives of their participants, and the core practices of these communities. The findings from these separate sites of research are brought together in chapter six, where five key ecclesiological features are drawn from the common patterns present in these emerging churches. These are: (1) the prevalence of an ecclesial eclecticism, (2) the carving out of a space for theological discussion and intellectual enquiry, (3) a resolute fondness for their local cities, (4) the vital nature of the weekly gathering, and (5) a robustly verbal orientation in the worship gatherings. By bringing these five ecclesiological features into an encounter with the parent tradition of these emerging churches in chapter six, the contribution that these emerging churches are making to their parent communities understanding of church is explored. This thesis argues that these emerging communities are offering their parent communities two alternative ways of understanding church. The first is an understanding of church as a space for ecclesial borrowing and blending—which impacts on the formulation of a community’s ecclesial identity. The second is an understanding of church as a space for discussion, enquiry, and doubt—which impacts on the nature of belonging in ecclesial communities.


Ensuring that components of a safety system not only work as designed but also operate appropriately in real-world scenarios.
For years, automotive engineering teams have worked to comply with the industry standard ISO 26262, uncovering and addressing functional safety (FuSa) hazards such as software bugs and hardware failures. This standard aims to ensure that complex electronics in today’s cars are reliable ― delivering consistent performance over time, with no critical system failures.
With the emergence of automated driving and autonomous vehicles comes an even greater safety engineering challenge. What if components ― such as sensors ― are working as designed, but their capabilities are falling short under real-world conditions?
For example, a perception algorithm might recognize various types of pedestrians with a high degree of accuracy, but then unexpectedly misidentify a construction worker wearing a yellow reflective vest. Although the vest increases visibility for humans, it might confuse the perception system of an autonomous vehicle, resulting in catastrophic consequences.
Can sensors identify objects correctly and trigger an appropriate response? Is the specified behavior appropriate in all potential operating conditions?
Now a new safety standard is on the way to address this challenge. ISO 21448 “Road Vehicles – Safety of the Intended Functionality” (SOTIF) examines whether a needed safety functionality is successfully delivered in the absence of a failure, such as performance limitations of sensors or systems, unexpected changes in the road environment, etc. It enables engineering teams to avoid situations where vehicles are working as designed, but are falling short under real-world scenarios.
The types of scenarios that must be solved to achieve ISO 21448 compliance are incredibly complex and can only be identified by bringing safety analysis and simulation together to replicate real-world conditions and predict results in advance.
While this standard is essential for verifying the safe performance of automated driving and autonomous vehicles, it now places a responsibility on engineering teams to navigate this new area of safety analysis quickly and efficiently. Where to begin?
Analyzing different aspects of functional safety, defining technical solutions, and demonstrating compliance is key. Ansys medini analyze now includes capabilities for ensuring SOTIF compliance. It is part of an Ansys toolset designed to meet the complex needs of autonomous vehicle design, bringing together modeling, simulation, and analysis.
Teams can build performance into their designs from the earliest stages ― and verify that performance before vehicles hit the road by:
For more information on SOTIF and how to integrate it into an efficient autonomous vehicle engineering workflow, download the white paper.


Seven of Europe’s less celebrated national teams are wearing football kits funded by a UEFA scheme that recognises the importance of football in inspiring a nation – on and off the field of play.
Few things inspire national pride like the national team’s football shirt – whether it’s worn by the players on the pitch or fans cheering from afar.
Most countries’ proudest football moments are synonymous with an iconic football strip worn throughout a successful tournament – France in 1984, Netherlands in 1988, Denmark in 1992 or Spain in 2008 – they are part of footballing folklore.
“National football teams are a crucial source of national identity,” said UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin. “They often reflect a country’s footballing philosophy and are a catalyst for national unity by bringing together fans from across that country.”
Smaller national associations
UEFA’s Kit Assistance Scheme ensures all its member associations have access to kits – both training wear and matchday clothing – that properly reflect their national identity,
“UEFA’s relationship with its national associations is a cornerstone of European football,” added Ceferin, “we have been delighted to respond to requests from smaller national associations for help in providing new kits for their national teams.”
Seven European teams will be sporting new kits secured with UEFA funding during the UEFA Nations League matches from October 10-14, 2020.
Which nations benefit from the Kit Assistance Scheme?
Seven teams are supported by the initiative during the 2020-2022 cycle.
Andorra
Belarus Cyprus Faroe Islands Liechtenstein Luxembourg San Marino Who makes the kits?
Macron, based in Bologna, Italy, is the official supplier for the Kit Assistance Scheme in this period. They were selected through a tender process, which emphasised quality, product, range, discount rates, kit customisation, commitment and merchandising opportunities.
Fees are paid by UEFA with no costs for national associations.


As consumers’ media habits evolve, they are creating their own “personal prime times”—points of highly concentrated engagement throughout the day, which offer valuable advertising opportunities across a range of content verticals and digital screens. This research, entitled “Personal Prime Time,” demonstrates that brands should no longer expect a single, universal moment of greatest engagement. While audience size might shift between different times of day, every daypart is primed for meaningful consumer connections.
The study looks at the consumer journey through the lens of seven diverse content types—Episodic Shows, Music, News, Podcasts, Short Videos, Social Media, and Weather. In each case, the report acknowledges audience density in specific dayparts, but then provides findings to reveal that “traditional reach” metrics miss the consumer perspective on . . .


Carnot and start-ups, SMEs and mid-caps Carnot strives to deliver effective innovation solutions for start-ups, SMEs and mid-caps in different business sectors Of the 10 200 R&D contracts signed every year between Carnot Institutes and businesses, 4 900 are with start-ups, SMEs and mid-caps. This does not include the numerous collaborative R&D projects involving SMEs in which Carnot plays a key role or non-research related services provided by Carnot teams. The Carnot institutes strive to: provide easier access – for SMEs and mid-caps – to their technological expertise and resources, be in a position to respond to both near-to-market and the upstream needs of businesses wishing to innovate.
Carnot Institutes with a strong presence in a given economic sector pool their resources to provide businesses with a comprehensive and straightforward partnership and knowledge & technology transfer offering, rounded out by a sector-specific R&D requirements analysis.
There is a special focus on providing businesses with easier access to technology platforms. In order to target businesses’ needs in line with market expectations, Carnot Institutes engage in two-way communication with their business partners. A specific focus on 8 business sectors
Carnot consortiums have focused especially on simplifying access to R&D for micro businesses, SMEs and mid-caps in eight sectors to help them innovate and stay competitive in a world that is changing at an ever increasing pace:
Aeronautics Automobiles Energy Extractive industries and first-stage processing Manufacturing Pharmaceuticals Fashion and luxury goods Sport and wellness
And this approach works because, thanks to the vitality of the Carnot Institutes engaged in R&D initiatives for micro businesses, SMEs and mid-caps in these eight sectors, the volume of contracts between 2015 and 2019 grew by 85%. For all sectors combined, the network’s activities with micro businesses, SMEs and mid-caps grew 38% over the same period.
These results are a reflection of the remarkable collective initiatives spearheaded by each consortium:
Carnot’s offering is structured and targeted based on analyses of the key challenges facing businesses in these sectors, tech platforms are selected and then made more accessible for businesses by offering them services tailored to their needs,
chargés d’affairesorganised within a network who go out looking for business. This proactive approach, coupled with two-way communication, an in-depth, context-specific analysis of company needs and a collective R&D offering tailored to each sector, enables Carnot Institutes in each consortium to provide customised solutions for each request. This gives businesses access to Carnot’s top specialists who are brought in to support their innovation projects, demonstrators are specially designed to show what R&D can bring to businesses’ innovations in these sectors. They are part of a broader Proof of Concept-type strategy that locks the contribution of the R&D initiative into its innovation project.
This has enabled many companies – some of which had never previously had any contact with the world of research – to finalise their short, medium and even long-term innovation projects. This R&D offering is rounded out by training courses and all of these initiatives are supported by the French Government’s Investissements d’avenir (Investments in the future) programme.


Does your project team gel well? If not, can you really achieve success? Project success is tough to achieve as complex scope needs to be completed within compressed schedules and tight budgets. Another major challenge is the heterogeneous mix of project teams in terms of Age, Geography, Culture, Ethical outlook, etc. Ignoring cultural differences in teams is a recipe for disaster. Effective Project Leadership demands investing time in deeply understanding cultural factors, clear communication and complete transparency.This engaging webinar will help you understand key challenges, and walk you through a proven, practical six-step approach used across four continents to lead project teams to success.
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Known as as shajan in hindi drumsticks are loaded with valuable minerals healthy proteins and essential minerals making it a healthy food. A must-have ingredient in sambar one can harness its health benefits in numerous ways such as cooking it with other vegetables lentils (dals) or in the form of soup. Being high in nutrients and tasty in nature here are eight reasons you should include drumsticks in your diet. #1 It builds strong bones Being high in calcium iron and other vitamins drumsticks help in strengthening bones. When consumed either in the form of a juice or with milk


At TwinThread, we've deployed solutions on thousands of lines, and like you, we've been doing this for a long time. We've thought it through and what's needed is a platform that learns and grows with you.
Using TwinThread’s platform, you are guaranteed results and should expect to see a 10x return on investment with no upfront costs - ensuring a no-risk experience. Here are just a few of the actual results our no-risk pilot projects have produced:
$40 million in potential energy savings.
60% reduction in repair cycles.
90% reduction in callbacks.
50% improvement in customer retention.
10% improvement in uptime.
10% reduction in utilities costs.
Annual cost savings in the millions.
Specifically, we were able to help an F&B manufacturer reduce their testing time by 75% while also improving quality and facilitating greater yield. Here's how we did it. The company's vision was to deliver premium quality products with minimum production waste. They believed that if they could predict quality more accurately during production, they could adjust the manufacturing process in real-time to ensure quality specifications were continuously being met.
By placing our Predictive Operations Platform in the hands of their in-house experts, they were able to quickly identify, in real-time, opportunities to further hone in their production assets and accompanying processes to achieve the control over quality and throughput that they were looking for. This resulted in significant reductions in waste and greater confidence in the constant ability to replicate and scale the processes that produced this high quality standard.
We have a record of producing significant results in industrial operations and we’re certain, with our Predictive Operations Platform, your domain experts will experience the same. That’s why weguarantee results.
To explore other scenarios where TwinThread has had a significant impact,click here.


Here, we describe an integrated bioinformatics, functional analysis, and translational pathology approach to identify novel miRNAs involved in breast cancer progression. Coinertia analysis (CIA) was used to combine a database of predicted miRNA target sites and gene expression data. Using two independent breast cancer cohorts, CIA was combined with correspondence analysis and between group analysis to produce a ranked list of miRNAs associated with disease progression. Ectopic expression studies were carried out in MCF7 cells and miRNA expression evaluated in two additional cohorts of patients with breast cancer by in situ hybridization on tissue microarrays. CIA identified miR-187 as a key miRNA associated with poor outcome in breast cancer. Ectopic expression of miR-187 in breast cancer cells resulted in a more aggressive phenotype. In a test cohort (n = 117), high expression of miR-187 was associated with a trend toward reduced breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS; P = 0.058), and a significant association with reduced BCSS in lymph node-positive patients (P = 0.036). In a validation cohort (n = 470), high miR-187 was significantly associated with reduced BCSS in the entire cohort (P = 0.021) and in lymph node-positive patients (P = 0.012). Multivariate Cox regression analysis revealed that miR-187 is an independent prognostic factor in both cohorts [cohort 1: HR, 7.37; 95% confidence interval (CI), 2.05-26.51; P = 0.002; cohort 2: HR, 2.80; 95% CI, 1.52-5.16; P = 0.001] and in lymph node-positive patients in both cohorts (cohort 1: HR, 13.74; 95% CI, 2.62-72.03; P = 0.002; cohort 2: HR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.32-5.81; P = 0.007). miR-187 expression in breast cancer leads to a more aggressive, invasive phenotype and acts as an independent predictor of outcome.
Ireland ->
University College Dublin ->
PubMed


Strategies for Eliminating the Achievement Gap
As an online Capella University student I am just beginning my new course, Strategies for Eliminating the Achievement Gap, as I advance toward earning a Masters in Education, specializing in educational leadership. The course addresses differences in student achievement due to cultural, gender, racial, social, and economic factors. The course examines current research and best practices with a focus on identifying those practices and instructional strategies most likely to eliminate achievement disparities.
My long-term goal is to develop an education model for a school that
1) is a high quality, effective, and productive learning community, where learning for all students truly is the top priority 2) is free of racism, discrimination, and inequity in any form 3) where a cross-functional, collaborative and engaging partnership exists between school board members, administrators, teachers, students, parents, and the larger community.


Tax implications of equity-based compensation
$225.00
Description
Abstract: Equity-based compensation is a powerful tool for attracting, retaining and motivating executives and other employees. By rewarding recipients for their contributions to a business’s success, it aligns their interests with those of the company and provides them with an incentive to stay. This article explores several equity-based compensation options. A sidebar explains how companies that aren’t prepared to share equity with employees can still enjoy the benefits of equity-based compensation.


Insights into the kinetics of thermally induced crystallization of amorphous calcium phosphate
Authorized Users Only
2018 AuthorsUskoković, Vuk
Marković, Smilja
Veselinović, Ljiljana
Škapin, Srečo Davor
Ignjatović, Nenad
Uskoković, Dragan
Article (Published version) MetadataShow full item record Abstract
Transformations between amorphous and crystalline apatite mechanistically govern some of the most essential processes in bone metabolism, including biomineralization and bone remodeling. Fundamental understanding of this phase transition can help us gain control over the formation and dissolution of boney tissues in vivo and utilize that knowledge for various therapeutic ends. Crystallization of hydroxyapatite (HAp) and two tricalcium phosphate (TCP) polymorphs from the metastable precursor, amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP) was here studied kinetically and mechanistically using thermal analyses, X-ray diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Crystallization was detected in the differential thermal analysis as the exothermic peak at 639.5 °C at the slowest heating regimen of 5 °C min−1, while a combination of different kinetics models, including Augis–Bennett, Borchardt–Daniels, Johnson–Mehl–Avrami, Kissinger, Ozawa and Piloyan, yielded activation energies in the 435–45...0 kJ mol−1 range. Dehydrated ACP required a significant energy input to transform to HAp, thus indirectly proving the key role that structural water plays in this process in a biological setting. The phase transformation at high temperatures involved preformed nuclei and was solely due to their 3D growth, contrasting the edge-controlled nucleation derived earlier as the mechanism of growth in the solution. Crystallization was in both cases accompanied by the formation of needle-shape crystals of HAp through aggregation of ultrafine spherical units of ACP. Relationship between crystallinity and the heating rate was detected only for the initially amorphous structure, indicating a more intense and coherent lattice ordering process in annealed ACP than in HAp. Despite that, crystallization disobeyed the rule of inverse proportionality between the thermal energy required for the relaxation of defects and the level of strain, as the recovery rate of the initially poorly crystalline HAp was higher than that of ACP.
Source:Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 2018, 20, 29221-29235 Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) Projects: United States National Institutes of Health (NIH) / National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR), Grant K99-DE021416 Molecular designing of nanoparticles with controlled morphological and physicochemical characteristics and functional materials based on them (RS-45004) Note: Peer-reviewed manuscript: http://dais.sanu.ac.rs/123456789/4514
DOI: 10.1039/C8CP06460A
ISSN: 1463-9076; 1463-9084
WoS: 000453935400022 Scopus: 2-s2.0-85057266300 [ Google Scholar ]


Dangers in Propane Gas Appliances
Many homeowners use propane gas in areas where natural gas or electricity are costly, unavailable or inefficient for powering certain appliances. The gas can be used in furnaces to heat the home as well as in other appliances. Defects in the appliance, storage tank or gas supply line, however, may cause a life-threatening safety hazard.
Leaks
Damage to the propane storage tank, a loose connection or damage to the propane gas line to the appliance could result in a gas leak. Unlike natural gas, propane gas is odorless and difficult to detect if it leaks. The propane displaces oxygen in the air, which can result in life-threatening symptoms, including loss of consciousness and asphyxiation. To detect a gas leak, listen for hissing from the pipes, use a soapy water solution to check the pipe seams or look for dead vegetation along where the propane line runs from the tank to the house.
Incomplete Combustion
A malfunction in the appliance using propane gas could result in incomplete combustion of the gas. Incomplete gas combustion may result in the release of carbon monoxide, which is a deadly poison. Signs of incomplete gas combustion include improper flame color in appliances such as a stove or water heater or the presence of soot in heating appliances.
References
Writer Bio
Jessica Lietz has been writing about health-related topics since 2009. She has several years of experience in genetics research, survey design, analysis and epidemiology, working on both infectious and chronic diseases. Lietz holds a Master of Public Health in epidemiology from The Ohio State University.


How to Remove Tire Marks Off Epoxy Flooring
Epoxy flooring, often used in garages and industrial settings, consists of epoxy resins that coat and protect the floor. Durable epoxy flooring provides a waterproof barrier, resists chemicals, mold and oil, and requires little maintenance to keep it clean. Pulling in or backing out of the garage too quickly, however, can leave tire marks on your epoxy floor. These marks need a stronger method of cleaning than mopping alone to remove them completely, but don't always require the use of harsh chemicals.
1
Mix 1 gallon of warm water with about 2 tablespoons of dish detergent and apply it to the tire marks. Allow it to sit for at three to five minutes. Alternatively, put on rubber gloves and pour or spray enough citrus solvent on the tire marks to cover them completely.
2
Scrub the marks with a melamine sponge to remove them from the epoxy floor. If you used citrus solvent, scrub the floor with a firm-bristled brush.
3
Mop the floor with clean water in a bucket to remove any cleaning residue and allow it to dry.
References
Warnings
Don't use solvents near open flames or while smoking. Avoid touching solvents. They can cause skin and eye irritation.
Writer Bio
Melissa Rae has been a writer since 2008, specializing in home-and-garden, business, technology and education topics. Rae holds a Bachelor of Science in business administration from Herzing University.


According to the World Health Organisation, Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses causing illnesses, ranging from common colds to more severe diseases. Coronaviruses can be transmitted between animals and humans.
Common symptoms of infection include respiratory issues, fever, cough and shortness of breath. In more severe cases these can symptoms can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
Standard procedures recommended to prevent the spread of Coronavirus include but are not limited to the following:
Washing of hands regularly with an alcohol based hand rub or with soap and water. Maintaining at least a 1-metre distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. This is because when individuals cough or sneeze, small liquid droplets are sprayed from the nose and mouth, which may contain viruses. If you are too close, these droplets including the Coronavirus can be breathed in, provided the individual who is coughing has the virus. Avoid touching the eyes, mouth and nose. This is because many surfaces can pick up the virus and once contaminated the virus hands can transfer the virus to the eyes mouth and nose. This in turn, can enter the body and make you sick. Make sure the people around you as well as yourself follow good respiratory hygiene. This involves covering your mouth and nose when you sneeze or cough with a belt elbow or tissue. Ensure the tissue is disposed of immediately. Again, the reason for this is droplets emitted can potentially spread the virus if an infected person sneezes. If you feel unwell, stay at home. If you have fever, cough and difficulty breathing, seek medical attention and call in advance. Keep up to do date with the Coronavirus hotspots and if possible avoid travelling to these places, especially if you are an older person or have diabetes, heart or lung disease.


Seagreens Food Capsules - 60 caps
Fulfil your daily nutritional needs with these easy to take vegan capsules.
Take two capsules per day to maintain and build the foundation of your health, or more to tackle specific health conditions or undertake a detoxification programme.
This unique blend of three sustainably-harvested shallow water seaweeds (Ascophyllum nodosum, Pelvetia canaliculata, and Fucus spiralis) has been specifically combined to provide an exceptionally broad nutritional profile.
Seagreens Food Capsules contain all the micronutrients which we need even in tiny amounts, to feed the foundation of health on a permanent daily basis.
They provide a rich nutrient source of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids and trace elements in a natural, synergistic combination which your body recognises as food and can therefore absorb completely.
Seagreens adds missing nutrients to your diet, helps you absorb more nutrients from other foods you eat and have a gentle detoxifying action helping you expel toxins, including heavy metals from the body.
Seagreens Food Capsules can be taken by everybody, including during pregnancy. They are suitable for babies, children and elderly people and do not interfere with any other medicines or supplements taken.
Ingredients: 1 Gram (2 Capsules) provides - Protein 75mg • Carbohydrate / Fibre 600mg (of which the non-starch polysaccharides Algin, Fucose, Fucoidan, Mannitol, Methylpentosans, Laminarin, Mannuronic acid 270mg) and essential fatty acids (EFA's) and chlorophyll.
Vitamins - A (antioxidant carotenoids beta carotene, fucoxanthin and violaxanthin) 178µg, B group (including Folic and Folinic acid, Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin, Pantothenic acid, Pyridoxin, Choline and Cobalamin) 8.9µg, C (antioxidant) 1.25mg, D (Cholecalciferol) 0.01µg, E (antioxidant) 0.23mg, H (Biotin) 0.30µg and K (Menadione) 10µg
Minerals - Calcium 20mg, Chlorine 35mg, Magnesium 7mg, Nitrogen 10.5mg, Phosphorus 1.5mg, Potassium 25mg, Sodium 35mg, Sulphur 30mg
Trace Elements - Antimony trace, Boron 0.06mg, Cobalt 5.4µg, Copper trace, Fluorine 0.2mg, Germanium trace, Gold trace, Iodine 442µg, Iridium trace, Iron 575µg, Lithium trace, Manganese 0.03mg, Molybdenum 0.65µg, Platinum trace, Rubidium trace, Selenium 0.15µg, Silicon 1mg, Silver trace, Tellurium trace, Titanium trace, Vanadium 2.3µg and Zinc 0.13mg
Amino Acids - Histidine trace, Isoleucine 0.53mg, Leucine 5.3mg, Lysine 2.78mg, Methionine 0.68mg, Phenylalanine 0.83mg, Threonine 2.33mg, Tryptophan trace, Valine 2.63mg, Alanine 4.57mg, Arginine 11.17mg, Aspartic acid 4.88mg, Cysteine 0.90mg, Glutamic acid 5.18mg, Glycine 3.90mg, Proline 3mg, Serine 2.25mg, Tyrosine 1.05mg
Betaines - Glycine Betaine trace, Gamma Amino Butyric Acid Betaine trace, Delta Amino Valeric Acid Betaine trace, TML (Laminine) trace, L-Carnitine trace, Trigonelline trace; enzymes, lipids, lipoproteins & many compounds which cannot be 'formulated'.


In August 2020, on Sunday, amid the covid crisis, to spread positivity and love, India gifts Nepal 10 ventilators of Rs. 28 million worth considering it as an urgent need. With an aim to enhance the fragile relations between the two nations, India displayed a great gesture of kindness and humbleness.
The Covid-19 pandemic that has been a growing threat for many nations, and has consumed nearly one-fourth of the Earth’s population. In such difficult times, it was wise enough to forget the tensions between the nations and work collectively to combat this virus. The humanitarian approach directed towards the other nation sets an example of how other nations should work as a united body.
According to the Indian Embassy, “These 10 advanced ventilators are broadly designed to support various invasive and non-invasive respiratory systems. Providing a range of applications, these ICU ventilators will support the caretaking in the hospitals. Due to their handy nature, they can be portable and will be proving a helping hand to the hospitals.” Further stating, “The Indian army has always supported the Nepal army as directing the value of humanity and respect towards them. However, gifting 10 ICU ventilators is just the part of the same humanity and respect that both nations follow.”
The conflict existing between India and Nepal is over the land dispute issue which has been pertaining for a long time. As military tensions have been an issue of interest for China and India, Nepal is furious regarding the leniency India is displaying over the land dispute. Earlier, India and Chinese soldiers were witnessed physically fighting on Galwan Valley border.
As a result, India deployed its soldiers at Kalapani area which lies west to Nepal where the borders of the three nations meet. Therefore, Nepal repeatedly argues, Kalapani area lays under their country. However, India remains focused on China while Nepal is sidelined. Eventually, India has provided aid to Nepal while keeping aside their conflicts.
Recent ceremony held at Health Ministry of Nepal, India Ambassador, Vinay Mohan Kwatra delivered 10 ICU ventilators to Health Minister Bhanu Bhakta Dhakal. Impressed by the gesture, Mr Dhakal thanked the Indian government for their kind gesture towards Nepal. He stated in times like these, despite the troubling past, India has been grateful enough gift them ICU ventilators.
While addressing the nation he said, “Indian government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi has decided to hand over 10 ICU ventilators to enhance their relationship with Nepal.” At last, Mr Dhakal restated India as “Gaashkatayara” which in Nepali means sacrificing for the welfare of others.
Even though on April 22, India provided Hydroxychloroquine for treating the covid patients. Additionally, on September 15, India gifted 2, 000 Remdesivir vials to Nepal. In Nepal, around 1,00,000 covid cases have been registered. While many lives are at stake, it will be advisable for the citizens to stay protected from this deadly virus. To conclude, we can hope good relations will continue with Nepal and this pandemic may soon get over because it is the worst of times that the world has faced so far.


Abstract
NF-κB repressing factor (NRF), a nuclear inhibitor of NF-κB, is constitutively expressed and is implicated in the basal silencing of specific NF-κB targeting genes, including IFN-β, IL-8/CXCL8, and iNOS. Little is known about the regulation of NRF and its role in response to stimuli. Airway smooth muscle (ASM) is a rich source of inflammatory mediators that may regulate the development and progression of airway inflammation. We have previously reported that NE activates NF-κB in primary human ASM (hASM), leading to induction of TGF-β1. In this study, we describe that, instead of inducing the NF-κB response gene IL-8/CXCL8, NE suppressed IL-8/CXCL8 release and mRNA expression in hASM cells. Transcriptional blockade studies using actinomycin D revealed a similar degradation rate of IL-8/CXCL8 mRNA in the presence or absence of NE, suggesting an involvement at the transcription level. Mechanistically, the NE repressive effect was mediated by inducing NRF, as shown by RT-PCR and Western blotting, which was subsequently recruited to the native IL-8/CXCL8 promoter leading to removal of RNA polymerase II from the promoter, as demonstrated by chromatin immunoprecipitation assays. Knockdown of NRF by small interfering RNA prevented NE-induced suppression of IL-8/CXCL8 expression. In contrast, NE did not induce NRF expression in A549 and Beas-2B cells, where NE only stimulates NF-κB activation and IL-8/CXCL8 induction. Forced expression of NRF in A549 cells by an NRF expression plasmid suppressed IL-8/CXCL8 expression. Hence, we describe a novel negative regulatory mechanism of NE-induced NRF, which is restricted to hASM and mediates the suppression of IL-8/CXCL8 expression.
ASJC Scopus subject areas Immunology Medicine(all)


Rather than processing water, many intercoolers process air and act as a radiator to remove heat. As cold air passes through your intercooler and into the turbocharger, more oxygen is carried which allows the engine to burn more fuel - resulting in more power. An efficient intercooler system can result in 5%-10% more power, and resists heat soak for longer. All cars with turbocharged engines will benefit from a quality intercooler, which allows the engine to combust more air and fuel per cycle. While your intercooler offers more power, it will also play a huge role in reducing wear, prolonging life and ensuring a smooth running turbocharged engine. Before fitting an intercooler, you should be aware that like all essential car components, they do wear out with time, with leaks being a common sign that your intercooler needs replacing or repairing.When it comes to replacing, repairing or upgrading your turbocharger, finding the correct product that suits your vehicle is key. And that’s why at Halfords we offer a vehicle registration tool that pulls relevant intercoolers to suit your vehicle. All you have to do is enter your registration number and our database will pull the relevant products in seconds. Within our range, you’ll car intercoolers for all car makes and models. For a safe and professional fitting service, head down to your local Autocentres local Autocentres
today.


Black people are in pain, in danger, and dying at disproportionate rates due to systemic racism in our country. There's no longer a place for being "not racist" - it's time to become anti-racist. Here's what we've been doing to take action, and steps you can take to support the Black Lives Matter movement.
We've all likely experienced bumps in the road during the recent dual pandemics: Coronavirus and systemic racism. Our routines are thrown off, competitions are canceled, it's difficult to make decisions, and we're generally feeling depleted. When you're having a rough moment, much like you'd call Roadside Assistance on a road trip, AAA can help: that is, engaging in Awareness, Acceptance, and Action.
With a constant news cycle, practice and competition cancellations, and work and school being shifted online, everyone is experiencing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. We wanted to provide a few updates and resources. Please let us know how we can help you and your family during this time.
How do I become more confident as a runner? Confidence is not something you either have or you don't. Learn how to build your belief in your abilities over time through your training to leverage on race day.
Short course is over and the results are in! Regardless of how your season went, reflect on key questions to take ownership of your swimming, keep yourself accountable, and bring intention to your future training.
Marathons are all about respecting the distance - while learning proper form, creating a training plan, knowing techniques to stave off injury, and staying disciplined for months. Here are some tips to tackle 26.2!
We often talk to parents who need someone to help their child with the mental game, but they don't know where to begin or what questions to ask. Here's what parents should know about sport psychology and mental skills training.


The U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S. DOT) published a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) to apply for $1 billion in Fiscal Year (FY) 2020 discretionary grant funding through the Better Utilizing Investments to Leverage Development (BUILD) Transportation Discretionary Grants program.
FY 2020 BUILD Transportation grants are for planning and capital investments in surface transportation infrastructure and are to be awarded on a competitive basis for projects that will have a significant local or regional impact. BUILD funding can support roads, bridges, transit, rail, ports, or intermodal transportation.
Projects for BUILD will be evaluated based on merit criteria that include safety, economic competitiveness, quality of life, environmental sustainability, state of good repair, innovation, and partnership.
To better address the needs of rural America, which has historically been neglected, U.S. DOT intends to award 50% of BUILD Transportation grant funding to projects located in rural areas that deliver positive benefits for these communities, consistent with the department’s R.O.U.T.E.S. initiative. For this round of BUILD Transportation grants, the maximum grant award is $25 million, and no more than $100 million can be awarded to a single state, as specified in the appropriations act.
To provide technical assistance to prospective applicants, the U.S. DOT is hosting a series of webinars during the FY 2020 BUILD grant application process. A webinar on how to compete for BUILD Transportation Grants for all applicants will be held on February 25. Further details will be made available here, with the deadline to apply May 18.


Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Heng Swee Keat delivered his Budget 2020 statement on 18 February 2020. In his speech, he announced some of the ways SSG and WSG will be helping both individuals and enterprises as part of Singapore’s response to the challenges in the new decade.
Enhanced Support under the Adapt and Grow Initiative
As part of the Stabilisation and Support Package, sectors directly affected by COVID-19 will get additional support. The affected sectors are: tourism, aviation, retail, food services. These sectors will receive support through
The funding period for reskilling in these sectors will be extended from three months to a maximum of six months.
Next Bound of SkillsFuture
The Next Bound of SkillsFuture aims to further support Singaporeans to develop to their fullest potential throughout life, regardless of their starting points. The Next Bound of SkillsFuture will (1) enable individuals to continue learning, (2) enhance the role of enterprises in developing their workforce, and (3) have a special focus for mid-career workers through a new SkillsFuture Mid-Career Support Package for locals in their 40s and 50s, to help them stay employable and move to new jobs or new roles.
More details will be released during the Committee of Supply (COS) debate.


Energy powers the economy and illuminates the society. Therefore, it is an essential requirement for socio-economic development. In our role as a petroleum marketing and distribution company, we are a stakeholder in the advancement agenda of the Nigerian nation.
By this, we recognize the need to sustain the supply of the critical resources depended upon by the different categories
of players in the country's economic space to propel the desired growth. Thus, we responsibly and transparently manage our allocations to ensure that petroleum products are available at our stations across the country.


Performance of sewage treatment plant with septic tank, anaerobic filter and constructed wetland with Typha spp Abstract
The study reports the performance of a sanitary effluent treatment constituted by a septic tank, anaerobic filter and constructed wetland. The study monitored nutrient’s, carbonaceous material’s and thermotolerant coliform’s (CT) removal efficiency during 12 months. The treatment system included a septic tank, an anaerobic filter and a horizontal subsurface flow constructed wetland cultivated with
Typha spp. Effluent samples were monthly collected before and after the septic tank, anaerobic filter and wetland. The removal efficiency for N-NH + 4 was 37.6%, 66.3% for total P, 37% for COD, 54% for BOD and 99.4% for CT. The anaerobic filter and wetland were more efficient than the septic tank. P-total reduction was higher in the constructed wetland than in the anaerobic filter. Climatic conditions influenced the evaluated constituent’s removal being the highest values during hot months. Keywords
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4136/ambi-agua.2305
Revista Ambiente & Água. ISSN:
1980-993X DOI: 10.4136/1980-993X
Editoração: Apoio: Filiada à ABEC: